asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to encourage the production and exhibition of British films, he will now introduce discriminatory relief from entertainments tax when all-British programmes are shown.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

Would the Financial Secretary like to make history in this respect by indicating his right hon. Friend's acceptance of the principle involved in the admirable scheme submitted by the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association to assist the production of British films and also partially to meet the claims of exhibitors for a tax reduction?

As the hon. Member knows, it would be most improper for me to respond to his invitation. Is he not aware that the proposal contained in his Question is not the same as that put forward by the C.E.A.?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he has received from the entertainments tax on cinemas in the current financial year up to the latest date for which figures are available compared with the amount he received in the same period of 1952–53; and how the amount received compares with his estimate.

Entertainments Duty receipts from cinemas in the period 1st April, 1953, to 31st January, 1954, amounted to £31·57 million compared with £31·68 million in the corresponding period of 1952–53. Receipts are broadly in line with expectations.

In view of the Chancellor's undertaking last year to watch the effects of this duty very carefully in view of the continued fall in cinema attendances, which is undoubted, would the Financial Secretary care to say whether in his opinion a case for a reduction in this duty has been made out?

The hon. Gentleman must await my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what inquiries he has made since September, 1949, into the administration of the Tate Gallery; and what action he has taken in consequence.

No formal inquiries into the administration of the Tate Gallery were instituted during the period to which the hon. Member refers. The Organisation and Methods Division of the Treasury undertook various assignments at the Gallery; and in 1952 an experienced civil servant was made availableby the Treasury to advise the trustees on a number of problems which had arisen in the internal management of the Gallery. In all these cases it has been for the trustees and not for my right hon. Friend to take such subsequent action as was appropriate.

Were not these two investigations undertaken because allegations had been made of irregularities inside the Tate Gallery, and, in consequence of the first inquiry, was it not the case that a senior official of the publication department was dismissed; and, in the case of the second inquiry, was not action taken by the Treasury in order to put certain matters in order? In view of these new circumstances which are now disclosed, will the Financial Secretary not recommend to his right hon. Friend that a public inquiry should be instituted in order to allay the grave disquiet which is being felt?

I cannot accept a number of the implications in the hon. Member's supplementary question, but on the real point, as I understand it, at the end of his supplementary question, I would say that this matter has been, as my answer disclosed, very carefully looked at, and I am confident that the very distinguished body of trustees will do what is appropriate in the circumstances.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the new situation that has arisen since the resignation of Mr. Graham Sutherland, and will he take that into account when keeping this matter under review, as I hope he will continue to do?

The resignation of the distinguished gentleman in question is an important aspect of the matter which will certainly be borne in mind.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that there is widespread disquiet, both at the irregularities that have taken place, and also, I think it fair to say, about the various errors of judgment which have been made, and since the Treasury is responsible for the appointment of these trustees, whether public or private, why does not the Minister decide to hold a public inquiry to allay the public anxiety which exists?

I do not accept the implication of public disquiet. As the hon. Member will be aware, the irregularities—if he has in mind the departures from the terms of the trust deed which the trustees have disclosed—took place over a number of years and in circumstances for which a good many of the present trustees were not responsible. I hope that the hon. Member will bear this in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present state of negotiations for a double taxation agreement with the West German Government; and when he expects a convention will be signed.

Negotiations are almost complete, but one or two small points remain to be settled. I hope that signature of the agreement will not be long delayed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what statistics are avail able to him to enable some estimate to be made of the proportion of income spent, respectively, on food, rent, and fuel, by the various income groups; and to what extent this estimate influences policy in relation to food subsidies, rent and rates.

I regret that no official statistics are at present available showing the distribution of expenditure for different income groups.

Can the Minister attempt to make such information available? Would he not agree that the increases in price of the commodities mentioned in the Question hit the lower income groups much harder than the higher income groups? Is it not significant that over the last two and a half years the prices of these commodities have gone up much higher than the prices of other commodities?

Without entering into the rather vexed question of movements of prices, I should like to tell the hon. Member that the Ministry of Labour's household budget inquiry which is now in progress will, when completed, provide data from which we can furnish figures of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what purposes, other than the purchase of Canadian barley, unlimited amounts of dollar currency are available on application by private individuals.

Dollars are freely available for payments for certain services and for goods which are on world open general licence or for which the Board of Trade have issued an open individual licence covering imports from the dollar area.

I regret the vague nature of that reply. Is the Economic Secretary of opinion that the balance of payments position has moved so much in our favour as to justify unlimited dollar expenditure on commodities of which the Ministry of Food hold vast stocks, which can only be sold at a loss of millions of pounds to the taxpayer?

I do not know what was vague about my reply; the hon. and gallant Member asked for certain information, which I have given him. Particulars of the articles on world open general licence are contained in the first schedule of the current open general import licence and range from pig iron to natural untrimmed silkworm gut.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it cost to print and distribute "Broadsheet on Britain No. 32"prepared by the Information Division of the Treasury; and to whom it was distributed.

The cost of printing was £199 3s. 6d. and of distribution about £21 2s. It was distributed as usual to some 90 trade unions, to foremen, and others in industry, and to adult education, citizenship and other voluntary organisations. Additional copies were supplied on request to agricultural organisations.

Was it really worth incurring even this comparatively small expenditure for the purpose of conveying such piffling platitudes as, "From the soil comes most of our food," "The cost of food affects us all," "We are all in it together," and so on?

The purpose of this publication, as of its predecessors in this series, which have continued for a good many years, was to underline the importance of agriculture to our national economy. I hope that the hon. and gallant Member does not dispute that that is desirable.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that the Prime Minister has made very pungent comment on platitudes?

I accept the first half of that supplementary question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the unsatisfied public demand for crown pieces, more of these coins will be minted.

Power to strike Coronation crown pieces lapsed on 31st December last. By that date all outstanding demands from the banks had been satisfied. A small surplus of a few thousand crown pieces is available at the Mint for issue to banks if asked for.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that inadequate supplies of crown pieces, as well as of the proof sets of Coronation coinage, have presented dealers with a black market bonus? Would it not be worth while for the Mint to make some money instead of making farthings which cost a halfpenny each to produce?

Had the hon. and gallant Member listened to my answer, he would have appreciated that anyone who made a black market bargain in these circumstances was singularly unwise, in as much as the Mint still has several thousand of these pieces available for anyone who likes to ask for them.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that there is an unsatisfied demand for most coinage today?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of a shortage of shillings in Shropshire and other Midland counties, and of the difficulties such shortage is causing to people who are dependent upon shillings for slot meter supplies of gas and electricity for domestic purposes; and if he will take steps to remedy such shortage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the continued shortage of shilling coins, particularly in Monmouthshire, and that, in spite of the increased circulation, embarrassment is being experienced by those using slot machines; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I have had no specific complaint about shortages in the areas mentioned by the hon. Members. But I am aware that early in 1953 the banks reported a general shortage of shillings and sixpences. To remedy this the Royal Mint issued to the banks, through whom distribution is, of course, effected, between 1st January,1953, and 5th February, 1954, 72 million shillings and 72 million sixpences. The Mint is operating on a programme which provides for the continued issue of these denominations at the rate of 36 million coins a quarter. In sending particular quantities and denominations of coins to particular branch banks the Mint acts at the request of their head offices.

Is the Minister aware of the practice, which is reported to be developing in this and other areas where shortages are being experienced, of enterprising young capitalists of school age who go around from door to door offering shilling pieces for sale at 1s. 3d.? Does this enterprise coincide with the right hon. Gentleman's theories and principles on free enterprise? Is he aware that recently the gas and electricity boards have lengthened their intervals between collections from six weeks to three months, and will he take steps to get the boards to revert to more frequent collections?

Questions about the practice of gas and electricity boards are matters for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power. On the merits of the general question, as my answer indicated, we are aware that there has been a shortage of these two coins, and as my answer made clear, we are taking vigorous steps to increase the supply. The question of distribution is one for the banks, and it is for the branch bank in any area where a shortage develops to notify its head office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the fact that following the increase in the Bank rate, building societies in general throughout the country, increased their mortgage interest rates, but that when the Bank rate was reduced last September no corresponding reduction was made by the building societies to their mortgagees; and whether he will introduce legislation to compel building societies to reduce their mortgage interest rates.

The rates of interest which building societies charge on their loans are for settlement between the societies and mortgagors. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No, Sir."

Does not the Economic Secretary realise that the interest rate was put up consequent upon the action of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in raising the Bank rate, and that the Chancellor subsequently reduced the Bank rate but that this benefit has not been passed on to mortgagors? Does not the hon. Gentleman feel that he ought to do something about this if the cherished ideal of the Conservative Party—that this is a property-owning democracy—is ever to come to fruition?

The hon. Member is reading too much into what was a purely technical adjustment of the Bank rate in September, 1953. In any case, I certainly should not interfere with the activities of the building societies, which, I consider, are a great asset to the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the failure of the offer for sale of Lancashire Steel Company shares, he will now take steps to terminate the sale to private interests of publicly owned assets in the iron and steel industry.

The answer both to the suggestion of fact and to the interrogation on policy is "No, Sir."

Is it not rather deplorable that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who ought to be guarding the public interest, should be engaged in trying unsuccessfully to sell public assets to City interestswho do not much want to buy them and who have nothing to contribute to the steel industry?

The last part of that supplementary question is purely an expression of the right hon. Gentleman's doctrinal opinion. On the merits of the matter, of course the shares were sold, and I am sure that the House will be touched by the right hon. Gentleman's tenderness for the interests of the consortium.

:When considering this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the question of whether it is worth spending the hundreds of thousands of pounds entailed in each of these flotations to bring about a mere temporary change in the ownership of these shares?

The right hon. Gentleman knows better than most that the merits of this matter were discussed at great length in the House and that this House decided that the steel industry should be returned to private enterprise. On the second part of his question, I should not like too vigorously to dash the right hon. Gentleman's hopes, but I do not think he is on a very good thing.

Is it not a fact that the threat of this temporary ownership is the cause of why the shares could not be sold? Is it not the vicious campaign of hon. Members opposite to prevent this?

I think that my hon. Friend exaggerates the importance which intelligent opinion attributes to the views and policies of right hon. Gentlemen opposite.

Has not experience shown on this occasion that the minority in this House was right?

I think the right hon. Gentleman will live to regret that prophecy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider imposing a capital levy in order to raise funds to pay off the outstanding post-war credits.

No, Sir.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that the suggestions made in the Question were first put forward by a very distinguished economist, the late Lord Keynes, and if this suggestion were put into operation his right hon. Friend would earn great popularity by paying out post-war credits without any fear of inflation?

I appreciate fully the very understandable and legitimate public desire to see the payment of post-war credits accelerated, but I can think of no more disastrous method of accelerating them than by indulging in the old-fashioned and, I thought, discredited expedient of a capital levy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated cost, in dollars, would be this year of allowing a travel allowance for the United States of America at the same rate as for non-dollar countries.

It is impossible to estimate at all closely what the cost would be, but it would certainly be substantial.

On what has the Chancellor based his decision not to allow it, and does the hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that the ordinary traveller will ever be able to go to the United States again?

I would be most anxious to provide exchange travel facilities and exchange for travellers to all parts of the world, but we have to have regard to the dollar balance of payments, and, in the present state of the dollar reserves, it would not be justifiable to have a dollar travel allowance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to allocate sufficient foreign exchange to allow of the import of Canadian newsprint to meet the proper needs of the newspaper industry.

Newsprint supplies are under discussion between my noble Friend the Minister of Materials and representatives of the newspapers. I should not wish to prejudice the decision on any proposals that may be made as a result of these discussions, but the balance of payments situation will not permit any large increase in the immediate future in imports of newsprint from any source.

Can the Minister say what are the proper needs of the newspaper industry in view of our experience of the way the extra space was used after the last increase in newsprint?

The proper needs of the industry are determined by the proper requirements of the consumer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now give details of the commodities which will be bought with the recently announced allotment by the United States of America of dollars for the purchase of agricultural commodities.

The allotment recently announced is of 20 million dollars under Section 541 of the United States Mutual Security Act. It completes the total allotment of 55 million dollars proposed for the United Kingdom under this Section. Proposals for spending the dollars made available will be discussed with the United States shortly and announced as soon as agreement is reached.

May we take it that eggs are not included as one of the commodities?

This particular form of aid is an extension of defence support aid, and I doubt if eggs come under that heading.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of money allocated as grants in aid to the Arts Council, since its formation to date, has been made available for the acquisition of a total or partial interest in ballet, opera or theatre companies; and what are the names of the companies.

None, Sir.

Is there any likelihood of any alteration in the policy of the Arts Council as approved by Her Majesty's Government?

Perhaps the hon. Lady will put that question down.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to bring the Currency and Bank Notes Act of 1954 into operation.

An order entitled the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954 (Commencement) Order, 1954, bringing the Act into operation on 22nd February has been signed today and will be published tomorrow. The revocation of Defence (Finance) Regulations 7AA and 7AB will therefore take effect on Monday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much net ordinary dividends were raised in 1953; and if he will give an estimate of how much per week the average basic wage rate would have been increased if this sum had been distributed to the workers instead of to shareholders.

The increase in ordinary dividends after tax, between 1952 and 1953, is estimated at about £25 million; this amount, if divided among the wage earners employed by companies, roughly estimated at 10 million, is equal to about 1s. per week.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the "Economist" last week estimated a figure of 5½d.? Whichever figure is true, will he do his best to see that the significance of this figure is widely appreciated in the country, and not least by some of the Oxford dons sitting opposite?

I would hesitate at any time to question the accuracy of the "Economist,"but my figures were based on the number of wage earners employed by the companies actually paying a dividend, whereas the "Economist" figures were based on the total number of wage earning and salaried employees, including Government employees, and so on. As far as publicity for these facts is concerned, I am sure my hon. Friend will contribute largely in that direction.

Would the hon. Gentleman say what were the respective contributions of the workers and the shareholders to the provision of this wealth?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put a Question of that kind on the Paper.

Is the Economic Secretary justifying the over-payments to the moneylenders on the grounds that the share-out for the workers would not be very high?

There is nothing in this Question about moneylenders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the delay in adjusting the scale of pay of senior assistant collectors of taxes following recent pay awards; and whether he will expedite matters.

A new scale of pay was offered to the Staff Association concerned on 15th February.

Is the Minister aware that the arbitration awards which govern this decision were made last October and that adjustments, when made, will be retrospective to 1st January, 1953? Has the right hon. Gentleman ever considered the docility of the civil servants and is it not well that these men are represented by the Inland Revenue Staff Federation and not by the E.T.U.?

I am sure the docility of the hon. Member is a most admirable feature of him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women deputy secretaries are drawing equal pay.

Two, Sir.

I congratulate my right hon. Friend upon the recent 100 per cent. increase, but is it not most unfair that at the top and at the bottom equal pay should prevail but that in between there is no equal pay? Will he please get rid of this absurd anomaly?

The hon. Lady is very well aware of the attitude of Her Majesty's Government on this matter, and I do not think I should help her very much by reiterating it again this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now state the policy of his Department with regard to the importation of Swedish Landrace pigs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will now allow the importation of more Landrace pigs for breeding purposes in Scotland.

At the request of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, an Order will be made permitting the import of a limited number of Landrace pigs into Scotland, subject to veterinary safeguards. I am not at present satisfied that a further import into England and Wales is justified, but I am keeping under review the whole question of future imports of Landrace pigs.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the result of his policy is that the English farmers have had to pay £1,000 for a Landrace pig, that the farmers in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have got them for one-tenth of that price, and that the Scottish farmers have not been allowed to import them on any scale? How does the right hon. Gentleman, as an English Minister, justify his action in refusing to allow Scottish farmers to get the best pig for the job, after urging those farmers to produce the best quality bacon?

If the hon. Gentleman will read my answer, he will see that I shall allow some pigs into Scotland in the immediate future. My responsibility here is for animal health, and I must be extremely careful about the importation of any live animals from the Continent.

Can the Minister say how many pigs he will allow to be imported into Scotland, and can he tell us why there should be these restrictions on their import?

The restriction is purely on animal health grounds, because we must be extremely careful as far as health is concerned. As regards numbers, I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of horses, for the year 1953, returned by owners of horse-carrying vessels, under Section 13 of the Horses (Sea Transport) Order, 1952, as having died or having been killed or injured in transit.

There were nine casualties among the 17,000 horses shipped to or from Great Britain during 1953. Six horses died and three had to be slaughtered because of illness or injury.

Since the Sea Transport Order was introduced primarily because of the abuse and because of the notoriety of this traffic across the Irish Sea, do not those figures indicate that the Order is almost a dead letter already, when only nine casualties are reported out of 17,000 horses carried in this nefarious traffic? What is the Minister going to do in order to get a proper check on the strips?

I should have thought that the figures gave an entirely different construction and that they showed a satisfactory position. If, however, the hon. Gentleman has any evidence of contravention of the Order and will let me have it, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement on the results of the trial of the Imbra humane rabbit trap.

These trials will be going on throughout the current trapping season and I do not expect to reach any definite conclusions until the end of April or early in May, when the trapping season ends.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is widespread feeling about the continued use of the gin trap, and will he kindly speed up the provision of any humane alternative?

Yes, and whilst I entirely sympathise with the House and am doing my utmost to speed up some alternative to the gin trap, we must be certain that before we discard it we have an effective substitute. I had hoped to be able to report to the House this month but, owing to the recent hard frost, as I have said, I shall not be able to report to the House on the latest experiments before April or May.

:Is the Minister aware that his Joint Parliamentary Secretary recently implored this House to give him every assistance in preventing disease from killing off the rabbits which ought to be preserved for the rabbit and fur trade? Could the Minister explain the contradiction between the two policies, where on the one hand the Ministry is trying to preserve rabbits for the market and on the other is trying to invent traps to kill them?

My hon. Friend said nothing of the kind. This is an entirely different question. As the House knows, I set up a committee under my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary on the curious disease of myxo-matosis, which I hope will report in the early spring.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement on the prospects in respect to the supply of green vegetables in the late spring.

The long spell of mild weather before Christmas brought on many crops more rapidly than usual. The recent frost has destroyed some standing crops in exposed situations and checked others severely. The combination of these factors may mean that supplies of green vegetables in the late spring will be smaller than they would otherwise have been. It is, however, too early to make any firm estimate, since weather conditions in the next weeks will affect the rate and extent of recovery of the damaged crops and the growth of the rest.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the trade is now predicting a period of high-priced scarcity, and in view of the importance of the matter, will he give an assurance that in the event of a shortage he will not use his influence to prevent a sufficient quantity being imported to keep the prices down to a reasonable level?

:Naturally I cannot give any assurance as to what the climate will be during the next few weeks, but I am informed that there is no need for undue pessimism as long as the weather is favourable.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many outbreaks of bacterial blight of peas there have been in this country recently; and what steps are being taken to eliminate the risk of infection through infected seed.

There is no authentic record of any outbreak of bacterial blight of peas in the United Kingdom and I understand that there is no imminent danger of the disease becoming established here through infected seed from abroad. I do not propose to take any special measures at the present time to control imports of pea seed but the position will be carefully watched.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reply he has had from the Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society about the proposal in Command Paper No. 9014, paragraph 59 (5), to consider group contracts and the setting up of a co-operative society for farm improvements.

The Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society has readily accepted my invitation and will, early next month, begin a survey to find how far group action could help in getting work done on Livestock Rearing Act and marginal production schemes in the remote areas of Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Welsh Sub-Commission has yet been asked to in vestigate the types of fanning calculated to make the most efficient use of the resources of the Welsh rural areas, as stated in Command Paper No. 9014, paragraph 59 (3); and whether he will state the exact terms of reference.

Yes, Sir. With permission, I will circulate in the Official Report a copy of the terms of reference to the Agricultural Land Commission. This has been delegated by the Commission to the Welsh Agricultural Land Sub-Commission.

Is it the intention of the Ministry to employ extra staff for this work in order that we may get a fairly early report?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put that Question down, because it is a rather different one.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of volunteer agricultural camps to be set up for 1954; and if he will give the areas of placing.

:Seventeen, of which four will be in Lincolnshire, three in Northumberland, two each in Oxford and Wiltshire and one each in the Isle of Ely, Rutland, Shropshire, Warwick, and the East and West Ridings of Yorkshire.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. and learned Friends the Home Secretary and the Minister of Labour are at present sabotaging his efforts in these camps by preventing foreigners who want to work and live in them from going there, although farmers, at any rate in north Lincolnshire, badly need their help?

I am satisfied that my right hon. and learned Friends have done nothing of the kind.

:Is the Minister aware of the great concern felt by growers on the Isle of Ely that the Minister, although allowing a voluntary holiday camp, is closing down other camps needed for labour in the fruit-picking season?

I think that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to a different kind of camp.We have that position very much in view, but the House must realise that these camps are extremely costly and the kind referred to in the Question are in areas where there is a definite demand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what consideration is being given to the training schemes which have operated since the end of the war by his Department; and if he will state the number of entrants for training for the years 1947 up to and including 1953.

Training schemes for disabled persons and for ex-regular members of Her Majesty's Forces began after the war and a third more general scheme was begun in 1949. These schemes serve a useful purpose and it is my intention to continue them. Under these schemes, nearly 17,000 people have, in the period mentioned, been entered for training. A fourth scheme for training young towns-people began in 1951 and in its first three years there have been some 2,700 entrants.

Whilst I am satisfied that the Minister is prepared to continue with these schemes, is he aware that when young men are called up for National Service many farmers are gravely concerned about finding labour to take on their duties, and can anything be done to assist the farmers who find themselves in that position?

That is an entirely different question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now give further details of the Government's proposals for the marketing of agricultural produce outlined in the White Paper Command No. 8989.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress he has made in examining the scheme submitted to him by the National Farmers' Union for the marketing of fat stock by grade and deadweight; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he is handing the Milk Marketing Boards back to the producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how soon it is proposed to make effective the restoration of powers to the Milk Marketing Board.

On milk, discussions have been proceeding with all the interested parties and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food hopes next week to make an announcement about the restoration of certain powers to the Milk Marketing Boards as from 1st April.

Details of the arrangements for deficiency payments for cereals from the 1954 harvest have been announced. The Ministry of Food will no longer be a support buyer but will continue to operate the drying and storage facilities of re- commissioned mills during 1954. The precise method of operation is now under consideration.

On potatoes, the guarantee for the 1955 harvest will be provided by a support price system which could be operated through a Potato Marketing Board if one is established. Agreement on this has been reached with the National Farmers' Unions subject to the level of the support price to be determined for the 1955 harvest in the light of the Annual Review.

Discussions on long-term marketing and guarantee arrangements for eggs are proceeding.

On meat, the statement issued by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food yesterday showed that good progress has been made in preparing the arrangements that will operate on decontrol next summer. Details of the price guarantees will be announced after the Annual Review. I understand that the National Farmers' Unions will be submitting a fat stock marketing scheme as envisaged in the recent White Paper in the near future.

This is a welcome sign of some progress. May we take it that the Government will help forward these marketing schemes on lines that will give price stability and at the same time ensure greater efficiency and economy for the benefit of consumers as well as producers in the marketing of home produce?

Yes, most certainly, and the basis of examination of marketing schemes submitted to me will be on the lines indicated by my hon. Friend.

Do these arrangements imply a total of food and agriculture subsidies next year similar to those of this year, which were so much in excess of the Chancellor's estimates?

These Questions are entirely to do with marketing arrangements.

When the Milk Marketing Board's powers are restored, what will be the Minister's attitude to the proposed advertising campaign designed to increase the sale of liquid milk? Is it not a fact that every additional gallon sold will cost the taxpayer 5d. by way of subsidy? If this is so, would not the money be better spent on educating farmers to the need for high yields, lower costs and reduced selling prices?

I cannot accept the implications of the hon. Member's question, and I think that he had better wait until full details are available.

:Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he is really doing all he can to help forward the formulation of a voluntary Marketing Board, as was envisaged by the White Paper of last autumn and the subsequent debate?

Yes, Sir.

Has the right hon. Gentleman consulted the National Dairymen's Association on the Marketing Board proposals and, if so, what was the result?

My right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Food has dealt with that side of the negotiations.

Major Anstruther-Gray.

On a point of order. I had Question No. 49 down for reply from the Minister, and he has answered it. I

I did not realise that.

Will my right hon. Friend tell members of the Milk Marketing Board that when the Board is restored this summer they will be able to sell milk to very much better advantage than it has been sold over the years by the Ministry of Food? In other words, they will be selling manufacturing milk in the best possible markets.

I hope and believe that that will be the case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the names of all areas referred to the Agricultural Land Commission for investigation and report under Sections 84, 86 and 87, respectively, of the Agriculture Act, 1947; the dates of the several references; and the number of owners and occupiers in each area who owned land or had tenancies in the respective areas.

As my answer includes a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the Caldra system of netting rabbits, upon which favourable reports have recently been received in Scotland; and what steps he is taking to further the use of this method in England in view of the fact that it is more humane than using traps and fully as effective on suitable terrain.

:Officers of my Department were present at the demonstration in Scotland referred to in the replies given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 2nd and 9th February by the Secretary of State and Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. They report that the Caldra system of netting rabbits would be effective when conditions were suitable for its use. I will consider whether I can usefully take any steps to bring this system of catching rabbits to the notice of farmers and others in this country.

In view of the promising nature of this and other methods of dealing with the rabbit population, would not my right hon. Friend indicate that he will be prepared to try to reduce the period before which the gin trap is abolished?

That is a different point. This particular method is an extension of the old-established system of long netting. I have studied it very carefully and it can be effective on flat ground.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the areas which were requisitioned under War Emergency Regulations, and have been acquired by him under compulsory powers granted under Section 85 of the Agriculture Act, 1947; the dates the several areas were informed of his intention to acquire; the number of owners and occupiers involved in each area; the acreage in each area involved; the number who appealed to the Agricultural Land Tribunal; and the number of these whose appeals were upheld.

I am sending my hon. Friend a statement giving the information desired.

Does the Minister realise that the information, which I presume is supplied by these answers, would be subject to cross-examination and would be produced as evidence in an open court of English law if a dispossessed farmer had the right to appeal on points of fact and merit, whereas all we can do now is deal with the matter by Question and answer in the House?

My hon. Friend had better wait until he sees the statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the cost to the taxpayer of the promotion and administration to date of the Apple and Pear Marketing Scheme.

The expenses in respect of the public inquiry into objections to the apple and pear marketing scheme and the reimbursement to the Apple and Pear Marketing Board of a part of their initial expenses amounted to £5,258 2s.

Will my right hon. Friend give up all attempts at State trading and leave trading and marketing to experts?

The Marketing Board has nothing whatever to do with State trading.

asked the Minister ofAgriculture when he expects to receive the report of the Gowers Committee on foot-and-mouth disease.

By May or June.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the anxiety and interest and even impatience with which the conclusions of this Committee are awaited, particularly with regard to the use of vaccines? Will he represent to the Committee that they should expedite their report?

The Committee are proceeding as fast as they can. They are a very high-powered Committee and they will have a great deal of influence on the future of the livestock industry in this country. I am perfectly satisfied that they are getting on as quickly as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will set up a committee to inquire into the subject of common land.

I have taken note of my hon. Friend's suggestion but cannot yet say whether it would be expedient to adopt it.

Whilst realising that this is a very controversial subject, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is not aware that a great deal could be done to produce more on common land? As this is such an intricate subject, does he not appreciate that the only way to tackle it is by forming a committee to go into the whole matter?

We are examining this matter very carefully and I am discussing it with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government. There are one or two points to be cleared up at present.

Is the right hon. Gentleman man aware that this is a problem all over the country? Does he remember the case of the Shenstone commoners which was referred to his Department and in which the legal tangle was such that his Department could not help?

I do.

Would my right hon. Friend consult his liaison officers who are practical men who know about the subject, because the question of making common land of the maximum use to commoners and to the country is very important and must be tackled?

Although the liaison officers give me valuable advice, I do not think that they could help me on a subject of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, in a case to which his attention has been drawn by the hon. Member for Reigate, his Department gave consent to a local authority for a change of user for a property without giving the owner of the land an opportunity to state his views.

Since February, 1952, it has been the practice of my Depart-

ment to notify owners and occupiers of proposals by public bodies for the development of agricultural land referred to the Department for comment under the planning arrangements. The case to which my hon. Friend refers was dealt with before the introduction of this arrangement.

Will my right hon. Friend look into the facts again, because that is not the information which has been given to me?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet completed his review of the problem of maintaining the concrete roads laid down in the Fens by his Department during the war; and if he will make a statement.

Some 41 miles of these concrete roads have been taken over by county councils. Responsibility for the maintenance of 71 miles has been placed on internal drainage boards and an order placing the responsibility for maintenance of the remaining nine miles on an internal drainage board will be made shortly. Nine miles of the roads have been abandoned. I am studying this problem, but have no further statement to make at present.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, although responsibility has been placed on the internal drainage boards, it is often a very hard responsibility for them to bear and that meantime these roads are fast deteriorating, which will have a serious effect on food production unless something is done? Will my right hon. Friend consider this matter further and do something at the earliest possible moment?

As I said, I am studying the problem.

Is the Minister aware that high freight charges are forcing more and more traffic on to these rural roads and that the 10 per cent. increases proposed will further deteriorate these roads? As the Minister is now in the Cabinet, will be bring this forcibly home to the Prime Minister?

The Question deals only with the Fens.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is satisfied that the price of the standard ration of feeding-stuffs for pigs calculated by his Department have been reduced from 33s. 6d. a hundredweight on 1st April last to 29s. 3d. a hundredweight now reflects accurately the actual prices which farmers are paying for compound pig meals.

The feed price of 29s. 3d. per cwt. relates to straight feeds for which wholesale price quotations are secured at or near mills. The prices of compounds delivered to farmers are normally higher, but the difference was taken into account when the basic price of pigs was determined following the 1953 Annual Review.

My right hon. Friend has not answered the Question I sought to put to him. Is he satisfied that the trend of commercial prices which farmers are paying for pig meal is accurately reflected by this official calculation? The experience of farmers is that it is not accurately reflected, and I should like to know what he thinks about it.

I am prepared to consider any evidence my hon. Friend cares to bring before my notice. In answering the Question I explained the basis on which it is calculated.

On this question of pigs and pork, may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware of the statement issued today by the London Retail Meat Traders' Association protesting at the confusion caused by the decision of the Food Ministry to allow pork butchers to sell pork off the ration from next Sunday? The Association states:

"We regret that a very confused situation has arisen. It is necessary to point out that only one shop in 180 of the butchers' shops in London trades as a pork butcher…."

The hon. Member now seems to be conveying information instead of asking for it.

With your forbearance and the consent of the House, Mr. Speaker, I was phrasing my question in the shortest possible manner. The London Retail Meat Traders' Association—

Speech.

I think the hon. Member is exceeding the bounds of what is permissible in putting a supplementary question. Can he not get to his question and ask it? What is the question?

The question is whether the Minister of Agriculture will consult his colleague the Minister of—

On a point of order. What has this supplementary question to do with the original Question? [Interruption.]

Order. The hon. Member really ought to ask his supplementary question.

I was asking my question.