asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the question, raised by letter of 11th March, 1953, from the town clerk of York to his Department, of the designation of joint-user hospitals vested in the local authority for the detention pursuant to Section 20 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, of persons alleged to be of unsound mind.

I am informed that the immediate local problem is under discussion between officers of the regional hospital board and the city council. I am not aware of any serious general difficulties, and I can hold out no hope of legislation which would be needed to enable the council's proposal to be adopted.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that vaccination with matter derived originally from smallpox provokes in some cases a reaction similar to that shown in cases of genuine smallpox; and if he can indicate how such cases may be distinguished from genuine smallpox.

My right hon. Friend is informed that vaccination with matter derived originally from smallpox would provoke smallpox. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Minister of Education for what reason the paid employment of children's supervisors under the Oldham Education Committee has been reduced from two hours a day to one hour and three-quarters a day; whether she is aware that similar steps have been taken over all the North of England; and what directives her Department have given in this matter.

I have no information on the first two parts of the Question, because the appointment and conditions of service of supervisory assistants in school dining rooms is a matter for the local education authorities concerned. No directives have been issued by my Department in regard to hours of work, but I have asked the Oldham Authority to review their expenditure on overheads in the school meals service, because it was rather high.

asked the Minister of Education how many children were receiving school meals in June, 1952; and how many at the latest computation this year in the urban district of Hayes and Harlington.

2,806,076 children in grant-aided schools in England and Wales received school dinners on a day in June, 1952, including 5,008 in the urban district of Hayes and Harlington. No figures have yet been received for this year, but I have asked local education authorities for a return of the number of school dinners provided on a day in June.

asked the Minister of Education if she will review the arrangements for considering scales of remuneration to graduate teachers so that the problem of attracting qualified staff to secondary schools, particularly to teach science, may be more effectively tackled.

Notice has been given to terminate on 31st March next the operation of the scales in the current Burnham Primary and Secondary Schools Report, and I have no doubt that in putting forward their recommendations for the scales to take effect after that date, the Burnham Committee will consider fully the position of graduate teachers.

asked the Minister of Education to which of the boarding special schools for delicate children, conducted by the London County Council, the criticisms of open-air schools, made by the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health in his report for 1951, applied.

As I explained to the hon. Member for Dartford on 22nd January last, it would create a wrong impression to name particular schools now in view of the fact that, as explained in the report, the survey was made in 1949 and 1950. I understand that conditions in the schools to which my hon. Friend refers are now generally satisfactory, though in one or two cases certain improvements are at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Education how many pupils were awaiting admission to special schools on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these pupils were educationally subnormal.

Returns received from local education authorities show that in December, 1952, there were 20,517 handicapped children awaiting vacancies in special schools, of whom 12,500 were educationally sub-normal.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what differentiations have been exercised against European pensioners of the Ceylon Government; and what success he has achieved in securing the same cost of living allowance for Europeans as for Ceylonese civil servants.

I understand that pensioners of the Ceylon Government receive in addition to their pensions a cost of living allowance which varies with the cost of living in the country in which they reside. In the case of pensioners resident in Ceylon the addition is calculated on the basis of the official cost of living index in Ceylon; in the case of pensioners resident in the United Kingdom the basis is an index prepared by the London and Cambridge Economic Centre. In addition a special living allowance has been granted to pensioners resident in Ceylon in view of the abnormal rise in the cost of living in Ceylon. As pensioners residing in India, Pakistan and Malaya are paid the cost of living allowance at Ceylon rates, it was decided to pay them this additional allowance too. The Government of Ceylon have stated that this allowance was agreed to by them in the special circumstances of the conditions in Ceylon and other countries in South-East Asia which are not applicable to persons resident in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will consider adding to the Committee appointed to advise him on the censuses of production and distribution a person who can speak for the individual, as opposed to the multiple, retail trade.

The Committee has been carefully selected to furnish, within limited numbers, a balance of experience and knowledge of all the aspects of census work. I am confident that the Committee will not overlook the point of view and the interests of the individual private trader.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that no home-grown new potatoes are yet available; and whether, in view of this, he will reconsider his refusal to postpone suspension of the open general licence for imports of foreign potatoes.

I am informed that supplies are now coming forward from the Channel Islands. As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 11th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to withdraw the Hire-Purchase and Credit Sale Agreements (Control) Order, 1952. Statutory Instrument, 1952, No. 121.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the increased cost of reducing the age of payment of post-war credits by one year; and whether he will give consideration to this proposal.

About £16 million. My right hon. Friend will certainly consider this proposal, in common with other alternative proposals, when it is feasible to speed up the repayment of post-war credits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state in as much detail as possible for each of the years 1945-46 to 1952-53 the total cost to the Treasury of grants to landowners and farmers towards the cost of permanent improvements to agricultural holdings, such as cottages, buildings, water supplies, land drainage, etc.; purchases from fanners of farm produce at figures above market prices; sales to farmers of farm requisites, such as fertilisers, feedingstuffs, etc., at figures below market prices; acreage grants to farmers for converting grassland into tillage, and from the growth of specified

Table I gives details of payments to the agricultural industry by way of grant or subsidy in each of the years 1945–46 to 1952–53. With the exception of the first three items in the table, the grants are paid only to occupiers. It is not possible, in the case of these items, to give separate figures for occupiers and landowners who are not occupiers. Table II gives figures, where available, of the subsidies on home-produced foodstuffs—that is, of the losses incurred by the Ministry of Food in buying from the producer at the guaranteed price and selling on to reach the consumer at the controlled retail price. For the years covered by the Question there has been no freedom of marketing, and therefore no U.K. market prices, for the products covered in the table. Figures are not always available for the earlier years; the system of accounting in those years did not in every case distinguish between the subsidy on home and that on imported supplies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the entertainment tax received from cinema seats on prices up to 1s. during the financial years 1950–51, 1951–52 and 1952–53.

About £3·15 million in 1950–51; £2¾ million in 1951–52; and £2½ million in 1952–53.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent his Department make a subvention to the Council of British Bondholders; and what is the amount per annum.

I assume the hon. Member means the Council of Foreign Bondholders. The answer is "None."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is possible to state a figure for the foreign exchange earned by British European Airways Corporation and British Overseas Airways Corporation in 1952.

It is contrary to normal practice to disclose information of this kind, the publication of which is a matter for the Corporation to decide in the light of commercial considerations.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will see that the Civil Defence films issued by the Central Film Library to local authorities are in a fit condition for showing.

All films issued by the Central Film Library are examined after each loan and are not reissued unless they are then found to be in good condition for showing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the importation of Land-race pigs; and, in particular, why the National Pig Breeders' Association and not the British Landrace Society has been entrusted with the task of buying these pigs.

An announcement has already been made that the National Pig Breeders' Association has been invited to undertake the importation of about 100 Swedish Landrace pigs for sale by auction in this country. My right hon. Friend has decided to entrust the arrangements to the National Pig Breeders' Association because it is generally representative of the breeding side of the pig industry in Great Britain. The British Landrace Society are being consulted about the selection of pigs for purchase.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many growers registered for the poll on the apple and pear marketing scheme by the last day for registration; and what percentage they formed of the total number eligible under the scheme.

16,780 growers had registered with the Apple and Pear Marketing Board by the last day for registration in respect of the initial poll. To make a reliable estimate of the total number of producers who would have been entitled to vote if registered would require detailed investigation which my right hon. Friend does not consider would now be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now announce the intentions of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the restoration of the powers of the Milk Marketing Board.

No, but the discussions with producers', distributors' and manufacturers' organisations, foreshadowed in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Truro (Mr. G. Wilson) on 5th February, are in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent agricultural land in Staffordshire has been appropriated for non-agricultural purposes in the past 12 months, two years, and five years, respectively.

No precise information is available of the area of agricultural land in Staffordshire that has been appropriated for non-agricultural purposes during the periods specified in the Question. The annual returns rendered by farmers, however, show that the total acreage of crops, grass and rough grazings in sole occupation in the county declined by 1,727 acres in the 12 months ended 4th June, 1952. Similar decreases in the two-year and five-year periods to that date were 1,903 and 5,320 acres, respectively. These figures take account of any land restored to agricultural use, for example by Service Departments, and are subject to some error.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will introduce a scheme with the object of ensuring a more extensive use of swine fever crystal violet vaccine.

The possibility of introducing such a scheme is under discussion with the British Veterinary Association and the National Farmers' Union. Considerable progress has been made and my right hon. Friend hopes that a satisfactory plan will be devised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has yet come to any decision about the sterilisation of imported bone meal and bones with a view to minimising the danger of anthrax.

No. Discussions with the trade associations concerned have now taken place and my right hon. Friend is considering the matter in the light of their comments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps to make it an obligation on all farmers to provide protective clothing for their workers who are engaged in handling artificial manures and toxic chemicals.

Farmers are required by the Agriculture (Poisonous Substances) Regulations, 1953, to provide protective clothing for workers who handle certain toxic chemicals. My right hon. Friend has no evidence that workers who handle artificial manures need special clothing to protect them from risks of injury to health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give instructions to county agricultural executive committees to publish the names of the members of the district committees constituted under paragraphs 11 and 12 of the Ninth Schedule of the Agriculture Act, 1947.

No. District committee members are appointed by the county agricultural executive committees who have discretion to announce the names of district committee members. My right hon. Friend feels it must be left to county committees to judge if there is sufficient local interest to warrant publishing the names in the local Press and he does not consider any general instructions are called for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farmers are under supervision in the counties of Essex and Cambridge, at the latest available date; and if he will give their names and addresses.

Twenty-eight farmers in Essex and 11 farmers in Cambridgeshire were under supervision on the grounds of bad husbandry on 15th May, 1953. It would not be in the public interest to publish their names and addresses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to be assured that maximum production is being obtained from smallholdings in Durham County he will arrange for his Department to conduct or direct an inquiry to ascertain the extent and the ways in which these smallholdings are being used and issue a report.

Farm surveys of these, as of other agricultural holdings in County Durham, will, of course, be made from time to time. My right hon. Friend sees no reason for any special inquiry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the destruction of Bronze Age burial mounds at Shepton Mallet by the Forestry Commission; and whether he will arrange for an examination of them by a competent archaeologist, with a view to having them scientifically excavated.

There has been no wanton destruction. Two barrows and certain earthworks were known to be on the site acquired by the Forestry Commission and these have not been harmed. During ploughing on the site three other barrows were uncovered and reported by local interests to the Ministry of Works. With one possible exception, that Department have confirmed that the contents of the barrows have not been damaged. They are considering arrangements for a detailed examination of the barrow concerned and, with the full cooperation of the Forestry Commission, are taking measures to safeguard all the earthworks in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with the proposal to merge the City police with the Metropolitan police.

I am not aware of any such proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces in the country are of full strength; how many are undermanned; and what steps are being taken to recruit and retain sufficient men to maintain the strength required.

One police force in England and Wales is at full strength; 62 have vacancies representing less than 5 per cent. of the authorised establishments, 35 have vacancies of between 5 and 10 per cent., 17 have vacancies of between 10 and 15 per cent. and 11 have vacancies of over 15 per cent. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) on 3rd March last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to issue the appropriate shoulder flashes to Civil Defence volunteers.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular on ranks and badges which I issued to local authorities on 15th May; all possible steps will be taken to expedite the production of the badges.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any decision has been reached on the suggestion that Her Majesty might be pleased to confer the title "Royal" on the Civil Defence Corps.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have not felt able to submit to Her Majesty a recommendation to confer the title "Royal" upon the Civil Defence Corps, but we are proud to be able to state that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept the title of Head of the Civil Defence Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs were licensed last year, and how many of these were in the London Metropolitan area; what estimate he has of the number unlicensed; and how many prosecutions took place last year of owners of dogs for not having their name and address on the collar.

The 43rd Report of the Board of Customs and Excise (Cmd. 8727) gives the number of dog licences issued in 1951–52 as 2,741,248 in England and Wales. The number issued in the County of London during the same period was 141,012. I have no information on which to form any estimate of the number of dogs unlicensed. The information asked for in the last part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of matters arising in the judgment on appeal in the case of Ellis v. Home Office, he will now reconsider possible alterations in the methods employed within his Department of determining whether, in relation to the disclosure of particular documents within the ambit of privilege, privilege should be insisted on.

I have seen Press reports of the judgment in the case referred to and I am satisfied that the action taken was not only in accordance with the law but was also in keeping with the procedure prescribed for all Departments of State. I propose however to give further consideration to this matter in consultation with my colleagues.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the progress recently made by the London taxicab proprietors towards the adoption of the diesel engine as the motive power for London taxicabs as suggested by the Runciman Committee in their recent report; and whether, with the object of ensuring the maintenance of an effective taxicab service in London, he will consider the making to the owners of London taxicabs on which Purchase Tax has been paid, of a cash allowance towards the capital cost incurred on the conversion of each cab from petrol engine to diesel engine working.

I understand that 31 cabs have been converted and that the Commissioner of Police has authorised the conversion of 150 others; the answer to the second part of the Question is that I have no power to make such payments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the police advice to seatholders on the route of the Coronation procession that they should arrive from four to eight hours before Her Majesty passes is likely not only to exhaust them but to diminish the number of people who, in the light of this advice, line the route; and whether he will reduce the period of waiting advised.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question which he asked on 19th March. The very large crowds which assembled to view the Coronation rehearsal on Sunday, 17th May, may give some indication of the numbers which may be expected to line the route on the day of the Coronation.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the decision of the Sheffield silverware manufacturers to terminate the holidays-with-pay agreement in their trade, and of the decision of the appropriate trade union to oppose this action by calling a strike; and what he intends to do to stop this dispute developing.

Officers of my Department are in touch with the parties to this dispute and are at present endeavouring to arrange a joint meeting with a view to reaching a settlement.

asked the Minister of Labour the figures, as at April, 1953, of those who are engaged in agriculture; and how this figure compares with the years 1951 and 1952.

Figures for April, 1953, are not yet available. The total number engaged in agriculture (including horticulture) at March, 1953, is estimated to be one million compared with 1,017,000 at March, 1952, and 1,035,000 at March, 1951. The total includes farmers and other self-employed persons as well as employees.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the increasing demand for greater production in agriculture, what steps are being taken through his department, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, to offset the fall in employment on the land.

Vacancies in agriculture are amongst those to which the employment exchanges give first preference. They bring employment in agriculture to the notice of all suitable workers, and last year they placed nearly 37,000 workers in regular or seasonal employment in the industry. In addition, this Ministry recruits trainees for the vocational training scheme run by the Ministry of Agriculture, and last year over 900 trainees were placed in the industry after practical training on farms. Each year conferences are held with representatives of both sides of the industry in the counties and other organisations concerned, to assess seasonal labour requirements and to make arrangements to meet the needs of the harvest.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men aged 45 to 55, 55 to 65 and over 65, respectively, were employed, and how many unemployed, at the latest date; and how many women aged 40 to 50, 50 to 60 and over 60, respectively, were employed, and how many unemployed, at that date.

The latest dates for which age-analyses of the total numbers of employees and of unemployed persons are available are May, 1952, and December, 1952, respectively. The table below gives the figures that are available for those dates:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed, males and females, respectively, in the county borough of Stock-port, registered at 31st December. 1952, and the comparative figures at 30th April, 1953.

Seven hundred and eleven males and 974 females at 8th December, 1952, and 635 males and 545 females at 13th April, 1953.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that British Bemberg Limited have announced that they are proposing to go into voluntary liquidation; and that, as a result, some 750 employees will become unemployed; and what steps he is taking to ensure their reabsorption into industry in the Doncaster area.

Yes. I understand that some 980 workers will eventually be discharged. Officers of my Department will interview these workers before they become unemployed in order to find out

asked the Secretary of State for War the nature of the tests recently conducted by the Army authorities among National Service men so as to determine E.S.7, backwardness, and E.S.8, illiteracy.

Two tests of educational attainments are given to all National Service men on joining the Army. They are written tests, one of arithmetic and the

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state, as percentages, the commissions awarded to university graduates, graduates of military colleges and men from the ranks, in each of the past five years.

The officer intake is very varied and exact statistics cannot be given in the form requested. The table below, with explanatory notes, sets out the main categories of the intake of Regular officers and gives information about the university graduates and other rank service.other of spelling and English comprehension. Men who can neither read nor write are rated as E.S.8, that is illiterate, and those who score very low marks in both tests as E.S.7.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that blast from firing from Tonfarnnau Artillery Camp, Merioneth, is causing damage to property and disturbance to invalids on the South Caernarvonshire coast; whether he will mitigate or discontinue the firing; and to what quarter claims for compensation by property owners should be addressed.

I am not aware of any further complaints arising since the hon. Member raised a similar question last year. To stop or reduce firing would affect essential training. Any claims in respect of damage should be addressed to the Command Land Agent, Western Command, Chester, for consideration.

asked the Minister of Materials if, in view of the fall in the price of bags, he will make a reduction in the charge for potash sold in bags of less weight than 2 cwt.

I have this matter under examination.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the statutory regulations laid down in respect of compensation and rehousing for occupants of property required to be demolished for town and country planning purposes; and to what period of notice for this purpose householders are entitled under these regulations.

The statutory provisions in respect of compensation and rehousing for occupants of property demolished under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, vary according to the power being invoked. If the hon. Member will let my right hon. Friend know which particular provision he has in mind my right hon. Friend will be glad to give him the information he requires.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, approximately, how many houses have been, or are being, demolished in connection with rehousing plans; and how many Nissen huts or other temporary accommodation structures have been, or are being, demolished up to the latest available date.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. For the second part I would refer the hon. Member to Summary Table A of the Housing Return.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the public inquiry will be held into the proposal of the Hungerford Rural District Council to acquire The Priory, Hungerford, for a housing estate and council offices, since the intention to hold this inquiry was stated as long ago as 9th March.

On 9th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds Professor Arthur Lewis's membership of the Board of the Colonial Development Corporation has not been renewed.

Appointments to the Board of the Colonial Development Corporation are for a specific term and do not carry the right of automatic renewal. Professor Lewis had completed his term of appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many farmers have joined the two co-operative farms at Soppo, near Buea, and at Lokani, respectively, both in the Cameroons; what control there is by the Nigerian Agricultural Department with regard to crops; and what changes there have been in the land tenure of those who have joined the farms.

This information is not available in my Department. I am making inquiries of the Governor of Nigeria and will communicate with the hon. Member when I have his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the recent riots in Nigeria; and to what extent private property has been damaged.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on the 20th May to the hon. Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made in Kenya in the setting up of a joint army-police post and telegraph wireless communications network which can give warning of Mau Mau attacks.

The Government of Kenya have set up a joint committee of the Army, the police and the Posts and Telegraphs Department to review all wireless commuuication systems to make sure that they meet the needs of the emergency. The committee is studying the possibility of establishing radiotelephone communications with individual farms.

asked the Minister of Works what approximate proportion of the flagpoles used by his Department for decorative purposes in connection with the Coronation are made of home-grown timber.

About three-quarters of the flagpoles used by my Department in connection with the decorations along the Coronation route are made from home-grown timber. Those of imported origin were either taken from stock or were of a size which could not be supplied from home-grown timber.

asked the Minister of Works, in view of the fact that only a small proportion of Members of Parliament who balloted for accommodation to see the ceremony of Trooping the Colour were successful in obtaining seats, whether he will confer with the Ministers concerned with a view to making alternative accommodation available in the Government buildings overlooking Horse Guards for those who were unsuccessful.

No. I must leave it to the Departments concerned to allocate their own seating as they think best.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement upon the progress of the Thesiger Committee on Road Passenger Matters; and when the report can be expected.

The Committee now have almost all of the evidence that they expect to receive. It will take some time for them to prepare their report, and I cannot say when it will be ready.

asked the Minister of Food how much of the 6,746,000 tons of the 1952 main crop of potatoes in Great Britain was offered to organisations who process them for animal feed; and what is the estimated tonnage of wastage owing to deterioration.

Whenever my Department has surplus potatoes for disposal they can be bought for processing into animal food and no question of offering to sell specific quantities arises. Some wastage is normal when growers store potatoes, but I cannot estimate its extent.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will again make representations to the Soviet authorities to permit the Russian wives of British nationals to leave Russia to join their husbands.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) on 15th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what special action he is taking to ensure that the full text of the speeches made by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition on 11th and 12 May, respectively, are given the widest circulation in the United States of America; and if he will state the instructions he has given, or proposes to give, to ensure such circulation;(2) If he will make a statement as to the special steps taken by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington to ensure that the complete text of the speech of the Prime Minister on 11th May, and that of the Leader of the Opposition on 12th May were made available at the earliest possible time to the United States Government, members of Senate and Congress and the United States Press.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 20th May.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that the provisions of the Welsh Courts Act, 1942, whereby jurymen are enabled to take the oath in their own language in their own country, are not being universally observed; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the provisions of this Act are invariably carried out when desired.

asked the Attorney-General what steps he will take to ensure that Welsh jurymen are given their statutory right to take the oath in their native Welsh language within the Principality of Wales.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is satisfied that the Rules made by him under Section 2 of the Welsh Courts Act, 1942, make adequate provision for the administration of oaths in Welsh. My attention has been drawn to a case in which two persons called for jury service in Wales were required to stand down, but I under- stand that it was subsequently made clear that this was not due to their desire to be sworn in Welsh.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many late applications for grassland fertiliser grants were accepted during 1951 and 1952, respectively; and what were the grounds on which these applications were accepted, giving a detailed list under each head.

The number of late applications for grassland fertiliser grants accepted during 1951 and 1952 was five in each year. The late applications were accepted on the following grounds:

asked the Prime Minister what reply he has sent to the message he has received from the Italian Partisans of Peace urging that pacific negotiations for a settlement of world peace should be promptly carried out.

In my speech in the foreign affairs debate on 11th May, I said that "I believe that a conference on the highest level should take place between the leading Powers without long delay." At the same time I added "this would be a most fatal moment for the free nations to relax their comradeship and preparations. To fail to maintain our defence effort up to the limit of our strength would be to paralyse every beneficial tendency towards peace both in Europe and in Asia." In these circumstances, I did not think that any reply to the message referred to in the Question was necessary.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are still outstanding in the rural districts of Sedgefield, Stockton and Darlington; and what steps are being taken to meet the applications.

There are 113 in Sedge-field. 322 in Stockton and 76 in Darlington. About a third of these are in course of provision. Some additional exchange equipment and cables will be provided during the next two years, but I regret I cannot say when the waiting list will be cleared.