asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet received the Report of the inquiry into the O'Neill boys' case and whether this Report will be made public.

I have just received Sir Walter Monckton's Report on his inquiry into the circumstances which led to the boarding out of Denis and Terence O'Neill and the steps taken to supervise their welfare, and I am arranging for it to be published as soon as possible. I should like to take the opportunity of expressing my indebtedness to Sir Walter for the public service he has rendered by conducting this inquiry at a time when I know he was heavily pressed in other directions.

asked the Minister of Labour the name of the managing director of the National Service Hostels Corporation, Limited; the terms of his appointment; and previous employment before joining the Corporation.

The managing director of the National Service Hostels Corporation Limited is Major R. T. Laughton, O.B.E. Under the terms of his appointment he receives a salary of £2,000 per annum and is required to devote the whole of his time during business hours to the business of the Corporation. While in receipt of this salary, he is entitled to no other re- muneration as a member of the Board. It is open to him to terminate his appointment by giving six months' notice to the Minister and the Corporation, or his appointment may cease if, in accordance with the articles of association of the Corporation, he ceases from any cause to be a member of the Board of Directors. Major Laughton has had a very extensive experience of the catering industry and prior to joining the Corporation was Command Catering Adviser for the Scottish Command.

I should like to take this opportunity of paying tribute to the magnificent work that Major Laughton, the Board of Management and the Staff of the Hostels Corporation have done for munition and other workers throughout the country during this War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any protest has been made by the British Government against the action of Mr. de Valera in expressing sympathy with the German Government on the death of Hitler.

I would refer to the reply which I gave on Tuesday, 8th May, to my hon. Friends the Members for Bristol, South (Mr. A. Walkden) and Croydon, South (Sir H. Williams).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to see that workers now standing idle in munition and aircraft factories are released to return to other more urgent industries; and if he can make a statement as to the Government's policy on this matter.

I am taking steps to secure the release of all available manpower consistent with the maintenance of munitions production for the Japanese war. If my hon. Friend has particular factories in mind where it is alleged that men are standing idle I shall be glad to receive the information in order that I may pursue the matter with the Supply Department concerned.

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the total yield of wheat flour, both of home-grown and and imported origin, is supplied for industrial uses not connected with the provision of food; and whether, in view of the shortage of shipping, he will now suspend this supply until that position becomes easier.

The total amount of wheat flour supplied for industrial purposes is less than I per cent. of the total usage. With regard to the second part of the Question, in view of the essential nature of these industrial usages the answer must be "No, Sir."

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any statement to make on the matters referred to in the First Special Report from the Select Committee on Statutory Rules and Orders.

The reasons for the lapse of time between the making of these Regulations and their being laid before Parliament were fully explained to the House by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 25th April on the Motion of the hon. and learned Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Hughes). I have already taken steps to see that the machinery for the laying before Parliament of documents of this nature is speeded up.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any statement to make on action to be taken in respect to the Second Special Report of the Select Committee on Statutory Rules and Orders.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await consideration later to-day of the Motion on this subject in the name of the Chairman of the Select Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the waste of landed fish owing to the shortage of labour to handle it; and what steps he is taking to prevent its recurrence.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Sir D. Hacking).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that, as a result of regulations introduced by the North-West Regional Transport Commissioner, Service personnel who previously had contracts on public conveyances cannot on discharge obtain their renewal; and if he will remedy this.

Yes, Sir. I have asked the Regional Transport Commissioner to arrange that, on bus routes where contract tickets are still issued but only to those who held contracts on a specified date during the war and have continued their contracts since that date, special exception should be made to enable discharged Service personnel to renew contracts held immediately prior to their entry into the Forces if they so desire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the composition of the committee to consider Shops Acts legislation; and will the terms of reference be wide enough to cover all features of these Acts.

I will make a statement on these points as soon as I am in a position to do so, but at the present time I am unable to add anything to the reply which I gave on 26th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who are the present ex-officio directors of the Bank for International Settlements at Basle; and whether new British substitute nominees were appointed to the Board after the resignation of Lord Norman and the election of Lord Catto as Governor of the Bank of England.

The following are at present ex-officio directors of the Bank for International Settlements:

Lord Catto of Cairncatto (United Kingdom).

M. Maurice Frère (Belgium).

M. Emmanuel Monick (France).

The question of the Italian ex-officio director is in abeyance, and I have no information as to the present status of Dr. Funk, who till recently was an ex-officio director of the Bank in his capacity as President of the Reichsbank. There is no Japanese ex-officio director, a substitute nominee director having been appointed.

The answer to the second part of my hon. Friend's Question is in the negative. Lord Catto assumed office ex-officio as director of the Bank for International Settlements when he succeeded Lord Norman as Governor of the Bank of England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the position of the German, Italian and Japanese members of the Bank for International Settlements, and whether their status was discussed during the recent Anglo-American-Swiss economic negotiations in Switzerland.

The position of the Japanese directors of the Bank for International Settlements remains unchanged. The question of the Italian ex-officio director is in abeyance; so far as I am aware the position of the other Italian director is unchanged. I have no information as to the present position of the German directors. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for India what special steps are being taken to set up holiday rest camps for troops serving in India and Burma; and whether they will be run on semi-military lines so as to provide for the necessary freedom and relaxation.

Special leave camps have been established at suitable places in India for the accommodation of British troops both in the India Command and S.E.A.C. These and some eight additional camps nearing completion will provide sufficient accommodation to enable every man to have his full war leave this year (i.e., not less than 21 days at his leave destination) subject, of course, to operational requirements. The military atmosphere has been reduced to the minimum, and it is hoped to have hostesses installed in all camps very shortly. I understand that similar camps are projected in Burma. These are the responsibility of S.E.A.C. and not of the India Command.

asked the Secretary of State for India why invalided soldiers repatriated from India have to sign a declaration undertaking to repay the cost of passage if required.

I am not aware of any such general requirement, but if the hon. Member will give me details of any case he has in mind I will be glad to have it investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for India what arrangements are being made for the demobilisation of British personnel serving with the Indian Army.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply of 8th November to the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Summers).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a list of the commons which, in part or in whole, have been built on by Government Departments.

I hope my hon. Friend will not press me for the list he suggests. It would be laborious to compile and of little utility when compiled, in that it would be difficult to discriminate between buildings of a purely temporary nature, which will soon disappear, and buildings of a more substantial character without drawing a very arbitrary dividing line.

asked the Minister of Health why it was necessary for the L.C.C. to resort to a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of 921 acres on the Oxhey site at Watford for post-war housing; what price is being paid for this land, and what was its previous rateable value.

The land could not be acquired by agreement. No price has yet been arrived at. A substantial part of the area is agricultural land and derated; the rateable value of the remainder was approximately £1,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that in April last the Public Health and Housing Committee of the Bedford Town Council were informed that it had not yet been possible for the district valuer to reach an agreement with the agents to the Whitbread Estate as to the price to be paid for the London Road and Cardington Road sites; whether he can state the area and rateable value of each of the sites in question; what progress has been made towards acquisition; and what price has been decided or agreed upon.

Yes, Sir. The areas of the sites are 6.819 and 17.621 acres respectively. Both sites were derated as agricultural land. The proposal to acquire the London Road site was abandoned for reasons unconnected with the progress of negotiations on price. The negotiations for the Cardington Road site were concluded last May and the site was subsequently acquired for £3,200.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses for the building of which application has been made and authority given, respectively, in Wolverhampton, Willenhall and Wednesfield.

I have not yet received from Wolverhampton, Willenhall or Wednesfield any application under Circular 66/45, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, for permission to seek tenders for the erection of permanent houses.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will reconsider the decision to include painting and decorating in the £10 licence figure for repairs which is shortly to apply to the whole country, as the labour required for this work is entirely different from that needed for first-aid repairs to damaged houses; and whether he is aware that decorating labour is likely to become redundant if the order is proceeded with.

I regret that I am unable to agree to the exclusion of painting and decorating from the operation of the proposed reduction of the amount that can be spent without licence. The object of the reduction is to provide labour, for essential work, and in particular for the provision of new houses of which painting and decoration form an integral part. Licences will be granted to the extent to which labour is available in any area. Care will be taken to ensure that building labour of every type is kept fully employed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange as soon as practicable for copies of the records of the German concentration camps to be available for consultation in this country by those who had relatives or friends imprisoned in these camps.

I will arrange for S.H.A.E.F. to be consulted as to the best way of making use of these records for the purpose which my hon. Friend has in mind. I understand that nominal rolls of survivors in these camps are being prepared and that they will be sent to the Governments concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what is the reason for the delay in appointing the members of the Transport Advisory Council to replace those whose term of office expired in January, 1943; and will he take immediate steps to make appointments and so enable this statutory body to do its work.

The time is now coming when the Transport Advisory Council will he able to resume its functions, and some time ago my Noble Friend took the preliminary steps towards its reconstitution. In the conditions of war-time there has been some difficulty in securing a fully representative body, but I hope to be able to announce the reappointment of the Council in the course of a few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can make any statement as to the position in the Channel Islands.

A statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British prisoners of war have now returned to this country from German European prison camps; and what arrangements have been made to notify the next of kin of these arrivals in order to reduce the inquiries being made to either the Red Cross or his Department.

53,000 British prisoners of war had been returned to this country by 7th May. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a number of hon. Members on 10th April, 1945.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the disparity of remuneration between the volunteer reserve or temporary service medical officer and the short service commissioned or Regular medical officer exemplified by gratuity or pension in both cases; and whether he will remove these inequalities, which discourage voluntary enlistment.

I have been asked to reply. R.A.M.C. officers serving on a permanent Regular engagement are eligible for retired pay on retirement after not less than 20 years' service, or for a service gratuity on retirement earlier but after not less than 5 years' service. As regards those who were given short service commissions before the war, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Scottish Universities (Sir J. Graham Kerr) on 13th March, 1945. Short service commissions, which have been granted during the war provide for special gratuities for officers who render two, three or four years' post-war service and are not subsequently given permanent commissions. Officers granted emergency commissions are eligible for none of these special gratuities, but all officers, serving under any type of engagement, will receive the ordinary war gratuity under exactly the same conditions. The special gratuities are all granted in respect of obligations undertaken beyond the duration of the emegency, and I am not aware that they discourage voluntary enlistment.

asked the Prime Minister why no German generals were in attendance at the recent unconditional surrender of their armies in Italy; and whether he is satisfied that the documents signed by junior staff officers, appearing as civilians, will be recognised by the Germany Army as a complete admission of defeat.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to-day in answer to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Waterloo (Captain Bullock).