asked the Minister of Works whether he will arrange for investigations to be made into the scheme for building houses, recently demonstrated at the H.Q. Military Government in Germany, where special concrete bricks are employed which can be assembled by unskilled labour in which it is possible to produce a two-family house costing less than £340 to build, complete with fittings

I have no official knowledge of this demonstration, but I am making inquiries through the Control Commission.

asked the Minister of Works what progress has been made respecting the grievances of bomb-repair workers and building operatives in the London area; and approximately, the amount of working time lost during the past three months for illness and for other causes

The settlement of these grievances is a matter for the industry itself. Negotiations on a claim by the operatives for an increase in the agreed rates of wages are at present taking place between the organisations of employers and operatives on the National Joint Council for the Building Industry. Information is not available as to the total amount of working time lost in London during the past three months.

Could the Minister say when, approximately, a conclusion will be reached in these negotiations, in view of the wastage of manpower that has already taken place?

No, but I am informed that the negotiations are being speeded up.

asked the Minister of Labour if, to prevent a hold up of the housing plans of the Government, he will make arrangements for suitable labour to be supplied to brick manufacturers on the North-East coast to enable closed brickyards to be reopened.

I am aware of the importance of the brick industry and every effort is being made to provide the labour which it needs. Arrangements have been made to encourage the return of brickyard workers from oher industries, and releases are also being made under Class B.

:Would the Minister also see that this applies to the whole of the country, as bricks are used all over the country, as well as in the North-East?

Sometimes they are dropped in this House, too, but the answer does apply to the whole of the country.

Is the Minister aware that the bricks made in the North are much better than the bricks made down here?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a comprehensive statement on the development and exploitation of oil fields in these islands, and whether geological surveys indicate that these can be substantially increased.

:As the answer has to be long and contains some figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will arrange for the existing electricity cable to the village of Weeting, Norfolk, to be used to supply the new council houses about to be erected and also other houses in the village pending some agreement with the Ministry of Labour who have some interest in this supply cable.

I understand that the East Anglian Electricity Supply Company are prepared to tap this electric cable to afford supplies to the houses referred to if satisfactory arrangements can be made with the War Office who are the owners of the line. I have taken the matter up with the War Office and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Is the Minister aware that the other houses in this Question are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works, and that the cable company sent a letter six months ago, and have had no reply?

I would like to see that question on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the peak load requirements in the country of electric power and the peak load supplies available.

It is estimated that the peak load on the national grid system during the coming winter will be between 8,500,000 and 9,000,000 kilowatts, according to weather conditions. The available output capacity of the generating; plant is not likely to exceed 8,600,000 kilowatts.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the peak load requirements in Scotland of electric power and the peak load supplies available.

It is estimated that the peak load on that portion of the national grid system which is in Scotland during the coming winter will be between 775,000 and 825,000 kilowatts according to weather conditions. The available output capacity of the generating plant is not likely to exceed 790,000 kilowatts. It should be observed, however, that the national grid system is operated as one unit over the whole country and it is not always possible, therefore, to treat separately supplies in Scotland.

Could the Minister tell us just what he means by "weather conditions"?

I should have thought that the term was quite familiar to every hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that electric power is supplied to R.A.F. stations and military establishments in remote rural areas, but that farms and dwelling-houses in such neighbourhoods are commonly without electricity; and if, as these establishments and camps become redundant, he will take steps to secure the electric plant and equipment that have been required hitherto for military purposes and use them for the speediest possible general electrification of the countryside

I agree that wherever practicable electric plant and equipment hitherto required for military purposes should be used for the development of rural supplies. It has been arranged that Service Departments will notify the Electricity Commissioners of any cases where the local undertaking concerned does not wish to take them over. The Commissioners do everything possible to promote the use of this equipment for civilian purposes.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a cottage in my constituency where the Air Force, greatly to the embarrassment of the inhabitants, have installed a red lamp actually on the roof—a red landing light—while inside the cottage the inhabitants still have only paraffin lamps? Will he use every endeavour to expedite this matter?

I should prefer to see particulars of that specific instance, so that I can bring it to the notice of the appropriate authorities.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will issue a ration of petrol to owners of private air craft after 1st January

I am considering whether the supply position will enable this to be done.

Would the Minister, if he is considering the question in relation to aircraft, also consider giving an increase in the allowance to members of the Forces who are returning to this country and who want to start up commercial travelling?

That question is quite different, and should be on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is in a position to make some increase in the present ration of kerosene for domestic use in rural areas, particularly in Scotland, where during the winter period, the present ration is proving inadequate for lighting purposes

I regret that the present supply position does not permit of an increase in the allocations of kerosene at present made to dealers. The position of persons solely dependent upon this fuel for essential domestic needs is, however, safeguarded by a scheme introduced in 1943, under which dealers give priority of supply to such consumers, up to the quantities authorised by my Department. The scales for consumers allowed under the scheme are adequate, and dealers are always enabled to meet the requirements of their priority customers. My Department has received virtually no complaints regarding the adequacy of the priority allocations during the last two years.

Are we to understand that consumers in rural areas are receiving no more in 1945 than they were receiving in 1943?

I did not say that. What I said was that we have had very few complaints about shortage.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a posi- tion to increase the allocation of coal to Northern Ireland where the supply granted is wholly inadequate to meet the ordinary needs of householders.

The allocation for Northern Ireland is agreed with the Northern Ireland Government, and is on a basis designed to secure equality of treatment between consumers there and in this country. The coal available to meet the allocation is shared as fairly as possible, and I regret that it is not possible to increase supplies at present. As output, improves, however, consumers in Northern Ireland will benefit along with consumers in this country.

Will the Minister have an investigation made into the coal problem facing householders in Ulster who are not getting their fair share?

I do not think it is worth while having an investigation into the matter, but if the hon. Gentleman brings specific instances of shortage and inequitable distribution, I will certainly do so.

Is the Minister aware that practically all the coke in the country has to be used to keep the Gibraltarians warm, and will he not make representations to the Secretary of State for the Colonies?

I would like to be certain about the facts before making any representations.

When considering this matter, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the far greater contribution made to the war effort by the citizens of Eire, and will he see that their needs are met?

The hon. Gentleman had better be sure of his facts.

We are endeavouring to allocate supplies to Eire—

Why?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether in view of the desire of a large number of miners and the increased efficiency and output which will result, he will authorise a five-day week to be operated in the pits which so wish it, allowing the week-end for the preparation of the pit for the next week's working.

The whole question of a five-day week is now being carefully examined by my Department in relation to the efficiency of the industry and the well-being of the workers.

When the Minister is going into this matter, will he take into consideration the saving in cost and thereby the reduction in price from which the consumer will benefit?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the 8,000,000 tons additional output of coal, for which he has asked in the six months beginning 1st November, is 8,000,000 tons more than was produced in the corresponding period of 1944 and 1945; and, if not, what is the quantity on which the increase asked for is based

The 8,000,000 ton target is additional to the estimate of 87,000,000 tons for the six months November, 1945, to April, 1946, which was made at the beginning of the coal year.

In future when the Minister is making these communications to the public will he be more explicit and more honest—

Order.

I have tried to give the public as much information as I could in the circumstances, and, of course, as the hon. Gentleman knows, if any hon. Member wants information I am only too glad to furnish it.

Can the Minister tell us what is the response to his appeal?

We began the campaign only last week, at the beginning of November, and it is too early to judge—I am hoping for the best—but I would remind hon. Members that I am operating with dwindling manpower. The manpower this time last year was 714,000. At present it is 699,000. In spite of the dwindling manpower, there has been a slight increase in output.

Is it not also a fact that there has been an appreciable decline in the output per manshift?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is wrong. In fact, there has been an appreciable increase in the output per manshift.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is the appreciable increase?

Yes, I would be glad to do so, as hon. Members are rightly interested in this matter. The increase in output per manshift has gone up in the last six weeks from 1·01 to 1·03.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the quota of Class B releases allotted to his Ministry has not been completely filled by coalminers in the Forces accepting Class B release.

The Service Departments are in process of offering release in Class B to all ex-underground workers for whom productive work is known to be immediately available, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service with a view to expediting this process.

Would the Minister please answer the Question, and say whether this quota has been fully taken up or not?

So far as is practicable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now restore the prewar practice of issuing out put figures and other key statistics at weekly intervals instead of monthly intervals, in view of the fact that such announcements were made weekly in the "Board of Trade Journal" before the war

The weekly figures issued before the war were in the nature of commercial intelligence which is not required in existing circumstances. In view of the inevitable fluctuations in short periods, I consider that the publication of these figures at weekly intervals would be misleading.

Is it not a fact that these figures are available in the Ministry and that they could be disseminated with very little trouble? In view of the great desire in the country for this information, ought it not to be given?

For the reason that I have given, it is undesirable. The figures are misleading if given from week to week. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] For the reason I have given, it is undesirable, and when hon. Members see the monthly figures which are now being presented, they will see that an accurate picture is given of all the facts relating to the work of the Department.

Does the Minister wish to make comparisons with prewar years as difficult as possible?

Not at all. There is no reason why we should make these comparisons unless they are related to output and are of some value.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give favourable consideration to the claims for early release of volunteer members of His Majesty's Forces from Northern Ireland who joined for the duration of the war.

I would refer the hon.Member to the reply I gave hime to a similiar Questions on 10th October

:Does not the Minister recongnise that these men were volunteers for the duration of the war and that, the war being over, they should receive special consideration?

No.

If the hon. Gentleman would be good enough to look at the reply to which I have referred him, he will see that these men are given exceptional facilities, equal to those of other men in a similar class in this country.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman grant release in cases where there is a recommendation for release from the appropriate Department of the Northern Ireland Government, who are in closer touch with the situation than is the right hon. Gentleman's own Department?

That is rather another question, but I may say that I have had contact with the Department in Northern Ireland, and that, where we can, we have co-operated with each other.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will agree to extend the Class B release scheme to include articled law students, many of whom are external students of universities and desire to continue their studies

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the desirability of releasing articled clerks and other professional students whose course of training has been interrupted by the war and who are now urgently wanted by their employers for work of national importance

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge-Bourke) on 23rd October, a copy of which I am sending them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the impending shortage of planners, architects and assistants required for the new housing drive and the long training necessary for this profession, he will consider re leasing students of the Royal Institute of British Architects who have already qualified in their intermediate examinations on equal terms with those holding arts scholarships.

No, Sir. The special arrangements for the release of certain art students were based upon the immediate need in the national interest of reviving arts courses at universities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in answer to a question, he said that one architect was necessary for every 150 operatives, and that there are not enough architects to satisfy that proportion? Will he look into the matter and release enough of them to do the job?

That is rather another question, but I am glad to be able to assure the hon. Member that we are keenly aware of the problem, and that in various ways we have done what we can to meet the position.

Not much.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that while Class B provides for the release of students who, before joining the Forces, had not graduated and also of fully trained teachers, it does not provide for the intermediate class, namely, students who had graduated but had not completed the year at training college which is compulsory in a teacher's training; and if he will take steps to apply Class B to the last-mentioned class.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education on 8th November to the hon. Member for S.W. St. Pancras (Mr. H. Davies), a copy of which I am sending him.

In view of the shortage of teachers does not the Minister of Labour think that something should be done to speed up their discharge?

My hon. Friend is asking me for an expression of opinion. [An HON. MEMBER: "Have you got one?"] I am not going to give it.

asked the Minister of Labour why it is that the time served by a man who was directed to, and served in, the Air Ministry from July, 1940, until he was commissioned in the R.A.F. in1942 does not count in determining his release group and as a result his release is delayed; and if he will take steps to rectify this

Periods in civilian employment before enlistment in the Armed Forces do not count in determining the order of release from the Forces.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make any statement about the release of volunteers from South and Central American countries who have been serving in His Majesty's Forces and who are required in South and Central America to further our trade interests in those countries.

Volunteers from South and Central America will in general be released, like other members of the Armed Forces, in order of age and length of service. If, however, a particular individual is a key specialist urgently required to further our trade interests in those countries, it is open to his employer, or, if he is in business on his own account, to the man himself, to apply through the appropriate Government Department in this country, for his release as an individual specialist in Class B.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he can tell us who would be the appropriate person to whom an employer, who would be living in South America, should apply? Would it be the Ambassador or a particular Department in this country? That is what I wanted to get at.

I was not clear that that was what the hon. and gallant Member meant.

I asked the Question three weeks ago.

There seems to have been a mistake, and if the hon. and gallant Member will be good enough to have a word with me I will try to straighten matters out.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is yet in a position to announce the findings of the Committee set up during the first half of this year to consider the abolition of the marriage bar in the Civil Service

No, Sir; but I have asked the Committee to hasten its report.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in connection with the special examination for the reconstruction competition for recruitment to the clerical classes of the Civil Service available to ex-Regular soldiers with over 12 years' Colour service, and in possession of a first-class Army certificate of education, he will consider applications from men who are only able to obtain a second-class certificate of education, in view of the fact that during the war examinations to obtain the certificate have not been held; since otherwise it will be impossible for the great majority of ex-Regular soldiers to take advantage of this concession

I realise that during the war it has not been possible for the great majority of Regular soldiers to obtain either the first-class or the second-class certificate of education. But intending candidates for the Civil Service clerical competition can take the Forces Preliminary examination which is now being held, and a pass in that will be accepted as showing the necessary educational standard.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if conscientious objectors will enjoy the same opportunities of obtaining posts in the Civil Service as serving soldiers during the immediate post war period

Conscientious objectors will, if otherwise eligible, be able to compete in the Civil Service reconstruction examinations. Unless they have served in the Armed Forces, the corresponding Women's Services, the Merchant Navy or the Mercantile Marine, however, they will not, of course, be eligible for places in the minimum quotas of vacancies which are reserved for members of those Services.

Will the hon. Gentleman explain what all that means? Will he say whether or not a conscientious objector, who has done nothing whatever to help us to win the war, is to be treated in the same way as an ex-soldier?

I think my answer was quite plain. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read it in Hansard tomorrow, and then if he still finds difficulty in discovering what the situation is, and will see me, I will do everything I can to enlighten him.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his answer will give considerable satisfaction as an expression of the fairmindedness of the Government towards this much maligned group of men?