asked the Secretary of State for War whether men who have served more than 3½ years overseas will be entitled to one month's leave in the United Kingdom before repatriation; and whether the position is the same in all theatres of operations.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Manning) on this subject on 23rd January.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions in which troops returned from overseas have been billeted at Clacton-on-Sea, particulars of which have been submitted to him; and whether he can give an assurance that these conditions will be improved.

The billets at Clacton-on-Sea which have been occupied by troops returning from abroad are in all respects up to normal standards. During the cold weather some damage was done to the water supply, but otherwise the inquiries which I have made do not bear out the specific complaints which my hon. and learned Friend has forwarded to me.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will review the present grant of £10 paid to members of the V.A.D. for tropical kit before proceeding overseas in the course of the negotiations now taking place with the Service Departments regarding this allowance.

The provision of tropical kit for members of the V.A.D. is now being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made to collect information regarding the liberation by the Russian Army of British prisoner-of-war camps in Eastern Germany and to publish such information for the benefit of relatives of prisoners of war in this country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for North Norfolk (Sir T. Cook) and West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on Tuesday last, and also to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that repairs to surgical belts and corsets, made under Board of Trade (S.R. & O., 1944, No. 962) to doctors' certificates, are subject to Purchase Tax, whereas the new appliances are exempt; and will he have this position altered as occasional repairs are essential to ensure the continued efficiency of these surgical supports without which the wearers cannot safely continue their employment.

Certain surgical belts and corsets are not liable to Purchase Tax, but chargeable materials used in the repair of such goods are liable to tax in law and it would be impracticable to afford any relief.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether any survey has been made of the water-power resources of the Loahportan and Cheese-bay area of North Uist Island for the purposes of the Hydro-Electric Board; and what conclusions were arrived at from the survey, (2) how far the survey of the Isle of Lewis in connection with the proposed hydro-electric development has been completed; and if he can give an indication of what the intentions of the Board are for the near future.

I am informed that the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board are considering the results of preliminary surveys of the areas referred to, but have not yet arrived at any conclusions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the supply of milk in England and Wales in December, 1944, as compared with December, 1943, December, 1941, and with average supplies in December before the war.

The supply of milk in England and Wales in December, 1944, was 87,418,000 gallons. In December, 1943, the supply was 84,072,000 gallons; in December, 1941, 73,033,000 gallons; while the average supply in the month of December in 1937, 1938 and 1939 was 76,808,000 gallons. The increase in milk supply last December was then 13.8 per cent. over the pre-war average, and 19.69 per cent. over the low point in milk supplies touched in 1941.