asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount paid to the Potato Marketing Board in respect of the 1955 potato crop in connection with contracts with producers for the purchase of potatoes by the Board under the guarantee arrangements; and what proportion of this amount related to potatoes allowed to go to waste.

Approximately £375,000 net. Of this about three quarters relates to potatoes for which no sale could be effected and which were accordingly allowed to go to waste. The quantity of potatoes involved was less than one per cent. of the crop.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he contemplates in preparation for the coming potato season, in view of the report of the Potato Marketing Board for the year ended 30th June, 1956, which states that the Government's decision to allow imports last year was premature, that it prevented the Board from making any headway in the campaign to popularise the small potatoes which would have helped with the shortage, and that the shortage was probably no more than about two weeks' requirements for old crop in June.

I regret that I cannot accept the accuracy of these statements.As regards the timing of the decision on imports, the facts were as follows. The U.K. crop was about one million tons less than that of the previous crop year, at the end of which about 120,000 tons of imports had been admitted without fully satisfying the demand. There had been light crops in some important Continental countries, notably in Germany and Denmark. The Board's own census of stocks of potatoes on farms at 31st October showed a total of 600,000 tons less than at the same date in 1954. Retail prices in England and Wales were nearly twice as high as at the same date in the previous year—around 2s. for 7 lb. compared with 1s. 2d. in 1954.In these circumstances, the Government was satisfied that its responsibilities to consumers would not allow the admission of imports to be further postponed. In the four months up to the end of March, 1956, although about 150,000 tons of main crop potatoes were imported from Europe, growers' prices and retail prices continued to rise. These facts confirm that the Government's decision was right.As regards the small potatoes, the Government consulted the national associations of potato wholesalers, retailers and fish friers, who were, in the Government's view, in the best position to assess consumers' requirements. The unanimous advice of the distributive trades was that the housewife did not want and would not buy the small potatoes of between 1¼" and 1½ which the Potato Marketing Board was allowing to be sold for human consumption.As regards the third part of the Question, the Board's census of 1st January, 1956, showed that the total stock of ware potatoes at that date was about 520,000 tons less than on 1st January, 1955. In the middle of February the Board estimated that, after allowing for imports of 240,000 tons of main crop potatoes (including those from Northern Ireland) and 250,000 tons of new potatoes, supplies would be about 335,000 tons short of requirements for human consumption up to the end of June. This figure was very close to the Government's own estimate of the probable shortage in the previous November. On 25th April the Board issued a Press notice in which it estimated that, after allowing for total imports of main crop potatoes over the whole season of about 250,000 tons from Europe and Northern Ireland, supplies of old crop potatoes in Great Britain would be about 120,000 tons short of requirements for human consumption, equivalent to about two weeks' demand for old potatoes at the end of the season in June. On the basis of the Board's own estimates at this date, therefore, the total Shortage of domestic supplies in Great Britain over the whole season would have been about 370,000 tons. By the end of July about 250,000 tons of main crop potatoes imported from Europe had been sold for human consumption, and about 160,000 tons from Northern Ireland.The Board admits that the high prices ruling last April cut down the demand (growers' prices at the end of April had risen to about £35 a ton and retail prices were from 5d. to 6d. a lb.). Thus the shortage of domestic supplies in Great Britain must have been substantially over 400,000 tons. I find it impossible to reconcile these facts with the Board's statement that the shortage amounted to only about 120,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further steps he is taking to help the campaign against the return of the rabbit.

One of the difficulties which has been met in the campaign to control rabbits has been to secure the clearance of non-agricultural land outside the boundaries of existing farms. This land provides harbourage for rabbits, but the owners or occupiers would gain no economic benefit from its clearance. The existing grant of 50 per cent. for clearing scrubland does not provide an adequate incentive to voluntary action in such cases. I am therefore proposing to offer increased grants of up to 75 per cent. of the cost in this type of case. This will be in addition to the steps to which I referred in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 28th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what changes he proposes in the Consumers' Committee for Great Britain and the Committee of Investigation for Great Britain in view of the approval by Parliament of the Egg Marketing Scheme.

I consider that the present committees are fully suited to the performance of their duties in relation to the Egg Marketing Scheme, as to other marketing schemes, without any change in their composition.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an up-to-date list of the members of the Consumers' Committee and the Committee of Investigation under the Agriculture Marketing Acts.

There are three Consumers' Committees and three Committees of Investigation appointed under the Agricultural Marketing Acts, 1931 to 1949. Their membership is as follows:—

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will have further consultation with the National Farmers' Union before sending further advice to certifying officers as to the standards they should look for when certifying heifer calves; and if he will arrange local demonstrations in which farmers can participate.

The consultations with the N.F.U. to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Penrith and the Border (Mr. Whitelaw) on 22nd November have been concluded and agreement reached. In these circumstances, I do not think there is any present need for further demonstrations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will clarify his amended requirements for dairy bull licences as to what will be the basis of the test, or tests, for the minimum butterfat content as farmers are finding this somewhat difficult to understand.

One of the requirements for the new dairy bull licence introduced on 1st October, 1956, is that the dam and the sire's dam must each have attained in one lactation a prescribed minimum percentage of butterfat content. The actual percentage in any milk yield is calculated and supplied to the owner of the animal by the appropriate milk recording organisation and is based on the results of all the butterfat tests made by that organisation during the lactation period. A percentage based on fewer than five tests during the lactation period is not acceptable for the purpose of determining eligibility for the dairy bull licence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider making the calf-rearing subsidy payable at six months old on all calves of qualifying breeds.

This is done exceptionally with spring-born calves in hill areas which are customarily sold at the autumn sales; but in general eight months is the minimum age at which it can be decided whether a calf is likely to develop into a suitable animal for beef. I would therefore not be justified in making the change suggested.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will prepare a nation-wide plan to help keep down the number of rats on farms.

Local authorities are responsible for seeing that rats are kept down. Co-ordination is secured through regional and area committees and through a national joint standing consultative committee on which local authorities and other interests are represented.Good progress in rat control in country districts has been made. About one-third of the farms in England and Wales are now inspected each year as compared with about one-twentieth in 1950, and of those inspected the proportion found badly infested has decreased from 17 per cent. to 5 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will instruct county agricultural executive committees to urge on farmers the importance of applying for free testing of their cattle under the area eradication plan for tuberculosis, in view of the fact that, once a tuberculosis eradication area has been declared, cattle are tested compulsorily and all reactors removed and slaughtered.

In areas where free tuberculin tests are available, it is already the practice for the county agricultural executive committees and my officers to do everything possible to urge farmers to apply for free tests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decisions he has reached on the recommendations of the Food Standards Committee about the use of antioxidants in foods.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Health and I have considered the Committee's recommendations and representations from the interests concerned. Antioxidants are substances able to prevent or retard the onset of rancidity caused by the action of the air. My right hon. Friends and I have decided to accept, with minor changes, the revised recommendations in the Committee's Report of 31st August, 1954, and propose, therefore, to permit the use of these substances in certain foods only, namely in oils and fats, essential oils and butter used for manufacture. In these foods, and in compounded foods containing them as ingredients, the four antioxidants specified by the Committee will be allowed to be present within the limits indicated in the report.Details of the proposed Regulations, which will be introduced as soon as practicable, will shortly be circulated for consideration by the interests concerned.We will consider in a forthcoming review of the Labelling of Food Order, in connection with similar recommendations in respect of colours, the Committee's recommendation that the use of antioxidants in food should be disclosed to the purchaser.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on what date the combined communications exercise, held at the end of October, for the Cyprus area, was planned; and why it was not cancelled when the Israeli mobilisation took place on 26th October, when Her Majesty's Government became finally aware of the imminence of hostilities.

I have been asked to reply.The proposal to hold a combined communications exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean at the end of October was approved on 12th October. The news of the Israeli mobilisation was not considered to be a reason for cancelling the exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what improvements have been made in the retired pay for civil education officers, whose conditions of service provided for the payment on retirement on deferred pay, and who were granted temporary commissions in the Royal Air Force Education Branch on its formation in October, 1946; and what corresponding improvements have been for those who did not accept commissions, but who have continued to serve under the deferred pay scheme.

The officers referred to in the first part of the Question may now count both civil and commissioned service subsequent to 1st September, 1939, for retired pay under R.A.F. regulations. The rate of retired pay may be adjusted to take account of certain retirement benefits which the officers may already have received under civilian conditions of service. The retirement benefits of officers who remained on civilian terms of service are not affected.

asked the Attorney-General what consideration he has given to the representations made to him by the Marriage Law Reform Society against the proposed increase of the period between decree nisi and decree absolute from six weeks to three months; and what action he proposes to take.

I have brought the representations made by the Society to the notice of my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor. I am not yet in a position to say what action he proposes to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Europeans have settled in Nyasaland from the institution of federation until the latest convenient date.

I am consulting the Governor of Nyasaland and will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT such information on this question as may be the concern of the Territorial Government. Immigration into Nyasaland from outside the Central African Federation is the concern of the Federal Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that our defences and the Atlantic Alliance itself have been weakened not only by lack of consultation between governments but also by the lack of discussion of the full implications of our present defence strategy by Members of Parliament from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries; and whether, in these circumstances, he will propose the setting up of a consultative assembly of Members of Parliament of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.

At the recent North Atlantic Council meeting my right hon. and learned Friend suggested working towards a single Assembly which might concern itself with all forms of European and Atlantic co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by what authority instructions were given by his Department for bona fide ticket holders on the British Overseas Airways Corporation flight leaving London Airport at 10.15 a.m. on Thursday 15th November to give up their reservations to departing Egyptian diplomats.

I am informed by the British Overseas Airways Corporation that no aircraft of the Corporation left London Airport at 10.15 a.m. on Thursday, 15th November. The Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what petrol ration has been allocated to the Glamorgan County Council, the Cardiff Rural District Council, and the Cardiff City Council.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the allocation of petrol to the Glamorgan County Council for the use of its aldermen and councillors is so inadequate as to threaten the effective working of local government in the county; and whether he will increase this allocation.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will revise his scheme for allocating extra petrol to the Wiltshire County Council and base the allocation upon a percentage of the mileage travelled by members of the council during the past twelve months, in view of the inadequacy of the emergency reserve so far offered to the clerk of the council.

Local authorities have been provided with an allowance of coupons for issue to council members who cannot get to council and committee meetings by public transport. My regional petroleum officers have authority to review the allowance to meet cases of special difficulty.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power in what way new coupons for supplementary petrol differ from those in use when petrol rationing was last in force; and what action he is taking to prevent old coupons being used now.

All coupons currently in use with the exception of basic ration coupons for private cars and motor cycles are of the same design as those which were issued towards the and of the previous rationing scheme. Supplementary coupons issued for private cars and motor cycles in 1950 bore a printed validity date but those now being issued bear no date, the space being left blank; the period of validity of coupons is prescribed in the Motor Fuel (No. 3) Order. 1956. All other coupons issued by my regional petroleum officers bear, as before, the stamp of the issuing office showing the validity date.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the average petrol supplementary allocation per month for political agents in borough constituencies, constituencies with a prospective candidate, Members of Parliament and commercial travellers, respectively.

There is no fixed allowance for political agents, Members of Parliament or commercial travellers as such, nor is information available on the average supplementary allowances issued to individuals within those categories.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of Members of Parliament who, at the latest convenient date have not applied for a supplementary allocation of petrol for their parliamentary duties.

One hundred and ninety-seven.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that supplementary petrol allowances are being refused to people who wish to take their children to school owing to the distance they live from the nearest public transport; and if he will instruct his regional commissioners to give sympathetic consideration to such applications since, otherwise, the children will not be able to attend their schools, at any rate during the winter period.

I recognise that the basic ration may not allow sufficient mileage to avoid serious hardship in some cases, and I am prepared to give sympathetic consideration to these after the school holidays.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what improvements in coal production have accrued since the implementation of the Fleck Report.

The implementation of the recommendations of the Fleck Report is only one of the many factors affecting the level of coal production, which in 1956 is unlikely to be more than marginally greater than in 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that part of the Government funds provided for the relief of Hungarian refugees is used to provide a news service for them in Hungarian in view of the language difficulties involved.

The grant of £10,000 to the British Council for Aid to Refugees is a contribution towards the additional administrative expenses incurred by the Council in co-ordinating the work of voluntary societies concerned with the care and welfare of Hungarian refugees in this country. The voluntary societies are aware of the need for an adequate information service in the hostels where the refugees are accommodated and are doing what they can to meet it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received of Communist activity among Hungarian refugees at Chiseldon Camp, near Swindon; and what action he proposes to take.

The answer to the first part of the Question is none, and the second part therefore does not arise. I would, however, add that Her Majesty's Government will not tolerate any attempts at intimidation of, or interference with, refugees who enjoy the protection of this country, and would have no hesitation in taking appropriate action against anyone concerned in such attempts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the requests from the Public Health Department of Paddington Borough Council regarding repairs to Crown property controlled by his Department in Paddington in view of the fact that these requests would be enforceable by law if directed to a private citizen.

I am not aware of any outstanding requests from the Paddington Borough Council, but I shall be ready to consider any difficulty which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that in the course of the redevelopment scheme for Paddington Green Police Station involving the demolition of residential properties no tenants will be evicted without the offer of suitable alternative accommodation.

These properties have been acquired with a view to long-term development of the site for police purposes, and the need to demolish them is unlikely to arise for some years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of men who went to prison in 1955 for failing to pay their wives money due under maintenance orders; and why the 1956 Report of the Prison Commissioner did not include these figures.

In 1955, 3,053 men were received into prison for nonpayment of wife maintenance. The statistics given in the Prison Commissioners' Report for 1955 are those for 1954.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to be in a position to announce his new proposals for local government finance.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the interim statement on local government finance which I made yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give immediate attention to the quantitative limitation of imports and increased tariffs of horticultural produce, such as plums and plum pulp, summer lettuce, Spanish

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement concerning the basis of calculating equalisation grant which would take account of the remission of rate income required to be given to charities and other bodies under the Rating Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1955, which has affected certain local authorities and, with particular severity, the administrative county of Cambridge.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the interim statement on local government finance which I made yesterday, and to the provisions of the Rating and Valuation Bill which has been introduced today.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of invisible imports and exports from and to the United States of America for the years 1950 to the latest available date.

I have been asked to reply.It is not the practice for the United Kingdom Government to publish figures of this country's balance of payments with individual countries. The following figures have, however, been published by the U.S. Department of Commerce.tomatoes, and apples, to help home producers.

Decisions have been taken and announced over the last three years on applications for increased protective duties on a wide range of horticultural produce, and orders have been made increasing a number of these duties, including those on plums, plum pulp, lettuce and tomatoes. A similar application for an increase in the import duty on apples is still under consideration. Quantitative restrictions are imposed in order to safeguard the balance of payments and not for protective purposes.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions have been given to the General Officer Commanding British Forces in Egypt in regard to the military action to be taken against Egyptian military units who have broken and are breaking the cease-fire agreement.

I have been asked to reply.The Commander of our forces in Egypt is authorised to take whatever measures are necessary to safeguard their security.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to complete the withdrawal of British forces from Egypt while Second Lieutenant Moorhouse remains a kidnapped prisoner in Egyptian hands.

While we must maintain our undertaking to the United Nations to withdraw from Port Said, we shall not relax our efforts to secure the return of this officer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that Clayton Dewandre of Lincoln supply 90 per cent, of certain components used by the heavy vehicle manufacturers in this country; that they are seriously prejudiced by the allocation of petrol which has been granted to them and that unless their allocation is substantially increased they will soon have to go on a three-day week; and whether he will take immediate steps to increase their allocation of petrol.

I have delegated to my regional transport commissioners the task of issuing fuel rations to goods vehicles, and I have given them general instructions on how to deal with applications for supplementary rations. I regret that I am not prepared to go further and intervene in individual cases. The hon. Member will appreciate that so far the basic ration only has been issued.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether be is aware of the particular hardship and inconvenience which the need for petrol rationing will cause in isolated country districts with only a limited omnibus service or no omnibus service at all; and whether he will give a general direction to the British Transport Commission to arrange for more passenger trains to stop at local stations and halts during the emergency.

There is no need for a general direction because I know that the British Transport Commission are ready and willing to consider the possibility of doing what my hon. Friend has in mind where there is evidence of a substantial local need during the present emergency.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation how many men are employed on electricity works and road alignment at the junction of Shenley Hill and Watling Street, Radlett; what is the exact extent of the work being undertaken; and how long it is expected to take.

There are about eight men engaged on the road improvement works at the junction of the trunk road and Shenley Hill, Radlett. This is the completion of a scheme providing for a continuous footpath along the east side through the village. This remaining part of the scheme was deferred because of difficulty with land acquisition. The cost of the work now in progress is about £900, and it will be completed early in January.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the estimated yield for a full financial year of the hydrocarbon oil duties at a rate of tax of 2s. 6d. per gallon; and what the tax would work out per gallon if the estimated yield was spread over the whole field of users of such oils.

My right hon. Friend estimated at the time of his April Budget that the yield of the hydrocarbon oil duties at the rates then current (viz., 2s. 6d. a gallon for imported oils and 1s. 3d. a gallon for indigenous oils) would amount to £340 million in the present financial year. Spread over the total quantity of hydrocarbon oil delivered for use in this country at the level current before the recent restriction in supplies, this amount would represent about 1s. 3d. a gallon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the continuing need to encourage savings and new capital formation, the instructions given to the Capital Issues Committee in July, 1953, in respect of investment trusts and unit trusts still apply.

Yes.