asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received a report from the Governor of Jamaica regarding the area of cultivable land found to be out of production at the time of the census; and how much of such land is being utilised under the compulsory Food Planting Order.

; I regret that I have not yet received this report, but I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as one arrives and has been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the average daily earnings of relief workers in Jamaica; are they employed doing similar work to other workers with higher earnings; how many days per week are normally worked or permitted; and whether the income of these workers affords a reasonable living standard.

The general rate of pay for relief workers throughout Jamaica is 13s. 4d. for a five-day week of thirty hours, i.e. 2s. 8d. for a six-hour day. In Western Kingston a free meal is given to the workers in addition to that rate of pay. Other relief workers in the Kingston area work at piece rates with weekly earnings limited to 15s. 4d. (which includes an allowance in lieu of meals). The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative, since relief work is not as strenuous or as exacting as that performed by unskilled labour employed by Government at a wage of 5s. for an eight-hour day. I am awaiting a Report from the Governor on the adequacy of the rates of pay for relief work at the present time, and I will communicate with the hon. Member in reply to the last part of his Question when I receive the Governor's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Wages and other Conditions in Cyprus has been received; and whether he will give particulars of its proposals and say if they have been accepted by him for implementation.

Yes, Sir. The Report of the Commission has been received and its recommendations regarding wages and conditions of service have already been put into effect. The Commission's inquiry was limited to labour employed by the Cyprus Government. The principal recommendations were as follows:A.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received the Report of Professor Shepheard regarding the Fiji sugar industry; and whether he will make a statement giving particulars of the proposals and show what is being done to improve the position.

I have very recently received Professor Shepheard's report. As the hon. Member will appreciate, the Report calls for very careful consideration in detail and I regret I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether immediate consideration can be given to an adjustment in the wages and conditions of Indian shop assistants in Mauritius to meet the cost of living and other rising expenses of these workers.

The Labour Advisory Board of Mauritius has recently recommended minimum wages for the shopping trade. I am awaiting a report from the Governor of action taken on the Board's recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the German soldiers are still occupying Guernsey and Jersey; how the people are being treated; and if the German soldiers have been called upon to surrender.

The German garrison is still contained in the Channel Islands. No information has been received by the War Office which suggests that the behaviour of the German garrison to the civil population is other than correct. The German garrison has been given the opportunity to surrender, but has not accepted.

asked the Minister of Health the number of war-damaged houses that have been repaired and reoccupied during the last 12 months to the latest convenient date.

The figures of repair for the flying bomb period are not yet completely available, but during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1944, approximately 18,250 houses, which were seriously damaged and uninhabitable were repaired and made fit for occupation.

asked the Minister of Health if a decision has been taken on the type or types of emergency houses to be constructed; the number to be built; the rent at which they will be let; and the time that it will take to provide the houses.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements which have recently been made in this House on the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Bill.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works if he will consider making arrangements for Members of Parliament to visit the prefabricated houses erected at Northolt.

Arrangements have been made to enable hon. Members to visit the experimental houses at Northolt, and notices to this effect have been circulated.

asked the Minister of Health if houses to let are to be given first priority in post-war building; what types of houses is it proposed to concentrate on; and at what rent per week will they be let.

The post-war housing programme comprises both houses built by local authorities and those built by private persons, including the rebuilding of houses destroyed by the enemy. The local authorities' houses will be let: the type of house proposed is indicated in "Housing Manual, 1944" issued last week: the rents will under the terms of the Housing Acts be a matter for each local authority. The conditions which the Government propose to attach to the grant of Exchequer subsidy for houses built by private enterprise will be indicated when the necessary legislation for the purpose is introduced.

asked the Minister of Health how many new houses have been built in the Stalybridge, Hyde and Dukinfield area for the period 1939–44; and how many it is estimated will be built in the first, second and third year after the end of hostilities in Europe.

The numbers of new houses completed in the period from the outbreak of war to 31st March, 1944, in the Stalybridge, Hyde and Dukinfield areas were 11, 74 and 80 respectively. I cannot at present give an estimate of the number of houses which will be built in these areas in the first three post-war years.

asked the Minister without Portfolio if it is intended to maintain strict control so as to guarantee priority to the construction of houses and other urgent national requirements; and what is to be the policy in the provision of internal fittings of houses.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper on Employment Policy (Cmd. 6527) in which it is pointed out that the existing economic controls will be maintained in the transition period to the extent necessary to ensure the success of primary reconstruc- tion projects such as the housing programme. I am not clear what my hon. Friend has in mind in the second part of the Question, but I would suggest that he should discuss the matter with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when he expects to be able to make a statement on policy in regard to civil aviation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. and gallant Friend gave him on 26th September, to which, for the moment, I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, under the Government Demobilisation Scheme, the soldiers with the longest service overseas will have priority.

As stated in the White Paper recently issued, the general basis on which men and women will be released from the Forces after the end of the war in Europe will be by reference to their age and length of war service. The possibility of giving special priority of release to men with overseas service was very carefully considered, but the Government was forced to the conclusion that the difficulties of giving effect to this on an equitable basis were insuperable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will state the position regarding demobilisation after the European hostilities cease of the members of the Auxiliary Air Force who have fulfilled their contract for four years' service plus one year in event of war or emergency and who, under the terms of Clause 26 of the Auxiliary Air Force attestation paper, should be eligible for immediate discharge.

Under the Military and Air Forces (Prolongation of Service) Act, 1939, the term of service of men of the Auxiliary Air Force is deemed not to expire until the emergency is declared ended by Order in Council. The Government's plan for the release or transfer from the Forces after the defeat of Germany will thus apply to airmen of the Auxiliary Air Force as it does to other non-regular airmen.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production if he is aware that the workers' representatives in the Ministry's factories have been informed by the managements of cuts in production after stated periods; that much concern has been occasioned to those employed in the factories by the statement that 4,000 employees will be redundant; and whether it is proposed to find in these factories other kinds of suitable work to assure that the policy of full employment will be maintained for those likely to be affected by the reduction of aircraft production.

I am, of course, aware that in the group of factories referred to there will be some reduction in the labour force over the next few months and that this causes some anxiety to the employees. The question of placing these workers in alternative employment will be dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service in answer to a question to be addressed to him by the hon. Member to-morrow. As he has already promised, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Production will shortly be making a statement on the general question of the arrangements for transferring capacity from war production to other essential production.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works why No. 73, Creffield Road and other houses in Acton, previously held under requisition by the War Office, have been redecorated by Italian prisoners of war for their own occupation, at a time when residents of that borough cannot find adequate accommodation for themselves.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works how many former Italian prisoners of war are being accommodated in houses in the residential neighbourhood of Pinner and Hatch End; will he state the nature of their work; and how long are they expected to stay in view of the acute shortage of housing accommodation both for the families of Service men and others from the bombed areas.

Italian prisoners-of-war, on the application of Government Departments, have been allocated by the Ministry of Labour for essential work some of which is in the London area. This includes railways, food distribution and public utilities. In order to comply with the requirements of the Geneva Convention prisoners-of-war, at this time of the year, are moved out of tented accommodation and the War Office have released, in substitution for tents, accommodation including houses already under their requisition. It is some of these houses which are in question. Apart from some electrical and plumbing services, the work carried out at the houses at Acton was mainly washing down and some distempering which the prisoners carried out themselves. It has since been decided not to use the Acton houses for the purpose of housing prisoners. The numbers accommodated in Pinner and Hatch End are 1,146, and they are employed on essential work. The question whether it will now be possible to dispense in whole or in part with the use of this labour in London is at present being considered by the responsible Departments.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will institute a survey of Acts of Parliament over 100 years old in order to ascertain which are appropriate to present day conditions.

While it would not be practicable to adopt the suggestion made by my hon. Friend at the present time, my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and I are considering what steps could be taken to improve the present state of the Statute Book, and I hope to make a statement in due course.

asked the Attorney-General the percentage of appeals allowed in cases presented to each of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals now sitting, respectively.

In general the composition of the different Tribunals varies from month to month and many chairmen sit with different members in different cities. I have not separate figures for cases decided at different sessions, but I will give the total figures for the whole of the United Kingdom. Up to 30th September, 8,684 appeals had been decided by the Tribunals sitting in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively, of which some 28 per cent. were successful.

asked the Secretary of State for War what progress his Department has made with the payment of increased pensions under the recent Pensions (Increase) Act to Army pensioners.

Some 10,000 awards have already been made to the various classes of Army pensioners covered by the Pensions Increase Warrant. The rate at which further awards can be made is largely dependent on the provision of the necessary clerical staff, of which at the moment there is a serious shortage.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider setting up an assessment tribunal to hear appeals resulting from decisions of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals in cases where the appellant is dissatisfied with the Minister's subsequent assessment.

I am not satisfied that the time has yet arrived when it would be practicable or desirable to set up Assessment Appeal Tribunals generally, and it would clearly cause dissatisfaction if Tribunals were set up to deal with certain selected cases. I am always ready to reconsider any case where objection is taken to the assessed degree of disablement.

asked the Attorney-General the present position with regard to the work of the United Nations War Crimes Commission, and whether it is proposed to create some form of joint or inter-Allied tribunal to deal with cases which cannot conveniently or effectively be tried before national courts.

The United Nations War Crimes Commission is steadily pursuing its task of collecting evidence of the perpetration of war crimes and will keep the Governments of the United Nations informed of the results of its labours in this connection. As regards the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, I understand that the Commission has this matter under active consideration; it will be for the Governments of the United Nations to consider what action is to be taken when they have received the Commission's recommendations on the subject. I would remind my hon. Friend of the terms of the Moscow Declaration that those guilty of war crimes in occupied countries would be sent back for trial to the countries where the crimes were committed.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in any social scheme recommended to local authorities or other agencies, he will include the provision of homes for the chronic sick and the permanently incapacitated who have no means of realising a simple measure of comfort in their declining years.

Yes, Sir. This is one of the various aspects of the National Health Service which are engaging my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Japanese campaign pay will accrue to prisoners of war in Japanese hands.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken to ensure that the safeguarding of Home Guard ammunition is maintained with the utmost care despite the diminution of regular attendances by the men.

Home Guard ammunition shelters are widely distributed throughout the country, and have always received a measure of police protection. This protection will continue. Steps are being taken to withdraw certain types of ammunition altogether from the Home Guard and to concentrate the remainder in more easily guarded dumps.

asked the Minister of Education if he intends to introduce a scheme, either in accordance with the recommendations of the McNair Committee or otherwise, for the emergency training as teachers of suitable persons in addition to the scheme for the training of persons released from the Services; and, if so, what his proposals are.

The Emergency Training Scheme already announced will provide not only for persons released from the Services but also for those who have undertaken other forms of National Service. In addition, I intend, as a permanent measure, to provide special courses for suitable men and women of maturer years who have been engaged in industry, commerce or the professions and who wish to be trained as teachers. I am not at present in a position to give details of this scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon what principles the existing rates of exchange for sterling in France and Belgium were based; and if he is aware of the feeling among men serving in those countries that, with prices as they are, purchasing power is unduly restricted.

The rates of exchange were proposed by the respective Allied authorities after full consideration of all the relevant data, and accepted by His Majesty's Government and by the Government of the United States of America. I am aware that prices are high in these countries, but every endeavour is made to relieve serving men of the necessity of buying in a scarcity market by the provision of canteens, clubs and hostels where they can generally buy at English prices converted into francs at the same rate as their pay is converted. To give encouragement to buy in the civil market by the provision of greater spending power would merely increase prices even more, and would tend to defeat one of the main fiscal objects of the Allied authorities, which is to control inflation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much Italy is to receive from U.N.R.R.A.; in what form; and how is the sum to be repaid.

At its last session on 27th September the Council of U.N.R.R.A. passed two Resolutions relating to operations in Italy, copies of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. These Resolutions describe in some detail the nature of the operations which U.N.R.R.A. is to undertake in Italy and authorise it to incur expenditure in foreign exchange in that country up to a total of 50,000,000 dollars. As regards repayment, it is provided that the Director-General shall consult from time to time with the appropriate Committee of the Council as to the financial commitments incurred in his operations and as to the ability of Italy to pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can indicate when it will be possible for letters to be sent to Paris and the freed districts of France.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on this subject to the hon. and gallant Member for Waterloo (Captain Bullock) on 3rd October.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when arrangements will be made for civilian letters to be sent to the freed parts of France and Belgium.

As regards postal services with France, I would refer My hon. Friend to the reply given to the Question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Waterloo (Captain Bullock) on 3rd October. As for Belgium, His Majesty's Government await an indication from the military authorities that they are prepared to authorise the resumption of a service, and that the Belgian authorities are in a position to operate it and to exercise the necessary censorship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has arranged for the necessary office accommodation for herring merchants, salesmen, curers, etc., at Great Yarmouth, at present under requisition by his Department, to be released immediately on the conclusion of hostilities in Europe.

It is the intention, subject to the needs of the Service and the prosecution of the remaining stages of the war, to arrange for the earliest practicable release of property held on requisition by the Admiralty. The release of the premises referred to by my hon. Friend will be effected in accordance with this principle.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Post-War Committee of the Medway Trades Council on the future of Chatham Dockyard; and whether such Reports will be carefully considered in connection with any Government port-war employment programme.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that temporary postmen in the London area are not provided with waistcoats as are the established postmen; and will he take steps to remedy this omission, seeing that both classes of men are carrying out the same outdoor duties.

I have looked into the matter and I have given instructions that arrangements be made for a distribution of waistcoats throughout the country to temporary postmen who are supplied with uniform.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many aircraft have been lost in the operations between Italy and Warsaw during the past month; and how many lives have been lost during the same operations.

The casualties reported in these operations from their start in August until 29th September were 28 aircraft lost and approximately 190 aircrew missing.

asked the Minister of Supply whether accommodation at the Royal Ordnance factory staff club, at a place of which he has been informed, is limited to husbands and wives; or whether there are any permitted cases of children in addition being housed at these institutions.

Accommodation at the staff club in question is provided on terms for certain senior officials, the wives of these officials, and in one case for two small children. There are no other cases at Ministry of Supply staff clubs in which children are accepted as permanent residents.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of those industries serving civilian needs in which he has authorised the use of designers, materials and labour for the design and production of samples and pilot models.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to similar Questions on this subject.

asked the Minister of Information whether arrangements have now been made to abolish all forms of inland postal censorship in Great Britain; and, if not, to what extent this form of censorship is still operative.

Big reductions in the extent of inland postal censorship have recently been made and I look forward to further drastic reductions.

asked the Minister of Information under what circumstances officers of his Department have instructions to open correspondence addressed to Members of this House and to examine the contents.

Letters addressed to Members of this House are subject to the ordinary rules of censorship. If my hon. Friend will give me details of any case he has in mind I will make inquiries to see whether the letter was properly opened.

asked the Minister of Information what steps he is taking to arrange that Government publications dealing with the war effort in the British Empire on the various battle fronts are made available for circulation in France and Belgium; and what arrangements are being made to have these publications translated into French.

Thirteen of the Ministry's illustrated publications have so far been translated into French. Copies of nine of them, including "The Battle of Britain," "Coastal Command," and "East of Malta, West of Suez," are already in the hands of the distributors in France and Belgium. When transport facilities improve we hope to send a lot more.