asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new branches have been opened since September, 1939, by multiple and chain stores and co-operative societies; and how many small individual businesses have been closed during that period?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of applications have been received from members of His Majesty's Forces overseas and members of the Merchant Navy to have their names added to the register of traders who have withdrawn from retail trade since the war began; and how many have made application by proxy?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many shops in the United Kingdom owned by British subjects have been closed down since the beginning of the war; how many licences have been granted to aliens to open shops since the same date; and how many of these aliens are of enemy origin?

For figures of the number of licences granted for new shops, according to their different categories, between 1st January, 1942, when the Location of Retail Businesses Order came into force, and June 30th, 1943, I would refer my hon. Friends to my reply to a Question on this subject on the 21st September. Not more than 30 licences were issued to aliens, and the number granted to aliens of enemy origin must, therefore, have been very small. I regret that figures for the period before the Location of Retail Businesses Order came into force are not available. So far 12,000 traders have applied for inclusion on the Register of Withdrawing Traders. To extract figures showing how many applications have been made by persons called up for National Service, and how many by proxy, would entail an expenditure of time and effort, which, with the small staff available for this work, I could not at present justify.

May I ask my right hon. Friend what saving of man-power and woman-power has been effected by the closing of small businesses and how much this has been offset by the necessity for providing extra staffs for the cooperative societies and multiple chain stores to enable them to cope with the extra business which they have taken from the small trader?

I think my hon. and gallant friend has not read the answer.

On a point of Order. May I be informed how I can read an answer which has not yet been given to a question which I have only just asked?

I am only anxious to give information in the most convenient way. On 21st September I gave an answer, which was printed in Hansard, which perhaps my hon. and gallant friend sometimes peruses, and in that answer I stated that of the 2,969 licences granted to new shops 2,796 were for individual traders— the vast majority—122 to multiples, 34 to co-operative societies, 11 to variety chain stores and 6 to departmental chain stores. That shows that the observations he made in the latter part of his supplementary question is completely out of focus and wrong. With regard to the saving of man-power, it has been very considerable, but that is a question concerning the Minister of Labour, who would be better able to give information about that.

Is not the telescoping of three Questions into one when they deal with completely different points really very confusing indeed? If that were not done the replies would be easier to understand.

The answer is given in this form only with the permission of hon. Members, which is asked for and is normally given, in order to save time by the avoidance of repetition. I endeavour always to group only Questions which can be answered together for the convenience of the House. If there is anything which my hon. and gallant Friend has put which I have not answered I shall be glad to do so.

With regard to Question No. 9, I am sorry that the Minister cannot answer that categorically, but is he satisfied himself that sufficient is being done to draw the attention of those who are overseas to the fact that they can register in the manner he has stated?

I have done my best to give full publicity to this matter. I have been in close contact with the National Chamber of Trade, with which my hon. and gallant Friend is associated, and I shall be glad to do anything further to give additional publicity.

On a point of Order. As I am rather confused by the reply, may I have an answer to my Question?

Is not this telescoping technique very undesirable?

Further to my point of Order, may I have a reply to my question?

I have called the next Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will undertake not to enter into any general commercial agreements which would jeopardise the planned develop- ment of production and exchange of goods within the British Empire without first consulting Parliament?

I can certainly assure my hon. Friend that His Majesty's Government would not enter into any such agreements except after consultation with the Empire Governments concerned and there would, of course, be the usual opportunities for Debate in Parliament.

Is the House to understand from that reply that my right hon. Friend is fully persuaded of the importance of treating the Empire as one economic unit so that third parties might not allege that any internal arrangements entered into between parts of the British Empire is discriminate?

His Majesty's Government are very anxious that there shall be a common Empire policy in trade and other matters, and with that end in view we are constantly in touch with the Dominion Governments.

The supplementary question which I put to my right hon. Friend was whether he was seized of the importance of treating the British Empire as one economic unit.

In reply to that it would be necessary to make a long speech. The Dominions have, necessarily, autonomy with regard to tariffs and other matters, and they could not be, and should not be, interfered with, but we do consult with them more intimately than with any external bodies, and that applies to the Government of India.

Is it not a fact that the delegation now in the United States with which Lord Keynes is associated have concluded provisional agreements on monetary and commercial matters with United States' representatives and that there has been no consultation whatever on these matters with the Dominion Governments?

No, Sir, my hon. Friend is quite wrong. There have been informal and exploratory discussions proceeding in Washington for some time, but we are still at a very early stage in these discussions, and far from the conclusion even of a provisional agreement, and my hon. Friend therefore is wrong on that point. He is also wrong on the other point, namely, that these discussions have taken place without consultation with the Dominions. There have been such consultations.

May I ask my right hon. Friend categorically whether, in spite of what he has said, an agreement has not been reached which is called an experts' agreement, and that in the discussions the Dominions have not been considered at all? They have not been represented, and they are not at present represented, in the United States, they are not part of the delegation, and on the points raised in the discussions there have been no consultations with them whatever.

My hon. Friend has got hold of a wholly wrong version of what has been taking place. I repeat, and this has been stated by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to other matters under discussion, that there have been officials representing not one but several Departments of His Majesty's Government in Washington discussing—I repeat, in an informal and exploratory fashion—with American officials problems of common concern. The Dominions Governments have been kept fully aware of what was going on, but at present we are very far indeed from the conclusion of any agreement, however provisional.

Is it not a fact that informal protests were made on behalf of the Australian Government with a possibility to their being represented in these informal and exploratory discussions and is it not a fact that those protests were rejected?

No, Sir.

Would my right hon. Friend remind the hon. Members behind him, especially the hon. Member for Oxford City (Mr. Hogg), that 41 of them are pledged to interdependence of nations?

And to Imperial unity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to remove the quota regulations regarding British films?

No, Sir.

How does the Minister reconcile that answer with the statement made recently by a Cabinet Minister when he said there should be open competition in the international film market, free from barriers such as quotas, monetary restrictions and other artificial nourishment for the home product; or is that statement just another of the many mistakes that were made by the Minister of Information when he was in America?

I recognise the quotation, which came through the Press during the period when my right hon. Friend the Minister of Information was in the United States. My right hon. Friend informs me that he was quite incorrectly reported and that he said nothing of this kind at all.

Is he ever correctly reported?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of the issue of uniform under agreed conditions to officers and cadets of the girls' pre-service training units with a view to expanding the work of the Association and relieving present members of a heavy burden?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to similar Questions on this subject on Tuesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether with a view to safeguarding the interests of investors and the public interest, he will consider setting up a standing body to review the Companies Act, to keep all matters relating to limited companies under continuous review, and with power to initiate action with the Treasury's concurrence when it seems necessary?

I Will ask the Commitee on Company Law, which is now sitting under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Cohen, to consider this suggestion, for which I am much obliged to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the imposition of a maximum price of 245. 5d. by Section 5 (2) of the Toys and Indoor Games (Maximum Prices and Records) Order, 1943, has caused hardship to many shopkeepers who have stocks of toys the cost price of which exceeds 24s. 5d.; and what steps does he propose to remedy this matter?

No, Sir. This Order was made on 22nd April, but, in respect of retailers' prices, it did not become effective until 1st October, allowing a reasonable time for retailers to dispose of their stocks of high-priced toys. The Chairman of the Central Price Regulation Committee discussed the possibility of retailers holding stocks of the toys referred to with representatives of the trade in July and August of this year, and asked to be furnished with early information as to whether any hardship was likely to arise. I am informed that no representations have been made to him in reply to his request.

Did discussions proceed with the trade before the Order was introduced? Is it not a fact that the six months' period given to retailers to dispose of their stocks were the six bad months of the year, and did not include Christmas?

They deliberately did not include the Christmas trade, because the whole purpose of the Order is that Christmas toys should be cheap.

Is it not a fact that the six months were of very little use to the trade? Will the right hon. Gentleman be willing to receive representations, and to look further into this matter?

I am always glad to receive representations, but most of the representations I have received on this subject have been that I should endeavour to cheapen the price of toys for Christmas time, which is the purpose of the Order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in possession of information to show to what extent British or Allied capital is invested in hydro-electric plants in Italy?

According to returns made to the Board of Trade for inclusion in the Register of British Property in Enemy Territory, United Kingdom interests in Italian hydro-electric undertakings amount to approximately £800,000. Registration is not compulsory, and so the returns may not be complete. I regret that I have no information as to Allied interests.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiries as to the ownership of the capital invested in the Italian hydro-electric plant in the Val D' Aosta, observing that that plant has not yet been bombed?

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will help me, and we will inquire together.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the statements contained in "Germany's Master Plan," recently published by two of the staff of the Anti-Trust Department of the United States Government, he will take steps to institute an inquiry in this country for the purpose of finding out to what extent there has been infiltration of German control into British industry?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has records of the pre-war infiltration of German cartels into British industries comparable to those revealed in the official American publication "Germany's Master Plan"?

The amount of German capital invested, directly or indirectly, in British industry was very small. In these circumstances, and as commercial agreements, including cartel arrangements, with foreigners who have become enemies are now illegal, I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by instituting the suggested inquiry. The question of cartels after the war, as the Prime Minister informed the House on 22nd July, is under consideration.

May I ask whether the Minister has yet read this book, which was published as a result of official inquiries in the United States and which shows that a great many cartel agreements are so drawn up that they will automatically resume when the war is over?

I have had a quick glance through the book, which certainly seems very interesting. Whether it is accurate is another matter, but at any rate it is very interesting. With regard to the post-war period, I have already referred my hon. Friend to the Prime Minister's statement that we are now considering what the policy should be regarding cartels after the war. For the moment, all those agreements with enemy persons are frustrated.

Does not the Minister know that it is as a result of these cartel arrangements that we have been prevented in this country from producing certain things which otherwise we should have produced? Having regard to the fact that this book has been produced as a result of official inquiries, in the United States —it is the most heavily documented book I have yet seen—will he study it further?

Yes, Sir.

Will the Minister consider appointing a committee of experts to study this very difficult but vitally important matter?

Will the Minister specially call the attention of the Minister of Production to this matter, in view of that right hon. Gentleman's unsatisfactory attitude in regard to the production of synthetic rubber?

Is the Minister aware that a number of British industrialists are involved in these cartels, which are only temporarily suspended, and does he not think that if an inquiry was made, with discovery of documents, the result would be extremely illuminating to him, in relation to his post-war problems?

We shall willingly consider any means of acquiring additional information to enable us to deal with post-war problems.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make with regard to his recent investigation into the manufacture of children's footwear of poor quality?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make on the steps taken to improve the quantity and quality of children's shoes?

Yes, Sir. I have been much concerned lately 'by complaints regarding children's shoes. I, therefore, spent two days, earlier this month, in conferences with manufacturers and operatives, and in visits to factories, in the counties of Leicester and Northampton. I am satisfied that most manufacturers, despite the shortage of labour and materials, are producing children's shoes of good quality. I shall continue to do all that is possible to keep manufacturers up to the mark. I have decided that, as from 1st November, all outdoor footwear, non-utility as well as utility, shall bear the maker's identification mark. I have also decided to increase to 75 per cent. the proportion of children's shoes which must be made according to utility specification. My inspectors pay frequent visits to factories to investigate methods of production and to discuss with manufacturers how the quality of their output can be improved. I shall not hesitate to deal severely with any manufacturer whose output is consistently of bad quality.

What effect does the right hon. Gentleman think his statement will have upon the harassed mother of several children who finds very great difficulty in making her coupons go round, because of the rapidity with which her children's shoes wear out?

I hope it will mean that the future quality of children's shoes will be better.

Is the inspector who looks after children's shoes a man or a woman? That is very important.

I do not think it is very important. I am sure the inspectors are competent to do their work.

Is it not true that women know a little more about children's shoes than do men?

No.

asked the President of the, Board of Trade whether he is aware of the serious situation prevailing in working-class households regarding household linen, towels and bedding; and whether he will undertake that, when the supply of goods justifies an increase in coupon allowance, he will consider giving preferential treatment to this need?

As I have said in reply to previous Questions on this subject, the only essential household goods subject to coupon are towels and tea-cloths, and everyone who does not buy his own should take his turn to contribute a coupon or two when replacement is necessary. Bedding and other household linen are not rationed, but I am closely watching supplies.

May I suggest that the right hon. Gentleman would do well to give some discretion for the giving of special coupons to households where there may be great difficulty on this matter?

We have given considerable study to this question of the separate household ration. It is full of the most grave administrative complexities, which I have explained in previous answers in this House and should be very glad to explain to my hon. Friend.

Does the Minister think it desirable that Questions about bed linen should be asked by men?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for refusing the sale of cigarettes and tobacco at colliery canteens?

Licences under the Location of Retail Businesses Order to sell tobacco and cigarettes are not normally granted either to colliery canteens or any other applicant where the essential needs of consumers can be met through existing retail outlets.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that facilities do not exist at a number of canteens in this country nor at pit-head baths? Why, in heaven's name, cannot men be allowed to have cigarette licences at canteens or pit-head baths? Surely it is not for my right hon. Friend to decide where men shall buy their tobacco?

I have had considerable conversation and correspondence on this subject with my hon. Friend. I wrote to him a letter on 23rd July in which I endeavoured to explain to him just why it was unfortunately necessary to refuse a number of applications to sell tobacco at canteens I explained to him in that letter that if we multiplied the retail outlets considerably, we should reduce retailers' stocks below the safety level and reach again the scarcity conditions which existed in 1941. I went on to say that if in any case it could be shown to me that no convenient facilities existed near by a colliery for purchasing tobacco and there were no facilities for storing tobacco in lockers at the colliery, I would be very glad to grant licences—and I have done so in a number of cases; but we cannot grant them promiscuously ail over the country or we shall find ourselves in difficulties.

As both answers are unsatisfactory, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter at the earliest opportunity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the apprehension felt as to the possibility of employment when peace returns in those once depressed areas where no new industries have been established and where those who had been unemployed for years before the war are now working in munition factories outside those areas; and whether be will make a more specific statement on this problem than has been made up to date?

I am fully alive to the importance of this question, which has already received considerable study by the Board of Trade and other Departments concerned. My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is not possible to make a specific statement regarding future arrangements in any particular area, until we can see more clearly the future of the munitions factories to which he refers.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it is time the Govt. came down to earth on this subject, instead of making glowing promises? Is he not aware that even this war will end some day and that the people in the depressed areas want to know what is to happen to those areas when the war ends?

My hon. Friend knows that this matter is constantly being considered. I hope that, with regard to some aspect of the munition factories and their future, I shall be able to make a statement very shortly—on some aspects.

What does "very shortly" mean?

The week after next, with luck.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the complaints reaching him concerning inadequate medical attention in the Armed Forces; and whether he can make a statement?

Individual complaints about the Army medical services reach the War Office from time to time from various sources. The complaints are always investigated and I am glad to say that in most cases they are found to be without foundation. When there is ground for complaint it is the fault either of an individual or of the local administrative machinery and action is at once taken to avoid a repetition of the fault. I am not, however, aware that there is any body of complaint about the general organisation and administration of the Army medical services. In general, considering the special difficulties with which Army doctors have to contend and the impossibility of meeting the Army's full requirement of doctors, I am satisfied that the medical service given by the Army is good. An investigation is in fact now proceeding to ensure that medical officers at home are used to the best advantage of the Army. My view is borne out by tributes paid by all ranks to the work done by the medical services with the Army overseas. A short account of these services during the operations in Tunisia was given in an answer to the late hon. Member for St. Albans (Sir F. Fremantle) on 22nd June.

Could my right hon. Friend say anything about recent improvements in the early diagnosis of tuberculosis in the Army?

I could not without notice.

Are there not general complaints of a shortage of soap and beer as well included in many letters which come to this country from the Middle East?

I do not know that soap or beer are medical stores.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make any statement on the future name, constitution and policy of A.M.G.O.T.?

I have nothing at present to add to the statements previously made about A.M.G.O.T.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the administration of A.M.G.O.T. is to be confined to ex-enemy territories or whether it will also apply to former Allied territories, and, if so, whether French personnel will be included?

Not without notice.

Are the conditions under which A.M.G.O.T. operates reviewed from time to time, or are any changes to be made?

I spend a considerable part of my time reviewing the conditions under which A.M.G.O.T. works, so the answer is quite definitely "Yes."

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made to ensure that qualified women are given the opportunity for training and service in A.M.G.O.T. on the same terms as men?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Bristol (Lady Apsley) on 24th September.

In view of the fact that much of the administration and work of A.M.G.O.T. affects the social conditions of the people, does not my right hon. Friend think that it would be wise and right that women as well as men should start training now for responsible jobs with A.M.G.O.T.?

If my hon. Friend will look at that answer, she will see that it is based on the conception that A.M.G.O.T. is concerned with the early operational stage and that when you get to what I may call the relief stage, A.M.G.O.T. may not be concerned with the administration at all.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make any statement about the delay that occurred in considering Captain Douglas-Home's application for permissson to stand as candidate in St. Alban's by-election?

asked the Secretary of State for War through how many persons' hands the request of 22nd September made by Captain the Hon. William Douglas-Home passed before it reached the Army Council on 4th October?

The time taken in getting a reply to Captain Douglas-Home was the result of a chapter of accidents. The application, which was dated 21st September and gave no indication of the date of nomination, was forwarded through the usual military channels, and did not reach the War Office till late on Friday, 1st October. It went first to the Registry. Owing to the fact that at the week-end there is necessarily a reduced staff, that it was not realised that the letter was an urgent one and that the Section dealing with these matters is not housed in the main War Office building it was not until 4th October that the necessary permission was telephoned to Command Headquarters. I have no precise figures of the number of hands through which the application had passed but it must have been considerable. Unfortunately the unit was then on exercise and, in fact, in the course of that exercise Captain Douglas-Home had been made a prisoner of war and his whereabouts were not known until he returned to his unit on 6th October, when the permission was conveyed to him. I understand that Captain Douglas-Home has, on three pre- vious occasions, had applications to stand for election dealt with satisfactorily, and I much regret that on this occasion things went astray. But in order to prevent a similar mischance in future, arrangements are being made for this type of application to be sent direct from the applicant's unit to the War Office.

Would it not be very much better if a great many more things were sent direct, and does not the fact that the document passed through so many hands show that many Government Departments are over-staffed?

Would it not be better to file this application to ensure it being there when a vacancy occurs?

Are we to understand that the whereabouts of a prisoner of war in this country as a result of a military exercise is unknown? Is something wrong with the organisation?

Not in the slightest degree. This was an exercise which tried to simulate the actual conditions of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the recommendation of the President of the Board of Trade, recently made in connection with a skilled tradesman of a low medical category, Gunner A. Attwood, No. 1114618, that this man's services are urgently required for boot repairing in a rural district, he will give an assurance that this man's case will be reconsidered?

This case was carefully considered in July along with other recommendations for releases from various Government Departments. An appeal will of course be considered if it is put forward by the Board of Trade, but unless additional factors of considerable weight are produced I regret that I can hold out little hope of the release of this man, who is 27½ and has been usefully employed in the Army for 2½ years.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this case has been under consideration since last May arid that the President of the Board of Trade sent down representatives to investigate it and then put in a written recommendation; and is he aware that the area where this man's services are required is one of the greatest food producing districts in this country?

The machinery for these releases is under a Departmental Committee on which the Ministry of Labour are represented as well as the Service Departments and other Departments concerned. I am under a pledge to the Minister of Labour that applications for release will not be considered except on the recommendation of this Committee.

Is it not extraordinary that a recommendation of a Minister of the Crown can be overruled by a Sub-Committee at the War Office?

asked the Secretary of State for War why his Department proposes that cinema entertainment for the Army overseas shall be transferred from the Department of National Service Entertainment to the War Office; whether the Entertainments Board, under the chairmanship of Lord May, specially set up by the Government to control entertainment, and upon which all three fighting Services are represented, was consulted; and, if not, why not?

The question of the future development of cinema entertainment for the Forces overseas is at present under consideration. The other Services are being consulted.

Has the right hon. Gentleman not received a communication from Lord May, the President of the Entertainments Board, protesting about the introduction of this scheme, and will not the scheme at present under consideration lead to a duplication and waste of manpower?

I was under the impression that the letter I had received from Lord May was a private one.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the present position of cinema entertainment overseas is very unsatisfactory, and will he give an assurance that the needs of the Armed Forces in regard to cinema entertainment will be the only consideration?

To the second part of the supplementary question the answer is certainly "Yes." As regards the first part, I know that this question is one on which two opinions are held, and very strongly held.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some lads in the R. A. F. protested against the ancient character of the films they were getting, and that following the protest the next week they got "Ben Hur "?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is according to Army Regulation that a soldier, serving in an area which entitles him to Colonial allowance of 4d. a day, has credited to him only 2d. for the day he is in hospital suffering from wounds received in action if he dies on that day?

No reduction in the issue of Colonial allowance to a soldier is made on the day of his death. My hon. Friend is perhaps referring to the fact that Colonial allowance is normally abated by half while a soldier is in hospital. The reason for this is that this allowance is paid to compensate broadly for the lower purchasing power of the soldier's pay in the station abroad, as compared with this country, and a patient in hospital can spend little on himself.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give urgent consideration to the abolition of this Regulation? Does not the complete sacrifice of the soldier stand out in sharp contrast to the niggardly, shabby treatment given him by the Government?

I do not accept the implication contained in the latter part of the question; but the matter is already under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the fact that the King's Regulations relating to political activity are not to be too rigorously applied, he will now consider the reinstatement of the many members of the Communist Party, several of them non-commissioned officers, who have been released from the Army because of their political associations?

There is nothing in King's Regulations which forbids a soldier being a member of a political party, and the hon. Member is under a misapprehension in suggesting that soldiers are discharged from the Army on account of their political associations. The substance of the first part of the hon. Member's Question was fully discussed in April of this year in the course of the Debate on the Army and Air Force (Annual) Bill, and I have nothing to add to what was then said by the Financial Secretary.

Is the Minister aware that last week, in answer to a question, he said that the Regulations should not be too vigorously applied? Is he not aware that I have already supplied him with information about a number of lads, with the very best of characters as soldiers, who have been commended by their commanding officers, but who have been released from the Army because M.I.5 put its finger on them on account of their previous political associations?

Certainly the hon. Member has written to me about various cases, and I have replied to him that, after personal investigation, I was satisfied that the action taken was right.

Is the Minister aware that in every case about which I have written to him the man has had the very highest character as a soldier from his commanding officer? Is not that correct?

I am not aware that that is so in every case, without looking up the cases which the hon. Member has sent me; but in some of the cases that is certainly so.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have had cases of the same kind? What power is there to discharge a young serving soldier with a good record, on political grounds?

Speaking from recollection, I do not think that discharges can take place without the cases coming before the Army Council.

Is the Minister aware that I have a civilian case, a man passed A1, who has been refused entry into the Army, and has then written to the War Office and been refused, on the grounds that he is a Communist?

Perhaps the hon. Member will let we have details of the case, and I will look into it.

Is it the case that the Minister has no power over the Army Council?

The Minister has spoken of taking a lenient view of King's Regulations, but surely King's Regulations are meant to be obeyed, and, if they turn out to be unfair, they should be withdrawn altogether?

What I said was not that they should be construed in a lenient way, but that they should be construed in a commonsense way.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to co-ordinate the efforts of the many military benevolent organisations so that their funds may be used to the best advantage?

The British Legion, the National Association for Employment of Regular Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen, the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Help Society and the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association, have agreed to form a council under an independent chairman, Lord Rushcliffe. Other organisations are being approached to join the Council, particularly those concerned with the Navy and R.A.F.

Have the Council held their first meeting yet; and would my right hon. Friend suggest to the Council the possibility of forming a Central Register?

I think they have held their first meeting, but I am not sure. Certainly I will convey my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion to them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that officers undergoing trial by court-martial have normally to wait under arrest from two to 2½ months between the original investigation and the ultimate promulgation of sentence; that this constitutes a hardship both for the officers concerned and for the units to which they may be attached; and whether, to bridge the period of waiting, Army commanders will be given the necessary powers to confirm sentence and order promulgation without sending the proceedings to the War Office?

The examination of a batch of recent cases shows that the average time which elapses between the arrest of an officer and his court-martial is under eight weeks. This matter has been very carefully considered from time to time, and I gave some particulars in a reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield (Mr. Bull) on 4th May. I am glad to say that the average time between arrest and the promulgation of sentence has been reduced since then. Under the system now in force, Army commanders must send the proceedings to the Judge-Advocate-General for his advice on whether the proceedings are legally in order. This is an important safeguard, and it does not seem to me that it can be dispensed with.

Is it not a fact that Army commanders have trained lawyers attached to their staffs as court-martial officers, and would not the proceedings be considerably speeded up if those trained lawyers gave their advice to the Army commanders and the Army commanders, who are very experienced officers, were empowered to promulgate?

That has been considered. I think it would remove an important safeguard. To the best of my recollection, the Judge-Advocate-General's representative at Command headquarters would have been involved in the preparation of the case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the newly introduced Army Message Form, C. 2136, and to the instructions designed to make it practicable to use this form for messages over civil telegraphs; and, as under these instructions II alterations have to be made to every form so used and another Army form gummed on to each one involving waste of paper, printing, clerical labour and time, will he issue instructions that A.F. C.2136 is unsuitable for messages over the civil telegraphs and should never be used for transmission of such messages?

The military message form to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is the one used by the three Services for their telegrams, which are normally handled over Service channels. It has been decided that the Post Office cannot accept military telegrams on the military form as it stands. It is only on very rare occasions that a military telegram has to be handled by the civil telegraph system, and it is then considered more sensible for the Army Signals Service to amend the military form rather than to copy out the whole message once more on a Post Office form.

Is there any real reason why they should not be ordered, when sending messages over civil telegraphs, to use the civil telegraph forms? Is my right hon. Friend aware that these elaborate alterations on the forms, to turn them into Army telegraph forms, make them the object of derision throughout the Service?

It only happens very rarely, so I cannot think that they are an object of derision throughout the Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of soldiers serving terms of imprisonment, as distinct from detention, for military offences; and whether he can give details?

Ninety-three soldiers are serving terms of imprisonment in military prisons. The details of each man's offence could be obtained, but it would take time and labour, and I hope my hon. and gallant Friend will not press his request.

Does my right hon. Friend think that he could give any instruction or guidance for proceedings at courts-martial?

I do not understand the question. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will put it down, and then I can answer it.

I mean, will he give guidance that sentences of detention should be given, rather than of imprisonment?

I should think it very wrong to give any guidance to a court-martial as to the nature of the sentences they should pass.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of visitors to the Army Exhibition in Oxford Street; and whether it is proposed to arrange similar exhibitions in provincial cities?

The number of visitors to the Army Exhibition in Oxford Street was 1,344,188. As the Exhibition was held in summer, three-quarters of it was not under cover, but the problem of finding suitable accommodation during winter months in provincial cities is not an easy one. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Information is investigating this, and it is hoped that it may be possible to stage exhibitions in the principal cities, though perhaps in rather a modified form.

Will the right hon. Gentleman very carefully consider taking the Exhibition to industrial districts, where I think it would give a great stimulus to production?

I think that that is implied in the answer I gave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet received a copy of "The Soldier's Guide to Sicily"; and whether he will now place it in the Library of the House?

I am in consultation about this with Allied Force Headquarters in Algiers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have asked three times already for this very simple piece of information, and that it has taken some months to get it?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is a regulation or instruction which provides that where a soldier and a member of the A.T.S. stationed at the same camp marry, one of them must be removed to another camp?

Husband and wife may not serve in the same unit.

Is it not a fact that there is no such Regulation in the R.A.F.; does it not mean that young persons will simply remain in the same unit and possibly postpone the date of their marriage; and will the right hon. Gentleman really consider whether this is absolutely necessary in every case, say, in the case of men who have been seven years abroad?

The rule in the Air Force is certainly rather different. I personally, and the Army Council, take the view that the abandonment of the present rule would create a great deal of resentment in the minds of soldiers who have been absent from their families for four years or more.

How is it that the same resentment is not caused among the personnel of the R.A.F.; are they different?

When these people marry and belong to the same unit, who is the one that is removed?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the same Regulation applies to Ministers of the Crown and their Departments?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any further statement to make regarding the appoinment of a committee to advise on the exemption of plays from Entertainments Duty under the provisions of Section 1 (5) (d) of the Finance (New Duties) Act, 1916?

Yes, Sir. Sir Ernest Pooley, Sir Gerald Canny and Dr. T. H. W. Armstrong have been appointed as an advisory committee to assist the Commissioners of Customs and Excise in the task laid upon them of deciding what entertainments should be regarded as partly educational within the meaning of the Section to which the hon. Member refers. Directions have also been given that the Commissioners of Customs and Excise should take special care to satisfy themselves that any organisation claiming exemption from duty under this Section is of a kind genuinely entitled to the benefit of its provisions. This will involve more detailed inquiry than in the past into the financial arrangements of bodies claiming exemption and into the disposal of the proceeds from exempted entertainments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is permissible for employers, if they so desire, to pay to the Inland Revenue quarterly in advance the Income Tax of their employees?

Yes, Sir.

As this will be a distinct advantage to employers employing only two or three employees at fixed salaries and will save a considerable amount of postage, will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he will draw it to their attention?

I will consider it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to exercise his option in giving three months' notice on the first interest date after 1st November, 1943, to redeem the Five Per Cent. Conversion Loan, 1944–64, amounting to £319,209,843, with a view to converting it into a new stock-bearing interest not exceeding three percent., so as to save the annual interest charges?

This matter is well in mind, and a decision will be announced in due course.