asked the Minister of Food if he will discourage descriptions such as ewe mutton; and if he will instruct butchers to label Scottish lamb and mutton when they get it in order to preserve consumer goodwill for Scottish food products.

This is a common trade term. Butchers are already required to label all imported meat either as "Empire" or "Foreign" according to its origin. There is no power to require the labelling of home-killed meat by country of origin.

asked the Minister of Food what he estimates will be the total amount of the sum to be recovered as as result of the recently announced meat price increases during 1953–54.

About £4 million, roughly equivalent to the cost of the reductions also recently announced.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the total disappearance of prunes in this country; and, in view of the fact that they are a necessity for many invalids and elderly people, what action he is taking to obtain adequate supplies.

The United States is the principal source of supply of prunes, but owing to our dollar difficulties we cannot at present afford to import them.

asked the Minister of Food the total weight of animal foods for human consumption imported in 1952; and what proportion it was to the total quantity of all imported foods with any details of varieties that are available.

The total weight of foods of animal origin imported for human consumption in 1952 was 2,083,000 tons, equivalent to 16 per cent. by weight of all imported food. Following is a statement giving the details.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to arrest the deterioration in quality standards of eggs.

My right hon. and gallant Friend is not aware of any general deterioration in the quality standards of eggs.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on the future marketing arrangements for eggs.

The interim arrangements have only been in operation since the end of March, and my right hon. and gallant Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on the future.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a further statement about the sales of cream.

On 25th February, 1953, I told the House that milk supplies were estimated to be such that I could safely allow for the period—April to the end of July—the manufacture and sale of cream without restriction. I have reviewed this matter in the light of the autumn and winter supply estimates and I am confident that in the absence of unforeseen factors, such as adverse weather, it will be possible to allow the present arrangement to continue. I must, however, repeat the warning that I gave in February that restrictions on the use of milk may have to be reimposed at any time if there is any danger of supplies not being sufficient for the needs of the domestic market and of essential milk products such as cheese and infant milk foods.The present arrangements for the import of fresh and sterilised cream will continue and a detailed announcement on this matter will be made shortly by the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the estimated cost of electrifying the suburban railway services from Liverpool Street to Enfield Town and Chingford and the Churchbury Loop from Edmonton to Cheshunt, respectively.

No separate estimate of cost for the electrification of these sections of line has been prepared by the Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the action he proposes to take on the recommendation contained in the report on the Harrow railway disaster in regard to auomatic train control.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6th July last to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Champion).

asked the Minister of Transport why he has found it necessary to call for a further actuary's report on the proposed pension scheme for wages grades in the railway service, when there is already available a comprehensive actuary's report.

I have not called for an actuary's report.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can now make a statement on the new scheme for pensions for railwaymen; and if the scheme will include railway shopmen.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for The Hartlepools (Mr. D. Jones) on 6th July. I cannot make any statement about the details of the proposed scheme until after the Commission have discussed with the trade unions the observations which I have made upon the proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can give the details of the scheme of decentralisation and regional management proposed to him by the Transport Commission in respect of British Railways.

No scheme under the recent Transport Act for this purpose has been submitted to me.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the fact that the report on the s.s. "Princess Victoria" disaster discloses that this ship was not equipped with radio capable of providing speech communication with the shore and with rescue vessels, what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.

The m.v. "Princess Victoria" was fitted with radiotelegraph equipment and carried a qualified radio officer in accordance with the statutory safety requirements for passenger ships. In general, radiotelegraphy has considerable advantages over radiotelephony for ships' safety purposes, being superior in range, more intelligible when there is interference, and capable of alerting ships by means of auto-alarms. Ships so fitted are able to communicate not only with other radiotelegraph ships but also with the coast radio stations, which are an essential link in the rescue organisation. In this way, communication is established with all possible sources of assistance.There is no evidence that the provision of radiotelephone equipment would have assisted in the case of the "Princess Victoria."

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that British Railways ships have no direct means of radio communication with aircraft; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this dangerous deficiency.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that ships and aircraft use different systems of wireless communication and that difficulty and danger is thereby caused to voyagers in both; and if he will set up an inquiry with a view to rectifying this and co-ordinating these means of communication.

In general, merchant ships and aircraft use different frequencies and so have no means of direct radio communication one with the other. There are however standing arrangements whereby distress traffic concerning either party is passed, whenever necessary, to the other through shore control links with the minimum of delay. These links give the essential co-ordination within the rescue organisation. In addition, the military aircraft earmarked for long range search and rescue operations are able to communicate direct with merchant ships fitted with radiotelegraphy. These arrangements have proved generally satisfactory. They will however be included in the examination which I am arranging of the air-sea rescue arrangements, and the points made by hon. Members will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the series of accidents, some fatal, which have recently occurred at the Brook Road junction of the North Circular Road, N.W.2; and if he will now institute a 30-mile speed limit along this road from Staples Corner to Neasden Circus.

I learned with great regret of the recent fatal and serious casualties near this place. I doubt whether a speed limit would reduce the danger, but the police are strengthening their motor-cycle patrol on this length of road and I am arranging for the traffic conditions here to be carefully examined in conjunction with the police to see what other measures can be adopted.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish a White Paper before the summer Recess showing the main outline of future roads for development plans and indicating which it is contemplated will be likely to be proceeded with at an early date.

No. I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to development plans under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947. Only a relatively small number of these have so far been approved by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Housing and Local Government. The road proposals which have been included in these plans are founded on the best estimates which could be made of the prospects of proceeding with them and it would not be practicable to attempt any more precise estimate at present.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken to make the new by-pass road at Newport and to provide a new local bridge to deal with the growing congestion at the present junction of the main road over the Usk.

Some progress has been made with the planning of the bypass. An additional local bridge would cost about £1½million and would involve considerable demolition of property and interference with wharves. I cannot indicate when it might be practicable to begin the execution of either scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the all-party deputation of Lancashire Members which met him on Wednesday, 18th February, to stress the necessity of sanction being given for the commencement of the preliminary banking work for the proposed high level bridge at Barton, is still awaiting a reply despite numerous reminders; and if he will communicate with the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, and the hon. Member for Leigh.

Yes. This matter raises some rather difficult issues, but I expect to be able to write to the hon. Members concerned very shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport what decision he has taken on the application by the British Transport Commission to abandon the Oxford Canal.

No such application has been made to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if the theatre industry has been permitted to give evidence to the Thesiger Committee, expressing views on the problem created by the recent judgment, Wurzal versus Dowher.

The Theatres National Committee have submitted two papers to the Thesiger Committee. It is for the Committee to decide whether they should be invited to give oral evidence also.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can announce the names of the persons chosen to act upon the Transport Commission for the new period of office of the Transport Commission.

Not yet. I have the matter under urgent consideration.

asked the Minister of Supply if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the West German Government is proposing to purchase American aircraft for its civil airline because of the delay in the delivery of British machines; and if he will make a statement.

I have seen it stated that a limited number of American piston-engined aircraft will be used in the first place to restart civil air transport in Germany. So far as I am aware, no long-term decision has been taken as to what types of turbine-engined airliners will in due course be introduced.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that a security officer of his Department seeking information about Mr. Robert Haslam, an employee of his Department at Risley, Lancashire, not only questioned Mr. Haslam about his personal history since birth but also asked him similar personal questions about various members of his family; that the two referees of Mr. Haslam who had sponsored his application for employment were asked by telephone for similar information including the political views of Mr. Haslam's family; and if he will give instructions that these methods should be discontinued.

The case referred to was investigated in accordance with the security procedure established for ensuring the reliability of staff employed on secret Government work.I am satisfied that the information asked for was relevant to the case in question. But the use of the telephone in these circumstances was quite improper and steps have been taken to bring this to the attention of all concerned.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will prescribe employment in the Cleveland iron ore mines as an occupation involving risk of pneumoconiosis under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether the Industrial Diseases Sub-Committee (Pneumoconiosis) has yet reported on the question referred to it early in 1951 of the method of prescribing pneumoconiosis for the purposes of insurance under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946.

I have just received a very full report from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the cover to be provided for pneumoconiosis. I am studying this and hope to be able to announce what action I propose to take on its recommendations shortly.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in view of the fact that the average duration of the life of man is shorter than the average duration of the life of woman, he will take steps to ensure that men shall be paid their old-age or retiring pension at an age no later in life than the age at which the old-age or retiring pension is paid to women.

No.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many persons there were in Scotland, in 1952, in receipt of retirement pensions; how many of these also received National Assistance; and the comparable figures for each of the last four years.

The figures asked for are as follows:

asked the Minister of National Insurance what will be the position of those persons who have exhausted their unemployment benefits under the new extended benefit scheme and are receiving benefit from the National Assistance Board; and if they will continue to be insured for all other benefits under National Insurance.

A person who after drawing his additional days of unemployment benefit is still unemployed and is receiving National Assistance, will be credited with contributions on the same conditions as when he was receiving insurance benefit.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why clergymen are treated as self-employed persons for the purpose of National Insurance contributions and have to pay the 7s. 5d. per week rate, since for taxation purposes they are classed as employed persons and assessed under Schedule E.

The only persons who can be treated as employed persons for the purposes of the National Insurance Acts are persons employed under a contract of service and persons deemed to be employed persons by virtue of Regulations. Clergymen have repeatedly been held not to be employed under a contract of service and so far as Regulations are concerned the National Insurance Advisory Committee have expressed the view that they should not be treated as if they were so employed. I understand that a different criterion applies for Income Tax purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total value of surplus war stores sold since 1945; and how far the proceeds have been treated as capital or as general revenue.

Total disposals of surplus war stores (as distinct from fixed capital assets) amounted to £880 million during the years 1945–46 to 1952–53. The greater part of the proceeds was brought into the Exchequer as receipts from the sale of surplus war stores. It is not possible to identify the extent to which the receipts were used to defray capital and recurrent expenditure respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what cases, and under what statutory provisions, he has imposed limits on the amounts recoverable by persons performing public duties in respect of financial loss or of travelling or subsistence expenses incurred by them; and what are the limits in each case.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to compensation for loss of remunerative time, and travelling and subsistence expenses for members of the public who serve in an unpaid capacity as members of Government committees, Royal Commissions and similar bodies. The rules governing these matters are somewhat lengthy and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of them. They are not subject to any statutory provision.