asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the composition of the 550,000 acres shown as an addition to food-producing agricultural land in the recently published analysis of agricultural land lost for food production over the period 1939 to 1954.

The 550,000 acres referred to by my hon. Friend are the net result of many thousands of corrections and adjustments to our statistical returns of agricultural holdings rather than any addition to the area of land actually in use for producing food. The cost of preparing a detailed statement of all these items over a period of 15 years would not be justified.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that 250,000 of these acres represent land which was not previously enumerated prior to the introduction of animal feedingstuffs rationing? Would he not also agree that it is not an addition to the food-producing land but merely a discovery of land which was previously producing, and that if that adjustment is made the loss of agricultural land is nearer 3½per cent. than 1½per cent.?

Yes. I think that I broadly agree. The 250,000 acres is due to the cause which my hon. Friend has mentioned, and I think that the net loss of agricultural land, not counting land transferred to forestry as a loss, would be about 774,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has met since its formation; where, and when, these meetings have taken place; at how many of these meetings Britain has been represented; and if he will make a statement on the work done at each meeting.

Forty-three meetings have been held. The United Kingdom was represented at each. Thirty-one were held at Copenhagen, the seat of the Council, and the remainder at other European capitals. I am sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of an article on the Council's activities, and I will let him have a copy of any particular report that may interest him.

I am very much obliged to the Minister for that answer. However, he said nothing about the future meetings. Does he realise that the design of this Council was to provide for continuity in the exploration of the sea for the purpose of providing not only food but industrial resources and developing industries? Will he consider it from that aspect?

I am grateful to the hon. and learned Member for the interest he is taking in this very important work. There certainly is continuity of work and, apart from the regular meetings of the Council, there are many meetings of committees and sub-committees composed of scientific experts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals relating to the minimum sizes of fish and trawl meshes he intends to make to the other nations concerned in the fishing of the two areas, namely, that of the distant fisheries, from the Barents Sea to Greenland, and that of the nearer and middle water fisheries, covering most of the remaining area of the Atlantic Ocean north of latitude 48°N. and east of longitude 42°W.; and what steps he is taking to that end.

The existing minima are to be further considered within the Permanent Commission set up under the Convention covering these waters following a scientific review which that body is carrying out. That review is still in progress and I think it best to await its results.

Will the Minister not say what proposals Britain has made, which nations have met, when they have met, when the next meeting will occur and what the agenda will be?

The recommendations are to be made by this scientific committee to the Commission. The United Kingdom is represented on the committee that is to make the recommendations. The report of that committee will be made to the next meeting of the Commission, in May.

Is it not a fact that in every case where infringements of mesh size have been reported to him my right hon. Friend has most energetically taken it up with the Governments concerned?

This question of the existing provisions is very important indeed, and I am very anxious to do everything I possibly can to take up as energetically as possible every case brought to my notice.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the Interim Index of Retail Prices rose by 4½ per cent. between September, 1954, and September, 1955; that about two-thirds of this total rise was due to changes in the price of food; and if, therefore, he will consider the general desirability for the holding of inquiries into the whole of the costings of certain selected foods from the primary producer to the retailer.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that during that period both prices and wages rose. In the case of food, a special factor affecting prices last year was the very dry summer. While I am willing to consider the desirability of having an inquiry when particular circumstances justify it, as in the case of horticulture, I see no justification at the present time for a general series of inquiries on food costs and prices.

Is the Minister aware that last year 229 companies in the food industry alone made an increase in their gross trading profits of£22 million? Is he further aware that every time we ask for a reduction in prices, we are told that the costs of distribution are too high? Why do the Government protect these vested interests time and again?

The Government are certainly not doing that. I would say to the hon. Lady that although food prices have risen, and I am far from complacent about that, they have risen very much less during the last four years, and only little more than half as much as during the last four years of the Labour Government. The country is feeding much better today.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable concern at the apparent increase in trading margins? Does not he think that that would be a profitable source of inquiry, and that there is a burden on the right hon. Gentleman to satisfy himself that the present margins are not unduly contributing to the increased cost of food?

I shall be glad at any time to consider any evidence which hon. Members can send to me, but I believe that the best answer is the active encouragement of competition.

The right hon. Gentleman referred to the prices for the last four years and the previous four years. Will he say what were the import prices for the four years preceding the advent of this Government and the four years since they took office?

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, import prices are only part of the story.

Is not the Question on the Order Paper an invitation to reintroduce price control, and therefore rationing?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to reduce the prices of essential foodstuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the continued rise in the price of food since November; what is the reason for this; and what action he now proposes to take to stabilise and reduce the cost of food.

The Interim Index of Retail Prices, which is the only reliable Indicator of changes in average food prices, shows a fall of nearly 1 per cent. in the food group between November and December last, the latest months for which the Index figure is available. As regards the stabilisation and reduction of prices, it is the policy of the Government to rely on the forces of competition in a free market and on vigorous anti-inflationary measures.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that fall is seasonal and is to be expected? Does not he appreciate that the increase in food prices has been due to the deliberate fiscal policy of the Government, and that if the Government are now endeavouring to stabilise or reduce prices a burden is placed upon them not to leave this matter to the market or to free enterprise but to intervene actively to reduce or stabilise food prices?

I take the contrary view.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Interim Index of Retail Prices has risen in the last eight years by 54 per cent. whereas the domestic coal price index has risen by 110 per cent. in the same period?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions he has initiated in the last year for false labelling or advertisement of foods and drugs under Section 6 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.

As the Act did not come into operation until 1st January, 1956, the hon. Lady presumably has in mind the similar provisions in the Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations, 1943. There were no cases under these provisions in England and Wales in which my Department instituted proceedings, but thirty-five in which local food and drugs authorities did so in 1955.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has considered the advertisements of beefy cubes, digestive biscuits and slimming bread, copies of which have been sent to him; and, as the articles in question are misdescribed, if he will take action under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, Section 6, in these cases.

The documents sent to me by the hon. Lady only reached me two days ago. I have the matter under consideration now and will communicate my conclusions to her as soon as possible.

May I inform the Minister that three at least of the misleading advertisements have been withdrawn this week and replaced with advertisements more in keeping with the nature of the goods?

I am hoping to get another letter from the hon. Lady, because the letter she sent me referred to certain things, but there were no documents with it referring either to digestive biscuits or slimming bread.

If, in the course of his investigations, my right hon. Friend finds a genuine slimming bread, will he circulate the name of it in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Is the Minister aware that the missing document was not included because it merely referred to a poster?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that pies labelled meat pies contain 11 per cent. meat, and that sausages labelled beef or pork sausages contain less than 50 per cent. beef or pork; and if he will take action under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, Section 6, in such cases.

I am aware that there is some criticism of the meat content and labelling of these foods. This is one of the reasons why I have asked the Food Standards Committee to report on sausages; and I now propose to ask it to inquire into meat pies. I will consider further action when I have its recommendations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the saving in each of the years 1953, 1954 and 1955, resulting from the clearance of wild rabbits by disease or other forms of extermination, giving separate figures in respect of agriculture and forestry, and stating the basis on which his figures are computed.

There is no adequate statistical basis for the particular estimates desired. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) on 27th October last, and to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Arundel and Shoreham (Captain Kerby) on Monday last, 13th February.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that Answer, may I ask him whether, after studying the grain yield for last year, he is satisfied that the estimates made by the Advisory Committee are still true, and if so, will he take account of that fact when we come to study the agricultural prices?

I have said on every occasion that a statistical computation of the exact gain is extremely difficult to make and I have always said that I do not think it is worth while to attempt to do so on present evidence. I have given estimates based on the best evidence available but I have pointed out when doing so that it is indeed a rough and ready estimate, and I have no means of checking the estimate made by the Myxomatosis Advisory Committee in 1954.

Is it the Government's policy now to seek completely to exterminate the rabbit population of this country?

Yes, Sir, it is my policy to do eveything I can in an attempt to exterminate rabbits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the average yield of barley per acre over the five years 1950 to 1954, inclusive; and by What method the figure is estimated.

The average yield of barley in England and Wales over the five years 1950–54 was 20·6 cwt. per acre. Annual estimates of production and acreage are provided by officers of the National Agricultural Advisory Service who obtain their information from threshing contractors, representative farmers and other persons able to give reliable information.

Will my right hon. Friend say why the barley deficiency payment is based on the average yield for those very same years of 19·4 cwt.?

There are technical reasons for that which I should find it very difficult to explain to my hon. Friend in answer to a Question. But I will write to him and explain the reasons for that differentiation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that either of these two figures seems almost unbelievably low to the barley growers in the Wolds of Yorkshire, and unsatisfactory as a basis for the barley deficiency payment?

That is the figure of the average of these years. The comparable yield for 1955 would be about 25·4 cwt.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about new measures to take the place of the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts, both of which expire in November.

I expect to be able to make an announcement soon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the highest average retail price of Indian tea in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, and the price today.

Average prices of blends prepared solely from Indian teas are not readily available. For blends containing Indian and other teas the respective figures per lb. are 3s. 9d., 4s. 6d., 4s. 10d., 6s. 8d., and 7s. 6d. The average price today is 6s. 6d.

As last week the Minister said he was always willing to give praise where praise was due, and as he remembered to praise the price today as being a reduction on that of last year, will he give some praise to the Labour Government for having the lowest price of all in 1951?

At that time, of course, the price of tea was subsidised.

Will not my right hon. Friend agree that since 1951 the wages paid to Indian labour have risen considerably?

I can well imagine that that may be so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) that if price control had been exercised during these last few years, prices could have been held within a measure of the prices under the Labour Government, and that in this case price control would have been most beneficial to housewives?

I am sure that had price control been maintained, the nation would not be eating anything like so well as it is eating today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate the present arrangements for the distribution of vegetables with a view to economies being achieved which will reduce the price.

The distribution of vegetables is one of the matters now being investigated by the Runciman Committee on Horticultural Marketing.

Is my right hon. Friend aware it is alleged that there are large numbers of ridiculous and unnecessary restrictive agreements and practices at Covent Garden which are dislocating the market? Will he refer those practices to the Commission which is looking into the matter?

I agree with my hon. Friend that we ought to make some very substantial improvements in the marketing of horticultural products. I know that the Runciman Committee is looking at every aspect of this difficult and complicated subject.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any idea when this Committee is likely to give him either an interim of a final report?

I cannot tell the right hon. Gentleman that. The Committee has been at work since, I believe, the early summer of last year, and has been paying a great many visits to different parts of this country and also to other countries in Europe. Its work is so important that I am anxious not to hurry it unduly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what protests he has received from animal welfare societies and from individuals about difficulties of enforcement in cases of violation of the Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) (No. 2) Regulations, 1954; and what investigations he has made into the particular incidents brought to his notice.

I have received a small number of such protests, mainly concerned with the misunderstanding which has arisen in some cases about the responsibility for enforcement. I am grateful to the hon. Member for the information he has sent me on this matter. As regards the second part of the Question, all the incidents have been investigated by my officers and any infringements found have been reported to the local authorities concerned.

Is not there still some confusion, in the sense that local authority slaughterhouses are often complained about, and yet they are supposed to be enforcing the law? Secondly, can the right hon. Gentleman say what, for example, he has said to those police authorities, whose names I have sent to him, who have flatly stated, "We are not going to do anything under the new regulations. We are going to leave it to the local authorities"? What has he said to them?

Broadly speaking, enforcement is the duty of local authorities, and in every case which I have taken up in respect of a complaint about a local authority slaughterhouse I believe that action has been taken; but I will consider the whole matter, especially the point raised by the hon. Member about the duty of enforcement lying upon local authorities when they themselves are the owners of the slaughterhouses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the production of bacon pigs this year as compared with last.

It is the Government's policy to continue to support pig production through a system of price guarantees giving a fair level of return. The division of supplies for pork, bacon and manufacture is for the market to decide. The guaranteed price affords an effective safeguard against the effects of undue fluctuation in market prices.

Will the right hon. Gentleman—who is being suspiciously vague—say simply and categorically whether he wants pig producers to produce more pigs and more bacon this year than last year? Last year we produced 4,400,000 pigs. Does he want this year more than that, less, or just the same? That is all we want to know.

The numbers of pigs required will depend upon the demand for pigmeat and cannot be settled by me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the numbers of fat pigs marketed during the week ended 10th December, 1955, on which the deficiency payments were made; and the average market price per score pounds recorded for those pigs.

The total number of fat pigs marketed in the week ended 10th December was 200,763. The average market price was 41s. 7d. per score deadweight.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that in these cases the pigs were mainly for the Christmas period of consumption and were sold as pork at very high prices? Therefore, his argument that there were too many pigs does not arise.

I do not think that I ever said there were too many pigs. This illustrates exactly what I did say, namely, that the price and type of pig required is in fact settled by the market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether fowl typhoid is a notifiable disease under his regulations.

Fowl typhoid is not a notifiable disease.

Why not?

One of the main reasons is that the symptoms are by no means easy to recognise. The other reasons are so technical that I could not give them now, but I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend if he would like me to do so.

But should not this highly infectious and lethal disease be notifiable? Cannot it be carried for miles and miles by wild birds? Is it not causing great harm to our livestock?

I should have no hesitation whatever in making it notifiable if I thought that it would achieve the end we all want, which is to eradicate the disease. I think I had better write to my hon. and gallant Friend about it.

But he never gets his letters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the large quantities of imported eggs which are coming on to the market when there is an increased supply of British eggs, with the result that home production is likely to be discouraged and foreign exchange wasted; and whether he will review this matter and take remedial action at an early date.

In December last, the latest month for which statistics are available, imports were more than a third less than in December, 1954, and constituted only 15 per cent. of total supplies. In recent weeks my information suggests that the proportion of imports was much smaller. The home producer is, of course, protected by the guarantees given by the Agriculture Act, 1947.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that egg producers are finding it increasingly difficult to make a living, due to the low price of eggs and the high price of feeding-stuffs? Could not these imports be limited and our home industry protected?

I have told my hon. and gallant Friend that imports have been steadily dropping recently. As regards a fair price, I would remind him that the present guaranteed price was that which was agreed at the last Annual Price Review between the Government and representatives of the producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the future import of beef into this country that will serve as a guide to home producers during the next winter fattening season.

I do not think that would be useful. Imports are now in private hands, and their volume will depend upon consumer demand here and supplies available from overseas sources.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that, owing to the present increased quantities of frozen and chilled beef coming into the country, there has been a heavy fall in the price of home-produced fat cattle, against a much higher cost of store cattle and feeding-stuffs, as a result of which the farmers are now losing heavily? Does he think that they will produce as many next year?

I would again refer the hon. Gentleman to the existence and safeguard of the guaranteed price.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that that guaranteed price does not now cover the cost of production?

If that is so, it is just possible that it may arise in the course of the present discussions on the Annual Price Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where the raw sugar stored for strategic purposes on the Bexwell airfield in Norfolk was removed to for refining or other purposes.

A small part of the sugar was sent to London and the remainder to Greenock and Liverpool.

Is not it most uneconomic to dispose of this sugar by sending it to Greenock when there are refineries within a few miles in Norfolk which could have dealt with it?

The actual sugar is disposed of to whatever refinery needs it at the time. The distance it is sent does not affect the Government financially, because a flat rate is paid.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Agriculture Research Council has yet considered to what extent injury may be done to pigs and other animals from the breeding point of view by consumption of offals arising from the slaughter of caponised chickens; and whether he will make a statement on the subject.

I am advised that it is possible that if the remains of caponising pellets in the necks of caponised fowls found their way into animal feeding stuffs, such feeding stuffs might be harmful to livestock. It is unlikely that any harm would arise from other parts of the carcases of caponised fowls. My Department's Advisory Leaflet on Chemical Caponisation, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend, draws attention to the risks in animal feeding and stresses the need to remove the site of the implant. I believe these are well understood by the industry and no cases of damage from this cause have come to my notice.

But if the consumption of offals containing the heads and necks of caponised cockerels can have the very grave effect of sterilising great strong pigs, will not the consumption of these parts, boiled down into sauces, soups or concentrates, have the same effect on human beings?

I hope very much that my hon. and gallant Friend will be very careful not to absorb any himself.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation under which the restrictive practices of trade unions could be referred to the Monopolies Commission.

No, Sir. Labour questions are essentially different from those dealt with by the Monopolies Commission. I have said before that the removal of obstacles to production is one aspect of the general problem of increasing industrial productivity.

Can my right hon. Friend say why, if it is desirable to refer restrictive trade agreements to the Monopolies Commission and to introduce legislation to deal with such agreements, it is undesirable to do the same thing with regard to the far more harmful restrictive practices of organised labour?

There are many differences, but in my own view the essential one is that the practices referred to the Monopolies Commission deal with the price and supply of goods while those indicated in the Question deal with the working conditions of men and women.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the trade unions gave up pre-war restrictive practices for the duration of the war, and that not a single trade union has ever asked for the restoration of those practices?

I do not want to indicate, either by my Answer to the Question or by my answer to the supplementary question, that there is not a very difficult question here with which we should all rightly be concerned, but I think that it is only one aspect of the general problem of increasing industrial productivity, and the matter, if pursued at all, is best pursued with both sides of industry.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will institute an inquiry into the restrictive practices in the fruit, vegetable, fish and meat trades in order to ascertain the effect of these practices upon the commodities dealt with in those markets.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to arrange for a committee of inquiry to be set up to investigate restrictive practices imposed by trades unions, and their effect upon the cost of living.

I am well aware of the public interest in this very complex subject and am studying it closely, but I am not satisfied that an inquiry on the lines suggested is the best approach.

In view of the general impression that the prices of the foods handled in the markets are increased as a result of the restrictive practices, does not my right hon. Friend consider that it would be helpful to all concerned if the effect, if any, on food prices could be clearly established?

I intend to discuss this general question with the N.J.A.C, which is where it should first go, but I should not like to pick out any particular trade for such an inquiry merely because it happened recently to have come very much before the public eye.

As the Minister has chosen to answer both Questions together, and as the first appears to deal with restrictive practices by the distributive agents and the vast difference in the margins which exists, will the Minister disentangle the two aspects in the light of his previous answer not to undertake an inquiry into the distributive practices in the markets?

I answered the two Questions together because my answer, that I am not satisfied that such inquiry would serve a useful purpose, covers both.

How does that tie up with the Minister's previous answer to Question No. 26, in which he distinguished so clearly between the sale of labour, particularly when under trade union agreement, and the sale of commodities under restrictive practices operated by distributive associations?

In both answers I linked them to productivity and said that, in my view, it was best that they should first be discussed with both sides of industry. That could most appropriately be done on the N.J.A.C.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that whilst many of these practices were thoroughly understandable when we had a million unemployed, many of them are now out of date and out of place, are adding to the cost of production and the cost of living and are driving abroad, into the hands of our foreign competitors, good trade and good business of which this country and the organised workers in time will stand in dire need?

Exactly, but a vast number, and in fact the great majority, of restrictive practices are linked with considerations of health, safety and other matters. Where they interfere—and they may well do so—with efficiency in this country, that is part of the problem of increasing productivity, as I have said, and is therefore a matter for the two sides of industry.

asked the Minister of Labour the result of the most recent conversations between Her Majesty's Government and the Trades Union Congress on measures for restraint in wage claims to match the Government's policy for stabilisation of prices.

When the Prime Minister met members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress on 1st November, 1955, the economic situation was discussed, and the considerations which gave rise to the recent measures taken by the Government were explained. It is hoped to arrange further meetings both with the T.U.C. and with employers' representatives.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that statement; but would he not agree that one of the most effective ways of checking the rise in the cost of living is by exercising restraint in regard to prices, dividends and wages, and can we hope for any greater co-operation from the trade unions than we have had hitherto?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor, in a recent speech, indicated four different methods of restraint, all of which would be extremely helpful in the present difficult circumstances, and one would hope to see a response from each sector.

When can we expect to see the Government's proposals in respect of the stabilisation of prices?

As a matter of fact, prices have not moved unfavourably over the most recent period.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will give consideration to the need for a survey of the health hazards of pottery workers in Stoke-on-Trent, as part of the pilot schemes envisaged under the Industrial Health Service; and whether he will make a statement;

(2) whether in accordance with his usual practice, he will propose to the Pottery Workers' Society of Great Britain and to the Pottery Manufacturers Federation, that a joint standing committee be set up, which shall advise the Minister on the implementation of the Factory Acts and Regulations which affect the safety and health of the operatives.

I have decided, with the advice of the Industrial Health Advisory Committee, to carry out a pilot industrial health survey of the pottery industry. The survey will enable me to examine, in consultation with the industry, the considerable progress which has been made in countering health hazards and will assist in determining the need for further measures. It will also provide data concerning methods of procedure which should be useful in planning any further surveys.

I wish to emphasise that the pottery industry has been selected for this first pilot survey because it offers the best scope for a quick and informative examination of conditions from the standpoint of health and not because there is an outstanding need on health grounds for a survey of that industry.

Is the Minister aware that his Answer will give great satisfaction to both employers and workers in north Staffordshire, that we accept quite fully the latter part of his statement that there has been a very real advance in the health protection of the workers in the past twenty years, and that we expect further benefit from this?

asked the Minister of Labour what further steps he now proposes to take to remedy the shortage of hospital nurses, in view of the failure of the recruitment campaign.

There has been a steady improvement in the nursing staff of hospitals and I do not agree that the recruitment campaign has failed. There is still a serious shortage in the mental nursing service, and my Department, in co-operation with the Ministry of Health, will continue to make special efforts to encourage recruitment to this service.

Does not the Minister agree that there is a grave shortage of nursing staff, and a danger of many hospitals failing to give the proper service, and will he not institute an inquiry to find out whether the conditions and grades are sufficient to attract young men and women into the nursing profession?

That there is a shortage I should not dream of denying, of course, but it is also true that the figures have climbed every single year since 1948 to the end of 1954, the most recent date for which we have figures. I announced fairly recently, when I was Minister of Health, the measures that we were taking in this field, which is of special concern to me, and if there is anything more I can do I shall gladly consult with the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the present employment position in the motor car industry and outline as far as possible the future trends in this industry.

Since the week beginning 9th January there has been some short-time working in the motor car industry in the Midlands affecting about 8,000 workers, most of whom have lost one day's work each week. This is about 3 per cent. of the total number employed in the industry. The future trends in the industry are a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

What effect is the recent announcement of an increased Bank Rate likely to have on the prospects of the industry? Is the Minister aware that in the days when I was employed in the industry it was looked upon as purely part-time or seasonal work? If that sort of atmosphere were again to arise in the industry there would be precious little hope of getting this increase in production.

The hon. Member no doubt knows that in the original announcement the B.M.C. said that in its view it was a temporary phase. It is, of course, a matter of opinion to what extent the credit squeeze, the Bank Rate and any other matters may effect the position, and whether there may or may not be long-term trends underlying these recent and, to some extent, significant appearances; but I should not like to speculate.

Has the B.M.C. given to the Minister or his officials any indication when there is likely to be a full-time resumption at the Austin works in Birmingham? Is the Minister aware that there is very considerable concern?

Yes, Sir, I know that, but I am afraid I could not give any estimate when this period is likely to end.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the proposed redundancy of 2,500 motor workers at the Standard Motor Works, Coventry, during the next few months; and what action he intends in order to maintain these men in employment.

Yes, Sir. According to a statement issued by the firm 2,500 workers will be temporarily laid off in the summer because of a change in tractor production. The employment exchange service will be available to help them to find other work.

Is the Minister aware that the projected lay-off is regarded in Coventry as a return to the pre-war pattern of seasonal unemployment? In those circumstances, will he bear in mind that any attempt to recreate that tragic pattern will be most strenuously resisted by the engineering workers in that city?

I could not accept any of that supplementary question. As I understand the position, this firm is switching its production to a heavier and more powerful tractor in order to meet competition, and in the long run I should have thought that that was bound to be in the interests of our economy.

Is the Minister not aware that in addition to this approaching redundancy there is a tremendous amount of concealed unemployment in the city and in the Midlands generally, in the engineering industry, arising out of short-time working?

There are trends in that part of the country which we must watch very closely, but in the city of Coventry last month there were 650 unemployed and 1,900 vacancies.

Is not the Minister evading the whole issue? Does not he realise that when skilled men are put out of work there are no other comparable jobs to which they can go? What is the use of his giving those figures?

The figures are not valueless. The figures of vacancies for the Midlands show a very heavy pressure in that part of the country, probably heavier than in any other part of the country, upon our labour resources. As for the immediate problem created by these changes, we will do everything we can, through our employment exchanges, to help.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made towards the setting up of a committee of inquiry, containing trade union representation, to assess the technical, economic, and social problems raised by automation.

I would like to wait for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Report on this subject, which I understand will soon be available, before deciding what action on my part may be necessary.

Is the Minister aware that these committees are functioning on the Continent, and, I understand, have prepared reports? Is he aware that there is a feeling in this country that there is a certain dragging of feet on the issue? Will he do everything he can to expedite the Report?

We shall get this Report, and I am sure that it will be a valuable Report, although I do not suppose that anything earth-shaking will emerge from it. In the light of it, I shall be able to consider what further steps I want to take.

asked the Minister of Labour what success has attended the efforts of officers of his Department in assisting retirement pensioners who seek to obtain employment; and if he will make a statement.

Separate figures for retirement pensioners are not available, but during 1955 an average of over 2,000 men and women over the minimum pension ages were placed in employment each month. The figures for the four weeks ended 11th January last were 2,268 men and 675 women.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentages of the working days lost through industrial stoppages in 1955 were due to strikes in the coal-mining industry, on the railways and in the docks, respectively.

About 29 per cent. in coal-mining, 23 per cent. on the railways and 20 per cent. at docks, a total of about 72 per cent.

Does it not appear from these rather distressing figures that those who believe that the workers in the industries which were to be nationalised would be happy and contented were gravely misled by the party opposite?

In order to assess the answer to that question, may we be told by the Minister how these percentages compare with those for the days under private enterprise in those industries?

I asked how these figures compared with those for the last full year before the war. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I am just giving one figure; oddly enough it proves the case both ways. In 1938 the percentage on the railways was 1 per cent., whereas the figure for coal-mining was 52 per cent. Either side of the House can make what it likes out of that.

asked the Minister of Labour how the 3,794,000 days which were lost to the nation as a result of strikes in 1955 were split up between nationalised and other industries.

Of the total number of working days lost in 1955 as a result of all kinds of stoppage of work due to industrial disputes, about 53 per cent. were lost by workers in nationalised industries and about 47 per cent. in other industries.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the quickest ways of bringing about unemployment in this country is to have lots more strikes and ever-higher costs?

asked the Minister of Labour how the 2,457,000 days which were lost to the nation as a result of strikes in 1954 were split up between nationalised and other industries.

Of the total number of working days lost in 1954 as a result of all kinds of stoppage of work due to industrial disputes, about 24 per cent. were lost in nationalised industries and about 76 per cent. in other industries.

asked the Minister of Labour on what date and by what procedure Mr. J. Meager, 293, Abbey Road, Belvedere, was informed that he could supply medical testimony by his own doctor for the information of the medical board; whether this testimony was taken into consideration before the board made a grading decision; and what grade was decided upon which resulted in his being directed to the Army.

With the summons to medical examination sent to Mr. Meager on 14th September, 1955, was a notice of which I will send the hon. Member a copy, advising him that the medical board would give careful consideration to any medical evidence he produced. There is no copy of any certificate with his papers. I can assure the hon. Member that the board took full account of Mr. Meager's psychiatric condition and placed him in medical Grade II. He did not appeal against that grading which, I understand, was confirmed by an Army psychiatrist.

Is the Minister aware that this young man has said that he did not get such a form? Is he further aware that the young man's own doctor, who was for years an Army doctor, testified that psychologically and physically Mr. Meager was unfit for any form of military service? Has not that opinion been borne out now that the young man has been discharged as unfit after weeks of misery and the waste of a good deal of public money?

I am afraid that I could not accept that. So far as the form is concerned, I understand that it was sent to Mr. Meager. The Board unanimously came to the conclusion that the right grade was Grade II, and when he went into the Army and had his first two examinations that grading was confirmed by an Army psychologist and an Army psychiatrist. A man's condition may worsen and it does not seem to me to follow that because a man is discharged from the Army the original grading was necessarily wrong.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the reduced period of part-time service from sixty to twenty days announced in the White Paper on National Service, Command Paper No. 9608, he will extend a similar concession to conditionally-registered conscientious objectors required to fulfil conditions for sixty days beyond the two years' National Service period.

No, Sir. I have no power to relieve a conscientious objector of his obligations under the National Service Acts.

Would it not be possible, administratively, to put these men on the same basis as National Service men? Public interest is taken into account in the case of reservists. Students, teachers and others are often kept out of useful service for a year. Might not that principle be applied to these men?

I think the hon. Member recognises, from the emphasis which he placed on the word "administrative," that I have no power to alter the present legal position. It is true that not in every case does a prosecution follow. All the matters to which the hon. Member referred are taken into account, including, in particular, the position of intending students for universities, and whether the date on which their obligations end would be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the present arrangements for suppressing illicit traffic in drugs are adequate to deal effectively with the traffic; and if he will intorduce legislation for heavier penalties on convicted pedlars of illicit drugs.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, the maximum penalty under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1951, is, on conviction on indictment, a fine not exceeding£1,000, or imprisonment for a period of not exceeding ten years, or both such fine and imprisonment. My right hon. and gallant Friend has no reason to think that heavier penalties are required.

In view of the fact that the illicit traffic in drugs presents no grave problem in this country, and as it is most desirable that we should maintain our good record in this respect, will the Joint Under-Secretary give an assurance that his right hon. Friend will keep a watchful eye over this type of offence, and that if he finds it raising its ugly head he will not hesitate to take effective action?

Yes, certainly. My right hon. and gallant Friend always keeps a watchful eye on this particular matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the procedure that is followed when a foreign Government asks for the expulsion from Britain of any of their own citizens resident here; on what occasions expulsion has been enforced to their own country against their wishes; and what action has been taken against persons refusing to leave.

I cannot emphasise too strongly that a foreigner is told to leave this country only where the Secretary of State is himself satisfied that this is in the public interest.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that that does not answer my Question, in which I asked if there were any cases in which people have been sent back to their country of origin against their will, and what happens if they do not wish to go? I particularly wanted to ask, in addition, what happened to the Iraqi students? Were they willing to go back to Iraq? All we ask for is the truth.

The subject of the Iraqi students was fully debated in the House recently, and I can only refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on that occasion.

Could the hon. Gentleman perhaps tell the House in the case of the Iraqi students what, in fact, were the reasons of public interest which made their continuing stay in this country dangerous?

The same reasons of public interest as were quoted on more than one occasion by our predecessors in office.

Could the Joint Under-Secretary answer the first part of my hon. Friend's Question? What is the procedure followed when a foreign Government asks—which is presumably something which does occasionally happen, whether this Government wishes it or not?

I have nothing to add to the statement made on that by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in answer to a similar Ouestion on 30th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the growing practice of parking commercial vehicles all night and without lights on public highways not scheduled as parking places; and what instructions have been given to Metropolitan Police officers with regard to this practice.

Under Regulations made by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, which took effect in September, 1955, commercial vehicles of under two tons unladen weight are permitted to park without lights in London, subject to certain conditions. The Metropolitan Police have instructions to ensure that vehicles are not left without lights, except in accordance with the Regulations.

Would the hon. Gentleman not agree that this problem is getting a little out of hand now; and would he ask the Metropolitan Police to submit some sort of report on whether any further action is necessary?

Neither the Metropolitan Police nor my right hon. Friend has any evidence that this practice has been growing in recent months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that small quantities, of less than a full bottle, of spirits are unobtainable at his State Management Scheme off-licences in the city of Carlisle, thus inflicting hardship on old-age pensioners and other people of limited means; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to his Question of 9th February.

May I thank my right hon. and gallant Friend for the full answer he gave last week, which removed the misunderstandings that had appeared on this subject; will my hon. Friend ensure that these small bottles of spirits will be obtainable at his public houses at all times; and, in view of the enthusiasm for small, independent private enterprises that has been shown in recent days on both sides of the House, will he transfer a number of these off-licences into private hands to allow competition?

The first point raised by my hon. Friend was fully covered in the reply given by my right hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Sam v. Cluney and Others, in which judgment was given by Mr. Justice Cassels in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court on 1st February, 1956; and whether, in view of the findings in this case, he will issue instructions to the Metropolitan Police to discontinue the practice of frequenting public lavatories in plain clothes for the purpose of acting as agents provocateurs towards suspected homosexuals.

No Metropolitan Police officers were involved in the case to which my hon. Friend refers. My right hon. and gallant Friend completely rejects the suggestion that it is the practice of members of the Metropolitan Police to act as agents provocateurs in carrying out duties which, though distasteful, are essential for the preservation of public order and decency.

TO ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances he is prepared to make available to hon. Members a copy of a transcript of evidence taken under Section 16 of the Criminal Appeal Act, 1907, by placing it in the Library of the House of Commons.

On a point of order. As I am not in my usual place, perhaps I was unobserved when Question No. 51 was called.

I did not observe the hon. Gentleman rise when I called his name. I ask him if he did rise—if he did rise, I will call upon him to ask Question No. 51.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The following is the answer to the Question.

My right hon. and gallant Friend is re-examining this matter with the object of finding a way to satisfy the wish of hon. Members that transcripts should on occasion be placed in the Library of the House. It may be found desirable to amend the law in order to put it beyond doubt that transcripts can be made available to Parliament. If so, my right hon. and gallant Friend hopes that it will be possible to find an opportunity for the necessary legislation.

While fully appreciating the reply the hon. Gentleman has given, and appreciating the present difficulties, might I ask whether he agrees that this applied on the recent case, which led to compensation being paid, in view of the statement made by his right hon. Friend in the House; and would he see that if action is taken it will be made retrospective, so that we get the information about that particular case?

I will ask my right hon. gallant Friend to consider that.

Can the Joint Under-Secretary say whether there is anything other than Departmental practice which governs the interpretation apparently wrongfully put upon the phrase "a party interested"; is he bound by some precedent, as it seems that he needs to be very much freer in this than he has been?

If the right hon. Gentleman will look at Section 16 of the Criminal Appeal Act, 1907, and Rule 5 D of the Criminal Appeal Rules, I think he will perceive the difficulty of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister what measures he proposed or discussed with President Eisenhower for the strengthening of the authority of the United Nations organisation.

Her Majesty's Government are always in favour of strengthening the authority of the United Nations, but no particular measures to this end were discussed with President Eisenhower.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the most hopeful and best received part of the speech of the Foreign Secretary on 24th January was when-he broke away from balance of power politics and its possibilities and expressed his hopes of more positive United Nations action, as on the Arab-Israeli border; and ought it not to be possible for this country to give some specific and constructive lead in this matter?

I have frequently dealt with that question, and so has my right hon. Friend. I thought the hon. Gentleman was asking about wider propositions. Certainly the House knows quite well what we have suggested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, as a matter of fact, the House does not know; that what the House was told this week was that it was not a matter for this country to make specific proposals; and that I am now asking the right hon. Gentleman if he will take the initiative in these matters?

We have taken the initiative in these matters; they are United Nations matters, and therefore, though we may say we are quite ready to receive any suggestions, it must be in accordance with what the Secretariat-General and their officers concerned themselves require or suggest.

asked the Prime Minister what recommendations for economies in the cost of the security departments of the Foreign Office and other Government Departments have been made by the Conference of Privy Councillors that has been inquiring into security matters.

As I told the House on Monday, we are now considering the steps to be taken on this Report. If any of these can be made known consistently with the public interest, they will be reported to the House.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the latest reports of the Secret Service accounts show that last year we voted£5 million, and that the Secret Service was so embarrassed by our generosity that they gave£190,000 back; and does he not think it is time for a scrutiny of the activities of this department by the Committee on Public Accounts?

Not by the Committee on Public Accounts. The practice to which the hon. Gentleman refers is by no means unique in history.

Can the Prime Minister say how much of this Privy Councillors' Report concerns security matters—which obviously cannot be dealt with in the House—and other matters which are really affecting public opinion in this country, as, for example, the recent statements of the two gentlemen who disappeared from the Foreign Office, which seems to indicate that the Civil Service, or at any rate the Foreign Service part of it, is not being operated to the benefit of the public interest?

I am told by my right hon. Friend that this Report is being studied; it is being examined. It is an important document, and when I have myself had an opportunity to examine the recommendations of the Report I should like to make a statement to the House; but the right hon. Gentleman will understand that I could not anticipate that now.