asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now cancel the order which compels the manufacture of the austerity overcoats.

No, Sir. Not yet.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a widespread feeling that we should be allowed to have our own design, and so forth? We only require new overcoats every 3 or 4 years. Would he not consider cancelling this Order?

My great concern is not to do anything to check production I am already in consultation with the trade as to when would be the best time to remove these restrictions so as to avoid any check on production, and also to avoid the holding of frozen stocks. But in my view the time has not yet come for removing the restrictions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what markets the United Kingdom Commercial Corporation is at present operating and the extent to which their approval is required before export licences are granted by his department for delivery to those markets.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the detailed Answer I gave on this subject on 1st March to my noble Friend the Member for South Dorset (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) of which I am sending him a copy. The only alteration since that date is that the Corporation has closed its office in French West Africa. The approval of the Corporation is not required before export licences are granted.

What is the cause of the delay in issuing licences for which application has been made?

Perhaps the hon. Member will draw my attention to particular cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will allocate a generous percentage of the new supplies of children's Wellington boots to rural areas, in which children often have to walk through muddy lanes to schools not equipped with drying apparatus.

Yes, Sir; I have arranged that the small quantity of children's Wellingtons which can now be produced shall be supplied to traders only on condition that they go to shops in rural areas.

On what conditions may the boots be bought by the inhabitants of rural areas? Will certificates from the school be required?

No, they can be bought for money and coupons.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that over a great deal of Yorkshire, there are no Wellington boots at all?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have tried at every shop in Newcastle and there was not a size 1 for infants in these boots in the whole town? We need them as much as the rural areas.

In reply to the hon. Member, with whom I am generally in agreement, in this case I am on the side of the country. The mud is worse in the country than in the towns. As I have explained, supplies are very short because natural rubber must be used—synthetic rubber is no good by itself. Natural rubber stocks are declining very rapidly, but we are making what progress we can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a further statement on our policy for the export trade.

An opportunity for a full discussion on this subject will no doubt present itself at an early date, and I would ask my hon. Friend to wait until then.

What I asked was when the Government are going to make a statement of their policy. Will the right hon. Gentleman let us know that?

I do not think this is a matter that can be dealt with by question and answer on the last day of the Session. I hope there will be opportunity for a very full discussion shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the acute shortage of babies' perambulators in the Rugby area; and whether he can take any steps to remedy this shortage.

No, Sir; but I am having inquiries made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps are being taken to commence the resuscitation of the carpet industry in Scotland; and whether he will make a statement on the subject.

Yes, Sir. Raw materials are now being allocated to manufacturers of carpets, including firms in Scotland, in proportion to their pre-war output. But supplies of materials are very short, and a number of the manufacturers are still heavily engaged on war contracts.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable anxiety about this question in Scotland? Everybody is building houses, or planning to build houses, but not enough preparations are being made for putting carpets on the floors.

It so happens that I was in Scotland last week-end and met some of the carpet manufacturers, and so I am fairly up to date.

Did they have the right hon. Gentleman on the carpet?

Only for social purposes. We both stood on the carpet. Carpet manufacturers understand very clearly that the supply of jute has been short and that it is urgently needed for war purposes. Substitutes are not readily come by to satisfy the carpet manufacturers or the public, but we are now having a gradual increase in production and the materials are being fairly distributed among all the firms, including those in Scotland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not in a position to tell the House anything more about the jute supplies which are likely to be available? They are in very short supply.

They are over and above what we expected, but I must not lead carpet manufacturers to think they can be assured of a supply for the future, even on present levels. We are doing our best for them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if in the development areas special advantages are being offered to local authorities to induce new industries; and if any local authority is able to offer special inducements in the way of rent-free factories.

No such special advantages are being offered to local authorities, and I am not aware of any case where a local authority has the power to offer inducements by way of rent-free factories.

Are not any special advantages to be offered to local authorities to develop their own arrangements?

Not in the sense indicated by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the new Government factories in development areas are to be let at an economic rent; and, if not, is a subsidy to be available for local authorities or private manfacturers who invest their own money in factories.

These factories, when they become available for civilian production, will normally be leased on the basis of 1939 values.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that on this basis, manufacturers who wish to go ahead with new building are at a great disadvantage unless the Government are going to extend the same facilities to those who build their own factories? What is the position of those who wish to build factories to rent, or those who wish to build their own factories, because, according to this arrangement, the 1939 rent is equal to a subsidy of 50 per cent. from the Government?

This matter has been discussed in the House before. The question I am asked is about factories which now exist and which are being used by, or were built by, the Government in the development areas. It has been announced that these will, generally, be leased and not sold, and that the initial basis of the lease will be the 1939 value. At a later date, that can be readjusted in accordance with changes in conditions.

Do the Government propose to use any of these factories for civilian production under Government control, for example, for the purpose of producing goods required for building purposes?

That is a wider question, but the answer is that we are certainly considering that in relation to housing and other programmes.

May I put it to you, Mr. Speaker, that the Minister did not deal with the second part of the Question? He was asked whether the local authorities and private manufacturers are to have the same advantages that the Government arc offering in their own factories. Otherwise nobody can make a move, and everybody is at a standstill.

No, Sir, I do not think everybody is at a standstill. When we get more building labour—and the essential problem here is the release of labour for building new factories—licences will be issued for new building in these and other areas, and particularly in these areas, and anybody who desires to build will be enabled to do so. I am dealing here with the question of what arrangements have been made for factories built or used by the Government for war purposes to be converted to civilian production and I have answered that.

On a point of Order. I would put it to the Minister that the Question I have asked is perfectly clear—whether a subsidy is to be available to local authorities or private manufacturers—and the Minister's answer leaves it so that everybody is at a standstill, because they are going to have to pay twice as much for a factory and cannot possibly let it at 1939 rents.

I should like to get my hon. Friend to see the point and I will try again. The factories referred to in the first part of his Question are to be let at 1939 values. That is the basis of the rent and there is no question that that may be regarded as a reasonable approach to an economic rent, having regard to the conditions in those areas. That being so, there will be no subsidy granted to local authorities or private manufacturers.

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the ignorance which exists on the subject among soldiers at the front, he will instruct officers to issue the conditions governing the periodic dispatch of presents to relatives and friends at home.

The conditions in question have been published from time to time, but the publication of a comprehensive statement is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to announce his rifle club scheme for Home Guard units after disbandment.

Yes, Sir. The formation of rifle clubs for members of the Home Guard is being entrusted to County Territorial Army Associations, who will work out schemes suitable for their own areas, and who will control the loan of weapons and the issue of ammunition. An instruction setting out the principles on which the clubs are to be organized has been sent to the Associations.

Does the control of munitions and weapons mean that they will loan weapons?

Control the loan of weapons. They will loan weapons.

Will this enable Home Guard detachments who stand down on 3rd December to form clubs straight away?

I should have thought so.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the need for increasing the allied supply of rubber, he will consider releasing those planters now serving in the Army so that they may be employed on the Far Eastern estates shortly to be liberated.

Releases of this kind can only be considered if the cases are sponsored by the Government Department concerned. When the time comes for such applications to be put forward they will be most carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the facts elicited from his inquiries into the punishment in Belgium of Private P. C. Felton, of the Queen's Royal Regiment, and the crime of this soldier which led to the punishment; and whether he is aware that since 17th October this soldier has been further punished by continuing to wear handcuffs and by having his regimental flashes removed.

As my answer is necessarily rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

In accordance with King's Regulations, paragraph 1001 (a), Private Felton's commanding officer issued an order on 18th September, 1944, that all emblems must be removed from buttonholes and caps. This was a lawful command and Private Felton obeyed it. On 19th September in disobedience of this order, Private Felton was seen wearing the Belgian colours on a ribbon. He was ordered by the company-sergeant-major to remove the ribbon. He refused. He was then placed on a charge and brought before his company commander, who ordered him to remove the ribbon. Felton again refused. Felton was then brought before his commanding officer, who explained why emblems should not be worn. When ordered by his commanding officer to remove the ribbon, Felton refused. The commanding officer then ordered the regimental sergeant-major to have the ribbon removed. Felton threatened to fight anyone who tried to do so. Felton's blouse was taken off and the ribbon removed. His attitude remained so threatening that he had to be placed in handcuffs while under arrest. The unit was holding an extended front against the enemy and extra guards could not be spared. Felton was, on more than one occasion, told that his handcuffs would be removed, if he abandoned his threatening attitude; owing to persistent refusal to do so, the handcuffs were not removed. Felton was finally convicted by a field general court-martial of disobeying a lawful command and insubordinate language, and sentenced to one year's detention. The action taken by the commanding officer was approved by the corps commander.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that parcels sent to men serving with the B.L.A. forces, frequently at considerable personal sacrifice, are not arriving; and what steps he is taking to improve the service.

I am not aware that parcels which are properly packed and correctly addressed are not reaching men in the British Liberation Army. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the cases to which he refers they will be investigated. It is very important that general complaints of this kind should be accompanied by specific instances. Sometimes the specific cases enable the machinery to be improved. Sometimes they are insufficient to sustain a general accusation. In one case, where an offi- cial complaint reached us from an operational theatre, it was conclusively proved that not more than one in 40 of the parcels in question had, in fact, gone astray.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can make any further statement about the conditions under which A.T.S. and other personnel are living on a gun-site at a place of which he has been informed; if double tentage has now been provided; and how soon it is expected that the hutments will be complete.

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the facts so far as I have been able to ascertain them by the most exhaustive research. Broadly speaking, these facts point to the eminently suitable conclusion that both the hon. Member's statement and mine were correct, though I should add that they also point to the conclusion that, but for the competition of a heavy demand for storage tents from 21 Army Group, the double tentage might have been authorised earlier by the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has now received a report regarding the speech made by Major-General Burrows in Cairo, on 7th September, at an obligatory parade of G.H.Q. officers and N.C.Os.; and what action he proposes to take on this matter.

I sent a copy of the enclosure to the hon. Member's letter of 10th October to General Paget, and I also showed it to General Burrows on his arrival in this country. Quite independently they have assured me that this account is a gross distortion of the lecture. Incidentally, I myself have heard, and heard at considerable length, General Burrows' views on Russia and the Russian Army, some time before the lecture in Cairo, and what I heard then is completely irreconcilable with the account of the lecture sent to the hon. Member.

In view of the fact that this was a compulsory parade, was an officer entitled to make a political address directed against the Soviet Union, and were members of the Forces entitled, as several of them were anxious to do, to contradict the statements made by the General?

That presumes that the lecture was a political lecture, which is denied by both the Generals concerned.

Would the rank and file, who were compelled to attend the lecture, be entitled to put questions or make a protest against anything they considered undesirable?

They are not entitled to break the King's Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent priority in demobilisation at the end of the last war was given to men in the Army on account of wounds received in action.

After the last war Army Orders were issued from time to time for the demobilisation of various classes or groups. These classes or groups were made up of those having various qualifications such as age, length of service, being pivotal men and "demobilisers" or having occupations awaiting them. One of these qualifications was the possession of wound stripes. The first groups to be released included those entitled to wear three or more wound stripes. Later groups included those entitled to wear fewer wound stripes.

I gather from the answer that some degree of priority was given at the end of the last war to those who were wounded several times?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that women are being continually molested after dark by Italian co-operators camped at Rayners Lane, Pinner; and if he will issue instructions to the camp commandant that these men are not to be allowed outside the camp after dark.

Seventeen hundred Italian co-operators have been accommodated in this camp for nearly six weeks, and only a very few complaints of this nature have been made, either to the police or to the camp commandant. I do not consider that this justifies the withdrawal from all these co-operators of the privilege to exercise outside their camp until 10 p.m.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are very many complaints about this sort of thing, that it is causing great anxiety and indignation in the neighbourhood, and that complaints to the camp commandant appear to be utterly ineffective?

My information is not in accord with that of the hon. Member. There have been a few complaints to the police. I may be a little out of date, but when I last heard there had not been a single complaint to the camp commandant.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. Member who represents the constituency in which Rayners Lane is situated has not received a single complaint, and that from his own personal investigations and other inquiries he believes that the behaviour of these Italian co-operators is very good indeed?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this campaign against Italian co-operators bears many of the marks of the anti-Semitic campaign in Germany? Will he also bear in mind the words of the Foreign Secretary a few years ago that there is no such word as "vendetta" in the English language?

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the minimum period of overseas service which qualifies for the leave scheme announced on 17th November.

In view of the very different circumstances of the overseas theatres concerned a wide measure of discretion has been left to the commanders-in-chief. They were simply given guidance to have regard to length of service and to good service particularly in the fighting line, but within these very general instructions I have no doubt that the practice will vary according to theatre.

While appreciating the good reasons for my right hon. Friend's answer, may I ask whether he will under take to let the House know in some measure, how this scheme is working out and on what principles the various commanders-in-chief are using their discretion?

I will consider that, but I have not full information about some yet.

asked the Prime Minister if any preference is to be given to married men in the leave regulations for men in the Forces in the Mediterranean and the Far East.

No, Sir.

Does not my right hon. Friend feel, in view of the fact that very few men, comparatively speaking, can come home under this regulation, that an exception might be made for married men?

The matter of choice and the methods of conducting the choice are in the hands of the commanders-in-chief. I understand that the method which has been adopted in Italy is one of balloting, which is not unfamiliar to us. According to the first report I have had on the subject it is giving great satisfaction. Anyhow, unmarried people have feelings as well as married people.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the rigorous conditions of overseas service in war-time, he will consider increasing the scale of foreign service leave laid down in the Appendix to Cmd. 6548.

No, Sir. The scale of foreign service leave laid down in the Appendix to Command Paper 6548 was arrived at after the most careful consideration of all the various factors involved.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that a good case can be made out for increasing the peace-time allowance of foreign service leave?

We are not in peace-time.

asked the Prime Minister if he can make any further statement on the possibility of granting home leave for Christmas to soldiers now in the Mediterranean theatre.

In my statement on 17th November I expressed the hope that some men would be back from the Mediterranean by Christmas. The first contingent of officers and men from Italy will be here quite soon—I will not give the actual date. Another contingent is due before Christmas. The first detachment from the Middle East will arrive before the New Year. This is in full accordance with the expectations which I authorised.

Is the Prime Minister aware that some disappointment was caused by a statement from G.H.Q., Middle East, which appeared to contradict or modify his original statement? Can we take it from what he says to-day that his original hope still holds good?

Yes, it certainly holds good. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to ascertain how this contradiction was put out in that form.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the increases of pay and allowances recently decided on for the Army are being paid to the Forces in India.

The War Service increments are payable to all officers below the rank of major-general and to other ranks in receipt of British-Indian rates of pay, provided their service qualifies. Japanese campaign pay is also paid to these officers and other ranks except that it is confined to ranks up to and including captain. The application of these increases to British personnel of the Indian Army and to British Service personnel attached to or serving with the Indian Army is under active consideration and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India hopes to make a statement before long. As stated in the White Paper, Far East Allowance is issued to troops in receipt of pay under the British Pay Code. It is, therefore, not applicable to the troops in India because they are under either the Indian or the British-Indian Pay Code.

Is it not the case that the large number of British troops in India who, as my right hon. Friend says, are not in receipt of British rates of pay but are on the British-Indian code will not get the increased allowance authorised in the White Paper for the Far Eastern service?

The Far Eastern allowance was designed to equate the position of people on the British-Indian code with those who were on the British code. Since it is designed to bring those on the British code up to the standard of the British-Indian code, it is not payable to those on the British-Indian code.

Has there been any adjustment in the Far Eastern allowance since the House was informed of the increase of pay to the British soldier?

The Far Eastern allowance was contained in the last statement of pay increases. It is a combination or amalgamation of various allowances previously in existence and there has certainly been no variation since that Paper was issued.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that pre-war Territorials who, by their length of service would be entitled to the Territorial Efficiency Medal, are disqualified if part of this qualifying service is performed after being commissioned; and whether he will reconsider this decision.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Deptford (Mr. W. H. Green) on 31st October.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether, as an emergency measure owing to the housing shortage, he will allow members of the Regular Army who hold temporary commissions and who, owing to being on service overseas prior to the outbreak of war, have no domicile in the U.K., to occupy any married quarters which are at present vacant;

(2) whether the regulation regarding the allotment of married quarters to other ranks only can be amended so as to make eligible for the occupancy of such accommodation members of the Regular Army who hold temporary commissions, but who are liable to be reduced to warrant or non-commissioned officer's rank after the war.

I outlined the arrangements now in force in a reply I gave my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ilford (Mr. G. Hutchinson) on 28th September. I realise that officers as well as other ranks are affected by the present shortage of houses, but officers are usually in a better position to make arrangements for their families and other ranks must, clearly, come first.

Would my right hon. Friend consider adopting a measure of flexibility in dealing with cases where there are vacant married quarters?

I would like to consider that, but in the particular case in which my hon. and gallant Friend is interested, I do not think there are any grounds for any change.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the official figures issued by the Canadian Government that 86 per cent. of the Canadian Army have volunteered for general service anywhere in the world; and whether he is taking steps to prepare plans for the recruitment of an Army on voluntary terms for post-war purposes.

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is that my attention was called to these precise facts by the terms of his Question, although I had, of course, realised the magnificent character of the Canadian war effort. Plans for the reconstruction of the Army after the war are under active consideration in the War Office, and these include such matters as terms of service and the means of attracting men to enlist under regular engagements. The question of national service as the foundation of our military system is also being examined.

While I am glad to hear that active consideration is being given to these matters, may I ask whether the Prime Minister knows that the Secretary of State for War said in this House, only a week or two ago, that the British Regular Army was in process of disintegration by effluxion of time in their contracts? Is not the matter very urgent for our postwar Regular Forces?

We went through all this difficulty at the end of the last war. As the war progressed the terms of men's service reached their conclusion, especially in the Regular Army, with men who were already under arms when the war began. But, on the whole, the matter is being, I will not say studied, but thoroughly surveyed. Undoubtedly a great change-over takes place when war comes suddenly to an end but in this case the change-over will not be so violent, because there is another war which will open with greater vigour at the other end of the world, when the present one in Europe is finished.

Will not my right hon. Friend agree that a great volume of recruits to the Army comes in only when a war has started, that they have to be trained and that in the meantime this country may be in very grave danger? Is it not, therefore, far better to adhere to the Conscription Acts, so that we may be fully prepared, if any war breaks out, from the moment of its outbreak?

I am not prepared to agree to words being put into my mouth, even by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether adequate steps are being taken, through the Red Cross authorities, to supply to our prisoners of war in Germany, other than those in hospital, the essential requirements in vitamins which are lacking in the low diet afforded by the German Government, particularly now that the supply of Red Cross food parcels has had to be reduced to half a parcel per man per week.

The composition of the standard food parcels sent out by the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John War Organisation was designed and is reviewed by experts in nutrition in relation to the rations issued by the Detaining Power. All practicable steps are being taken to restore the normal flow of Red Cross parcels and it is hoped that the full issue of parcels may be restored shortly. I am glad to say that my medical advisers inform me that the reduction in the issue of parcels is unlikely, unless unduly prolonged, to prejudice materially the health of the prisoners.

Is it a fact that the parcels containing vitamin supplies go only to the men in hospital and not to men who are not in hospital and who for long years have suffered from lack of vitamins C and D?

Extra vitamins are included in the parcels for sick prisoners, but food sent to the ordinary prisoners contains a supply of vitamins in the normal way. The constitution or composition of the parcels is settled after consultation with nutrition experts.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is able to give any further information regarding the sinking of the Japanese transport convey- ing British and Australian prisoners of war; whether the names of the British personnel who perished are known; have the relatives of these men been informed; and is he aware of the resentment on the part of many who have sons or fathers prisoners of war in the Far East that the details of atrocities should have been broadcast in view of the uncertainty of of relatives involved.

I can assure my hon. Friend that I only made this statement after anxious consideration. I was fully aware, as I said in the statement, of the distress which it would cause to the relatives of prisoners of war in Japanese hands. But the United Kingdom prisoners rescued had reached this country, and, in these circumstances, the facts could not have been withheld. And apart from this, I would not have felt justified in keeping from this House or from the country, first-hand information which had reached us about the way in which the Japanese had treated our prisoners. Particulars of most of the personnel from the United Kingdom known to have been on the sunk Japanese transport have been obtained from statements made by the survivors. In all cases where it has been possible to establish identity, either from details supplied or by the interrogation of the survivors, the next-of-kin of the men concerned have been informed.

In view of the fact that No. 4 Camp was said to be mostly involved in this unfortunate matter, is it possible to get from neutral sources any report of what has become of the prisoners from that camp who were known to be on the transport?

I would rather like to have notice of that question. I believe that the Japanese have recently indicated a willingness to widen the scope of inspection by the International Red Cross.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make any statement on the revision of motorcar taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can yet make any announcement as to the proposed change in the horse-power tax on motor-cars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to be able to make a statement on postwar taxation of motor vehicles.

I hope to be able to make a statement early in the new Session.

In view of the delay that has taken place in coming to a decision, may I ask whether this is not a perfect example of the lack of co-ordination at present existing?

There has been no lack of co-ordination in this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in his next Budget he will consider the possibility of modifying the scope of Section 33 of the Finance Act, 1926, so as to extend the six years' limit under which business losses may be carried forward against future profits in that period by an additional period equal to the operation of the Evacuated Areas Order (Moratorium) in the areas concerned.

The question of extending, in the case of businesses affected by the war, the period of six years within which, under the existing law, trading losses may be carried forward for Income Tax purposes, was raised on the Committee Stage of this year's Finance Bill on a new Clause put down by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis), and I would refer my hon. Friend to the Debate on the Clause and to the assurance given by my right hon. Friend the then Financial Secretary that the matter would be noted for consideration at the end of the war.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider inserting in the next Finance Bill a Clause extending to six years the time limit within which an assessment to Income Tax may be revised or a claim for relief under any statutory provision admitted.

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, different time limits are prescribed by the Income Tax Acts for different matters connected with the making of assessments, appeals, claims to relief, etc., and I see no reason for proposing the introduction of a uniform time limit of six years.

Has my right hon. Friend considered the great pressure of work entailed upon his own staff and that of professional accountants? I ask for this concession only as a war-time measure and as a temporary matter.

Yes, and my answer is that I do not think a uniform time limit would be appropriate.