asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a temporary typist was discharged from the Royal Army Medical Corps Record and Pay Office, Woking, last October, on the grounds of alleged inefficiency; that, following on representations by the Civil Service Clerical Association, the regimental paymaster at that office was removed from his post and that the girl in question was reinstated; and whether, in the circumstances, he will exercise the discretion allowed to him to make payment to the girl for the period during which she was out of employment?

There was no connection between the discharge of the typist and the transfer of the regimental paymaster. The typist was discharged for inefficiency after appropriate notice. The case was referred to the War Office and, in view of an element of doubt as to her inefficiency, the local establishment was informed that she could again be offered employment. No grounds are seen for making any payment during the period she was not employed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether letters of private individuals to the United States of America are censored; and how many of such letters have been suppressed?

All letters addressed to private individuals in neutral countries are liable to censorship. It is not in the public interest to give statistics as to the suppression of letters.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what conditions trade money is paid to sappers in the Royal Engineers; and will he give particulars?

A sapper receives the tradesmen's rate of pay for his particular trade, according to his degree of trade skill, as soon as he becomes qualified in that trade and is mustered into a vacancy in the establishment of his unit. The general range of tradesmen's rates is shown in Army Estimates, 1939, Appendix IV.

asked the Home Secretary the number of enemy aliens living in Great Britain, stating their nationality separately, how many have appeared before the tribunals; how many satisfied the tribunals; and how many have been interned?

The number of Germans and Austrians in this country varies from time to time, but the latest available statistics show that the number of Germans registered with the police is 62,244 and of Austrians 11,989. The tribunals have dealt with 73,353 persons, of whom 569 were interned, 6,782 were exempted from internment but not from the special restrictions applicable to enemy aliens, and 64,244 were exempted both from internment and from the special restrictions. Of the persons dealt with by the tribunals no less than 55,457 are known to be refugees from Nazi oppression.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that there are about 250 German servant girls employed in and around Aldershot; and whether as these girls are a danger to the country, he will consider making a radius around all military and air stations within which enemy aliens shall not be allowed to enter?

I think it is a mistake to assume that every German domestic servant is a menace to the security of this country; and, in my view, there would be no justification for a policy under which all aliens of German and Austrian nationality were treated alike, without regard to the fact that the majority of them are refugees from Nazi oppression and are bitterly opposed to the present regime in Germany. Each case must be considered on its merits, and, as the hon. Member is aware, the case of every German and Austrian resident in this country has already been reviewed by a tribunal appointed by me for this purpose, and the Regional Advisory Committees, which I am about to set up, will shortly undertake a further review of certain categories of Germans and Austrians who have not been interned.In addition, I am causing further special inquiries to be made about the position of Germans and Austrians employed in or around Aldershot. I have ascertained that neither the Chief Constable of Surrey nor the Chief Constable of Hampshire feels any anxiety about the presence of these foreigners in his police district. As regards the suggestion that a ring should be drawn around all military and air stations within which no enemy alien, regardless of his disposition towards the British cause, should be allowed to enter, I would remind the hon. Member that the expansion of the armed forces and of the munitions industry is on such a scale that there are few areas in this country which do not include important service establishments or munitions factories, and accordingly I do not think that this suggestion is a practical proposition or that it would commend itself to public opinion.

asked the Home Secretary what are the conditions under which refugees from enemy countries are allowed to be employed in England; and what steps are taken to ensure that the conditions of employment are adhered to by the employer?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. D. Grenfell) on 23rd November last, of which I am sending him a copy. As regards the second part of the question appropriate action would be taken in any case where it were found, through inquiries made by the police or otherwise, that an alien was in irregular employment.

asked the Postmaster General, whether, in view of the increase of business at the Manchester assizes, he will, for the convenience of the public, arrange for the resumption of the postal and telegraph facilities formerly provided at the assize courts, Strange ways, Manchester, during the holding of the said Manchester assizes?

Full facilities for postal business and the acceptance of telegrams are available at two Post Offices near the Assize Courts. In addition there are a number of public telephone kiosks on the Assize Court premises from which telephone calls can be made and telegrams can be dictated to the Manchester Head Post Office. There has been no reduction since the war in the facilities provided and I think they should meet requirements. If, however, additional facilities should be required they could be supplied at short notice.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can now make any statement as to the percentage of feeding-stuffs which poultry farmers ought to be able definitely to count on obtaining from the recognised dealers?

No, Sir. I regret that it is not possible for me to make a statement of the kind my hon. and gallant Friend suggests. The amount of feeding-stuffs that may be available for poultry keepers in the future will depend on the total supplies available and the requirements of other classes of livestock.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will state the composition of the body set up by his department to control the purchase and sale of livestock in the county of Carmarthen; whether this body is responsible for the arrangements to transport livestock; what method has been adopted to employ lorries and drivers for this purpose; who fixes the mileage payments for such transport; and what is the average increase in those mileage payments now as compared with pre-war rates?

There are nine collecting centres in the county of Carmarthen at which fat stock are purchased on behalf of the Ministry of Food. The fat stock presented for sale by farmers are graded by a certifying authority consisting of a farmer, a butcher and an auctioneer. After grading the stock are taken over by the district chairman of auctioneers, who acts as Government buyer, at the scheduled prices according to grade. Fatstock so purchased are slaughtered on behalf of the Ministry and sold as meat. Fatstock purchased on behalf of the Ministry are transported to slaughterhouses by rail, in order to conserve petrol, in those cases where the railways can give an adequate service. In the case of road transport the Ministry has appointed the Wholesale Meat Transport Association (which was specifically formed for the purpose of the Meat and Livestock Scheme) as their agents to engage and supervise transport required. All bona fide livestock hauliers in the district have, if they so desire, an opportunity of participating in the work, with due regard to the economical use of transport and provided they can give reliable and efficient service. The rates to be paid for the road transport of fatstock have not yet been fixed, and are at present under discussion with the Association.