asked the Minister of Labour what is the position of persons who were transferred from one or the other of the Services to civilian occupations or professions, when they became redundant in the latter; are they subject to re-transfer to the Services, or are they entitled to seek further civilian employment.

Members of the Forces who are on release to a civilian occupation or profession are liable to recall to the Forces if they become redundant in the work for which they were released. They are not free to seek any employment they wish but they may, in appropriate circumstances, be transferred to other work of national importance. In general, men on release who become redundant in their civil employment will not be recalled to the Forces if they are above the current call-up age.

Does this apply to people of all ages who have been in the Forces?

No, I have already said that men on release who become redundant will not be recalled if they are above the current call-up age.

Will the period of service in industry count towards demobilisation?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour what priority is given in the allocation of labour to firms preparing for and engaged in the export trade.

It is my task to endeavour to supply labour in accordance with approved allocations of the man-power available. With a shortage of man-power first priority must be given to the urgent requirements of the Japanese war and to essential services. The question of priority between goods for the home market and for export is for my right horn. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assist the Board of Trade by giving him priority of labour for goods to be made for the export market because, obviously, we cannot export goods unless we have the labour with which to make them?

I ask the House to be very careful about this matter. After five years of war and with homes waiting for replenishment an appropriate balance must be struck.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to bring about the immediate release from the Services of men who have been employed in the building trade in Scotland so that the desperate housing situation in Scotland may be tackled seriously before the autumn.

On the general question of the release of building trade workers from the Forces, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the Debate yesterday. Scotland will, of course, share in the release of building trade workers in Class B.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Scottish building trade workers who have been brought to London are complaining that they have been put on short time, and that ther services are not being fully used? In view of that, could some of them be sent back to Scotland?

It all depends on what my hon. Friend calls "short time." We have cut hours from 60 to 54 a week, and I should have thought that 54 hours' good work in a week was enough fox any Scots man.

Is it not the case that the Government are keeping some of these men in the Forces because there are no houses in Scotland to which they can return?

Nonsense.

Does the Minister appreciate how desperate are housing conditions in Scotland, and will he consider sending these men back?

I am aware of the desperate housing situation in both Scotland and England, but it is a question of degree and we are trying to arrange for building labour to catch up with the shortage.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider the policy of refusing to allow those who volunteered for Civil Defence at or before the outbreak of war and have served full-time ever since to return to their pre-war jobs where these are available for them, now that the Civil Defence Service has been stood down.

I cannot make a rule that these men and women should invariably be allowed to return to their pre-war work. It is, however, my aim to meet the wishes of workers generally as to their employment wherever this can be done without detriment to the claims of more urgent work.

Will the Minister see that employment exchanges in the London area know of that decision?

Yes, Sir, but it is already in their instructions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange that building tradesmen discharged from the Civil Defence services in areas which have suffered severe bomb damage will be directed to local firms engaged in bomb-damage repairs and not elsewhere, particularly in the case of those Civil Defence personnel who have been working during their off days for local contractors engaged on bomb-damage repairs.

It is essential to the efficient organisation of bomb damage repair work to maintain, as far as possible, the general rule that workers should be sent where their services are most urgently needed. I have, however, arranged that Civil Defence and N.F.S. personnel should be allowed, on discharge, to take up employment with local contractors with whom they have been working on bomb damage repair work during their off periods.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the release from the Forces of students whose studies were interrupted by the war.

No, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that a great many people are not concerned about the financial provisions, but are very concerned at the fact that their boys have been in the Army for years, and should have priority?

I stated emphatically in the House yesterday that I do not propose to break the scheme to give any more priorities than have already been decided.

Is the Minister aware that there is a serious shortage of male teachers in schools, and does not his scheme make some special provision in order that children should not suffer from inadequate instruction in the forthcoming years?

This Question deals with students, and not teachers.

Do I take it that the Government are no longer interested in education?

We try every week here, and I am sure that the hon. Member gains by it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider giving earlier release to the owner of a one-man business, some of whose staff are in the Forces and are due for discharge before he is, in order to enable him to return to his business and reinstate his former employees when they are demobilised.

No, Sir. I should not be justified in making an exception of this nature to the general rule of release from the Forces by age and length of service.

Are there any hardship tribunals to which these men can make application? If not, will the Minister consult with the Service Ministers so that applications can be considered on their merits?

No, Sir. I am very sorry to be hard about this, but I must stick to age and length of service.

In a case like this would not the proposal imperil the whole principle of demobilisation?

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, have been discharged from war factories owing to the diminution of war work.

Statistics of discharges due to diminution of war work are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women are to be given notice at the Spennymoor Royal Ordnance factory at an early date; and whether persons to be discharged will have to sign on at the Employment Exchange or whether they will be offered other employment.

During the next few weeks it will be necessary to reduce the strength at the Royal Ordnance Factory by about 1,200 workers, rather more than half of whom will be women. Every effort is being made to arrange for their transfer to other work immediately they become available, but in the case of any who have not been placed by the time of their release, action to find them alternative employment will be continued by their local employment exchanges.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Development Board for the Spennymor area is very concerned about redundancy at this factory, and will he use his good offices to transfer the rest of the production of the factory to some other place, so that the factory can be set on a peace-time basis and used for peace-time production?

I will go into that with the Minister of Supply and the President of the Board of Trade, and see what can be done.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give prison officers serving with the Forces the same priority of release as is to be given to police officers.

Arrangements are being made for the release from the Forces on an individual basis under the Class B arrangements of a number of prison officers to return to their former employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now cease to call up for interview women over 40 years of age or to direct them to work.

Yes, Sir, unless a particular woman possesses special skill or qualifications urgently required for essential work of the highest urgency.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now resume the publication of the monthly statistical statement relating to employment and unemployment.

No, Sir. I am not satisfied that publication monthly is necessary in present circumstances, but I am keeping the matter under review.

asked the Minister of Labour what remuneration is to be paid to the directors of the Disabled Persons' Employment Corporation, Limited.

A decision has not yet been taken in this matter.

Will any of the principal directors of this Corporation be paid?

I have never discussed it with them; they took on the job quite readily and did not ask me for anything, and I do not see why I should promote any desire.

asked the Minister of Labour if the third VE-Day holiday will be a national holiday with pay.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made on 4th April last in which it was made clear that so far as Government factories and establishments were concerned the third day would be taken according to the local circumstances of each factory or establishment.

Is it made clear that it will be on the same basis as the other two days, and that the Government will expect it to be a holiday with pay?

I cannot tell industry what it has got to pay, but if the unions and the employers are fixing up a holiday, I cannot imagine an agreement being arrived at without that going with it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a very large number of important industries have given the three days' holiday with pay?

If it has been taken and paid for, the point in the Question does not arise.

As the Government will have to provide funds for this out of E.P.T., ought not the Government to make up their minds?

It does not happen in every case in that way. I think the hon. Gentleman is aware that the standard is so high for some companies that it does come out of the company's income and not out of E.P.T.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is now able to make any statement with regard to the constitution of a central planning authority for the area of Greater London.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave to him on 8th March, to which, at the moment, I have nothing to add.

If I put down a Question after the Recess, will my right hon. Friend be in a position to give an answer?

I hope so.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is now able to make a statement with reference to the setting up of a National Parks Commission.

The Report on National Parks in England and Wales was published yesterday. In the near future, I hope to make a further statement.

As the matter has been before the Minister for many months past, will he make a statement in the very near future?

In the fairly near future, but I shall need a little time for proper consideration of the Report.

asked the Minister of Pensions if, in view of the fact that the casualties in the war in Europe are less than were feared, he will now give consideration to the revision of the Royal Warrant with a view to increasing the allowances to the widows and children of men who have died on service and to bring within the Warrant cases of men discharged because of cancer and tuberculosis.

As recently as May last the Government authorised substantial increases in rates of widows' pensions and children's allowances and there has been no such change in the general situation as would justify a further revision of those rates at the present time. As regards the latter part of the Question, cancer and tuberculosis are not excluded from the Warrant, but are, like other diseases, subject to the basic principle of entitlement, namely that any disability must have been either attributable to or aggravated by service. I am not prepared to recommend any departure from this principle, under which the great majority of claims in respect of tuberculosis are in fact admitted.

Does the Minister remember saying in the House that when the casualties of the war were known, he would consider reviewing the Royal Warrant in the light of these anomalies, and how does he reconcile that with the answer he has just given?

The war in Europe is over, but the war with Japan is not over. I have yet to face demobilisation, when many thousands of claims will come before me and many thousands of pensions will be admitted. The time is not yet ripe for reconsideration.

Does that undertaking still stand, and when the war with Japan is over, will the Minister review the matter?

I have not the same recollection about what I said as the hon. Member has, but I will look it up. Whatever I have said, I have said, and I stick to it.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any cases of cholera have occurred amongst British troops serving in India or Burma.

Fifteen cases of cholera occurred at the end of last month amongst British officers billeted at a certain hotel in Calcutta. Of these one died as a result of developing pneumonia. Three of the waiters were afterwards discovered to be cholera carriers. Immediate action was taken and the outbreak is now at an end. In Burma there have been 26 sporadic cases of cholera mostly among Indian troops. There have been no other cases of cholera among British troops in India and Burma since 1943. Since cholera is endemic in these areas the comparative immunity of the troops is a tribute to the skill and devotion of the medical services and the value of modern protective measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Burma whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the future policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to Burma.

Yes, Sir. A White Paper containing a statement of His Majesty's Government's Policy in regard to Burma will be available in the Vote Office after Questions.

Can my right hon. Friend give any indication as to when there is likely to be a Debate on this matter in the House?

I have to produce a Bill containing certain temporary provisions implementing the policy of the White Paper, and I also have to introduce a Resolution before 9th June. Therefore, an occasion for Debate will no doubt arise before that date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority is given in the granting of visas to business men and technicians from foreign countries, whose visit is sponsored by the appropriate British Embassy abroad, who desire to visit this country for the purpose of purchasing our goods.

Every application for a visa for a visit to this country is dealt with as rapidly as possible on merit, in consultation with any other Government Department which appears to be concerned. There is no numerical limitation on the grant of visas, and no question of priority for any particular class of application therefore arises.

Will my right hon. Friend make every effort to expedite the granting of visas to these men who wish to come to this country to buy our goods, so that the right kind of impression is gained, and long delays are no longer allowed?

Yes, Sir. I will do anything I can in that way. If the hon. Gentleman has any particular cases in which he thinks there has been undue delay, if he will let me have particulars, I will look into them.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that one very vexatious aspect of the matter is that on each separate visit the same long information has to be given? Could he arrange that when once a man has been granted a visa, subsequently it will be much more simple for him to visit this country?

I will consider that. I imagine it would depend on the time at which we had, so to speak, come to recognise him as an established visitor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received a report from Sir Walter Monckton on the circumstances leading to the death of Dennis O'Neill at Bank Farm, Minsterley; whether he proposes to publish this report; and whether he has any statement to make.

As I stated in reply to a Question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Charles Edwards) on 10th May, I have received the report and arranged for its early publication. Any statement will be more appropriately made after the report is in the hands of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of civilians killed during the war by enemy action in the London region and the number wounded.

The civilian casualties due to enemy action in London Region during the war in Europe are—

Is it possible to give figures for individual boroughs?

That raises rather more the security issue, but I will look into it if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me time.

What is the security reason now?

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

In view of the length of the answer, I will give it at the end of Questions.

Later:

Yes, Sir. I am glad to take this early opportunity of reporting to the House on the situation in the Channel Islands as I found it on the visit which, with the hearty approval of the Prime Minister, I, accompanied by my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, have just made to Guernsey and Jersey. As I told the States of both islands, I came immediately upon their liberation as the member of His Majesty's Council most closely concerned with Channel Islands affairs to express to the islanders the sympathy of His Majesty's Government and of the whole country in the ordeal through which they have passed, to obtain at first hand information as to the conditions obtaining in the islands and to assure them of our desire to help them in every way we can. I wanted, too, to learn at first hand of their experiences under enemy occupation, and to discuss on the spot the problems which immediately face them, and to invite suggestions as to how the Government can best help them.

I am glad to be able to tell the House that I found the situation very much better than might have been expected. The liberating forces under the command of Brigadier Snow had already made excellent progress with the distribution of the supplies brought with them and with the assembly and removal of the German garrisons. It was, I can assure the House, a great pleasure to see our soldiers engaged on both of these agreeable tasks. Postal communications with Great Britain have been restored. Though reduced in numbers, the herds, which are so important in the economy of the islands, are still intact. The most cordial relations have been established between Brigadier Snow and the islands authorities, and they are working together in complete harmony. The warmth of the expressions of loyalty to the Crown which the islanders voiced and the cordiality of our reception were moving in the extreme.

I explained fully to the States the necessity, in the interests of the Islands themselves, of withdrawing the British Forces in 1940 and the reasons for refraining, after D-Day from retaking the Islands by force in order to spare them the destruc- tion which such an operation would inevitably have involved. It was clear that these courses were both understood and approved. As regards material conditions, the health and physique of the population are on the whole better than I at least had dared to hope, and I was in particular impressed by the healthy appearance of the children whom I saw. This is in large measure due to the supplies which during this grim winter the Islanders received from the British Red Cross and Order of St. John through the agency of the International Red Cross, and I was assured that, but for the timely arrival of these supplies, for which the Islanders expressed their deepest gratitude, the situation would have become very grave indeed. Although the Germans took a considerable share of the local produce, so far as I was able to ascertain they did not attempt to divert the Red Cross supplies to their own use, and the conditions under which the German garrison was living were worse than those of the civil population. I was told that in some cases the German garrison was reduced to eating cats and dogs.

While there seems to have been a gratifying absence of the grosser and cruder atrocities associated with the Nazis, I saw plenty of evidence of the wanton damage which the Germans did to houses and other property, including the sea wall and the slips, and of the filthy condition in which they left premises they occupied. This was even true of the hospitals. I heard too at first hand something of what the brutal and senseless deportations of 1942 and 1943 meant in terms of unnecessary human suffering. On the whole, however, the treatment of the Islanders seems to have been comparatively favourable, and they themselves were inclined to attribute this at least in part to the conviction which dawned on the Germans towards the end that it would not be long before the British were back. But no one who has not lived under the Nazi yoke can fully appreciate what it means to an independent and proud people, and, as I was told, the liberation came like the awakening from a nightmare.

For the future, the discussions which I had about the further measures immediately necessary for the rehabilitation of the Islands were most useful. The Islands authorities expressed their appre- cation of the assistance they have already received from the liberating Forces, and I promised that their requests and suggestions for further help would have the most urgent and sympathetic attention. I, of course, assured them again that the military government would be brought to an end as soon as it had finished its work and that the ancient rights, privileges and liberties of the Islands would then be restored in full. In conclusion, I am sure the House will join with me in expressing our admiration for the fortitude and the loyalty which, with creditably few exceptions, our kinsfolk in the Channel Islands have shown during these long and hard years, and for the courage and devotion to duty with which the bailiffs and other Crown officers have discharged their arduous and sometimes dangerous responsibilities during every phase of the Nazi occupation—from the dark days of 1940 when the German invaders landed to the bleak winter just ended, the rigours of which were mitigated—it is true—by the knowledge that even to the Germans themselves it was clear that complete and absolute Allied victory was certain and could not be far distant.

While congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on his prompt action and personal interest in this matter, may I ask whether in the case of the poorer inhabitants, the supplies which we sent were made free, because I understand that in many cases the people would not be in a position to pay much for them?

In the case of the Red Cross supplies they did, I think, go free, and no charge was made; but of course there must come a time when, with the wholesale shipment of supplies in the ordinary way, supplies must pass through trade channels. I will keep the point in mind, but my impression is that when the Red Cross supplies finish and are succeeded by the ordinary commercial supplies these will be sold through the shops in the ordinary way.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether in visiting Jersey and Guernsey he learned anything as to the conditions in Sark?

I met the Dame of Sark, who seems to have been remarkably successful in the action taken "on her own" to keep the Germans in order. She was well and was not in any way alarmed, and I gather that Sark is all right, that the Germans are being taken care of in the ordinary way, and that the same is true of the Island of Alderney.

While I recognise that postal communication has been restored, will the right hon. Gentleman say how soon we can expect telegraphic communication and whether it is possible to introduce at an early date a radio-telephone service?

The telegraph service, so my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General informs me, is working already. The radio-telephone service is not yet available, but the Post Office are looking into the question.

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether any form of co-operation is being arranged between the Minister of Agriculture and the dairy farmers of the Channel Islands, because that would seem to be very important?

I brought back information upon a number of points which I will report to my right hon. Friend the British Minister of Agriculture. There are many points in which he will be interested, and I am sure that he will do everything he can to help.

Could the Home Secretary tell us whether there is an adequate supply of doctors in the Channel Islands and if not whether he will give priority to island doctors to return?

I could not answer with precision on that point. I can only say that although I asked to be informed about the troubles and difficulties there that one was not mentioned, and I could not say anything positive about it.

Can my right hon. Friend say anything further about the Island of Alderney, and, whether the population, which I believe was almost wholly evacuated, is likely to go back?

In so far as the population is wholly evacuated the problem is less for the time being. I understand that the German garrison have been converted into prisorers of war. As to the return of people to the island, we will facilitate it when we can do so, but I am a little apprehensive that if they try to go back too soon they may add to the problems of the people already there.

May I ask whether the German soldiers were made to clean the houses which they had defiled?

German soldiers have been put to all sorts of jobs. Our reoccupation has only taken place quite recently, and their first job is the removal of explosives from places where they might be dangerous to the civil population.

I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman saw the air ports, but could he tell us whether they are in working order, and is it likely that an air service such as we had before the war will be opened?

I saw briefly the air port of Jersey, and I can say that it is not at all in a bad condition. I cannot say when the service can be re-opened.

Could my right hon. Friend say whether his attention has been called to a report of large-scale killings of Russian and other prisoners on the Island of Alderney, and can he assure the House that until this matter has been fully investigated no Germans will be allowed to leave the islands?

A lot of Germans have already left, but I think that they are still Allied prisoners of war, so that if there were allegations of this kind to be followed up, which would be a matter for the War Office, there would be time to take action.

Did the right hon. Gentleman secure any information about the inhabitants of the Channel Islands who were alleged to have been taken to Germany, and can he say whether they can be returned as quickly as possible?

As I said in my statement, a fair number of people were deported to Germany by the Nazis. They are not back yet, but the British authorities, will, of course, take up the matter and get them back as soon as may he.

My right hon. Friend will be aware that there is a substantial number of Channel Islanders serving with the British Armed Forces. Will he therefore make representations to the heads of the Service Departments that men who have not seen their families in the island for some time may have facilities given them to visit them at the earliest possible opportunity?

It would not be right for me to make any statement on that matter, which is one for my right hon. Friends the Service Ministers, but I have begun to make arrangements whereby I hope it may be possible for the island authorities to broadcast to the troops in the hope of picking up troops from the Channel Islands and giving them the facts about the situation in the islands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds the first police reserve are excluded from the pay increases and war gratuities payable to police, police war reserves and the C.D. services.

The pay and conditions of service of the First Police Reserve, are separate and distinct from those of the regular police and police war reserves because members of the First Police Reserve are for the most part re-engaged pensioners who are drawing pensions in respect of their previous service in addition to their pay. I have however received representations that their pay and conditions should be reviewed and I am considering these representations.

Is my right hon. Friend also considering the question of gratuities?

My recollection is that gratuities to the regular police did not arise, and I should not have thought they would arise in this case.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also reconsider the case of pensioners under the 1921 Act?

That is an issue far away from this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has received about the state of the electoral register from any of the registration officers in the constituencies in which elections have been held recently; and whether he proposes to invite any further observations by them on this matter.

No such communications have been received, and I do not think that any purpose would be served in inviting observations of the registration officers concerned. Even if they had received reports from the presiding officers as to the number of omissions of would-be voters from the register, this would not necessarily be any guide as to the extent of omissions or inaccuracies in the register because, without full particulars which might not be available, it could not be established whether the names had been properly omitted or the omissions had been due to some mistake. I am aware that there have been some omissions and inaccuracies in the register, but the House, I am sure, appreciates that in existing circumstances the Parliamentary Register cannot be expected to be completely accurate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if the general election is held before the publication of the new register in October, it will result in tens of thousands being disfranchised, and is he further aware that it is not the view of any registration officers that it is impossible to have a supplementary register prepared?

I have made it clear, I think on four occasions, that the present register is imperfect and that the next will be better. There is no doubt about that. The difficulty about a supplementary register is that it tends to choke the preparation of the next. It is really a question of man-power and staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many names appear on the Business Premises Electors' Register for the Caernarvon District of Boroughs; and what was the total cost of preparing and publishing this register.

The information asked for in the first part of Question will be contained in the Return of Electorates which, as I indicated in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 3rd May, will be laid before Parliament when available. I regret that it is not possible to separate the cost of preparing and publishing a Business Premises Register from the general registration costs in respect of a constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted between the beginning of 1933 and the end of 1944 on indictment for the misdemeanour which is called Public Mischief.

The only available figures are for the class of common law misdemeanours involving public mischief described in Article 230 of Stephen's Digest of the Criminal Law. In this description are included many other offences besides that of causing the police to devote their time to investigating false allegations. Figures for the years 1933–39 are not available but the following are the figures for convictions on indictment for this general class of offence in subsequent years.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that every conviction for this so-called misdemeanour, which was only introduced in 1933, in fact involved ex post facto legislation by the courts in a matters that ought to be left to Parliament?

If the hon. Member wants to know anything more on this subject, I must ask him to put it down.

Do Left Wing journals come under the category of "public mischief?"

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if immediate arrangements can be made to offer C.D. stores and equipment, suitable for civilian use, at low cost, to Servicemen's wives who have difficulty in obtaining beds, blankets, kitchen utensils, tables and chairs.

Surplus Civil Defence equipment of the type mentioned is generally the property of local authorities. They are at liberty to dispose of the articles on favourable terms and for their domestic use to individual ratepayers (including Servicemen's wives) who, by reason of war circumstances are deserving of special assistance.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to circularise local authorities to this effect, pointing out the desirability of offering these goods which are in short supply?

I think we have done so but I will look into it and, if not, I will consider the suggestion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also remember that returned prisoners of war are at their wits' end to get bedding, and will he remember them?

What I hope is that local authorities will exercise a wide discretion and give reasonable preferences.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make sure that all this bedding is thoroughly cleaned before it is offered for sale?

Yes, especially if it goes to the County Borough of Croydon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now repeal the Defence Regulation under which the Reigate Borough Police were amalgamated with the Surrey County Police for security reasons as a wartime measure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, as the war-time emergency giving rise to the merger of nine borough police forces in Kent with the county constabulary has now passed, will he take action to revoke the merger order in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, as the war-time emergency which gave rise to the merger of nine borough police forces in Kent with the county constabulary has now passed, whether he is yet in a position to revoke the merger order in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, now that the emergency has passed which was the reason for amalgamating certain police authorities, he will take early steps to re-examine the position.

I have on previous occasions made it clear that the future of the Orders made under the Defence (Amalgamation of Police Forces) Regulations, 1942, has been engaging my attention, and I hope shortly to be in a position to put forward proposals with regard to general policy relating to the amalgamation of police forces. I shall not however be in a position to do so until my discussions with the County Councils Association and the Association of Municipal Corporations on the various question at issue have made further progress. In the meantime, I do not think that pending the determination by Parliament of the general existing policy of amalgamation, it would be desirable or would conduce to police efficiency if the existing schemes were immediately brought to an end.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the recommendations of the Select Committee on the subject?

Certainly. I am very familiar with those recommendations.

Is it not a fact that the police sub-committee of the Association of Municipal Corporations has already endorsed this request, and is it not a fact that this merger was purely due to the war emergency, which no longer exists?

I should not be surprised if the hon. Member is right, but discussions are still proceeding and I have not made up my mind how to handle it.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that such measures as these, which were introduced for war purposes, would be rescinded, with the end of the war in Europe?

On this subject I used the most careful language.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the interests of agriculture, he will reconsider the question of double summer time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the termination of the war in Europe, he will abolish double summer time forthwith.

In announcing the Government's decision that there should be a period of Double Summer Time from 1st April to 15th July I explained that Double Summer Time makes a substantial contribution towards alleviating the acute difficulties of the shipping situation and of inland transport. The end of the war in Europe means an immediate increase of the Allied effort in the East; and, while the Government have been most anxious to mitigate the difficulties of the agricultural community, as shown by their desire to avoid if possible an extension of the period beyond 15th July, it is not thought that the cessation of European hostilities provides a ground for shortening the period.

Is it now intended to revert to Greenwich time in October?

That was the provisional intention of the Government, and personally I hope very much that it will be carried through.

I hope the right hon. Gentleman will have some regard to farmers in this matter. We want all the food that we can get.

I always think of the hon. Member in these matters.

Is it not the case that the Government are somewhat pledged to the abolition of Double Summer Time in the near future?

I think it is fair to say that in some measure the Government are committed in principle to take a favourable view of the abolition of Double Summer Time at the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now prepared to release the volunteer part-time constables from the duty they performed during hostilities in Europe.

I hope to be able to make an announcement on this subject at an early date.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before taking the decision to employ German prisoners of war in helping with our rebuilding programme, any invitation had been conveyed by the Government to liberated Polish citizens, who are, at present, unable to return to their own country, to volunteer to come here and do similar work.

I have been asked to reply. The answer is "No, Sir."

Does not my right hon. Friend think that by allowing a certain number of these liberated Poles to come over and work here, it will be both doing ourselves a good service and helping some of our brave Allies?

This is a separate issue from that of the employment of prisoners of war. Certain arrangements are being made to find useful opportunities of service for our Polish Allies, but it is important not to confuse them with the issue of the employment of prisoners of war.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Taunton Town Council has scheduled for acquisition land for building 470 houses in the northern borough and for 300 in the eastern district; what is the area and rateable value of each of these sites; whether they are being acquired by compulsory purchase or private treaty; and what price is being paid.

The area of the northern site is 59½ acres; the land is derated, except for some small houses, of which the rateable value is £24. 33¾ acres of this land already belong to the town council; the remainder, less a small area excluded from the confirming Order, can be acquired compulsorily, but the price is not yet determined. The area of the second site is 47¼ acres; the land is derated, except for a few buildings, of which the rateable value is £148. Although all the land was scheduled in a Compulsory Purchase Order, 45½ acres have been purchased by agreement for £7,172.

asked the Minister of Health whether a proposal by the Buckingham County Council to purchase the 1,071 acres of Langley Park and Black Park for the sum of £109,000 or other figure has been approved; what was the previous rateable value of the land with buildings, if any, thereon; how many councils are concerned in this purchase; and how much each is contributing toward the total cost.

I have received no application for consent to a loan for this purchase and purchase out of revenue does not require my approval. Most of the area is woodland or agricultural land and therefore derated, but the aggregate rateable value of a number of properties included in it is £905. Four councils are concerned, but I understand that the contribution which each is to make towards the total cost is not yet finally agreed.

asked the Minister of Health under what circumstances his regional officers have authority to come to a final decision as to applications submitted to them with regard to housing repairs; and under what circumstances such applications must be referred to London before a final decision can be made.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the relevant circular and instructions.

asked the Minister of Health what policy is adopted by his Ministry with regard to the return home of evacuated children in cases where their pre-war residence has been destroyed or their parents have disappeared.

Evacuated children whose pre-war homes have been destroyed or whose parents have disappeared will continue to be cared for in the reception areas until their parents can be rehoused or other suitable arrangements made for them.

May I ask how parents who have disappeared can be rehoused?

asked the Prime Minister if he will endeavour to secure agreement amongst the Allies to prevent Nazi war criminals such as Goering from giving Press interviews.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave yesterday in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling).

Is my right hon. Friend in a position to say that swift justice will be brought to bear on this loathsome criminal?

I hope so.

asked the Prime Minister whether information has yet been obtained as to the whereabouts of Ribbentrop; and whether he will give an assurance that every step is being taken to arrest and bring him to justice.

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is "No, Sir"; and the second part, "Yes, Sir."

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the appointment by the President of the U.S.A. of Associate Justice Jackson, as the U.S. representative and chief of council in preparing and prosecuting charges of atrocities and war crimes against such leaders of the European Axis Powers and their principal agents and accessories as the U.S. may agree, with any of the United Nations, to bring to trial before an international military tribunal; whether he proposes to make a similar appointment on behalf of Great Britain; and when trials may be expected to begin.

Yes, Sir; the appointment of Judge Jackson has been brought to my attention and consideration is at the moment being given to the apppointment of a representative of the Government of the United Kingdom to make arrangements with Judge Jackson and representatives of the other Allies for preparing and prosecuting the charges referred to by my hon. and learned Friend. I cannot at present say when trials will begin, but the preparation of these charges and the making of the necessary arrangements for trials involve consultation with our Allies, and this is bound to take a little time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the proposed appointee will be a person of comparable standing to that of Mr. Justice Jackson? Will he say also why there should be any further delay, as the preparation of these trials has been going on for such a long time?

I think I can give the assurance that my hon. Friend asks for in reply to the first part of his question. As regards the second, a certain amount of international consultation is required, but I hope that it will not take very long.

asked the Prime Minister if Admiral Doenitz is to be tried as a war criminal; and if he has yet been arrested.

The question of Admiral Doenitz's guilt in connection with war crimes is under investigation. According to newspaper reports he has been arrested.

asked the Prime Minister whether his assurance that under certain circumstances British nationality will be available for personnel of the Polish forces applies to women members of the Polish forces as well as men.

If the conditions are similar, sex will not be a bar.

Will women of the Polish underground army be eligible?

I doubt whether that is a matter for my jurisdiction.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether any replies have been received from the Dominion Governments on this matter of according British nationality to these people?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down.

asked the Prime Minister if he is yet in a position to make any further statement on the subject of pay and expenses of Members of Parliament.

I can at present add nothing to the answer which was given to the hon. Member on 20th March last.

Can the Leader of the House give some indication of when he thinks he might make a statement, more particularly on the matter of expenses such as postage and secretarial expenses?

I am afraid I cannot. The matter has been looked at because of representations which the Government have received, but I cannot go beyond that at present.

Is it not likely that this Government will be best able to deal with the matter in view of the fact that it is embarrassing for a normal Government, which is not a Coalition Government, to do anything about it?