asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any definition of the term "war criminal," or a list of war criminals has been furnished to neutral Governments by any or all of the Allied Governments.

We have made it plain to neutral Governments that by war criminals we mean not only those who have actually committed breaches of the laws and customs of war, but also the Nazi and Fascist leaders who are responsible for the policy leading to these crimes. No list of war criminals has been furnished to neutral Governments either by His Majesty's Government or, so far as I know, by other Allied Governments. The publication of names would not be expedient at the present time.

How are neutral Governments expected to act if war criminals appear on their frontiers, if they do not know the names of these men or of what crimes they are accused?

I expect that they will, in general, know a war criminal when they see one. If they do not, we shall be able to give them the information.

Will they require a couple of sponsors before being recognised?

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to a report to-day by Alan Moorehead that Nazis are employed in many areas of Germany; and is it the policy of the Government to employ war criminals in the towns?

My attention has not been drawn to that report but, if there is anything in it, no doubt it will be.

Will the major Nazi criminals referred to in the right hon. Gentleman's reply include people like Herr von Papen?

And Grandi?

As far as I know, Grandi has not been nominated, if that is the term, by any Allied Government for this distinction. As for Herr von Papen, that is no doubt a matter for consideration. I have nothing to say about it now.

If a war criminal can be recognised at sight, is there any point in having a trial to see if he is one? Why not shoot him straight away?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any persons regarded as war criminals by the War Crimes Commission, or accused of war crimes by members of the United Nations, are known to be resident now in neutral countries; and, if so, in which countries?

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon. Member on 28th March.

That reply did not answer at any rate part of my Question. Are any of these known to be resident now in neutral countries?

I said I had nothing to add to the reply given on 28th March. That means that the situation, in that respect, is the same as it was on 28th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what observations the United Nations War Crimes Commission has received from any of the United Nations on the subject of crimes committed by Nazi leaders against German nationals either during or before the war; and if he will raise this matter with the Commission?

The United Nations War Crimes Commission is, as its name indicates, an international body, and its deliberations are of necessity secret. It would not therefore be proper for me to divulge information about observations addressed to the Commission by any other member Government or Governments. I cannot accept the suggestion in the second part of the Question. As I explained in replying to a question on 31st January by my hon. Friend the Member for North Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss), crimes committed by Germans against Germans are in a different category from war crimes and cannot be dealt with under the same procedure. His Majesty's Government remain determined to ensure that these crimes do not go unpunished, when Germany has been brought under Allied control.

If the Government regard these matters as war crimes, as appears to be implied in the latter part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, is there any good reason why they should not be dealt with by the War Crimes Commission, even though they belong to a different category of war crimes?

If my hon. Friend had listened more attentively to my answer, he would have heard that I said that they belonged to a different category from war crimes, not to a different category of war crimes.

I listened carefully, and did not the right hon. Gentleman say in the latter part of the answer that these war crimes would not be left unpunished?

No, Sir; for the sake of the record, I said that His Majesty's Government were determined to ensure that these crimes did not go unpunished. I did not specify them as war crimes.

How do the Government propose to bring to trial Nazis who have committed crimes against German nationals?

I do not think I can add anything to what I have said. I said definitely that it is our intention that these crimes should not go unpunished, and I think the hon. Member will do well to leave it at that at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total expenditure of the British Council for the years 1934 and 1944, respectively; is he satisfied with the value obtained from the expenditure; and what are the main items of expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the report on the British Council made by Sir Findlater Stewart; and whether it is proposed to publish a précis of the findings and suggested reforms.

As to the first part of Question No. 5, the reply contains a number of figures, which I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the second part and Question No. 13, my right hon. Friend possesses abundant evidence of the value of this work. He is also satisfied that it has been performed with proper efficiency and economy, allowing for the difficult conditions obtaining during the war. Nevertheless, the possibility of further improvements is being considered in the light of the report on the British Council recently presented by Sir Findlater Stewart to my right hon. Friend and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This report is confidential and will not be published, but as my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary informed the House on 21st December, a statement will be made as soon as its recommendations have been considered.

Is it a fact that a large amount of public money is involved in the expenditure of this organisation; and, if so, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the form that the expenditure takes?

It is certainly the case that a considerable amount of public money is involved in the British Council, but my right hon. Friend is satisfied as to the value of the work. When we have had an opportunity of considering the report, no doubt there will be an opportunity for the House to discuss the matter further.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is, in many of the liberated countries, an abounding good will towards this country, which is accompanied by an active demand for the services for which the British Council was originally formed, and that a great opportunity may well be lost if action is not taken?

I am sure that we shall take any action that is necessary as soon as possible.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind always that this is, primarily, an educational and propagandist body, and will he be on the alert to prevent it assuming executive powers which should not belong to it?

Yes, Sir.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the second part of my Question. Am I to understand that no publication will be made of any of the findings of this report, because, if so, many of us will be hampered when we come to discuss it? The view of the hon. Member for Birkenhead East (Mr. White) is shared by a great many others.

The report is first to be considered by the Government and, when we have considered it, a statement will be made based upon that consideration and the House will be able to judge of the statement.

Will the governing body of the Council be placed in possession of copies of the report?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that Question down.

Following are the figures:

The total expenditure of the British Council in the financial year 1934–5 was £881 3s. 6d. This was all obtained from private donations and was spent entirely on administrative expenses except for a grant of £100 to the British Institute of Florence.

Figures are not yet available of the amount spent of the grant-in-aid of £3½ million for the financial year 1944–5. I will, with permission, give the figures for 1943–4, in which year the total expenditure was £1,634,732 6s. 6d., made up as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the Yalta agreement, he can give the House any information about the concentration camps in the province of Lublin, Poland, for officers of the Polish Home Army and others.

No, Sir. Since His Majesty's Government do not recognise the present Provisional Government in Warsaw there are no official British representatives on the spot to confirm the existence of such camps.

Will my right hon. Friend make arrangements with the Russian Government for British journalists to go to Poland to inquire whether there is any truth in any of the allegations that are now being made?

The Prime Minister said yesterday, I think with the general assent of the House, that this was not an opportune time to discuss these matters, and I think it would be inadvisable to pursue the discussion now.

Can my right hon. Friend give us any information with regard to M. Witos, the venerable leader of the Peasant Party and former Prime Minister, who was carried away from his home near Cracow on 31st March?

I really do not think I can add anything to the reply that I have given, especially since my hon. Friend has raised quite a different question.

If the Government have not recognised the Lublin Committee, can the right hon. Gentleman state why Members of Parliament are to-day receiving documents concerning the Lublin Government from an office in London?

I have no information about that. I can assure the hon. Member that I am not responsible for it.

Surely the Prime Minister did not express a wish that these atrocities should continue and that we should make no protest?

On a point of Order. Is it right to make allegations about atrocities where there is no proof of any kind?

I cannot stop Members saying what they like as long as it is in Order.

As we have been asked to await the Prime Minister's statement, would my right hon. Friend say when that statement is likely to be made?

I cannot possibly say that. It is a matter that concerns the general Business of the House. I have no doubt that a statement will be made at the earliest possible moment.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this matter will be raised to-morrow in connection with the Business of the House?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made towards organising food supplies for France; and whether the stocks available will be sufficient to enable the French authorities to establish public restaurants in most of the large cities for the purpose of defeating the black market.

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, His Majesty's Government have ever since D-day made every effort to assist France in the matter of food supplies. These supplies are now in the main imported by the French Government themselves and His Majesty's Government are continuing to do all they can to help the French Government to obtain their requirements, within the limits of the shipping and supplies available. As regards the second part of this Question, it will be appreciated that the question of establishing public restaurants lies within the competence of the French Government themselves; I have no information of their plans in this connection.

Will there be any opportunitiy of getting further imports of meat into France during the coming months?

I can only assure my hon. Friend that the position of France in this respect is all the time occupying the attention of His Majesty's Government and, I think, of the United States Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if an inter-Allied Commission is to be set up in Austria to implement the promise of independence made to the Austrian people or by what means this end is to be attained.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that the £22 tropical kit allowance is not sufficient for the purchase of all the necessary kit and that therefore the W.A.A.F. officer with no private means is at a disadvantage with one with such means, he will reconsider the amount of the allowance.

No, Sir. The increase of allowance from £10 to £22 10s. was granted after careful consideration by the three Service Departments and the Treasury, and the new rate is considered adequate to cover the purchase of all necessary items of tropical kit.

May I ask why the Air Ministry should go in for discrimination against those people who are not so well off?

There is no discrimination and no separate action by the Air Ministry. The First Lord of the Admiralty gave an identical answer to a Question last week, and he was assured, and, I think, rightly assured, that it would be received with appreciation.

Will my right hon. Friend circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the articles of tropical kit which officers are advised to take, and beside each item the cost of purchase, so that we can see whether £22 adequately covers them?

A question could be asked on those lines.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will consider reintroducing the issue of full weather reports for the benefit of farmers.

I regret that it would not be in the public interest to issue full weather forecasts at the present time. The matter is, however, under continuous review and further relaxations will be made as soon as security considerations permit.

Could the Secretary of State give an assurance that weather reports will be issued before the hay harvest gets well under way?

They will be issued as soon as possible, but operational considerations must dominate, as I feel sure the House will agree. Actually, weather moves from West to East, and a knowledge of the trend of the weather is an important consideration, not only in the air war, but also in the land and sea war.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he appreciates the importance to food production of having weather reports, and whether that has been carefully weighed against security considerations?

I certainly appreciate it, and that is why I said that it will remain under close consideration until we can relax the ban, but I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that the efficiency of operations, the shortening of the war and safeguarding the lives of our troops must have first consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether R.A.F. recruiting officers are entitled to receive war gratuities on demobilisation.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why members of the W.A.A.F. parachuted into France are not eligible for war gratuities.

I am looking into this matter and will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many men of Bomber Command, employed in skilled work, have been transferred into the Army as infantrymen.

Ten skilled airmen of a trade in which the Royal Air Force has a surplus.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that sufficient skilled men remain in Bomber Command?

As we have a surplus, obviously we have sufficient in that trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why his Department paid no attention to information of an unimpeachable character gained in a neutral country in February, 1943, about flying bombs, especially in view of the fact that the same information was accepted as well founded by the Government of the U.S.A.

A large volume of intelligence on the development of long-range weapons by the Germans was under constant examination throughout 1943, and close contact was maintained with the United States authorities responsible for studying similar matters.

I appeal to you, Mr. Speaker. I put this Question down to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. It is clear from the answer that the Secretary of State for Air knows nothing about it. Shall I be in Order if I put it down again to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs?

The hon. Gentleman had better consult the Table.

I am fully informed on this subject, and I can assure the House that we had every possible source of information open to us. Foreign Office sources, of course, were open to us, along with other sources, and the most careful study was given to all the information.

The whole point of my observation in this Question was that the Foreign Office have suppressed information which was available and prevented it going to the Air Ministry. How can the Air Minister answer when he does not know what the information is?

The hon. Member should ask the Foreign Office why they suppressed the information.

I tried to do that, but the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, as a matter of convenience to himself, transferred the Question to the Air Ministry.

It was no doubt transferred by the Table to the proper Minister.

On the contrary, it was not. I will put it down again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether anything has yet been done towards extending suffrage rights in British Guiana and Trinidad as recommended by the recent local franchise commissions.

I have been asked to reply.

The extensions of the suffrage which were announced by my right hon. Friend in the replies which he gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Hornsey (Captain Gammans) on 2nd August and the hon. Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on 4th October last entail, in each case, both an Order in Council and local legislation. The draft of the Order in Council in respect of British Guiana has now been laid before both Houses of Parliament as required by the British Guiana Act of 1928, and the local legislation is in hand in the Colony. The terms of the Order in Council for Trinidad are still under consideration, in consultation with the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding proposals for constitutional reforms in Mauritius.

The Governor of Mauritius with my right hon. and gallant Friend's agreement has been sounding public opinion in the colony on the question of constitutional reform, but he has made it clear that he was not committing the Secretary of State in any way. The Governor will, of course, be reporting the outcome of these discussions to my right hon. and gallant Friend in due course, and at the moment I have no further information.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether some statement of the nature of these proposals for the reform of the constitution can be given to the House? In view of the fact that for many years I have been pressing for some constitutional change and some statement has already appeared in a number of papers, cannot the House be informed what the proposals are?

A statement will, I think, be made by my right hon. Friend in due course.

Can the hon. Gentleman give an opportunity to discuss the Report?

That is not a question for me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what minimum wage laws are there in Cyprus with definite provisions for fixing minimum wages.

The Cyprus Minimum Wage Law 1941, contains provisions for fixing minimum wages. I am sending a copy of the law to the hon. Member.

Can I take it that the Minister is satisfied that these laws are made effective throughout?

Yes, Sir.

What particular industries will these minimum wage laws cover?

That is another question, and my hon. Friend must put it down.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied with the Trade Union Act in Cyprus and particularly with Article 51 of that Act; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied with the Cyprus Trade Union and Trades Disputes Law, Section 51 of which is based directly upon Section 7 of the United Kingdom Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875. No amendment of the Cyprus Law is therefore contemplated.

Is it not true that Article 51 of that Act makes it almost impossible for a worker to strike?

I do not think so. I think it is based on the United Kingdom law and it has the same effect.

If a worker reports to the police, that a striker has tried to get him to do otherwise than go to work, can the hon. Gentleman say whether that striker can be arrested and sent to prison?

Has not the British Act to which the Question refers been substantially modified by later legislation in this country?

This is a complicated question of which I must have notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken following the clash in Lefkonico, in Cyprus, on 25th March, When two persons were killed, including a boy of 12 years of age, and others wounded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the incident at Lefkonico, Cyprus, on 25th March, when police fired on a number of villagers returning from a procession and church service in celebration of Greek Independence Day, with the result that a 12-year-old schoolboy and another person were killed and nine persons injured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can make a statement on the shooting incident in the village of Lefkonico, Cyprus, on 25th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that on 25th March the Cyprus police fired on an authorised procession of unarmed citizens in Lefkonico with fatal results; whether he is aware that the persons fired on were seeking merely to enter their own premises in order to disperse as requested by the police; why the Press was forbidden to make any comments for several days; and what steps he proposes to take to avoid such killings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement on the police shootings at Lefkonico, Cyprus, on Greek Independence Day which resulted in two deaths.

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a brief summary of the facts so far reported concerning this incident. On the facts being reported to him, the Governor at once appointed a Commission of Inquiry with the following terms of reference:

"To make full inquiry and report on the disturbances which took place at Lefkonico on Sunday, 25th March, including the opening of fire by the police and the circumstances which led thereto."

The Commission is composed of a senior British official and two Cypriot judges. It started its hearings on 28th March and has since been sitting almost daily. There are many witnesses to hear and it is not expected that the Commission will be able to complete its hearings and submit its report to the Governor for some weeks. My right hon. and gallant Friend feels sure that the House will agree with him that, before any conclusions are reached, the report of the Commission should be awaited.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether any action has been taken in respect of the police who were responsible for this outrage; and will he also say why the news of this event was banned in Cyprus and was not allowed to leave the country, and why when a Press statement did appear from the Government it was a garbled statement and not in accordance with the facts?

I do not think I could add anything more to the answer which I have given in view of the fact that the whole case is sub judice at present.

Can the hon. Gentleman at least clear up a point of fact which is in dispute—whether the procession was in fact an illegal one or whether, as those who took part in it thought, there was a general permit to the school authorities to hold such processions?

Surely that is one of the questions which are sub judice.

Following is the summary:

Processions and meetings took place in many parts of Cyprus on 25th March in celebration of Greek Independence Day and all applications for permits for meetings and processions were granted by the Government. At one of these meetings in Lefkonico village, a dispute took place between opposing political parties. A procession was then formed by one of the parties for which no permit had been sought or issued. A Cypriot police sergeant, fearing a more serious clash between the parties, intervened and repeatedly called on the procession to disperse. The demonstrators failed to do so and the police sergeant eventually called on two Cypriot police constables, who had joined him, to open fire, with the result that a man and a boy were killed and 14 other persons injured, of whom five were admitted to hospital. The police report indicates that only five rounds were fired, but it has been stated that there were more. The Commission will no doubt investigate this point and record its findings in its report. During the short period between the 25th March and the first sitting of the Commission of Inquiry, restrictions were placed on the publication of reports and comments on these events. It was made clear, however, that all facilities would be given to enable the Press to publish full reports of the proceedings of the Commission and that these restrictions would be removed when the hearings began.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Legislative Council of Nigeria have yet debated the constitutional proposals as set out in Cmd. 6599.

Yes, Sir. On the 22nd March the Legislative Council debated the proposals and passed, without division, a resolution signifying its approval of them and recommending them for adoption. I have arranged for copies of the report of the Debate to be made available in the Vote Office.

Now that these proposals have been debated in Nigeria, will an opportunity be given for a Debate in this House?

That is a matter which can be dealt with through the usual channels.

But in view of the fact that in the White Paper the Secretary of State for the Colonies says he will arrange for a Debate on this matter, surely it is in his power to do so?

He will doubtless do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement respecting the inquiry into the revision of service conditions for European and African civil servants; who is undertaking the inquiry; and will native authority staffs be included.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to Kenya. At the invitation of the Governor of Kenya Mr. L. C. Hill, C.B.E., formerly organising secretary of the National Association of Local Government Officers, went to Kenya in January to advise the Governor on such questions relating to the Government Service in Kenya as might be referred to him. Mr. Hill's precise terms of reference were published in Kenya in February and are being circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The investigation will not cover the employés of local Native Councils in Kenya except those who are seconded Government servants.

Could the hon. Gentleman say why they are not so included and what is the reason for this discrimination?

Yes, Sir. The terms of payment are governed in this case by the native local councils and also by the actual wages paid to Government officials. They differ in various parts of the Colony.

Is it not true that many of the native authority staffs want to be included?

I could not answer that question.

Following are the terms of reference:

It is notified for general information that the terms of reference of Mr. L. C. Hill, C.B.E., who is at present in Kenya, are as follow:

(1) To examine the present terms and conditions of service attached to European and non-European appointments in the Public Service of Kenya and to advise on any modification of them that he may consider necessary and desirable, bearing in mind in particular the following proposals that have been made:

(2) To advise on the present Government machinery for dealing with staff matters and to make such recommendations as he may consider desirable for its improvement.

(3) To examine and advise on any staff questions which His Excellency the Governor may refer to him from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Report of Mr. Alexander Pattison respecting penal reform in West Africa is to be published; what were his main proposals; and what action is being taken to implement these proposals.

It is not proposed to publish in this country Mr. Alexander Paterson's reports on the treatment of crime in the four West African Colonies, although that relating to Sierra Leone has been published locally. His proposals cover too wide and detailed a field for them to be summarised shortly, but my right hon. and gallant Friend has been and still is in correspondence with the Governors in regard to them. Many have been accepted and are being implemented.

In order to keep the House acquainted with these proposals, could not some summary be issued to those interested in this matter?

As I said in my answer, there is considerable difficulty in publishing a summary as the report is very detailed.

Will the report be available to Members of the House?

No, Sir; not at present.

Why not? Why cannot Members of this House have access to this important document?

My right hon. and gallant Friend considers it unsuitable for publication.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman place it in the Library of the House?

My right hon. and gallant Friend does not consider it desirable to publish it in the House.

What is there to hide?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether arrangements have yet been made whereby the whole of the 1945 citrus crops of Palestine will be used.

As the hon. Member will be aware, picking of this year's crops will not begin until the autumn but it can be assumed that every endeavour will be made to secure the utilisation of the entire crop during the season.

In view of the fact that last year 40 per cent. of the crop was wasted and never used, and as there is a great need for citrus fruits in liberated Europe, will the hon. Gentleman take energetic steps to ensure that citrus fruits are made available either commercially or through U.N.R.R.A.?

Yes, Sir; every effort will be made to do so.

Is the hon. Gentleman's Department in touch with U.N.R.R.A. on this question and will he take an early opportunity of informing the House of the decision in view of the immense lack of fruit in liberated Europe?

Perhaps the Noble Lord will put that question down.

Instead of giving the familiar answer with regard to citrus fruits will the hon. Gentleman state what the detailed arrangements are?

No, Sir, I cannot give detailed arrangements at the present time. The question will not arise until the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the five Africans arrested in Uganda on the night of 28th February-1st March, are still detained in prison without trial; and whether they will be given an opportunity of meeting the charges against them at an early date.

The five Africans in question are still detained under Uganda Defence Regulation No. 23. Persons detained under that Regulation may make objections regarding their detention to an advisory committee constituted in accordance with the Regulation.

Have these persons been informed of their right?

I think they are aware of that right.

What is the nature of the charges? Will the persons concerned be tried by a British court or a native court?

The nature of the charge is that they were acting to the prejudice of the public safety. I understand that they will be tried by the ordinary court.

But is not the ordinary court a native court?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the advisory committee or committees to which aggrieved persons may make complaints, which was provided for in the new Regulation 23 of 1940 to the Defence Regulations of Uganda, has not yet been appointed; and whether steps will at once be taken to carry out this provision.

The advisory committee under Uganda Defence Regulation No. 23 was originally constituted in 1940. The membership of the committee has since then been changed from time to time. The appointment of the present committee, which consists of the chief justice and three other members, was publicly notified in Uganda on 8th January, 1944.

Is the Minister aware that there is considerable ignorance in Uganda on this point?

I do not really see why there should be.

Can the hon. Member inform the House whether these Defence Regulations axe like our Regulation 18B, in which no charges are made and there is no question of any trial, by the ordinary courts or by any court?

I think the Regulations are all based on Regulations in this country.

Does it not, therefore, follow that there is no question of trial, either by the ordinary court or by any court?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that an unpopular chief has been appointed in Uganda, that the co-operatives are being broken up, and that detainees are being ill-treated; and what steps he proposes to remedy these matters.

No, Sir. But if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the matters to which he is referring, my right hon. and gallant Friend will look into them.

Do I understand the Minister to say that he has no information at all about these allegations?

That is so, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that I have received a telegram from the area concerned, bearing out the facts stated in the Question?

If my hon. Friend will give me the details, I will certainly go into them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether any priority right to purchase motor-cars will be given to persons whose motor-cars were requisitioned for war purposes; and when manufacturers will be again permitted to manufacture motor-cars for sale.

I regret that I cannot say when it may be possible to make new motorcars available for sale to the public. So long as the supply of cars is insufficient to meet the demand, it will be necessary to allocate them to those who need them for essential work. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that this is right and just.

Does "the public" include those who have "Priority" on the windscreen?

Is it proposed to manufacture any of the higher powered cars?

That is another question.

Is the Minister proposing to give priority to ex-Service men?

That is also another question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he can indicate the present position of the Regulations governing the rights and obligation of wheeled traffic and pedestrians, respectively, at studded road crossings.

The Regulations governing wheeled traffic and pedestrians at studded crossings are set out in Statutory Rules and Orders 1941 No. 397. By Order made under Regulation 70 of the Defence (General) Regulations (Statutory Rules and Orders 1942 No. 854), the definition of a crossing place for the purposes of these Regulations has, in effect, been extended to include a crossing place which is only marked by two lines of studs without any other traffic sign of any kind.

Surely the Minister is aware that neither motorists nor pedestrians take the slightest notice of the Regulation which he has quoted? Will he not expedite the making of some definite rule by which all would have to abide? At present the position is perfectly ridiculous.

I should be reluctant to accept the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion as a statement of fact. In any case, the matter is under very active consideration at the present time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what percentage of officers and men in the Merchant Navy have now completed the form entitling them to vote at the next election.

Up to the end of last month, rather more than one-fifth of the estimated number of merchant seamen, eligible to register as voters, had made the necessary declarations.

Are they still able to do so, or is the time past; and if the time is past, does that mean that four-fifths of these men will be disfranchised?

I think they are still able to do so. The rate of progress has been relatively satisfactory since last September.

Is the Minister making full use of all the welfare clubs established at the various ports to get this right made known to the seamen?

Making a declaration is, of course, a formal process and that is carried out in the Mercantile Marine offices, where the seamen can always do it at any time they come in. Special facilities are provided. I will look into the question of an advertisement in the welfare clubs.

Will the Minister explain why the figure is so low, compared with those given by various Ministers of declarations made by Service men?

The Service Ministries have much more control over their men, and are able to get them together. The problem is much more difficult with seamen.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many local authorities, other than Cardiff, have issued permanent free travel passes to all those limbless ex-Servicemen whose percentage of disablement is 80 per cent.

Ninety-three passenger transport undertakings are owned by municipal authorities. According to the information I have received, 50 of them issue free travel passes to limbless ex-Servicemen whose percentage of disablement is 80 per cent. In some cases the issue is subject to limitations.

Has the Minister drawn the attention of the outstanding local authorities to the excellent example set by Cardiff city council in this connection and taken steps to encourage similar measures to be introduced there, in the interests of limbless ex-Servicemen?

I think they are all aware of it. I ought, of course, to say that conditions vary in different places.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in order to meet the needs of workers for a holiday change of air and to avoid the strain on the crowds at railway stations, he will authorise the railway companies at their discretion to duplicate trains during this summer.

The railways are working under great pressure and my hon. Friend will, I am sure, agree that they must first of all deal with the traffic required for military operations, for the relief of the liberated peoples and for the maintenance of the life of the nation. My Noble Friend has given the railway companies considerable discretion to provide relief trains, provided they do not interfere with the working of essential traffic. It would, however, be wrong to encourage the public to expect any substantial increase in passenger facilities this summer.

Is the Minister aware that his announcement will be received by the public not only with great satisfaction but also as testimony to the ability of the railway companies to deal with emergencies more efficiently than a Government Department can ever hope to do?

Will the Minister see that there is an adequate number of ticket-office clerks to issue tickets, so that there may not be long queues waiting at the stations?

No doubt my hon. Friend is aware that railway companies have been working under great difficulties, owing to shortage of skilled labour.

Does not the Minister think that the coal which is necessary to fire these trains, could be much better used next winter in warming homes?

May I ask the Minister whether he will try to do better during the coming holiday period than he did last year, when he had to send an official of his Ministry to the railway stations to cope with crowds which had become unmanageable, and the railway companies had to put on extra trains?

Speaking from memory I think that position was due to a misunderstanding of instructions. If we succeed in our policy of persuading people to stagger their holidays, the position will be much better this year.

Will the Minister ask the Forces to issue tickets instead of pieces of paper, which involve clerks at booking offices in a lot of unnecessary trouble?

The hon. Member is a little out of date. The troops travel on their warrants, and have done so for a long time.

Is the Minister aware that I saw an instance of the sort only yesterday?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why the Railway Order (S.R. & O., No. 341, of 1945), which was signed on 20th February, 1945, and came into operation on that date, was not published until March, 1945; and, having regard to the fact that it relates to 14 earlier Orders, why there is no Explanatory Memorandum?

This Order, made by the Railway Rates Tribunal, was a formal document which gave effect to a decision previously announced in open court.