asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction among members of the Auxiliary War Department Constabulary by reason of the fact that they are not included in announcements relating to post-war credits, gratuities, reinstatements, etc., which are granted to the Armed Forces and auxiliary police forces; and why these men have been omitted, bearing in mind the fact that their duties are identical with those of home defence units, of His Majesty's Forces and police war reserve.

The War Reserve Police fall under the definition given by the Prime Minister of those eligible for Civil Defence gratuities—namely, certain members of the Civil Defence Services where remuneration throughout the war has been related to Army rates of pay. Members of the War Department Constabulary are civilian employees of the Department, and their rates of pay which are agreed with the associations representing them are not related to Army rates of pay. The War Department Constabulary are not therefore eligible for post-war credits, gratuities, or other benefits applicable specially to members of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Services.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the manpower shortage, an opportunity will be given to men who were invalided out of the Army at an early stage in the war but who are now fit and wish to volunteer for further service; and whether arrangements exist to enable these men to reenlist.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir." Provided such men are acceptable on age and medical grounds they may be re-enlisted on duration engagements. The number of such applications is naturally not very great.

asked the Secretary of State for War how parents who wish to visit wounded sons in hospital can obtain the travelling warrants at reduced rates to which they are entitled.

Parents and certain other relatives of members of the Forces who are ill or wounded in hospital in the United Kingdom may obtain concession fare vouchers from local branches of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association or of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, or, in emergency, from Railway Traffic Officers at railway stations, on production of reasonable evidence of identity and entitlement. They may also apply to the appropriate depot or officer in charge of records in the case of officers and other ranks respectively. These vouchers are also held by hospitals, who may issue them to patients for transmission to relatives.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date he received the representations from the hon. Member for Wallsend for a new medical examination and compassionate posting of a member of the A.T.S., whose name has been supplied; and whether he can yet give a reply.

I very much regret the delay which has occurred in supplying the hon. Lady with detailed information in the case of a member of the A.T.S., which she referred to me on 16th December, 1944. This auxiliary was again medically examined on 14th March, 1945, and lastly on 27th March. She is considered fit for service in her present medical category and for the clerical duties in which she is now engaged. As a result of an interview by a selection board in January of this year, this auxiliary was given a change of employment and posted on firth February, 1945, to Leeds. Treatment is to be provided for her, and it is understood that her general condition is very much improved and that she is content in her present station.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and the Sussex County Army Welfare officials, serving men and their families, many local authorities, property owners and others in the county are perturbed at the present and possible future results of the continued requisitions by his Department of a large number of schools and houses, many of which are not being used; and will he by statement or practical action allay the growing anxiety.

I am well aware of this problem, and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little) on Tuesday. I do not think that I can add anything to the many assurances I have already given that this matter constantly engages my personal attention, and that no property will be held under requisition unless it is essential to retain it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any payments will be made to N.A.A.F.I. personnel at the end of hostilities in respect of service overseas.

All N.A.A.F.I. personnel will receive leave with pay in the United Kingdom in respect of overseas service on terms not less favourable than those applicable to Service personnel. Those serving in the Royal Army Service Corps-Expeditionary Force Institutes and the Auxiliary Territorial Service-Expeditionary Force Institutes will receive a gratuity in respect of their war service under the same conditions as those approved for the Army. These arrangements will also apply to N.A.A.F.I. personnel serving with the Navy.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is prepared to consider reviewing hardship cases of officers who are forced by exceptional circumstances to relinquish their commissions and are not eligible for notice leave and clothing allowance.

The only officers who do not get any notice leave are those who go on account of misconduct, voluntary resignation, or having, in the case of a Regular, reached the age-limit. I do not think that in any of these cases absence of notice leave can be considered as a hardship. No officer is entitled to a clothing allowance on leaving the Service, but when the release period starts non-Regular officers leaving the Service will be entitled to the same civilian clothing as is given to other ranks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the basis of assessment of a soldier who is subject to Indian Income Tax and whose wife is subject to British Income Tax; and, particularly, in what proportion the £165 at the lower rate of British Income Tax is divided between husband and wife.

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind a case in which the soldier is not resident in the United Kingdom and his wife is resident here. In such a case the soldier is not liable to United Kingdom Income Tax on any income arising to him from sources outside this country, and is entitled to a proportion of the personal reliefs and allowances (including the reduced rate relief on the first £165 of income) which he would have received if he had been resident, the proportion being that which his income liable to United Kingdom Income Tax bears to his total income from all sources. If he and his wife are treated for taxation purposes as living together he is entitled, as a non-resident, to the appropriate proportion of the allowances due to a married couple calculated by reference to the joint liable incomes of himself and his wife as compared with the joint total income, Alternatively, if it is to their advantage, he and his wife may be treated as single and separate individuals for United Kingdom Income Tax purposes. In that event the wife receives the full reliefs applicable to a single person against her income and the husband receives the appropriate proportion of a single person's reliefs against the income on which he is liable to United Kingdom tax.

asked the Secretary of State for India what allowances are permitted in the Indian income assessments on British soldiers liable to Indian Income Tax, both single and married, during their service in S.E.A.C. or India Command.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my replies of 13th May, 1943, and 22nd February, 1945, of which I am sending him copies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state for each year since its inception the total proposals and sums involved, both approved and not approved, with regard to schemes submitted to the Capital Issues Committee.

The table below gives the approximate figures by years from the outbreak of war to 31st January, 1945.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in each of the last five available Income Tax years had incomes which, after deducting direct taxation, equalled sums of under £250, £250 to £500, £500 to £1,000,£1,000 to £2,000, £2,000 to £4,000, £4,000 to £6,000 and £6,000 or over, respectively.

Range of Net Income (i.e., Total Gross Income as assessed to tax less the Income Tax and Sur-Tax payable thereon.)								Individuals with net incomes exceeding £150:
								Year 1938–9.	Year 1942–3.
Exceeding				Not exceeding				Nos.	Nos.
£				£
150	…	…	…	250	…	…	…	4,500,000	7,000,000
250	…	…	…	500	…	…	…	1,820,000	5,300,000
500	…	…	…	1,000	…	…	…	450,000	550,000
1,000	…	…	…	2,000	…	…	…	155,000	117,000
2,000	…	…	…	4,000	…	…	…	56,000	31,750
4,000	…	…	…	6,000	…	…	…	12,000	1,170
6,000	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	7,000	80
					Totals	…	…	7,000,000	13,000,000

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the subsidy of £65,000,000 per annum provided for bread, flour and oatmeal is assigned to the provision of bread.

Of the £65,000,000 which represents the current rate of subsidy for bread, flour and oatmeal, the proportion assignable to bread is approximately £35,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended to maintain the reserved age for male civil servants in the administrative and analogous groups at 30 years as at present during the period following the end of the war with Germany.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service has announced in Command Paper 6568 of 1944 that he does not normally propose to call up for military service after the end of the war with Germany men who had attained the age of 28 at that date. This decision will apply to civil servants as to other members of the community.

This information is not available in the detail asked for by my hon. Friend, but the following table gives estimates of the numbers in ranges of net income after taxation from £1,50 upwards for the year 1938–39, the last pre-war year, and for 1942–43, the latest year for which such figures are available:

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers in war factories have been declared redundant by his officers up to date; and for how many of these has alternative employment been found.

Between mid-1943 and the end of 1944 there was a decrease of 510,000 in the number of persons employed on work for the Supply Departments. With regard to the second part of the Question the hon. Member will see from the published statistics of unemployment that, in general, workers have been quickly reabsorbed into employment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will reconsider the matter of the closing of his Ministry's appointments office in the City of Sheffield which is causing dissatisfaction among the business people; and is he aware that the transference of this office to Leeds will cause undue delay and inconvenience.

The decision to reduce the number of Appointments Offices and, in the North Eastern Region, to concentrate the work in Leeds where my Regional Office is situated, follows the recommendation of the Committee on Higher Appointments over which Lord Hankey presided, and I am satisfied that it will result in providing a better and more specialised service to applicants and employers. To minimise any delay and inconvenience which might result from a reduction in the number of Appointments Offices I have taken steps to ensure the closest liaison between the Regional Appointments Offices and the Employment Exchanges so that inquiries may be dealt with locally. Naturally, these arrangements will be kept under close review and I shall not hesitate to change them if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of men, women and children, respectively, who have lost the sight of one or both eyes, one or both legs or arms, respectively, or been treated for serious mental or nervous disorder from 3rd September, 1939, up to the latest date as a result of enemy action.

I presume that the hon. Member refers to civilians only. The only figures that might be available are those for cases in which pensions have been awarded by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions. My right hon. Friend advises me that an undue amount of time and labour would be involved in extracting them from his records, and he regrets he does not feel justified in undertaking it in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to secure superannuation rights for the staffs of probation committees appointed by quarter sessions in each county.

There is, as my hon. Friend will be aware, an existing scheme for the superannuation of full-time probation officers. The question of replacing it by an extended scheme which would include their clerical assistants has been under consideration. Legislation will be required before the change can be effected.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of serving men who have lost either the sight of one or both eyes, one or both legs, one or both arms, who are completely deaf, detained in a mental home or hospital for lunacy or nervous disorder, respectively, since 3rd September, 1939, up to the latest date.

I regret that the records of my Department are not so arranged as to enable me to furnish the information desired without an undue expenditure of time and man-power.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the altered lighting regulations in London, he will now give instructions for all the masks to be totally removed from the traffic-control lights in the Metropolitan area.

The possibility of removing masks from traffic control lights is one of the lighting relaxations which receives regular consideration, but at the moment I fear I can add nothing to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton (Mr. H. Lawson) on 31st January last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to make any statement with regard to the pay of the regular police.

Yes, Sir. I am glad to say that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have, in consultation with our respective Police Councils, reviewed the scales of pay of sergeants and constables and have decided to introduce, as from 1st April, new and improved rates of pay. These new rates will stabilise police pay for a period of three years, at the end of which time they will be reviewed. The scale for constables will commence at 90s. a week, or, if under 23 years of age, 88s. a week, and rise in 10 years to 117s.: thereafter a constable whose zeal and efficiency are satisfactory may have his pay increased by two long-service increments of 3s. each up to an absolute maximum of 123s. Corresponding improvements will be made in the pay of men sergeants and of women constables and sergeants. In addition, the police will, of course, continue to receive the allowances and other emoluments to which they are entitled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will split up the 5,610 burglaries and house breakings which occurred in the Metropolitan police district last year to show how many arose in the case of warehouses, offices, ordinary houses and shops, if possible differentiating between lock-up shops and others.

The figure to which my hon. Friend refers consists only of cases where house property had been entered During the 12 months ending 31st December last, 7,344 cases of breaking into warehouses, offices, shops and similar property were reported in the Metropolitan Police District. Particulars of these cases are as follow:

Tailors and Outfitters, etc.	…	1,767
Factories and Warehouses, etc.	…	1,530
Cafes, Grocers, Butchers, Bakers etc.	…	1,041
Tobacconists and Confectioners	…	800
Offices	…	763
Jewellers, Chemists, Hairdressers	…	410
Garages, Wireless and Cycle Dealers	…	317
Clubs, Pavilions, Public Houses	…	243
Departmental Stores	…	153
Schools, Halls, Cinemas, etc.	…	95
Stationers and Bookstalls, etc.	…	70
Miscellaneous	…	155

It is not possible to differentiate between lock-up shops and others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the Report of his Departmental Committee on desirable amendments of Election Law; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations.

The recommendations of this Committee are under consideration. I am not at the moment in a position to make any statement with regard to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider applications from Czechoslovaks now in Great Britain who have special knowledge of the language and customs in response to the advertisements now appearing for technical and administrative posts in liberated countries.

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, that there are no current advertisements issued by his Department for posts in liberated countries. I presume, therefore, that my hon. and gallant Friend may have in mind the advertisement for technical and scientific personnel of British nationality for employment in the British Element of the Control Commission for Germany which appeared in the Press on 19th March. For this work it is clearly important to employ British subjects wherever possible, and I am not prepared to authorise a modification of the advertisement which would depart from this principle.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement to elucidate the advertisement issued by the Ministry of Labour, recently appealing for technical and scientific staff to deal with the future industrial activities of Germany, including armaments, heavy engineering, shipbuilding and aircraft, as this advertisement has caused considerable concern;(2) if he is aware that after the war there will be a continuing shortage of skilled technicians in this country, whereas in Germany there will be no future armament, shipbuilding or aircraft industries; and if he will therefore reconsider his intention to appoint a Commission containing highly skilled technical personnel to ensure that there is no resurgence in Germany of warlike industries.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made after Questions to-day.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give instructions to His Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular representatives in France that they should assist Members of Parliament visiting that country over their arrangements for accommodation and transport.

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security on 23rd January, Members of Parliament visiting France will have to make their own arrangements for accommodation. The accommodation of visitors in France at the present time presents serious difficulties and transport is also very uncertain. While His Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular representatives will naturally afford all proper assistance to Members of Parliament as to any other British subjects in France who are in need of their services, they are not in a position to procure transport or accommodation for persons other than those travelling on official business. I should, therefore, like to take this opportunity of warning Members that they would be ill-advised to attempt to visit France on their own account unless they have made all such arrangements themselves before leaving the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for the regular supply of the British Medical Bulletin published by the British Council, including the issues for 1944, to the Library of the House for consultation by Members.

One copy each of the last two issues (Nos. 10–11 and No. 12) of the British Medical Bulletin was sent to the Library of the House of Commons shortly after publication. Arrangements can be made to provide the complete 1944 volume and to supply a copy of each future issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by U.N.R.R.A. to distribute soap to the inhabitants of liberated countries; and whether he is satisfied that we have enough soap to make such distribution possible.

Soap is included among the commodities which U.N.R.R.A. plans to provide for the liberated territories which it serves. It is expected also that emphasis will be laid on the provision of raw materials to increase the manufacture of soap in those countries for their own use. As regards the second part of the Question, I am informed that U.N.R.R.A. has received an allocation from the appropriate Combined Board which will enable it to proceed with the distribution of soap.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will explain the reasons for the delay in replying to correspondence dealing with a claim of Mr. W. E. George, late Postmaster of Keston, particulars of which have been sent him.

Consideration of this case has been complicated by the fact that the claimant had removed from the area in which the damage occurred, but the necessary inquiries have now been completed and my right hon. Friend is writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate fully the steps taken to protect ex-Servicemen and others from purchasing businesses of an unprofitable character or proposed businesses for which a licence is necessary; and what is being done by Price Regulation Committees to warn and safeguard any such prospective purchasers.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which was given on 23rd January to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bére).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the demand of the inhabitants of the village of Hotham, in the East Riding, for an electric installation; and, as this place adjoins the mains of the North Lincolnshire and Howdenshire Electricity Company, if he will consider the removal of restrictions there in order to benefit this agricultural and rural community.

During the War it has been necessary, owing to shortage of labour and materials, to restrict the development of electricity supplies to cases of hardship and the requirements of the War effort which have, of course, included those of agriculture. I regret that it would not be possible to remove these restrictions in the case of the village of Hotham without removing them for the country as a whole, and I am not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to remove these restrictions generally.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Inter-departmental Committee on Rent Control have yet presented their Report; when it will be published; and if the Government have accepted their recommendations.

Yes, Sir. The Report will be published shortly after Easter, and its recommendations are at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many foreign Governments have been consulted with a view to reaching agreement on a standard size of mesh net to be used throughout the trawling industry.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to Cmd. Paper 6496–43.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will consider revising the grant regulations in such a way as to ensure that the amount paid by his Ministry in respect of teachers' salaries shall not be less than 15 per cent. higher than the general rate of grant obtaining for the area of each local education authority; and whether he is aware that the Bournemouth education authority will, under the grant regulations proposed, receive less than 34 per cent. of its approved net expenditure on education.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As I explained to representatives of the Association of Education Committees who advanced this proposal the effect of its adoption would be generally inconsistent with the maintenance of the principle of local financial responsibility. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of men and women, respectively, who are registered in Glasgow as unemployed up to the latest date.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to interest British engineering firms in the post-war manufacture of agricultural machinery of the types now obtained from abroad.

A number of British firms have already shown an interest in the manufacture of agricultural machinery and implements of types that are now imported, and in discussion with my Department they have been given every possible assistance. In addition, the Agricultural Machinery Development Board have recently made recommendations on the development and specification of implements required in British agriculture, including types now imported, and these recommendations have been communicated to the Joint Standing Committee of the Agricultural Engineering Industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether figures can be supplied giving the number of cases in Eng- land and Wales in which W.A.E.C.s have taken possession of land or terminated tenancies.

The following table gives details of action taken in England and Wales where the land was not being culti-

—	Taking possession of Land (including all cases where tenancies have also been terminated).		Termination of Tenancies (excluding cases whore possession has also been taken).
	No. of Cases.	Acreage.	No. of Cases.	Acreage.
Complete agricultural holding, including farmhouse	880	137,566	1,473	184,257
Complete agricultural holding, except for farmhouse	424	40,366	—	—
Complete agricultural holding "farmed off" by a non-resident occupier.	578	43,591	—	—
Accommodation land, off farms, off lying-fields, and land occupied by persons other than farmers.	—	—	1,205	40,748
Portions of agricultural holdings not involving occupiers' dispossession from farmhouse and remainder of holding.	3,436	120,077	—	—
Common Land	322	24,237	—	—
Land (other than common land) normally used for sport and recreation.	205	6,329	—	—
Derelict land (e.g., building sites, marshes, etc.) not included in above categories.	2,917	70,449	—	—
Totals of all Cases	8,762*	442,615	2,678	225,005
*In addition possession was taken 589 empty houses (total area 63 acres) to provide accommodation for agricultural workers.

It will be observed that the number of farmers who have been required to leave their farms and homes as a result of action by the Committee is 2,353. This represents.63 of r per cent. of the total number of agricultural holdings in England and Wales. In addition, 424 farmers were dispossessed of 40,366 acres but retained their homes, while 578 non-resident off-farmers were dispossessed of 43,591 acres.The figures are not only a tribute to the general efficiency of farmers and their willingness to co-operate in the war-time food production campaign, but also indicate clearly the care and consideration with which the Committees have exercised, as my agents, the drastic powers entrusted to me by Parliament for securing maximum food production during the present emergency.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give a schedule of the

No, Sir. Owing to the numerous factors which may affect the release of men from the Forces it is not possible at this stage to give any reliable estimate of the rate at which building trade operatives will be released.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Purchase Tax (Alteration of Rates) (No. 2) Order, 1945, dated 13th March, was not accompanied by an explanatory memorandum.

The Order was not made under war legislation and its effect was considered to be clear. The Select Committee on Statutory Rules and Orders has since reported that there are no reasons for drawing the special attention of the House to this Order on any of the grounds set out in the terms of reference of the Committee. I would remind the hon. Member that one of these grounds is that the form or purport of an Order requires elucidation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many trawlers have been released since 13th December, 1944; and how many of them are now engaged in fishing.

I am informed that since the 13th December, 1944, 3o trawlers have been released from naval service and handed over to be re-converted and returned to their owners. The work of reconverting these trawlers commonly takes three months, and according to the latest information in my possession, only one of these trawlers has yet resumed fishing. It may be of interest to add that during January and February 17 trawlers completed reconditioning, and it is expected that about 25 more will be completed during March.

asked the Minister of Works what sum has been collected to date from the levy of 5s. per thousand on bricks and 25. 6d. per ton on cement; and whether there is prospect of the abolition of the levy.

The amount collected up to the end of December last from the levy of 3s. per thousand bricks sold is approximately £733,000. The levy will be abolished as soon as the objects for which it was instituted have been achieved. These are set out in the reply to the hon. Member's question on 3oth September, 1942. There is no levy on cement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet in a position to make any statement as to the conditions under which the authorities will be prepared to repurchase indoor shelters from those who were obliged to pay for them.

It appears improbable that the need will arise for the Government to revert to the practice of repurchasing privately-owned indoor shelters, which was resorted to only for the purpose of meeting temporary shortages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make some further pronouncement regarding the West African Cocoa Control Scheme.

Yes, Sir. In accordance with the undertaking given in the White Paper on Cocoa Control in West Africa (Cmd. 6554), I propose, in presenting the Colonial Estimates for the next financial year, to ask Parliament to vote a grant equivalent to the profits disclosed in Part I of that Paper for allocation to the Governments of the Gold Coast and Nigeria and to the Government of the French Cameroons. So far as the British Colonies are concerned, it remains my intention that the funds made available should be employed partly to meet expenditure on the cocoa research scheme and partly to provide finance for future marketing organisations. I should propose, however, to instruct the two Governments concerned that the funds provided for the latter purpose should not be drawn on to establish or finance such organisations until I have laid a detailed scheme before Parliament and given the House an opportunity of debating it.As regards next season, it now appears more certain than at the time the Command Paper was presented to Parliament that there will be no substantial change before the end of the 1945–46 season in the present conditions whereby all cocoa is subject to allocation by the Combined Food Board, and that therefore the bulk of the marketing work will still have to be done in London. In these circumstances I have decided that no new marketing scheme shall be brought into operation for the 1945–46 season, but that control of marketing shall remain for the time being with the West African Produce Control Board.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what extra contribution would be required to cover the cost of reducing the pension age of unmarried women from 6o to 55 years of age if levied on all insured persons.

I presume the Question relates to the scheme outlined in the White Paper on Social Insurance, Part I (Cmd. 6550). I do not feel justified in asking the Government Actuary to undertake the calculations necessary for a close estimate, but I am advised that this extra contribution might be in the neighbourhood of 2d. a week, together with a substantial increase in the cost to the Exchequer. I ought to point out also that a proposal to impose a contribution for this purpose on all insured persons would scarcely be consistent with the principles on which the scheme proposes to distribute the contribution charge.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now indicate the provisions he proposes to make in connection with awards under the further education and training scheme so as to ensure prompt decision and financial implementation; to allow for professional advice and travel and subsistence cost in authorised cases; and to arrange for the avoidance of delay.

In order to avoid unnecessary delay, applications for awards under the Further Education and Training Scheme will be made to my Regional Appointments Offices, who will decide the more straightforward cases within the field of my Department. Other cases will require the sanction of the headquarters of the award-making Departments concerned, i.e. the Ministries of Education, Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the Scottish Education Departments. In certain cases some inquiries will be necessary before a decision can be reached. For instance, if a man is applying for an award to enable him to embark on a training which lasts three or four years, it will be necessary in his own interests to ensure that he is likely to be successful in the profession of his choice, and that the course of training which he proposes to take is the best available. Moreover, if the applicant is disabled, it will be necessary to make certain that he is physically capable of undertaking the training and profession in view. Once a decision on an application has been reached, there should be no delay in making payments on their due scales.The award-making Departments are at present engaged in discussions with the various professional institutions as to how they can best obtain advice on such questions as the suitability of applicants and methods of training both in London and the provinces. It is hoped to make arrangements, wherever practicable, whereby Appointments Offices may consult secretaries of local societies or other persons of standing in each of the professions and callings in respect of which applications will be received. Appointments Offices have discretion to refund travelling expenses to applicants who are asked to attend for interview, provided they live more than six miles away; if an overnight absence from home is necessarily involved, a subsistence allowance may also be paid.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to void all enemy trade marks in all countries, dominions, etc., now at war with Germany and Japan, or which have remained neutral during the war periods, having in mind that after the last war, marks such as Lysol, Sanatogen, Odol, Aspirin, etc., were voided in some countries, but not in all, and that throughout the present war Germany and Japan have maintained their goodwill for their trade marks in neutral and Allied countries.

This question, which involves consultation with our Allies, is under consideration.