asked the Minister of War Transport how many toll bridges have been freed since the powers of compulsory purchase were given in the Road Traffic Act, 1930; how many still remain to be freed; what are his plans for expediting the freeing of all remaining toll bridges in the country; and what arrangements in particular are being made about the freeing of Whitchurch toll bridge.

Since the Road Traffic Act, 1930, came into operation 33 toll bridges have been freed. Fifty-nine toll bridges remain, and' I am prepared to consider for grant any application from a highway authority which has as its object the freeing of a toll bridge. As far as Whitchurch toll bridge is concerned a letter was sent to the Berkshire County Council on 28th February, 1945, asking for certain information and I await a reply.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will consider erecting a Bailey bridge over the river Severn at the Aust-Beachley position pending the erection of the permanent one contemplated.

A Bailey bridge across the Severn Estuary would necessarily consist of a number of short spans. It would not be a suitable form of construction on account of the strong currents and the necessity of providing for navigation.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is prepared to adopt the system prevailing in most parts of the world by allowing motor cars to be parked without lamps after dark in well-lighted streets.

I understand that foreign practice varies. During foggy periods at night it is essential that vehicles should be lighted. At other times the side lights are a useful indication to other traffic of the presence of standing vehicles

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will consult with county and rural authorities with a view to encouraging, in the interests of road safety, the use of centre glass reflecting studs in rural areas.

Highway authorities generally are already well aware of the value of reflecting studs to mark the centre of roads in country areas, and have used them on many miles of roads.

asked the Minister of War Transport what agreement he has come to with the West Riding County Council with regard to making temporary arrangements at the bridge at Otley, to ensure the immediate safety of all users of this old bridge.

I have asked the county council to erect light signals to control shuttlecock working of traffic over this bridge. This will result in alternate movement of traffic in each direction and will increase the safety of all road users.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he has formulated any policy as to the future of the Merchant Navy; and whether he will make a statement on the whole matter.

So far as conditions of employment in the Merchant Navy are concerned, responsibility rests with the National Maritime Board, which is fully representative of the shipowners, officers and men. I may add that conditions of employment at sea are being considered at the Maritime Preparatory Technical Conference under the auspices of the International Labour Organisation now in session at Copenhagen, at which H.M. Government and British interests are represented.

asked the Minister of War Transport the names of the members of the National Maritime Board who are considering the revision of the 1937 standards of comfort and hygiene in ships' quarters; when their report will be published; and whether its findings will affect all ships in commission or only new ones and those in the process of construction.

I am sending my hon. Friend a list of the numbers of the Committee which is considering this matter. Crew accommodation must comply with the requirements of my Department, and no doubt the Committee as soon as it has reached a suitable stage in its work will confer with the Department which, in addition to securing advances in practice during the war, has already given much thought to the requirements which should be applied after the war. 'I hope that such a conference will lead to an agreement as to the postwar requirements applicable to new ships and as to the extent to which these should be applied to existing ships.

asked the Minister of War Transport what is the present tanker tonnage of this country; and whether he has any figures giving the present tanker tonnage of Norway.

At 31st October there were 411 tankers of 2,500 d.w.t. and over, amounting to nearly 4.2 million deadweight tons under the British flag. At the same day, Norway had 163 tankers of 2,500 d.w.t. and over, amounting to nearly 2.1 millions deadweight tons.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware that the liner "Empress of Scotland" arrived in India recently with 5,000 Service personnel on board and returned to the United Kingdom with less than a quarter of that number of Service personnel; and why this was allowed when Servicemen in India are being denied their disembarkation leave and want of shipping space is given as one of the reasons for the slowness of demobilisation.

My hon. Friend appears to have been misinformed. The ship on her last arrival in India disembarked 3,810 passengers and not 5,000. On leaving Bombay she embarked 3,943, and eventually arrived in this country with 4,212 on board, as the result of further embarkations in the Middle East.

asked the Minister of War Transport if any discussions have yet taken place with the U.S.A. and other principal maritime Powers on the question of shipping quotas and other questions of postwar policy; or whether steps are being taken to formulate a British policy before the next meeting of the United Maritime Authority.

Every opportunity is taken for informal exchanges of view with the U.S.A. and other principal maritime powers on questions concerning shipping policy after the termination of the U.M.A. period. No discussion has taken place in this connection on shipping quotas. I do not consider that the establishment by inter-governmental agreement of quotas for each flag could be consistent with the aim of providing efficient and economical shipping services for the benefit of all nations. In reply to the last part of the Question, I can assure my hon. Friend that I am actively preparing for the next meeting of the United Maritime Authority.

asked the Minister of War Transport what steps are being taken to implement the recommendations of the Graham White Committee on Seamen's Welfare in Ports.

In co-operation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, I have begun discussions on the recommendations of this Committee with the various organisations immediately concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made to enable those ex-Servicemen who wish to take up smallholdings to rent them at a reasonable rent and to receive long-term capital assistance at interest rates that make the working of the holdings economic.

Rents for county council smallholdings are based on a full fair rental having regard to the character of the holding, while the capital equipment of such holdings is provided by the county council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many ex-Servicemen are being trained in agriculture in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Fourteen, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many Class B releases have been submitted to the W.A.E.C. in the West Riding of Yorkshire; how many have been forwarded by W.A.E.C.s; and how many have been granted.

Two hundred and fifteen applications for Class B release had been received by the Yorkshire (West Riding) War Agricultural Executive Committee up to 22nd November. Fifty-six of these cases were supported by the Committee, and 15 were recommended by my Department to the appropriate authorities, who have approved release in 10 cases. Decisions in the remaining five cases are outstanding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of the conifer plantations of the Forestry Commission were between 10 and'20 years old in September, 1939; and how many acres of these woods in these age classes have been clear felled between September, 1939, and September, 1945.

The area of conifer plantations owned by the Forestry Commission which were between 10 and 20 years old in September, 1939, was 133,098 acres. Of this, 2,132 acres were clear felled between September, 1939, and September, 1945.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will issue instructions to W.A.E.C.s to ensure that farmers, when threshing, make tailings and husks available to poultry keepers, and especially to poultry keepers' clubs.

No, Sir. While feeding stuffs remain in short supply, farmers would normally need their tailings for their own stock. Any tailings or screenings which the grower does not need himself may only be sold to an approved buyer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consult with the Minister of-Information with a view to arranging for a short film to be made and exhibited showing the suffering and loss which arise from sheep-worrying, with the object of inducing the urban owners of dogs to keep them under strict supervision and control when visiting the countryside.

I am in sympathy with the object of the hon. Member's suggestion, and will gladly consult my right hon. Friend. I will then communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the present shortage of combine harvesters and the potential shortage of supplies in 1946 and 1947, he will endeavour to give ever assistance to British manufacturers t develop their manufacture.

Yes, Sir. It is expected that an appreciable proportion of the supplies available in 1946 will be of British manufacture and that this proportion will be increased in 1947.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now able to state what numbers of motor fishing vessels are likely to be released by the Admiralty for use by fishermen; and when the first of these boats is expected to be available.

I am afraid that I cannot add anything to the replies given to the hon. Member and to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) by the First Lord of the Admiralty on 14th November last. The whole question of the availability of these vessels is under the closest discussion between the Fisheries Departments and the Admiralty, and a further meeting has been arranged for this week.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what facilities are available for the repair and reconditioning of fishing vessels in the Port of Lowestoft; and what immediate steps are contemplated for an extension of these urgently needed facilities.

The following facilities are available for the repair and re-conditioning of fishing vessels at the Port of Lowestoft: one dry dock, 250 feet in length; two slipways, each capable of accommodating one steel vessel up to 75 feet in length, or a wooden vessel up to 85 feet; one slipway, capable of accommodating steel vessels up to 90 feet in length. This slipway, however, is undergoing repairs, which will take six weeks to complete. All these facilities are owned by the London and North-Eastern Railway, and the Admiralty contemplate no extension of them.

Part of the repair capacity is at present taken up by the maintenance of naval minesweepers engaged on mine clearance which is of prime urgency. I am, however, examining the practicability of removing some of this work elsewhere to facilitate the conversion of fishing vessels.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he is making provision so that the many types of paint and brushes everywhere required will be available for the use of both private persons as well as contractors by next spring.

I have been asked to reply. I have every hope that there will be adequate supplies next spring of paint and brushes for the uses in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total floor-space, in footage, of the film studios in Great Britain; what percentage of this was requisitioned and occupied by His Majesty's Government during the war; how much has since been released; and how much of the original footage he estimates will be in the free possession of the studios by 31st March, 1946.

The total floor space of the film studios in Great Britain has never been officially recorded, but the requisitioned proportion of the available prewar stage space is estimated to have been roughly one-half. About 40 per cent, of this requisitioned space has now been cleared and restored to the studio owners. By the end of March, I expect that over 98 per cent, of this space will have been restored to the industry as well as much the greater part of the Amalgamated Studios at Elstree, which were never used for film production before the war and had been let on long lease to the Ministry of Works for other purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps, in view of the currency situation, he proposes to take either to restrict the importation of American made films into Great Britain or to increase the importation of British made films in the U.S.A.

I would refer the hon. Member to the speech of my hon. Friend the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department in the Debate on the Motion for the Adjournment on 16th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to augment the quantity and quality of boots and shoes available for children of school age; and whether he will abolish coupons for these articles.

The production of girls' shoes in October was 1,199,728, as against 990,086; and of boys' 904,267, as against 785,607. Production is now running at an annual rate equivalent to 93 per cent, of the 1935 figure for girls' shoes and 118 per cent, for boys'. Even with the ration at its present rate, supplies are still below effective demand, and I am doing all I can to secure a still further increase in production of children's footwear. Special arrangements exist for reserving good quality leather for children's footwear, and on the average, the quality of children's shoes is now slightly better than it was before the war. No class of footwear can be removed from the ration until supplies are adequate to meet a free demand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is proposing to take, by the introduction of new industries or otherwise, to secure full employment in the borough of Widnes, the county borough of St. Helens and generally in South Lancashire.

My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that a number of important Government owned factories were built in the South Lancashire area during the war. We are taking active steps to allocate these factories to provide employment in the district. In addition, South Lancashire is one of the areas in which we are granting immediate facilities for new factory construction, and by the end of October, 1945, six new schemes, including one involving an expenditure of£222,000, had been approved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the names of the principal firms engaged in the manufacture of adaptors for utility wireless sets, together with estimates of their expected weekly output on 1st January, 1946.

The Radio Industry Council have recommended that the manufacturers of the wartime civilian receivers should modify these receivers where necessary. There should be no difficulty for those who want their sets modified to get this done through retailers. A separate adaptor unit is being produced by one firm, about which I have sent particulars to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the unfair position in which retail traders are placed by lack of protection against short weight in goods received from suppliers; and will he take steps to secure amendments of the Sale of Food (Weights and Measures) Act, 1926, with the object of bringing all wholesale transactions within the scope of that Act.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on 5th November to my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham, North (Mr. Daines). When a general inquiry is possible, I will include consideration of the wholesale supply of food.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consult with the representatives of the wholesale model houses how best export trade can be developed before taking any step which may hinder rather than help the development of the export of model gowns and high-grade piece goods

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the scheme I announced last Monday for imposing maximum prices on women's non-utility outer-wear. The scheme applies only to goods sold in this country, and does not affect the prices of garments or cloth for export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the price controls operated by his Board have in many cases resulted in increasing the manufacturing efficiency of the industries concerned; and whether he proposes to encourage increased efficiency in distribution by reducing the profit margins allowed to wholesalers and retailers, particularly the former.

Price control may have operated to increase manufacturing efficiency in some cases. The gross profit margins allowed to wholesalers and retailers are also some incentive to efficiency. These margins will be kept under constant review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will rescind the regulations controlling paper, in view of the anomalous position which has arisen over sending out a diary, particulars of which have been sent him.

The Control of Paper (No. 70) (Economy) Order, 1945, which came into operation on 19th November, permits the gratuitous distribution of advertising diaries up to 20 per cent, of prewar.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is his policy to ensure the possession by the business community of an adequate supply of motorcars in good condition as an essential factor in the revival of trade and industry and the promotion of exports.

The Government are desirous that the business community should have an adequate supply of motorcars as soon as these can be made available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what principles export licences are granted for certain countries and refused in the case of other countries; and, in particular, for what reason export licences are being refused for Switzerland.

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Altrincham (Colonel Erroll) on 5th November, it is in general the practice, where goods can be made available for export, to leave exporters to distribute them over the markets most likely to prove of long-term value. Where, however, only a limited quantity of a particular class of goods is available, it is sometimes necessary to give preference to the essential requirements of Empire and allied countries dependent on us.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that producers of cosmetics for export arc having to refuse orders owing to their inability to obtain glass jars and that, as a result, these markets arc being lost to American competition; and whether he will permit the glass manufacturers to release sufficient glass jars to the manufacturers of cosmetics to enable them to retain their overseas markets.

Yes, Sir. As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Bucklow (Lieutenant W. Shepherd) on 19th November, everything possible is being done to increase the labour force in the glass bottle industry so that more containers can be made available for export industries and other essential purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement as to the reason for the further increase in the price of pipe tobacco.

The recent rise in prices affects only certain brands of pipe tobacco made by the Imperial Tobacco Company. The company informed me in advance of their intention to make these increases, which are due to an increase in their working costs and particularly in the cost of the grades of leaf tobacco used in these particular brands

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the fact that producers of lactose in this country, who were encouraged to erect plant to double their output to assist in the manufacture of penicillin, now find their product not required for this purpose but are unable to dispose of it elsewhere, he will limit the importation of this material in order that the home producers may have a chance to dispose of their output.

No lactose is being imported for the present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the estimate of private and commercial vehicles, respectively, to be exported to U.S.A., South America, Europe, Russia, China, the Dominions, India and the Colonial Empire, respectively, during 1946.

It is not the intention to direct manufacturers' supplies to particular markets. The aim is an overall export of 33! per cent, for commercial vehicles and 50 per cent, for private cars. The figures of exports which this will give will depend upon the level to which the manufacturers can increase their production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the number of ex-Service men and women returning to civil life with lump-sum gratuities and bearing in mind the loss suffered by such people after the last war through being induced to invest in fraudulent or unprofitable businesses, he will take powers to control by licence or registration persons carrying on business as transfer agents, business brokers, partnership agents and similar enterprises.

The Service Departments and the Ministry of Labour and National Service take all possible steps to bring before ex-Servicemen the dangers referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. While anxious that there should be proper safeguards, I do not think it is practicable or necessary to create for this purpose, in addition to the existing precautions and legal remedies, a special statutory scheme of restrictive control of the kind suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why no progress is being made in converting Brynllwyd factory, Bangor, Caernarvonshire, to peacetime production; and what he proposes to do in the matter.

This factory has been allocated to British Electric Meters for the production of household electric meters. Preparations to provide for the natural lighting of the factory revealed that the existing roof is inadequate to carry the necessary glazing, and suitable structural alterations are at present being arranged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that persons who have married during the war and are living with friends or relatives can get no bed linen unless they get houses of their own; and what action such persons are to take in view of the impossibility in most cases of getting houses.

Married couples occupying furnished rooms in the houses of relatives or others who cannot provide them with bed linen are eligible for priority dockets. Dockets cannot be given, however, in cases where they can, for the time being, have the use of bed linen belonging to the household.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will instruct the Assistance Board to give greater consideration and deal more generously with applicants for blankets and sheets, particularly where there is a growing family of children.

:Parents who have to provide an extra bed for a growing child are eligible for priority dockets for bedding, if they cannot otherwise equip the extra bed. Until supplies improve, more people cannot be brought into the priority scheme; nor can exceptional help be given to those who already qualify for dockets, though I am always prepared to look into cases of exceptional hardship.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the continued shortage of cigarettes on the North-East coast; and, in view of the approach of the festive season, what steps he proposes to take to remedy the shortage.

I am not aware that cigarettes are in less plentiful supply on the North-East coast than elsewhere. If my hon. Friend will be good enough to send me particulars of any particular district he has in mind I will have inquiries made into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has not supported the claims for priority of release for key men in the various paper-making industries located around Maidstone whose absence is causing contracts that otherwise would come to Britain to go to other countries.

Claims for the release of individual specialists in Class B can be supported only when the posts which the men are to occupy can be regarded as key posts. It has been necessary to restrict the number of releases which can be authorised in Class B and it would not be possible to make an exception in favour of the local industries referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Government factory at Sevenhampton, near Swindon, is likely to be reopened for production, thereby giving employment in the district.

Negotiations to continue production in one or more of the Government factories at Swindon are at an advanced stage and an announcement will be made in the very near future. It may, however, be necessary to retain the factory at Sevenhampton for storage—at any rate for the time being.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the continued delay in dealing with applications for licences under the Location of Retail Businesses Order, he will arrange to set up local committees to relieve the pressure on the existing regional offices.

No, Sir. The licensing system under the Location of Retail Businesses Order is administered on my behalf, in the London area by the Local Retail Licensing Committee, and in the provinces by the Local Price Regulation Committees. Delay in dealing with applications for licences is due mainly to the shortage of trained staff assisting these committees. Committee staffs have already been strengthened and further additions to their numbers are being made as quickly as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to send to Germany a delegation of British woolcombers to find out the state of the woolcombing machinery there; and is he aware that an American delegation returned some months ago and published a report which covers the factories in the British zone.

Yes, Sir. Arrangements for sending a team from the Woolcombers Federation to investigate German machinery are well advanced. I am aware that an American textile delegation visited certain plants in the British zone in August. A limited number of copies of the report on their investigation has been transmitted to His Majesty's Government and one may be seen at the Board of Trade. Its contents will be made available to industry as a whole under the general arrangements for the dissemination of technical information from Germany, as stated in the reply given the hon. Member for Bury (Mr. W. Fletcher) on 14th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state broadly the principles of the prewar laws for protecting the French film industry from undue foreign competition; and will he consider how to adapt similar legislation in the interests of this country.

Apart from a provision that foreign films must be "dubbed" in the French language if they were shown in more than a small number of theatres, the broad principle of the prewar French film legislation was to restrict the number of films allowed to be imported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the position in regard to supplies of cane for chair and basket making; and whether he will take steps to increase supplies in order to help blind persons engaged in that trade.

Supply of cane from the Far East has been impossible during the Pacific war and is unlikely to return to normal for some time. Alternative sources of supply in India and West Africa have been utilised but, until supplies- again become available from the Far East, shortage is likely to continue. My Department is in close touch with the trade, including that section representing blind workers, and is doing its best to assist in this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the film executives now working in British studios are American nationals.

To the best of my knowledge, at the present time one American national has general control of the arrangements for making a film in a British studio and some six or seven American film technicians are working in British studios in less responsible capacities.

the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to meet the compensation claims lodged with his Department by British subjects formerly in business on the Continent and who lost a part or the whole of their possessions through enemy seizure.

The nature of the loss has varied from place to place, and according to the different kinds of property. Information on the subject is still incomplete. No precise statement can therefore be made as to the treatment of compensation claims but, generally speaking, the attention of the Governments now concerned has been drawn to the classes of claims which have come to our notice, and their co-operation has been sought to safeguard British interests and to secure compensation for loss at least on the same basis as their own nationals. Claims arising in the enemy countries themselves cannot be settled in advance of a general Peace Settlement.

asked the Minister of Food under what statutory authority and by whom compulsory pasteurisation is brought into operation in any area; and what are the basic principles deciding the making of such an order.

I would refer the hon. Member to Defence Regulation 55G and paragraphs 26 to 28 of Command Paper Cmd. 6454, "Measures to Improve the Quality of the Nation's Milk Supply." Pasteurisation of milk is not at present compulsory in any area.

asked the Minister of Food what stocks of animal feeding-stuff are at present available in Lancashire.

I regret that the information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the present shortage of salt in North Lincolnshire at this pig-killing time; and if he will take immediate steps to increase the supply.

Yes, Sir; steps are being taken to improve the supply as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of operatives in all categories engaged in the cotton industry in June, 1938, June, 1945, and the number employed at the moment.

I have been asked to reply. The numbers of operatives in employment on cotton spinning and weaving are estimated as follows: June, 1938, 260,300; June, 1945, 202,000; September, 1945, 203,800. The figures relate to men aged 14 to 64, and women aged 14 to 59.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the shortage of blacksmiths in rural areas; of the detrimental effect of this shortage on agricultural production; and what steps are being taken to remedy it.

I am aware of the need for increasing the number of blacksmiths in rural areas. As a step towards meeting this need, my Department is in consultation with other Government Departments, the Rural Industries Bureau, and representatives of the industrial interests concerned with the object of initiating a vocational training scheme. A technical committee is now working out the details. I am also hopeful that the position will improve as suitable men are released from the Forces and the munitions industries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what period of service chaplains of the Indian ecclesiastical establishment arc expected to perform in India before being granted home leave.

Chaplains do not have to serve for any specified period before being able to take home leave. Owing to the complete stoppage of home leave from India in the early years of war and the resultant accumulation of chaplains who had been without such leave for many years, it is impossible to apply normal leave arrangements at the present time. Every effort is, however, being made to speed up the grant of home leave, but the number of chaplains who can be spared at any one time is limited, and passage accommodation for civilians is still scarce.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India when it is intended to pay the war gratuity to Major Forbes-Leith and other Indian Army officers discharged last year; and whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused by the delay.

Payment of war gratuities to personnel discharged prior to the commencement of the release scheme was authorised to commence on the 1st September, 1945, and the work is proceeding with all possible speed. I much regret any inconvenience which may have been caused by delay in payment. In the case of Major Forbes-Leith, payment of war gratuity will be made by the authorities in India, as the officer is resident in that country and I am communicating with them on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that Indian civil government officials who are in this country for the first time for eight or nine years and have no home in Great Britain are being asked to return to India without their wives and families; what are the circumstances which require this family separation; and when will families be permitted to travel to India.

As a result of the acute shortage of passage accommodation over a long period, large numbers of wives in this country who have for years been separated from their husbands in India are waiting to return to India. A committee has for some time past been established in India to examine applications for passages, and list them in order of priority on grounds of hardship. Passages are allocated in turn to those on the list. Officers granted leave out of India who propose to bring their families with them to this country are warned that their families cannot be provided with return passages so long as families long separated and recommended for passages to India on grounds of hardship are still waiting. These officers may and should apply to the committee in India to have their families included in the "hardship list" and when this has been done they are granted passages in their turn, as opportunity occurs. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that this separation of families is much regretted; but while passage accommodation remains so scarce, the necessity so to arrange matters as to ensure fair treatment for all unfortunately results in disappointment for some.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India under what circumstances "Searchlight," of Patna, the Indian National Congress daily, of Bihar, was asked on 7th November, 1945, to deposit a security of Rs.2,000 under the Press (Emergency Powers) Act; why the Press (Emergency Powers) Act is being continued in India today when hostilities are over; and will he take immediate steps to abolish this Act which is constantly hampering the Indian Press from performing its legitimate function of free expression of opinion.

I am informed that the Government of Bihar took the action referred to under the provisions of Section 3 of the Press (Emergency Powers) Act, 1931. I am not aware of the published matter which caused the Provincial authorities to take action, but I am asking the Government of India for further information. The Press (Emergency Powers) Act is not a wartime measure but an enactment passed by the Indian Legislature in 1931, and its abolition would be a matter for the consideration of the Legislature.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the incident at Barrackpore on Wednesday, 14th November, when members of the W.A.C. of India were turned out of a military dance owing to a protest made by members of the W.T.S.; who was responsible for this insult; whether disciplinary action has been taken; and whether he will make clear to all serving personnel in India that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated by His Majesty's Government.

I have asked the Government of India for a report on this incident and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend when I receive a reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that there are British officers serving in the Indian Army who have not had home leave for over six and a half years; and whether steps are being taken to arrange passages for these officers.

I regret that because of the complete stoppage of home leave from India in the early years of war and the resultant accumulation of British officers of the Indian Army who had been without home leave for many years, there are still a number of officers in India who for 61 years have not enjoyed such leave. The difficulty in clearing off the accumulation quickly consists mainly in the impossibility of allowing too many trained officers to be absent from the Indian Army simultaneously, but both the Commander-in-Chief and the Government of India are fully alive to the necessity of allowing these, officers home leave at the earliest possible moment, and a considerable number of such officers are in fact being sent home each month.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma whether a Burma relief fund is being opened on the lines of the Far Eastern relief fund to make grants to persons who have suffered as a result of the Japanese occupation.

The Far Eastern Relief Fund which was set up in 1942 to assist persons in distress as the result of the occupation by the Japanese of Far Eastern territories generally including Burma, makes grants in respect of persons who have suffered as a result of the enemy's occupation of Burma. It is, therefore, not proposed to set up a separate fund.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma what steps he is taking to ensure that the Burmese people are represented on the Inter-Allied Far East Control Commission.

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to the Far Eastern Advisory Commission. Burma will be represented on this Commission by the United Kingdom's representative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma whether it is intended, as demanded by the Burmese political parties, to list as war criminals those members of the Japanese army and police who killed or committed other atrocities against Burmese patriots.

Yes, Sir. The matter has been under active consideration for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that censorship in this country was abolished several weeks ago, for what reason it is still ruled that Scottish private legislation has to be submitted to censorship at the Ministry of Information before publication; and whether steps will be taken to abolish this censorship forthwith.

A General Order made in November, 1942, by the two Chairmen and the Secretary of State under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1936, requires the submission to the Minister of Information, 21 days before the normal date of publication, of all notices relating to proposed provisional orders under the Act. The General Order, which is in similar terms to a Sessional Order made by this House during the war period, will cease to have effect in February next on the expiry of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939. As no further notices of the kind affected by the General Order can be given before that date, the Order has in practice already ceased to operate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when a Return will be published showing the number of electors on the register now in force for each of the Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland.

A Return giving the desired particulars will be published as soon as the information is available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that letters and papers posted in August to men of the Fleet in the Far East were delivered in the last week in October; what is the reason for this delay in transit of mails to His Majesty's ships; and what steps he is taking to improve this matter.

I am not aware of any general complaint of undue delay in the delivery of mails to His Majesty's Ships in the Far East. If the hon. and gallant Member knows of any specific cases, and will let me have details, I shall be glad to have them investigated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that conditions in the camp known as H.M.S. "Roseneath" are unsatisfactory due to overcrowding; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs.

Yes, sir. As stated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on Wednesday last in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Baldwin) a Combined Operations Depot was transferred from Southend to Rosneath to make available the residential and hotel property in which it was accommodated. This transfer coincided with a speed-up of the flow of men for demobilisation, and caused a temporary slowing-up of the rate of releases, which in turn caused the overcrowding. The machinery is now working smoothly again, and the accumulation is being rapidly reduced. With a view to giving further relief, I cm hoping shortly to make available additional accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now able to report on his negotiations with the Chinese Government concerning the employees of the Shanghai Municipal Council.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the hon. and gallant Member for Hornsey (Captain Gammans) on 31st October and to the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth, South (Sir J. Lucas), on 20th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have been informed of the intention of the Government of U.S.A. to send an educative and training mission to China; and whether His Majesty's Government were invited to participate.

No, Sir, His Majesty's Government have heard of no proposal for an educational and training mission to be sent by the Government of the United States to China. I understand, however, that the Chinese Government have asked the United States to send them a military mission. I believe that no decision to send such a mission has yet been made and, in any case, His Majesty's Government have not been invited to take part.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if he is aware that a large number of motor cars and lorries are parked at Leziate, near King's Lynn; and what arrangements does he propose to make to dispose of, or recondition, them for further use.

The vehicle park referred to is the property of the Air Ministry, and the bulk of the motor vehicles in it have not yet been declared surplus to R.A.F. requirements. Of those that have been declared surplus the great majority are of Canadian make and await the spare parts necessary for their reconditioning.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what percentage of the air crews engaged received immediate awards after the successful operations against the Mohne Dam and the "Tirpitz," respectively.

Immediate awards were granted to 31 per cent, of the members of aircrew who took part in the operation in which the Mohne Dam was attacked, and to 7 per cent, of those who took part in the operation when the "Tirpitz" was sunk.