asked the Minister of Works whether he will reconsider his annual repairs limit of £10 per house in South-eastern England in respect of repainting weather-boarded houses, especially in areas near the coast, since most of these are already overdue for attention and, without such reconditioning, the weather-boarding will perish.

In cases where maintenance work of this kind is absolutely essential, local authorities have been advised to issue licences.

asked the Minister of Works whether the jigs and tools necessary for the manufacture of Portal houses are in process of manufacture or have been completed; and whether he anticipates that use will ultimately be made of them.

I should be grateful if my right hon. Friend would await the statement I propose to make on this subject during the course of the Debate on housing later this week.

asked the Minister of Works when he hopes to be able to release material for building houses to local authorities on the South coast where labour and sites are available.

Our housing programme is limited by the shortage of building labour. There are sufficient materials to match the building labour available.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of temporary houses for which application has been made by the Shrewsbury Borough Council and the Atcham Rural District Council, respectively; and the total number allotted in each case.

The Shrewsbury Borough Council have applied for 170 temporary houses, and have been allotted 100. No application for an allocation of temporary houses has so far been received from the Atcham Rural District Council.

asked the Minister of Health if he can state details of the long-term and short-term housing programmes submitted to him by the Shrewsbury Borough Council and the Atcham Rural District Council, respectively, including the total number of permanent houses to be provided during the first three years following the end of the war in Europe.

The initial short-term housing programmes submitted to me by the Shrewsbury Borough Council and the Atcham Rural District Council propose the erection of 142 and 100 houses respectively. Local authorities have not been asked to submit long-term programmes, but I understand that the Shrewsbury Council have in mind for the next instalment of their programme the erection of approximately 250 houses, and that the Atcham Council estimate that the provision of some 1,100 houses will be required spread over a period of 15 years.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the total expenditure, capital and recurrent, of the Medical Research Council, the Agricultural Research Council and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, respectively, in the pre-war quinquennium and the financial years, 1940–44; and how much of the money expended by each was spent in England and in Scotland respectively.

The figures asked for are furnished below. I am afraid that in the case of the Medical Research Council and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research separate accounts are not kept of the proportion of the sums expended in Scotland, and in view of the time and labour required to obtain the figures I hope the hon. Member will not press for them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended by the inclusion of members of the W.R.N.S. as members of the Armed Forces of the Crown, in the Rules of the Supreme Court (No. 1), 1945, Order, S.R. & O., 246/L.1, to put W.R.N.S. ratings for the purposes of death duties in the same situation as A.T.S and W.A.A.F.

No, Sir. I would remind my hon. Friend that the relief from death duties provided by Section 38 of the Finance Act, 1924, which I understand him to have in mind, applies to members of His Majesty's Forces who are subject either to the Naval Discipline Act, or to military law under Part V of the Army Act, or to the Air Force Act. I understand that in this respect the position of W.R.N.S. ratings is not affected by the Order to which he refers.

asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the amount payable by persons with incomes of £2,000, £5,000, £10,000, £20,000 and £50,000, respectively, in Income Tax and Surtax, if the taxpayer derives all his income from investments, and half his income from investments and half from earnings, respectively, in the years 1914., 1924, 1934, 1944.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make about the facilities to be given to the Commonwealth of Australia in respect of the conversion or repayment of the 5 per cent. Australian Commonwealth and State Loans repayable on 1st July and 1st August, 1945.

Yes, Sir. The Government of the Commonwealth of Australia are giving notice to repay £94,300,000 of. Commonwealth and State Loans repayable on 1st July and 1st August, at the same time inviting holders of these stocks to convert their holdings into a new stock, the amount of which will be limited to £60,000,000. Of the total of £94,300,000 the Commonwealth Government will themselves, without assistance from the United Kingdom Treasury, make arrangements for the repayment of £34,300,000. As on the occasions of similar operations during the war

The following table shows for the years 1914–15, 1924–25, 1934–35 and 1944–45 the Income Tax and Surtax (or Super-tax) payable on the incomes in question. It assumes that the taxpayer is a married man with three children:by the Commonwealth of Australia and by the Dominion of New Zealand and in order to facilitate the conversion without interfering with the Government's borrowing operations, I have agreed to cooperate with the Commonwealth authorities in this operation by advancing from the Vote of Credit such sums as may be necessary to provide repayment of any part of the remaining £60,000,000 not otherwise provided for.

asked the Attorney-General for what reason the Rules of the Supreme Court (No. 2), 1945, Order, S.R. & O., 261/L.2, was issued.

These Rules were made to amend Order LXIII Rule 6 of the Rules of the Supreme Court (which governs vacations in the offices of the Supreme Court) in the following circumstances. During the last two years the probate work has been so heavy that it has been found necessary to keep open the Principal Probate Registry and its subordinate offices on Good Friday, the Saturday before Easter and the Tuesday in Easter week. This year it has been found possible to increase the period of closing so as to include the Saturday before Easter. The volume of probate work, however, still necessitates a shorter period of closing than can be allowed in the case of other offices of the Supreme Court.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the Coal Commission have resumed their activities under Part II of the Coal Act, 1938, relating to amalgamations, which they found it necessary to suspend on the outbreak of the war.

The Commission formally intimated to me last September that they were resuming their efforts to promote individual amalgamations. In view, however, of the continued preoccupation of the industry with war production, and also of the consideration which is being given to the general problem of the future efficiency of the coalmining industry, in particular by the appointment of the Technical Advisory Committee (which has now reported), I suggested to the Commission that they would be justified in suspending these activities for a further period.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the present position of Peel Hall Collieries, Little Hulton, near Bolton, which have been stopped since April, 1941, through shortage of man-power; that instructions have been given to fill up the shafts and if this is done it will mean the loss of many valuable seams of coal that can be worked from the present shafts when things become normal again; and will he have the position examined.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that this colliery closed in 1941 owing to lack of man-power. Since that date the Company have surrendered the lease and under the terms of that lease are now filling up the shafts. I understand, however, that if occasion arises to work the coal, access to it is not dependent on the shafts at Peel Hall.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the many conflicting systems by which letters and documents are dated in this country; whether he realises that the figures 1/10/45 which to an Englishman mean October, 1945, indicate to an American 10 January, 1945; and if he will instruct all Government Departments to adopt forthwith the system current in the British Army, which avoids all confusion by putting first the day of the month in figures without suffix, second the month in letters and last the year.

Uniformity of notation and nomenclature is, of course, of high value between Allies and in war, and progress has been made in many directions. I am not aware of any serious difficulty that has arisen in this particular instance, but inquiries will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will send a list of names of British born women married to ex-enemy aliens who have regained their British nationality to His Majesty's Ambassadors in the countries of their husbands' origin.

The names are published in the "London Gazette" and also in the annual return presented to Parliament of persons naturalised. Moreover, such a woman when she goes abroad can obtain a British passport, and so provide herself with evidence that she possesses British nationality.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that naval personnel are being called upon to travel a return journey of over 1,000 miles for the purpose of interview for transfer to the Army; and will he take steps to stop this waste of transport and time.

Men selected for transfer to the Army are chosen after medical examination so as to ensure, as far as possible, that they conform to the degree of fitness required by the Army. The men are not sent for interview, but are concentrated at one establishment for efficiency of administration and for subsequent dispersal to Army units. It is only the few who are rejected who return, and it is doubtful whether their round journey is as long as that suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the extent to which penicillin is now obtainable in the various British Colonies.

Supplies of penicillin are now available from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, or Canada, as is most convenient, for civilian use on the same basis as in this country. Briefly this permits the treatment of all civilian cases for which penicillin is known to be effective.

asked the Secretary of State for War why members of His Majesty's Services, including men from the B.L.A. and female nurses arriving at railway stations in Liverpool, on the morning of Sunday, nth March, had to wait for transport to their homes from 3.30 a.m. to 5.30 a.m.; and will he take steps to ensure that this special night transport, for Service personnel only, is not again held up in this way.

Two buses are made available by the Liverpool Corporation every night at Lime Street Station, in addition to the private cars of the "Get you Home Service," to take men and women of the Services to their homes in the early hours of the morning before normal transport services begin. During the night in question 130 Service passengers were taken by these buses alone to various parts of Liverpool and to Birkenhead. Three officers and 158 other ranks arrived at 5.15 on the morning of 11th March on B.L.A. leave. Sixty-five of this total dispersed locally with the aid of 17 cars arranged under the "Get you Home Service," the balance dispersing without incident by early public train and bus services. It has not been possible to obtain any information as to the delays referred to by my hon. Friend except that the information bureau for the Services, which is open continuously day and night on the station, is not aware of any cases of Service men or women being held up.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of Yugoslavia is still under German control.

Approximately one-quarter, but considerable areas in this quarter are held by Marshal Tito's forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are being made to meet the complaints regarding leave for men who took part in the invasion on D-day, owing to the fact that those going abroad in later months have an equal chance in the leave ballot.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. C. Morrison) on 3oth January. 21 Army Group have recently once more given this question very careful consideration and subject to overriding operational requirements the allotment of places for leave will be loaded in favour of the men who landed in France in June and July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is anticipated that all troops now serving in the B.L.A., who have been abroad since last June, will have had a period of leave in this country before the end of March.

No, Sir, but I hope it will be possible for all those who landed in June to have completed their leave by the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any gratuity will be granted to Army recruiting officers, temporary and Regular, and to Army recruiting sergeants.

The officers are reemployed retired officers and the sergeants are ex-soldiers employed as civilians. Both classes receive civilian rates of pay and are therefore not eligible for war gratuities.

asked the Secretary of State for War why every A.B.C.A. pamphlet issued to the Army is inscribed "Restricted"; and that the information given in the pamphlet is not to be communicated, either directly or indirectly, to the Press or to any person not authorised to receive it; and why this appears on "Current Affairs" editions also, which are circulated merely to promote discussion on affairs of public interest.

The hon. Member is misinformed. The A.B.C.A. "Current Affairs" bulletins are marked "Crown Copyright Reserved" and have been since July, 1944. The bulletin "War" sometimes contains information about the war which should not be available to unauthorised persons and is consequently classified as "Restricted."

asked the Secretary of State for War whether hepatitis, after yellow fever inoculation in the British Army, is still occurring; how many cases have been recorded down to the latest date for which the records are available; and whether any of these have proved fatal.

Hepatitis is a disease endemic in all theatres of war, and its cause has not yet been established. It is contracted by men who have not been inoculated with yellow fever vaccine equally well as by those who have. A substance was at one time used in the preparation of this vaccine which became suspected of being a possible cause of hepatitis, and its use was accordingly discontinued in January, 1943. Since then, though special vigilance has been maintained, there has not been the slightest evidence which might connect the vaccine with the disease. It is not possible from records at present held to say how many cases of hepatitis could have been ascribed to yellow fever inoculation before January, 1943, or whether any of these may have proved fatal. Since that date the answer is certainly none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any official information to give as to the cause of the disappearance of the vessel "Island Queen," on a pleasure trip between the colony of Grenada and neighbouring islands.

The Commission appointed to inquire into the disappearance of the vessel reported that there was no direct evidence to determine the cause, but that it might have foundered consequent on capsizing in a squall. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Commissioners' Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the disappearance without trace of the vessel "Island Queen," on an inter-island pleasure voyage in calm seas in the West Indies, he is satisfied through the local governments with the conditions, registration, examination as to seaworthiness, seamanship, proficiency tests, etc., governing the use of similar vessels for inter-colonial traffic in these Colonies; and if he proposes to insist on more stringent regulations.

The Commission of Inquiry into the loss of the vessel expressed the opinion that the Grenada Shipping Rules had not been fully enforced, and recommended a number of amendments of those Rules. I should not propose to intervene unless the Colonial Government refused, without good reason, to act on this recommendation which, when the Governor last reported, they were considering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the near future 30,000 acres of oil-bearing lands in Trinidad, including Government leased land, will pass under control and ownership of the National Mining Corporation for exploration, drilling and development; whether the capital and directorate of this corporation is wholly British; and whether any change in the laws of this colony are contemplated with a view to securing the oil resources of the colony being for the community's benefit.

I have seen a statement in the Press that the Corporation have acquired leases and options covering 24,516 acres of oil-bearing lands in Trinidad, including 18,900 acres of Crown lands. The Governor has, however, not yet given his consent to the transfer of the Crown leases concerned. I am unable to say whether the capital and directorate of the Corporation is wholly British. No change in the law is contemplated, as the bulk of the oil produced comes from Crown oil rights, and the royalties accrue to the Colonial Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will inquire into the number of trained geologists employed on the engineering side of the Public Works Departments in the various Colonies; and whether he will consider the desirability of economising and efficiently utilising the services of all men of such scientific qualifications by placing them in one pool in the geological survey department for general duties in their specialist sphere.

I am aware that, as a purely war-time measure, a number of trained geologists are being employed on other duties in the Public Works Departments of certain Colonial territories. I have recently received a report by a Committee which I appointed early last year to consider the needs for geological work in the Colonial Empire, and the best organisation to carry it out. I have referred the report to Colonial Governments, and I am awaiting their views before reaching a decision on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour the average percentage of unemployment during 1934 in the boroughs of Gateshead, Darlington, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Wallsend, Blyth, Redcar, Whitehaven, Workington and Burnley, and in the urban districts of Whitley Bay, Cockermouth and Maryport.

As the areas served by local offices of the Ministry of Labour and National Service are not co-terminous with local authority areas, the available data do not provide a basis for statistics showing the numbers or percentages un- employed in the local authority areas specified. The following table shows the percentage obtained if the average numbers of insured persons aged 16 and under 65 years, recorded as unemployed month by month during 1934 at local offices of the Ministry of Labour situated in the localities named, are related to the total numbers of insured persons, of those ages, whose unemployment books were exchanged at the same local offices in July, 1934. As, however, considerable numbers of insured persons register, when unemployed, at local offices other than those at which their unemployment insurance books are exchanged, these percentages may be misleading as an indication of the relative levels of unemployment in the localities named.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make arrangements for suitable men, who are now unemployed in Midland and Northern towns and who are willing to come to London, to have their fares and initial expenses paid so that the shortage of labour for debris clearance may be met.

I am not aware that there are any such men.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will again inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a student in a medical school of London University who at an advanced stage of his medical course volunteered for the R.A.F., after three years in that Force being found medically unifit for flying duties was discharged to resume his medical studies but has now been informed that he may be called up for the Army immediately, as this student hopes to take his final medical degree next October.

I am having further inquiries made and will write to my hon. Friend. In the meantime the question of call-up to the Army has been suspended.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that Poland will be invited to participate in the San Francisco Conference, and that in default of the formation of a new Provisional Government of National Unity in Poland in tittle for its representatives to attend the Conference, the President of the Polish Republic will be invited to nominate delegates.

Invitations to the San Francisco Conference are issued by the Government of the United States of America on behalf of itself and of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, the Soviet Government and the Chinese Government. It is thus essential that all four Governments should agree before any invitation can be issued. The Soviet Government do not recognise the Polish Government in London, and the other Allied Governments concerned do not recognise the Provisional Government established at Warsaw. In these circumstances Poland can only be invited to the Conference if a Polish Provisional Government of National Unity, which will be recognised by all four Powers, can be formed in Poland in accordance with the recommendation of the Crimea Conference.His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, like their Allies, attach the highest importance to Poland being represented at the Conference, and they therefore earnestly hope that a united Polish Provisional Government may be formed in time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Soviet Government to obtain the immediate release of those members of the Polish Christian Labour Party and National Democratic Party, whose names have been sent to him, and who were arrested by the N.K.V.D. on 8th March in Brwinow, near Warsaw, as well as the Red Cross delegate M. Lewandowski, arrested at Milanowek, near Warsaw, at about the same time; and whether he will inform the Soviet Government of the prejudicial effect upon Anglo-Russian relations of their policy of arrests and deportations of the friendly citizens of our ally, Poland.

His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow has been instructed to bring these reports to the notice of the Soviet Government and to ask them whether the facts are as stated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether U.N.R.R.A applies to liberated parts of Burma; and if so, what quantities of supplies have been distributed there by this organisation.

His Majesty's Government have not applied to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration for assistance for liberated Burma. The second part of the Question therefore does not arise. The distribution of relief supplies in the liberated parts of Burma has hitherto been and still is a purely military responsibility.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is an acute shortage of writing paper and envelopes in the Rugby area; and whether he will take steps to improve the situation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. A. Duckworth).

asked the Secretary of State for Air what percentage of the intake into the R.A.F. for the years 1943 and 1944 were through A.T.C. channels.

During the years 1943 and 1944, 43 per cent. and 50 per cent. respectively of the total intake of the R.A.F. were members of the A.T.C.

In view of representations that have been made by a number of hon. Members wishing to speak, I beg to move,

"That the Proceedings on Government Business be exempted, at this day's Sitting, from the provisions of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House) for one hour after a quarter past Nine o'Clock.