asked the Minister of Supply whether he is now satisfied that the projects being handled by the British aircraft manufacturing industry have been reduced to a number that permits of the optimum utilisation of our resources.

This is a matter on which it is unwise to be too dogmatic, but my right hon. Friend has the point much in mind in deciding how best to allocate contracts for aircraft projects required by the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Minister of Supply, having regard to the fact that £2,300,000 has been spent on the V.1000 aircraft and that the construction of the prototype is now in an advanced stage and could be completed within twelve months, whether he will consider the advisability of arranging for the completion of this aircraft; and if he will examine the possibility of arranging for the production of this aircraft in Northern Ireland, having regard to the employment situation there, and the need for keeping Great Britain fully competitive in the world aircraft market.

The Answer to the first part of the Question was given last Monday by my right hon. Friend in reply to a similar Question by my hon. Friend. The Answer to the second part is "No, Sir." My right hon. Friend does not consider that the suggestion would be to the advantage of Northern Ireland or to the sales of civil aircraft.

asked the Minister of Supply the specified unladen weight of the Vickers 1000 long-range jet aircraft at the time when this contract was first given by his Department to Messrs. Vickers; by how much this unladen weight had increased at the time of the withdrawal of the contract; and what has been the cost to public funds of the decision to alter the unladen weight specification.

The specification for the the V.1000 called for a stated performance in respect of speed, range, payload, take-off and landing characteristics and other relevant factors, but in accordance with normal practice did not specify a particular unladen weight. It is not possible to say to what extent, if any, the increase in estimated weight of some 19 per cent. which in fact occurred led to a rise in the cost of the project to public funds.

asked the Minister of Health when the proposed improvements to the Caernarvon and Anglesey Infirmary, Bangor, and St. David's Hospital, Bangor, will be carried out.

The Welsh Regional Hospital Board hopes to start the three projects of improvement at St. David's Hospital, Bangor, in April and May, 1956. Work on the extensions to the Caernarvon and Anglesey Hospital, a much larger scheme, is expected to start about September, 1956.

asked the Minister of Health the expenditure for each patient per week, on food, in the mental hospital in Chaddleton, North Staffordshire, the Royal Infirmary and the City General Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, and in St. Thomas's Hospital, London.

Figures for patients, excluding staff are not available. The average weekly cost of provisions per person fed is:

	£	s.	d.
St. Edward's (Mental) Hospital Cheddleton		13	6
North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary	1	11	1
City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent	1	6	3
St. Thomas' Hospital, London	1	8	4

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the number of hospital beds available in north Staffordshire is below the general average for the country; and whether he will make available a capital grant for extension of building at the City General Hospital and the Royal Infirmary.

I am aware of the need here. In answer to the second part of the Question, I am unable to add to my reply on 21st November to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ellis Smith).

asked the Minister of Health what proposals he has for expanding the Middlesbrough Maternity Hospital or for building a further maternity unit on Tees-side in view of the present inadequacy of beds for maternity cases.

Sixteen additional beds were provided at this hospital in 1952. I am informed that the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board is considering the possibility of further extensions and improvements but that it may not be able to fit these into its capital programme for some time.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to encourage group treatment for mental patients.

This form of treatment is widely used but as the decision as to the form of treatment to be given to any patient is a matter for the medical practitioner concerned I do not feel that I should encourage the use of any particular method.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the proportion of our total food supplies produced at home in 1913, 1935, and in each year since 1945.

There are two main methods of calculating the proportion of food produced at home, neither of which is completely satisfactory. In the first calories are used as a common denominator and in the second the relative values of different commodities in a base period. Estimates on both bases are shown below for a pre-war period (1934–38) and for each of the years 1948–54. No estimate is available for the years 1913, 1935 and 1945–47.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total of consumers' expenditure on food in 1951 and 1954.

The estimate of personal expenditure on food in 1954, as given in the Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure, was £3,810 million compared with £2,987 million in 1951.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much expressed in pounds sterling, of the increase in consumers' expenditure on food in 1954 as compared to 1951, was represented by increase in consumption; and how much by increased prices.

Of the estimated increase of about £820 million in personal expenditure on food betwen 1951 and 1954, it is estimated that about £180 million represents the increase in volume of food and about £640 million represents the increase in price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to make a statement on the subsidies of white fish.

Revised subsidy rates are set out in an Order which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I hope to lay before Parliament tomorrow.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st November, 1955; Vol. 546, c. 817], supplied the following information:

asked the Minister of Health if he will institute an official inquiry into the incidence of coronary thrombosis with particular reference to deaths from this disease among work-people employed in the engineering industries.

The General Register Office is already preparing for publication figures showing the incidence of mortality from this condition among occupational groups of the population in the years 1949–53. I am informed that the Medical Research Council is also studying the occupational incidence of the condition.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the rent of midwives supplied with furnished accommodation is to be raised from £52 a year to £90, to be back dated to 1st April, 1955, whereas under the recent decision of the Whitley Council their income is to be increased by only £25 a year, and that this charge is likely to accentuate the shortage of nurses and midwives; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

This is a decision reached by agreement on the Whitley Council, which is representative of both the midwives and the employing local authorities. I understand that the new figure is a maximum, that the increase is the first since 1943, and that during the same period the midwives' salaries have gone up by over £200.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a further statement on the use of vaccine against poliomyelitis, in view of the recent international support for the Salk preparation.

Later this month I hope to receive information from the Medical Research Council and advice from a special committee of the Central and Scottish Health Services Councils on the safety and efficacy of two vaccines now being produced in this country and the use to which they might be put. I cannot at this stage indicate what decisions will be made but I will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that in all trials of poliomyelitis vaccines some inoculated children have developed poliomyelitis, and that these vaccines may actually cause poliomyelitis, and that at most only six per 100,000 children in the country ever develop paralytic poliomyelitis, he will advise the cessation of all experiments with poliomyelitis vaccines.

No. I consider that it is justifiable to continue the search for a safe and effective vaccine.

asked the Minister of Health what provision is made for general practitioners to participate in medical research.

My right hon. Friend understands that the Medical Research Council can assist any suitable research project in general practice.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the medical advice upon which he decided to ban the production of heroin was representative of practising clinicians; and if he will make a statement.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." The Government's view on this matter is as given on the 1st December by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in determining to ban the manufacture of heroin, he was aware that there is no adequate substitute for heroin in the symptomatic treatment of cancer of the lung; and if he will make a statement.

In advising my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary on the proposal that heroin should be banned, I was guided by the advice of my Standing Medical Advisory Committee. After anxious and sympathetic consideration the Government have not felt justified in departing from that advice.

asked the Minister of Health what consultation he had with the Medical Research Council on the question of suitable, adequate and equally effective substitutes for heroin before he reached his decision to ban the manufacture of the drug.

I did not consult the Medical Research Council direct but before tendering to me its advice the Standing Medical Advisory Committee consulted the British Pharmacopoeia Commission who had in turn consulted the Medical Research Council before the monograph on heroin was deleted from the Pharmacopoeia.

asked the Minister of Health the names of the members of the Medical Advisory Committee to his Department, their status in the medical profession and the capacity in which they serve on the Committee; if he will make a detailed statement concerning the advice which they have tendered to him in connection with the proposed ban on the manufacture of heroin and, in particular, to what extent they have considered the fact that heroin is a close derivative of morphine and can be manufactured from morphine under bathroom conditions; and if he will keep this aspect of the matter under review.

The names and qualifications of the members serving at 31st December, 1954, are as follows:

• Professor Sir Henry Cohen, J.P., M.D., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.C.P., F.F.R. (Chairman).
• Miss J. Aitken. C.B.E., M.D.. F.R.C.P.
• Sir Russell Brain, Bart., M.A.. D.M., P.R.C.P.—Whilst President of the Royal College of Physicians.
• ^*J. A. Brown, Esq., A. B. (R. U. I.), B. Ch., M. D.. B. A. O.
• C. Metcalfe Brown, Esq., M.D., D.P.H.—Whilst Chairman of the Council of the Society of Medical Officers of Health.
• Professor Sir David Campbell. M.A., M.C., M.D., LL.D., F.R.F.P.S.—Whilst President of the General Medical Council.
• Sir Ernest Rock Carling, M.B., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.P., LL.D., F.F.R.
• Professor Digby Chamberlain, Ch. M., F. R. C. S.
• Professor Robert Cruickshank, M. D., F. R. C. P., D. P. H.
• O. M. Duthie, Esq., F. R. C. S.
• A. A. Gemmell, Esq., M. C., T. D., M. A., M. D., P. R. C. O. G., F. R. C. S. E.—Whilst President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
• ^*E. A. Gregg, Esq., J.P., M. D., L. R. C. P. I., L. R. C. P. I.—Whilst Chairman of the Council of the British Medical Association.
• ^*W. V. Howells, Esq., O. B. E., M. A., M. B., B. Ch., M. R. C. S., L. R. C. P.
• Professor A. J. Lewis, M.D., F.R.C.P.
• W. G. Masefield, Esq., C. B. E., M. R. C. S., L. R. C. P., D. P. M.
• Professor Sir Harry Platt, M. S., M. D., P. R. C. S., F. A. C. S.—Whilst President of the Royal College of Surgeons.
• Sir James Paterson Ross, K. C. V. O., M. S., F. R. C. S.
• ^*F. M. Rose, Esq., M. B., Ch. B.
• J. C. Scadding, Esq., M. D., F. R. C. P.
• W. P. H. Sheldon, Esq., M. D., F. R. C. P.
• C. W. Walker, Esq., M. B., B. Ch., M. R. C. S., L. R. C. P.
• Sir William Gillian. K. C. V. O., M. D., M. S., F. R. C. S., F. R. C. O. G.
• H. Joules, Esq., M. D. F. R. C. P.
• H. M. Cameron Macaulay, Esq., B. Sc., M. D., D. P. H.
• J. R. K. Paterson, Esq., C. B. E., M. C., M. D., F. R. C. S., F. F. R., D. M. R. E.
• G. W. H. Townsend, Esq., M. B., B. Ch., D. P. H.
• ^*S. Wand, Esq., M. B., Ch. M.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the proposed Clean Food Regulations.

I hope these Regulations will be made before the Recess.

asked the Minister of Health what information or reports have been received or what investigation has been made to determine how far any class of elderly pensioners now suffer from malnutrition or faulty nutrition owing to poverty; and what is the comparison between the present position and that of five and twenty-five years ago.

The National Food Survey provides information on the nutrient intake of old-age pensioner households as a group. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food informs me that for the first half of 1955 it indicates that in comparison with the scales of requirements adopted by the British Medical Association Committee on Nutrition their average diet was adequate in respect of all nutrients except perhaps iron where it was 92 per cent. Except for Vitamin C, where the difference is largely seasonal, the levels are all higher than in 1950. There are no comparable figures for 1930.

asked the Minister of Health what consultations he had with the Medical Research Council before deciding that cortisone should be freely prescribed under the National Health Service; and what advice he received.

The Medical Research Council has conducted trials of the drug, and was aware of the intention to release it for general prescribing when supplies permitted. Advice from the Council on the use and characteristics of the drug is incorporated in notes which have been sent to doctors. I am sending a copy of these notes to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if the Working Party on the Statutory Registration of Medical Auxiliaries is still meeting; and when permanent regulations will be framed to take the place of the National Health Service Regulations 55 (Medical Auxiliaries), 1954.

The Working Party has made proposals on which I hope shortly to have the views of all the interested organisations. On the prospects of legislation, I am unable to add to my statement in the debate on the Address on 14th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature of the different procedures in use in his Department designed to deal with security and/or disciplinary cases amongst established and temporary Foreign Office/Service officers suspected or known to be guilty of such lapses; and how these special procedures were applied in the cases of Messrs. Maclean and Burgess before they made good their escape.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the speech by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in this House on 7th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs upon what basis, or according to what formula, he fixes the sums paid out of public funds, in the form of lump sum grants or financial settlements, to Foreign Office officials who have been requested to, or have themselves asked leave to, resign from Her Majesty's Service.

Payments are made to established staff in accordance with the appropriate Section of the Superannuation Acts, or, in the case of women resigning because of marriage, in accordance with the relevant Treasury minutes.Unestablished staff who resign their appointments may receive a gratuity either in accordance with Section 39 of the Superannuation Act, 1949, if they have completed seven years' continuous service, or in accordance with the terms of their engagement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number and whereabouts of the Foreign Office Security Department regional security officers serving abroad today, and at the time when Messrs. Maclean and Burgess made good their escape from this country.

There are now three regional security officers, in Bonn, Vienna and Washington. In May, 1951, there were also regional security officers in Cairo, Buenos Aires and Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the annual cost of the Foreign Office Security Department during the financial years 1950–51 and 1951–52, and if he will give the exact sums expended in pay and allowances, and as between the Foreign Office proper and its regional security officers, for each year, respectively.

The annual cost of the Foreign Office Security Department in the financial years 1950–51 and 1951–52 was £12,574 and £15,336 respectively, of which £12,060 and £15,007 represented pay and allowances. The annual cost in pay and allowances of the regional security officers abroad was £13,300 and £14,139 in these two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what age the children of officers of his Department, serving overseas, become eligible for education grants for each child at a boarding school in the United Kingdom.

There is no minimum age of eligibility.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations at what age the children of officers of his Department, serving overseas, become eligible for education grants for each child at a boarding school in the United Kingdom.

The special allowance for children attending boarding school in the United Kingdom is normally paid only for children receiving secondary education, who would usually be 11 years of age or older. Where, however, for climatic or other special reasons it is desirable to send children to the United Kingdom for primary education no age limit is imposed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade at what age the children of officers of his Department, serving overseas, become eligible for education grants for each child at a boarding school in the United Kingdom.

There is no lower age limit, except that in certain countries where the facilities for primary education are regarded as adequate, educational grants are only made in respect of children from the age of 11 onwards.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what further consideration he has given to the representations he has received that in certain circumstances handicapped children should no longer be excluded from the provisions of the Family Allowances Act; and whether he will make a statement.

As I stated in the debate been the Address, we have this point in mind for the legislation on family allowances.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is now prepared, after further consideration of the circumstances, to pay a death grant arising out of the death of Mr. Robert Greenwood, of Slaidburn.

As has already been explained to my hon. Friend, I have no power to make this payment.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what change in the financial position of Mrs. A. Peart, 330, Alwold Road, Birmingham, 29, has justified the cut in her war pension; and, in view of the particular circumstances of her son's death, whether he will immediately restore the full pension.

The war pension of 15s. a week paid to Mrs. Peart was based on the assumption that she had a retirement pension of 40s. a week and no earnings. In October she was asked to complete a declaration of means and declared earnings of £2 12s. 5d. a week.As regards the second part of the Question, the death of Mrs. Peart' s son in 1942 was accepted as due to his service and the particular circumstances of his death have no bearing on the pension payable, the amount of which is based on need.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what advice he has received from his Advisory Committee with regard to the limit of small income exception and the problem of credits and liability for contributions by persons of small income.

The Committee's Report on the liability for contributions of persons with small incomes was laid before the House last April, and its recommendations, which included a raising of the income limit for exception, have since been embodied in legislation. The Committee is still engaged on its review of the general provisions relating to credits.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how far his recent reference to the National Insurance Advisory Committee includes consideration of widowed mothers' allowances for children staying at school after 16 years of age.

This is within the Committee's terms of reference.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the domestic coal position in Norwich.

I am making inquiries and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the industrial and domestic coal supply position in the City of Rochester and the Borough of Chatham.

I am making inquiries and I will write to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much coal saving he estimates has been achieved through the appeal made to the nationalised electricity industry for the use of oil in place of coal at its generating stations.

The first dual-fired station is expected to be running on fuel-oil before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the terms of agreement with the United States of America for the purchase of coal for 1956; and what guarantee he has secured that such supplies will be available even in the event of other countries having to place orders for increased quantities from the United States of America.

Purchases of American coal are made by the National Coal Board through commercial channels and there is no Governmental agreement on the amount to be provided.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the July rise in the price of domestic coke was double that of the previous rise in the price of domestic coal.

More than two tons of coal are carbonised for each ton of gas coke sold and some gas boards considered it necessary on this occasion to recover most of the additional cost of their coal supplies in the price of coke.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking in England and Wales to reduce the number of fatal accidents in the home attributed to coal gas poisoning.

At my right hon. Friend's request the Gas Council has prepared a comprehensive report on gas poisoning accidents in Great Britain. The report shows that a great deal is being done to deal with this problem but my right hon. Friend is considering with his colleagues whether there are any further measures which might usefully be taken.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what recommendations and assistance have been given by his Department to local authorities in respect of their attempts to secure smokeless zones or a reduction of smoke emission.

Advice has been given on supplies of smokeless fuels and on more efficient use of fuel and possible modifications to fuel-using plant. In addition the National Industrial Fuel Efficiency Service advises industrial and commercial consumers referred to it by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the crisis in the shale oil industry as a result of the pending closure of refineries and shale mines; and if he will speed up the current inquiry into the future of the industry as a matter of urgency.

I understand that expansion by associated companies at Grangemouth offers an opportunity to close down the oldest and least economic shale plant with little risk of creating unemployment in the area. The company concerned has informed my right hon. Friend of its intentions in this matter and the Government are taking account of this contraction in considering the general position of the industry.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give the total mileage of the proposed Grid Line 275 KV.

The total route mileage so far planned is 2,180 miles.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the shortage of male nurses for our mental hospitals, he will take steps to bring to the notice of young men, when they become due for call-up, that if they wish to take nursing examination courses they can obtain deferment of National Service for this purpose and that there is a training allowance for each of the three years of training for them and their dependants.

Yes. I would like this to be as widely known as possible, and also the fact that men who have trained as nurses will be able to continue nursing during their National Service. What the hon. Member suggests is already being done. Special posters have been provided for exhibition at employment exchanges, particularly on days when men register for National Service, and leaflets giving full details about allowances during training are also available.I am considering whether any further steps can be taken to give this matter wider publicity.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Cypriots in this country are at present doing National Service; and his policy towards the conscription of Cypriots.

Cypriots normally become liable to National Service after two years' residence in Great Britain, unless they are resident here for the sole purpose of attending a course of education or are in Great Britain for a temporary purpose only.I regret that figures are not available to show the number of Cypriots who have been called up under the National Service Acts.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of the insured population now registered as unemployed in each of the six North Wales counties.

At 14th November the figures were 8·4 per cent. for Anglesey, 5·5 per cent. for Caernarvonshire, 1·8 per cent. for Denbighshire, 1·9 per cent. for Flintshire, 3·1 per cent. for Merionethshire and 1·3 per cent. for Montgomeryshire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air to what extent Prestwick Pioneer aircraft have been provided for the Royal Air Force; where they are used; to what extent they have been successful; and whether an extension of their use is contemplated.

Eighteen Pioneers have been provided, or are on order, for use in Malaya, where they have been particularly successful in giving support to the ground forces. I am not at present prepared to say whether their use will be extended to other theatres.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will now make a further statement about the United States version of the film "The Dam Busters."

The version of "The Dam Busters" film shown to American audiences has been reduced to the normal length of a cinema feature film, but a few short sequences have been added in order, I understand, to increase the tension. One of these sequences shows a Flying Fortress, bearing R.A.F. roundels, crashing in a wood. This comes immediately after a damaged Lancaster aircraft has been seen turning away after making its attack on the Eder dam and before an explosion is seen over the ridge of a hill beside the lake.The appearance of a Flying Fortress is so momentary that its identity is difficult to establish but the R.A.F. roundels are nevertheless quite clear. I am placing a "still" of the crashing aircraft in the Library.I am satisfied that neither in this particular matter nor in the general handling of the film is there anything derogatory to the Royal Air Force and that there was no intention of suggesting that American aircraft took part in this operation. I propose, therefore, to take no further action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the world's supply of heroin is manufactured in this country.

69 per cent. in 1953, the latest year for which figures of world production are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about this year's harvest in Scotland.

Scottish cereal crops, though short in straw, were of good quality and the estimated yields per acre of wheat, barley and oats are the highest on record.While the hay crop, particularly seeds hay, was on the light side, its condition and feeding value are above normal.Prolonged dry weather adversely affected the growth of potatoes and turnips and swedes and yields of these are below average. The potato crop was practically free of blight and is of good quality. The yield of sugar beet promises well. Growth of pasture suffered from lack of moisture although moderate rainfalls in the autumn brought some improvement. However, the quality of grazing was generally good.Estimated yields per acre of the main crops in Scotland in 1955 are shown below together with comparable figures for 1954 and averages for the ten-year period from 1945 to 1954 inclusive.

—	1955	1954	Averages 1945–54
Wheat (cwts.)	27·1	25·1	23·0
Barley (cwts.)	27·4	25·1	21·7
Oats (cwts.)	19·3	18·6	17·1
Rye (cwts.)	13·9	13·6	11·3
Potatoes (tons)	7·1	7·6	7·5
Turnips and swedes (tons)	15·9	18·7	17·3
Mangolds (tons)	20·1	20·0	21·0
Sugar beet (tons)	9·7*	8·8	9·0
Hay from temporary grass (cwts.)	29·5	33·5	31·7
Hay from permanent grass (cwts.)	20·6	22·2	22·8
Hay from Timothy meadows (cwts.)	40·2	41·4	42·3
* Preliminary estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to remove the discrimination between other rank absentees and absentee officers whereby other rank absentees are reported to the civil police but absentee officers are not.

There is no material difference as we seek the aid of the civil police in tracing absentee officers.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what grant is made from public funds towards the maintenance of the Sea Cadet Corps.

About £100,000 a year. This includes the following items:

(a) The headquarters and area administrations of the Sea Cadet Corps receive assistance up to maxima of £19,500 and £5,000 a year respectively.

(b) A training grant of 3s. per year for each qualified cadet is paid to the Sea Cadet Council.

(c) A capitation grant of 13s. 6d. for each qualified cadet and a proficiency grant of 5s. for boys passing for leading rate are paid direct to units.

Units also receive help from the Admiralty in kind (for example—boats, stores, uniforms) and in payment of instructional, travelling and subsistence expenses. The value of this assistance in the current financial year is roughly a further £140,000.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that on 24th November, 1955, the first post was delivered to some offices in New Square, Lincoln's Inn, after 9 a.m.; and if he will take steps to ensure that, in future, the post is delivered at an earlier hour so that work in New Square is not held up by the late delivery of post.

Owing to shortage of staff and heavy mails, it has occasionally been impossible to finish the first delivery in New Square, Lincoln's Inn, until shortly after 9 a.m. I would assure my hon. and gallant Friend that we are doing all we can to see that the delivery is regularly completed by 9 a.m.