asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent volunteers for duty in the Shetland Isles have been asked for and what is the period of tour of duty in that station.

Airmen employed on ground duties have been invited to express a preference for service in the Orkneys, Shetlands and Western Islands. The normal period of tour of duty is 18 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether there is any likelihood of Class E reservists in the R.A.F., who were called up prior to the outbreak of war when they were already over military age and some of whom are now between 45 and 50 years of age, being able to obtain their discharge.

Under the Military and Air Forces (Prolongation of Service) Act, 1939, the airmen referred to are liable for service until the end of the present emergency, and I regret that it is not practicable to release them meanwhile. Applications for release or discharge on compassionate grounds are considered on their merits.

Would the right hon. Gentleman see that these men, who showed very great patriotism in joining up long before the war, are not penalised? Many of them are now quite old and incapable of carrying out full military duties.

Certainly, Sir, these men will not be penalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that in an early Georgian house of great beauty, which he requisitioned three years ago, his department have recently smashed the seventeenth-century tiles, Chippendale girandoles, other fixtures and brickwork, and removed the staircases and mantels without giving any opportunity for their preservation; and whether those responsible have been dismissed or reprimanded.

It was urgently necessary last autumn for structural alterations to be made to this property and I very much regret to say that the valuable nature of certain fixtures and decorations was not recognised at the outset of the work. The officers concerned acted in good faith and no disciplinary action was called for. Representations were made by the owner at an early stage and work was immediately suspended and a competent architect was charged with arranging, in consultation with the owner's surveyor, for the panelling, walls, ceilings and fittings to be taken down as carefully as possible, and as much as possible of what bad already been taken down to be properly stored. A letter of apology was sent to the owner and further instructions were immediately issued which will, I hope, prevent such mistakes in future.

Can my right hon. Friend explain how it is that after all the experience he has had of this sort of thing in the first four years of the war, it is still going on? Will he say, quite definitely to all those who may be concerned in the future, that very severe steps will be taken if it happens again?

My hon. Friend asks me to explain how it happened in this case. This property had been taken over for a long time before it was found necessary to make the structural alterations for operational reasons. Unfortunately, the officers who had to make them were not aware of the importance of these fittings. That is how this very deplorable destruction came about. I hope that the instructions which I have issued since, will have the effect which my hon. Friend wants.

Will the same solicitude and generosity be afforded to those working-class people who have been "blitzed" out of their humble homes?

Of course, Sir. We try to do all we can to have regard to the convenience of people, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor.

Is there anything really very beautiful about an early Georgian house?

Yes.

May I bring to the notice of the Minister the destruction of houses of a similar character in other parts of the country, particularly in East Anglia? Will he see that the owners get the some treatment and consideration as have been given in this case?

I shall be very glad if the hon. Member, or any other hon. Member, will bring to my notice such cases.

asked the Minister of Information if he will arrange for the film entitled "The Highland Doctor" to be shown throughout England.

Yes, Sir, this film will be shown by the Ministry's mobile units throughout England.

asked the Minister of Information if he will publicise the name of the American unit which fought beside the Guards in their recent gallant action in the bridgehead.

The decision when to publish the name of units engaged in operations is made by the Commander-in-Chief who has to take into account security considerations. He has been informed of my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Information if he will see that propaganda films showing the fighting in New Guinea show both United States and Australian troops and not those of one country only.

I know not what my hon. and gallant Friend means by "propaganda" films, but I can assure him that in any films made under the auspices of the Ministry of Information care will be taken to do justice to the valour of the Australian and American troops in their warfare in New Guinea.

asked the Minister of Information what restrictions are still imposed upon the publication of the accounts and annual reports of public utility companies; and whether these restrictions can now be removed.

I understand that the publication of the accounts and annual reports of various classes of public utility companies is forbidden by Orders under Defence Regulation 56, issued by the Ministries of War Transport and Fuel and Power. But the shareholders in these companies are entitled to inspect the accounts upon application to the Departments. The security reasons for imposing these restrictions still exist.

Do I understand that my right hon. Friend has no responsibility in this matter?

That is a perfect explanation of my position.

Then why does my right hon. Friend reply?

Because I have to carry out the functions of censorship under the directions of other Departments.

asked the Minister of Information if he will secure the widest possible showing, in ordinary commercial and in special Ministry programmes, of the film of French guerilla warfare recently smuggled to this country.

The Ministry of Information has already offered its services to the French authorities in London for securing the widest possible public exhibition of this film.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can furnish an estimate of the interest free loan to the State represented by the stocks of postage, National Health Insurance and Unemployment Insurance stamps held by the public.

I regret that I have no means of making an estimate of the value of the stamps held by the public at any time.

asked the Postmaster-General what inquiries have been made by his Department as to the quantities of cigarettes and tobacco posted to the Forces overseas that have been stolen in transit; and if he is satisfied that all possible steps are being taken to put a stop to it.

A joint investigation is being made by my Department and the War Office and I must await the results, but a number of steps have already been taken which I hope will diminish the losses of cigarettes and tobacco posted to the Forces overseas.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether he will except cases of burst pipes and leaking roofs from the rule that where £100 has been expended on a single house in a period of 12 months no further repair may be carried out in that period without a certificate of essentiality from the local authority and a licence from his Department.

Work such as that described can be carried out without licence if it is urgently necessary and is done in circumstances of emergency which render it impracticable to obtain a licence beforehand. No certificate of essentiality is required from the local authority but the Ministry of Works Regional Licensing Officer should be notified as soon as possible.

Notified after the work has been carried out?

Can my hon. Friend say when the word "essentiality," was admitted to the English language?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works on what grounds his Ministry assumes that houses factory-produced, or produced by other deviations from traditional technique, will necessarily be of a temporary nature; and what progress has been made in the erection of the experimental foam slag houses; and will he give some indication of the date on which it will be possible for local authorities to inspect these.

As stated by my Noble Friend in the course of a Debate in another place on 8th February, it is the view of His Majesty's Government that prefabrication could be used for either temporary or permanent housing. Work on the foamed slag houses is in progress, and the first of them should be available for inspection by the middle of May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now publish the evidence on which the Report of the Royal Commission to the West Indies was based.

As regards the question whether the full Report should be published, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) on 10th November last. The question of publishing the evidence cannot usefully be considered in advance of the publication of the Report.

When will the Report be published?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will look at the answer to which I have referred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to an ultimatum addressed to certain civil servants in Trinidad; whether he is aware that this has caused considerable resentment; and what action is likely to be taken both to ease the position and to have the grievances of the men considered without their employment being jeopardised.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1st March to the hon. Member for Rugby. (Mr. W. J. Brown).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now consider the removal of racial discrimination in the payment of salaries in the professions in West Africa, particularly in view of the fact that the development of these Colonies will largely depend upon increasing numbers of Africans qualifying for posts in these professions.

I do not accept the suggestion that there is racial discrimination in West African salaries. The differentiation that exists is based on the factor of expatriation which affects staff recruited from outside West Africa. The question of salary relationship in West Africa is now under consideration and I am proposing that a senior member of the staff of the Colonial Office should visit West Africa in the early summer so as to acquaint himself with local conditions and to discuss the whole subject with the Resident Minister and with the Governors. I agree with my hon. Friend as to the importance of stimulating and encouraging the staffing of the Colonial public services by the people of the Colonies themselves and I emphasised this in the House last July when speaking on the Colonial Office Estimates.

Is the Minister tackling this serious problem now, in view of the fact that we cannot encourage Colonials to prepare for professional and administrative posts unless they are treated in the same way as others similarly qualified?

I agree that it is a most important problem. I want to press on with it as soon as I can.

If no discrimination or disparity exists, why has any investigation been made?

I do not say that there is no difference between salaries but there is no racial discrimination. The people who go from this country and leave their families incur much heavier expenses than people who are recruited on the spot.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Newspaper Registration Bill and the False Publications Bill have now been introduced in Gambia and whether there is any recent reason for this extension to Gambia of Regulations, Ordinances or legislation operative in other West African Colonies.

I understand that the Bills in question were passed by the Legislative Council of the Gambia at its meeting in January. I have not yet seen their texts, but I expect shortly to receive from the Governor a despatch submitting them and explaining the reasons for their enactment. I will then communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what method is employed in the selection of recipients of scholarships in West Africa; and why no Press notice is given to encourage volunteers equitably to offer themselves for consideration.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind scholarships awarded under the auspices of Government to enable Africans to take up a course of training at universities or other similar institutions in the United Kingdom. Full information about the conditions on which it is proposed to award such scholarships is normally published in the official gazette of the Colony concerned, and applications received as the result of such announcements are considered by a local Committee constituted according to the nature of the training to be provided.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman feel that, in addition to being published in the official gazette, it would be worth while to consider publishing these announcements in the Press?

I will certainly look into it but the hon. Member will realise that the official gazette is open to the Press, which very often copies the announcements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there are Government labour advisers now stationed in Kenya, Tanganyika, Northern Rhodesia and Uganda, respectively, who are fully qualified to advise on trade union and labour problems.

There are experienced Labour Commissioners in charge of the Labour Departments in each of the territories named, who are fully qualified to advise on African labour problems.

Are there any experienced trade unionists in these territories?

No trade unionists, who have proved so successful in these jobs, are yet in East Africa.

Is it the intention of the Minister to have such trade unionists sent there?

The experiment has been such a success where it has been tried, that I hope to see it widely extended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Africans who have joined the Fighting Forces in Kenya, Tanganyika, Northern Rhodesia and Uganda, respectively; and whether he has under consideration any schemes for making suitable provision for these African volunteers when war terminates.

It would not be in the public interest to give detailed figures but the numbers represent a high proportion of the able-bodied male population of these territories and reflects the greatest credit on their people. Schemes for development which will take fully into account the special needs of Africans reverting to civilian status in these territories on demobilisation are under active consideration by all the Colonial Governments concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he will consider, in consultation with the railway executives, the possibility of steps being taken to ensure that the names of railway stations are announced either by loud-speaker or otherwise, during periods of black-out, when trains arrive at station platforms.

As my hon. Friend is, no doubt, aware, loud-speakers have been installed at the more important stations and junctions throughout the country, and the railway companies add to the number, when they can obtain the equipment and the skilled labour which are required. Elsewhere, the staff are constantly reminded that they must call out the names of the station on the arrival of every train, and checks are made at frequent intervals to ensure that this instruction is carried out.

Is my hon. Friend aware that at less important stations, where perhaps the greatest difficulty arises, names are not announced? Is he also aware that countless people who are compelled to travel during the black-out feel that a little common sense would soon remove the grievance from which they suffer?

I am afraid that at most of the smaller stations loud-speakers would require extra staff, which we have not got. We endeavour to get the porters to call out the names. If my hon. Friend would give me examples of places where it is not done, I will have inquiries made.

Is my hon. Friend aware that on the District Railway the porters do not in all cases call out the names of the stations?

I will look into that.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this does not apply only to the black-out? Frequently even in daylight it is impossible to read the names of country stations, and the railway staff should be encouraged to call them out.

Is it not possible to have larger lettering?

Larger lettering has, in fact, already been authorised.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that the attendants on the railways speak a little more loudly than Members on the Front Bench?

Is it not the case that frequently at wayside stations, when the porter announces the names you do not know what he is talking about?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can state the profits earned by the railway companies to the year ended 31st December, 1943; the amount which has been paid to the railway companies under the hire agreement; and the amount of profit which has accrued to the Treasury.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the White Paper which will be issued shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what steps he is taking to extend the electrification of main line railways after the war.

The extension of electrification to the main line railways is a matter which my noble Friend will consider in relation to post-war development. It is, I understand, already under examination by the railway companies themselves.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the vast amount of replacement which will be necessary immediately after the war, and that an exceptional opportunity will arise for electrification? Is he, furthermore, aware that coal consumption will be reduced by more than 50 per cent.?

I should not like to accept the last figure without examination, but a great deal of work on the subject has been done, and we are well aware of the opportunities of which the hon. Member speaks.

Will the hon. Gentleman see to it that reasonable and adequate allowances are made for depreciation, so that the necessary funds may be built up to enable companies to electrify their lines?

That is another question. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put it on the Paper.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware of the complaints being made that members of His Majesty's Forces have to stand in corridors on long journeys owing to the absence of third-class accommodation, while seats are available in first-class compartments; and whether the position has been made clear by the railway companies to their staff that members of the Forces and other passengers should be permitted to occupy available first-class seats on trains when the third-class accommodation is fully taken up.

The railway staff have been given discretion to allow passengers with third-class tickets to occupy seats in first-class carriages without any extra charge when third-class carriages are seriously overcrowded. My hon. Friend will understand however that it is necessary to have regard to the requirements of passengers with first-class tickets who may join the train later on its journey.

In view of the difficulty that has arisen, would the Minister ask the railway companies to instruct their servants not to turn Service men out of compartments at the request of first-class passengers?

That is a very difficult matter as put in those terms. I think the present instructions have worked reasonably well, though they are hard both on Service men and civilians in some cases. I hope my hon. Friend will agree that the railway staffs do their best.

Is my hon. Friend aware that quite often the communicating doors between coaches are locked so as to ensure that first-class passengers are not disturbed, and this means that people cannot distribute themselves over the train?

There are other reasons, which I think more important, for the locking of communicating doors. The matter is to be discussed on the Adjournment, and perhaps my hon. Friend will attend on that occasion.

Will my hon. Friend give instructions that Service men are not to be turned out of compartments at the request of passengers?

If there are passengers with first-class tickets they ought to have the seats.

Is my hon. Friend aware that within the last year or two there have been accidents and lives lost as the result of locking communicating doors?

There was an accident two years ago, after which instructions were changed, so that that cause of danger was removed.

They are still locked.

No, not the doors that cause the danger.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he is satisfied with the arrangements made at St. Pancras and Euston stations for advertising the existence of the United Services Club so that Service men and women do not find themselves stranded;

There are two canteens for Service personnel at King's Cross Station, one of which is open 24 hours a day. This canteen is immediately opposite the main line booking office and the way to it is indicated by signs. In addition to these canteens there are six hostels in the vicinity of King's Cross, St. Pancras and Euston Stations. Posters advertising their addresses are displayed in the Railway Traffic Officers' offices, in the canteens, in the military cloakrooms, in the information bureau and in the stations. There is no evidence that Service men and women have any real difficulty in finding their way to the canteens and hostels.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why two six-ton road vehicles were despatched by his Department empty from London to Birmingham on 27th February, involving double-time pay for that Sunday, to be loaded on Monday, 28th February, at West Bromwich with empty cordial bottles for London.

I have had some difficulty in tracing the particular consignments to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers in his Question. I regret that my inquiries are not yet complete but I will write to him as soon as they are, unless he proposes to put down another Question for next week.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the grave discomfort caused to drivers of road transport by being despatched on Sundays to places like Birmingham, where there is very little accommodation, and will he avoid as far as possible this double time payment for Sundays?

I am aware of the discomfort, which many transport workers suffer as a result of war conditions, but we must use transport as best we can for the national advantage.

Is my hon. Friend aware that my constituents in West Bromwich would be glad to see these lorries return with full cordial bottles?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he can state the number of casualties upon the roads for the months of January and February, together with the figures of such casualties during the hours of black-out.

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the figures for January in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that the figures for February have not yet been received.

asked the Minister of Supply the reason for the recent strikes and the present strike notice at a Royal Ordnance factory, of which he has been informed; why a report by Colonel W. A. Grierson, D.S.O., made two years ago regarding mal-administration at this factory was not acted upon or published; and whether he will institute a public inquiry into the past and present administration with a view to allocating responsibility for the wastage of large quantities of guns and war materials and the establishment of efficient management in the future.

There was a misconception on the part of certain employees at the factory referred to as to the circumstances of the release for other important war work of certain tool room workers at the request of the District Man-power Board. The matter has been settled to the satisfaction of the Trade Union of the men concerned. The allegations made by Colonel Grierson in 1941 were investigated at the time. Subsequently, there was a further investigation by the Select Committee on National Expenditure, and I would refer the hon. Member to Section II of their 9th Report and Appendix 5 to their 14th Report, Session 1941–42.

Was any effort made to settle the trouble before the strike occurred?

Yes, Sir, certainly.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) from what source the many publishing firms, started since 1939, obtain their supplies of paper; and whether he has any accurate knowledge of the amount of paper so used;

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberģ) and the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Jewson) on 20th October last. I would be glad if he would give me particulars of the case he has in mind and I shall have inquiries made.

I will gladly accede to that request. Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that some of the older firms have lost over 500,000 books in the blitz and that 200 new firms have started? Will he also bear in mind that while private enterprise is preferable, in this case licensed piracy is a new doctrine?

Has there been any subtantial change in the position since the right hon. Gentleman gave me his former reply—because it was not satisfactory then?

As I explained on 20th October, we are keeping a close watch on the extent of the use of paper other than by the authorised quota. It has gone down considerably, and, as I explained, it is less than 1 per cent. of the total paper confined to general printing.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider the possibility of an alteration being made in paragraph 5 of Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations, 1943, so as to allow local authorities without obtaining prior approval of his Ministry to institute proceedings against persons alleged to have violated the Regulations.

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman allow local authorities the same right as private individuals to decide whether or not they should prosecute?

The point here, as I have explained before, is that this is a Regulation concerned with labels and advertisements, and the reason for having to have the authority of the Ministry is so as not to prosecute people two or three times over for what is in fact the same offence.

asked the Minister of Food why he has refused permission for the sale of unfermented apple juice.

My hon. Friend is, I am afraid, misinformed. There is no prohibition on the sale of unfermented apple juice. This product as defined in the Soft Drinks Order, 1943, is expressly exempted from the control provisions of the Order.

Do I understand that the lady who wrote to "The Times" and said she had 5,000 gallons and had been forbidden to sell it had been wrongly informed by an official of the Department?

I do not think that that would be a right inference at all.

Is it not clear from what we have heard that it is not the hon. Member who is concerned about this?

Cannot the Ministry take some active steps to encourage the sale of this valuable product?

I believe that unfermented apple juice sells all right and that as much is being made as existing facilities will allow.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the letter in "The Times" referred to brought hundreds of requests from schools, doctors and hospitals which the lady is unable to meet owing to the restrictions imposed by the Ministry?

asked the Minister of Food if he will state the purpose of the Emergency Powers Food (Marmalade) Order (S.R. & O., No. 174, of 1944), which prohibits the sale by retail of imported canned marmalade between 27th February and 1st April.

The reason for the temporary prohibition of retail sales of imported canned marmalade is to accumulate adequate supplies in the hands of retailers for orderly distribution when it becomes available on the "points ration" on 2nd April.

The Minister ought to be congratulated on the amount of oranges and lemons we are getting.

Is the Minister aware that there are already stocks of marmalade on the shelves of retailers far in excess of what is required in the grocery trade, and will he reconsider the necessity for this Order?

The result of this Order is to bring imported marmalade on to points while the other marmalade remains part of the preserve ration, and it leads to what often does not happen in life, that is, people getting it both ways.

Why did not my right hon. and gallant Friend put in the original Regulation the reason he has given me now, and so save the trouble of putting a question down?

I think perhaps that some of the Orders are already long enough without putting in the reasons for them.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give an estimate of the number of gallons of petrol per week saved by the milk rationalising scheme for Brighton and Hove; and what other transport saving has been effected by the scheme.

The information asked for is not yet available, but it will be obtained in due course when distributors have had an opportunity of adjusting their businesses to the new delivery arrangements.

Is the Minister aware that the feeling, especially amongst dairymen, is that there are very few savings at all; and in view of the inconvenience caused and the great discontent, will he consider getting rid of the scheme altogether?

These milk rationalisation schemes have saved a lot of labour and petrol. It might interest the House to know that over the country as a whole, which has 676 rationalisation areas, it is estimated that there will be a saving of 6,700 men, 2,150 women, and some 39,000 gallons of petrol a week.

Is it not a fact that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman never expected to save more than 70 men at Brighton?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that utility brands of alarm clocks, sheets and other household requisites are not available for all who require them whereas non-utility varieties are on sale at much higher prices, he will restrict the manufacture of all essential goods to the utility brands till there is an adequate supply of these on sale in the shops to meet reasonable requirements.

There is no utility production of alarm clocks, and it would not be possible to organise it. For some time past releases of raw material for sheets and other cotton household textiles have been directed to the maximum practicable extent to the manufacture of utility articles.

Is not my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that while only a limited number of people can get alarm clocks and other articles of the utility or cheap kind, there are some available at much more expensive prices? Is he aware that the present practice is causing great hardship to people with small incomes in general, and to the wives of serving soldiers in particular?

I am aware that there are certain stocks available but there is no manufacture going on at the moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what scheme he has in operation, or is to be in operation, in connection with a coupons float for the relief of retail traders who suffer from coupon loss through price or quality reduction of stocked goods.

Coupons are issued to traders whose stocks of rationed goods have been lost or Damaģed by war risks and by certain civil risks. I am also prepared to consider applications for the issue of coupon floats to retailers where it is established that this is necessary in order to enable the needs of consumers to be met. I have no information that other arrangements are necessary and have none in view.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend seen the statement made by the chairman of Lewis's Ltd. that when the scheme is in operation they will get the benefit of it? Will my right hon. and gallant Friend take care that the small retailer who cannot set-off for depreciation, will get a proper share?

I have seen an account of the speech, but I have not read it in detail. I will read it. We will certainly take any steps to see that the small retailer is not disadvantaged.

Is the Minister aware that most retailers already have a big pull through their credit, and that their difficulty is that they cannot get stocks to restock?

That is not universally true. Some retailers are short, I know.