asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is able to give any information regarding 937633, Warrant-Officer R. H. Barratt, R.A.F., who escaped from Stalag VIIIB and after several months freedom in Hungary was taken by the Russians when they occupied Hungary.

I urged the Soviet Embassy in London on 18th August to arrange for the release of Warrant-Officer Barratt. Ten days later I was informed that inquiries were being made. On 10th October I asked the Soviet Embassy to let me have as quickly as possible the result of their inquiries.

Could my right hon. Friend tell us on what charge Warrant-Officer Barratt is being held?

No, I cannot. I am waiting for the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the recommendations made by the Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Hungary to the leaders of the Hungarian political parties, in respect of their election policy, were endorsed by the British member of the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the American and British representatives have been consulted about Marshal Voroshiloff's election arrangements; whether they concurred in them; and what exactly these arrangements are.

Neither the British nor, so far as I am aware, the United States representatives in Budapest were consulted before Marshal Voroshiloff made recommendations to the Hungarian Political Parties concerning electoral procedure. The British and United States representatives did not concur in these recommendations, which were described in my reply on 24th October to the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson).

If the representative is not consulted on matters of such importance, what functions does he fulfil?

As many functions are being carried out and there is a change in the treatment of the Allied Control Commission, it is very difficult; but I am quite satisfied that as we persist many of these suspicions will be removed and it will function much better than it has.