asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people have died from cold or exposure in the British zone of Germany during the months of December, 1946, and January, 1947; and how many people over the same period have been admitted to hospital suffering from frostbite, or from other maladies to which exposure has been a contributing factor.

Fifty-three deaths from cold or exposure were reported, and 799 persons were admitted to hospital suffering from frostbite, or from other maladies to which exposure had been a contributing factor. These figures refer to all the British zone, except Schleswig-Holstein, for which figures are not available for either month, and Lower Saxony. for which only the December figures can be given.

An Hon. Member:

Tell that to your constituents.

Are the conditions any better or worse than in the previous months?

The climatic conditions are obviously very much worse, while other conditions are better, but to strike a balance between the two is difficult.