asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the latest investment figures in each case in the Post Office Savings Bank, trustee savings banks, national savings movement and the building, friendly, industrial and provident societies.

The first part of the table below shows the estimated balances due to depositors on 31st May in the Post Office Savings Bank and in the ordinary and special investment departments of the Trustee Savings Banks, the estimated holdings on the same date of other Government securities in respect of which a limit is fixed to the amounts of individual holdings, i.e. National Savings Certificates and 3 per cent. Defence Bonds, and the nominal amount of Government Stocks, excluding 3 per cent. Defence Bonds, held on the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks Register. The second part of the table gives estimates of the funds accumulated in the building, friendly and industrial and provident societies at the latest date for which figures are available. So far as possible duplication has been eliminated from the figures in this part of the table, but there still remains a comparatively small amount which cannot be definitely ascertained.

TABLE
	Date	£ millions
*National Savings Certificates	31st May, 1944.	1,568
3 per cent. Defence Bonds	31st May, 1944.	684
*Balance due to depositors in Post Office Savings Bank	31st May, 1944.	1,360
*Balance due to depositors in Trustee Savings Banks:
Ordinary Departments	31st May, 1944.	376
Special Investment Departments	31st May, 1944.	115
Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks' Stock Register (nominal amount)	31st May, 1944.	212
Building Societies (Share Capital, Deposits, etc.)	31st Dec, 1943.	757
Societies registered under the Friendly Societies Acts	31st Dec, 1942.	182
Industrial and Provident Societies	31st Dec, 1942.	351
* Includes estimated accrued interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public capital expenditure was defrayed by the central Government in each year 1931 to 1938 on activities productive of employment at home.

Relatively little capital expenditure (apart from any defence expenditure such as might be classed as of a capital character) is defrayed directly by the central Government, that of the Post Office being the only substantial item. But a large part of the capital expenditure of local authorities is aided by State grants and subsidies and perhaps my hon. Friend has this in his mind. The total capital expenditure of local authorities and of the Post Office in the years in question was:

				£ millions.
1931	…	…	…	144.6
1932	…	…	…	109.6
1933	…	…	…	112.9
1934	…	…	…	106.4
1935	…	…	…	126.4
1936	…	…	…	153.3
1937	…	…	…	186.3
1938	…	…	…	201.2

asked the Secretary of State for War if an officer of the Territorial Army, serving as a full-time Army welfare officer without pay, is entitled to count such service towards his long-service Territorial Decoration.

No, Sir. The only commissioned service which counts as qualifying service for the award of the Territorial Efficiency Decoration is service on the Active List or embodied service on the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is possible to radio messages from India to prisoners of war in Japanese hands; and whether this is done at the present time.

A number of broadcast messages to prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japanese hands have been transmitted from All India Radio Station, Simla, some in reply to messages purporting to come from prisoners of war and internees. There is no positive information that such messages have reached the addressees, though some may have done so. This service is of doubtful value and open to serious objection on security grounds. It is being curtailed and may be discontinued altogether.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is taking steps under the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act to cover those who volunteered for the Forces who were turned down on health grounds and subsequently called to employment other than their own at a much lower rate of pay.

The scope of the Act is defined in Section 6 and does not include the persons whom I understand my hon. Friend to have in mind.

asked the Minister of Health the number of partly-built houses which have been bought or requisitioned by local authorities, owing to the non-execution or completion by the owners.

My Department have no record of any houses being bought or requisitioned for the reason given.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give figures regarding supplies from this country to China under Lend-Lease.

Materials supplied to China under Lend-Lease by His Majesty's Government are confined to arms, munitions and military equipment. Partly on account of difficulties of transportation and partly by reason of the fact that the main responsibility in this sphere rests by agreement with the United States Government, supplies actually shipped from this country amount only to about £50,000. Beyond this Lend-Lease assistance furnished to China by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom has comprised:

(a) supplies shipped from Australia valued at nearly £3,000,000;

(b) supplies and services furnished to Chinese troops in India and Burma valued at approximately £6,000,000, and

(c) sterling freights on military supplies furnished by other Allies and shipped in British bottoms, figures for which are not available at present.

In general, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated in the House on 3rd May, the limit of our assistance to China remains, as always, one of transport and not of finance.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will publish a list of all whole-time or part-time appointments which are made on his nomination from outside the Civil Service or on which he must be consulted.

Appointments to posts in the Board of Education are not made on my nomination. If and so far as senior posts may be filled otherwise than by promotion within the Department candidates are recommended, by a Selection Board for my approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of local authorities are both members of their emergency committee and unpaid controller or sub-controller.

I regret that precise information of the number of such cases is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the disappointment felt by R.A.F. personnel whose qualifying allotment has been increased under the proposals in the recent White Paper, he will give personnel now in receipt of the existing scales the option of remaining on their present rates of qualifying allotment and family allotment, or of receiving the new rates.

The object of the recent changes was to bring airmen's allotments more closely into line with those of soldiers and sailors drawing similar rates of pay. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to adopt the hon. and learned Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many claims have been made by officers of the R.A.F. for watches destroyed or damaged beyond repair as a result of enemy action; what amount is allowed for replacement; and if any free issue of watches is made either to officers or men.

I regret that the number of claims of this character could not be ascertained without undue labour. Compensation depends on the value of the watch at the time of its loss and may not exceed £12. Watches are issued on loan to officers and airmen who require them for duty purposes.