asked the Minister of Labour whether he will amend the regulation whereby a building contractor or his son or brother when released under Class B may be directed by the employment exchange to a firm other than his own.

:I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald) on 11th October, a copy of which I am sending to him.

In view of the fact that it is the usual practice not to send these men away from their home towns, does the Minister think that it is justifiable that these men released under Class B should be directed to work for a rival firm?

:I would prefer not to add to the answer which I have given. If the hon. Member will look at that, and let me have any further information, I will be glad to have it.

asked the Minister of Labour approximately how many men would be eligible for immediate release under Class B in the categories of building and civil engineering and industries ancillary thereto, if Class B releases were not restricted to 10 per cent. of Class A releases; and if he will consider removing or modifying such restriction in respect of such category.

:The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, the answer is in the negative. The Government has repeatedly stated its intention to maintain the principle of release by age and length of service, subject to the provision for limited release in Class B, which has been accepted by men and women in the Services as fair and reasonable.

Is the Minister aware that according to a careful calculation made by the present Minister of Works, and explained to this House on 7th December last, only one in ten ex-Service families will be found housing accommodation within two years after the-end of the war? In view of that does he not consider that the majority of men in the Forces would welcome the early release of everyone who could help in building houses, even if it meant prolonging the service of others?

No, Sir, that is not the impression we are getting from the communications we are receiving. On the other hand, there is every reason to believe that with the demobilisation of 1,500,000 men by the end of this year there will be considerable labour augmentation generally in industry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether building operatives in the Middle and Far East are considered for Class B releases equally with those stationed nearer home.

Yes, Sir.

Could my right hon. Friend publish comparative figures to illustrate his reply, as the men in the Far East are a little sceptical about it?

I hesitate to make any more promises, but I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now give reconsideration to the position of men who, after four years' service or more in the N.F.S., have been called up for service in the Army, placed in high demobilisation groups and not permitted to count any of their N.F.S. service so far as Army pay rates are concerned.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him to a similar Question on 9th October.

Does not the Minister think that these men, in view of their long service, are being rather unfairly treated?

That is a matter of opinion.

Is it not a fact that these men when they were in the N.F.S. were paid on a Service rather than on an industrial basis, and, therefore, surely it is only right that their service in the N.F.S. should be taken into consideration for the purpose of long service pay?

I think that point is dealt with in the answer which I gave previously, to which I have referred.

asked the Minister of Labour on what grounds owners of one-man businesses, who are now serving in the Forces, can obtain release; and whether such release is temporary or final.

:There is no provision for the early release of owners of one-man businesses as such. These cases are usually based on considerations of a personal nature and are, therefore, dealt with by the Service Departments under the arrangements for compassionate release. Release on compassionate grounds may be for a definite or an indefinite period, according to circumstances.

Is the Minister aware that there is a general impression that owners of one-man businesses who have served three years in the Forces and who have compassionate grounds now get released; and has there in fact been any alteration at all in the treatment of these cases?

So far as the treatment of compassionate cases is concerned, that is a matter for the respective Services and not the Ministry of Labour.

Would the Minister consider the advisability of putting this matter on a specific, clear basis which everybody can understand, laying down the definite conditions on which owners of one-man businesses may be released?

Quite definitely we will do that.

Is the Minister aware that his statement this afternoon appears to conflict with the official statement issued by his Ministry a few weeks-ago on which, I suppose, we must all of us have had innumerable inquiries? Will he, at an early date, make a clear statement on this matter?

I cannot recall the statement to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but I think there is a clear case made out for what the hon. Gentleman has said, and I will immediately see about getting out a statement on the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a wider interpretation, if possible, to the term "compassionate leave?" It has been very narrowly interpreted by the Services, and I think we might have a wider interpretation with regard to men in this class.

This is not a matter for the Ministry of Labour, but I will make contact with the Service Ministers on the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is pre- pared to consider placing former agricultural workers now in the Forces in Class B for release.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hallam (Mr. Jennings) on 9th October, a copy of which I am sending him.

Will the Minister give the House some assurance that the employment of prisoner-of-war labour for agriculture will be considered before such time as these prisoners of war finally disappear? Is he aware that the present situation is extremely unsatisfactory for the man who wants to come back to agriculture, and who does not know how soon his labour is going to be really useful in view of the prisoner-of-war situation?

That is rather wide of the original Question, but we are in almost daily contact with the Minister of Agriculture on this question of labour supply.

Is the Minister aware that agricultural executive committees inform farmers now that they may apply, and send them special forms to apply, for the release of agricultural workers, which appears to conflict with the statement which the right hon. Gentleman has made?

Conflict with this statement or the other one?

With both, if you like.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been released from the Forces under Class C since 1st September, 1945; and will he give the figures of the three Services.

The number of men released in Class C between 1st September and 30th September is as follows:—

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain, having regard to the numerical strength of the three Services, why they should apparently be following entirely different practices in that matter?

I am afraid I cannot answer for practices in the Services.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will agree that in future the group number of men in the Services who have been granted temporary release will not be affected by such release.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Luton (Mr. Warbey) in answer to a similar question on 9th October, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour why, in his new demobilisation proposals, in view of the retention of the principle of age and service, R.A.F. releases are three groups behind the Army and 17 groups behind the Navy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the men to be released from each of the three Services will be the same percentage of the total strength of those in the Navy, Army and Air Force, or on what basis the allocations were made; and will he make it clear to R.A.F. personnel why the group releases of the Navy and Army are higher in group numbers than that of the R.A.F.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the statement made on this subject by the Under-Secretary of State for Air in the Debate on the Adjournment on Friday, 12th October.

Is the Minister aware that there is widely spread dissatisfaction with regard to the dates of demobilisation; and will he see that the fullest possible information is given to these men, in order that not only they but their relatives may understand the reason for this delay in demobilisation?

I did not hear the Debate, but I was under the impression that that information was given by the Under-Secretary of State for Air on Friday last.

Will my right hon. Friend see that that informative speech of the Under-Secretary of State for Air is made known to the R.A.F. personnel concerned?

Is the Minister aware that anyone reading that speech, especially men in the R.A.F., will remain thoroughly dissatisfied?

Could the Minister have copies of that statement printed, and make those copies available for Members for use in their correspondence?

I seem to be full of promises this afternoon, but I promise to look into that. I am aware, as a Member of Parliament as distinct from a Minister, of the communications we are getting. I will confer with the Departments concerned to see if we cannot get some informative statement published in Hansard or circulated in some other way.

In view of the large increase in our correspondence from these disillusioned men in the R.A.F. and their wives, will the Minister approach the Chancellor with a view to giving us a subsidy to deal with this correspondence?

Will my right hon. Friend answer the first part of my Question?

I referred my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Air.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will mitigate the disparity in the rate of release as between the three Services by increasing the proportion of recruits allocated to the R.A.F. and by remustering into the R.A.F. a proportion of Army and Navy personnel in late release groups.

In the allocation of manpower to meet the requirements of the three Services, such considerations as those mentioned by the hon. Member have been taken into account. There is, however, a limit to the extent to which releases can be accelerated by the call up or transfer of inexperienced men.

Does that answer mean that men from the other Services are being remustered in the R.A.F.?

I am afraid I cannot answer that question without notice.

Is there a larger proportion in the intake into the R.A.F. than to the other Services?

I am afraid I cannot answer that. If my hon. Friend will put that question down I will get the information.

Shall I put down the same question?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the difficulties at present, which prevent the personnel of the R.A.F. from getting their releases according to their groups at the same time or speed as the other Services; and if he will at once consult with his colleagues in order to give to all men in the Forces who are being prevented from release at the time that age and service applies in general, some recompense financially or otherwise, because of the hardship they are suffering.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 9th October to the hon. Member for Southall (Mr. Ayles), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the shortage of architects and assistants required for the housing shortage, he will consider releasing architectural students on the same terms as those released for the arts and theology.

Students holding scholarships for the purpose of taking an architectural course at a university may start such courses this year on the same conditions as students holding Arts scholarships.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will arrange for South American volunteers with dual nationality, serving in the British Forces, to be classified as Class B for release if either our ambassador or the ambassador of a South American country in Great Britain certify that they are required for work essential either to the South American country or to British trade with that country.

No, Sir. If in any particular case the services of a South American volunteer serving in His Majesty's Forces are regarded as essential for urgent work of reconstruction, it is open to his employer or, if he has been in business on his own account, to the man himself, to apply through the appropriate Government Department in this country for his release as an individual specialist in Class B.

In view of the fact that there are some 1,366 men and about 211 women who could be valuable ambassadors for us abroad, could the right hon. Gentleman indicate in more detail how these people can get out to take up foreign businesses abroad?

I will look into the point which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has raised. I am not sure that it is covered by the Question, but I will examine it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great delay which is caused, for instance, by having to send telegrams?

I do not think any difficulty is put in the way by the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the position in regard to demobilisation of men indefinitely released from the Forces for transfer to industry; and whether it is still necessary to require them to remain in their present employment.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Balham and Tooting (Captain R. Adams) on 11th October, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied that sufficient numbers of men and women are being released from the services for employment in the trades and industries vital to our export markets.

I would refer the hon. Member to my comprehensive statement of 2nd October, a copy of which I am sending him, in which I explained that the numbers of men and women being released from the Forces are the maximum possible in the present circumstances.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that if these releases are not accelerated we shall be gravely behind with our exports and we shall miss the boat?

We hope to be able to maintain the acceleration which has been promised up to the end of the year, and, while we cannot have all that we require, we think there will be a general easement of the position.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that young men called up out of industry are being replaced by the release of men from the services.

The calling up of men from industry cannot, of course, be dependent upon individual replacement by men released from the Forces; but the number of young men being called up is very much smaller than the number of men being released.

Is the Minister not aware of the great dislocation caused particularly in a place like Sheffield, where there are many complaints that the calling up of young men is hindering production?

The process must continue to some extent because the young men must go into the Forces to take the places of the older men who are being released.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will permit Merchant Navy Service rendered prior to Army Service to count in defining a man's age and Service group number.

Service in the Merchant Navy since 3rd September, 1939, is taken into account in determining the release group numbers of members of the Armed Forces.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, which, of course, does no more than bare justice to the Merchant Navy, may I ask whether he can give me an assurance that there are no classes left out of this group?

I cannot understand what the hon. Gentleman means. If he will let me know about it I will look into it.