asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to arrange for some research and experiment into the provision of new types of light industry in the crofting counties.

A considerable amount of research and experiment is already being carried out in connection with the principal Highland industries upon which the economy of the area mainly depends, and the Departments are willing to give whatever help they can to any industrialist who wishes to set up a new industry in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what funds are at his disposal for sending his staff abroad to study agricultural and fishery matters in other countries.

The travelling expenses of officers of my right hon. Friend's Departments who travel abroad to study agricultural and fishery matters are met from the Departments' votes in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in compiling the lists of houses of historic or architectural interest.

The number of buildings of special architectural or historic interest provisionally listed under the Town and Country Planning Act, at 31st December, 1954, was 5,700 as compared with 4,500 at the end of 1953. The lists cover 13 large burghs, 65 small burghs and 202 landward parishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to make a statement on his plans for increased grants for the building of village halls, miners' welfare institutes, and community centres.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to a similar Question addressed to my right hon. Friend by the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes).

asked the Minister of Works whether the rebuilding of the Scottish Office premises at Dover House is now proceeding according to plan; and whether he will now name a firm date by which the Scottish Office will be rehoused therein.

Work is proceeding according to plan, and I hope the Scottish Office will be in occupation before the end of the year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what staff and how much finance was allocated to research into the bacterial breakdown of aromatic compounds during 1954; and how these figures compare with the years 1952 and 1953.

Five scientific officers have been engaged on research into the bacterial breakdown of aromatic compounds during the last three years, although they were not all employed on this work for the whole period. The cost was about £3,000 in 1952, £7,200 in 1953 and £6,800 in 1954.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research has been undertaken by the Directorate of Scientific and Industrial Research into the preparation of pure metals on a commercial basis; and what progress has resulted.

Iron, gallium and germanium have been prepared on a small scale in a high state of purity in the laboratories of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Research is now in progress both on the preparation of pure chromium, indium, antimony and the rare earth metals and on the further purification of iron and gallium. The results are available to industry for translation on to a commercial scale.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what resources of staff and finance are being devoted to increasing the nation's supply of germanium.

I cannot say precisely what is the total of resources and staff which is at present engaged on increasing our supply of germanium. Since work is being carried out both by Government Departments and by industry, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has set up a working party to co-ordinate research.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how many executive officials are employed at the National Physical Laboratory on the application of electronic computers to clerical and industrial work.

The equivalent of eight scientific staff are so employed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what steps have been taken to carry out surveys of resources, facilities and programmes of the research associations in relation to the scientific technological and economic needs of their industries.

Special surveys covering three research associations—leather, cast iron, and ceramics—were carried out, as an experiment, in 1950–51. Details of the surveys, which were of considerable value, were given in the Report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for 1951–52. A survey of the British Scientific Instrument Research Association's work has just been started.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what grants for capital expenditure have been made to research associations in each of the past five years, and subject to what conditions these grants have been made.

In the financial year 1950–51 payments of £271,000 were made; in 1951–52 £53,000; in 1952–53 £17,000; in 1953–54 £2,000. It is not expected to make any capital payments in this financial year. Industries are asked to undertake to raise special contributions over and above their normal revenue contributions to the research associations and the estimates of the total cost have to be submitted to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for approval.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether the investigations into cadmium poisoning at a Prescot factory, undertaken by the Medical Research Council, are now complete; and when he expects to receive the report, originally expected in March, 1954.

Yes. The report was recently received and has been sent to the medical Press for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of men who originally enlisted on a Regular engagement of three years with the Colours have prolonged their engagements since the introduction of the three-year engagement.

Between November, 1951, and 1st January, 1955, 81,169 men have enlisted on a three-year engagement. Such men are free to prolong their service at any time up to the last day of their engagement, but, so far, only 2·4 per cent. have completed their engagement. Up to 1st January, 1955, 779 men had prolonged their service, but it would clearly be pointless to express this figure as a percentage of the 2·4 per cent. who have completed their service since the two figures are not related.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the total sum to date collected by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes since 1951 from British troops in Egypt in the form of customs duty on wines, spirits, etc.;(2) what sum of money the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes claim as due to them from the Egyptian Government; and over what period this claim is made.

I cannot usefully add to my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend's Questions on this subject on 23rd November last year.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Corporal-of-Horse Gill, Royal Horse Guards, was posted to the Remount and Rough Riding Establishment of the Veterinary Corps, Melton Mowbray, in order to take charge of Royal Horse Guard officers' polo ponies in preparation for the regiment going overseas.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Corporal-of-Horse Giles, who on promotion was posted to the Remount and Rough Riding Establishment at Melton Mowbray to get more experience of stable management.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the batman to the Adjutant of the Inns of Court Regiment has been frequently employed cm polishing this officer's private car.

This is a case where an officer made a private arrangement with his batman to have his private car washed periodically. The soldier was willing to do the work, and I see no possible objection to the arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the batman to the second-in-command of the Inns of Court Regiment, Territorial Army, has been employed daily on domestic tasks at this officer's flat at Palace Gate, including waiting at table; and why this batman has been obliged to remain on duty on these domestic tasks until 10.30 at night or, sometimes, as on 14th December, 1954, until 11.30 p.m., in order to assist with the arrangements for this officer's dinner parties.

A batman may be called on to wait upon his officer at meals, and it would be impracticable to prevent his doing so simply because guests happened to be present. It is impossible to cover the duties of a batman by specific regulations, and it must be a matter for a common sense arrangement between the officer and his batman.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken to give instruction to troops regarding the historical and cultural backgrounds of the colonial or foreign territories in which they are stationed.

Background courses and language classes are held for troops newly posted abroad and regular instruction in the local geography, history, culture and economy is given thereafter. The historical and cultural background of colonial and foreign countries also frequently plays an important part in the discussions on current affairs which are, of course, held in all units at home and abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the total amount of paint now held surplus at the Suez Canal Base; and how it is proposed to dispose of it.

There are about 2,000 tons of paint surplus to our needs in the Canal Zone. Some will be needed by the Army elsewhere; some will be bought by the Egyptian Army, and the rest will be available to other buyers.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement on his refusal to allow Colonel Scotland to publish his war memoirs.

The material part of Colonel Scotland's manuscript relates to his experiences when employed on special Intelligence duties. The publication of this information would be against the national interest, and consequently permission to publish has been refused.

asked the Secretary of State for War how far recruiting falls short of the target figures set for the Regular Army; and how many recruits are drawn from internal and external sources.

There is no fixed ceiling for recruiting. During 1954 the number of recruits (excluding women and boys) drawn from external sources was 30,525 and from internal sources 5,636. These figures show that during the past three years the percentage of Regular recruits to National Service intake into the Army has remained very nearly constant at 25 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 22562475 Trooper Smith was returned to London by Army transport from Egypt, having paid £25 for his fare; that he was ordered to report to Bovington Camp, Dorset, but refused a travel warrant on the grounds that he had purchased his discharge from the Army; that Trooper Smith was subsequently taken into custody as a deserter, but released after representations had been made to the War Office; and whether he will make a statement.

As I have already explained in my letter of 25th January to the hon. Member, I am still investigating this complicated case. I am not, therefore, in a position to make a statement which would in any event be unduly lengthy. I will, however, write again to the hon. Member as soon as I have completed my enquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for War what allowances were paid to 22562475 Trooper Smith for the period he was posted at Bovington Camp.

None. Trooper Smith arrived at Bovington Camp on 3rd January for the purpose of purchasing his discharge. He went absent without leave on the 10th and rejoined the Depot on the 21st. The necessary discharge procedure was completed and he went home the same day. Trooper Smith was not in possession of his pay book, and did not ask for any pay. It is, however, customary in such cases, if the soldier asks for a payment, for a temporary pay book to be prepared and a suitable amount paid.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men who, during the past year, have been at Bovington Camp for more than four weeks waiting for their discharge papers to be sent from abroad, after they had paid for their discharge from the Army.

No man who has been sent home from abroad to Bovington Camp, after paying for his discharge from the Army, has been retained at the Camp for any period approaching four weeks. Three men who applied to purchase their discharge after arriving at the Camp from abroad did, however, stay there for more than four weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present position with regard to personnel and weapons and other apparatus hitherto forming part of Anti-Aircraft Command.

The rundown of Anti-Aircraft Command has already begun. Regular officers and men are being moved elsewhere in the Army. I hope that there will be opportunities of further employment for Territorial Army volunteers, and National Service men who are fulfilling their part-time liability will be transferred to where there are suitable vacancies for them. As to weapons and other equipment, some will be needed for the Anti-Aircraft units remaining and for other units which use similar equipment; some will be held as War Reserve, and the remainder will be disposed of.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement showing the numbers and percentages of Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish doctors called up for National Service as medical officers, who have been posted to the

NATIONAL SERVICE MEDICAL OFFICERS
The distribution to Commands of newly commissioned Medical Officers during the quarter 1st October to 31st December, 1954, was:
Place of Birth	British Army of the Rhine		Middle East Land Forces		Far East Land Forces		Elsewhere including United Kingdom		Total
	No.	Per cent.	No.	Per cent.	No.	Per cent.	No.	Per cent.
England	4	12·5	9	28·13	4	12·5	15	46·87	32
Scotland	—	—	2	16·67	—	—	10	83·33	12
Northern Ireland and Eire	3	42·85	—	—	1	14·29	3	42·85	7
Wales	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	100	1

Corresponding figures for the two previous quarters are as follows:

Place of Birth	British Army of the Rhine		Middle East Land Forces		Far East Land Forces		Elsewhere including United Kingdom		Total
	No.	Per cent.	No.	Per cent.	No.	Per cent.	No.	Per cent.
1st April to 30th June, 1954
England	3	7·5	8	20·0	2	5·0	27	67·5	40
Scotland	5	35·71	—	—	2	14·29	7	50·0	14
Northern Ireland and Eire	1	50·0	—	—	—	—	1	50·0	2
Wales	1	25·0	—	—	1	25·0	2	50·0	4
1st July to 30th September, 1954
England	13	16·46	11	13·9	1	1·27	54	68·34	79
Scotland	4	9·52	10	23·81	2	4·76	26	61·91	42
Northern Ireland and Eire	—	—	—	—	2	28·57	5	71·43	7
Wales	3	21·43	—	—	—	—	11	78·57	14

A small number of naturalised British subjects is excluded from these figures.

The following is the statement:

asked the Secretary of State for War what number, or percentage, of officers and other ranks in the Army has been registered as Church of England, other denominations, Roman Catholic, Jews, and Agnostics or Rationalists, respectively; and, approximately, what percentage of those declaring or accepting a religious description for Army purposes attend the religious services officially provided for them.

Up to date percentages of the various religious denominations will not be available for some months. The following percentages produced in 1948 are, however, a reasonable guide:

			Per cent.
Church of England	…	…	71·8
Presbyterian	…	…	8·4
Methodist	…	…	4·5
United Board	…	…	2·1
Roman Catholic	…	…	12·9
Jews	…	…	·3

The number stated to be Agnostics, Rationalists, Atheists, etc. is very small, and is not allowed for in the percentages quoted. Details of attendances at official religious services are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action is taken to enable reservists and Territorials, who are active playing members of professional football and other clubs, to undertake their military training at periods of the year other than those conflicting with their employment as football or other players.

There are no special rules relating to such men. If a National Service man considers that he has a good reason for having his period of part-time military training altered, he may write to his commanding officer who may decide whether the period should be altered, or, in exceptional circumstances, even excused.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement on the latest military situation in Malaya.

There is a steady improvement in the position as the drop in the monthly number of incidents from 500 in 1951 to under 90 in 1954 illustrates. No particular comment is, I think, called for at the moment, but my right hon. Friend will, of course, be reviewing the situation in his Memorandum on Army Estimates 1955–56.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken by his Department to make use of the buildings at the Llanberis Air Ministry Unit No. 31 for industrial purposes, in view of the serious unemployment that will result in the district when they are evacuated by the Air Ministry.

We bring the buildings to the attention of any industrialist who we hope may be interested, but it would be wrong to suggest to the House that it is proving easy to find an industrial tenant. As my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister for Welsh Affairs informed the House on 24th November, 1954, the Ministry of Labour will do everything it can to find alternative employment for those who are discharged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that some tradesmen are offering goods, such as tea, at less than the fixed price stated on the package; that they are threatened with victimisation if they continue to do so; and if he will take steps to refer this practice to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the restrictive practices in the grocery trade whereby wholesalers associations stop supplies to retailers who sell goods such as tea below a fixed price; and if he will refer this aspect of restraint of trade to the Monopolies Commission.

I would refer the hon. Members to the replies given by my right hon. Friend to similar Questions on 27th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reason for the recent decision to impose Purchase Tax on small motors for cycles; what is the estimated revenue from this new impost; and what is the estimated cost of collection.

This alteration was made to correct an anomaly. It is estimated that the additional revenue will be about £200,000 a year, and that the cost of collection will be negligible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the attendances in cinemas for the 13 weeks ended 31st December, 1954; and the numbers for the same period of 1953.

No figures are yet available for the later period, but estimates of dutiable admissions are being prepared and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are ready.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that last year he made a statement that he was not going to alter the Purchase Tax on motor cars in his forth coming Budget, in order to assist the motor trade, he will make a similar statement this year.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 25th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on his recent talks in Paris on the future of the European Payments Union and related subjects.

The recent meeting of the Council of O.E.E.C. was an important and successful one. Substantial progress was made in the liberalisation of intra-European trade and in the preparations for the eventual transition to a wider multilateral system of trade and payments.On the trade side, the proportion of member countries' imports from each other to be freed from quota restrictions was raised from 75 per cent. to 90 per cent. In order that all countries should contribute to the advance, it was agreed that even those who had already reached that figure should free at least 10 per cent. of the trade on which they still retain restrictions. The new target of 90 per cent. is expected to be reached within six months of the 1st April, this being the date on which France has undertaken to return to the 75 per cent. level which she had to abandon some time ago because of balance of payments difficulties.The Council also agreed that measures of artificial aid to exports should be discontinued by the end of 1955, and that in the meantime no new measures of this kind should be introduced.On the payments side, the Council agreed in principle to continue the operation of the European Payments Union for a further year after 30th June, 1955, and instructed the Managing Board to consider the conditions for this renewal. The Council also instructed the Managing Board to make proposals for a European Fund to take the place of E.P.U. when the major European currencies have been made convertible, including the arrangements for transition from one system to the other when the time comes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement giving the results of the conversations with the Staff Side in respect to the introduction of equal pay in the Civil Service.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 25th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount received by his Department, month by month, from the licence duty paid by bookmakers on greyhound racecourses during 1954.

The monthly receipts from the licence duty paid by bookmakers on greyhound racecourses during 1954 were as follows:

				£
January	…	…	…	119,757
February	…	…	…	108,786
March	…	…	…	138,423
April	…	…	…	155,506
May	…	…	…	137,545
June	…	…	…	157,700
July	…	…	…	163,442
August	…	…	…	150,505
September	…	…	…	155,693
October	…	…	…	137,568
November	…	…	…	132,840
December	…	…	…	134,169

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the rates collected per head of population for the last two years in England and Wales.

The rates collected per head of population for 1952–53 were £7 12s. 2d., and the estimated amount for 1953–54 is £8 9s.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now make grants under Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, for water supply and sewerage.

Yes, where appropriate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when it is proposed to approve Water Supply Scheme No. S.W.78 for the supply of water to various farms in Yaxley Fen, Huntingdonshire.

The Norman Cross Rural District Council will be authorised to start work in April on their scheme for Yaxley and other parishes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has reduced the house building allocation to the Nottingham City Corpora- tion to 900 for the year, in view of the fact that Nottingham built 1,568 last year and have a waiting list of 11,000; and why he told the corporation that if they applied for permission to build more he could not guarantee to grant the application.

The figures quoted by the hon. Member do not seem to take into account that, at the turn of the year, Nottingham City Council had nearly 2,000 houses in hand.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will issue a White Paper showing, in tabular form, the number of houses in the application for permission to build by each local housing authority, and the number authorised by him for each authority, for the year 1955.

No. I do not think it would be desirable to add to the already extensive statistics provided in the regular Housing Returns which are presented to the House quarterly.

asked the Minister of Labour to consult with the British Transport Commission with a view to ensuring that the abandonment of steam motive power by British Railways does not cause unemployment arising from the railway locomotive factories at Eastleigh and elsewhere.

It would be premature to engage in consultations on this subject at the present time, but, if future changes in production were thought likely to give rise to unemployment, I would certainly keep in closest touch with the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and the British Transport Commission on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour to state for the years 1952, 1953, and for the period of 1954 for which figures are available, the proportions of men eligible for military service at 18 years of age who were conscientious objectors, found medically unfit, exempt for occupational reasons, and granted deferment of call-up, respectively.

Category	Count on 13th April, 1953, of 1934 age class (registered in 1952)	Count on 5th April, 1954, of 1935 age class (registered in December, 1952, and in 1953)	Count on 18th October, 1954, of first half of 1936 age class (registered in December, 1953, and in 1954)
	Percentage	Percentage	Percentage
Conscientious objectors	0·2	0·2	0·2
Medically unfit	10·5	11·4	11·0
Deferred on industrial grounds (coal mining, agriculture and merchant navy)	8·3	8·3	9·1
Deferred for training as students, apprentices, etc.	29·0	31·2	31·9

NOTE.—The percentage of medically unfit represents the "unfits" among those who had already been medically examined, in relation to the total number in the age class.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent short-time working has increased in the Lancashire cotton mills in recent months.

There was a temporary increase in short-time working after Christmas when about 120 mills extended their normal holiday by periods of one to 14 days, some 20,000 operatives being affected. The majority of these mills have since returned to full time working. According to statistics collected from employers, there was little change in short-time working in the cotton industry in the North-Western Region between August and November, some 2,000 operatives representing 1 per cent. of the total employed being affected in each of these months.

asked the Minister of Labour what unemployment was caused in Wales by dislocation due to recent cold weather; and how the figures: compare with those prevailing in February, 1947.

No steps have been taken to ascertain the number of persons whose employment was terminated or interrupted owing to bad weather. The

The following table shows, for the 1934, 1935 and 1936 (first half) age classes who registered in the years 1952, 1953 and 1954 respectively, the percentages who were in the categories named in the Question.latest date for which statistics of unemployment are available is 10th January, when the total number registered as unemployed in Wales was 24,000, compared with 29,000 a year before and 82,000 in February, 1947.

asked the Minister of Labour to state the actual prices used in the compilation of the Interim Index of Retail Prices for January, 1952, August, 1953, and the latest convenient date, of bread, milk, tea, butter, margarine, cooking fat, cheese, bacon, meat, eggs, sugar, flour and potatoes, respectively.

The construction of the index is such that the average prices of individual food items at different dates are not computed. The Ministry of Labour Gazette and the Monthly Digest of Statistics give quarterly changes in the indices for certain groups of food-stuffs, and I would refer the hon. Member to these figures.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were being paid wages and salaries from public funds at the latest date for which figures are available while in the service of the Central Government, local authorities, nationalised undertakings, and other public corporations, respectively; and what percentage of the total working population was composed of such people.

The table below shows the estimated total number of employees of the Central Government, local authorities, nationalised industries and other public corporations in Great Britain at June, 1954:

	Estimated number of employees	Per cent. of the total working population in all industries and services
Central Government (including H.M. Forces and N.A.A.F.I.)	1,970,000	8½
Local Authorities (including Police)	1,490,000	6½
Nationalised Industries and other public corporations*	2,710,000	11½
*National Coal Board, British Transport Commission, gas and electricity supply industries. Water Boards, Iron and Steel Holding and Realization Agency, Hospital Boards, Airways Corporations, B.B.C., and a few small Corporations and Commissions. Doctors and Dentists, other than those in the service of Hospital Boards, are excluded.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of motor accidents which have occurred on the Dalkeith-Carfrae Mill Road during the last five years.

The number of accidents involving personal injury on this road was 14 in 1950, 18 in 1951. 26 in 1952, 24 in 1953 and 21 in 1954. A small number of these accidents did not involve motor vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when it is proposed, in view of the new programme of road development, to realign and improve by the provision of dual-carriageways on A.470 between Cardiff and Pontypridd, including the construction of the Tongwynlais Diversion, Taff Well, Nantgarw and Rhydyfelin Diversions and the Glyntaff and Pontypridd Diversion.

I hope to authorise the completion of the Whitchurch by-pass during the current financial year. I am unable at present to say when it will be possible to begin the improvement of the remainder of this road as far as Pontypridd, including the diversions to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) whether he is aware of the traffic chaos in the city of Lincoln caused by the fact that the city is cut in half for several hours each day by the closing of the railway level-crossing gates; and whether he will now approve the scheme to bridge this level-crossing;(2) what is the present position about the plans and money for the Pelhara Bridge, Lincoln.

I am aware of the difficulties caused by level crossings in Lincoln. As the hon. Member knows, I have already approved the appointment by Lincoln City Council of consulting engineers and architects to design a bridge to eliminate the Pelham Street Crossing, and the preparation of plans is proceeding. When the scheme is prepared and a firm estimate of cost submitted to me, I shall give it sympathetic consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that the number of oil tankers ordered in 1954 was less than it has been for several years; that a large quantity of British oil is being carried by foreign-owned vessels; and what steps are being taken to provide sufficient British tankers to carry this oil.

Yes. I understand that the demand for new oil tankers has now lessened, and this accounts for the latest fall in orders. Arrangements for the carriage of British oil are entirely a matter for the oil companies. There is, in fact, enough British tonnage to carry all United Kingdom oil imports, but much of it is employed on other trades. The most economic use of these fleets, which earn valuable foreign exchange, can safely be left to the companies themselves, and it is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to intervene.

STATEMENT OF BULK PURCHASE OR LONG-TERM AGREEMENTS AFFECTING THE PROCUREMENT OF FOODSTUFFS, I.E., AGREEMENTS PROVIDING FOR GOVERNMENT PURCHASE AND COVERING INITIALLY A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS OR MORE
Commodity	Country	Terminal Date
Bacon	Denmark (including some pork for a limited period)	29. 9.56
	Holland (including some pork for a limited period)	29. 9.56
	Irish Republic (including pork)	30. 4.56
Meat	New Zealand	See Note 1
	Australia
	Argentina	See Note 2
	Uruguay
Milk Products	New Zealand (Milk Powder)	31. 7.55
	Australia (Butter and Cheese)	30. 6.55
	Denmark (Butter)	30. 9.55
Oils and Fats:
Copra	New Zealand (on behalf of W. Samoa)	31.12.57
	Cook Islands	31.12.57
	Tokelau Islands	31.12.57
	Niue	31.12.57
Copra and Coconut Oil	Fiji	31.12.57
	Australia (on behalf of Papua and New Guinea)	31.12.57
	Tonga	31.12.57
	Solomon Islands	31.12.57
	Gilbert and Ellice Islands	31.12.57
Concentrated Orange Juice	British West Indies	End of crop year 1959/60
Sugar (Commonwealth Sugar Agreement).	Australia, South Africa and the Sugar-producing Colonies	31.12.62

NOTE 1.—The United Kingdom Government has undertaken to permit, without restriction of quantity, the sale in the United Kingdom market of Australian and New Zealand beef, veal, lamb, mutton and edible offal for a period of 15 years from 15th October, 1952. In addition provision is made in the Agreement with Australia for the periodic fixing of a schedule of minimum prices.NOTE 2.—Although the bulk purchase Agreements with Argentine and Uruguay have expired deliveries will continue for the time being as contract tonnages are still outstanding.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendation of the Inter-Departmental Commitee on Meat Inspection made in February, 1951, that, whenever practicable, veterinary surgeons should be

asked the Minister of Food what bulk purchase or long-term agreements affect the procurement of foodstuffs.

The information is as follows:appointed as senior inspectors responsible for groups of non-veterinary meat inspectors.

The responsibility for meat inspection and the appointment of competent inspectors rests with local authorities. Veterinary surgeons are employed in some districts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what special precautions are to be taken to prevent the possibility of foot-and-mouth disease spreading to Scotland, having regard to the imminence of the Perth sales.

The strict routine precautions against spread which are taken immediately an outbreak of the disease occurs are considered adequate.

asked the Minister of Supply the quantity and value of the tinplates lost through the closing down of several tinplate works in South Wales during the past four years; and what is the quantity and value of the tinplates now being imported from the United States of America.

It is impossible to estimate the loss of production from tinplate works closed within the last four years, since their output would have depended on the orders for their products and the extent to which they could be manned. Licences have been granted for a little over 50,000 tons of American tinplate at an estimated cost of just over £4 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British authorities in Germany released on 24th December, 1954, the Nazi concentration camp guard Curt Ernst Meyer, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for torturing Allied prisoners in Belsen Concentration Camp.

He was released as an act of clemency following a recommendation to that effect by the Anglo-German Mixed Consultative Board.

asked the Minister of Health the morbidity rate of the present influenza epidemic, in schools, in factories, and generally; and what experiments are being conducted with a view to offering immunity to the public.

Influenza is not a notifiable disease and accurate morbidity rates cannot be calculated, but from other information it appears that the present outbreak is of a mild type. Investigations into immunisation against influenza have been carried out by the Medical Research Council for some years, and trials of experimental vaccines are now in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in dealing with the problem of horror comics.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) on 27th January.