asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider the position of small builders who, because of war conditions, were forced to close their business and who subsequently became liable for direction under D.R. 58A; and whether he can now allow them to leave their present employment in order to reopen their business.

I could not give any general undertaking to do this, as so much depends on the circumstances of individual cases, but in appropriate cases I would certainly meet such requests so far as that can be done without detriment to the national interest.

Will the right hon. Gentleman release builders, of the kind referred to in the Question, who have been directed from the North to London, as soon as circumstances in London allow?

They will all be released as soon as circumstances in London allow.

asked the Minister of Labour why the number of accidents in the metal and engineering industries as between 1938 and 1943 has shown an increase at least 10 times as great as the proportionate increase in the number of women employed in those industries.

I am afraid I do not follow the calculations in the Question, but I am advised that, in spite of counter-measures, the number of accidents to women in these industries would naturally be expected to increase under war conditions by a substantially greater percentage than the percentage increase in the numbers of women employed, owing to a combination of accident-producing factors, such as have been referred to in the annual reports of the Chief Inspector. I am glad, however, to say that, as mentioned in the Report for 1943, there was in that year a fall in the accident rate for women employed in those munition industries which are the chief sources of accidents to women.

Has not my right hon. Friend seen the figures published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" this month, on which this Question is based?

I am afraid I have not read them.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that these figures are a reflection of the magnificent war effort of the women in the British engineering industry, and that some people in this House opposed the mobilisation of women at the time?

asked the Minister of Labour if the Unemployment Insurance Fund is used to pay those employees who, although they have no work to do and are therefore unemployed, yet are retained and paid by their employers at the request of his Ministry.

As I thought I had made clear to my hon. Friend in reply to his Question last week, these men are not unemployed, and do not therefore qualify for payments from the Unemployment Fund.

Is the Minister aware that I asked a question in connection with unemployed people, who have no work to do but are retained on the books of firms? From what sources are these men paid when they have no work to do, and are, therefore, technically unemployed?

People retained in factories are retained in accordance will allocations made on the man-power side. As I explained to my hon. Friend last week, there are a number of young men who are waiting to be called up and are retained. They are not doing nothing; they are working for the firms.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Mr. Cordrey has been a member of the ground staff in the R.A.F., having trained in the A.T.C. for three years and six months and passed all examinations and gliding tests, but has now been ordered down a coalmine; and, in view of the fact that this man is six feet six inches tall and has trained for so long, if he will take steps to excuse him from going into the pits.

If my hon. Friend will send me the necessary particulars of the man referred to, including his present address and his registration number under the National Service Acts, I will have inquiries made into the case.

I will try to do that.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to make any statement about the demobilisation of students who, owing to their service in the Forces, or other work of national importance, have been unable to complete their qualifying courses.

No, Sir.

Does my right hon. Friend anticipate that he will be able to make a statement soon after the House reassembles?

I am afraid not. The circumstances of the war are such that it will work out rather the other way.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of his decision not to count any period of men's temporary release from the Services for work of national importance for demobilisation purposes or assessment of gratuity, if he will state how, as these men are in fact Service personnel, they are to have their demobilisation groups and gratuities assessed.

Both their age and service release groups and their war gratuities will be assessed by reference to their whole-time service in the Armed Forces since 3rd September, 1939, which counts for Service pay.

What is my right hon. Friend going to do about those people who have been attached to the Ministry of Economic Warfare?

I must have notice of that question.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that it is because of those people that I put down the Question?

There is no indication in the Question that the Ministry of Economic Warfare was referred to. I did not know what the hon. Member meant.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that any Service personnel temporarily released for work of national importance while serving abroad will be entitled to have such service assessed for purposes of demobilisation and gratuity.

No, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend relate Question 4 to that answer, and say how those people are going to have their gratuities assessed when they are not regarded as being borne on the War Office Vote?

If they are in civil employment, and getting civil pay, periods of release are not assessed for war service. Otherwise, they would be paid twice.

What is to happen to people serving abroad, who are temporarily released in order to do war work of that sort?

I understand that the hon. Member is asking about people who are temporarily in civil employment, and who are receiving civil rates of pay while they are so released. If they are getting civil rates of pay, periods of release are not assessed for war service.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is prepared to give priority release to political agents serving with the Forces, in anticipation of a general election.

This question is under examination, and I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

Does that answer imply that my right hon. Friend is prepared to give sympathetic consideration to this class of individual serving in the Forces?

I do not know about sympathy; I will try to deal with the matter practically.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that these people are learning some very valuable things while serving with His Majesty's Forces, and that premature release would interrupt their political education?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when the Government propose to introduce legislation to protect country and town from disfigurement by advertisements.

The Government are considering whether further powers are necessary for the control of advertisements, but I am unable to say when any legislation which may be found necessary will be introduced.

I beg to give notice that, after the Recess, I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what progress has been made by his Ministry in arrangements to carry out the recommendations of the Scott Commission for the preservation and marking of public footpaths.

The matter referred to has been considered in conference between the Departments concerned, and I hope to receive a report at an early date.

In the meantime, as paths have been lost continually, would not the Minister consider communicating with local authorities, suggesting that they set up committees to go into this matter? It would cost nothing.

I will consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for India, if he will give an assurance that officers who were compulsorily commissioned into the Indian Army will be enabled, if they wish, to transfer forthwith to the British service.

I am in correspondence with the Government of India as to the extent to which certain categories of officers can properly be said to have been compulsorily commissioned into the Indian Army. When the position has been clarified I hope to make a statement on the question for permission to transfer to the British service.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can now assure the House that renewed consideration will be given to the question of releasing those political prisoners in India who are still detained without charge or trial.

The authorities in India have constantly under review the cases of persons detained as a result of the Congress disturbances of 1942; and releases are made so far as is compatible with essential considerations of security. I do not think that present circumstances call for a revision of this policy, which has resulted in a large and progressive reduction in the number of those detained.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has said nothing about those who had not been charged or tried, but who were arrested before the disturbances took place; and may I ask him if he is aware that last week the Labour Party Conference asked for the release of these prisoners?

May I also ask whether, if the Minister is aware of the Labour Party decision last week, he will take note of the fact that the Labour Party decision expresses the view of a very large number of people in the country? Ought he not to give this matter reconsideration?

I will certainly take note of any decision taken at an important Conference like that.

May I ask if someone could not be placed in complete charge of these political prisoners with a view to reviewing the cases periodically, as many who were arrested are inclined to be forgotten?

I can assure the hon. Member that, on the contrary, these cases are reviewed by the Governor of the Province very frequently, and, in the course of this year, I have mentioned that the total number of those detained in the first six months of this year was reduced from 7,400 to 3,000.

How can the right hon. Gentleman expect the friendship of the Indian people and the effectiveness of their contribution to the war effort, if he persists in keeping men like Nehru and others in gaol?

I think the opinions of those who have been detained were by no means endorsed by the Indian people as a whole.

If the right hon. Gentleman is taking into consideration the opinion of the Labour Party on this matter, will he also take into consideration the fact that the Labour Party constitutes a small minority of this House?

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is a fact that a considerable number of these political prisoners could be released immediately if they gave the necessary guarantee of their good behaviour?

Yes, Sir, that is so.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state the number of deaths due to malaria and cholera for each quarter from 1938 to the present time; the amount of anti-malarial drugs available during 1944; the total consumption of such drugs annually before the war; and the latest figures for death rates and infantile mortality, if possible distinguishing those due to malaria and cholera.

I am circulating the detailed information regarding anti-malarial drugs in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am asking the Government of India how far they can supply the remainder of the information asked for.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether malaria and cholera have decreased or increased in the last two years?

There was a temporary increase in Bengal after the famine period, and that has been very substantially reduced since. I could not give the figures for the whole of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India the nature of the dispute between the Indian Princes and the Viceroy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 13th December last to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn). I am at present unable to add to that answer.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if there has been any development since that time, and if he cannot give us some enlightenment on this interesting dispute?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether consideration is being given to the reintroduction of representative government in any of the provinces in which the administration has been Taken over by the Governor.

I can assure the hon. Member that the Governor of each of the Provinces concerned is constantly on the watch for a situation in which a Ministry could be formed with adequate support in the Legislature.

Can we take it that the Government would cordially welcome any proposals for the re-formation of such a Ministry by the competent parties?

Certainly, and on at least two occasions where opportunity has offered itself, the Government have taken advantage of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to relax the prohibition against the use of whistles and other forms of announcement by delivery vans in housing areas.

While my hon. Friend's suggestion involves various difficulties, and, as he will be aware, whistles are used as air raid warning signals, I sympathise with its object, and I am going into the matter with a view to seeing whether any relaxations Can be made which will not diminish the effectiveness of the warning system. I will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this matter and take into account the fact that, as far as one can judge, the air raid danger is not the same in all parts of the country now, and that, in Scotland and many parts of the North of England, it would be quite possible to relax many of these petty restrictions without any difficulty?

That is one of the points I will bear in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue a Defence Regulation making it an offence to speak on an enemy broadcasting service.

I do not think that it would be possible to justify the making of a Defence Regulation declaring to be a crime such an act which involved no offence when it was done. As regards the future, I would not have thought that a Defence Regulation such as my hon. Friend suggests would serve any useful purpose, if only because at this stage of the war few British subjects are likely to be ready and able to broadcast on an enemy broadcasting service. Moreover, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has already explained to the House, broadcasting with intent to assist the enemy is an offence, which is punishable by death if the offender is convicted of treason or by penal servitude for life if he is convicted of an offence against Defence Regulation 2A.

Does the Minister realise that there is no suggestion in my Question that this penal provision should be antedated, and does he not appreciate that there is a strong feeling in the country that the enemy ought to be deprived of the assistance of British broadcasters, which he evidently thinks is valuable or he would not use them?

It is already an offence if it is shown that the person concerned had the intention to aid the enemy, and, at this stage, I do not think we are losing much by the existing state of the law.

If this broadcasting is, in fact, of advantage to the enemy, what does it matter whether the intention is to aid the enemy or not? How many of these other Regulations make an in- tention of aiding the enemy an ingredient of the offence?

There is plenty of variation in the Regulations, and I think my hon. Friend has raised a legal point which was dealt with in the Debate.

Is not the use of words on the wireless just as wounding as many a machine-gun bullet; and ought it not to be made an offence, the same as shooting?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now considered the transcript of the observations made by the Master of the Rolls when dismissing the appeal of the Bethnal Green Corporation against damages awarded against them in a lower court in connection with the air-raid shelter; and whether he is in a position to make a statement.

I have not yet received the transcript of the judgment delivered by the Master of the Rolls, and I do not therefore feel able to make a statement.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the fact that it is over a week since I put that Question down, there has not been ample time to get the transcript of the observations of the Master of the Rolls in this case?

Well, I have not got it, and therefore I think it would be wrong if I should pass any comment on what has been said by the learned judge until it is available.

asked the Prime Minister if, with a view to restoring peace in Athens, he will invite the King of the Hellenes to state publicly that he has no intention of returning to Greece until after the question of the monarchy has been settled by free plebiscite of the Greek people, and that he is willing, meanwhile, that a Regent acceptable to all parties should be appointed.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary yesterday in the course of the Debate.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, as the Foreign Secretary can confirm, he did not deal yesterday with the particular point in the first part of the Question; and, while there is universal agreement that there should be a free plebiscite on the question of the Monarchy, is there not a danger that that might be prejudiced by the premature return of the King?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Conservative candidate for Maldon will not be allowed to address his constituents until after the result of the election is known?

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he has taken note of the fact that last night a statement was made on the radio of the fact that M. Papandreou had declared that the decision to establish a Regency in Greece had been communicated to the King as a unanimous decision of the Greek Cabinet, and if that is true, what is the obstacle which stands in the way?

I am afraid I did not hear the radio and, therefore, I have had no time to consider that matter.

Is it proposed that the wishes of one man, the King of Greece, shall be allowed to stand in the way of a settlement of this problem?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not the case, however desirable the objects which the hon. Gentleman who put this Question down may have in view, that to take the action he suggests would be a most unwarranted interference in the affairs of the Greek people?

It is unwarranted interference to foist this King on them.

Is it the fact that the King has never agreed to the unanimous demands of the Cabinet not to return to Greece until after an election has been held, nor has he agreed, as far as we know, to the recent demand of the Cabinet to appoint a Regency? May I ask whether these are the facts and, if so, is it not a time when His Majesty's Government could interfere with great benefit in the Greek situation?

A very full opportunity was given for a Debate on these matters yesterday. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] The Foreign Secretary made a statement and I really cannot go into these detailed arguments of the hon. Member at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether with a view to promoting a satisfactory settlement in Greece, consideration will be given to the appointment of an international electoral commission to ensure fair elections and the proper representation of all parties.

As my right hon. Friend declared to the House yesterday, we shall be prepared to give any assistance in our power in the conduct of elections in Greece if we are invited to do so, and we should welcome the assistance of any of our Allies in this task.

In view of the fact that our Minister has already made valuable suggestions to the Greek Government, could he not make a suggestion for an international commission of this kind to ensure an impartial election?

A very full statement was made yesterday. I think the hon. Member should leave it there.

Could the Foreign Secretary use his very great influence and see if he could not secure a Christmas truce, so that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Stockton (Mr. Macmillan) can. get on with his work, unimpaired by ultimatums and bombs?

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Air, if he will issue an instruction that, in any air operations that may take place over Athens and other ancient Greek cities, the utmost care is to be taken to avoid causing further damage to the Parthenon and other monuments of special historic importance.

Yes, Sir, subject to the necessities of operations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken to prevent coast erosion at a tank range, of which he has been informed, where the sea wall has been shot out; whether steps are to be taken to remove live shells in the wall and nearby marshes; and whether the marshes are to be restored to their former state of growing wild white clover seed.

I understand that there is no breach in the sea wall, but that the Catchment Board have been prevented from gaining access to this wall to carry out maintenance work owing to the presence of live shells, and this has resulted in some erosion. The problem of removing explosive objects remaining after military activities is a difficult one and is engaging the urgent attention of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for War.

Could not action be taken against the people who suggested using good land below sea level for this purpose instead of using land above sea level which does not matter at all in the neighbourhood?

I should have thought that that might be a question for the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now consider some increase in the ration of feeding-stuffs for domestic keepers of pigs.

No, Sir. Supplies do not permit of any such increase.

Is this policy reviewed from time to time as the shipping situation alters?

It is more or less always under review but I had better warn my hon. Friend that, should supplies become easier, I think first call would be from commercial pig producers and poultry keepers who have been kept on such low rations of feeding-stuffs for their stocks for a long time.

asked the Minister of Education whether no fees are to be charged from 1st April next, under Section 61 (1) of the Education Act, 1944, in schools which are now in the category of aided, deficiency aided, schools, since these schools are in effect being maintained by the L.E.A.

Under the Education Act, 1944, tuition fees in secondary schools at present receiving their grant in the form of aid from local education authorities, will be abolished as from the date on which they become voluntary schools maintained by the authority. During the transitional period between 1st April, 1945, and the date on which they become so maintained, it is contemplated that local education authorities will assist them to the extent necessary under Section 9 (I) of the Act. Such assistance will require my authority and as one of the conditions of authorising it I propose to require that tuition fees shall be abolished in the school.

asked the Minister of Education whether, failing agreement with the secondary associations represented on the Burnham Committee, he will refrain from making an Order under Section 89 of the Education Act, determining graduate allowances, training additions and allowances for special posts, until after he has consulted the House of Commons.

When the Burnham Committee comes to submit scales of remuneration for teachers to me the information will be available to hon. Members, and it will then be open to my hon. Friend to take such action as he thinks fit to secure their consideration by this House. I would, however, remind him that the functions of the Minister under Section 89 of the Education Act, 1944, are limited to approving or disapproving the scales of remuneration submitted to him by the Burnham Committee and, if he approves them, to making an order requiring local education authorities to remunerate teachers in accordance with those scales. It was made quite clear when the Clause, which is now Section 89, was introduced in another place that it was so drafted as to leave no responsibility with the Minister for framing the scales or amending scales submitted to him.

May I now ask the right hon. Gentleman, if the House interferes in the manner suggested by the Question, whether it would not defeat the very purpose of the Section mentioned, and also destroy the very negotiating power that he himself has set up under the Act? Would it not destroy the Burnham Committee?

I do not think it is quite as simple as that. The important thing is that I shall take my decision as laid down by the Statute. I cannot regulate the proceedings of the House.

As my right hon. Friend abolished the secondary Burnham Committee, and the secondary teachers now find themselves in a small minority in the new general Burnham Committee, is it right that the secondary teachers should have their fate largely determined——

That is an argument and not a question. Mr Lindsay.

May I——

If the hon. Gentleman will ask his question properly, and not make an argument, it is quite all right.

Is it right that the secondary teachers should have their fate decided by the National Union of Teachers to which they do not belong?

A short answer to my hon. Friend is that "secondary" has a new application under the Education Act, 1944, and implies every form of secondary education that will be given. People will have to get accustomed to that definition.

Will my right hon. Friend tell us how soon after the Recess he is likely to be able to make a statement on this question on which, as he knows, there is extremely widespread anxiety among secondary teachers, and especially among university graduates?

I am, of course, aware of this anxiety, to which every attention naturally ought to be paid, but I cannot regulate the proceedings of this House which are in the hands of hon. Members and should be arranged through the ordinary channels.

asked the Minister of Education how many boys are now being trained for the building industry in junior technical schools and other comparable institutions; and how many recruits are needed annually for this industry.

In May last, the last date for which figures are available, the number of boys attending junior technical schools for building in England and Wales was 8,882. I am informed that the Building Apprenticeship and Training Council estimate that, assuming the wastage in the industry is made good exclusively by apprentices, the normal annual intake required would be 25,000 including Scotland.

In view of the fact that the school-leaving age cannot be raised for a year and a half, and that 90 per cent. of British boys leave school at the age of 14, will my right hon. Friend consider lowering the age of apprenticeship to 14 to fill this gap, and also see that some part day-time release is made possible for these boys?

I am ready to consider any proposal to increase the number of these courses, because they are much better than they were before, but I cannot give a definite undertaking at this stage.

asked the Minister of Education how many meetings of the Conference of Allied Ministers have so far taken place; what executive responsibility the conference has been given; what is the relation of the conference to U.N.R.R.A.; and which body is responsible for providing educational equipment to European countries where the needs are urgent.

The Conference has held 14 meetings and in addition its Executive Bureau has met on 25 occasions. Within the limits of its budget, the Conference has taken what steps it could to lay plans for assisting Allied Governments to restore their educational services and for promoting future co-operation in educational matters among the United Nations. U.N.R.R.A. has disclaimed responsibility for procuring or providing finance for educational materials or services, but will be kept in close touch with the work of the Conference. The responsibility for the supply of educational equipment rests primarily upon the Governments concerned, but the Conference took an active part in drafting the project for a United Nations Organisation for Educational and Cultural Reconstruction which will furnish a means of assisting in the provision of this much needed equipment.

In view of the initiative taken by my right hon. Friend, could he say how many nations are required to confirm the tentative draft constitution before it can become workable, and whether he will now give a second initiative by confirming it by His Majesty's Government?

The answer to the first part of the supplementary question is 20; the answer to the second part is that I think we can be very hopeful.