asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what European countries liberated from the Germans now have an Allied Commission of Control; and on which of these Commissions is Great Britain represented.

Allied Commissions of Control are operating in Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland. His Majesty's Government are represented on all of them. I should perhaps point out that in Italy the body is called the "Allied Commission."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, apart from grounds of military security, U.S.S.R. representatives, including the Press, are permitted complete freedom of movement in areas occupied by the Western Allies in Europe; and if there is reciprocity in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether British members of Allied Control Commissions in European countries occupied by the U.S.S.R. are able to travel throughout those countries.

As the reply is somewhat long, I will, with my hon. Friends' permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is or is not reciprocity?

I think the answer to that is that, generally speaking, there is no reciprocity, but the lengthy answer to which I have referred and which I propose to circulate, gives the details of the divergencies and their significance.

Have representations been made that there should be reciprocity?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will wait for the reply.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether the members of the Allied Control Commissions are able to travel at all throughout those territories?

There are no formal restrictions placed upon their movements, but, in practice, British officials are unable to travel without Soviet permission and without being accompanied by a Soviet liaison officer.

Is it not the case that Russia has good reasons for imposing those restrictions?

What are they?

Following is the reply:

It would not be correct to say that there is reciprocity in this matter. Soviet representatives in areas occupied by the Western Allies in Europe (outside the zone of operations) enjoy complete freedom of movement, subject to security requirements and to the following conditions: In the Soviet occupied areas no formal restrictions are placed on the movements of British officials in Finland and Rumania, but in Hungary and in Bulgaria British officials can travel outside their places of residence only with Soviet per mission and when accompanied by a Soviet liaison officer. Apart from a few brief visits by British representatives for the purpose of establishing contact with liberated British prisoners of war in Lublin, Lwow and Volkovyak, no British officials have been permitted to enter Poland or Soviet-occupied areas of Czechoslovakia and Austria; the question has not yet arisen as regards Germany. With regard to Press correspondents, Soviet correspondents in areas occupied by the Western Allies are treated exactly like other Allied war correspondents. I under stand that no restrictions have been placed by the Soviet military authorities on the movements of British Press correspondents in Finland or Rumania. There are, however, no British correspondents in Bulgaria, Hungary or the Soviet-occupied areas of Czechoslovakia, Austria and Germany. Apart from visits by one or two journalists, no British correspondents have been permitted to enter Poland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Soviet, the Dutch or other Allied Governments have yet requested that German labour be allocated after the war to the tasks of recon struction in their devastated territories; and if His Majesty's Government, in consultation with the rest of the United Nations, will bear in mind the possibility of using Nazi prisoners of war for such purposes and so averting the dangers which would attend the free repatriation to Germany of large numbers of young Nazis whose physique and morale are relatively unimpaired.

No such requests have been made, but it is probable that more than one Allied Government will wish to use German labour for the purpose mentioned. The point to which the hon. Member draws attention in the second part of his question is being borne in mind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider keeping in operation for this purpose the German labour service known in that country as the Arbeits Dienst?

That is a much wider question, on which I do not at the moment feel altogether competent to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what facilities are granted to members of the British Embassy and the British Mission in Moscow to travel to and in Poland, Silesia and the part of Germany occupied by the forces of the U.S.S.R. in order to make contact with liberated British prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the agreement made with the Soviet authorities for the treatment of British prisoners of war liberated by their armies, and the details of the representations which have been made in respect of the violation of the agreement.

I will, with permission, answer these Questions together. The text of the agreement was issued shortly after it was signed and appeared in the Press on 13th February. His Majesty's Government's main grounds for complaint have been the absence of adequate facilities for visits by British officers to first collection points, hospitals, and other places in for ward areas where it was known from reliable reports that British prisoners were collected, and the slowness with which the prisoners have been concentrated and moved to the port of embarkation. There have also been a certain number of exceptional cases where our prisoners have suffered hardships, including robbery of their personal possessions. It is these matters which have formed the subject of representations to the Soviet Government.

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any answer to the representations which have been made?

We are continually pressing the Soviet Government on these points, and I hope, now that there is actual contact between Soviet Forces and the Forces of the Western Allies, that it will be much easier to get a satisfactory settlement of them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that British officers are not allowed to see British repatriated prisoners of war until they reach Odessa, and will he make representations that British officers should be allowed to get in contact with these escaped British prisoners of war much further forward?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Greeks are still detained in Africa as un-repatriated refugees; how many as non-repatriable refugees; how many as mutineers following the events in the Middle East last spring; how many as rebels following the events in Athens in December; and how many as political prisoners arrested on other occasions.

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The number of Greek refugees in Africa awaiting repatriation is about 4,295. There are no non-repatriable refugees. There are about 4,000 men still detained as a result of the mutinies in the Greek Armed Forces last spring. Of the 8,000 E.L.A.S. prisoners sent to Egypt during the fighting last December, all have now returned to Greece. As regards other prisoners, 35 men are held in the Middle East, and three in East Africa under Defence Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the declaration of the Greek Minister of Marine that the State machinery in Greece is now functioning normally and that it is not possible to recognise organisations created abroad during the period of occupation, His Majesty's Government will direct that the Allied Powers (Maritime Courts) Act, 1941, shall no longer apply to Greece; and make the change in time so that the 29 seamen due to be tried by the Greek Maritime Court in London, on 9th May, can be brought before an Athens court.

I see no advantage at present in the suggestion of my hon. Friend. Large numbers of Greek seamen are still based on United Kingdom ports, and it would cause great delay if they had to be sent to Greece for trial of even minor offences. But I can assure my hon. Friend that it is not the desire of His Majesty's Government that these courts should continue any longer than is necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the case of this particular trial, which is a long and elaborate trial involving a great deal of evidence, the men charged were brought here from South Africa instead of being taken to Athens; that in this country there is literally no lawyer, either English or Greek, with the qualifications to conduct their case, and is that not a denial of justice which His Majesty's Government would be very reluctant to sanction?

With regard to these men having been brought from South Africa to this country, that was a question of convenience of transportation. With regard to the other point, I find it very difficult to believe that the English Bar is as impoverished in talent as the hon. and learned Member suggests, but I will certainly look into the matter.

Would the right hon. Gentle man accept from me that in a previous trial I had to be brought in to defend the men, although I know no Greek, as no body could be found to conduct the case; and the only reason I cannot conduct the next case is that it involves hundreds of folios of technical matter in Greek which I cannot hope to master, and there is no body to defend these men?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make available to the House the Foreign Office dossier of Dr. Karl Renner, the head of the Provisional Austrian Government.

His Majesty's Government have no special information regarding Dr. Renner beyond that which is generally available. According to my information, Dr. Renner was born in 1870 and entered the Austrian Parliament in 1907 as a Social Democrat, to which party he has always belonged. He became a member of the Austrian Council of State and State Chancellor in 1918. In 1919, he was Austrian delegate to the Peace Conference, signing the Treaty of St. Germain. He left office in 1920, but continued to play a prominent part in Austrian politics. In 1938, Dr. Renner openly supported the Anschluss with Germany, although deprecating the way in which it had been carried out. He is understood to have lived in retirement during the German occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any further statement to make on the Provisional Government in Vienna; whether Allied political and military missions have arrived in Vienna; and when representatives of the British Press will be allowed to proceed to Austria.

I am at present unable to add to the full statement I made on this subject on 2nd May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what agreement was reached at the Crimea Conference concerning the occupation of Austria by the various Allied armies; and the nature and method of selection of the Provisional Government.

These subjects were not discussed at the Crimea Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the prolonged delay in agreeing the details of transfer allowances to members of the senior branch of the Foreign Service and the consequent hardship involved, he will give an assurance that the allowances will be retrospective.

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentle man aware that this delay imposes very great hardship on overworked officials at the Foreign Office; and will he make re presentations to the Treasury to make the allowances retrospective?

I can only ask my hon. Friend to await the outcome of the con sideration which is being given to the question.

It may be years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the surrender of Dr. William Hamberger, a German national living in Turkey in possession of valuable information about V weapons, was declined by the British authorities in Ankara early in 1943, with the result that he was at large for a further year before surrendering to the Americans.

Dr. Hamburger never offered his surrender to any British authority.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that is really not the case; and is he further aware that if the information which he has had been acted upon, thousands of lives in this country might have been saved?

I can only say that I have not been shaken by the hon. Member's supplementary question. The facts are as I have stated.

I shall put down another Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to inform the House of the result of his inquiries addressed to the Soviet Government with regard to M. Witos, the former Polish Prime Minister, who was taken away from his home near Cracow on 31st March.

His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow has been instructed to ask the Soviet Government for confirmation of the report that M. Witos is now at liberty. He has also been instructed to ask for information regarding the re ports which have been brought to the notice of His Majesty's Government that other members of the Peasant party have recently been arrested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received any information concerning the whereabouts of M. Jankowski, Vice-Premier of Poland, three Cabinet Ministers and other Polish representatives who were taken away by the Soviet authorities on 28th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received from the Russian Government information with regard to the fate of the 15 Polish political leaders who have disappeared, and about whose disappearance concern is felt by the Polish Government in London.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have now received from the Government of the U.S.S.R. an answer to the repeated inquiries they have made about certain Polish personages.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the breakdown of negotiations at San Francisco concerning the formation of a national Government in Poland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement about the Polish democratic leaders who were arrested by the Soviet military authorities after accepting their invitation to enter into discussions.

I have at present nothing to add to the statement issued jointly by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and by Mr. Stettinius on this grave matter.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that these gentlemen were invited to a conference and were promised absolute immunity for their personal safety?

I can assure my hon. Friend that His Majesty's Government realise the full significance of the facts, in so far as they know them.

Will my right hon. Friend confirm or deny the statement made by the Tass Agency on Saturday that these Polish personages constitute a group which is led by General Okulicki, since the introduction of the name of this officer appears to constitute quite a different element?

I have, of course, seen the report to which my hon. Friend refers, that of the Tass Agency. In reply to his question I can only say that the in formation at the disposal of His Majesty's Government certainly does not confirm what is contained in that report.

In view of the fact that most of the missing gentlemen were members either of the Polish trade union movement or of the Socialist movement in Poland, has the right hon. Gentleman had any protest from members of the parties of the Left in this country, at their detention?

I am not absolutely certain about the premises stated by my hon. Friend, but certainly when these matters have been discussed here, I have not been conscious of any such protest.

Can my right hon. Friend inform the House whether there is, in fact, any sound reason for believing that any of these gentlemen are still alive?

I regret very much that we have no further information than that with which the House is already familiar.

If the Government are disposed to interfere in matters of this sort—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the fact that General Franco caused a colonel of the French resistance forces to be shot last week?

Can my right hon. Friend indicate how soon the Foreign Secretary will be able to make a statement in this country?

Not before he comes home.

I do not think I can better the answer which has just been given by the hon. Member from the other side of the House. As to when the Foreign Secretary will be back, I am afraid I can not give the House any information at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present diplomatic status of the British representative in Rome and the Italian representative in London.

Direct relations between His Majesty's Government and the Italian Government were established last autumn. The British representative in Rome and the Italian representative in London both hold the personal rank of Ambassador.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the part played by Italians in the liberation of their country, to which part the Prime Minister has paid a just tribute, justifies the establishment of full diplomatic relations?

There are difficulties in the way of His Majesty formally accrediting an Ambassador to or receiving one from a country with which he is, technically at any rate, still at war.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps, now that the Arab League has been formed, are being taken to carry out the pledge he gave in May, 1941, that His Majesty's Government would give their full support to any scheme of Arab unity that commands general approval.

His Majesty's Government have welcomed the successful formation of the League of Arab States. They will await with sympathy and interest the results of the detailed conversations which are now to be begun for reducing the various barriers which divide the Arab peoples and for promoting co-operation between them. They hope that these discussions will yield useful and practical results.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement about the pre sent position of Trieste; and what action is contemplated to settle the dispute that has arisen concerning its occupation.

Yes, Sir. The German garrison of Trieste surrendered on the after noon of 2nd May. General Freyberg, commanding the New Zealand Division who had advanced rapidly from the West, accepted the surrender and at once occupied the port which is now held by British and American Forces. The Yugoslav 4th Army, which had already reached the Eastern outskirts of Trieste, also entered the city from their side. It appears that the claim made in Yugoslav communiqués that Trieste was occupied by Yugoslav Forces on 30th April was premature. Its fall was indeed the result of the joint operations of the XV Army Group and the Yugoslav 4th Army. The arrangements for the immediate division of operational and occupational responsibilities between the two forces which have now joined are at pre sent under discussion between the Chiefs of Staff of Field-Marshal Alexander and Marshal Tito. Lieut.-General Morgan is instructed to arrange for a strictly military agreement which would, of course, be entirely without prejudice to any interim political arrangements for the area pending the peace settlement or to its final disposal. His Majesty's Government adhere to the view that the question of final sovereignty over the territory must await the peace settlement.

What sort of assurances are there that, in order to avoid what would otherwise be almost certain bloodshed, British and American troops will remain in the occupation of Trieste?

I do not think I can usefully add anything to what I have said, more especially as discussions are going on between the respective Chiefs of Staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that men who volunteered for the R.A.F. in the early stages of the war and are now being told that unless they sign on for a further four years they will be transferred to the Army, regard this treatment as being most unfair; and if he will have the matter reconsidered.

As my hon. Friend is aware, a number of men are being transferred to the Army from the Royal Air Force to meet the overall needs of the Armed Forces. Airmen who have applied and been accepted for enlistment in the regular Air Force have been excluded from these transfer arrangements. No pressure has been put on men to volunteer for regular service.

Is it not, in effect, putting pressure upon a man to tell him that, unless he signs this document, he will be transferred, after long service in the Air Force, to another arm?

I think my hon. Friend is misinformed as to his facts. It is, of course, the case, and inevitably must be so, that the R.A.F. parts with all these men who have served us so well and are transferred to the Army only with great reluctance. But it is quite legitimate that a commanding officer should point out to somebody who does not want to go that there are means of avoiding it. I can assure the House that there is no desire to retain men against their will.

Is the Army such a dreadful place after all?

The hon. and learned Member should find out.

When men are transferred, will it make any difference what ever to the time when they will come out under their old release group?

So far as I know, it will not, but I had better see that question on the Paper as I am not sure.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is now in a position to provide aircraft and crews for the carriage by air of matter urgently needed for the promotion of export trade with countries such as Egypt.

The miltary commitments of Transport Command will be very heavy in connection with the Japanese war, and in Europe for some time. When ever space is available, however, matter may be sent by air provided its carriage is in the public interest.

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that aircraft are avail able to citizens of the United States for sending goods of almost all kinds? Is it not possible to devote one or two bombers a day to sending urgent air mails and goods to Egypt and to other countries, now that our great bombing forces are no longer required to work over Germany?

Civil aviation of that kind conducted by the Air Ministry would, I think, be the subject of considerable discussion and criticism in this House.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether opportunities exist to enable officers and other ranks to engage for long term and short term service with the R.A.F.; whether the pay and conditions of post-war service have been settled; and whether he anticipates he can recruit sufficient personnel for post-war R.A.F. requirements on a voluntary basis.

Yes, Sir. As my right hon. Friend indicated when he introduced the Air Estimates, on 6th March, officers serving on temporary com missions have been invited to apply for permanent commissions, and selections are now being made to fill all vacancies in the pre-war establishment of permanent officers. Airmen also have been invited to enter on regular engagements, to extend existing arrangements and to re engage for pension. As regards the second part of the Question, the pay and conditions of post-war service are being examined though they cannot be finally determined until a clearer idea can be formed of post-war conditions and requirements. As regards the third part, the strength of the regular and non-regular Air Forces have yet to be deter mined.

Now that the war with Germany is ended, does not my hon. Friend think it is high time that the R.A.F. made up its mind as to the size of force it wants for our post-war commitments, so that the Minister can come to this House and ask the House to approve of a standing Royal Air Force, and thus do away with the possibility of compulsion?

Before the Royal Air Force can make up its mind, there are certain political and military appreciations that have to take place at a higher level.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether he can make a statement regarding the drop forgings section of the Melingriffith works near Cardiff; and to what different use the factory and up-to-date machinery are to be put.

I am afraid the answer is rather long.

The drop forgings section of the Melingriffith Works was among the latest capacity of its kind to be planned to meet the rising requirements of the aircraft programme. By the time it became operative, changes in programme, due to technical developments and to the changing war situation, had resulted in a considerable curtailment of the need for the type of forgings which it was designed to produce. It has therefore not been found possible to build up production at Melingriffith to a tonnage which would represent the necessary minimum for efficient and economic production, or to employ a significant number of workers. Arrangements have therefore been made for the closing of the forge. Production has not yet entirely ceased, and there is expected to be no difficulty in absorbing the comparatively small number of workers involved in other works in the neighbourhod which are operated by the same company. It is not yet possible to give any indication as to the future use of the factory and plant. The possibility of its disposal for the work for which it was designed is being explored. If that proves impossible it will be necessary to consider the removal of the plant, and the use of the buildings for other purposes.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production if any investigation has been carried out on behalf of his Ministry into the excessive charges made by Messrs. Wharton and Sons, Wolver hampton, for work done for his Ministry either direct or through the Gloster Aircraft Company; and, if not, whether a thorough investigation will be instituted.

The company have no direct contracts with my Department, but have carried out work as sub-contractors. The trading results of the company and prices charged by them are being examined by my officers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what facilities were made available for the South African public to enter and inspect the Avro York aircraft which carried Lord Swinton and his staff to the recent Civil Aviation Conference in South Africa; and were any flights given to leading South African business men and representatives of the South African Press.

It was only possible in the time available to arrange for a limited number of persons to inspect the aircraft. A demonstration flight to which representatives of all the South African Press and of South African Airways were invited, was carried out. This was much appreciated and the Press accounts were very favourable.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether any air craft have been sold as a result of that visit?

I understand that the South African Government propose to buy Tudor aircraft, and until those aircraft are available, His Majesty's Government propose to lease them York aircraft.

When will delivery be made of the aircraft which have been sold?

I understand the programme is that the Tudor I will be delivered in June and the Tudor II in November. I hope those dates will be adhered to, but whether that is so or not must depend on all those engaged in the factories producing these aircraft.

asked the Post master-General if he is aware of the urgent need for air mail facilities to Egypt in order that business houses may send catalogues, specifications and other similar information, now urgently needed if the export trade is to be rehabilitated expeditiously after the cessation of hostilities; and what action is he taking to provide such facilities.

Yes, Sir. I am fully in sympathy with the demand for such facilities; and I hope that, with the help of the Secretary of State for Air and the Minister of Civil Aviation, it will soon be possible to provide the aircraft capacity required.

Is my hon. Friend aware that British business houses are at a very great disadvantage compared to their opposite numbers in the United States, because of the lack of air facilities granted to business men in this country compared to those granted by the United States authorities for their business houses?

Yes, Sir, we are conscious of that.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to get back the Review Ground in Hyde Park into his hands and available for the public.

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War about this matter.

Will my right hon. Friend see what can be done? Not very much work is necessary, and this part of a famous park in London is very much desired by the public.

I share my hon. and gallant Friend's desire to see the return of this ground in the park to its normal use, but there are certain difficulties which have to be overcome.

Will the Minister see that no part of the parks in London is made available for building, as I under stand is proposed?

asked the Minister of Works (1) whether he will cease to operate the cost-plus system in war-damage repairs and to insist that this work shall be carried out by building firms and not by local authorities;

(2) what action he proposes to take on the five cases of muddle and inefficiency, particulars of which have been sent to him, and which involve waste of public money.

I am inquiring into these cases and will communicate with the hon. Member. It appears that the owners of these properties would have liked to have made their own arrangements with private builders for carrying out the repairs. However, the local authority did not give their permission, since the whole of these roads were being tackled as part of the council's repair programme. In the recent Debate on bomb damage repairs, I explained fully why the Government had decided to concentrate this work largely in the hands of local authorities, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of this statement. I also made it clear on that occasion that I am most anxious to reduce the amount of work which is carried out under the cost-plus form of contract. I am at present discussing the matter with representatives of the building industry.

Will the Minister give an undertaking that in the cases of which I have sent him evidence, really drastic action will be taken?

No, I cannot guarantee that, because my hon. Frend is, in fact, challenging the whole policy of the Government—

I am.

—which is to get these re pairs carried out in the most efficient way by the council, dealing with the whole area under one programme, and not to tackle the repairs piecemeal, as my hon. Friend suggests.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the system he has adopted cuts out personal responsibility and direct incentive to builders, and that until those two qualifications are restored, he will not get the best out of the building industry?

I dealt with that very fully in the statement I made in the recent Debate, and I have answered many questions by my hon. and gallant Friend on that subject.

Is the Minister aware that people who talk about fixed price contracts for bomb damage repair to dwelling-houses, do not know what they are talking about?

asked the Minister of Works (1) what remuneration is to be paid to General Pile and his brigadier and junior commander A.T.S. assistants; whether the situations are of a permanent nature and are pensionable;

(2) what are the duties to be carried out by the brigadier and junior commander A.T.S. who have joined General Pile's staff.

General Pile is provisionally seconded from the Army and there fore receives the remuneration appropriate to his rank. The same applies to the other two officers who are filling posts at the Ministry of Works as Deputy Director-General and Private Secretary.

As this is a very long-term matter surely there should be some thing more than a temporary arrangement of seconding Army officers and members of the Auxiliary Service to what are nothing more than Civil Service jobs?

Will the Minister say what are the qualifications and experience of these three officers in the building or civil engineering industry?

That is quite a different question. I am confident that these officers will make a very substantial and valuable contribution to the progress of our housing programme.

Surely we are entitled to know what are the qualifications of these people? Is it not very unusual to transfer or second a number of people en bloc from a military office to another office and for the Minister not to be prepared to say what their qualifications are? What are they?

I think it is undesirable to have discussions in the House about the qualifications of individual officers in a Government Department. I take full responsibility for the appointments which, in respect of General Pile, have the approval of the Prime Minister, as Minister of Defence. The qualifications needed for this particular job are those of administrative ability, drive, organising capacity and powers of leadership, all of which General Pile possesses in very great measure.

Are we to understand that, while they possess the qualifications of ability and drive, they do not possess the qualification needed for the building progamme, which is a knowledge of the job in hand?

They possess all the qualifications which I consider necessary to fill those posts.

Without challenging the qualifications of those people, as this is an extremely long-term operation, would it not be better to transfer them, and discard their military rank?

I thought that the quickest way of making these arrangements was to avoid going into all those difficulties immediately. In the case of one member of General Pile's staff, application has already been made to the War Office for transfer.

Is it not usual for a Minister to give the technical qualifications of persons transferred in this way? Since when has the distaste of the right hon. Gentleman become a Parliamentary convention?

My own distaste developed when the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) used to ask us almost every week what were the qualifications of the members of the Tank Board. I consider that it is very difficult for officers in a Government Department to carry on if they are going to be discussed in the House day by day. I have always understood that the Minister was constitutionally responsible for the appointments made, and for the efficient discharge of their functions by the officers employed. I am perfectly prepared to take responsibility for these appointments.

I beg to give notice that I will give my right hon. Friend an opportunity of developing this very unusual constitutional point on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Works if any decision has yet been reached regarding the employment of German prisoners in bomb-damage repairs and in the rehousing programme.

In order to assist the housing programme, the Government have decided to use German prisoners of war in considerable numbers. They will be employed in the first place on road making, sewer construction, site preparation and other civil engineering work.

Will they also be used in clearing bombed sites?

They will, if necessary. I prefer to concentrate in the first place on the other work which I have enumerated.

Who will supervise these men when they are doing this work?

Guards will be provided in the usual way by the War Office authorities. Supervision of the actual building work will be done either by building contractors, to whom the men will be loaned, or, in some cases, by the Ministry of Works.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that there are brick kilns in the neighbourhood of Willenhall, Staffordshire, where no production is taking place; and whether, in view of the urgent need of bricks for housing, he will take steps to bring these into operation forthwith.

As in many other parts of the country, a proportion of the brickworks in South Staffordshire have been closed during the course of the war. There are at present ample stocks of bricks to meet anticipated requirements. Closed brickworks will be progressively re-opened as the building programme expands.

If I give my right hon. Friend the names of these brickworks, will he see that they are given a high priority, in view of the great shortage of houses in Wolverhampton and district?

I am sure that my hon. Friend would not wish preferential treatment to be given.

asked the Minister of Works the number of Swedish wooden houses, American prefabricated houses, Portal and other prefabricated houses, respectively, that have been actually erected or are in course of erection in this country.

About 1,800 of the British types. No houses from sources abroad have yet been received.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the termination at the end of 1946 of the charter of the B.B.C., he will cause to be set up a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament to consider the future of broadcasting in the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply. The future of broadcasting in the United Kingdom is at present under consideration, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is unable to make any statement on the subject at the moment.

When is a decision likely to be reached; and when would it be advisable to put down another Question?

My hon. Friend might make a personal inquiry on that matter. I could not give a date at present.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the House of Commons takes a great interest in this matter and would like to be associated with any changes that are proposed?

By whom is the consideration being made?

The matter is under Ministerial consideration at present. I might observe that we have some time in which to consider this very important matter. I quite recognise the interests of the House in it.

In view of the possibility of a General Election this year, will my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of appointing a Royal Commission? Parliament might be very much pre-occupied, and it is interested in this matter.

I will take note of that suggestion.

Will my right hon. Friend take into consideration that Wales desires to be treated fairly?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public would resent very much the B.B.C. being turned into an advertising agency for patent medicines? I hope that he will take that fact into consideration.

Will my right hon. Friend ask his numerous colleagues at San Francisco to report on the very much better system they have in America?

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an estimate of the total damage to houses and property in this country through bombing; and if he will ensure that the Germans pay for this in reparations.

It is not possible at present to estimate closely the total damage caused to all property in this country as a result of German bombing attacks, but I think it would be safe to say that the figure will exceed £1,000,000,000. As already announced, a Commission is to be established, which will consider the question of the extent and methods for compensating the damage caused by Germany to the Allied Powers. Bomb damage will certainly not be left out of account in this connection.

Will the Germans, in particular, be invited to supply timber over a term of years?

That is a separate question.

Are we to understand that any contributions that Germany makes towards repairing war damage will lessen the War Damage Contribution now imposed on property owners in this country?

I do not think that that arises here, either.

Is my right hon. Friend's estimate of approximately £1,000,000,000 based on the actual damage done, at to day's cost, or is it the compensation which will be paid under the War Damage Act?

Any calculation must necessarily be based, in the first instance at any rate, on the compensation which is likely to be payable. I did not give an estimate of £1,000,000,000. I want to make it clear that what I said was that I thought it was safe to assume that the damage would be at least £1,000,000,000.

asked the Minister of Food on what date the decision was taken to reduce the extraction rate of wheat from 85 per cent. to 80 per cent.; and from what date it was made effective.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 4th August, 1944, and to the second part 31st December, 1944.

Can we be assured that the recommendation of the Nutritional and Medicinal Standing Committee was taken into full consideration before the decision was taken; and is it not a fact that they are totally opposed to the decision?

It was certainly taken into consideration, and it is not a fact that the Committee opposed the decision.

In view of the great anxiety caused to dieticians by this change, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman place in the Library of the House the technical and dietetic advice which he received before he made this change?

I do not think that that would be the normal practice at all. It was a committee of officials reporting to Ministers, and it is not, of course, usual to publish such reports, but I am quite prepared at any time to explain to the House why this step was taken.

Is it not a fact that, in addition to officials, the right hon. and gallant Gentleman received advice from outside his Department—from members of the medical profession?

I have received a lot of advice from all quarters, including another place.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the result of lowering the extraction rate of wheat flour from 85 per cent. to 80 per cent. will mean the milling of 325,000 tons of extra wheat in exchange for 325,000 tons of extra animal feeding stuffs at a cost to the State of £1,500,000; and what advantage accrues from this change and to whom.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir," assuming maize to be the alternative feeding stuff. The answer to the second part—more acceptable bread and flour; an advantage which accrues to everyone who eats bread, that is to a good many people.

The object of the Question was to ascertain who gets the £1,500,000. Will the Minister say who benefits by this?

Let us make clear who does not. The millers do not benefit, because they are on a management fee and have been throughout the war. This £1,500,000 is in addition to the subsidy on flour and bread.

May I ask the Minister whether it would not be to everybody's advantage to let the cattle have better food by feeding the grain direct, and to let the people have better bread by giving them 85 per cent. extraction?

It is my view, and the Government's view, that we are giving the people better bread by what we have done. If the hon. Member could see the letters of appreciation which I get from the public on this change, he would agree that the decision was right.

asked the Minister of Supply how many tons of paper and board have been allocated for the General Election; if it is to be distributed under direction of the Paper Controller, through members of the Paper Merchants' Association or through an individual firm; and what is the price to be paid per ton.

asked the Minister of Supply by what machinery or procedure will candidates for election to Parliament secure envelopes in sufficient quantity and sufficient time to enable them to circulate their views to the electors.

The Government have given instructions that paper—including envelopes—is to be made available for the General Election at the rate of one ton for each candidate for a constituency of up to 40,000 electors, with an extra five hundredweights for every additional 10,000 electors; the quantity to be increased by one quarter for independent candidates. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] If hon. Members will allow me to proceed, I think they will see from the rest of the reply. The headquarters of the established parties will, in addition, be allowed paper at the rate of one ton for each candidate run by the party. In the case of the small parties, an additional five tons will be licensed, provided that their total quantity is not increased above 40 tons. On the announcement of the General Election, candidates will be entitled to obtain their paper on presentation to any paper merchant of a certificate that they intend to stand; this certificate will be signed by the candidate's agent. The certificate will entitle the merchant to obtain replacement of the quantity of paper supplied. There will, no doubt, be a large number of candidates, and, in order to ensure that they shall have no difficulty in securing their supplies promptly, the Paper Control will be ready to license delivery of stocks of paper in advance, upon which candidates may draw in due course, to a limited number of paper merchants with whom the parties have made arrangements. The maximum prices in the Control Orders will, of course, apply to these as to other sales.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether one firm is to do the whole of this distribution, instead of the different merchants?

No, I think I said that it is entirely a matter for the parties and candidates to choose the merchants whom they wish to supply the paper.

What will be the course adopted if a candidate subsequently retires and does not stand for election?

The arrangement has been made on an undertaking that the paper is only to be used for this purpose, and, if it is not required for this purpose, then the licence will be withdrawn.

Could the Minister say a word about the specially thin paper which is needed for air-mailing election addresses to the troops abroad?

That is rather a technical matter, and I think, perhaps, the hon. Member had better discuss it with the Department.

Is the Minister aware that the matter goes rather deeper, in that supplies of pulp to the paper manufacturers will have to be increased; otherwise, it is no good giving licences if the paper is not available? Secondly, is he not aware that he will require more labour for making envelopes, as that is the bottle-neck which makes it difficult to procure envelopes?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend can rest assured that these two matters have been taken care of.

Is it not a fact that, already, far too much paper has been used in Left Wing propaganda throughout the war, and will he not take that fact into account in the allocation of paper for the election?

Is my hon. Friend aware that it will be wrong to regard the Common Wealth Party as either established or independent?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why sailors who have served for a long period in Near East waters are now being sent to the Far East; and in view of the disappointment caused to their relatives, will he arrange that men with over two years' continuous war service will not be transferred to the Far East without home leave.

Drafting requirements sometimes necessitate the transfer of men from one foreign station to another without returning home. Men are brought home after a certain length of service abroad regardless of station, so that the length of time they spend abroad is not increased by their being drafted from one station to another.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if, arising out of the explosion at Bootle, Cumberland, on 22nd March, 1945, he can now state who is responsible for payment of damage to property, etc.

I am authorised by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty to state that the explosives in question were being transported at Admiralty risk, and that the Admiralty will be responsible within the limits of that Department's legal liability, for the payment of any proper claims for damage arising from the conveyance of these explosives.

Does that reply deal with the damage to property generally or railway company's property only?

I realise that, and I think I ought not to try to add to the very carefully prepared answer I have given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the Government's intention that the rubber and tin resources in Malaya, when freed, shall be handed back to foreign exploitation by private concerns or developed under public control in the interests of the native population.

British and other non-enemy rubber and tin companies will certainly be allowed to return to Malaya to resume possession of their properties and make their contribution to the vital task of rehabilitating these two industries, on which the economy of the whole territory so much depends.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether consideration is being given to measures designed to stabilise the price of sugar in British colonies with a view to assuring to the people dependent on sugar growing a reasonable standard of living.

Up to 31st December, 1946, all exportable surpluses of Colonial sugar will be purchased by the Ministry of Food on a price basis calculated to ensure a reasonable return to producers. After purchases by the Ministry of Food come to an end, whenever that may be, it is probable that any longer term arrangements for maintaining a fair and stable price of sugar will be a matter for international co-operation, and the framework of the International Sugar Agreement is being kept in being in order to provide machinery for any necessary international discussion.