asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now say whether the members of the International Brigade interned in North Africa have been released?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the number of persons there are in French North Africa who are still in prison for having supported the Allies since the summer of 1940?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet any information as to the number of anti-Axis prisoners in North Africa who have been released under Admiral Darlan's régime; whether the prisoners released include persons who fought in Spain on the Republican side against General Franco; and the approximate number who have now been released?

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State stated in reply to the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Granville) and the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) yesterday, I still have no complete information on the position of refugees and internees in North Africa other than British subjects. According to my information, however, French nationals who were interned for having aided the arrival of Allied Forces in North Africa have been released; and I can assure the House that the Allied Commander-in-Chief is following closely the measures for the release of all persons detained on account of their sympathies to the Allies. The House may also like to know that, as regards French West Africa, the Governor General has given instructions for the immediate release and return to British Colonies of all British and United Nations internees. His Majesty's Government for their part are making arrangements for the release of French internees in British West African territories.

In view of the fact that the International Brigade and others were the first to fight Fascism in Europe and that many of them were volunteers, and in view of the very serious times they have gone through and the very bad treatment they have also had, will the right hon. Gentleman do his very best to get these men released as soon as possible, and meanwhile see that they are being properly treated?

I think my hon. Friend can be assured that the condition of these and all other internees is borne in mind by the authorities in North Africa.

Can we be assured that no solicitude for General Franco will cause these men to be sent back to Spain?

In view of the fact that it is now several weeks since President Roosevelt made his request to the authorities in North Africa to do something about releasing refugees, is it not about time that this request should have been considered?

I have given the hon. Lady all the information in my possession, which shows that a considerable amount has been done already. I have no doubt that the authorities will do their utmost, but they also have other pre-occupations.

Can we have a definite guarantee from the right hon. Gentleman that on no account will they be sent back to Spain?

I think I can quite certainly give that guarantee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make it clear that the British Government's desire to encourage the formation of federations specifically includes a Danubian federation, including such States as Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland?

In my speech at Leamington on 26th September I referred to the existing Polish-Czechoslovak and Greek-Yugoslav agreements and said that, so far as we were concerned, we should continue to foster agreements of this kind and to encourage the smaller States to weld themselves into larger, though not exclusive, groupings. Whether it will be possible or desirable to include Austria and Hungary within a federation based upon Poland and Czechoslovakia must clearly depend, amongst other things, upon the views of the Polish and Czechoslovak Governments and peoples and upon the future attitude of the Austrians and Hungarians, who are now fighting in the ranks of our enemies.

In the event of the Governments of these States desiring such a federation, do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman will be sympathetic and give support to it?

We seem to be drifting into the area of hypothesis.

Would it not be well to wait until we have won the war?

Is not it clear that we are going to win it?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what machinery is in existence for co-ordination among the United Nations in the formation of units of special national types, whether belonging to members of the United Nations or others?

No special machinery for this purpose exists, but questions of this character are dealt with as they arise between the Allied Governments concerned.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that it is not intended to form in this country an Austrian military unit under Habsburg patronage?

There is no question of anything of that kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Princess Olga of Yugoslavia has been allowed to leave this country during the war?

Princess Olga is still in this country. She came for a special purpose, and when that purpose has been fulfilled, His Majesty's Government see no reason why she should not return to Kenya.

Has not this lady been allowed to be in a position whereby, if she returns to Kenya, she will be able to convey information to her quisling husband which might be invaluable to the Axis?

The circumstances are well known. Princess Olga was the only sister of the Duchess of Kent who could come to this country at all and the Government gave their consent. It was with the Government's full authority and with their approval, and I have no apology to make for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government, in consultation with the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, are preparing a common programme of post-war economic co operation, so as to carry into effect the objects of the Atlantic Charter, the Lease-Lend Agreement and the Anglo-Russian Agreement?

Though no negotiations are at present in progress, His Majesty's Government have every intention of working with these and other United Nations towards such a common programme.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the sooner this is done the better, that it will hearten the peoples now under German domination and be better for the world in general?

I think I can associate myself with my hon. Friend's remarks.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this comes under the work of the Paymaster-General or the Foreign Office?

It is work in which we are at present engaged in the Foreign Office in conjunction with my right hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will approach the Vatican and the Swedish and other neutral or non-belligerent Powers with a view to their making representations to the German Government respecting the treatment of Jews in Poland; and whether he will consider pro posing to the Swedish Government the temporary migration of Polish Jews to Sweden under appropriate guarantees including the supply of human necessities by the United Nations?

It would be for the Governments directly concerned to take the initiative in putting forward any such proposals if they thought it useful to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Ambassador to Spain was present on the occasion of General Franco's recent speech extolling the genius of Mussolini and the Nazi ideology; and whether any contrary representations were subsequently addressed to General Franco by the Ambassador?

His Majesty's Ambassador was not present on this occasion. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

Does the right hon. Gentlemen consider that our tenderness to General Franco has been justified by his neutrality, which has probably been more helpful to the Axis than to ourselves?

That is a matter of opinion.

Yes, I am asking for your opinion.

Is it not about time that we regarded this man Franco as the enemy of this country and acted accordingly?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has taken note of the message sent by General Franco to Herr Hitler expressing his wishes for the triumph of German arms; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to make a protest against this breach of international custom on the part of a neutral Power?

I have seen a report in the Press of a message sent by General Franco to Hitler in connection with the German campaign in the East. I do not, as at present advised, see any advantage in the suggestion made in the second part of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

In view of the fact that we have recently assured the Spanish Government of our intention to respect the integrity of Spain, including the modus vivendi in Tangier and our Trade Agreement, is it not a serious and unfriendly thing for General Franco to reply that he wishes victory to our enemies?

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend in dissociating myself from the sentiments which General Franco has pronounced, but the question asked me is whether it is a matter about which we should lodge a protest. In my view there is not much value in action of that kind.

As we are all aware that our Ambassador in Madrid wears a velvet glove, would it not be better if he sometimes showed the steel underneath that glove?

I do not think that my right hon. Friend is just to the work that the Ambassador is doing.

Could not the Ambassador in Madrid make some representations to General Franco? What does he really say to General Franco?

I have already dealt with that and said that I do not think there is any value in merely making protests of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made with the compilation of a list of German, Italian and Japanese persons who have been guilty of excessive brutality during the war and who will be sought out and placed on trial for their crimes at the conclusion of hostilities?

Certain essential preliminary discussions are now proceeding with the Allied and Dominion Governments concerned with a view to the setting-up of the United Nations Commission for the investigation of war crimes. Meanwhile arrangements are being elaborated whereby information available to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom regarding war crimes committed against British subjects may be submitted to the Commission. No doubt the other Governments concerned are making their own arrangements in regard to war crimes against their nationals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what date it is proposed to call the next meeting of the representatives of the United Nations, which last met at St. James's Palace in September, 1941?

As my right hon. Friend the Deputy-Prime Minister informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 14th October, these meetings are not held at stated intervals but for specific purposes as occasion requires. No meeting is at present contemplated.

Is it not desirable that there should be an early meeting of representatives of the Allied Nations, as this is the present repository of international authority and will be the repository of international authority in the post-war world, in order that a statement on behalf of what will be the future world international authority should be made with regard to present conditions and the future?

I would not like my hon. Friend to think that the meetings at St. James's Palace are the only ones. Of course, there are a great many other meetings which are not as formal as those at St. James's Palace where we do our work together. There are several such meet- ings, and they frequently occur. In regard to the second part of the question, perhaps my hon. Friend will await the statement I hope to make very soon on that subject.

In view of the fact that at the last meeting a very important statement was made by the Ambassador of the Soviet Union, is it not desirable to have another early meeting at which other nations which have now joined the cause of the United Nations should also have an opportunity to make what declarations they may think fit?

I would like to look up what my hon. Friend has in mind.

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the considerable propaganda value to the world of public meetings of this kind?

I have that very much in mind. I realise the value of these public meetings, but I also feel that we probably do much more useful work in our private meetings.

But the world does not know about it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning when it is expected that the Report upon the Town Planning of Greater London, upon which Professor Abercrombie is engaged for his Department, will be completed and available?

My Noble Friend expects to receive the Report by September, 1943.

Is it the intention of the Government to make observance of this plan obligatory upon local authorities?

I would rather not deal with such questions before my Noble Friend has received the Report. The first thing when the Report has been received will be to communicate it to the authorities concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning whether the limitation of £100 placed upon repairs to buildings in any one year applies to Government and municipal offices, theatres, hotels and premises requisitioned for Government purposes?

The obligation to obtain a licence for repairs to a property exceeding £100 in any one year applies to theatres and hotels. It does not apply to Government offices or to premises requisitioned by the Government, if the work is carried out or paid for by a Government Department, nor to municipal offices, if the work is required for the purpose of enabling the local authority to discharge any of its statutory functions.

Is the Minister aware that considerable repairs over the £100 limit are being carried out to hotels, theatres and similar places, and in view of the urgent need for housing accommodation in London and other big cities, will he consider some alteration of the regulation to permit more than £100 to be spent on blocks of flats so as to put them in order to house the population?

My hon. Friend will remember the offer I made to him in reply to a similar Question last week, when I said it was competent to apply for a licence over £100. Each application is examined, whether it is for a hotel, a theatre or a block of flats.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are considerable difficulty and delay in getting these licences for flats because of the regulation concerning £100, as blocks of flats have a very large Schedule A assessment, and will he consider altering the regulation so that it applies to the rating valuation?

I will take note of the point.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning the number of mechanical diggers and lorries, respectively, engaged on the removal of a dump of earth, the location of which has been disclosed to him; the daily gallonage of fuel used; and whether the removal is for an amenity or a war purpose?

I understand that one mechanical digger and six lorries are engaged on this work and that 93 gallons of fuel are used on an average daily. I am looking further into the necessity for continuing the work.

Is the Minister aware that what is happening is that they are moving earth from one park to another?

I think the hon. Gentleman should understand that it was an arrangement, when an important building was being constructed nearby, to make a dump which could eventually be cleared away.

Are not they making a dump in another park?

No, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Planning whether he will consider the advisability of commandeering the large number of metal automatic machines which are now not used but which could be made available as scrap for war purposes?

A large number of these machines have already been presented by the owners and collected for scrap and a further quantity of obsolete type will be recovered later.

In view of the fact that the Government exercise power to commandeer factory space which is being used, why do they not commandeer all these machines which are not being used?

The answer which I formerly gave to a Question on this subject is that the owners have presented us with at least 5,000 of these machines. These have been collected. As the machines now become obsolete, we are collecting them each week, and will continue to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the result of the inquiries which have been made as to the 10 years' old African boy who was sentenced earlier in the year to training in a reformatory and sent from Northern Rhodesia to the Transvaal, where he was seen in handcuffs; and what steps are being taken to prevent the recurrence of similar treatment of juvenile offenders?

I have received from the Governor of Northern Rhodesia a full report on this incident. The boy in question, who was charged with serious indecent assault on a girl of 3½, had been sentenced to six strokes with a cane and ordered to be detained in a juvenile reformatory for four years. As there is at present no reformatory in Northern Rhodesia, it has been the practice for juvenile delinquents—whether European or African—to be sent to the Union. The Governor states that he proposes to put an end to the practice of sending juveniles so far from home, and he is considering immediately the required amendment of the law. The majority of juvenile delinquents in Northern Rhodesia are now sent to a Salvation Army institute, and it is hoped to extend the probation system, particularly in the case of juvenile offenders. The Governor has given orders that handcuffs shall not be used in the future in cases of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many meetings of the Colonial Research Advisory Committee have so far been held; and whether he is in a position to give any information as to the lines on which it is proceeding?

The Committee have held seven meetings. It would be premature for me to make any general statement as to the lines on which the Committee are proceeding, but they have been chiefly engaged in a systematic review of the field of research, a subject which will take them a long time to cover completely.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say if all, or part, of this Committee sits continuously, or is it a fact that the chairman and members of this Committee are serving on various other committees and councils and cannot devote the time they should to this very important work?

It is true, of course, that the members of the Committee are very busy men, but they have devoted a very considerable time to the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to inquire into the possibility of providing full employment after the war; and whether this matter will be considered in relation to the unemployment insurance proposals contained in the Beveridge Report?

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. Inquiries are actively proceeding into the many aspects of this most difficult problem, and, as I said in the House on 1st December, we should allow nothing to stand in the way of our success in the fight against unemployment. In this connection the relevant sections of Sir William Beveridge's Report will certainly be taken fully into account.

Who is inquiring into this important matter? Is it a committee? If so, who are they? If it is a Minister, who is he?

As I endeavoured to show in my speech on the 1st instant, there is a series of committees inquiring into the problem.

Are they departmental committees? Are outside experts being consulted?

Yes, they are being consulted.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make about the shipping losses of the United Nations since the beginning of the war, in view of the speech by the Canadian Minister of Munitions stating that the tonnage losses are more than double the replacements?

No, Sir.

Can my right hon. Friend either deny or affirm what the Canadian Minister said?

I have nothing to add to statements already made on the subject.

asked the Minister of Production (1) whether he will indicate the extent of the duties of the Minister for Supply Resident in Washington; and whether they will cover all the supply and purchasing Departments;

(2) whether he can make a statement with regard to arrangements so far made with the United States of America to co-ordinate plans for war supplies between this country and the United States of America?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for deferring his two Questions from last Wednesday. With Mr. Speaker's permission, I will make a full statement after Questions.

As the House is aware, plans for war supplies and their production are made by a number of Combined Boards in Washington, in the field of production, co-ordination is secured by the Combined Production and Resources Board, the three members of which are Mr. Donald Nelson, Mr. Howe—the Minister of Munitions and Supply in Canada—and myself, and the Combined Raw Materials Board. The Combined Production and Resources Board was set up during my previous visit to Washington last June. My recent visit was not concerned with the machinery for co-ordination, but with a number of concrete problems which had to be solved in combination at this moment. The reserves of man- and woman-power that can be drawn into the Services and munitions industries in this country in 1943 are still considerable, but they are not sufficient for all our purposes. In order that they should be assigned to the most effective use and that our production plans should be fitted in with those of the United States, a series of very clear-cut decisions were required.

I should like at once to tell the House that the President gave me the greatest help, and that I found the most friendly and co-operative attitude on the part of the members of the United States Government and their advisers with whom I discussed these matters. I should like in particular to refer to the way in which Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Harriman helped me during the four weeks I was in Washington, and to the very sympathetic co-operation I received from Admiral King on Naval Supplies, General Marshall and General Somervell on matters of ground equipment, General Arnold on matters of Air equipment, and from Admiral Land and Mr. Lew Douglas on shipping matters.

The subjects discussed were, first, the merchant shipbuilding programme in the United States and in this country. The two programmes will substantially exceed 20,000,000 tons dead-weight in 1943, I might remind the House that this colossal total of shipbuilding in a single year represents very nearly twice the mercantile tonnage controlled by the United States before the war. Secondly, the utilisation of American shipping on British account in order to secure the balance quantities to make up our import programme to the United Kingdom in 1943, the maintenance of our Armed Forces abroad, and the essential supply for the British Empire, or in other words, shipping measures to secure the maintenance of the total British contribution to, the war. Thirdly, a combined programme for the building of escort vessels and their allocation to the two Navies. Fourthly, we asked the United States to make, as far as war contingencies permit, a firm allocation of finished munitions of war for use by our Ground Forces. Fifthly, we asked for assurances that the raw materials and components for which we rely upon the United States for part of our own production would be forthcoming, and lastly, we arranged a definite allocation of aircraft of various types including transport aircraft to complete the operational resources of the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm.

I can tell the House that on all these matters definite arrangements were reached. Thus, as concerns shipping, the most important single matter upon which agreement was reached was upon the need for a certain minimum import programme for this country for the period ending in December, 1943. Subject to the unforeseen emergencies of war, the Government of the United States have undertaken to supplement our own shipping resources and to allot to us out of their expanding production of merchant ships the tonnage needed to achieve that programme. On escort vessels there is a combined programme and an allocation based on the tasks of the two Navies has been initiated. Through the Combined Raw Materials Board the necessary flow of raw materials is secured under the general policy laid down by the President; nearly all major items of Ground Equipment have been settled on a combined programme, and an allocation of, for instance, tanks and anti-aircraft guns has been laid down. I cannot naturally give the figures of indi- vidual weapons, but in order to give the House some idea of the size of the transactions involved, I might say that a rough calculation shows that the assistance we should receive from the United States, both in materials and equipment, will enable us to achieve an effective increase of as much as a third on the British effort otherwise obtainable.

Lastly, the United States will make both to the Royal Air Force and to the Fleet Air Arm large monthly deliveries of aircraft of various types, so as to balance the striking power of our two Air Forces. I may mention in passing that the allocation of aircraft for 1943 is substantially higher than any figure previously discussed.

The object of all these arrangements is to secure the optimum impact upon the enemy during 1943 and, secondly, as I have said, to enable the pattern of production and the allocation of man-power during that year to be settled in accordance with the theory of impact having regard to the different nature of the production in the two countries.

I have already mentioned the Combined Production and Resources Board and the Combined Raw Materials Board, but there are, of course, other Combined Boards, such as the Combined Shipping Adjustment Board and the Combined Food Board. The development of a combined organisation of this character presents a series of new problems of Government, and it was primarily to ensure that these promising arrangements are fully developed on the British side that the decision was made while I was in Washington to create the post of Minister Resident in Washington for Supply, in order to provide a focus for the British representatives in the United States concerned with Supply.

The terms of reference which His Majesty's Government have agreed should be given to the Minister Resident are broadly as follow:—He will become my Deputy in the United States. He will, in harmony with His Majesty's Ambassador, consider questions of policy or procedure arising out of the work of the civilian Combined Boards or Committees established in Washington and deal with matters of common interest to the various British Missions in North America. He will also be responsible for seeing that action is taken on all Anglo-American economic and supply problems which are not covered by the existing machinery. He will not, however, be burdened with detailed work in connection with any one of the Combined Boards, and he will therefore not serve personally on the Combined Production and Resources Board or Combined Raw Materials Board, but the various British members on the Combined Boards or Committees in Washington will, of course, keep the Minister informed on the activities of the Board or Committee on which they represent the British Government.

In order that the Resident Minister may fulfil his functions he will become Chairman of the British Supply Council. This body will continue to deal with questions from the British point of view which concern more than one Board, the relationship between the British members of the various Boards, and joint action on common subjects to be taken by British members. Thus, without derogation from the responsibility of the British representatives on the Boards to their several Ministers, it will be the Minister's function to secure the requisite co-ordination between the activities of the various British representatives on the Boards. Mr. R. H. Brand has during recent months been acting as Chairman of the Supply Council as well as fulfilling his duties as Head of the British Food Mission, but experience has shown the burden of these double duties is too heavy.

Finally, the Resident Minister will keep closely in touch with the Ambassador and with Field Marshal Sir John Dill, so that the civilian activities of the British representatives in Washington may be properly co-ordinated with the heads of both the political and military representatives of the Crown. I regard this new post as one of the greatest importance and I welcome the appointment of my right hon. Friend the former Minister of Aircraft Production to fill it. I feel sure that he will carry out his duties with distinction and with tact, and I think the House will join with me in wishing him every success.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his full and important statement, may I ask whether he is satisfied that the Ministerial status accorded to our Resident Minister in Washington will be sufficient to enable the Minister to carry on those very onerous duties; and whether he will make it clear whether the Minister Resident will report direct to the War Cabinet, or to the right hon. Gentleman or to His Majesty's Ambassador in Washington; whether any post-war discussion is going on by those bodies, and whether any commitments have been made on behalf of His Majesty's Government?

There are three questions I can answer. First, I think the status of Cabinet Minister will be quite sufficient to enable him to carry out the duties in Washington. Secondly, he will report through me to the War Cabinet. Lastly, no commitments have been taken on post-war matters.

As to the shipbuilding programme to which my right hon. Friend referred, he will appreciate that the figure of 20,000,000 tons dead-weight is likely to be somewhat misleading. Can he give the figure in British registered tonnage? Can he say also whether it is proposed to build ships, merchant vessels, of greater speed than we are now building in this country, or whether we are likely to get supplies of them from the United States?

If my hon. Friend will put down a Question, I will look into the matter of making the calculation, which is one of great difficulty, because it concerns American practice. With regard to the ships, the United States are now discussing and working out a scheme for building a higher proportion of faster vessels.

I can appreciate my right hon. Friend's difficulty in getting the right calculation in regard to dead-weight tonnage, but it is desirable to clear that point up. We ought not to mislead anyone about it, and we ought to know what we are to get. Is it not important also to know whether, if the United States are going to build faster ships, which are so important to our war purposes, we are to get a proper supply and not get ships that were built under the Liberty programme and which are of lower speed?

We get an allotment of carrying capacity, but I could not answer my hon. Friend's question on that point. It is presumed that we shall get our proportion of faster ships. With regard to the other question, it is something in the nature of 14,000,000 gross tons.

The right hon. Gentleman said that the Minister Resident would be his deputy, and later on he referred to that Minister as a Cabinet Minister. Have we ever in the past had a Minister who is both a subordinate Minister and a Cabinet Minister? In the case of a Cabinet Minister there is direct access to the Prime Minister, but in this case the Minister will not have direct access because he is a subordinate Minister. Will he also have the power to examine the swollen staff now employed in the United States by His Majesty's Government?

The reply to the second part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir." I did not say that the Minister Resident in Washington would report to the Prime Minister. I said he would report to the War Cabinet through me.

The right hon. Gentleman referred to the Minister as his deputy. May I have that point cleared up? It is in conflict with my right hon. Friend's earlier statement. Is the Resident Minister the Deputy Minister of Production or a Minister with independent status?

I can clear up only part of that matter. He is my deputy in exercising the functions which I exercise in Washington, but there are functions which I do not exercise and in which he acts as a Cabinet Minister.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say that nothing in the arrangement announced reduces the grave responsibility falling on this country to increase to a maximum extent war production in 1943? Are we to understand that there is a plan between the British and American Governments whereby sufficient men and women will be left in British industry to fulfil the Government's requirements?

We are to make all we can, and to get such help beyond that as the United States can give us.

Will the Resident Minister in Washington be responsible also for supervising the work of the Colonial Supply Board in Washington and, if necessary, negotiate on behalf of that Board with the American authorities, in view of the utmost necessity of having negotiators on the British side enjoying the same prestige as the American representatives?

The duties of the Minister are those of general co-ordination. He must not cut across the responsibility of those other bodies to their Ministers in London.

The right hon. Gentleman made reference to the supply of transport aeroplanes; are we to understand, in view of the large proportion of American output that is devoted to transport aircraft, that we shall receive a substantial allocation?

I can assure my hon. Friend that there is a substantial allocation, and that the general matter of the production of transport aircraft is still being studied.

Can the Minister say whether, in the very complicated and I have no doubt efficient machinery which he has described, a place has been found for the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, who has now been in the United States for a considerable time?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport is doing a most excellent job on the Combined Shipping Adjustment Board and that somewhere in this structure we shall find him sustaining a very useful part.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the same conditions prevail in America as those which prevail here as regards this programme? Is shipbuilding there supervised by the admirals, or have they a different method of organising it?

Shipbuilding is under the United States Maritime Commission.

Would the right hon. Gentleman make it clear which committee is responsible for co-operation with the United States in the matter of supplies to Russia, and will the Minister Resident be responsible for that?

Supplies to Russia are co-ordinated in London by the Allied Supplies Executive, of which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is chairman.

asked the Minister of Production whether he is aware that vital war production for 1943 is liable to be seriously decreased on account of the refusal of the Minister of Labour to undertake that where a supply department certifies the production at any works to be essential he will refrain from transferring labour without finding a suitable substitute; and what action he proposes to take to safeguard essential war production?

Essential war production is adequately safeguarded by arrangements made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. Transfers of labour from such work are only made after any necessary consultation with the Ministers concerned, and are subject to the provision of substitutes where the need for them is established.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that last week the Minister of Labour said that in future he could not give this guarantee? Does he realise that this will cause great confusion in industry? Is not that matter one to be settled in Whitehall and not continually in struggles between Ministers and managements up and down the country?

The Government cannot consider reserving whole factories or industries. Deferment is by individual cases, and, if there are any which are causing interruptions to production, I hope my hon. Friend will refer them to me or to the Supply Minister concerned.

How can a Ministry of Production function effectively unless it has absolute control of labour?

Labour is a central service and is used for other matters than munitions production. I have the duty of telling the Minister of Labour where the emphasis on production should lie.

asked the Minister of Production whether he is satisfied that the supplies of steel for the shipbuilding requirements of this country are being sufficiently met by shipments from the United States of America?

Shipbuilding steel is mainly obtained from United Kingdom sources. I am glad to be able to say that there is no shortage.