asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Women's Auxiliary Air Force is to be renamed.

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a quantity of paint purchased recently from No. 70 M.U., Goring Heath, was full of water and worthless; and in view of this evidence of the condition of stores there, if he will consider dispersing the establishment.

I am informed that the Ministry of Supply recently sold, as scrap, some paint from this depot which had been condemned some time before because of age and had therefore been stored in the open. This is not representative of the contents of the depot, which contains about one million pound's worth of technical stores of various kinds for the Royal Air Force. The last part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will extend the concession granted those posted to Aden and Iraq to count time served there as time and a quarter for the purpose of calculating their tour of duty in the Middle East, to those actually stationed in Aden and Iraq at the time the concession was announced.

The revised arrangements for a two-year tour of duty in Aden and Iraq came into effect on 9th June, 1947. All members of the R.A.F. who were stationed there at that date were eligible for this concession.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware of the complicated system of carnets for commercial aircraft, and if he will try to bring about a simplification.

The system of international customs carnets is not intended for use by operators of commercial aircraft, but for members of international private flying organisations affiliated to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Recommendations by the International Civil Aviation Organisation for the general simplification of Customs procedure are at present under consideration by all signatory States.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many machine tools have been removed from German factories for multilateral reparations; and how many factories other than those included in the recently published list have been in consequence affected.

3,960 machine tools have been requisitioned from German factories under the multilateral deliveries scheme. Of these, 2,391 machine tools had on 11th December been removed from the factories and delivered to recipient nations. The remaining 1,569 are being removed from the factories as rapidly as possible. Of the total requisitioned 2,900 will come from 139 plants on the British reparations list; the remainder will come from 191 other factories in the British zone. I wilt inform my hon. Friend as soon as possible from how many of these 191 factories machine tools have already been removed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet decided to stop the censorship of civilian post in Germany; and whether he is aware that no less than 750 persons are engaged in this occupation in Hamburg alone.

Routine censorship in the British zone of Germany, of internal and external mail, will cease on 1st March, 1948. The Commander-in-Chief may however, still consider it necessary to impose spot checks on certain correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many deaths from ill treatment occurred in the M.I.5 centre at Bad Nenndorf prior to it being closed down; and how many persons were sent to hospital as a result of third degree methods.

Following an enquiry into the administration of this camp, judicial proceedings are now pending. In these circumstances my hon. Friend will not expect me to comment further.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the plan for the level of industry in Germany was worked out on the basis of a single or double shift; and for what number of working hours per week.

The plan was worked out on a basis of the normal peace-time methods of operation in each particular industry. In industries where single shift work is customary, a 48-hour week was assumed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether under the bizonal arrangement for the British and American zones of Germany the American writ runs equally with the British in each zone on all matters of policy.

The bi-zonal arrangement relates only to the economic field in which, under the present United Kingdom-United States fusion agreement, we and the Americans are equal partners. In all other matters the responsibility of each Commander-in-Chief in his own zone is unaffected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why it is necessary to keep 36 high grade police officers in Hamburg, in view of the fact that the control of the police has long ago been handed over to the Germans.

The British police officers in Hamburg are still necessary to supervise and advise German police and their authorities, and to perform certain essential functions of Military Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are employed in the industry section of the Control Commission for Germany, British Section; and what their function now is.

The number of persons of all grades at present employed in the Industry Division of the Control Commission for Germany is 784. The functions of the Division are supervisory and cover disarmament, decartelisation and the revival of peaceful industry under the Level of Industry Plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what expenditure on health and education services in the New Hebrides has been made since the end of the war by the British authorities and how tills expenditure compares with that of the French authorities and of missions on such services.

Following is the reply:

• British Authorities—£4,942.
• French Authorities—£32,860.
• British Missions approximately—£20,000.
• French Missions—Nil.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether future changes in the Condominium system in the New Hebrides, now being considered, include the creation of a unified civil service.

No, but the present organisation of the public service in the New Hebrides will naturally be included in the review which is being carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what purpose a Bill for the acquisition of land in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone has been presented to the Legislative Council; what reason there is for taking new powers at this moment; what opposition the Bill has met with; what progress it has made in the Protectorate Assembly; and whether, in view of the opposition by the people affected, the Bill will now be abandoned.

I invite my hon. Friend's attention to my reply of 19th November to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Harrow (Mr. Skinnard) on this subject. I will communicate with him when the Acting Governor's report has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many administrative appointments have been made in West African Colonies during the past year; how many appointments have been made in the technical departments during the same period; and what steps are being taken to increase the numbers and improve the status of civil servants in the technical departments.

Since 1st January, 1947, 358 appointments have been made by the Colonial Office to the West African territories, of which 108 were to the Colonial administrative service. It is, of course, for the Colonial Governments to decide the relative numbers of officers required; the establishments of the technical departments have in most cases been considerably increased since the war. As regards the last part of the Question, my hon. Friend will be aware that the salaries of all officers in West Africa have recently been substantially improved, and the salary scales of engineering, educational, agricultural, forestry, veterinary and other technical departments are the same as those of the administrative services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any report will be issued respecting the recent Conference of Colonial Governors; or any indication given of the principal issues discussed.

I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of the Conference communiqué to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald) on 3rd December to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether British nurses are being recruited for service in Colonial hospitals; how many have applied and been accepted for this service; and, approximately, what present numbers of British and of West African and West Indian nurses, respectively, are now serving in West African and West Indian hospitals.

Certainly. Nearly 1,100 applicants from this country were interviewed by the Overseas Nursing Association during the year ended March, 1947, and 255 were appointed to Colonial hospitals. The particulars requested in the last part of the Question are not available but are being sought from Colonial Governments. They will be communicated to my hon. Friend when they are received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to establish a unified Civil Service in Malaya; and whether he is aware that there is dissatisfaction in Singapore at the disparity in salary scales and conditions between the Straits Settlements Civil Service and the Malayan Civil Service.

I am aware that there is certain local dissatisfaction on this subject. I am at present awaiting the recommendations of the two Malayan Governors on the recently published report of the Salaries Commission which has completed its investigations in the Malayan Union and Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is proposed to amend Section 53 (iv) (a) of the Malayan Union Labour Code, in the light of a recent Supreme Court judgment that workers on strike may be dismissed for breach of their agreements with their employers.

Until I have seen the text of this judgment I cannot say whether it has the effect ascribed to it in the Question. I am in communication with the Governor and when I have considered his comments I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what will be the approximate staff required by the Malayan and Singapore Governments to enforce the provisions of the Income Tax enactment which has been imposed against the advice of the Advisory Councils; and whether he is satisfied that it will be possible to enforce the provisions of those Acts in so far as the non-British population of Malaya and Singapore is concerned.

The estimated requirements at the outset are: two Assistant Commissioners of Income Tax, 26 Senior Assessment and Assessment Officers, 46 Senior Examiners and Examiners. I trust that all sections of the community will co-operate loyally in working the new tax which is so vital for the financial stability of the two territories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will place in the Library of the House copies of reports which he has received in the last six months on the conditions in camps in Northern Ireland occupied by Gibraltar evacuees.

The only report which I have received is one by an official of my Department, who visited the camps on 4th July, 1947. A copy of this report will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Defence if any decision has yet been reached regarding the re-introduction of the system of discharge by purchase from the Services.

No. The matter is under active study and I would invite the hon. Member to put down a further Question when the House re-assembles after the Recess.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will indicate the number of separate recruiting stations for the three Services in Nottingham; and indicate the number of recruits obtained during the last three months at each station.

The War Office maintain two separate recruiting offices in Nottingham, one each for men and women; the Air Ministry have one recruiting office; the Admiralty, apart from a small sub-office which opens only one day a week, share the Ministry of Labour Combined recruiting centre which deals with National Service men for all three Services. The numbers recruited through these centres in the three months ending on 30th November were—Navy 116, Army 175, R.A.F. 94.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that many old people are dying from semi-starvation owing to their inability to stand in queues to get food, he will empower local authorities to set up mobile kitchens supplying hot meals to the aged and infirm.

As my right hon. Friend said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Haire) on 15th December he is prepared to consider applications from local authorities or any other reputable bodies to operate mobile meals services for supplying hot meals to the aged and infirm where a real need can be established.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an assurance that members of village pig clubs will be allowed to retain the whole of any pig they may have slaughtered on giving up the bacon coupons.

The Committee of three, whose appointment my right hon. Friend announced in the House on 8th December, has already received strong representations on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend but I would rather not make any comment on this or any other proposal until the Committee has reported.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can give an estimate of the approximate number of animals which are slaughtered annually in this country by Jewish ritual methods, which are exempted from the provisions relating to the humane slaughter of animals by the proviso contained in (1) (b) (i) of Section 1 of the Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.

Exact figures are not readily available, but probably about 80,000 cattle, 40,000 calves and 70,000 sheep are slaughtered annually in Great Britain in accordance with the Jewish ritual.

asked the Minister of Food if he can now state with regard to the new Government Fruit and Vegetable Organisation, the names and principal officers of the organisation and the amounts they are to be paid; what previous practical and technical knowledge each has of fruit and vegetable distribution; whether the organisation is to be constituted as a committee of inquiry, and on what particular lines; and what powers have been delegated by him to this organisation.

As regards the composition of the Fruit and Vegetable Organisation, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood (Mr. Chamberlain) on 26th November. Its terms of reference were circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 17th November, column 261.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the allocations of food to the University towns and the representations which have been received to the effect that these are dealt with hardly as compared with the coastal towns and other health resorts; and what action he proposes to take.

Allocations of food for all towns are based upon the population which in University towns includes the members of the University. Special arrangements are made wherever necessary to meet an influx of population particularly in coastal towns and health resorts during the season. It may, however, be that the hon. Member has in mind the problem of University feeding. This we are discussing tomorrow with representatives nominated by the Committee of Vice Chancellors and I will, if the hon. Member wishes, let him know the result of the meeting in due course.

asked the Minister of Food what regulations are now in force governing the offering of foodstuffs as prizes for whist drives and similar functions; and what is their general effect.

The general effect of the rationing regulations is that rationed foods may not be offered as prizes where an entrance fee is charged, or where the food passes through the hands of a third party. But there would be no objection to direct gifts from one individual to another of home produce or food obtained in accordance with the Ministry's rationing orders. Unrationed and non-controlled foods may be offered as prizes.

asked the Minister of Food why, during the summer months, the sweet ration, containing sugar, a heating food, was increased to 1¼ lb., and from January, during the coldest months, it is to be decreased to ¾ lb.

The increase of the sweet ration from 16 oz. to 20 oz. during ration periods 2 and 3 (17th August to 11th October) was made to fulfil my promise to compensate for the cut which I had to make in the 16 oz. ration during the fuel crisis in March last. The reduction to a 12 oz. ration from the 4th January next is being made as a result of the decision to reduce supplies of sugar to manufacturers in order to save dollar expenditure.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty whether any decision has yet been reached on the release of boys who joined for continuous service during the early months of the war.

As I promised in the House during the Debate on the adjournment on 7th August last, consideration has been given to extending to boy entries the scheme for transferring to short service engagements those men who entered for continuous service in the early months of the war and who satisfied the conditions given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Mallalieu) on 6th August last.Boys who entered in the early days of the war were entered with the long-term requirements of the Royal Navy in mind. The system was exactly the same as in prewar days and it should have been clear to the boys and their parents that entry was on the basis of a 12-year engagement from the age of 18: only therefore in those cases where there are special compassionate circumstances can premature discharge be considered.My noble Friend has decided, however, that some modification of the present regulations regarding the engagement of seamen and communication boys may be granted without detriment to the Navy's requirements. He has accordingly decided that all boys in these two categories shall now be allowed the option, immediately before they reach the age of 18, of transferring to a Special Service engagement, that is for seven years with the. Fleet from their 18th birthday and five years in the Reserve.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many motor cars are at present in use at all Admiralty establishments in London; what is the number of drivers employed; the number employed after 5 p.m. daily; the number employed at weekends; the number of garage employees in each of the above categories; and how these figures compare with 1938.

42 cars are at present employed to meet the requirements of all Admiralty establishments within the London area. 43 drivers are employed, of whom 30 are employed after 5 p.m. in view of the general later closing hours for the various offices. The number of drivers employed is reduced to three on Sundays. Garage employees number 17, of whom two are employed after 5 p.m. and one on Sundays. The comparable figures for 1938 are seven cars, seven drivers, of whom three were employed after 5 p.m. and none on Sundays; five garage employees, working normal hours only. The Admiralty staff at that time was, of course, considerably smaller than it is now. The complement of cars is kept under constant review and will be further reduced as work permits.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent the Naval Air Arm combines with the R.A.F. in elementary flying training, either at naval air stations or at R.A.F. stations; and whether it is intended to develop further this desirable liaison between the two services.

The flying training of naval pilots up to the standard of awarding flying wings, is conducted by the Royal Air Force at R.A.F. Stations. The additional specialised training which naval pilots require for carrying out their full duties with the Fleet is given by the Royal Navy at R.N. air stations and in aircraft carriers. My hon. Friend will see, therefore, that elementary flying training is, in fact, already completely integrated within the two Services.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that an unlighted buoy moored about 20 minutes steam west of Rame Head used as a marker is causing hurt to the fishing fleet of Looe by loss and damage to nets and is a menace to those engaged in sea food production making passage to Looe from Rame Head; and if he will take action in this matter.

I am looking into this matter and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty which groups of statistical information classified under the following orthodox cost accounting classifications are not regarded as essential, in their individual determination, for the information of heads of departments in the Royal Dockyards in Great Britain; analyses of machine performances, showing running and idle time, causes of idleness and breakdowns, length of runs and output; analyses of idle labour time in each establishment and the reasons for it, distinguishing between that arising from administrative delays; lack of work at any stage of production; incorrect and/or changed phasing of machine use and manpower; materials or tradesman shortage; internal transportation breakdowns; spoiled work; deliberate short-time working; and other causes.

Owing to the extremely short time available it has not been possible to obtain the detailed information requested. As soon as this is available, however, I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the estimated number of Regulars in the Royal Navy on 1st March, 1948, and 1st March, 1949; and what is the estimated entry of men called up in 1948, and of National Service men in 1949.

It is estimated that the number of Regular male officers, ratings and other ranks in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines on 1st March, 1948, will be approximately 116,000. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence on 10th December, the strengths of the Forces in the financial year 1948–49 are still under discussion in connection with the Service Estimates. This applies equally to the allocation of National Service men to each Service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Admiralty Industrial Civil Servants' Federation has been informed that they must vacate the office which they have been allowed to use for some time in Devonport Dockyard; and whether in view of the fact that this Association caters for the welfare of approximately 6,000 individuals in His Majesty's Dockyards he can arrange for this matter to be reconsidered.

Offices were provided at Devonport Dockyard for both the full-time secretary (trade union side) of the Yard Whitley Committee, and the Admiralty Industrial Civil Servants' Federation. The purpose of these offices was to enable the Committee and the Federation efficiently to carry out their function of representing the workpeople. Following the repeal of the Trade Disputes Act, however, the Admiralty Industrial Civil Servants' Federation are no longer recognised by the Admiralty as a negotiating body. It is regretted therefore that it is no longer possible to afford them the use of offices inside the dockyard.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will explain the delay in his Department in dealing with correspondence concerning patents, of which particulars have been sent to him.

I am writing to the hon. Member. In the meantime I may say that while there was a certain amount of unavoidable delay in this case, the hon. Member's correspondent was free to proceed with his final specification within three months of the date of his application.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of its importance to the development of television, he is in a position to give any further information with regard to proposed legislative action to provide for the compulsory suppression of electrical interference with radio reception in accordance with the recommendation of the Council of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

I regret I am not in a position to give further information. Although the difficult technical questions involved are being considered I am unable to say when it will be possible to proceed with legislation.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to reduce the delay suffered by telephone subscribers in attempting to obtain an answer from the London Toll Exchange.

I regret that owing to heavy losses of staff in London during the past year, the time to answer on toll calls has been much higher than I would have liked. Conditions are now improving and will continue to do so as the new operating staff gain experience.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to attempt to re-open the sub-post office at Caldy, Cheshire, which was closed in June, 1947.

Every effort has been and will continue to be made to reopen a sub-post office at Caldy, but unfortunately it has so far not been possible to find a candidate for this vacant sub-postmastership.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a further statement with regard to the scheme for sending food parcels from Australia, and the cost of postage.

I understand the hon. Member refers to the scheme inaugurated by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, New South Wales, whereby people in that State can arrange for gift food parcels to be delivered to friends and relatives in this country by addressing a label and paying 10s. The food, in tins, is shipped to this country in bulk to a depot on the outskirts of Trowbridge where it is made up into individual parcels to which the address labels, forwarded from New South Wales to the United Kingdom by air, are affixed. The parcels, which weigh between 7 lb. and 8 lb., are despatched by parcel post in the normal way. The postage is 1s. 1d. The Trowbridge depot, which embraces a special post office set up to handle this traffic, commenced operations on 1st December. About 27,000 parcels were despatched during the first two weeks. This scheme applies to New South Wales only. I understand other States of Australia run separate and different schemes, of which I have no detailed knowledge, but the parcels are not posted in this country.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent mails are being carried between London and Scotland by air service; and what steps are being taken to increase the volume of mail so carried.

The carriage of mails by air between London and Scotland is limited to the conveyance of letters and postcards addressed to Glasgow and posted in London up to the Noon/2 p.m. collections from the street posting boxes. This service started on 17th November last; the question of extending its scope is under review.

asked the Postmaster-General why letters posted in Liverpool and Bootle before the 6 p.m. collection are not delivered in London areas in the first postal deliveries the following morning.

Letters for London collected from street posting boxes in Liverpool and Bootle at 6 p.m. are due to secure first delivery the following weekday. There have, however, been occasions recently when, due to fog and other causes, the trains carrying the mails have been late and the connection has not been secured. Everything possible is done, in close collaboration with the railway companies, to avoid delays.

asked the Postmaster-General how many rural telephone kiosks have been installed in Shetland since the end of the war; how many are in course of being installed; how many it is proposed to instal during 1948; and how many will still be on the waiting list at the end of that year.

Four telephone kiosks and two call offices have been installed in Shetland since the end of the war. Twelve kiosks and two call offices are in course of construction. There remain 80 kiosks still to be installed. These involve extensive overhead line construction, and I regret that I am unable at present to estimate how many will be completed during 1948.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the cut in capital expenditure is likely to retard the installation of automatic telephone equipment for the Tudor exchange; and when he expects the change will take place.

The cut in capital expenditure is likely to retard completion of the Tudor automatic exchange by about 12 months; it is hoped to bring the exchange into service early in 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps have been taken, or are contemplated, for the disposal of the funds, plate and other property of British officers' messes in the Gurkha Regiments transferred to India.

I have no information about the precise arrangements made, but I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of a letter which was issued for general guidance by the Commander-in-Chief in India to officers commanding units of the Indian Army. Copies were sent subsequently to Colonels of Regiments.

asked the Minister of Labour if he contemplates any delay in the application of the National Service Act, or any change in its regulations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the British occupation Forces in Germany are dependent on German authorities and German channels for their P.O.L. requirements; and whether he is satisfied that the present arrangements would enable the Armed Forces to operate efficiently in any case of emergency.

It would not be in the public interest to give information on a matter of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the Government's decision to support British motor racing, how soon he will release the racing track at Donington Park.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham (Mr. Hale) on 3rd November last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Wax whether he is aware that on 5th February last application was made for £45 which Private W. Garland had on him when he was taken prisoner by the Germans and which was confiscated by them; that £5 was offered in settlement by his Department in a letter dated 11th February, 1947, and was refused; that negotiations have been going on ever since; and when this matter will be finally cleared up.

The British Legion, who have been acting for Mr. Garland, were informed on 2nd December that the ex gratia payment offered to him from British funds could not be increased, nor, if he were unable to accept it, could any hope be held out of compensation from any German authority. I regret that there is nothing I can add to this.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his regulations permit motorists whose cars are under repair to use their petrol in another car to undertake the work for which petrol was issued provided they report to the police.

The Regional petroleum officer should be advised of the circumstances so that he may, in suitable cases, issue the necessary authority. There is no need to obtain a further authority from the police.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will grant permission to motorists whose cars are licensed up to 31st December, 1947, to make use of them during the Christmas week for using up unexpired coupons which were available for November, 1947, having special regard to relieving congestion on the railways during this holiday week.

I regret I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 13th November.

asked the Attorney-General what are the membership and terms of reference to the Departmental Committee which will consider matters connected with the law of leasehold.

The membership and terms of reference of the Committee are not yet finally settled, but I hope that an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average period of time that elapses between the issue of a writ in prize on behalf of the Crown and the final decree of condemnation when no claim has been made by any other party.

The average period in the case of ships has been 9.8 months and in the case of cargoes or items of cargoes 18.6 months. The Prize Court Rules provide that no ship or cargo shall be condemned in the absence of an appearance or claim until six months have elapsed from the service of the writ, unless it appears from the ship papers that the ship or cargo is liable to condemnation.

asked the Attorney-General how many writs in prize causes have been issued out of the Prize Court in London on behalf of the Crown since 3rd September, 1939, seeking the condemnation of ships and cargoes, respectively, on the ground that they were enemy property, contraband of war, or otherwise liable to condemnation; and how many final decrees of condemnation of ships and cargoes have been made by the Prize Court since that date.

Writs seeking the condemnation of (a) ships alone, (b) ships together with cargoes or items of cargoes, and (c) cargoes or items of cargoes alone, number 466, 328 and 743 respectively. Decrees have been made condemning 423 ships and 582 cargoes or items of cargoes. These figures include causes instituted by writs issued in Overseas Courts, the proceedings in which were transferred to the London Court.

asked the Attorney-General what is the number of ships in respect of which writs in prize have been issued out of the London Prize Court since 1939 for which the representatives of the Crown have applied and obtained from the Prize Court requisition orders; how many of such vessels have subsequently been condemned by the Prize Court; what is the value thereof; and if he will confirm that this sum has been paid into Court or is covered by proper undertakings as to the payment into Court thereof.

Requisition Orders have been obtained in the case of 524 ships. Three hundred and eighty-nine of these ships have been condemned. Most of the ships have not been formally appraised. In the case of each ship an undertaking providing for the payment into Court of her value has been filed.

asked the Attorney-General what is the value of ships and goods condemned by the London Prize Court since 1939 as droits of the Crown and droits of Admiralty respectively.

The decrees made by the Prize Court do not distinguish between droits of the Crown and droits of Admiralty.

asked the Attorney-General what is the total amount of payments to innocent British and neutral claimants in prize causes recommended by His Majesty's Procurator-General to be met in the exercise of the bounty of the Crown.

The aggregate of such payments is £551,739 12s. 2d.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the prospective loss by the Meriden Rural District of 28 per cent. of its rateable value through the proposed removal from the valuation list of Hams Hall Power Station and other property of the Birmingham Electricity Undertaking; whether he is aware that similarly Curd-worth Parish will lose 85 per cent. and Lea Marston Parish 76 per cent. of rateable value; and to what extent, apart from temporary grants, these local authorities will be compensated.

Yes. These disturbances would arise from the proposals in the Local Government Bill and no compensation provisions are included other than the temporary county grants. Parliament are being asked to extend the period for these temporary grants from the five years now in the Bill to 10 years.

asked the Minister of Health if he will identify those local authorities in whose areas transport and electricity undertakings contribute more than 20 per cent. of the rateable value.

No. I could not obtain this information without detailed inquiries.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will undertake that the spending of dollars on American excavators will not extend beyond the 77·9 million dollars already committed on 422 machines for opencast coal working and the spares for such machines; that these 422 machines, having been purchased expressly for opencast coal working, will be wholly utilised on such work and not directed to other uses in this country; and whether delivery is, and is likely to continue to be, in accordance with the promises received when the orders were placed.

I have been asked to reply. The commitment for American excavators amounted to 17·9 and not 77·9 million dollars, and I do not at present contemplate further purchases. The machines are intended for a number of priority uses, but the greater part of the expenditure is for machines that were intended and will be used for opencast coal production. The deliveries so far have been substantially in accordance with the dates promised and I have no reason to anticipate serious departure from future delivery dates.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the Liberal Hall in Chippenham is still being used as the food office, and that this is putting the Liberal Party in Chippenham in a disadvantageous position compared with the other parties, whose halls have been derequisitioned for nearly two years; and what steps he proposes to take to release this hall in the near future.

I regret very much the inconvenience that has been caused by the continued occupation of the Liberal Hall by the food office. My officers have made repeated attempts without success to find alternative accommodation. I will consider the possibility of erecting a temporary building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will for the next six months make a monthly return of the amount of petrol used, the time consumed, and the cost incurred, by police officers in enforcing the Basic Petrol Cancellation Order, so as to furnish information on the economic result of that legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why the Bucks Agricultural Executive Committee advertised for spring cabbage plants for September and October, while a nursery requisitioned six years ago from its owner Mr. C. C. Peach was in a derelict state with no production; and in view of their failure to cultivate Mr. Peach's property, if he will direct the committee to allow Mr. Peach to bring his holding into production again.

Owing to the extremely dry summer of 1947, the Buckinghamshire War Agricultural Executive Committee feared that the target acreages of spring cabbage crops might not be attained, and the object of the committee's advertisement was to encourage

I should be reluctant to burden chief officers of police with the preparation of returns of the kind suggested, and I doubt the practicability of doing so since police enforcement of the Control of Fuel Order will normally be combined with the performance of their general duties.

asked the Financial Secreretary to the Treasury if he will give an analysis by staff groups of the total number of non-industrial civil servants at 1st October, 1947.

Non-Industrial civil servants analysed by staff groups, 1st October, 1947:growers who had surplus plants to get into touch with farmers in need of them, either directly or through the committee.Mr. Peach's nursery was adequately cropped by the committee this year. The committee relinquished possession to Mr. Peach on 31st October last after offering him the opportunity of pre-entry on the arable land to facilitate his production plans. The land was then lying ploughed in readiness for Mr. Peach to re-occupy. Since the date mentioned, there has been nothing to prevent Mr. Peach from bringing the land into cultivation. I understand that Mr. Peach has not re-occupied the land pending the settlement of certain claims for compensation. I am advised that re-occupation would not prejudice any claims he may have nor any counter-claims which my Department may have for betterment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of the reconversion of allotments in Arnos Public Park to a playing field by Southgate Council and of similar action by other local councils, he will take powers to secure the restoration of allotment sites on such land and on land now lying vacant.

It is solely within the discretion of local authorities whether land specifically acquired for parks or playing fields should be made available for use as temporary allotments, but in view of the serious food situation I have urged authorities to retain, not only such land, but also other temporary allotment land, for food production. I understand that the Southgate Borough Council have accordingly decided that allotments to their parks may remain undisturbed until at least March, 1949; and that there has been no reconversion of allotments in Arnos Park to playing fields since July, 1946, when some regrouping was effected so as to bring occupied plots together, and release the area not required.

asked the Minister of Supply whether in co-operation with other Departments and the trade, he has been able to arrange for the designing and production in this country of heavy tractors suitable for all purposes and at all altitudes in tropical and semi-tropical Colonies.

Proposals for the development of a heavy tractor are still being examined in conjunction with manufacturers, but I regret that it has not so far proved possible to arrange for production of this type of tractor.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that an ex-soldier named Ward, of 60 Balby Road, Doncaster, who was discharged from the Army in 1916 suffering from head and shoulder wounds, was paid from 1925 up to his death in July, 1946, a pension of 100 per cent., was several times an in-patient in his Department's hospitals and underwent many operations; that, as a result of his final operation and illness, his widow has been called upon to pay £146; that the widow and her dependent child have been refused a pension; and if he will review the compassionate circumstances of this case and render all possible help to the widow and child.

In view of the possible effect of Mr. Ward's wounds upon his general health, I am able to reverse the previous decision and to award his widow a modified pension with an allowance for her child at the full rate. She is also being invited to claim a rent allowance if her rent and rates amount to more than 8s. a week. As regards the first part of the Question, no charge has ever been made for the medical treatment provided by my Department. The bill referred to was sent to the widow by a civil hospital in respect of treatment outside my responsibility. There may have been some misunderstanding on this matter and I will make further inquiries and write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of road have been built, improved or repaired under the Crofter Counties Scheme; how many miles have still to be completed; and what will be the total cost falling on the Treasury and the local authorities, respectively.

Four hundred and eighty miles of roads have been built; improved, or repaired, under the Crofter Counties Programme and works on 702 miles have still to be carried out. The cost, which is expected to amount to £10¼ million, is borne entirely by the Road Fund.