asked the Secretary of State for War why Captain Klause, an officer of the Reichswehr, was permitted to arrive in this country over four weeks ago; whether he was interned as a prisoner of war; and if he is receiving any special treatment not usually afforded to Nazi prisoners.

I have been asked to reply and am informed that there is no prisoner of war whose particulars correspond with those in the Question. My hon. Friend may, however, be referring to a civilian internee of German nationality named Alfred Ignatz Maria Kraus, latterly an employee in Paris of the Siemens Combine. In 1944, after the liberation of Paris, he claimed to have rendered assistance during the occupation to the Allied cause and offered to join the British Army. In September, 1944, he was brought to this country on insufficient information about him and without proper authority. As a result of inquiries made it was decided that he was a person who should not be at liberty in this country, and he was accordingly interned in October last as a civilian alien of enemy nationality, and is still interned. There is no foundation for the suggestion that any preferential treatment has been accorded to him.

Was this civilian originally a member of the Reichswehr in Paris, and can the right hon. Lady say whether he was brought here by air and whether any disciplinary action was taken with regard to that?

The second part of the supplementary question must be referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. With regard to the first part, the difficulty is that we are dealing with a person whom we have to assume is the person referred to by the hon. Gentleman, because there is not in our hands any person of the name mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's Question. It would be sufficient simply to say that we have no information, but I am trying to help the hon. Gentleman, and this is the best I can do.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether facilities can be given to county cadet committees in the Metropolitan area to carry out work in connection with the provision of huts under the scheme recently announced notwithstanding the expenditure limits imposed on works other than repair of bomb damage, or, alternatively, whether he will take steps to delay the derequisitioning of premises now occupied by the Army Cadet Force until it has been possible to erect huts to replace them.

Defence Regulations enable accommodation to be requisitioned only for the Armed Forces of the Crown and it cannot be retained for the use of the Army Cadet Force unless it is also needed for other military purposes. The erection of huts for the Army Cadet Force in the Metropolitan area cannot be considered to have priority over the repair of bomb damage and for this reason the general embargo is applied to huts. However, in particular cases where it is certain that bomb damage work is not impeded, the erection can be undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that British cigarettes intended for distribution to His Majesty's Forces through the N.A.A.F.I. organisation and in packets so printed can still be purchased openly in shops and cafes in Paris at 14s. per packet; what steps have been taken to suppress this traffic; and what further steps are now proposed.

Soldiers are strictly forbidden to sell cigarettes they get free as part of the ration or duty free from N.A.A.F.I., and disciplinary action is taken against offenders. Action is also taken against civilians by the French police. Although some cigarettes are undoubtedly sold by soldiers to individuals this traffic is not widespread and I understand that N.A.A.F.I, cigarettes are not openly on sale in Paris.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these packets of cigarettes, plainly printed "N.A.A.F.I. stores, for His Majesty's Forces," can be purchased at almost any tobacconist's shop or café in Paris for 14s. a packet without any attempt to hide it, and cannot representations be made to the French Government that stringent steps be taken to punish the sellers of the cigarettes; and secondly, has any consideration been given to the fact that, as this is only possible because of the small ration of cigarettes in France, the market could be broken by sending supplies of cigarettes to France for sale at fixed prices under Government control?

Of course, the main part of this matter is for the French Government and not for the War Office. My information, so far as it goes, and in these matters it is impossible to get full information, is that it is a very narrow activity in Paris. If the hon. Member has any specific cases which he can vouch for, I would be very glad to investigate them, but it is very difficult to investigate a general assertion, particularly when that general assertion is contrary to the information I get from the official authorities in France.

I obviously cannot give specific instances without another trip to Paris, but it is a fact that anyone can go to a shop in Paris and buy the cigarettes. Will not the Minister make representations to the French Government that a checkup be made of these cafés by private inspectors?

I am sorry, but my information, after consultation, does not bear out the information given by the hon. Member. I really do not see what more I can do.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed to hand over Worth School, in Sussex, to its original owners, in order that it may be used for the purpose of education for which it is urgently required.

After dwelling houses, schools have the highest priority for release and I can assure the hon. Lady that this school will be released as soon as possible. A review of the buildings requisitioned by the Army is now being carried out.

In view of the fact that this school has not been occupied by the military for over a year and that the children who ought to be in it are now evacuated under conditions which would not be tolerated in any Poor Law institution, is it not high time that the school was derequisitioned?

There is a good deal of accommodation that has been reserved by the Army against the needs of the release period and for housing temporarily repatriated prisoners of war. As I have said, I am undertaking an exhaustive review of the requisitioned accommodation in the hands of the War Office. Dwelling houses are first on the list, and schools are second, and I will do my best in both categories.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many buildings in Brighton and Hove are now requisitioned by his department; how many of these are normally hotels, boarding-houses and private dwellings, respectively; the approximate number of rooms involved in each category; and how many requisitioned rooms are at present not actually occupied by troops.

The number of buildings requisitioned in Brighton and Hove is 920, of which 35 are hotels or boardinghouses and 630 are private houses, containing about 1,000 and about 6,500 rooms respectively. About 1,800 rooms are not at present occupied but the number changes from day to day.

Will my right hon. Friend carry out a survey of alternative accommodation that is available in order that the acute shortage might be relieved at the earliest possible moment?

I have been for some time engaged on a complete survey of the requisitioned accommodation in the hands of the War Office.

Would not my right hon. Friend see his way to issuing some sort of general statement which will comfort the minds and allay the anxiety of so many people in Sussex who are very anxious indeed about this requisitioning?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that when a building is derequisitioned his department ask for 11 signed copies of the order from the tenant and 11 from the landlord; and if he will take steps to have this number reduced.

Two notices of derequisition are served on the tenant or owner and only one must be signed and returned to the War Department. I am at a loss to understand what can have happened in the case to which my hon. Friend refers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have in my possession letters from his Department asking for 11 signed copies, and if he reads them will he take steps in the matter?

Certainly. As I have said, I am at a loss to understand what can have happened.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many buildings an the Bournemouth district are still under requisition by his Department, how many are in actual use, whether he can derequisition the unused buildings forthwith and give any further indication of his plans in this respect.

The number of buildings requisitioned is 482 of which 13 are being released and 81 are occupied. A large proportion of the rest are being held to house prisoners returned from Germany. The holdings of buildings on requisition are, however, now being reviewed and if it is found that some are not needed they will of course be released.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that in view of the deplorable state of housing in this country, it is intolerable that there are 450 requisitioned buildings and only 80 occupied?

In the first place, I am having a comprehensive review of requisitioned property. The other point, as I have already stated in answer to a Question to-day, is that the small houses which have the most bearing on the accommodation problem are first on the list for release.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not invite the Minister of Health to derequisition these houses and to use them for housing families who have no homes?

The hon. Member had better put that Question down to the Minister of Health. I have enough of my own troubles.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men who have served five years in the Far East have been waiting at base for over two months before being repatriated, while others with less service pass through without waiting; and will he make inquiries with a view to speeding up the arrangements.

I am not aware that men who are being repatriated are having to wait in this way at base camps but I am having inquiries made. If in any case all the men could not be accommodated on board ship priority would probably be given to men coming home on medical or compassionate grounds irrespective of the length of their service overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the reason for the reduction of the Army allowance to the dependants of the men reported missing, since February, 1942, in the Singapore area, from 6th May, 1945.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full statement I made on 27th March in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for New Forest (Major Mills). Such reductions as there will be take effect after 31st July and not 6th May.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that some pay offices are sending out statements to the effect that the pay is going to be reduced from 6th May and, if I tell him that the Army Pay Office at Glasgow has already done that, will he make inquiries?

If the hon. Member will give a specific instance, I will certainly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the release of training areas; and whether compensation will be payable to anyone subsequently meeting with an accident in those areas owing to the presence of undetected explosives.

As my answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Does that include undetected, unexpected objects on beaches and things of that sort?

Following is the answer:

The War Department is anxious to relinquish land which has been used for training troops, immediately it is no longer required for this purpose, but is concerned to avoid accidents from explosives and other dangerous objects which may not have been discovered and removed before relinquishment.

The detection and removal of mines in areas overseas where our forces are engaged with the enemy utilises the great bulk of technical equipment and trained personnel, and it is not possible, at present, to give a close and detailed scrutiny to training areas in this country.

There is, accordingly, some ground which cannot be released, at present, but the degree of risk varies according to the use which has been made of the ground and there are considerable areas which can be released after a careful visual examination and larger areas which can be released, immediately, without special examination, provided that occupiers will exercise reasonable care during their initial use of the ground. A suspected explosive should not be disturbed but reported at once to the police who will arrange for it to be examined by technical military staff immediately.

If an accident should be caused by the presence of explosives used during training and not removed from the ground before its relinquishment by the War Department, an ex gratia payment of compensation will be made in respect of damage to property and personal injury provided that the victim has not contributed to the damage or injury by his own negligence.

asked the Secretary of State for War the approximate number of paternity claims made against soldiers in respect of illegitimate children and the number of repudiations; what action can be taken while the alleged fathers are serving overseas; and whether records are kept by the Army of all such claims pending the return to this country of the men involved.

Steps are taken under the provisions of the Army Act to ensure that soldiers meet affiliation orders granted by the civil courts. But such orders cannot be granted when a man, whether soldier or civilian, is abroad and outside the jurisdiction of these courts. The War Office, however, undertakes to answer periodical inquiries as to whether a soldier has returned to this country so that proceedings can then be put in train. No records of claims are kept and I regret that their number and the number of repudiations are not available.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that there are a number of unfortunate and even tragic episodes of girls being stranded here and men repudiating paternity, and would it not be helpful to keep some sort of record of these cases so that proceedings can be taken when a man returns to this country?

That is a matter for the civil courts. I try to facilitate matters by answering inquiries from time to time as to whether a soldier has returned to this country. Apart from that, there is nothing I can legitimately do.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has now received a report concerning the allegations of whipping and maltreatment of West African soldiers.

I have received the report and prima facie it disposes of the allegations forwarded to me by the hon. Member. I should, however, like to have a little more time to study it in detail.

May I ask whether that report is available to Members of the House? Further, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I cannot altogether accept the suggestion that these claims are false, and will he indicate whether he will reconsider the matter?

I would be very grateful if the hon. Member would repeat that Question after I have had a little further time to consider the report in detail.

How long will that be—a week?

I cannot say. There are lots of other things to do.

:: On a point of Order. Although there have already been many notices, I wish to give notice that I shall raise this matter at the earliest opportunity on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has investigated the cases of ill-treatment of British prisoners of war in camps in Silesia, revealed by prisoners released from a camp at Bad Orb, 17 miles north east of Aschaffenburg; and if he intends to make representations through the Protecting Power.

I assume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the British prisoners who were marched for 450 miles from Silesia in depth of winter. They were visited on the march by a representative of the Protecting Power. The Germans had prevented them from making any preparation for the move and failed to make adequate provision for food and accommodation. No arrangements were made for those who fell ill on the way, and there was no sanitation and insufficient food and water for the sick who were moved by train. A protest was at once despatched through the Protecting Power against these deplorable conditions.

In view of the fact that there are constant reports in the newspapers about the ill-treatment of our prisoners, and many of those reports are exaggerated, would it be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to make a statement by broadcast, say twice a week, giving actual information, because the relatives of the men are much worried?

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will allow me to answer that in connection with a Question on the Paper later. I fry, and so does my hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary, to give the House the earliest information, as soon as we get it, but events are very much ahead of any possibility of our getting information.

The right hon. Gentleman has referred more than once to representations having been made to the Protecting Power. Can he say whether any response has been received?

It is very difficult to give a categorical answer. In a good many cases representations are effective. At the present time it is becoming more and more the case that the Germans are incapable of looking after these things in their own country. Therefore, I am afraid a good deal of hardship is unavoidable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information from the Protecting Power about conditions in prisoner-of-war camps Oflag VII B and Stalag 357.

As regards Oflag VII B I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Members for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) and Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 10th April. He will be glad to know that Stalag 357 was reached by the British Armies yesterday. They liberated some thousands of British, American and Allied prisoners who were there but details have not yet reached me.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the appointment of a military or other organisation to the staff of the Allied Armies in Western Germany specifically to deal with liberated British and Allied prisoners of war, to help them in every possible manner, to report their names without delay for communication to relatives and to collect information regarding fellow prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that members of the mission for prisoners of war matters in Europe will be eligible for staff pay as is the case for Civil Affairs and the Allied Control Commission.

I can assure by hon. and gallant Friend that such an organisation has been in existence for some time as a part of S.H.A.E.F. The officers concerned are graded as staff officers and receive staff pay. The officers who have been detailed to assist locally in Germany with the administration and care of prisoners of war are not graded as staff officers and do not receive staff pay.

Do these officers give names and details of the prisoners who are rescued?

There is another Question on the Paper about that. That is the endeavour, but in point of fact some prisoners are being sent back by air so quickly that they themselves arrive here before the notification does.

Will my right hon. Friend reconsider his decision, because it is unfair discrimination?

After the war the whole question of staff pay might be considered, but I do not think there is any point in reconsidering it at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the latest information available to the International Red Cross regarding prisoners of war still in German territory.

I can assure my hon. Friend that as soon as information as to the general situation of our prisoners in Germany is available it will be given to the House either by me or by my hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary. But our information is being overtaken by events. The House will, however, be interested to know that over 12,000 of our prisoners have so far certainly been recovered by the British and American Armies. By now this figure is probably higher. Already 8,500 have reached this country.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why a week or a fortnight ago he did not inform the House that Allied civilian prisoners and our own prisoners had all been mixed up together in Germany, and why could the House not be kept informed when the information was available through the International Red Cross?

I have given the House every piece of significant information as it came in. It does not seem to me unnatural that in the confusion which exists in Germany the prisoners of different nationalities should be mixed up. I really cannot understand what the hon. Lady is getting at.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that mothers, sweethearts and wives are very grateful to whoever is bringing home these prisoners of war and that we do not want any further delay? Many of them have returned home and are very glad, however they got home.

As I said just now, I certainly think the bulk of the prisoners are being liberated in the American area, and I do not think people in this country can be too grateful to the Americans for the speed with which they are flying our released prisoners back.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made to help and assist prisoners of war in German territory now in occupation of the Allies.

Full arrangements have been made for the care of our prisoners released in Germany including the provision of clothing, medical attention, pay and such amenities as can be made available. But at present our prisoners are being flown back to this country in large numbers from the forward areas shortly after they are liberated, and arrangements for their care clearly cannot be elaborate until they reach here. This also means that relatives will often hear of their arrival in this country before an official notification can reach them.

Would the right hon. Gentleman inform the House that the Commission has already left and will be out in Germany by now; and will he not give a little more information as to who is on the spot in Germany and who will make the necessary arrangements to get these men home again?

I am sorry. The whole purport of my answer is that the bulk of the men released in the American area are being flown back to this country so quickly that they are ahead of their notifications. Apart from giving that information, I confess myself completely unable to understand the hon. Lady's question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer cover Allied prisoners? It only says "prisoners of war" in the Question. For instance, if the British discover American prisoners in a camp does the same thing apply?

The organisation for looking after the prisoners is a S.H.A.E.F. organisation and therefore it is Anglo-American. The arrangements for dealing with the released personnel of other nationals, if they are military personnel, are under the same organisation. With regard to displaced persons, I would rather that my right hon. Friend should put down another Question, so that I can give a considered answer, because different arrangements apply, as he knows.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to extend the N.A.A.F.I. service in Ceylon.

N.A.A.F.I, at present run three residential and six non-residential clubs, 38 canteens and a number of road houses throughout the island. No major increase in this provision is contemplated.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is some com plaint among British troops in Ceylon as to the inadequacy of the N.A.A.F.I. organisation? Will he look into the possibility of improvement?

Ceylon is predominantly a naval station and the Admiral in charge of administration wrote to the Chairman of the N.A.A.F.I. in February giving the highest praise to the work of N.A.A.F.I. in the island.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reasons in February last in the case of a Welsh sergeant-pilot of the R.A.F. who had been killed whilst on flying duty in this country, the Imperial War Graves Commission refused permission to his widowed mother to have her suggested inscription on his grave at Llanddulas, Denbighshire, inscribed in the Welsh language.

The official inscriptions on headstones erected by the Imperial War Graves Commission are in English but texts or other personal tributes are engraved in the Welsh language whenever desired by the relatives. A number of such requests have already been made and will, of course, be carried out provided that the number of letters in the inscription proposed does not exceed that for which space is available, namely, 60. In the case to which my hon. Friend refers the man's mother submitted an inscription which was too long. She has been asked to submit a shorter one.

Why cannot the parents of a Welsh soldier killed in the service of his country have all particulars on the gravestone in their own language, as is done even to internees and prisoners of war?

I do not think that what the hon. Gentleman has said is inconsistent with the answer that I have given.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are thousands of gravestones in Wales with entirely Welsh inscriptions? Why should this indefensible attitude be persisted in?

Even so, it does not alter the situation that I described in my answer.

In view of the unsatisfactory reply I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the total number of British war correspondents accredited to the British and Allied Forces since the war began, for regular service and for brief facility visits, respectively; how many have been killed; how many wounded; and how many taken prisoner.

I cannot say without further research the total number of war correspondents accredited to British and Allied Forces in all theatres since the beginning of the war. Leaving out the Pacific theatre the number at present is 201, but the total must be very much greater. In addition there are the brief facility visits about which I have no information. Twelve war correspondents have been killed in action, four have been accidentally killed, six have been wounded and six have been taken prisoner. One of these has escaped, and two have been liberated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the admitted shortage of food, approaching famine, in the liberated countries, and the surplus of food in the conquered areas of Germany, he will consider consulting with the United Nations as to the advisability of transferring such food to where it is most needed.

The question of transfer of foodstuffs from surplus areas to deficiency areas within the North-West European theatre of war is a matter for the discretion of the Supreme Allied Commander, who has full authority to take all the measures necessary in this respect.

Surely this is a matter affecting the whole of the United Nations. As it has been our declared policy to restore looted property to its original owners, and also to feed the liberated peoples, surely we cannot evade our responsibilities as a Government and let our friends starve while our enemies are overfed.

Not at all. I think the job will be done more quickly and effectively by the Supreme Commander.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is able to say how soon after the end of the war in Europe he expects to be able to begin demobilisation; and how many groups he proposes to take in the first stage.

I regret that the position is still too uncertain for a firm announcement to be made.

Has consideration been given to the matter, and can my right hon. Friend give any indication when some kind of statement can be made?

The answer to the first question is "Yes," and to the second, "No."

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the letter, forwarded to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, from Mr. J. Martin, raising the question of demobilisation leave and gratuities for men temporarily released for employment in the mines and other occupations; and whether he has any statement to make.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley (Mr. Collindridge) on 13th March.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there is a very strong feeling amongst a large number of men who have been temporarily released? Is it possible to get the matter reconsidered?

The leave granted on release is designed to cover the likely period of a man's resettlement in civil life. If a man is released to a specific job, there is no problem of resettlement.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that orders have been given that some 1,000,000 pairs of demobilisation shoes shall be wrapped in specially prepared brown paper bags; and whether, in view of the shortage of paper, he will make immediate arrangements that these shoes shall in future be wrapped in waste material such as is used by the civilian shoe trade.

I am sure that hon. Members would agree that the shoes provided for soldiers released from the Service should be particularly well protected from damage. So far a suitable substitute for paper bags has not been found.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can give the House any information as to the number of displaced persons so far liberated in Germany.

About one million have so far been liberated in Germany by the British and American Armies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the appeal made to him by the Scottish Inshore White Fish Producers' Association for the early release of a number of motor fishing boats; and what action has been taken in the matter.

Yes, Sir. I have been in communication with my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty in regard to the earliest possible return of motor fishing boats from naval service. I am informed, however, that the war requirements for this type of vessel are very pressing and that appreciable releases are not to be expected before the end of the European war.

Does my right hon. Friend not gather from the Admiralty that while appreciable releases are not possible some small releases would be within the bounds of reason?

The Admiralty are fully apprised of the facts of the situation, and I am afraid I can go no further than the terms of my answer.

As these craft will be one of the urgent needs of the post-war period will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that everything will be done to give this great fishing industry every encouragement for carrying on?

Yes, Sir, that is the purport of my answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to disclose the terms arranged with the Dumbartonshire County Council in connection with the Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme.

No, Sir. I am advised that the details are still under discussion between the Hydro-Electric Board and the county council.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that people who are interested in this matter have not got very precise details of the amendments to be made in the Order? Will he lay a copy in the Library of any alterations which are made, so that we can see where there is to be any change?

There will be no change whatever in the constructional scheme. I am perfectly willing to indicate to my hon. and gallant Friend the details of the amicable arrangements which have taken place, when they are available.

Is the Minister aware that the hon. Member for Dumbarton is satisfied with the terms?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an undertaking that the Board or the Government will make themselves responsible for the provision of alternative accommodation for all members of the working classes forced to vacate their houses through the operations of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Schemes.

The only constructional scheme so far confirmed does not involve the vacation of any dwelling houses whatsoever. The second constructional scheme is at present sub judice. All the possible results of the scheme, however, including its effect (if any) on working-class housing, will be considered in the light of the report of the public inquiry before any decisions are taken. The Lands Clauses Acts provide for the payment of compensation in the case of houses destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by any constructional scheme, and everything possible will be done to make labour and materials available for any essential replacements should the occasion arise.

Am I to understand that the council did not make itself specifically responsible for alternative accommodation for people removed from their homes?

No, Sir; that is decidedly not in accordance with the terms of my answer.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps can now be taken to ensure that no pit ponies have to work a double shift resulting in excessive fatigue for these ponies.

I cannot accept the suggestion that a pony which works a double shift necessarily suffers excessive fatigue. Since the work performed and the working conditions vary so greatly, the time a pony is out of the stable is no criterion of whether he is being worked reasonably or overworked. The best index to the latter question is the physical condition of the animal, since overwork soon shows itself in a lowered condition, and that is the basis of the present law. Under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, it is an offence to work any horse, or to allow any horse to be worked, in an unfit condition. My Ministry employs seven fully qualified inspectors who devote their whole time to inspecting pit ponies, their treatment and conditions of work, and other inspectors give some of their time. It is part of the inspectors' duties to see that ponies are not overworked, whether as a result of double shifting or otherwise, and I know of no reason to think that they are being overworked.

Does not the Minister consider that 14 to 16 hours a day is excessive for a pit pony; and is it not time that something was done to stop such treatment?

As I said in my answer, the real test is the condition of the pony. There is no case that I know of where any deterioration has taken place, except owing to age.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what will be the coal allowance for the London area, including Essex, for the month of April.

Not more than 5 cwt. of coal and coalite may be supplied during April to premises in the London Civil Defence region. Supplies are prohibited to any premises which have more than 5 cwt. in stock.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will institute an immediate inquiry into the conditions and quantities of coal distribution in Rhondda and, particularly, into the reasons for the cut announced in the quantities to be available for distribution in the coming months.

Owing to heavy demands for operational purposes involving diversions of coal from the domestic market, and also to a large increase in the number of applications for additional coal, on account of sickness, in the Rhondda area, there has been some difficulty in meeting the normal needs of domestic consumers in this area. To meet these difficulties additional supplies are now being made available. With regard to the second part of the Question, the quantities to be made available in the summer programme are still under consideration.

Is the Minister aware that this week information has been provided to the suppliers that, in the coming three months, only 9 lbs. of coal per day will be available for thousands of housewives who are in charge of homes, which is 63 lbs. per week, and without any alternative fuel for the use of their households? Does the Minister consider that his Ministry can possibly adhere to that allocation?

My hon. Friend appears to have information that I personally do not possess.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman undertake an immediate investigation into what is going on?

I do not know from what source my hon. Friend has obtained his information, but I can say that it is not accurate. As to future months, to which he refers, no decision has been come to.

The Minister says that my information is not accurate; is he aware that the information which I gave to the House was from the Powell Duffryn Colliery Co., who are the main suppliers in the Rhondda?

My hon. Friend must take it from me that the allocations for that period have not yet been made.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the householders at West Quarter, Stirlingshire, have no gas cookers and that their allowance of coal is too meagre to cook all meals; and whether, in view of their complete dependence on coal fires, he will allow them an additional supply.

There is a shortage of coal supplies in Scotland caused largely by stoppages of work in Scottish pits. This has inevitably created difficulty in Stirlingshire and other areas similarly placed. Local fuel overseers will do what they can to assist in cases of genuine hardship, but owing to the limitation in supplies I regret that I am unable to increase the maximum allowance at present.

Is the Minister aware that what is being dealt with is not the recent dispute, but the fact that in these houses there is no alternative means of cooking or heating than coal? Could he not arrange in such cases, when people are specially handicapped, that they should be able to get an additional supply compared with people with gas cookers?

There is an instruction laid down that in cases where there are no alternative means of heating the allocation is greater, but I am seriously handicapped by the very heavy loss there has been during the last few months in Scotland.

Would the Minister convey that to the Stirlingshire people?

Will the Minister encourage the use of methane gas in such circumstances?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the grounds on which the regional petroleum office in Manchester refused, after 10 days' delay, an urgent application for petrol, supported by medical testimony, made by a private car owner who offered to bring a patient from a Shropshire hospital to Burnley; and why a private ambulance was suggested which took twice the amount of petrol and involved a serving soldier in a charge of £9 10s.

If my hon. Friend will be so kind as to give me particulars of the case which he has in mind, I shall be glad to make inquiries and will communicate with him further.

asked the Lord President of the Council why, under the provisions of the Dental Board (Temporary Provisions) Order, 1945, S.R. & O., No. 315, it was regarded as necessary to continue the Dental Board in existence for another year without an election.

The Order to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers related only to the six elected members of the Dental Board. Having regard to the substantial proportion of those entitled to vote who are serving in the Armed Forces, elections to the Board for some time to come would not only involve great practical difficulties, but would also inadequately reflect the views of the electorate.

Is that any reason why we should not have a general election, having regard to the large number of these people in the Forces?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the remainder of the deficit in the financial year just ended amounting in total to £2,819,777,817 was provided after allowing for £332,000,000 from Savings Certificates and 3 per cent. Defence Bonds, £394,000,000 from 3 per cent. Savings Bonds, £461,000,000 from National War Bonds, £202,000,000 from 1¾ per cent. Exchequer Bonds and £121,000,000 from Tax Reserve Certificates, the remainder in question amounting to £1,309,777,817.

With my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I asked the Chancellor whether it is a strictly correct one?

I will leave my hon. Friend to judge.

Following is the reply:

In addition to borrowing to meet the deficit of £2,820,000,000, provision had also to be made for repayments of debt amounting to £358,000,000 (5 per cent. Conversion Loan, £317,000,000; 2½ per cent. National Defence Bonds, £20,000,000; other debt £5,000,000; and Sinking Funds, £16,000,000). The total of £3,178,000,000 was raised as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the present shortage of taxicabs and the necessity for increasing the supply in the interests of the public, he will consider exempting the new taxicabs from the 33⅓ per cent. Purchase Tax to which the new taxicab is now liable.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 12th April.

Is it not a fact that shortage of taxis inflicts very great hardship upon the public in London, and is it not essential that their number should be increased?

I have no reason to think that the increase in Purchase Tax has anything to do with it.

Will the Chancellor bear in mind that the taxicab is usually the livelihood of its owner, who is often a small man, and would he not therefore be prepared to give more consideration to this question?

It is not a matter of my being prepared to give more consideration. The fact is that motor cars are subject to Purchase Tax and that it is physically impossible to discriminate between cars which are to be used for hire and those which are going in to private ownership.

Is the Purchase Tax charged on those vehicles labelled "priority" which Ministers of the Crown use, although the use has never been authorised by this House? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]

The question does not arise out of the original Question at all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in connection with the proposals of paying overtime rates to those who are required to work on days which are declared to be public holidays on the termination of hostilities, he will remit the Income Tax on such earnings, in view of the high proportion of absenteeism which is otherwise likely to occur.

No, Sir. I have no power to remit Income Tax on any income, nor could I see my way to propose an amendment of the law for the purpose.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that the incidence of tax on overtime is sometimes such as to extinguish the benefit altogether; and is he aware of the apprehension that in matters such as the production of newspapers, the present inducement will not be sufficient to ensure production during the holidays?

The statement in the first part of the Question is not strictly accurate. I think my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the operation of what is called marginal tax, but steps are being taken, as I have explained, to avoid the undue incidence of tax on the particular range of remuneration affected. As regards the second part of the question, everyone has his own opinion as to the effect of heavy taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the gratuity paid to the C.D. will be exempt from consideration as income or capital in the assessment of needs in the case of old age pensioners drawing supplementary pension or in other cases where a needs test is applied.

Gratuities in respect of service in Civil Defence will be credited to accounts in the Post Office savings bank in the name of the recipient, and would be treated, on any application for supplementary pension, in precisely the same way as any other new money invested in the Post Office savings bank by the claimant during the war period. This means that, subject to the provisions of the Determination of Needs Act, 1941, the amounts of such gratuities will normally fall to be disregarded as "war savings." The position in relation to unemployment assistance and financial assistance under the Blind Persons Acts is similar. If my hon. Friend desires information in regard to other arrangements involving a test of need, he should put down a Question to the Minister responsible.

Is the Minister aware that that will be very satisfactory to the people in Civil Defence, and is there any other way in which the Chancellor can make the matter known to them?

I dare say that the Question and answer will receive a good deal of publicity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what rates of pension are granted to widows of members of the Civil Service if their husbands die while still on the active list and if they die after retirement from the Service; (2) what rates of pension are granted to widows of members of the Foreign Service if their hus- bands die while still on the active list or if their husbands die after retirement from the Service.

No pensions are granted to the widows of civil servants, apart from the awards under the injury warrants to the dependants of a civil servant who dies as a direct result of some injury incurred whilst on duty and specifically attributable to the nature of his duty. The Superannuation Acts do, however, provide for the payment of lump sum gratuities to the legal personal representatives of civil servants who die in service. Further, under Section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1935, an established civil servant may, on retirement, subject to certain conditions, surrender a part of any pension granted to him under the Superannuation Acts in return for the grant to his wife or other dependant of a pension which is actuarially equivalent. I am sending my right hon. Friend a copy of the explanatory memorandum on Allocation of Pension. The position of the Foreign Service is the same as that of the home Civil Service.

Does that, in point of fact, mean that the House is to understand that the widow of a civil servant, however long the service that her husband may have given—[HON. MEMBERS: "The hon. Member is reading his supplementary"]—and if so, is it not a scandal, and will the Minister consider a remedy?

Subject to the changes which I have enumerated in my answer, the position has been the same from time immemorial.

Is it not time that it was changed?

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which Departments have created regional organisations in the past six years; what is the annual cost of this new organisation; and hew many officials are employed.

I am collecting the information asked for in this Question and will let my hon. Friend have it as soon as it is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give details of the protocol which was attached to the Anglo-Swedish Financial Agreement and details of which have not yet been disclosed.

There was no Protocol attached to the Anglo-Swedish Monetary Agreement of 6th March last. A number of technical and subsidiary points were touched on during the discussions which led to the conclusion of this Agreement, which were recorded in minutes and correspondence, and it was agreed on both sides that these should not be published.

Is the Chancellor not aware that there appears in the Swedish Press a detailed statement of a reciprocal trading agreement between this country and Sweden of a very satisfactory character? Why cannot it be disclosed to the House?

Because it happens not to correspond with the facts. The facts are as I have informed the hon. Member. There is no question of any obligation being undertaken by either country as a result of the correspondence which is recorded in the Appendix.

If there are discrepancies in the statement which appears in the Swedish Press, will the Chancellor not clear the matter up by disclosing to the House what has taken place?

I cannot even be responsible for the Press at home.

Will the Chancellor disclose the facts?

The facts have been disclosed.

On a point of Order. May I appeal to you, Mr. Speaker? The Chancellor says the facts have been disclosed. He has not disclosed them. Will he be good enough to disclose them now?

No, Sir. I have informed the hon. Member that, by agreement with the Swedish Government, the correspondence which was recorded with the Agreement was not to be published. I cannot depart from that.

Am I to understand that this is a secret agreement?

The agreement was published.

Can the Chancellor give any reason why he should have concluded an agreement whereby matters of this kind are kept secret from the country?

Really, I must repeat to the House that there is no question of keeping matters secret. Naturally there were discussions leading up to the Agreement. It was thought convenient that these should be recorded at the same time as the Agreement was entered into, for the convenience of both parties, but it was agreed that these discussions should not be published.

On a point of Order. The right hon. Gentleman has not answered my question but some other question. I asked him whether he could give the House any reasons why such an agreement should have been entered into, and all he did was to repeat the statement that he had entered into the Agreement. I asked why he entered into the Agreement.

To which agreement is the hon. Member referring?

The Chancellor under stands me perfectly well, the agreement to—[ Interruption. ]

We must get on to the next Question.

On a point of Order. May I ask your direction, Mr. Speaker, as to whether a Minister is entitled to evade the substance of a question in a technical reply? The Chancellor is always doing that.

The hon. Member must not expect me to give replies to questions of that sort.

On a point of Order. The hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Silverman) said in my hearing, though perhaps not in yours, Mr. Speaker, that the answer I had given was thoroughly dishonest. Is that an observation which is permitted?

It may not be un-Parliamentary, but it is certainly a very undesirable expression to use.

What I said, and I will withdraw it if you, Mr. Speaker, rule that it is not a Parliamentary expression, was that the right hon. Gentleman had been guilty of a dishonest evasion.

It is a most unfortunate phrase to use; it is almost un-Parliamentary.

In view of what I have seen disclosed, I say that the Chancellor is guilty of a dishonest evasion.

The hon. Gentleman must withdraw that.

I am quite willing to have this matter tested by the House. I say that if my right hon. Friend will lay that document on the Table, I will stand by the decision of the House.

The hon. Member must remember that I have given him a direction to withdraw his statement. My direction must be obeyed.

If you, Sir, give me such a direction, I must, naturally, respect it. I, therefore, withdraw my statement.