asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the circumstances in which Mr. Reginald Henderson met his death in Greece.

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were taken from their house at Kephissia near Athens on about 10th December as hostages by E.L.A.S. They were awoken at 11.30 p.m. by E.L.A.S. troops, and were forced to march to a village some 10 miles north of Kephissia. They were allowed to take one quilt and a minimum of clothing. They remained at this village for a few days receiving very little food and sleeping on the ground. They were then sent on to Thebes where their food consisted of a small portion of bread and black olives. For two days they received no food at all. From Thebes the Hendersons and a large number of other hostages were forced to march to Atalante, a distance of about 30 miles, and it was here that Mr. Henderson, who was 69 years old, died of privation and exposure. I am sure the House would wish me to express their sympathy to Mr. Henderson's relatives at this brutal treatment of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, who could have had no conceivable connection with the hostilities which were taking place in Athens.

Are the Government going to see that those responsible for this crime are punished? May I also ask if there are any other British citizens being treated in this way?

The information we have is that, as far as I know, although it is difficult to check it up, these were the only British subjects concerned. There cannot be an undertaking because we have not the fullest information, but I can assure my hon. Friend that this matter has caused much distress and concern and I would rather not go beyond that at this stage.

Although everybody in the House and the country deplores these alleged atrocities, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to explain how he knows all these things in such detail?

I thought the statement I made was a very reserved statement in all the circumstances. I made it so deliberately, not because of doubt about the information, but because of the circumstances which we all know at the present time. The information I have given was given by Mrs. Henderson herself.

While everybody, I agree, must deplore this incident, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the first British officer to be returned by the E.L.A.S. Forces this week bore testimony to the fact that he had been perfectly well treated and that he saw no ill treatment of prisoners?

The hon. Member seems to suggest that I answered this Question in a way to try and point political sympathy one way or another. I have not done anything of the kind. I have given the absolute bare facts of what happened to a British subject.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman inform the House what steps the Government propose to take to punish the perpetrators of this atrocity?

The first thing for us to do is to find out who the perpetrators were.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what penal code is to be used in the definition and trial of crimes alleged against persons in Greece to whom, if they are found guilty, promised amnesty will not apply.

I assume that the penal code will be the Greek Penal Code and that the normal processes of Greek law will be followed.

When the right hon. Gentleman says "the Greek Penal Code" does he mean the code that obtained under the Metaxas régime, or what?

I mean the present Greek Penal Code. I am afraid that I do not carry in my head the date of its origin. It might go back a long way further.

If it dates from the régime of Metaxas—which was a dictatorship—is there not a danger that it might include penalties for political offences, such as penalties for holding certain opinions?

I think it has been made as clear as language can make it that the offence of bearing arms against the State in these circumstances will not be included among the charges tried.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any likelihood of further repatriation of prisoners of war and civilian internees now held by Japan; whether, in view of a previous announcement that two repatriation ships would leave Japan but only one arrived, the service of a second ship has been agreed to; approximately, how many civilian internees remain; whether the condition of these is satisfactory; and whether he has any further reports of the condition of prisoners of war in Southern Asia.

As regards exchanges of prisoners of war I would refer to the reply to the Question on the Paper to-day by the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) which was not answered orally.

We have been trying for a long time past to obtain the agreement of the Japanese to a second exchange of civilians. Some of the difficulties have been overcome. Final agreement has not, I regret to say, yet been reached. So far as is known some 17,000 civilian internees remain in the hands of the Japanese. Conditions in those internment camps which have been visited are on the whole tolerable. Conditions in internment camps in the Southern area which have not been visited are not known. The position in Hong Kong continues to give anxiety.

As regards the condition of prisoners of war in the Southern area there is at present nothing to add to the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 17th November and 19th December.

Could the right hon. Gentleman indicate what was to have been his reply to the hon. Member for Cheltenham?

It was quite a brief reply to say that, despite several approaches, the Japanese Government have shown themselves uninterested in exchange of prisoners of war and have refused even to contemplate an exchange of sick and wounded. A small batch of telegrams from British prisoners of war has been received in the past two days, which indicates a beginning of further communications.

Does the statement mean that the right hon. Gentleman is optimistic about future satisfactory developments?

I thought the hon. Gentleman was going to ask me whether I was optimistic about the conduct of the Japanese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the terms of the Subasic-Tito Agreement of which he has approved.

The full texts of the Tito-Subasic Agreement and of its Annexes were released for publication by the Yugoslav Information Office last night. I will arrange for the papers to he placed in the Library of the House.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he agrees with the Annexes, of which Annexe 1 provides—

The hon. and gallant Gentleman appears to be asking for an opinion and not for facts.

What I wanted to know was whether my right hon. Friend had agreed with the Annexes as well as with the Agreement, because Annexe 1 provides that if one individual of an organisation has been proved, by the Yugoslav authorities, to have been a col- laborator with the enemy, the whole organisation is proscribed?

I should be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend would put that question on the Paper.

I only wanted to know whether he agreed with the Annexes as well as with the Agreement.

What His Majesty's Government have said in respect of this Agreement is that they thought it was, on the whole, an arrangement which met with their approval.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the most violent opponents of this agreement is Major Gneizivich? Can he say how that gentleman got into this country from Lisbon?

No, Sir, I cannot.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the arrangements for relief of the people of Yugoslavia by U.N.R.R.A.; and whether all races and creeds are assured of equal treatment.

The responsibility for providing relief to Yugoslavia rests at present with the Anglo-American military authorities in the Mediterranean, who have, however, the assistance of U.N.R.R.A., and act by agreement with the authorities in Yugoslavia itself. It is hoped that U.N.R.R.A. will at an early date take this responsibility over from the military authorities. It is the declared policy both of U.N.R.R.A. and of the authorities concerned in Yugoslavia that the distribution of relief should be carried out without discrimination between races or creeds.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether relief on a substantial scale is now being given to the people of Yugoslavia?

Supplies are going, but I am afraid I do not know the quantities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many representatives of British newspapers or news agencies are now in Yugoslavia.

There are at present no British newspaper correspondents in Yugoslavia. I understand, however, that a Reuters correspondent is immediately returning to Yugoslavia and it is hoped that other newspapers and news agencies will follow.

May I ask how the British people could be expected to make up their minds about Yugoslavian affairs during all these months when they got no news whatsoever from that country?

I should very much welcome the despatch of correspondents to Yugoslavia. Perhaps I ought to add that recently an officer has been discussing these matters, I think with Allied Headquarters, with a view to some correspondents going there.

Is it not a fact that the British public have been fed from one quarter all the time?

asked the Secretary of State for Air why he refuses to consider the release from the R.A.F. of building trade workers capable of assisting in the repair of bomb damage.

The demands of the war upon the man-power of the Services are very heavy. It is impossible, therefore, to contemplate releases of building workers on a large scale but requests receive careful consideration when submitted in accordance with the approved procedure. A number of releases have already been authorised in certain special trades. If my hon. Friend has a case in mind and will let me have particulars, I will gladly look into it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his colleague the Minister of Works informed me that no releases were being made from the R.A.F.?

No, Sir, I was not aware of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether R.A.F. personnel in the India S.E.A.C. can come home on a system of short leave similar to that enjoyed by Army personnel.

Yes, Sir. The introduction of a system of short leave for R.A.F. personnel serving in the South-East Asia Air Command has recently been approved and steps are being taken to bring the scheme into operation forthwith.

Arising out of that very satisfactory reply, for which I thank my right hon. Friend, may I ask whether he can give us some details of this plan, perhaps by publishing them in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I will consider that suggestion. Perhaps the main detail in which my hon. Friend is interested is that we hope it will be possible to provide approximately 450 passages per month.

Will they be available to all R.A.F. personnel after six months' service with S.E.A.C.?

I would rather not go further into details on this matter at this moment.

Will they come by ship?

Yes, by ship.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his Ministry accepts liability for loss of life, personal injuries and damage to property caused by the fall of an aeroplane when navigated by a member of the R.A.F. who exceeds his official instructions.

Claims in respect of personal injuries resulting from accidents of all kinds to R.A.F. aircraft are dealt with under the provisions of the Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939. Claims in respect of damage to property caused by R.A.F. aircraft in the course of operations against the enemy are dealt with under the provisions of the War Damage Act, 1943. No exception is made in either Act in cases where an accident is caused by a member of the crew of the aircraft exceeding his instructions. In general, my Department is prepared to consider claims for damage to property which are not covered by the provisions of the War Damage Act and if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will let me have details I will gladly consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the objects of the air crew refresher school at a place of which he has been informed.

The purpose of the air crew refresher course is to assist in the elimination of tendencies likely to contribute to avoidable flying accidents. The course forms part of a general scheme of accident prevention.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that very gallant officers sent on this course, under the plea of increasing their mental alertness, find that they are in the atmosphere of the "glass house," and that it is very much resented?

I do not know what my hon. Friend means by being sent there "under a plea." This is a most valuable school. It is natural that some of even the most gallant officers have tendencies to slackness and to disobedience of orders at times. A course at this school has enabled many of those officers to take a grip of themselves and to render splendid service to the R.A.F. and to the country. It is a most valuable school and I ask my hon. Friend's support for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to the unsatisfactory position at present existing in the A.T.C., where lecture attendances have fallen to a low level owing to it becoming common knowledge that such cadets as flight-sergeants with three years' service who have passed post proficiency tests are being directed to the Army, while young men who have not volunteered for the A.T.C. are being accepted for aircrew duties; and whether he will make a statement guaranteeing a certain percentage intake from the A.T.C. into the R.A.F. in the future.

I am keenly aware of the disappointment caused to cadets as the result of the curtailment of the aircrew intake for the Royal Air Force. The reasons for this curtailment were fully explained in the statement made in this House in answer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Acton (Captain Longhurst) and my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) on 15th November last, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. To make the A.T.C. the sole avenue of entry into the Royal Air Force would be to deprive the Service of some excellent young men who, for various reasons such as working hours or the situation of their homes, are unable to join a unit of the A.T.C. The substantial advantage enjoyed by cadets of the A.T.C. when selections are made for entry into the Royal Air Force is shown by the fact that 80 per cent. of the air-crew entrants last month were A.T.C. cadets.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I did not suggest in my Question that the only intake into the R.A.F. should be the A.T.C.? Is he aware that what happens is that a boy is asked to volunteer for the A.T.C.; he is then given a number, and later on, when he comes to be called up, he has a notice from the R.A.F., which says he is dismissed from the R.A.F.?

I need hardly tell the hon. and gallant Member that I very much regret that these keen young men who are so anxious to join the Royal Air Force should, at this stage of the war, have to be transferred to another Service, but the requirements of the war demand that men and women should serve where their services are most required. But, as I said, membership of the Air Training Corps does, in fact, confer great advantages on these young men who want to go into the Royal Air Force and who compete for the few vacancies we are able to offer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that although the Fleet Air Arm require this type of youth, these young men are not allowed, on dismissal from the R.A.F., to join the Fleet Air Arm? They are taken straight into the Army.

This Question relates to the Air Training Corps. All I can say about the last question is that in the Air Training Corps young men are just as much encouraged to join the Fleet Air Arm, as to join the Royal Air Force.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement that a percentage of these boys will be taken into the Royal Air Force so as to give them encouragement? Will he say that some of them, at least, will go into the Royal Air Force?

I say that cadets in the Air Training Corps have not merely a hope of getting into the Royal Air Force, they have a certainty of a far better chance of getting some of the few vacancies available than anybody else. In fact, last month 80 per cent. of the aircrew entries were from the Air Training Corps. In my submission to the House it would be a great mistake to lay down a flat percentage. We want to get the best men, the men who have the greatest aptitude for flying and fighting in the air. It may be that in some cases we should have a higher percentage of boys from outside and in some cases a lower. What we want to get is the best material we can for the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm.

rose—

This is becoming a Debate. I call the next Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in considering postwar air crews training for the common defence of the British Commonwealth, he will keep in touch with the Governments of Canada, South Africa and Rhodesia where war-training schemes have operated so successfully, with a view to United Kingdom and Dominion personnel being given training in different parts of the British Empire after the war.

Yes, Sir. In view of the great achievements of the aircrew training schemes in the Empire, in which all the Dominions and Southern Rhodesia have participated, I will certainly bear my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that, despite the definite assurance from his Ministry, dated 6th January, that 1678779 L.A.C. Eccles would not be posted overseas in view of his age, this airman did in fact leave the United Kingdom on 10th January and is now serving overseas; and if he will take steps to secure his immediate return to this country.

I regret that this airman was sent to the Continent in error and I have given instructions for his immediate return.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will publish verbatim all the speeches delivered at the plenary sessions of the Chicago Conference on Civil Aviation.

The International Civil Aviation Conference passed the following resolution:

"That the Government of the United States of America be authorised to publish the Final Act of this Conference, the Reports of the Committees, the Minutes of the Public Sessions, the Texts of any Multi-lateral Agreements concluded at the Conference, and to make available for publication such additional documents in connection with the work of this Conference as in its judgment may be considered in the public interest."

Arrangements will be made for the documents issued by the United States Government to be made available in this country. I understand that my Noble Friend, the Minister for Civil Aviation, has placed in the Library of the House copies of the Final Act of the Conference, and of the minutes of all the plenary sessions, except the final plenary session, the minutes of which have not yet been received in this country.

I knew all that. My question is whether the Minister for Civil Aviation will publish verbatim all the speeches made in the plenary sessions of the Chicago Conference on Civil Aviation. I asked the Leader of the House last Thursday when he was announcing Business. We shall need those speeches in the Debate on civil aviation next Friday. Does my right hon. Friend realise that any hon. Member taking part in the Debate on Friday must have the political or other reasons which were given for turning down various proposals made at the plenary session?

They are all in the Library except those of the final plenary session.

The only speeches in the Library are Mr. Berle's speech and two speeches by the Minister for Civil Aviation. I want verbatim all the speeches which were uttered in the plenary sessions.

Now that civil aviation is separated from the right hon. Gentleman's Department, and in view of the rather unfortunate history of the relation- ship of that Department with civil aviation, could the Debate in this House be in the hands of another Cabinet Minister?

First of all, I repudiate any suggestion that there is anything unfortunate in the relations between my Department and civil aviation. The noble Lord's question has nothing whatever to do with the Question on the Order Paper.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me, before the Debate on Friday, to have a look at the verbatim copies which he or the Minister for Civil Aviation has?

The hon. Member is trying to make out that I am trying to hide something from him and the House. I am not doing so. As far as I know, what he asks for will be in the document to which I have referred. If not, I will certainly ask the Minister for Civil Aviation if there are any other documents or accounts of speeches which he has. I am quite sure that he does not want to keep anything back.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when he thinks this document will be available? Does he say the other minutes are in the Library?

All except the minutes of the last session, the final plenary session. I am afraid I do not know when they will be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if post-war requirements for civil aviation will include the carrying of lifeboats by British aircraft flying on ocean routes.

I am advised that a general requirement of this character is not contemplated. The carriage of lifeboats, dinghies or rafts may, however, be stipulated for flights by United Kingdom aircraft on regular services if this is considered necessary in the interest of safety.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that United States constructors of aircraft are making provision for the carrying of lifeboats in ocean-going aircraft, and does this not mean that the British aircraft industry will be handicapped in the post-war flying of ocean routes if British aircraft manufacturers are not encouraged to provide lifeboats in ocean-going aircraft?

The answer I gave could not possibly mean that. My answer says that the carriage of lifeboats, dinghies or rafts may be stipulated for flights by U.K. aircraft on regular services if this is considered necessary.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production what was the cost to the Government of the M.E.L. factory built in the North-West area for the manufacture of magnesium, now discontinued; how long was production maintained; what interest have I.C.I. in the factory; and what does the Government propose to do with the buildings and the machinery.

The factory to which my hon. Friend refers is State-owned, and cost £4,350,000. Production commenced in April, 1943, and was discontinued at the end of 1944. The factory was managed, on an agency basis, by Magnesium Elektron, Limited, whose shares are partly held by I.C.I., Limited; but neither company has any direct interest in the factory. As regards the last part of the Question, consideration is being given to possible uses for this factory; at present it is being retained on a care and maintenance basis, as stand-by capacity to be used in an emergency.

Will the Minister bear in mind that the local authority is very anxious to attract industries to this part of the country, where they are very much needed, and will he allow the town clerk to have some particulars about the factory, so that industrialists may have a chance to consider the place?

I have no objection to certain particulars going to the town clerk. That will be a matter, I think, for the President of the Board of Trade.

Will the town clerk be allowed to view the premises? Everything is being kept secret at present.

I should require notice of that question.

What provision is the Minister making for the workers when they are shut out of a factory such as this? I have to deal at the moment with a factory where 1,700 workers have been put off.

My hon. Friend should address that question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

rose—

The right hon. and learned Gentleman said that the question should be addressed to the Minister of Labour.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons for now holding the written examinations for Dartmouth entries before the interview; how long this method has been in force; and if it is intended to adhere to it.

The change in procedure was made to save trouble and expense to all concerned. The change has been in force since the Spring Examination of 1940, and, in the light of the experience gained, it is proposed to adhere to the present system.

Could my right hon. Friend give an idea of the proportion of failures at the interview?

The quality of the candidates generally is very good indeed. The number of failures is very small, and we have no lack of other candidates to replace those who fail.

Surely the fact that so many candidates pass the examination and then fail when they come up for an interview, must raise doubts in the minds of the parents?

I do not consider it a bad system to see what academic attainments a boy has before his interview. Otherwise, many boys would make useless journeys, at great expense to the parents.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the system of allotting, at the Dartmouth entrance examinations, 50 per cent. of the scholarships to entries from private schools is adhered to in the event of candidates from other sources having proved themselves more highly qualified; and has such a situation occurred.

Candidates from private schools are eligible for scholarships only when they show themselves to be equal or superior in ability to boys awarded scholarships from grant-aided schools. The second part of the Question does not arise.

Has the converse situation to that described in the Question arisen, with regard to 60 per cent. of entries being awarded to entrants from State schools?

There has been no difficulty at all. In fact we adopt a minimum standard at which scholarships can be obtained, and we have had no difficulty in awarding the full number of scholarships both to State-aided scholars and to private scholars up to the present time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why parents of candidates winning scholarships at the Dartmouth Naval College entrance examinations are subjected to a means test for fees payable at this State school; and is this test applied to the parents of all scholars.

In accordance with the practice for the award of scholarships to State-aided schools generally, the fees for all boys awarded scholarships at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, from whatever school they come, vary according to the means of the parent. The Question does not arise in the case of non-scholarship cadets unless and until the parent applies for reduced fees. In such cases fees are assessed on the parents' ability to pay.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that information is available to show that quite a number of individuals who sacrifice a great deal for the education of their boys find that failure to have a means test applied to them causes them heavy expense, compared with the parents of boys who come from State schools?

I do not know what my hon. and gallant Friend means by "failure to have the means test applied to them." The allowances made by the Admiralty in regard to income are fairly generous in assessing what scholarships shall be given, and my hon. and gallant Friend must admit that we have made a large step forward during the war to assist such cases.

In view of the success of the scheme, would the right hon. Gentleman not consider making all entries to Dartmouth subject to this means test, instead of having this rather silly class division?

There is no class division. It does not matter which group a candidate for a scholarship comes into, if it is shown that his parents are unable to contribute anything for his fees or maintenance, it is possible for him to have entirely free tuition.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps have been taken to reorganise the naval mail service with a view to increasing its efficiency and expediting the transmission of mails to His Majesty's ships on foreign stations.

The operation of the naval mail service is under constant review, and has been closely examined in detail in the light of experience gained in the landing on the Continent. As a result, special steps have been taken to strengthen the organisation to deal with the mail requirements which will be created by future operations.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the mail service to ships is not so good as it ought to be because there is a failure in London to act on the report of changes of ships' addresses? Is there any reason why the mail service to the Navy, in view of its effect on morale, should not be at least as good as that for the Army?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend, with his naval experience, knows that there are very great difficulties in the case of constantly-moving naval units, which do not always apply to the other Services. We do our best; but if I am asked to adopt in toto the Army scheme, I must say that the present naval man-power situation does not allow me to do it.

Is it not a fact that the changes of address reported by ships are not acted on quickly enough in London, and that that is one of the causes of the delay?

We are doing our best to deal with that by keeping in being the extra office set up for combined operations, and also by enlarging the staff, with the help of the Postmaster-General.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that complaints are made about the delivery of mail, not only to foreign stations, but also at home? Is he satisfied that there is adequate co-operation between the naval side and the Post Office side inside the Admiralty?

I am satisfied that there is good co-operation, but I have never been satisfied that we have yet reached perfection. We will go on trying.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give an assurance that the Sea Cadet Corps will be maintained as an independent organisation after the war.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by the Deputy Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 2nd August. The Deputy Prime Minister's statement, of course, includes the Sea Cadet Corps, and I am not in a position to add anything to it yet.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what principle the selection of newspapers and periodicals distributed to ships of the Royal Navy through the "Charity Mail" is made; and which papers are accepted and which banned.

The packets of newspapers and periodicals, sometimes unofficially referred to as the "Charity Mail," are distributed to the Fleet with the object of providing recreational reading matter for personnel in His Majesty's Ships. They comprise 16 weekly, 3 monthly and 2 quarterly publications, selected from amongst those which are considered likely to have the widest popular appeal.

May I ask whether there is any political discrimination in the papers that are supplied, and whether some are banned because it is thought that their politics are not favourable? Is there any political discrimination whatsoever?

No, Sir.

Is there any Co-operative paper in this arrangement?

I am not aware of one.

rose—

There is an extraordinary tendency to-day to debate every Question. We have spent three-quarters of an hour and have only got to Question 34.

In the second part of my Question, I asked for the names of periodicals. Could the right hon. Gentleman publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Certainly. I have given the number, but they would take some time to read out.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is satisfied that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the naval tradition of the Royal Hospital School will not be impaired as a result of the appointment of a civilian head in place of a naval officer; if he can give an assurance that preference in entry will continue to be given to boys who have a seafaring connection; and that, in general, there will be no change in the character of the school.

The answer to the first and second parts of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, it is hoped to raise the educational standards and widen the curriculum, and thus, incidentally, make the school more useful as a source of supply for the Sea Services.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has considered the grievance of certain men employed in the education service of the Navy who, although qualified by length of service, by the nature of their present duties and by their university degrees and teaching experience, for commissioned rank, are still ranked and paid only as warrant officers; and will he make a statement on the matter.

The whole question of the status of schoolmasters in the R.N. is at present under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a married member of the A.T.S. on foreign service is allowed to return to the United Kingdom if her husband is serving at home; and if he will amend the regulations for the W.R.N.S. in order to bring them into line with the other Services.

I am aware that, in certain circumstances, some married members of the A.T.S. are posted to home establishments when their husbands are repatriated at the end of their tour of service abroad. Sympathetic consideraion is always given to applications for return to England from married members of the W.R.N.S. serving abroad, when there are strong compassionate reasons, whatever the circumstances of the husband.

If I give my right hon. Friend an instance where a husband of a member of the W.R.N.S. is now serving at home, while his wife is at Gibraltar, and in which the husband will be sent abroad when the wife comes back, will he give sympathetic consideration to this case, in which there is a strong medical reason for granting the application?

Most certainly, if there are strong compassionate grounds, it will be considered. Of course, I cannot undertake to shift every married member of the W.R.N.S. about, irrespective of the requirements of the Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether consideration has been given to the necessity of revising the obsolete Constitution of Mauritius; and whether any proposals are likely to be made.

Yes, Sir. The question of constitutional reform in Mauritius is under close consideration. I am informed by the Governor that, after preliminary discussions with his Executive Council, he had intended to start local consultations on proposals to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 20th December. But the cyclone which has just caused such serious damage in the Island has necessarily deferred this action for the moment, but as soon as essential services, etc., have been restored, and normal life has been resumed, these discussions will be proceeded with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he proposes to make any statement on the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the disturbances which occurred in Mauritius in 1943; and whether an early opportunity will be afforded for the consideration of the Report.

I refer the hon. Member to a reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 20th December last. The Governor of Mauritius has since reported that an Indian has now assumed duty as extra assistant director of labour, and that the Bill transferring the control of the magistracy to the chief judge, as recommended in the Report, is now awaiting its third reading. In several areas in the Colony, welfare committees have been formed and are being given every possible encouragement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an answer to the last part of my Question—whether an opportunity will be provided to consider the Report?

The hon. Member knows that that is not a Question which I can answer. I shall be only too glad that, at the earliest opportunity, it should be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement regarding the appointment of Sir Frank Stockdale as Adviser on Colonial Development Planning; and whether Sir Frank Stockdale will continue to have charge as Controller of the Colonial and Welfare Work in the West Indies.

The new post of Adviser on Development Planning has been created as part of the Colonial Office organisation to assist me in the co-ordination of plans for social and economic development now in preparation by Colonial Governments. The need for such an appointment has been increased by the intention of His Majesty's Government to augment the financial provision for development under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. Sir Frank Stockdale will be succeeded as Comptroller for Development and Welfare in the West Indies by Sir John Macpherson, at present a member of the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission and head of the British Colonies Supply Mission in Washington.

Does the statement of the right hon. Gentleman mean that Sir Frank Stockdale is in charge of all planning, under the Development and Welfare Act, in all Colonies except the West Indies, and that he is adviser to the Colonial Government on their plans?

I think that, if the hon. Member will study my answer, he will see what it does mean.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether pensions are paid to the native rank and file of the King's African Rifles who are discharged as unfit for service on account of war wounds; and, if so, at what rates;

(2) whether pensions are paid to natives recruited under the Compulsory Service Ordinance in East Africa for the Eastern African Military Labour Corps, Pioneer Corps and Signals, who have been discharged as unfit for service on account of war wounds; and, if so, at what rates.

Disability awards are payable at common rates for all the units he has mentioned. For full details I refer him to the memorandum entitled "Colonial Troops (Pay, Allowances and Pensions)," a copy of which was sent to the House of Commons Library on 28th August, 1943.

Is it not a fact that the payments are in the form of a gratuity, and not by way of pension, and that, therefore, recipients who spend their gratuities have nothing of a permanent nature to compensate them for their war injuries?

No, Sir, that is not the fact. Normally, they can get both disability pensions and disability gratuities. It is only where the degree of disablement is less than 20 per cent., that they are paid only gratuities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider issuing or making a statement about plans for rehabilitation?

That is rather a different question, and I should be glad if the hon. Member would put it down.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give an indication of the funds accumulated from Government marketing of cotton, coffee, cocoa and similar products grown in the African Colonies during the war; and whether he can give an assurance that these surpluses will be devoted to the establishment of enterprises which will benefit the colonies as a whole.

In the case of most of the crops grown in African Colonies and bought on Government account, the whole purchase price is paid to the producer, and no profit is made by the Governments of the Colonies concerned. Certain crops, however, have been purchased by Government organisations and subsequently resold at a profit, and I am circulating with the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the profits earned in this manner up to the latest dates available. In all the latter cases the profits accruing are being retained to be used in due course for the benefit either of the producers concerned, or of the areas in which production takes place.

Is it not very important that the profits obtained, which come from the Colonies as a whole, should be used for the benefit of the Colonies and the people living there and not for producers?

They will not be used for individual producers but where there are cases where profits are earned in one particular district or region, inside the Colony, they will go back to the district or region.

For the benefit of the people as a whole living there?

That is so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an opportunity for a Debate on the Motion dealing with Monopolies in the name of the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and other hon. Members.

In view of the state of Business, I regret that I cannot hold out any hope of facilities being granted, at present, for a discussion of this Motion.

Is the Leader of the House aware that in the White Paper presented by the Government dealing with employment they insisted on the importance of dealing with this problem in view of post-war issues? If he cannot give an opportunity for a discussion on our Motion, can the right hon. Gentleman suggest when the Government will produce their own legislation?

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade did deal with this, as my right hon. Friend knows, on the Debate on the Address. I am afraid, in view of the many other demands on our time at present, I cannot go beyond what he said then.

Will my right hon. Friend consider trying to find a date as early as possible so that we may discuss the greatest of all monopolies, namely, Socialism?