asked the Secretary of State for Air the meaning of the term "sortie" as applied to flying operations against the enemy and referred to in communiques issued by R.A.F. commands; and whether, in view of the uncertainty as to what this means, he will define it more precisely.

The meaning of this term as applied to flying operations against the enemy is "one flight by one aircraft."

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, according to the dictionary, "sortie" is a French word? Would not "operational flight" be clearer Basic English?

This is a term which the Royal Air Force have used ever since the beginning of the war, and we believe it to be quite a good one.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain the precise difference between a "sortie" and a "sneak raid"?

I have been asked to explain "sortie" and I have done it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will now reconsider the arrangement whereby officers and other ranks of the W.A.A.F. who replace officers and other ranks of the R.A.F. get less pay than the male tradesmen replaced.

W.A.A.F. personnel receive two-thirds of the corresponding R.A.F. rates of pay, and this practice is common to all three Women's Services.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great public feeling against what is thought to be an injustice, and in the light of relevant considerations on the question of differentiation of pay, will he reconsider the whole situation?

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend is aware that this is a subject which does not solely concern my Department and that it cannot be decided in isolation by one Department.

If the principle of equal pay between men and women teachers is accepted by the Government, will the right hon. Gentleman apply the same principle to women in the Services?

This a matter which, as I have said, cannot be considered in isolation by any one Department. It can only be decided as a whole, and I have no reason to suppose that there will be any alteration in these Regulations.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman pay W.A.A.F. women doctors the same as men doctors, but fail to do the same justice to other ranks?

If my hon. Friend will put down a question about women doctors I will answer it. Meanwhile, I am answering a question about W.A.A.F. personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether adequate provision for entertainment is provided for the servicemen in the Azores and especially the installation of wireless receiving sets to enable the men to listen in to B.B.C. broadcasting.

Yes, Sir. The usual provision has been made. Wireless sets, pianos and gramophones have been supplied and more are on the way. Cinema programmes have been arranged and other forms of entertainment have been organised locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he can make any statement with regard to the nature and extent of fighter opposition in recent British night and day bombing raids over enemy territory.

The fighter force at the enemy's disposal in Western Europe is still formidable and undoubtedly many hard battles lie ahead.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in the recent list of awards to officers for gallant and distinguished conduct in conection with the sinking of the battle cruiser "Scharnhorst," 27 of such awards were made to officers of the R.N., while officers of the R.N.R. and R.N.V.R. were only awarded three in all, including one to a non-combatant officer; and if, to avoid wrong inferences being drawn by the public, he will take steps to ensure that recommendations for honours in future are made on a basis more in keeping with the relative numbers of officers of the various branches of the service.

Recommendations for awards to officers are based on the quality of their services and are made in the first instance by commanding officers. I cannot agree that any other system would result in a just recognition of gallant and distinguished conduct.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that the clear implication of his answer is that the quality of service and gallantry of Regular officers is nine times that of non-Regulars; and as these recommendations are made by Regular officers will he see that non-Regular officers get a little better recognition?

I must say that on the records during the war such an interpretation would be quite unfair. There are many operations in which the only awards gained are by R.N.R. or R.N.V.R. officers. It happens in this particular kind of action that naval officers are in greater numerical strength than the others, but over 900 recommendations for distinguished conduct have been made and awarded to R.N.R. and R.N.V.R. officers.

Is it not a fact that in the case of the light coastal forces, nearly the whole of the awards were given to R.N.R. officers because it is they who primarily take part?

Yes, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the ribbon of the Africa Star will be available for issue to naval personnel entitled thereto.

It is intended that the Africa Sitar ribbon shall be issued to Naval personnel as soon as possible after the qualifications for the 1939–43 Star have been finally settled.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Army personnel who are entitled to these ribbons have now been thus gloriously arrayed for many weeks and, in view of the comparatively small number of naval officers and ratings involved, may I ask whether he can use his good offices to expedite a decision in the matter?

As my hon. and gallant Friend knows, the 1939–43 Star takes precedence in the Royal Navy and the question as to who are entitled to it cannot be settled until full consideration has been given to the recent Debate.

In view of the fact that many naval officers are clearly entitled to the Africa Star, and not the 1939–43 Star, could they not be given the Africa Star without prejudice to borderline cases?

I do not think I can add to my statement that nothing more can be done until the matter has been settled in the light of our consideration of the recent Debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether provision has now been made for the administration of native lands in Gambia by native authorities in their own interests; and whether machinery is now in existence in Gambia for the investigation and settlement of doubtful claims against the Crown in areas where original Crown ownership is indisputable.

With my approval, the Governor of the Gambia announced last year his intention to introduce into the Legislative Council a series of Bills having as their general object the removal of obstacles to the effective development of land in the Colony and Protectorate of Gambia. This legislation, when completed, will provide machinery for the settlement of doubtful questions in regard to ownership, and will declare all land not under private or Crown ownership to be native lands which will be administered primarily for the benefit of the indigenous inhabitants. Native authorities will play an increasing part in this administration. The first of this series of Bills has already been introduced and has passed through the Legislative Council.

Do I understand from my right hon. and gallant Friend that there is now provision in Gambia for the administration of native lands by native authorities?

They will be associated with the administration of these lands, when the lands are declared vacant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have recently been taken in Gambia to increase the association of Africans wtih the Central Government.

Hitherto, African representation on the Legislative Council has consisted of three out of four unofficial members, all nominated by the Governor. Recently, however, I have approved proposals from the Governor which will introduce the principle of election. These proposals provide for the election of one member to represent the one urban constituency in the territory, and for the nomination of three members. Two of the latter must be Africans, and one of the two Africans will represent the interests of the Protectorate as distinct from the Colony. The necessary instrument for implementing these proposals is now under preparation.

Are both sides represented, having regard to the curious shape of this Colony?

Yes, Sir, just like both sides of the street in the hon. Member's constituency.

This is a serious and not a frivolous question. Gambia is about 300 miles long and six miles wide and a river runs down the centre. There is a difference between the North and the South.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what further disturbances have taken place in Cyprus; and what action is being taken to deal with the causes of the discontent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied with the conditions now obtaining in Cyprus, particularly with regard to the relation between prices and wages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to acts of violence arising from labour difficulties in Cyprus; what action has been taken with the offenders and to prevent their recurrence; and if he can say how they arose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take to prevent undernourishment and disease in Cyprus due to high prices of food, fuel and clothing; and if direct negotiations are now taking place with Cypriot trade union representatives to evolve a policy with the view of bringing wages more into line with the cost of living now 280 per cent. above prewar.

I am glad to say that the strike in Cyprus was settled on 24th March, the Government's offer of an inquiry, which had been made some days previously, being accepted. In view of the interest which has been shown in this strike, I will with hon. Members' permission, circulate a full statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. This also covers the specific points raised in these Questions.

Will that statement also include any indication of the steps that are being taken to prevent privation in Cyprus? I am sure that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is aware that there has been a very considerable amount of privation, which has stimulated the strikes. Is he satisfied that action is now being taken to meet that situation?

There are difficulties there as elsewhere, but I am aware that some unfounded statements have been made, some of which have found their place in these Questions. I shall deal with them in the statement to which I have referred.

In view of the longstanding distrust in Cyprus in consequence of the lack of confidence in the information on which the Government are working as to the cost of living, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the desir- ability of sending out to Cyprus some independent person who will go into this matter and try to reach a reasonable settlement?

No, Sir. I think the Government are perfectly capable of doing it. With regard to the distrust, that is fostered when inaccurate statements are made such as are included in the hon. Member's Question. For example, he refers to "280 per cent. above pre-war" when the actual figure is 137 per cent.

Is there not a great difference between a strike, which is a legitimate weapon, and an act of violence? Will my right hon. and gallant Friend make some reference to the act of violence?

Yes, Sir, I will deal with that point.

Will there be any opportunity of discussing this report at a later date? It is impossible to discuss it by question and answer.

It is not a report. It is a circulated statement. When hon. Members have read it, it is always possible for them to put a Question down about it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the increase in the cost of living in Cyprus since the outbreak of war; and why the recent bonus granted to civil servants in the island was in no case equivalent to that increase and, in most cases, fell far short of it.

The cost of living in Cyprus has risen by 137 per cent. as compared with pre-war levels. The arrangements recently approved limited the amount of bonus to 100 per cent. of salary in the lowest grades, the proportion diminishing as salary increases. The Governor of Cyprus considered that a bonus on this scale was adequate, but since it was approved he has received further representations from the civil servants, and, as a result, the whole question is being re-examined by a body which will include representatives of the Civil Service associations.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the grave doubts there have been over the ascertainment of the cost of living in Cyprus? Will he not try to send someone independent to go into the matter on the spot?

No, Sir. I have been into this question very carefully during the last 12 months. The allegation was made before.

When are we likely to have some report dealing with the whole situation?

There are those two inquiries, one dealing with the Civil Service and one dealing with industrial employees. I cannot say when they will be in a position to report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the difficulty of finding markets for the whole of the West Indian exports, His Majesty's Government will consider initiating negotiations on behalf of the West Indian Colonies for a reciprocity trade agreement between the U.S.A. and the British West Indies.

British West Indian Colonies are already included in the scope of the Trade Agreement of 1938 between the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Such difficulties as at present exist in finding markets for West Indian exports are mainly due to war conditions and particularly limitations of shipping. I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served at present by considering negotiations as proposed in the second part of the question. I should, of course, be happy to consider any particular difficulties if the hon. Member will let me know what he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the continuing dissatisfaction in the West Indies with reference to the practice of appointing administrative officers from abroad before investigation has been made as to suitable local appointments or in other West Indian Colonies; whether it is the practice to advertise administrative vacancies in the West Indies; whether he has considered a memorandum from the British Guiana Civil Servants' Association on this subject; and what action he proposes to take.

I have received the memorandum and have promised to give it full consideration, in connection with the general review of Colonial Service organisation which is now proceeding. It is not the practice to advertise administrative vacancies in the West Indies, but every consideration is given to local candidates and in fact virtually all the junior and a large number of the senior administrative posts in the area are filled by West Indians.

In view of the fact that it is not the Ministry's custom to advertise vacancies, may I ask what are the means taken to ascertain likely applicants?

My hon. Friend is talking about vacancies in the Civil Service. We do not advertise here for applicants for vacancies for the Civil Service. The records are known of members of the Civil Service, who are promoted on them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he is aware that a North of England firm of hauliers operating 10 vehicles on long-distance work were, prior to control, running to a perfect time-table with vehicles averaging 2,000 miles each per week, whereas, under the present scheme, their average per week is about 550 miles fully loaded and 200 miles empty; and what steps he is taking to work these vehicles to capacity.

If my hon. Friend will give me the name of the firm to which he refers I will be happy to make inquiries.

Is the Minister not satisfied now, through the number of complaints that he has had, that there are grave deficiencies for the control for which he is responsible?

No, Sir, I am not satisfied. Whenever I get a chance to get at the facts I find that in almost every case there is a perfectly good explanation. It is quite useless to make allegations in general terms.

Has the hon. Member read the Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure criticising the scheme?

Yes, I have read it, and I think that in due course my Noble Friend will be desirous of making some observations on the Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why a five-ton Bedford lorry belonging to Mr. C. H. Ward, haulage contractor of Send, Surrey, was despatched on 25th February from the garage at Ripley to report at Guildford to pick up a load of 33 cartons of baby rag dolls and a bundle of empty sacks weighing eight cwts.; why a man was detailed at Guildford to accompany the driver and make three purchasing calls at various stores on the journey which included collecting five parcels of one and a half cwts. at Walham Green and 30 lbs. of rags at 44, Hatton Garden, two parcels at Harding Dye Works, Kingston-on-Thames, and a sewing machine at Guildford; and whether he is satisfied that this round, occupying 10½ hours and consuming 10 gallons of petrol was urgent and essential.

I am not fully satisfied about the use made of this lorry, and I am making further inquiries.

Is there any hope that this mismanagement of road transport by the State will receive the Minister's serious consideration?

I shall take note of the terms of the hon. and gallant Member's Question. The whole of the road haulage organisation receives continual consideration from my Noble Friend and myself.

Will the Minister say, if these difficulties that are continually exposed by the hon. and gallant Member arise when there is a close control, what is likely to have been the position when the matter was subject to the chaos of private enterprise?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why hired undertakings under the Ministry of War Transport haulage organisation receive disadvantageous financial treatment compared with controlled undertakings.

I do not accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that the remuneration for vehicles hired by the Road Haulage Organisation compares unfavourably with the average remuneration of controlled undertakings.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is grave dissatisfaction about these inequalities, and will be receive a deputation from these hired operators?

I am always happy to receive a deputation. There is, in fact, established machinery, initiated by my Noble Friend, for dealing with such questions. There was a recent meeting about the rates paid for hired vehicles, and full agreement was reached.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he will arrange to include in the monthly returns of road fatalities an analysis indicating the number of each class of vehicle involved in fatal accidents.

Yes, Sir, I will gladly make arrangements to carry out my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why the L.P.T.B. was prohibited by him from publishing its working expenses.

I am advised that it would be contrary to the public interest to publish the working expenses of the London Passenger Transport Board.

Is it not time that we now had some explanation as to why information cannot be published which cannot divulge any information to the enemy whatsoever?

I think the hon. Member makes a wrong assumption. I am assured by the competent authorities, whose advice I must accept, that it would divulge information of interest to the enemy.

Why?

What is all this mystery about? How is it possible, if the working expenses of this Board are published, that the information can possibly afford any comfort to the enemy? Which particular item could afford such comfort? If there is any particular item which has to be undisclosed, let it be undisclosed.

We cannot publish some items and not others. I will furnish to my hon. Friends, if they desire it, the advice I have been given. In any case we cannot give the hon. Member the figures he desires, because there is no clearance with the main line companies of working expenses. We could not get the figures out.

Then why say it is on grounds of security when it is on grounds of accountancy?

It is on both grounds.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the profits of the main line railways are published? Is there any reason, as that does not seem to help the enemy, why the accounts of the London Passenger Transport Board should not be published?

Not their working expenses.

Would the hon. Gentleman say whether the publication of this information would show the inefficiency of State control?

That consideration has nothing to do with it.

Could I ask my hon. Friend whether, in view of the obvious feeling of the House, he will reconsider this matter, and come forward with a statement?

Yes, Sir, I will certainly reconsider it, and if the hon. Member will put down a Question I will make another statement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he will state the names and the qualifications of the Appointing Trustees under the London Passenger Transport Act.

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the information he desires in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the destruction of oranges at Hull owing to the deterioration of these oranges through long storage; and whether he will arrange to expedite the distribution of fruit so as to avoid this waste in future.

Yes, Sir. Unfortunately a large quantity of oranges arriving in one ship were bad. This was due to wartime shipping conditions. Distribution of the good oranges started on the first day of discharge.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman inform the House whether any attempt was made to sort and salvage these oranges, as many were fit for consumption?

Yes, Sir, only about 20 per cent. were bad. These unfortunately had to be dumped. The rest were distributed.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that many of those which were distributed were bad? I saw a great many in the shops that were bad.

That is quite a different question.

asked the Minister of Food why it is that such a large proportion of the oranges recently distributed were bad.

A very large proportion of the oranges recently distributed have on the contrary been good, and have I believe been much appreciated.

asked the Minister of Food, in view of the shortage of cooking fats, to what extent he is importing to this country olive oil, especially in view of its high nutritive value.

My Department is importing as much olive oil as is surplus to the local requirements of the producing areas.

Could this be made available to fish and chip shops?

No, I am afraid there is not enough for that.

asked the Minister of Food if he will state the number of man-hours required to load, transport, unload and brew into beer any given quantity of cereals sent, under the present arrangements, to Ireland for brewing and the man-hours required to ship back the beer, compared with the man-hours required to brew the beer, in the existing English end Scottish breweries.

I regret that the detailed information desired by my hon. Friend is not available, but I am satisfied that the arrangement is economical in the use of United Kingdom man-power.

Is it not extremely wasteful in transport to take cereals to Ireland and bring beer back to this country, when it could be brewed here with very little labour?

We have not the man-power to-day to brew the beer here. As a matter of fact one ton of cereals produces six tons of beer, and the beer from Ireland is only shipped coastwise to the coastal districts of this country.

Is there not something wrong when there is too much beer being brewed to be met by the man-power of this country?

Is there not very considerable risk in this traffic to the lives of our seamen?

No, Sir. Fortuately there have recently been no losses in what I think is termed the Irish Sea.

Is it not true that there is a shameful shortage of feed for chickens, and that Members of Parliament would rather have a good fried egg than a pint of beer?

My aim is to give people both eggs and beer.

asked the Minister of Food the number of fish and chip shops operating in Camborne in 1939 and in each subsequent year.

Nine in 1939, and five in each subsequent year.

Does that not show that the present number of these fish and chip shops for the large industrial population of Camborne is quite inadequate? Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider, therefore, whether some of the existing fat allocation in the hands of private traders which is not now being used shall be re-allocated to traders who will use it?

No, the allocation of fish and fats is distributed on a population basis, and if more fried fish shops were to be opened in Camborne, it would mean that the existing fried fish shops would get less fish and less fat.

Is it really suggested that the health of the nation would be improved by a vast increase in the number of fish and chip shops?

Is the criterion of population enough, seeing that some areas consume far less fish and chips than others, because of different tastes?

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a London restaurant of modest amenity, of the name of which he has been informed, charges 30s. for a medium-sized carafe of inferior Algerian wine; that this restaurant is permitted by his Ministry to make a house-charge of 2s. 6d. a head in addition to the 5s. maximum charge for a meal, 1s. 3d. for a single small cup of coffee, etc.; and what steps he is taking to check this type of profiteering.

With regard to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, I have no information other than that which he has sent me, but I understand that the wine served was not Algerian quota wine. The answer to the second part of the Question is that, while the house charge is regulated by my Department, the price of coffee served in catering establishments is not controlled. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 15th March to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Dr. H. Guest).

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that he has put us in a rather difficult position, because when general charges of racketeering in wines and spirits are made he says that he cannot deal with general charges, that he must have particulars; but if we give him the particulars he then appears to brush them aside with equanimity?

No. For all the Ministry imported Algerian wine we have, by arrangement, a set price. We cannot fix prices for every type of wine served in restaurants or other catering establishments.

But is it not the case that the Government do fix prices for a large number of commodities which are not essential to life, and is it not the case that this is a large and growing racket?

Wine is a luxury, not an essential.