asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to grant release from the Services to all women who wish to return to civil life.

No, Sir. It is not at present proposed to grant release to single women otherwise than under the Class A and Class B Release Scheme. Married women are, of course, able to leave the Auxiliary Services if they so wish.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the increasing dissatisfaction in the Services with the present scheme of demobilisation, particularly at the fact that the Territorial soldier and young man who joined the Services in the early days of the war, are, after six years, still being retained in the Services; and will he improve this scheme and give greater consideration now that the fighting is over to those who have served longest

:No, Sir. I could not at this stage consider an alteration in the existing method of applying the age and length of service principle.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied with the rate of demobilisation of men from the Armed Forces for the mining and agricultural industries of the country.

All underground coalminers in the Forces, who are not due for early release in Class A and for whom immediate employment is available, are being offered release in Class B. The question of Class B releases for agriculture is under consideration. As regards releases in Class A, as I explained in my comprehensive statement of 2nd October, these are the maximum possible in the present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building trade workers had been released under Class B up to the latest convenient date; and how many it now is intended to release under this category by 31st December, 1945, consequent upon the recently announced speed-up in Class A releases.

The number of building operatives released in Class B up to 15th October was 12,067. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 11th October to the hon. and gallant Member for Edinburgh West (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison).

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statement to make about speeding the demobilisation of doctors, in view of the urgent needs of the civilian population.

This matter is receiving the urgent consideration of the Ministers concerned, and a statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the demobilisation plans of the Government for women nurses in the various Services; and whether he can make a statement giving its general outlines.

Members of the Nursing Services, like other members of the Forces, will be released in the order of age and length of service. The programme of releases and discharges up to June, 1946, is set out in the statement I made on 2nd October about releases from the Forces, a copy of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member. As regards members of the Civil Nursing Reserve, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Salisbury (Major J. Morrison) on 18th October.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to give immediate favourable attention to the application of the Great Dunmow Parish Council for an order under Regulation 56A Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, for permission for works to proceed to provide street lighting for the town.

My right hon. Friend has approved this application, and the formal arrangements for a licence are in hand.

asked the Minister of Labour if the resident centre, St. Loyes, Exeter, is the only one of its kind where resident training can be given to crippled women; whether other similar centres will be instituted and, in particular, one be organised in or near London.

Yes, Sir. St. Loyes is the only residential training centre sponsored by my Department which takes women. I shall be glad to provide similar facilities elsewhere as the need arises.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the dockers and dock workers now on strike at various British ports have stipulated, as one of their grievances, the poor medical service provided for men engaged in dock work, and whether, irrespective of considering other terms of service and agreement, any attempt is being made now to organise a medical service, special to dock areas, for accident treatment, disease alleviation and rehabilitation.

:I am aware that the question of medical and port welfare services in the ports is part of the trade union claim on which negotiations are now being resumed. The question of developing first aid and other medical services for dock workers, with special medical centres at large ports, was taken up some time ago. Such centres have already been established on Merseyside, Clydeside, and at Manchester, and the matter is being actively pursued as regards other areas.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered any plans to bring over from the British zone of Germany suitable female displaced persons to assist as domestic helpers in sanatoria and chest hospitals.

:The importation of displaced persons now in Germany for domestic work in hospitals here is not free from difficulty, but the possibility is being explored in consultation with the other Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state for the period 1919–1939, the date on which the highest number of unemployed persons and the lowest number, respectively, were registered and the number in each case; and how these figures compare with those at the most recent convenient date.

In the years 1919 to 1939 the lowest number recorded as unemployed was 279,000 in July, 1920, and the highest figure was reached in January, 1933, when the number of insured persons aged 16–64 registered as unemployed was 2,753,000. The number of insured persons aged 14 and over registered as unemployed at 16th July, 1945, was 103,363.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether he has now considered the Report of the Evershed Commission with regard to wage conditions in the cotton industry; and when he anticipates that the Government's decision in respect of it will be made public.

I have not yet received the Commission's report, but I expect to do so very shortly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the monthly output figure of opencast coal since June last.

Following are the figures. The average weekly output of opencast coal since June has been as follows:

	Tons
July	164,200
August	137,500
September*	167,400
October (provisional)	174,500
*Average of five weeks.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, whether he has considered a notification from the local lodges in the Durham minefield that they cannot operate the self-discipline scheme against absentees; and whether he will provide a comparison between the rate of absenteeism since his decision to withdraw sanctions against absentees and the rate during the same length of period prior to that decision.

The Durham Executive Committee of the National Union of Mine-workers resolved to operate the scheme to which the hon. and gallant Member refers and have so advised the local lodges concerned. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to a reply which I gave to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Wallasey (Captain Marples) on 16th October.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his assurance that scientific and technological staff to be employed in connectionwith the nationalised coalmines are not to be civil servants means that the principles contained in Cmd. 6679, that the salary scales of scientists and technologists should be inferior to those of administrators, will not be applied to them; and that more favourable rates will be offered under the scheme which he contemplates.

I am unable at this juncture to state what salary scales will apply to the future employees of the authority operating the coal mines.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that people needing gas cooking stoves cannot get them on hiring terms, though they can be purchased outright; and whether he will take steps to ensure an adequate supply of cooking stoves to be let on hiring terms which the poorer people can afford to pay.

The production of gas cookers is at a very low level and most of them are required for housing programmes. Consequently, a very small and intermittent supply of cookers is left for gas undertakings, who find it difficult to make regular arrangements for disposing of them by hire or hire-purchase. As soon as the supply improves the gas industry will resume its normal practice of hiring out cookers. To introduce these facilities at this stage would, to little purpose, impose a considerable strain on gas undertakings, which are already short staffed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present annual output capacity in gas and electric cookers in this country.

I have been asked to reply. The approximate present annual rate of output of gas and electric cookers is respectively 100,000 and 60,000. Potential capacity is considerably higher, but production is at present restricted by the shortage of labour, particularly in the iron foundries. All possible steps are being taken to improve the position.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in order to reduce the nuisance of smoke-laden air over large urban areas, and the cost of keeping homes clean, he will consider the production of a smoke-consuming fire-grate, at a low cost to the consumer, which can be used in the new houses which are to be built, or if he will take other urgent steps in the interest of health and clean air.

I am in full sympathy with my hon. Friend's objective. The Government is considering the possibilities of immediate and low cost production of appliances which are both smoke reducing and suitable foruse with smokeless fuels, and I shall take whatever other steps are practicable.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will consider paying double basic pensions to all old age pensioners not working on the pension pay day preceding Christmas Day 1945, to enable them to have a celebration on the first peacetime Christmas for six years.

The rates of pension payable are laid down by Statute, and it would not be practicable to pass amending legislation and to make the detailed administrative arrangements which would be necessary to enable the extra payment to be made.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what are the terms and conditions on which his regulations permit a person at present to draw unemployment insurance payments.

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a leaflet setting out the provisions governing the payment of unemployment benefit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that at least 12 tanneries are idle owing to the dock strike preventing the unloading of ships full of hides; that there is anxiety in the leather trade that people in this island may be unable to get any shoes this winter; how many shiploads lie off these shores; to what extent it is estimated that these hides have rotted; and what steps he intends taking immediately that no one will be bootless in the coming months.

The leather supply position has necessarily been made more difficult by the dock strike, which has interfered with the unloading of ships containing parcels of hides of various weights. Of some 25 such vessels at present in port, however, all but one were being unloaded yesterday. Every effort is being made to expedite unloading and delivery to tanneries, and it is hoped that the delay will not result in any appreciable deterioration of the hides.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he is aware that many demobilised Servicemen are unable to re-establish their businesses through being unable to obtain printed matter; and if he will take steps to remove the restrictions in such cases.

I have been asked to reply. The paper supply position continues to be difficult, but limited quantities of paper are made available to printers and others for carrying on their businesses. The gratuitous distribution of advertising matter is restricted by the Control of Paper (No. 48) Order, 1942, and these restrictions are at present under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the present conditions governing the dispatch of Red Cross parcels containing foodstuffs and clothing to individuals in liberated territories.

If the hon. and gallant Member is referring to individual gift parcels from this country to Europe the answer is that, whether sent through, the Red Cross or not, gifts of food are not allowed. Reasonable quantities of clothing are, however, permitted. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of an announcement regarding a concession made for gift parcels during November and December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish the terms of the proposed United Nations Trade Charter; which of them have been agreed to; and whether it is the intention of the Government to implement these proposals.

As my right hon. and learned Friend informed the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 15th October, the discussions now taking place in Washington will, I hope, be extended before long into a wider conference on international trade. Pending the conclusion of the present discussions it is not possible to publish any proposals.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if he will set up an expert committee to report on the possibility of utilising atomic energy for the production of electric power.

:As announced by the Prime Minister on 21st August last, the industrial applications of atomic energy are included in the terms of reference of the Advisory Committee which has been set up under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Member for the Scottish Universities (Sir J. Anderson). The appointment of a further expert committee is not, therefore, necessary.

asked the Assistant Postmaster General the gross receipts from the sale of wireless licences for each of the years 1939–40 to 1944–45, respectively, and for the net receipts after deductions by the Post Office for the same years.

The gross receipts from the sale of wireless receiving licences were:

	£
1939–40	4,448,810
1940–41	4,350,950
1941–42	4,317,822
1942–43	4,596,820
1943–44	4,753,357
1944–45	4,833,942

For the year 1939–40 a deduction of £400,393 was made in respect of Post Office expenses, leaving a net amount of £4,048,417. Since then the B.B.C. has been financed by grants-in-aid and no question of deduction arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what annual percentage loss is held to be justified on economic or food production grounds among sheep stocks put on high ground in Scotland taken over by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

There is no generally accepted standard of health which could be applied as a test of the economic soundness of a sheep-farming enterprise. The annual percentage of loss of sheep which could be justified will vary according to the circumstances of the particular subject. The loss among stock placed on deer forests and similar lands by the Secretary of State for Scotland during the war period up to November, 1944, is just under 20 per cent. per annum. Omitting the disastrous winter of 1940–41 when exceptional losses followed severe snowstorms the percentage is less than 17 per cent. per annum. The results are considered to have justified the stocking of these areas, which, when taken over, were either unused, or inadequately used, for production purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his regulations provide that under the proposed scheme for the remuneration of schoolteachers, a graduate woman teacher retiring at the age of 60 will receive a smaller pension and a smaller lump sum than a non-graduate.

:I assume that the hon. Member refers to the Standard National Scales (Scotland) Regulations which have been issued in draft form for the observations of education authorities and of any person interested. In some cases the position would be as stated in the Question, but it would not necessarily be so in all cases. The amount of the pension and lump sum payable to a teacher on retirement is determined by (a) the number of years of teaching service completed, and (b) the average rate of salary received during the last five years of such service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether under the arrangements proposed for the remuneration of school teachers, his regulations will allow schools with a distinguished history such as the Royal High School, Edinburgh, to offer financial advantages such as will enable them to attract, as in the past, teachers' with outstanding qualifications.

:The draft regulations at present under consideration provide that; where an education authority feel that the salary scale for any head teacher or principal teacher in a secondary school is inadequate, they may report accordingly to the Secretary of State, giving their reasons and the salary they suggest as adequate. The Secretary of State may then direct that the scale either shall not apply to the post in question or shall apply with such modifications as he may prescribe.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reason for the delay in the introduction and payment of the new salary scales for teachers in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction throughout the teaching profession in Scotland at the delay in making final announcements with regard to teachers' salaries; and when the regulations with regard to the increase in teachers' salaries in Scotland will be laid before this House.

I fully share the desire of teachers in Scotland that the final announcement of their new salary scales should be made as soon as possible. The draft salary regulations provide that the new scale of salaries shall be payable from 1st April, 1945. These draft regulations have been issued to Education Authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1945, which allow a period of 40 days for representations to be made. Consideration is now being given to the large number of representations which have been received. I shall do all I can to have the regulations laid before the House at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the necessity of excluding foreign trawlers from the Moray Firth, in the interests of the fishing industry as a whole; and what steps he is taking to ensure this end.

I am well aware of the situation referred to. The matter has already been taken up by the Foreign Office with the Foreign Governments primarily concerned. It is hoped that they will agree to appoint representatives to take part in early discussions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now lift the standstill order for farm servants.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies on this subject given on 9th October to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) and the hon. and gallant Member for Aberdeen and Kincardine Western (Colonel Thornton-Kemsley), copies of which I am sending him and to which there is nothing I can at present add.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, since the cost of building houses is substantially higher in Scotland than in England, will he consider increasing to £1,300 the maximum cost per house to be built by private enterprise.

As at present advised I do not consider that current costs of house building in Scotland necessitate an increase in the limit of £1,200, but I shall, of course, be ready to consider any evidence to the contrary which may be produced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the position is regarding the proposal to construct a harbour at Carradale in Kintyre, Argyll, about which his predecessor was approached on many occasions, and on which subject the Argyll County Council are in correspondence with the Scottish Home Department.

A proposal by Argyll County Council to erect a harbour at Carradale was recently discussed in Edinburgh between a sub-committee of the Council and representatives of the Scottish Home Department and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland. I understand that following this meeting the Council are considering the question of making application to the Treasury for financial assistance from the Development Fund towards the cost of the proposed works.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of persons employed on the demolition of surface shelters and pillboxes.

The number of men engaged in demolishing surface shelters is estimated at approximately 2,000. No estimate is available of the fluctuating numbers (including military personnel) employed in demolishing pillboxes.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to call upon local authorities who have been financially assisted by the Exchequer during the war to repay the 25 per cent. of the advances made which has by agreement been treated as an interest-free loan; and whether the present arrangements or some modification of them will continue to apply to those authorities whose financial position will be seriously affected for some time to come as a result of the war.

As my hon. Friend is aware, 75 per cent. of the assistance is already treated as an outright grant. The Government have now decided not to require repayment of the remaining 25 per cent. which has hitherto been treated as an interest-free loan. There are two exceptions to this decision, one relates to deficiencies in the revenues of public utility undertakings operated by the local authority; the other concerns expenditure not strictly justified. The Government have also decided to treat the bank overdraft, which some local authorities were required to carry as a condition of Exchequer assistance, on the same footing; this means that in most cases local authorities will be relieved of this liability. The present scheme will not continue after the end of the current financial year, but the Government is aware that if the Exchequer assistance is withdrawn, some of these local authorities would be faced with an unreasonable increase of the rate burden. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I will accordingly be prepared to consider applications for a continuance of assistance for a limited period where the circumstances justify it. As under the present scheme, assistance will depend on the need; and this will be measured by the loss of rate revenue as compared with normal, and the rates which would be necessary if no assistance were given.Assistance given after this year will take the form of lump sum grants; these will be determined after discussion with the individual authorities concerned, and we shall take into acount the loss of productivity of rates and the anticipated expenditure of the authority. In any cases in which further assistance is needed for more than one year, we propose to make a series of two or more annual grants of decreasing amount spread over the period during which the local authority may be expected to achieve financial recovery. We propose to determine the number and amount of these grants at the outset and we shall not then need to impose any conditions as to the poundage of the rate to be levied.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will grant official recognition to the Services Arts and Technical Organisation which is at present functioning on a voluntary basis in India Command.

I am asking for a report from the Government of India and on its receipt will communicate further with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has had inquiries made by our representatives regarding camps that have been established by the Czechoslovakian Government for displaced persons; and if he will make a statement.

His Majesty's Ambassador in Prague is in close touch, with the position in the displaced persons' camps in Czechoslovakia and has sent home regular reports on the subject. The most recent of these indicates that there has recently been considerable improvement, although much still remains to be done. It is clear that the Czechoslovak Government and the Czechoslovak officials concerned are fully alive to the situation and are doing their best under difficult circumstances to improve conditions. I do not feel that any useful purposes would be served by making a full statement at the present juncture.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that motor fishing vessels constructed with green wood and iron bolts are now being fitted with copper bottoms by the Admiralty; and why is this constructionally undesirable course being taken.

Supply difficulties during the war made it necessary to accept motor fishing vessels built partly of unseasoned timber. It was essential to protect the hulls of wooden vessels against the teredo worm before sending them to the Far East.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if extra sweeping pay has been paid to naval personnel engaged in clearing away mines in the central Mediterranean waters.

:I have recently approved the issue of extra pay under Article 1621 of K.R. & A.I. to naval personnel now so engaged.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will provide a suitable map showing the principal roads of this country, and particularly indicating those trunk roads already under national control; those it is proposed to take over under the Bill recently presented to Parliament; and any new bypass roads contemplated in the near future.

:I have already placed in the Library a map showing the existing trunk roads, the roads which it is proposed, in the Trunk Roads Bill, to add to the trunk road system and the classified roads. As it it not possible at present to determine when any particular bypass will be constructed, it would not be of value to show such roads on a map for the public use.

asked the Minister of War Transport what steps are being taken to free tanker tonnage for normal use.

By agreement among all countries concerned, tanker tonnage ceased to come under the control of the United Maritime Authority at the end of last month. The extent to which our own circumstances make it necessary to main- tain some form of control over British tankers is a matter now under my consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to increase the number of taxicabs in the Metropolitan area; and when an increase may be expected.

I understand that arrangements have been made for the production of suitable chassis. Until such a chassis has been submitted to the Commissioner and approved no forecast as to the date of delivery of new vehiclesis possible. The number of cabs may be slightly increased as those which have been laid up during the war are brought into use.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that of 10 accounts clerks on the establishment of 8502 Wing, three are misemployed, having been working in the N.A.A.F.I. for the past six months; and another in one of the squadron stores; none of the remaining clerks can be properly employed more than two hours per day; and that as the R.A.F. Regiment squadrons attached to that wing are on a similar pay accounting system with the work done in each squadron by one tradesman who is not an account clerk, will he give instructions for such misemployment to be immediately ended by reducing the establishment and making more men available for release.

I am grateful to the hon. Member for drawing my attention to the matter. Most of these clerks were established in 8502 Wing, which is part of the Air Force of Occupation in Germany, to deal with accounting matters relating to the German Air Force. In view of the present volume of this work, instructions have now been given for the establishment to be reduced and for the men to be employed on accounting work where they are urgently needed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will give an indication when airmen whose trade is accountancy and who are between the age groups 19–22 can expect to be released in each of these age groups, respectively.

It has been announced that clerks accounting in age and service groups 17 to 20 will be released in December and January. It is not yet possible, for reasons which I gave to the House in my statement of 22nd October, to give a firm date for the release of age and service groups 21 and 22.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many R.A.F. personnel are employed on work directly or indirectly for the benefit of B.O.A.C. by way of pioneering routes or preparing aerodromes or otherwise.

:In order to meet requirements of national importance, the Royal Air Force has, in the course of its wartime duties, provided many facilities for the British Overseas Airways Corporation in accordance with the terms of the White Paper of March, 1943. Under these conditions I am afraid it is not practicable to give specific figures for the number of men concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can give any information indicating when Durdham Downs, one of Bristol's beauty spots, will be freed from control by his Department.

Yes, Sir. It is scheduled for release in February, 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue instructions to each commanding officer to see that information regarding release scheme B is brought to the notice of each member of the forces under his command.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is satisfied that instructions as to release and other Service matters are reaching the commanders of higher formations in India and S.E.A.C. without delay and that full information upon such questions is made available to the troops in those commands as soon as possible; and, if not, whether he is taking steps to improve the situation.

I am satisfied that official instructions regarding release and other service matters reach the overseas commanders without delay. As regards information to the troops. I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Information on 10th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Everton (Mr. Kirby).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now give estimated dates for the release of Army officers in Groups 22, 23 and 24; and, if not, when will he be in a position to do so.

This forms part of the 1946 release programme now under consideration. I hope to be able to give estimated dates for these particular groups in about a month's time.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that the quota of teachers to be released under the B scheme has not yet been exhausted, why it is that teachers in Group 30 or earlier in the Army in England have been offered B release, while those mainly in Groups 27 and 28, who have been sent to India, have been offered no such release.

Release under Class B is offered to teachers regardless of whether they are serving at home or overseas. There are, however, certain individuals both at home and overseas to whom release under Class B has not been offered for the reason that they cannot be spared for the present from their military employment without serious prejudice to the interests of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War, if he. will expedite the release from the R.A.M.C. of Captain B. Broadbent, recommended by the Ministry of Health and the Central War Committee for transfer to Class B of the re-allocation scheme, so that he may take service as a medical officer of Norwich Friendly Societies' Medical Institute, whose 13,000 members are suffering from the present insufficiency of medical staff.

No application for this medical officer's release in Class B has been received from the Ministry of Health or the Central Medical War Committee. In the absence of a case sponsored by these authorities for release on grounds of urgent civil needs, no action by my Department is possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will re-examine the question of Army officers held beyond their age and service groups and especially examine the possibility of improvising for a few months as had to be done under war conditions.

No, Sir. This step was taken only after it became clear that no other course was possible if the Army was to meet its commitments.

asked the Secretary of State for War if Group B demobilisation extends to S.E.A.C.; and if so will he make the figure available of men who have left S.E.A.C.

Class B release extends to S.E.A.C., but the records regarding these releases do not show the numbers from each Command and I regret, therefore, that I cannot supply the information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for War in view of the fact that there is one doctor for every 450 men in the Forces, when can Dr. Garscadden be released from the Army, so that the 4,500 inhabitants of Burley-in-Wharfedale can have a second doctor.

All applications for the release of doctors under Class B must first be considered by the Central Medical War Committee, who judge each case on its merits. This doctor's case was amongst those recently considered by the Central Medical War Committee and he will shortly be released from the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German military vehicles captured in Crete are at present immobilised in British dumps outside Athens; and whether he will make arrangements for their immediate release for civilian use in view of the shortage of civilian transport in Greece.

I have no detailed information on this point at the War Office. I am having inquiries made and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a full statement on the circumstances of the death in Bulgaria, in the summer of 1944, of Major Frank Thompson.

Major Thompson was one of a large number of brave and gallant officers who were entrusted with confidential Missions to the Balkans in connection with the assistance which we were giving to those movements which were offering active resistance to the Axis invaders. He was dropped into Eastern Serbia on the night of 25th–26th January, 1944, as the commanding officer of a special mission to establish contact with the Bulgarian Partisans whom we knew to be fighting the German forces of occupation. After many vicissitudes, in the course of which his Mission was continually on the run owing to the activity of units of the Bulgarian forces who were collaborating with the Germans, Major Thompson succeeded in crossing the frontier into Bulgaria on 15th May, 1944, together with a Bulgarian Partisan unit from the main body of which he unfortunately became subsequently separated. He was finally ambushed and captured on 31st May at a place some 25 miles east of Sofia.A British sergeant, who was the sole survivor of his Mission, and was separated from Major Thompson two days after their capture, was subsequently told, on 15th June, that Major Thompson had been shot. In answer to his query as to why an officer in uniform had been shot, the Bulgarian officer replied that as he had been operating with rebels and outlaws, he had been treated as such. This was subsequently confirmed to the sergeant by a Bulgarian lieutenant and a Bulgarian non-commissioned officer, who showed him two photographs resembling Thompson.It has been reported that the Bulgarian gendarmes responsible for the shooting of Major Thompson were tried before a Bulgarian People's Court at Botevgrad, condemned to death and executed in January this year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are several empty houses attached to the coastguard station at Grain, Kent, which are retained by his Department; and whether he will release these for local civilian housing.

These are War Department owned married quarters. Two are occupied and the remainder are earmarked for occupation by the families of Regular soldiers. I cannot release them, but I can assure my hon. Friend that they will be used for housing.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the deferment of release of officers in C.M.F. in groups 22 and upwards, the rule whereby no officer under Group 25 is eligible for L.I.A.P. has been lifted.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 30th October to questions by the hon. Member for Ripon (Mr. York) and the hon. and gallant Members for Grimsby (Major Younger) and Hornsey (CaptainGammans). The real criterion in these cases is the length of time before repatriation from overseas, whether for release or for home posting. If an officer is being repatriated within a few months he is not granted home leave in the meantime.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men completing L.I.A.P. are returning to their overseas units for short periods before a further journey to this country for release; and whether he will arrange that any man completing such leave shall be posted to B.A.O.R. or to home establishment unless he has at least six months to serve before the estimated date of release.

As stated today in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Dumfries (Major Macpherson), relating to officers, leave from overseas is not granted in cases where the individuals are due for final repatriation within a few months. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider grant- ing additional leave to troops who have been engaged on work at the docks.

No, Sir. This work is undertaken in the ordinary course of military duty, and in fairness to the Army generally I think it is preferable not to treat it as exceptional for the purpose of leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to ensure that the maximum number of Service men and women are granted leave to spend this Christmas at home and to give priority to those who have not enjoyed this privilege for three years or more.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 23rd October to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Sparkbrook (Mr. Shurmer).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that cables and mail addressed to men of 907 Port Operating Company, R.E., stationed at Hong Kong, are subject to considerable delay; and what steps he is taking to speed up the service.

There is no general delay in the delivery of letters to Hong Kong, which are carried by air from India, but I am making inquiries about the unit mentioned and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that 6019744 Private Turner, C Company, 10th Platoon, 2/4 Essex Regiment, who has been in the Army for six years, was a prisoner of war for two years nine months and is in release Group 28, will not be posted to the Far East.

As I have already informed the House, under the present release programme a soldier in Group 28 will not normally be posted to the Far East.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the case of 4202332 C.S.M. Lancefield, R., whose compassionate leave to return home to bury his wife was first asked for by the local welfare officer on 1st September and was refused on 19th October; whether he is aware that Lancefieldcould not return to settle his home affairs consequent on the death of his wife; although the hon. Member for Abertillery made a Similar request on 12th September, in addition to making two more requests or sending two reminders to his Department; and whether such delays will be avoided in these cases, especially as the war with Germany and Japan has ended.

The grant of leave rests with the East Africa Command and I am not yet aware of their decision. The case was first referred to them on 30thAugust, on receipt of a telegraphic application in which, the name was given as Lanfield. A further reference was made more recently after correspondence with my hon. Friend. The initial confusion of names may have caused some delay. I am, however, taking up the matter again.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the proceedings of an inquest, held at Cambridge on 24th October, on a girl student of Newnham College who was killed on 22nd October in a collision at a cross-roads with an Army tank, have been brought to his notice; if he is aware that evidence was given that the student was crossing when the traffic lights were green; that the driver of the tank ignored the traffic lights and that it was the practice for convoys to obey the instructions of despatch riders irrespective of traffic lights; and if, to prevent such accidents, he will forthwith issue instructions that now the war is over, all military vehicles will at all times be driven in obedience to normal civilian traffic laws and regulations.

:I have received a preliminary report on this most unfortunate occurrence. But a Court of Inquiry is now being held and I should prefer to await the results before making a further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will remit the sentence of six months' hard labour passed by a court martial at Chelsea recently, upon F. D. Matteo, an Italian co-operator, for associating with a British girl; in view of the fact that association between British soldiers and Italian women is not considered an offence against military law.

:No, Sir. This co-operator was found guilty, after trial by court martial, of an offence against the regulations governing the association of Italian co-operators with members of the British public.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many native troops have now been repatriated from the Middle East to Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland; and whether he has in mind the promises made to these men, their present dissatisfaction, and the imminence of their ploughing season at home.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. I am having inquiries made and will write to my hon. Friend. As to the rest, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on 17th October last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now derequisition the Worcestershire Brine Baths Hotel, in view of the shortage of suitable accommodation for patients undergoing treatment at the brine baths in Droitwich; and whether due consideration has been given to the public expense of maintaining such large premises partially occupied.

:I am having this question re-examined locally to see whether alternative arrangements are possible for the military personnel now in occupation, and will let the hon. Member know further details at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. and gallant Member for North Dorset may expect a reply to his letter, dated 28th September, concerning the derequisitioning of property in the Gillingham, Dorset, area.

The hon. and gallant Member will by now have received the reply sent to him on 31st October.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an exact list of the properties that his Department has under requisition in the Maidstone Parliamentary division.

I have sent the list direct to the hon. Member, as stated on 2nd November in reply to his earlier question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the shortage of houses, he will reconsider a decision of his predecessor refusing to derequisition a site prepared at a cost of £60,000 for the erection of 1,000 houses by private enterprise, the refusal being based on the use of the site as a dispersal centre.

I am unable to release this site, which is still required as a dispersal centre.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of motor cars in Great Britain now held by the Army.

The Army holds a total of 7,591 motor cars, excluding "jeeps," in Great Britain, not all of which are suitable for civilian use. This figure includes 2,348 in depots, mostly either awaiting repair for further Army use, or earmarked to meet deficiencies overseas as soon as shipping becomes available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the needs of the large numbers of holiday makers wishing to go to North Wales next summer, he will take steps to reduce the number of troops in the area of Rhyl and Prestatyn.

One training unit of 6,500 men will be moving out of Prestatyn at the end of November, and the remaining units in this area will be moved as soon as other suitable War Department accommodation is available. Everything possible is being done to expedite the removal of military units from holiday resorts.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Army educational scheme in India and S.E.A.C.

The preparation of the Army Education Scheme in India and S.E.A.C. was necessarily much restricted until the end of the war with Japan. Since then everything possible has been done to speed up the work. In India the responsibility for the education of British troops rests with the Government of India and the Commander-in-Chief has agreed to apply the Army Education Scheme to British troops in India as soon as circumstances permit. Meanwhile, to bridge the gap until an education scheme comparable to that in force elsewhere can be effectively operated, India Command have instituted an interim scheme under which British Army units whose operational and occupational commitments permit it devote up to six hours a week to education.In S.E.A.C, operations made it impracticable until recently to undertake anything more than preliminary planning. The end of the Japanese war resulted in large movements of troops which provided too insecure a basis for the development of well-organised unit programmes. The situation is now becoming more stable and it is anticipated that it will be possible to start the Army Education Scheme in Ceylon and Burma before the end of this year and elsewhere early in the Spring.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that A.E.C. sergeants who have recently been sent to India are being employed in teaching Indian soldiers to speak English when they themselves have no knowledge of any Indian language; and why no attempt was made to discover this before they were sent abroad.

A.E.C. personnel serving in India are normally used in connection with the education of both Indian and British troops. I understand that, under modern methods, a knowledge of any Indian language is not essential to the teaching of English to Indian soldiers. I am, however, asking for a report from India on the points raised and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will devise more speedy machinery to inquire into and deal with compassionate cases of urgency brought to his attention by hon. Members.

I have throughout been most anxious that compassionate cases should be dealt with promptly, both those which come from Members of Parliament and those which come direct. About 1,600 letters relating to compassionate cases arrive daily. They are at once read through in order to ascertain which cases are of greatest apparent urgency. These are immediately taken into urgent action, while all other cases of less apparent urgency are dealt with as promptly as possible. Notwithstanding increases of staff in the branch dealing with these matters, and a noticeable speeding up, the number makes it difficult to deal with these cases as speedily as I would wish, but I am keeping careful watch on the position.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the hon. Member for Mile End will now receive a reply to his letter to his Department, dated 12th September, 1945, relating to a letter addressed by his Department under Ref. NE/TAR/4436/965 to Mrs. Welford of 15, Oley Place, Stepney.

The hon. Member will by now have received the reply addressed to him on 31st October.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for service personnel returned to this county and awaiting discharge and not being available for B.A.O.R. posting, to be sent home on indefinite leave until demobilisation date is reached.

No, Sir. This would be unfair to other Service personnel,

asked the Secretary of State for War, when Dorrington Park will be derequisitioned.

I have today been informed that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to Donnington Park. I will investigate and notify him of the result.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the discontent caused by the failure to release officers of the B.A.O.R. and C.M.F. according to the age plus length of service plan, he will take steps to investigate thoroughly the war establishments of these Forces.

The investigation of war establishments in overseas theatres is continually being carried out, to keep in step with changing requirements. The establishments mentioned have recently been examined and reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers who have signed on for a further period of service in the Army will commence that additional service on the normal date of demobilisation for their group, or will such extended service date from" the delayed release dates recently introduced for officers in certain groups.

Officers who applied to extend before the delayed release dates were notified will count their additional service from the release dates previously notified. Those who applied afterwards, that is, on or after 17th October, will count their additional service from the new release dates, when published.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to introduce any scheme to alleviate the hardship caused to officers who had already made business arrangements in connection with their release from the Army but who will now be unable to fulfil these arrangements owing to the deferment of their release; and whether compensation will be given in any such cases.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement of 16th October, announcing the deferment of officers' releases; particularly to the reference to individual cases of hardship. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer him to the reply given on 9th October by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Southall (Mr. Ayles).

asked the Secretary of State for War what alternative arrangements have been made for welfare facilities for the Forces stationed in Sherborne, as a result of proposals to close down the Toe H club; and whether he is satisfied that such facilities will meet the requirements of serving men in the area.

:Adequate welfare facilities exist in Sherborne apart from the Toe H club, which is being closed to release house property.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take immediate steps to discontinue the practice at War Office Selection Boards and O.C.T.U.s of applicants for commissions having to put on record their political leanings or associations.

They are not at present required to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give instructions that all ex-prisoners of war who have now rejoined their units in this country shall be given leave to spend Christmas at home with their families this year.

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 23rd October to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Sparkbrook (Mr. Shurmer).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the practice to discharge men suffering from mental disorders to public assistance institutions when they still require treatment.

No, Sir, it is not the normal practice except where the man has exhausted all his entitlement to treatment as a military patient and where the provisions of Section 91 of the Army Act and the appropriate King's Regulations are fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in June, 1942, when steps were being taken to requisition the battle training area near Thetford, definite assurances were given the local inhabitants by General Anderson, G.O.C. Eastern Command, that these people's homes would be kept watertight, that they would be able to visit them from time to time, and that at the end of the war they would be able to return to them; and will he now repeat those assurances.

I am aware that, when the War Department requisitioned this area, they promised to do their best to preserve the houses, so that the people could go back to them after the war, and we have managed to accomplish this to a great extent. That undertaking related to land requisitioned for wartime training. As I informed the hon. Member on 30th October I am having the whole country surveyed to see what areas the Army should seek to acquire permanently for its peacetime training. In formulating my proposals I shall give full weight to the wartime history of this and other areas.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and N.C.Os. are at present employed as instructors in civil engineering at Formation College, CM., Perugia, C.M.F.; and how many pupils have received instruction in civil engineering since the college opened in August, 1944.

I am informed that this college opened in August, 1945. Three officers and one other rank are employed as instructors in civil engineering and 49 students have received instructions in civil engineering and related subjects including those on the present course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now able to announce a remission in the sentence of four years' penal servitude imposed on 14568413 Private R. Boardman, York and Lancaster Regiment, charged with desertion after a few hours' absence without leave from his unit on the Italian front in 1944.

Private Boardman's case will be reviewed shortly in the overseas command, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result of such review as soon as it is known.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the Home Guard will be finally demobilised.

I regret I cannot yet add anything to the reply I gave on 21st August to a Question by the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. S. Shephard).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the military officer in charge of an ordnance depot in Palestine who without any authority under regulations, enforced a system of arbitrary fines on civilian employees for alleged, but unproven, offences of a trivial nature; whether he is aware that Military Headquarters, Palestine, has refused to refund these unauthorised fines; that representations addressed to his Department in August last by the recognised staff association have received no reply; and what action he proposes to take.

My attention has been called to the facts alleged, and I am having further inquiries made. I hope that a reply can shortly be given to the staff association concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War what technical qualifications Major-General E. H. O'Donnell has for the post of Director of Public Relations to his Department.

This officer has no technical qualifications as a professional publicist, but he has had very wide experience of the Army and particularly of those aspects of military administration relating to the Release Scheme, Army Education and Welfare which are, and will continue to be, of special public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange to have stopped the explosions caused by the blowing up of old ammunition in the vicinity of Odell and Harrold in Bedfordshire and of Lavendon in Buckinghamshire, and whether, owing to the fact that the blast effect of these explosions is causing local nervous strain and is damaging house property in the area, this ammunition will be disposed of elsewhere.

The destruction of explosives near ammunition dumps cannot be avoided altogether. From time to time deteriorated items are found which are dangerous to transport. Instructions have been given to limit such demolitions to one or two days a month and to a scale which will cause the least annoyance and no damage. The depôt at Sharnbrook near Lavendon is not under my control, but I understand that large-scale demolition has been stopped and that all the work will be finished very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War why letters from Servicemen in Burma are still being received marked "opened by examiner."

There is no censorship of the military mail, apart from occasional period checks against evasion of the civil censorship, when the letters are marked "Opened by Censor. Army Form W.3424."

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps will be taken to see to it that our troops returning on leave from Germany do not find themselves travelling in carriages with broken windows and no lights.

A large amount of Continental rolling stock was destroyed or badly damaged, but repairs are being carried out as quickly as possible. All windows have been repaired with glass or plywood and lighting has been restored in about two-thirds of the coaches.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the reason for the delay in the return to this country, from Greece, of hospital patients who are due for demobilisation.

Shipping difficulties have prevented recent evacuations of invalids from C.M.F., but those now awaiting evacuation are expected to be cleared by hospital ship during November. I have no separate information regarding Greece, which is included in C.M.F., but I am making inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that married Service personnel of No. 211 Transit Camp, M.E.F., who have hitherto been permitted to dine together have now had this privilege withdrawn, while civilian married personnel are still permitted so to do; why is the distinction made and upon whose authority.

Inquiries are being made and when a report is received from M.E.F. I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the shortage of dental officers in the S.E.A.C.; and if he will arrange for the appointment of at least one dental officer to each division.

The present scale of dental officers overseas is I for every 2,000 British troops, which is considerably better provision than one to each division. I am not aware of any shortage of dental officers in S.E.A.C. but, in view of the question raised, I will satisfy myself as to the position

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make available an increased number of mobile dental units for service in the S.E.A.C.

:No request for additional mobile dental units has been made by the Command concerned, by whom the requirements are assessed. If a demand is made, appropriate steps will be taken to meet it.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is anticipated that it will be possible to reduce the maximum period of service in the S.E.A.C. to three years.

I am not able at present to add anything to the reply I gave on 9th October to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for North Blackpool (Brigadier Low).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will ensure that any war service increment to which a man is entitled will be paid to him not only in respect of the 56 days' leave with pay granted on demobilisation, but also in respect of any additional days of leave due for overseas service.

Anyincrements already earned are continued during release leave and overseas service leave, but no new increments can be granted after the release leave has started.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much public money, apart from the cost of labour, his Department expended in building the bridge over the Medway, between Hailing and Would-ham.

This was one of many relief bridges built in 1940–41 as preparation against invasion. Accurate records of cost are not available, but the figure is probably between £12,000 and £13,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions to stop the proposed demolition of the military bridge over the Medway at Wouldham until discussions have taken place with the Kent County Council and other authorities.

As stated by letter to the hon. and gallant Member on 2nd November, this bridge is not being removed for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for War if Army officers in Group 22, affected by the recent deferment orders, who have served abroad for three years or more, can now be transferred to this country for the remainder of their Army service.

No, Sir. The reason for the recent deferment was the shortage of officers in overseas commands.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to trace 206725 Private McLaughlin, full details of whom were sent to him in a letter dated 8th October.

The hon. and gallant Member will by now have received my letter of 2nd November about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he intends to open the road from Thetford to Walton, in Norfolk, for civilian traffic.

This road passes through the Stanford battle training area, which is in almost constant use for training with live ammunition. As regards the retention of this area, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 30th October to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. Dye).

asked the Secretary of State for War on what duties the men of the Pioneer Corps would have been engaged if they had not been working in the docks.

:About 40 per cent. of the men would have been engaged on rehabilitation of property, clearance of beaches and minefields, or assistance to agriculture; about20 per cent. on camp construction and maintenance; and about 40 per cent. on various military duties at home or abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers in the various arms of the Service were commissioned in each of the months May to October, 1945; and how many of these received emergency commissions from the ranks.