asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for steps to be taken at the Passport and Permit Office to facilitate the visits overseas of the representatives of British firms to enable them to study market conditions abroad, so as to prepare for the active resumption of export trade.

The Passport and Permit Office is concerned only with the issue of passports and of exit peemits, and is not responsible either for providing transport or for obtaining permission to enter the country overseas. Persons who wish to travel abroad on business of national importance, whether in connection with export trade surveys or otherwise, are normally eligible for exit permits if supported by a certificate from a Government Department that the journey is in the national interest. This rule is, however, necessarily suspended for the time being in the case of proposed journeys to countries which are still the scene of military operations or under military administration, and to which the Allied Military Authorities at present feel unable to permit the entry of persons for business purposes not connected with the conduct of the war.

asked the Minister of Supply, what consultation there was with the representatives of the leather trade before the agreement was entered into with the U.S.A., whereby the two Governments are jointly to purchase all the available goat skins, which are subsequently to be shared out between the two countries in the ratio of 5¼ to the U.S.A. and I to the United Kingdom; and whether facilities will be afforded for the discussion in Parliament of this agreement.

This is a purely temporary arrangement to meet war-time supply conditions, and is subject to review on the cessation of hostilities with Germany. In these circumstances prior consultation with the leather trade was not considered necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what policy the Government have planned to maintain employment in the heavy engineering trade during the transition period between the reduction in official orders and the placing of the civil reconstruction work urgently awaiting attention.

Special attention is being given to the practical steps required to secure the smooth transition from work on war contracts to work on civil orders. Information has been obtained from the engineering industry about the rate at which individual firms would like to have their war work tapered off, and this information has been placed before the Supply Departments. Attention is also being paid to the provision of materials and to enabling engineering firms to use key workers, such as designers, for preparatory work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why 4-inch scrim, used by plasterers, priced at 3s. per 100 yards on 13th June, 1944, now costs 7s. 6d. for the same quantity; and why the Ministry of Supply, Jute Control, Dundee, has intimated to West of Scotland firms that supplies can now only be purchased through plaster board makers.

If my hon. Friend will send me the names of the firms which have raised their prices, I will look into the matter. As regards the second part of the Question, I am informed that the Ministry of Supply, in agreement with the Ministry of Works, arranged that supplies of scrim required for jointing plaster boards should be distributed only through plaster board manufacturers. This is to ensure the use of this material only in exceptional circumstances so as to effect the utmost economy, since the world shortage of jute necessitates a strict control of its use.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that a recent official estimate showed a 4 per cent. increase in the population of the Stroud Valleys; that this figure does not include a large number of people who have come into the district on emergency ration cards unknown to the local authorities; and whether he will take immediate steps to increase the unrationed foods.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir"; in addition the number of persons who went into the district with emergency ration cards was substantial. Arrangements were, however, made so that the distribution of both rationed and unrationed foods was adjusted with the least possible delay.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, as a result of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Food (Apples) Order (S.R. & 0., No. 892, of 1944) which prevents apples from Thirsk and district being sold to the county of Durham and the major part of the North Riding, large quantities of apples in the area of Thisk cannot be sold; and whether he will amend the zoning provisions in that Order or take such action as will enable these apples to be sold at remunerative prices.

I am looking into this matter, and will let my hon. Friend know as soon as possible.

asked the Attorney General whether his attention has been called to recent prosecutions under antiquated Acts of Parliament which are inappropriate to war-time conditions, and whether he proposes to take any action to prevent the law being thus brought into disrepute.

If my hon. and gallant Friend feels that some particular Act or Acts are antiquated and inappropriate to modern conditions and will let me know, I will certainly consider his representations. The Act may be the concern of one or other of the Departments, in which case my hon. Friend would have to make his representation to the Minister concerned.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of dwellings in the London Civil Defence region that had been damaged in enemy air attacks, and still needed to be repaired at 10th June, 1944.

137,645 houses still needed further repairs beyond the initial first-aid repairs which they had already received by the date mentioned, and of these work was in hand on 15,912.

asked the Minister of Health the period in which he estimates it will be possible to repair to a reasonable standard of comfort, including the re-glazing of windows and the permanent repair of roofs, the war-damaged houses in the London region.

I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government are giving the highest priority, as regards both materials and labour, to this urgent and vital work, but it is not at present possible to estimate the period needed to complete it.

asked the Minister of Health whether, since the publication of the Report on the Design of Dwellings, his Department has published guidance, by way of a housing manual, or otherwise, to local authorities on the types of house they can and should provide.

Yes, Sir. "Housing Manual 1944" was published on 25th September and copies have been placed in the Vote Office.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works why his Department are insisting on a deferred rebate of 7½ per cent. in respect of supplies of certain materials for house building, in view of the prejudice this will involve to private firms engaged on house building when purchasing similar supplies.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall). It is not considered that such arrangements to safeguard the expenditure of public money can in any way prejudice private firms in regard to house-building.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the approximate percentage of naval personnel who have now registered as Parliamentary electors.

As my right hon. Friend has explained previously, no record is being kept by the ships and establishments of the Royal Navy of the officers and men who complete the Service voters' declaration form, and I am not, therefore, in a position to state an approximate percentage of naval personnel who have registered. So far as sample ships and establishments are concerned, I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave in the House on 26th July. Arrangements have, however, been made throughout the Navy for a check to be made on 1st October, 1944, to ensure that any officer or man who has not previously completed a Service declaration is given an opportunity to do so. Arrangements have also been made for the Commanders-in-Chief abroad to take samples of representative ships and establishments in their commands and to report to the Admiralty on the percentage of personnel who have registered, so that my right hon. Friend may give the House a general picture of the extent to which officers and men of the Navy have registered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works what firms were asked to tender for the Government factories being built in certain places of which he has been informed; whether local firms were invited to tender; and, if not, why not.

Fifteen firms were invited to tender for each of these factories and at least six local firms were included in each case. The proportion of local firms so included and the definition of "local" firms were in accordance with the procedure officially recommended to Government by the building industry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what steps he has taken to relieve the omnibus situation in the Stroud Valleys in view of the increase in population.

The Regional Transport Commissioner has authorised a strengthening of the services on seven local routes. This is an experimental measure, and will be subject to review, if circumstances should require a further change. The increased services will come into operation very shortly. I am sending the details to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make any statement on the cessation of Mrs. Barrington's Indian wireless service to prisoners in the Far East; and what other arrangements are now in force with the same object.

It has been found necessary on security grounds to curtail the broadcasting from India of messages to prisoners of war and civilians in Japan and Japanese occupied territory. At present messages continue to be broadcast on a reduced scale from the next-of-kin of prisoners of war, but it is desirable in the public interest to terminate these broadcasts as quickly as possible, though not until an alternative service is found. The possibility of providing an alternative service which would enable the next-of-kin of both prisoners of war and civilians to broadcast messages is being examined.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Order stating that parcels sent home from troops overseas which do not bear the concession duty free (A.F.W. 5192) label are now liable to Purchase Tax up to 100 per cent. as well as Customs duty, has caused dissatisfaction amongst our troops in France and Belgium; and if he will ensure that it is permitted the troops to send home small parcels of presents to their families up to a certain value both duty free and free of Purchase Tax.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Loverseed) on 26th September.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Germans send parcels to German prisoners of war in our hands in the same way that friends in this country send them to British prisoners of war; and, if so, how does the number of such parcels sent from Germany compare with the number sent from this country.

Yes, Sir. During the first seven months of this year the number of parcels posted in the United Kingdom and addressed individually to British prisoners of war and civilian internees in Germany averaged 15 parcels per prisoner or internee, and during the same period the number received here from Germany for German prisoners of war and civilian internees averaged five per prisoner or internee. My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware that, apart from the parcels addressed individually to them, British prisoners and internees in Germany receive food and other parcels sent by the British Red Cross through the medium of the International Red Cross Committee. Similarly German prisoners in this country are supplied with comforts from funds placed at the disposal of the London Delegate of the International Red Cross Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is satisfied with the postal communications between Turkey and Great Britain; and how many weeks it takes mail posted in the United Kingdom to reach Turkey.

An airgraph service is now available to Turkey and this offers the quickest means of postal communication. Mails sent by surface route to Turkey are taking approximately six-seven weeks in transmission from country to country. I am naturally not satisfied with the present service and will, lose no opportunity of improvement as soon as conditions permit.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to incorporate airgraphs as a permanent part of the postal service.

The agreement with Messrs. Kodak, Limited, provides for the continuance of the airgraph service for one year after the cessation of hostilities with Germany. I regret that I am not at present in a position to forecast whether the airgraph service will be continued thereafter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the disproportionate hardship suffered by inhabitants in rural areas and the change in the war situation, he will restore the basic petrol ration at an early date.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now, owing to the changed situation, grant sufficient petrol to enable churchgoers, who have not been supplied with petrol for a considerable time, to attend public worship in the churches to which they belong.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given yesterday, to similar Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the compilation of authenticated instances of indiscriminate German barbarity, with a view to the eventual punishment of the perpetrators.

Information relating to war crimes committed by the enemy is already being compiled by the United Nations Commission for the Investigation of War Crimes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have received official information concerning the massacre by the Germans, by means of poison gas, of thousands of Jewish men, women and children at Lublin; whether the names are known of any of the persons guilty of this atrocity; and whether he can make a statement upon the matter.

A full report upon these German atrocities prepared by a Polish-Soviet Extraordinary Commission of Investigation was recently published. The report named those chiefly responsible for the atrocities. They will be answerable to the United Nations for their crimes in accordance with the joint declaration on German crimes issued by the Moscow Conference, a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to make any representations to the Government of Brazil protesting against the procedure of the State of San Paulo in permitting the Coffee Institute to purchase its own bonds in various overseas centres at a time when it was being claimed that a shortage of exchange precluded the payment of more than a negligible proportion of the interest on these bonds; and whether he will obtain from the Government of Brazil an assurance that such procedure will not be permitted in the future.

I agree that the action referred to was open to serious objection; but as these bonds are at present being serviced in accordance with the agreement arrived at in December, 1943, the second part of the Question no longer arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a mission is contemplated for Abyssinia; and whether he will give information regarding it, the representatives selected for it and the objects of the mission.

As was stated in the Press on 28th September His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have appointed Lord De La Warr as their Special Representative to negotiate with the Emperor of Ethiopia, at His Majesty's request, a new temporary agreement to replace the Agreement and Military Convention between the United Kingdom and Ethiopia of 31st January, 1942. Lord De La Warr, who is now on his way to Ethiopia, is accompanied by Sir Bernard Reilly, representing the Colonial Office and Mr. W. A. M. Doll, representing the Treasury.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now announce the waiving or reducing after the war of the price of an ordinary visa to a United States citizen entering the United Kingdom.

The fee charged for an ordinary visa granted to a citizen of the United States for entry into the United Kingdom was reduced in 1937 from 10 dollars to 2 dollars, with a corresponding reduction from 1 dollar to 20 cents in the case of a transit visa. The amounts as thus reduced conform with the scale recommended by the League of Nations as a suitable international standard; further reduction, or total waiving, would be at variance with the general practice of His Majesty's Government of charging members of the public with fees corresponding approximately to the cost of performance of such services on their behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when it is proposed to establish a normal service of letters and newspapers from Paris to London and vice versa in view of the importance to Anglo-French relations that this should be done as soon as possible.

No date can be given when it is proposed to establish a normal service of letters and newspapers between France and this country, but His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the importance of this question, and every possible step is being taken to secure an early restoration of the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a statement on the Conference on International Security held at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made on this subject to-day.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the White Paper on Decorations and Medals, Cmd. 6463, states that the Africa Star may be granted to R.A.F. personnel landing in the defined operational command in North Africa even if not part of an establishment in that operational area, namely, in the case of specially approved journeys and inspections; and whether a similar discretionary provision applies to the Army in the case of personnel entering an operational command in North Africa where the journey is specially approved, even though an individual is not part of the establishment in the operational command.

Yes, Sir. Each case is considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the removal of road blocks is now being put in hand; and whether his Department accepts responsibilty for the cost of the work.

Road blocks are no longer required for military purposes. Subject to the necessary labour being available arrangements for removal are, in general, being made by the Ministry of War Transport, the expenditure being brought to account by that Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War if any agreement has been reached as to the calorie basis of foodstuffs which will be available in the liberated territories of Europe under the responsibility of the U.S.A. and ourselves during the initial period of liberation.

The Combined United Kingdom and United States military authorities responsible for relief in Allied liberated territories until the responsibility can be transferred to the civil authorities have adopted a target of 2,000 calories a head. Subject to the availability of supply and shipping, and to military necessity, the combined military authorities will do their utmost to import sufficient foodstuffs to supplement local production up to this standard; but it will be appreciated that it may not always be possible to implement this policy, especially while fighting conditions prevail.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the food shortage in Belgium, if he has any information as to what action has been taken by U.N.R.R.A. to relieve the situation.

The Supreme Allied Commander, and not U.N.R.R.A., is responsible for these matters until it is possible to transfer the responsibility to the civil authorities. Relief supplies have been despatched, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that in present conditions the quantity is limited.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can make a statement on the food situation in liberated Italy.

Food is being imported into Italy by the combined British and American military authorities with the object of so supplementing local production as to give the population the necessary minimum standard of subsistence. My hon. Friend will appreciate that while the war continues, and more particularly while operations continue in Italy itself, there are considerable difficulties to be overcome, and that conditions must necessarily vary in different parts of Italy. But I understand that the situation has generally improved. The daily ration of grain in Southern Italy (including Naples) was raised from 200 to 300 grammes per head during the summer, which has not only facilitated the collection of the recent better harvest but has contributed to a reduction of black market prices for foodstuffs. While the ill effect on the health of the population of five years of war under Fascist and Nazi control is still cumulative, it would appear that, as Italy is still a theatre of war, a not unreasonable standard is now being maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are made for interviewing persons who call to make inquiries at the offices of the War Graves Commission; and whether he will give an assurance that arrangements will be made for such inquiries to be dealt with at the offices of the Commission and not referred to other Departments.

All persons calling at the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries in Grosvenor Gardens to inquire concerning graves of this war are interviewed by either a military or civilian officer, and given all information available, and any advice or help possible. The Imperial War Graves Commission who have a subsidiary office in the same building interview any inquirers concerning graves of the 1914–18 war in a similar manner. My hon. and learned Freud may rest assured that everything possible is done to ensure that all inquiries receive sympathetic treatment.

asked the Prime Minister which Ministers, including Under Secretaries, have been absent from Great Britain during the Parliamentary Recess; and if he will give particulars and dates of such absence.

No, Sir. I know of no precedent for such a return.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider extending the activities of the Poor Persons Committees to county court cases.

A Committee appointed by my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor under the Chairmanship of Lord Rushcliffe is at present considering the facilities available generally for giving legal advice and assistance to poor persons. The terms of reference are sufficiently wide to allow the Committee to consider the extension referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories have been Completely vacated or derequisitioned by his Ministry and for whose peace-time uses such factories are suitable.

No figures are available of factories which may have been requisitioned at some time during the course of the war and subsequently released. No Government factories have as yet been vacated.

asked the Minister of Information if mails destined for Turkey are despatched in sealed bags addressed to Turkey after being censored here in London; and, if so, why such letters are again opened in Cairo by the censors with a consequent serious loss of time in delivery.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, letters for Turkey are not normally opened again in Cairo, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of any specific cases I shall be happy to make further inquiry.