asked the Secretary of State for War how many National Service men have been sent to Malaya; what is the average number of months they have served before being sent out; and if he proposes to continue to send men to do their National Service in Malaya.

Of the National Service men called up under the National Service Acts, 1948, some 4,500 were sent to Malaya during the period 1st January, 1949, to 31st May, 1950. Since May, 1949, it has been the rule that National Service men must serve for 4½ months before being sent to Malaya. The average period is slightly higher. As I have previously stated, National Service men must continue to be sent abroad to the extent that our military commitments render this necessary.

Is the Secretary of State aware that there are some boys of 18 years of age who have just finished training for three months and who are now on leave before proceeding to Malaya and Hong Kong? Is he further aware of the undertaking, which was given during the passing of the National Service Act through this House, that no boy under 19 years of age would be sent abroad, and that during even the dark days of the war no boys under 19 were sent?

I am not aware that they are being sent to Malaya after training of three months, for the rule is four and a half months before they are sent out. If my hon. Friend has any case in mind where this rule is not being followed I should like to hear of it.

Is it not being shown in Korea that the use of conscript troops at that stage of a war is not the best use that can be made of them? Does not my right hon. Friend think there should be a special volunteer force for Malaya of people with experience of Commando and similar operations in the last war, properly trained, which would be, in my view, the most effective method of dealing with the Malayan situation?

That is a much wider question, but I do not take the view that National Service men have proved unsuitable in Malaya. From such personal observations as I could make there, I took a very different view from that.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are his future plans for the movements of the 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

Will the Secretary of State give an undertaking that boys under 19 who have been transferred recently from the North Staffordshire Regiment to the Worcesters and the South Staffordshire Regiment, will not be sent abroad unless they have at least the average training which they receive in other regiments?

As I have already said, the rule is that they must not be sent to Malaya until they have four and a half months' training. If there is any question of an infraction of that rule I should naturally like to have particulars.

Can the Secretary of State inform the House when the change was brought about? During the passage of the National Service Act an undertaking was given, which. was carried out right throughout the war, under which no boy under 19 years of age would be sent abroad. Can he say when that was changed?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would put down a Question on that point, which is a different one.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in accordance with Army Council Instructions, a notice was not displayed at the Chelsea Barracks, where it could be seen by the public, giving details of a court martial held there on 10th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War when, and how, instructions were issued requiring notices of forthcoming courts martial to be publicly displayed at or near the headquarters at which they are convened.

Instructions regarding the display of notices of courts martial were issued by signal to all Commands on 23rd June, 1950. An Army Council letter was despatched the same day. The instruction provided for the new procedure to come into force not later than mid-July, and the national and provincial Press were notified on 29th June that it might be mid-July before it was fully implemented. The new arrangements are now in force.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the daily cost to public funds of the use of Army personnel at Smithfield market; and what has been the total cost of such assistance at Smithfield since the end of the war.

None, Sir. Appropriate charges, sufficient to cover expenditure, are recovered from the employers.

is it not gravely inconsistent that the cost of building a Bailey bridge over the Thames in connection with the Festival of Britain should not he charged, as the right hon. Gentleman said these particular charges are, and why should this inconsistency occur? Why not charge the unions or those responsible for ill-discipline, with this cost?

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent Anti-Aircraft Command is prepared to meet the latest developments in aircraft and self-propelled projectiles.

The development of anti-aircraft weapons and associated techniques is being urgently pursued. We cannot, of course, give this particular need exclusive priority over equally important defence needs.

Will the Secretary of State give the House an assurance that at least immediate short-term measures will be given top priority to bring A.A. Command into some state of readiness, and will he also give an assurance that full account will be taken of the worst that any aggressor can bring against us in, say, the next six or 12 months?

I should be very loth to pick out any particular defence needed and give that a top or overriding priority over others, but no one is disputing for a moment the very great importance of this matter.

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind my own view that there should be the very highest standard of instruction in these new techniques, and that we will not be subjected to the same bad instruction that many of us had in 1939?

Is the right hon Gentleman aware that L.Z. and Mark VI balloons will fulfil an irreplaceable function in the defence of strategic points, and shipping, and that there is considerable apprehension regarding the state of preparedness of this form of defence?

I do not know whether we ought to discuss the technique of A.A. defence in Question and answer, but I can assure the House that I and my military advisers take this matter very seriously indeed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Bureau of Current Affairs pamphlet entitled "Western Germany Today," written by Mr. Basil Davidson, has been examined by his Department, with a view to its use in the Army for educational purposes; and with what result.

The regular purchase, on behalf of the Army, of Bureau of Current Affairs publications ceased on 31st December, 1949. From that date the War Department has bought only those pamphlets or map reviews that it desires. The pamphlet, "Western Germany Today," has not been examined by the Department, and I am informed that there is no present requirement for another pamphlet on this subject.

Will the Secretary of State give an assurance that this pamphlet will not be used in any circumstances at all, in view of its extremely partisan nature?

As neither I nor my Department have examined it, I cannot give an assurance about it, but I am told that such a pamphlet is not at the moment required in any case.

Did the right hon. Gentleman study the public correspondence in which this Bureau took part earlier this year, and observe that the director saw no reason either for regret or apology when the Bureau published misstatements of fact?

asked the Secretary of State for War what action, arising from disclosure of misconduct in his printing and photographic department, he has taken to prevent theft or irregular disposal of stores.

Fresh instructions have been issued for the control of stores held on the premises and for their issue for particular jobs. Inspections by audit staff, not associated with the establishment, will be carried out from time to time and without warning.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements he has made to check the addresses, present medical categories and present occupations of men on the Class Z reserve.

The checking of the addresses and present occupations of men on the Class Z Reserve has been proceeding for some time. It is not intended to carry out a medical inspection before recall.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House some indication of how far this checking has got? Surely the checking of addresses and occupations is incomplete from his point of view unless it also includes some check on medical categories.

The checking of addresses has gone very far, and the checking of present occupations has not gone so far. The addresses have been done first, but it is not intended, even when these checks are complete, to examine medically before calling up. The checking of these addresses does, of course, make the process of calling up smoother and easier.

The right hon. Gentleman says that this has gone very far, but how far has it gone in percentages, and. when will it be complete in view of the great urgency of this matter?

I cannot answer that without notice.

Would the Secretary of State consider issuing some sort of statement explaining how, if an emergency arose, this reserve would be called up and what particular section would be called up first?

I would have to consult with the Ministry of Labour on that point.

Does the Secretary of State think it possible to have a really full re-registration without some appeal going out from the Service authorities, asking men who have changed their addresses to re-register?

There is no reason to suppose that the present checking arrangements are not working well.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the extensive damage likely to ensue from the passage of exceptionally heavy tanks over roads and weak bridges in Breconshire; and what compensation will be made to the county council if this practice must be continued.

Normally, tracked vehicles are moved only on routes previously arranged with the Ministry of Transport and the local authorities. I understand that there were recently two incidents in Breconshire where tracked vehicles used routes for which such arrangements had not been made and that some damage was done to the roads. Steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence. Any damage caused by the movement of tracked vehicles is paid for b3, the War Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War the procedure by which the Army Council come to decisions on appeals submitted to them for arbitration.

Such appeals, together with a statement of the case, are considered by at least three members of the Army Council.

Is the Secretary of State in a position to overrule an otherwise unanimous decision of the Army Council?

I should have to have notice of that question, although no such occurrence has taken place in the case which I think the hon. and gallant Member has in mind.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Secretary of State has one vote the same as everyone else on the Army Council?

I think it would be inappropriate to go into the procedure of the Army Council by question and answer. If the hon. and gallant Member wishes to go into the procedure, he had better put down a Question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he has not exercised his power to overrule a majority decision of the Army Council in any personal case since he has held his office?

I would not attempt to give such an assurance on the Floor of the House, but in any case, the case which is being raised by the hon. and gallant Member who put down this Question did not arise during my period of office.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Good Conduct Medal awarded to soldiers only brings a bounty of £5, whereas sailors get £20 for the same award.

The rewards attaching to medals in the Army and Royal Navy differ in various respects, and the advantages are not all on one side. These differences are traditional, and it has never been considered that the arrangements in the two Services need be identical.

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices to bring these two awards into line and, if possible, raise both to the present-day value of the pound?

Naturally, we should like all these awards to be raised. I would point out that the Army has the Meritorious Service Medal which the Navy has not got. It would be untrue to say that there is a material advantage on the side of the Navy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he personally gave approval for the eviction of Mrs. P. E. Hill, and her child, from 6c Block, Abbey Fields, Colchester, on 12th July: and, in view of the serious housing situation locally, what attempt was made to provide temporary hostel accommodation for this family until it became possible for them to obtain a home from civilian sources.

Yes, Sir. With regard to the second part of the Question, the housing of civilian families is a matter for the local authorities, who were approached on this case by the War Department on four separate occasions between 7th July, 1949, at the time when Mr. Hill was discharged from the Army, and 12th July, 1950, when we finally took possession of the quarter, in order that the family of a serving soldier might be accommodated.

Does the Minister realise that in Colchester, like other towns, it is absolutely impossible to get housing accommodation without going on the housing list, and that therefore there is no way in which an ex-soldier's family, evicted from military quarters, is able to get civilian accommodation? Would it not be possible for the War Office to arrange for some temporary hostel accommodation on War Office property until these people can be absorbed into civilian housing?

I think the hon. Member will recognise the necessity, after a full year's grace, of these quarters being used for the families of serving soldiers, and that families of ex-Service soldiers must leave them. From that point onward, it must be the responsibility of the local authority—although we draw the matter to their attention—to house ex-Service families.

asked the Secretary of State for War what change has occurred in the policy of using National Service men to perform duties previously performed by civil servants in Army Pay Offices; how many National Service men are still so employed; and to what medical categories is this employment limited.

There has been no change in the policy which I defined on 18th April. National Service men employed in Army Pay Offices are not limited to any particular medical categories. It is not the practice to make public the numbers of soldiers engaged in particular duties.

Does that mean that National Service men of the highest category are still being used to replace civil servants in these purely sedentary duties?

Not necessarily. It means that, in the opinion of myself and my advisers, it is necessary to build up an Army Pay Corps partly from National Service men, so that trained men are available against an emergency to man this Corps which has to be expanded very rapidly.

In view of the fact that, in war, men of high medical category are nor employed on these duties, what is the point in instructing National Service men in such duties in time of peace?

I am not saying that men of high medical category are being used for these duties. but if the hon. Member likes tc put down a question I will answer it. It does seem necessary, however, that National Service men should be used in this capacity.

Where National Service men have tc be used, will my right hon. Friend see that as many as possible come from the lower grades?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning the date on which his Department received from the chairman the report of the inquiry held at Dolgelley in November, 1949, into the War Office's requirements for land at Trawsfynydd, Merioneth; what were the recommendations in the report; what are the causes of the delay in announcing the result of the inquiry; and when he proposes to announce the result.

I received this report on 12th February, 1950. Such reports are never published. Following discussions on many points of detail between my Department, the War Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Parks Commission, agreement has now been reached, and I shall be able to make an announcement next week.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how far he consulted local government associations before issuing Order No. 728, 1950.

The associations concerned were fully consulted.

Was this done with their approval?

No, Sir; some of them thought I was making a very rash experiment in freedom.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will introduce legislation whereby a widow who has been drawing a widow's pension, for which her first husband has paid contributions, may continue to draw this pension if she remarries.

No, Sir. It would be quite inconsistent with the principles of the National Insurance Scheme to pay widows' pensions to married women.

Assuming that the rate of contribution of the first husband was on the basis that the widow might not remarry for the remainder of her life, why should the State feel it is under no obligation to her if she does remarry? If the contribution had been paid to an assurance company, they would not refuse to continue her pension when she remarries.

The hon. Member misunderstands the principle. The widow's pension was intended to provide a substitute for the husband's earnings, and not to put a premium on second marriages.

asked the Minister of National Insurance by what method the casual earnings of widows in receipt of pensions are ascertained.

On the basis of a declaration by the widow of the net amount earned in the previous pension pay week.

In view of the considerable misunderstanding which still exists in the country, would the right hon. Lady take this opportunity to affirm that there are cases, of which this is one, where she and the Government approve of a means test?

I think the hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. In calculating a widow's earnings allowances are made for insurance, fares, and for the cost of caring for the children. After that, of course, a widow is allowed to keep 30s. I could not agree with him that that is in the nature of a means test.

Would not the right hon. Lady agree that a means test was a test where the means were taken into consideration?

I took it for granted that the hon. Gentleman knew the intention behind this regulation. It is to ensure that these children, who had already been deprived of one parent, should not be deprived of the other parent for the whole of the week.

Would my right hon. Friend say if the particulars required in these cases differ in any essential from the particulars we all have to give to the Income Tax authorities.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will give an estimate of the additional charge to the Exchequer of allowing to widows their full pension, irrespective of any money they may earn.

The amount directly saved by the earnings rule for widows is about £2 million a year. But the abolition of the rule would involve paying insurance benefits to widows in full-time work, and this would necessitate a complete review of the whole basis of widows' benefits under the National Insurance Act.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will state the total amount of money paid, and numbers in receipt of, old age pensions at the nearest convenient date; and what increase in National Insurance contributions per contributor would be necessary to cover the additional cost of granting an increase of 5s. per week to each old age pensioner.

As the reply is long and contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would my right hon. Friend make any comment on the suggestion in my Question?

If my hon. Friend looks at my answer he will see why it is impracticable. At the moment retirement pensions cost the country £273 million a year. If we carried out the hon. Gentleman's suggestion, it would mean another £55 million at once, rising to £80 million in 20 years' time.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will make the necessary arrangements now to enable old age pensioners to receive twice the printed amount on their Pension Order Form for the Christmas week, 1950, so as to allow these old people to purchase a few extras for the Christmas festivities.

No, Sir. This would not be a proper provision to be made under a contributory insurance scheme. Furthermore, the cost of the proposal would be about £5,250,000 in the first year, and to meet this an increase of contributions would be necessary as well as payments from the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what estimate she made of the administrative cost of the Industrial Injuries Fund before its commencement.

About £3.500,000 a year when the scheme is fully developed.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many widows residing in Ayrshire are in receipt of National Assistance.

I regret that this information is not available.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that even if these numbers are not available, many widows find it extremely distasteful to make up a case for national assistance, and would she look at the position with a view to increasing the basic pension in order to avoid this state of affairs?

My hon. Friend will agree, if he visits the National Assistance office in his constituency, that these widows should not be afraid to go to the officials and explain their position. I hope this Question and answer will be brought to the attention of widows in my hon. Friend's constituency, and that in future they will obtain the assistance to which they are entitled.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I do not disagree with that position at all, but we are finding there are cases of widows who will not apply because it is national assistance, and we have not rid the people of the feeling which I have described? Could we not do something about it?

If my hon. Friend listens to the answer I am giving to another Question I think he will be reassured.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if she will state the percentage of National Assistance cases who are receiving the full amount of increase recently agreed to by this House.

The full increase is being paid in about 92 per cent. of Ile cases. The remaining 8 per cent. who, for one reason or another, did not qualify for the increase include such cases as those in local authority homes and those taken over from a local authority with allowances in excess of the new rates.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of a case which I have sent her from Dalry where the applicant got an increase of 3s. 6d. for two or three weeks, and, although the circumstances had not altered, it was reduced to Is.? Further, is she aware that I am assured from other Members on this side of the House that there are similar cases?

I cannot recall the details of every case, but I am quite prepared to look at that case again and explain why the reduction was made.

asked the Minister of Labour how many bricklayers were unemployed in Liverpool during the first week in July.

On 12th June, the latest date for which figures are available, 50 men with some experience of bricklaying in the Liverpool area were registered as unemployed. Few of these men are, however, fully skilled craftsmen, and acceptable as such to employers.

In view of the shortage of bricklayers in Liverpool and the extent of large-scale unemployment, would the right hon. Gentleman consider an adult training scheme for bricklayers?

Wherever training is necessary, we have endeavoured to follow it up, but in this instance the trouble is that so many people with a smattering of knowledge go and register themselves as bricklayers, and it is not until they go to an employer and get rejected that we find out the trouble.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the extent of the present unemployment in the clothing industry; and what steps he proposes to take to ease the situation.

Owing to seasonal fluctuations, there has recently been some increase in the number of persons whose last employment was in certain sections of the clothing industry. The total number of unemployed in all groups of the clothing industry was 8,841 on 12th June. My local offices will assist those who apply to find suitable alternative employment.

Is the Minister aware that there is also considerable part-time unemployment now, and will he and his colleagues consider reducing the amount of Purchase Tax that is paid on general goods?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman ought to put that down to the appropriate Minister. Unemployment within the whole industry is a little less than 11 per cent., which is the national average over all industries.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the clothing industry unemployment does not exist in that portion of the trade which pays Purchase Tax?

The point of this, of course, is that this is seasonal unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has recently taken to review the arrangements of His Majesty's Government for call-up to the Forces in the event of an emergency; whether he is satisfied that those arrangements are now complete; and whether decisions have yet been taken as to reserved occupations.

These arrangements, including those for reservation, are kept under constant review and are adjusted from time to time as circumstances change. They are ready to operate at any time.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider giving to the public some indication in broad terms of these arrangements in order that the very large number of people affected may have some idea where their duty would lie in an emergency?

No, Sir.

:Would the right hon. Gentleman say why?

Because I consider it would not be in the public interest at this juncture.

For the benefit of hon. Members of this House who may be called up on reserve, can the Government say whether pairs would be provided?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of males and females unemployed in the county of Durham; the numbers signing on at each exchange; and what assurance he can give of alternative employment in the near future.

As the reply to the first part of the Question involves a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate it with the OFFICIAL REPORT. County Durham forms part of the North-East Coast Development Area and, as my hon. Friend is aware, all practicable steps are being taken to improve the opportunities for employment in these areas.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the extent of present unemployment or short-time in the shipbuilding industry in Scotland.

On 12th June, the latest date for which figures are available, 3,292 workers whose last employment was in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry were registered as unemployed in Scotland, including 231 who were only temporarily stopped from their employment. Statistics are not available of the number of workpeople on short-time but not registered as unemployed.

Would my right hon. Friend consider consulting with the President of the Board of Trade with a view to providing alternative employment where unemployment has arisen in the shipbuilding yards, in order to avoid the unemployment we had in the years before the war?

As has been previously reported to the House, these negotiations with the President of the Board of Trade are and have been continuing, and efforts are made to attract heavy industry into these areas. We can get light industries, but what are required are heavy industries.

As the right hon. Gentleman has the figures for the various districts of Scotland, can he say how many relate to the city of Aberdeen?

I am not the memory man. If the hon. and learned Gentleman puts that Question down I will give an answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the movement recently begun in the city of Edinburgh for the self-building of houses by those who have no near expectation of housing accommodation; and what steps he is taking to encourage such individual enterprise.

I will be glad to consider applications to build houses from private persons or housing associations if the people for whom the houses are intended fall within the categories described in my statement of 29th March.

Would the Secretary of State for Scotland have it in mind that in days gone by quite a large number of houses were built by people for their own occupation?

I am anxious to encourage anyone who has the facilities for building houses, if the houses are intended for people among whom the greatest need is felt.

Is not the fact that a man is willing to build his own house an indication of his need?

No, Sir, it is an indication of his willingness to build a house.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that a police officer has more need of a provided house than a clerk, who is able to build one?

I could not answer that question without examining the conditions of the clerk and of the policeman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual Scottish production of barley in 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946 and 1948; and what proportion was bought for distilling.

The production of barley in Scotland in the years referred to was respectively 104,000 tons, 159,000 tons, 214,000 tons, 201,000 tons and 182,000 tons. Information is not available as to the proportion of those crops bought for distilling.

Is it not a fact that the production of barley is falling steeply in Scotland, and are the Government taking steps to remedy that unfortunate situation?

I agree that the position of the barley acreage in Scotland must be constantly attended to, but I could not agree that it is falling steeply.

Would the right hon. Gentleman apply to distilling the same principles of need and willingness as he has applied to housing?

Is there not enough whisky in the world without having to increase it?

Would the right hon. Gentleman take steps to correct the ignorance of the hon. Member for Ealing, West (Mr. J. Hudson) of the fact that the demand for this important Scottish commodity is universal, and would be greater if the Government would permit it?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the pier on the island of South Fara in Orkney is excluded from the list of essential piers given in the annexe to Command Paper No. 7976.

No representations about landing facilities on the small island of South Fara have been made either to the Highlands Advisory Panel or myself. Should any representations be made I would, of course, consider them on their merits.

Can the Secretary of State say that it is his intention that every inhabited island should have a pier? As South Fara has some 20 inhabitants, does he not agree that its pier is essential?

I do not think I quite accept the hon. Gentleman's generalisation. It would be very expensive indeed. I would be glad to consider any case on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement on the future of the Highland Panel.

I have been considering the position of the Highland Advisory Panel in consequence of the publication of the programme of Highland development, but I do not propose to make any changes immediately.

Is this a change in policy? Could the right hon. Gentleman indicate whether that is a change from his statement made after Whitsun? Does it mean that at some future time the function of the Highland Panel will be changed, or is that no longer his policy?

No, Sir, there is no change in policy. I would consult the Highland Panel if I were contemplating a change.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that unless action is taken under recommendations already made by the Panel, the people of the Highlands of Scotland will be most disappointed and will feel that such bodies are no longer useful?

The hon. Gentleman knows that, under this Government, action has taken place.