asked the Secretary of State for Air the basis of payment made by the Air Ministry" for the use of civil aerodromes during war-time; and by whom the ground maintenance staff at such aerodromes is paid?

The basis of payment for the use of civil aerodromes depends on whether the aerodrome is leased under a pre-war agreement or has been requisitioned, or is merely used for casual landings. In the first case, the payment for user and the method of remunerating the ground staff are laid down in the lease; in the second, the owner is compensated under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, and the ground staff are paid directly by the Air Ministry or by the operating company; and in the third, casual landings are paid for by agreement or at standard rates prescribed in the aerodrome licence, remuneration of the ground staff being the concern of the owner.

Is not payment in the first place made on the basis of flying time, and is not that an encouragement to people to make unnecessary flights, in order to get more payments?

In the first place, payment is made under the terms of the leases, No leases have been entered into during the war; we now proceed by requisitioning.

Is there no possibility of altering the terms of the leases in cases where they involve flying time?

Alterations in the terms of the leases can be made only, of course, by agreement between the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will revert to the peace-time procedure whereby all annual confidential reports are initialled by the officer reported upon whether adverse or favourable?

No, Sir. The war-time practice of showing officers their confidential reports only when they contain adverse comment has advantages over the peace-time practice and is in line with that adopted in the Army and in the Royal Navy.

Does my right hon. Friend not think it would give great encouragement to junior officers if they could see the reports?

The public interest, and the interest of the Service, make it necessary that these reports should contain candid and realistic assessments of the officers' character and abilities, and this is best served by the present system.

Are adverse reports always shown to the officer concerned?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make any statement on the recent reorganisation of the Air Training Corps, and whether any further changes are contemplated?

In order to simplify organisation and accelerate administration, the work hitherto done by the headquarters of the Corps has been transferred to the Air Ministry; and the Air Ministry now deals directly with the regional commandants and with the Commandant for Scotland. A post of Inspector of the Air Training Corps has been created, under the Air Member for Training, and is filled by the former Commandant. The post of Commandant lapses. The changes were introduced on 13th July. No further changes of a major character are in contemplation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what arrangements are made for newly-commissioned Air Training Corps officers without previous service experience to acquire administrative and disciplinary knowledge, either by attending short courses at Royal Air Force stations or otherwise?

Officers appointed for duty with the Air Training Corps are encouraged to take short courses of instruction at R.A.F. units. Officers attending courses receive the pay of their substantive rank, and are provided with accommodation and rations, or are given allowances instead.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that my noble Friend the Commandant for Scotland has organised local courses for officers, which have proved very successful? Will the same thing be done here?

Yes, Sir; it is a very good plan, and I am considering the possibility of extending it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that instructions have been issued to certain Air Training Corps, London squadrons, that no church parades or instruction meetings are to be held on Sunday mornings in order that youths may be able to attend a place of worship with their parents; that the church attendance of youths with or without parents is confined to a small minority; whether the explanation accompanying the instruction is to be interpreted as an implicit order; whether he will make it clear that church parade or church attendance is entirely optional, not to be taken as part of the Air Training Corps course of training, and no disability or penalty will be suffered by non-attendance?

Instructions were issued to all units of the Air Training Corps that from May to September inclusive two Sunday mornings a month should be kept free of normal A.T.C. parades. The purpose of the instructions is to enable cadets to worship with their families if they wish to do so. There is no obligation upon A.T.C. units to hold religious services or on cadets to attend them; nor is there any penalty for non-attendance. This should be clear to all concerned, but if any misunderstanding has arisen and my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the instance, I will consider whether any further instruction is necessary.

Does that mean that those who do not choose to go to church can give their time to other work and other duties connected with the Air Training Corps; and is it quite clear that the insistence on religious observance is not part of the Air Training Corps scheme?

I really think that my hon. Friend will find the answer to his question in the answer I have given. I said: "There is no obligation upon Air Training Corps units to hold religious services or on cadets to attend them."

asked the Secretary of State for Air why, in placing contracts for several million pounds recently, the Builders' Emergency Organisation, set up by the Ministry of Works and Planning, has been ignored; why local builders were not given the opportunity to tender; and why the contracts were all given to a few firms, such as Wimpey's and McAlpine's and their subsidiaries?

The contracts to which I assume the hon. Member refers were placed after consultation with the Ministry of Works and Planning, who consult the Builders' Emergency Organisation whenever they think it appropriate. Of the 52 firms invited to submit tenders, 15 were local firms. Of the 22 contracts allotted, six were allotted to Wimpey and two to McAlpine. So far as I know, the 12 successful tenderers in the case of the remaining 14 contracts included no subsidiaries of these two firms.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of these contracts were placed without the Builders' Emergency Organisation being consulted; and that in many areas local builders were not allowed to tender, and that they have a feeling that this policy, if persisted in, will drive them out of business?

No, Sir. On these large contracts it is my duty to consult with the Ministry of Works and Planning, and it is for them to decide whether it is appropriate to consult the Builders' Emergency Organisation or not. In the case of smaller contracts, of £20,000 or less, which my officers have power to allot, we do consult the Builders' Emergency Organisation.

Have the arrangements for the placing of these contracts the approval of the Ministry of Works and Planning?

Yes; I said that we consulted the Ministry of Works and Planning.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in placing contracts with a few large firms only, he is satisfied that he has carried out the undertaking given to this House some time ago that local builders would be given the opportunity for contracting in their area; and is he aware that many local builders are losing their employees to the larger contractors?

It is not the general practice of the Air Ministry to place contracts with a few large firms only. When tenders are invited, every consideration is given to the claims of local firms capable of executing the work. If such firms submit satisfactory quotations they are given contracts. The transfer and distribution of labour generally is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that in many cases small firms, owing to the Ministry giving work to the large firms, lose their machinery and their men, who are very often transferred to the large firms and find that they have no work to do for many days?

We are only anxious to get the work done, and we have to get it done at the lowest rate we can, but we have to choose the firm which we know has the power and the experience to enable it to get important work done in time for the operations for which it is required.

Is it not a fact that many of these large firms have not the plant and that they commandeer it?

How does the right hon. Gentleman ascertain the cheapest contract that is possible?

Is my right hon. Friend prepared to receive a deputation on this matter, which is very important?

Certainly, I am always ready to discuss these matters with my hon. Friends.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he has taken any steps for the establishment of air services for urgent war freights;

The answer to both Questions is "Yes, Sir." Apart from transport services operated by the Royal Air Force, six freight-carrying services are at present operated from the United Kingdom by the British Overseas Airways Corporation, which also operates war transport services from other terminals.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the British Overseas Airways Corporation do not operate more than about 100 half-obsolete aircraft, and does this represent his conception of the importance of airfreight services at the present time?

I cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's description of the aircraft with which these services are operated, but we are doing our best to make the operation of these services as efficient as we can with the resources at our disposal.

Can my right hon. Friend deny that the British Overseas Airways Corporation operate about 100 aircraft, a great proportion of which are obsolete, and, I repeat, does that represent his conception of the importance of these services?

I neither deny nor confirm it, because all these services are war services, and it would be most unfortunate to discuss in this House the number of aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether all the secret and confidential documents were collected from the Northern Ireland Royal Air Force Security Police prior to their discharge, and whether he will order a public inquiry, with power to take evidence on oath, to be held into the whole question of their dismissal?

I am advised that no secret or confidential documents were issued to these men who, in any event, were ordered to hand over all official documents when they were discharged. As regards the second part of the Question, the facts are well established and an inquiry would serve no useful purpose.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the desire of these men for an inquiry, so that their case can be thoroughly investigated and the public may know exactly what is the position, as they do not understand the position of these men, and the matter ought to be cleared up?

I cannot agree with my hon. Friend. I do not think that there is the slightest misunderstanding about the facts, which are perfectly well known.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, with a view to giving greater protection to our merchant shipping, he will arrange for gun armament on the bows of such ships?

There are normally serious disadvantages in mounting the gun armament of a merchant ship in the forward position where it is exposed to the weather and sea, but when such a position is suitable a bow gun is sometimes fitted. Anti-aircraft weapons mounted near the bridge or aft are often capable of firing forward.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that American ships now being built are being provided with a gun in the bow for offensive purposes, and is it not true to say that the reason why we are not arming our own vessels in this way is because of international law?

With regard to my hon. Friend's point about international law, I do not think so, because a large number of our vessels have guns fore and aft, or at any rate all the larger ships have them. It is only the smaller ships, where other difficulties and other considerations arise, that have not got them.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a very great demand, not only on the part of shipowners but by the men themselves, that an extension of this service should be pursued?

In this matter we are following advice of the experts who are advising us, and where it is possible in larger ships to put guns fore and aft they are put there.

Is it not the case that if a gun is put in the bow of a merchant ship, it cannot get into a neutral port?

On a point of Order. About a fortnight ago, Mr. Speaker, I put down a Question on precisely the same subject, and it was refused by the Clerks at the Table on the grounds of security. A very elaborate explanation was made in writing on my Question Paper, presumably by the Admiralty, and I would like to know why, when I put a Question and it is rejected on the grounds of security, the same Question is allowed to be put two weeks later. May I say, in explanation, that this matter has been raised by my constituents, whom I have had to inform that the Question has been rejected on the grounds I have stated? It is very difficult for me to justify my position with my constituents when someone else is allowed to put a Question on the same subject.

If the hon. Member will come and see me afterwards, I will try to understand what he wants.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply in connection with that point about international law, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Appropriation Bill.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is satisfied that ships travelling to war areas are receiving adequate protection and have proper protective equipment for defending themselves during air attacks?

Yes, Sir. Weapons are provided in all ships for defence against air attack, and there is special provision for the protection of personnel. Ships moving in the more dangerous areas are given priority and special consideration.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a recent convoy proceeding in a very important direction was denuded of Admiralty protection almost at the last minute and that a large number of vessels were lost?

Answer.

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter also on the Appropriation Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to announce a method, common to the United Nations, of notifying their shipping losses to the public?

No. Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the American shipping losses are daily published in the American Press? In view of the fact that it is vitally important to stimulate public interest in this matter, can he say when the Government will be in a position to make an announcement on this important subject?

I have already answered, "No, Sir."

Was not the reason for refusing to publish the shipping losses that His Majesty's Government were entering into negotiations with the American Government with a view to co-ordination and a joint statement?

Sir Archibald Southby.

On a point of Order. I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Appropriation Bill.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that accepted applicants for service in the Women's Royal Naval Service have to wait months for a medical examination; that this long wait is a waste of time and service to the war effort when some of these accepted applicants are turned down as not up to the medical standard required for this corps; and will he take steps to have the medical examinations carried out within a short period of the girl's application and thus obviate disappointment and delay of enrolment in some other service?

Applicants for service in the W.R.N.S. undergo a medical examination which is carried out by civilian medical boards under the Ministry of Labour and National Service. These boards meet only at certain centres and only when there are sufficient candidates for interview and medical examination to justify their meeting. This means that there are occasionally unavoidable delays between the date on which the candidate is reported as available by the Ministry and the date of her being interviewed and medically examined. Generally speaking, however, the interval is a matter of days only.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in this particular case the girl was kept waiting for 11 months between the date of her application and acceptance and her medical examination?

There is no reason for such a very long delay as that, because the boards meet at an interval of a few weeks. If my hon, Friend will give me particulars of the case, I will look into it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a girl was taken from the Island of Bute to Liverpool for an examination, was rejected and had to find her own way back home?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a Croydon man serving in the Navy, on discharge from the Forces, was pro vided with 18s. only for the purpose of providing himself with a civilian outfit; and, as this sum cannot be sufficient, whether it will be increased at once?

With certain exceptions, men discharged from the Navy are given a gratuity, at present of 18s., to assist them in providing themselves with plain clothes. I am aware that this gratuity has been criticised as inadequate and I am having the whole question carefully reconsidered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement regarding the labour troubles in Jamaica; and whether the trade union demand for an eight-hour day and increased wages from the West Indies Sugar Company has been conceded?

My Noble Friend is aware that unemployment and the increased cost of living have given rise to certain difficulties in Jamaica which the Government are taking all possible steps to alleviate. No reports have been received of any labour troubles or of the demand referred to in the second part of the Question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that an inquiry was made under the Defence Regulations? When will he have the result?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it was this company's factory which introduced the eight-hour shift basis in the Jamaican sugar industry over two years ago and that during its five years' existence it has not only increased wages considerably but has played a leading part in improving the conditions of the workers generally?

Yes, Sir, I am glad to have this opportunity of paying tribute to the progressive policy of this company.

But is it not a fact that the general working conditions of these natives have been absolutely scandalous?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has a statement to make as to employment conditions in the West Indies; and whether, as construction work upon the American bases is ending, alternative plans for re-employing these workers and/ or for recruitment in the Armed Forces have been made?

The approaching completion of work on the United States bases, together with the restriction of overseas trade, and the curtailment of internal trade consequent on petrol and rubber rationing, will produce a difficult situation in the near future. The Governments of the Colonies concerned are doing everything possible to meet these difficulties. Some relief will be afforded by increased local production of food crops; and schemes of development and of public utility, to be financed under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act or from local revenues, will be carried out as far as present conditions permit. Owing to shipping difficulties, it has not been possible to make plans for extending recruitment of West Indians for the Armed Forces. Local forces have been strengthened in some cases, but not, of course, as an unemployment measure.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a matter of extreme urgency? Does he anticipate that the schemes to be undertaken will solve most of the unemployment?

I realise its importance and urgency, but the hon. Gentleman will realise the peculiar difficulties with which we are faced.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government Labour Department of Jamaica estimates the rise in the cost of living since the out break of war at 46 per cent. whilst the increase in the wages of Government employees awarded recently is 15 per cent.; whether this increase has yet been made; and whether it is intended promptly further to raise these wages to an equitable level?

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The cost of living bonus has been paid since 1st April, 1942. The question of revising the bonus will no doubt be considered at the end of the financial year.

Does not the Minister recognise that these people's wages are still 31 per cent. below the rise in the cost of living?

Are the wages paid by private employers comparable, or are they lower?

If the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question concerning specific industries and cases, I will obtain the information.

Have we not bled Jamaica white?

May I have an answer on the very important matter I raised—whether these people are to be kept waiting for months before they receive the rise to which they are entitled?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the serious situation as to nutrition and food supplies in the West Indies, he has a statement to make as to the active measures to be taken to combat the same; and whether plans for the storage of food have been made?

I welcome the opportunity of informing the House of the steps which have been and are being taken in this matter, but as the statement involved is lengthy, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent food production committees have been set up in the West Indian Colonies; how many such committees are now functioning; the foodstuffs which are being dealt with; and to what extent West Indian Colonial Governments are taking part in schemes for the increased production of rice?

I have no exact information as to whether food production committees have been appointed in all the West Indian Colonies or precisely what foodstuffs are being dealt with by such committees, but all the Governments concerned are taking very vigorous steps to promote better food production. The products to which attention is being paid are principally peas and beans, green vegetables, yams and sweet potatoes, maize and rice. The Governments of British Guiana and Trinidad have definite schemes in hand for the increase of rice production and the Government of Jamaica have been asked to consider the production of rice in that Colony. As regards British Guiana, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. D. Adams) on 24th June.

May we be quite sure that the Government in the respective Colonies are now initiating rice cultivation schemes?

Yes, Sir. As I stated in my answer, we are pressing them forward. In Trinidad and British Guiana there are Government schemes, and there is one under consideration in Jamaica.

Is any report likely to be made as to progress in this direction?

I will do my best to provide a report if the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question or give me some other opportunity; but, of course, we are dealing with these matters from day to day and there are telegrams all the time, so that it is difficult to know the particular moment up to which to make a report. I will look into the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to issue a statement giving the number, nature and location of the welfare schemes commenced in the West Indies in connection with the Colonial Welfare and Development Act and set up under the direction of Sir Frank Stockdale's Commission?

As the reply includes a large number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does the reply mean that we are now to have a list of the schemes which are actually in operation?

Yes, Sir. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a full answer to the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Franchise Commissions in Trinidad and British Guiana have now completed their work; whether he can have a copy of the Commissioners' recommendations placed in the Library; and whether new constitutions, based upon the Franchise Commissions' Reports, will shortly be promulgated?

No, Sir. The Commissions have not yet reported, and I wish to take this opportunity of explaining that the Commissions' terms of reference cover only the question of the franchise and not that of the whole constitution, either in Trinidad or in British Guiana. With regard to the last part of the Question, the constitution of Trinidad has already been amended, following the recommendations of the Royal Commission The necessary steps for an amendment of the constitution of British Guiana on similar lines should shortly be completed.

Does not the question of the new constitution for British Guiana depend upon the report of the Franchise Commission?

No, Sir. The amendments to the constitution are on the same lines as in Trinidad and just now they are awaiting final completion and the making of the final Orders in Council. That is quite separate from the franchise and the Franchise Commission.

In view of the fact that this question has now been under consideration in British Guiana and Trinidad for nearly two years, is it not about time that some progress was made in regard to the representation issue?

asked the Minister of Production whether he can now make a statement on the comparative interior temperature at present of our tanks and those of the enemy in Egypt?

asked the Minister of Production whether he has taken steps to call into consultation scientists, representatives of air-conditioning and refrigerating machine makers both in this country and the United States of America and personnel who have driven tanks in desert warfare, with a view to the production of efficiently cooled tanks?

As I stated on 8th July in reply to a Supplementary Question by the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell), examination of captured enemy tanks does not afford any evidence of any refrigeration in German tanks. The widespread belief that they are so equipped has probably arisen from a recent illustration in the daily Press purporting to show a refrigeration plant in a German tank. This illustration was a diagrammatic picture, not a photograph, and examination by experts from two of the leading refrigeration firms in this country, confirmed by the Design Department of the Ministry of Supply, shows that the scheme illustrated makes no contribution to the problem of cooling tanks. The installation of any kind of refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus in a tank, desirable as it might be, raises serious problems of both space and weight. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Supply have set up a small Panel to obtain all possible information on air-conditioning equipment and its application to vehicles. This Panel includes scientists and refrigeration experts. The Tank Design Department of the Ministry of Supply moreover maintains a section for physiological research in connection with tanks, composed of members lent by the Medical Research Council.

Will the Minister state that there is absolutely no truth in the statement by the German Official News Agency that Rommel's tanks were fitted with refrigerator apparatus, and is there any truth in the reply given last September to an inventor by an officer who signed a letter on behalf of the Director of Armoured Fighting Forces, stating that a satisfactory method had been found for cooling our tanks which was better than the German method?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend is confusing air-conditioning and ventilation., There is no evidence of any air-conditioning in German tanks.

Are our tanks in Egypt as cool as the German tanks?

Yes, Sir, so far as we know, but I could not give a precise answer to the question.

Is there any reason why we should wait for the Germans to cool their tanks before we cool our own?

. Is the Minister aware that before this publication appeared in the Press there was a great deal of feeling that his Department had been inaccurately informed? Will he publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the gentlemen on this Panel, and will he include on it some people who have driven tanks in the desert?

asked the Minister of Production whether he has considered the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife about the building of a factory associated with the Vestey interests in the North of England which will have no value so far as the war effort is concerned; and what steps does he propose taking in the matter?

Yes, Sir. The erection of the factory was authorised because it will produce a substitute for an important material, which is in short supply, and which is immediately required for essential war uses.