asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to make any statement with regard to the recommendation of the Scottish Hill Sheep Farming Committee that steps should be taken to establish a marketing organisation for Scottish wool.

I have considered this recommendation in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. The question of a marketing organisation for Scottish wool raises issues affecting Great Britain as a whole and in view of the special features of this particular industry my right hon. Friend and I have decided to set up a small independent committee of which my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kelvingrove (Lieut.-Colonel Elliot) has agreed to act as Chairman, to advise us on the major questions arising. The terms of the remit are rather long, and with my hon. Friend's permission I am circulating them together with the names of the members of the Committee in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a committee of representatives of wool producers has already been set up by the producers and has had many meetings, and is in favour of a Wool Marketing Board for Scotland? Will he give an assurance that that committee will be able to give full evidence before the new Committee which is being set up under the chairmanship of the right hon. and gallant Member for Kelvingrove?

Most certainly. It is highly desirable that they should tender that evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has taken any steps to set up emergency training centres for the training of teachers, or whether he proposes to utilise existing facilities for this purpose.

The National Committee for the Training of Teachers are satisfied, after full inquiry that the existing training centres are sufficient to provide for the training of the teachers required for prospective developments in Scottish Education, except as regards teachers of physical education. The Committee are at present endeavouring to obtain premises for the establishment of additional courses of physical education.

Could my right hon. Friend say whether any steps have been taken to get into touch now with men and women in the Forces, with a view to prospective training?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to put down that question, or allow me to write to him on the subject. I am not in a position to say now.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the camp schools are still in operation; what percentage of the accommodation is filled; and on what basis children are selected to attend them.

Four camp schools are still in operation and approximately 42 per cent. of the accommodation is occupied. Children still remaining in the camps were sent there under evacuation scheme arrangements and those who can return home will do so at the end of this month. I am at present in consultation with the three large local authorities who have had most experience in the use of these camps as to their future possible use.

While I am glad to know that my right hon. Friend is in touch, is it not pretty serious when one of the camps has closed down and less than half are full? Will he use this golden opportunity to start some public boarding schools in Scotland?

That hardly arises out of the particular Question on the Order Paper. I think my hon. Friend would be well advised, knowing the difficulties of the matter, to allow the negotiations presently in progress to proceed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the first boys to complete the two-year pre-apprenticeship scheme to the building industry came from Ayrshire schools and that considerable difficulty was experienced in absorbing these boys into apprenticeship; and what steps he is taking to see that this scheme throughout Scotland provides a genuine transition from education to industry.

Of the 16 boys who completed a two-year pre-apprenticeship course for the building industry at Ayr at the end of last session 12 had been absorbed into the industry by the autumn, and 2 into other employment, leaving 2 unplaced. With regard to the second part of the Question, a scheme has been drawn up by the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Labour and National Service in consultation with the Health Departments as a temporary measure to overcome present difficulties in the way of recruiting and employing apprentices. The scheme aims at providing building work for the practical training of apprentices under craft instructors employed by building firms of standing. If boys have to be chosen from among a number of applicants, those completing pre-apprenticeship courses will receive prior consideration. Particulars of the scheme are given in a recent Circular issued by the Department of Health for Scotland, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the special conditions in the Outer Hebrides, with regard to transport and communications and geographical factors, will be borne in mind in the framing of health legislation affecting Scotland; and if he can make a statement as to what conclusions have been come to regarding the Highlands and Islands medical service.

I am at present discussing with the various interests concerned the shape of the proposed new National Health Service generally and until those consultations are further advanced I am not in a position to make any statement about the Highlands and Islands medical service. The remarkable success which has attended that service and the other conditions to which my hon. Friend refers will be carefully borne in mind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a good deal of anxiety among medical men concerned and others that the special place accorded to the Highlands and Islands medical service may not be continued under the national service? Can he give an assurance on the matter?

I do not know any cause for that apprehension and anxiety. I have done by best to dispel it in the course of consultations.

Could we have a guarantee that the administration of this scheme will not be transferred to London?

I think the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered proposals or representations from the county councils of Ross and Cromarty and Inverness for rural house-building reconstruction and improvement in the Western Isles; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no proposals or representations such as are referred to in the Question but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars I shall have inquiry made.

Will my right hon. Friend consider jogging these two county councils, who have such a bad past record in regard to housing, to get a move on, in view of the approaching end of the war?

The Question on the Order Paper is whether I have considered proposals or representations from these councils. I have not had any. Circulars have been sent to all county councils.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it desirable that Scottish county councils should be jogged from London?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that could very well be done from the Scottish Office in Edinburgh?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the needs of the hydro-electrical schemes in the Highlands for electrical equipment and supplies for the various works can be adequately met by Scottish firms; and whether they are receiving priority in the placing of orders for these supplies.

No constructional schemes have yet been laid before Parliament but the Board will naturally make every effort as and when schemes come into operation to have their requirements in equipment and supplies met so far as possible from Scots firms.

Would the Secretary of State not consider laying it down as part of the scheme that the fitments should come from Scotland, because we have had so many cases, where Scottish industry is concerned, in which the work has been done in England?

There are obviously parts of the equipment of which, under present conditions, it is impossible to obtain supplies from Scottish firms, and we do not want to hold up the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far arrangements have been made to implement the major recommendations of the committee on the reorganisation of the hill sheep industry.

I am glad to be able to say that recent discussions with the various interests concerned have shown a large measure of agreement with the major recommendations of the Committee's Report, particularly with those bearing on the rehabilitation of hill sheep farms, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, as to action which might usefully be taken. I may also refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to-day to a Question on the issue of wool marketing.

Is the Secretary of State aware of the great anxiety and worry that are caused to hill sheep farmers throughout Scotland and would-be tenants of hill sheep farms, owing to the uncertainty of action or no action on this Report?

There is no justification whatever for any anxiety as to non-action in the matter. We set up the Committee; we have done everything we can to stimulate agreement by the various interests in the matter, and I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that action will be taken.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether effect has been given to all the recommendations for improving the coalmining industry contained in the Report thereon of the Royal Commission presided over by Viscount Samuel, which was issued in 1026 [Cmd. 2600].

It is not practicable within the limits of Question and Answer to give details, but broadly speaking effect has already been given to most of the Commission's recommendations.

Is the Minister aware that scarcely anything has been done in the matter of amalgamation in the last 18 years?

The Coal Commission which, under Part II of the Act, was charged with the duties of amalgamation, as I said in reply to a Question some days ago, decided in its first Report not to proceed with the matter during the war.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman sure that everything possible has been done that should have been done in the last 18 years?

I am glad to say that my responsibility does not go quite so far back as that.

Will the Minister pay particular attention to the recommendation of the Samuel Commission which says:

"We come reluctantly and unanimously to the conclusion that the costs of production with the present hours and wages are greater than the industry can bear."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the supplies of coal to the metropolitan borough of Stepney are much below the allocation allowed by his Ministry; and if he will state the steps proposed to be taken to ensure that persons in badly-bombed areas will be assured of domestic fuel supplies.

The four coal depots in Stepney were affected by a recent railway embargo during one week in November, and merchants' receipts during that month were slightly below their allocation. The deficiency was only six per cent., and this has subsequently been offset by the despatch of extra coal to these depots from Government stock. Adequate reserve stocks are held by the merchants at these depots. The allocation of supplies to the London region takes account of the special needs of occupiers of bombed premises, and merchants and local fuel overseers will give special consideration to the needs of such consumers. In this connection, I would refer particularly to the provision made for such consumers in the Priority Deliveries Scheme, which I announced on 6th November.

How is it that, when the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has made a scheme for priority customers, in the borough of Stepney alone for the past four weeks there have been for the merchants 750 tons below their allocation? Is he not aware that the number of registered customers has increased, and that if we are to carry on as in the past four weeks there will obviously be a shortage of coal in Stepney?

I can assure my hon. Friend that that is not so. The cause of the shortage was an embargo between 14th and 20th November. The actual stocks held at this moment are equal to four weeks' supply. We have also arranged for withdrawals from Government stocks to get over any difficulty in previous allocations.

In view of the fact that my information is different from that of my right hon. and gallant Friend, and in view of the importance of the subject, I have no alternative but to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if the regional and group production directors have taken any steps to improve the quality of coal supplies in the Burnley area so that householders may get more coal and less stone per cwt.

Yes, Sir. Steps have been taken to impress on all colliery managements in the Burnley area the importance of keeping to a minimum the quantity of dirt in the coal produced, both by avoiding the excessive filling of dirt below ground and by eliminating it, by picking, washing, etc., on the surface.

May I take it that we can expect a very considerable improvement?

I sincerely hope so.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that a very large percentage of the coal being distributed in London contains large lumps of stone, which are quiet useless for heating purposes and are extremely heavy?

I shall be glad to have my right hon. Friend's information. I appreciate that there has been some deterioration, although, with exceptions, not more than one would expect during the war, because all the picking belts, where stones are removed, are very short of labour. If our coal officers are given information of cases which are unjustified, we will pursue them.

Is the Minister aware that the quality of the coal we are getting in London is very bad? In fact, the coal I am getting will not burn without being mixed with wood.

Why is the best coal going to Italy? Could not the best coal be kept here, and the stone be sent to Italy?

I can assure my hon. Friend that that is entirely contrary to the facts. There is no question of the best coal going out of the country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the confidential report on the coal industry is not made available to those able to benefit by it; how the news of its existence was allowed to leak out; and if any reports of this nature are in existence with reference to other industries.

On the first two parts of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 14th November. As regards the last part of the Question, I am informed that there are no other comparable reports.

Is it not a fact that very misleading statements, particularly a recent answer by the Home Secretary, as to the cost of coal production of this country and in the United States are being made, those statements being based on a dollar-sterling rate of exchange which is at least double the real rate? Therefore, the American costs given should be at least doubled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take any necessary steps to secure that no new shops shall be allowed to be opened within a reasonable radius of a similar shop occupied at the time of his or her call-up for military service by a unit of His Majesty's Forces until due notice has been served on that person if still living, so as to ascertain whether it is the intention of that unit to return to or reopen that shop, in which case no such newcomer shall be permitted to open within a specified time.

The procedure suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend would, I fear, lead to great delay. But every ex-trader on the Board of Trade Register will be entitled to reopen his shop after the war, and, meanwhile, licences to open new shops are only granted where these are required to meet the public need or to enable men disabled in the war to establish themselves in business.

In that case, would it not be possible for the man who has received a licence to obtain the whole of the goodwill?

I have given special instructions to our local committees who advise me on these matters that they are to take account of the interests of any traders who are on the Board of Trade Register; but my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion would involve great delay, because it would mean in some cases communicating with men in Burma before we could do anything.

Is there a similar committee to advise my right hon. Friend so far as the London area is concerned?

Yes, we have a committee for London.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that these men stationed overseas will have less chance of coming back and opening their shops unless some protection is given?

We shall not allow any competition with those men unless the committee holds that there is an urgent need among the local population.

What was the percentage of small traders on the Register in 1939?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that no facilities are given to British exporters to the markets of the Union of South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, in both of which markets are being captured by other countries; and if he will provide these.

Our exports to South Africa and Southern Rhodesia have fallen, owing to war conditions, but by a smaller percentage than our total export trade. I hope to be able to make a statement on export trade in the course of the Debate to-morrow.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that unless action is taken quickly these markets will be lost to us permanently?

Is there any truth in the allegation that, at the instance of the Department of Overseas Trade, contracts offered to this country are from time to time passed to the United States?

No, Sir, I do not think there is any ground for such a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to stop the present widespread profiteering in toys.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make on the subject of the price and quality of Christmas toys.

The prices of toys have been controlled, since April, 1943. There have been a number of prosecutions for overcharging, and I will gladly look into any cases which are brought to my notice. I have asked local price regulation committees to give special attention to this matter during the Christmas season. As regards quality, the range of available materials is very limited, and much ingenuity is being shown by toy makers.

Is the Minister aware that, in practically every toyshop, fantastic prices are being asked for rubbishy articles, and that this is seriously penalising the children of the country, many of whom will be unable to have any Christmas presents at all this Christmas?

I have taken special steps to increase the quota, and this will increase the supplies of toys available. The public ought not to buy rubbish, but should make complaint in the proper quarter.

Is the Minister aware that the hon. Member for Rugby, who is not too well blessed with this world's goods, was charged 9s. at the Army and Navy Stores recently for a box of wooden squares covered with rough paint, and will he take steps to see that justice is done?

Is the Minister also aware that this matter affects the children of serving men abroad, as it is impossible for the mothers of these children to buy toys, and that these women are much too worried already to complain about the matter; and will he not instruct his officers to make complaints, instead of leaving it to the poor women to do so?

We do our best in the matter, but the governing factor is the shortage of materials. I have done my best to increase the supply of toys; I have made Orders from time to time regulating the prices to be charged for them, and I look to the public to co-operate in bringing cases of overcharging to the right authorities so that we can deal with them. There have been no fewer than 45 prosecutions for overcharging.

May we know what penalties were inflicted in the cases where the prosecutions were successful?

Not without notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the letter sent to him by the Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce on the subject of export and post-armistice trade, he will now make a statement dealing with the points raised.

Yes, Sir. I hope to have an opportunity during to-morrow's Debate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any British exports have up to the present shown an increase since the beginning of the year; and, if so, whether he can give the details.

Some British exports have increased and others decreased since the beginning of the year. I hope to publish, as soon as possible in the New Year, particulars for the whole of 1944, corresponding to those recently published for 1943 and earlier years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is a shortage of children's gymnasium goloshes; and what steps are being taken to meet the demand.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Attercliffe (Mr. Hynd) on 7th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the Minister aware that there are manufacturers with stocks of these things, which are held up—I can give him the names—and that they are being badgered by education authorities, but cannot release them?

No, Sir. We have made provision, as I explained in my answer to the hon. Member for Attercliffe, for any education authority to get permits to enable them to obtain supplies. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any stocks held up, I will take steps to get them dispersed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, when arranging the distribution of the new supply of children's Wellington boots to rural areas, he will ensure that the rural areas of the Scottish West Highlands and Islands are included in the distribution in view of the exceedingly wet climate there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how soon the new supplies of children's Wellington boots will be available in the shops; and approximately how many pairs of boots will be available in rural districts of the county of Essex.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of rubber boots for Norfolk schoolchildren; and if he will take steps to improve the supply.

Some of these rubber boots should reach the shops before Christmas, but I must repeat that the total supply is very small. I hope that each of the rural areas mentioned in these three Questions will receive its share.

May I ask the Minister if, in view of the exceptionally wet weather in Scotland, he could allot a slightly bigger proportion to these areas?

I am afraid that on grounds of rainfall there would be many applicants.

Will there be, roughly, enough boots and shoes to go round and to provide one pair for each school child?

No, Sir. I explained in reply to an earlier Question, that the supply is very small indeed, and I am giving preference to rural areas for that reason.

Is the Minister aware that Italian prisoners of war are arriving in Norfolk wearing good rubber boots, and would it not be preferable that these boots should be given to British agricultural workers?

This is a Question about Wellington boots for children. In any case, the Italians are equipped, not by the Board of Trade, but by the War Office.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there exists a shortage of children's boots, sizes nine and 12, in the North Riding of Yorkshire; and whether he will take the necessary steps to secure that an adequate quantity is made available to this county.

If my hon. Friend will let me know where this shortage is reported, I shall be glad to have local enquiries made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a shortage has occurred in the North Riding for the last 12 months, and that no action has been taken hitherto?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will tell me of individual areas in the North Riding.

Could the Minister give any reason why large sized boots, such as 10 and 11, are not being made? Why is it impossible for an hon. Member to buy a pair anywhere?

The matter of sizes is determined by the manufacturers. We are responsible for the total allocation of leather, and they seek to allocate it between the sizes to meet public needs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences for the manufacture of aluminium ware have been granted recently and when may the public expect to find supplies in the shops.

Twenty-one firms have applied for licences and these are now being issued. Supplies will be small at first, but some aluminium hollow-ware should be in the shops early in the New Year.

Is the Minister aware that a statement was made that there would be supplies of these goods immediately, and that only two firms have got licences so far?

No, Sir. That is not the case. There were only 39 firms who made hollow-ware in the country. All were written to and asked if they wanted licences; 21 replied and are getting licences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make a statement on the negotiations that have taken place with representatives of the U.S.S.R. on trade between the two countries and on the consultations between representatives of various industries, firms and the Russian representatives.

I have at present nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Leslie) on 16th November.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the discussions and consultations have been satisfactory?

They are going forward. There are great complications on both sides, and special considerations to be taken into account, but they are being pressed forward actively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to state in how many British cartel agreements did German industry participate before the war; whether he can give a list of the industries; whether such agreements have been subject to examination by official quarters; and in how many cases was there a clause according to which, in the event of war, cartel arrangements will be resumed after the termination of hostilities.

A substantial number of such agreements is known to the Board of Trade, and I will consider the possibility of drawing up a list of the industries concerned. I know of no case where such an agreement contains a clause providing for resumption after the termination of hostilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why an exit permit was granted to Sir Clive Baillieu to attend the International Business Conference at Rye, New York; and whether the views of His Majesty's Government are in any way represented by the Report presented by him in favour of the continuation of international cartels.

Sir Clive Baillieu attended this Conference as one of a number of representatives of British trade organisations, in response to an invitation issued by various trade associations in the United States. Nothing said or done at the Conference in any way commits His Majesty's Government.

Is this gentleman connected with any firm that belongs to international cartels?

I could not say.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of toilet paper; and if he can take steps to arrange for an increased output.

Yes, Sir. As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) on the 7th November, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Production has already increased the allocation of material for this purpose. Since then, a further substantial increase has been arranged, but it will take a little time for the additional supplies to reach the shops.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information to the effect that a great deal of this paper is being used for printing pamphlets and other documents?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the acute shortage of plain coloured or white spun silk or thin cotton materials suitable for school blouses and shirts; and what steps is he taking to increase the supplies of these types of materials.

No, Sir, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have details I shall be glad to investigate the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the control of wool he will endeavour to simplify the procedure of his Department in the designation, classification and allocation of wool, with a view to enabling the trade to carry on their business more expeditiously.

It is not quite clear to me what my hon. Friend has in mind; but, if he will give me particulars, I shall be glad to look into them.

Does the Minister appreciate that, in the opinion of the trade, most of their problems are due to the chaotic control of the Board of Trade?

When they meet me, they place the blame elsewhere.

My right hon. Friend will hear more about it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since the U.S.S.R. is not a signatory of the Berne Convention, he will take steps to ensure patent protection of the specifications of British goods sent to the U.S.S.R., or advertised or described in official Russian technical journals.

Patent protection in the U.S.S.R. for British or other inventions is afforded by Soviet law.

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that he is the President of the Board of Trade for Great Britain, and stand up for the rights of British traders?

Yes, Sir, but no representations have reached me that any British trader is suffering in regard to this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in allocating supplies of blankets and sheets, he will give preference to the development areas.

Preference is given, not to particular areas, but, as stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton (Mr. Summers) on the 7th November, to particular classes of people with special needs.

Will the Minister remember that, in the development areas, the stocks were very low, owing to the depression, even before the war; and will he therefore give some preference to these areas?

Yes, Sir, I know that only too well, but I repeat that preference is not given to areas as such, but to particular classes of persons, and, if there is a particular area with large numbers of such persons, that area will get more.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I know persons who cannot get them? What is the position? How do they get them?

Would my hon. Friend be kind enough to read the rather full answer which I gave on 7th November, to which I have referred?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the purpose of the setting up of the Moberley Committee; and whether that Committee is to decide the type of book which it is proper to encourage by a grant of paper.

This Committee advises me on the use of the small reserve of paper set aside for books of special importance which publishers cannot produce from their own quotas. The Com- mittee's recommendations are largely confined to reprints of standard scientific, educational and religious books.

However well the Committee may work, does not this imply an interference with what is published, upon which a great many are agreed; and in view of that fact, will the right hon. Gentleman, as and when extra supplies become available, see that both the pool and those particular cases of individuals receive the greater part of the extra supply?

My hon. and learned Friend has another Question which covers part of that point. This Committee consists of publishers who advise me what books of special importance could be published by publishers who have already exceeded their quota. I think it is a good Committee, and it has done very useful work. The total of paper supply in the reserve is only 8½ per cent. of the total allocated to books.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no need for all this shortage of paper and that we are burning an immense amount of straw, which could be utilised for making paper?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the intended destination of the increase in the paper ration for the current licensing period; and if he intends increasing the quantity given to the pool.

Of the extra 1,433 tons for the current four-monthly period, 800 tons are for the Services Post-war Education Scheme, 433 tons go to increase the publishers' quotas from 40 to 42½ per cent. of pre-war usage and the remaining 200 tons are for the special reserve, on the use of which the Moberley Committee advise me.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the members of the pool were consulted on the proportion which could be given, and if not, would it not be much better that they should have a larger proportion?

I think that the allocation is as fair as we can make it, in view of the great pressure that we get, for example, for the production of post-war education books, the demand for which cannot be met by publishers from the ordinary permit.

Has the right hon. Gentleman been advised that, owing to an alteration in the regulation with regard to over makes, the addition to supplies of the recent allocation will be almost negligible; and is he aware that the suggestion that this is any effective contribution to meeting the demand for books is as sensible as trying to irrigate the Sahara with a watering-can?

The position is not as bad as the hon. Gentleman suggests, and I think that the new allocation will result in a general increase. I will gladly discuss the matter with him, as I know he has it very much in mind.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not possible to obtain anywhere in London dictionaries either Spanish or French, and will he divert some paper for that purpose?

All that I can do is to pass on that information to the Moberley Committee, which I shall be very glad to do.

Is any of this paper going to the manufacture of boots and shoes?

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I give notice that, in view of the importance of this subject and in order to give the right hon. Gentleman an opportunity of making perhaps a clearer and fuller statement, I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible occasion?

I have often pointed out that it is not a point of Order when notice is given to raise a matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can release more leather for boot and shoe repairs.

I shall be glad to allot more leather for repairs, as soon as supplies improve. Meanwhile, I have issued substantial supplies of rubber composition to repairers.

asked the Secretary of State for War why men discharged from hospital, after being wounded in Normandy, are living in tents at a convalescent depot in Midlothian, while in nearby camps prisoners of war are comfortably housed in huts.

The accommodation at convalescent depots was increased in order to take patients from North West Europe by the erection of marquees. The floors are covered with tarpaulins; they are heated by open fires and lit by electric light. I understand that convalescents are in fact no longer accommodated under canvas, but I am verifying this. The hutted accommodation in which the prisoners of war are housed lacks special facilities and is generally unsuitable for convalescents.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that moisture seeps in, and the men's blankets become damp; and is this a proper way to treat men who have just had hospital treatment—to turn them loose under canvas, after they have served at the front?

The accommodation situation in this country is so difficult that I am afraid that cases of this sort are bound to occur from time to time. I do not think that they occur very often and I hope—and I am verifying my information—that it has now stopped in this particular instance.

May I have an assurance that men sent to convalescent camps will have a first priority for any hut accommodation that may be available; and could not prisoners be put under canvas?

I cannot give a categorical assurance of that sort as one does not know the circumstances in each case, but I will certainly give the assurance that we will do our utmost to avoid these occurrences.

Surely there are a number of large houses in the country which are not occupied and which could be made available for this purpose?

The whole pressure on me from this House for the last six months has been to release houses as far as possible, in order to make accommodation available for evacuees from London.

asked the Secretary of State for War what construction is being put on the words, "who have borne the main burden of battle in the fighting line," for the purpose of qualifying for the home leave scheme, announced by the Prime Minister on 17th November.

The primary object of the scheme was the encouragement of the fighting man. Indeed before I put the scheme forward at all I considered very carefully whether in view of the fact that only a limited number of places could be created it ought not to be confined to troops in contact with the enemy. This, however, would have meant that some theatres would be cut out of the scheme altogether and I came to the conclusion that this could not be sustained, particularly as after five years of war, the base and lines of communication units tend to contain a higher proportion of men with long service overseas than the infantry. Moreover, I am very conscious that separation from home bears hardly upon those who are not actually in the front line as well as upon the fighting men. Quotas were therefore allotted to all the theatres concerned. As I said in reply to the hon. Member on 28th November, Commanders-in-Chief were advised to have regard to service in contact with the enemy and length of service overseas but, subject to this, full discretion was left to Commanders-in-Chief.

My right hon. Friend said the other day that he would consider letting the House know on what principles the different commanders in different theatres were using their discretion. Has he been able to take that matter further?

I have not got the details from the more distant theatres yet. I understand that, in Italy, for the first convoy, the men chosen have in fact all come from troops in contact with the enemy. In the Middle East, they are chosen by ballot among people of between three and four years' service overseas, but I will supplement that later on, if I may.

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain why publicity was given to the case of a man coming home who has been much less than three years abroad, as this has caused grave irritation among wives whose husbands have been away for much longer periods?

I know that, and it was explained in the Prime Minister's original announcement that a system of leave primarily designed to encourage the men who are actually fighting, and a system of repatriation after long service overseas not confined to fighting men, do create certain inequalities of that sort. The only alternative would be to have no leave scheme at all.

Will the right hon. Gentleman place on record the importance of being careful in regard to the dates of the men going overseas, as in case of mistake great disappointment is felt by the men?

I have not heard that there have been mistakes of that sort, but I will certainly go into the matter.

Is the Minister aware that the discretion given to commanding officers resulted in Burma in men of the Royal Corps of Signals having their leave postponed, and in view of the great disappointment caused, can he tell us whether any steps can be taken in the near future to give leave to those men who have been overseas on active service for many years?

There is a Question later on the Paper by the hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Hogg) and I am giving a full answer to it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if all men being discharged from the Army are now receiving civilian clothing on the full demobilisation scale.

As far as I am aware all men entitled to an issue of civilian clothing are receiving the full scale.

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities he gives citizens of Eire, now serving in the British Army, to have their names placed on the register as electors for the Parliament of Eire.

I have received no request for any special facilities to be made available for this purpose.