asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether further arrangements have now been made with the United States Government for the import of tobacco for sterling and for the building of houses for United States forces in this country.

Yes. We have agreed with the U.S. Government under Public Law 480 on a transaction involving $12 million worth of tobacco for sterling. The proceeds of this will be appropriated to the United Kingdom defence budget. The United Kingdom for their part undertake to provide houses for United States Service personnel and their families in this country at an equivalent cost; this will probably provide for up to 1,000 houses (possibly with some communal facilitles) in addition to the 1,500 houses being built under previous arrangements. These houses will be let to the United States Authorities at a nominal rent for so long as they are required, but will remain the property of the United Kingdom Government. This is a special measure to help to meet the United States military needs. The tobacco will go into companies' stocks. We have not accepted any undertakings as to the 50 per cent. shipping requirement in connection with this transaction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission's Report on the supply of hard fibre cordage will be published; and if he will make a statement about its contents.

The report was published today.The Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission find that the conditions to which the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act, 1948, applies prevail as regards the supply of hard fibre cordage, since the members of the Hard Fibre Cordage Federation, together with certain other suppliers, supply more than one-third (and in fact nearly all) of the hard fibre cordage supplied in the United Kingdom and so conduct their affairs as to restrict competition in connection with its production and supply.The Commission's principal conclusions and recommendations are:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the action of the Association of Cinematograph Technicians in trying to prevent a colonial company from obtaining the benefit of British quota registration to which it is entitled under the Cinematograph Films Acts, 1938 and 1948; and, in view of the fact that there was no trade dispute between the company concerned and the Association of Cinematograph Technicians, whether he will grant import licences of the films, "Escape in the Sun."

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 5th June to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) from which he will see that the question of the issue of an import licence for this film does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to encourage the export of British cheeses.

This is a matter for the trade, which is developing a small but growing export business in speciality British cheeses—and particularly of Stilton.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many salmon were caught in the rivers of the United Kingdom in 1954 and 1955; and what percentage of this catch was taken by bag and drift netters who make no contribution to the upkeep of the' spawning grounds.

In England and Wales about 66,500 salmon are estimated to have been caught in the 1954 season, 61 per cent, being taken by nets of various kinds. No separate records arc kept of the drift net catch. Bag nets are not permitted. Figures for 1955 are not yet available.In Scotland the available figures relate to salmon and sea trout together. The combined catch of these species was returned as about 554,000 fish in 1954. About 83 per cent. were taken by nets including some 38 per cent. by bag nets off the sea coast. Drift netting is illegal in Scotland. Interim figures for 1955 show a reduction of about 8 per cent. in the catch, but the proportion of fish taken by bag nets rose to about 45 per cent. of the total. For both countries the figures include fish caught in the sea.Anglers and netsmen make no direct contribution towards the upkeep of spawning grounds, but both contribute towards the expenses of local fishery authorities whose functions include the conservation and improvement of the salmon fisheries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of money remaining in the special account of the British Wool Marketing Board at the latest convenient date.

The amount on 30th April, 1956, was £1,356,559, but this will be substantially reduced when all deficiency payments for the 1955 clip have been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the conditions attendant on the re-export of live horses to the Continent from Eire for the horse-meat trade, he will make it illegal for horses to be exported to Eire in order to be re-exported alive to the Continent; and if he will make it a condition of all live horse exports to Eire that the consignee is subject to an export licence and gives a guarantee that such horses will not be sold for slaughter in Europe and that any breaking of such a guarantee will be

I have no evidence of any traffic in horses from this country to the Irish Republic for re-export to the Continent for slaughter. Horses valued at less than £100 cannot be exported to the Irish Republic without a Board of Trade export licence, and I do not think there is any need for the further measures suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. However, if he is aware of any trade of this nature and sends me particulars, I will certainly look into the matter, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of men and women, respectively, at the most recent convenient date, unemployed in the city of Lincoln, showing their trades and how the numbers compare with those corresponding for the same date in 1954 and 1955.

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will list the chief components of the exhaust gases from diesel engines; and why some engines emit brown smoke while the exhaust of others is colourless.

With a diesel engine properly maintained and operated, the exhaust fumes contain a small amount of solid carbonaceous matter and the follow- ing gaseous constituents, listed in descending order of concentration: nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen, hydrocarbons, oxides of sulphur and aldehydes. If the engine is not properly maintained and operated, the concentrations of carbon monoxide. oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen and hydrocarbons are higher; in addition there may be sufficient solid carbonaceous matter to produce blue-grey or brown smoke and, in extreme cases, a dense black smoke. The emission of visible smoke from a diesel engine is due to the engine being in poor condition, or to over-loading or to maladjustment of the fuel control by the driver.