asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that building work on temporary buildings at St. Joseph's School, Clarkston, has been at a standstill since early September; and whether he will arrange for work to recommence at once, in view of the bad state of the present school buildings.

My right hon. Friend is aware that work at this school has been temporarily held up and no progress can be made until the necessary hutment components have been supplied. The Ministry of Works have informed my right hon. Friend that every effort will be made to ensure delivery during the next three or four weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he is aware that dwelling-houses at 191, Hill Street, Charing Cross, Glasgow, have been vacant since five families were evicted from them in July last; and if he will take steps, on a recommendation from the local authority, to have them requisitioned for dwelling purposes.

My right hon. Friend authorised Glasgow Corporation to take possession of this accommodation on 12th September, and formal notice was served on the owners on 16th September. The owners represented that the accommodation had been bought for occupation by a homeless ex-Service man and, after consultation with the Corporation, its release was agreed to. I understand that the condition of the accommodation is unsatisfactory and that fairly extensive works will be required to make it suitable for occupation.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this promise was made by the owner last September, but that the premises are still empty?

I think the premises were bought by the present owner about December, 1946, and that people have been living in the house since then. The question of its being requisitioned was raised during the summer months, and I have indicated to my hon. Friend what has happened since then.

asked the Secretary. of State for Scotland if he is aware that dairy farmers are having to wait over two years for the delivery of cream separators, without which it is extremely difficult for them to make good butter; and whether he will make representations to the Ministers concerned, urging that the manufacturers of separators should be allowed at least a limited amount of the materials and labour they require for production.

My right hon. Friend is aware that no farm-type cream separators are being delivered at the moment. In order to ensure that liquid milk is used in the best national interest, it is the Government's policy to encourage the sale of the maximum quantity through controlled channels. In these circumstances materials in short supply cannot at present be allocated for the manufacture of farm type cream separators for use at home.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in many stock-rearing counties of Scotland milk is used for rearing livestock, and that it is wasteful to feed whole milk to livestock, it being far better to separate it and use the butter fat for making butter for human consumption, and the separated milk for feeding the livestock? In view of that, will he not allow some cream separators to these farmers?

No, I do not think that a case can be made out for the allocation of materials and labour for the manufacture of cream separators during the present conditions of shortage.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can give any further information regarding the question of paying an additional supplement to men who are temporarily unemployable owing to their war disablement, following a period of treatment, and who are not entitled to draw National Health Insurance benefit.

I have given careful consideration to this matter in the light of discussions with ex-Service organisations. It is undesirable in the pensioner's own interest that in the circumstances in question he should be termed unemployable since with modern methods of treatment and training many such men should ultimately be brought back into industry. Where, however, on the completion of a course of approved institutional treatment the period of necessary abstention from work is likely to be a month or more, a special allowance (inclusive of any health insurance benefit) of 20s. a week will be paid so long as the pensioner is compelled to abstain from work because of the condition for which the treatment was received.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total amount paid to the German Government by the British Government for the maintenance of illegitimate children arising out of the occupation of Germany after the first world war; and whether consideration has been given to employing a similar system to cover the present occupation.

I am not aware of any such payment as that referred to in the first part of the Question. The answer to the second part is in the negative.

Is the Minister satisfied with the present arrangement? Does he feel that in the circumstances it is just?

The present arrangement has nothing to do with the Question that was asked.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present total of the Polish Armed Forces now under British command; and if it is still his intention that by 1st January, 1950, all members of these Forces will have been demobilised, and transferred to the Polish Resettlement Corps, or will have obtained productive work in industry or have been returned to Poland.

The total of the Polish Armed Forces under British command administered by my Department at 1st November was approximately 17,000. I hope that these Forces will be closed down and their personnel have been repatriated, transferred to the Polish Resettlement Corps or otherwise have ceased to belong to the Polish Armed Forces by 1st July, 1948.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that his predecessor gave an undertaking to see that this question was settled by 1st January, and could he look into it again? Does he think it is fair to workers in this country that they should be saddled with this responsibility any longer?

We are hurrying on resettlement or repatriation as speedily as possible.

Can the Minister give an undertaking that none of the Polish Armed Forces will be sent back to Poland against their will, especially in view of the fact that they may be transferred to Russia?

We are doing everything possible to meet the wishes of the men concerned.

Are these men the Poles who refused either to join the Resettlement Corps or to return to Poland?

I am afraid that I must have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that no drill halls or other Territorial Army buildings exist in Northern Ireland; and that it is impossible for the Government of Northern Ireland to allot building materials for the erection of such buildings from their share of materials for domestic use; and what steps are being taken to deal with this situation.

There are at present four drill halls, three offices and ten hutted camps for the Territorial Army in Northern Ireland, but I am aware that the accommodation is far below requirements. The difficulties regarding the supply of building materials for this purpose are being examined.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great advantage which Great Britain has in already having drill halls, and the impossibility of starting a Territorial Army in Northern Ireland for the first time unless some special arrangements are made to expedite the building of drill halls and other building?

The hon. Gentleman suggested in his Question that there were none. As I have indicated in my reply, there are some, and we are doing everything we can to provide others.

Is the Minister aware that the last thing I wished to do was to call in question what he said, but that if he saw what he calls drill halls, and such like, he would not think them very good?

I quite agree. It may be that they are inadequate for the purpose. We have to make the best of the present situation, but I am fully conscious of what is required.

The right hon. Gentleman said in his answer that he is considering the supply of materials for this purpose for Northern Ireland. Is he also considering the supply of materials to this part of the United Kingdom?

Very much so.

Does not the Minister agree that if partition were removed, there would be no need for these drill halls?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give instructions that boys serving in the Army shall not be sent to Palestine before they are nineteen years of age.

It was decided last April that since garrisons overseas could not be kept up to strength by any other means the lower age for posting men beyond Europe would have to be reduced from 18 years 6 months to 18 years 3 months. In consequence some soldiers of little more than 18 years 3 months have been sent to Palestine and are serving there. In view, however, of the decision to evacuate Palestine, the whole matter must obviously be made the subject of further review.

Would the Minister bear in mind that, under a new order, recruits are not allowed to join the Palestine Police until they are 19½?

This Question does not relate to the Palestine Police.

Quite apart from the effect of the recently announced policy of withdrawal, does not my right hon. Friend consider that, in the circumstances which have prevailed in Palestine for the past two and a half years, it was a very cruel and inefficient thing to send boys of this age to that area?

I am not called upon to pronounce on what was done before I came to the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Military Barracks at Ballater, Aberdeenshire, are unoccupied; and whether it is intended that they shall be used by his Department in the near future or whether they can be made available as married quarters for civilian housing purposes, having regard to the serious shortage of accommodation.

It is intended to reoccupy these barracks in the near future. I regret, therefore, that the suggestion made in the last part of the Question cannot be adopted.

Would it not have been better if instead of these barracks remaining unoccupied, they had been used for housing military pensioners, or something like that, because they are buildings of the cottage type, each capable of housing a family?

I think there were special circumstances in connection with this matter. In any case, we now propose to occupy them.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to get a passage for Mrs. Janet Buckley, wife of Driver K. Buckley, T.14050158, H.Q., Coy., R.A.S.C., No. 3, Training Bn., Elles Barracks, Farnborough, Hants, from Haifa to this country, details of which have already been sent to him.

The military authorities in Palestine have been asked to arrange for this soldier's wife to be sent to the United Kingdom. The actual date of her passage will be a matter for the overseas Command.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since I put down this Question, I have been informed by the soldier that he was told by Capt. Hargraves that if he got into touch with me, he would get into very serious trouble; and will the Minister give an assurance that there will be no victimisation of soldiers in that way?

I am afraid that I cannot give any assurance until the facts are placed before me—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] In the absence of definite information, it is obviously impossible for me to give any assurance. I want the facts established. If the hon. and gallant Member can establish the facts, he can rest assured that I will not allow that sort of thing to happen.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I interviewed this man personally and made notes of his statement, which I will gladly send to him? Will he give me an asurance that, in the meantime, this soldier will not suffer at the hands of a senior officer for having communicated with his Member of Parliament?

All I can say is that I am astonished to hear that any soldier would suffer in consequence of any statements he made to a Member of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many newly commissioned National Service Officers are on indefinite leave.

Indefinite leave is not granted in the Army. Circumstances may, however, arise in which an officer is held temporarily on the strength of his depot whilst waiting for shipping or being found suitable employment. In such a case, if there is no temporary employment for him at the Depot, he may be allowed to live at home. Information is not readily available as to the number of such officers at any one time, nor could it be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say what sort of limit of time is set in cases where young officers newly commissioned cannot be employed immediately? Is there any limit of time before they are posted?

That is not the original Question. If the hon. and gallant Member puts it down, I will try to give an answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in the advertisement for recruiting for five years in the new Regular Army, under the caption, "George—you're kidding," he will have deleted the two sentences which imply official Government approval to the contention that a skilled worker cannot compete in industry today without a union card.

This section of the advertisement was intended merely to bring out the fact that, as announced by my predecessor on 17th June in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Mr. Mikardo), the recognised soldier tradesman is not debarred from the advantage of trade union membership in civil life. I am, however, having the text revised so as to remove any mistaken impression which might be created by the present wording.

While I will wait to see what the revision will be, can the Minister assure the House that this caption, "George—you're kidding," is not a veiled reference to the Minister of Labour?

On a point of Order. Is it not a fact that no quotations are allowed in Questions? If so, could you, Sir, give your Ruling whether in future quotations might be allowed?

I did not get the point. Would the hon. Member make it again?

There is a quotation in Question No. 16—"George—you're kidding."

As the Question has passed the Table, I am sure that it is in Order.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the dissatisfaction among soldiers with regard to release or terminal benefits, he will take steps to grant civilian outfit or cash grant in lieu of same on release.

I am not aware of any general dissatisfaction among soldiers about release benefits. All men called up before 1st January, 1947, receive a civilian outfit on release provided they satisfy the necessary conditions.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many private soldiers are unable to save that money from their Army pay in order to buy civilian outfits at the prevailing prices?

I am not aware of it, but if my hon. Friend has some information, perhaps he will let me have it?

asked the Secretary of State for War for what purpose his Department continue to hold the Imperial Service College premises in Windsor under requisition.

These premises at present accommodate the A.T.S. Officer Cadet Training Unit and Junior Officers' School.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these premises were bought during the war by the Windsor Borough Council, because they were urgently required as soon as the war was over for borough council staff, and will he say what steps his Department are taking to find an alternative building?

We are trying to find alternative accommodation, and I am sure that, as soon as it is found, we will use it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Captain S. L. Roxburgh of the Command Ordnance Depot, Colombo, has been in close arrest awaiting trial since March, 1947; that although his court martial started in October, no verdict has yet been given; and if he will take steps to expedite this matter.

I have called for further information about this case by cable from the military authorities overseas, and I will write to the hon. Member when it has been received.

How comes it that an officer can remain for seven months under close arrest before being brought to trial? Can the right hon. Gentleman say how that could possibly happen without questions being put asking for more urgent steps to be taken to look into the matter?

That is precisely what I am trying to find out.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the War Office was in ignorance of the fact that this officer was kept under close arrest as long as that?

I am informed that there was some difficulty about witnesses and the like. It is precisely because I am dissatisfied, and because a Question was put dow on the Order Paper, that I am trying to ascertain the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a final decision has yet been reached regarding the permanent retention of the tank training ground at Netherlaw, near Kirkcudbright.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware of the necessity for reaching a decision as soon as possible, because more than 5,000 acres of the best agricultural area in Scotland are being retained? When he does come to a decision, if he should come to an affirmative decision in regard to the retention of this land, will he keep in mind the necessity for carefully revising the existing boundaries in order to ensure the minimum loss to agriculture?

I am fully conscious of the need for coming to a decision on this matter, and also of the need for liberating as much agricultural land as possible, but this matter is under consideration by an Inter-Departmental Committee and they have not yet reached a conclusion.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in the Debate on Scottish agriculture yesterday, there was great anxiety expressed in all parts of the House about the occupation of land by the War Office in Scotland, and will he take into earnest consideration the desire felt in Scotland to evict the War Office altogether from Scotland?

I am afraid that, in this matter, my hon. Friend does not speak for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Brigade of Guards, when doing guard duties in London, can wear full dress.

No decision has yet been made regarding the future dress of the Brigade of Guards.

In view of the appreciation shown by the people of London and others on the recent occasion when the Life Guards were turned out in full dress for the Royal Wedding, would not my right hon. Friend give an early decision on this matter?

That required a special effort for a special occasion, and I cannot promise to repeat it in the near future.

Would my right hon. Friend ask the Guards whether they want to wear full dress?

There was some difficulty about the wearing of full dress, but we overcame the difficulty.

What has happened to the full dress uniforms which were put into store in 1939?

There is a lot of misunderstanding about the full dress uniforms put into store between 1939 and the end of the war. A lot of things happened to those uniforms.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his regulations permit soldiers under 21 to sign regular engagements to serve for a period of years over and above the term of their liability under the National Service Acts.

Yes, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that the Infants Relief Act of 1874 was passed so as to protect young people from the consequences of contracts which they have entered into whilst under age, and does the Minister consider it satisfactory that young lads of 18 and 19 are allowed to bind themselves to serve in the Army for seven, eight and even nine years ahead?

The hon. Member asked for information, and I have given him the answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the inquiry instituted by the C.C.G. into the theft of valuables from Glucksburg Castle has yet been completed; and what action has been taken.

The inquiries into this case are still being pursued both in Germany and in this country. The length of time which this is taking is regrettable, but I must remind my hon. Friend that the alleged theft took place at the time of the capitulation of Germany when conditions were in a highly confused state.

Subsequent moves of units and individuals hampered inquiries, and he will, I am sure, appreciate the difficulties of bringing the investigations to a satisfactory conclusion in the circumstances.

Can my right hon. Friend give any kind of indication as to when he thinks the investigations will be completed? Will it be another year?

According to the information that I have, it seems to me to be beyond the capacity of anybody to discover how this affair occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for War why money payments to billeted prisoners of war are distributed each week from Batford Camp, Hertfordshire, by lorry over a wide area; and what petrol consumption is involved in this procedure.

Billeted prisoners of war administered by this camp are paid once a month, not weekly. It is, however, necessary that they should be visited twice a month, not only that they may receive their pay, but for other administrative purposes, such as clothes changing. A 15-cwt. truck or a light car is used for these journeys and the petrol consumed on them at this particular camp has in the past been approximately eight gallons a month.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has been able to make arrangements to speed up the return to Germany of prisoners of war due for repatriation and held in transit camps.

Yes, Sir. Arrangements have now been made to reduce the time spent in transit to a maximum of five days and a minimum of two.

Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that some arrangements have been made so that the kits and other packages which a prisoner takes back with him are not tampered with in the transit camps?

Of course, they are subject to search by the Customs.

Can the Minister say when German prisoners will be permitted to remove their identification discs?

I was not aware that that was contained in the original Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of German prisoners of war who have been repatriated from the Middle East; the number still to be repatriated; and the present rate of repatriation.

Approximately 35,000 prisoners of war have been repatriated from the Middle East and some 61,000 remain to be repatriated. It is now hoped to repatriate 1,000 during December, and to raise the rate to an average of approximately 5,000 a month during the first three months of next year.

Why has the rate been slowed down?

There have been considerable shipping difficulties.

Can the Minister so arrange things that the official repatriation of these men coincides with the official repatriation of men from this country, that is, at the end of August?

I would like to look into that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to make a statement with regard to the continued policy of taking into consideration political grading in considering repatriation of prisoners of war from the Middle East, in view of the fact that this practice has already been abandoned in the United Kingdom.

Yes, Sir. I have decided that the regulations in the Middle East can be brought into line with those in force in the United Kingdom, so that in future no differentiation will be made between prisoners of war of political categories B and B minus in deciding their order for repatriation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, although a successful charity concert in aid of the Children's Home, East Grinstead, was given by German prisoners of war in mid-October last, the holding of a repeat performance at Ashurstwood for the same charity was forbidden by the War Office; and what was the reason for this refusal.

The prisoners of war were permitted to give the charity concert at East Grinstead owing to certain regulations being overlooked. These regulations have been correctly applied in the case of the concert at Ashurstwood.

Does the Minister understand that the application of these regulations was due to a protest on the part of the Musicians' Union, and does he consider that it is right that the policy of the War Office and charitable actions on the part of prisoners of war should be controlled by unions and not by himself?

I understand that some difficulty arose because there was a charge for admission, and there was some protest about it. Of course, while we are not in the hands of the Musicians' Union or any other union, we must pay due regard to their representations.

Is the Minister satisfied that these regulations are really necessary at present, and will he look into the matter again?

I have not yet had an opportunity of doing that.

Does the Minister realise that a charity concert at which there is no charge for admission is of very little use?

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that distress is being caused to old-established employees of approved societies who are receiving notices from his Ministry to the effect that no appointment can be offered to them in his Department, and that no decision has yet been reached regarding the terms and conditions governing eligibility for compensation; and how soon he will be able to make a statement regarding compensation to former approved society staffs who cannot be offered employment in his Ministry, so as to put an end to the existing uncertainty.

The interviewing and selecting of these candidates for posts in my Department is in the hands of the Civil Service Commission, and the proportion of rejections is less than 2½ per cent. Pending the final settlement of the detailed terms of compensation, I am arranging for provisional sums to be paid on account, and regulations for this purpose will be laid before the House as soon as possible.

Is the Minister aware that his Department are writing letters to employees of approved societies who cannot be taken over by his Department stating not only that they cannot say how much compensation is to be paid, but whether any compensation can be paid at all?

The final terms of compensation have not yet been settled. Pending the final settlement, I am arranging in such cases to pay the provisional amounts.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the estimated number of women between the ages of 54–60 years now contributing to National Insurance, differentiating between spinsters, married women and widows.

It is estimated very approximately that contributors in this age group number about 200,000 single women and 250,000 married women and widows.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that 200,000 of the women mentioned in the first part of the Question are still looking hopefully to him to grant their claims for a retiring pension at 55 years of age?

Single women are provided with a retiring pension at the age of 60. The reason we cannot accept the lower age has been made clear more than once in this House.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has yet appointed the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to consider and advise him on questions relating to the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946.

I am glad to announce that the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has now been appointed. Sir Wilfrid Garrett, late Chief Inspector of Factories, has been appointed Chairman of the Council, and there are 15 other members whose names I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The Council will consider and advise me on the regulations proposed to be made under the Act, and any other questions relating to the Act which I may, from time to time, refer to them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-W.A.A.F. officers have been placed in appointments by the Appointments Board.

I regret that this information is not available. Since V.E. Day the Appointments Department has placed 1,075 women ex-officers in employment, but this figure cannot be split between the three Services.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent vocational training schemes for ex-Service men are to be curtailed; and whether the right to training will be preserved.

The extent of the training given under the vocational training scheme has recently been reduced owing, mainly, to the suspension for the present of the training of men for building occupations in large numbers. But the conditions of eligibility for training remain unchanged.

Does the Minister's reply mean that whatever time elapses the right to training will continue?

Yes, Sir, most certainly. The training is going on for small numbers now, but not for the same numbers as before.

Does that mean that there are particular subjects on which the training has been reduced, or that the training has been reduced equally over all the different subjects?

No, Sir. The reduction has mainly taken place in building training. There has been some slight reduction in other industries due to the shortage of raw materials. I will let the hon. Gentleman have particulars of those.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the proposal to limit capital expenditure will curtail or delay the opening of the full number of Remploy factories which was originally contemplated.

The programme of the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation provides a total of 107 factories eventually. Of these, 12 are already open, and 23 are in course of erection. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Accrington (Mr. Scott-Elliot) on 6th November, the Government will facilitate the completion of the programme to the maximum extent consistent with the needs of the present economic situation. In addition, it is the intention to make available to the Corporation accommodation in certain Government Training Centres which has now become surplus to training requirements, and to the extent to which this is done, it will accelerate the programme.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to inform employers of their liability to employ a quota of disabled persons under certain conditions under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act; and what proportion of employers are employing their quota.

All the means at my disposal, including the use of leaflets, posters, Press and radio have been used to inform employers of their quota obligations under the Act. Local disablement advisory committees have also assisted in informing employers. The Act requires employers to keep records, and empowers me to inspect them, and this is being done, but precise information about the proportion of employers who are employing their quota is not available.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman promise, of indicate, some months ago that he was getting a return from employers which would show him, either wholly throughout the country, or by sample, what proportion were employing their quota and what were not?

It was not quite that. I did promise to make an investigation, and that is being done. The information is being collected, but, at the moment I cannot give the percentage asked for as to who are employing their quota and who are not. In the main, employers are carrying out their obligations honourably, and we are trying to get the matter straightened up without exerting undue pressure.

In view of the large number of disabled men unemployed, can the right hon. Gentleman say when we shall get the information?

I will let the House have it as soon as the inquiry has been completed.

asked the Minister of Labour what types of production are being carried on in the factories of the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the varieties and types of employment now available in the Disabled Persons Employment Centres; and for what categories of disabled persons employment is provided.

The work available to disabled persons employed in the factories of the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation varies in the different workshops. As the list is lengthy, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Employment in the Corporation's workshops is provided for any disabled person whose disablement is so severe that he is unlikely to be able to work under ordinary conditions, and thus needs special conditions such as the workshop provides, that is, anyone who qualifies under Section 15 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is intended to extend the list in the near future?

No, Sir. The list which I will circulate is complete as far as it covers those already in operation but this is not the end of the operation. Many others will be added from time to time.

Is it intended that these factories should operate at a profit or a loss, or should they balance out over a period of years?

The hope is that they will work at a profit, as, indeed, some of them are. The Act provides that the main purpose of these workshops is to provide employment at proper wages for the persons engaged in them. Should there be a loss, the State bears that loss.

asked the Minister of Labour why people in receipt of unemployment benefit are unable to get franked cards as they have done in the past years; and whether he is aware that if such emergency cards are not issued in time for their dispatch to their approved societies by 30th November, 1947, their entitlement to benefits under National Health Insurance during 1948 may be seriously affected.

I understand the hon. and gallant Member's Question refers to delay in issuing cards to two persons in Barrow and Wickhambrook. This was due to a clerical error, and the cards were issued last week in ample time to be forwarded to the approved society before 30th November.

Can the Minister say why no action was taken on the repeated applications of the persons concerned?

I am not aware that they have made repeated applications, but I will make inquiries about it. This was a pure error; the papers slipped into the wrong file in the office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what negotiations he is undertaking with the Swiss Government with a view to enabling British citizens to visit Switzerland for the winter sports.

None, Sir.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his answer will put an end to the rumours which have been circulating, and also encourage the Scottish winter sports resorts to plan accordingly?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that articles, and especially articles of clothing, particulars of which have been sent him, ordered before the Budget, shall not be liable to increased Purchase Tax.

No, Sir. Under the law, the rate of tax payment depends on the date of delivery of the goods by the registered supplier, not on the date of the order; and I cannot make any exception to this rule.

Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware of the many cases which have been brought to the notice of hon. Members? One typical case is that of a Merchant Navy officer who ordered his suit, tried it on, but could not take delivery of it because he was on the high seas bringing food to this country.

I am aware that in the imposition of any taxation there are bound to be a few hard cases.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered the hardship caused by the imposition of additional Purchase Tax on suits ordered from tailors before 12th November, 1947, and delivered after that date; and whether he proposes to provide for the payment of compensation to persons adversely affected by this.

No, Sir. Under the law, the rate of tax payable depends on the date of delivery of the goods by the registered supplier, not on the date of the order; I regret that it is impossible to make exception to this rule.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that hardships of this sort were not inflicted in the nineteenth century? Is there any reason why, to deal with a very small number of very hard cases, a system of rebates should not be introduced?

We obviously cannot confine this to the small number which, I know, the hon. Gentleman has in mind. If this is done, it must be done over the whole field. When this arrangement was made and the Purchase Tax was first implemented and arrangements made with the trades, it was decided, after very careful thought, that the wholesale stage was the point at which this Tax should attract itself to the goods in question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman recall the remark of his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who said the other day that "bigness is the enemy of humanity"?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to convert or pay off the £302 million of 3 per cent. Conversion Loan on 1st March, 1948.

Notice was given in the Gazette on the 28th November that this loan will be redeemed at par on the 1st March, 1948.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer give an assurance that he will not repeat the folly of his predecessor in trying to buy back Gilt Edged securities at 2½ per cent. on a long-term basis in order to try and redeem this amount more cheaply?

I shall try to carry out the wise policy of my predecessor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Paper C.22035, giving the budgetary increases in Purchase Tax, was circulated and delivered to business offices before the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Budget day.

The leaflet referred to was not even printed until after the Budget Speech. But, as is usual on these occasions, a notice was issued giving the precise information which traders concerned need to have at the earliest possible moment to enable them, where necessary, to adjust their selling prices. Great care is taken in timing the distribution of these notices to ensure that they are delivered on, but not before, the morning after the Budget Statement. I have no reason to think that the safeguards against leakage are inadequate.

Is the Chancellor aware that the allegation that information was given to the trade on the morning of Budget day was made a week ago in open debate in this House, and that although there was a representative of the Treasury on the Front Bench he did not deny it?

A good many remarks are made in open debate which are not immediately denied by the Minister, but which are none-the-less inaccurate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I supplied his predecessor with information to the effect that this information was, in fact, released early last April?

I presume the hon. Gentleman got the same sort of answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman differentiate between the leaflet that was, in fact, sent out, and the leaflet referred to in the Question? Is he aware that 120,000 copies were sent out? A business friend of mine tells me they were marked, on the morning of the Budget, "Not to be opened till five o'clock." By what right and authority did he print these leaflets before the increases were passed by this House?

In the guise of a question the hon. Gentleman must not repeat the speech he made the other night.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate purchasing power today of a Savings Certificate purchased in August, 1939; and if he will assure purchasers of Savings Certificates that there will be no loss to them of purchasing power in the future.

A 15s. Savings Certificate bought in August, 1939, is worth 18s. 9d. today. Its future purchasing power, if cashed, depends on what is bought with the money, and it is therefore impossible to consider any such assurance as that suggested by the hon. Member.

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has deliberately misinterpreted the meaning of the Question? I want to know what is the purchasing value in normal commodities of a certificate now as compared with 1939. Is he not aware that inflation is a deterrent to the Savings Movement?

It is quite impossible to state what the purchasing power is, unless we know on what the money is to be spent. Some foodstuffs, for example, are at prewar prices. If it is spent on those, then the purchasing power is the same as in 1939. Other articles are more expensive.

Would the purchasing power be more or less?

In some cases it would be more.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that a large number of holders of railway stocks have, of necessity, to hold their securities until they are entitled to the forthcoming dividends, and that they may not be able to continue to hold the new transport stock owing to reduced income on reduced capital, he will take steps to secure that these investors will receive the cash value for their securities as indicated by the take-over price.

I must ask the hon. Member to study the arrangements for exchange of securities, details of which will be published on 9th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the contraction of the active note circulation by £19,769,000 in the past fortnight is not in some degree due to black market operators disposing of illicit gains; and whether he will now therefore give further consideration to the recall of the currency.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Bucklow (Mr. Shepherd) on 18th November.

While appreciating the importance of the element of surprise in this matter, will the Chancellor continue to bear in mind the enormous volume of the transaction involved?

If the hon. Member will look at the answer I gave, I think he will be satisfied.

Would not the Chancellor agree that the discussion during the Budget Debates on recalling the note issue has caused some embarrassment in the black market?

It has apparently caused embarrassment to somebody.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now consider, as an inducement and incentive to tens of thousands of former women operatives and new women recruits whom he has required to return to textile factories, a tax concession for married women in industry.

I would remind my hon. Friend that the additional relief allowable in respect of a wife's earned income was increased from £80 to £110 by the Finance Act, 1946.

In view of the fact that only last week the right hon. and learned Gentleman made an appeal for such women to return to work, will he not now give some further concession to them? Otherwise it would appear that the clothing ration will be endangered in the future.

My hon. Friend will be glad to hear that there is a good response in the textile industry to the appeal for the return of this type of labour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the Government's revised capital programme, he proposes to make any change in the instructions to the Capital Issues Committee.

Yes, Sir. I have today addressed a Special Memorandum to the Capital Issues Committee, drawing their attention to the principles set out in the White Paper on Capital Investment in 1948, and instructing them not to recommend consent to the raising of money for fresh capital outlay, except where the reports received by them from Government Departments show that the scheme is in full accord with the revised general programme. The Committee have for some time, with my predecessor's approval, been adopting a more restrictive attitude towards applications, and the purpose of the new memorandum is to give clear and formal expression to the revision of emphasis required by our economic position. I propose, with the permission of the House, to circulate the text of the Special Memorandum in the OFFICIAL REPORT. For convenience of reference it will be reprinted as a Command Paper at an early date.

As regards bank advances, the banks having during and since the war given most valuable help in restricting credit facilities to conform with the general policy of the Government. It is more important than ever that this co-operation should be continued, and the banks will be asked to observe the intentions of the new memorandum to the Capital Issues Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether pending the possibility of releasing general postwar credits, he is prepared to consider measures for releasing these credits in individual cases of special hardship.

No, Sir. I regret that further payments of postwar credits cannot yet be made beyond those already authorised.

Is not the Chancellor aware there are numerous cases of very great hardship which he ought to consider? Will he further realise that the local officers are giving a very widespread impression that no one in any circumstances can obtain their postwar credit until they or their successors reach 65 years of age?

The limitation by age applies to men over 65 and to women over 60. That class was selected because it was thought that holding up of the credits would be hardest on them.

I would like to press the point that the local officers are giving that false impression, and it should be cleared up quickly.

Would the Chancellor consider paying the credits to the next-of-kin in cases where the owner has passed away and where, in many cases, there is a tremendous hardship? That would not take much money from the Treasury. I have in mind a case of a woman, aged 40, who has written to me. She is the next-of-kin and cannot get the money.

In the future release of postwar credits, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that age is not the only criterion of poverty?

I certainly will bear that and other matters in mind.

I beg to give, notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.