asked the Minister of Works when he estimates that the new Borough employment exchange will be built; and whether the more centralised location originally chosen for this purpose is to be used.

It had been hoped that a building on the Keyworth Street site to house the new Borough employment exchange might be started at the end of 1958 and finished in 1960. In view of the nature of the development planned in the neighbourhood, I am giving further consideration to this matter.

I appreciate the information which the right hon. Gentleman has given to me, but I hope that something can be done fairly soon. The old exchange is very inconvenient and is a long way from the real centre of the borough. If the right hon. Gentleman could manage to get it built so that I could lay the foundation stone before I leave this House, I should be glad.

Nothing would give me more satisfaction than that the right hon. Gentleman should lay the foundation stone. Perhaps we could have a talk about the matter.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the bad condition of the footpaths leading through the Coalbrookdale Gates in Hyde Park; and whether he will take action to repair and maintain them.

I agree that one of the footpaths needs repair, and I will have this done.

Has the Minister noticed that these footpaths are used by equestrians as well as by pedestrians, with the result that they are sometimes too dirty for pedestrians to use? As a number of nursemaids and children use these paths, could not the right hon. Gentleman allocate paths for horses and leave these pedestrian footpaths for pedestrians?

We considered the matter of opening the gates, and the decision was against doing so. I will look at the matter again, but perhaps the simpler solution would be for the equestrians not to use the footpaths.

asked the Minister of Works when the scaffolding was erected around Big Ben Tower; when the repairs were completed; how much per week the hire has cost; and what will be the cost of removal.

The scaffold was erected between January and June, 1955, and the repairs were completed in February, 1957. The scaffold is the Ministry's property, but the hoist was hired at a cost of about £21 a week. The cost of removal of the scaffold will be about £1,600.

May I ask my hon. Friend why the scaffolding was not removed immediately the work was completed?

The scaffolding is now about to be removed, which is as soon as the work has been completed.

asked the Minister of Works what has been the cost of repairing Big Ben and the tower; when the work was last carried out; and at what cost.

asked the Minister of Works how far the actual cost of repairs to the Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament exceeds the original estimate.

The cost of repairing Big Ben and the Clock Tower was originally estimated at £40,000. It was not, however, possible to make an inspection and assess the full extent of war damage and general wear until the scaffolding had been erected. The final cost will exceed the original estimate by £26,000. General repairs to the Tower on this scale have not been undertaken since it was built. The bells were repaired in 1934 at a cost of £300, but the cast iron roof has not been painted since 1878.

Does not this vast expenditure of £66,000, instead of £40,000, make Big Ben the most expensive clock in the world? Whilst appreciating that time is precious, will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that we could have built fifty houses for the cost of this one job?

It is essential work. Big Ben had to withstand the bombing and nothing has been done since then. If these repairs had not been done now it would have meant a considerably bigger bill later, unless, of course, we had allowed the Tower and Big Ben to fall down. I do not believe the hon. Gentleman thinks that Big Ben is not worth £66,000 to the country.

Does not my hon. Friend think that, in spite of the expenditure of £66,000, the prestige of this Palace and this great city of London is very much enhanced by having Big Ben and the Tower?

I agree with my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether any decision has yet been reached on the establishment of a Central Mineral Processing Laboratory.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he will make a further statement on the proposed Central Mineral Processing Laboratory.

Discussions between the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the principal scientific and industrial interests concerned are continuing.

Will my hon. Friend keep in mind the increasing importance of new metals for nuclear power applications?

My noble Friend is very well aware of our increasing dependence, on low-grade and complex ore deposits, and we realise that the extraction of useful constituents from what we have in this country must go on. I can assure my hon. Friend that that will remain a high priority with my noble Friend.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary remember that I had a previous reply similar to this one? Would he do his best to expedite the discussions and ensure that we can take some effective action?

Yes, Sir, but the hon. Gentleman will remember that the new Research Council for the D.S.I.R. was established under the Bill which was introduced and passed only last year, and the Question on the Order Paper today is only one of the many problems which it has been looking at since it has been reformed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what work is carried out by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on a repayment basis for overseas countries.

Work is carried out on repayment for Commonwealth and colonial countries on conditions similar to those applying to anyone in the United Kingdom wanting a similar service. This work is mostly testing of materials or machines. In addition, long-term research for the Colonies is carried out at the Building Research Station, the Road Research Laboratory, and the Pest Infestation Laboratory; the cost of this is paid by the Colonial Office. A small amount of work is carried out for other overseas countries on repayment but only where it is likely to be of some commercial or public interest to the United Kingdom.

What is the criteria in the decision on what work shall be undertaken?

Work is undertaken for other overseas territories only when it is likely to be of some interest to the United Kingdom; when, for example, it can assist British exports or is desirable for public safety or public health.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what degree of combining for research exists between agencies of the Department of Scientific Research and similar research bodies in the United States of America and Canada.

There is close and constant interchange of information between the D.S.I.R. and research bodies in U.S.A. and Canada, facilitated by the United Kingdom Scientific Mission in Washington. This exchange is by correspondence, exchange of reports, visits by senior staff, discussion at conferences and, on occasion, temporary exchange of scientists. In a few suitable instances joint research projects are arranged.

How frequent are the interchanges and what kinds of topics have been found to be of joint interest?

So far there has been collaboration on the measurement of radio atmospheric noise, standardisation in radiology, standardisation of screw threads, and testing of the fire resistance of pre-stressed concrete beams. These are the matters that have been under discussion so far, but there are others which have not been continued because the conditions in various countries differ, and we have continued with the research and collaboration only where it is of particular interest to this country.

Have there been any difficulties about security in the course of the joint activities?

I think I should require notice of that question.

Do we get as much as we give, and is there any restriction on what can be given to us in exchange for what we give?

I think that we have our fair share of any fruits that grow out of this collaboration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will give details of the five projects on aspects of building practice on which the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are collaborating with the Office of European Economic Co-operation; and to what extent in any of these fields common practice in the industry in the United Kingdom lags behind what our experts are advocating abroad.

In reply to the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question on 12th February, I named the five projects on which the D.S.I.R. is collaborating with O.E.E.C.

I shall read the particulars with interest, but in the meantime can my hon. Friend tell me how the information is collected?

My hon. Friend will see, when he reads the Written Answer, that, apart from modular co-ordination, the other projects are concerned with the collection of information by individuals. In each case a report will be prepared by the individual and it will be published.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what definite conclusions have been reached on any of the five aspects of building practice under consideration by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in co-operation with the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation; and what is being done to keep our own builders informed of the recommendations of these various committees.

No definite conclusions have yet been reached on the five projects. It is expected that reports will be published in due course. The information obtained by the Building Research Station in working on these projects will be made freely available to the building industry in this country in publications and lectures.

Can my hon. Friend tell me what kind of distribution these reports will have?

The researches are published by O.E.E.C. and by the Building Research Station under the control of the D.S.I.R. Their results are circulated throughout the United Kingdom, either through journals or by lectures. This work is often undertaken in collaboration with Ministry of Works' staff.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what research activities are being carried on in co-operation with the Organisation for European Eeconomic Co-operation.

The reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 12th February covers all the research activities which the D.S.I.R. is carrying out in co-operation with the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

As this is a very fruitful field of European co-operation, will the Parliamentary Secretary do his best to encourage the expansion of these research activities?

Certainly, Sir. Since 1953 several hundred projects have been studied by the European Productivity -Agency of the O.E.E.C., and that will continue.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether, in view of the importance of rare metals for nuclear power applications, the Government is satisfied that sufficient is known of our own native deposits; and what steps have been taken to see that the best use is made of these resources.

We can never be satisfied that we have sufficient knowledge of such matters. However, geological and geophysical investigations of mineral resources in the United Kingdom for nuclear power application have been in progress for a number of years and are still being carried out by the Geological Survey of Great Britain in association with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Can my hon. Friend say whether we can hope in the future to have any home-produced uranium or thorium?

There are no natural resources of thorium in the United Kingdom and at the moment there is no extraction of uranium ore in the United Kingdom. I understand that there are small deposits in the West of England, in parts of Cornwall and in some parts of Devon, but the yield from those sources, as far as we have been able to establish so far, would not warrant the expense of setting up all the paraphernalia for extraction.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary inform us to what extent North Wales in particular has been prospected for uranium, and with what results?

The Geological Survey covers the whole of the United Kingdom. I have no knowledge at present that any of these rare metals have been discovered in any part of Wales, but now that the hon. Gentleman has put the question. I will certainly follow it up with the officials.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been made regarding the National Scientific Reference and Lending Library projects.

As regards the Lending Library, the D.S.I.R. has now formed a unit to implement the project. The unit concerned will move into temporary accommodation in London early in April and a start has been made on the collection of foreign scientific and technological literature. At a later stage we hope that full Lending Library facilities will develop.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the names of those who have been invited or are being invited to attend the unveiling of the Dunkirk War Memorial in June; and whether they will have to pay their own expenses, or whether this will be done by the Government.

These names have not yet been decided upon. Official representatives nominated by the three Services and the Merchant Navy will have their expenses paid by the sponsoring Departments. Special arrangements for cheap fares are being made by the Imperial War Graves Commission for relatives and regimental representatives attending the unveiling.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but will he realise that it will bring cold comfort to the Far Eastern ex-prisoners of war, whose simple request to he allowed to send one representative to represent officially the relatives and survivors at the unveiling of the Singapore War Memorial was refused, as a result of which ten women representatives struggled out at their own expense, in direct contrast to the contingent of Australian sponsored relatives, all of whose expenses were paid? Also will my right hon. Friend realise that there is a great deal of feeling about this, both here and in Singapore, and will he try to repay the out-of-pocket expenses of these unfortunate women?

I certainly have sympathy with what my hon. and gallant Friend says, but our general rule is that public funds should not be used to pay for the attendance of representatives unless at the same time we can make arrangements for relatives to attend.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that I have had letters from Singapore referring to the very inept and unsympathetic handling of this matter of the unveiling of the Singapore War Memorial, particularly the fact that each of these ten women, with one of whom I have been talking today, is at least £100 to £150 out of pocket as a result of the fact that no arrangements were made for them, whereas the Australian Government made appropriate arrangements and sponsored and paid for the whole of the Australian party?

I have just told my hon. and gallant Friend what the general rule is. If he cares to send me particulars, I will naturally consider the matter.

As this is a very important and historic occasion, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter? Can he say what the expense would be? If it is not substantial, could not the Government and the country afford it?

My hon. and gallant Friend was talking about the unveiling at Singapore. I think that the right hon. Gentleman is talking about Dunkirk. The Question is about Dunkirk. I have said that representatives of the three Services and the Merchant Navy are going and special arrangements are being made for cheap fares for relatives to go there.

When the Taukkyan Cemetery, just outside Rangoon, is un-veiled in the spring of next year, will my right hon. Friend try to be at least as generous in helping guests as he is being over Dunkirk?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for War as nearly 8 million surplus safety razor blades have been sold at public auction sales at an average price of eight blades a penny, what opportunity was given for the troops to purchase them before being offered at public auctions.

None, Sir. Following rulings by the Public Accounts Committee, that the sale of surplus Government stores should be by open competition, it is a general rule that surplus stores are not sold to troops.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that these blades could have been sold before they became surplus stores? Will he explain why, if these razor blades were bought during the war, they have had to be kept until 1957? Could they not have been sold to the troops without becoming surplus stores? That is the complaint.

The hon. Gentleman should know that all these blades were bought during the war. The decision to render them surplus stores was taken in 1955. Why decisions were not taken earlier than that is something for which I am not accountable. This is a case of better late than never.

Is it not a fact that this accumulation of razor blades was there in 1945, and there in 1951—the same razor blades? Is not the guilty man the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell)? Why does he not get up and tell us?

I want to ask the right hon. Gentleman two simple questions. Is it not true that the bulk of these razor blades were purchased during the war? Would he send a selection of these surplus blades to the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) so that he might shave his moustache?

My hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) is quite correct; most of these blades were bought during the war. I hesitate to send a selection of them to my hon. Friend, because they are of a quality rather inferior to that of razor blades manufactured in 1957.

What about the loss to the taxpayer? Does nobody care about that?

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the recently amended National Service Regulations permitting the postponement of call-up in the case of a man who has a relative physically dependent on him, or who is the mainstay of an orphaned family or of a widow with a child or children to look after, or a man living alone with a widowed mother; and whether National Service men at present serving in the Army will be allowed to apply for postponement of further service in such cases of exceptional hardship.

Broadly speaking, grounds which would justify the postponement of call-up for National Service would justify the release on compassionate grounds of a National Service man who was already carrying out his National Service. I can assure the hon. Member that any application of the kind he has in mind will be sympathetically considered.

While thanking the Minister for what is a most important Answer, may I ask him whether he does not think that there must be many men in the Services in these conditions of exceptional hardship who are unaware of these new concessions? Can he bring them to their attention in every unit?

I think that the hon. Member's Question will give great publicity to this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to alter the system of accounting in the Army.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind a recent article in the Press which deals largely with the application of the general system of Parliamentary control of Army expenditure. Within the limits of constitutional requirements laid down to satisfy the control by Parliament, we are constantly seeking to improve our methods.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is not the application of the present system which I have in mind, but whether or not the whole system could be altered? Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that no system can be said to be utterly efficient which has as its basic assumption, as the present system has, that every officer and man in the British Army is by nature a liar and a crook?

I have considerable sympathy with what my hon. Friend says, but we are bound to a large degree by the fact that we are accountable to Parliament. We are trying to work out ways and means by which we can improve present methods while at the same time keeping proper Parliamentary control.

Will the Secretary of State not say that he was impressed by that article in The Times? Will he not agree that if legislation is necessary, the House will almost certainly look on it with a very favourable eye, because it seems that considerable savings could be effected in this way?

I have great sympathy with what my hon. Friend and the right hon. Gentleman have said about legislation. I can make no prophecy. We are working on this matter. Having been on the receiving end myself, I have considerable sympathy with what has been said.

Is there not another aspect of the question, namely the accounting methods of the Royal Army Pay Corps? Would the right hon. Gentleman try to get advice from up-to-date business firms? Was not the Hollerith system, which is now used in the War Office, introduced by an up-to-date adjutant-general who called in business consultants to advise him?

I think that the right hon. Gentleman will be aware that we hope to make considerable improvements in the Royal Army Pay Corps, for instance, by introducing electronic methods, within a reasonably short period of time.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many lorries and how many civilian drivers are on the establishment of a bomb disposal unit, Royal Engineers, Broadbridge Heath; and how many jobs per week these lorries have had over the past six weeks.

Forty-three vehicles; 43 civilian drivers; an average of 200 jobs a week.

Will my hon. Friend be surprised if I tell him that there is a feeling in the neighbourhood that practically no work of that nature has been carried out over the past six years? Will he receive from me a letter on the subject, because I cannot understand the information which he has given to me?

I will gladly receive any communication from my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War what system exists at Headquarters, Bomb Disposal Unit, Royal Engineers, Broadbridge Heath, for checking the use of petrol; and to what extent that unit is empowered to lend out its equipment for use on neighbouring farms.

The normal Army procedure for checking the use of petrol applies. This unit has no power to lend equipment except when giving assistance to non-profit making concerns or civil authorities in accordance with clearly laid down rules.

Does my hon. Friend appreciate, in view of these three Questions, that there is a good deal of local concern about this unit and a great deal of feeling that the unit is extremely expensive and not performing its functions? Will he go more carefully into the matter?

I will await my hon. Friend's communication on this matter. Meanwhile, I cannot be regarded as confirming what he has just said.

asked the Secretary of State for War what period of time was taken and what was the cost to public funds for removing an unexploded aircraft shell from the Shell-Mex factory, Stanford-le-House, near Southend.

The task of removing this shell was spread over twenty months and the estimated cost of running plant and providing materials was about £3,800. About £1,800 worth of the material used can be recovered.

Does not my hon. Friend think that it is a scandal that it takes twenty months to lift an aircraft shell from the Shell-Mex factory? Would he look into the matter to see whether the few remaining similar unexploded bombs and shells can be removed at a cheaper rate?

I have looked into the matter very carefully. It was thought that the projectile in question was a 250 lb. bomb which was situated between five and six feet from a railway serving Shell-Mex Refinery. In the circum-cumstances, we thought it essential to secure removal of the projectile.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will authorise regiments to buy and retain for use by their bands the stocks of their full dress uniforms now held by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.

The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes do not hold stocks of full dress uniforms.

Can my hon. Friend state where their stocks are now held, and what is the procedure for a regiment which wants to obtain a uniform for its band?

Some stocks—they are very small stocks—are held by ordnance depots, and they can lend uniforms for special occasions, such as tattoos or historical displays. As a general principle, full dress is obsolete, except for the Household Brigade and the King's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to permit the wearing of walking-out dress of a pattern or colour more distinctive of regimental traditions than No. 1 dress.

No. 1 dress was chosen as the most suitable walking-out dress after very careful consideration. In addition to their cap and collar badge and buttons, most regiments already have some distinctive features in their No. I dress uniform, such as the colour of their caps, trousers, piping or trouser stripes.

May I ask my hon. Friend not to be inhibited by the amount of ladies' underclothing which he has in stock from dressing the men decently? Does not he agree that this No. 1 dress is both dowdy and dull and is no help to recruitment? If, as I hope he will, he dresses the infantry of the line and other units in scarlet, will he remember that the place to buy the cloth is in my constituency, at Stroud and Cam?

I thought that my hon. Friend probably had some ulterior motive in asking that supplementary question. I do not accept his implication that the No. 1 dress is either dowdy or dull. I personally think that it is a smart walking-out uniform.

Is not the provision of No. 1 dress the important question?

Very large quantities of the No. 1 dress have been issued.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that when I last went to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst I was informed that the general view of the No. 1 dress was that it looked like that of an overripe bus conductor?

I think that the smartness of any uniform is open to debate, and this is no exception to the rule.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now prepared to release all ex-miners who undertake to return to the coal industry.

No, Sir. There are already safeguards to prevent men actually working in the mines from being called into the Army against their will.

Is the Minister not aware that many miners are anxious to go back to the mines now? Does not he agree that a willing miner is worth more to the country than an unwilling soldier?

Yes, but I think that the hon. Member knows that men who are employed in the mines are not called up against their will, but ex-miners—those who have left the pits—do not enjoy that immunity. If a man is in the Services he must complete the Regular engagement or period of National Service that he has undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement concerning current stocks of Women's Royal Army Corps, ex-Auxiliary Territorial Service, outer and underclothing.

War reserves of women's clothing were up to 1955, held on a basis settled in 1950. Those of outer clothing have now been reduced and those of underclothing abolished. When stocks have dropped to normal levels, there will be between six and twelve months' requirements for maintenance purposes in addition to war reserves of outer clothing.

Has my right hon. Friend seen the recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General to the effect that this W.R.A.C. clothing represents twenty-years' peace-time stocks? Is it not a fact that the war-time establishment of the W.R.A.C. would probably be about twenty times the peace-time establishment? In those circumstances do not these stocks represent about one year's supply in the event of a major war? Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that there has been no wastage of the taxpayers' money in this regard?

My hon. Friend is quite correct. It is calculated that on the outbreak of war there would be sufficient reserves on the old basis for rather under a year's supply. We are having a look at the whole question of war reserves, however, and it is our intention to run them down.

Can the Minister say whether this decision to deprive the women's services of their underclothes is part of his recruiting campaign?

We have given these ladies the right to buy the underclothes that they themselves want.

I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for his having altered the method of allocation of underclothing to the W.R.A.C. last year, but what does he now propose to do with the stocks?

I have just explained to the hon. Member that we intend to get rid of everything that we do not need.

How'?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement concerning the light Army truck, development and stocks of which have cost £14 million plus £2,400,000 for the initial supply of spares, as referred to in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Army Appropriation Account, 1955–56; what part of this £16,400,000 total expenditure referred to occurred during the period 1945–51; and what steps he now proposes to take, both in regard to this matter, and the prevention of similar wastage and inefficiency in the future.

Of the total of £16,400,000 only about £20,000 was charged to Army Votes during the period 1945–51, but, as stated by the Comptroller and Auditor General in paragraph 27 of his Report, the production order covering the whole sum was placed in 1950. Large numbers of these vehicles, which were built to a very exact specification, are giving good service in the Army, but partly for reasons of economy and partly due to our changing requirements we are proposing to concentrate on a general service range of vehicles which will need the minimum of modification to make them suitable for Army use.

Is it not a fact that once again the Comptroller and Auditor General's report is of a censorious character in this regard, in exactly the same way as it was with regard to the alleged surplus stocks of women's clothing in the Army? What does my right hon. Friend propose to do in order to see that the true facts of the situation are put before the British public, and that there is not this persistent suggestion that taxpayers' money is being wasted by his Department?

I think that my hon. Friend and I are doing very well in that context. I would point out that 12,000 of these vehicles are in use. They are a first-class job, but they are more expensive than we can afford.

A very good answer.

Does not the Minister of Information know anything about this? Could not he tell the hon. Member for Kidderminster what the true facts are, namely, that there is a lot of waste which cannot be disguised?

I do not see the point of the hon. Member's supplementary question.

Quite irrelevant.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he has taken to investigate the evidence given recently to Warwick magistrates by a civilian employee of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, stating that Army stores at Budbrooke Barracks had been wasted on a prodigious scale, that bonfires had been made of clothing, physical training vests used as polishing rags, shoe and clothes brushes, also used plimsolls, used for barrack fires, and other similar allegations; and, having regard to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Army Appropriation Account, 1955–56, what steps he now proposes to take to secure proper economy and efficiency in the purchase of Army stores, and prevention of future extravagance, inefficiency and waste.

About 80 worn-out brushes, 20 pairs of old plimsolls, one pair of leather gloves, a leather jerkin and a few other unserviceable items of clothing were recently destroyed at this barracks. In addition, 11 worn-out physical training vests were sent to salvage. All these articles were worn-out and were properly disposed of. I am satisfied that reports which appeared in the Press were much exaggerated. We are keeping our purchasing procedures under constant review.

Will my right hon. Friend confirm, first, that the regimental officers at Warwick are entirely exonerated from all blame in this matter and that the imputations made in many Press reports are totally false? Secondly, will he confirm that the civilian employee of his Department who was prosecuted for theft was found guilty, and that no importance whatever should be attached to the entirely false and irrelevant evidence that this man gave before the magistrates at Warwick?

In answer to the two questions put to me by my hon. Friend, I should certainly like to say that the Army officers are exonerated of any imputation which might have appeared from the Press reports. Secondly, it is true that in this case the civilian was found guilty.

But why should old clothing be burnt? Are there no rag and bone merchants in Warwick?

Where they are of any use for salvage they are sent for salvage.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the allegations in this case arose in connection with a military depot in my constituency; that there is not the slightest truth in them, and that they arose only out of the evidence given by a man who was subsequently convicted of the criminal offence with which he was charged?

I am very grateful for what my hon. Friend has said.

An altogether very satisfactory series of replies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet disposed of the 8,000 tanks and other vehicles situated between Doncaster and Selby.

Since the right hon. Gentleman asked a similar Question about this depot on 12th February, 600 wheeled vehicles have been disposed of and the sale of 400 more is beginning this month. One thousand eight hundred tanks and other fighting vehicles are in the process of being sold or prepared for sale.

Can the Minister say whether the same maintenance staff is being retained there?

I will certainly look into that point. This ordnance depot was started by the right hon. Gentleman in 1948 or 1949. We cannot hope to close it in the immediate future, but we are running down large quantities of vehicles in the immediate future.

Can my right hon. Friend say what price he got for the vehicles being sold, and how much has been lost on them, compared with what they cost?

Without notice I cannot do that. If my hon. Friend will write to me I will try to obtain the information for him.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in the interests of economy, he will amend Queen's Regulations for the Army so as to include a provision similar to Regulation 1105 of Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions for the Royal Navy.

Supplies of razor blades should be adequate to avoid any need for the action suggested by the hon. Gentleman.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that if soldiers were allowed to wear beards, that might solve the problem of the 8 million razor blades? Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an explanation, a rational explanation, of why sailors should be allowed to wear beards when soldiers are not?

I think that the hon. Gentleman is suggesting the worst of both worlds to me. Unless I am careful I may find that I have to deal with a surplus of beards as well as a surplus of razor blades.

asked the Secretary of State for War what representations he has received concerning repeated delays in the arrival of both daily and Sunday newspapers in Cyprus; and what action he has taken.

My right hon. Friend has received no representations, but I understand that complaints have been received by the Services Central Book Depot. Both Service and civil supplies have recently been irregular because of the temporary withdrawal from service of the Viscount airliner. I understand that this aircraft is now fully operational and that delays have been overcome.

Yes, but is my hon. Friend aware that these delays and difficulties extended over a period of three to four vital weeks so far as the troops in Cyprus were concerned? Surely he can ensure that if a difficulty of this kind occurs in the future, emergency arrangements can be made?

As a regular reader of at least eight morning newspapers, I feel strong sympathy with my hon. Friend, but it would not be economic to have alternative aircraft standing by to deliver these newspapers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has held with the National Chamber of Trade in connection with proposals for British participation in European free trade; and if he will make a statement.

None, Sir, but if this body wishes to make representations on the matter, they will be considered.

In view of the fact that my right hon. and learned Friend has had consultations with the Federation of British Industries, the T.U.C. and other bodies, does not he think it would have been helpful had he consulted the National Chamber of Trade with its 500,000 members, who have a special knowledge of trade conditions in this country?

No, Sir. I do not think that the distributive trades have such an immediate interest in this matter as other bodies which my hon. Friend mentioned. I should remind my hon. Friend that no representations have been received either from the National Chamber of Trade or other important traders' organisations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the recent trade talks with the Spanish Government included a request for raising the Spanish restrictions on trade and traffic with Gibraltar.

Certain questions affecting supplies to Gibraltar were raised during the recent trade talks and the Spanish authorities have adjusted the exchange rate applicable to exports of fruit and vegetables over the land frontier into Gibraltar. As regards traffic between Spain and Gibraltar. I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs yesterday.

Is the Minister aware that there is a great deal of dismay in Gibraltar that their legitimate interests are being disregarded by the Government here when they embark on discussions with the Spanish Government? Will he bear in mind that Gibraltar, one of the most loyal of our Colonies, is very apprehensive about the way in which this Government appear to be making concessions to Spain at the expense of Gibraltar?

If there are feelings in Gibraltar such as the hon. Gentleman suggests. which I do not necessarily accept, they would be based on a misapprehension; for it is clear, from the result of the recent trade talks, that we do have the interests of Gibraltar very much in mind in these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the practice of overcharging on proportions of food over the 1 lb. mark on the scales does not constitute an offence on which to base a prosecution; and, in view of the constant complaints from weights and measures inspectors regarding this handicap to their work, if he will take steps to end this anomaly,

The representations which have been made to the Board of Trade by the county councils and inspectors in connection with the proposed new legislation on weights and measures have included comments on such malpractices. The Department has promised to consider these when preparing the Bill.

Without introducing the recommendations of the Hodgson Report, would the President consider making some regulation or amendment to make it a punishable offence to overcharge when the scales drop over the lb.?

That matter would be considered, but one must remember that weights and measures legislation is designed primarily to deal with weights and measures and not pricing.

When looking at this matter will the Minister realise that it is a question, to some extent, of definition? Is he aware that in Liverpool at the moment the question is being considered whether a Brazil nut is fresh fruit; that it is a question of definition, and certainly the legislation requires examining again?

I will consider the point which the hon. Lady has made.

Mrs. Mann. Question No. 41.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from county councils and inspectors of weights and measures regarding malpractices in weighing out butcher-meat, fish, and similar goods; and what reply he has sent.

I had intended to answer this Question and Question No. 40 together. I am sorry if I did not make that clear when I read out the Answer.

If they have both been answered together, may I revert to Question No. 40 for my supplementary question?

It is possible in certain circumstances for overcharging to be an offence when it is an act calculated to mislead as to the weight or measure. The provision is contained in Section 3 of the Sale of Food (Weights and Measures) Act. 1926.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what way the Association of Independent Cinemas is represented on the Cinematograph Films Council.

No trade association as such is represented but there are five representatives of exhibitors as required by the Act. Before the next appointments to the Council are made in October, 1957, the Association of Independent Cinemas will be consulted, along with all other representative bodies.

I thank my hon. Friend for indicating that the Association of Independent Cinemas will be consulted. May I ask him whether he does not think it right that an association which represents a very large number of small cinemas in this country should have some say in the deliberations of the Films Council generally? Would he not agree that these people should at any rate have a voice on this body?

I must inform by hon. Friend that two of the five representatives who are exhibitors are themselves concerned with small cinemas, so that I think the small cinemas are already properly represented.