asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will cause ships of the enemy's navy, including U-boats, to visit the River Tyne and other ports.

It is hoped to make arrangements for the public exhibition of German surface craft, but in view of the great difficulty in providing crews for operational purposes, I cannot, at the moment, say how soon it will be possible for me to make these arrangements. With regard to the public exhibition of U-boats, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Sudbury (Colonel Burton) on Wednesday last.

asked the Minister of Works whether he can now state if it is possible to make arrangements for the public exhibition, at suitable centres in North Wales, of some of the art treasures which have been stored for safe keeping in Caernarvonshire and Merionethshire before they are returned to London and thus provide an opportunity which may never recur for the people of these areas to see these national treasures.

I have been asked to reply. Suggestions have been made that works of art should be lent for the purpose indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend, and the trustees of the National Gallery will be willing to make selected works of art available if a suitable building can be provided within a convenient distance of the store.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a graduate of London University, a temporary civil servant, injured in an explosition resulting in severe burns and necessitating prolonged hospital treatment and some permanent disablement, but whose compensation and pension compares unfavourably with the terms operating with established civil servants; and will he take steps to remedy this injustice.

I am inquiring into this case and hope to write to my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if facilities will be given to men who have been prisoners of war in Germany who are now in this country on leave to obtain petrol, so that, although they have no motor-car of their own, they may use a motor-car belonging to a relative or other person which has been put at their disposal.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 15th May to a similar Question by my Noble and gallant Friend the Member for Peterborough (Viscount Suirdale).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many pensioned medical officers from the R.A.F. have been given posts under B.O.A.C. in the last 12 months; and if these appointments are temporary until younger medical officers now in the Services are free to apply for permanent posts.

There is only one pensioned R.A.F. officer, serving as Director of Medical Services, on a renewable yearly engagement at present in the employ of B.O.A.C.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to repeal the legislation, dating from before 1869, under which security of tenure was given to certain types of public houses now needing structural repair and attention which cannot at present be enforced.

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend is no doubt referring to those beerhouses which were able to sell beer retail without a justices' licence until this licensing requirement was imposed by the Beerhouse Act, 1869. The renewal of these licences cannot now be refused, without compensation, except on specified grounds, which do not include the structural deficiency or unsuitability of the premises. The licensing justices have powers under licensing law to require structural improvements to be made in all on-licensed premises (including these beerhouses), but at present, as my hon. Friend points out, the carrying out of any such requirements may be prevented by existing shortages of manpower and materials and the restrictions imposed on building operations. Any change in the provisions of the law as to these ante-1869 beerhouse licenses would, however, involve comprehensive amendment of the provisions of the permanent licensing law, and I regret that I cannot undertake to propose legislation on the subject at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of German breaches of the Geneva Convention, he will consider the advisability of bringing forward amendments to the said Convention in order to reduce the scale of rations supplied to German prisoners to the level of the food permitted to the civilians of the United Kingdom.

With regard to the scale of rations I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 8th May to questions put by the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mr. Reakes) and others. In any case, this does not appear to be the appropriate moment to consider amendments to the Geneva Convention in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the inhabitants of the Channel Islands are suffering from prolonged malnutrition resulting from five years of German occupation as confirmed by mortality rates, evidence of which has been submitted to him; and whether he will expedite the despatch of food, medical supplies and clothing needed by the whole population of these islands.

Supplies including those mentioned are in process of being delivered to the islanders, and I do not think that I can usefully add anything to the statement I made in the House yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to acquaint this House with the total overhead expenses of U.N.R.R.A., both here and in the

U.S.A., since part of these expenses will be borne by the Treasury.

Particulars of the total administrative expenses of U.N.R.R.A. up to 31st December, 1944, and of the anticipated administrative expenses in the year 1944–45 are contained in the report of the Director-General to the Council of U.N.R.R.A., which is to be published shortly. I have already seen this report in draft and I understand that its publication will not be long delayed.

asked the Minister of Food if he will print in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing in terms both of expenditure and nutrient values what proportion of civilian food consumption consists of foods for which no coupons or points are required, making clear whether these calculations include foods consumed in restaurants and other public eating places.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th May, 1945, Vol. 410, c. 2483] supplied the following information:

An analysis has been made in terms both of expenditure (by the consumer) and nutrients (calories and protein) and the table below gives the relative percentages for "straight" rationed foods: foods under the points rationing scheme, foods of which the consumption, while not rationed in the ordinary sense, is controlled by other means (e.g. liquid milk, dried milk, shell eggs, dried eggs), and the remainder. The table relates to the calendar year 1944, the current position is not appreciably different. Food consumed in restaurants and other public eating places has been included.

The figures in column 5 show that unrationed foods provide slightly less than half of total consumption if the yardstick is expenditure, and slightly more than half if the yardstick is calories or total protein. Most of the animal protein foods are rationed, while the vegetable protein foods constitute the main "buffer" on which the consumer relies to supplement the rationed portion of his diet.

The principle on which food control in the United Kingdom has been based since the outbreak of war has been to apply rationing to foods which are in short supply if they are capable of being rationed. The Ministry of Food has aimed at inspiring the consumer with the confidence that rationed foods will always be available to meet the coupon. This standard clearly could not apply to such foods as fresh fish and soft fruit while they are in season, such foods are, therefore, not rationed although they are in short supply. The demand for energy-giving foods, such as bread and oatmeal, although they are unrationed and, from one point of view, in unlimited supply, is inelastic. Broadly speaking, people do not eat more of these foods than they need, and if they were forced to eat less than they need the result would be to reduce their energy and their contribution to the war effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons committed to an approved school for care or protection were subsequently detained in prison at any time during the three months ended 31st December last awaiting admission to a Borstal Institution under Section 82 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933; and if he will give brief particulars of the nature of each case.

During the three months ending 31st December, 1944, one boy and 12 girls who had been committed to Approved Schools as in need of care or protection were received into prison to await admission to Borstal Institutions under an order of the court made under Section 82 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933. The boy was 17 years old and had been guilty of breaking and entering while an absconder. Of the girls, four were 16, seven were 17 and one was 18. They came from ten different Approved Schools. All of them had absconded previously from Approved Schools, some several times, and three had been guilty of larceny while absconders.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a number of old age pensioners in the city of Cardiff were unable to draw their old age pensions on account of the Post Office being closed on Tuesday, 8th May; and if he will take the necessary steps to prevent this type of hardship in future.

I have been asked to reply. I understand that my hon. Friend's Question refers to holders of widows' pensions, payable on 8th May. Cardiff Head Post Office was open all day on 8th and 9th of May, and pensions normally payable at other offices were payable there on application.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now make known the dimensions of the envelopes allowed to be used for the post-free election communications.

The envelopes for election communications sent post-free to addresses in Great Britain and Northern Ireland must not exceed 9 ins. in length or 4½ ins. in depth if sealed, or 3½ ins. in depth with a "tuck in" flap along the top not exceeding 6 ins. in length, if unsealed, but the use of any other type of "tuck in" envelope will be permissible provided the flap does not exceed 4½ ins. in length. If larger envelopes are necessary, the use of special shaped flaps (e.g. in the nature of a tongue) which can be tucked into a narrow slit is recommended. The maximum weight for individual packets is 2 oz.

In view of the paper shortage, election communications may be made in the form of a folder, if desired, provided the address is clearly shown on a blank space and the documents are securely folded or sealed so as not to be likely to entrap other letters in the folds. Head Postmasters will be ready to advise as to the most suitable form of folder for postal purposes.

Under regulations made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, election communications sent free to the Armed Forces overseas must not exceed 10 ins. by 7½ ins. and must not weigh more than a quarter of an ounce.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage in Kent of accommodation for the institutional treatment of chronic invalids; and whether now that the European war is ending he can liberate more nurses to enable the Kent public health authorities to meet the claims made on it.

I have been asked to reply. So far as the provision of further accommodation in the Kent institutions for the chronic sick depends upon the supply of nursing staff all possible steps will be taken to assist the authorities, although the considerable shortages of nurses both in Kent and in many other districts presents serious difficulties. It is hoped that additional numbers will become available for employment in the various nursing services as releases proceed in due course from the Services and elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is intended that airmen of the regular Air Force released under Section 5 (2) of the Armed Forces (Conditions of Service) Act, 1939, will be recalled for further service or that they shall now be discharged to civil life.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Collindridge) on 17th May, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will issue an instruction, similar to that issued after the last war, to Labour Exchanges to give a preference to returning fit ex-Servicemen and women looking for vacancies for employment.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Debate on 16th May.