asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that local authorities are now able to order the demolition in country districts of houses without any consideration being given by a certificated architect to the possibilities of altering such houses to modern standards; and whether, in view of the existing shortages of labour and materials, he will require that, before any demolition order is served, the matter be reviewed by an independent architect appointed by his Department.

Local authorities were informed on 8th September, 1939, that in present circumstances it was desirable that the existing supply of accommodation should not be diminished. Since that date the demolition of houses which are unfit for habitation has been virtually suspended. If my hon. and gallant Friend has information that houses which can be made fit are being demolished I shall be glad to look into any such cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether, in order to facilitate the erection of houses in the post-war period, he can take steps beforehand to induce the manufacturers to standardise cookers, boilers, grates, refrigerators and other such requirements.

Yes, Sir. My Noble Friend the Minister of Works has already secured a considerable amount of standardisation of such equipment, with the fullest cooperation of the industries concerned. To be effective it is necessary that large consumers shall agree to make use of standardised products.

asked the Minister of Production if he has considered the resolution forwarded to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, from the Leicester 14 branch of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, demanding that the Government take over the firm of Messrs. Desoutter, Limited, and run it in the interest of the war effort; and what statement he has to make.

Yes, Sir, but I do not think that the course suggested is necessary on production grounds.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, whether he has any further statement to make regarding the Swiss firm of Sulzer Brothers, which was placed upon the Statutory Black List in October last.

As I informed the House on 9th November last, the firm of Sulzer Brothers of Winterthur was placed on the British Statutory List by reason of the very substantial increase during the summer of 1943 in certain of its exports, notably mercantile marine diesel engines, to Axis countries. It was later included in the United States Proclaimed List for the same reason. Since then, His Majesty's Government and the United States Government have received from the Swiss Government certain assurances regarding this firm's future trade, providing that the exports which led to its being listed will not recur. In view of these assurances it has been decided to remove the firm from the Statutory List and the Proclaimed List.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, where local supplies of alarm clocks make it possible, he will allow permits for their purchase to be extended to workers who rise at 6 a.m.

No, Sir. The number of permits already issued for distribution to workers rising between midnight and 5 a.m. covers all the clocks imported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the high coupon value of mackintoshes has resulted in large numbers being unsold which, in many instances, have so deteriorated that they are useless; and, as it is in the interests of the health of the workers and of pro- duction that they should have mackintoshes, will he facilitate the disposal of existing stocks by making them coupon free at least for a limited period.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 11th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Everton. (Mr. Kirby).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the shortage of blankets and bedlinen in Cambridge, he will add this town to the list of those to which extra supplies are being sent.

From a special investigation which has been made in Cambridge, I find that recent supplies to that town have, on the whole, been above the average per head of population for the country. Supplies are bound to remain short, and I regret that I should not be justified in directing additional supplies to Cambridge.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that misgiving is widely felt by genuine wholesalers at the recent rapid increase in the number of people trading as wholesalers; and will he take immediate steps to enforce registration of wholesalers and insist on licences being applied for, as in the case of prospective retail traders.

No, Sir. Wholesalers of goods controlled under the Limitation of Supplies Orders were originally required to be registered as a condition of their obtaining quota free supplies, but this requirement was later abandoned as unnecessary in the case of goods which became subject to control under the Consumer Rationing Order, or under a Control of Manufacture and Supply Order. I do not propose now to impose additional restrictions on trade of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister without Portfolio the date he addressed his letter to the Ministry of War Transport and the Air Ministry and the dates they replied about the Morecambe Bay development proposals.

Sir, I have no objection to giving these dates. The letters to the Ministry of War Transport were dated 3oth December and 4th January. Their reply was dated 12th January. The letter to the Air Ministry was dated 14th January. Their reply was dated 14th February.

asked the Minister without Portfolio if he will give consideration to a modified plan for the Morecambe Bay area development by the construction of a new road and rail barrage from Lancaster, Hest Bank, Grange, to Barrow and any other proposed local authorities development in the area.

I shall be happy to consider, with the Departments concerned, a modified form of the scheme, if my hon. Friend will let me have reasonably full technical details of what he has in mind, and will indicate the purposes to be served by the revised scheme and the ways in which it meets the objections to the original proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the part that the British authorities are taking in assisting the Government of Ethiopia to restore order and promote an economic recovery and general social improvement in that country.

In addition to the direct financial aid given by His Majesty's Government experienced British officials have been made available to serve under the Ethiopian Government as advisers to the various administrative and technical departments of that Government. An important military mission, for which His Majesty's Government bear the whole cost, has during the past two years been actively engaged in training and establishing a regular Ethiopian defence force. British commissioners of police have been released far service under the Ethiopian Government for the purpose of organising and training an efficient and trustworthy police force. These arrangements were made under the Agreement concluded between His Majesty's Government and the Emperor of Ethiopia on 31st January, 1942, the text of which I made available to the House on the occasion of its signature. On the economic side we have made very comprehensive arrangements to foster agricultural production and to purchase and transport considerable quantities of Ethiopian produce for overseas markets. As a result of our efforts in this direction the rehabilitation of Ethiopian economy has been rapid and widespread.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the question of a plebiscite arranged by the British military authorities in the reserved areas in Ethiopia; and whether this plebiscite has been undertaken with the approval of His Majesty's Government and in consultation with His Majesty the Emperor as provided in Article 3 of the Agreement of January 1942.

As far as I am aware, no arrangements have been or are being made for such a plebiscite.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to minimise fatal and other casualties arising from air raids, he will consider making fire-watching and the attendance of Civil Defence personnel optional in the case of cultural and religious buildings, particularly where these are not closely adjacent to domestic, commercial and other types of building, or where their destruction would not endanger those other buildings.

I cannot see my way to adopt this suggestion. It is essential that, so far as practicable, fires should be prevented from breaking out, especially in built-up areas. Once a fire gets a hold on a building, no matter what the building's character, it constitutes a serious risk for other buildings, besides presenting a beacon which may draw further attack on the neighbourhood. I may add that many public-spirited citizens have done fine work in the protection of such buildings as are mentioned by my hon. Friend against fire, and their efforts are, I think, worthy of praise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the approximate number of accidents on the Jamaican railways from 1935 to date; how many persons have been killed and injured in these accidents; and how these figures compare with the nine years preceding 1935.

I will ask the Governor of Jamaica for the information desired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the widespread discontent in the Palestine citrus districts due to the grave condition of the industry; whether a large part of the crop continues to be destroyed; and whether he will consider a scheme whereby surplus production can be taken over by the British Government as is done in respect of other colonial surpluses.

Since the loss of Palestine's normal markets for its citrus crop, the citrus industry has been assisted by means of a system of guaranteed cultivation advances, as described in an answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister Resident in North West Africa to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 1st July, 1942. I am sending copies of that reply to my hon. Friend. This system has been continued up to and including the current season in full agreement with all sections of the Palestine industry as represented on the Citrus Control Board. In the circumstances, it has unfortunately been necessary to bury part of the citrus crop, owing to the lack of adequate markets. I have, however, certain proposals under consideration at present for additional assistance to the growers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the critical position in which the Palestine orange growers, Arab and Jewish, now find themselves through the lack of markets, having to bury half the orange crop in the ground; and what measures he proposes to take to alleviate this situation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) to-day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information he can give the House concerning the murder of Police Officer Douglas Maynard in Palestine on or about Thursday, 2nd March, by a Jewish terrorist.

I am glad to say that the reports which appeared in the Press here on 6th March that British Constable Douglas V. Maynard had died of his injuries were without foundation. At 9 p.m. on 2nd March, Constable Maynard saw two men posting pamphlets in a Tel Aviv street. He approached them, and was immediately shot in the back by a third man. The men made their escape. The pamphlets which they were posting were issued by the Stern Group. The constable was removed to hospital in a grave condition and operated on. On 12th March his condition was so improved that his name was removed from the "seriously ill" list.

asked the Minister of Food why only 500,000 cases of oranges are being imported from Palestine at this season instead of the 2,000,000 cases for which preliminary arrangements were made.

I am afraid my hon. Friend is mistaken. It was never contemplated that 2,000,000 cases could be imported during the current season. The maximum quantity for which facilities are available are being obtained.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will bear in mind the desirability of buying oranges in Palestine where they can be paid for in sterling rather than in Spain, which is outside the sterling area.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the shipping space available on vessels returning from the Mediterranean and of the increasing shortage of wines at any reasonable price in Great Britain, he will take early remedial action to arrange for the import of more wines of all types from the Mediterranean countries now accessible to us.

I shall be glad to import supplies of wines from Mediterranean countries subject to the availability of suitable currency and of shipping space not required for cargoes of higher priority.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances, other than loss of pay arising out of an award by a commanding officer or court-martial, a soldier's pay issues can be reduced to below is, a day.

Apart from loss of pay arising out of an award of a commanding officer or a court-martial there is authority to restrict the issue of pay to a soldier to below is. a day only to meet a fine imposed by a civil court.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, now that labour difficulties have been overcome, he is in a position to state the approximate date upon which certain premises requisitioned by his Department will be opened as a hostel and canteen for His Majesty's Forces and, pending such opening, what temporary arrangements Army Welfare Western Command propose to make for the accommodation of members of the Forces who are stranded at night in the borough concerned.

I hope these premises will be ready for opening by the middle of May. I regret that there is no suitable accommodation available which could be used temporarily for a hostel until the new hostel is opened. But, as my hon. and learned Friend is aware, there are at present two hostels in use in the town, one for men and one for women.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the remarks of Mr. Justice Hilbery, at Chester Assizes, regarding the unsatisfactory methods employed by the Army in producing evidence as to the character of accused men; and if he has any statement to make.

When a soldier is charged with an offence before Assizes or Quarter Sessions an officer is detailed to attend the trial and watch the proceedings, in accordance with paragraph 599 King's Regulations. The officer so attending is required to take with him all information in his possession as to the soldier's character, in case he may be required by the court to furnish such information. Where the unit to which the accused belongs is quartered near the place of trial, the Regulation requires an officer having personal knowledge of the accused to be detailed, if such an officer is available. If the prosecution takes place at a distance, it is usual for an officer belonging to some unit near the place of trial to be sent. In the case referred to in the Question, the unit to which the accused belongs was over zoo miles from the place of trial, and the local military authorities do not appear to have gone outside the discretion given to them in the Regulation referred to in sending to watch the proceedings an officer who had no personal knowledge of the accused. I am making inquiries into the precise circumstances in which the evidence of the officer who attended the trial was disallowed.

asked the Secretary for War (1) under what Article of the Royal Warrant for Pay, Promotion, etc., paymasters are promoted; and why there has been no promotion to substantive captain of emergency paymasters, excepting such cases as have reverted from a higher rank;(2) under what Article of the Royal Warrant for Pay, Promotion, etc., assistant paymasters appointed supervisory officers are paid; and why, since such officers have been promoted from the ranks they are not permitted to count their prior service for pay in the same manner as a paymaster appointed supervisory officer;(3) if he will take steps to rectify the anomaly whereby an emergency officer promoted to assistant paymaster can and is promoted substantive captain after three years' service whilst an emergency officer appointed paymaster can never be promoted substantive captain unless by reversion from a higher rank.

Paymasters hold similar commissions to combatant officers. They receive acting, temporary and war substantive promotion in relation to the vacancies which they are filling in war establishments under Articles 178 to 182 of the Pay Warrant. Regular paymasters also receive substantive promotion by time under Article 163. Paymasters are paid on the time scales in Article 287. Under Article 431 (m), these time scales reckon service in the ranks partly as commissioned service.Assistant paymasters hold commissions as such, and remain assistant paymasters throughout their service. In common with all other officers of the quartermaster class, they are promoted and paid on time scales under Articles 158 and 289 respectively. Under Article 431 (m) these time scales do not take other rank service into account. Instructions were issued in 1940 and amended in 1941 whereby assistant paymasters when filling appointments of staff paymaster are paid under Article 287.Under Army Order 214 of 1940 and Article 287 of the Pay Warrant as amended by Amendment No. 105, both paymasters and assistant paymasters appointed supervisory officer receive £I 1s. a day on appointment and £I 2s. a day after three years as supervisory officer, if not otherwise entitled to more.The only substantive promotion in the Army at present is the promotion of Regular officers by time or by vacancies in peace establishments. The only war substantive promotion is by time or by the granting of temporary rank one grade higher. Non-Regular paymasters receive war substantive promotion under the same rules as combatant officers. Non-Regular assistant paymasters receive war substantive promotion under the same rules as other quartermasters, which exclude the benefit of the combatant rules.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps were taken by the war agricultural executive committees in Yorkshire and Derbyshire for the rescue of sheep from snowdrifts.

The rescue of sheep from snowdrifts is a task normally undertaken by the farmers themselves. I am not aware that any requests for assistance during the recent snowfalls were made to the War Agricultural Executive Committee in Yorkshire and Derbyshire by sheep farmers in those counties.

asked the Minister of Agriculture on what grounds he refused to sanction the appointment of an agricultural organiser to the East Suffolk County Council, as recommended by their agricultural sub-committee.

I have not refused to sanction the appointment of an agricultural organiser by the East Suffolk County Council.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works what representations he has received from parochial church councils protesting against the present system of the Ministry in requisitioning school railings; and whether he will consider amending this policy, in view of the alleged danger to school children by their removal.

So far as I am aware only one parochial church council has made representations to the Ministry. It was agreed with the Board of Education in December, 1941, that railings would not be removed where this would cause danger to school children and that, where necessary, local education authorities could call on His Majesty's Inspector of Schools to advise. This arrangement has worked well and the Ministry has been guided generally by His Majesty's Inspectors' advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what investigations to trace the existence of oil in any British Colonies have been continued during the war; and with what result.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough East (Mr. A. Edwards) on 1st March.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what advice he is offering with regard to the post-war planning of the Crystal Palace.

This site falls within the Greater London area, for which Professor Abercrombie is preparing a Plan. My right hon. Friend expects to receive that Plan shortly, and it would be premature for him to offer any advice before he and the local planning authority have had an opportunity of studying it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make a statement on the dispute in the Fiji sugar industry.

Although the local Commission of Inquiry has reported that the price of cane has risen since 1939 roughly in proportion to the rises in the costs of living and of production, dissatisfaction is still widely felt with the existing arrangements for fixing the price of cane. It appears necessary, if the Fiji Government is to assist in restoring and firmly establishing the goodwill which is so vital to the sugar industry and to the whole Colony and which has been so unhappily disturbed, that that Government should at all times be in possession of full, information as to the circumstances in which the industry provides a livelihood for an important section of the people of Fiji.I have therefore decided to send to Fiji at once an independent expert with full powers to obtain ail relevant information from the parties concerned, to conduct an inquiry under the following terms of reference:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give annual figures relating to the realisation of British overseas investments since the outbreak of this war.

An estimate of net overseas disinvestment is given in the Annual White Paper on National Income and Expenditure. This includes the sale of gold and securities and the increase of overseas liabilities in a single total. I will consider whether it would be desirable to give a separate figure for the sale of securities, but, as at present advised, I am disposed to think that at the present time it would not be in the public interest to do so.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the fact that members of the Forces serving abroad and prisoners of war are entitled to relief from Income Tax on British Government securities can be made widely known and the Inland Revenue authorities be directed to refund such tax where already levied, in view of the fact that these sufferers are unable to defend their own rights.

It is the practice of the Inland Revenue Department to draw the attention of all taxpayers to any taxation reliefs to which they may be entitled, and the Board of Inland Revenue propose to consult the Service Departments with a view to further publicity of taxation reliefs to which Service personnel may be entitled, including any Income Tax relief that may be due on interest on Government securities where the circumstances are such that the exemption by reference to ordinary residence applies.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that despite repeated assurances given by him airmen are still being threatened with penalties for refusing vaccination and inoculation, such threats including loss of pension and medical attention rights; and will he take more effective action to acquaint all airmen of their rights.

I have no reason to suppose that airmen are not fully alive to the fact that vaccination and inoculation are voluntary, nor have I any knowledge of airmen being threatened with loss of privileges as a result of withholding consent. If my hon. Friend has any cases in mind and will let me have particulars I will gladly look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many British and American bombers, respectively, were lost over Germany and Northern Europe during the month of February, 1944.

204 British and 263 American bomber aircraft operating from this country were reported lost over Germany and Northern Europe during February, 1944.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the names of Government Departments, organisations or persons who are allowed free postage, telegrams or telephone service.

At present no Government Departments, except those financed from Grants-in-Aid or self-supporting funds, pay cash for their postage, inland telegram, or inland telephone services. The estimated value of these services afforded to Government Depart- ments is debited against them by the Post Office, but actual payment for telegrams and telephones was the normal practice until the present financial year when much inter-departmental cash accounting was suspended as a war economy measure. The arrangement covers a number of free telephone lines at the residences of certain officials, the relative Department assuming responsibility for the authorisation of the lines provided and for official calls made over these lines. No private persons or organisations are entitled to free postal, telegraph, or telephone service.

asked the Minister of Labour, (1) under what authority his Department has set up a chemical ring fence in that industry; why this has been done, and whether such an arrangement grants powers of monopoly in manpower and prevents the transfer of any unskilled labour to other industries engaged equally in the war effort;(2) under what order or arrangement a National Service officer is precluded from transferring an employee from within to a works outside of the chemical ring fence.

In conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, I introduced a special scheme for regulating the use of labour in the chemical industry in July, 1941. It is based on my general powers under the Defence Regulations. It works through the normal machinery of my Department, supplemented in each Region by Labour Supply (Chemical Industry) Committees, which contain representatives of employers and trade unions and which are assisted by technically qualified Labour Supply Inspectors. The objects of the scheme are to maintain the trained labour force of the industry, to ensure that the available manpower in the industry is used to the best effect within it, and so to reduce to a minimum the industry's demands on the common pool of labour. Consequently, workpeople already in the industry are normally retained in it, but transfers out of it for various reasons such as health, hardship or the nonexistence of local vacancies for immobile workers have never been precluded.