asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many notifications of Bank interest exceeding £15 have been received by the Inland Revenue Department under the provisions of Section 27 of the Finance Act, 1951; in what proportion of cases have the taxpayers concerned failed to return the amount, or the full amount; and what amount of unassessed tax and penalties has already been recovered.

Up to 31st March, 1953, about 1,200,000 notifications had been received. In about one-quarter of the cases failure to return the amount or the full amount has been discovered or is suspected. The amount of unassessed tax and penalties so far recovered is about £7 million.

Has the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend considered the various suggestions which have been made for drawing the attention of all bank depositors to the need to return interest for Income Tax purposes, especially on Post Office Savings Bank deposits, in order to save the painful personal and domestic circumstances which have arisen through tax being demanded so much in arrears?

My right hon. Friend has not only considered the suggestions, but has taken action on certain of them. If the hon. Gentleman would like particulars, I shall be glad to give them to him if he will put down a Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how increased rents proposed under the conditions outlined in Command Paper No. 8996 will be dealt with for the purposes of Income Tax, Schedule A.

:If Parliament approves my right hon. Friend's proposals the tax position will be governed by the ordinary law under which, where a rent exceeds the Schedule A assessment, the excess is taxable, subject to due allowance for repairs, under Schedule D.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that to follow that practice would throw a very heavy additional burden of work on the Inland Revenue Department and create many additional perplexities for taxpayers? Will he consider the matter and see whether he can remove the troublesome excess rent provisions under Schedule D and try to get the whole of the income on property assessable under Schedule A?

:I appreciate and share the concern of the hon. Gentleman that we should not overburden the very efficient Revenue machine, but perhaps consideration of the application of this branch of the existing law to this subject-matter had better await discussion of the Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average price of Government securities for six months previous to reduction in the Bank rate; and what was the stated price at which Government securities would be accepted in payment of United Steel shares

There are some 30 Government securities on the market in widely differing amounts and ranging from stock maturing within a few months to undated stock. A so-called average price for all these securities would be meaningless. For averages for certain groups of Government securities I would refer the hon. Member to Table 142 of the Monthly Digest of Statistics.

As regards the second part of his Question I would refer him to the public notice dated 23rd October, of which I am sending him a copy.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his reply will add further to the conviction that the manoeuvre of reducing the Bank rate at that time was not so much for the needs of the economy of the country as to enable a further group of friends of the party opposite to obtain their steel shares a little cheaper than they would otherwise have done?

My reply will only strengthen that conviction in the case of such persons, no doubt very few, whose obstinate desire to retain it prevents them from reading the documents to which I have referred.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last issued revised instructions to the Capital Issues Committee; and the nature of those instructions

The Committee's present guidance consists of my right hon. Friend's letter to the Chairman of 4th December, 1951, on general policy, supplemented by his letter of 3rd February, 1953, on the subject of Commonwealth investment. The terms were published in his replies to the hon. Member for Ealing, South (Mr. Maude) on 7th December, 1951, and to the hon. Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Horobin) on 3rd February, 1953.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many applications have been considered by the Capital Issues Committee for issues in excess of £50,000 since 1st January, 1953; how many have been granted and how many rejected; and what policy is to be followed in the future, in view of the general trends towards a freer economy;

The answer to the first Question is that, up to 18th November, the Capital Issues Committee had this year received 1,202 applications for consent to the raising of more than £50,000. Consent was given to 1,153 applications and 39 were refused. Ten were still being considered.

On the second Question, I have nothing to add to my reply on 19th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge (Mr. G. Williams).

Will my hon. Friend say what recourse may be had by the 39 firms who were refused permission to raise additional capital in appealing against the decision of this somewhat arbitrary body; and, in view of the march of economic events during the last two years, particularly towards freer markets, would it not be desirable to raise the present limit of £50,000 to a more realistic figure of, say, £250,000?

On the first point, the function of the Committee is to advise the Chancellor whether particular applications fall within or without the terms of that general policy directive, and if any particular applicant thinks that the decision in his case has been wrong—no doubt, because there are other factors which have not been taken into account—he can bring these to the notice of the Committee.

On the second point, I have seen it suggested that the figure of £50,000 should be raised, but I have seen no convincing evidence that this would in any way improve the working of the system.

:In view of the somewhat inconclusive nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what credit limitations are imposed by British banks, under his instructions, on foreign shipowners placing orders for ships with British shipbuilders

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to cases that have arisen under the current procedure of the Capital Issues Committee whereby a bank advance for this purpose may be authorised only if there are definite arrangements for early repayment or the substitution of more permanent finance. As my right hon. Friend said on 17th November, in reply to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey), he is considering the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Chairman of the Shipping Federation, as reported yesterday, has stated that we are being ousted from many foreign markets for British goods by credit facilities provided by banks and institutions in other countries, which are enabling Japan and Germany to undercut us and to give quicker deliveries than the British shipbuilding industry is able to do? Will he consider enlarging the facilities for British shipowners to enable them to compete and pay decent wages to the people they employ?

My right hon. Friend is aware that there is a real difficulty here, although its effects to date can easily be exaggerated. For that reason, he is urgently considering the whole situation.

Would my hon. Friend like to come to the North-East Coast and discuss the matter with shipbuilding interests, who would be very pleased indeed to see him?

I am always delighted to accept any invitation from the hon. Lady.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what action is being taken to arrange, on a basis of reciprocity, for relief in respect of the Indian Estate Duty Act which subjects to Indian estate duty shareholdings in companies registered in the United Kingdom, when the majority of the income of the company arises in India;

Her Majesty's Government, and, I understand, the Indian Government both appreciate the desirability of an agreement for the avoidance of double death duties between this country and India, and I hope that it will be possible to commence negotiations before long.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals were made at the recent meeting of the Consultative Committee on the Colombo Plan to secure greater stability in commodity prices

:The Consultative Committee made no proposals in this connection, although the report to be published will record the interest of countries in the area which are producers of raw materials in measures to stabilise prices at reasonable levels.

Would the hon. Gentleman tell us whether Her Majesty's Government have any proposals to make on a matter which is of such very great importance to most of the countries concerned in the Colombo Plan?

That is a rather different and much wider question. Her Majesty's Government are very interested, as they have shown, particularly in the communiquéafter the last Commonwealth Conference, in this most important question. The Question refers to the Colombo Plan meeting, and it would not have been appropriate for that meeting to put forward proposals of this kind.

In view of the interest which Her Majesty's Government have shown in this matter, as is shown by the Commonwealth Conference communiquéwhat are the Government doing about it?

They are participating in a number of international discussions about particular commodities.

Which ones?

Tin, for example.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the forthcoming report of the Consultative Committee on the Colombo Plan, he will make sure that there are clear statements, in tabular or other convenient form, showing, in relation to all the external financial assistance received, the countries from which it has been received, the countries to which it has been given, and the dates on which it has been given; and showing for each country the actual achievements, in terms of acres drained or irrigated, in kilowatts of electricity generated, in capital invested in definite projects, etc., in each case compared with the targets proposed in Command Paper No. 8080

The report was prepared by the Consultative Committee, and my right hon. Friend has no power to vary it. But I hope the hon. Member will find, when the Report is available, that the matters to which he refers have been adequately covered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far the failure of exports to balance imports is due to a failure to sell in foreign markets and how far to excessive home demand.

:At present, the U.K. has a small surplus on its overall balance of payments, but it is essential to increase exports further by determined selling efforts. As my right hon. Friend said during the debate on the Address on 6th November, he is carefully watching the level of home demand; if it becomes so high as to be likely to endanger our export trade he will be quite firm in dealing with it.

:May I take it that the Chancellor is satisfied with the position, which seems extremely dangerous; and, if he is not satisfied, does he not think that a very great increase in consumption at home, brought about by the last Budget, and, to some extent, by the reduction in the Bank rate, has contributed, at any rate, to a reduction in the earnings of exports?

:I think that increased consumption is a very good thing, so long as it does not go to the extent of endangering the export trade, but, as I have said, if there is any sign of that happening my right hon. Friend will take action.

:Do not the Supplementary Estimates of the Ministry of Food, just published, show that the Budget has got seriously out of hand, inasmuch as it encouraged increased consumption at home at the expense of exports to a greater extent?

:If the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that consumption, on the whole, is too high, that people have too much money to spend, and that purchasing power should be deliberately reduced by Government action, he is a little out of line with the views of his right hon. and hon. Friends.

:Is it not very satisfactory that people have been able to eat rather more food since this Government came into power?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the new proposals for the repair of houses will have on the amount of the national income estimated to be available for productive investment.

:Productive investment should be unaffected by these proposals. For several years now there has been a steady decline in the output of the building repair labour force. The new proposals should allow building repair resources to be used more fully and should lead to increased productivity.

:Taking account of the labour and materials used in repairs and in building new houses, does the hon. Gentleman say that there will be no additional demands put upon the building industry?

The White Paper on the subject says this:

"We cannot expect to devote, at least at the start, a substantially larger share of our resources to the housing programme in this new form than it enjoys today."

Would my hon. Friend consider asking his right hon. Friend to allow the joint stock banks to lend landlords money for the urgent repairs which will be required when the new Housing Bill is passed?

That is a very different question, which will need a good deal of thought.

:In view of the fact that the Minister of Housing and Local Government has spoken of a steadily expanding building labour force, how does the hon. Gentleman explain the consistency of that statement with what he has said this afternoon?

:This Question, and the answer I have given to it, were concerned with the productivity of the building labour force, which seems to be a very good thing to increase.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to how many applicants the Iron and Steel Realisation Agency have allotted shares in the United Steel Companies.

About 52,000 applications were received, and in all cases shares have been allotted for either the whole or part of the amount applied for.

:Could the hon. Gentleman tell the House what service these 52,000 people are to render to the iron and steel industry?

The very good service of returning it to private enterprise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that post-war credits will be paid to the next of kin of men and women who reach the legitimate age for payment, but die before a claim can be made.

:I regret that the law does not permit my right hon. Friend to give this assurance. He is aware of this particular difficulty and will bear it in mind in his consideration of the problem of post-war credits.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a constituent of mine did everything required by the Chancellor of the Exchequer except sign an Army or some other form? In the circumstances, does he intend to bar him from having his money because he did not sign the form, although he lived long enough to be able to try to get his post-war credits for his next-of-kin?

:The position under the existing law is perfectly clear. Questions of amending that law are, as I have said, within the scope of the consideration which my right hon. Friend is giving to the whole subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the issue of tobacco tokens to persons who are maintained by the National Assistance Board and who, although of retirement age, are not eligible for retirement pensions.

:I am afraid not, Sir. The objections to extending the scope of this concession have been stated on many previous occasions and are, I fear, decisive.

:Is the Minister aware that the people referred to in the Question are as poor as the poorest of retired pensioners getting National Assistance? How does he justify the maintenance of what is, in effect, discrimination against them?

:On the very grounds which were advanced when these arrangements were introduced by the late Administration, that is to say, to work this scheme without an unduly expensive administrative set up quite disproportionate to the value of the benefits given it has to be based on pensions paid by weekly orders through the pension office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the benefits payable to professional footballers are liable to Income Tax, whilst benefits paid to professional cricketers are not so liable; and what steps he contemplates to remedy this anomaly

The discrimination is not, as the hon. Member suggests, between cricketers and footballers. It is between, on the one hand, payments to either cricketers or footballers which accrue by reason of the terms of the employment and are taxable, and, on the other hand, payments which accrue by way of gift or personal testimonial and are not taxable.

Is the Minister aware that if a footballer gets a benefit after five years' service he gets £750 which, after taxation, comes to rather less than £500, and that a professional cricketer, who may get £12,000 or £13,000, receives it free of tax? Does the Minister say that that is not an anomalous situation, however he might defend it? Would he ask his right hon. Friend to have this matter looked into further before next April?

It depends in every case, regardless of which sport is concerned, on whether the man gets his benefit as part of the terms of his employment, in which case it is as properly taxable as any other part of his income, or whether he gets it as a gift, in which case it is quite properly, under the present law, not taxable.

:Is the Minister prepared to distinguish, for the benefit of the House, between the uncontracted benefits of the cricketer and the receipts of a vicar at the time of the Easter offerings?

There is nothing about vicars in this Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Society of British Gas Industries concerning Purchase Tax on gas water-heating appliances; and what consideration he has given to these representations

:The Society have asked that gas water-heating appliances should be exempted from Purchase Tax. My right hon. Friend will bear their representations in mind.

:Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that these valuable fuel economy appliances are heavily penalised by Purchase Tax and that if his right hon. Friend wishes to promote fuel economy and to help the housewife and industry there is no better way of doing it than that suggested in the Question?

:This point is one of the considerations which, my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, the Society has put forward, and it will be given due weight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the degree of voluntary restraint which has recently been exercised in the declaration of company dividends.

:I am aware of individual increases recently declared, but I believe that, taking industrial companies as a whole, the importance of voluntary restraint continues to be recognised and observed.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that there has been an increase in the past year quite different from anything we have experienced for a long time? It is estimated to be as high as 10 per cent. on the average. Is it not obviously depleting savings the need for which his right hon. Friend is always telling us about, and will it not also have an unsettling effect upon wages, with, in turn, a bad effect upon export costs?

:The hon. Gentleman is entirely wrong in his facts. Taking dividend distributions as a percentage on capital employed, in the first 10 months of 1953 the rate of distribution was fractionally lower than 1952.

:As the hon. Gentleman himself said that there had been individual increases, and as the Chancellor gave a warning on this subject only a few weeks ago, is the Minister simply going to stand idly by and watch his advice disregarded?

It is most unwise to draw misleading generalisations from a few particular instances.

Has my hon. Friend's attention been drawn to the correspondence in "The Times" on take-over bids, which are a direct result of artificial restriction of dividends?

That is an entirely different question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the "Financial Times" figures show that the increase of dividends paid this year is 8 per cent. above what it was last year?

My figures were derived from "Financial Times" statistics.

Are not hon. Members of this House the last persons to press this matter, bearing in mind that they have had a 60 per cent. increase in emoluments since the war and are moving for a further increase?

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many starlings have been caught in and around Trafalgar Square since the initiation of the campaign; what methods have been tried; what is the total cost; and what action is now contemplated

:The attempts made last winter to catch starlings in cages at their roosting places were unsuccessful. The cost was about £200. No further action in this matter is contemplated.

:Is this not a humiliating confession of failure in the battle of Trafalgar Square? In view of the expenditure of public money, will the Minister say whether any useful lessons have been learned about birds, and explain how it is that a party which believes in setting the people free should be so ruthless in dealing with these cheerful chattering birds that give so much pleasure to visitors to Trafalgar Square?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will authorise payment of drainage grants for work performed on all types of drainage schemes by the applicant himself.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, under his Department's grants for farm water supply schemes, the exclusion of the personal services of the applicant from allowance for grant is meant to exclude actual manual labour of the applicant in digging the trench.

My right hon. Friend has no authority under the terms of the relevant Acts to authorise payments for work done by the applicant.

Does my hon. Friend's right hon. Friend intend to seek authority?

Not at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the difficulties which some local authorities are experiencing in the collection of waste food; and if he will now revoke the wartime emergency directions requiring local authorities to engage in salvage schemes.

The answer to the first part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir." As to the second part, the Government have decided that the salvage of waste food by local authorities will in future be on a voluntary basis, and my right hon. Friend hopes to introduce legislation in the current Session giving local authorities the necessary permissive powers so that the wartime directions can be revoked. In the meantime, he is prepared to revoke individual directions for local authorities if they wish him to do so. Despite this, I should say that this is a most useful piece of salvage work which ought, if possible, to be maintained as a long-term service.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this answer will give great satisfaction to many authorities who engage in this very uneconomic form of expenditure?

:Is my hon. Friend aware that if authorities are to go on with this matter steps must be taken to see that this salvage is properly treated before it is fed to other animals, in view of the danger of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease?

The veterinary requirements of my Department will still continue.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the high price at which the 100 Landrace pigs recently imported into this country were sold to breeders; and whether, in view of the fact that these prices have made it impossible for small breeders to purchase these pigs, and of the need for improving the standard of bacon pigs in this country, he will now allow the import of Landrace pigs without undue restriction.

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Major Anstruther-Gray) on 12th November.

As I have not seen that reply, for which I apologise, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware that if we were to spend more money on these Landrace pigs it would be an economic proposition? We want better bacon, but for some reason my hon. Friend's Department is restricting their importation, which seems to be a short sighted policy.

:As the encouragement of these pigs, at least in Scotland, is very desirable indeed, cannot we have an assurance that t0he Minister of Agriculture will allow their importation, and, indeed, encourage it with all the means in his power?

:My right hon. Friend considers that the size of the recent importation is sufficient to show what this breed of pigs can do to help improve our pig-breeding.

Is it not a fact that we have pressed for the importation of these Landrace pigs in much larger quantities because we believe them to be the best bacon pigs, and that my hon. Friend's Department has been deliberately obstructive in the matter and has prevented their import into Scotland? Why should the Department not let us have control over our own imports?

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to terminate the functions of the county agricultural committees.

1 would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 19th November.

As a farmer himself, does not my hon. Friend realise that there is a wide measure of opinion, particularly among farmers, which feels that these war-time organisations are no longer welcome, and will he at any rate set a time limit to their life?

:No, Sir. My right hon. Friend has already expressed his view on this matter, which is that these county committees are doing a most valuable job and should be allowed to continue to do it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the fact that the deficit on lands in possession account and on land farmed by committees account was £58,297 in 1951–52, what steps he is taking to prevent this loss in future years

The area of land in possession of county agricultural executive committees has been greatly reduced since 1951–52. When the trading accounts for 1952–53 are published, they will show a much smaller deficit than in 1951–52, and in the future there should be no loss at all.

:Will the Parliamentary Secretary explain why my right hon. Friend has the shameful audacity to dispossess farmers when his organisation is losing the taxpayers' money? Will he cease forthwith using Iron Curtain methods with which to dispossess farmers in a once free country?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, as a result of his tests of the various types of humane rabbit traps, he is now in a position to introduce legislation to abolish the use of the gin trap

:I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 12th November to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson).

But it is now 26th November. Is my hon. Friend aware—as I know he is—that there is very strong public concern about the continued use of these barbarous contraptions? Will he also set a time limit to their use?

I cannot add to my answer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he is taking to prevent the spread of myxomatosis, a virus disease of rabbits; and why he is taking this action.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 12th November to the hon. and learned Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) and the hon. Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. E. Wakefield).

:Yes, but does the hon. Gentleman remember that the Minister told me, in answer to a Question many months ago, that they were researching into its effect in an island, I think, off the coast of Scotland? In view of this concern and the wide experience of this disease in France and Australia, cannot the Ministry make up its mind whether or not to allow rabbits to be killed by this means?

:As my right hon. Friend told the House, he has set up an advisory committee to consider where the balance of advantage lies, and, in the meantime, such outbreaks as are discovered are immediately being contained in the hope of keeping the disease under control to a considerable extent.

:Does the hon. Gentleman realise that it is the delay on the part of the Minister in making up his mind of which I am complaining?

Is my hon. Friend aware that to permit or encourage the spread of this disease would be repugnant to most sections of opinion in this country?

asked the Minister of Agriculture when a permanent scheme for marketing eggs will replace the present interim scheme.

:I cannot at present add to the statement in paragraph 6 of the recent White Paper on Decontrol of Food and Marketing of Agricultural Produce.

Will the hon. Gentleman give the assurance that the importation of eggs by the Government will not be handed over to private traders until a permanent egg marketing scheme is in operation? Will he also give the assurance that such a scheme will cover foreign as well as British eggs?

It would be quite impossible for me to give an undertaking going as far as that, but I can give the hon. and gallant Gentleman the undertaking that before the importation of eggs is returned to private hands we will consider how it fits in with the future permanent scheme for home-produced eggs.

Before setting up the marketing scheme, will my hon. Friend see that it is a voluntary and not a compulsory scheme, so that the producer of eggs who wants to sell direct to the consumer is able to do so?

All producer marketing schemes are voluntary and are voted in by the farmers themselves.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in response to the invitation given in the recent White Paper, he has now received from producers detailed proposals for a marketing scheme for eggs, and if, in view of the unsatisfactory features now evident in the present interim price guarantee arrangements, he will give urgent consideration to the problems of the poultry industry so that production may be fully maintained next year.

:I understand that my right hon. Friend may expect detailed proposals from producers' representatives very shortly, and he will certainly give them urgent consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture under what statutory authority he delegates his powers of choice of the nominated members of the agricultural land tribunals to the provincial land commissioner.

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 12th November, from which he will see that my right hon. Friend does not delegate his power to appoint the nominated members of agricultural land tribunals.

:Is the Minister aware that there is a rising tide of protest against this use of dictatorial methods, and that there is no difference in principle between those methods and the methods used in Communist countries, where they have proved a complete failure?

No, Sir. My hon. Friend gives a completely unfair impression of the function of these bodies which, in fact, are completely reputable and comprehensive safeguards to the landowners concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he takes to keep agricultural land available for food production; and how far his Department is consulted or informed in cases where an official inquiry is held into proposals to take agricultural land for other purposes

:My Department is consulted about all proposals to take agricultural land out of food production for other purposes, including those involving an official inquiry. All such proposals are carefully investigated by my Department, and clearance is given only where the loss to agriculture would not be serious, or where, if good agricultural land is concerned, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that there is no reasonable alternative for the purpose in view.

:When there is a conflict between the Ministry of Agriculture and another Department in a case where food production would suffer, which Department has the last word?

Will my hon. Friend have a careful look at some of the county development plans and see whether they contain serious threats to agricultural land?

My Department, of course, examines all county development plans.

Can my hon. Friend assure the House that when other land is available for building purposes, good agricultural land will not be taken away?

Where the other land is suitable for building purposes, I can certainly give that assurance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the catching power of the fishing fleets of Great Britain has fallen below that of Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium or France today; and what steps he proposes to take to bring the fleet back to the level of 1938

:I think my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. The British fishing fleets as a whole are much larger and more powerful than those of the countries to which the hon. Lady refers; but I am aware that the catching power of our fleet which operates in near and middle waters is less than it was before the war, while the other countries mentioned have expanded theirs. Parliament has given its approval to substantial measures of expenditure to assist the fleets fishing the near, middle and inshore waters, including a provision of £9¾ million for grants for new vessels and engines.

:As we do not seem to have got on very far, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he will pay a little more attention to his rôle as Minister of Fisheries, because that would be very welcome to those engaged in the fishing industry who are grappling with very difficult problems today?

:I cannot accept that we have not gone very far. We have had applications for the rebuilding of 26 near and middle water vessels, 45 inshore vessels and 34 herring vessels. I think that that is quite a good start.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made since his decision to defer for six months the proposed frozen fish scheme of the White Fish Authority which was designed to reduce the surplus of fish during periods of plenty and to make available stocks of frozen fish during times of scarcity, to enable the trade to make alternative proposals.

Since the White Fish Authority decided to defer for six months its proposed frozen fish scheme, it has received suggestions for a revised scheme from the National Federation of Fish Quick Freezers. These the Authority is now considering. Any scheme that the Authority may put forward will need Ministerial and Parliamentary approval before coming into operation.

Since this action is now long overdue, can the hon. Gentleman say when something will be done about it?

:I am not able to say how soon or even whether this scheme will come forward, but if the White Fish Authority recommends it it will receive immediate attention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the reluctance of some catchers and traders to give information about costings and profits to the White Fish Authority in its investigations into the high cost of white fish, he will take steps to make it compulsory for books and records to be kept and information furnished to the White Fish Authority.

I am informed that the White Fish Authority has draft regulations for the purpose in an advanced state of preparation.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that we are getting a little tired of the White Fish Authority's deliberating, and that we should like a little action?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will inform the President of the United States of America, at Bermuda, that it will not be possible for Her Majesty's Government to disclose to the United States Government British developments in defences against atomic weapons, until the United States Government has disclosed to Her Majesty's Government American developments in atomic weapons.

I do not feel called upon to make any specific declaration today on this subject.

Would the Prime Minister give an assurance to the House that he will not continue the practice of disclosing to the United States information about defences against atomic weapons, other atomic developments, and other secret weapons invented in this country unless the United States give us, in return, the fullest information about their inventions?

:I do not really see that any specific conditions can be laid down about these matters. The ordinary course of propriety will be followed.

:Does the Prime Minister accept the principle that, in this matter, if information is to be given it should be given upon a fair and reciprocal basis?

That statement has been repeatedly made.

:But does not the Prime Minister agree that the time has come when this one-way traffic of information from ourselves to the Americans, with nothing given in return, should cease, and that they should give as much information to us as we give to them

The hon. Gentleman really has no claim to be the only person of patriotic opinions in this country.

:Surely this is a matter which concerns us. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, owing to Acts passed in the Senate, the American Government have been hampered in giving us information which, I believe, their experts would like to give us? Surely it is a matter which might be taken up, because it is only fair that we should have as much benefit from them as they get from us.

:If all the facts were published as to the arrangements which I made during the war, and which were allowed to slip away after the war, I think the right hon. Gentleman would find some difficulty in making complaints against me. We have, of course, made more progress since we came in and took on the matter. We have made much more progress in obtaining information from the United States, and in improving the conditions of exchange, than has been made before. We shall certainly pursue that course. And I have repeatedly said that we expect to receive reciprocal information.

:I am sorry the right hon. Gentleman has made that remark, because it is quite impossible to judge those matters without a very full disclosure. The right hon. Gentleman knows quite well that it is very largely due to the action of the Senate that an agreement made could not be carried out.

I certainly see no reason why, at some future date, full disclosure should not be made.

asked the Prime Minister what further communications he has received from the United States of America concerning the exchange of information on atomic energy; and how far an exchange of information on the industrial uses of atomic energy will form part of the new arrangements.

The Chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission recently stated that it had been found possible to make arrangements within the limits imposed by the McMahon Act to extend the existing area of co-operation to include exchange of information with us on the effects of atomic weapons on human beings and their environment.

The provision about the exchange of information on the industrial uses of atomic energy remains unchanged.

While welcoming any enlargement of the exchange of information, may I ask whether it is not the case that the proposals of the United States admiral, Admiral Straus, work rather one-sidedly to the advantage of the United States, particularly in view of our far greater experience of being bombed? In those circumstances, will not the Prime Minister propose to President Eisenhower that there should be an enlarged and general reciprocal exchange of information, including information about industry, to avoid wasteful duplication?

:Yes, Sir. Our desire is that the exchange should be reciprocal and on fair and equal terms. That is what we shall endeavour to do.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister will be responsible for the co-ordination of atomic research in the universities and Government atomic energy plants

:The Lord President of the Council will be responsible for the Government atomic energy establishments from 1st January. He will, therefore, be responsible for ensuring that the results of research in the universities are taken into account in the work of the Government atomic energy establishments. Research by the universities is, of course, carried out on their own responsibility and is mainly of a fundamental nature, but the atomic energy organisation places contracts with the universities in connection with specific research inquiries.

:Would the Prime Minister reconsider his decision to leave this in the hands of the Lord President? Should there not be a Minister directly responsible to this House? Is he further aware that it was reported last week that important atomic research work at Birmingham University has been held up because the University cannot afford to buy a concrete wall? Surely there should be a Minister responsible to this House in charge of the whole of the co-ordination of research.

I explained very fully to the House the policy of Her Majesty's Government in this matter, and it really could not be altered by Question and answer from day to day.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer my hon. Friend's question as to who is to be the Minister responsible to the House of Commons? I cannot recall that it has been announced, but I gather there is more than one. Ought there not to be a Minister, of adequate Cabinet position, who is the single and recognised channel of information to the House of Commons? I gather that there is more than one, which seems to me to be a most extraordinary arrangement.

:I said that until 1st January, when the new system comes into being, the Minister of Supply will continue, as hitherto, to answer the Questions appropriate to his Department. In addition, after 1st January, Questions in the House of Commons will be answered by the Minister of Works. However, the question of atomic energy covers so wide a field that purely technical and scientific Questions fall into one category, while others, which raise large Foreign Office, or even world issues, may have to be answered by the Foreign Secretary or by myself.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how the Minister of Works is brought into this? As he is not a member of the Cabinet, and as, Departmentally, he is not concerned, as far as I can gather, with atomic energy, he will be merely an office boy.

That is a discourteous way of describing a very capable and hardworking Minister. The Minister of Works, it is true, is not in the Cabinet, but neither is the Minister of Supply. But close contact is maintained between the Ministers who are in the Cabinet and those who are not, and the latter frequently attend the Cabinet when their special topics are under consideration. At any rate, that is the arrangement which we propose shall operate.

With regard to the question raised by the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart), about a particular university, if he will write to me on the subject I will have an answer sent to him.

It is no discourtesy to the Minister of Works, but it is very difficult if he comes here and makes a statement without the background necessary to answer supplementaries. May I ask whether, on all occasions when atomic energy is discussed in the Cabinet, or in other Committees, the Minister of Works will be summoned? Otherwise, he will be useless to the House.

I have no intention of making any conditions about who are summoned to Cabinet meetings, any more than did the right hon. Gentleman during the years when he was in power. As to the Minister of Works, he has, of course, been very much concerned with this branch of atomic energy as his Department has constructed, or been concerned with, nearly all the buildings involved in the atomic construction. In addition to that, he is giving his full attention to the matter now and will be in the closest contact with the Lord President of the Council.

:The right hon. Gentleman has told us that the Minister of Works will be generally answerable to this House on atomic energy matters—

After 1st January.

Yes, and the Minister of Supply will be responsible for matters concerning atomic weapons. As research cannot be separated—particularly basic research, which the universities will do—between the industrial side of the atomic energy project and the weapon side, surely it is ridiculous that in this House we should have two Ministers dealing with what is really an inseparable subject. Should there not be one senior Minister dealing with all these matters in this House?

That is a matter of opinion. We on this side are sometimes even allowed to hold our own views.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if plans are now any further advanced for the use of helicopters by Civil Defence units.

It is recognised that helicopters would be of great value to Civil Defence in the conditions of a future war. The actual use of helicopters for experiment and training has been hampered hitherto by considerations of supply and cost and I cannot yet say when it will be possible to give priority for expenditure for this purpose.

:Can we take it that the Home Secretary has in mind that if Civil Defence can be supplied with the latest and most up-to-date equipment, there is all the greater likelihood of the public generally taking a greater interest in Civil Defence?

I am well aware of that point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to implement the recommendation of the Committee on Recruitment and Publicity for Civil Defence with regard to the appointment of an operational head for the Civil Defence Corps.

:This matter is under consideration, but I am not at present in a position to announce any decision.

:Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the Committee concerned attaches great importance to this matter in order that Civil Defence, as the fourth arm of defence, may be able to speak on equal terms with other arms of defence?

:Yes, I am aware of that. I am grateful for the views and assistance of the Committee, and I shall keep what they say well in mind in considering the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recruiting films for Civil Defence have been produced since he took office.