asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will include in the OFFICIAL REPORT a factual statement on the legalistic and treaty aspects of the situation on the South-East China coast.

Formosa and the Pescadores were ceded to Japan by China in the Shiminoseki Treaty of 1895. In the Cairo Declaration of November, 1943, the Allies stated that it was their purpose "that all the territories which Japan has stolen from the Chinese such as … Formosa and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China.…" This Declaration was a statement of intention that Formosa should be retroceded to China after the war. This retrocession has, in fact, never taken place, because of the difficulties arising from the existence of two entities claiming to represent China, and the differences amongst the Powers as to the status of these entities.The Potsdam Declaration of July, 1945, laid down as one of the conditions for the Japanese Peace that the terms of the Cairo Declaration should be carried out. In September, 1945, the administration of Formosa was taken over from the Japanese by Chinese forces at the direction of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers; but this was not a cession, nor did it in itself involve any change of sovereignty. The arrangements made with Chiang Kai-shek put him there on a basis of military occupation pending further arrangements, and did not of themselves constitute the territory Chinese.Under the Peace Treaty of April, 1952, Japan formally renounced all right, title and claim to Formosa and the Pescadores; but again this did not operate as a transfer to Chinese sovereignty, whether to the People's Republic of China or to the Chinese Nationalist authorities. Formosa and the Pescadores are therefore, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, territory the

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, to avoid involving this country in incidents arising from the presence of a United States fleet in Chinese waters, he will give instructions that United States war vessels shall not be repaired or refuelled in Hong Kong.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will institute an inquiry into the loss of the South Goodwin lightship.

I have seen the Report of the Inquiry carried out by the Corporation of Trinity House and I do not think that an investigation under the Merchant Shipping Acts would add to our knowledge as to the cause of this tragic occurrence. In their Report the Elder Brethren find that the cause of the disaster on 26th November, 1954, was the parting of the lightship's cable about midnight. The parting may have been due to one or more of three causes, exceptionally bad weather, a fault in the cable or the fouling of the cable by wreckage or other obstruction. They find also that the lightship was in proper and sound condition before the accident and that her equipment and moorings had been properly maintained and all instructions and regulations for the safety of the ship complied with. The Report makes a number of recommendations designed to reinforce the measures already current for the safety of lightships and then-crews. I am placing a copy in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to arranging that the expenses allowances of directors and senior executives of firms should be dealt with by Schedule D inspectors for Income Tax purposes, so that they can be considered at the same time as the company accounts of the firms concerned.

Such arrangements are not always practicable, but it is the aim of the Board of Inland Revenue that important cases shall, so far as possible, be dealt with by specially experienced officers.

asked the Minister of Food the guaranteed prices to producers for each grade of eggs between 1st December, 1954, and 31st January, 1955; what were the retail prices for each grade; what quantity of eggs was imported during that period; what were the average retail prices of these imported eggs; and what was the proportion of imported eggs marketed to home-produced eggs marketed for the whole period.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Food what the wheat deficiency payment will be for the period from 1st October to 30th November, 1954; and when it will be paid.

The ascertained average price for about 10½ million cwt. of mill-able wheat despatched on delivery during the second accounting period (1st October to 30th November, 1954) is 19s. 8·7d. per cwt. The standard price for this period is 30s. 4d. per cwt, and the deficiency payment will, therefore, be 10s. 7·3d. per cwt. or £10 12s. 2d. per ton. In addition, approximately 800,000 cwt. of wheat brought up to millable standard after sale will be included in the payment. Some 40,000 growers will share about £6 million, payment of which will start in the week beginning 21st February, 1955.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will call for a report on the completion vote of the Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, with special reference to the additional maintenance plant installed.

I am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind, but I am in communication with the regional hospital board on a number of matters concerning the building scheme at this hospital.

asked the Minister of Health what sums have been authorised by his Department for the financial years 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54 and 1954–55 in respect of the provision of increased accommodation and beds for orthopaedic hospital patients in the Sutton Coldfield group and excluding the Good Hope Hospital.

None. Hospital accommodation for orthopaedic patients from this area is provided by hospitals outside this group.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many subsistence allowances have been paid within the last six months, or other convenient period, to workers coming into the area of the Corby Employment Exchange from other parts of Great Britain for work at Stewarts and Lloyds; if he will classify the lengths of the periods over which such subsistence allowances have been paid; and if he will give an estimate of the proportion of such workers to whom they have been paid;(2) how many workers, per month, have recently come into the area of the Corby Employment Exchange from other parts of Great Britain for work at Stewarts and Lloyds; how many, per month, of such workers have left after staying there less than six months; and how far, by comparison with previous periods, the rate of labour turnover among such workers now shows improvement, deterioration, or no significant change.

Information of this kind relating to individual firms is confidential and I could not, with propriety, give it to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why National Assistance payable to the possessor of book AB 34—177811 is to be reduced, as from 2nd May next, from £1 to 12s. 6d.

This Assistance grant is being paid in supplementation of a retirement pension and, as from the week commencing 25th April, the retirement pension will be increased by 7s. 6d. I am, however, informed by the National Assistance Board that it will be from that date, not 2nd May, that the Assistance will have to be reduced.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, the number of the field staff engaged on the geological survey of the United Kingdom during each of the years 1952–53, 1953–54. and 1954–55.

Fifty-three in 1952–53, 54 in 1953–54 and 55 in 1954–55.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, how much was spent during 1953–54 in the course of the geological survey on its deep-boring programme.

£31,227.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what work is being carried out by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Social and Economic Research.

I have been asked to reply. This Committee, which includes both academic and Departmental members, was set up in 1947 following a recommendation of the Committee on the Provision for Social and Economic Research (the Clapham Committee). It makes specific recommendations to Departments from time to time, to the end that information collected for Departmental purposes and of potential value for research may be made appropriately available for university and other research workers. It has published several short guides to official sources of social and economic data. Two general reports on its work have been published (Cmd. 7537 of 1948 and Cmd. 8091 of 1950) and a third is in preparation.