asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the numbers, by types, of ships of the Royal Navy down to and including submarines, completed and afloat as at 31st August, 1945, indicating those ships paid off into Reserve, on loan to foreign and dominion navies, and utilised for any service other than that for which they were built.

The numbers of ships of the Royal Navy completed and afloat as at 31st August, 1945, down to and including submarines, are as follows:

Battleships	15
Includes 5 reduced to Reserve Fleet Category C, of which 2 are utilised as accommodation ships and one as Training Ship.
Monitors	3
Fleet Carriers and Seaplane Carriers	8
Includes 2 reduced to Reserve Fleet Category C.
Light Fleet Carriers	5
Escort Carriers	40
Includes 34 assigned to U.K. from U.S.A.; 1 utilised as trials carrier: 2 utilised as Training Carriers; 1 utilised as Accommodation Ship and 2 reduced to Reserve Fleet Category C.
Aircraft Transports	1
To be handed over to M. of W.T.
Cruisers	47
ncludes 2 reduced to Reserve Category C, 2 reduced to Reserve Category B, 2 utilised as Accommodation Ships, 1 utilised as a Trooping Cruiser.
Anti-Aircraft Ships	2
Includes 1 utilised as Base Ship and 1 reduced to Reserve Category C.
Auxiliary Anti-Aircraft Ships	1
Fighter Direction Ships	2
Fleet Destroyers	111
Includes 2 reduced to Reserve Category C, 5 reduced to Reserve Category B, 2 available for scrapping, and 1 utilised as Landing Craft Base Ship.
Escort Destroyers	114
Includes 16 reduced to Category C, 5 reduced to Category B, 1 on loan from Turkish Government, 19 allocated for disposal, 5 allocated as Aircraft Target Ships and 1 utilised as Accommodation Ship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what age and service group will warrant officers, supply, be released by 25th December.

Two hundred and ninety of the warrant officers, Supply, who are eligible for demobilisation and who have not volunteered to continue in the Naval Service, are in age and service groups 1–12. Extremely few of these officers are in the later groups. Of this 290, 128 are in group 1, and all who wish will be released by 25th December. I have every hope of being able to release up to 150, i.e., more than half the total, by the end of the year. This would bring the release of cookery officers up to group 7 and catering and stores officers up to group 5. I cannot yet say whether it will be possible to release warrant officer writers, who are so closely concerned with demobilisation itself, beyond group 1, but every effort will be made to do so.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are being taken to facilitate the sale and transfer of vessels suitable for fishing by his Department to the fishing industry.

Vessels owned by the Admiralty which are suitable for fishing are being offered for sale to the fishing industry, and are being converted and transferred as they become surplus to naval requirements. So far agreement has been reached for the sale of 52 modern deep sea trawlers and 28 of these are ex- pected to complete their reconversion for fishing by the end of the year. The others should be ready early in 1946.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the circumstances, particularly at the Toulon transit camp, endured by naval personnel returning home on "Medloc," can be circumvented by alloting to certain ships of the Mediterranean fleet the temporary task of ferrying these men home.

No, Sir. The ships of the Mediterranean Fleet are all required on that station. Every opportunity is, however, already being taken of filling to capacity all H.M. ships returning from or through the Mediterranean station.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why his Department have refused Class B release to 147103 Flying-Officer L. A. Abelson, in view of the fact that this was recommended by the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Labour and that this officer's employment, though in an airfield construction unit, is of a non-technical nature.

I am making inquiries into this case and will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why, on form RAS/PF/15, sent to ex-R.A.F. personnel on payment of release benefits, the questions relating to their future place of residence and their reasons for their choice are listed.

This circular letter applies only to non-British nationals who served in the R.A.F.V.R. but left the Service prior to the operation of the release scheme. I am revising the letter in order to make this clear.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if men who have completed their elementary training and have passed their wings examination at the Service flying schools may be allowed to complete the required number of hours to obtain their flying badge without having to sign on for another three years' service.

Aircrew badges are awarded to cadets who have successfully completed their examinations and their flying. In present circumstances we cannot agree to arrange additional flying for cadets who have been withdrawn from training and who are unwilling to undertake a period of regular service with the Royal Air Force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the adverse effect of the climatic conditions in the Far East on older men, he will endeavour to arrange for the repatriation of all airmen over 40 years of age who have served in the S.E.A.C. for 12 months or more.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on 17th October to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. C. S. Taylor). I would add that continued service overseas is subject to medical fitness and that we realise the importance of reducing the tour of duty; we have made a start with that, but transport will be the bottleneck so long as the release scheme is at its height.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air why R.A.F. personnel embarking for the Far East are still issued with topees, which are redundant, and for which slouch hats, issued on arrival, have long since been substituted.

The continued issue of topees was due to a misunderstanding of instructions; it has now ceased.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many men and women of the Services at present stationed in India, Burma or elsewhere in the Far East, he plans to bring home in aircraft of the R.A.F. in each of the months of December, January, February and March in the coming winter.

It is planned to bring back, during the coming winter, 12,000 members of the Services, per month, from India, Burma and the Far East under the special air trooping scheme. In addition, as many as possible will be brought back on other Transport Command Services.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air 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.Mr. Strachey: It comprises:19 houses or flats,2 community halls,2 garages, and1 gravel pit.Arrangements have been made to relinquish all these by the end of this year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider instituting a rule that women over the age of 40 may be posted further a field than Germany.

:I cannot believe that the hon. and gallant Member is proposing to post all women over the age of 40 further a field than Germany. In fact W.A.A.Fs. who are posted overseas are all volunteers. There is no upper age limit for posting to air force units in North West Europe, but for most other overseas postings an age limit of 38 years has been fixed on medical grounds.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of full-time trained instructors who have been established under A.M.O. A120/45.

:I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on 31st October to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Garry Allighan). Figures showing the number of appointments at the end of October will be available shortly, and I will send this information to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many flats at the address in Paddington, of which he has been informed, are under requisition; how many of these flats are now occupied; and how soon it is proposed that they should be made available for residential purposes.

Thirty-six, all fully occupied, are on requisition at this address. They are all required for members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force who are working in the Air Ministry. I cannot yet say when it will be possible to derequisition them.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he will take steps to expedite the tracing and identifying of building workers from the Central Record of the men's pre-enlistment occupation, in view of the fact that building workers who would be eligible for release under Class B are still being retained in the Services; and if he will consider making facilities available for men desirous of being released in this category to make their application to their commanding officers for this purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the Air Officer-in-charge, Records, Gloucester, is refusing applications for Class B release to the building trades on the grounds that the requirements of the Service necessitate the retention of tradesmen in these grades; and whether he has any statement to make.

:The block release procedure under Class B applies to building trade workers. Individual applications are not required. Under this procedure the Ministry of Labour informs my Department of the number of men to be released. The men are then identified from the Central Record of their pre-enlistment occupations and releases in Class B are offered to an appropriate number in age and service order, allowing for refusals and disregarding those whose release in Class A is imminent. If the required number is not forthcoming, further offers are made to those in later age and service groups.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether he will issue instructions that, where possible, R.A.F. personnel shall be posted to stations near their homes.

We should very much like to do this and I have gone into it most carefully. But I am afraid that I have had to conclude that, especially today, in the midst of the large scale and most complex movements caused by the release scheme and the redeployment of the Force for new tasks, it would be quite impracticable. Where, however, an officer or airman has special compassionate reasons for being posted to a unit near his home, his application is granted whenever practicable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will consider the establishment of an R.A.F. dispersal centre in Scotland.

I should have liked to do this and have carefully examined the suggestion. Unfortunately I find that it would now be impossible to get a new dispersal centre working in time, so that the appreciable works involved could not be justified.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when 1090889 A.C.I McDougall, R.A.F., who embarked from the United Kingdom for Southern Rhodesia on 31st August, 1941, will be returned to the United Kingdom from that country.

I am looking into this case, and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that several applications have been made for the use of a hangar at Ionna Nook, North Somercotes, Lincolnshire, which has been empty some considerable time and may never be required again, for storing valuable perishable foodstuffs and that good rent was offered for the use of this building; and what is the reason for the waste of food and revenue occasioned by continued refusal.

I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he is aware of the public concern regarding the number of fatal accidents occurring in ferrying troops home in converted bombers; why parachutes are not worn by crews and passengers; and if he will in future make public the figures of all casualties.

Nothing we can do to avert accidents on these Services will be left undone. But the House must face the fact that casualties will inevitably occur. The full figures for each month will be published as soon as they are available, and copies of the official statement will be available in the Library. As for carrying parachutes, we have gone into the question very carefully. Our decision, which follows civil aviation practice, is that they would not provide any real safeguard to passengers or crews on these flights.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many cinema projection apparatuses have been supplied to the R.A.F. by E.N.S.A. to date; whether he is satisfied that the price charged to N.A.A.F.I. funds has always been a fair one; how many camp cinemas have been closed down because there is a commercial cinema within three miles; how many of these redundant equipments have been sold at a loss; how many are being retained as a useless asset; and how many convictions for fraud have taken place in this connection.

The N.A.A.F.I. department of National Service Entertainment has installed cinema projectors at 207 Royal Air Force stations. They remain the property of the N.A.A.F.I. Corporation, and my Department is not primarily concerned with their purchase, sale or further use by N.A.A.F.I. No cinemas at Royal Air Force stations have been closed for the reasons stated by the hon. and gallant Member, and no members of the Air Force have been convicted in the circumstances to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of. State for War if he is now in a position to state what decision has been reached with regard to the establishment of the women's auxiliary services as a permanent part of the Regular forces of the Crown.

I am not yet able to add anything to the reply given to the Noble Member by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 9th October.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken against individual Italians who were responsible for gross violation of the Geneva Convention in the treatment of British prisoners of war.

Investigations into all known cases of this kind have been actively pursued ever since the Italian campaign ended. There are now many cases in course of preparation for trial. One trial has taken place, the accused being found guilty and executed.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present status of the army of resistance in Malaya which co-operated with British forces in the war against Japan; and whether, pending a decision as to its future, he will give an assurance that its officers and men will continue to draw pay in addition to rations.

Various guerilla organisations have been operating in Malaya under S.E.A.C. As regular forces reoccupy the country most of these men will return to civil life. I have no detailed information as to the present arrangements but am making inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for War, if he is prepared to amend the effective date at which Dominion subjects volunteering for service in His Majesty's Forces become eligible for repatriation to their own country from 1st September 1938 to 1st July 1938, in order to avoid unnecessary hardship.

I think that the present rule meets all reasonable claims and I am therefore unable to recommend the extra concession suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Malayan Communist Party, which led the resistance to Japanese Occupation forces in Malaya, is still an illegal organisation and its members subject to arrest and persecution for their political views.

The Communist Party was not recognised as a legal organisation under the local law as it stood immediately before the Japanese occupation and the general policy of the military administration is to respect the previous laws and customs as far as practicable. But no one in Malaya is being persecuted for political views and any arrests have been confined to those persons, regardless of political creed, who have broken the regulations for the maintenance of law and order. The co-operation of the Communist Party has in fact been sought in the maintenance of good order in the territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what steps he is taking to secure the rehabilitation of the rubber and tin industries in Malaya.

The rehabilitation of rubber estates of over 100 acres is being carried out by the industry with the assistance and support of the Government. Equipment for small holdings of under 100 acres is being provided by a Government Purchasing Unit which is now in Malaya.As regards the tin industry, the problem has been discussed with representatives of the industry, and an expert, who was appointed some time ago to advise on the whole question, has submitted provisional plans after carrying out a fact finding survey of the industry. He has now gone to Malaya, together with a committee representing the industry which is to survey the mining properties and equipment. The provisional plans will be considered in the light of this report. Meanwhile orders have been placed in this country by the Government for substantial quantities of equipment for gravel pump mines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an assurance that arrangements will be made to compensate rubber planters and other Malayan civilians who have spent the war in Japanese prison camps and that such compensation will cover injuries, deterioration in health and loss of income, and that where such imprisonment led to death there will be equal compensation for dependants of the men concerned.

British subjects whose home was originally in this country and who return here after suffering war injuries as a result of internment in Japanese prison camps, and dependants in this country of those who died as a result of such internment, will, if they are not otherwise entitled to pensions, be eligible for awards under the United Kingdom Civil Injuries Scheme.Apart from the normal financial assistance which is available in the United Kingdom to those who have suffered a loss of income and who are in need, individuals who have been repatriated from the Far East will be able to seek aid for any particular needs from the Far Eastern Relief Fund.As regards compensation for losses of property in Malaya, I would refer to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald) on 24th October, 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds Mr. Con-stantine Poulos, accredited American war correspondent and representative of the Overseas News Agency, was expelled from Palestine at six hours' notice on 23rd October after filing only one dispatch.

I am not yet in possession of the full facts relating to this case. I have cabled for a report and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Italian ex-belligerents remain in this country at present; on what are they chiefly employed; and when it is intended to repatriate them.

There are 153,000 Italian prisoners of war, including co-operators, held in this country. As to their employment, and when it is intended to repatriate them, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stockport (Sir A. Gridley) on 9th October, 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why facilities are not afforded for the wives of men employed by U.N.R.R.A. to join their husbands in localities in which similar facilities are given to the wives of British diplomatic representatives.

It is the policy of U.N.R.R.A. to encourage wives to join their husbands who are in the employment of U.N.R.R.A. wherever this is possible. Before the wives can actually go however the consent of (a) the Head of the U.N.R.R.A Mission, (b) the Allied military authorities, if any, and (c) the local government has to be obtained. Local military authorities do not at present permit wives to enter Germany, Austria, Italy or Greece. I should make it clear that no obstacle to wives joining their husbands in U.N.R.R.A. Missions abroad is raised in this country. Where they are not admitted it is because the authorities exercising control in the country concerned have not granted pemission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any secret pacts or agreements exist between this and any other country or countries that have not been disclosed to this House; and whether he will give an assurance that no agreement will be concluded with any other country until it has been confirmed by Parliament

In time of war it is necessary to conclude agreements, the terms of which cannot, in the interests of this country or of the other country or countries concerned, be disclosed at the time of signature or even in the period following the close of hostilities. I can, however, assure my hon. Friend that it is both the intention and the desire of His Majesty's Government that Parliament should have the opportunity of discussing treaties and agreements concluded with other Governments and the practice will be continued of laying such instruments on the Table of the House wherever it is practicable prior to ratification, unless they are of such a character that it would be contrary to the public interest to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make any statement on the future ownership of the island of Heligoland.

No, Sir. This question will no doubt, if necessary, be dealt with in the Peace Treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the steps taken to help persons who assisted the Allied Armed Forces and escaping prisoners of war in German-occupied Europe during the coming winter; and if a reliable list of these persons has been compiled.

Offices have been established in a number of countries for providing monetary compensation or other appropriate recognition to those who assisted the Allied Armed Forces and escaped prisoners of war. Cases of outstanding service are also recommended for decorations. A reliable list is being compiled and in fact 72,000 cases have been investigated or are now under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Soviet Government have yet given any reasons for their refusal to allow British search teams to enter Soviet-occupied Germany for missing British prisoners of war.

No, Sir. Discussion is still going on through the Allied Control Commission in Berlin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reasons informal conversations, which started on 31st October between Dr. Van Mook and Dr. Soekarno, have been discontinued.

An informal meeting between Dr. Van Mook and certain Indonesian leaders including Dr. Soekarno was held on 31st October. I have no reason to suppose that the conversations begun at that meeting have been discontinued, though I am aware that the Netherlands Government have taken exception to the holding of discussions with Dr. Soekarno.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why a censorship is imposed on communications sent to this country from Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Yugloslavia and Bulgaria.

If the hon. and gallant Member will let me know exactly what he has in mind, I shall do my best to give him the information which he desires.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the 14 men arrested in Uganda two months ago had an open trial in court; and for what length of time they are to be deported.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving me the opportunity to explain the position. The answer is "No." The action against these men was taken under the Uganda Order in Council of 1902 and the Uganda Deportation Ordinance, which provide that if the Governor is satisfied by evidence on oath that any persons are conducting themselves so as to be dangerous to peace and good order in Uganda he may order the deportation of such persons either outside Uganda or to another part of the Protectorate, and their detention pending deportation. In view of the exceptional situation created last September by the murder of the Prime Minister of Buganda the Governor considered the use of these special powers to be unavoidable, and I agreed. The 14 men in question were accordingly detained. Two of them are to be deported outside Uganda and the remaining 12 from Buganda to another part of the Protectorate. I am not in a position to state what the period of the deportations will be, but all the cases will be reviewed regularly at intervals of three months.It was only with the greatest reluctance that the Governor recommended and I approved these drastic measures. As hon. Members are aware, a series of violent disturbances took place in Uganda at the beginning of the year and the Commissioner who investigated their causes stated that he was satisfied beyond doubt that the origins of the disturbances were political. They have been followed more recently by the murder of the Prime Minister to which I have already referred. The Governor has reported that the deportation of these 14 men is essential if further disturbance and violence is to be avoided. I have given the matter prolonged and anxious consideration and I am satisfied that the action being taken

—							Moslems.	Christians.	Others.
Population, Census 1922		…	…	…	…	…	589, 177	71,464	7,617
Population, 31.12.42		…	…	…	…	…	995,292	127,284	12,121
Total Increase	…	…	…	…	…	…	406,115	55,72O	5,504
Natural Increase	…	…	…	…	…	…	386,100	40,075	5,168
Increase due to alteration of boundary with Syria and Lebanon in 1923.							10,000	—	—
Increase by Migration		…	…	…	…	…	10,015	15,645	336

The number of Arabs is estimated to be 99·6 per cent. of Moslems, 83 per cent. of Christians and 90 per cent. of others.It is not possible to give the information desired in the remaining parts of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who is bearing the cost of the forces kept in Palestine to repress disorders and the cost of compensating persons who suffer loss from the disorders.

The cost of the police force in Palestine is in the first instance a charge on the revenues of the Government of Palestine. The cost of any military forces which may be in Palestine falls upon His Majesty's Government. As is necessary in the interests of peace and good order in Uganda and that if it is not taken the whole political structure of the Buganda State, as well as its peace and prosperity will be most seriously threatened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated number of Arabs, whether Moslems or Christians, who have immigrated into Palestine during; the period of the Mandate; what proportion is composed of Palestine-born Arabs returning after living for a period abroad; what proportion is persons really foreign to that country; and what proportion of the increase in population is due to natural fertility of the resident population.

The latest information available will be found in the Statistical Abstract of Palestine for 1943, from which the following tabular statement is taken: regards the last part of the Question, I am making inquiry of the Acting High Commissioner, but my hon. Friend is no doubt aware that damage in recent outrages in Palestine has been mainly to Government property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many immigrants to Palestine are known or estimated, respectively, to desire to re-emigrate.

No reliable estimate is available, but I understand that Jews who have indicated their wish to return to Europe do not exceed 5,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many immigrants into Palestine have been granted Palestinian nationality.

The number of persons to whom naturalisation certificates were delivered under the Palestinian Citizenship Order, 1925, between the years 1925 and 1942 inclusive is 83,494. The number of persons including wives and children who became Palestinian citizens through the naturalisation of their husbands or fathers or mothers between the years 1935 and 1942 inclusive is 120,936. I am asking the Acting High Commissioner for any later statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what proportion of immigrants into Palestine are engaged in agriculture.

I am asking the Officer administering the Government of Palestine for the latest available information and will communicate it to the hon. Member as soon as his reply is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the extent of the subsidy being paid annually to the sugar industry of Trinidad; whether any portion of this subsidy has been set aside for increasing the wages of the workers on the sugar estates; and whether any provisions regarding labour conditions on the estates have been attached to the grant of the subsidy.

The subsidy on sugar manufactured or grown in Trinidad takes the following form: (a) a guarantee of a price to the producer of $5·5 per ton of cane; (b) a contribution to manufacturers of $400,000 for depreciation on factory buildings, etc.; (c) a contribution to manufacturers of £400,000 towards the cost of interest on capital; (d) a bonus for the current year at the rate of $20 per acre actually planted, expenditure not to exceed $320,000 individual payment being scaled down, if necessary, to keep within that total.The subsidy under (

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what wages are being paid to the workers in the West Indies engaged in growing and processing sugar cane; and how do these wages compare with those paid to workers producing sugar-beet on the farms in this country and those employed in the beet-sugar factories.

As regards the first part of the Question, wages vary widely as between different West Indian Colonies and even within them according to the type of task undertaken. As complete and up-to-date statistics are not available, I am asking each Government concerned to report the present maximum and minimum wage for both field and factory workers in the sugar industry. When this information is received I will send it to my hon. Friend, together with similar figures in respect of this country, which I will obtain from my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the representation of Africans on the Legislative Council of Nyasaland is to be considered in the near future.

The machinery for securing representation of Africans by Africans on the Legislative Council of Nyasaland is already in process of being built up. Three African Provincial Councils have been established and have been very successful. The Councils are at present in session, and the Governor has informed them that an African Council for the whole Protectorate comprising representatives nominated by the Provincial Councils is to be established next year. It is hoped that as soon as practicable African representatives on the Legislative Council will be nominated from the members of the Protectorate African Council. At present one of the six unofficial members, the Bishop of Nyasaland, has the special responsibility among the unofficial of representing African interests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the attitude of the Ceylonese Tamils and Indian Tamils in Ceylon to the Sri Lanka Bill; and if he will consider making this Bill available to Members.

On the Third Reading of the Bill in the State Council of Ceylon, which was passed by a majority of 40 against seven, one Tamil member and two Indian members voted in opposition to the Bill. One Indian and two Tamil members voted in favour of it, and one Indian and two Tamil members were absent when the vote was taken. One Tamil member declined to vote. I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of the Ceylon Government Gazette of 18th December, 1944, which contains the text of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the name of the Commissioner he proposes to send to Malta; and will he ensure that the Commissioner will contact all sides of life in the island and not only Government House circles.

I am not yet able to announce the name of the Commissioner, tout I can certainly give an affirmative answer to the second part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether young men, now in the Services and shortly to be demobilised, can undertake preliminary studies in this country which will enable them to take up positions as planters on rubber and other Colonial plantations; and whether he intends to issue a booklet indicating the openings available for young men and women in the Colonies today, apart from the various official and semi-official Colonial services.

No special training has been arranged by His Majesty's Government with the specific object of enabling young Servicemen to take up positions as planters after demobilisation. A wide range of studies, however, which would be helpful to a young man intend- ing to take up such a position, is available under the educational schemes of the three Services and the further education and training scheme of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. As regards the second part of the Question, Colonial Government have either already published, or are in the process of publishing, demobilisation booklets containing information about resettlement for their own ex-Service personnel. For other men and women in the Services who are interested in careers in the Colonies outside Government service, my Department and the Trade and Information Offices maintained by a number of Colonial Governments in London can supply on application information about the openings available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the members of the West African Produce Control Board; what interests, commercial or agricultural, they represent; who made the appointments; and what remuneration they receive for their work.

The membership of the West African Produce Control Board is as follows:The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (ex-officio Chairman).The Head of the West African Department of the Colonial Office (ex-officio Vice-Chairman).The Head of the Production Department of the Colonial Office.Mr. John Cadbury, of Cadbury Bros. Ltd., cocoa and chocolate manufacturers.Mr. G. H. Findlay, C.M.G., lately Resident, Nigeria.Captain C. C. Lilley, O.B.E., lately District Commissioner, Gold Coast.Mr. H. B. Balmforth, M.C., Co-operative Wholesale Society.Mr. A. J. Findlay, C.M.G., lately Deputy Director of Agriculture, Nigeria.Mr. G. B. Spry, M.C., of Messrs. Frank Fehr and Company.Mr. E. C. Tansley, Marketing Director of the Board.Members of the Board are appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies; and the unofficial members are selected for their technical knowledge of the commercial problems involved in the Board's work or for their knowledge of the producers themselves. These members receive no remuneration for their work beyond such expenses as they are put to in attending the Board meetings.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to issue a certificate or any other form of recognition to blood donors for the service they have rendered to the community during the war.

Certificates of blood donation under the Emergency Blood Transfusion Service are issued to blood donors. I am considering whether any further recognition should be given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the estimated annual cost of the enforcement of the orders and regulations made by his Department.

The estimated cost of the salaries, including war bonus, of the staff engaged primarily in the enforcement of Board of Trade Orders and Regulations is £184,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will review the date for payment of compensation to owners whose property, built prior to 1914, was completely destroyed by enemy action, as hardship is being experienced by many of these owners whose sole income was derived from this property.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Penrith and Cockermouth (Lieut.-Colonel Dower) on 21st August. (Official Report, Vol. 413, c 450–1.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make on the conclusion of a monetary agreement between this country and Czechoslovakia.

A Monetary Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Czechoslovak Government was signed on 1st November. It provides a satisfactory mechanism of payments between the sterling area and Czechoslovakia, and will thus facilitate the resumption of Anglo-Czechoslovak trade. The text of the Agreement has been presented to Parliament and copies are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Information if he will supply a complete list of the surveys carried out by the Social Survey up to the end of October, 1945, including those in process of completion; and whether the pledge given by one of his predecessors, that Members of Parliament should have access to these survey reports still holds good.

I am sending my hon. Friend the list for which he asks. In reply to the second part of the Question, the answer is "Yes, Sir."

asked the Minister of Information whether he will make a statement on the future of television in this country; and when it is likely to be available for public use.

I am now taking steps to set up an Advisory Committee on Television on the lines recommended in the Hankey Report. Until this Committee is constituted and has taken stock of the position, it would be premature for me to make any statement on future television arrangements. Meantime the B.B.C. are getting together the necessary staff for the service.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether his Ministry has now collected all surplus blankets from rest centres and other depots; and what are his plans for their disposal.

Arrangements have been made with the Ministry of Works for the collection of surplus blankets from rest centres. Of the surpluses so far reported from these and other sources, over 90 per cent. have been dealt with and the collection of the remainder is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he is aware that Wireohms, Limited, of Nottingham, have been compelled, through lack of raw materials and partly processed materials, to refuse during the past three months export orders to a value of not less than £125,000 annually; and when the raw materials in question, particularly nickel-chrome wire and ribbon, refractories and mica, will be available in sufficient quantities to meet this firm's requirements.

:The firm in question is manufacturing electrical components and parts of domestic heaters and appliances for which there is at present a very great demand both in this country and abroad. The present abnormal demand has created a shortage in the materials used. Every effort is being made to secure the best distribution of available supplies and the question of what further measures can be taken to remedy the position is now being considered.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will state on what date additional spare parts for motor trade vehicles will be available.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins) on 5th November. [Official Report; Vol. 415, No. 31, c. 911.]

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish a statement showing the average weekly earnings of dockers in the United Kingdom during the last year.

The average weekly earnings inclusive of all overtime and Sunday work, attendance money and holiday pay of dockers in ports where dock labour schemes are in operation are as follows:—

	£	s.	d.
1944	7	19	0
1945 (1st Quarter)	8	1	2
1945 (2nd Quarter)	7	12	8
1945 (3rd Quarter)	6	15	9
Similar information is not available m respect of those few small ports in which there are no dock labour schemes.

asked the Minister of Labour the Government's policy directed to diminishing and/or eliminating unofficial strikes.

Unofficial strikes are due to a variety of causes, but they can best be avoided by the fullest possible use of the joint negotiating machinery of the industry. It is the Government policy to encourage the settlement of disputes by constitutional means and to support the employers' organisations and the trade unions in maintaining the authority of the established system of collective bargaining.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will consider the building of pack-walls on all long wall faces at short distances in the mines, so as to minimise the subsidence of the strata and thereby prevent the sterilisation of land for building purposes in mining areas.

The only effective means of minimising subsidence where there is total extraction of coal is by solid stowing as practised in certain conditions in some mines on the Continent. In general, however, the existing lay-out of British mines precludes the application of this method of stowing in this country.As regards the last part of the Question, the closest co-operation is maintained between my Department and the Ministry of Town and Country Planning and the other Departments concerned and also with the colliery companies with the object of ensuring that the maximum area of stable land for building purposes in mining areas is made available compatible with the least possible degree of sterilisation of coal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is satisfied that when the ban is lifted on private flying on 1st January ample supplies of aviation petrol will be available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Putney (Mr. Linstead).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what arrangements are being made to connect Heath Row airport with a London railway terminus; and what is the estimated cost.

The question of rail access to Heath Row is being examined. No estimate of the cost has yet been made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many British civil air attachés have aircraft for their personal use.

One civil air attaché has been provided with an aircraft for use in the performance of his official duties.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what fare or fares are charged by U.S. air lines operating to this country; and whether these fares have been agreed between His Majesty's Government and the U.S.A.

United States airlines are not yet operating regular services to this country. Arrangements for securing agreement on the appropriate fares for trans-Atlantic services are under discussion with the United States authorities.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will state the names and occupations of the members of the Independent Committee, referred to in his letter to the hon. and gallant Member for North Dorset, dated 25th October, for the area concerned.

The Committee, whose activities cover the whole of Great Britain, consists of Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve, Bart., M.C., T.D., K.C., Sir Garnet Wilson, Lord Provost of Dundee, and Mr. F. E. Drury, M.Sc., ex-Principal, L.C.C. School of Building.

asked the Minister of Works when the hon. and gallant Member for Canterbury may expect an answer to his letter of 1st October in reference to Mr. Keen's application to his Ministry in January 1945, to which no answer has been received.

A reply was sent to the hon. and gallant Member on 6th November and I have written to him explaining the circumstances in which an earlier reply was not given