asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many rehabilitation centres for members of the Forces there are in Scotland; where they are situated; and if he will make a statement on their work and progress.

Provision is made by the Ministry of Pensions for the medical rehabilitation of ex-Service pensioners at their hospital in Musselburgh and the Ministry also have arrangements for the treatment of ex-Service pensioners at a hospital in Glasgow where similar provision exists. I understand that all patients in the Ministry's hospital whose physical condition permits, undergo a course of medical rehabilitation in a fully equipped centre as part of routine treatment and that very satisfactory results have been achieved. I am also informed that the Ministry of Labour and National Service are taking steps to establish a centre near Glasgow for industrial rehabilitation at which special provision will be made for ex-Service men.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many people are being rehabilitated in these centres, what training they have received, how much of that is vocational, and how many of them have been absorbed in industry?

Those questions are not contained in the original Question. Details of that kind will require to be provided by the appropriate Minister who will have the details and will make them available to the hon. and learned Gentleman.

At the end of my Question I asked for details of the work, etc.

I have given a general answer to the hon. and learned Gentleman's Question. I went to a lot of trouble in making the inquiries. The details are for the Ministry of Pensions and the War Department.

With reference to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I would like to ask whether these two rehabilitation centres are able to cope with the demand? Are they Ioo per cent. full or are people waiting to go in?

Again I could not say without notice but I will try to get the information for the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is being done to teach schoolchildren in Scotland swimming and life-saving at sea and in rivers.

Instruction in swimming is given throughout the session to pupils attending schools equipped with indoor ponds or schools to which public indoor ponds are reasonably accessible. Pupils are generally examined by tests instituted by the local authorities or by the Royal Life-Saving Society. Rivers and the open sea are not used for purposes of school instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when on expects to have a report from the committee which he set up to inquire into the tenancy of shop and other premises in Glasgow.

I understand that the Committee of Inquiry into the tenure of shop premises in Scotland are still hearing evidence. I have no doubt that they will present their report as soon as they have come to conclusions, but it is too early to say when the report may be expected.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do all he can to expedite the report? This matter is causing great anxiety all over Scotland. In at least one case which I know the man concerned is squatting and refusing to give up until his case comes up for consideration at the sheriff court.

I have been urging the Committee to make as speedy a report as possible. It will be within the recollection of the House that it was suggested that there might be an interim report, but the Committee have been getting on so speedily with the job that I am advised that there will be no need for an interim report and that they will be able in the very near future to give me the full report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why Mr. W. A. Thain has been refused a licence for timber to complete two bungalows at 20 and 22, West Craigs Avenue, Corstorphine, for the building of which he originally received a licence from the Minister of Works.

As I told the hon. Member on 20th May, Mr. Thain's application was not granted because his houses were not included in the 1947 programme. I have recently found it possible, however, to review a number of outstanding applications, and a timber licence was issued to Mr. Thain on 17th June.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the same situation is arising everywhere throughout Scotland, and cannot he take steps to ensure that priority is given in relation to the date on which the building licence is granted?

I will certainly look into that. The real difficulty—and I think that is recognised by all hon. Members—is the shortage of supplies, but we are doing everything possible to try to overcome that problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the continued pollution of the River Kelvin and the River Allander; and what steps it is proposed to take to end this nuisance.

I am aware of the pollution of the two rivers mentioned. The Scottish Water Advisory Committee, through their Rivers Pollution Sub-Committee, have recently asked all local authorities for information about pollution with a view to considering what action is necessary, and I have asked the Committee to let me have, as soon as possible, such information as they may obtain in regard to the two rivers mentioned.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I raised this matter first in 1929, that the position has been gradually made worse, and that the Allander and the Kelvin have now become practically open sewers?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that large numbers of sub-tenants in the City of Glasgow are uninformed or misinformed with regard to their rights of tenure; and if he will take steps to have the legal position in this matter made more widely known.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a booklet explaining the main provisions of the Rent Restrictions Acts prepared by my Department for issue to local authorities and Citizens' Advice Bureaux. The provisions of the Acts, however, are so complex that it would be misleading to rely on a simplified version of them—[Laughter.]I am rather amused at the laughter from the other side, because I was not responsible for the Rent Restrictions Acts—and I would suggest that any sub-tenant who is in doubt about his position should take legal advice.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the legal borderline between lettings of furnished and unfurnished rooms is very obscure to many of these people?

I am certainly aware of the difficulties associated with the interpretation of these Acts, but I am not legally qualified to give advice.

But is it not about time that the right hon. Gentleman, who is fully aware of all the Acts, recognised that, in view of the most unsatisfactory position prevailing as a result of the Acts, he should bring in some legislation to amend that most unsatisfactory situation which the people of Scotland have deplored for years?

Yes, I am aware of the difficulties in connection with many Acts passed by the Conservative Party that sooner or later will be abolished.

Can a copy of the booklet be supplied to each of the Scottish Members?

If there is a request, yes.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Glasgow Town Council have set up a sub-committee to publish information to such tenants giving advice and information on the Rent Restrictions Acts, that leaflets have already been circulated and that they are drawn up by a fully competent lawyer, namely, the town clerk himself?

May I appeal to the right hon. Gentleman seriously? He knows as well as I do that the overwhelming majority of the people of Scotland, including his own party, want to reform the Rent Restrictions Acts. "Sooner or later," he tell us. Is that all he can tell the people of Scotland? Will he not give us some comfort more than the words 'sooner or later"?

Sooner.