asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the acute housing shortage in Barking and other areas round London; that the restrictions on the right of a local authority to requisition properties under Ministry of Health Circular 2845, even though recently relaxed slightly, impede effective action in many cases; and whether he will give local authorities the same rights of requisitioning for all rehousing purposes as they have far rehousing the bombed out.

The reply to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." The reply to the second and third parts is that I do not consider that I should be justified in depriving the owner or tenant of the opportunity of letting or reoccupying which is secured by Circular 2845, but if my hon. Friend is aware of difficulties which have arisen in regard to other aspects of the procedure I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the Committee on Rent Restriction to present its Report.

I would refer my Noble Friend to the reply, of which I am sending him a copy, which I gave to a Question on the subject on 8th June.

asked the Minister of Health whether the National Federation of Housing Societies has been recognised under Section 96 of the Housing Act, 1936; whether any grants of public money have been made to the Federation; and, if so, under what conditions.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir." My Department made payments totalling £4,500 to the Federation in the five years 1936–40 and a further payment of 350 in 1943. The payments were made, after consideration of accounts and estimates, to assist the Federation in its work of promoting the formation and extension of housing associations and of giving them advice and assistance; but otherwise no express conditions were imposed.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mrs. Ross, 326, Victoria Road, Glasgow, has been refused a pension; that she lost one son in war service and one is a prisoner of war; that she also lost a married son in war service and a married son is a prisoner of war; her age is 59 and she has only the allowance from one son; that she is being asked to get a medical report which she cannot secure; and if he will reconsider this case.

I am looking into this case, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as I have completed my inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether local authorities are acting upon his advice that there shall be a clear division between the persons responsible for A.R.P. policy and those responsible for the policy's execution.

The principle to which my hon. Friend refers has been generally accepted by local authorities. Where existing arrangements have not been in reasonable conformity with it the authorities are considering its application to their arrangements in consultation with the Regional Commissioners. In some cases action has already been taken either by the members affected themselves, or by the local authorities, and I see no reason to be dissatisfied with the progress that is being made.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the number of teachers who have been admitted to the register controlled by the Teachers' Registration Council; how this Council is composed; in what types of schools are the teachers admitted to the register employed; and whether persons admitted to the register are required to satisfy definite educational and other conditions.

The Teachers' Registration Council is constituted in accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of i4th December, 1926. Teachers admitted to the register are employed in universities, elementary and secondary schools and technical institutes. Teachers engaged in private practice are admitted under conditions approved by the Council. I am informed that the number of teachers admitted up to 31st May last was 97,474.The conditions of registration are set out in a statement, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend together with the relevant Order in Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the extent of partisan activity in Austria, especially in the Tyrol and in Carinthia; and whether he can make a statement.

Such evidence as is available indicates that there is some anti-German activity in Carinthia. I have no reliable information about such activities in the Tyrol.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present number of qualified doctors in the United Kingdom; what is the estimated number required to enable the proposed health service to be efficiently administered; and what arrangements are being made to ensure the training of adequate numbers of new entrants who will qualify in the immediate post-war years.

On the first two parts of the Question I do not think I can add to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Dr. R. Thomas) on 9th March and 25th May last. On the last part of the Question, the arrangements for the future training of medical students have been fully reviewed by Sir William Goodenough's Committee on Medical Schools and the Committee's recommendations will shortly be published.

asked the Minister of Health whether the case of smallpox at Rock Ferry had been vaccinated; and, if so, on what date or dates.

Yes, Sir. The person concerned was vaccinated in 1906.

asked the Minister of Health whether the second case of smallpox from Pudsey, the diagnosis of which has not been confirmed, will be recorded by the Registrar-General as a case of smallpox.

This case was reported to the Registrar-General as one of notified smallpox by the responsible Medic al Officer of Health, and it has therefore been properly so recorded.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to give an assurance that shipping and man-power will be made available as soon as possible to secure an adequate reduction in the period of service overseas at present served by the Armies in the Mediterranean, the Middle and Far East and India or, alternatively, to afford reasonable facilities for home leave.

As I informed by hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for the City of Chester (Major Nield) yesterday, I am looking into this question and perhaps my hon. Friend will await the result of that inquiry.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Home Guards suffering wartime disabilities in the discharge of their duties are not eligible to receive the King's Badge; why this distinction exists; and whether arrangements can be made to ensure that they receive some mark of recognition of their wartime service and sacrifice.

Yes, Sir. I have this matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make with regard to the payment of increased allowances to Maltese, Cypriots and Palestinians serving with His Majesty's Forces.

Governors of Colonies have been asked to submit recommendations for increases in the rates of family allowance for families of other ranks of Colonial units consequent on the increases arising out of the recent White Paper, if they consider increases are necessary. Certain recommendations have already been received in regard to Maltese units and these are being examined. Recommendations have not yet been received regarding the allowances of families of Cypriots and Palestinians.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange, as was done after the last war, to allow officers appointed to commissions from the ranks of the Regular Army to commute their retired pay at their discretion for a lump sum payment to enable them to make a start in business when their services are no longer required in the Army; and whether such arrangements will be published before the cessation of hostilities, so that these officers may be able to plan their future careers.

A Regular soldier promoted to an emergency commission and eligible for retired pay has not the option of receiving a gratuity instead. I am aware that officers similarly situated in the last war had the option of a gratuity, but this option proved unsatisfactory and I do not consider that its re-introduction is desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost to the State if widowers and widows were taxed as if they were still unmarried persons.

Widows and widowers receive the same Income Tax personal allowance as single persons, namely, an allowance of £80. The higher allowance of £140 is only given to a married tax- payer whose wife is living with him or is wholly maintained by him.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the steps which have to be taken by an individual merchant seaman who wants to be registered and/or to appoint a proxy under the Parliament (Elections and Meetings) Act, 1943.

pursuant to his previous answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st June, 1944; Vol. 401, c. 170], supplied the following information:A merchant seaman who wishes to register and/or to appoint a proxy under the Parliament (Election and Meetings) Act, 1943, will be required to sign a declaration in which he

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, if he will reconsider the decision to remove the bridge at Walberswick, known as Frazer's Bridge, in view of the inconvenience to traffic already existing due to the removal of the previous ferry service.

I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War concerning the future of the existing military bridge. As regards the ferry I understand that, whilst its operation has temporarily been suspended, owing to a shortage of staff to run the boats, the County Council have the matter in hand, and are prepared to do what they can to make the ferry service available again.

asked the Minister of Food whether employees on agricultural estates, such as bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters, and the like, who, by the nature of their employment, are seldom near enough to their homes during the day to obtain dinner there, are at present eligible for the special cheese ration; and, if not, will he consider making them so eligible.

No, Sir. I assume that operatives of the kind to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers are not agricultural workers who are eligible for the special cheese ration. If, however, an application on behalf of such operatives were made to my Department, it would be fully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any warrant officers or non-commissioned officers of the R.A.F., who were prisoners of war in Stalag Luft III, were with the R.A.F. officers who attempted to, or actually made, their escape; and whether any of such warrant officers and/or non-com- missioned officers were shot by the Germans as a result of this episode.

I have been asked to reply. No warrant officers or non-commissioned officers of the Royal Air Force have been mentioned in connection with the escape from Stalag Luft III.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the refusal of a small supply of water to cottages abutting on an aerodrome, the identity of which has been forwarded to him; and whether he will investigate the circumstances to see if this concession can be made without interfering with the work of the aerodrome.

The Air Ministry is bound by its contract with the corporation of the borough concerned not to supply water to any other consumer, except a Department of State, without the consent of the corporation. If the rural district council can obtain this consent, no objection to the supply would be raised by the Air Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the rank of Warrant Officer Kennard has been changed to flight-sergeant; and why Kennard has been refused a commission.

This flight-sergeant was given the acting rank of warrant officer while filling a vacancy in this rank at his unit. Acting rank is, however, tenable only so long as an airman of the appropriate substantive rank is not available, and Kennard accordingly reverted to the rank of flight-sergeant when a warrant officer was posted to the unit. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 22nd February last.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will take steps to ensure that R.A.F. Regiment personnel on gun-posts and other outlying sites are afforded equal facilities with other personnel for registering as voters.

Yes, Sir.