asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that on Monday, 5th February, 1945, two police constables called at the house of Mr. Alfred Stewart, 250, East Wellington Street, Parkhead, Glasgow, to arrest him as a deserter from the Royal Navy, that they marched him to the police box, thence by Black Maria to the Eastern police station, where he was detained for over two hours; that a large crowd saw him being arrested as a deserter; that he was discharged from the Royal Navy on 15th January, 1941, as medically unfit; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that such a mistake shall not again take place.

The reports which I have received do not accord with the facts alleged in the hon. Member's Question. The reports do disclose, however, that an unfortunate mistake was made by the naval authorities at Devonport, which I very much regret, in that Mr. Stewart was confused with a rating also living in Glasgow, and who had the same surname, a Christian name also commencing with the letter A and a similar, though not of course identical, official number.On 24th February, 1945, the naval authorities at Devonport requested the Dumbarton police by telegram to arrest one A

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Apostolic delegate to Albania was granted permission to proceed to Rome last autumn; and why, having applied for transport facilities to the British Mission at Tirana, he was refused such facilities by A.F.H.Q.

I have no information about this, but inquiries are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider substituting for the present form of headgear of the A.T.S., which is neither practical, comfortable nor becoming, a form of beret.

The substitution of a beret for the present A.T.S. Service cap is now under consideration. If the introduction of the beret were approved the supply would necessarily be gradual.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German prisoners are now in our hands; and how many of these are working for us in the British Isles.

Of the 150,000 German prisoners of war now in this country, approximately one-quarter are being employed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with a view to accelerating day-to-day decisions and giving more responsibility to leading officials, he will now consider, in the case of a few selected Colonies, the replacement of the secretariat by a cabinet system of officials or nominated members, each personally responsible for his Department to the Governor.

I have this matter under consideration, but I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what general progress is being made regarding the introduction of social security provisions in the Colonies; and in which Colonies there are provisions for old age pensions or the beginnings of a health and unemployment insurance system.

Colonial Governments have been informed of my views on the several possibilities of governmental action in different typical Colonial conditions, and in some of them local committees are now actively examining the feasibility of such action. Trinidad, Barbados and 'British Guiana have made legal provision for non-contributory old age pensions, but no Colony has yet provided for health or unemployment insurance, the possibility of which will no doubt be considered by the local committees mentioned above.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction with the existing workmen's compensation laws in the Colonies; and will he undertake a review and revision of these laws wherever necessary.

I am not aware of any widespread dissatisfaction with the workmen's compensation laws of the Colonies which vary in design and scope. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will furnish me with details I shall be glad to consider the matter with the Colonial Government concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can furnish an approximate estimate of the cost, in a normal post-war year, of the new permanent legislation passed since 3rd September, 1939, of a character not connected with the war; if he can also furnish a similar estimate in respect of Bills now before Parliament, on the assumption that they become law in their present form.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th March, 1945, Volume 409, C. 27–8], supplied the following statement:The following table shows, as far as possible, the estimated cost to the Exchequer of new permanent legislation passed since 3rd September, 1939, of a character not connected with the war (i.e., with the conduct of the war) and of Bills now before Parliament. Except where otherwise indicated the estimates are those made when the relevant legislation was introduced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the Report of the Farm Buildings Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. T. W. Haward is likely to be published.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consult the appropriate traders, bankers, shippers and insurance brokers before he moves further in the matter of implementing his proposed cocoa control policy.

As I informed the hon. Member for Bournemouth (Sir L. Lyle) on 21st February, I have already been in touch with associations covering substantially the principal interests in this country concerned with cocoa marketing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to increase the supply of gari in Nigeria; why a shortage exists; whether he is aware that alternative main foodstuffs are scarce and expensive; and to what extent the price fixed by the food control authorities has adversely affected the supply.

I have received no recent report indicating that there is a shortage of gari or other alternative main foodstuffs in Nigeria at the present time. I propose to ask the Governor for a report on the position, and I will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what schemes of development and welfare have been adopted in Nigeria during the past 12 months; what schemes are in contemplation; what grants have become available or are being made available under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act; and whether Parliament can be furnished with periodical statements indicating what progress is being made in British territories overseas.

With regard to the first part of the Question a list is appended of the schemes made on behalf of Nigeria under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act during the year 1944–45. These schemes form part of a general plan which is being prepared by the Nigerian Government to cover all aspects of social and economic development. The plan is expected to involve a total expenditure of up to £40,000,000 over a period of II years. Part of the cost will be met from Nigeria's own resources, but it is hoped to obtain further substantial aid under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. Applications for such further assistance will be submitted as and when other Departmental schemes are completed. Full information regarding the outline plan and the progress made to date will be found in Nigeria Sessional Paper No. 6 of 1945, entitled "Preliminary Statement on Development Planning in Nigeria," a copy of which has been placed in the Library.Annual statements of schemes made under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act are made to Parliament under Section I (iv) of the Act, and the next return will be issued as soon as possible after the end of this financial year. The question of arranging for the earlier communication to Parliament of particulars of schemes made is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the disquiet in Nigeria respecting gratuities for African soldiers and demobilisation; whether all African soldiers, including those wounded, will receive the gratuity; and whether a pronouncement on both matters will be made in the near future.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." It has already been announced locally that gratuities will be paid to all discharged African soldiers unless they have been discharged for dishonourable reasons. A Demobilisation Committee in West Africa under the chairmanship of the Resident Minister is now working on the subject and further details will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that British officers and warrant officers serving in the Leeward Islands are not paid Import Duty allowances; and why this is the case when it is paid in all other West Indian Colonies.

Yes, Sir. It has, however, been decided to reintroduce the allowance with effect from the 1st December, 1943, the date on which it was suspended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a new economic adviser is being appointed for West Africa, or what plans or machinery are being proposed to prepare for a coordinated scheme of economic development in West Africa.

It is not proposed to appoint a successor to Mr. Noel Hall as Development Adviser in West Africa. Since the time of his appointment the position has materially changed in that special posts have been created in Nigeria and the Gold Coast for the planning and organisation of development. It is not, therefore, thought that this particular post is now necessary, especially as improved air communications enable close personal contact to be maintained between the local authorities and my advisers in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the plans for an increased white settlement in Tanganyika, it is proposed that other crops than coffee should be grown by the settlers; and is it anticipated that other crops than coffee can be profitably grown without the aid of a Government subsidy.

One of the main objects of the investigation at present being carried out by the Land Settlement Board is to determine what crops can provide an economic basis for settlement in particular areas, and I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter pending the results of the Board's investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps are being taken to relieve the pressure of population in overcrowded districts of Tanganyika by encouraging the settlement of Africans in unpopulated but fertile land, and by provision of transport and improved water supplies for the under-populated districts.

The Tanganyika Government's post-war development proposals include a scheme for a redistribution of population in certain areas of the Lake Province. The programme also provides for the improvement of communications generally and the development of water supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent Egypt's declaration of war against Germany was the result of Allied representations; and why these were not made before, in view of the fact that during the last five years Egyptian territory has been invaded without resistance and the task of repelling the enemy undertaken at heavy cost of British lives without armed assistance from Egypt.

Egypt's declaration of war against Germany was to no extent the result of Allied representations. So far as His Majesty's Government are concerned, they have seen no reason to make any such representations, since they consider that Egypt has faithfully discharged her obligations under the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will cause inquiries to be made why the Guayaquilo and Quito Railways Bonds are in default of interest payments since 1929 totalling, up to July, 1943, 16,351,000 dollars, in the case of the 4 per cent. Ecuador Salt Bonds for the same period 285,138 dollars and in the case of the 4 per cent. Ecuador Gold Condores £67,077, in view of the fact that on 31st December, 1944, the Ecuadorian Government had credit balances of 12,000,000 dollars in New York and £183,000 in London.

I cannot, of course, accept responsibility for the accuracy of my hon. and gallant Friend's figures, but no doubt Ecuador has considerable holdings of foreign exchange at the present time. Prolonged efforts have been made by the Council of Foreign Bondholders, with the support of His Majesty's Government, to induce the Ecuadorean Government to make an offer of settlement of the external debt which could be recommended to the bondholders. The existence of the resources to which my hon. Friend refers would, of course, obviate any difficulty of transfer. Hitherto, no such offer has been forthcoming, but in view of the repeated asurances of the President of the Republic and responsible Ecuadorean Ministers of their desire for a settlement His Majesty's Government consider that they have a right to ask that at some suitable early date the requisite action will be taken to restore confidence in the guarantees freely given by the Ecuadorean Government in the past.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to report the result of the recent election in Athens of trade union repre- sentatives; if the election was conducted on the methods proposed by Sir W. Citrine and his delegation; and how many members of E.A.M. were elected.

No elections have yet been held. A procedure has, however, been worked out in close consultation with the members of the Trade Union Congress Delegation now in Athens, and it is hoped that elections will take place very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why no self-destroying ammunition has been made for 20mm. Hispano-Suiza guns used by the R.A.F. Regiment for anti-aircraft defences; how many thousands of these guns have been issued, or taken over by the regiment, for this purpose since the formation took over the defence of aerodromes; and whether their use has since been banned for shooting over land.

Approximately 2,500 of these guns were issued, but only a small percentage remain in operation. The early replacement of these guns was contemplated, and it would not have been justifiable to divert technical resources from more pressing needs in order to give priority to the development of a self-destroying fuse for the 20mm. shell. There is no general restriction on firing over land, although Commanders-in-Chief may at their discretion impose local restrictions.

asked the Secretory of State for Air why airmen, over 35 years of age, who are in early demobilisation groups are now being posted overseas.

Men in early release groups are not normally posted overseas except to Western Europe. In certain trades where there is an acute deficiency strict adherence to this policy is impracticable, but every endeavour is made to avoid taking men from the earliest release groups.

asked the Minister of Education in what class of schools and for what duties he proposes to use the new category of unqualified teachers and temporary teachers; and whether they will be employed as were uncertificated teachers in the past in performing the same duties as qualified teachers but at a smaller remuneration.

Under the draft Regulations for Primary and Secondary Schools (excluding Special Schools), as from 1st April, 1945, all regular teachers in maintained schools, certain assisted schools, and direct-grant schools other than grammar schools, must be either qualified teachers or temporary teachers, except that existing teachers in service before that date and not eligible for qualified status may continue to be employed as unqualified teacher. It rests with the school authorities to allocate the duties to be performed by individual teachers on the school staff.

asked the Minister of Works if he has consulted the building trades unions with regard to the employment of mobile cranes since the employment of cranes will increase the speed and reduce the number of unskilled labourers required for the normal types of houses; and how many mobile cranes are on order for the Ministry to be so employed.

The question of increased use of mechanical plant on house building is being closely studied. There appears to be most scope for mobile cranes in the non-traditional methods of house construction. There will be full discussions with all sections of the industry. Unfortunately, most of the mobile cranes of suitable size at present being manufactured are required for military purposes.