asked the Minister of Labour how many men have now received vocational training under Government schemes; and what proportion of them have secured employment at the end of their studies.

Thirty-eight thousand, three hundred and ten men have completed courses under the vocational training scheme and approximately 85 per cent. of them have secured employment. Action to place the remainder is in hand.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these are ex-Service men and disabled?

Not without notice

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the Government's vocational training scheme is working satisfactorily; and what steps are being taken to improve the arrangements.

Yes, Sir. The scheme is kept under constant review in consultation with the representatives of industry to ensure that any possible improvements may be effected.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that certain difficulties have arisen in the electrical industry and also in the placing of joiners in industry, and would not he agree that it may be useful to have a conference with the employers and the trade unions from time to time to review these matters?

Those are not difficulties arising out of the scheme. Those are difficulties in industry arising from a shortage of raw materials, and we are having these conferences once a quarter with representatives from all sides of the industry to see how we can get over the trouble.

Has the Minister overcome the difficulty of placing ex-Service men trainees, which does not arise from the shortage of raw materials?

That is rather a different question from the one on the Order Paper, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will put down a Question, I will certainly give an answer.

asked the Minister of Labour what financial provision he has made under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, for the vocational training of people registered under this Act on account of defective vision, whose disability is not sufficiently severe to entitle them to benefits under the Blind Persons Act.

Courses ot vocational training with allowances are available to persons who are handicapped in getting employment by defective vision irrespective of their position under the Blind Persons Act.

Is the Minister aware that there are several borderline cases where persons fall between two stools. They are not blind persons and they are not fully-sighted persons, and it is extraordinarily difficult for these people to hold a job when they get it. There are several jobs for which they could be trained, and with the goodwill of the employer they would be able to get employment in the capacity for which they are trained.

This type of person is covered by our training scheme, and he or she will be entitled to employment in the remploy factories when they are erected.

I have in my possession cases for which there are no facilities either for the training or for the employment of these persons?

I should like to have those cases, and I would be obliged if my hon Friend would send them to me.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the case of these semi-sighted men is one which really needs looking into with sympathy and understanding, and that it is by no means a solution to send them to remploy factories? Is he aware that a great many of these men could be working in ordinary industry?

I am rather surprised at the supplementary question, because this is the type of case which is receiving great attention in my Department

asked the Minister of Labour if he will cause an inquiry, by the sampling method or otherwise, to ascertain whether employers generally are including three per cent. of disabled persons in their labour force as required by the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

Written inquiries are in course of being made of all employers of 20 or more workers with respect to the fulfilment of their obligations under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, and these will be followed as necessary by an inspection of records.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many employers have most sympathetically fitted men into simple jobs, and will he expedite this inquiry so that those who do not know of their obligations may be informed of them?

I think that is a correct statement of the facts in industry. We hope to get all these replies in by the middle of next month and we shall then be in a position to see what help we should give employers, not only to keep them right as to their obligations, but to assist them to meet those obligations by providing the types of disabled persons for the types of jobs they have.

Even if all employers employed their full quota at present, does the right hon. Gentleman think that that would take up all the unemployed disabled men, and if not, will he consider increasing the quota immediately?

This is a matter which is under consideration. We are advised by some very good people who are themselves disabled. This is examined every month, and it is to be the subject of examination tomorrow

In order to make sure that employers employ the right percentage, why cannot the number of disabled men employed be shown on the returns sent to the Department?

That is the return which is being asked for.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a displaced person brought over to this country is, after any given period of time, free to leave one industry for another.

No, Sir. Change of employment is in all cases subject to the consent of the Ministry of Labour.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's Department likely to give permission for a person to change from one industry to another after, say, a period of one year?

It would depend on the merits of the particular case, but we would not look with favour on a man moving from an undermanned industry to one which is overmanned.

What sanction has the right hon. Gentleman got to secure that people do not change without his approval?

The sanction is to send them back again.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women the Government expect to re-enter industry in answer to their latest appeal; and when he will make a statement on the results of that appeal.

I am not yet in a position to estimate the results of the campaign.

May I ask, first, when will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to estimate the results of the campaign, and secondly, does he think it is fair to ask women to do two jobs—at home and in the factory—when so many men are asking for a shorter and shorter week?

With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, I hope to be in a position to give an estimate of the results of the campaign in the middle of next month. As regards the latter part, I do not think it really arises.

Oh.

Will the Minister take steps to see that undue pressure is not placed upon women applicants to enter domestic work?

This is a campaign to get women to give part-time employment. It is purely voluntary. No pressure is applied to women who have great domestic responsibility, but those who can do so are asked to give us help in undermanned vital industries. In that sense, we are not excluding hospitals and public institutions.

Is it estimated that the women will balance out the number of children remaining at school owing to the raising of the school-leaving age?

That is rather a different question.

No, it is not.

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-Service officers and other ranks were registered as unemployed at the latest convenient date.

The numbers of ex-Service men and women registered as unemployed at 12th May were 53,964 and 3,658 respectively, of whom 6,374 and 173 were ex-officers registered with the Appointments Department. Separate figures for ex-officers registered at employment exchanges are not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the serious plight in which many of these men now find themselves? Will he tell the House what steps he proposes to take in his own Department to try to improve the situation?

I am awar; of the very parlous plight of many of these persons, and I have great sympathy with them, but the hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that in one month we have reduced the figure by 17,000 and that is not bad going in dealing with this problem.

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.

asked the Secretary of State for War why permission to visit civilian cinemas is not given to German prisoners of war on the same conditions as given to Italians.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the further relaxation of restrictions on German prisoners of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a further statement about the conditions which apply to prisoners of war in this country.

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement in answer to this Question and Questions 41 and 43.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether one of the facts is that he is afraid these prisoners of war might see certain Government propaganda films which would remind them very strongly of what they used to be taught at home?

I would urge the hon. Member to read my answer, and then I believe he will be satisfied.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken into account the number of prisoners of war still held in the Middle East in connection with any relaxation of restrictions on prisoners generally.

Yes, Sir; I have taken that into account, but in my answer I am saying what I am doing mainly in connection with those at home here, which are by far the larger number.

While we await the OFFICIAL REPORT, will the right hon. Gentleman indicate whether his reply contains anything to suggest that he will make conditions easier and more pleasant for prisoners in this country in order that the maximum number possible will stay on to work here?

I hope my answer will give that impression among the prisoners of war.

Can my right hon. Friend at least assure us that his reply will indicate that the relaxations will go at least as far as the relaxations in the case of the Italian prisoners of war?

In so far as it includes access to shops, cinemas, restaurants, and public transport, I think it will.

asked the Secretary of State for War what hourly rate of wages is paid to his Department by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for the services of German prisoners of war at their Loch Sloy scheme; what proportion is paid per hour to the men concerned; what are the average weekly earnings of the men; and what amenities does his Department provide.

The rates charged for the services of prisoners of war are fixed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works. I understand that they are the rates which would be paid to British civilian workers engaged on the same type of work. The pay received by the prisoners is determined by their status as prisoners of war, not by reference to the charges made for their services. Under the arrangements hitherto in force, the average earnings of a prisoner engaged on skilled work would amount in a 48 hour working week to 15s., consisting of 6s. cash and 9s. bonus credit. The prisoners receive in kind all necessities such as accommodation, food, clothing, medical and hospital services. A canteen and normal recreational facilities are provided at the camp.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Hydro-Electric Board pay 2s. o½d. an hour, and the portion returned to the men in wages is three farthings an hour? Is he aware that in some weeks they may earn is. 6d.? Is it not the case that civilians in the Helensburgh district are not permitted to entertain these men, or take them on public service vehicles, or to the cinema?

In answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I think he will be satisfied by my reply to a previous Question. In reply to the first part of his supplementary question, I have not worked out the exact amount the prisoners get per hour but merely answered the Question on the Paper.

Does not the Minister think it is about time that the whole rates of pay of prisoners of war were revised? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on farms prisoners of war receive 8d. an hour overtime, while their colleagues get 2S. Id.?

Yes, Sir, and I have to recognise, as the House must, that there will come a time when it will not be a question of rates of pay for these prisoners of war, because they will have gone home.

I3 my right hon. Friend aware that in inclement weather they do not even receive three farthings an hour? Is this the best way to teach these people to adopt our mode of life?

I am doing what I can, and I think the House will agree with the announcements I have made from time to time to improve the lot of these prisoners of war.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the difference between the amount paid for the services of these men and the amount they receive is accounted for by the Chancellor, who expects to net £36 million this year as a result of their sweated labour?

That is the kind of question my hon. Friend should address to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken to ensure that a man desiring to be released from the Army in a part of the British Commonwealth other than the United Kingdom is not thereby avoiding his obligations to maintain his wife and family.

Under present rules a man may be released locally in any country overseas if he obtains the consent of the Government of the country in question and of the overseas command. As far as the requirements and obligations of overseas commands are concerned, although it is not a military responsibility to investigate the private or domestic affairs of applicants for local release, commands have absolute discretion and may properly refuse consent where it appears that the sole or principal reason for the application is to evade domestic responsibilities in the United Kingdom.

Will my right hon. Friend consider issuing instructions to overseas commands that they should make a more determined attempt to find out whether a man is avoiding his responsibilities, because I have a case in my constituency where no communication has ever been made to the wife by the War Office.

I do not think that is our responsibility. If my hon. Friend, or indeed any hon. Member, has reason to believe that any soldier is trying to evade his responsibilities to his wife or family in this country, I will certainly look into it, but I will not "snoop "into the lives of soldiers.

Has the Minister any evidence that there is an appreciable number of men who are thus seeking to avoid their domestic responsibilities?

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that by the time the wife or other dependant knows that this has happened, the man is outside the purview of the War Office and has a civilian job in the Colony or Dominion concerned?

I would welcome any suggestions from my hon. Friend to try to alleviate these attempts, if there are any, to avoid responsibility to wives and families. After all, I am a family man myself, and I believe in family responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for War what difficulties are holding up the provision of facilities for relatives to visit overseas graves of Service men; and when he expects to be in a position to conclude his arrangements.

Although the committee appointed to consider this matter has reported, the question is one which raises problems affecting a number of Departments besides my own, and I regret that I cannot yet say exactly when it will be possible to announce a decision.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether there is any hope of arrangements being completed so that the relatives can get abroad before the summer has expired, as they are full of disappointment that holiday trips, and so on, are possible, and yet they cannot get' abroad ?

They can, of course, go under their own power. All I was trying to do was to arrange that their visits should be facilitated in those cases where they need War Office help.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that arrangements after the first world war for these visits were much more speedily and effec- tively arranged, and will he "ginger up" those responsible for making them?

Yes, I am always willing to "ginger up" as much as possible, but the second world war was a little different from the first world war.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, when arranging for the relatives of those Service men who die abroad to visit the graves of their relatives, to do so as soon as possible after the funeral or. if possible, in time for the funeral?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War (I) whether he is aware that the motor mileage allowance to T.A. personnel travelling on duty is inadequate and compares unfavourably with the mileage allowance paid to local government officers; and whether he will cause a substantial increase to be made in this allowance;

There arc two different arrangements under which members of the Territorial Army may use their private cars in connection with their Territorial Army activities. First, they may use them in the performance of duties for which a car would have been provided by the War Department if available. In this case petrol coupons are issued under Army arrangements through the Territorial Army associations and mileage allowance is paid at the same rate as officers of the Regular Army receive in similar circumstances. Second, members of the Territorial Army may use their cars for attendance at evening drills and other training where public transport facilities are inadequate. In this case, they are not using their cars on Army duty but are in much the same position as other members of the public whose business or other activities necessitate extra running of their cars. The issue of petrol coupons is, therefore, a matter for the regional petroleum officer. I am not aware of any delay and inconvenience caused by this arrangement. If the hon. and gallant Member knows of any such cases, I will ask my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power to have them investigated. For these journeys, my Department pays rates of mileage allowance which are intended to cover only the marginal use of the car without any contribution to overheads such as is made to owners using their cars on War Department duty.

In that connection I will do my best with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power to facilitate the issue of petrol coupons

Is not this another example of the niggardly and somewhat parsimonious attitude adopted by the War Office and the Treasury to the Territorial Army? If the right hon. Gentleman's Department spent less time examining small items in pence, losses of many millions would not occur through negligence.

I think my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is adopting a sympathetic attitude on this matter, as was evidenced by the announcement he made during the proceedings on the Finance Bill the other evening.

Does this scheme apply equally to officers and to other ranks?

I would like notice of that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the hardship being caused to officers and other ranks now serving in Greece, due to the inadequacy of their allowances on account of the present rate of exchange between drachma and sterling; and what action he is taking to remedy this hardship.

A local allowance is given to officers and other ranks in Greece, which takes account of local prices and conditions of living. For the purpose of calculating this allowance, which is expressed in terms of sterling, local prices are converted to sterling at the current rate of exchange, which is also used for converting cash issues to the troops from sterling to drachmae. The allowance was recently reviewed, and will be reviewed again shortly in the light of detailed information supplied by the local Service authorities, regarding prices and conditions of living in Greece.

Are we to understand that no change has been made recently in this matter? Is not the allowance for the Services to be brought into line with the increases allowed to members of the Embassy staff and the Economic Mission mainly because of a recognition of these difficulties in Greece and the relations of the drachma to sterling exchange?

I do not think the cases are comparable, but the allowances were recently reviewed, and are to be reviewed again shortly.

When these matters are reviewed, are all the Services brought in?

Yes, Sir, we have had close co-operation in these matters with the other Services.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers on 1st June, 1947, in the Claims Branch at Northern Command Headquarters; the number of claims outstanding, and the average number of claims received per month in the past 12 months.

The answer to the first part of the Question is three, to the second 1,648, and to the third 591.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the application for release of an officer of Claims Commission for agricultural work, of whose name he has been informed, was recommended by the agricultural authorities.

An application for this officer's release in Class B for employment as an estate agent was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture. The officer, who had been released with his age and service group in Class A, had been recalled from the unemployed list on 26th June, 1946, at his own request, and had undertaken to defer release until general demobilisation. His case was fully considered, but in view of the serious shortage of qualified officers serving with the Claims Commission it was not found possible to agree to cancellation of his undertaking

Does not the Secretary of State think that at this time of all times, when there is an imminent prospect of food shortage, an experienced agricultural manager like this would be better employed in helping agricultural production than in settling a very small number of claims?

Generally speaking, I am in sympathy with helping agriculture as far as I can. But this officer himself made a request to come back in June last year and gave an undertaking. I am not in a position to release him from that undertaking at the moment.

In view of the fact that the Minister seems to be under a misapprehension about his undertaking to go back —it was the other way round, he was asked to go back—will the right hon. Gentleman look into the case again?

I will certainly look into it again.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Major E. J. Graham, R.E., was arrested in Egypt, on 2nd April, on a charge which has not been carried further; that no summary of evidence was taken until 21st May and then only in connection with other charges of a minor character; that he is still under arrest and that he has not yet been brought to trial; and if he will deal at once with this unreasonable delay.

I am not aware of this case, but I am making inquiries, and will write to the hon. and learned Member.

When the Secretary of State has particulars of this and any other cases of delay, will he pass them to the Foreign Office to be dealt with by the critics of delay in Central Europe?

No, Sir, I prefer to deal with these cases, which affect my Department, myself.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Questions of this type usually appear on the Order Paper once a week, and are indicative of the fact that reform of court martial procedure is necessary.

No, Sir, I think my hon. Friend is assuming too much. The mere fact that a Question appears on the Order Paper week by week does not necessarily mean that the Question is full of facts.

Is my right hon. Friend suggesting that the Question on the Paper. about which he admits he knows nothing, is not based on facts?

No, Sir, I was answering my hon. Friend behind me, and not the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is intended to vacate Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, clear it and hand it back to the Glasgow Corporation, in accordance with the agreement entered into by his Department on 9th and 18th September, 1941.

Bellahouston Park is no longer required by my Department. All troops have now been removed except a guard maintained there at the Lord Provost's request. As I have informed certain of my hon. Friends, negotiations are still proceeding for the handing back of the park to the corporation.

While I welcome the tone of the right hon. Gentleman's statement, may I ask him whether these negotiations cannot be speeded up, because the people of Glasgow are becoming very impatient?

Yes, Sir. In so far as I can speed them up, because they are taking place with Glasgow Corporation, I shall do my best.

Before taking steps to clear the park, will my right hon. Friend keep in mind the fact that there are Glasgow people still living in temporary accommodation in the park who have nowhere else to go, and before taking any steps with regard to clearing it, will he consult with the Secretary of State for Scotland?

Yes, Sir. I am doing that.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 14730695 Lance-Corporal Thomson 2nd South Staffs., B.A.O.R., who was due for demobilisation on 27th May, has not yet been sent home.

This soldier was temporarily kept in the Rhine Army in connection with a court of inquiry into an accident. He is now being returned to this country for release.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to retain as a permanent detention camp the temporary detention camp established during the war at Beech Hill, Headley Down, Hampshire; whether he is aware that the presence of this camp in what has been scheduled as a beauty spot is strongly objected to by the local residents; and whether he will cause it to be closed and demolished as soon as possible.

No, Sir, when an alternative has been constructed Headley Down military prison can be given up. It will be appreciated, however, that until labour and materials can be made available, after the demands of the national housing programme have been met, it will not be possible to "begin construction. Consequently, Headley Down, which was built at considerable expense as a Canadian wartime military prison, and is at present the only suitable alternative to the prison at Aldershot, which was destroyed by fire, will have to be used for some time. The acquisition of the site is, therefore, being considered by the Interdepartmental Committee on Service Land Requirements.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this forest of barbed wire, enclosing the less desirable characters of the Army, is definitely detrimental to the amenities of this neighbourhood, and will not he consider speeding up the possible return of this camp to its normal use?

Yes, Sir. I will do my best. I shall be only too glad to get rid of the barbed wire and of any undesirable characters who are in the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the new blue patrol uniform made and fitted for officer cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, last April, will be issued.

The uniform which it was proposed to issue to the officer cadets was that used by the Army mechanised recruiting column last year. The quantity available was only sufficient, however, to cover the present strength. The needs of future intakes would have had to be met from fresh production, and in view of the general clothing shortage it has been decided to postpone such production and any issue of blue uniform to cadets until the textile position has improved.

Can the Minister say why it was that this uniform was fitted to each cadet, and that labour was wasted?

I do not know that it was fitted to each cadet. Actually, the cadets come in each term, and I cannot imagine that all of them have been fitted with this uniform.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that His Majesty's Government will not make loans abroad at interest rates more favourable than those gained by His Majesty's Govern ment in the case of the U.S. Loan.

No, Sir. Our capacity for making loans will continue to be very limited, but I am not prepared to bind myself as to the terms on which any such loans may be made.

Will the Chancellor bear in mind that any loan made on terms more favourable than those received from America is bound to result in a further commitment of dollar exchange on the part of this country?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what cause, or causes, he attributes the recent continued drop in small savings.

Partly to Whitsun, partly to the fact that it takes a little time to bring home to the public the new facilities for investment in Savings Certificates. The Chairman of the National Savings Committee published on 20th June a full statement on the recent figures. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

In view of the fact that in the last month there has been an actual disinvestment, which did not take place in Whitsun last year, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this is due either to the fact that people have not so much money in their pockets or that they have lost faith in the security which is offered?

I should say that it is certainly not due to the second cause and only doubtfully to the first. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will read the copy which I am sending to him of a statement which has already been circulated in the Press.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (I) the total amount of net earnings in the United Kingdom of United States films during the calendar years 1944, 1945 and 1946; and what part of these sums has been remitted to the U.S.A. in each of these years;

In each year net earnings of United States films in the United Kingdom, and remittances from them, were slightly over £17 million. Dollar remittances from the earnings of British films in the U.S.A. are still relatively very small.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that this disproportion is very unsatisfactory, and is he satisfied that we really have frittered away £34 million worth of dollars in the last two years out of the precious American loan?

It is not a satisfactory position and this matter has often been discussed in the House. We are, of course, seeking to stimulate the flow of dollars from British films in the United States in regard to which some progress, I am glad to think, has been made. I would not use the word "fritter" unconditionally with regard to the amusements of the people. The right hon. Gentleman may have noticed that a Resolution appears on the Order Paper today which has a bearing on this matter.

Is it really a fact that no figure can be given of the net remittances of dollar earnings of British films in the United States?

I would rather not do so. I do not like to give figures unless we can stand, upon them and unless we can really depend on them. There are so many factors in this case, including the necessary expenses incurred on the other side, that I would not like to offer the House any figure for which I could not vouch at this stage as being accurate. I can say frankly that they are relatively small.