asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to publish the findings of the inquiry of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, into the recent fouling of Portsmouth Harbour with oil; in particular, whether the oil was bunker, crude or of other composition; from what source it came; whether it is the only such discharge recently; and to what extent the circumstances of an equinoctial spring tide is what has caused it to attract such attention.

Investigation has shown that this pollution probably originated in H.M.S. "Ark Royal" at Spithead. The combination of wind and tide on 23rd March gave the ship a list which, it is believed, enabled bunker fuel to leak from a faulty tank. Steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence should these conditions be repeated before the leak can be repaired.I much regret this incident. Although there is no positive proof that H.M.S. "Ark Royal" was responsible and although, if she were, the circumstances could not have been foreseen or prevented, the Admiralty is prepared to accept liability for damage caused and the local naval authorities are arranging for early settlement of reasonable claims.There is no evidence of other similar discharges of oil from Her Majesty's ships or Admiralty-controlled vessels in the recent past.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now able to announce the membership of the Inter-Departmental Committee which he is setting up in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Scotland to ascertain the reasons for the lack of candidates for training as dentists.

Yes. The Chairman is Sir Arnold McNair, C.B.E., Q.C., F.B.A., LL.D. The members are as follows:

• J. E. H. Duckworth, Esq., M.C., L.D.S.R.C.S. (Eng.).
• Sir Wilfred Fish, C.B.E., M.D., Ch.B., F.D.S.R.C.S. (Eng.), D.D.Sc., D.Sc.
• G. E. Gittins, Esq., M.A.
• J. D. McIntosh, Esq., M.A.
• G. R. Moxon, Esq.
• Mrs. Mary Stocks, B.Sc.
• Professor A. P. Thomson, M.C., M.D., F.R.C.P.
• J. L. Trainer, Esq., L.D.S.R.C.S. (Edin.), L.R.C.P. (Edin.), L.R.C.S. (Edin.), L.R.F.P. and S. (Glas.).
• R. O. Walker, Esq., L.D.S., H.D.D. (Edin.), F.D.S.R.C.S. (Eng.), L.R.C.P. (Edin.), L.R.C.S. (Edin.), L.R.F.P. and S. (Glas.).
• Professor F. C. Wilkinson, M.D., Ch.B., B.D.S., D.D.Sc., M.Sc., F.D.S.R.C.S. (Eng.).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what allocation of dollars is being made this year for the purchase of newsprint.

Import licences so far authorised for the importation of newsprint from the dollar area this year cover 301,000 tons, at an estimated dollar cost of 40,300,000 Canadian dollars.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the food scale has been reduced for men still serving in the Canal Zone.

British troops in the Canal Zone get the ration scale applicable to overseas garrisons generally. This comprises a basic ration and a supplement for men doing strenuous work. Until 20th January a special supplement consisting of meat, bacon, rolled oats, potatoes and dried peas or beans was also issued. This was introduced to meet the exceptional conditions which existed in the Canal Zone before the completion of the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement. The present ration is better both in quantity and quality than it was before abrogation.