asked the Secretary of State for War when he hopes to be in a position to give an answer to the question relating to the officer, whose name and number have been supplied to him, and who has been under open arrest for months on a charge which has not yet been formulated.

The officer was finally charged on 14th November, having been under open arrest since 26th September. The delay was caused through difficulties in obtaining the Summary of Evidence. The court-martial has been postponed from 20th to 27th November, in the interests of the officer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that after the 1914–18 war the Government refunded ex-gratia the travelling expenses of British subjects who came to England from overseas at their own expense to volunteer for service in the Armed Forces; and whether he is prepared to do the same this time.

No, Sir. It has been decided not to refund travelling expenses in these cases as a general rule. This decision was taken by all Departments concerned for administrative reasons in the light of the experience following the 1914–18 war. The hon. Member will no doubt be aware that under the Release Regulations all persons ordinarily resident abroad who arrived in this country after a specified date and subsequently joined His Majesty's Forces are eligible for repatriation to their home country.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has inquired into the case, of which he has been given particulars, of the British private soldier who, after having been a prisoner of war, was shortly after his return to England sentenced to detention for three days for some hours absence without leave; and if he will commute this sentence.

If my hon. Friend is referring to the case about which he wrote on 14th September, I made inquiries, following which a letter was sent to him on 6th November. As then stated, the man was absent five days and not a few hours, as stated in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the war gratuity of the late Private John Bowes, 4806837, Pioneer Corps, who died in the emergency hospital, Beverley, near Hull, on 26th November, 1944, has not been paid to his father, H. S. Bowes, of 400, Great Cheetham Street, Salford, 7.

I am afraid this gratuity will not be paid for some time. The method of paying the gratuities of soldiers who died or were discharged during the war has already been explained to hon. Members and announced in the Press. Those of deceased soldiers are paid without application, and roughly in order of date of death. The cases are numerous and the work heavy, and while they are being dealt with as quickly as possible, this case is naturally one of the later ones.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Corporal M. J. Fall, 5727003, C Company, 9th Dorset Regiment, in release Group 17, has been unable to obtain his release at the same time as others in release Group 17; and whether his release can now be expedited.

This soldier was sick when due for release. He is now on leave and will be released when he returns.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the present whereabouts of Private N. L. Ward, 2658139; whether he was given a specialist medical examination during the period of his detention in August and September; whether in punishing him for overstaying his leave, the military authorities took into account the fact that he had been taken ill in Coventry during this leave; and whether he is at present receiving medical treatment.

Private Ward is in the Chorley Military Prison and Detention Barracks. He was examined by a psychiatrist while awaiting trial in September, and was found to be in medical category AI. The fact that he had been ill was taken into account, and the sen- tence was reduced for that reason. He was admitted to the Camp Reception Station on 16th November and is receiving medical treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now reply to the letter submitted to his Department on 7th November by the hon. Member for Burslem, relating to the erroneous medical grading of 14924550 Private Gartside, A. R., who is now on draft leave for the Far East.

A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 25th November. As then stated, Private Gartside had to be examined by a specialist, and this could not be arranged before 22nd November.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the further evidence sent to him on 3rst October, he will hasten the release under Class B of T/106683283 Lance-Corporal M. R. Hunt, R.A.S.C., which was recommended by the Ministry of Food six weeks ago.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 14385263, Private A. Pullinger, was recalled to the Army from W.T. Reserve, having regard to his 22 Years experience in the building trade; what was his medical category; and to what employment did he proceed from the Army selection centre.

Private Pullinger was temporarily released in September, 1943, because of his wife's illness. He was recalled from Class W(T) Reserve when his presence was no longer needed at home. His civil occupation had no bearing on the matter. His medical category was B.6, which was one reason for his employment as a batman.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now say why 5674773 Sergeant B. Goldstein, No. 22 Technical Training Group, is not allowed to be employed as a clerk in his Department, as he has served in the Army for six years, took part in the Arnhem lift in September, 1944, was captured and kept as a prisoner of war until May, 1945, his health being seriously affected thereby, and his parents having come to this country over 4o years ago.

It is a normal rule, not fulfilled in this case, that a soldier shall not be employed in the War Office unless he is of British born parents.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the application for release under Class B of W.O. II Hibbard, A. E. C., to enable him to resume his duties as lecturer at University College, Nottingham, was refused; and whether in view of the evidence submitted to him of the waste of this man's special training in his present employment in the Army, he is now prepared to reconsider his decision.

The application was refused because no recommendation had been submitted for his release as a key individual and, as I have previously stated, bulk releases in Class B are not offered to members of the A.E.C., owing to the requirements of the Army Education Scheme. It appears that he is not required for his pre-enlistment appointment. I see no ground to vary the decision already given, but I am inquiring into the circumstances in which he is employed in India.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that an officer, of whose identity he has been informed, is being held back from Class B release as a teacher despite the undertaking given on 20th April last that employment in Army education duties would not prejudice such releases; and if, in view of the fact that this teacher's services are urgently required by the county high school on whose staff he is employed and that he is at present in England on L.1.A.P., he will order this officer's release forthwith.

No, Sir. No recommendation for release as a key individual has been received on behalf of this officer and, as I have already informed hon. Members, members of the A.E.C. are not at present included in bulk releases in Class B owing to the requirements of the Army Education Scheme. No undertaking has been given to the A.E.C. regarding Class B release. An individual cannot initiate a request for or claim release in Class B. Such releases are offered solely in the national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for War what further steps are now being taken to remove the necessity for the deferment of officers in B.A.O.R. in early groups; and whether he can yet make any statement giving an approximate date when the deferment can be lifted.

At present I cannot add anything to my statement on 8th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War why troops serving in the India Command have been informed by official sources that the initiative in Class B releases lies with the former employer; and whether he will take steps to see that all ranks are informed of the correct procedure and the men in this command given an assurance that they are receiving equality of treatment in this matter with men serving either at home or in other commands.

The initiative in fact rests with the employer, except for bulk releases, in which case the selection is made by the War Office. The soldier in India is not at any disadvantage.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider extending the principle of granting release to former prisoners of war, so as to include all men in groups 1 to 35 who were prisoners of war for periods exceeding six months in the aggregate.

No, Sir. As previously explained, prisoners of war liberated from the Japanese have been regarded as a special case, but it has been decided not to give preferential treatment over other soldiers as regards release to other ex-prisoners of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many applicants for Class C release have now been so released since the end of hostilities against Germany; and how many of such applicants have been transferred to Class W (T) Reserve.

Between 18th June, 1945, when the general release scheme began, and 20th November, 1945, 13,485 Army personnel were released in Class C for an indefinite period. During the same period 11,956 were granted temporary releases, involving, in the case of soldiers, relegation to Class W or W (T) of the Reserve. Between VE-Day and the start of the release scheme 3,225 persons had been granted temporary release. All the figures include officers, nurses and A.T.S., as well as soldiers.

asked the Secretary of State for War why service in the War Transport reserves from November, 1940, to July, 1943, is not computed as a period of war service for the purpose of demobilisation in the case of a man who joined up in September, 1939, and was transferred to the War Transport reserves at the request of his Department.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to service in Class W (T) Reserve. If so, I would refer her to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to my hon. Friend the Member for Carnarvonshire (Mr. G. Roberts) on 23rd August.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the announcement issued by A.G. Branch G.H.Q., India, and reprinted in the newspaper "S.E.A.C." on 1st November, 1945, that no demand for the release of teachers under Class B had to that date been received in India from his Department; and why no offer, of Class B release have been made to teachers serving in the Forces in India.

I have no knowledge of the announcement in question, nor can I trace any reference to it in the issue of "S.E.A.C." of 1st November. In offering release in Class B no distinction is made between men in India and elsewhere, but, as hon. Members know, we do not at present offer release under Class B bulk releases to members of the A.E.C., wherever they are serving. Recommendations for release as key individuals are considered on their merits, and teachers belonging to other arms and corps are included in bulk releases.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Service personnel released under Class C lose all or any of their gratuity and other release benefits.

Those released for an indefinite period in Class C receive the normal Class A benefits except the 56 days' leave. They receive an equivalent money payment in place of overseas service leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that upon 13th November, 1945, some 150 men, who had recently been returned to this country from serving in the 14th Army in Burma, reported for demobilisation at the R.A. depot, Woolwich, where their kit was withdrawn in the regimental-quartermaster's stores for I Battery, and that the men were left without greatcoats and suffering from the cold for some 36 hours; and whether steps will be taken to prevent such an occurrence in future.

I have been unable to confirm this. On the contrary, it is the practice of the Depot to provide greatcoats as quickly as possible to men who arrive from overseas without them. If the hon. Member wishes to pursue the matter perhaps he would let me have further particulars of the men in question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that teachers in the Army who have received notification of release under Class B and who have tilled in the necessary documents to make their release possible, have been informed that as they are working in War Office Selection Boards their cases have been frozen until Christmas on the authority of the Director of Selection of Personnel and that the freezing process has been extended to apply to all sergeants employed by the directorate which includes a large number of teachers; that since this happened these sergeants have been given trade pay and have now been technically graded as specialists; and if he will take immediate steps to release the men involved.

I explained the position of these sergeant testers on 30th October in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. S. Marshall). Only nine teachers now remain with the Selection Board, including six who desirerelease. These are expected to be released in December. No specialist or trade pay has been given to sergeant testers. Out of 176 teachers employed as sergeant testers outside the Selection Boards, 118 have been released. The remainder are still held for the reasons previously given. A small number were inadvertently offered release, which some refused and others accepted, and it has been necessary to hold these up tem- porarily until replacements can be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, in a unit of whose identity he has been notified, men who are due for early release are being issued with much worn secondhand underclothing; and if he will give instructions that all underclothing issued is to be new, or consider, in consultation with the President of the Board of Trade, the possibility of increasing the allocation of clothing coupons to newly demobilised men.

The stock position does not permit the issue of new items of clothing to all soldiers on release. In calculating the number of coupons to be issued to the released soldier, the clothing retained by him is assumed to be part worn.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will see that those men who returned in Class W to the mining industry will get the civilian clothing allowance.

No, Sir. The men in question were dealt with in accordance with the regulations in force at the time and, as I said on 16th October, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Southend-on-Sea (Mr. Channon) I am unable to apply the new clothing scales retrospectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is satisfied that post-armistice education in the Army is now proceeding satisfactorily in accordance with the scheme originally prepared.

Yes, Sir. For more details, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 20th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Army education service officers and instructors in each theatre there are compared to the number of troops participating in the Army education service; and if he is aware that these men's time is only occupied on an average of 40 minutes per day on actual service duty.

I could not give the figures asked for without a disproportionate amount of correspondence. The war establishment of the A.E.C. is based on approximately one officer per 2,000 troops and one other rank per 1,000 troops, in addition to those required for certain special units, but the establishment is not up to strength. The work of the A.E.C. is chiefly supervisory, advisory, and administrative. Instructors for units are found from unit personnel, each unit having a unit education officer and full-time unit instructors appropriate to its strength. I am not aware that any members of he A.E.C. are under-employed. If my hon. Friend will let me have any instances of this. I will have them investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the differing rates of pay for the first two months between those soldiers transferred to the A.E.C. as sergeants, who had previously been teachers, and those who had not; and in view of the fact that both perform the same duties will he take steps to adjust this anomaly.

The distinction between teachers and others has now been abolished. All men transferred to the Corps in the rank of sergeant are subject to two months' probation, during which a somewhat lower rate of pay is issuable, provided this does not result in a reduction of the substantive pay of the man transferred.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether barrack stores returned, as redundant to present requirements, into ordnance depots, can be made immediately available for public purchase; and, if it is not possible, whether he will give the reasons for any further delay.

Surpluses are notified to the disposal authorities as soon as they arise. But the change from field service to barrack scales will mean very heavy withdrawals from stock and the surpluses may not be very large.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and men who have been demobilised have applied to rejoin the Army.

Exact information is not available but I understand that the numbers are likely to be very small.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many men serving in the Army at home complain that there is still no adequate scheme for providing them with practical training to fit them for civil employment; and if arrangements can be made to provide this in various branches of the building and other industries as soon as possible.

As I have previously explained, vocational training is, generally speaking, arranged by the Minister of Labour and National Service after release from the Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the release of a substantial proportion of European personnel of the 81st West African Division has been deferred; what proportion of such personnel is affected; and how long it is intended that this deferment shall operate.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 13th November to the hon. and gallant Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention that officers holding acting or temporary rank whose release from the Service is deferred beyond their normal release group, shall be guaranteed retention of that acting or temporary rank for the period of their deferment.

No, Sir. These officers must be dealt with under the normal promotion rules.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the continued need for Anglo-American co-operation, it is proposed to continue the exchange of students between British and American staff colleges.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the policy with regard to soldiers of a low medical category but suitable in every way for garrison duties being allowed to volunteer for service in the proposed peacetime Army on a regular engagement.

The exact medical standards for the postwar Army have not yet been fixed, but I doubt whether it will be possible to accept men who arc not medically fit for active service at home and abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to safeguard the proceeds of British exports for the purchase of vital imports, any measures are in force or contemplated to restrict the purchasing, respectively, by countries of the British Empire, other countries in the sterling bloc and countries outside the sterling bloc, of British goods with those sterling balances accumulated by them during the war.

I would refer to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. N. Smith) on 13th November (Volume 415, No. 37, Columns 1917–19).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £225,000 received during the last financial year from Purchase Tax on wallpaper in fact applies to display, book-end and boxpaper which can be used as wallpaper and when sold as wall covering carried the Purchase Tax, particularly seeing that the wallpaper industry was closed down during the war.

The figure quoted is the amount of tax attributed to sales of wallpaper during the last financial year. No information is available as to the extent to which this amount represents sales of paper which could also be described as display, book-end or boxpaper on the one hand or to sales from old stock on the other.

asked the Minister of Labour when proposals will be made public governing the release from the mines of Servicemen who volunteered for the mines in response to Government requests.

I hope to make a statement at an early date.

asked the Minister of Labour on what work of vital national importance it is intended to employ six officers of Customs and Excise whose names have been communicated to him, whom he is proposing to release under Class 13; and how many other Customs and Excise officers have been similarly released from the Army.

The men to whom my hon. Friend refers are trained officers of Customs and Excise who are being returned to their department because of the acute shortage of such officers. They are required to enable the department to carry out its revenue and other duties, and, in particular, to handle the work at the ports expeditiously in order to prevent hindrance to trade. This work is of vital national importance, especially at the present time. The number of officers of Customs and Excise to be released from the Forces in Class B is 100. Of these 75 have been released to date, of whom 26 are from the Army.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will be prepared to reduce the period for which intending art students have had to serve on work of national importance, from three years to two years, so that the flow of graduates in art may be increased.

No, Sir. The release of all students in Class B has been limited to those in Groups 1–49, that is, with roughly three years' service, and those in work of national importance have similarly been required to show at least three years' work of national importance. There could be no question of making a special concession in this matter for art students.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 3,000 art students agreed to be demobilised under the Class B scheme are architectural students who, when fully trained, will be available for work in architectural offices.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Chichester (Lieut.-Commander Joynson-Hicks) on 20th November, in which I pointed out that figures showing the number of University students released in Class B are provided by the Service Departments, but no record is kept of the subject which each student will study at his University.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider arranging with the chiefs of Service Departments to give immediate compassionate release to the owners of one-man businesses in the distributive food trades, where womenfolk have been conducting the businesses during the service of the owners, particularly where physical exertion is required.

Release on compassionate grounds is a matter entirely for the Service Departments and each case must be considered on its merits.

asked the Minister of Labour, what provisions exist for temporary release on compassionate grounds of men employed in coalmines under the Bevin scheme.

There are no formal provisions for the temporary release on compassionate grounds of coalmining ballotees. Each case is, however, considered on its merits and, if it appears that in similar circumstances a period of compassionate leave from the Forces would have been granted, it is generally possible for me to arrange, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power, for a period of temporary release from employment in coalmining.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what general instructions have been issued by his Department regarding material and stores that may be scrapped or destroyed; what precautions are taken to see that these instructions are strictly carried out; and what control his Department has over the scrapping and destruction undertaken by the Service Departments.

Departmental instructions have been issued laying down the procedure to be followed in taking decisions to scrap, and determining the levels at which such decisions should be taken. Decisions to scrap goods involving substantial sums of public money are taken by senior officials, advised as necessary by technical officers. The main precaution on which the; Department relies for the proper implementation of scrapping instructions is the execution of the work for the most part in Government depots and establishments where the operation can be kept under direct and constant supervision. If this is not possible, the work is placed with private contractors, on an agency basis, to avoid the risks involved in outright sales for scrapping on which it is not possible to impose any effective check. The Service Departments have no authority to scrap any stores for which the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production is the responsible disposal Department, without its approval, and any scrapping of such stores which they undertake is, therefore, done in the capacity of agents. The actual execution by the Services of any instructions which may be given is controlled by the appropriate Service Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that firms manufacturing galvanised buckets for export and who have the necessary labour, are given M certificates, enabling them to get steel, but that the Government gives no instructions to steelmakers to roll steel suitable for buckets; and what steps he is taking to ensure that suitable steel is rolled so that firms manufacturing buckets for export may be able to proceed.

I have been asked to reply. Steps are being taken immediately to ensure that supplies of suitable steel are made available for the manufacture of galvanised buckets for export.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to allay the mental distress of relatives of men who were prisoners of war in Germany but who have not yet been found, he will make a public statement indicating the steps which are taken to trace these missing men; and whether he is satisfied that every possible effort is being made by the Control Commission in Germany to deal with this matter.

A Search Bureau was established in Germany to trace missing prisoners of war. Its work is now almost completed and the majority of the 105 prisoners of war still unaccounted for are believed to have been at one time in areas east of the British and American zones. The Soviet Government is also understood to be instituting a search. As regards the entry of British search teams into Soviet occupied territory I am not yet able to add anything to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 7th November in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, consequent upon the heavy sickness and death rates among prisoners of war in Japanese hands, certain local, promotions were made by British commanders in order to fill the gaps so created and to maintain the successful running of the prisoner-of-war camps; and whether, where the persons concerned have acquitted themselves well in their positions of responsibility, he will take steps to confirm these, promotions.

I am aware of such local promotions, but there is no authority for promotion in respect of duties performed while under enemy control. Records of good service as prisoners of war are carefully noted to the credit of the officer or man concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can give any information as to the whereabouts of the prisoners of war who were in Sandukan camp.

I am not yet able to add anything to the statement I made on 30th October, in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Barkston Ash (Colonel Ropner). I am hoping for further information from Australia and will make the facts known as soon as I can. All reliable information about individuals is being sent to their next-of-kin.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in connection with the proposal to move the German prisoners of war from Epsom racecourse to Littleton, Evesham, and to utilise the recreation ground there for the purpose of housing them, he will consider utilising the alternative accommodation of a large camp which as adjacent and is being vacated by the U.S. troops, in view of the fact that this recreation ground is used as the village children's playground and social centre for the community who have no other amenities.

The camp at Littleton, Evesham, is no longer held under requisition by my Department, having been transferred to the Ministry of Works on 5th April, 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for War why barbed-wire fencing has been erected by German prisoners around Beaver camp at Hounslow where British ex-prisoners of war, repatriated from Germany, are stationed; and if he will at once give orders for its removal.

The fence was erected to prevent the entry of unauthorised persons; It has been proved to be necessary for that purpose. German prisoners of war were employed as the most suitable labour for the work.

asked the Minister of Works if he will break down into typical contractors' form the estimate of £1,365 which has been announced as the cost of the aluminium house.

I would refer the hon. Member to the observations I made in the Debate yesterday, when I explained why I was unable to give this kind of information.

asked the Minister of Works if he has contracted for the same number of kitchen units as be has for hulls of the emergency prefabricated bungalows; and do the dates for both the hulls and the kitchen units coincide.

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Works why the 118 side-entrance Uni-Seco houses allocated to the Borough of Gravesend were changed to central-entrance, thus causing delay in the delivery of the changed type, so that Gravesend are still without them; and to what extent it is the practice of his Ministry to make changes which cause such delays without consulting the local authority.

When an allocation of temporary houses was made to local authorities the allocation did not specify the type of house. It was decided in March 1945 to change the design of the Uni-Sego House from the side entrance to the central hall type which is generally preferred. Arrangements were made to deliver the earlier model to the more advanced sites. It was never arranged to deliver temporary houses of this model to Gravesend

asked the Minister of Works whether he will state the dates when the local authorities of Cambridge and Gravesend, respectively, applied for and were allocated prefabricated house-hulls.

Cambridge Borough Council applied for temporary houses on 22nd September, 1944, and again on 3rd July, 1945. Greenwich Borough Council applied on 17th August, 1944, and again on December 9th, 1944. Allocations were made both to Cambridge and to Gravesend, in common with all housing authorities who had applied for temporary houses, on 4th November, 1944. Supplementary allocations were made to Cambridge on 10th August, 1945 and to Gravesend on 22nd December, 1944.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that 12 prefabricated houses being erected in Wake Green Road, Birmingham, commenced in April last, are not yet completed for occupation; and what steps he is taking to expedite the completion of these houses.

Yes, Sir. Progress was hindered by a shortage of materials. This has been overcome and all the houses on this site will probably be completed within the next month.

asked the Minister of Works whether the White Paper estimates for the prefabricated bungalows included all costs to local authorities as well as all costs of the Government, or what is not included in the estimates published.

None of the expenditure incurred by local authorities is included in the estimates of cost published in the White Paper on the temporary housing programme. The estimates thus exclude the cost of land, roads and sewers, of bringing in main electricity, gas and water services to the point of junction with house connections, and of clearing and levelling the ground.

asked the Minister of Works if he will state the cost of the aluminium house; and the principal items comprising this cost.

The aluminium temporary house is estimated to cost £ 1,365. This comprises all site works within the curtilage of the house, including the laying of drains and supply services, foundations, paths and fences, the manufacture of the house, all fixtures and fittings and an outside shed, transportation and erection.

asked the Minister of Works what factors determine the order in which municipal authorities receive the prefabricated house-hulls allocated to them; and why Cambridge, which has almost escaped bombing, gets priority over Gravesend, which suffered through bombing.

Subject to special consideration of the needs of severely bombed areas, the aim is to deliver houses to local authorities as nearly as possible in the order in which they hand over sites with roads, sewers and main services properly prepared. It is, however, inevitable that there should be a considerable variation in the time taken by the Ministry of Works for site works and foundations as it is largely governed by the amount of building labour available in each locality. Moreover, there are differences in the rates at which the various types of houses are coming into production and deliveries to a local authority may be affected by the type of house allocated to them.No priority has been given to Cambridge over Gravesend, but the development by the local authority of the sites at Cambridge was completed earlier than at Gravesend. In order to supplement the labour available for the work at Gravesend, arrangements were made with the local authority for the employment of prisoners of war on the development of the site and subsequently on the foundation work, and I hope that the erection of houses will start within the next month.

asked the Minister of Works what steps are being taken to find the necessary labour of the right type in order to obtain full resumption of brick production at both closed and active brickworks; how many brickworks, to which 280 licences have been granted to reopen, have commenced operating; and whether he is satisfied that the current production of the brick industry and the speed of reopening is sufficient for the anticipated programme of house building next year.

Special arrangements have been made to encourage and facilitate the return to the industry of experienced workers at present employed else-where and to secure that the scheme of release from the Forces operates as rapidly and effectively as possible; in addition, steps have been taken to ensure that the local. Employment Exchanges have the labour requirements of each brickmaker under constant review; prisoners of war are also being used.Of the 280 works licensed to reopen, 36 were actually in production at the end of October. I cannot say that I am satisfied with the present rate of progress, but I hope that the efforts that are being made will result in the recruitment of the labour necessary to achieve the output required.

asked the Minister of Works how many standard size brick-built houses could be constructed from the present stocks of bricks available in this country; how long these stocks will last on the basis of present building activity; and what is the present annual output of the brick-making industry.

The answer to the first part of the question can only be given as a very rough estimate and might be put at 50,000. In October sales exceed production by 50 million, and on this basis stocks would be exhausted in about 20 months. Present production is at the rate of approximately 1,450 millions a year.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of persons now registered with local authorities who are finding it impossible to obtain living accommodation.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what minerals were found during boring operations by the D'Arcy Company when boring for oil for the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in Lanarkshire.

Licensees are under statutory obligation to supply details of the strata, including minerals of economic interest to His Majesty's Geological Survey and to my Ministry, and to supply representative samples if so required. There is, however, a corresponding obligation on recipients of this information to treat it as confidential unless the licensee agrees to publication. The consent of the licensee must not be unreasonably withheld if such publication is considered to be in the public interest.In the case of the boring referred to in this Question I do not think the public interest calls for publication. In view, however, of certain suggestions, which have received some publicity, that important new seams of coal were discovered, I can say that no data not already known to the Geological Survey were obtained.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power for what purpose crude naphthalene is being purchased by his Department; and when he expects to release this substance from control, so that it may be used in connection with new agricultural developments.

No naphthalene is being purchased by my Department. With regard to the second part of the Question, continuance of control of naphthalene is at present essential in order that the correct quantity and grade of material shall be produced, and sent where and when it is required for vital purposes. I have no reason to think that the operation of control has limited the quantity of naphthalene available for agricultural developments. If it has, I shall be obliged if the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any specific case which has come to his notice.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that certain electricity undertakings in this country are inserting a clause in their forms of agreement for the supply of electricity to the effect that the company shall be entitled to terminate the terms and conditions under which the supply of electricity is provided and taken upon giving seven days' notice to the consumer, he will introduce legislation to render such stipulations and conditions illegal, especially having regard to the interests of men released from the Forces who live in the rural areas.

The clause referred to by the hon. Member is intended to enable the electricity supply undertaking to vary the terms and conditions, such as charges for electricity, at seven days' notice, but not to terminate the supply. The clause does not seem to me to be unreasonable.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what were the stocks of coal at gas and electricity works in England and Wales on 1st November, 1943, 1944 and 1945, respectively.

The stocks of coal at gas and electricity works in England and Wales at the nearest convenient date to the 1st November in the three years referred to were as follows:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether it is proposed to give effect to the recommendation of the panel of engineers, appointed to review the conclusions of the Severn Barrage Committee in the light of later engineering experience, that a new tidal model be constructed and the dock authorities concerned given the opportunity of being represented on a committee of hydraulic experts who would supervise the construction and operation of the new model.

The various problems arising from the report of the panel of engineers on the Severn Barrage, including the need to proceed with the proposed tidal model, are under consideration. I shall in due course make a statement on the matter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider the institution of representative consumers' councils, both national and regional, to protect the interests of coal consumers, including price fixing of coal pit-head prices and margins allowable to distributors.

Yes, Sir. The question of protecting the interests of consumers is being carefully considered in connection with the nationalisation of the coal industry; but the fixing of the prices to be charged, and of distributors' margins, could not be left to such councils as he suggests, especially if they were representative of consumers only.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he expects the test on Thorne coal at the Swindon Gas Works of the G.W.R., to take place; whether he is aware that these works were advised three years ago that such coal could be used effectively; and what action he proposes to take if the test is successful.

The test is taking place this week. There was no question of Thorne coal being used at Swindon three years ago, and as regards the last part of the Question, I would prefer to await the result of the test before making any statement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will increase the supply of pariffin oil to the villages of north Norfolk where users of oil lamps are required to forfeit a portion of their coal ration before being granted additional paraffin oil.

Coal supplies within the general limits allowed by the restrictions are obtainable irrespective of any use made of paraffin or other alternative fuels. Where, however, a consumer has been granted priority supplies of paraffin for cooking and heating, that is taken into account when he asks for extra coal. I am not aware of any priority consumer of paraffin in North Norfolk who is unable to obtain supplies.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now prepared to extend active Service leave allowance of petrol coupons for use in motor cars owned by a brother or sister of a Serviceman.