asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many of the factories in Burnley, now engaged on Government work, he proposes to maintain in production after the war in order to prevent a recurrence of the mass unemployment that existed in the area in the pre-war years;

(2) what parts of Lancashire are to be regarded as development areas.

I am glad to say that during the war there has been a large amount of new industrial building in Lancashire and for this reason its need for further industrial development is less urgent than that of other areas. I hope, as I have previously said to the House, that these factories, particularly those of modern construction, will be fully used after the war.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that in parts of Lancashire, especially in the Wigan coal area, no new industries of any kind have been established, and that nearly all the working people are employed several miles away from their homes?

Yes, Sir, but what I have said is undoubtedly true. Lancashire, as compared with certain other areas, has had a substantial amount of new industrial building and that means that its need for further industrial building is less than that of others.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that whole areas in some parts of the country have not had any war factories during the war?

I am well aware of that.

Why must Lancashire be regarded as a unit? Other parts of the country are not so regarded, and parts of Lancashire have been as badly hit as any other parts in the country.

If we break these things up into too small units we cannot have an effective plan. We must handle these areas in broad, large units but we will do our best to see that factories now working for the war effort, or on civilian work, will continue to be fully used after the war.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the statement and resolution from the Cotton Board suggesting changes in the structure of the cotton industry on the lines of larger units; and if he can make a statement indicative of Government policy on the matter.

I have discussed the statement and resolution to which my hon. Friend refers, with the chairman of the Cotton Board, and I agreed with him that they should be published. I note with interest that the Cotton Board Committee recognise the desirability, with a view to greater efficiency, of larger units in the cotton industry, but I also note that they are strongly opposed to legal compulsion to achieve this object.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the cotton industry is to get back to anything like its former strength drastic and far-reaching proposals will be required?

In view of the vital importance of this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the appropriate quarters, and have an early day set aside for a Debate on the whole subject?

It is not for me to indicate that, but I should be glad of such an opportunity later.

Is it not a fact that my right hon. Friend has now received reports from several representative organisations? If so, have they been considered and has not the time arrived when this Department should take the initiative, and make recommendations which can be considered by the whole industry?

I have received a number of representations, some of which take the form of saying that they do not want legal intervention in these matters. I am anxious to carry the various sections of the industry with me in any proposals I put up.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that representatives of the industry will be fully consulted before any final decision is made?

We are in constant touch with them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken by His Majesty's Government in 1944 to promote British trade with Egypt, Italy and the Middle East.

I am anxious that United Kingdom trade with these markets shall be expanded as soon as supplies and shipping permit. At present, the aim of His Majesty's Government, in collaboration with our Allies, is to see that the essential war-time needs of Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries are met. Trade with that part of Italy, which has been liberated, is wholly on Government account.

Is not the correct answer to my question, "Nothing," and will not the right hon. Gentleman begin to take steps to promote our trade in that area after the war?

The hon. Gentleman's first suggestion is incorrect. It is not "nothing" to keep Egypt and the Middle East supplied with their war-time necessities; it is a considerable achievement, which has been carried out by joint Anglo-American collaboration through the Middle East Supply Services.

Does the Minister contemplate the appointment of an agency or British representatives out there?

We have representatives there now.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that a visit by the Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade to the Middle East would have a good effect?

If the answer to my Question is not "Nothing," will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what he has done to promote British trade after the war in this area?

asked the President of the Board of Trade when carpet manufacturers will be informed what price they are entitled to charge for carpets manufactured under the A licences issued to them on 11th February.

Such licences have been issued to carpet manufacturers since 1942 and the prices which they may charge are those approved by the Central Price Regulation Committee in November, 1941. Proposals are now under consideration for the manufacture of a further limited quantity of carpets of specified types, and for the fixing of prices for these.

When will these proposals become effective?

The trade is being taken into consultation about it now. We are aiming at getting a number of serviceable carpets of a cheaper kind. The prices, I understand, will be lower than those charged under the A licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the decision not to reopen the Northumberland and Palmers shipyards on the Tyne, what heavy industries he proposes to establish on these vacant sites.

No decision has yet been taken regarding the post-war use of these shipyards.

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman said he hoped that all factories would be used, what does he propose to do with these sites? They have been unoccupied since the beginning of the war. Is it not time that post-war possibilities were taken into consideration and some decision come to, because we are tired of waiting?

Mr. Rhys Davies.

Am I not entitled to an answer to my supplementary question?

I thought the question was so long that the hon. Lady was not entitled to an answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, in a certain area of which he has been informed, it is impossible for the local population to secure boot repairs; that they are informed that they must wait for several weeks because there is so much repair work in hand for American troops which must have priority; and will he see that in this and any other respect over which he has control, civilians shall not be placed at a disadvantage with soldiers.

My regional directors of boot repairs have instructions to see that an adequate service of civilian repairs is maintained in all areas and that no area is overloaded with Service work. The repairer to whom my hon. Friend refers had, without the knowledge of my regional director, accepted Service repairs greatly in excess of the number specified in his contract. I am glad to say that the matter has now been adjusted.

Will not my right hon. Friend get in touch with the Ministry of Labour, because the problem is affected by the fact that repairers have been called up?

I am afraid that trouble is not confined to boot repairers. A lot of people have been called up.

The right hon. Gentleman has not been called up.

Not yet, nor has my hon. Friend.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many regional inspectors there are and what are their qualifications?

Not without notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the offer of Admiral Horthy to permit Jewish children to leave Hungary in cases in which neutral countries are willing to receive the children; and whether assurance will be given to neutral countries willing to accept these children that provision will be made for a corresponding increase in food supplies to be allowed to reach them through the blockade.

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have been informed by the International Red Cross of the offer referred to in the Question. As regards the second part of the Question both His Majesty's Government and the United States Government have always been anxious to facilitate the reception in neutral countries both of Jewish children from any part of Axis Europe and also of children from enemy occupied countries. On a number of occasions, particularly during the past year, assurances have been given to certain neutral Governments that if schemes of this kind could be arranged, His Majesty's Government and the United States Government would sanction the importation of additional supplies through the blockade over and above the normal blockade quotas which such countries are permitted to receive through our controls. Since receiving the communication from the International Red Cross to which I referred, His Majesty's Government have informed these Governments that our offer of increased imports holds good in this particular case. I understand that a similar assurance has been or is being given by the United States Government.

Has any neutral Government indicated willingness to receive these children?

We have not yet had time to receive an answer to this particular communication but it is only fair to say that certain neutral Governments, notably those of Switzerland and Sweden, have always shown considerable willingness to receive refugees from Axis Europe.

In view of the specific terms of the alleged offer from Admiral Horthy, would not the hon. Gentleman consider conveying through the appropriate channel the acceptance of these terms, so that any children exported from Hungary will be accepted?

The offer, of course, was communicated to us through the International Red Cross and we have replied to the International Red Cross saying that, as far as this part of the offer is concerned, we are perfectly willing to do everything in our power to see that these children are evacuated as rapidly as possible.

Is it not a fact that it always has been possible to put these children into neutral countries? The difficulty has been to get them out of the other countries.

That is correct. It has not been the fault of neutral Governments that evacuation schemes have not operated long before this. In every case, it has been the reluctance of the occupying authorities, or the Nazi Government, to let the children go.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare why the Swedish shipping firm of Messrs. Axel Johnson and the firm owning and operat- ing the Grangesberg Mine now supplying iron ore to Germany are not included in the black list.

As regards the first firm mentioned in the Question, namely, Rederi A-B Nordstjernan, I have no evidence which would justify its inclusion in the Statutory black list. My information is that none of its vessels are being used to carry iron ore to Germany. Moreover, five ships belonging to this firm are now on charter to the Ministry of War Transport. As regards the company which owns the Grangesberg Mines, the only reason why we have not as yet included its name in the list is that such action did not seem likely to diminish the volume of shipments of Swedish iron ore to Germany. I must, however, make it dear that we should not hesitate to blacklist this Company if at any time we thought that its appearance in the list would serve any useful purpose.

Will the hon. Gentleman look again into the question whether the Axel Johnson ships are not in fact conveying this ore to Germany? Is it not a fact that Wallenbergs are the firm behind this Grangesberg Mine?

In reply to the first part of the question, we have complete information as to the activities of all ships owned by this company and we have complete information as to what they are doing. In answer to the second part, on one or two occasions the hon. and gallant Gentleman has referred to Wallenbergs. I must make it clear—I speak from personal experience —that Mr. Marcus Wallenberg has throughout the war been a good friend to this country.

But the hon. Gentleman does not say that he is not the owner of the mine now supplying ore to Germany?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will look at the answer I gave him last week, he will see that I gave particulars as to the ownership of this mine. The Enskilda Bank, which is the concern in which Wallenbergs are interested, has little or no interest in the Grangesberg Mine.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, whether he will give the latest available information on the position of the civilian population in Greece as regards food supply and the measures being taken to relieve grave malnutrition.

As the reply is a long one, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that Major Lockwood, of a battalion of which he has been informed, was killed on 26th June; that the widow was notified of this event on 10th July by a letter from the battalion commander; and why, up to the 12th July, no official notification has reached her;

(2) whether he is aware that Lieutenant Firth, of a battalion of which he has been informed, died of wounds on 1st July; that his widow received notification on 5th July that he had been dangerously wounded on 26th June; and why no official notification of his death reached her until 16th July.

I will, with permission, answer Nos. 14 and 15 together.

Since these two Questions relate to separate individuals, I prefer them to be answered separately.

Perhaps the hon. Member will listen to my answer. Before dealing with the specific cases I will make a short general statement about the delays which may unfortunately arise in reporting casualties.

When a casualty occurs it is the duty of the unit concerned to notify it to the base. As the hon. Member will readily appreciate, this may be a difficult duty to carry out in the midst of a battle. A further difficulty arises from the fact that in the early stages of an operation such as this, the troops overseas are, in fact, merely a bridgehead. During this stage their base is separated from them by the Channel. The delays which may occur from these factors are, I am afraid, unavoidable, though of course they are none the less distressing for the relatives concerned.

I have also seen some complaints that the official notification of a casualty is often preceded by an unofficial letter from the Commanding Officer or chaplain of the unit or even from a friend of the man concerned. Before an official notification can be sent the facts must he most carefully checked and in view of the great speeding up of mails from Normandy it is possible, and indeed probable, that relatives may in certain cases hear unofficially of the casualty before the official notification arrives. This is even more probable in cases where an officer or man has been evacuated by air to a hospital in this country.

I am afraid, however, that in these specific cases raised in the hon. Member's Questions there was undoubtedly exceptional delay, which I very greatly regret, in reporting the casualties to the War Office. This delay arose from circumstances which are still being investigated, and which I hope will not recur.

May I put down a further Question upon these two cases later in order to elucidate the facts?

Certainly, Sir, and I will, if I have not got the facts by the time the House rises for the Summer Recess, send them in writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the importance of the forthcoming harvest, if training areas taken over under Defence Regulations 51 and 52, or such portions of them more distant from standing camps can now be released from use for military training owing to the changed circumstances, due to the campaign in Normandy having reduced the pressure on space for training in the United Kingdom.

I fully appreciate the importance to food production of the areas held under these Defence Regulations. This question has been for some time carefully considered by the War Office and the Ministry of Agriculture in the light of the changed conditions in this country, and several hundreds of thousands of acres have already been given up. I anticipate that, during the next few months and before the winter, a good deal more land will become available for derequisition. The nature and extent of the releases, however, must depend on operational factors.

Will the right hon. Gentleman convey to the authorities concerned the importance of not going through standing crops immediately before harvest, but, if possible, to stick to the bare fallows because matters of that kind can easily be put right? Will he also convey to the United States authorities the gratitude of owners and occupiers for the care that has been shown?

I will certainly do the second, and I will consider the first.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether steps are being taken to release from requisition property which has become vacant.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 25th July.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of this property which has been released is still vacant, while there are families in the district in need of accommodation?

If it is released it has passed out of my control.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say under whose control it is?

I cannot say that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of pictorial poster methods used to encourage war savings, he will employ this method to encourage soldiers to sign the forms issued for the compilation of the election register.

This suggestion is being considered.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say when some decision will be made about this matter?

The consideration has gone a good long way, and I think that there are posters in proof already.

Would not an effective film be one of the right hon. Gentleman saying to the soldier, "Now is your chance of saying what you think about the War Office"?

asked the Secretary of State for War, how many proxy application forms A.Fs.B. 76 were completed under A.C.I. 271 of 1943; whether these are at present valid; and whether the attention of all ranks has been specially drawn to the effect on these proxies of the Parliament (Elections and Meeting) Act, 1943.

I regret that I am unable to give my hon. Friend the number of Army Forms B. 76 completed under A.C.I. 271 of 1943 as no records are kept. Proxy appointments made on this form are valid and will remain so until the new register under the Parliament (Elections and Meeting) Act, 1943, comes into operation. The 1939 Register and all proxy appointments made on that register will then lapse. The attention of all ranks has been drawn to the necessity of making new proxy appointments on A.F.B. 2626 so that their vote can still be exercised on their behalf if they are overseas at the time of an election.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many men who have completed Form AB 76 are not filling up AB 2626 under the delusion that the form already completed was valid?

I will consider including a reference to that fact in the reminder that I have to send out before very long.

asked the Secretary of State for War if duplicate copies of completed electoral registration forms from any personnel are kept at stations overseas until the originals have been received by electoral registration officers in this country, so as to prevent persons being disenfranchised due to the loss of mails.

No, Sir. Nor would this ensure that the personnel concerned were duly registered. The only way to do this would be to institute a system of acknowledging every form received from overseas. The difficulties in attempting to do this would certainly be formidable and probably insuperable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that at least one station overseas makes an extra copy of these forms to be kept until the originals have been safely received in this country? Is it not important to take that little extra trouble to see that Service men's rights are safeguarded?

It is not a question of taking extra trouble at that end, but all I can say is that if you take that extra trouble it will not do any good.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that busmen who are members of the Home Guard have frequently to use their rest day for Home Guard purposes; and whether, in view of the increasing strain of their duties, he will cause this position to be modified.

Instructions in amplification of Home Guard Regulations have already been issued, which lay down that men who are working long hours at work of national importance shall receive special consideration. Moreover, any member of the Home Guard may apply to his commander for relief if he considers that he is unable to perform his Home Guard training and duty.

Has any representation been made by the unions of these men on this important matter?

Not to my knowledge. I have had one individual letter, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy. It rather calls in question his right to put the case on behalf of this organisation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have been approached by members of the Home Guard who are busmen?

I will send the hon. Member a copy of the letter.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what are the regulations now being applied to soldiers serving in Normandy about applying blanco to their equipment; and if he will assure the House that troops serving in Normandy are not being compelled to polish or maintain their kit to any excessive degree.

Each Army Commander is responsible for ensuring that the uniform and equipment of the soldiers under his command is maintained at the highest standard of cleanliness and smartness compatible with the conditions in which the troops are engaged. I am not aware of anything which would prevent me giving the assurance for which the hon. Member asks.

While appreciating the need for cleanliness and smartness under all conditions wherever possible, may I ask whether it is necessary, in view of the acute shortage of many comforts for the men in Normandy, to send considerable quantities of blanco?

That is a different question. I do not know whether considerable quantities of blanco are being sent. All I know is that each Army commander concerned is entitled to lay down the standard which he considers necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of my constituents informed me that he and his colleagues spent all one day unloading large quantities of blanco?

Spit and polish, Sir, do not win wars.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the maximum expenditure that a colonel, a brigadier and a major-general of the R.E.'s can authorise without reference to higher authority; and to what extent has this procedure been modified and centralised since the war began.

I will, with permission, circulate a statement about this in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will my right hon. Friend make the most careful inquiry to see that the megalomaniac policy of centralisation, which leads to waste of time and money, is brought to an end?

When the hon. Gentleman reads my answer he will see that, so far from there being centralisation, there has been a good deal of decentralisation since the war. I have been accused of a good many things, but over-centralisation is not one of them.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that on the conclusion of hostilities preferential treatment will be accorded to married officers and men now serving abroad to facilitate their return to this country to rejoin their wives and families.

The Army Council's present policy does not differentiate in the matter of the length of service overseas between married and single men. I regret that I am not in a position to say what policy will be followed on the conclusion of hostilities. In this connection I would refer my hon. Friend to a reply I gave my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ilford (Mr. Hutchinson) on 25th July.

Is not the question worthy of a little further consideration by the War Office? Is it not important that married men should get back to their families in the shortest possible time?

I can assure the hon. Member that this is a matter to which I have given constant consideration, and I have taken steps which I hope will improve the flow of people back from these distant theatres.

Do not the "old sweats" and veterans come first?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the 3s. 6d. London allowance may be continued to be paid to the wife of a serving soldier resident in London who is forced to evacuate herself and her family into a safe area.

asked the Secretary of State for War why soldiers wives, who have been residing in West Ham and London in general, have their allowance cut down by 3s. 6d. when they decide to live outside the London area.

The London allowance of 3s, 6d. a week ceases to be paid to soldiers' families during their absence from the London postal area, except for a visit not exceeding four weeks. As a special and purely temporary arrangement, families which have left London since 13th June, when flying bombs began to reach London, will be allowed to continue to receive the allowance during absence, or will have it restored if already withdrawn, provided that they were in receipt of the allowance when they left London, and are still paying rent for their accommodation in London, and have not sublet it.

Will that continue indefinitely?

I said that it was a special and purely temporary arrangement. That means that it will presumably continue as long as the flying bomb menace is on us and that it will then be reconsidered.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make about Welsh troops serving out of this country.

Whenever the Commander-in-Chief responsible releases the name of a Welsh regiment which has taken part in a campaign in any theatre of war, all the information available is given to the Press. In this way publicity has been given to the Welsh Guards, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, the South Wales Borderers and the Welch Regiment for gallant actions in which one or other of them has taken part in Norway, France and Flanders, Crete, Madagascar, Burma, Libya, North Africa, Sicily and Italy. I am most anxious that the achievements of all units should receive the public appreciation due to them, and I can assure my hon. Friend that the Commander-in-Chief will release these names as soon as it can be done without prejudicing the success of the operations or the safety of the troops engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for War why compassionate posting is never granted on business grounds.

When the soldier is at home, cases of this nature are usually dealt with by the grant of a period of release from the Army in order to enable the soldier to make the necessary arrangements for his business to be carried on. If a man is posted near his business no guarantee can be given that he will be able to spend the necessary time away from his military duties and he may well be tempted to neglect those duties.

Will my right hon. Friend agree that, where a wife is struggling to keep a small business going, it may make all the difference if her husband is within reach so as to give occasional advice?

Yes, but the main consideration in that case is that he could do that on his periods of leave. If he is posted there, on the spot, it is very likely that he will tend to devote more time to his business than to his Army duties.

Oh.

Would not my right hon. Friend reconsider this matter in view of the fact that, from the point of view of the Army, it may often be more economical to allow a man to have week-ends off, so as to attend to his business, instead of giving him a long period of compassionate leave, meaning his absence from the Army for, say, three months?

A man is entitled to a certain amount of privilege leave, and there is no earthly reason why he should not utilise it for this purpose.

Will my right hon. Friend give special consideration to the hard cases arising in areas which are specially subject to the attention of the flying bombs, where it is therefore impossible for a man to get anybody to look after his business, and where, in many cases, his wife is suffering great disabilities at the present time?

Special considerations apply to giving leave in the case of people whose premises are suffering damage from the flying bombs.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that any argument about compassionate postings which applies to business men applies as a rule also to those who are in domestic difficulties?

I have that point very much in mind.

Will my right hon. Friend define cases of compassionate leave in order to save the time of Members of this House and of his own Department, as we often do not know the type of case to which compassionate leave is granted?

I think it was in answer to a Question by an hon. Gentleman that a statement was made on this subject only a week or two ago.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care not to define it, because any definition of his might not be reliable?

asked the Secretary of State for War if the new arrangements for the issue of civilian clothing to discharged soldiers have been completed; and if civilian overcoats will be issued to all soldiers who are discharged, whether in the winter or the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for War when arrangements will be completed to ensure that soldiers on discharge from the Army will receive a civilian overcoat, irrespective of the date of discharge.

The scheme, which involves a much improved provision of civil clothing for soldiers on discharge, is in an advanced state; the date of its introduction depends on the deliveries of the new outfit and on certain points which are being co-ordinated with the other Services. I would add that the new scheme includes the provision of a raincoat for all soldiers on discharge whatever the time of the year when the discharge takes place.

Will it be retrospective to those who have been discharged and who have received no cash allowance in lieu of overcoat or raincoat?

I should like to have notice of that Question, but I do not think so.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the recent increases in allowances payable in respect of Servicemen's children apply to children living in the care of guardians as well as to children living with their mothers.

The allowances payable for Servicemen's children in the care of a guardian arc under review.

Is there any reason why they should not be increased comparably, since it costs a guardian just as much to keep the child?

What more can I say than that they are under review? There are certain discrepancies of practice between the three Services, and I shall take the opportunity of the review to try to bring the practices into line.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a wife from whom wife's allowance has been withdrawn but who acts as the guardian of her children and receives children's allowance on their behalf is eligible for guardian's allowance in addition.

In the great majority of such cases the amount payable will be governed by a judicial order by a civil court or by the deputed military officer under Section 145 (2) (b) of the Army Act. Where there is no such order the children's allowance is at present paid normally without addition of the guardian's element; but the question of adding the guardian's element is at present being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War why it is proposed to turn certain yeomanry regiments into infantry training regiments; and is he aware of the desire of all ranks to be sent overseas in their present role as reconnaissance units of the R.A.C.

The hon. Lady appears to have been misinformed. There is no proposal to convert any yeomanry regiments to infantry training regiments. In regard to the second part of the Question, any drafts that may have to be taken from yeomanry regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps as reinforcements for forces overseas will go as Royal Armoured Corps reinforcements.

Will the regiment, of whose name my right hon. Friend has already been informed, proceed overseas now as a unit?

I cannot possibly answer that question. I think it is at present one of the training and reinforcement units, but what will happen in future I cannot possibly tell.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the successes achieved by Red Army cavalry, is consideration being given to rehorsing some light cavalry and yeomanry regiments.

Not at present, but the question of changing the organisation of the Army in the light of the experience of our own and other armies is one which is under continuous review, having regard particularly to the operations in which the Army is likely to be engaged.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that there are still certain functions that cavalry can perform in modern war perhaps more satisfactorily than any other arm?

I am not prepared to deny that, as a general proposition, and neither am I prepared to give a categorical assent to it.

Has my right hon. Friend studied the progress made by the Red cavalry recently?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that British women war correspondents accredited to S.H.A.E.F. are not employed on equal terms with Dominion and American women war correspondents, he will immediately remedy this discrimination.

It is the American and Canadian practice to accredit women, but to place considerable restriction upon the facilities they may claim as such. For reasons already stated in an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 1st February we do not give full accreditation to women correspondents. We do, however, allow them, if approved, facilities in the field and for S.H.A.E.F. conferences for accredited correspondents. There is really little difference in the facilities open to British, American and Dominion women correspondents and I understand, moreover, that the present arrangement satisfies the requirements of British editors.

May I ask whether this satisfies British women war correspondents?

They are all getting the same facilities, and if they would be better pleased by being called accredited when they are not in fact fully accredited, I will certainly consider it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain what the word "accreditation" means?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the present method of handing out information from highly placed officers at British headquarters in Normandy to the Press and B.B.C. corre- spondents during the course of operations results in a satisfactory and accurate version being given to the British public; and if he will consider giving facilities to war correspondents to obtain a wider picture of events to be given subject to the requirements of military security.

A great number of war correspondents are already in France and it is intended that there should be more. As the hon. Member will appreciate, the rate of acceptance depends on proper facilities being available. These facilities are under constant review and as the operation progresses it will be possible to increase the facilities, I hope in accordance with the wishes expressed by the correspondents.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it is that while the American newspapers contain a fair proportion of operational news pictures and reports the British newspapers contain an unfair proportion of posed news pictures, to which the troops themselves object, and official hand-outs; and can he also say whether the Cairo official spokesman has now turned up again in Normandy?

asked the Secretary of State for War what price the troops have to pay for beer in the British Liberation Army.

One shilling and fivepence per reputed quart.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a reputed quart is a measure which is actually a pint and a quarter, and under those circumstances—may I ask him to take this matter seriously—will he have the price of beer reduced to the soldiers serving with the British Liberation Army, in the same way as spirits are reduced in price to officers' messes and sergeants' messes?

I am sorry to correct the hon. Member; a reputed quart is, I understand, an Imperial pint and one-fifth. One explanation for the disparity is that the beer sent to France is stronger and better in quality than that supplied in this country. Other reasons are that extra costs are thrown on N.A.A.F.I. for transporting the beer and not getting the empties back.

Would the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter still further, because there is considerable dissatisfaction amongst the men in France that they have to pay 1s. 5d. for a pint and one-fifth of beer, whatever its strength?

Would my right hon. Friend put a specimen of the beer in the Library?

I should get into trouble with the Revenue authorities for selling beer—[Interruption]—for disposing of beer which was above the standard strength.

Does the right hon. Gentleman wish the House to accept the principle that where men are serving long distances away in other theatres such as the Middle East and Japan N.A.A.F.I. charge transport costs on all commodities because of distance and ask the men, or order the men, to pay the cost of transport?

I certainly think that the principle applies that the object of N.A.A.F.I. is not to make a loss.

It will be making millions of pounds profit this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that the 20 per cent. deduction from taxable profits on all expenditure on new plant and machinery, as a contribution for the reconstruction period, will be allowed to shipowners placing orders for new ships as from 25th April, 1944.

The initial allowance referred to by my hon. Friend, which I explained in my Budget speech, is to be given as part of the post-war Income Tax policy which is to be the subject of legislation as soon as the details have been worked out. The date from which expenditure will rank for the allowance is one of the matters still under consideration.

Is the Chancellor aware how very important it is to the shipping and shipbuilding industries that an early decision on this matter should be taken?

I made quite clear in my Budget speech the fact that these arrangements would apply to shipping and shipbuilding, and I realise the great importance of the matter in that connection.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that troops returning from abroad are not charged both Customs Duty and Purchase Tax on any articles which they have bought abroad.

Liability to Purchase Tax on articles imported in passengers' baggage was imposed by this year's Finance Act; but in relation to small quantities brought in by troops I have authorised a concession which I consider should meet the needs of the case.

Does that provision apply to the Merchant Navy?

I will look into that; I am not quite sure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that, when premiums paid by a company to insure the life of a director or employee have not been treated by the Inland Revenue as admissible deductions, any sum received by the company under the policy will be treated as a capital receipt.

I am advised that it may be taken as a general rule that if the premiums are not admissible deductions the policy moneys do not constitute trading receipts. For technical reasons, however, it is not possible to give an assurance, as suggested by my hon. Friend, which would cover every type of case.