asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the names and qualifications of the principal persons employed to instruct officers of the British Forces likely to be engaged in administrative duties in Germany during the occupation.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the instruction of officers who are to be employed in the Military Government of Germany. The instructors are officers selected for their technical knowledge or for their practical experience of the problems which are likely to be met. They arc assisted by experts drawn from Government Departments and from the universities. It is not usual to give names in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and discontent existing among men of His Majesty's Forces who are discharged while still in hospital and unfit to accept civilian employment; and what steps he is taking to remedy this grievance.

I should perhaps make it clear that the Ministry of Pensions and not the Service Departments are generally responsible for the care of those who are disabled owing to war service and are unfit as a result for further service in the Forces. But I realise that the present rules governing discharge have given rise to complaint in the case of those who are discharged from the Service relatively soon. In some of these cases hospital treatment may be needed almost indefinitely, and I am advised that it would often be impossible to define any stage of disability which could determine when the officer or man should be discharged from the Service. It has been decided, therefore, that the fairest way of dealing with these cases is to fix a minimum period. In future, no member of the Forces, whose in-patient treatment in a Service or E.M.S. hospital is not completed, will be discharged from the Service until at least eight calendar months, including 56 days' notice leave, have elapsed from the date of his first absence from duty on account of the disability. The new rule does not apply to patients, such as those who are suffering from tuberculosis, once they have been transferred to civil sanatoria. On the other hand it will not operate to shorten any longer period of retention in the Service now admissible under normal regulations. It will be applied also to those who become due for release from the Forces when demobilization takes place. It will not, however, apply to those suffering from disabilities such as self-inflicted wounds which are due to their own fault.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that the penalty for harbouring a deserter under the Army Act is imprisonment without the magistrate having the option to inflict a fine as is the case under the Naval Discipline Act and the Air Force Act, he will take steps to introduce uniformity into the law.

I have this matter under consideration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether it is the intention of the Government to retain ownership of the oil pipelines which have been laid down since the outbreak of war for the bulk transport of oil.

It is the intention of the Government to retain ownership of the oil pipelines so long as they are required to meet the special emergency conditions for which they were laid down. The future use and ownership of the pipelines, when these conditions no longer exist, cannot be determined at present.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the estimated effect of summer time in the winter months on the strain on electric current recently experienced.

This winter the peak load of electricity was in the morning after 8 a.m. and the strain was, of course, increased by the maintenance of summer time during the winter months. If reversion to Greenwich Mean Time took place during the winter I anticipate that the result would be some easing off after 8 a.m., but this would be more than offset by a much larger additional consumption of electricity in the early evening hours between 4 and 6 o'clock.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can give any estimate of the waste of fuel caused by domestic and industrial water-heating plant being affected by hard water.

No, Sir, it is impossible to give any such estimate, but the indications are that the waste of fuel in water-heating plant caused by using hard water is not large. In small domestic hot-water heaters some waste of fuel may take place in hard-water districts, but the evidence is by no means conclusive. In modern central-heating installations the same water circulates continuously and therefore scale does not form. Methods are available, and are widely used, for treating hard water to be used in industrial boiler-plants in such a way that scale and deposits are greatly reduced. This subject is fully discussed, in its relation to fuel, in the Handbook on "The Efficient Use of Fuel," recently published for my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the nature of the test which it is proposed to apply to domestic coal-burning appliances; and by what date it is anticipated that only reasonably efficient appliances will receive the appropriate hall mark of the British Standard Specification.

Domestic coal-burning appliances are of many types and the tests to be applied to them naturally vary with appliances. For details of the tests laid down by the British Standards Institution, I would refer my hon. Friend to the appropriate Standard Specifications referred to in my reply to him on 13th February. These specifications relate to a particular standard of performance and inefficient appliances will necessarily fall below that standard. Moreover, the standards laid down will, no doubt, be raised from time to time.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that, despite the assurance given by his Department to the effect that the coal situation in London is about normal, there is a great shortage in Willesden, merchants are without supplies and citizens who had placed orders in November, 1944, are still awaiting delivery; and what steps are being taken to expedite deliveries.

A number of merchants at Willesden were short of coal for some days at the beginning of the recent spell of severe weather and some are still in arrear with the deliveries, particularly in regard to boiler fuel, which is in reduced supply generally. All possible steps are being taken to improve the situation and military vehicles and personnel are being retained in the area for this purpose. The "cash-and-carry" centres which were opened during the period of emergency will remain open so long as they are required.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps are being taken to substitute mechanical haulage in place of horses or ponies at present being used for this purpose in British coalmines.

The tendency in recent years has been to substitute mechanical for horse or pony haulage, and this is reflected in the decrease in the number of horses and ponies employed from 64,816 in 1924 to 24,530 in 1944. It is the policy of my Ministry to encourage such substitution where it is justified in the interests of efficient working. The question of haulage arrangements generally is being considered by the Technical Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give the total number of horses or ponies being used in British coalmines for haulage purposes and the number for each district separately.

The total number is 24,530. Following are the district figures.

NUMBER OF HORSES EMPLOYED BELOW GROUND AT MINES UNDER THE COAL MINES ACT AT 30TH JUNE, 1944, IN THE VARIOUS COLLIERY DISTRICTS
Colliery districts.	Number.
England and Wales
1. Northumberland	2,875
2. Durham	8,402
3. Cumberland and Westmorland	62
4. Lancashire and Cheshire	43
5. Yorkshire, South	1,330
6. Yorkshire, West	2,090
7. Nottinghamshire	984
8. Derbyshire, North	825
9. Derbyshire, South	121
10. Staffordshire, North	21
11. Cannock Chase	704
12. South Staffordshire and Worcester	384
13. Leicestershire	274
14. Warwickshire	132
15. Shropshire	64
16. Forest of Dean	158
17. Somerset	33
18. Bristol	30
19. Kent	Nil
20. South Wales and Monmouth	5,465
21. North Wales	106
Scotland
22. Fife and Clackmannan	Nil
23. Lothians (Mid. and East)	19
24. Lanarkshire, etc.	389
25. Ayshire, etc.	19
GREAT BRITAIN	24,530

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether there is any prospect of increasing our present export of coal to France, in order to help her transport situation and assist French industry to contribute to the common war effort.

We are already exporting for operational purposes in North-West Europe all the coal we can make available without jeopardising our own war effort. I regret that at present I can see no early prospect of increasing these supplies.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is taking any steps to assist officers with administrative experience to obtain suitable employment upon returning to civilian life.

Yes, Sir. This is one of the functions of Appointments Department, which is taking all possible steps to assist ex-officers in obtaining suitable employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed moves of the Ministry of National Insurance to Newcastle-on-Tyne and of the Post Office Savings Bank to Nottingham, have been undertaken as a matter of expediency or whether they are part of a planned policy of decentralisation.

These moves have been proposed at the present time because of the acute shortage of accommodation in London and the impracticability of maintaining all the evacuated Departments in the accommodation which they at present occupy. They did not originate as part of a planned policy of decentralisation. On the other hand, they would not be incompatible with such a decision if taken at a later date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of French nationals owning property which came into the custody of His Majesty's Government under trading with the enemy legislation, and whose names he has agreed to give the French Government, he will make it clear that there can be no question of His Majesty's Government handing over that property to the French Government against the wishes of the owners.

The arrangements under discussion with the French authorities assume a mutual intention to restore property rights and interests to their proper ownership. In some cases this restoration must be effected through Government Departments on each side.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any information on the negotiations now taking place in the U.S.A. for credits to the Finance Corporation for Industry, Limited, and the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation, Limited.

I have seen a reference in the Press to an agency report from New York concerning the possibility of dollar loans to these corporations. I am informed that the report is entirely without foundation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the recent alteration in the rate of Purchase Tax on utility fur garments, he will consider the exemption or reduction of the Purchase Tax to utility artificial fur garments.

I have been asked to reply. Perhaps my hon. Friend will send me a closer definition of the garments he has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the purchasing power in this country of the £ in 1900, in each decennial period since; and in 1945.

Estimates of changes in purchasing power should be based on retail prices over the whole field of personal expenditure, but, as I explained in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Chislehurst (Sir W. Smithers) on 12th December, 1944, estimates of changes in such prices have been made only in respect of a few recent years. The estimates given below have been prepared on the basis of changes in the official cost-of-living index from 1914 onwards, supplemented by private estimates on a similar basis for the years before 1914. Taking the purchasing power of the £ in 1900 as 100, the corresponding figures for later years are approximately:

1910	…	…	95
1920	…	…	36
1930	…	…	58
1940	…	…	50
January, 1945	…	…	45

Calculated over the whole field of personal expenditure the figure for 1945 would probably be about five points lower than that given above.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to release figures, previously given in the Annual Report of the Board of Inland Revenue, for each of the financial years 1938–39 to 1944–45, as to the total amount of actual income, earned income allowance, assessable income, personal allowances, for married persons, other persons, children, housekeepers, etc., taxable income charged at the reduced rate and charged at the full rate, respectively, life insurance relief, Dominion Income Tax relief and Income Tax payable, and as to the amount of earned income not eligible per earned income allowance because above the maximum.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 11th February, 1944, to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. Ellis Smith).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to permit the manufacture of lace and lace net for sale in the home market.

I hope to be able to arrange shortly for the production of a small quantity of lace curtains for sale in the home market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that cigars are just as much a necessity to habitual cigar smokers as are pipe and cigarette tobacco to their habituees, why the latter are allowed to be imported whereas the former are prohibited.

Imports of cigars are permitted under licence, but for exchange reasons licences are being issued only for supplies from sterling countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make concerning the Government's plans for the future of Lancashire's cotton industry; whether those plans include any scheme for its unification and modernisation; and whether its wage system is to be so reconstituted as to afford its workers reasonable standards and reasonable security.

When I discussed post-war problems with leaders of the cotton industry in September last, I urged them to take immediate steps in accordance with a five-point programme, which included the matters to which my hon. Friend refers. Discussions between the various sections of the industry, under the auspices of the Cotton Board, have been proceeding, and I have asked the Chairman of the Cotton Board to keep me informed of their progress.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total claims for pre-war business transactions in Germany, France and Belgium, respectively, which are lodged by firms and private individuals in this country with the Custodian of Enemy Property.

The registers of these claims kept in the Trading with the Enemy Department are compiled from particulars voluntarily supplied, and are, therefore, incomplete. The total sums due to persons in the United Kingdom from the countries named, as at present recorded, are:—Germany and Austria £90,000,000, France £17,000,000 and Belgium £6,000,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date France was regarded as an enemy country for the purpose of the Custodian of Enemy Property Order; and on what date she ceased to be so regarded.

The whole of metropolitan France had become enemy territory as from 10th July, 1940. Before this date those parts of France were enemy territory which were actually occupied by the enemy. Areas of France have ceased to be regarded as enemy territory from the dates on which they have been liberated, except for the limited purposes described in Regulation 6 of the Defence (Trading with the Enemy) Regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the present shortage of men's handkerchiefs; and whether, in view of the fact that this shortage is dangerous to health and causes much discomfort, he will take steps to alleviate it.

Yes, Sir; and I am glad to say that I have been able to arrange for some additional cloth to be made available for manufacture into handkerchiefs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that coupons for the purchase of waterproof aprons for the use of market-garden workers are no longer issued by war agricultural executive committees, that such aprons are urgently needed; and if he will take steps to have industrial boots, similar to those supplied to miners, made available to all land workers in Scotland.

War agricultural committees have never been authorised to issue coupons for waterproof aprons, which require only one coupon each. As regards safety boots, owing to the very limited manufacturing capacity, I have had to restrict buying permits to workers in the industries where the rate of foot accidents is highest. But I have maintained a large production of stout agricultural boots suitable for land workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if new radio and wireless supply and repair shops require a licence to open as is the case with other shops, etc.

New shops which supply radio and wireless goods by retail require a licence under the Location of Retail Businesses Order. But, to ensure the widest possible facilities for repairs, I have issued a General Licence which enables anyone to carry on the business of repairing his customers' goods without requiring an individual licence under this Order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the permitted percentage of pre-war manufacture now being made in sheets, flette sheets, pillow cotton and blankets; and what increase of percentage has been made in the past 12 months.

For all the items mentioned, except pillow cottons for which figures of pre-war output are not available, production for civilian purposes is now about 40 per cent. of pre-war. Output of sheets including flannelette sheets, and pillow cottons is about 30 per cent., and of wool blankets, including those with a cotton warp, about 35 per cent more than a year ago. Current production of these articles is not restricted by reference to pre-war production, but is at the highest level possible, having regard to the shortage of labour in the textile industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a well-known general stores, with branches all over the country, is charging 9d. for a packet of 20 small white envelopes, when half that price would yield a fair profit to retailers; and if he will take steps to stop this exploitation of the public.

If my hon. Friend will send me full particulars, I shall be glad to ask the Central Price Regulation Committee to investigate the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences have been granted for the import of plant and machinery for the purposes of post-war trade.

The number is 105, mainly for prototypes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional allocation of household supplies and furnishings is being granted to traders in the defence and evacuation areas in order to enable them to supply returning residents and proprietors of hotels and boarding houses in those areas for the purpose of re-equipping their establishments.

Members of the public in these and other areas, who need to replace articles destroyed by enemy action, may apply for priority dockets for bedding, curtain material and floor coverings, and traders are able to get extra supplies to meet orders accompanied by such dockets. I regret that, owing to the shortage of household goods and furnishings, I cannot at present see my way to arrange for special supplies to be directed to traders in these areas for the re-equipment of hotels and boarding houses.

asked the Minister of Food what would have been the price

			(1)	(2)	(3)
—			Free world price per cwt. f.o.b.	Price shown Col. 1 plus U.K. basic and Certificated Pref.	Received by British Caribbean Producers.
(a)	1940	—	8/- falling to 4/7	11/2½	11/6 to 12/10½
(b)	1941	—	4/9 rising to 10/10½	10/11½	12/10½
(c)	1942	The Price paid by the U.S.A. to Cuba was 14/9; Calculated by deducting U.S.A. Preference on Cuban sugar this gives an assessed free price of	Lend/Lease
			9/3	14/-	14/-
(d)	1943	Ditto	Lend/Lease
			9/3	14/-	14/6
(e)	1944	No free world price.
		U.K. Cuban supplies were partly Lend/Lease. Thereafter Cuban sugars were allocated to U.K. at U.S.A. purchase price of 2·65* equal to	14/9	20/-	16/-
(f)	Note*.	—It should be noted that this price included U.S.A. Preference on the quantity shipped to the U.S. If the pre-war average relationship of the total price received by Cuba and the British Caribbean price (as given in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on February 8th) is taken for the calculation, the figures are	Cuban price.14/9	British equivalent Caribbean 17/1½	Received by British Caribbean Producers. 16/-

	Column 2	Column 3.
The above figures give the following averages:
For the lines (a) to (e)	14/-	13/11
For the lines (a) to (d) and (f)	13/5½	13/11

asked the Minister of Food what is the nature of the advice given by his Department to the local food offices

The question is extremely hypothetical. Since the U.S.A. entered the war there have been no free world prices and no market for sugar. Moreover, Lend-Lease operated for Cuban sugar during a prolonged period. The following information can, however, be given. (The 1940 and 1941 world values were governed by neutral Caribbean and other supplies, and the figures for these years in column 1 given below are based on actual purchases by the Ministry of Food.)with regard to the issue of permits for the purchase of food for social gatherings in connection with movements of national importance.

The only social gatherings for which I have in present circumstances been able to authorise special supplies of food are weddings and funerals and entertainments organised by reputable bodies for the sick, wounded or disabled, the aged, the poor, the blind, children and young people under 19 years of age. Local Food Offices have been instructed only to issue permits for functions coming within those categories.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he is aware of the great hardship suffered by the residents of Swinfen, Wee-ford and Littlehay owing to the absence of any omnibus service; and will he now endeavour at least to restore a weekly omnibus between these villages and Lichfield.

I regret that the position is still the same as when I wrote to my hon. and gallant Friend on 12th January. Lack of crews precludes the restoration of this service at present. I understand that there are three return journeys on Saturdays between Weeford and Tam-worth and that Littlehay is only a little more than half a mile from the Lichfield-Birmingham route on which there is a regular service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he can set out in tabular form the savings made by war-time road transport organisation; the benefits derived from the clearing centres; and any other figures that will enable the House to measure the value of organisation.

Figures of the pre-war operation of road haulage are not available and the need for economising in staff has kept to a minimum the statistical records of the Road Haulage Organisation. It is not therefore possible to give any complete statistical comparison such as my hon. Friend desires.Among the advantages secured are:

asked the Minister of Education whether he will place in the Library of the House a full copy of all minutes of the Burnham Committee dealing with and leading to the recent provisional award of salaries.

No, Sir. The minutes of the Burnham Committee are not submitted to me, nor would it in any case be proper for me to publish what is a record of their private proceedings.

asked the Minister of Education at what date and with what Vice-Chancellors he conducted the consultation influencing the proposals outlined in Circular 18; whether any publication of the opinions offered in this consultation will be made; and whether the McNair Committee was also consulted in the preparation of that Circular

The proposals embodied in Circular 18 were prepared on the advice of the Committee, of which the membership is set out in the Circular. No Vice-Chancellors of Universities were members of the Committee. The McNair Committee had finished its deliberations before the proposals in Circular 18 were prepared.