asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that aliens serving in His Majesty's Forces who have applied for naturalisation will be permitted to remain in this country after demobilisation while their applications are considered.

An applicant for naturalisation who fulfils the statutory conditions, and qualifies for special consideration under the policy which I have announced, would not be called upon to leave the country pending a decision on his application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now been able to work out the special arrangements concerning distressed persons in Germany and Austria, so as to enable aliens in this country who wish to bring in relatives from Germany and Austria covered by the scheme, to communicate with those relatives and to give them the assurances which the scheme requires them to pass on to the officials specified; and if he will make sure that the arrangements are such that aliens here will be able to send letters to their relatives in Germany and Austria both inside and outside camps.

Detailed arrangements to this end are being worked out in consultation with the Control Commissions and with my Noble Friend the Postmaster-General. I will make a statement as soon as I am in a position to do so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that it is two weeks since he made his announcement, and is he aware that great anxiety is naturally caused among people who are longing to see their only surviving relatives? Cannot he make further arrangements?

I am working on this as quickly as possible, and what I am exceedingly anxious to do is to make sure that, when I do make an announcement, it will be of machinery that will be expeditious.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say that his arrangement would also apply to countries other' than Germany and Austria in Europe, because there are a large number of people at present in such other countries awaiting similar possibilities?

I desire to make arrangements so that every eligible person under the announcement I have made shall be able to avail himself of those arrangements as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the officers and men of the Polish Forces and the Polish civilians in the late Government who do not desire to return to Poland will be granted the same facilities for obtaining employment in this country as the officers and men of the Polish mercantile marine; and do these facilities differ from those already in force.

Members of the Polish Forces who have been discharged with my approval, and other Polish civilians, are normally allowed the same facilities as other foreign civilians in this country for entering such employment as may be approved by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that extra facilities are really required by these Poles, who are not in the same category as ordinary foreigners resident in this country, and are not to be compulsorily returned to Poland, but will remain here? May I ask the Minister whether he will grant those extra facilities to them to find employment?

I think my answer indicates that these people are being treated quite fairly, but if the hon. and gallant Member has any specific cases which he regards as of exceptional hardship and will bring them to my notice, I will be glad to consider them.

It is not a question of exceptional cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement respecting the recent disurbances among deportees in Brixton prison; and what were their alleged grievances.

On the evening of 22nd November, 13 aliens of various nationalities detained in Brixton Prison pending removal from this country, barricaded themselves in their cells as a protest against the delay in their deportation. Arrangements had in fact been completed the day before to remove nine of them; but when this was made known to them they refused to abandon their positions or to permit two of their number who were due to go immediately, to come out. They were allowed to stay where they were over night; but as they remained obdurate next morning, the Governor took steps to restore order, and after due warning the fire hose was used with the desired effect. The men made it clear that they were protesting not against prison conditions but delay in deportation. Less than half of the men had in fact been awaiting removal since dates earlier than October. Such delay as occurred in removing them is due primarily to the difficulty in obtaining passages and to negotiations with the men's national authorities for their transportation and reception.

Did any of these men use violence or threaten to do so? Does the right hon. Gentleman consider there were any other means than those taken to try to restore order?

No, Sir. I think that in the difficult circumstances with which he was confronted, the Prison Governor acted ex- peditiously, and, I think, with reasonable mercy.

Might I ask the Home Secretary whether he would reply to the first part of my supplementary question, in which I asked whether they used violence?

I have no information that they used violence, beyond barricading themselves in their cells.

Will the Home Secretary, in view of the behaviour of the Opposition on the Finance Bill, consider a judicious use of the hose?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motor vehicles and of what types are in the open air N.F.S. dump at Rickmansworth; and for what period of time it is proposed to leave them there.

There are 33 National Fire Service vehicles lodged at Rickmansworth in a park adjoining a fire station. Of these, 18 were commercial vehicles, and 15 cars, of which nine have bodies specially converted to National Fire Service use. Of the 33, 28 have been reported as surplus to the responsible disposals Department, the Ministry of Supply, to whom the last part of the Question should be addressed. The other five await classification.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us on what date the 28 were reported as surplus?

Certainly, if the hon. Member will put a question down.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which exists among part-time and retained firemen because the privileges which they had enjoyed before the formation of the N.F.S. have not been restored to them, he will now remove the ban on the ar- rangement of social events on and from station premises in aid of local and other charities in which the firemen are interested.

I assume that the hon.Al ember is referring to the arrangement under which the only appeals for benevolent objects connected with the National Fire Service, which are allowed on or from National Fire Service premises are those for the Service's own National Benevolent Fund. I am not aware that this arrangement is causing any general dissatisfaction and as at present advised I do not propose to interfere with it.

:May I ask the Home Secretary whether, if I send him information showing that some units wish to organise these entertainments which they used to be able to do, he will look into the matter?

If the hon. Member will send me the information or come to see me about the matter, I shall be very happy to discuss it with him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the commercial garage premises belonging to Messrs. H. E. Burnham in the Cornmarket, Worcester, were vacated by the N.F.S. on 3oth September, 1945, and have not been used since that date; and when these premises arc to be derequisitioned.

These premises are being de-requisitioned now. I understand that the owner was given possession some little time ago in anticipation of this step.

asked the Minister of Health, what steps he is taking to ensure the availability of radiograph apparatus for the detection of tuberculosis in the county of Kent.

Facilities for civilian mass radiography will be increased as more apparatus can be manufactured, and more doctors become available, and the needs of Kent County will be considered along with those of other areas.

Is the Minister aware that there is a serious shortage in Kent of this apparatus, and that this problem is causing great concern to a number of people?

There is an inadequate supply of apparatus all over the country and we must try to increase supplies.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he will take steps to give to civilian patients in tuberculosis hospitals the same standard of food rations as are now granted to military patients.

All patients in civil hospitals are entitled to special supplements of ordinary civilian rations, and tuberculous patients to two pints of milk a day in addition. I am advised that, in nutritional value, this dietary compares favourably with that laid down for military hospitals.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the anomalous situation which exists in tuberculosis hospitals where there are Service and civilian patients, and where Service patients are receiving a higher standard of rations than civilians? Is he prepared to receive representations from medical authorities on the subject?

I am aware that the hospital system at the moment contains a large number of anomalies. I hope to clear up a number of them. I am certainly prepared to receive representations on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider bringing in the necessary legislation to empower county councils to exercise the powers vested in local housing authorities so as to enable them to deal with the overspill population from surrounding cities and towns, and to enable county authorities to assist financially and otherwise in solving the housing problems in county districts.

The question of the most appropriate authority for building satellite and new towns is at present under examination by the committee appointed by my right hon. Firend the Minister of Town and Country Planning, under the Chairmanship of Lord Reith, and my hon. Friend will not expect me to express a view on this point in advance of the committee's report.

:Is the Minister aware of the anxiety that is being felt by county authorities who wish to assist him and the Government in dealing with the housing problem; and will he take the earliest opportunity in view of the urgency of this matter to take advantage of the assistance that they can give him?

I am aware of the anxiety of county councils to exercise housing powers, and I am equally aware of the anxiety of other local authorities that the county councils should not exercise these powers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now issue a White Paper giving the same information as in Cmd. 6609, issued in the last Parliament but revised to show the present plans of His Majesty's Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 17th October, when I said that I would not commit myself to anything except detailed monthly progress reports, and that these reports would start with the New Year.

:Can the Minister say why it was possible for the present Prime Minister and the Lord President of the Council to commit themselves to such a White Paper, when they have had the advantage of the advice of the right hon. Gentlemen on this side of the House, and yet they are not prepared to commit themselves at the present time?

I am afraid the supplementary question is so obscure that I do not follow it.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulties of which he has been informed by letter, he is prepared at a convenient time to extend the powers contained in the Private Street Works Act, 1892, and Section 150 of the Public Health Act, 1875, to entitle local authori ties to require developers of housing estates to give security for the completion of the streets thereon to the satisfaction of the local authority, and to enable local authorities, in appropriate cases, to require developers to make up the streets finally in lieu of the frontagers.

While I cannot give any undertaking about legislation to amend the law relating to private streets, this suggestion will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider a limited increase in rents in order to enable landlords to carry out repairs which now cost considerably more than when the Rent Restriction Acts were passed.

:I can hold out no prospect of legislation to give effect to this suggestion.

Is the Minister aware that there are a large number of landlords who are not fulfilling their obligations under the present Rent Acts in respect of repairs, and can he take steps to see to it that local authorities inform tenants of their rights under these Acts?

I hope that the supplementary question of my hon. Friend will have the effect of drawing the attention of local authorities to this matter.

I must ask the right hon. Gentleman to speak louder. No one, I think, at this corner of the House could hear his reply.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that housing sites in Macclesfield are now complete; and if he will state when the first temporary houses will be delivered.

:I am informed that the development works are not yet completed and that there should be no delay in the delivery of the houses when the site is ready for them.

:Could the Minister speed up the deliveries of these temporary houses to St. Marylebone, where sites have been ready for many months?

:Yes, but the temporary housing programme is still suffering from the lack of initiative of the previous Government.

:Will the Minister issue a time and progress schedule to all the places where these houses have been approved, so that the local authorities can know when they will arrive?

Local authorities are much more interested in the arrival of the houses than in a time and progress schedule.

:That is exactly what I said.

asked the Minister of Health what are his intentions towards the North-Eastern Housing Association; and will he discontinue the activities of that association and transfer all houses controlled by the association to the local authority in the area in which they are situate.

The question to which my hon. Friend refers is at present under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

When will my right hon. Friend be in a position to make a statement on this subject?

I hope very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will issue a list of local authorities in Wales which maintain information bureaux and those which have citizens' advice bureaux; and whether it is his intention to continue grants for either or both of these activities.

:I have no complete information as to the local authorities in Wales which are maintaining information centres, but there are 72 citizens' advice bureaux, the majority of which serve as information centres for local authorities in whose areas they function. As explained in Circular 197/45, which I recently sent to local authorities on the subject, it is intended that the peacetime cost of this service should be borne locally and no direct Exchequer grant will be payable.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have set up public relations machinery; and whether it is his intention to inaugurate a national public relations organisation to co-ordinate such activity as recommended by the National Association of Local Government Officers.

:Local authorities generally have machinery for contact with the Press and public. My Department is consulting representatives of the local authorities associations on suggestions for the improvement of local government publicity both locally and nationally.

Is the Minister aware that the country has 26 public relations departments and does not want to begin the same racket with local authorities?

I think we can leave that to the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health what steps the Government propose to take for the reform of the present system of rating and valuation.

I cannot hold out hopes of early action in this matter owing to the many other more urgent questions which are fully occupying the time of all those concerned.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate the urgency of this matter, having regard to the increase in the financial responsibilities of local authorities; and is he not aware of the general desire that an early step should be taken, particularly in the repealing of the Derating Act?

My hon. Friend will have ample opportunity to debate the matter and discuss all these aspects of local government finance. I appreciate the need for the overhauling of all the machinery of local government finance, but there are certain substantial changes to be made before very long in the functions of local authorities, and we ought first to see what they are before we overhaul their finances.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the authorities concerned with sea defences a definite assurance that legislation will be introduced to enable him to make contributions towards the cost of schemes undertaken by local authorities.

No, Sir. Where drainage interests are involved, a drainage board which does approved capital works of sea defence is eligible for substantial grants under the Land Drainage Act, 1930. Other local authorities are not in general responsible for sea defence, but have the ordinary rights and duties of a property owner to protect their own property. The financial arrangements in these cases vary with the type of property to be protected. I am not satisfied that further special Exchequer assistance to local authorities as property owners is justified.

Does the Minister realise that there is a body of opinion in favour of sea defence being made a national charge?

:Is the Minister aware that in defence areas on the South-East coast we are losing some of the few houses we have?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that there is a problem here. It is one which is very substantial in character, and requires investigation and probably legislation.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of unemployed workers at present registered at the employment exchanges in Edinburgh and Leith on the most recent date for which net figures are available.

At 15th October there were 1,798 unemployed insured persons aged 14 years and over, on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Edinburgh and Leith, excluding 364 who had been classified as unsuitable for ordinary employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what the latest available figures are for unemployment in the county of Merioneth; what percentage of the insurable population of the county these represent; and whether the figures show an increase or decrease in unemployment since VE-day.

At 15th October, 1945, the number of insured persons aged 14 years and over registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in the county of Merioneth was 234 or 4 per cent. of the number of unemployment books exchanged there. The corresponding figures for 16th April, 1945, the date nearest to VE-day on which a count of the unemployed was taken, were 110 and 2 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour what the latest available figures are for unemployment in Wales; and what proportion of the insurable population these represent; and whether they show an increase or decrease since VE-day.

:The number of insured persons aged 14 years and over registered as unemployed in Wales and Monmouthshire at 15th October, 1945, was 54,719 or 8 per cent. of the estimated numbers insured at July, 1945. The corresponding figures at 16th April, 1945, the date nearest to VE-day on which a count of the unemployed was made, were 12,195 and 2 per cent.

Does this figure include those who were at the Friends' House?

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the fact that dock undertakings are about to be nationalised, he will at once assume responsibility for the wage negotiations with the dockers' representatives.

No, Sir.

What conceivable interest can the employers of labour take in the wage structure? What is to prevent them from fixing wages at any figure? Does the Minister not think that in the national interest these wage negotiations—

Speech.

I think the employers are just as anxious to play the game as the workers are.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of operatives in the woollen and worsted industry who left the industry in the period from the end of June to the end of September, 1945.

:During the period in question there was a net increase of 1,700 in the number of operatives in the industry. I regret that information is not available as to the numbers who left the industry in that period.

:Could the Minister say what special step he is taking to augment the labour force in this industry, which is a conversion industry, upon which other industries employing thousands of workers depend for supply?

We are using all the powers available to the Ministry, but if the hon. Member will put down a question I will let him know if special steps can be taken.

Will the Minister accelerate the initial impulse?

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the manpower in the civilian industries and services of the country have been restored since VE-Day.

Precise figures are not available as from VE-Day, but I am in a position to give my hon. Friend the required information as from the end of June last. During the three months from the end of June to the end of September, there was a net reduction of 1,263,000 persons in the Forces, Civil Defence and munitions, while it is anticipated that in the three months to the end of the year, there will be a further reduction of 2,460,000, making a total for the six months of 3,723,000, Not all these are available for civilian work. Allowance must be made for the fall in the working population, for unemployment and for ex-Service men and women taking their paid leave. After allowing for these factors, employment in civilian industries and services increased in the three months to the end of September by 739,000 and it is estimated it will increase by another 1,561,000 in the last three months of the year. The total increase in the half-year ending 31st December next will thus be 2,300,000.

:Mr. Leslie.

rose—

No one rose quickly to ask a supplementary before I had called the next Question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give approximate figures for the number of persons in whole-time employment in retail distribution on 1st January, 1945, and the number employed on 30th September, 1945.

:Separate figures are not available for retail distribution, but for the distributive trades as a whole it is estimated that approximately 1,422,000 full time insured persons were in employment at the beginning of January, and 1,470,000 at the end of September.

in view of the remarkable answer which the right hon. Gentleman gave to Question 61, will he consider the transfer of more workers to the distributive industries, and thus help to reduce the queues from which so many shoppers are now suffering?

So far as the facts are known to us, it is not only the shortage of distributive workers but it is the fact that the goods and commodities are not there, and the two things must go together. The distributive forces are having a fair share of the labour available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will set a time limit for W (T) Reserve men engaged on bomb-damage repairs in London to be transferred to their home districts, where they are urgently needed for building houses under local authorities' schemes; and if it is found impossible to spare single men from London, will consideration be given to the case of married men.