asked the Minister of Works how many additional square feet of office accommodation have been provided for Government Departments in London since October, 1951; and the total cost thereof.

Excluding Post Office accommodation, new hirings and new Crown buildings in the period mentioned amount to 1,243,000 square feet at an annual cost of £530,000. But against this 2,650,000 square feet of office space has been given up, at an annual saving of £936,000. Since October, 1951, there has therefore been a net reduction of 1,400,000 square feet, and a net annual saving of £406,000.

How does the Minister justify the continued expansion of new building that is going on, bearing in mind that over the past five years we have had 50,000 fewer people employed in the civil Departments? What is the use of asking other people to economise if the Government do not set an example?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that Government building has been very much curtailed. What is behind my Answer, of course, is the fact that we are surrendering requisitioned property—with which I am sure, the hon. and gallant Gentleman agrees—and replacing it by hirings, and, to a smaller extent, new buildings.

asked the Minister of Works what warnings or representations his Department received about the danger of fire in the London deep shelters; and by whom they were made.

No warnings or representations have been received, but at the request of my Department a Report was drawn up by the London Fire Brigade in 1951, when it was proposed to use Clapham South Shelter as a hostel in connection with the Festival of Britain. Twenty-seven of the twenty-nine recommendations in this Report were implemented. The other two were met by alternative arrangements which were agreed with the Fire Brigade.

Has the Minister forgotten that my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) warned the Government about the danger of fire in these shelters? Further, has he seen reports in the newspapers—I quote from the News Chronicle—that fire service chiefs in London had warned the Ministry of Works time and again about the fire hazard of this place? Is the right hon. Gentleman denying that further representations have been made since 1951?

As regards the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I am not aware of any representations having been made. As to what the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) said in the past, I do not think that he referred to the danger of fire, but only to the unsuitability of those shelters for troops. I think I am right in saying that he did not refer to the danger.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at least one of these deep shelters has been diverted from its original civilian purpose and has been wrongly used as an assembly centre for the Forces? Is it not strange that the right hon. Gentleman should not have made inquiries about the danger of fire for either purpose?

That is not quite the point which was raised in the supplementary question. I do not think that in the past the hon. and learned Member has referred to danger. However, this is a serious matter, and there is a Question for the Secretary of State for War later today, when it will be gone into further.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to avert the danger of fire in the London deep shelters.

My fire inspectors, who normally review these London deep shelters every six months, are already engaged in a special review of the fire precautions in each. As soon as I have their report, I will consider whether any further precautions are necessary. I should point out, however, that none of these shelters, with the exception of Goodge Street, has been in human occupation for a considerable time.

In the meantime, while the right hon. Gentleman is reviewing the situation, will he give an undertaking that these shelters will in no circumstances be used for purposes which might endanger human life?

I can certainly give that assurance.

asked the Minister of Works the price at which disused prefabricated houses are being sold by his Department for shipment abroad.

asked the Minister of Works how many prefabricated houses, built since 1945, have been dismantled; how many have been sold; and, of this number, how many have been exported.

Up to 30th April, 1956, contracts had been let for the dismantling and sale of 2,927 temporary prefabricated houses. Normally the refrigerators in these houses are disposed of separately. I understand that the purchasers have exported a considerable number of the houses but I have no precise information on this point. Six houses have been sold direct to overseas buyers at an average price of £150, including refrigerators. In addition 2,238 houses have been sold to local authorities as they stand.

Is the Minister aware that reports have appeared in the Press that middlemen have sold these prefabricated houses to Italy, Switzerland and Holland at prices up to £1,500? Will he fully investigate the whole matter?

I will certainly look into that. As I have said in my Answer, I have no precise information about that point, but obviously any prefabricated houses sold abroad will cost more, with freight charges, etc., than if they are sold at home.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these prefabricated houses have been dismantled and are awaiting sale, how they are advertised for sale and in what lots they are offered?

I cannot say without notice how many there are at present, but the practice is that they are advertised and put up for competitive tender. I will let the hon. Member know the figure.

In view of the fact that these houses were designed to last only ten years, does my right hon. Friend not think that the firm responsible for selling them abroad is showing first-class selling ability?

On what grounds of policy is the pulling down and sale of these temporary houses justified, in view of the enormous demand which exists for housing people who have no home to live in? Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the whole matter?

The matter is governed by the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1944, which provided that after 1954 local authorities would be entitled to have the houses removed unless the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Scotland considered that housing conditions necessitated their retention. In view of that Act, this question should be directed to the Minister of Housing and Local Government. My Department really acts as the agent for sales.

asked the Minister of Works, in connection with his policy for extending the area of fixed price contracts in a maximum value of £100,000, what arrangements he proposes to make to permit price variation or escalator clauses in such contracts in respect of any increased charges and tariffs by the nationalised coal, gas, electricity and transport industries as may occur during the currency of contracts, and in consideration of the fact that private enterprise contractors have no control over the charges and tariffs imposed by nationalised industries.

None, Sir. The point of my experiment of seeking fixed price tenders for selected projects undertaken by my Ministry is to find contractors who are prepared to accept all risks of fluctuation in costs.

While fixed price contracts are a very desirable principle, how can the policy possibly be effective so long as nationalised industries, notably the coal industry, continue the sort of practice, announced this morning, of increasing the cost of coal, leading consequentially to increases in the price of gas, electricity, freights and steel, and to further wage demands? Will my right hon. Friend attack this matter at the source, that is, by a policy of stabilising nationalised industries' charges?

I think that I should remind my hon. Friend that this scheme, which is limited at present to certain projects by my Ministry, is a voluntary one, and there is no compulsion whatsoever on anybody to come forward on the terms that we suggest. The wider subject which my hon. Friend raised is not for me to answer. It is a matter for the Ministers concerned with nationalised industries.

asked the Minister of Works the number of employees in his Department whose wages or salaries are automatically governed by a rise or fall in the cost-of-living figure; and by how much his annual wage bill will rise by virtue of the rise to the cost of living during the last twelve months of 1s. 6d. in the £.

The wages of 4,760 industrial employees of my Department are automatically governed by a rise or fall in the cost-of-living figure. The increase in the annual wage bill by virtue of the rise in the cost of living during the last twelve months is about £50,000.

Will the Minister draw the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to this matter, and point out to him that there are hundreds of thousands of workers in thousands of industries in the country whose wages and conditions are governed by the rise and fall in the cost of living? If the Chancellor is really concerned, will he, rather than make a "phoney" appeal to the trade unions, do something to implement the promises made consistently by the present Government since 1950 to reduce the cost of living? When are we going to get a reduction in the cost of living?

That question, which I see was addressed vicariously to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is well-known to my right hon. Friend, quite apart from his reading of HANSARD.

asked the Minister of Works what recent steps he has taken to introduce modern cleaning devices into the Palace of West-minister.

Responsibility for cleaning the Palace of Westminster is divided between various authorities. In those areas which are under the control of my right hon. Friend up-to-date machines are used wherever possible, but he will be happy to consider any other suggestions from the hon. Member for improving the methods used

Is my hon. Friend not aware that in this age it is an anachronism to have scores of people sloshing round with mops and buckets, and will he not get together these various authorities with a view to seeing how the introduction of modern devices can save a lot of the labour at present expended on the job and which is not doing it terribly well?

Of course, as my hon. Friend knows, the division of responsibility in this matter is rather an old English custom, but I assure him that, so far as my right hon. Friend is concerned, we use a considerable number of modern machines, even though they are not much in evidence after 10 o'clock in the morning.

Will the Minister consider introducing hand trucks so that the men collecting heavy bags of waste paper in the morning can at least have some twentieth century devices to help them?

Yes, we will consider anything.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what advice he gives to commercial research associations in receipt of grant aid from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research as to the terms on which they should make information available to others than members of their association.

The research associations in receipt of grant aid are advised to make information available as widely as is possible without prejudicing the welfare of their own members and of the industries they serve.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, whilst it is undoubtedly desirable that the information should be circulated as widely as possible without prejudice to the interest of the members, the main interest is surely that of the country as a whole and that if possible this information should be more widely disseminated? Will my hon. Friend get in touch with his noble Friend to ensure that every step is taken to spread the information as widely as possible, without any strings at all?

My hon. Friend must realise that these research associations are autonomous bodies, and my noble Friend is in no position to dictate to them what they should and should not do. I agree that it is desirable that information should be disseminated as widely as possible, but it is also desirable that the associations should stand more and more on their own feet financially, and the supply of information from research associations is an incentive to membership.

On a point of order. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to point out to the Minister concerned that it is the custom to address you when an hon. Member is being answered, because otherwise hon. Members cannot hear the reply?

The hon. Member can address his own request. I was able to hear the Minister, even though he had his head turned away from me. The hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) sits in a part of the House where, if he did not address me, he would not address any Member at all.

In view of the fact that I did not hear your last remark, Sir, may I assure you that I shall take the opportunity of reading it in HANSARD, as I shall also read the reply of the Minister?

asked the Secretary of State for War how many danger areas still exist which have not yet been cleared of mines and other explosives; where these areas are; and when they will be cleared.

There are eight such areas. Minefields at Fairlight Glen and Mundesley, which we hope to have cleared early in 1958; five old training areas at Lydd, Trawsfynydd, Warcop, Fylingdales, and Crocknakeeferty, and a war-time ammunition depot at Abinger Common. These six areas should be cleared this year.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has now investigated conditions at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Crookham, referred to in a leter from the hon. Member for Shoreditch and Finsbury; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary sent the hon. Member a reply on 8th May.

But why does the right hon. Gentleman have to wait for a Parliamentary Question before dealing with the unnecessary and irritating practices to which the letter referred, and which arouse such cynicism and contempt in the minds of young soldiers? Will the right hon. Gentleman say what action has been taken about the military genius who was responsible for ordering his men to polish stirrup pump hoses every day, to blacken the soles of P.T. shoes, and to scrub broom handles every day?

I think that the detailed reply gives the answers to the specific points raised, some of which were so, and some of which were not so. I have said before, and I say again, that soldiers have to be clean both in kit and in barrack rooms, but that driving that beyond a certain extent to ridiculous lengths is discouraged in the Army and is not to be done. However, that does not mean that soldiers do not have to be spotlessly clean in their turn-out.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Private Churchley, prior to his discharge from the Army, was requested to appear on parade every hour for fourteen days with a caliper on his leg at Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire; and whether he will take action to discontinue this kind of punishment for soldiers suffering from leg injuries.

Private Churchley was fit to walk about and take limited exercise during his convalescence. Indeed in such cases the patient is encouraged to take what exercise he feels capable of. Private Churchley had frequently walked to the nearest village about half a mile away. The reason why he reported at frequent intervals was that he was confined to barracks as a result of having broken out of barracks on a previous occasion.

But is the Minister aware that for the absence without leave this man was punished by being asked to go up and down three flights of stairs every hour for fourteen days? Is not that rather ridiculous punishment for a man with a broken leg and a caliper on it?

It was not every hour; it was between the hours of four in the afternoon and 10 o'clock. For the three flights of stairs there is a lift in working order on which it is stated that men with leg injuries or other injuries may use this lift. He did use it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the cases of Mrs. C. K. Cordy of 28, Coldbrook Road, Cadoxton, Barry, and Mrs. A. Spence of 30 Merthyr Street, Barry Dock, in the light of correspondence which he has received from the hon. Member for Barry; and if he will make a statement.

I have carefully reviewed these two cases and regret that I cannot change my previous decisions.

Does my right hon. Friend know that since I first wrote to him about the case of Mrs. Cordy, her husband has died and therefore the need for her to have her son near home has been thereby increased? In the case of Mrs. Spence, does not my right hon. Friend agree that the family circumstances, plus the illness of her mother, would appear to merit special consideration?

I have been into these cases through S.S.A.F.A. I am informed that in the first case there is a married sister living near to this lady, and in the second case I have written to my hon. Friend. I do not think that I should be justified in altering the decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what authority the commanding officer of D Troop, Line Group, School of Signals, Catterick Camp, refused the application for demobilisation of 23161200 Signalman S. Bough, whose release from the Army had already been approved by the right hon. Gentleman.

I regret that there was unnecessary delay in discharging this soldier. The necessary authority was issued on 16th May, and Signalman Bough was sent home last week.

It took six weeks to discharge the boy. Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the case, because the adjutant is reported to have told him that a medical certificate about his mother's health was required before he would be released, although the right hon. Gentleman's Department had agreed six weeks previously that he should be released?

Part of the delay was caused by the fact that, when the matter, in principle, was considered, it was done at the request of Signalman Bough's mother. Therefore, the first thing was to make certain that Signalman Bough wanted release. We could not have released him without his own request. There was a secondary delay in the unit, and I am attempting to find out what happened.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the latest developments in Cyprus, he will reconsider his decision and remove from that island boy soldiers who are under 18 years of age.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that this kind of answer is highly unsatisfactory in a case of this description? Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is considerable anxiety about these boys being retained in Cyprus and that, owing to the deteriorating position, grave concern is caused to their parents, so will he reconsider this matter? How does he expect youngsters of this kind to be able to carry on and later to become effective soldiers if he keeps them in Cyprus?

I have been into this question at some length previously in the House, and I have not the time or opportunity now to repeat all the arguments. I have been into the matter carefully, and I am convinced that the present decision is the right one.

But will not the Secretary of State agree that the situation goes on deteriorating in Cyprus, that as the weeks and months pass it is becoming more and more inappropriate for boy soldiers to be in the area; and that while it may have been reasonable to begin with, it should, since there is no prospect of the present Government finding a solution there, so far as we can see, be clear that Cyprus is no place for a boy soldier today?

I have been there myself, I have seen these boys and I have seen the conditions. I have also seen all the married families, and there are much younger children there. Although I would not in any way minimise the difficulties and problems of life in Cyprus, I do not think that it is as bad, so far as the boy soldier is concerned, as the right hon. Gentleman has suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War what negotiating machinery exists for settling rates of pay and conditions of service for the staff of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; and what information is available in published documents showing the salaries and conditions of service now applying throughout that organisation.

The Service Ministers are not responsible for the pay and conditions of service of the staff of N.A.A.F.I. There is extensive negotiating machinery for settling staff matters and wages are in general governed by national or local agreement or in certain cases by statutory wages board orders. There are also staff councils.

asked the Secretary of State for War at what date the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes' facilities were withdrawn from the Suez Canal Zone; how many troops remained in that zone after such withdrawal; and for how long.

They have not been withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for War what Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes' facilities exist for the troops in Cyprus.

There are thirty-one canteens, twelve mobile canteens, nine families' shops, one garrison club for other ranks, one sports shop and one leave centre. Five more canteens, two more families' shops and two more leave centres will be opened shortly. In addition, N.A.A.F.I. provides kiosks on some of the bathing beaches.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, where individual units have provided their own canteen facilities, they are able to sell exactly the same goods at substantially lower prices than the N.A.A.F.I. canteen does? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the question of the efficiency of the N.A.A.F.I. services in Cyprus?

As my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate, when units run those canteens they probably do so with free labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will resume the granting of compassionate postings to National Service men in appropriate cases and where family circumstances merit special consideration; and if he will make a statement.

No, Sir.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the restoration of compassionate postings would appear to be consistent with the changes which have been made in National Service and, in particular, the slowing down of call-up?

Compassionate postings were stopped in 1947. The policy since then has been to examine every case on its merits and to be as liberal as we can be in providing postings for deserving cases. At the same time, I believe it best to gauge the position both on the percentage of the British Army overseas and how far we are able to go. That we do and, as the position improves, so we are in a position to be more helpful in this matter.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman continually refer back to 1947? It is nine years since that happened and the conditions were quite different then, when there was a large Army serving overseas, from what they are today. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, since he does not really require so many National Service men now, why he does not give more lenient treatment to some of those troops who have good grounds for a compassionate posting nearer home?

There is some misunderstanding about this matter. There are no official compassionate postings but we give a good deal of help to many deserving cases throughout the Army. Compassionate posting has been stopped as a right for a long time, but we help in a great many cases.

Is it not the case that by removing his power to award compassionate postings, my right hon. Friend has deprived himself of the opportunity of helping in some of these cases?

No, Sir, because I have the opportunity, although it is not called a compassionate posting, and I frequently make use of it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the results of the Civil Defence exercise "Try-out".

This was a large and complicated exercise, and it will be some time before all the lessons to be learnt from it can be fully digested. It is, however, already clear that those concerned in the exercise have gained valuable experience in operating joint military and Civil Defence headquarters, in the passing of information and in movement by road after a nuclear attack. This was the first opportunity for the Mobile Defence Corps to take part in an exercise in its war-time rôle, and the headquarters of eight battalions were concerned. In general, procedures for cooperation between the Army and the Civil Defence organisation have been well tested.

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the statement, reported in the Press, allegedly made by Lieut.-General Sir Francis Festing, who was in command of Eastern Command during the exercise, that our hydrogen bomb defence is useless, that the whole thing was a complete wash-out, and that it would have been better if the exercise had been called exercise "Wash-out" rather than exercise "Try-out"? Was the exercise not a waste of time and money, according to the officers concerned?

That statement is completely at variance with the official report which I have had from General Festing.

asked the Secretary of State for War what further communication he has received from Mrs. Churchley in regard to the visit to her home by military police on 23rd April; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that my hon. Friend received a letter from Mrs. Churchley pointing out that she had not invited the military police "to come back on a further occasion to have tea" Mrs. Churchley was indeed kind enough to invite the two military policemen to have tea on their arrival at her house, but she had not invited them to come there for that specific purpose. They had in fact come to visit her unofficially of their own accord.

Might I ask the Minister a question which I think is a very serious one for the House? Is he aware that the military police called upon Mrs. Churchley a second time without being invited and that they cross-examined her about writing to her Member of Parliament? Can that question be investigated, because it is a very serious matter? What is it to do with the military police if a woman writes to her Member of Parliament?

This is the first that I have heard of the point. I have heard nothing about it from Mrs. Churchley. I am informed that the police visited Mrs. Churchley because she had asked them to find out certain questions about her son's pay, which they did, and they called upon her unofficially, without their red caps, in order to give her the answer to her question.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, if it were proved on examination that such a question was asked about writing to Members of Parliament, it would be a most improper one, and that he would correct the officers or men concerned if they had done it?

I have said repeatedly, and I repeat it now, that every soldier in the British Army is at perfect liberty to write to his Member of Parliament. I have never disputed that, and I have previously stated it in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the meat ration for men under training at the Guards Depot, Caterham, is adequate; and if he will make a statement.

These men receive the normal daily meat ration plus the special supplement given to troops engaged on strenuous training. Service ration scales are at present being reviewed.

Is it not the case that these men have a tougher programme of drill and physical training than any other recruits to the Army, and that in the view of the authorities at Caterham the meat ration for these men is inadequate? Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the views of the Caterham authorities, and increase the meat ration with the least possible delay?

I know a lot about rations, and I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that I am aware of the present situation in many places in addition to Caterham.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement on the fire which occurred at the underground troops assembly centre at Goodge Street, London, on 21st May, 1956, and following days, indicating the number of soldiers who were there at the time of the fire, the units to which they belong, the number, names and units of the persons injured and the extent of the injuries in each case; the present condition of the assembly centre and the damage done to it; and whether he will now finally discontinue the use of this dangerous and unsuitable place as a troops assembly centre.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement concerning the fire which occurred in the Goodge Street deep shelter on 22nd May; and whether it is proposed to cease using this shelter as a troops transit camp.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement On the recent fire in the war-time deep shelter in Tottenham Court Road, with particular reference to what is believed to be the cause of the outbreak.

asked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement about the outbreak of fire in the underground troop shelter in Tottenham Court Road; and whether he is prepared to discontinue the future use of this transit centre.

When this fire broke out there were thirty-one members of the permanent staff and ninety soldiers in transit in the London Assembly Centre. There were no casualties. An inquiry will be held to investigate the causes of the fire. The answers to some of the points raised by hon. Members will, therefore, have to await the results of this inquiry.

Although the full extent of the damage caused by the fire is not yet known, I am satisfied that we should not be justified in spending public money to make the underground portion of the Centre fit for further use as a transit centre. We have for some time been urgently seeking alternative accommodation. This did, and still does, present great difficulties because suitable accommodation in central London is extremely hard to find. For the present we have had to make stopgap arrangements which are far from convenient.

I should like to take this opportunity of expressing appreciation of the very fine work of the London Fire Brigade in fighting this fire in extremely adverse conditions.

Does the Minister realise that he has a duty to young Service men to put them in healthy and safe assembly centres and not in a make-shift place such as this? Does he remember that I have warned him about this place? Will he undertake not to do it again?

The hon. and learned Gentleman told me that, as I well knew, this was an uncomfortable place to use as a transit centre. Nobody in my Department wanted to use it, but it was a question of finding some accommodaton in central London. As regards the danger of fire, I think that the hon. and learned Gentleman is being wise after the event.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether smoking was permitted in the shelter, and whether there are any indications that the fire, like so many others, was caused by some careless cigarette smoker?

That is the subject of a court of inquiry, and we had better await the result of it.

Does the Minister's Answer mean that the War Office will not use the shelter as a transit centre in future? This is a real point in the minds of at any rate some of us who regard it as more like putting soldiers like rats in a cellar than actually housing them. It ought not to be allowed to continue. I did not understand the Minister's Answer and should like to get the point clear. Did he say what I have suggested?

Yes, I said that.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the officials of the camp have in the past made representations to his Department about the unsuitability of the camp?

I cannot answer that question without notice, but I can tell my hon. and gallant Friend that we were well aware of the defects of the place for a considerable time.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he has abolished British rates of pay and allowances for Maltese Service men training in the United Kingdom.

These Service men do receive British rates while serving in the United Kingdom except that other ranks do not qualify for the British nine-year rate.

Has not the procedure recently been changed? Can the Secretary of State say why?

The procedure has been identical, with one exception. The nine-year rate was a special incentive to a British citizen to commit himself for nine years to serve anywhere in the world. These men qualify for the three-year and six-year rates but not for the nine-year rate.

Why?

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the total tonnage of imports of old ware potatoes since the beginning of 1956; and the duty per ton paid.

In the first four months of this year 286,000 tons of main-crop potatoes were imported. Except for about 700 tons from the Irish Republic and Commonwealth sources, these imports were subject to duty at the rate of 1s. per cwt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent licences have been granted for the importation of old ware potatoes to enter the country through the ports of Wisbech, Boston, and Kings Lynn, respectively; and whether such imports are complete, or what is the tonnage still to be imported.

The licences in question are open individual licences valid until 30th June, 1956, and permit imports through any United Kingdom port. I cannot therefore say what further quantities, if any, may yet arrive at any particular port.

Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to consult the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about the imports of potatoes to ensure that there is nothing which is against the interests of home growers?

My Department is, of course, constantly in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In addition, we can watch the Customs returns, and returns given us by licence holders, and we have made it known that we may revoke licences without notice at any time we desire to do so.

In view of the contradictory statements which have been published, can the Minister tell us whether the country is suffering from a shortage of potatoes or a glut of potatoes?

I am not aware of any contradictory statements. I am merely answering questions.

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that neither the Government nor British farmers are responsible for the quality of the imported potatoes?

That is quite true.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will initiate discussions with the Government of Brazil with a view to creating conditions in which increased trade can be expected.

Following discussions with the Governments of the United Kingdom, Federal Germany and the Netherlands, the Government of Brazil in August, 1955, instituted multilateral trade and payments arrangements with those countries. Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy have since become parties. These arrangements have widened the scope for our exports and I do not think that bilateral trade discussions are at present necessary.

Is my right lion. Friend aware that for a long while Anglo-Brazilian trade has been shifting towards a large balance in favour of Brazil, which as a result has considerably reduced its indebtedness to this country? Will he consider reviewing the conditions which Brazil is required to satisfy in the reduction of the outstanding sterling debt?

I do not think that the time is ripe for that. I am aware that United Kingdom exports to Brazil are increasing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the result of the negotiations for tariff reductions which have been taking place at Geneva between the signatories to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The tariff negotiations at Geneva were formally concluded on 23rd May, when a Protocol embodying their results was signed there on behalf of Her Majesty's Government and by the other countries which took part. It has been agreed that the detailed results shall remain confidential until 7th June. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a further announcement on 7th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the depreciation in the purchasing value of the £ sterling since June, 1954.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 20s. in June, 1954, the corresponding figure for April, 1956, is 18s. 3d. This estimate is based on the Consumer Price Index for 1954 to 1955 and the Index of Retail Prices thereafter.

Is the Chancellor aware that, whereas when the Labour Government were in office world prices were continually rising, under the present Government world prices have been falling, or remaining static? Will he therefore explain why the cost of living has gone up faster in the last two years than in any similar period over the last eight or nine years? Can he say when the Government intend to implement the promises which they made from 1950 to 1956 about reducing the cost of living and making the £ worth something? Can we have some explanation?

I think that that is enough for one supplementary question.

I feel that the hon. Member must have been taking the opportunity of the Recess to make speeches to his constituents, but I shall try to reserve this matter for another winding-up speech.

Can the Chancellor at least tell us how soon we will get on to the plateau of stability which he promised us in his speech at Newcastle this weekend?

I said then that, so far as I could see from the calculations given to me, it was not likely, from either the last round of wage increases, or the result of any action which the Government had taken on subsidies and other matters, that the Index would rise by more than two to three points.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the texts of the official Conservative posters at the General Elections of 1951 and 1950 promising that the cost of living would not go up, and that the Conservatives would protect the purse of the housewife?

It would be a mistake to use HANSARD for that purpose, otherwise we should have to go back to posters like "Rounding recovery corner" and all those others.

We cannot debate this large matter now.

On a point of order. In view of the completely unsatisfactory nature of the Chancellor's reply, I beg to give notice that, with your assistance, Mr. Speaker, I hope to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the. the receipts from Entertainments Duty in each of the last three years on cinemas with net weekly receipts of £500 or less or the nearest convenient figure for which statistics are obtainable.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what local, authorities have submitted plans for his approval regarding sites for static residential caravans.

As the Answer is necessarily long and detailed I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary think it a good thing that local authorities should build these sites, with electricity, sanitation and so forth? Would he consider sending a circular on those lines to local authorities?

My right hon. Friend is considering the issue of a circular on this subject to local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities with regard to the re-erection, by the authority or by private persons, of dismantled prefabricated houses.

My right hon. Friend has given no general advice on this subject to local authorities.

In view of the fact that fewer than 3,000 of the 150,000 prefabricated houses built have been dismantled and sold, will not the Minister approach his right hon. Friend to see in what ways the remaining houses can be used for housing purposes if they are dismantled and put up elsewhere? Will he give some general advice or instructions to local authorities in this important matter?

The appropriateness of doing so, both from the planning and housing points of view, will vary widely locally, and the initiative lies with local authorities in that matter.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what communications he has had from the Rugby Borough Council and Rugby Rural District Council regarding a dispensation to councillors who are council house tenants to speak and vote in housing debates; and what answer he has given.

Two applications for the removal of disability for discussion on specific occasions have been received in the case of the rural district council, and three in the case of the borough. These applications were all granted; one of the applications from the borough related also to voting, and dispensation for this was likewise granted.

My right hon. Friend had previously received, in respect of each authority, an application for a general dispensation, which it was beyond his powers under the Statute to give.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary see that for a councillor, when he is a council tenant, to vote on a matter affecting thousands of other council tenants is not the same as that councillor voting on a personal matter affecting his own pocket and his own business? In my borough, where there is a slight anti-Socialist majority, this ruling has affected the voting on a controversial differential rents scheme. Will not the Minister give special dispensation in cases where this ruling affects the welfare of thousands of families?

This exact question has been fully covered by my right hon. Friend in a circular which he issued to local authorities on 15th May, and of which I will send a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will investigate the circumstances in which the Newcastle City Council has given planning permission for the purchase of a private dwelling-house, 250, Heaton Road, for use for political meetings, in spite of the petition of fifty-four local residents and of the zoning of the area for residential purposes.

No, Sir. Meeting places are often located in residential areas; and this is not a matter in which my right hon. Friend would think it right to question the decision of the responsible local authority.

Is the Minister aware that the house in this case is not a detached house? Should not Conservative Party premises clearly be in as isolated a position as possible? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in this case there have been petitions by local residents to the local authority? Will he not at least consider establishing some rules of conduct for the premises for the protection of local inhabitants?

The politics of the users of premises are not a planning matter. It is competent for the local planning authority to attach what conditions it thinks fit to a planning permission, but it would be quite wrong for my right hon. Friend constantly to be over-ruling local authorities' planning decisions

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why he has rejected the establishment of a joint board for the Yorkshire Dales National Park for reasons other than those given in the National Parks Act and whether he consulted the National Parks Commission before making his decision.

The answer to the second part of this Question is in the affirmative. As regards the reasons for my right hon. Friend's decision, I would refer the hon. Member to the decision letter, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there has been considerable correspondence on this matter in the Press, The Times, the Manchester Guardian and elsewhere? Would he not agree that experience has shown that a separate joint board is the most desirable form of administration for a national park?

That depends upon the particular circumstances of the national park concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of his decision to begin discussions in the autumn with local authority associations with regard to all aspects of local government finance including industrial derating, he will give an undertaking to have similar discussions with all organisations representing the industries which would be affected by re-rating and in particular the export industries such as the cotton industry which would be particularly vulnerable to the effects of re-rating.

My hon. Friend can be assured that the concern of industry in questions affecting derating will not be overlooked in the review of local government finance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that his refusal to pay lump sum grants towards the costs of the Madeley and Audley sewerage schemes of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Rural District Council compels the council to increase the rate poundage by sixpence; and if, in view of the level of the rates in the rural district, he will reconsider his decision.

No, Sir.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that when the council originally negotiated these schemes it was understood that lump sum grants would be paid? Is not it grossly unfair to swing upon ratepayers increased borrowing at a higher rate of interest which should be borne by his Department?

It is not yet clear what burden, if any, will be swung on to ratepayers in this case. Loan sanction in respect of the capital sums concerned has not yet been issued, although the schemes are either complete or almost complete. It may well be, therefore, that no additional burden, or only a very slight one, will have to be borne.

Is it not a fact that the hon. Gentleman's Department has notified the council that lump sum grants will not be paid? Is it not, therefore, certain that the council will have to borrow more money than it originally calculated?

The decision to substitute annual grants for lump sum payments was taken by Parliament without a Division.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of the total household refuse of England and Wales is disposed of by local authorities without any attempt being made to recover valuable materials such as ferrous scrap, paper, glass and textiles; and what steps he is taking to discourage this waste.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend has recently issued a circular to local authorities in England and Wales stressing the desirability of recovering ferrous scrap from refuse. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that a great deal of waste is tipped without any attempt being made to recover these materials? Does not he also agree that, in addition to ferrous scrap, there are other materials which are valuable, and that considerable imports could be obviated if all refuse was salvaged in this way?

Yes. This is an important matter, and the attention of local authorities has been drawn to it upon several recent occasions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the number and value of applications for loan sanction in respect of private street works made by the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council from the beginning of this year to the latest date for which figures are available; and what quantity of works he has authorised.

Three applications, for sums totalling £7,120, have been received. All were rejected.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what local inquiries are made by his Department before he refuses to sanction applications for loans in respect of private street works.

None, Sir, unless the local authority makes a case which indicates that the street or streets in question may be dangerous to health or safety. In such cases, a visit by an engineering inspector may be arranged.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary ensure that local authorities concerned in this matter are informed of this procedure and asked to state the relative urgency of the works involved? Is he aware that his Department's indiscriminate rejection of loan sanction for private street works at present is extremely inefficient, and means that a great number of dangers to health and traffic will continue to exist?

The rejection of applications is not indiscriminate, but has regard to the terms of my right hon. Friend's circular of 17th February. In the cases which the hon. Member has in mind, no representations from the local authority have been received since the refusal. But no doubt this Question and answer will draw attention to the matter of inspection.

Does that answer mean that the indiscriminate, or somewhat indiscriminate, refusal of loan sanction for these private street works is a temporary matter, and is going to be reviewed at the end of six months?

The hon. and learned Gentleman will be aware of the terms of my right hon. Friend's circular, under which these applications are dealt with.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Government's Report on Automation is too technical to be widely read by the workers, who fear unemployment as a consequence of automation and if he will therefore authorise the issue of a short, simple and pictorial report dealing with the social aspects of automation and cause this to be distributed free to the workers who are most likely to be affected by it.

As my hon. Friend was informed in answer to his Question on 15th May it is certainly the Government's intention to make information about automation as widely known as possible. To this end, I am informed that the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is preparing a simplified version of the Report which was recently issued.

The last Report dealt with the technical aspects of automation and not with the social side, which is causing men to fear that they are going to lose their jobs because of automation. It did nothing to satisfy them and end their just fears. Will my hon. Friend see that the new report deals with the fear of unemployment rather than the technical side of the matter? That is very important.

I well appreciate my hon. Friend's point. I think that it is right to publish a shorter version of the existing Report. I would remind my hon. Friend that the implications which he has mentioned will presumably be considered by the National Joint Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Labour how many fishermen will become unemployed as a result of the decision to close down Neale and West Limited, Cardiff; and what action he is taking to find other work for the men concerned.

Fourteen fishermen formerly employed by this firm have registered at the employment exchange. Two have already good prospects of sea-going employment and there should be no great difficulty in offering employment on land for those who wish it.

Does that mean that the total number of people out of employment is only fourteen? Is it not nearer a hundred?

We have no certain knowledge other than that of people who register at employment exchanges—and fourteen is the number of those who have done that. We understand, for example, that the shore staff of twenty-four ship repairers have already obtained other work, but as far as we are concerned, only fourteen persons have registered.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to bring to an end the dispute between two trades unions as to whose members shall load coal mine refuse at Blyth, Northumberland, pending settlement of which dispute a new £50,000 conveyor belt system has been kept idle for seven weeks.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this dispute, and negotiations are in progress between the parties. My Department has not been asked to intervene.

Would not it be possible, in the interests of all concerned, to avoid these very wasteful stoppages by ensuring that the members of one particular union started the work pending—and entirely without prejudice to—any later decision through the demarcation machinery?

We all deplore stoppages of this kind, but I must maintain what has been stated many times before, namely, that negotiation within the industry is the best way of settling disputes of this kind —and that is in progress. My Department is always ready to help if the parties feel that it can give such assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the allocation and progress of work in Scotland relating to the construction, maintenance and management of roads, bridges and ferries in and to the north-east of Scotland as a result of the transfer of responsibility for them to him under the Transfer of Functions (Road, Bridges and Ferries) Order, 1956.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. Woodburn) on 27th March.

For public convenience, will the Secretary of State issue a schedule indicating when the respective works will be begun and finished, so that contracts can be made and business can go ahead?

I can assure the hon. and learned Member that I have no desire to interfere with the placing of contracts. There has been no change, interruption or cancellation in connection with the programme announced by the Minister of Transport in February, 1955. I must tell the hon. and learned Member, however, that I found some difficulty in answering this Question because it asks me about

"roads, bridges…to the north-east of Scotland,"

and to the north-east of Scotland lies the North Sea and Norway.

On a point of order. It is clear that the Minister has obviously and deliberately misunderstood my Question. When I talk about the north-east of Scotland I mean the north-east of Scotland—not the sea beyond the northeast of Scotland.

Perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman will have better luck with Question No. 55.