asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, through the United Nations, he has any information about the release of the Indonesian Republican Government's leaders.

His Majesty's Government have had no report through the United Nations about the release of the Republican leaders since 9th February when they were reported to be still under detention.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any modifications in his instructions were sent to Sir Alexander Cadogan as a result of the New Delhi conference's proposals on Indonesia.

Sir Alexander Cadogan was instructed to vote for certain amendments to the American-sponsored resolution which were put forward as a result of the proposals made by the New Delhi conference. The resolution was adopted by the Security Council on 28th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why merchant shipping has been detained in Egyptian ports without justification; and What action he has taken.

Immediately after a state of siege was declared on 15th May last, the Egyptian Government issued a proclamation instituting a system of search of merchant shipping in Egyptian ports by virtue of which the authorities at Alexandria, Port Said and Suez seized goods destined for Palestine. Three days later a British ship carrying grain from Australia to the British authorities in Palestine under arrangements made by the Ministry of Food was refused clearance by the Egyptian authorities at Port Said. In protest against this action His Majesty's Ambassador at Cairo informed the Egyptian Government that His Majesty's Government could in no way recognise that the Egyptian Government were entitled to interfere in this manner with the free movement of British shipping.This interference with British shipping has continued however, and a number of British ships have recently been detained in Egyptian ports, but in all those cases which have been brought without delay to the attention either of His Majesty's Government or of His Majesty's Ambassador or Consular officers in Egypt the competent Egyptian authorities have responded to our representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why British owned ships have been taken into Algeciras and detained there by the Spanish authorities; and what action he has taken.

Four British-registered vessels have recently been detained by Spanish authorities in the neighbourhood of Algeciras on varying technical grounds and, I understand, on suspicion of smuggling. Inquiries have been made by His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires with a view to the immediate release of the vessels and their cargoes. Two of the vessels have already been released, while the cases of the remaining two are still sub judice in the Spanish courts. The hon. and gallant Member can rest assured that the interests of the British subjects concerned are being carefully watched.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will use his good offices with the Greek Government to enable Mr. R. P. Bartlett to obtain a visa to go to Athens to attend the trial of his son-in-law, Mr. Toni Ambatielios.

Although His Majesty's Government has no legal status in this matter, we had urged upon the Greek Government the desirability of facilitating the visit of Mr. Bartlett.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many members of the Foreign Broadcast Information Service of the United States Government are stationed in Cyprus; what is the nature of their employment there; who is responsible for their maintenance; and when they are expected to leave the island.

There are eight American members of the Foreign Broadcast Information Service of the United States Government and 22 other employees stationed in Cyprus; they are employed in the operation of the American Monitoring Station there; the United States Government are responsible for their maintenance. They will remain there as long as it is thought necessary to operate this station.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he corrected an error in S.I. 1948, No. 2837, by an undated slip instead of by an amending regulation; and if he will explain the effect of this alteration.

The mistake was a small printer's error, which was not detected in the final stages, in the heading of one of the forms annexed to the Registration of Births and Deaths (Consular Officers) Regulations, 1948. The text of the regulations themselves was not affected and correction by means of a corrigendum slip was the most practical and economical method of amending the error.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage farmers to subject their cattle to the ordinary system of tuberculin testing; what proportion of the dairy herds in England are so tested; and what steps he proposes to take to increase the number of cattle so classified.

Yes. Farmers are encouraged strongly in this direction both by advice and by the premium of 4d. a gallon paid on milk from herds that have successfully passed the tests. What proportion of such herds are dairy herds I cannot say exactly, but such herds provided over 21 per cent. of all milk sold off farms in England and Wales in the year ended September, 1948.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the figures of the number of store cattle imported from Eire during the last six months, compared with the similar period in 1947 and 1946; and whether any segregation arrangements are made for cattle which have passed tuberculin testing prior to embarkation provided consignments shipped are not subject to infection.

During the last six months 98,000 store cattle were landed in Great Britain direct from Eire, compared with 96,000 and 147,000 in the corresponding period (August—January) a year and two years ago, respectively. Under whatever conditions cattle which have passed a tuberculin test in Eire may be transported to attested farms in this country, they are required to be isolated on arrival at those farms pending official test not less than 60 days later.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what has been the increase in the number of calves reared for fattening as a result of the calf subsidy; and if he is satisfied with the result.

I cannot say how many extra calves have been reared solely for fattening as a result of the calf subsidy, but the number of calves under one year old in the United Kingdom increased between September, 1947, and September, 1948, by 147,000 steers and 222,000 heifers; all of the former and a proportion of the latter would be for fattening. I am satisfied that the subsidy has had a good effect in encouraging breeders to rear calves which would otherwise have been sent for slaughter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many smallholdings have been provided in Holland, Lincolnshire, during each of the last three years; and how many applications are outstanding.

Eighteen additional smallholdings were provided by the Lincolnshire (Holland) County Council in 1948 and none in the two previous years. The numbers of new tenants settled on smallholdings during each of the last three years were 61 in 1946, 62 in 1947 and 74 in 1948. There are 606 approved applications outstanding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much land the Forestry Commission propose to plant during 1949 in Wales, as a whole, and in the county of Merioneth, in particular; and how much of such land is now being used for food production.

In Wales as a whole the area being planted during the current season, which ends at about the middle of April, is 8,600 acres, of which 900 acres are in Merioneth. Some of this is now being used for food production. The proposed planting programme for the season October, 1949, to September, 1950, in Wales as a whole is 10,447 acres, of which 6,566 acres are at present tenanted. In Merioneth the planting programme is 1,521 acres, of which 1,408 acres are tenanted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a survey of land suitable for tree planting in Wales has been made by the Foresty Commission; what parts of Wales have been included in the survey; and what consultations take place with his agricultural advisers concerning the survey.

Surveys of land for tree planting have been carried out in parts of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire, and of bracken covered areas throughout Wales. Full consultations with officials of my Ministry take place at every stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) how many acres of woodland, of heath and of cultivated land there are on each of the suggested alternative sites for the new town situated on land belonging partly to the Crown Commissioners to the south of Bracknell;(2) how much of the woodland area on each of the suggested alternative sites for the new town situated on land belonging partly to the Crown Commissioners to the south of Bracknell is under the management of the Forestry Commission;(3) the acreage of the various age groups of trees, including the acreage of land without a proper crop of trees on each of the suggested alternative sites for the new town situated on land belonging partly to the Crown Commissioners to the south of Bracknell.

As I mentioned in my reply to him on 31st January, the areas suggested as alternative sites for the proposed new town have not been clearly defined. No definite boundaries have been suggested, and is it therefore impossible to give the hon. Member the information for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the large reduction in the orders for seed potatoes this year from British merchants for home planting; and what response there has been to the appeal from Agricultural Executive Committees to farmers asking them to grow sufficient to hit the target of 1,400,000 acres at an average yield of 7.1 tons per acre.

I am aware that deliveries of seed potatoes into England and Wales this year from the rest of the United Kingdom and Eire are some 12 per cent. less than at the same time last year. A recent inquiry of county agricultural executive committees indicates that according to farmers' present intentions the acreage planted with potatoes in England and Wales may fall short of the 1949 target by about 5 per cent. County committees are urging farmers to increase their potato acreage where necessary to make up this deficiency and also, in their own interests, to order their seed potatoes and accept delivery as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many head of store cattle were imported from Eire in January, 1948, and January, 1949, respectively.

The numbers imported into the United Kingdom in these two periods were 21,000 and 24,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many people are undergoing institutional training in agriculture at the present time under the Government schemes; and how many of these are aliens.

Two thousand, five hundred and eighty-two students with awards under the Further Education and Training Scheme are now taking university or college courses in agriculture, horticulture or veterinary science. Of these, 19 are aliens. There are also 775 persons undergoing training in agriculture or horticulture at farm institutes or training centres under the Vocational Training Scheme, but as the application forms are kept locally I could not say how many of this number may be aliens without considerable inquiry, which could not seem justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many pupils completed the 1947–48 training course at agricultural institutes, what records are kept as to their subsequent employment; and how many are engaged in the work of agricultural production.

About 790 students completed one-year courses at local education authority farm institutes during the year. No records are kept by my Department of the subsequent careers of those attending these courses and to obtain the information from the individual authorities would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort. I have no reason to think, however, that any of the students subsequently failed to obtain suitable work in agriculture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications for increases or reductions in the rents of agricultural tied cottages have been made to him since July, 1947; and how many increases or reductions have been agreed to.

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the provision of the Agricultural Wages Act, 1948, under which, when the employer of an agricultural worker provides a cottage as part-payment of wages at the minimum rates, the employer or the worker may apply to the county agricultural wages committee for the value of the cottage for that purpose to be increased or reduced from the 6s. standard laid down by the Agricultural Wages Board. From 31st August, 1947, to 31st December, 1948, the committees in England and Wales received 1,107 applications for increases and 1,060 applications for decreases. Committees agreed to higher valuations in 1,080 cases and to lower valuations in 575 cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many houses and flats respectively on the Crown Lands adjoining Regent's Park are at present uninhabitable as a result of enemy action; and how many from other causes.

One hundred and sixteen houses and 28 flats are uninhabitable, all of them as a result of enemy action. About two-thirds of the houses are so extensively damaged as to be incapable of repair, and in addition there are approximately 225 sites on which the houses have been completely demolished.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many houses and flats respectively are occupied on the Crown Lands adjoining Regents Park; and what is the total population in them.

There are about 1,750 occupied houses and flats let directly by the Commissioners of Crown Lands. In addition there are blocks held on lease comprising approximately 850 flats, and two sites leased to the Local Authorities on which 54 prefabricated houses have been erected. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why he is still basing the issue of pig and poultry feedingstuffs in some cases, upon the number of animals kept in 1939; and whether he will now consider a system where the ration has some relation to the number of stock kept at the time of application.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement I made on 20th July last introducing the new extended rationing scheme, when I fully explained why it would not be practicable either to dispense entirely with the 1939 basis of registration or to give rations on the basis of actual numbers of stock kept.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the Report on World Economic Trends published by the Department of Economic Affairs of the United Nations on 6th February which indicated that there has been an impressive rise in world production of foodstuffs and that grains are in better supply; and in view of these facts, why he announced that farmers in this country cannot expect any early or substantial increase in rationed feedingstuffs.

The report to which the hon. and gallant Member refers also draws attention to the Report of the 4th Session of the F.A.O. Conference which points out the stresses and strains created in international trade because much of the world's exportable food surpluses have become concentrated in hard currency areas, and the danger of careless use of the excellent 1948 grain harvest without regard to future supplies. My inability to promise early increases in feedingstuffs rations is due to considerations of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will reduce the proportion of Massey and Harris harvesters for export and at the same time limit the importation of inferior machines from abroad.

No Massey Harris combined harvester-threshers have been exported since production started in Britain last July. Production between now and next harvest has been reserved for the home market, though it may be desirable that a few sample machines should be exported. I am not aware that any inferior machines are being imported.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the circumstances in which the new occupier of a holding is entitled to have continued the holding's registration for pigs or poultry rations; and, in particular, whether the new occupier who has not previously received rations may obtain them.

Rations for pigs and poultry kept on holdings registered under the war-time scheme are attached to the holding and are therefore available for the appropriate stock of an incoming occupier whether or not he was entitled to receive rations on his previous holding. Eligibility for rations under the new extended scheme rests on a personal application made at the time when the scheme was open for applications, and in general a new occupier who was not previously in receipt of rations or had not previously applied at such time, will only be able to obtain them by applying at a future time if and when the scheme is re-opened. I would advise any incoming occupier who wants to be certain of his position to consult the feedingstuffs officer of his county agricultural executive committee.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that farmers in Scotland, having responded to the Government's appeal for increased food production, now find that they are unable to dispose of their oats, barley and potatoes; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this position.

The hon. Member has been misinformed. Under the guarantee well known to farmers I am prepared to buy all the sound oats, barley and ware potatoes offered to my Department at the guaranteed prices.

asked the Minister of Food (1) in view of the public concern as to the conduct of "operation Octopus," whether he will cause a public inquiry to be held presided over by an independent person;(2) what were the methods of inquiry used in relation to the "operation Octopus," of which he did not approve;(3) what was the gross cost of "operation Octopus"; what receipts were obtained as a result of it; and the main items in respect of which the expenditure has occurred.

The methods of which I disapproved involved connivance in offences. The gross expenditure was £2,333 and the receipts negligible. The items of expenditure are still being investigated by the Departmental inquiry, the appointment of which I have already announced. I am satisfied that this will be thorough and that a public inquiry is not necessary.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is yet able to indicate when supplies of flour of pre-war standard are likely to be available.

I cannot add at present to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. J. Morrison) on Wednesday, 26th January.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will appoint further members of the Overseas Food Corporation who have knowledge of practical production in the tropics and the management of native labour.

Several members of the Corporation have wide experience of this kind. There are, as the hon. Member knows, due powers to add further members of the Board and suitable appointments may be made if this is considered advisable.

asked the Minister of Food what is the loss to the taxpayer through weevil infestation in 35,000 tons of imported barley; why it has been necessary to hold the infested portion so long that it overlaps the home crop; and what tonnage of home crop barley is now in stock.

The cost in this particular instance cannot be isolated from the total cost of the routine measures against infestation applied to all Ministry of Food stocks of grain. We have to hold stocks in order to safeguard the ration. 111,218 tons of home-grown barley were in stock on 3rd February.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now say what steps he is taking to ensure higher standards of hygiene in the handling and wrapping of meat and other food sold in retail shops.

I fear that at the moment I can add nothing to the reply given to Questions by the hon. Members for East Harrow (Mr. Skinnard) and Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield) on 24th January last.

asked the Minister of Food if his Working Party on hygienic methods of handling food has considered the question of wrapping bread in paper; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is looking at this problem but at all events for the present we shall not be able to require all bread to be wrapped, because of the shortage of suitable types of paper.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the continuance of the 9 oz. weekly fat ration.

Yes. I am glad to say that we shall be able to continue the 9 oz. fat ration after 26th March.

asked the Minister of Food how many Civic Restaurants have been opened and how many have been closed since 2nd April, 1947.

We have no statistics to cover the particular point raised by the hon. Member but there were 1,098 Civic Restaurants in operation at the end of March, 1947, and 678 at the 31st January, 1949.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make regulations under Section 98 of the Transport Act, 1947, to provide for the revision of pensions granted under superannuation schemes by railway and canal companies having regard to the increased cost of living since retirement took place.

No. The question of granting supplementary allowances to existing pensioners has been raised by the trade unions and by other parties with the Railway Executive, who have had to decline such applications on grounds of cost. My right hon. Friend would not feel justified in making regulations on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date he restricted the extension of the electrification of the London Transport 1935–40 new works programme; and if he is prepared to modify that decision in respect of the line between Finsbury Park and the Alexandra Palace in view of the fact that so much of the work has already been done.

My right hon. Friend has made no decision to suspend the London Transport 1935–40 new works programme. New works programmes generally were suspended following the outbreak of war. My right hon. Friend has recently received froth the British Transport Commission their views upon the proposals for rail passenger transport improvements put forward by the Railway (London Plan) Committee. The whole question, which involves this and many other works, is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport what directions he has given to the Transport Commission on the subject of advertising by the Commission or its subordinate executives.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport if it is the policy of his Department to prevent private coach companies willing to serve the interests of rural communities from operating upon routes which the London Transport Executive proposes to serve in the near or distant future.

Applications for road service licences under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, are dealt with by the Licensing Authority for Public Service Vehicles. An appeal lies to my right hon. Friend against the grant or refusal of these licences and such appeals are dealt with on their individual merits. In respect of routes within the Special Area of the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933, however, it is necessary first to obtain the consent of the London Transport Executive under Section 16 of the Act. The grant or refusal of this consent is at the discretion of the Executive and there is no appeal.

asked the Minister of Transport why he has refused a grant towards the cost of a first instalment of a road scheme as far as Arrina, a distance of approximately seven miles from Shieldaig, which would ultimately fit in with a scheme to provide a road on the north coast of Applecross.

My right hon. Friend has refused a grant towards this scheme because the limited resources which can at present be made available for road construction and improvement must be devoted to more urgent and important work.

asked the Minister of Transport why his Department will not allow a four-aspect traffic signal to be suspended over the centre of dangerous cross-roads where the pavements are already too narrow to permit the erection of the ordinary type of traffic signal.

Centrally suspended signals are not used because it is better to have a signal at each side of the approach roads. Difficulties where the footways are narrow can be overcome.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to improve the condition of the Manchester to Burnley road at Edenfield.

My right hon. Friend proposes to reconstruct about half a mile of this road at Edenfield and hopes that the work will be begun within the next three months.

asked the Minister of Transport when the 12½ per cent. cut in petrol supplies to public service vehicle operators running bus and coach services will be restored.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is unable to indicate when the 12½ per cent. cut in petrol for excursions and tours or private party work will be restored.

asked the Minister of Transport if the Welsh language version of the Highway Code has yet been published, and if so in what quantities; and what measures of distribution have been, or are to be, adopted.

No. A proof of the Welsh version of the Code is now with the translator for examination. My right hon. Friend hopes to make it available free of cost in Post Offices throughout Wales in the near future.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that veterinary surgeons in Norfolk are finding it difficult to do their work adequately through inability to obtain delivery of new cars; and if he can hold out any hope of improved supplies in the near future.

There is no intention at present to increase the supply of cars to the home market. The motor industry is, however, prepared to give special consideration to urgent requirements of veterinary surgeons sponsored by the National Veterinary Medical Association.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied that supplies of hardwood for the manufacture of bobbins used in cotton-spinning are adequate.

Yes. The bobbin manufacturers' hardwood requirements are being met in full.

asked the Minister of Supply at what price the British Stores Disposal Mission in Egypt have been disposing of Army jeeps in good condition, in view of the fact that they have been available for purchase privately at £85 each; and what steps were taken to ensure that these jeeps were not required by British Forces stationed in the Middle East.

No jeep in good condition has been disposed of by the British Supply Disposal Mission in Egypt. All surpluses were either well worn or short of components, and were beyond economical repair to Army standards.

asked the Minister of Supply what quantities of nylon were purchased by his Department last year for tow-ropes for gliders.

None.

asked the Minister of Works how many people have been accommodated at the hutted camp at Kintore, Aberdeenshire, during 1948; and whether it is his intention to demolish or retain this camp during 1949.

Kintore Camp was occupied by about 250 prisoners of war until March, 1948, and was thereafter held for harvest workers to meet expected demands for accommodation which did not materialise. As the camp is no longer required for this purpose the buildings on the site are now being disposed of and it is hoped to derequisition the land by the end of the month.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the resentment in Winchester arising from his action in proposing to use the Corner House Hotel for offices, when the city is short of hotel and residential accommodation; and whether the local council were consulted.

I am not aware of any resentment. The owners tried to sell the premises for use as an hotel, but subsequently offered them to my Ministry on lease for use as offices. Representatives of the local council were consulted and agreed to the proposal.

asked the Minister of Works if he will consider classifying those established boarding houses with a catering licence as industrial establishments, in order to take advantage of the Government relaxation of policy, where building work can be executed on an industrial building up to a sum of £1,000 without a licence.

asked the Minister of Works if he will consider extending the Government concession with regard to building work without permits on industrial premises to boarding houses and hotels in seaside resorts, in view of the fact that catering for holiday traffic is an essential industry in these towns.

Applications for licences to improve amenities at hotels and boarding houses are considered sympathetically, but I cannot agree to extend to them the concession granted to industrial buildings.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is prepared to issue a pass, valid for a year on payment of a suitable sum, to all ancient monuments controlled by his Department, as this would stimulate interest and be a convenience to tourists.

I am interested in this suggestion and I will consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many natives were removed from their holdings at Kongwa to allow the Groundnuts Scheme to proceed; and how these people were re-settled.

A total of 594 African families were moved from the groundnuts area at Kongwa. They were resettled in vacant land just outside the area, water bore-holes were made for them and land was cleared for grazing. Cash compensation for disturbance was also paid.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider withholding the release of frozen Palestinian assets held in this country, until the claims of British companies against the Israeli authorities are settled.

These assets are the sterling balances of Palestine banks, and it will be for consideration in forthcoming negotiations with the Israeli Government to what extent their release should be linked with the settlement of claims against the Israeli Government.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Central Office of Information subscribes to the publication "Review of World Affairs."

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the urgent necessity for providing increased working capital for the agricultural industry, he is prepared to assist individual farmers by extending to them a more generous allowance for the replacement of equipment and machinery upon an annual basis in order that the most modern equipment may be progressively available for increased food production.

I am afraid I cannot anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the tax on speedway racing is 45 per cent. against 15 per cent. on football, cricket, boxing, etc., since speedway racing is a non-betting sport similar to the others.

Speedway racing is taxed at the same rate as other motor racing. Betting is not a factor in determining liability to Entertainments Duty.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 250 men are being made redundant at the Long Marston depot whilst at the same site Polish labour is being retained.

The labour in question was recruited from other districts by the Ministry of Supply at the request of the War Department to meet a shortage of labour in the Long Marston district. The work at this depot will call for a substantial reduction in labour by the end of February but instructions have been issued that any of the labour considered suitable for employment in the depot should be offered such employment in replacement of foreign workers, who would be reported to the Ministry of Labour for transfer to other work.

asked the Attorney-General if he has yet received the Uthwatt Committee report on leasehold enfranchisement; and if, in view of the urgency of the matter, early steps will be taken to implement its recommendations.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor, has not yet received a report on leasehold enfranchisement from the Leasehold Committee, who have decided to deal first with that part of their terms of reference which concerns business premises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who appoints the members of the Land Control Board in Kenya; what is its Constitution; and what are its powers.

The Land Control Board was constituted by an Ordinance of 1944 and consists of the Commissioner of Lands, the Financial Secretary, the Director of Agriculture and six other persons appointed by a majority vote of the European elected members of the Legislative Council. The Board's powers extend only to European land transactions in the Settled Area for which its consent, subject to the approval of the Governor is required. The Board is empowered to impose conditions when giving its consent, and to subpoena witnesses.

asked the Minister of Defence if, owing to the new release arrangements, where Service personnel are granted leave before their final discharge, he will either arrange for Service references to be given out prior to leave, or for men to be finally discharged before they are given leave in order that they may be given the opportunity of applying for civilian jobs as soon as they get release leave.

As I have explained to the right hon. Gentleman in a letter, this is a matter of detailed administration, responsibility for which rests with the individual Service Ministers.

asked the Minister of Education what was the composition of the Secondary School Examinations Council immediately before a change in its membership was effected in 1947, altering the representation in favour of the modern school; whether there was any direct consultation of the universities before he adopted his decision announced in Circular 168; and whether he proposes to enforce his new examination, notwithstanding the opposition it has aroused, both in the schools and in the universities.

I am sending the hon. Member a statement showing the composition of the Secondary School Exam-nations Council prior to its reconstitution in its present form in 1946. The changes then made were necessitated by the passing of the Education Act, 1944, and the new conception of secondary education which it introduced. The grammar schools continue to be strongly represented on the Council, which also includes, as the old Council did not, direct representatives of the universities. I consulted the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals of Universities at an early stage following the issue of the Council's report and in March, 1948, discussed with them the draft of Circular 168. I do not propose to vary the arrangements made for the introduction of the new examination system.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what is the approximate number of usable houses which are being lived in in England, Scotland and Wales. separately;(2) what is the approximate number of habitations in England, Scotland and Wales, separately, which are now overcrowded;(3) what is the approximate number of houses which are now in use, but which, according to the standards of his Department, are unfit for further use in England, Scotland and Wales, separately;(4) what is the approximate number of houses which become unusable each year due to old age or being worn out.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute measures to protect swans from slaughter in all the counties of Britain.

No. I am advised that in the interest of bird life generally it would be undesirable to protect the swan under the Wild Birds Protection Acts all the year round.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the number of retirement and old age pensions in payment in Stockton-on-Tees; and what are the number and average amount of supplementary pensions payable.

I regret that separate figures showing the total number of retirement and old age pensioners in Stockton-on-Tees are not available. I am informed by the National Assistance Board that supplementation is being paid to about 1,550 pensioners and that the latest available figures show that the average amount of supplementation is about 7s. 6d. a week.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what was the total amount paid in family allowances in 1948; and what was the amount paid in Wales.

The total amount paid in family allowances in the calendar year 1948 was approximately £58¾ million. The amount paid in respect of Wales for the same period is estimated to be £3¼; million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Mrs. Nisbet, 9, Westfield Road, Edinburgh, has been endeavouring to obtain a pair of spectacles for her daughter since September, 1948; that the child is unable to read or write without glasses; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that this young girl's education and health do not continue to suffer.

I regret the delay which has occurred in this case but am informed that the child has now been supplied with glasses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider appointing a committee to inquire into the law relating to angling in fresh water in Scotland, with power to make recommendations as to the future control of the sport in Scotland.

As my hon. Friend is aware, I have set up a Committee to inquire into the illegal taking of salmon and trout in Scottish rivers. I would prefer to await this Committee's report before considering my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of silver birch timber were imported into Great Britain during 1948; for what purpose was it used: and what was the price paid.

Silver birch is not separately distinguished in the Trade Returns.