asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many civilian workers are employed in Portsmouth dockyard; their annual cost to the taxpayer; and, in view of the fact that their work is unsatisfactory, if he will institute an inquiry into the circumstances, details of which have been sent to him, and publish the findings as a White Paper.

On a point of Order. Is it in Order to ask a Question which casts a slur on good and faithful workmen who carried on very well during the war?

If the Question passed the Table, I am quite sure it is in Order. What may be behind it is not a question for me.

The number of industrial workers employed in the four main professional departments of Portsmouth Dockyard in the week ending 26th April last was 13,606, the annual cost being approximately £3,622,000. As regards the further points raised in the Question, if the hon. Member will furnish me with specific instances of unsatisfactory work I will have the matter investigated.

In view of the fact that I have sent the Admiralty particulars of what is behind this Question, and in view of the national importance of the efficiency of the Royal Navy these days, will the hon. Gentleman do all he can to stop the ca'canny and the waste of public money in Portsmouth Dockyard?

The information which has been sent by the hon. Member contained nothing of a specific nature at all. It was only based on "the following firsthand and reliable information" of which he gave no detail, and I think it would be an absolute waste of public money to institute an inquiry and to issue a White Paper on a matter which has no foundation whatsoever.

Withdraw and apologise.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the workers in the Portsmouth Dockyard resent the gratuitous insult on the quality of their work coming from this Member of the Conservative Party? Is he also aware that the three Members of Parliament for Portsmouth are fully capable of representing the city without the unsought and unskilled assistance of the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers)?

Is it not a fact that Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, has been responsible for fine work—

Withdraw and apologise.

I think we had better get on.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many fishing trawlers are being constructed in British shipyards on foreign account; and how many of these trawlers are being purchased with blocked sterling.

Twenty-three fishing trawlers are at present under construction in British shipyards for foreign owners. So far as I am aware, none of these trawlers is being purchased with blocked sterling.

May I ask the Minister the nationalities concerned?

Eighteen are from Iceland, four from France and one from the Faroes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many applications to join the R.N. Scientific Service have there been since 1st January, 1946; and how many of these have been accepted.

The R.N. Scientific Service is composed of both permanent and temporary staff. The permanent appointments are filled from the Scientific Civil Service, for which there is centralised recruitment. This recruitment is conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners, who are responsible for the allocation of successful candidates according to their qualifications and the vacancies in the various Departments employing scientific staff. The number of staff entered by this method since 1st January, 1946, is 571. Temporary staff are mainly recruited for work of short duration for which special qualifications are necessary.

Could the Civil Lord say whether it was due to a shortage of staff that the Navy were under-spent in the scientific service last year?

I think that point was dealt with on the Navy Estimates; it was not only a question of shortage of staff, it was also a question of the shortage of available buildings for the purpose of employing staff.

Is my hon. Friend now satisfied with the numbers being allocated to the Navy from the central pool?

At the moment we are satisfied having regard to the possibilities of employing them. There is a great demand for scientists at the present time, and I feel that we have our fair quota of them at the moment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what steps have been taken to meet and reopen negotiations with the trade union representatives of the workers employed in His Majesty's Dockyard in Malta, in view of their rejection of his Department's offer of 6s. a week increase in their minimum wage.

Representations made on behalf of the workpeople in His Majesty's Dockyard, Malta, that increases of pay lately approved are inadequate were fully considered, and the Commander-in-Chief was informed that the Admiralty were satisfied that the increases were fair and equitable, and that they were unable to agree to any further increase. No further representations have so far been received.

Is it not the case that the authorities there are endeavouring to impose conditions on the workers without any consultation, or any attempt to get an agreement with the union representatives of the men?

There is not the slightest foundation for that statement. We have joint negotiating machinery there in the same way as we have in other parts of the world and in this country, and the representatives of the men have every opportunity of making a case out in Malta on this issue, but they have not done so since the award was granted.

Might I ask what facilities there are for submitting claims like this to arbitration where agreement cannot be reached through the ordinary negotiating channels?

At the moment there are no facilities for arbitration in Malta, but the whole question of arbitration is being gone into.

Has there been any attempt, since the rejection of the offer, to meet and discuss with the representatives of the men the issues involved in the award and in the rejection of the award?

There has been no attempt because the men have made no application for it, but as soon as the men's representatives make an application, as at all other times, we shall be only too ready to meet them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a further statement on the reinstitution of the R.N. Reserve; and whether he will give an assurance that fishermen called up for service will, if medically fit, give service with the R.N. so as to qualify for the R.N. Reserve.

On the first part of this Question I am unable to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's Question on 5th February. The future organisation and functions of the R.N.R. are still under active consideration.

As regards the second part of the Question, the number of National Service entrants required for the Navy is limited. The automatic acceptance of all fishermen for the Navy might therefore result in the exclusion of some men from other walks of life who have higher qualifications for training in the Navy's technical work. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to give the assurance asked for by the hon. Member. Fishermen who express a preference for the Navy are considered on their individual qualifications as indicated in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 27th February.

Did not the Minister of Labour on 27th February give an assurance that fishermen, if medically fit, would be called up to the Navy? Is it not most desirable for our defence that men who have a calling for the sea should do their service with the Royal Navy?

I understand that that assurance was given in answer to a supplementary question. In fact, it may not be possible to give a definite assurance that all fishermen, though medically fit, can be taken. I cannot give that assurance because we have other candidates, and we must see that we get the best for the Navy from whatever source.

Is there not a danger, if fishermen are not directed into the Navy, that on the termination of their service they will not be attracted back into the fishing industry? Is it not extremely important that recruitment for the fishing industry should have serious consideration by the Minister?

Yes, certainly. We want to do everything possible to encourage the fishing industry, but I cannot give a definite guarantee on this point. That is what I made clear.

Will the Minister take all these points into consideration and further take note that the whole of the personnel of the fishing fleets is absolutely invaluable to our security whenever it is endangered?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the speech of Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Command, on 8th May, 1947, in which he stated that the Royal Navy does not like conscription, but it is the Government of the day that ordered it; and, as this speech was not in conformity with Subsection (2) of paragraph 17 of King's Regulations for the Naval Forces, what action he proposes to take.

The speech to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was made to the ship's company and to the cadets of H.M.S. "Frobisher." The published version was not a verbatim report, but Admiral Layton does not dispute its general accuracy. He has informed my noble Friend that the main point he desired to make was that a national service system involved the entry into the Royal Navy of a certain number of men who, because of the shortness of their service, have not the same interest in Naval life as the long service men to which the Royal Navy has been accustomed in the past and who do not settle down so well; for that reason special efforts are required on the part of officers and men to fit them into the general scheme. Admiral Layton did not intend to criticise Admiralty and Government policy in the continuance of national service as being essential under present conditions and made it clear that it was incumbent on all concerned to carry out that policy.

My noble Friend has accepted the Admiral's explanation, though he has considered it correct to explain to him that his statement was unfortunate and it would have been better had it not been made. He does not regard the occasion, however, as one calling for disciplinary action under Article 17 (ii) of King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions.

Will my hon. Friend make it quite clear that, despite the speech of the Commander-in-Chief, all those who are called upon to perform their national service in the Navy will receive the traditional Navy welcome; and will he give an undertaking that announcements in future on naval policy and attitude, which are likely to give rise to controversy, will be made by the Board of Admiralty and not by subordinate commanders?

With regard to the first part of the question, I have the greatest pleasure in giving the guarantee that all national service men will be welcomed into the Navy as they come into it, and that they will receive quite as good treatment as those who are there as regular Service men. With regard to the second part of the question, naturally I cannot give a guarantee that no person other than the Board of Admiralty will make a statement on policy, but I hope that in future no such statement will be made.

Is it not perfectly obvious, from the context of the speech as published in the Press, that all the Commander-in-Chief was doing was expressing the preference of the Navy for long service as against short service? Was he not acting in the best traditions of the Navy when he pointed out that it was the duty of the Service to act implicitly in accordance with the orders of His Majesty's Government?

I cannot accept that altogether. I think a statement which said that a certain section of national service men or conscripts regarded the Navy as their enemy, looked on it as a nuisance, made themselves a nuisance to the officers and chief petty officers, and spent much of their time in detention quarters, is not a statement that ought to have been made. The fact that, following on that, he then said that the orders of the Government would be obeyed implicitly, does not alter the first part of his statement, and it is that to which exception has been taken.

In view of those officers who cannot reply personally—that is officers in the Service and Whips of this House—are not personal attacks rather unfortunate? Should not the matter be left either to the Admiralty or to the Government as the case may be?

If I may reply to what I conceive to be the question put to me, although it was put rather indirectly, the action of my hon. Friend the Junior Lord of the Treasury is not a matter on which I am called upon to comment in an official capacity, but I think that all hon. Members of the House will agree that any hon. Member, whether in the Government or not in the Government, is quite entitled to comment on a speech made publicly in his own constituency.

Can my hon. Friend inform me when Admiral Layton will be retired, and whether he is likely to be re-employed?

Did not the Prime Minister himself say that he did not like conscription? Surely Admiral Layton is entitled to endorse that statement with the qualification that any decision of the Government will have the loyal support of the Royal Navy?

I think we had better get on.

On a point of Order. In view of the constitutional importance of the whole matter raised by this question, and of the supplementaries from the Opposition, I beg to give notice that I shall seek an early opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what response he has had to the offer of short-service commissions in the education branch of the R.N.

Two hundred and six applications have so far been received for short-service commissions in the Instructor Branch of the Royal Navy. Eighty-two of these have been accepted for entry.

Can my hon. Friend say how many he requires?

I am afraid I cannot. without notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the total number of candidates who presented' themselves for all types of entry to the R.N. Colleges, Dartmouth or Eaton, in 1941 and 1946, respectively; and the number of candidates for grant-aided scholarships and ordinary scholarships, respectively, included in those figures.

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

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether there is rise or fall in the figures?

There are about two pages of figures, and, quite frankly, i could not say offhand.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on what duties is H.M.S. "Delhi" now employed.

H.M.S. "Delhi" is present in reserve.

Is there any truth in the suggestion that this ship is to be converted as a training ship for a Royal Naval Volunteer headquarters?

I cannot state the exact future of this ship, but at present it is in category "C" reserve.

asked the Postmaster-General for how long his Department undertook the Imperial Cable Service, and on what date it was handed over to the Cable and Wireless Company; and for what reasons.

The Post Office operated a transatlantic cable service from 1917 until 1928, and wireless services to various Empire countries from 1926 until 1928. In 1928 these cable and wireless services were transferred to Imperial and International Communications, Ltd., subsequently known as Cable and Wireless, Ltd., on the recommendations of the Imperial Wireless and Cable Conference of that year. The considerations which led to these recommendations are set out in the Report of the Conference, which was published as a White Paper (Cmd. 3163).

Is it not a fact that the Post Office tried to run this Imperial service for a long time and it was a failure and directly it went over to Cable and Wireless it became a roaring success?

No, Sir, the hon. Member is quite wrong; he has got it wrong side up.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of Crown post offices in each of the 12 largest cities or towns in the United Kingdom, giving the populations in each case.

As the answer is rather long, I shall, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, arrange for it to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While I accept the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman, could he give me now the comparative figures referring to Belfast and the city of Edinburgh?

The Edinburgh figures are 18 Crown post offices and 471,000 population—I have given the approximate population—Belfast, five Crown post offices and 447,000 population.

Will the Minister take into consideration the fact that Belfast is a hive of industry, with a large population, and has only five Crown post offices, compared with the beautiful city of Edinburgh, which is largely residential, and has 18 Crown post offices? Will he look into the matter, and see whether he cannot give us more Crown post offices?

I am always willing to consider that.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the many complaints being made concerning the delay in parcel post delivery to South Wales; and what steps he is taking to remedy this matter.

Very few complaints concerning delay to parcels for addressees in South Wales have been received. If the hon. Member has any particular district or address in mind and will let me have full particulars, I will be happy to have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the needs of the inhabitants of the locality, he will favourably consider the establishment of a Crown post office at Northville, Filton.

I regret that the establishment of a Crown post office at Northville, Filton, could not be justified, but I hope that it will be possible shortly to reopen the Northville sub-post office which unfortunately had to be closed recently owing to the resignation of the sub-postmaster.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there have been very large developments at Northville in recent years, that the population has increased from 3,000-odd in 1931, to more than 11,000 in 1946, that there are large numbers of contractors and sub-contractors engaged on the important Brabazon project, and that the establishment of a Crown post office would be a very great convenience? Will he look into this matter again, with the object of providing that convenience for this large number of people?

I will look into it, but the main trouble was that the sub-post office had to be closed. It is to be opened in the very near future.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the extension of the period of cheap telephone calls from 9.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.

In view of the national manpower situation, I regret that there is no early Prospect of an extension of the cheap call period.

Will my right hon. Friend consider extending it to 10 o'clock, which would be greatly appreciated?

The decision to make it 9.30 p.m. was taken after a lot of consideration, and to extend it to 10 o'clock would mean a lot of extra manpower.

asked the Postmaster-General the numbers of postmen, both permanent and temporary, employed by his Department on 20th October, 1946, 10th January, 1947, and 20th April, 1947, respectively.

The nearest dates for which the information desired by the hon. and gallant Member is available are 1st October, 1946, 1st January, 1947, and 1st April, 1947. The numbers are as follow. Part-time officers have been counted as a half each, and post-women have been included.

Can the Postmaster-General explain why, when there was an increase from October to January, and no decrease from January to April, it has been necessary to make such drastic cuts in the postal collections and deliveries?

I understand that some of these figures are due to certain reorganisation work, in the main.

Does that mean shorter hours?

Not necessarily.

In view of the fact that these late collection and delivery facilities were reinstituted on 7th January, and there has been a slight increase in the general staff of postmen since then, why did the right hon. Gentleman tell the House last week that the number was reduced because of shortage of staff?

Because we have to make our general contribution on the manpower problem, and we have been asked to do so.

Can my right hon. Friend give a specific assurance that none of the additions to the Post Office staff is to deal with football pool traffic, and a further assurance—

The Question deals with the numbers of postmen, not with football pools.

In view of the nature of the reply I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter again.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement of the total number of enemy aircraft shot down during the Battle of Britain, according to contemporary R.A.F. estimates and German official records, respectively; and whether he will give the figures for the biggest days of the battle.

Yes, Sir, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the statement for which the hon. Member has asked showing the number of enemy aircraft which the R.A.F. claimed at the time to have been destroyed during the Battle of Britain, and the actual losses recorded by the German High Command. Between 10th July, when the action began, and 31st October, when the Germans broke it off, the R.A.F. estimated that 2,692 enemy aircraft had been destroyed. The German records show that, in fact, 2,376 of their aircraft had been put out of action; of these, 1,733 were destroyed and 643 were damaged. The figures I am circulating show that during the opening and concluding phases of the battle, while the numbers engaged were relatively small, and the fighting less continuous and intense, the losses actually inflicted on the enemy were higher than the numbers claimed by the R.A.F. When very large forces were in action, and when the battle raged without respite for many days, the estimates were well above the losses which the Luftwaffe sustained.

I am sure the House will agree that this retrospective correction of claims which were honestly put forward, does nothing to diminish the achievements or to dim the glory of the men who fought so bravely against great odds. As the Chief of the German General Staff in the West said in a confidential lecture in November, 1943, the German Army could not invade England until the British Air Arm had been completely beaten; and this, he said, "we were not able to do." There is abundant confirmation of this spontaneous statement in the German records; they show that Hitler's High Command fully recognised that the R.A.F. had inflicted a decisive defeat on their forces, and that, in consequence, their plan for the invasion of Britain could not even be launched, although a great army had been assembled and had been waiting for many days. Looking back to 1940, it is impossible to doubt that one of the decisive battles of history had been won.

As the Polish Air Force took a considerable part in the Battle of Britain, will the Minister, in fairness to them, say what they did?

Yes, Sir. There were Poles and nationals of many Allied countries in the R.A.F. at that time, and, of course, from the Dominions also. If the hon. and gallant Member cares to put down a Question, I will try to particularise.

Does my right hon. Friend intend to publish corrected figures for other air operations?

Yes, Sir. We shall publish all the figures for the operations of the R.A.F. right through the war. We shall do that when the picture is complete, and we can publish the history.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that this victory was won not only by Fighter Command, but also to a large extent by Bomber and Coastal Commands, and that this glorious victory not only saved us from invasion, but made England a secure base for future Allied operations by land, sea and air?

Yes, Sir. The hon. Member may have noticed that I did not mention any particular Command. As he says, other Commands took part with Fighter Command in the battle, and there is evidence from the German naval records that the work of Bomber Command, particularly in attacking the invasion ports, was a very important factor in the German decision.

Will my right hon. Friend say a word about the way in which this very important news was communicated to the Press? Is he aware that these details were released to the Press confidentially two days ago, and that that confidence was honoured by all the newspapers except one?

Which one?

The "Daily Telegraph."

I thought it had been honoured by all. I greatly regret that it was not.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these battles would not have taken place had the Royal Air Force not been increased for five years before the war, in spite of every opposition by the party opposite?

I would not accept any such statement.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the figures which he intends

asked the Secretary of State for Air for what reason 715136 Corporal M. Nicholson, a West Indian, was not allowed to complete his studies in the R.A.F.; and what restrictions exist regarding the enlistment of West Indians

The figure I have given includes them. If my hon. and gallant Friend puts down a Question, I will give him a detailed answer.

Corporal Nicholson is due for release from the R.A.F., and it seemed unlikely, therefore, that he could complete his studies before the time arrived for his repatriation. It is true that he applied a few months ago to remain in the Service under the Bounty Scheme, but he could not then be accepted because he had not served for the minimum period of two years that the scheme required. He has now finished his two years' service, and has applied again. If, as I hope, his application is approved, he can then complete his studies and take his examination. I am glad to assure the hon. Member that there are no restrictions on the enlistment of West Indians in the R.A.F. which do not equally apply to British subjects from the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is satisfied that the majority of airmen serving in Malta consider that the reduction of the overseas tour compensates for the abolition of eligibility for home leave after 12 months' service overseas; and if he will consider the possibility of reintroducing such a home-leave scheme, especially in view of the frequent air services between Malta and the United Kingdom.

Yes, Sir. I have made inquiries and I am satisfied that the majority of the airmen now in Malta prefer the present shorter tour to the previous arrangement under which they served overseas for a longer time with the possibility of a short period of home leave. As at present advised, therefore, I do not propose to change the existing arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, why H.Q. Flying Training Command's order FTC/67462/4/P of 12th February, 1947, has been rescinded; and whether he is aware of the inequity of debasing the release status of U/T and now redundant aircrews to that of A.C.2s.

The order issued on 12th February by Flying Training Command was unfortunately wrong. By an unhappy confusion, it applied the principles laid down for the release of redundant qualified aircrew to redundant unqualified aircrew cadets. The order was cancelled on 6th March, but I am afraid it had already caused misunderstanding and disappointment, which I much regret. The hon. Member will no doubt recall that shortly after V.E. Day, unqualified aircrew were released from further liability for aircrew training, and were remustered in ground trades. Cadets who were in this category are released from their new trade not according to rank, but on the age and service principle. I hope the hon. Member may agree that this is the fairest plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how the decision to cut the tea break for civilian employees at maintenance units from 15 to 10 minutes was arrived at; whether the workers were consulted; whether they were invited to put forward further suggestions for increasing the speed and efficiency of their work; and what improvements are to be carried out.

Before the war, there were no breaks for tea at R.A.F. maintenance units. During the war, when long hours were being worked, informal breaks were, in practice, allowed, although no official recognition was ever given. On 3rd April last, an Air Ministry order provided that there should be two ten-minute breaks, one in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. This applied in Air Ministry establishments an arrangement which had previously been made for Ministry of Supply establishments by the Ministry of Supply Joint Industrial Council. All Air Ministry industrial workers are invited to make suggestions for improving the efficiency of their work, through their local Whitley Works Committees or Production Committees, in which both the staff side and the trade unions play a part.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Members on this side of the House receive a large number of complaints about the waste of manpower in maintenance units? These complaints come from workers employed in those units who are supporters of the present Government. Would not this have provided an opportunity for fuller consultation with the workers to elicit further suggestions with regard to economy in manpower?

I am strongly in favour of consultation with the workers, but, as I say, either through the production committees or the Whitley Works Committees, the workers can at any time make any suggestion, and I hope that my hon. Friend's Question and my answer might have the effect of stimulating them to do so.

Is it not a tact that in many cases, in addition to the 10 minutes spent on the tea break, additional time is occupied by men going to and from the canteen for their tea?

I would like notice of that. I am not aware of it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the redundancy there is in many of these maintenance units?

I think the R.A.F. has done pretty well on redundancy, and my hon. Friend may be aware of our manpower economy committee, which is at present making a most exhaustive study of the whole subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that low night flying still continues over the city of Leicester, that workers are having their rest disturbed; and if he will take the necessary action with local R.A.F. units to prevent flying over this built-up area during the hours of darkness.

No complaints about night flying over Leicester have reached my Department or the civil police since my hon. Friend last asked me a question on the subject on 5th February. I am, however, warning all units in the Leicester area that they should avoid flying over the town at night.

Will my right hon. Friend see that the ban applies not only during hours of darkness, but also during the day?

I would like notice of that.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the present number of education officers; and what is the required establishment.

The establishment of the R.A.F. Education Branch has not yet been settled, but it will probably include about 1,000 officers. There are now 255.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how long it is expected to take to expand from about 250 to about 1,000? How many years will that process take place?

As the hon. Member knows, it is difficult to get people with teaching qualifications at present. We are, in fact, filling about 600 posts with officers and n.c.os. now in the Royal Air Force who have educational qualifications. In that way I hope we shall be able to bridge the gap.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he cannot get these education officers because of the bad treatment that education officers in the R.A.F. received during the war; and will he see that some retrospective justice is done to the education officers who served during the war?

That is another question, which I cannot now debate. I hope that my hon. Friend will help me to make it known to those who might apply that, in fact, conditions now are good.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what response he has had to the offer of short-service education commissions.

Up to the 10th May, 1947, 220 applications had been received for short-service commissions in the education branch of the R.A.F. At that date, 49 officers had been appointed.

Can my right hon. Friend say what is the number expected?

We want to get as many as we can, up to the limits which I have already announced.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that he would get a better response if he offered permanent commissions instead of short-service ones?

I think I said in the Debates on the Estimates, that we plan, in the long run, to have an educational branch of which one-third shall consist of long-term officers and two-thirds of short-term service commissions. We think that is the best plan, and I hope that we shall get the men we need.

Can the right hon. Gentleman let us know in the OFFICIAL REPORT, by a tabular statement or otherwise, the academic and professional qualifications of these 220 applicants?

I can let the hon. Member know the qualifications of those who have been accepted, but that is by no means the whole.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether conscientious objectors are eligible for commissions in this noncombatant branch of the Service?

Not without notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the method of priority allocations of air passage is causing inconvenience and dissatisfaction to those engaged in developing our export trade by last minute cancellations and rushed arrangements; and if he will inquire into this matter with a view to altering this system.

I am aware that inconvenience may be caused to a passenger who is displaced at short notice by someone with a higher priority. I am afraid that this is from time to time inevitable under the present system, the whole purpose of which is to ensure that the passenger whose business is of the greatest importance to the national effort, including our export trade, goes first. In regard to the second part of the Question, priority allocations are under my personal review week by week as chairman of the London Priorities Board.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the cases I have in mind concern business men from Sheffield who have suffered great inconvenience through the last minute cancellation of seats in aeroplanes and will he tell the House what constitutes priority r and priority 2? Will he lift the veil of secrecy which seems to be over this system?

There is no secrecy at all in regard to the system. Priorities are necessary because of the demand and the small capacity with which to meet it. Where there is a person of higher priority, it is virtually a necessity of the priority system that another person shall stand down. Priority I relates to the diplomatic standard—Ministers or foreign Ministers—and there are very few; priority 2 refers to persons travelling for the export trade and other work of high national importance; and priority 3 is of lesser importance. Those priorities are determined by the sponsoring Departments.

How does the hon. Gentleman reconcile that statement with the fact that these business men are going abroad for the express purpose of increasing our export trade which, I thought, was high priority? In addition, when they have made all their plans and arrangements and are called to the airport at a later date, very often they find that the aeroplane is half-empty.

That is a statement often made. I have not yet, although I have asked repeatedly in this House, had information in regard to plane, date and service of an aircraft in which those circumstances apply. If, in fact, the hon. Member can give me any information at all, I shall give it my personal attention and inquiry.

I have given it before

No.

I have.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (1) if fully loaded Dakota aircraft can be operated on the Cardiff-Bristol-Southampton run, or what machines are to be introduced in the near future instead of the machines now in use;

(2) to what extent a change from De Havilland Rapides aircraft now used on the Cardiff-Bristol-Southampton route would reduce the present fares which are beyond the reach of the average traveller; and if he will expedite a change to enable more people to travel on this service.

As none of the airfields on the Cardiff-Bristol-Southampton route is large enough to accommodate a fully loaded Dakota, that aircraft cannot be operated on the route. No aircraft is immediately in sight which could be expected to replace with advantage the De Havilland Rapides which are at present used. In these circumstances the second Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that no decision establishing a combined German Government for the Western zones of Germany will be reached before this House has been consulted.

Discussions are now proceeding between the British and United States authorities in Germany on methods of making more effective the bi-zonal agencies already constituted, including ways of making these agencies more representative of German opinion in the two zones. There is no intention of giving these agencies the status of a government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an explicit assurance that no political fusion of the two zones is contemplated and that nothing will be done which would tend to harden or make permanent the division between Eastern and Western Germany?

My right hon. Friend has already repeatedly made his position clear on this subject. Such arrangements as we make will allow for unity at any time. There is nothing we desire more than the economic fusion of Germany on equitable terms.

Does my right hon. Friend not agree that one of the most sensible things done at Potsdam was to stipulate for a uniform German Government, and is it not under the circumstances an essential precedent to a uniform Government that the three Western zones should first be united?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite the issue by the Passport Control Officer, Berlin, of a permit, which has been long delayed, to enable Fraulein Kaethe Alpers, Hanoverschestrasse 12A, Celle, Hanover, to join her fiance in England.

The issue of an exit permit has been approved in this case. A visa, to enable Miss Alpers to enter this country, will be granted as soon as certain guarantees are received from her. These, I understand, have now been depatched by Miss Alpers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what appointment in the Control Commission for Germany has been given to Mr. J. R. S. Middleton; what salary this appointment carries; and whether the selection for it was competitive.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Mr. J. R. S. Middlewood who has recently been appointed a chief control officer in the manpower division of the Control Commission for Germany to assist in supervising the development of a trade union movement in Germany. The appointment, which carries a salary of £1,600 with the usual allowances for service in Germany, was made after a number of candidates had been considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this man has now got an appointment at five times his present salary, that the appointment has caused widespread annoyance in the county of Durham, and that he only received this appointment because he is chairman of the Labour Party for the Bishop Auckland Division?

I sharply resent any such imputation. The man appointed has had a lifetime of expert experience in the trade union movement and in local government. I am not aware what salary he presently enjoys, but I know that he is competent to do the job which must be done in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many patients there were in the municipal hospital at Bielefeld, Westphalia, Germany, in April, 1947, in need of penicillin to save life; for how many of these cases was penicillin asked for and provided by the Control Commission; and for how many it was refused.

There were, I understand, nine cases in which the medical officer in charge would have given penicillin if a supply had been available in the hospital. The Control Commission were not asked to provide supplies for any of the cases.

If I give my right hon. Friend the names of patients who needed penicillin and the names of those for whom a supply was asked and not received, will he look further into the matter?

I am very concerned about this matter, but the point I want to make is that while I know that at least nine patients needed penicillin on medical advice, no approach was made to the Control authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement as to the present state of progress in the production of penicillin in Germany.

Present production is by surface culture. Although encouraged, it does not exceed 3,600 mega units a year in all four zones. The possibility of production by the deep culture process is under discussion by the British and American authorities.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether he expects to be able to give more information shortly about production by the deep culture method?

That is under study, and I will be very glad to discuss it further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Defence, what restrictions of colour, race or religion prevent British subjects from voluntary enlistment in any one of His Majesty's forces.

The present position is that Regular engagements in the Army are confined, as they were before the war, to British subjects of pure European descent. There are no restrictions on religious grounds. The position is substantially the same in the Royal Navy except that non-Europeans are accepted for local service on non-continuous engagements. The R.A.F., however, is now open to all British subjects without discrimination of race, religion or colour. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War has indicated, future policy in this matter is under consideration.

In view of the fact that there was no restriction of colour on British subjects coming to the help of this country during the war, is it not entirely repugnant that there should be any distinction whatsoever?

I have said that the whole matter is under consideration, and perhaps the hon. Gentleman will wait until that consideration has been completed.

Are these considerations likely to come to fruition, and can the right hon. Gentleman say when?