1. How many parliamentary committees have held' sittings at the House of Commons during the present session?

2. How many sittings have been held by each of the said committees?

3. How many witnesses and experts have given evidence before each of the said committees?

4. Were such witnesses and experts sworn? If so, what are their names and before what committees?

Mr. St. Laurent:

With respect to this question, Mr. Speaker, may I point out that it asks at this time questions about the committees of the house at this session. I think it is clearly the rule that no questions can be asked in the house about the proceedings in committees until the committees have reported. When they shall have reported, the information sought by the question will be found in the reports.

Mr. Speaker:

Question dropped.

Questions

1. How many farmers, by provinces, have requested Dutch immigrant families to assist in farming, during the last year?

2. Of those requested, how many requests (a) have been filled; (b) are as yet unfilled?

1. Statistics maintained include only formal applications submitted and are classified by immigration districts. These statistics do not include informal requests made at local immigration offices.

District Province of Received ApprovedAtlantic Nova Scotia and Newfoundland ,.. 20 20Eastern

Quebec and New Brunswick .. 91 90Central ... 2,813 2,674Western and Alberta .. . 581 541Pacific ... 209 1933,714 3,518

2. (a) The number of Dutch farm families who have been brought into Canada and have been placed on farms is as follows:

Prince Edward Island 23

Nova Scotia 81

New Brunswick 79

Quebec 227

Ontario 2,320

Manitoba 239

Saskatchewan 153

Alberta 1,099

British Columbia 202

4,423

(b) See answer to No. 1.

Mr. Argue:

For a copy of each order made under the authority of the Animal Contagious Diseases Act, declaring a place in the province of Saskatchewan free from an infectious or contagious disease, between December 1, 1951, and February 15, 1952.

Hon. Lionel Chevrier (Minister of Transport) moved

that the house go into committee

at the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient to introduce a measure to provide, among other things, that the Minister of Finance (a) shall release the Canadian National Railway Company from certain claims by Her Majesty in exchange for preferred stock of the company; (b) shall release the Canadian National Railway Company from certain other claims by Her Majesty in exchange for an obligation of the company in respect of which interest shall not be payable for a period of ten years commencing on January 1, 1952; (b) shall, out of the consolidated revenue fund, from time to time purchase additional preferred stock of the Canadian National Railway .Company to provide a portion of the money required for additions and betterments of the Canadian National Railways System; and (d) shall transfer to the Canadian National Railway Company all the shares of the Canadian National Railway securities trust that are held by him in exchange for no par value shares of the Canadian National Railway Company.

He said: His Excellency the Governor

General, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommends it to the consideration of the house.

Hon. Milton F. Gregg (Minister of Labour) moved

that the house go into committee at

Gold Mining

the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient to introduce a measure to amend the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1940, to increase certain rates of benefit under the act; to reduce the number of waiting days before the receipt of benefit; to extend the period of entitlement for supplementary benefits; and to make provision for certain administrative changes.

He said: His Excellency the Governor General, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommends it to the consideration of the house.