asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further consideration he has given to the introduction of a discriminatory tax relief in favour of the exhibition of British films as a means of modifying the incidence of entertainments tax.

As this is a tax matter, the hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement or indeed to add anything to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 2nd August about Government policy in regard to assistance for British film production.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is being considered? In his review of the Entertainments Duty, is he not considering this very excellent proposal for giving financial encouragement to British film production as an alternative to introducing an extra tax to get the funds?

I well remember the hon. Member asking a Question about this point on, I think, 14th February, 1956. We shall certainly take into account anything which the hon. Member has said.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much a year he estimates his revenue from oil and petrol duty will be reduced as a result of oil and petrol rationing, and the reduced supply of oil to this country resulting from the blocking of the Suez Canal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the expected loss of revenue in consequence of petrol rationing.

I would refer the hon. Members to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton) on 27th November.

Yes, I saw that reply. I cannot remember the number of millions of pounds which are to be lost to the Treasury. Can we have an assurance that the Minister will not try to recoup these losses by putting a further tax on petrol? Is he aware that this Government are continually pushing up the cost of living, and we want no more of it?

The hon. Member is again asking me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

Will the Minister give an assurance that, in this time of shortage and scarcity of petrol, he will not take any steps to increase the price but rather will keep the price controlled?

I am concerned only with the tax aspect. I am not concerned with the price of petrol.

Without anticipating the next Budget, but looking back to the past one, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Chancellor still thinks that the economy of the country depends upon achieving £100 million savings over and above the figures of the Budget?

What my right hon. Friend told the House a day or two ago was that he was expecting an overall Budget surplus—[HON. MEMBERS: "Overall?"]—a Budget surplus above the line not far short of what he had originally anticipated; and the deficit below the line will certainly be considerably lower.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his recent estimate of the cost of Her Majesty's Government's armed conflict with Egypt of £35 to £50 million included the loss of the military supplies, stores, and installations in the Suez Canal, the loss of oil and trading difficulties resultant upon the closing of this Canal, and the subsequent petrol and oil rationing; and whether he will give an amended figure taking into account all of these factors.

No, Sir. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence said on 20th November, the figure of £35–50 million related solely to additional military expenditure falling on the Budget. As regards the other matters in the hon. Member's Question, I would refer to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Hale) on 20th November, and by my hon. friend the Economic Secretary to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) on 22nd November.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that matters are now getting to such a state that we are spending £50 million here, £30 million there and £50 million somewhere else? Will he state in HANSARD, or in answer to a Question, the total cost up to date of all these various amounts that he is now giving in fifties and hundreds?

I have given the essential figures here and have referred the hon. Gentleman to the others. I am sure that he can do the necessary addition and substraction.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what figure he now estimates the total cost to the Exchequer, including loss of revenue from taxation, resulting from military operations in the Middle East and the blocking of the Suez Canal.

On the expenditure side, my right hon. Friend has already said that the additional military expenditure during this financial year will be between £35 million and £50 million. I know of no likely significant increase of civil expenditure.

Would the Financial Secretary agree that this £60 million or £70 million loss to the Budget is only one of the many blessings which have flowed from the Government's diplomatic triumph in the Middle East; and that, in addition, there is bound to be a considerable drop in revenue from Income Tax and Profits Tax, due to lower production and earnings?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has already given to the House his forecast of the out-turn of the Budget above the line, and I have given a forecast of the out-turn below the line. As to the rest of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I would say that fortunately this country is always one that, rather than count the £s carefully, does what it thinks right for the world.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated increase in dollar expenditure resulting from our present economic difficulties.

I cannot at present add to the Answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) on 22nd November.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us any indication whether the Government are taking measures to control and limit unnecessary dollar imports, in view of the essential need for fuel oil to keep our economy going?

The hon. Gentleman and the House are aware of the implications of action of that sort. I think the hon. Gentleman had better await the statement which we have promised to the House.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman's answer mean that the Government are now in such chaos that they neither know what they are doing nor the consequences of their action?

The right hon. Gentleman may find this unfashionable doctrine, but the Government like to plan their action before taking it.

Oh.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to offset the inflationary pressure resulting from the present economic difficulties.

The anti-inflationary measures which the Government have already taken are, I think, well known. We are watching the situation closely and shall not hesitate to take whatever measures may be necessary from time to time.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman giving consideration to the situation now developing in which we are getting the running down of production and commercial activities while at the same time we get rises in prices? Is not it a new experience to have rising prices with falling economic activity?

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will not wish to exaggerrate either of those trends. He will know the figures of the Index of Production and the Index of Retail Prices which, as he knows, rose only 0·6 of a point in the last month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sum of dividend on ordinary shares and the undistributed income after taxation for companies in table 29 of the Blue Book for the years 1946 and 1955; the increase in percentage; the increase in the taxation for these companies in that period; and the increase in income tax for the single man whose average earnings were £310 in 1946, and £570 in 1955, or 84 per cent. increase in earnings.

With regard to companies the figures asked for in the first parts of the Question are given in the table referred to; the percentage increases between 1946 and 1955 in dividends on ordinary shares, before tax, and in their undistributed income after tax, were 83 and 148 respectively. The increase in tax accruing on undistributed company income was £413 million. The amount of tax paid by a single man on an earned income of £310 at the rates applicable in 1946–47 was £46 6s. 3d., and the tax in similar circumstances on an earned income of £570 at 1955–56 rates was £73 17s. 6d.

Is it not correct that the combined results in increased percentage for share capital dividend and undistributed profits—[Interruption.]—is about 124 per cent.? [Interruption.] Has not the tax on profits been increased from £651 million to £877 million and is that not a 35 per cent. increase in taxation—[Interruption.]

Order. That is enough for one question.

I just want a little opportunity to put my question.

The hon. Member has had a good opportunity. Let us hear what the answer to the first part is, anyhow.

I put a good deal of work into arriving at the answers to the several questions in the hon. Gentleman's original Question. I am not at all sure that I appreciate the full bearing of his supplementary questions but perhaps he will put them down, and I will get to work again.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long it will take to complete the examination of the effects of the decision on the case of Baddeley and Others v. Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

Examination of this complex problem is in progress and will be completed as soon as possible, but I regret that I cannot yet name the date.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of charitable organisations, particularly those which are attempting to bring happiness to old people, are urgently awaiting the result of this examination? Can he not give a better indication than "as soon as possible", as finances are suffering greatly, and the old people are suffering as a result?

I appreciate the force of what the hon. Lady has said. This decision was of course a difficult one for many of us. I am anxious that we shall get the position clarified as quickly as possible, but I cannot give the hon. Lady a definite date. I assure her that I recognise the urgency.

ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will impose financial controls to prevent the building of more petrol stations.

Treasury consent under the Control of Borrowing Order is normally needed if more than £10,000 is to be raised for this or any other purpose. The Capital Issues Committee has to be satisfied that any application for consent has a definite urgency under current requirements. I understand that in fact very few cases—and they had very special features—have been regarded as passing that test.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that petrol will be short for a very long time? Is it not irresponsible in those circumstances to allow precious labour and materials to be wasted in the building of more petrol stations when the existing ones have run dry?

If the pessimistic calculations of the hon. and gallant Gentleman are correct, they would, of course, be reflected in a falling off of the applications made to the Capital Issues Committee in this context.

Is it not the policy of the Government to have less petrol for more pumps? Can the hon. and learned Gentleman tell us whether these controls have stopped the building of petrol stations? It is the impression of some of us that they are being built in considerable numbers. Will he recommend to his right hon. Friend that we ought to reimpose building controls?

The right hon. Gentleman must have missed the last part of my Answer, which made it clear that very few of these cases had been granted consent.

Will my hon. and learned Friend keep a very careful watch on this matter? On the outskirts of Manchester a number of very large stations have been built, owned by large oil companies, and they are putting the smaller, old established garages out of business.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the procedures to which I am referring are those which have been in force under the directive of February of this year.

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements he has made for distributing leaflets advertising the Premium Bonds.

A leaflet explaining the main features of premium savings bonds was distributed through post offices, banks and trustee savings banks at the end of July, and the prospectus which sets out the terms of the new security in detail was distributed in the same way on 1st November. In addition, the National Savings Committee has sent out leaflets explaining the conditions of schemes for sale through savings groups to all interested groups.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that great indignation has been caused to old-age pensioners in Reading because when they went to collect their pension books at the post office they found folded in each book a leaflet advertising Premium Bonds? Is he further aware that these people have scarcely enough money to feed themselves let alone to buy Premium Bonds? Will he, until such time as the old-age pension is raised, stop adding insult to injury in this way?

If the hon. Member would like to send me further particulars I will pass them on to the Postmaster-General.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the high cost of all types of refrigerators is making it difficult and often impossible for food merchants and retailers to carry out the intentions of the Food and Drugs Acts and the Food Hygiene Regulations; and whether he will examine, in relation to the incidence of Purchase Tax, the cost to the nation of wasted food and ill-health and disease caused by inadequate refrigeration facilities in the food trades.

Only the domestic types of refrigerator are liable to Purchase Tax. The larger types commonly used by food merchants and retailers are unaffected by the tax.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not much use trying to develop refrigeration in this country unless consumers also have refrigeration, and that the difficulties are widespread?

That is rather a different question. The hon. Gentleman's Question asks about food merchants and retailers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Customs concessions are being granted to recipients in Great Britain of gift parcels as Christmas presents sent by troops serving overseas.

There is a standing concession, published in standing orders overseas, which enables Service men to send home free of Customs charges gift parcels—not containing tobacco, scent or liquor—up to a value limit of £1 for each parcel sent to a separate person or at different times.

While recognising that concession, would it be possible, perhaps at Christmas time, to add to that somewhat, especially in the case of those troops who had been doing very good service in some trouble spots in more than one part of the world?

I am anxious to help, but there is danger of abuse if we raise the £1 limit. A Service man can send as many separate parcels not exceeding £1 in value as he likes to one person, and if he has a number of girl friends he can send a parcel up to £1 in value to each of them.

Does the list of permitted parcels include tins of petrol?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his earlier appeals to industry and in order to maintain price stability, he will appeal to the shipping conference lines to exercise restraint in the matter of increasing shipping freight rates.

I feel sure that British members of the shipping conferences—which are, of course, international—are giving full weight to the considerations which the hon. Member has in mind. I am informed that the only significant increases recently made in the case of the conference lines serving the United Kingdom have been necessitated by the longer voyages arising from the Suez Canal developments.

Is this situation likely to continue? Can the hon. and learned Gentleman say that the attitude of the Government will be that they will bring pressure to bear on any market of this kind where it looks as if unrestrained bargaining is in this case sending the shipping freight rates up beyond a reasonable figure?

I think that in view of the Answer which I gave to the hon. Gentleman's original Question, that supplementary question is based upon an hypothesis to which I should not address myself.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the efforts by his Department to ensure that sausages contain a reasonable amount of meat.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Cleveland (Mr. Palmer) on 22nd November.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state why it has taken so long to get a decision in this matter? Is he not aware that unscrupulous sausage manufacturers can purchase soya bean flour with chemical meat flavouring, and is it not obvious that the housewife really does need some protection?

I agreed previously that this is quite an important question. I do not think that there has been any avoidable delay. The Committee reported in June, and since then I have had to hold consultations with those concerned. They are at an end now, and I hope that a decision will be reached within two months.

Does my right hon. Friend recollect that in the days of the Labour Government sausages contained bread and faked cream?

I recall the circumstances with pain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decisions have been reached in respect of colouring substances in food; when regulations are to be introduced to give effect to the decision; and what restrictions are contemplated in the use of coal-tar dyes for painting kippers and the colouring of many items of food.

As I told the hon. Member on the 25th June, the Government have accepted the recommendations of the Food Standards Committee to permit the use in food of certain specified colours only, and I hope that it will be possible to introduce regulations early in the New Year. The only coal-tar dyes to be permitted will be those recommended by the Committee.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether there will be any radical change in the present treatment of kippers?

There will be no enforced change. I think that in relation to the use of colour in kippers there is an insistence that the colours used shall be on the permitted list.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the uses of the Kelvin Hughes Fishermen's Asdic, the new form of acoustic detection of fish shoals, in relation to the fishing and over-fishing of the North Sea; and what regulations he proposes to make regarding the use of Asdic.

This is in effect a horizontal echo-sounder designed to assist the use of drift nets and mid-water trawls. I understand the makers will not have the equipment on the market for several months. Scientific aids to the more efficient use of gear are to be encouraged and the conservation of the fish stocks is better sought in other ways.

Does the Minister realise that this invention can be used to minimise or maximise the problem of over-fishing, to increase or reduce damage, and therefore it should be subject to very careful regulations in order scientifically to tackle this very grave problem of over-fishing in the North Sea?

Yes. Of course it has not been proved commercially yet, but if it proves to be an efficient aid to catching fish, I think it is to be welcomed, because it will improve the productivity and efficiency of fishing and therefore tend to reduce costs. I am sure that the hon. and learned Member is not a Luddite, and would not wish to interfere with progress of that kind. Conservation of fish is a very important matter and, as the hon. and learned Member knows, that is being sought in other directions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, (1) in view of the Suez crisis, if he will take powers to prevent increases in the price of bread or other foodstuffs;

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now take steps to control and reduce the wholesale price of flour and the retail price of bread.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the foods we import will be affected in price as a consequence of the closing of the Suez Canal to shipping.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the recent increases in the price of tea, he will reintroduce price control.

There will be no shortage of food as a result of the closing of the Suez Canal, and there is no reason to expect that food prices in general will be seriously affected. I have no intention of taking special powers to control either supplies or prices.

Is the Minister aware that that is a very ambiguous reply? Can we have a definite assurance that food prices will not rise, and that increases will not be held over until the Christmas Recess, when the House is not sitting?

I think that if the hon. Lady studies my Answer she will find that it is quite a positive and definite statement of what I expect to happen.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the situation as regards the price of bread and flour reflects no credit on his Department and certainly was not one of the aims in front of him when he personally came into politics? Will he bear in mind that he is still the Minister of Food as well as the Minister of Agriculture? In view of the other burdens which the people of this country are asked to bear, will he accept this as a personal challenge to his ability and his courage?

I think I can assure the hon. Member that I accept my responsibilities as Minister of Food as very serious responsibilities indeed. I do not feel at all ashamed of the manner in which I have carried them out so far.

Would my right hon. Friend—[Interruption.]—Would my right hon. Friend—[interruption.] Keep quiet. Would my right hon. Friend assure the House that whatever happens he will not have to institute bread rationing, as was done by the Lobby fodder opposite?

Mr. Willey.

rose—

Answer.

Let us have the question of the hon. Member of Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey), and then we may have an answer.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman regard it as quite unjustifiable to put up the price of bread by withdrawing food subsidies? With regard to tea, surely he is aware that we have had previous experience of the consumer being exploited by the tea trade? Prices are already going up, and in these circumstances does he not accept the obligation to ensure that the housewife is not exploited again?

In reply to the first part of that supplementary question, I have already said that in the present circumstances of this country it is quite impossible to justify the continuance of the general food subsidies for the benefit of every single person, regardless of his or her means. In reply to the second part of the question, I do not think there is anything unreasonable in the present price of tea.

I did not get an answer to my Question No. 23 regarding hoarding.

I know of no tendency to hoard food at present, and I can see no reason for it because I do not think there has ever been a time when food supplies have been more ample and more varied than at present.

Will the Minister take this warning—that hoarding has already started, not because there is fear of shortage, but because there is fear of a steep increase in prices? Will he therefore try to introduce a standstill order for prices for goods coming round the Cape?

I have already stated that I can see no reason for any steep rises in food prices in general.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is not likely to be such a shortage of food as there was when hon. Members opposite gave up office five years ago, and when the meat ration for the consumer was 1s. 7d. per week?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that scientific investigation by his Department has shown that the virus of foot-and-mouth disease is preserved by cold and destroyed by heat, if he will test the practicability of requiring the flash heating of Argentine meat before it is chilled or frozen for shipment to the United Kingdom.

I am advised that although flash heating might destroy surface contamination, it would not destroy the virus of foot-and-mouth disease in an infected carcase where it may be present throughout the meat and the bone marrow.

Will my right hon. Friend please not be deterred by that advice because the modern infra-red rays have a wonderfully penetrating effect, and it could do no possible harm to try this out on half a dozen carcases of infected meat?

I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred amongst farm animals this year in England and Wales; what has been the source of infection; and how it was brought into the areas infected.

There have been 144 confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in England and Wales this year of which 23 are classified as primaries. In many of the primary cases infection is attributed to direct or indirect contact with raw meat or bones from South American carcases distributed through normal trade channels. In the others the origin is obscure.

In view of the fact that the cause of these outbreaks is imported meat, will not the Minister make it an offence to import into this country meat infected with foot-and-mouth disease? Or will he arrange effective examinations at the port in order to prevent this meat from being imported?

Every possible precaution that we can think of is taken at present. We have veterinary officers of our own in South America who inspect the arrangements for inspection and themselves inspect many of the carcases by sampling, but however efficient the check by inspection is made, it cannot entirely eliminate the risk of the transfer of the disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the revised arrangements for the supply of Australian beef under the 15-year agreement with the Commonwealth.

It has been agreed that the quantity of meat that may be exported from Australia to countries other than the United Kingdom and the Colonies, which was increased from 10,000 to 15,000 tons for the year ended October last, will continue at 15,000 tons for the two following years. These arrangements are subject to review only in very exceptional circumstances.

Are the Australian meat producers quite happy about this arrangement? Will they continue to have the price assurances they have enjoyed hitherto?

The answer is "Yes".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the dates between which the National Survey of Domestic Food Consumption during 1955 was taken; and when the result of the Survey is likely to be published.

In 1955 the National Food Survey was in operation throughout the year, except during the General Election campaign from 10th May to 31st May and the Christmas holiday. The National Food Survey Committee expects to complete its Report for 1955 in January next, and publication will follow as soon as printing can be completed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman surprised that he can give an Answer to this Question on Thursday, whereas his hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, in what I think was an attempt to hoodwink the House, refused to give this information when we were discussing the Bread Order on Monday night? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it unfair to the House to produce in December, 1956, statistics covering the early part of 1955 in order to justify a Bread Order?

No, my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary on that occasion quoted figures from the 1955 National Food Survey. In the case of bread, of which the consumption does not vary much, those figures are relevant to the present day. As to the publication of the National Food Survey, over the last two or three years we have been gradually catching up the leeway. This survey, which cannot be completed until after the end of the year to which it applies of course, is published just as soon as it can be got out and the printing done.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have a word with his Joint Parliamentary Secretary about this in order to stop the objectionable practice of quoting from documents which have not yet been published? In view of the information being available to the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, will the Minister say whether he can expedite publication, so that the House may have the information also?

To reply to the first part of that supplementary question, I think it best for the Minister to produce the latest relevant information at his disposal for the assistance of the House. In reply to the second part, I agree that this Food Survey comes out too late after the end of the year to which it applies. I repeat that in the last two or three years we have been gradually catching up, but I shall not be satisfied until it is published within six months of the end of the year to which it applies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many outbreaks of fowl pest have occurred in Norfolk so far this year; how many birds and eggs have been destroyed: and his estimate of the cost in dealing with these outbreaks and the amount of compensation to be paid.

Up to 27th November there have been 26 outbreaks of fowl pest this year in Norfolk, involving the slaughter of 106,575 birds and the destruction of 16,542 hatching eggs. Compensation amounts to about £134,000.

Is the Minister aware that these recent outbreaks of fowl pest have been of such a mild character that the owners and those looking after the birds have not noticed it, and that it has been detected only by blood tests and laboratory examinations? Is it not quite a different disease from that with which we were dealing a few years ago?

The hon. Member may have more information about this than I have, but I understand that the serious outbreaks recently in Norfolk have been among ducks, and I am advised that in ducks the disease is extremely difficult to diagnose. That is why it is serious, because it can be conveyed by ducks just as easily as by poultry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the subsidy payable, per live hundredweight, for fat cattle for the latest available week; and how it compares with the estimate published on 25th October.

For the week ended 25th November the total rate of guarantee payment was 44s. 6d. per live cwt. This was made up of the rolling average guarantee of 29s. and the additional payment of 8s., precisely as estimated on 25th October, plus a stabilising adjustment of 7s. 6d. paid in accordance with the original guarantee arrangements.

Is not that figure very different from the October estimate? Is not the total subsidy very much larger, and is not that entirely due to the marketing arrangements and not the deficiency payments?

The only difference between the figures I have just quoted and the estimate announced on 25th October is the addition of the stabilising adjustment. This is the sum required at the time to bring the total payment up to 128s., excluding the supplementary payment of 8s.

Is not one reason for the increased Government expenditure on this account the heavier importation of foreign beef?

That may be one of the reasons for the level of the market, but it is also one of the reasons we have been able to return to the pre-war level of beef consumption. There is no evidence that the present supply of beef is in excess of what the nation wants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of the imported dried egg which was declared unfit for human consumption between January and October was sold for animal food; and in what districts it was sold.

None, Sir, so far as I am aware.

Will the Minister's inspectors take care to see that dried eggs condemned as unfit for human consumption are not sold to be fed to animals?

My veterinary officers take the greatest care they can to see that that does not happen. I want to make it quite clear that my Department has sold no stocks of the eggs in question during the past eighteen months.

asked the Minister of Labour how many reports of victimisation arising from the British Motor Corporation strike settlement he has received from employers and unions, respectively; and what action he proposes to take.

My Department was informed of only one case in which difficulty occurred. My intervention was not requested, and no action on my part was called for.

Does my right hon. Friend mean by that answer that the considerable number of cases reported in the Press were either incorrect or have been put right since?

No, Sir; there were certain Press reports of disciplinary action taken by unions against individual members, but the Answer which I have given is a factual one in accordance with the Question. If one takes into account the size and bitterness of this dispute, I think it is remarkable how peaceful the aftermath of it has been.

asked the Minister of Labour when the new pay structure of the Factory Inspectorate is to come into being; and whether the maximum salary for district inspectors will be at the same level as that which appertains in the works group.

New scales of pay for the Factory Inspectorate came into force on 31st October last, with effect from 1st April last.

Does not the Minister agree that if the maximum salary scale for the district inspectors is not as high as that which is paid for the works group, we are not likely, as time goes by, to have these key posts filled by men who are qualified in science and engineering, because such men will not enter the service in the first place?

In his Question, the hon. Member is comparing the top range of the senior grade of the works group with the salaries of the district inspectorate, and of course, as he knows, the work of the general inspectorate is not exclusively of a professional character.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an estimate of the annual increase of salary required for the Factory Inspectorate which would attract approximately 10 recruits each year who are qualified in science or engineering.

It is not possible to give any such estimate.

Will the Minister agree that if the entry grades had an increase of approximately £100 a year, they would then easily compete with other Departments for recruits of the type mentioned in the Question, and that as the years went by we should at least get back to the standard which we had in 1938, when two-thirds of the men were so qualified?

I do not think it is possible to be as precise as the hon. Member seeks to be. Even on the pre-Priestley scales, from a continuing competition in August, 1955, we have had seven graduates with qualifications in science and engineering. It may well be that with the new scales we shall do a little better.

Can the Minister tell us whether there has been any increase in the numbers entering the Inspectorate since the announcement of the new scales?

No. It is too early to say that, but I will keep the hon. Member informed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give consideration to establishing a system of merit awards for factory inspectors, similar to the awards available to medical consult ants.

No, Sir. I see no reason for treating the Factory Inspectorate differently from other parts of the Civil Service in this respect.

In the situation which now rests on the Minister, men who are fully qualified and who have to assume very great responsibility have salary scales lower than those of men doing similar work with similar types of responsibility. In those circumstances, does not the Minister think that this incentive might have been most helpful? Will he not give it further consideration?

I think that the system of merit awards is an extremely interesting departure, and it may be that there are other places in the social services where it would be appropriate, but I cannot see that it would be appropriate for any part of the Civil Service, where the ordinary reward for merit is promotion.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) to what extent when persons are appointed through his Department to temporary appointments in Government Departments there is any operation of a screening character; whether the individuals are informed when they are interviewed for appointment that they will be screened; and if they are informed in any case in which they are not appointed because of the result of the screening;

Character references are sought in the normal way by my Department for applicants for non-industrial temporary Government service. This is known beforehand to the candidate from the application form he completes, but it is not the practice to inform an unsuccessful candidate of the reason why he was not appointed. No statistics are kept of applications or rejections.

Can the Minister say whether or not these so-called character investigations are the kind of investigations envisaged in the White Paper on security, introduced in March this year, and are any tests also made of a candidate's political opinions?

The investigation is essentially a character one, and not a security screening, if one can put it like that. So far as the posts are concerned, there are obviously many—in the Post Office, for example—where large numbers of people have to be taken on and large sums of money may be involved, and a fairly detailed character investigation has, therefore, to take place. It is not in any way, normally, related to a man's political opinions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will undertake an inquiry into the effects of the oil economies proposed by Her Majesty's Government upon employment levels in our principal industries.

The further restrictions announced on 20th November have been designed to cause the minimum disturbance to production and employment. I am keeping a close and continuing watch on their operation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that a mere flat-rate reduction will not leave certain key industries in a most aggravated situation, and that if their oil supplies once drop below the minimum necessary to conduct the work, it will mean pretty heavy unemployment in those industries that depend upon the products of the key industry?

It is precisely for that and other reasons, of course, that I am keeping, and will continue to keep, the very closest watch. I am already getting most detailed reports from our regional offices all over the country, so that I can keep my finger as close as possible on the pulse of what is happening.

How is it possible for the Government to avoid serious unemployment when they have decided to cut the supply of diesel oil to industrial firms by 20 per cent. on 1st January?

The N.P.A.C.I. has said that what has been announced so far should not have a serious effect. Of course it is true that one cannot prophesy what will happen if, for example, the Suez Canal remains blocked for a long period of time, and more stringent measures have to be put into operation.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the increased demands upon the coal industry, what special efforts he proposes to make to stimulate recruitment to the industry.

My local offices throughout the country give constant attention to the recruitment of suitable men for employment in the coal mines. In addition, all who register for National Service are reminded that call-up is deferred for men satisfactorily employed underground in coal mines.

Is the Minister aware that it is not sufficient merely to keep the labour exchanges in the coal areas informed of this; and that one of the problems we now face, and about which the miner feels pretty bitter, is that it is deemed to be merely the job of the miner and his family to keep on supplying Britain with her miners? Will he agree that it is now a national problem, and that people outside the mining areas must really play their part in enabling us to get our coal?

Of course it is a national problem, and it is for that reason that the National Coal Board has been intensifying its programmes of recruitment and publicity, and in every possible way we shall be glad to help.