asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the widow of Sergeant N. A. Reed, No. 6969343, who was killed in Normandy on 28th June and whose effects were sent to England on 10th July, has not yet received these effects nor the balance of her husband's account; whether he will see that these effects, etc., are immediately remitted; and whether he can assure the House that this case is exceptional.

I am aware of the case referred to. The personal effects of the late soldier cannot be traced as having been received by the responsible authorities in the United Kingdom, but inquiries of the late soldier's regiment regarding their disposal are still being pursued. The balance of the late soldier's account was issued to the widow on 30th November, 1944. The issue was delayed for a reasonable period in case a further (and possibly varying) will came to hand in a paybook which might have been with the personal effects. I can assure the hon. Member that this case is exceptional.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the recent Press story, accompanied by photographs, about the four German boys who had acted as snipers, had been passed by any military censor.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the story of German boys to be court-martialled for firing on American troops together with a picture was allowed to pass censorship and thus secure the appearance of authenticity; and whether, to preserve the reputation of reliability, he will cause inquiries to be made in the matter with a view to minimising such misleading reports in the future.

I understand that the story in question came from a correspondent accredited to, and working on, the front of the American Armies and passed through field censorship. Censorship is for military security and the field censor was not in a position to check the accuracy of a story of this kind. The question of any further action is for the Supreme Commander.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the shortage of beer for the British Forces in Italy, he will recommend N.A.A.F.I. to send out a competent brewer as constructive consultant to get breweries going again and see that the troops get the beer at the place and time required.

An expert brewer is already in Italy advising N.A.A.F.I. on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that men serving in the R.E.M.E. base workshops in Italy have recently been issued with biscuits instead of the bread ration, although at the same time Italian civilians have been drawing their issue of fresh bread; if he is aware that Italian civilians employed in the cookhouses are stealing our men's food without any action being taken against them; and if he will take steps to remedy both these grievances;(2) whether he is aware that there has been serious delay in issuing winter clothing to the troops in Italy; and if he can give an assurance that steps have been taken to remedy this.

The hon. Member has sent me the letter on the basis of which he has put on the paper these somewhat sweeping general charges. As I understand it the complaints originate from one man in one unit—a base workshop of the R.E.M.E. The first complaint was that the particular man had only just got his winter blouse and that thick shirts had not yet been distributed in the unit, although the issue of winter clothing was due 10 days earlier. The second was that on one particular day the particular unit had biscuits instead of bread whereas Italian civilians were getting fresh bread. This developed into a statement that every kind of ration is short and the men go definitely hungry owing to Italians stealing the rations and not being punished for it. The complaints as regards the particular unit are being in- vestigated and I will inform the House of the result whatever they are.In the meantime I will make certain general observations.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to put an end to the £10,000 per week of black market trade in English cigarettes marked Free Gift or N.A.A.F.I. stores for His Majesty's forces going on in Brussels, in view of the discontent caused among the troops by this scandal.

N.A.A.F.I. have an investigation branch to deal with the problem of pilferage. I am inquiring whether any special steps are necessary in Belgium to prevent pilferage and illicit trading in cigarettes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in a hospital in the Mediterranean area, the name of which has been given to him, only four stethoscopes are provided for the use of 35 doctors, to the serious hindrance of their work; that no replacements are available when the stethoscopes become unserviceable and that there is no source from which doctors can obtain more even at their own expense; whether similar conditions obtain in other hospitals; and what steps he will take to put the matter right.

A doctor is normally expected to have his own stethoscope and the facts given in the first part of the hon. Member's Question are in accordance with the scales laid down. As far as I am aware all demands for stethoscopes forwarded from North Africa and Italy since early in 1943 have been met, and I am inquiring whether doctors are in fact finding any difficulty in getting replacements.

asked the Secretary of State for War what facilities are afforded to Army officers serving overseas who are desirous of pursuing Parliamentary candidatures to meet representative organisations in England.

The position at present is substantially the same as that described in the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) on 6th June. Consideration is being given to the possibility of improving the facilities with the approach of a General Election.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will cause an inquiry to be held into the circumstances under which an officer, of whose name he has been informed, was relieved of his command of a battalion, or take steps to ensure that the charge of inefficiency against the said officer is expunged from his record.

This case has already been made the subject of full inquiry in connection with the officer's appeals under Section 42 of the Army Act, his rights under which he has now exhausted.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the serving men overseas are asking for newspapers from this country; and what steps his Department is taking to get newspapers to them as quickly as the transport will permit.

Troops fighting in North-West Europe have from the outset been supplied—usually by air—with daily newspapers in considerable quantities. It has not hitherto been possible so to supply troops in more distant theatres and they have had to rely largely on newspapers produced locally. I hope, however, that it will shortly be possible to fly out an appreciable supply.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered making some recompense to those men who joined the L.D.V. and who were discharged because of age when the name was changed to Home Guard; and how many requests for this has he had.

All ex-members of the L.D.V. or of the Home Guard are entitled to receive the Certificate of Service on application to the County Territorial Army Association which administers their former unit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether recruiting of East Africans still continues for service in the Armed Forces in Burma and elsewhere.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements for leave have been made for East African troops serving overseas.

An exchange scheme is in operation between the Middle East and East Africa which enables East Africans to return home. It has not hitherto been possible to make any arrangements for the East Africans serving in South-East Asia Command, but the question is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War if reconsideration will be given to the need of reducing or eliminating corporal punishment for offences committed by West African troops, particularly where such offences would not involve corporal punishment if committed by white troops in West Africa; and whether definite instructions will now be given and insisted on prohibiting whipping, striking, caning, slapping, kicking, punching or any other expression of violence employed in securing discipline and obedience among West African troops.

In answer to the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 24th October. The second part of the Question gives the impression that the West African soldier is subject to unauthorised physical punishment amounting to personal violence. There are many thousands of West Africans serving in various parts of the world and as far as my information goes this impression is untirely unwarranted. I am investigating one complaint now, and I should be obliged if the hon. Member would forward to me any facts supporting his Question, so that they too can be fully investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints of Signals units serving in the S.E.A.C. that they have been obliged to outstay their period of overseas service owing to the lack of replacements; and whether he has any statement to make.

The Commander-in-Chief in India informed the War Office that he had no alternative but to postpone repatriation under Python of Signals personnel for some months owing to operational necessity, as maintenance of vital communications on this expanding and far-flung front depended on the arrival of replacements of Signals units before departure of men for repatriation. General Auchinleck has told me that every case where repatriation of men under the Python scheme has to be postponed owing to operational necessity is referred to him personally, and a decision is made only after the most careful consideration. I recognise the strong feeling in this House and amongst the troops that everything possible should be done to reduce the overseas tour in the Army, but the Python scheme has always been subject to military necessity and only Commanders-in-Chief can be the judges of this.The War Office have in fact despatched in the last three months to India and S.E.A.C. more than twice as many Signals personnel as have been returned from those theatres. But the expanding needs of operations to which I have referred, together with the reductions in the period of overseas service to which the War Office are working as I explained to the House on 26th September, have made the situation more difficult, especially as regards Signals personnel. But the Commander-in-Chief India has personally assured me that under present arrangements all Signals personnel with 3 years 8 months overseas service at the end of this year should have embarked for home by April, 1945. The situation has been explained to all Signals units in India Command in a personal letter by General Auchinleck, and Admiral Mountbatten has also made a personal statement to the troops in the South-East Asia Command.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now able to make any statement with regard to the future organisation of the Army welfare services in India and the S.E.A.C.

I am afraid the answer is "Not for a little while yet."

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that so-called other ranks have been warned against wearing collars and ties when walking out and while attending dances, that disciplinary action notices have been given in orders dated 10th November, 1944; and will he give instruction against undemocratic action of this kind being taken.

The instructions issued by A.C.I. on 15th November contain the following:

"Ties may be worn when off duty in barracks, when on leave or walking out, when working in offices or when attending lectures or similar indoor instruction. They will not be worn on other occasions. Ties of other than regulation pattern are forbidden."

If my hon. Friend knows of any other instructions inconsistent with these which are being enforced and if he will send me particulars I will have the matter investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many members of the Regular and Territorial Army Reserve of Officers there are for whom no employment has been found; and what steps are being taken to employ them.

The figures asked for by the hon. Member are not readily available. Available members of these Reserves were interviewed personally at the end of 1939, and again a further review was carried out in 1941, and I am not aware that there are any who could have been usefully employed in the Army and have not been so employed. No further steps are proposed now.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can give the name of the officer appointed to succeed General Burrows as Chief of the British Military Mission in Moscow.

No successor has so far been appointed, but Rear-Admiral Archer is officiating as Chief of the Mission.

asked the Secretary of State for War how often, in the course of the year, officers from the British Military Mission at G.H.Q. in Russia visit the armies at the front; and whether application has been made for permission to attach British representatives to the H.Q. of Russian armies in the field.

Visits by officers from the British Military Mission in Moscow to the Russian Armies at the front have not been instituted as a matter of routine. This is clearly not possible for operational and administrative reasons. The Head of the Mission paid a visit to the Russian front in July of this year. Another officer of the Mission visited the front in October.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what purpose not directly connected with the war, in addition to the taking of films, the military have used or intend to use their power to close main public highways; and whether he will give instructions to restrict the manner in which this power is in future used to operational requirements, until it is possible to relax the Order.

In most cases roads are closed either for security reasons or in order to park vehicles and equipment. These purposes, as also the making of military training films, are necessary for the efficient prosecution of the war. But as I said in my reply to my hon. Friend on 14th November, the powers to close roads are used as sparingly as possible, and never without consulting the Ministry of War Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that many requisitioned properties in Norfolk, both buildings and land, have long been unused; and whether he will arrange for their early occupation or derequisition.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange to release dwelling-houses at present under requisition to his Department in Southend, Leigh-on-Sea, Loughton and other areas in Essex, where accommodation might be made available for persons bombed out from Ilford and elsewhere in Greater London.

It is essential to keep a reserve of unoccupied accommodation for future known commitments and for unforeseen contingencies, but this reserve is kept as small as military needs allow. The matter is now being reviewed, and I should be grateful if my hon. Friends would send me details of the specific cases they have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many houses in Colchester requisitioned for Army use and now not required for this purpose he has been able as yet to release for other purposes.

The total number of houses requisitioned by the War Department in Colchester is 48. Nine of these are empty, but I regret that it is not possible to release them at present. Six other houses have been released or transferred to other Government Departments in the last three months.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the circumstances under which Frodsham Drill Hall, which is under requisition to his Department, was let to the prospective Liberal National candidate for Eddisbury, for a political meeting addressed by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 21st November, 1944.

Application was made to the War Office through Western Command for the use of this Drill Hall as the hon. Member states, and the request was granted in accordance with the usual procedure by which requisitioned halls may be loaned for political meetings so long as military commitments permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the case to which his attention has been called, in which a corporal was sentenced to 84 days' detention and reduced to the ranks for failing to jump during a parachute exercise at Salisbury after his return from France where he had taken part in an airborne landing on D-day, as a result of which his nerves had been badly shaken, and if he has any statement to make with regard to this case.

The instructions for psychiatric examination, before their trial, of men who refuse to jump were carried out in this case. No medical or psychiatric reason was found to account for his conduct. He was accordingly tried by Field General Court-Martial on a charge laid under Section 40, Army Act, "Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline." He was convicted and sentenced to 84 days' detention. The sentence was reviewed by the Commander of the Division in which the man is serving on 5th November, 1944, and orders were issued for the sentence to be suspended as soon as arrangements can be made to post the soldier overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in connection with the Forces in the Middle East who may obtain leave in Cairo, he will consider making arrangements whereby a reduced rate of hotel charges is made available so as to make their leave more enjoyable without over-spending and getting beyond their means.

As far as I know sufficient accommodation is provided in hostels and clubs run by voluntary bodies for all ranks spending their leave in Cairo. The charges are reasonable. I am inquiring whether special arrangements with hotels exist, and if not whether any should be made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any officers or sisters on the staff of the No. 60 British General Hospital, who have been overseas in the Middle East and India for more than 4½ years, are still in India; and, if so, how soon they will be repatriated.

There were recently two officers and seven nursing sisters eligible for repatriation at this hospital. One nursing sister has sailed, one officer and three sisters have been allotted passages and one officer and one sister are now awaiting passages. The other two have chosen not to be repatriated now.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the circumstances under which, at a recent court-martial, three men of a certain machine-gun training centre were sentenced to 12 months', six months' and three months' detention, respectively, for misuse of Service rations; whether further proceedings against other personnel are impending; and what instructions have been issued to the special investigation branch of the C.M.P., Western Command, not to proceed against certain senior officers who would appear to be involved.

Inquiries are being made, and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I receive the necessary information.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make arrangements whereby Army chaplains who have served for three years overseas will be brought back for home duty and their places taken by other chaplains from the homeland.

Army Chaplains are subject to the same rules as regards posting to the Home Establishment after long absence overseas as other officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the conditions under which an accused man may ask for the services of an officer from another station who is prepared to act as his friend at a court-martial.

The preparation for defence by an accused person is laid down in Rule of Procedure 14. This rule states:

"Rule of Procedure 14.

(A) An accused person for whose trial a court-martial has been ordered to assemble shall be afforded proper opportunity of preparing his defence and shall be allowed free communication with his witnesses and with any friend, defending officer or legal adviser with whom he may wish to consult."

Rule of Procedure 14 (B) states inter alia:

"An officer … shall ask him (the accused) to state in writing whether or not he wishes to have an officer assigned by the convening officer to represent him at the trial, if a suitable officer is available."

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the almost universal demand on the part of troops overseas to return home when conditions permit, his attention has been drawn to the case of a staff-sergeant who applied to remain in the Middle East and was refused permission to do so; and if he will ensure that permission is not in future withheld in such cases.

This case can be argued at great length either way. But two things are clear. The men who have married Levantine wives while on active service and therefore wish to stay in the Middle East can almost be counted on the fingers of one hand. And, secondly, the Army cannot admit that because a man has married a Levantine while on active service he has a right to remain indefinitely in the Middle East irrespective of any need for his services elsewhere. In the present case the War Office have issued instructions that the man should be given a period of leave instead of reversion to the Home Establishment. This leave need not necessarily be taken in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Indian soldiers in this country have to call at a police station to get leave passes signed; whether this is a general regulation or only applicable in particular cases; and what penalty was inflicted on Rahman Ali at a court martial at Chelsea on 31st October.

I am inquiring into this and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps are taken to see that soldiers in hospital in India and out of touch with their units are not left entirely without money.

I understand that soldiers in hospital in India, if in possession of their pay-books, should be able to draw cash through the hospital authorities. I have, however, cabled to India for details of the arrangements and will inform my hon. Friend when the reply is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give the latest available information as to food supplies in Holland and France and the arrangements which are being made to supplement them.

The United Kingdom and United States authorities are jointly supplementing local deficiencies of food-stuffs with the object of bringing the diet in liberated countries up to a certain standard. The conditions vary very greatly from district to district, but the main difficulties arise from deficiencies in the facilities for distributing the food-stuffs.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider the decision not to decide until the end of the war whether service on a Regular Army Emergency Commission may count as qualifying service for the award of the Territorial Decoration and Efficiency Medal, since by that time many of those interested will be dead or too old for further service.

This question will certainly be borne in mind, but I do not agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that time should be devoted to its consideration now.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will indicate what restrictions are now to be imposed, or have recently been imposed, on the movements of co-operating Italian prisoners of war; and how the public are to distinguish these from non-co-operating prisoners.

Co-operating prisoners of war are restricted to movement within a radius of five miles of their camp or billet without escort in off duty periods up to 10 p.m. This restriction has been in force since August. Italian co-operators wear unpatched battledress dyed chocolate or green, bearing a shoulder flash with the word "Italy" in red letters. Non-co-operators wear chocolate dyed battledress with contrasting coloured patches, but do not wear the shoulder flash.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the camps for Italian prisoners of war in Norfolk which were stated by the Minister of Agriculture to be unsuitable for German prisoners of war have now been converted to accommodate the latter; and, if not, how soon Italian prisoners of war can be replaced by German prisoners of war for work on Norfolk farms so that the Italians can be returned to their own country and help in its liberation.

There are German prisoners in three of the six camps in this area. They cannot be put into the other three for security reasons, even if the camps were converted. There continues to be a demand for Italian prisoner of war labour in this area which cannot be met by German prisoners of war owing to the conditions under which the Germans have to be employed.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now able to release medical radio apparatus surrendered by private persons at the outbreak of war and to permit its use by medical men.

Since July, 1942, as was announced in the Press at the time, owners of high-frequency apparatus taken into Post Office custody may apply to my Department for a permit to have it returned to them. It is a condition of granting a permit that a suitable screen and filter must be installed for use with the apparatus so as to limit radiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the change of name of the Allied Control Commission to Allied Commission has meant any difference in the powers of the Commission to regulate internal conditions in Italy.

The change of name to Allied Commission corresponds to the intention of His Majesty's Government and the United States Government as announced in the joint statement issued by the Prime Minister and the President of the United States on 27th September last gradually to hand over an increasing measure of responsibility to the Italian Government, subject to that Government proving that it can maintain law and order and the regular administration of justice. The powers of the Commission have not been diminished, and it will depend on developments how far they will be exercised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been or are being issued for the manufacture of carpets, linoleum and other floor coverings; whether stocks of raw materials are to be made available; and whether he has consulted with the Ministry of Labour to ensure that sufficient weavers are also released from other work.

Fifty-five firms have been licensed to make carpets, 66 to make rugs and eight to make substitute linoleum and felt base. The maximum quantity of raw materials which can be spared for this purpose is being allocated to these firms. I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour about their labour requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to authorise a substantial increase in the manufacture of hats for men, having regard to the acute shortage of supplies in many areas and to the relatively short life of hats not made from fur.

I recently raised the rate of quota for headwear from 50 per cent. to 60 per cent., by value, of supplies in 1941; this was the rate suggested by the industry as appropriate in present circumstances. But large orders for men's hats have been placed by the Ministry of Supply for the demobilisation programme, and these will substantially reduce civilian supplies for a time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is his intention to give official and adequate representation to practising designers on the Council for Art and Industry which he proposes to set up.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await a statement on this subject, which I hope to make shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give evacuated civil servants the same assurance as has been given to industrial workers in Cmd. 6568, that those who wish to do so will be given the earliest possible opportunity of transferring to work near their homes after the cessation of hostilities in Europe.

Cmd. Paper 6568 provides that employees who have worked away from home for three years or more, and want to obtain work nearer home, or are in an establishment with a surplus of labour, will be given high priority in order of release. It does not provide that a transfer will be arranged apart from release. Similar arrangements will apply to the Civil Service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the grave concern of civil servants as to the possible location outside London of his Ministry; and will he give an assurance that there will be an adequate opportunity for discussion on this subject by the interested staff associations before any irrevocable decision is taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is expected that Government Departments, which were evacuated from London in the early days of the war, will be brought back to London soon after the conclusion of hostilties in Europe; and, if not, what is proposed.

No large scale return to London of evacuated Departments will be possible for some time after the conclusion of hostilities in Europe, in view principally of the acute shortage of accommodation in London. At the same, time, not all the evacuated Departments can remain where they are. Some are occupying accommodation which may be urgently needed for other important purposes after the conclusion of hostilities; and some will have to begin recruitment of new permanent staff at an early date which it would be difficult to do in their present areas. For these and other reasons affecting particular Departments, it will be necessary that some Departments should be moved to other provincial localities. Plans are being worked out now, and the position of the staff involved will be discussed with staff representatives.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider giving a special preference to disabled members of the Forces in connection with the proposals for recruitment to established posts in the Civil Service during the reconstruction period outlined in Command 6567; and whether he will allocate some portion of the vacancies set aside for ex-Service men to those who are disabled and for whom the chances of other employment are restricted.

As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, the Government as employers have accepted in principle the obligations imposed on employers generally by the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944. Whether special preferences will be needed cannot be decided until the quota arrangements under the Act have been settled. Meanwhile, however, the Civil Service Commissioners have amended their Regulations so as to enable persons whose health has been impaired by reason of service in the present war to be admitted to established employment notwithstanding their disability.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present amount of the grant-in-aid to the Royal Society and other bodies in respect of scientific publications; and whether, in view of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and other bodies, he is yet in a position to indicate whether it will be possible in the near future to make a substantial increase in this grant.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the similar question by the hon. Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 17th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider granting voluntary contributors to the National Health and Pension Scheme Income Tax relief, on similar lines to that allowed to persons holding other life insurance policies.

I am afraid that I could not see my way to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion. I am sending him a copy of a reply given on 19th May, 1942, to a similar Question asked by my hon. Friend the member for Canterbury (Sir W. Wayland).

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, under Part II of the insurance proposals, the suggested appeal tribunals will be as independent as county court and High Court judges in settling disputes and will appellants be allowed to give evidence on oath and to be represented by counsel.

I have been asked to reply. These tribunals in dealing with cases coming before them will act in a judicial capacity and must therefore be independent. As regards the last two parts of the Question, no decisions have yet been taken; these matters are being considered in the light of the views expressed in the recent Debate. Parliament will, of course, have full opportunity of discussing them when the Bill is presented.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he can now give an estimate of the probable weekly total of the compulsory insurance to be levied from each individual under the proposals of the National Insurance Scheme as sketched in the White Paper, including in his computation besides the direct contribution the indirect cost resulting from increase in the rates and taxes; and whether it is proposed to control prices before the scheme is introduced, as otherwise rising prices will diminish the value of the monetary benefits.

I have been asked to reply. Full estimates of the cost of the National Insurance Scheme have been given in the recent White Papers, including the insurance contributions payable by contributors and the total cost to public funds. I am not in a position to say at what weekly figure the latter will fall on the individual taxpayer and ratepayer. It will obviously vary considerably between one case and another. As regards the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statements of the Government's policy on stability of prices in the White Paper on Employment Policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the strong feeling that exists among blind people, because of the imposition of Purchase Tax upon wireless sets for the blind, which are purchased each year as a result of an appeal to the general public at Christmas time; and will he endeavour to have such hardship removed.

It has always been a principle of the Purchase Tax that there should be no classes of consumers privileged to buy chargeable goods free of tax, and I regret it is not possible to authorise tax-free purchase of the wireless receivers provided as a result of the Christmas appeal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a date has been fixed for a conference between British and Indian representatives on the question of sterling balances; where this conference will take place; and whether similar conferences are envisaged with other countries.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The second and third parts therefore do not arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how far his consent is necessary for payment in advance of money for advertisements in official U.S.S.R. technical journals; and will he withhold his permission to pay the £35,000 concerned until such time as a reciprocal trading agreement is made with the U.S.S.R.

The permission of the Treasury is required for making such payments. As I explained to the House on 1st December, permission is at present withheld on the ground that it is unlikely that direct benefit to our export trade will result. This does not depend on the conclusion of a reciprocal trade agreement with the U.S.S.R.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that HANSARD for 8th and 9th November, being the Report of the two-day Debate on Industrial Injury Insurance, is out of print; that His Majesty's Stationery Office state that the Report for 8th November is being reprinted but that the Report for 9th November, despite demands for it from hon. Members of this House, is not to be reprinted; and if he will give immediate instructions that this decision be reversed.

Both parts are available again now. They have been out of print for a few days, which must sometimes happen under war-time production conditions if the maximum initial print is exhausted by a continuing demand during the time the type of the part in question is being used for printing off the sheets for the bound volume which will include it. I regret that my hon. Friend was inadvertently informed that the part for 9th November was not to be reprinted.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the petrol pumps which were taken over by his Department from garage proprietors are likely to be restored to their owners, so as to enable them to be put into working order.

If my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the petrol pumps and storage equipment which were requisitioned by the Petroleum Board in 1940, in order to ensure the wider dispersal of petrol stocks, I am able to inform him that all the storages so requisitioned have been emptied and restored to their owners. The restoration was completed by April, 1943. If, on the other hand, my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to petrol storages in the Special Defence Area, which were closed down under the powers conferred by the Petroleum (No. 3) Order, 1940, which has recently been revoked, I would refer him to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Murray) on 7th November.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when it is expected that British machinery will be available to increase the efficiency of British coalmines; and what firms have now obtained permission, labour and materials, to engage in its manufacture.

British machinery is and has been continuously available in sufficient quantity to meet the needs of the British coalmines, and several hundred firms are engaged in its manufacture. I am not aware of any particular difficulties about labour or materials, but if my hon. Friend knows of any special case perhaps he will let me have details.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the average period of absence from work caused by industrial accidents.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that no information is available which would enable me to state the average period of absence from work. I may, however, refer my hon. Friend to the Table on page 10 of the Workmen's Compensation Statistics for 1938 (Cmd. 6203), a copy of which will be found in the Library, where he will find certain information as to the duration of cases in the seven large groups of industries from which returns were collected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Report of Mr. L. Hill on the re-organisation of local government in Jamaica has yet been published; and will he have a copy of the Report placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Yes, Sir. A copy of the Report was placed in the Library of the House in May last.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what negotiations have taken place between the Forestry Commission and the trade associations for revising the prices for surplus nursery stock agreed upon in November, 1943; and how do the new compare with the old prices.

The Forestry Commissioners at a recent meeting with the Horticultural Trades Association have agreed prices for plants surplus to the Commissioners' requirements. The prices generally are higher for 1944 than 1943, especially in the larger sizes, but an overall comparison is not possible because the categories of plants are not all the same. The following are examples of increases in prices of plants of the same category:

• Scots Pine 2 year seedlings—16 per cent.
• Scots Pine 2 year 1 year transplants—no change.
• Japanese Larch 2 year seedlings—41 per cent.
• Norway Spruce transplants—25 per cent.
• Sitka Spruce seedlings—16 per cent.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Forestry Commission has entered into any agreement with the nursery trade for the sale of surplus seedling trees; and if so what price per 1,000 is being charged to the trade for two year larch seedlings and what is the cost per 1,000 of raising such seedlings.

The Forestry Commissioners have entered into an agreement with the Horticultural Trades Association for the sale of surplus seedling trees. The price for two-year seedling Larch including both the European and Japanese species is 50s. per thousand. I am unable to state the cost of raising the plants, because it has been impossible, owing to drastic reductions of staff, to maintain the normal costing system.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can make any statement on the number of men of military age in factories which are no longer doing essential war work, and who are accordingly being called up.

Young men who are no longer needed for the work for which they have been retained in civilian employment are being called up as they are needed in the Fighting Services. It would not be in the public interest to make any statement as to the number involved.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number in each educational category of applications received up to date for financial assistance under the Government Further Education and Training Scheme; and how many applications have been successful in each category.

I assume that by education categories the hon. Member has in mind the different types of courses of professional training. In the following Schedule a broad classification has been made of the number of applications received, awards made, and cases awaiting decision as at 31st October, 1944.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in leaflet P.L. 120, which describes the Government Further Education and Training Scheme, paragraph 3 suggests that civilians whose further education or training has been prevented or interrupted by compulsory war work not involving the wearing of uniform will have a relatively poor chance of receiving help through the scheme; whether this is the intention or whether those who have served in essential work will be given reasonable opportunities of completing their education comparable with those afforded to the Civil Nursing Reserve, Police Auxiliaries, C.D. Services, Merchant Navy and His Majesty's Armed Forces.

Although the Further Education and Training Scheme is primarily intended for persons who have served in H.M. Armed Forces, the Merchant Navy, the Civil Defence Services, the Police Auxiliaries or the Civil Nursing Reserve, it is also available for persons who have been engaged in other work of national importance. If at any time the training facilities for a particular profession or calling are limited, preference will be given to persons from the named Services. Subject to this condition, it is intended to administer the Scheme impartially as between the different classes of applicants.

asked the Minister of Education if he proposes, when giving legislative effect to the scheme of family allowances in the matter of school meals, to include meals and milk given in nursery schools.

Yes, Sir. Children in nursery schools will receive the same benefits as those in other types of primary schools.

asked the Minister of Education upon what principle and by what agency selection is to be made of the new recruits whom he proposes to introduce as qualified teachers into the schools after one year's training and without passing any examinations; whether these recruits are to have the same status as certificated teachers who have had two to four years' training and have passed searching tests of competence; and in what category as regards salaries these semi-trained teachers are to be placed.

The hon. Member is, I presume, referring to the Emergency Scheme of Training for Teachers. A Report will be published shortly on the principles and methods to be used in selecting candidates for admission to training under the Scheme, and I will send the hon. Member a copy as soon as it is ready. These mature candidates will follow a course appropriate to their needs and I do not accept the suggestion that they will become semi-trained teachers. On the successful completion of their course and of a probationary period of two years' service, during which they will fellow a course of part-time study, they will be recognised as qualified teachers and will receive the remuneration appropriate to that status.