asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet investigated the complaint concerning a British general hospital in S.E.A.C., of the identity of which he has been informed.

It is clear, from a telegraphic report I have received, that this hospital was opened on 1st March, and that, at the end of March, the site was overrun by the Japanese and was the scene of fierce fighting. This seems to me to explain fully why the hospital itself was moved several times and why its buildings have had to be considerably rebuilt. I am expecting a full report by air mail.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can make a statement on the record of our mechanised equipment, vehicles, etc., during the advance in France, on the results obtained by our tanks, giving the speed and distances covered, the percentage of mechanical failures and any other information about the success gained by mechanical equipment and vehicles.

I have had no formal and detailed reports on the performance of British mechanical equipment during the advance in France. There has, however, been a good deal of information which goes to show that it was highly satisfactory. Anyhow, the results appear to have been so. Moreover, there is clear evidence of this from the fact that the maintenance load was very small and much less than expected. So far as tanks in particular are concerned I can say that the Cromwell tanks of one armoured division covered 250 miles in six days, and, in spite of the fact that there were no opportunities for the normal maintenance during this period, the losses from mechanical defects were practically negligible.

Will the Secretary of State consult the Minister of Information with a view to having that reply printed in bold type, and posted in the engineering establishments responsible for these tanks?

I will certainly consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for War, how many days before polling day a notice was posted for the information of No. 5 Company, 4 Command Signals, A.T.S., drawing their attention to the Bilston by-election.

When a by-election is pending, an A.C.I. is issued to all units informing them of this and instructing them to take immediately the necessary action under A.C.I. 788 of 1943 to enable personnel who are entitled to vote to be put on the absent voters list. The unit referred to here had only recently been formed and had not yet been supplied with the volumes of A.C.Is. for 1943. The Commanding Officer did not, therefore, appreciate that the matter was urgent, but, as soon as she received the 1943 A.C.I. the necessary action was taken. I understand that only one auxiliary in this unit was entitled to vote. I regret the omission in this case but: I hope it will not recur.

asked the Secretary of State for War what he has done to ensure that all Army personnel shall be fully advised how to take advantage of the emergency scheme for recruitment and training of teachers.

A leaflet, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member, specially prepared by the Ministry of Education, has been sent to all Commands at home and abroad for distribution to all officers and other ranks of the Army Educational Corps to enable them to deal with enquiries on this matter.

If a man in the Army tried to find out the information and the Board of Education told him that he could ask for it through the usual Service channels, would the procedure now be clear to the man wanting the information?

I am sorry I did not understand the Question.

Is the procedure better than it was six month ago?

I do not know what the procedure was six months ago, but a leaflet has been sent out to enable members of the Army Educational Corps to answer inquiries without going back to the Ministry of Education for it.

Will the Minister follow up that leaflet by asking what steps have been taken, in view of the great need for teachers?

The only way in which I could get the answer to that question would be to call for a return from every one of the thousands of units in the Army. I do not think that is a practicable suggestion.

May I ask the Minister whether this will apply equally to women and men?

I will not say equally—there will be corresponding facilities, certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements can be made for a thorough medical and dental examination of all men and women on demobilisation from the Army.

Yes, Sir. Such arrangements will be instituted when the release scheme is brought into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention to have issued to each member of the Home Guard on disbandment a certificate similar to those issued to the Army after the last war.

As my right hon. Friend will have seen from the newspapers, His Majesty The King has graciously signified his wish that a certificate signed by His Majesty should be issued to all serving members of the Home Guard and to ex-members who apply for it. Issue of these certificates to Territorial Army Associations will commence shortly.

Will women be open to receive these certificates?

I do not think they are members of the Home Guard, but I would rather like notice of that Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War what reductions have been made in the number of regular officers and men serving with the Home Guard since the orders regarding the cessation of compulsory training and parades.

No reductions in establishments have yet been made but certain vacancies which have occurred have not been, filled. Steps are being taken to reduce the number of training officers by 280 and now that it has been decided to stand down the Home Guard the number of Regular officers serving with it will be progressively reduced.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the importance of economy in dealing with these matters?

Certainly, Sir. They will not be kept longer than is necessary, but there is a good deal of administrative work to be done in connection with the "stand down" and handing in of equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he intends to use Paris and Brussels for local leave to British troops in North-West Europe; to what extent each city is to be available; and what arrangements are being made for the troops' accommodation and entertainment.

The use of Paris and Brussels for local leave is a matter for the Commander-in-Chief; Brussels is already available for this purpose and I understand Paris will be shortly. Accommodation in both cities is or will be provided by hostels run by N.A.A.F.I. and the voluntary bodies in concert with Army Welfare Services. As regards entertainment in Brussels, I would refer to a reply I gave on 24th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Sir R. Clarry). The Department of National Service Entertainment is prepared to supply entertainment to Paris if necessary.

In view of the fact that Brussels is in the British zone, will my right hon. Friend direct as much entertainment as he can to Brussels, rather than to Paris, which is not in the British zone?

That is a different question, and I would like notice of it. Questions which involve the relationships between constituent parts of the Allied Armies are sometimes rather delicate.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage reductions in the staffs of commands, districts, sub-districts and garrisons in this country have been made since D-Day.

The staffs of the headquarters in the static chain of command in the United Kingdom are changed according to the tasks they have to carry out, and appropriate reductions have been and are being made as a result of the decreased responsibilities of these formations since the despatch of the British Liberation Army to the Continent. It would not be in the public interest to give details of these changes, but I can say that a number of districts, sub-districts and garrisons have been entirely abolished, in addition to the merging announced yesterday of Eastern and South-Eastern Command.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the rapid incursion of the sea into the South coast of England; and what steps he is taking to repair the sea defences breached during the military occupation of the foreshore.

I am aware that in some places military requirements have prevented maintenance of sea defences. Where a claim in respect of damage lies under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, it should be submitted to the War Department Land Agent and Valuer. Generally speaking these claims relate to cases where the Army has done direct damage. In cases where the damage is due to denial of access for military reasons I am advised that no claim lies under the Act. In either case actually to carry out repairs from military sources is beyond our capacity. In this connexion I would refer to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 10th October.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to remove the palisades, barbed wire and other military defences from the shore in those areas to which access has recently been regranted to the population; whether the local authorities concerned have been informed of the arrangements; and if the cost of restoration is to the account of his department.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 10th October. I have nothing to add to that reply at present.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that similar steps for the removal of blocks on roads immediately behind the beaches are being carried out by the local highway authorities at the expense of the Ministry of War Transport; and will he co-ordinate those activities?

I would like notice of that question. At first sight, it looks to me to be a suggestion that the War Office should take on even more than is already thrust upon it.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what cash allowances are provided for members of the A.T.S. who are proceeding to India or S.E.A.C.; and whether, having regard to many unforeseen difficulties which may confront service personnel before reaching their destination, he is satisfied that the money is sufficient to cover every emergency;

(2) whether he is aware of the inadequacy of the allowances for the purchase of a proper supply of tropical kit by members of the women's services proceeding to India or S.E.A.C.; and will he consult with people who know the conditions of service with a view to providing adequate kit.

A.T.S. officers on being placed under orders to proceed to a station abroad may be granted on request an advance of pay amounting to one month's net pay. No allowances are admissible during the voyage, free subsistence being provided. I have no reason to suppose that this arrangement is inadequate in the case of officers proceeding to India or S.E.A.C. The only members of the A.T.S. concerned are a few officers who are on loan for instructional purposes with the Women's Auxiliary Corps (India). They are to receive a Tropical Outfit Allowance under Indian Regulations which, I understand, will amount to at least £15.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Prime Minister said that the standard of welfare and comfort of the troops in India was to be on the highest possible level; and is he aware that the allowances do not permit serving women officers to buy sufficient tropical kit for comfort?

These are people who have been borrowed by India, and are getting an outfit under the Indian Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether A.T.S. medical orderlies are eligible for trade rates of pay.

Trade rates of pay are given to personnel whose work is specially skilled or technical and it is not considered that the work done by an A.T.S. medical orderly qualifies for this addition. A.T.S. nursing orderlies, who in certain circumstances are interchangeable with R.A.M.C. nursing orderlies, naturally receive trade rates of pay.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men now serving in India, who have served in the ranks of the Territorial Army for a number of years and have secured a commission, forfeit their right to receive the Teritorial Efficiency Medal, for which they would have qualified had they remained in the ranks; and will he reconsider the question of qualification for this award in order to remove what many officers feel is a grievance.

The Territorial Efficiency Medal is restricted to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial Army who complete 12 years continuous service in the ranks. Embodied war service counts double. My hon. Friend will appreciate that a commissioned officer cannot in these circumstances receive the medal.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that such service counts towards the Territorial decoration?

Yes, Sir, but often there is the case when an officer who has an emergency commission cannot have the Territorial decoration.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what leave, upon discharge, is granted to personnel of the Army discharged under paragraph 390 (XVIII) (a), K.R. 1940, and paragraph 390 (XXI) (b), K.R. 1940.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether men invalided out of the Army without pension are granted full pay and allowances for the first eight weeks after their discharge, as would be the case in the event of their demobilisation.

Officers and other ranks invalided out of the Army are now given eight weeks' notice leave with full pay and allowances, irrespective of their entitlement to pension. Soldiers discharged under sub-paragraphs xviii (a) and xxi (b) of paragraph ago of King's Regulations are granted 14 days' terminal leave unless they are discharged for the purpose of immediate re-enlistment into other Armed Forces or into the Army on a regular engagement.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate the inadequacy of 14 days' leave for a man who is discharged from the Forces, first, to enable him to recuperate after his service, and secondly, to fit himself for civilian life; and will my right hon. Friend consider increasing that amount of leave?

Some of the cases covered by these two rather ambiguous paragraphs are well worthy of consideration, and in fact they are already being considered.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why there should be any difference between the man discharged without pension and the man who is demobilised? Why cannot they receive the same treatment?

Some of them are discharged or released from the Forces immediately for the purpose of taking up a civil job. Some of them, though not under these particular paragraphs, are discharged for misconduct, and there is a very good case for treating them separately.

With these exceptions, which I recognise, will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it is not possible, in the absence of misdemeanour or any other cause, to treat these men as if they were demobilised?

I said that I am considering these particular Regulations. The cases are so different I certainly cannot give a categorical assurance to cover them all, but I will reconsider whether some of them ought not to come under the regulation granting them the longer period of Service leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the rates of pay for a non-tradesman sergeant with 18 months' service and a private soldier on the highest rate of non-tradesman pay with five years' service.

The answer to the hon. Member's Question taken literally is that they are the same, viz. 7s. 0d. a day. But it is a very unusual comparison for, leaving out of account the special pay to those serving in the Far East, it seeks to compare what is in effect the highest paid non-tradesman private and the lowest paid sergeant. There must be a few cases of sergeants with only 18 months' service in all. Most of them would have enough service to qualify for at least one of the war service increments. For example a sergeant with 5 years' reckonable war service would receive war service increments of 2s. 6d. a day making his total rate 9s. 6d.; and if he had served as a sergeant for 3 years he would receive an additional normal increment of 6d., bringing his rate up to 10s. 0d. a day.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that between certain sergeants and a large number of the highest paid private soldiers, there is not a wide discrepancy in the rates of pay; and does he not think, therefore, that such a trained N.C.O. as a sergeant should have a considerably higher rate of pay than a private?

As I say, this case is a comparatively rare one and I do not think it is possible under any human system produced in war-time to remove all anomalies. I am not very satisfied on this one.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state the number of casualties amongst doctors serving in the Army during the war up to the present time.

I regret that it is not in the public interest to give particulars of casualties suffered by individual corps or regiments.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what circumstances British soldiers were recently wearing German uniforms and carrying arms on the North Norfolk coast.

It, is valuable for soldiers training to fight Germans to take part in exercises with soldiers who look like Germans and fire German weapons.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that this form of exercise causes considerable alarm locally, and does he not consider that the British troops involved run grave risk of being shot by volunteers whose duty is to defend these shores?

I did not hear the first part of the Question, but in reply to the second part, this practice has been going on for the last four years.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that war correspondents with the British Army on the Continent do not receive the same facilities for the transmission of news that is given to correspondents with the Army of the U.S.A.; and will he take steps to ensure that equal facilities are made available.

There is a shortage in this country of highly trained operators and of specialized technical equipment. Moreover for the long distance transmissions to the United States the Americans can use frequencies which are not available for transmission to the United Kingdom. The operational traffic necessary to win the battle must have first call on the limited means of communication available. But, in fact, three-quarters of the high speed wireless transmission from our forces in North West Europe and all the high speed teleprinter circuits are used exclusively by the Press. I hope my hon. Friend will agree that in the circumstances this is not an ungenerous allocation.

While I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, as far as it goes, is he aware of the considerable discontent which is felt with regard to this matter, and of the great importance to this country of getting at least equally rapid transmission of news? Will he do everything possible to hurry it up?

I entirely agree. There is only one thing to put ahead of that, and that is the rapid transmission of operational orders.

asked the Secretary of State for War why it has been found necessary to apply the five year period of service to army nursing sisters and to no other class of women serving with His Majesty's Forces.

I regret as much as the hon. Member the necessity for keeping nursing sisters abroad for so long. This is due to the shortage of nursing sisters in this country to take the place of those overseas. Five-sixths of the Army Nursing Services are serving abroad and of the members here many are not fit for service overseas or have only lately returned to this country. I should like to take this opportunity to pay a tribute to the members of this Service. They carry out without complaint their prolonged and arduous duties overseas and in many cases when they are brought back to this country they volunteer for a further tour abroad.

Having regard to the particularly arduous nature of certain theatres of war, would my right hon. Friend consider cross-posting them as between overseas theatres?

I am bound to say that it is a new suggestion which I have not considered. I will certainly look into it to see whether it is practicable.

Would my right hon. Friend consider giving them better rates of pay?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in appointing attachés to embassies and legations overseas, any regard is had to the scientific or technical qualifications of the officers concerned; and whether, in view of the increased importance of scientific developments in warfare, he is satisfied that sufficient attention is being paid to this matter.

Officers appointed as military attachés to embassies and legations overseas, are being selected for their general military qualifications, which include an up-to-date knowledge of scientific and technical developments.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of delay caused in the derequisitioning of houses by lack of staff, he will give instructions that owing to the material damage done to the London district by flying-bombs, the derequisitioning of houses in London will receive special consideration.

Instructions to this effect have already been given.

asked the Secretary of State for War if next-of-kin can in future be supplied with the address and location of the hospital overseas when husbands or sons are on the dangerously ill list.

The notification to the next-of-kin of an officer or man that he is lying dangerously ill in a hospital overseas always includes the postal address of that hospital if, as is generally the case, the report from overseas contains that information. For security reasons the postal address, in the case of a hospital in a theatre of war, does not indicate the exact location, but is, of course, sufficient to enable the next-of-kin to communicate with the individual concerned.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it causes a sense of frustration to the relatives of men on the dangerously iii list when they receive a notification merely that the man is dangerously ill overseas, with no other indication of his whereabouts?

Yes, Sir, but, as I hope I conveyed, I think that must apply in only a very small minority of the cases, and I do not believe they are at all frequent.

Would the right hon. Gentleman state how long is expected to lapse between the time of the casualty and the notification of the next-of-kin?

The times differ in different theatres. When active operations are going on and communications have to be built up from behind, they take much longer than if you have a more or less stationary position.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make arrangements for the scale model of the prefabricated harbours in Normandy, together with the photographs and films, to be placed on exhibition at the principal towns and cities in the provinces and see that facilities are provided for the workmen, who by their craft and skill made such a splendid accomplishment possible, to see the exhibition.

I will certainly have the possibility examined.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider giving priority to those industrial centres responsible for its production? Does he not agree that this is a fine concrete example of British public enterprise?

The answer to the second part of the question is, "Yes, Sir." As regards the first, I am not sure that if, for a good many reasons, it does become practicable, an exhibition in the Metropolis is not the surest way of getting an early exhibition of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the effect of 437/44 is to permit the regimental paymaster to inflict financial hardship upon the wife of a soldier after the penalty for any crime has been paid; and whether he will amend this instruction which makes more difficult reconciliation between husband and wife.

The whole object of this Army Council Instruction is to ensure that every possible effort is made to effect reconciliation between husbands and wives who have become estranged, particularly where such estrangement would result in the stopping of family allowance. But the regulations necessarily reserve to the Department the right to withhold public money from a woman whose behaviour is a public scandal. The reference in the A.C.I. to this power is only included in order that there shall be no misapprehension as to the regulation on the point. Fortunately the power does not often need to be used.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this Regulation is causing anxiety to welfare officers and to voluntary organisations, and is impeding them in their work? Will he look into it from that aspect?

I have looked into it with some care. The Regulation is applied only in really scandalous cases, such as a woman keeping a brothel, being a prostitute, or being repeatedly convicted of theft, drunkenness; or cruelty to children. I cannot believe that if that knowledge is known to welfare officers, as it must be, that is any excuse for impeding their work.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the resolution sent by the Tyldesley Co-operative Society asking that the "Daily Worker" be given the normal facilities extended to many newspapers to have a war correspondent with the armies; and what answer he proposes to give.

I have received this resolution and I propose to reply to it in tie same way as I have to other very similar ones which I have received through Members of Parliament, namely by referring to the terms of His Majesty's Government's decision as announced in this House by me on 18th January and confirmed by the Prime Minister on 2nd March.

Before the right hon. Gentleman sends replies to these appeals, will he consult the Cabinet, because it was a Cabinet decision and I can well understand that he is bound by that until he puts the case before them again? Will he, therefore, put it before them again and tell them that there is feeling in the country that a war correspondent should be allowed to the "Daily Worker"?

I take exactly the contrary view.

Is it not a fact that since Russia came in on the side of the Allies, all our military information is conveyed directly and officially to Moscow, and that therefore it is quite unnecessary to allow the "Daily Worker" to have a war correspondent?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman again to submit the matter to the Cabinet to see if there is any change in their minds?

From time to time I take such consultation with my colleagues as I think necessary.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say anything about the position of Mr. Dutt, the "Daily Worker" correspondent now in Paris? Is he allowed access to transmission facilities?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put that Question down.

asked the Secretary of State for War the grounds on which he is refusing compensation to an East Norfolk farmer, of whom he is aware, who has suffered damage owing to the laying of a minefield on his land, thus preventing the destruction of rabbits.

As my hon. Friend is aware, this case has been very carefully and sympathetically considered. The military, authorities were carrying out their duties and I am advised that no act has been committed by them which could justify the acceptance of a Common Law claim for compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the arrangements for granting privilege leave to members of the British Expeditionary Force in 1914 and 1915; and if similar arrangements are being made now.

In 1914 and 1915 leave was granted when operational conditions permitted. In quiet periods this worked out at perhaps seven days' leave every six months. As regards the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer him to the statement I made in answer to a number of hon. Members on 26th September.

As my right hon. Friend has given the impression that large-scale preparations are being made in London for the reception of men getting leave from overseas, will he carry the matter a little further and let the troops know that they will also be able to get leave during static periods of warfare?

I am not prepared, at present, to go beyond the previous answers I have given. Further, when the hon. Members says that I have given such an impression I have done nothing of the sort. It is a certain number of imaginative journalists who have given that impression.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether full consideration has been given to the desirability of treating the repatriation of soldiers with over three years' continuous service overseas as a matter of more urgent importance than that of demobilisation.

I am not quite clear what the hon. Member has in mind as obviously demobilisation, by which he presumably means release, does not call for action until after Germany has been defeated. But I can certainly give the hon. Member an assurance that no resources, whether of man-power or shipping, are at present being diverted from purposes of repatriation to release. In the period between the defeat of Germany and that of Japan, there will be a re-allocation of the nation's man-power resources, including those of the Army. There will be many conflicting claims on those resources but the repatriation of men with long service overseas will remain urgent and important. Most of these men will clearly fall into the earlier release groups.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for those assurances, may I ask him whether he is aware that there is a prevalent feeling in this country that there are in training establishments here a large number of officers and men who would welcome the opportunity of serving overseas, thus giving those who have been abroad so long a chance to come back an leave?

Oddly enough, the training establishments at home are among the places to which I have devoted some attention, but I think the estimate of the people immediately available for overseas service is very much exaggerated as they consist very largely of people who are recovering after being wounded and those who have actually been repatriated from overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many hotels are still requisitioned by his Department in Scarborough, Cromer, Margate, Folkestone, Hastings, Eastbourne and Bournemouth, respectively.

I am obtaining this information and will then communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the fact that the Germans are continuously placing British prisoners of war near legitimate military targets in contravention of Article 9 of the Geneva Convention, and refuse to comply with demands from the Protecting Power to abstain, he will put pressure on the Germans by retaliation of the same kind.

No, Sir. Such action would not be in the interests of our prisoners in Germany. Not many of the camps where they are held are near legitimate military targets, but in all such cases we have protested to the German authorities. Their attitude has not always been satisfactory, but in some instances the prisoners have been moved and His Majesty's Government will continue to press for the observance of the Geneva Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the fact that a number of relatives of prisoners of war in Malaya are not conversant with them, he will take steps to publicise the facilities which now exist for sending messages to prisoners of war in Malaya, via the All-India Radio Messages Service, Bantony, Simla.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chatham (Captain Plugge) on 9th June.

But will my right hon. Friend tell us whether this is really known to relatives and friends, who have dependants in Malaya?

This is a service from India, and I said in the last two sentences of the answer I gave then:

"This service is of doubtful value, and open to serious objection on security grounds. It is being curtailed, and may be discontinued altogether."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th June, 1944; Vol. 400, c. 1653–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is expected safe conduct will be obtained to convey the 12,000 tons of parcels for prisoners of war at Götenburg to German ports.

A Swedish ship is about to sail with approximately 1,000 tons of supplies and the International Red Cross Committee are hoping to arrange for further shipments.

Are these being transferred to Germany now?

I really do not understand the question. As I have said, a Swedish ship is about to sail with approximately 1,000 tons of supplies, I presume to Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, as the Marseilles-Geneva railway is reported to be working again, transports with the 1,500,000 parcels accumulated at Lisbon have sailed from there to Marseilles.

I anticipate that sailings of Red Cross ships from Lisbon to Marseilles will be resumed at an early date. I am in touch with the military authorities at Marseilles with a view to restoring the full flow of prisoner of war supplies to Geneva as rapidly as the needs of the military situation will permit.

But what is the cause of this delay? There has been a definite shortage of parcels in Germany but railway transport has been open for some time.

I imagine that delay is caused by the volume of military traffic required to pass through the Port of Marseilles.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many war prisoners were saved from the Japanese transport ship sunk recently; from which camp the prisoners came; whether the names of those on board, but not saved, are known; and, if so, whether the next-of-kin have been informed.

60 prisoners of war from the United Kingdom and 91 from Australia were rescued by American naval forces from a sinking which occurred in September, and I should like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for the hazardous rescues carried out by the officers and men of those forces. Most of the prisoners from this country came from Camp No. 4 in Thailand and most of them were originally captured at Singapore. Next-of-kin of the survivors have been informed. An official list of those who were on the transport has not been received from the Japanese authorities but the Protecting Power is urging them to forward such a list. The rescued men have meanwhile been asked for all the information they have and next-of-kin will be informed in cases where the facts can be established with reasonable certainty. Reports of an earlier sinking in June have now reached His Majesty's Government for the first time from the Japanese Government through the International Red Cross Committee. It is known that 177 officers and men from the United Kingdom lost their lives. Details are not yet complete, but the next-of-kin of those concerned will be informed as soon as possible. The circumstances in these cases are most distressing and I should like to express my deep sympathy with the next-of-kin of the prisoners of war who are affected.

Would my right hon. Friend publish a further statement when he has more information?

Yes, Sir, if it is of general interest; I would not like to guarantee to publish a statement if it is concerned solely with individual circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plays now running in London are exempt from Entertainments Duty; on what grounds are they so exempted; what is the body and who are the members of that body empowered to judge the grounds of exemption of plays from Entertainment Duty; and by what procedure is such judgment arrived at.

As the answer involves a somewhat lengthy statement I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will my right hon. Friend consider extending this concession to all bona fide plays, as distinct from musical comedies, ballets and pantomimes in order to encourage the real drama?

There is plenty of real drama here.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the great difficulty of industrialists on the North-East coast who, owing to the years of depression, have a low-profits standard of finding the capital necessary to re-equip and expand their works in preparation for the post-war period; and is he prepared, in the interests of the future of this area, to take steps to equalise the position.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of the Excess Profits Tax law enabling a substituted standard to be claimed in cases where the profits of the standard period were so low as not to provide a just standard, and to the further provision for repayment after the war of the Excess Profits Tax post-war credit. That credit is intended to be available to meet post-war capital expenditure, including expenditure on re-equipment and expansion of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that industrialists in these special development areas do not consider that the present financial arrangements are satisfactory? Will he kindly look into the whole question again?

I can assure my hon. Friend that I am constantly looking at the whole question. I am not aware that industrialists generally regard the position as so unsatisfactory as my hon. Friend's question seems to indicate.

Will my right hon. Friend make inquiries again?

Certainly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £24,000,000,000 required for the five years of war has been met by taxation and how much by borrowing; and what is the total of the National Debt now and the increase since the war started.

As was stated by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 20th October last, the figure of £24,000,000,000 is the figure of our total expenditure during the five years of war up to 2nd September, 1944; the amount of expenditure on war services in the same period was approximately £20,000,000,000. Of the total expenditure in the first five years of war, £11,234,000,000 was met by taxation and other revenue and £12,659,000,000 by borrowing. The total of the National Debt at 30th September, 1944, was approximately £21,200,000,000, an increase of £12,800,000,000 since the beginning of the war.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the period in office of the Conservative Party for the eight years before the war was very expensive indeed?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the estimates of the post-war revenue and expenditure, on which were based the proposed new expenditure arising in connection with the Education Act and the proposed Social Insurance Scheme.

No, Sir. As I informed my hon. Friend on the 5th October, it would be premature for me to attempt a statement on the lines of a future normal Budget, and the considerations relevant to what he now suggests are very much the same.

I take it that the statement of the Lord Chancellor was totally inaccurate, that the Cabinet considered these matters before they approved of certain legislation?

My hon. Friend should not jump to these hasty conclusions.

As the Lord Chancellor stated that in the economy Debate, surely I was not jumping.

In the event of such a Budget being compiled, will the credit side be taken into account, such as the improvement in health and the elimination of disease?

We are getting on to very debatable ground.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can furnish an estimate of the obligations of the Treasury in excess of the National Debt, as stated on page 6 of the Financial Statement, 1944–45, in respect of Income Tax postwar credits, Excess Profits post-war credits, accrued interest in respect of National Savings Certificates and sterling credits to the account of the Government of India and of other British and foreign governments.

As regards the post-war credits, I would refer my hon. Friend to the note to Table II on page 4 of the Financial Statement, 1944–45. The interest accrued on National Savings Certificates up to the 31st March, 1944, was £223,000,000. Sterling balances held by overseas countries, though they represent a liability from the point of view of our national economy, are not direct obligations of the Treasury nor do the balances themselves form part of the National Debt in the technical sense of the term. A large portion of these balances has, of course, been invested directly or indirectly in short-term Government securities, which already form part of the National Debt.

Is it not the case that we have incurred some thousands of millions of expenditure overseas which has been met by foreign and Empire Governments, and have incurred a debt to them which does not appear in our obligations? We have incurred expenditure without sanction from the House.

I do not take that view.

The expenditure has been incurred and it has not been sanctioned.

It has all been sanctioned.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give a definition of the difference between a technical debt and one that is not technical?

What I said was that they are not technically debts due by the Government, but debts due by one central bank to another, for example.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are already cases of husbands who are in receipt of their wives' post-war credits refusing to hand them over; and if he will take steps to ensure that wives have, in these cases, power to obtain possession of their own money.

My hon. Friend has, no doubt, in mind the issue of post-war credit certificates, for under the provisions of Section 7 of the Finance Act, 1941, the post-war credit itself is not payable till after the termination of hostilities. Where the wife has income it is not necessary for her to secure her husband's agreement before claiming a division of the post-war credit. Although the certificate of post-war credit for the year is sent to the husband in the first instance it is open to the wife, if she has income of her own, to apply to the Inspector of Taxes for the credit to be divided between them. It is then divided in whatever proportion the husband and wife agree upon if they choose to make it a matter of agreement; otherwise it is divided in the manner set out in Section 7 of the Finance Act, 1941, that is to say in proportion to their respective incomes. A leaflet explaining the wife's right to claim a division of the post-war credit is sent to married women in employment at about the time of issue of the certificates; this leaflet, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, explains the procedure to be followed and incorporates a form of application for a division. I would add that where a division of the post-war credit is claimed the wife is sent a separate certificate for her share.

May I ask my right hon. Friend to be so exceedingly gracious as to put that in very simple language for some of the women who may need it?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the total and individual amounts of the blocked sterling balances; in what circumstances these were incurred; and whether he has entered into any agreement with regard to the future of such balances.

I stated in my Budget speech that we had incurred during the war undischarged overseas liabilities of some £2,000 million. The figure has increased since that date. The greater part of these liabilities represent sterling given in payment for local currencies required for military expenditure in the various countries. These balances are not blocked since they are available to make payment anywhere in the sterling area. In reply to the last part of the Question, I have no statement to make at present.

Do we owe this money to anyone?

If my hon. Friend places a sufficiently comprehensive interpretation on the word "we," the answer is in the affirmative.

Will my right hon. Friend give the House an opportunity of discussing the matter?

That does not rest with me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to revoke the Double Taxation Agreement made between this country and the Irish Free State in 1926, at a period when it was assumed that these privileges were being given to a Dominion which would co-operate with the British Commonwealth of Nations in time of war, seeing that Eire is in diplomatic relations with the enemy and similar privileges are not being accorded to Allies, such as the U.S.A.

No, Sir, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson) on 6th April last of which I am sending him a copy.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that this is an extremely one-sided arrangement and that the number of British in Eire benefiting by this concession is infinitesimally small?

My hon. Friend is really under a misapprehension. As I explained on a previous occasion, this is a reciprocal arrangement which was considered to be of mutual advantage. It is not confined to the case of personal in come where, I agree, the movement is predominantly in one direction. It also includes income derived from trade and business, where the current is in the opposite direction.

(by Private Notice) asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make about a change in any of the present issues of Government Securities.

Yes, Sir. The present issue of 2½ per cent. National War Bonds 1952–54, which was originally placed on sale on the 1st September, 1943, has already reached a total of about £690,000,000 and, in accordance with normal practice, the time has come to consider whether it should be replaced by a new issue. The various issues of National War Bonds, which have been on sale for more than four years, have raised altogether no less than £2,800,000,000 and have obviously been a great success. Nevertheless, I think that we might with advantage give this type of issue a short rest, and accordingly the sale of National War Bonds will be discontinued after Monday next, the 6th November.

I have also decided that this period of suspension should be used to offer a new type of bond to those who have funds available for investment but who do not wish to invest for so long a period as that of National War Bonds. On the 7th November, and until further notice, a new security will be on sale and will be known as "1¾ per cent. Exchequer Bonds, 1950." The bonds will be issued at par and will be repayable at par on the 15th February, 1950. The rate of interest, 1¾per cent. per annum, is the lowest which the Government has offered on a Stock Exchange security during the war, and that fact is, of course, due to the short period of the Bonds. The rate may be compared with the rate of 2 per cent. payable on the Conversion Loan issued in 1940 with a currency of five years. The interest will be payable on the 15th February and 15th August each year. Subscriptions will be accepted in any amount not being less than £50.

It is contemplated that the new issue will remain on tap for a few months only and that we shall in due course revert to an issue of the type of National War Bonds. No change is proposed in the current issue of 3 per cent. Savings Bonds 1965–75. I confidently appeal for support for the new issue both by financial institutions and by all other businesses and individuals who have funds to subscribe. Our borrowing programme continues to be very heavy and it is most important that the State should be able to borrow for a period of years not only savings out of income but also as much as possible of whatever capital sums are available for investment.

Can the Chancellor say in what form Income Tax will be payable on this new security?

It will be deducted at source.

Should not the policy of the Government be more in the region of longer-dated loans, because it seems to me the Government will have to fund some of this debt? Why has the Chancellor made this change to a shorter-dated security other than to satisfy large capitalists?

Because I want to mop up as much as I can of still shorter-dated securities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered an application from a committee of principal citizens of Berwick-upon-Tweed, under the chairmanship of the mayor, for permission to invite subscriptions up to £50,000 to form a finance company to be known as the Berwick-upon-Tweed Development Company, having the object of providing to men of small means, after the war, capital to engage in fishing and other local industries; why this application has been refused; and whether, having regard to the importance of encouraging local initiative in reconstruction and as practically the whole of the capital proposed would be called up only after the war, he will have this refusal reconsidered.

Yes, Sir. The application was refused because in present circumstances issues to raise capital must, in so far as they are not exempt from control, be confined to those required to finance production or services essential for war purposes. In reply to the last part of the Question, it would not be practicable to anticipate now the terms and conditions on which consent to issues of capital will be given after the war.

If the right hon. Gentleman is not going to allow these citizens to help themselves to provide the money that will be necessary when the war ends, has he any plan for doing it himself?