asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent Army units at home and overseas are entitled to fly the Union Jack between sunrise and sunset; and whether this national flag is an Ordnance issue.

The Union Jack may be flown by any unit. It is provided at public expense for authorised flag stations.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the agreement reached at a meeting in Wick in January, when the Under-Secretary of State and the General Officer Commanding in Scotland met representatives of the Territorial Forces Association, the Provost and Town Clerk of Wick and the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland, for the partial use, by the people of Wick, of the Rifle Hall which they built and paid for; why it has not been carried out; and what steps he intends to take to honour the agreement.

Yes, Sir. I was informed by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State that there had been difficulties and he went personally to Wick to try to settle them. This he hoped had been achieved, but since the meeting I understand that the local Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association state that there was some misapprehension. I am trying to sort it out.

Will my right hon. Friend expedite this, because it is six months since this meeting took place and it is not right that the people who bought and paid for this hall for joint use by themselves and the military should be totally excluded from it. That did not happen in two world wars. Why should it happen in peace?

I can assure my hon. Friend that I am trying to sort it out, but it is difficult to get things sorted out quickly when there is something of a deadlock locally.

Are we to understand that peace has not yet broken out in Wick?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will fix an early date when his Department will derequisition land at The Level, Brighton, and will remove therefrom the seven huts used by the Royal Engineers Records Office.

I regret that I can hold out no hope of an early start on the new building which is needed before this site can be given up.

Is the Minister aware that this land is reserved by Act of Parliament as a public open space, is in the centre of a very populous area and is badly needed by Brighton Corporation for its proper use as a children's playground?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of those facts, but I cannot give up the buildings until we have somewhere to put these R.E. Records. I want to build a great many things, but the problem with building is to get the labour, materials and money.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that local estate agents have offered him many highly desirable properties in which to house these officers of the records office who are now in Nissen huts? Could he not consider purchasing some of the very highly desirable properties in the county borough of Brighton?

My information is that although they may be highly desirable the price is also very high.

Are there no historic houses which could be used for the purpose?

I cannot answer that without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that Mr. and Mrs. Winterbottom, Salem, Oldham, recently informed that their son, 22592235 Trooper Jack Winterbottom, had been killed on manoeuvres in Germany, have been told that to bring back his body for burial in Oldham will cost them £100, and that his Department can give no help by gift, grant or loan; and why this is the practice of his Department;

(2) why he has refused to bring back to England for burial the body of Trooper Jack Winterbottom, 3rd King's Own Hussars, recently killed while on manoeuvres in Germany.

With permission, I will answer Questions No. 6 and No. 7 together.

On a point of order. I am not prepared to give permission in this case. These are two separate Questions. One raises the amount of the payment and the other raises an important general principle of interest to hon. Members on both sides. It is not a matter to be treated cavalierly, and I am not prepared to give permission.

It is not a matter of treating it cavalierly.

If the hon. Member hears the answer he may ask a supplementary question.

As far as Question No. 6 is concerned, the cost of bringing back the body from Germany is considerably less than it would be were it a civilian. That is to say, we have cut rates for this purpose.

As far as Question No. 7 is concerned, those who are killed or die abroad are buried where they have died. However, in this case, or any other in overseas theatres except Korea, the body may be brought home if the relatives so wish. While my Department gives every help in this matter, it cannot undertake to bear the cost.

So far as Question No. 6 is concerned, why does the right hon. Gentleman say that the cost is cut when people are being charged much more than the air fare if an adult person goes to Germany and back? So far as Question No. 7 is concerned, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last week in Oldham two young lads had military funerals who had been killed on manœuvres, and that in both cases parents were charged money for bringing back the bodies of their sons, whereas in the case of a high-ranking officer or an American pilot, the body would be brought back here without charge? In those circumstances, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the practice and meet what, I am sure, is the wish of this House?

As regards the first part of the question, it is true it is more expensive to bring back a body than the normal fare. To bring one back by air from the Middle East costs something like £600. It is the same in the case of Germany: it is more expensive. As regards the question of bringing back bodies, it has been the policy in all the Services for a very long time indeed, before the last war, that all those who died or were killed overseas were buried there, but we leave this option open, and I do not think that there is any question of changing this policy at the moment.

Can my right hon. Friend say if there is any possibility of reducing the high charge still further, because it does prevent many people from bringing their sons or other relatives home? Will he confirm again that there is no difference being made between those killed in war and those who meet their deaths accidentally during peace time? One of those young men to whom the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) referred, came from my constituency.

I can give the assurance that no difference is made in that way. As regards the cost, I have been into that, and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), when the was in my position, also made a careful inquiry into this question of costs, and we have cut the rates to a very considerable degree.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the case before him of one of my constituents, whose son was run down in an accident four days before he was due to leave Egypt? The mother scrambled together with great hardship £120 to get her boy home, but actually required £180, and could not get the £60 more and had to abandon the project. Does the right hon. Gentleman not think in those circumstances, and as there was an accident, that that extra £60 might have been advanced to help that poor mother?

I assure the hon. Lady that I do appreciate that these are very distressing cases, and I know how strongly some people feel on this subject, but were we, all three Services, to embark on bringing home all those who died overseas, we should get into a very large commitment indeed.

asked the Secretary of State for War by how much the cost of living has risen since the present rates of Army pay and allowances were fixed; and what action he is taking to review these rates.

The Interim Index of Retail Prices for September, 1950, when the present rates of pay were introduced, was 114; the corresponding figure for May, 1953, was 140. I keep a very close watch on Army pay and allowances.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as these men and their wives have no trade union, he ought to put in for a wage increase for them from the Treasury? Has he done so, or considered doing it, in view of the very substantial increase in the cost of living that has taken place?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the thoughts passing through his head are not absent from mine.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the remarks of Mr. Justice Finnemore at the Assizes at Stafford on 2nd July, in which he called attention to the collection of weapons in the possession of soldiers stationed at Nesscliffe Camp, Oswestry; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes, Sir An immediate and drastic inquiry was made at Nesscliffe Camp. A special search was carried out, but no offensive weapons were found. Apart from the two weapons used in this particular case, two coshes were found last November on waste land near the camp. Their ownership is unknown. It is an offence in the Army, as in civil life, to carry such weapons. It was, however, disclosed that a small number of ill-intentioned National Service men in the camp had formed a gang. Two of these men have already completed their service, four are awaiting trial and the remainder have been posted elsewhere. The military police in Oswestry have been reinforced and all soldiers at Nesscliffe Camp are forbidden to visit Oswestry in plain clothes.

Had these ex-Service men any previous records of convictions? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the judge referred to the appalling collection of weapons in this camp? Is he aware that a search was conducted? What weapons are left in the camp?

A thorough search was made and no weapons were found. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Army, and, indeed, all the Services, take boys who have had records of Borstal or previous sentences, and sometimes these boys do gang up together. It is a problem with which the Army has to cope. Oswestry has always been a rather difficult area, and there is no doubt at all there was a gang formed up. It has now been dispersed, and I hope the measures I have taken will prevent a recurrence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will control the import of dehydrated vegetables.

Dehydrated vegetables imported from the sterling area, from Western Europe and certain other foreign countries are covered by an open general licence, and it is not proposed to restrict the quantities which may be imported from those countries. The producers of dehydrated vegetables have been advised that if they wish to make an application for an increase in the present rate of duty the Board of Trade will examine it.

Can my hon. Friend say whether there has been a considerable recent increase in the amount of imported dehydrated vegetables?

I have some figures here, but I should like to see that question in writing.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether a record is being kept of the number of times he is pressed by his hon. Friends to re-introduce controls in one form or another?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by the London Fruit and Vegetables Trades Federation Limited over the basis of the allocation of banana import licences; and if, in view of this dissatisfaction and the representations made to his Department by the Federation, he will give further consideration to the matter.

As I promised the hon. Lady on 5th May, sympathetic consideration has been given to cases of substantial hardship which may have arisen from the method of allocating import licences for bananas. The London Fruit and Vegetable Trades Federation have been informed of the action taken in the cases which they put forward, and they have now expressed themselves satisfied.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there will be considerable satisfaction over this? Is he aware that the Federation thought the basis of allocation did prohibit genuine imports into this country?

I am grateful to the hon. Lady.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement concerning those standards agreed by the British Standards Institution for standard description of fibre content of wool cloths.

I understand that a large measure of agreement has now been reached and that the British Standards Institution expects soon to make an announcement.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman hope it may be possible to make an announcement on this matter before the House rises for the Summer Recess?

I am afraid I cannot give the date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a further statement on the trade discussions with the Spanish delegation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Anglo-Spanish trade negotiations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent Anglo-Spanish trade conversations.

Both delegations are at present reporting to their Governments, and I regret that I am not in a position at this stage to make a statement.

In view of the widespread interest in the negotiations taking place on the question of discrimination against British goods entering Spain, does the hon. Gentleman not think that it may be advisable to issue a White Paper as soon as the negotiations have been concluded?

I will consider that. I can give the hon. Gentleman this assurance, that the Spanish delegation are well aware of the dissatisfaction on this point of Her Majesty's Government.

In view of the very unfair discrimination against British goods by the Spanish authorities, would the hon. Gentleman not consider banning imports of oranges from Spain and consider recommending to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he should reduce the tourist allowance for visitors to that country? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, we have of course sanctions, but we also have considerable imports from Spain, and I should not like at this stage to use any words that might further exacerbate the position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will include in his visit to Scotland in August the developing mining area of Fife to discuss with local representatives the need for industrial diversification within the county.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his visit to Scotland in August will include meetings with trade and industry on both sides of the Firth of Forth.

My right hon. Friend will spend a day in Angus and Fife and a day in Edinburgh at the end of his visit to Scotland, and will meet the Dundee Chamber of Commerce and the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures. He will also, earlier in his visit, meet members of the Executive Committee of the Scottish Council and of the Scottish Board for Industry for discussions on the general question of Scottish industrial development.

While thanking the hon. and learned Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that the Government have rejected the proposition put forward in the Cairncross Report on the grounds that their present policy of developing this area is attractive enough to deal with the developing mining area, and will he give an assurance that the President of the Board of Trade is not simply going to this area to please the local inhabitants without doing anything positive after he has met the local inhabitants?

I do not want to travel outside the general subject of these two Questions, but all questions of interest to my right hon. Friend's Department will no doubt be raised during his visit.

Will the President of the Board of Trade specifically discuss the need for a road bridge over the Forth during his visit, and will he take the opportunity of travelling on the Queensberry Ferry so that he can experience the inconvenience and delay caused by those who have to use it?

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman convey to his Minister the need to include the National Coal Board, Scottish Division, in the visit he proposes to make, particularly in view of the great need to do something for Lanarkshire in the future?

I feel sure that it is the universal desire of all Members that this visit should be as useful as possible. I think that neither the questions to be discussed nor the exact places to be visited can conveniently be dealt with by Question and answer, but all the views expressed will be noted by my right hon. Friend.

Is it not a fact that in a recent reply about the Cairncross Report it was intimated that the Government did not envisage any immediate change in the distribution of industry policy, and can we take it that during the present discussions he will consider the longer-term implications?

The Cairncross Report really does not arise on either of these two Questions, and in fairness to other hon. Members who have Questions on the Order Paper, I think I should confine myself to the subject.

Will the President of the Board of Trade, when he is in Edinburgh, give consideration to the question of trade at Leith Docks, which at present is being considered by his Department?

I am sure that all relevant questions will be brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend and that he will have noted what has been said by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has information that United Kingdom exports, especially to South America, are being handicapped by subsidised exports from foreign countries.

Certain foreign Governments have special incentives for their exporters which, in our view, act as export subsidies. These schemes are one of several factors contributing to the increased competition which our exporters are meeting in South American as in other markets, but their effect cannot be measured in isolation.

Can my hon. Friend say what steps he is taking to bring this up to the Committee which is responsible for running G.A.T.T.?

Yes, Sir. We are talking to individual Governments, raising the matter with the appropriate international institutions and, in particular, with the International Monetary Fund and with O.E.E.C.

Is the House to be informed of any success following the visit of the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs? The Secretary for Overseas Trade will remember that I said that it was the job of the Joint Under-Secretary to report to us as well, if he had any information of any kind.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put down that question to the Foreign Secretary.

Is the Minister aware that one of the most important subsidies for exports to other countries is extended credit, and that efforts on the part of British exporters to offer extended credit have been hampered to some extent by the increase in the rates charge by the E.C.G.D. covering these exports, and will he look into it?

I will gladly look into it, but I should like to see that supplementary question in writing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the falling-off in the demand for television and radio sets, he will now consider excluding these items from the Hire Purchase and Credit Sales Agreements (Control) Order, 1952, or, alternatively, repeal the Order entirely.

No, Sir.

Does the Minister not realise that so far as these two particular items are concerned, the Credit Sales Agreement just does not mean a thing, and in view of that why should he deceive himself and the trade that it is having any effect whatsoever?

If it does not mean a thing, I do not know why the hon. Member is so anxious for its repeal. The fact is that this Order must be considered as part of the Government's general economic and financial policy and not in isolation. The hon. Member and the House will remember that this industry has benefited by the recent reduction by 25 per cent. in the rate of Purchase Tax.

Surely the Minister knows that the Order is being completely side-tracked by the system of rentals agreement which is in existence.

I have explained to the hon. Member on many occasions the difference between a rental agreement and a hire purchase agreement, and I thought that he understood it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantity of tobacco pipes imported into the United Kingdom in the first five months of 1953; and what quantity came from Malta and other Commonwealth countries, respectively.

Imports of tobacco pipes during January to May, 1953, amounted to 8,440 gross of which 661 gross were sent from Malta and 83 gross from other Commonwealth countries.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied with these figures so far as Malta and the other Commonwealth countries are concerned?

That is really a question for the Maltese producers and the Commonwealth producers. They have a 20 per cent. preference.

Will the Minister bear in mind the special need to encourage industries of this kind in Malta, and can he say whether these imports are increasing or decreasing?

I cannot answer the latter part of the supplementary question, but it is very largely a matter for the producers. These countries naturally want to export here, but they have a preference and it is a generous one.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has consulted with Commonwealth and foreign Governments on the subject of merchandise marks since he took office; and whether he will now initiate such discussions for the purpose of preventing the circulation of counterfeit goods.

Two international agreements governing this matter are already in force and the need has been not for general discussion but for taking up individual cases of complaint. Since 1952 the Board of Trade have taken up about 330 such cases in 50 different countries.

Has the Parliamentary Secretary read the recent report of our commercial attaché in Japan that Japanese commercial conditions are to some extent reviving the counterfeiting of British goods in Japan, with the assistance of foreign capital, and can he say what protest has been made about these cases by the President of the Board of Trade, and what action can be taken to put a stop to this malpractice?

I should not like to answer that detailed Question without notice, but I would inform the hon. Member that of the 330 cases not more than 20 were from Japan, and that in the cases which we have brought to their notice the Japanese Government have not been unreasonable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for the reduction in our exports of fully-fashioned nylon stockings from £2,757,557 for the first five months of 1951 to £1,760,688 during a similar period this year.

The chief reasons are the change from a sellers' market to a highly competitive buyers' market and import restrictions imposed in the countries of some of our best customers. The figures quoted by the hon. Member exclude goods sent by parcel post. The total figures for the first five months of this year, though lower than the corresponding figures for 1951, are 35 per cent. higher than last year.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I have here some figures from the Trade and Navigation Accounts, and I think that they are perfectly correct. Is he further aware that a greatly increased export trade could be had by British manufacturers if they manufactured the fish-net, non-ladder stocking which is much more durable wearing nylon stocking, and can he explain why they are not entering into that trade?

I hope that the hon. Lady does not think that I am complaining about her figures. I was merely pointing out that she was not giving the total figures to which I referred in my answer. The manufacturers concerned are very eager to get as great an export trade as possible, and I think that they must be assumed to know their own business and what goods will sell best.

Do not those figures mean that more nylons are being made available and are being worn by the hon. Lady and her friends in the country?

Has the hon. Gentleman any information to show how many pairs of these stockings go all the way to Gibraltar and come back again before they are sold?

I certainly have not those figures now, but I will look into the point which the right hon. Gentleman has raised.

Is it not the case that, although the quality of our yarn is just as good as that in America, we have not been allowed the dollars with which to buy suitable machinery? Are not many of our stocking manufacturers suffering as a result of that?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the United States of America attaches to any trading concession given under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade a condition that such concessions may be withdrawn if damage to home industry is likely to be caused, Her Majesty's Government will assume power to take similar action in connection with existing or future preference margins within the Empire and Commonwealth.

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade already provides that all contracting parties—ourselves as well as the United States—may, subject to certain conditions, withdraw or modify negotiated tariff concessions in the event of serious injury to domestic producers.

Is the Minister aware that special concessions in trade are now granted as between one State of the American Union and another? Why, then, should the United States Administration complain because similar concessions are granted as between one unit of the British Commonwealth and another?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give an assurance that no successor is to be appointed to the office shortly to be relinquished by Sir Edwin Plowden.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will carry out the duties of the Chief Planning Officer after Sir Edwin Plowden's retirement.

I would invite the hon. and right hon. Gentlemen's attention to the official statement published on 30th June, of which I am sending them a copy. This explains the reorganisation in the Treasury which will take place at the time of Sir Edwin Plowden's retirement.

Can my right hon. Friend clarify that statement by saying whether the senior civil servant who will now assume the responsibilities formerly held by Sir Edwin Plowden represents a new appointment, or a replacement appointment, or whether there will be a reduction of £6,500, the amount of Sir Edwin's former salary, in the charge against the public purse?

I cannot give an exact answer to the latter part of the supplementary question. The fact is that the post of Chief Planning Officer will be lapsing. That does not mean that the new plan will be any less effective than the old one. The House will note that, by the introduction of the Chief Economic Adviser to the Government into the Treasury and by the assumption of duties by the Deputy-Secretary of the Treasury, the duties will be very well carried out. I should like to pay a tribute to the work done by Sir Edwin Plowden over these years. His efficiency and service to more than one Government have been beyond praise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that hon. Members on this side of the House would wish to associate themselves with the tribute which he has paid to Sir Edwin Plowden, who served his country faithfully under different Governments over a number of years? Might I, however, also ask him whether the official statement, which I have already read, indicates that Sir Bernard Gilbert, as Deputy-Chief of the Treasury, will perform the duties hitherto performed by Sir Edwin Plowden and that the change is only a change in name?

The duties of Sir Bernard Gilbert will be somewhat wider because he will be the Deputy-Secretary to the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, but he will subsume the duties performed by Sir Edwin Plowden and will be aided by a Third Secretary in charge of that section of the Treasury, which will remain to perform the duties which it has performed.

May we take it that the planning section of the Treasury comes under Sir Bernard Gilbert but that he is also responsible for co-ordinating the whole of the financial and economic policy?

That is right.

Did the Chancellor see the glowing tribute paid to Sir Edwin Plowden by the "Financial Times," and is he aware that in the opinion of many of us Sir Edwin Plowden was largely responsible for preventing real planning during the term of the Labour Government?

For the enlightenment of those of us who understand only plain English, what does "subsume" mean?

It can be replaced by two English words, "take over."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances a letter to a visitor in the United Kingdom from his daughter in Canada, the envelope of which has been sent to him, was opened by Her Majesty's Customs.

Letters in the incoming mails are liable to examination as a check that the contents do not include sterling banknotes or other prohibited imports.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the man to whom this letter was addressed has for many years been one of the biggest purchasers of Lancashire's textiles and that to have one's private letters opened in times of peace is extremely offensive and gives the impression of secret police? Will he reconsider whether it is really necessary that letters should be opened unless they are addressed to an individual who there is good reason to think may be engaged in illegal activities?

Power has been given by the House under the Foreign Postal Packets (Customs) Warrant Act, 1948, to open letters. The difficulty, which has been experienced before by hon. Members, is that it is impossible to differentiate between one letter and another. Experience has shown, unfortunately, that the power is needed because on occasion things are found which should not be found in letters, and, therefore, I regret to say that I cannot go behind the powers which have been given by Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the cost to the Treasury of ensuring that the repayment of post-war credits shall not be postponed solely by the death of the holder prior to the age when he might obtain payment.

The cost would be about £17 million in the first year and £2 million a year thereafter.

In view of a widespread feeling of injustice about this aspect of the problem, will the Minister re-examine the possibility of doing something along the lines suggested in the Question.

There is clearly a grievance here, to which my hon. Friend has drawn the attention of the House on previous occasions.

Will the Chancellor say what are the administrative difficulties which prevent the Treasury paying postwar credits to next-of-kin on the date on which the person who owned them would have claimed them had he lived?

It is not so much an administrative difficulty as a policy decision not yet to make any such concession.

As the right hon. Gentleman has already made arrangements to pay post-war credits to men at 65 and women at 60, surely it would cost him no more to pay them to the next-of-kin at the date at which the deceased would have drawn them had he lived?

That is precisely something which would impose an extra charge. However, I am fully aware of the difficulty, which is the most striking of the several anomalies connected with postwar credits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the purchasing power of the £ at the latest available date taking June, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952 as 20s., respectively.

On the basis of the figure for May, 1953, in the Ministry of Labour Interim Index of Retail Prices, which is the only official price index available monthly, the answers are respectively 15s. 7d., 15s. 10d., 16s. 2d., 17s. 9d. and 19s. 7d.

Will the Chancellor warn the country and himself before it is too late that increases in taxes, rates and wages can result only in a vicious spiral and a further depreciation of the paper £, and that in a country which cannot be self-supporting they must increase our cost of production and impede or destroy our ability to export at world competitive prices, which we must do or starve?

I accept the personal warning from my hon. Friend. With regard to the national impact, I hope attention will be paid to my hon. Friend's words.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that a £ worth 20s. in October, 1951, is today worth only 18s. 7d.?

I do not think things are quite as simple as that. If the right hon. Gentleman will study this Question and then put down a further Question to me, we may get it straight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider amending the existing currency regulation under which a traveller who, at the outset of his journey, innocently declares himself to be in possession of currency notes to the value of more than £5 suffers the confiscation of such moneys, and if he will reconsider the limits allowable in respect of currency notes where a traveller is going direct to another country within the sterling area.

In answer to the first part of the Question, the law provides for the seizure of excess notes, but the traveller can apply subsequently for their restoration and this will depend upon the circumstances of the individual case. In answer to the second part, I do not think that any change is called for, particularly since there are very few direct routes which do not call at outside ports on the way.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the first part of the answer will give general satisfaction because it is generally accepted that there is no redress against such seizures? Would he consider innocent cases—and there are many innocent cases—and extend to them the more simple procedure of the person concerned sending the excess notes to some person by registered post?

I am informed that there are agencies, banks and other offices on the way to the port of exit which can be used by the passenger to deposit extra notes which should not be taken abroad. I recommend that course in the first case. I have examined the circumstances very carefully, and certainly in the case of extra money being taken to the Sterling Area every effort is being made to restore the notes seized.

Does my right hon. Friend not think—and there have been cases in this connection—that if a £ is voluntarily handed to the Customs by a traveller, presumably for safe keeping, and it is subsequently confiscated by the Customs authorities, it really amounts to a form of thieving by the Customs?

I have examined the practice, and it is really wiser for travellers to read the directions given to them before they travel, or at least to deposit their notes with one of the agencies or banks available. Even if they do not do that, the Customs' officers try to interpret their duties in as human a manner as possible.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that in every case where currency is voluntarily declared the operation must be innocent, and that nearly every country in Europe does operate a deposit and return system?

I have studied some of the foreign practices. I do not think there are many Customs and Excise systems better than ours, but I am always ready to listen to any point of view put by an hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the purpose and outcome of the financial discussions which have recently taken place in London with Germany, Holland, Switzerland and other European countries.

The main purpose of these discussions was to exchange views on the questions of freer trade and currencies raised in the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and myself at the Council of O.E.E.C. on 23rd March. The discussions were purely exploratory and without commitment. Further studies will now take place in O.E.E.C. in accordance with the Council decision to which I referred in my reply to the right hon. Gentleman on 1st April.

Did the discussions cover the question of particular countries which are surplus in the European Payments Union coming into balance again and the deficit countries equally achieving a balance?

That particular question, of course, was discussed at our meeting at O.E.E.C., where it was more relevant. But as far as I can remember almost every aspect of this type of question was raised at the recent discussions and I do not doubt that the question raised by the right hon. Gentleman came up for consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he has considered a letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North; and whether he will make a statement in connection with the points contained in this letter regarding the salaries and expenses of Members of Parliament;

(2) if he is aware of the concern felt by Members of Parliament at the way in which their Parliamentary allowance has been reduced by virtue of the continuing rise in the cost of living, the rise in the cost of articles and services that they have, of necessity, to provide out of this allowance; and whether he will agree to meet a deputation of Members to discuss these matters;

(3) if he is aware that Members of Parliament are the only section of the population that have not had any increase in their salaries since 1946; that no other section of the State servants have to meet the cost of their expenses of postage, travel, stationery, living away from home, from their salaries; and what is the reason for this discrepancy in treatment as between Members of Parliament and other civil servants.

I am aware of the concern felt by the hon. Member and others about the present salaries of hon. Members, but I regret that I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

May I thank the right hon. Gentleman for what I know to be a sympathetic understanding of the position, and can I ask him sympathetically to consider this matter on the merits of the case and not from what some people outside may say about anything affecting the situation?

Thanks to much of the material sent to me by the hon. Member himself and the representations which I have had from the other side of the House, as has my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, there is little danger that this subject will be considered without fully realising the merits of the case, including the situation in other legislatures.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. Gentleman who proposed this Question is asking for an increase in a rate which was fixed in 1946 and is strongly opposing any increase in salaries for High Court Judges which were fixed in 1831?

Will the right hon. Gentleman not allow himself to be deterred from doing what is reasonable because of any risk of unpopularity and, if there is any to be incurred, surely we should be prepared to take that risk in order to do what is reasonable?

I think the right hon. Gentleman may be well satisfied that that is the general spirit animating the approach of Her Majesty's Government to this and every subject.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the salaries of Members of this House are increased commensurate with the American salaries no one will be available for high positions in industry?

Is the Chancellor aware that judges do not have to meet the cost of their postage, stationery, living away from home, travelling expenses and other expenses which a Member of Parliament does have to meet?

The strange part is that most people who approach me have the same thought, that their own cases are worse than anybody else's.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now authorise the Barry Borough Council to proceed with the erection of new greenhouses and ancillary buildings for reasons stated in correspondence from the hon. Member for Barry.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to authorise work to the value of £8,000.

Is the Minister aware that the Barry Council will be very pleased that the Minister has found it possible and proper to review his earlier decision?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the city of Carlisle is losing £42,000 in rate income, representing a rate of 1s. 6d. in the £, through the partial derating of industrial hereditaments; and what reply has been given to the views expressed to him by the Association of Municipal Corporations supporting the setting up of a committee of inquiry to consider and report upon the full implications of Section 68 of the Local Government Act, 1929.

Derating naturally caused a loss of rate income to local authorities; but equalisation grant assists in so far as the local resources are, for this or any other reason, below the average; and Carlisle benefits under these arrangements. The views of the Association of Municipal Corporations have been noted.

Will the hon. Gentleman inform the House what are the views of the Minister upon the proposal that has been made for an investigation into the effects of the Derating Act?

My right hon. Friend has appointed a Committee, which has just reported on the equalisation grants, and they have recommended what is in their opinion a fairer distribution of the Exchequer money than has formerly been the case. Derating did not come within their terms of reference, but I understand that the party opposite have come out categorically against derating for both industrial and agricultural purposes. I am not sure whether that is the unanimous view of the party opposite.

Is the Minister aware that, even taking into account the advantages of the Equalisation Grant, many of the poorer boroughs, particularly those that were blitzed such as West Ham, find that they are far worse off with the Derating Act in operation, and will he not try to do something if only to help those poorer boroughs?

The West Ham Corporation, amongst others, received a block grant, to which the hon. Gentleman did not refer in his supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the operation of the Exchequer Equalisation Grants.

The report of the Committee has been published so as to enable all concerned to give the fullest consideration to the proposed changes. In due course my right hon. Friend will consult the associations of local authorities and lay a White Paper reporting the results of this investigation of the operation of the grants.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in their Report this Committee do nothing to help the serious situation of an authority like Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which receives no grant and is in a serious condition because of the derating position, and will he receive representations from that city?

But the House will forgive my right hon. Friend if he did not give full weight to the considered and expressed views of the Association of Local Authorities, which will not be available until late September or early October.

Is the Minister aware that the Association of Local Authorities consists of a majority of authorities who receive the grant and is not really representative of the authorities who do not receive the grant?

But the authorities who do not receive the grant are represented in the Association of Local Authorities as well as those who receive the grant.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he proposes to take to make more material and labour available for school building.

My responsibility is to keep the Government informed of the probable supplies of building materials and to do what I can to encourage further expansion of output. At the present time materials are adequate for the school building programme, and the general supply of all materials is expanding.

Does not the recent Report of the Select Committee reveal that the supply devoted to school building is inadequate, and does the Minister not agree that, if we are to remove these blots from our educational system, a considerably bigger share of our resources of manpower and materials will have to be devoted to this purpose?

I am only concerned with the programme as it is, and I have had no complaints that there are shortages of materials for the programme.

asked the Minister of Works what steps can be taken to improve ventilation on hot days in the cafeteria adjoining the Terrace of the House of Commons.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the inadequate ventilation of the Terrace Level cafeteria presents an inconvenience to visitors using it and a hardship for the staff working in it; and if he will have the ventilation improved.

Substantial improvement in the ventilation of the cafeteria was made early this year by installing four Ventaxia fans which both induce and expel air. The Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, at whose request the work was done, has expressed his appreciation of the improvement. It will not, however, be possible to make the ventilation entirely satisfactory until a completely new system can be installed, and money cannot at present be provided for this.

Is the hon Gentleman aware that both visitors to this Assembly who use that cafeteria and the staff who work in a very limited space behind the heating apparatus would greatly appreciate some improvement of the ventilation there, and will he look at this matter again?

A general system of extract ventilation, both for the cafeteria and also for the Strangers' Bar, will be installed as soon as it is possible to find the necessary money.

But could not the Parliamentary Secretary do something in the meantime? Since the improvement was made, certain other heating arrangements have been put in at the back there and the position is really below the standard which ought to obtain in this Palace?

I will see if it is possible to do anything more in the way of fitting additional fans.

Ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Works what financial arrangements were made with the two companies that were given concessions to film the Coronation ceremony.

The Earl Marshal granted facilities to three companies to make colour films of the Coronation ceremony. He also granted facilities for a black and white film record which was pooled by the five main newsreel companies. My Department will recover from the film companies the cost of all work carried out on their behalf. This will include the cost of building camera boxes in Westminster Abbey and the cost of providing the extra lighting required for colour filming.

But might I ask the Minister of Works this question: As in those films no payment was made by the companies for actors, sets or script writers, and they were bound to be exceedingly profitable, and as I understand one company has sent out a thousand copies, surely it would be reasonable to ask that the companies should pay, either to the Government or to the Westminster Abbey Restoration Fund, some considerable part of the profits they make?

Our chief concern was to see that the film was the best possible film, and to my knowledge those companies invested large sums in the preparations for the film. If there is a profit made, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will get a good slice of it.

While recognising the excellent quality of the films made of the Coronation, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Treasury were consulted before this arrangement was made?

I am not sure of the answer to that, but I know that it was difficult to select only a small number of the companies who asked to make the film, since the space in the Abbey was not sufficient to give a camera box to everybody. It would have been difficult to put this sort of thing out to tender.