asked the Secretary of State for War whether Home Guards will be allowed to retain their leather belts.

As I said in my answer announcing what items of clothing and equipment members of the Home Guard would be allowed to retain the decision was taken in the light of an up-to-date assessment of the supply position. Leather, as my hon. Friend is aware, is very short and these belts are needed for a definite military commitment overseas.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the modern view is that the children should not be chastised in this way, even by Home Guards?

I had not thought of that.

Hacking asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent service respirators are to be withdrawn from the Home Guard; to whom they will be reissued; and what form of respirators will replace those withdrawn from the Home Guard.

This matter is under consideration. The decision will depend on the operational situation at the time when the Home Guard is stood down.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for prisoners of war to be allotted to coastal local authorities to remove the concrete blocks, iron posts and barbed wire from the beaches and so permit their use by the public.

As I said to my hon. and gallant Friend on 10th October the military authorities use such labour as they have available from time to time to remove these obstructions. But as my hon. and gallant Friend will realize such labour as can be obtained is on the whole employed on work more directly concerned with winning the war.

Surely, since the enemy compelled us to erect these defences for our own protection, it is reasonable that they should also be compelled to remove them for our comfort?

It is a question of what they can be employed on most usefully. I think it is true that all the German prisoners engaged on labour in this country are at the disposal of the Minister of Agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the texts of broadcasts delivered by Lieut.-Colonel C. Rocke, on behalf of the Italian Fascist Government, were included in the information in this case submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The text of one broadcast delivered by Lieut.-Colonel C. Rocke on 15th July, 1940, was included in the information in this case submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Careful inquiries have failed to disclose any evidence that Lieut.-Colonel Rocke made other broadcasts since the outbreak of war.

Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to place a copy of the text of that broadcast in the Library of the House, or else circulate it in HANSARD, for the information of hon. Members?

I will consider it, but I do not think the hon. Gentleman will get much out of it, because the broadcast was merely a description of the good treatment that British men and women in Italy were receiving from the Italian Government. There was a broadcast in 1935, of which the Director of Public Prosecutions knew but had not the text, condemning the attitude of this country over sanctions.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is nobody in the British Empire who knows more about the antecedents of this officer, than General Sir Harold Alexander, and cannot the matter be safely left in his hands?

asked the Secretary of State for War why, when the general Army pay for all ranks under sergeant was raised by 3d. a day, lance-sergeants were classed as sergeants, while under the White Paper sergeants received an increase of 7s. 6d. a day and lance-sergeants only 7s.

The increases made in Army pay in April this year, to which I think my hon. Friend is referring in the first part of his Question, were not general increases throughout the Army but were confined to the lower non-tradesmen ranks. The lead which the lance-sergeant had over corporals was such as not to justify any increase in his pay under that scheme. The increases given for length of service last September applied to the Army generally and there was nothing unusual in grouping the lance-sergeant with the junior rather than the senior non-commissioned officers. I take it that the 7s. 6d. and 7s. 0d. a day mentioned in my hon. Friend's Question are intended to be 1s. 6d. and 1s. 0d.

I apologise for the error, which may be due to my handwriting. But why does the War Office call a sergeant a lance-sergeant in one case and for another purpose call him a sergeant?

Why do we not call a lance-corporal, a corporal?

Why, for some purposes, do the War Office call a lance-sergeant a sergeant, and for other purposes make a differentiation?

The hon. Member might just as well ask why we do not call a lance-corporal a corporal. He is a lance-corporal.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is now possible to remove the bookstall from Parliament Square without danger to the State.

Yes, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend see that no men will be taken away from work on bomb-damaged houses to remove this structure?

I think that that question is a little unnecessary. We have a fairly clear idea of the priorities in the use of labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War if any decision has been arrived at as regards the wording of discharge certificates issued to soldiers who are discharged from the service on medical grounds.

Soldiers discharged from Army service on medical grounds have always been dealt with under King's Regulations paragraph 390 sub-para. (xvi)— and their discharge certificates marked with the words: —"Ceasing to fulfil Army physical requirements". In the past, soldiers in medical category C, for whom no suitable employment could be found in the Army, were discharged under sub-para. (xviii) "Services no longer required". They will in future be discharged under sub-para. (xvi) and their discharge certificates will be worded accordingly.

Does that mean that if a man is discharged on account of wounds, or loss of a limb, it will be stated on his discharge certificate?

I am not sure, but I do not think so. The form is "Ceasing to fulfil Army physical requirements".

Will my right hon. Friend consider back-dating some of the discharge certificates for men who have been discharged because of wounds received in action who had the earlier rather opprobrious method of discharge?

I will consider whether that can be done. I think it will have to be on application, but I will certainly consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the fact that they have never been able to go home since the start of the war, he will reconsider his decision not to grant Channel Island born men priority of home posting on the liberation of these Islands.

Channel Islanders are serving in many units of the Army and I regret that it would not be in the interests of the Army to withdraw them all from their present duties as suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. Where there are special compassionate circumstances the usual conditions governing compassionate postings and compassionate leave will apply to these men.

Is it not a fact that there are comparatively few Channel Islanders in the Army, that they are spread about among many units, and that they are in a peculiar position as compared with any other troops, having been cut off from their homes for the whole of the war?

I do not think there is such a sharp distinction as my hon. and gallant Friend supposes. In any case, they are spread over many units, and to treat them all specially will be rather difficult.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that cases have occurred of officers, after having been warned for service with the C.M.F., being asked by the Adjutant-General's branch of his department to sign a document disclaiming any right to come home for three years; whether he is aware that in some cases this request has been made to officers who have already served abroad for six years and upwards with only brief periods at home; and whether he will cause the practice of making such requests to be discontinued.

I am not aware of any such practice and if my hon. and gallant Friend will send me particulars of the cases he has in mind they will certainly be examined.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the probable reopening of leave for the Forces overseas in the not far distant future, he is satisfied that suitable accommodation will be available for all ranks who may be on leave in London.

I wish I could be as certain as my hon. and gallant Friend that it will shortly be possible to institute a system of ordinary leave for officers and men serving overseas in addition to the repatriation scheme now operating. I can, however, assure him that the ques- tion of hostel accommodation is not being overlooked.

Would my right hon. Friend do his utmost to see that accommodation is earmarked and is made available, against the time when large numbers of troops will be coming on leave?

I have already done so.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the civilian clothing allowance issued to A.T.S. on discharge is to be increased to correspond with the improved scale of civilian clothing issuable to soldiers discharged since 16th October.

Yes, Sir. Since 16th October, auxiliaries discharged from the Service have been receiving £12 10s. 0d. to buy civilian clothes. No attempt is being made to introduce an issue in kind, and I hope hon. Members will agree with me that this is wise.

Will my right hon. Friend take special steps so that this may be made known throughout the Commands, as the position is causing considerable anxiety?

I suspect that the Commands ought to know. They have certainly had the clearest indication of it, but I will undertake to inquire into the matter to see whether anything more is needed. I have not noticed that they are in the habit of not reading Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War why forms dated 20th September, 1944 are being circulated to landowners and occupiers under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts requisitioning land in a certain area for the purpose of training troops; and, as agriculture is prejudiced by land taken for this purpose and it was understood that when the land was first taken under the Acts it was for the purpose of training American troops, will he now release for urgent agricultural purposes all the land temporarily taken.

The training notices under Defence Regulation 52 in respect of this area expired on 30th September. It then was and still is likely that it will be necessary to use this land for training either British or American troops, and the notices were consequently renewed. As my hon. Friend is aware, occupiers continue to cultivate land over which training rights have been secured under Defence Regulation 52, but I can assure my hon. Friend, as I did on 1st August, that these rights will be relinquished as soon as operations in north-west Europe make this possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of officers and other ranks are now being released from the Army almost penniless; and what payment is to be made by way of gratuity.

All officers and other ranks are given, on termination of service, a period of notice leave with full pay and allowances, except those who are specially released from the Army to take up civil employment or at their own request on compassionate grounds, and those who leave the Army because of unsatisfactory conduct. In present circumstances, it should not be difficult for them to find suitable employment within that period. As regards war gratuity I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Members for South Dorset (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) and Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger) by the Prime Minister on 3rd October.

In view of certain circumstances which have been brought to my notice, culminating in the suicide of an ex-Army officer because he was entirely without the means of rehabilitating himself, will my right hon. Friend reconsider the matter with a view to seeing whether something cannot be done?

I would very much like to investigate the particular case which my hon. Friend has in mind.

I will send my right hon. Friend particulars of it.

Will the Minister consider giving them eight weeks, as is the case on demobilisation? If not, why not?

I think, generally speaking, but not quite universally, they are to get the eight weeks, but if the hon. Member will put down a question. I will make the position quite clear, including the qualifications for that general practice.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he recalled to the Colours a Reservist, an ex-member of the Palestine police, who had been blinded in one eye whilst on duty with that body and subsequently invalided out; and whether he is aware that this man when he was called up, was on a temporary visit to this country, although normally resident in Palestine where his wife still is.

This man was a regular soldier who was relegated to the Royal Army Reserve in March, 1938. This rendered him liable to recall to the colours at the outbreak of war and by the operation of the Military and Air Forces (Prolongation of Service) Act, 1939, he would have been held to serve in the Army until the end of the emergency. This liability was not cancelled by the fact that he joined the Palestine Police Force in 1938 and was granted permission to live abroad so that he could serve with that force. He left the Palestine Police Force in September, 1943, and became liable for recall to the colours as soon as he returned to the United Kingdom. He was medically examined and in view of the disability from which he suffered he was graded in category A.4.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Palestine police are not a part of the British Army but are an Allied military force? Is it customary to recall to the colours reservists who are serving in an Allied military force and who have been discharged through-wounds?

The legal position is quite clear, that service in the Palestine military force does not cancel the reserve obligation.

In view of the extremely unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that there is considerable feeling among the soldiers who joined the Army before the war in having to prove that during the period from 3rd March, 1939, they were contributing towards dependant's maintenance before they can get dependant's allowance; and will he consider removing this barrier if the soldier is making a contributory allotment now.

The dependants' allowance scheme was introduced in order to assist soldiers who, prior to their enlistment, had been supporting dependants to a greater extent than they could afford to continue out of their Army pay, and where, without an allowance, hardship would result to the dependant. It is an essential condition for the award of a dependant's allowance that the dependant must have been in receipt of genuine regular support or benefit from the soldier before the date on which he joined the colours. My hon. Friend's proposal would entail a complete reversal of this policy and it could not be confined to soldiers who joined before the war.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many men joined the Service prior to the war because of economic circumstances such as unemployment, and could not send anything to their households, and that the position is therefore difficult? Is not the time coming when the Minister should reconsider that decision?

That would require radical alteration of a scheme which does not affect only the Army. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, in cases where the circumstances of the family—that is to say of the dependants—have materially changed there is eligibility for a war service grant.

We have made many changes during the war for the benefit of the people who are fighting for us. Will not the Minister consider this point again?

If my recollection serves me aright the point was carefully considered after a deputation of Members of this House met the Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the House and the Chancellor of the Exchequer not very many months ago.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many dwelling houses, requisitioned for the use of his Department, were standing empty on 1st October; and whether he has any statement to make about their derequisitioning.

At one time and another my Department has had to requisition something well over 200,000 properties. It would I think take more time and labour than could easily be justified to collect the figures the hon. and gallant Member seeks. Derequisitioning is, however, going on throughout the country as fast as circumstances and the staff available permit. I have personally given orders that so far as dwelling-houses are concerned at any rate the work is to be accelerated to the maximum possible extent.

Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that, where houses are no longer occupied, adequate steps are being taken to prevent further damage occurring, pending derequisition?

That is a different question, and I would be glad if my hon. Friend would put it down.

Are any of these unoccupied houses in constituencies where there is a great shortage of houses?

I cannot answer that question offhand, but I have not the slightest doubt that some of them are. I know that my Department are in constant touch with Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve, and have released a great deal of accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, for demobilisation purposes, widows with dependent children rank as married women.

I have been asked to reply. I assume my hon. Friend refers to re-allocation between the Forces and industry during the interim period. For this purpose widows with dependent children will not rank as married women, but they will be eligible to be considered sympathetically for release on compassionate grounds

Would not my hon. Friend agree that married women with no children whose husbands are having to serve in the war, and widows with dependent children are not quite in the same category?

Is there not too much allocation? The matter ought to be gone into.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of introducing a system of short leave on the lines of the last war for men fighting on the Western Front and also arrange for the necessary transport, train and boat, to enable the leave to be spent at their homes.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement I circulated on 26th September in answer to a number of hon. Members, and to the statement I made on the Adjournment on 12th October.

As that answer, I think, dealt with short leave—48 hoursgcould the right hon. Gentleman give privilege leave of seven days at least, which is, I think, implied in the Question, so that men of the British Liberation Army could come home?

My answer dealt with the question of leave generally, and was not in relation to short leave or any other period of leave.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Rosneath Estate has changed hands on two occasions since 1941, that on both occasions tenants of dwelling-houses have been faced with the request to purchase their dwellings, that the price asked on the first occasion was 20 years' purchase; that the new proprietor through a firm of Liverpool solicitors has repeated the request; that some of the dwellings are tenanted by men serving overseas; and will he take steps to safeguard the occupiers from eviction if others purchase their homes.

I am aware that the estate of Rosneath, Dumbartonshire, was sold in 1941 and has again been sold since that date. I am informed that after each sale, the tenants of dwelling-houses and other properties on the Estate were invited to purchase the premises they occupied, but that no fixed prices were specified. On the first occasion several small houses were sold. Complete information about the tenants is not readily available but the mother of a prisoner of war in Germany is known to be the tenant of one house. As regards the last part of the Question, if, as I assume, the houses are controlled under the Rent Restrictions Acts the tenants will be protected against eviction in terms of these Acts notwithstanding any transfer of ownership.

May I take it from my right hon. Friend's answer that there was no need for Hitler to invade this country —he could have bought it? [HON. MEMBERS "Oh."] It is all right; your friends are not mine. May I also take it that there is no need for this bogus speculation in property in Scotland by people from South of the Border, with war-swollen profits?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the owners of Rosneath Estate ignore requests from tenants to have repairs carried out on their dwellings, thus depriving them of the full use of the accommodation; and if he will take steps to have these repairs carried out.

No information has come either to the Scottish Office or the local authority about the cases referred to, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with any evidence in his possession on the subject I shall have inquiries made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware I have been complaining about this for almost two years, and that this firm have a new technique? They simply ignore letters sent to them asking them to execute repairs.

That is not the point in the Question, but neither the local authority nor the agricultural executive committee has any information as to the allegations in the Question. As I say, if my hon. Friend will give me information I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has given, or the action he has taken, in regard to the memorandum he has received from the Scottish Council of Industry on the subject of retaining Prestwick airport as a post-war Atlantic terminal.

I received last week the submission referred to, and I am giving it careful consideration with a view to bringing the arguments and claims in favour of Prestwick to the notice of the Minister for Civil Aviation, and other Ministers concerned.

Will my right hon. Friend give this proposal his enthusiastic support, in view of its vital importance to the future prosperity of Scotland and to civil aviation?

I have already indicated my enthusiastic support.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the housing policy of his Department will meet the immediate needs of post-war Scotland.

The Scottish Housing Advisory Committee's Report places Scotland's housing needs at 500,000 and our specially urgent requirements at 166,000 houses. It will take us three years, building at double the pre-war rate, to reach the latter figure. But the Government's policy through prefabrication and building up a large labour force is to reach that target in the first three years after the war.

My right hon. Friend has not, if I may say so with respect, answered my Question. I asked him if he was satisfied.

Will my right hon. Friend do his utmost to remove all the present handicaps to private enterprise in housing?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the committee he set up to inquire into the question of teachers' salaries have completed their work; and when is their Report likely to be published.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the National Joint Council composed of representatives of the education authorities and the teaching profession with a neutral chairman. The Council have not yet completed their consideration of scales of salaries for teachers, but they are aware of the urgency of the subject matter of their deliberations.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Scottish teachers have very reluctantly refused to embark on any propaganda and have been waiting very patiently for this Report? Will my right hon. Friend do his best to hurry it up, so that teachers will know exactly how they stand with regard to the question of teachers' salaries?

Yes, Sir, that is true, but as my hon. Friend is aware, half the council is composed of teachers' representatives, and the other half of representatives of the local authorities. I will certainly see that at the earliest possible moment a conclusion is reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to have evacuated schoolchildren returned to their home towns and thereby relieve the pressure on county education committees.

Arrangements for the return of children who went out with their mothers or other adults are already in operation, and instructions were issued to local authorities yesterday about the return of unaccompanied children to every district in Great Britain except London and the South-East of England.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give a date for the introduction of the Education (Scotland) Bill.

I hope to introduce the Education (Scotland) Bill before the close of the present Session. I propose that the Bill should be given a First Reading only, so that before it is reintroduced next Session there will be an opportunity for full consideration and discussion of the Government's proposals by all parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the paying out of increases in pension rates under the recent Pensions (Increase) Act to retired prison warders of the Scottish Prison Service.

I have been asked to reply. Pensions of Scottish prison warders are paid by the Paymaster-General, through the agency of the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer. The Paymaster-General assesses the amount of the increases under the recent Pensions (Increase) Act. These pensioners are civil servants and are being dealt with by the procedure applicable to their case. The increases payable under Section 2 of the Act have been paid and the claims from the pensioners for the further increases to which they may be entitled under Section 1 of the Act are being examined. Payment will be made as quickly as staff difficulties permit.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an estimate of the time in which he hopes this process will be completed?

It is being done as quickly as possible, but I hope the hon. Member will bear in mind that these payments are retrospective, so injustice will not be done.

The point is that these fellows may die before they get the money.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been drawn to threats made against young men ordered to work in the mines who have omitted or declined to join a trade union; and what action he proposes to take to prevent the continuation of such acts of intimidation.

My attention has been drawn to one case in which a letter sent by a local official of a trade union to a ballotee appears to have been indiscreetly worded, and my regional officers at once made the position clear to the union concerned. I know of no cases of intimidation but if my hon. and gallant Friend has any in mind, I should be glad to look into them.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of a letter that was sent to young conscripted miners commencing "Dear Friend," which went on to say that if they did not join their trade union "unfriendly actions may be taken against them"? That is signed by the Committee. Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that these young men will probably only be in the mines for the duration of the war? Why, then, should they join the union?

As I pointed out in my answer, my attention has been called to one case, to which the hon. and gallant Member has just referred. There are 24,000 ballotees in the mines to-day, and one case really does not worry me very much.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that the miners have done everything possible to make the Bevin boys comfortable?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the zoning system of coal distribution is still working satisfactorily; and whether any shortage of supply has impeded war manufacturers this autumn.

The system of planned programming of coal supplies has proved most successful; the answer to the second part of the Question is, No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether absenteeism in the mines is more noticeable on any one day of the week than on any other; and to what extent the operation of Pay as you earn is a factor in producing it.

Owing to the strain on colliery clerical staffs in furnishing such information, I have not attempted to collect any statistics later than those relating to December, 1943, and January, 1944.Those figures are included in Table 8 of the Statistical Digest (Cmd. 6538), and show that for underground workers the rate of voluntary absenteeism is much heavier on Mondays (including the Sunday night shift) and on Saturdays. I have no statistical information about the effect of the Pay as you earn system, but I am aware of the view that the introduction of this system has been a contributory factor in the recent increase in voluntary absenteeism.

Is it a fact that the first and last days of the week are those upon which there is much absenteeism?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what has been the number of accidents in the coalmines of the country in 1938 and 1939, in each complete year during the war and since 1st January, 1944.

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the average monthly output of opencast coal in the coal years 1942–43, 1943–44 and 1944–45.

The average monthly production of opencast coal during the coal years 1942–43, 1943–44 and in the first five months of 1944–45 was 175,500 tons, 460,600 tons and 947,800 tons respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the altered conditions on the continent of Europe and the hardships which British subjects in enemy-occupied countries have suffered as a result of having their sterling balances frozen, he will review the whole position in the near future.

The question of the release of money and property of British subjects resident in liberated Allied territory is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the present system of customs inspection at airports; and, in particular, whether a customs inspection was carried out on Mr. Refitt's baggage on his recent return from France.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, having regard to the existing conditions. The answer to the second part is that the Customs have normally no reason for asking the identity of passengers; and, therefore, have no record to show whether Mr. Refitt's baggage was examined or not.

Is it the position that a hitch-hiker can escape any Customs examination, owing to the existing conditions? If so, will the right hon. Gentleman alter that arrangement?

The existing conditions undoubtedly present some practical difficulties; but we are doing our best to ensure that there is no evasion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether further consideration is being given to the use of the decimal system in British currency, with a view to aiding our country to meet foreign competition in the export field.

No, Sir. I doubt if such a change would be of material assistance against foreign competition in the export field, and there are weighty objections to it from other points of view.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what duties and taxes are charged on gifts sent to relatives by troops serving overseas; and what concessions are made.

Gifts sent to relatives by troops serving overseas are liable on importation to Customs Duty and Purchase Tax at the rates prescribed by law, but, as I explained to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for York (Captain Lord Irwin), on 10th October, I have authorised a concession which permits any member of the Forces serving overseas to send home each year goods to a value of £8 free of Customs Duty and Purchase Tax, subject to certain conditions. Details of the concession have been circulated to all overseas Commands.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this, in fact, operates in all countries overseas, because I have had numbers of letters from troops serving in Italy who say that they do not get any such concession? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into that?

I would like to look into that; I do not know the answer.

Is it not also a fact that the Americans are exempt from Customs duty on goods they bring into this country?

I do not know what the American arrangements are.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which countries export credits will be made available; on what scale and from what date.

I have been asked to reply. Guarantees under the Export Guarantees Act, 1939, are at present available to United Kingdom exporters in respect of exports to any country with which trade is allowed within the limit of liability of £75,000,000 laid down by the Act. As I have previously informed the House, I hope to be able to introduce legislation next Session to extend export credits facilities.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that exporters cannot plan their future until they have got a financial policy prepared by the Government?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is intended that export credits shall be made available for shipbuilding.

I have been asked to reply. Guarantees in respect of ships built in United Kingdom yards for export are not excluded under the Export Guarantees Act, 1939, but such guarantees must be given with great discretion, at any rate until our own merchant fleet has been fully re-established after the war.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increased supplies of rubber, he will increase the allotment for the provision of surgical gloves.

I have been asked to reply. Surgical gloves have to be made partly of natural rubber, supplies of which have not increased. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, who is responsible for the production of these gloves, that he is not aware of any substantial volume of complaint that supplies are insufficient to meet essential civil needs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been received from manufacturers for permission to develop prototypes of post-war models and for the release of material and designers for this purpose; how many have been granted and how many have been refused.

Three hundred and fifty applications have been received —about one-half during the past three weeks—for various facilities to prepare for peacetime production, a high proportion relating to the production of prototypes. One hundred and fifty of these have already been granted, 11 have been refused for the time being on the advice of the Supply Departments concerned, but these will be reconsidered later.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication of what has happened to the remaining 100 or so which are not dealt with in his reply?

These are being considered in consultation with the Supply Departments concerned. I am taking special measures to speed up the procedure, but most of these applications have only come in during the last three weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what statement he has to make with reference to a petition to him signed by 101 employees of the British Tool and Engineering Company, Limited, Wolverhampton, protesting against the leasing of factories built by public money to private owners.