asked the Minister of Education when she restored the minimum figure of the parental income scale, below which figure no contribution is expected from the parents, to £500; if she will take steps to give wide publicity to this improvement; and if she will amend her recommendation to local education authorities accordingly.

I regret that the figure of £500 was given in error in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing) on 12th November, 1953. The income scale still runs from £450–£2,200, as stated in my Administrative Memorandum No. 425 of June, 1952.

asked the Minister of Education if she will award grants for the full three years to students of those training colleges where three-year courses for training teachers are provided; how many colleges provide only three-year courses; how many additional grants would be involved; and at what annual cost.

There are three teacher training colleges which provide a three-year course in association with the Froebel Foundation and at which my Department's grants are available only for the last two years of the course. I cannot extend my grants at these colleges to three years at a time when other courses of general training remain at two years. Additional grants to some 190 students each year would be involved at an annual cost of about £55,000.

asked the Minister of Education when she proposes holding consultation with the other interests principally concerned regarding the Report of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers.

As I indicated in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Remnant) on 21st January, these consultations have already begun.

asked the Minister of Education to which local education authorities in England and Wales approval has not been given for their development plans.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Education the average cost per head per annum of the education of pupils in primary and secondary schools, respectively, on the basis of the estimates for 1953–54.

About £32 and £59, respectively, on the basis of the revised estimates of authorities for the financial year 1953–54.

asked the Minister of Education the average cost, per child, in residential special schools maintained by local education authorities; and what is the average cost to a local education authority to maintain a child in a residential special school maintained by a voluntary organisation.

For 1951–52, the latest period for which information is available, the average annual cost per child in residential special schools maintained by local authorities was £289. The average cost to local education authorities for children in residential special schools maintained by voluntary organisations was £240 in the same period.

asked the Minister of Education to state the total number and the average value of grants for students at universities made by each of the English education authorities during 1953.

The information about numbers will not be available until the end of February. The corresponding information about the average value of grants will not be available until about this time next year; but, at the end of February, I can give the hon. Member information on this point relating to the year 1952.

asked the Minister of Education how many new special schools were opened in 1953;and how many places were provided in special schools in 1953.

32 new special schools were opened in 1953 providing 1,676 new places. A further 565 places were provided by increased accommodation in existing schools.

asked the Minister of Education whether she has now completed her inquiries into the circumstances under which the Cardiff Corporation entered into contract to buy land subsequently priced at £800 an acre without first knowing the price; and what decision she has reached on payment of grant on this purchase.

I am informed that the Cardiff City Council propose to purchase this site at a price to be recommended by the district valuer. I can offer no observations on the proposal in advance of the submission to me by the authority of an application for approval of the purchase.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what communications he has recently had with, or on behalf of, Seretse Khama asking that he should be restored to his chieftainship in Bechuanaland; and what has been his reply.

I have received no representations recently from Seretse Khama or from any person on his behalf asking for his recognition as Chief of the Bamangwato Tribe. Seretse Khama, as the hon. Member will doubtless recall, was never appointed and never has been chief.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what useful purpose is served by the trade census, particulars of which have been sent him; what is the cost per annum of this service; and if he will take the necessary steps to abandon it.

The present cost of the annual census of production required by the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947, is about £175,000. The total cost of work on the first census of distribution, which began in 1949 and was completed but for collation and publication by the end of 1951, will be some £710,000.It is essential that the cost of any such work should be justified by the benefit that it brings to industry and the community. I have accordingly appointed a committee, including representatives of industry and commerce, under the Chairmanship of Sir Reginald Verdon Smith, to advise me on future policy with regard to the taking of censuses of production and distribution. The Committee are examining

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what weight was given to food in the index of consumers' expenditure used for helping to calculate that the value of the £ sterling had fallen to 18s. 10d. since October, 1951; and what weight was given to food in the interim index of retail prices used for calculating that the value of the £ sterling had fallen to 18s. 5d. since October, 1951.

In the general consumer price index food represents about 30 per cent. of the total. In the Interim Index of Retail Prices the figure is about 40 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount received each month by his Department from the licence fee paid by bookmakers on greyhound racecourses and horse-racing courses during 1953.

The monthly receipts during 1953 of bookmakers licence duty paid by bookmakers operating at greyhound racecourses are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what bodies he consulted before the reductions, recently announced, in Purchase Tax were made; and under what authority those reductions were made.

For obvious reasons it is not and cannot be the practice to consult non-official bodies about impending changes in taxation. But due regard was had to the representations which had been made by hon. Members and by the trade and other organisations concerned. The alterations were made under Section 21 of the Finance Act, 1948.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he expects to collect for the year ending April, 1954, by imposing a tax on floor tiles.

Purchase Tax is collected quarterly in arrear, and as the Order reimposing tax on floor tiles, strips and blocks came into effect on 6th January, 1954, no tax will be collected on them during the present financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the recent imposition of a Purchase Tax of 25 per cent, on floor tiling substantially adds to the cost of construction of houses; and, in view of the fact that this imposition contradicts the policy of the Government in pressing upon councils and others engaged in building the need to save timber by substituting floor tiling for timber floors, if he will withdraw this tax.

I do not think that this charge will have any substantial effect on the cost of housing. But it is necessary in order to ensure that, in fairness to all the manufacturers and workers concerned, competing floor coverings shall pay the same rate of tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the progress of the negotiations at present going on with the Japanese delegation in London.

The negotiations are nearly completed, but I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in computing liability of ship-repairers to tax, he will agree to grant allowances based upon the total cost of the construction of new dry docks and not only on the cost of plant and installations.

The hon. Gentleman will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in the United Kingdom have incomes over and under £1,500 net per annum as shown by the latest figures available; and, if all income over £1,500 per annum were distributed to those receiving less, how much per week it would add to the incomes of those receiving less.

In 1951–52, the latest year for which figures are available, the number of personal incomes over £1,500 net after deduction of tax was about 214,000 and the number of net incomes below that amount was about 25.3 million. If the whole of the excess over £1,500 had been distributed to those with net incomes below that amount each of the latter would have received about two shillings per week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the income required today to equal the purchasing power of £2,000 per annum when Surtax was first introduced at this level in 1918–19.

I have no materials available for a precise estimate. The figure would not, however, be likely to be less than £3,400.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, bearing in mind the 14 per cent. increase in food prices since October, 1951, and the hardship which this imposes on all those on low fixed incomes, especially old-age pensioners, he will give an assurance that all his future policy will be designed to ease the growing burden on this section of the community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 19th November last. I must also point out that the food element in the Interim Index of Retail Prices was at substantially the same level in December, 1953, as twelve months before.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to supply a detailed list showing the quantity and value of all commodities purchased by this country, or being considered, under the American scheme for disposal of surplus farm products; and similar information in connection with Commonwealth and other foreign countries, respectively.

The United States Administration have issued formal authorisations for the purchase by the United Kingdom of surplus commodities under Section 550 of the Mutual Security Act, 1953, up to the following values:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations are taking place with the United States of America concerning joint action to minimise the international economic consequences of an American recession.

There is continuous and close consultation between the United States of America and this country on all matters of economic and financial interest to the two countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present arrangements for deducting Income Tax from the salaries of civil servants.

The Regulations governing the deduction of Income Tax from salaries and wages apply to civil servants in the same way as to other employees. If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular case of difficulty, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what restrictions are placed on capital expenditure on private telephone systems.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the amount spent annually in Britain on advertising of all kinds.

There are no official figures, but I understand that a survey of expenditure on advertising in 1952 has been carried out by the Advertising Association, and preliminary results were published in a supplement to the "Financial Times" on 25th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered details, which have been sent to him, of the difficulties of English thoroughbred horse breeders; and, in view of the importance of this industry, if he will take into account the suggestions made when framing his Budget.

The details referred to by my hon. Friend have been considered, but he will appreciate that I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he contemplates to offset the adverse effects on exports and the cost of living of the increased demand for consumer goods that will result from television advertising, as proposed in Command Paper No. 9005.

I see no reason to assume that television advertising will have any such adverse effects.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the present position with regard to the evolution of plans for the further development of higher technological education in this country other than the plans for enlarging the Imperial College of Science and Technology.

As I announced on 29th January last, the Government are making resources available not only for the expansion of Imperial College but also for further developments in higher technological education in other parts of the country. The University Grants Committee have invited the universities and colleges concerned to submit their plans for development and when all these plans have been received and examined, it will be possible to make a further statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a tax of 214 per cent. on fuel oil is adding considerably to the cost of living; that in so far as Coventry Corporation Transport is concerned this tax represents about 12 per cent. of the running expenses of the omnibuses; and what reply he has sent to the letter on this matter from the Women's Central Committee of the Coventry Labour Party.

I have received representations to this effect. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my reply to the letter she mentions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what further consideration he has given to the erection of a sugar beet factory in Hampshire; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) on 19th November, 1953.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many fatal accidents and otherwise, arising out of the use of machinery, have taken place on our farms and in forests; and what steps are being taken to protect workers who are using machinery to an increasing extent.

There were 232 fatal accidents in England and Wales arising from the use of machinery on farms and in forests in the years 1949 to 1952 inclusive. 62 of these accidents occurred in 1952. I have no particulars of non-fatal accidents caused in this way.I am considering what should be done to implement the recommendations relating to agricultural workers in the Gowers' Report, which includes the protection of workers using agricultural machinery. Information is being collected which will be used to advise those concerned of the precautions they should take to protect workers from injury.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state by counties, or the smallest regional units possible, the production of sugar beet for the latest convenient period.

The latest estimate of the 1953–54 crop in England and Wales is 5,101,000 tons, and in Scotland 125,000 tons. These estimates cannot be broken down in terms of production by counties or regions, but I am sending to the hon. Member a copy of a statement of the acerage grown by counties as shown by the 4th June agricultural returns.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent myxomatosis has now spread in this country; what are the areas concerned; and when he expects to receive the recommendations of the Carrington Committee.

Since the first outbreak was diagnosed at Edenbridge, Kent, on 13th October last, nine further outbreaks of myxomatosis in wild rabbits have been confirmed in Kent, East Sussex, Essex and East Suffolk. There has been no appreciable local spread of the disease from any of the centres of infection, which are mainly near the coast. I expect to receive recommendations from the Carrington Committee before the end of March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what deduction he proposes to make from the national average yield of barley and oats in respect of tailings, unsound grain and waste; and whether he is satisfied as to the accuracy of the present methods of estimating yields.

The deduction will be 7½ per cent. for each crop. While I am always ready to consider any suggestions for improvement, I have no present reason for questioning the accuracy of the existing methods of estimating yields.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of smallholdings in England and in Wales in 1948 and at the present time, with the number of smallholdings and the number of applicants on the waiting list in each of the Welsh counties at the present time.

The number of statutory smallholdings in 1948 provided by local authorities is not known. On 1st October, 1949, when Part IV of the Agriculture Act, 1947, came into operation, there were 17,638 smallholdings provided by local authorities in England and 1,824 in Wales. The corresponding figures for 31st March, 1953, are 16,715 and 1,725 respectively.The answer to the second part of the Question is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, in the 16 months since Iceland imposed the four-mile limit on fishing in Icelandic waters, British trawlers fishing in Icelandic waters have landed 43,883 tons less fish than during the preceding 16 months; and, in view of this fact, if he will now take further steps to resolve the existing dispute about fishing rights and interests between Britain and Iceland, in such a way as to ensure a regular supply of fish for British consumers.

As between these two periods, total catches by British fishing vessels in the area of Iceland have increased and not diminished, reflecting a rise in the rate of catch interms of effort expended which has been proceeding at least since 1947 and appears to be attributable to natural causes.As to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 26th October last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far recent investigations indicate that the present law is adequate to deal with undesirable practices at mock auctions.

The prevention in this type of business of practices which may be regarded as undesirable is not easily achieved by legal prohibitions, but such inquiries as I have made do not suggest that there is any urgent need for amendment of the existing law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) to what extent his regulations permit licensed victuallers to refuse to serve coloured persons;(2) if he is aware that in certain licensed premises in London coloured persons are being denied service; and if he will take steps to prohibit such colour discrimination.

I greatly deplore these incidents, but there is no action that I can take. I have no power to make regulations on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the fact that there is no colour discrimination in the recruitment of applicants to the police service in this country, he will circularise police authorities with advice that they should include in police establishment anyone who complies with all the qualifications necessary.

The basic qualifications for appointment to the police are prescribed in the Police Regulations, which do not discriminate on grounds of race, creed or colour. I have no reason to think that appointing authorities do not consider all applications on their merits, and I am satisfied that no action is called for on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds he has decided to extend by two years the period during which the National Marriage Guidance Council, the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council and the Family Welfare Association, will be receiving Exchequer grants for marriage guidance; and whether the sanction of Parliament has been obtained for this extension.

The proposed extension is designed simply to maintain the present position until consideration can be given to any relevant recommendations that may be made by the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce. The necessary provision for the financial year 1954–55 is under consideration in connection with the Home Office Estimate shortly to be presented to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of racial discrimination against Jews have recently been brought to his notice; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such discrimination in the future.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in the consultations in connection with the Government's proposals as to the closing time for retail shops; and when details of the proposed legislation are likely to be available.

Numerous comments have been received and are being considered. Detailed tentative proposals were circulated last March to interested organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that there are many British citizens who have come to live in this country who are living wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution; and whether he will investigate the problem and take powers to deport men who are found guilty of such offences.

I am aware that a number of British subjects from overseas have recently been convicted of this offence, and I shall watch the matter carefully. I must point out, however, that my hon. Friend's proposal would involve a radical and far-reaching departure from the tradition that any British subject has a right to enter this country and remain here freely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is with his approval that arrangements have been made for warders at Her Majesty's Prison, Dartmoor, and elsewhere, to take courses of judo at Bisham Abbey School, with a view to giving instruction in the sport to prisoners.

Certain prison officers who are physical training instructors are undergoing a special course at Bisham Abbey run in conjunction with the Central Council of Physical Recreation. Its object is to improve the standard of physical education in prisons and Borstals. Prison officers are not taught judo on this course, and prisoners are never taught judo. Instruction in judo is given to prison (but not Borstal) officers who volunteer for it, but not as part of this course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far the experiment of permitting 12 prisoners from Horfield Prison, Bristol, to spend Christmas Day with their families was a success; and what proposals he has for the extension of this principle in the future.

Arrangements were made for the five (not 12) Third Stage Preventive Detention prisoners who are living in a hostel at Bristol prison and going out to work in the town, to spend Christmas Day, not with their own families, but with families in the Bristol neighbourhood. I understand that this passed off very well, and I should like to express my appreciation of the kindness of those who acted as hosts. When the next similar occasion presents itself, the question of the most suitable arrangements will be considered in the light of the further experience which will by then have been gained of the working of the scheme as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a statement on the criticism contained in the report of the Select Committee on Estimates of Civil Defence on the policy and administration of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes. After consultation with, and on behalf of, all the Ministers concerned with Civil Defence, I have sent to the Select Committee a memorandum dealing with the recommendations which come within their specific terms of reference and are consistent with the policy implied in the Estimates relating to Civil Defence.Apart from such matters, the Select Committee in their Report have made certain criticisms of the policy of Her Majesty's Government. These criticisms are largely based on a misapprehension of the policy governing Civil Defence preparations which has been pursued both by Her Majesty's Government and by the previous Administration, and it is therefore necessary for me to restate that policy, even though it has frequently been explained in the annual statements on defence and in speeches by Ministers.The policy of Her Majesty's Government, which is in all respects the same as that of the last Administration, has been and is directed to the prevention of war and not to preparations for a war considered to be imminent or even inevitable. This policy has of necessity dictated the general programme of priorities in the field of defence preparations. Apart from the fact that the Armed Forces have, and Civil Defence has not, specific and inescapable commitments arising out of the "cold war" and other demands on our military resources, it has followed from this policy that preparations likely to deter a would-be aggressor from attacks upon this country must have the first claim on our resources; it is not suggested that Civil Defence has no part to play in a policy of this kind, but only that its part is a secondary one. Accordingly, the object of Civil Defence planning has been to build up the nucleus of an organisation with a view to its subsequent expansion if necessary.The policy of Her Majesty's Government has been to prepare a carefully considered programme of priorities and to select—generally speaking—those measures which are best calculated to assist the military effort without making demands upon our resources to an extent which would be inconsistent with the maintenance of a peace-time economy. If it had been decided that Civil Defence should develop

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many students have been trained at the Civil Defence training establishments, and what has been the cost, per student, for each week's training.

The latest figures available are for the financial year 1952–53. These are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour how many civil servants retired on pension are registered with his Department's employment exchanges and in receipt of unemployment benefit.

I regret the information desired by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Birmingham speech of Sir Godfrey Ince, the Permanent Secretary of his Department, was made with his approval; and if he will give an assurance that it remains his policy to encourage the voluntary acceptance of the principle of arbitration for the final settlement of industrial disputes, and to allow the right of organised labour to strike to continue unimpaired.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Labour to give the details, by trades, of the number of unemployed building trade workers in Dundee on the nearest convenient date.

:The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will approach the Swiss Government to inquire whether they will agree to reciprocal arrangements being made with this country, so that free medical treatment could be provided to visitors to either country who are taken ill during the course of their visit.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the nuisance caused by the emission of grit and soot from the boiler chimney of the Leicester Royal Infirmary, of which he has been previously advised by the hon. Member for Leicester, South-West, persists and is getting worse; that the local sanitary authorities are being asked to take legal proceedings against the hospital; that the Hospital Management Committee are prevented from dealing with this nuisance through lack of finance; and if he will direct the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board to give their immediate attention to this matter and to commence the necessary work in the current financial year.

I am aware that this trouble continues, but I am not aware of any recent deterioration. The Regional Hospital Board are working on the details of a scheme to stop it. They have been unable to include it in their capital programme for the current financial year, but have provided for it in that for 1954–5.

asked the Minister of Health why it was not possible for the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board to submit to him their programme of capital works for 1954–55 by 15th January as requested; and when he expects to receive this.

I am informed that the Board have delayed sending their programme so that they could take into account up-to-date information about progress on this year's work: I expect to receive it by the end of the week.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the widespread complaints in the Principality at the interference of a United States European station transmission with the transmission of the Welsh programme; that, in some parts and at certain times, it is impossible for the Welsh programme to be heard at all; and if he will consult with the United States authorities as to the possibility of stopping this interference.

Yes. We are in consultation with the United States authorities as the hon. Gentleman suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consult the Director of the Overseas Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation with a view to restoring the South American services in the interest of our declining trade with Latin America.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether consideration can now be given to the restoration of the cuts in expenditure upon overseas broadcasting, especially to South and Central American countries, in view of the importance of those markets to our export trade.

Her Majesty's Government are considering the whole question of expenditure on information services overseas, including the B.B.C. The B.B.C. are of course consulted on matters affecting broadcasting. The interests of our trade with Latin America are certainly being taken into account.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the increased cost per house where floor covering used is subject to the 25 per cent. Purchase Tax under Order No. 1, 1954, Notice 784.

This must depend on the amount and quality of the floor covering and how far the tax is passed on to the consumer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make on the recent cases of malicious damage in Her Majesty's Ships.

I am glad to have this opportunity to put into perspective the recent cases of malicious damage in Her Majesty's Ships.It is true that the number of such instances has risen during the last 12 months. There is no evidence that any organised campaign of sabotage or any subversive motive is at work. In all the recent cases the damage has been trivial—usually the smashing of a few dial glasses—and committed for personal reasons, in so far as there was any rational explanation at all.Inquiry into the background of the offenders who have been discovered suggests that they are often young and irresponsible men who would probably commit similar offences in any environment. To this type of mentality example is infectious and publicity given to one case may well lead to another, although I appreciate the restraint with which the Press have reported these cases.While there is no cause for alarm about the state of morale in the Navy as a whole, there is equally no complacency about the recent trend in the incidence of malicious damage. I am sure that we can rely upon the good sense of the Commanders-in-Chief and the Commanding Officers to do all they can to reverse that trend, and that in this they will have the full support of the overwhelming majority of their men.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the Service aeroplane that came down in Morecambe Bay, on 26th January.

A Washington aircraft with a crew of seven left Prestwick at 11.42 p.m. on 25th January, 1954, on the route Prestwick—St. Eval (not landing)—Laagens (Azores). Between 12.11 a.m. and 12.27 a.m. on 26th January a series of messages was received from the captain of the aircraft culminating in the statement that they were at "4,000 feet, baling out." It is presumed that the aircraft crashed into the sea in Morecambe Bay.An extensive search is being made in the area Isle of Man—Barrow-in-Furness—Liverpool Bay by aircraft of the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force, by vessels and aircraft of the Royal Navy, and by lifeboats. A search is also being made on land. No trace of the aircraft or its crew has yet been found. The search is still going on this afternoon (27th January).I should like to express my sympathy with the relatives of the crew in their grave anxiety.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence the number of National Service men who entered their service in medical category Grade I, and who were subsequently invalided out of Her Majesty's Forces before completing their period of service during 1952 and 1953, respectively.

I regret that the particular figures asked for are not readily available and to get them would involve a special and burdensome inquiry.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a further statement about butter and cheese rations: and what effect on prices the necessary removal of subsidy on de-rationing will have.

The butter ration will be raised by 1 oz. from 21st February to 4 oz. per week. The cheese ration will continue at 3 oz. but from the same date additional supplies will be made available for general sale off the ration. As the removal of subsidy is a necessary preliminary step towards the derationing of these foods on 9th May, of which the House was informed a few days ago, the retail prices will be increased from 21st February—by 4d. per lb. for butter and 2d. per lb. for cheese.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in what percentage of cases during the last two years appeals have been lodged in his name against tribunal assessments of physical disability; and in what percentage of those cases his appeal has been successful.

There is no provision for an appeal by the Minister against an assessment fixed by a Pensions Appeal Tribunal for war disablement.

asked the Minister of Works what measure of industrial building licensing control he proposes to retain in Luton in view of the intended eventual total abolition of that form of control elsewhere in the country; and whether he will give an assurance that the only object of retaining licensing control over industrial building construction in that area would be to avoid overloading the building industry in view of the amount of essential building work to be done and that licensing control would not be used as the means of restricting or prohibiting industrial building in order to limit the further development and growth of Luton.

The object of building licensing is to regulate the load of work according to the capacity of the building industry in the locality. In Luton, as elsewhere, licences for industrial building above the free limit of £25,000 are issued freely but, as pressure on the building industry in that area is heavy, new projects have normally to wait three months before they can start.