asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) if he will state the number of ships found upon inspection in British ports to have been overloaded during each of the past four years;(2) if he will state the number of convictions for overloading a ship which have been recorded and the number of occasions upon which the maximum fine has been imposed, respectively, during each of the past four years in the United Kingdom.

The following table shows the number of ships found overloaded in United Kingdom ports during each of the last four years together with the number of convictions and the number of occasions on which the maximum fine has been imposed:

12 month period ending September	Number of ships over-loaded	Number of Convictions	Number of cases where maximum fine imposed
1953	54	14	1
1954	46	13	3
1955	31	12	2
1956	42	19	7
TOTALS	173	58	13

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he is aware that 11 per cent. of the dockers are unemployed; and what steps are being taken to discharge those vessels which have been lying idle in our ports and estuaries loaded with munitions and war material and so to release the tonnage to be used in normal trade and thus mitigate the unemployment problem in our port transport industry.

Though the present surplus of labour in the docks is slightly higher than the normal seasonal level, I do not think it has been significantly affected by the relatively small number of ships requisitioned. There are only 13 of these in United Kingdom ports and five of them are already in process of discharge with a view to release. The remainder will be discharged and released as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now state when Britannia aircraft will be provided for the resumption of the British Overseas Airways Corporation's services to South America.

As my right hon. Friend explained during the debate on the Air Corporations Bill on 19th November, no forecast can at present be made about services to South America.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration is being given to the possibility of the airfield at Llandow, Glamorgan, being taken over for the purpose of civil aviation should the Air Ministry no longer require it.

Present and foreseeable civil air traffic in South Wales is adequately served by existing airports and the question of taking over Llandow therefore does not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many applications have been made to the South Wales Licensing Authority, since July, 1955, for the reduction of omnibus services in rural districts; how many have been allowed; and how many services have been cancelled.

Applications were made to reduce twenty-six services to a greater or lesser degree and all were granted. Sixteen services were withdrawn. At the same time ten new services have been authorised and seven services have been improved in one way or another.

asked the Minister of Defence the total casualties incurred in the armed conflict with Egypt.

Our latest information of British casualties is that 21 were killed and 111 wounded.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, without giving details of the types and quantity, he will state the total value in £ sterling of the arms and munitions supplied to Israel by Her Majesty's Government from October, 1951, to 30th July, 1956.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 22nd November by the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton).

asked the Minister of Defence if he will have brought to this country and put on view examples of the tanks and weapons captured in the recent action together with notes of their countries of origin.

This is already under consideration. A decision will be taken as soon as enough captured equipment reaches this country.

asked the Minister of Defence on what date the text of the surrender leaflets dropped over Cairo on Saturday, 3rd November, was sent to the printers; what was the name and address of the printers who printed them; and on what date the printers delivered the leaflets to the authorities.

The leaflet to which the hon. Member refers was printed by the military authorities in Cyprus. The text was delivered to the printer on 31st October and production was completed on 1st November.

asked the Minister of Defence what instructions were given to the Arab staff of the broadcasting station taken over by the "Voice of Britain" at the beginning of the Middle Eastern crisis; what restrictions were placed upon this staff; and if he will make a statement.

On 30th October this station was requisitioned by the Governor of Cyprus on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. No special instructions were given to the Arab staff, and no restrictions were placed upon them.

asked the Minister of Defence how many Egyptian blockships were destroyed by our forces during the recent armed conflict.

One was damaged.

asked the Minister of Defence how many units of the British Forces have been engaged in military action by land, air, or sea, in the Sinai, Rafah, or Gaza area since 30th October.

During the recent action one cruiser, one "Daring" class ship and two frigates of the Royal Navy were operating in the northern Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez. There were no other British forces in the areas mentioned.

asked the Minister of Defence how many British troops were located at or in the vicinity of Gaza on 2nd November, 1956.

None.

asked the Minister of Defence what briefing, or other information, was given the British troops prior to the conflict in Egypt, as to the purpose and objectives of the operation; and what further information has been given them since the cease-fire and in what form.

Both before and during the operation commanders took steps to acquaint their forces with its purpose, which was to intervene in order to achieve compliance with the requirements stated by Her Majesty's Government to Egypt and Israel on 30th October. Particular emphasis was laid upon the need to minimise casualties and damage. On the cease-fire, the Allied Commander-in-Chief informed his subordinate commanders that our reason for intervention was to stop the war and that our purpose had now been achieved. On 20th November General Stockwell informed officers of field rank that the task of the forces under his command had been defined as the maintenance of law and order and the re-activation of the life and economy of Port Said. He emphasised the importance of exercising the highest degree of restraint under any provocation. The officers were instructed to pass these orders on to the men under their command.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a detailed statement on the extent to which the Allied Command, Middle East, has complied with the Resolution of the Special General Assembly calling upon Great Britain, France and Israel to refrain from bringing further military goods into Egypt.

We have not introduced into the area which we hold in Egypt military goods in excess of the minimum required to safeguard the administration and security of our forces ashore.

asked the Minister of Defence what further information he has about the build-up of Soviet arms and supplies in Egypt and Syria.

I cannot add to the information given to the Press on 11th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have already taken, or propose to take, to evacuate the 5,000 Egyptian women and children from Port Said whose homes were wrecked by shell and rocket fire by the British during Great Britain's armed conflict with Egypt.

I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 26th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will obtain from the commander of the United Nations Force in Egypt a United Nations' estimate of civilian casualties in the Port Said area.

In view of the very recent arrival of elements of the United Nations Emergency Force in the Port Said area, it is unlikely that General Burns is now in a position to provide such an estimate. But authority has been given to our representative at the United Nations to support specific arrangements for making an impartial estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the latest information about British nationals and British subjects interned in Egypt; how many are in prison; and what information has been given by the Egyptian Government as to when these people are to be freed or receive a fair trial.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now give further information about the living conditions and safety of the 680 British subjects now interned in Egypt.

Swiss representatives have again visited British internees in Egypt and report that conditions have improved. Two hundred are living in one English school and 274 in another; it appears that no other British subjects are now interned. The two schools concerned normally have adequate accommodation for the same number of boarding students as they now hold internees. While there is still a shortage of food, living conditions in other respects are better. Internees are allowed out morning and afternoon for exercise and are permitted a cold bath daily. There are no cases of serious illness and the general state of health is good in both camps. Internees can buy clothes and toilet articles and those in one of the schools (but not at present the other) can buy food. Funds are being supplied to them as necessary by the Swiss representatives.It is understood that the question of repatriation or liberation of the internees has not yet been considered by the Egyptians.Five British subjects (including the four accused of espionage before military action was started) are in prison on criminal charges. Another 25 are in prison, but have not been interrogated or charged; the Swiss authorities have been asked to press the Egyptians either to give them a prompt and proper trial or release them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the British representative at the United Nations to propose to that organisation that the Egyptian Govern-men should be instructed without delay to release all interned British civilians and desist from harsh actions against harmless British nationals.

Representations have been made through the Swiss Government for the release of British subjects interned in Egypt. The Egyptian Government have assured the Swiss authorities that there is no general policy of internment, but that individuals have been interned for reasons of state security. Further requests for the release of those interned are being made through the Swiss Government.As regards harsh treatment of British subjects in Egypt generally, my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of State informed the House on 26th November that the Foreign Secretary has made the strongest representations to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and to the Egyptian Foreign Minister in New York. I am glad to say that since then the Swiss Government have received an assurance from the Egyptian Government that no mass expulsion of British or French subjects has been ordered.The evidence at our disposal is that the Egyptian police have in fact issued expulsion orders to a large number of individuals. It is not yet clear how many of these orders have been revoked. As soon as this point has been clarified, Her Majesty's Government will consider urgently what further action is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what point the Israeli troops had reached in the Sinai Peninsula at 9.40 p.m. on 30th October; and how near this was to the Suez Canal.

According to Her Majesty's Government's information at the time, which has since been confirmed, Israel forces had already on the evening of 30th October reached a position eighteen miles from the Suez Canal. Further forces were advancing westward.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make plain to the Secretary-General of the United Nations that when Anglo-French forces withdraw from Suez it must then be the responsibility of the United Nations to clear the Canal without delay and thereafter guarantee the free passage of all ships of all nations through the Canal without let or hindrance by Egypt and be prepared to enforce this by all means at their command.

My right hon. and learned Friend has repeatedly emphasised both to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and to the General Assembly the responsibilities of the United Nations with regard to the clearance of the Canal and its subsequent use.We do not consider that the responsibilities of the United Nations to clear the Canal will only begin when Anglo-French forces withdraw. On the contrary, the General Assembly Resolution of 2nd November specifically urged "that upon the cease-fire being effected steps be taken to reopen the Suez Canal and restore freedom of navigation."I am glad to say that on 24th November the General Assembly of the United Nations, in an unopposed vote, authorised the Secretary-General to proceed with the exploration of practical arrangements and the negotiation of agreements so that the clearing operations may be undertaken speedily and effectively

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the untrue propaganda being put out by Cairo Radio; and what steps he is taking to counteract this and to make it know throughout the Arab world that the Egyptian army had been completely defeated by the Israeli army before the United Kingdom and France intervened.

I am aware of the preposterous claims made by Cairo Radio and of its distorted account of the fighting in the Sinai desert. All the evidence available to us indicates that the performance of all the Egyptian armed forces was very poor and that they proved themselves extremely incompetent. Steps have been taken throughout to ensure that the facts are heard in the Middle East. Apart from the full use made of all our normal channels of information, the requisitioning of the Sharq al Adna broadcasting station in Cyprus meant that full and accurate news could be transmitted in Arabic to the whole area, both by the British Broadcasting Corporation and by the "Voice of Britain."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports he has received from his monitoring services concerning the radio transmitter operating in the Mediterranean area under the titles, "Voice of Free Egypt" and "Voice of Justice".

The Foreign Office does not monitor foreign broadcasting stations as the Question implies; but I have been able to obtain from the British Broadcasting Corporation translations of some of the broadcasts to which the hon. Member refers. There appear to be two broadcasting stations run by Arabs opposed to the present régime in Egypt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government did not send representatives to the recent meeting in Bagdad of members of the Bagdad Pact.

The presence of the President of Pakistan in Bagdad on a private visit afforded an opportunity for informal consultations between the Moslem members of the Bagdad Pact. These consultations have, however, in no sense constituted a formal meeting of the Bagdad Pact Council, and the question of sending a United Kingdom Representative did not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will issue a White Paper giving dates and summaries of all communications between Her Majesty's Government and the French and Israeli Governments, respectively, concerning the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement from the beginning of July until the date of the Israeli invasion of Egypt, and the dates when the contents of these communications were conveyed to the Government of the United States of America.

There have been no communications between Her Majesty's Government and the Israeli Government about the carrying out of the Tripartite Declaration. As the House will be aware, Her Majesty's Government have been in frequent consultation with the other two signatories of the Tripartite Declaration on the means of carrying it out. Their discussions, however, are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assurances he asked for from the Government of Israel, at the time of Israel's mobilisation that Egypt would not be attacked; and what answer he received.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) by my right hon. and learned Friend on 5th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports he received during October from our British base in Aqaba of the concentrations of troops in Eilat by the Government of Israel.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no reports from the officer commanding British troops in Aqaba. I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) by the Minister of Defence on 14th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make available to Members the reports from the British Ambassador in Jerusalem about Israeli mobilisation which were presented before the attack on Egypt.

No. I cannot circulate secret official documents to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has approved the disposal by the Kano Native Authority of its hitherto profitable public transport service to private hands as announced recently by the Northern Nigerian Government Information Service; and whether he is satisfied that the sale is to take place under proper conditions of probity and fair tender.

This is a matter for the local authorities. I understand that tenders for the purchase of the undertaking, which has been losing money, will be invited and dealt with in accordance with the normal procedure laid down by the Northern Regional Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ensure that the Northern Rhodesian Government will invite the views of the Northern Rhodesian African Congress regarding the proposed constitutional changes in that territory.

I am sure that the Governor would obtain the views of all sections of the community before submitting to Her Majesty's Government any proposals for constitutional changes. There are members of Congress in the Legislative Council and on the various Councils established to ensure that the views of all the African peoples of Northern Rhodesia can be obtained; and the hon. Member need have no fear that their views will not be freely invited frankly expressed and fully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will implement the recommendations of the Northern Rhodesian Government Commission of Inquiry into the Colour Bar, particularly with respect to those findings concerning the conditions under which Africans are served in post offices and butchers' shops.

The Northern Rhodesian Government have accepted most of the recommendations of the Committee appointed to investigate racial discrimination in shops and business premises, including those relating to post offices and butchers' shops. The Committee recommended the setting up of a Statutory Advisory and Conciliation Board, and the Government have now introduced legislation for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the unemployment position in Malaya is growing rapidly worse; and if he will take steps to introduce an unemployment insurance scheme in the Federation and Singapore similar to that which is in operation in Great Britain.

There is no evidence that unemployment in Malaya is growing rapidly worse. The Governments of the Federation of Malaya and of Singapore are investigating the possibility of introducing unemployment insurance schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what authority the Travel Control in Singapore has been censoring the entry into the Colony of British newspapers and periodicals.

No British newspapers or periodicals entering Singapore have been censored by any authority. The reference may be to a recent examination of Press photographs at the time of the Suez operations. This action was taken under the authority of the Undesirable Publications Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Seychelles Government propose to transfer the Grand Anse estates to single individual ownership notwithstanding their rehabilitation as a training ground in agriculture and as a settlement scheme.

The Seychelles Government do not propose to transfer these estates to single individual ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to resolve the Ministerial crisis in Mauritius.

This matter is under discussion with the Governor of Mauritius, who is at present in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what safeguards have been devised to protect the West African marketing boards in the event of the United States release of its large cotton reserves and the United Kingdom's disposal of its stocks of oil seeds.

The United States Government have undertaken that, in carrying out their export programme, they will avoid disrupting world market prices and impairing the traditional competitive position of friendly countries. In spite of substantial and continuing sales under the U.S. export programme announced in February, world cotton prices are at present firm and are indeed showing an upward tendency. Her Majesty's Government, who are concerned to protect the interests both of producers in Colonial Territories and of consumers in the United Kingdom, will continue to watch closely the progress of the U.S. Government's cotton export programme.Her Majesty's Government have recently disposed of stocks of groundnuts and palm kernels by methods which were acceptable to the Colonial Governments concerned. The price of neither commodity appeared to suffer as a result of the disposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps the Government of Fiji are taking towards making its secondary schools multi-racial as a means of increasing racial understanding.

Two Government secondary schools are multi-racial. Three non-Government multi-racial secondary schools have been grant-aided this year and the Fiji Government plans to extend financial assistance to further similar schools in 1957. In addition, a post-school certificate course, which will be multi-racial, is to be started at the Boys' Grammar School, Suva, in 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Fijian and Indian children in Fiji do not attend any school; what proportion of those at primary schools go on to secondary schools; and what plans the Fiji Government have to extend its Teachers' Training College.

It was estimated in 1953 that 16,000 children aged 6–14 were not attending school. The current figure is not yet known accurately, but it is not expected to exceed 20,000.The number of pupils admitted in 1956 to post-primary schools (1,170) represent 44 per cent. of the total number enrolled in the highest primary classes the previous year.Subject to the approval of the Legislative Council, the Government of Fiji will spend £21,300 (Fijian) on extensions to the Teachers' Training College in 1957: it is hoped that further extensions will be possible in 1958. The functions of the Educational Research Institute will be taken over in 1957 by the College, whose staff is being increased from 10 to 14.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what charges for beds are made in Government hospitals in Fiji; for how long a time they have been made; and what arrangements exist for patients who are unable to pay.

The following charges are made for in-patient accommodation and maintenance:

		£	s.	d.	(Fijian)
Private ward—single bed	…	1	10	0	per day
Private ward—two beds	…	1	0	0	per day
Semi-private ward	…	0	15	0	per day
General paying ward	…	0	10	0	per day
Obstetric annex	…	0	5	0	per day
(NOTE.—£F111 =£100 Sterling.)

No charge is made for maintenance in general wards.The above charges were standardised in December, 1955. Charges were introduced at different dates at the various hospitals, but some have been payable since 1884.The medical officer in charge of any public hospital is empowered by law to remit the whole or part of any charge where the patient is unable to pay by reason of poverty. At the main hospital in Suva the officer in charge is assisted in this by an Almoner.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty in what capacity A/B Chaloner, R. J., O/ss 945528, J.63 Mess, H.M.S. "Drake," Devonport, is being employed; and what efforts have been made to employ him in his own trade of carpentry and joinery.

Able Seaman Chaloner has been and will continue to be employed in the various duties appropriate to his rating and training in the seaman branch; these do not include carpentry and joinery. The recruitment of joiners ceased in 1948.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what ranks staff Royal Navy recruiting offices; and on what basis they are remunerated.

Naval recruiting takes place both at sub-offices and at area headquarters. The former are staffed by recruiting officers, aided by recruiters; the latter by recruiting staff officers, aided by recruiting officers and recruiters. Recruiting staff officers are retired Royal Navy or Royal Marine officers, normally at commander level, who are carefully chosen for the work. Recruiting officers have the status of commissioned officers within the recruiting service and are selected for promotion from recruiters. Recruiters are selected from former Royal Navy chief petty officers and petty officers, or colour sergeants and sergeants, Royal Marines, who have completed 22 years' active service and have exemplary records.Remuneration of recruiting staff officers is on a civilian basis. Recruiting officers and recruiters receive naval rates of pay, except that their rates are slightly less than those payable in general service because they are not required to serve abroad.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the steps taken to date towards clearing the Suez Canal from obstruction.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the interim statement made by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 22nd November. Since then our salvage forces have succeeded in clearing a channel suitable for ships of 25 ft. draught through the area held by the Allied forces and it is hoped to widen this channel to 250 ft. by the end of the week.

asked the Postmaster-General when the communities in the new estates in the Chesterfield Rural District Council area are to be provided with better facilities by his Department, seeing that there are now at least three estates with from 300 to 400 families residing therein; and if he will take into consideration that some of these growing communities have to travel to the nearest post office over some of the most exposed roads in Derbyshire.

The facilities in the district are generally up to the standard for such areas but if the hon. Member will let me have details of any particular estates or facilities he has in mind I will gladly have inquiries made.

asked the Postmaster-General how many additional staff he has recruited to post offices to give out the new basic petrol coupons; and what was the approximate time each person has had to wait in a queue in London and in the provinces during the first four days when coupons were available.

It is not possible to obtain the detailed information for which the hon. Member has asked without disproportionate expense. As was to be expected in an operation of this kind, some queuing was inevitable. But we have used, for distribution of petrol ration books, the staff and organisation built up to meet the first rush of premium-bonds; and these, combined with the hard work of the counter staffs and the patience and goodwill on both sides of the counter, have ensured a successful start to this very large-scale operation. Some 4 million ration books were available at post offices and local taxation offices on 22nd November, and a further 1¼ million have been issued to them since then. No exact figures of the number of books actually issued to the public are available, but it seems that the back of the task has been broken.

asked the Post master-General when he expects the proposed British Broadcasting Corporation's television and very-high-frequency broad casting station at Rosemarkie to be in operation.

The B.B.C. hopes to bring the television station into operation by the summer of 1957, and the very high frequency sound broadcasting station the following year.

asked the Postmaster-General what grant is to be paid to the Independent Television Authority in the coming financial year.

In order to assist the I.T.A. in fulfilling its duty of ensuring a proper balance in the programmes transmitted over its network and in accordance with the general lines of policy enunciated during the consideration of Section 11 of the Television Act, the Government have decided to provide for a grant in aid to the Independent Television Authority in next year's broadcasting Estimate.This grant in aid will, subject to Parliamentary approval, total £100,000. This decision carries with it no implication of continuing Exchequer assistance. It is intended as a temporary measure designed to assist the I.T.A. in procuring the inclusion in the programmes of items which in its opinion are necessary for improving the balance of the subject matter of the programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the system of prize cadetships for apprentices at present available to the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, will be extended to the Royal Air Force Technical College, Henlow.

The scheme which was introduced this summer covers the Technical Branch. So far, two prize cadetships have been awarded, one for Cranwell and one for Henlow.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when work is likely to begin on the proposed married quarters for St. Mawgan Airfield, Cornwall.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many horse slaughterhouses and knackers' yards are still below the standards fixed in 1954.

My officers have visited all slaughterhouses where horses are known to be killed. Of these two are still, in minor respects, below standard. The inspection of rather more than half the knackers' yards has so far been completed and of those where defects were originally found nine are still unsatisfactory. I am informing local authorities, whose responsibility it is, of these and other sub-standard premises as they come to light so that prompt remedial action can be taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the returns, showing average market prices and fatstock guarantees, due to producers of fat cattle in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, respectively, for each of the first six months of the current livestock year; and how the total of these returns for the United Kingdom will match the standard price of 151s. per live hundredweight.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture., Fisheries and Food whether he will give the number of applications which have been allowed in each of the

County			Awaiting placing	Placed		Apprentices withdrawn	Total in apprenticeship
				Agriculture	Horticulture
Anglesey	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Brecon and Radnor *	…	…	—	6	1	—	7
Caernarvon	…	…	—	5	—	—	5
Cardiganshire	…	…	3	—	—	—	—
Carmarthen	…	…	1	2	—	—	2
Denbighshire	…	…	—	1	—	—	1
Flintshire	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Glamorganshire	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Merionethshire	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Monmouthshire	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Montgomeryshire	…	…	—	1	—	—	1
Pembrokeshire	…	…	—	2	—	2	—
* These counties are covered by one District Agricultural Apprenticeship Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he is aware of the loss and damage that cuts in the supply of oil will inflict on the oil-burning vessels in Britain's fishing fleets; and what steps he is taking to minimise this loss and damage.

The fishing fleets are to receive normal supplies of fuel oil and paraffin, and the proposed reduction of 10 per cent. in the supply of diesel fuel is less than the cut which is being applied to general industry. The overall effect on fish supplies should not prove serious, and I am confident that the fishing industry will readily make the best of things in the national interest. The Fisheries Departments are considering with the industry and the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board how the cuts in supplies of diesel fuel and petrol may be applied with the minimum of hardship.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent a large rabbit

I understand from the Agricultural Apprenticeship Council that on 31st October, 1956, the figures for the counties in Wales and Monmouth were as follows:population again building up during the coming winter.

We have already launched this winter a campaign against the remaining rabbits, and this has the full support of the National Farmers' Union, the Country Landowners' Association, and the Agricultural Workers' Unions. One of the main features of this campaign will be to encourage the further formation of local committees of landowners and farmers which, working in collaboration with C.A.E.C.'s, are, in my view, the best means of securing cooperative action to keep rabbit numbers down.Financial assistance towards the cost of gassing powder and clearing scrubland is being continued, and I am authorising county agricultural executive committees to deal with rabbits on derelict land for which no owner or occupier can be found, as well as on common land. Every suitable means of publicity will be used to bring home to all the great importance of destroying rabbits over the next few months. I am convinced that the campaign this winter is crucial if we are to stand a reasonable chance of controlling the numbers of rabbits in the future, and I would appeal for the co-operation of all who work or live in the countryside to help in this important job.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what approximate proportion of the iron and steel industry, previously owned by the Iron and Steel Corporation, remains in the possession of the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency, based on the total output of the industry, and what proportion based on the compensation sums originally paid.

About one-quarter of the steel production of the companies owned by the Iron and Steel Corporation now remains with the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency.The total amount of compensation stock originally issued was £245·8m. The Agency took over from the Corporation securities whose cost to the Corporation was £252·3m., and also certain loans and obligations, bringing the total of investments and obligations inherited to £364·2m. In addition, the Agency has made further investments bringing the cumulative total of investments and obligations of the Agency to £429·9m. The net total of investments and obligations remaining with the Agency at 30th September, 956, was £226·4m. Further details will be available in the third Annual Report of the Agency shortly to be published. Since 30th September, 1956, proceeds from the disposal of six companies amount to £l·25m.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, for the duration of petrol rationing, he will arrange for motorists to have a rebate on their road fund licence.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of police officers who were excluded from benefiting under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956, because they were under 60 years of age.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Works what saving of oil he hopes to effect by limitations on the heating of Government offices.

I intend to achieve at least the full savings required to meet the cuts announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power on 20th November, namely, 25 per cent. on fuel oil and 33⅓ per cent. on gas diesel oil.