asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on whose responsibility four officials of the Control Commission for Germany, whose names have been given to him, who were charged on 17th March, 1947, with conspiracy, are still at work and exercising authority over subordinate officials who may have to give evidence against them; and whether he is satisfied that this is consistent with good discipline and efficient administration.

These officials have been suspended from duty following the preliminary hearing of their cases and committal for trial.

On what date were they suspended?

They were suspended immediately after the inquiry by the magistrate, and, within my recollection, they were suspended on 21st April

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this further, because I have evidence of eye-witnesses that they were working in the Control Office, and were drawing their salaries until a week ago?

I think that the hon. and learned Member would agree that it would be unfair to suspend them until they had been committed for trial. However, I am very willing to consider any evidence which the hon. and learned Member has.

Can it be explained to the House how eye-witnesses could know that these persons were drawing their salaries?

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a typical instance of the behaviour of some members of the Control Commission, who, by their behaviour, have lost the respect and confidence of the German people?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the skilled engineer who was put to sort letters in the Control Commission for Germany, in February last, for two to four weeks only is still engaged on the work and only sorting about eight letters daily; how long he is to continue this work; and whether steps will be taken to clear up the position, since this engineer was sent to this work by an officer against whom he may have to give evidence on a criminal charge made against the officer.

This officer was taken from his duties in the statistical and information rooms at Hanover last month, so that he could give evidence in Dusseldorf. He was released from attendance at court towards the end of March, and has since been on leave in -this country. I am assured that he was not sent to Hanover by an officer against whom he may have had to give evidence, but by the head of his branch.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say how much longer he intends to cost the country £1,000 a year in allowing this man to sort eight letters a day, when he is a skilled engineer?

I have already pointed out that he is not at present engaged on that task.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept it from me that he is not on leave in this country, but went back a few days ago to sort his eight letters a day?

I should be delighted to consider any evidence which the hon. and learned Gentleman has to offer, but I am surprised that he has immediate information about what this engineer is doing.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this man was sent there by the head of his branch, who is one of the officers against whom the man preferred charges?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this engineer is working a five-day week?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what firearms and other prohibited or restricted goods were found on the premises of Fritz Berg, Altena, when they were recently searched; with what offences he has since been charged and why he is still in possession of two motor cars and in control of his factories.

Friedrich Berg was found to be in possession of three sporting rifles, a Mauser automatic pistol, and quantities of ammunition. A large amount of rationed food, both Allied and German, and Allied spirits and cigarettes were also found. He has been charged with conspiracy to commit an offence in connection with purchase of cutlery; possession of excess quantities of rationed foods; unauthorised possession of property belonging to the Allied forces; unauthorised possession of fire-arms and ammunition; corruption of a person acting under authority of Allied forces; and two offences under the Military Government Notice of Control and Allocation of Consumer Goods dated 7th April, 1946. The two motorcars said to be in his possession are his private property. He is no longer in control of his factories, as he was removed from office on 3rd March, 1947, under the denazification regulations.

Is it really satisfactory that he and his wife should be driving about in these two motorcars, including periodically attending hearings before this trial?

The hon. and learned Member will note that my information is that he is in possession of motorcars, but I have caused most immediate inquiries to be made whether he is entitled to use them. If there is any reason why he should not use them, I will take care to see that he does not.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire particularly into the fact that every time he comes up for another hearing he drives away in one car and his wife in another?

Am I right in thinking that the possession of firearms is a capital offence in Germany, and can investigations be made into how a person charged with a capital offence was allowed bail?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what effect the new coal agreement will have upon German industrial output.

In reaching this agreement the needs of German industry were fully considered. The agreement is designed to secure an equitable distribution of increased production in Germany, and in those European countries dependent on German coal, and it ensures that increases in German coal production will be shared equitably between these internal and external needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, in the latest questionnaire for denazification purposes, Germans in the British zone are asked how they voted in 1932.

There has been no change in the questionnaire used for denazification; the question to which my hon. Friend refers is designed to discover whether the German concerned had Nazi sympathies at a time when it was still possible in Germany to indicate one's political preferences under conditions of relative freedom and secrecy.

Does my right hon. Friend think it is a good guarantee to the Germans that they should support a democratic system when they have no guarantee that in a few year's' time they may not be asked how they voted in 1946?

I agree, and I think that this matter wants looking into.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what effective check he has to prove whether the replies to this question are correct or not?

I have said that this matter needs looking into afresh.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the reason for refusing the entry of Germans recently from Poland to the British zone of Germany; and whether the Polish authorities have given any indication of the number of Germans they still wish to leave their western territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Polish Government has given notice to deport a further 400,000 Germans from Polish territory; and what is His Majesty's Government's policy in regard to accepting any of these deportees in the British zone of Germany.

The organised movement into the British zone of Germany of Germans to be expelled under the Potsdam Agreement from the territories now administered by Poland was suspended by the Control Commission on 23rd December last because of the severe weather. The question of resuming the operation has been deferred, as it was proposed to review the whole question of population transfers during the Moscow conference. Unfortunately, no agreement was reached.

Has my right hon. Friend made it plain to the Polish Government that further expulsions from their zone into our zone will make economic conditions there more and more difficult?

Yes, Sir, but it is not only a question of numbers, but who should be expelled. If we are to have merely refugees and unemployable people, and no corresponding productive people, the situation will become very difficult.

Can my right hon. Friend say what proportion of those expelled have been men or employable women?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for how long he expects it will be necessary to maintain the reduction of the bread ration from 5 lb. to 3 lb. weekly in the British zone of Germany; and whether the hardship thus inflicted can be offset by stepping up supplies of other food. stuffs.

The reduction which was adopted on the recommendation of the German Executive Committee as a prudent measure during a period of low stocks, and which applies to both the British and the United States zones, has at present been authorised only for the first week of the ration period. It is hoped that the full issue will be made up later in May. In the past potatoes have been used when necessary to supplement shortages of grain, but these are also in short supply.

While there are these shortages, will my right hon. Friend take all steps to make clear to the German people the reason for them?

That is being done. They are fully alive to the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether ha is aware that supplies of milk to civilians in the British zone are almost nil; and that meat, fats and potatoes are in such short supply that the normal ration cannot be honoured; and if he will make a statement.

Milk has been in short supply in the British zone but it has been possible to meet the needs of priority consumers with a fair degree of success. The position should improve with the start of the new grazing season. Difficulties in providing full rations of meat, fats and potatoes have been largely due to the failure of the local German authorities to collect and distribute these foodstuffs equitably throughout the British and American zones. The matter is under consideration in conjunction with the American authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date the Report of the Oil Seeds Commission to West Africa will be published; and, in view of the importance of the subject at the present time, if he will ensure that publication is pressed forward rapidly.

The report is published today, and copies are available at the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take the appropriate action to see that satisfactory scales of salaries to non-Government teachers comparable to those of civil servants and Government teachers are paid in Nigeria.

The salary scales of non-Government teachers in Nigeria are of course a matter primarily for settlement locally between the parties concerned. I understand that negotiations are at present proceeding in Nigeria.

Is there any likelihood of the salaries paid to the Commission's teachers being made approximately the same as those of Government teachers?

I think the magnitude of this problem must be appreciated, and that it is likely to involve the Nigerian Government in an additional expenditure of £4 million.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that non-Government parties are not represented on the committee which is considering this matter, and will he secure representation for them on this committee?

There was a meeting, I think, about 10 days ago at which the representatives of all sections were present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what action, having regard to the continued inadequacy of rolling stock on the Central Line in Tanganyika to carry present commitments of goods traffic, it is proposed to take to serve the large scale requirements of the groundnut scheme;

I am fully satisfied with the liaison between the Tanganyika Government and the managing agents for the groundnuts scheme on questions of railway equipment. Forty-seven box wagons have been on order to meet the ordinary goods traffic from the Central Line and orders for a further 90 have been placed to cover the extra requirements of the groundnuts scheme. About 250 wagons of miscellaneous types are also now being obtained from surplus stocks in the Middle East for the Central Line.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that local interests will not be entirely prejudiced by the Government's action over the groundnuts scheme, which after all is finally for the benefit of this country?

Yes, Sir. The producers are already there who are engaged in the production of the vital needs both for their own and for this country, and their railway requirements are very much in our minds and will not be prejudiced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an assurance that plans for harbour and wharfage development in Dar-es-Salaam will keep pace with the large-scale demands of the groundnut scheme and also serve the growing needs of existing commercial undertakings.

The number of cranes at Dar-es-Salaam has recently been increased by two and a further three will shortly be added. Extensions to transit sheds are being planned. It is considered that all traffic during the next few years can be handled over the existing quay, although its capacity will be taxed. Extensions to the quay can be undertaken only after progress has been made with other more urgent work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the cost of the damage resulting from the oil installation fire at Haifa caused by terrorist activity; and what steps he is taking to raise the money in Palestine.

No accurate estimate of the cost is available, but the Shell Oil Company, whose installations were those damaged in this terrorist outrage, has through its representatives in Palestine expressed the opinion that the ultimate cost of restoration, including the value of the oil stocks destroyed, will be not less than £400,000. No financial liability for damage done by terrorists is accepted by the Palestine Government. The question of possible steps to recover the cost of this damage is still under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the best means of restraining terrorists is by means of a communal fine and insistence on its being paid?

The whole of this problem is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total number of Jews now accommodated in the camps at Cyprus; what is the cost of these camps to date; how much does it cost a month to administer them; for what number of persons were these camps originally designed; what steps it is proposed to take this year to accommodate the increasing flow of Jews to Palestine; and whether the executive and legislative councils have made any representations to His Majesty's Government on these matters.

The total number of illegal Jewish immigrants now accommodated in the camps in Cyprus is 14,434. The estimate of £1,900,000 given in my reply to the hon. Member on 17th December as the cost of the camps up to 31st March, 1947, has proved to be excessive, but I am not yet in a position to give an exact figure of expenditure up to that date. The cost of administration for the numbers now in the camp is approximately £45,000 a month. In addition £50,758 has been spent up to date on local purchases for welfare purposes. The camps were originally designed to accommodate 10,000 persons, but have since been extended. His Majesty's Government have under constant review the provision of accommodation to meet the number of arrivals expected. No representations on these matters have been made by the Executive Council to His Majesty's Government.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say how much of this expenditure falls on the taxpayer here?

This expenditure falls on the Palestinian Government.

In view of the fact that this figure of 14,000 is very much below the figure of 100,000 which every investigating authority has fixed as the figure which can be permitted to enter Palestine without affecting the political and economic balance, would it not be cheaper for Palestine and this country to allow these 14,000 people into Palestine now?

That raises the whole problem of illegal immigration which is a different question from that on the Order Paper.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether this cost includes the cost for the British soldiers who have to guard and administer these camps?

No, that is a military charge.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Palestinian Jewish settlers themselves are prepared and anxious to help these people to regain their moral and mental status and are prepared to pay in order to see that these people shall be restored in this way? Will he take steps to give them the opportunity of doing that?

I am fully aware of the point. As I have said, the supplementary questions now put to me relate to the whole problem of illegal immigration which is apart altogether from the problem of the camps in Cyprus.

Are illegal immigrants given a priority for legal admission into Palestine over the women, orphans and children still remaining in camps in Europe?

There are admissions of 750 a month which form part of the quota for Palestine.

How many British soldiers are employed altogether in Cyprus?

I shall require notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present revenue and expenditure of Palestine; to what extent is the cost of administration, including expenses, arising from maintaining large military, naval and air services in that country, borne by taxpayers in Palestine and this country, respectively; and what are the sums involved.

The estimated revenue and expenditure of Palestine for 1946–47 are £25½ million and £22 million respectively, but this estimate does not take into account several major items of expenditure such as the cost of the Cyprus camps, possibly amounting in all to £3 million, which will fall to be met from Palestine funds. The cost of civil administration, including the police, is borne by Palestine. The cost of military, naval and air forces is borne by Imperial funds with the exception of a contribution of £42,797 by Palestine in respect of the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force. Questions regarding the cost of military, naval and air services should be addressed to the Ministers concerned, but I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the answer given on 6th March to the hon. Member for Gateshead (Mr. Zilliacus) by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Will the Minister say if either of the first two figures he has given includes the cost of the administration of the Palestine railways?

I could not say without notice.

Does not the Minister agree that the last answer provides an admirable illustration for His Majesty's Government that while it is always more honourable for any Government to keep its promises it is also sometimes cheaper as well?

Is not the basis of taxation per head in Palestine a good deal lighter than in this country, and how large is the bill for Armed Forces compared with the entire revenue of Palestine?

I should require notice concerning the amount of expenditure on the Services. Questions regarding the Armed Forces should be addressed to my Service colleagues.

Could not the Minister answer the first part of my question with regard to the rate of taxation?

I think that Palestine is heavily taxed at the moment, but how this compares with taxation here I cannot say.

Could not immense economy he effected and greater justice achieved if the Government reverted to their pre-governmental policy in this matter?

Who will bear the cost of compensating the dependants of British soldiers murdered in the course of their duties?

The cost falls on Imperial funds.

Why?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what measures are being taken in Palestine to safeguard the permanent way and protect express railway trains against sabotage by terrorists.

The measures at present in force to protect the permanent way and trains of the Palestine Railways. against terrorist outrages include patrols, guards, frequent examination of the lines, and the restriction of traffic to the hours of daylight. In addition, a curfew prohibiting all movement outside built-up areas is imposed as the situation demands.

Would the Secretary of State consider sending out scientific experts to assist the local authorities to deal with these mines?

I think it will be appreciated that this kind of sabotage is exceedingly difficult to detect, but the local authorities are taking all precautions and all possible steps to deal with it.

asked the Minister of Defence what proportion of the £1,653,000,000 spent during 1946–47 on the supply services was spent for the maintenance of Forces abroad; whether he will state in detail the spheres where such money was spent; what proportion of this amount spent abroad had to be paid for in dollars; and whether the proportion of the £899,000,000 to be spent on the supply services during 1947–48 which will have to be spent in dollars will be approximately equal to the proportion spent in 1946–47.

The figure quoted by the hon. Member is the total of the Exchequer issues made during last financial year against Navy, Army, Air and Ministry of Supply Votes. It includes not only expenditure of all kinds for the Forces, but also expenditure by the Ministry of Supply for civil purposes. It would be quite impossible to say how much of this figure can properly be regarded as having been spent on main-tenance of Forces overseas. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to provide the information for which the hon. Member asks.

Cannot the Minister provide the information under the third section relating to particulars of expenditure of dollars, and would not that be very useful for this House to know and a valuable hint for the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

I think it is quite impossible to divide up every part of this expenditure so as to show exactly where stores, allowances and so on are finally expended.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he can now give final figures of the number of deserters who surrendered in response to his recent appeal; how many still await trial; and in how many cases family allowance has not yet been issued to their dependants.

The number of deserters who surrendered between 22nd January and 31st March is:

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in many cases the dependants of those who have responded to the appeal are kept waiting for two months and more for the issue of family allowance?

I have not heard of a single case, but I am sure that my Service Minister colleagues will go into any case which is brought to my hon. and gallant Friend's attention if he would notify them.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many of these men are still at large, and in view of the present disturbing growth of violent crime, will he take all possible steps to round them up?

Some 700 to 800 others have in fact been apprehended during the period covered by my answer and, of course, when the total figure was given to the House some time ago it was pointed out that it was impossible to say with regard to some of them who or where they are. Some may have died in the meantime.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the difficulty which many butchers throughout the country are experiencing in providing the meat ration, he will now state if the Government have been able to make arrangements for an adequate supply of meat to be available for the remaining months of 1947.

I am satisfied that the trade have sufficient meat from which to cut the ration and also to make some sausages. We shall import as much meat as possible but it remains to be seen whether we can get enough to fill the gap made in home production by the great frost.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there were exceptionally heavy killings of livestock at home in the autumn? Is he further aware that our cold storage position is very bad in this country, and does he intend to allow us to drift into a meat crisis without giving any warning?

No, Sir. I have given warning of the difficulties caused by the gap in home production on many occasions, and I am doing so again this afternoon.

But does the right hon. Gentleman intend to do something constructive to help?

asked the Minister of Food the average monthly weight of beef consigned from Aberdeenshire to other distributing centres during the last six months, and the average monthly weight retained for local consumption.

Some 840 tons and 380 tons, respectively.

asked the Minister of Food when he will restore the cut which general butchers were called upon to make by relinquishing their total manufacturing meat allocation, in order to enable the meat ration to be maintained at 1s 4d.

As soon as supplies permit, but I cannot accept the hon. Member's implication that butchers have lost the whole of their manufacturing allowance.

Is the Minister aware that in actual fact the general butchers have no manufacturing meat left and often have to issue unsuitable meat for the ration, and as the present shortage may continue, would the Minister consider allocating a small proportion of the domestic meat ration for processing in the interests of feeding people better and also so that the housewives may have something to buy in the middle of the week?

Some meat is, of course, used for manufacturing purposes. It is not entirely used for the ration. Apart from any meat which the butchers can spare for manufacturing, other meat goes direct to the manufacturers, but I do not think that anything would be gained by adding to that proportion.

Is the Minister aware that the test for cutting a carcase proved that the butcher could not get the number of rations out of the carcase which the Minister has told him to do?

No, Sir. I am quite satisfied that that statement is without foundation.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the present system of partial and divided control over the herring fishing industry between his Department, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Scottish Office and the Herring Industry Board is leading to increasingly unsatisfactory results; and whether he will take immediate steps to give the Herring Board the powers necessary to exercise an effective control over the industry.

The Herring Industry Board is responsible to the Fisheries Ministers, not to me. Any important change in the present arrangements will involve legislation—and there is, I am afraid, no chance of that this Session.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that while arguments may be advanced in favour of Socialism or of free enterprise there is very little to be said for controlling an industry by four separate authorities no two of whom agree on any single subject?

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman in his implication.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that attempts are being made to evade the provisions of the Food (Conditional Sales) Order by some greengrocers selling to customers only a very small quantity of fruit or vegetables which are in short supply and only increasing that quantity in proportion to the amount purchased by the customer of other commodities not in short supply; and, in view of this practice, if he will lay down minimum or maximum quantities of fruit and vegetables in short supply which may be sold to any one purchaser.

Any such form of conditional sales is illegal. I am always ready to take action against anyone who contravenes the Order and if my hon. Friend and others can help me by supplying particulars I will gladly have them investigated.

Is the Minister aware that the kind of thing that is happening is that if a customer wants apples he is offered 4 oz., which amounts to one apple, but that if he buys other goods he is allowed two or three lb. of apples, which are in short supply? Does not the Minister agree that this is imposing a condition of sale and is illegal?

I agree entirely, and I should be very grateful for any help which would lead to successful prosecution in these cases.

Will my right hon. Friend watch particularly the activities of the British Housewives League in this connection?

asked the Minister of Food what is the daily difference in quantity between the liquid milk supplied to retailers and the liquid milk supplied to consumers; and for what purposes the difference is used.

I am unable to give figures of the average difference. Retailers receiving more milk than they need to meet the authorised requirements of their registered customers must declare their surplus to the regional milk supply officer, who arranges for it to be transferred whenever practicable to other retailers wh3 are short of supplies. If this is not practicable the retailer is permitted to dispose of the surplus as equitably as possible amongst his registered customers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the latter half if that alternative provision is either not communicated to the retailers or is not practised by them because, generally speaking, any such surplus milk is poured away because it has gone had before the retailer is authorised to deal with it?

No, Sir. This has been a long-standing arrangement made by my predecessors long before my time, but I reiterate it here today in case any hon. Member doubts it.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of meat bacon, sugar, butter, margarine and cooking fats were, respectively, allocated to domestic consumers and to catering establishments in March, 1946, and March 1947.

As the answer involves number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the allocations for the domestic consumers are greater or less than they were a year ago?

They vary in different cases. In meat they are slightly larger, in bacon slightly smaller and in sugar slightly larger and so on, but the hon. Member had better look at the list.

asked the Minister of Food what does standard cooking fat consist of; whether he is aware that it has a tendency to turn blue and explode when used for cooking; and what steps he proposes to take to improve its quality.

Standard cooking fat consists of soft vegetable oil, palm kernel oil and hardened whale oil. The palm kernel oil makes it a little more liable to spit in the pan but has to be included because of the extreme shortage of soft oils. The hon. Member may rest assured that everything possible is being done to improve the supply of soft oils, for instance, by the East African Groundnut Scheme.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider this most unmannerly conduct on the part of standard cooking fat? Will he take steps to try to improve it so that it does not spit in the pan?

Is the Minister aware that the hon. Members on the other side are likely to turn blue and explode tonight?