asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what were the average earnings of men, women, and youths in October, 1946; what percentage of such earnings was paid to single man pensioners in 1946: what were the average earnings of men, women, and youths in April, 1956; what percentage rise this represents over the 1946 earnings; what would the single man's contributory pension under National Insurance be today if the pension had the same percentage relationship to the 1956 earnings; and what would the married couples pension be if related in the same way to the earnings rise.

The average earnings including overtime, bonus payments etc. of all classes of manual wage earners was £5 1s. per week in October. 1946. The single rate of retirement pension which had at that time just been introduced was at a rate approximately 26 per cent. of that figure. The comparable figure for earnings in April, 1956, was £9 17s. 9d. a week. This represents a rise of about 96 per cent. over the October, 1946, level. The application of a similar percentage rise to the single retirement pension rate produces a figure of £2 10s. 10d. A similar calculation applied to the 1946 married retirement pension rate of 40s. produces a figure of £4 2s. 3d. I gave the hon. Member on 19th November the result of similar calculations applied to increases in wage rates.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many contributory pensioners were receiving National Assistance in September, 1954, before the rise in pensions; how many in September, 1955, after the rise in pensions; and how many in September. 1956.

The number of weekly assistance allowances paid to persons receiving National Insurance retirement pensions was 983,000 in September, 1954, 884,000 in September, 1955, and 911,000 in September. 1956. Some of the allowances provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons receiving industrial injury benefit, or disablement benefit were receiving National Assistance in September, 1954, before the rise in benefits; how many in September, 1955, after the rise in benefits; and how many in September, 1956.

Information is not available precisely in this form, but the National Assistance Board inform me that the number of weekly assistance allowances paid to persons receiving injury or disablement benefit and widows receiving death benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act as their only or main national insurance payment was 1,688 in September, 1954, 1,147 in September, 1955, and 1,529 in September, 1956.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the number of old-age pensioners receiving National Assistance grants, at the last convenient date; and what were the comparable figures for 1951.

At 25th September, 1956, weekly National Assistance allowances were being paid to about 911,000 retirement pensioners and about 153,000 non-contributory old-age pensioners. The corresponding figures for the same date in 1951 were 750,000 and 114,000. Some of the allowances provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner.

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the weekly contribution paid by men in 1948, 1951, 1952 and in 1954; what was the

The ordinary weekly contribution rates for men under the National Insurance Acts of 1946, 1951, 1952 and 1954, together with the related Exchequer supplements, are set out in the following table:—

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how far the proposed development of rural electricity has been curtailed in North-East Suffolk; and how far this curtailment of projected schemes compares with the general halt in development in the country as a whole.

There has been no general halt in the development of rural electricity in England and Wales as a whole. The progress in individual areas is a matter for the electricity boards themselves.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements he has made to ensure adequate supplies until 17th December of petrol for London taxi-cabs.

I have no reason to believe that supplies are likely to be less adequate for London taxi-cabs than for other users.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he proposes to introduce a special scheme of supplementary petrol allowances for bona fide commercial travellers.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will, in accordance with precedent, introduce a scheme of supplementary petrol allowances for commercial travellers; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the treatment allocated to pleasure motorists in the petrol rationing scheme, why such severe limitations have been put on those who have to run the nation's business; and, in view of the gravity of the situation for commercial travellers and those running a wide variety of small businesses, if he will take action to satisfy their needs.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why he has issued instructions that commercial travellers are to be allocated, apart from the basic ration, a maximum of 2½ gallons a month for cars under 7 horsepower, 3 gallons for 8 to 9 horsepower, 4 gallons for 10 to 13 horsepower, 5 gallons for 14 to 19 horsepower, and 6 gallons for 20 horsepower and over; if he is aware that most commercial travellers using cars for their work will be unable to continue operating; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will accede to the request of the United Commercial Travellers' Association for a special commercial traveller's supplementary petrol allowance, as was granted in 1949.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he will introduce a scheme for supplementary petrol allowances for bona fide commercial travellers, in view of their importance to the economic life of the country and the fact that their livelihood depends upon travelling.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that many bona fide commercial travellers will be driven out of business unless they can obtain a supplementary petrol allowance; and if he will consider granting them an extra allowance similar to that which operated under the last petrol-rationing scheme from 1940–50.

Because of the extent of the petrol shortage I regret that the basic ration and the business supplementary allowance combined will not allow many commercial travellers to travel as freely as they would wish. But firms who employ travellers will be at liberty to devote as much as they think fit of their supplementary allowance to meet the requirements of their travellers; and I can promise that special consideration will be given to the needs of self-employed travellers whose livelihood would otherwise be threatened.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to give specially sympathetic consideration as regards petrol rationing to persons who use motor vehicles on account of severe disabilities.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to grant an extra supplementary ration of petrol to all disabled persons who use invalid motor vehicles, and who are unable to use public transport.

Yes, Sir. My regional petroleum officers have been so instructed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the special difficulties of persons who have to travel in rural areas; and if he will make special provision for them in the rationing of petrol.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the dissatisfaction which has become apparent in rural areas, whether he will now consider reallocating our available supplies of petrol by reducing the basic ration and increasing supplementary allowances; and if he will base his estimates of supplementary requirements, for necessary purposes, upon the experience of our previous petrol rationing scheme in which the basic ration was smaller but the supplementary allowance was directly related to essential requirements however large or small.

The difficulties of persons in rural areas were taken into account in deciding the level of the basic ration, which is intended to cover essential journeys that cannot be made by public transport. Special provision for persons in rural areas as a class is not practicable, but my regional petroleum officers will consider special supplementary allowances where the individual would otherwise be threatened with loss of livelihood or other severe hardship.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what records are maintained by his Department of all types of supplementary allowances of petrol which were considered necessary during the war; and how far such records have been taken into consideration in formulating present policy.

Adequate records of the operation of the previous rationing scheme have been maintained by my Department and they were naturally taken fully into consideration in formulating the present one.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take steps to ensure that no petrol is made available to vehicle owners who do not renew their licences on 1st January, 1957.

Any vehicle owner who fails to return unused coupons when his vehicle ceases to be licensed will be in breach of the law.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the serious situation that has developed in regard to petrol supplies; and if he will therefore bring forward the date for the introduction of petrol rationing.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will introduce petrol rationing at an earlier date than 17th December, because of the difficulties which cars and lorries engaged on important services are experiencing in obtaining supplies.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the breakdown in petrol supplies in many areas; and, in view of the need for orderly distribution of limited supplies, if he will bring forward the date for the commencement of petrol rationing.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the great difficulty in obtaining petrol for essential journeys in rural areas, if he will exercise immediate controls.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the unfairness in the present system of distributing available petrol supplies, and of the difficulty which is now being experienced in obtaining petrol for essential business purposes, he will advance the date of organised official petrol rationing.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will introduce petrol rationing at an earlier date than he has yet announced in view of the need to distribute available supplies in a more equitable way than is now the case.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the position which has arisen because of the absence of petrol supplies for firms delivering foodstuffs to their customers; and whether he will bring forward the date for introducing the petrol rationing scheme to improve the situation.

The 17th December is the earliest possible date on which petrol rationing can be introduced without causing difficulties far greater than those now being experienced. Some inconvenience was to be expected as a result of the present restrictions on supplies to garages, but I have no reason to suppose that essential journeys have been restricted.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that many garages and petrol stations have been unable to obtain nine-tenths of their 1955 petrol supplies, in accordance with his arrangements; and what he proposes to do to make sure that every petrol station has its fair share of supplies for the commencement of petrol rationing.

No. The companies assure me that in almost every case they have maintained a 90 per cent. delivery to garages since 7th November. The oil companies will deliver to every dealer over the period 1st to 16th December 90 per cent. of his normal allocation for that period, plus a supplement equal to three days' supply to provide a buffer stock for the start of rationing.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to introduce a supplementary petrol allowance scheme for driving schools to enable them to continue teaching doctors and nurses who are still under instruction.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. du Cann) on Monday, 26th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now in a position to state whether he has approved representations from the Gas Council, more particularly on behalf of the Northwestern Gas Board, which would enable them to pay increased pensions to a small number of old retired servants in line with the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956.

No. I am still considering these proposals and shall give my decision with the least possible delay.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is satisfied that Her Majesty's Government's intention to cut supplies of diesel oil to industry by 20 per cent. on 1st January can be effected without causing serious unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the country's oil prospects.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on Monday. 26th November last.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take steps to encourage the buying of oil from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in view of the damage being sustained by industry, trade and commerce through shortages of oil.

The British oil companies were informed some time ago that there was no objection to their purchasing supplies on commercial terms from the U.S.S.R. A number of small scale commercial offers have been received and accepted. Such offers are usually made on an f.o.b. basis at Black Sea ports.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps have been taken by his Department to promote the purchase of oil from other sources, in view of the disruption of our supplies of oil from the Middle East.

Every effort is being made to supplement the supplies of oil arriving in this country from the Middle East via the Cape. The British oil companies are collaborating fully in this effort, and have already succeeded in obtaining additional supplies from Western Hemisphere sources and elsewhere. These efforts will, of course, be much assisted by the prospects of full cooperation by the American authorities and oil companies following the recent official statement from Washington.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the run on petrol supplies is causing difficulty to firms delivering essential foodstuffs from shops to customers particularly in rural areas; and whether he will make a statement on Government policy on this matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that many food merchants and retailers are unable to get enough petrol and diesel oil to maintain their food distribution services; and whether he will arrange for them to have priority in supplies during the next two weeks, before rationing begins.

Under a flat rate cut of 10 per cent., there is bound to be some contraction in retail delivery services, but in the letter I sent to every garage about the cut on 7th November, I indicated certain priorities to be observed, one of which was wholesale food collection and distribution. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is aware of no case where the cut of 10 per cent. has resulted in customers being unable to get food.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give figures to show the extent to which coal traffic is being switched to rail or canal in order to save petrol in road transport.

Detailed figures are not yet available, but I am informed that a useful beginning has been made in switching coal traffic from road to rail wherever practicable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what estimate he has made of the extra demand on coal supplies likely to be brought about by the restriction of oil imports.

About two million tons this winter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power by how much he estimates imports of coal will need to be stepped up in view of reduced oil imports; from what source he anticipates the coal can be obtained; what additional supplies will be forthcoming from sterling areas; and what impact the shortage of shipping will have on the situation.

The import arrangements already made and the coal in stock should suffice to see us through this winter despite restrictions in oil supplies. It is too early for me to comment on the possible source and cost of transport of the coal we shall need to import in preparation for the winter of 1957–58.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the figures showing death from leukaemia each year since 1945; and what percentage increase this shows over 1938.