asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give particulars as to the prices at which duty-free cigarettes are sold to officers and men on board ships of His Majesty's Navy.

The prices of the more popular varieties range from 4d. to 8d.per packet of 20.I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an extract from the current N.A.A.F.I. price list, giving further particulars.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that surplus craft such as motor gunboats, motor torpedo boats, landing craft, etc., now being offered for sale to the public and serviceable as houseboats, are being stripped of fittings such as bunks, doors and cupboards, electric light wiring, ventilators, etc., which would be valuable to those purchasing the boats for housing accommodation; and if he will arrange for these boats to be sold with all their fit tings except those only of use in war.

The shortage of fittings and spare parts has necessitated the removal of such equipment from craft intended for disposal. The easing of the position during the past few months has resulted in less equipment being removed, and I hope that the future will bring further improvement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men the R.N. could carry from Singapore to the United Kingdom during the months of January and February, 1946, assuming orders being given to do so regardless of any other consideration and assuming that all the passengers traveled under active service conditions.

His Majesty's ships are already being used for trooping to the fullest extent practicable. Passengers are employed as part of the complement, and the ships arc filled even more than under ordinary active service conditions. It is not possible to calculate numbers which could be carried in hypothetical circumstances.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether R.N. vessels have been used and are being used to bring soldiers and airmen as well as naval ratings back to this country for demobilisations.

Yes, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that all parcels sent to this country by naval personnel stationed in Malta are inspected at the Marine Office; and if he will there fore put a stop to the practice of native Maltese police, searching, interrogating and sometimes arresting naval personnel.

No, Sir. I am informed that the Government of Malta had reason to believe that imported goods intended for the Maltese were being taken out of the island by Service personnel and others, and that instructions were therefore given to the police to interrogate persons embarking with parcels. I am also informed that some naval personnel were searched, without result, but revised instructions have now been issued by the Commissioner of Police which will, it is hoped, ensure that personnel are not searched or detained unnecessarily.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of ratings and other ranks domiciled in Northern Ireland and Eire, respectively, who joined the R.N. and R.M. from the commencement of the war until any convenient date in 1944.

According to the records, the numbers entered in the Royal Navy and enlisted in the Royal Marines during the period 3rd September, I939, to 31st December, 1944, from Northern Ireland and Eire respectively were 5,511 and 431. These figures do not, of course, give an accurate picture of the total number of Irishmen serving in the Navy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why officers and men in sea-going ships on operational mine-sweeping duty in the Far East are not granted extra allowances above the Japanese campaign pay.

Japanese campaign pay, as its name implies, covers the liability to engage in war-like operations. No additional allowance can therefore be paid for minesweeping in the Far East.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has now considered the representations made by the hon. Member for North Cumberland with regard to closing the road at Anthorn; and whether he proposes to permit local residents to pass through the aerodrome or provide an alternative road.

The Royal Naval Air Station, Anthorn, is intended to be one of the Navy's reserve airfields in peace-time. It is hoped that by the middle of 1946 it may be possible to allow local traffic to pass through the station, but while flying continues this would be impossible. I am sure the hon. Member will appreciate that owing to the scarcity of labour and materials, it would be impracticable to build a new road in the interim.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the Chief Surveyor of Lands has not agreed to release St. Mary's Hall, Thornbury Road, Isle-worth, from requisition, in view of the fact that the premises are urgently required for educational purposes by the Heston and Isleworth education authorities.

I hope to release these premises in the early spring of next year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an Admiralty message has been promulgated in the British Pacific Fleet to the effect that Christmas parcels and mail will not reach the fleet until after Christmas; and if he will take immediate steps by means of air transport or otherwise to expedite delivery.

No such message as that referred to has been sent by the Admiralty. I am glad to inform my hon. and gallant Friend that the Christmas mail for the Pacific Fleet is now on its way in one of His Majesty's ships and should arrive in good time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make in regard to the traditional distribution of Naval prize money as a reward of skill and bravery.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Members for North Edinburgh (Mr. Willis) and Orpington (Sir W. Smithers).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many teachers, serving as schoolmasters, have been offered Class B release.

I would refer my hon. And gallant Friend to the reply given on 21st November by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for Cambridge University (Mr. Wilson Harris).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that writers and other naval ratings are promulgated for release by 25th February, 1946, up to Group 27, as compared with an average release for other ratings up to Group 39 and for some ratings up to Group 60 by the same date; that earlier promulgations had stated that the gap between these groups would be narrowed down to six by 31st December, 1945; and if he will take steps to remuster men with high group numbers so as to remedy this injustice to the older men with long service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the relative position of writers to other categories in regard to demobilisation and when the rate of releases of writers will be equal to other categories.

I am aware that writers will be six groups behind the average release of naval ratings at 31st December, 1945.If the high rate of release in the rest of the Navy is to be maintained in 1946, it will only be possible to release in the first two months of next year two Age and Service groups of writers. Naval training capacity at home and abroad is being used to the utmost to remuster men and to train new entries, but I cannot yet state when the release of writers will catch up that of other branches.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are being taken to speed up the demobilisation of sick berth personnel serving with the R.N., in view of the fact that between 1st January, 1946, and 25th February, 1946, the release of this branch of the Service will be II groups behind the average and more than 20 groups behind some branches of the Service.

An extensive programme of recruitment and training of sick berth ratings is being pressed forward with all speed, with a view to increasing the releases in this category.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is now in a position to make a final statement with regard to the claims of Mr. Birchman Reith.

An offer of a substantial payment ex gratia has been made to Mr. Reith through his solicitors, in full settlement and discharge of all claims.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air when the hon. Member for Solihull can expect a reply to his letters, of 15thSeptember, about L.A.C. Edge; of nth October, about L.A.C. Bate and of 16th October about Rev. T. Sharp, in regard to each of which a reminder has already been sent to him.

The hon. And gallant Member will now have received my letters of 30th November and 1st December. I must most sincerely apologise not only to the hon. And gallant Member but also to other hon. Members—for the long delays in answering their letters. But my correspondence from Members has risen from an average of 40 a day last August to 250 a day this week. My staff has been progressively reinforced but it is not easy to build up an organization capable of dealing promptly and at the same time properly with this quite unprecedented flood of work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will arrange the release, without further delay, of Flight-Lieutenant B. Hawkins, age 40, who was appointed assistant architect to the Cheltenham Town Council in July; who is needed to enable the corporation to proceed with their housing programme; and whose release has been recommended by the Ministry of Health.

We are releasing Mr. H. O. Hawkins at the end of this month.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air why Corporal Fletcher, A.T., 1471904, No. 2 R.S., R.A.F., Yatesbury, near Calne, Wiltshire, a radar mechanic in release Group 25 and a qualified schoolteacher, has not been offered a Class B release since he is not fully employed in his present job and is required as a civilian schoolteacher.

I regret the oversight in not offering release in Class B to Corporal Fletcher with other teachers in his group; it was due to a breakdown in the sorting machines dealing with Class B release. We have now offered him release in Class B in case he should prefer to leave the Service now rather than wait until January when he becomes due for release in Class A.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of men and machines at present in the statistical section working on the release scheme; and how many men and machines he has in reserve.

We have 364 men and women and 82 machines working on personnel statistics. These are all related to the release scheme, and all the machines we have are working to their full capacity. Fifteen extra machines are expected this month.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air to what extent the situation regarding the release of the accountant branch has now improved; and what prospect of further improvement he can promise.

Release of men of the accounting trades was nine groups behind the average in October. It is now seven groups behind, and the forecast for February is that it will be only four groups behind. So we are making progress.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, in view of the continued dissatisfaction in the R.A.F. about unequal trade releases, how many mean are affected; what percentage of R.A.F. strength they constitute; in what trades the position exists; what progress has been made towards evening up the rate of release; and what his programme is for achieving parity with the general release scheme.

At present the release in Class A of something over 26,000 officers

asked the Under-Secretary for Air reasons for the postponement of the release of radar mechanics in the R.A.F. in Group 25, their release due in December now being carried forward to 28th February.

We announced originally that radar mechanics in Group 25 would be demobilised between the beginning of December and the end of January. We shall keep to this announcement, though they will be released in the second half of the period. These radar mechanics and these in Group 26 have also been included in the latest promulgation for January and they will all be released in that month. We are taking steps to make the advance information clearer for all trades in future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether remustered men are being demobilised according to their original trade or their remustered trade.

According to their remustered trade.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why men serving in the trade of clerk provisioning at Master Provision Office, Middle East, who are due for release with Group 24, have had the date of their release postponed from January to February.

We shall be releasing provisioning clerks in Groups 24, 25 and 26 during January. They will not be delayed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (I) if he will arrange for temporarily released R.A.F. personnel to be informed at once of their release group numbers;(2)if he will again make it clear that temporarily released R.A.F. personnel, who have a written statement that their time on release would count towards their current engagement, will be released with their release group number under the conditions applicable to Class A release.

The general position of all men on temporary release who have not been recalled to the R.A.F. will be made clear in a statement which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour will make shortly in regard to members of the Armed Forces on indefinite release to industry. In the meanwhile I willingly repeat the statement included in my reply of 10th October that it has now been decided that those airmen who received an unqualified written assurance that their period of release to industry "would count as service towards their current engagements" will count that period as service for calculating their age and Service re lease groups. Their release groups will be adjusted accordingly.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air why radar mechanics, whose release groups are retarded, are being used at R.A.F., St. Mawgan, for self help and fatigue section schemes; and whether it is his intention to retard certain trades of R.A.F. personnel to replace A.M.W.D. civilian employees.

:Radar mechanics were used at St. Mawgan for self help and fatigue section schemes at a time when there was a temporary and local falling off in duties of their trade. They are now fully employed as" radar mechanics. Radar mechanics are now only one group behind the average. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No, Sir."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what group numbers will be released by June, 1946, in the promulgated trade groups.

:There is at present nothing I can add to the general forecast for the end of next June of group 32 to be released for most trades, which I gave in my statement of 22nd October. We cannot forecast releases in individual trades more than three months ahead.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air the earliest date by which W.A.A.F. clerks, general duties, in Group 37, will be released.

We have announced that Women Auxiliary Air Force clerks (general duties) in Groups 37 and 38 will be released in January.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that airmen on discharge are being issued with a thin raincoat or mackintosh; that their health is being imperilled by this sudden change from thick Service overcoats in wintry weather; and will he arrange that the provision of overcoats, now reserved to those released with a medical officer's certificate, is available to all men released between October and May

:Most of the raincoats and mackintoshes issued on demobilisation have a warm lining for winter use, and we allow men to keep their service pullovers. We do not provide greatcoats, but an airman may borrow his service greatcoat till a suitable raincoat can be found for him. I may say that I thought my raincoat was about the best part of the outfit.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air the number of clerks/accounting and clerks/G.D. who have been released under the demobilisation scheme; the number of personnel who have been remustered to those trades since VJ-Day; and the number of intakes since VJ-Day who have been allocated to those trades.

The figures up to 15th November are as follow:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, when cooks in Group 23, serving in this country, are likely to be released from the R.A.F.

It has been announced that cooks in Groups 22 and 23 will be released in January. Release Groups are the same for airmen serving at home or overseas.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he expects to be able to restore home leave facilities for members of the R.A.F. serving in the Middle East; and what form these facilities will take.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why it is that R.A.F. personnel serving overseas are only granted 14 days' leave in this country, whereas Army personnel are granted 28 days.

It has not so far been possible to give home leave from the R.A.F., Middle East, for the reasons given in my reply of 28th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich (Mr. Paton). We hope, however, to hear be fore long from the headquarters in Italy whether they can arrange to give home leave to the airmen who are eligible in the Central Mediterranean Forces if they are likely to be moving to the Middle East.The arrangements for home leave from the Central Mediterranean Forces are different for the Army and the R.A.F. Our scheme was only authorised on the understanding that it would not involve additional manpower and would not delay normal repatriation. On this basis, the air commander-in-chief considered that 28 days' home leave could not be arranged from the C.M.F. area, but that 14 days' could. This is the best that can be done at present, though as I said last week we shall do all we can to make further improvements in all commands—of course, the whole thing will be easier once the tremendous pressure on transport of the release scheme is over.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air the approximate number of R.A.F. stations in. this country now evacuated; and whether he is in touch with the Minister of Health with a view to handing over empty stations for temporary accommodation for homeless people.

The Royal Air Force has now given up some or all of the living accommodation at 60 stations. This accommodation is offered in the first instance to other Government Departments including the Ministry of Health. In most cases it is taken up to accommodate men of the other two services, since this in turn makes it possible to release private property elsewhere.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, in view of the urgent need for accommodation and beds for civilian patients, whether he will consider the repeated representations of the Essex County Council for the derequisitioning of part of their property; and if he will confer immediately with the Minister of Health both respecting the need that exists and the necessity of transferring those premises back to the county council.

The Ministry of Health have made it clear that these premises are needed by the Essex County Council. We are using them for a Despatch Centre which is important for demobilisation. We hope to get some other suitable accommodation back from the American authorities early next year, and should then be able to give up these buildings not later than the end of March.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is still proposed to make available for A.T.C. and glider clubs German gliders taken over in the British zone of occupation.

A few German gliders are being brought here to be handed over to the British Gliding Association for performance tests. The rest, about250, are being used by Gliding Clubs in Germany composed of members of the British Forces of Occupation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that in October a Lancaster bomber carrying men home on leave from Italy crash-landed with engine trouble and that none of the passengers had parachutes; and if he will see that troops are provided with parachutes in future.

We have gone very carefully into the question of carrying parachutes in the trooping aircraft and have reached the decision that they would not provide any safeguard to passengers or crews on these flights. This follows civil aviation practice. To abandon a large aircraft loaded with passengers by parachute calls for repeated drill beforehand. There is much more hope of safety from an emergency landing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will publish fog-free statistics of leading aerodromes in the United Kingdom during a 12-month period, including Croydon, Northolt and Prestwick; and if he will give international publicity to such facts as may be disclosed.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air when it is proposed to demilitarise Luqa Aerodrome in order that B.O.A.C. may be able to operate a service independent of R.A.F. Transport Command.

It is necessary to keep Luqa as a Royal Air Force aerodrome, but we can now allow commercial use of it by B.O.A.C. and I understand that the corporation will shortly be adjusting their services accordingly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many R.A.F. drivers or Group 5 personnel are carrying out duties for Ministers or officials of other Departments.

About 190 Royal Air Force drivers and other Group 5 personnel (over 50 of them in France and Germany, are at present carrying out duties for Ministers and officials of other Departments—primarily the Ministry of Aircraft Production. We are discussing their early replacement by civilians with the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production and with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that men who have served several years in S.E.A.C. are being posted to B.A.O.R. after being only four weeks in the United Kingdom, while men of the same trades who have never been overseas are being retained at home; if he is aware of the feeling of injustice that this is causing; and if he will take steps to remedy it.

I am not aware that members of the Royal Air Force are being posted to Germany after only four weeks in this country on return from the Far East. Perhaps the hon. Member would send me particulars if he has heard of any individual case. We cannot always keep to the rule that a man should spend at least twelve months in this country on return from a distant Command, but there is usually an interval of some months before a posting to Germany.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air whether the undertaking given in August that as from 1st December, 1945, the overseas tour for single airmen would be reduced to three years and six months, has been carried out.

Yes, Sir. Naturally we cannot bring home on one day all the 22,500 extra men who have now become eligible for return. But we are making a good start. The last of the airmen who have served more than three years and six months overseas should be on their way home by February, and by far the greater number well before then. We have explained this to the Service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that R.A.F. personnel forming part of 103 Staging Post, Southern France, who are due for repatriation, are being sent by air to Naples and thence by train to Milan and across France to a Channel port; and whether he will take steps to see that they return by a more direct route.

I am looking into the particulars which my hon. Friend has sent to me, and I will communicate with him as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it is now possible to give a definite date for the early repatriation to the United Kingdom of R.A.F. personnel in Iceland.

The withdrawal of the R.A.F. from Iceland will be virtually completed by next March, but as peacetime arrangements for air traffic control are not yet settled, some R.A.F. Signals personnel may have to remain for a little time after that date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will give the numbers of men born in Northern Ireland and Eire, respectively, who were serving in the R.A.F. at any convenient date in I944.

I am afraid this information is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many clerks, accounts, and equipment assistants have completed a course of training since VJ-Day; and what was the rate of training during the war.

Up to a fortnight ago some 1,700 accounting clerks and 2,600 equipment assistants had completed a course of training since VJ-Day. The highest weekly rate of training during the war, in 194I, was 250 accounting clerks and 300 equipment assistants.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in order to clear up the confusion caused by the series of instructions recently received by commanding officers at home concerning Christmas leave, he will state the proportion of officers and men entitled to Christmas leave; the proportion of those entitled who will be allowed to travel by rail; and whether all Christmas leave in excess of 48 hours is to be deducted from annual leave.

Commanding officers may permit as many officers and men as can be spared from duty to proceed on leave at Christmas. This year the proportion who may travel each day by rail is restricted, for all three Services at home, to 1¼ percent. of the unit strength except that on the 18th, 19th and 20th December 2¼ percent. may travel by rail. Leave of more than 48 hours at Christmas will, as at other times, count as annual leave.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if the airport now being constructed at Pinkshan, Hong Kong, is for civilian purposes; and why R.A.F. personnel are being employed on its construction.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 28th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Garry Allighan).

asked the Under secretary of State for Air in view of the fact that there is a shortage of P.T. instructors, why there are six of these instructors at Cosford, near Wolverhampton, who are doing only three hours a week P.T. instruction.

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

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he has considered complaints from men stationed at Penang, S.E.A.A.F., regarding demobilisation and the differences obtaining in the different trades; the difficulty of obtaining cigarettes and the poor quality when obtained; the poor food and bad cooking thereof; and if he will make inquiries into these complaints with a view to rectifying them.

We know that living conditions were at first very difficult at Penang. The Commander-in-Chief and the Air Officer Commanding in Malaya have both been dealing with these problems personally and are making improvements as fast as possible. I can quite understand the disappointment of men who are serving in trades where release has been delayed, and we have taken special steps through the Royal Air Force Demob. Forms to explain our problems frankly to the Service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many men could be conveyed from India to the United Kingdom by the R.A.F. during the months of January and February assuming orders to do so regardless of any other consideration and assuming average weather conditions for these months.

We are already doing all that is practically possible to bring home from India about 25,000 men of all Services from the beginning of January to the end of February. I am afraid there would be no useful purpose in attempting to calculate another estimate in the circumstances envisaged in this Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why the flying control at Whitchurch airport has so far been denied elementary radio-telephony facilities; and whether he will see that this is rectified forthwith.

I have been asked to reply. For security reasons radio-telephony facilities were not provided at Whitchurch during the war. Subject to more urgent needs at other airports it is intended to provide those facilities as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what encouragement and assistance is being extended to the Portuguese authorities to instal the British blind-approach system at Portela airport, Lisbon.

I am informed that the Portuguese authorities have arranged for the supply and installation of the necessary equipment by commercial firms and that the major part of the equipment has already been delivered. Everything possible has been done here by the departments concerned to facilitate and expedite delivery and installation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on how many occasions the aircraft blind-approach beacon at Croydon airport has broken down since 1st October, 1945.

:None, Sir. An interruption in the service of the Standard Beam Approach system occurred from 1500 hours on 23rd November to I2.00 hours on 25th November owing to interference caused by the close proximity of a damaged aircraft. There has been no other interruption of the system since1ist October except during brief periods for maintenance purposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the future use of Dyce aero drome; and what steps he is taking to facilitate a civil air service between Aberdeen and London.

Dyce aerodrome will continue to be used for civil air transport purposes and may be used also by the Royal Air Force for military purposes. Services connecting Aberdeen with London will be established as soon as circumstances permit and these depend primarily upon suitable aircraft becoming available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will make a statement in regard to the present schedules of transatlantic air services operated by American Air Lines and B.O.A.C.

So far as scheduled services are concerned, during the winter months the British Ovorseas Airways Corporation operate a once weekly flying-boat air service in each direction between Poole and Baltimore. Except for Pan American Airways, which under a prewar diplomatic exchange of notes is permitted to operate a reciprocal air service twice weekly to and from the United Kingdom, American airlines have not so far been formally authorised to fly scheduled air services to this country.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what research is his Department doing into the effect on aircrew fatigue of long-range and altitude flying and constant change from one climatic condition to another.

My Department has at its disposal in medical problems of aviation the extensive knowledge and experience of the Directorate-General of Medical Services in the Air Ministry and of the Air Ministry Flying Personnel Research Committee. This committee has made intensive studies, both under laboratory conditions and in the field of the effect on aircrew fatigue of long range and altitude flying and constant change from one climatic condition to another. It maintains close liaison with the medical director of the British Overseas Airways Corporation and will do so with the two new corporations to be formed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the advertisements now appearing for personnel required in various branches of the Malayan Civil Service and offering salaries in Straits dollars which are stated in the advertisements to be worth 2S. 4d., he will give an assurance that the purchasing power of the Straits dollar at present is as much as 2s. 4d.; and, if not, what steps will be taken to compensate those who are appointed as a result of these advertisements.

The Malayan dollar is convertible into sterling at the same rate as before the war, i.e.2s. 4d. The advertisement set out the Malayan dollar salaries and allowances and included the words "Malayan Dollars= 2s. 4d." In the present conditions of shortage of goods and services both here and in Malaya I should not be prepared to give an assurance of equality between the two currencies in local purchasing power. It remains the fact however that the Malayan dollar can be exchanged for 2s. 4d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the position as regards reimbursement of the planters of Malaya who lost all their personal effects as a result of the invasion of Malaya by the Japanese; and whether he will under take that compensation is given to these men who did much to combat the enemy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member of the Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald) on 24th October, to which I have nothing to add. I would also refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. E. P. Smith) on 31st October and 14th Nov- ember regarding the assistance which is being given by His Majesty's Government in the case of persons who have suffered losses in the Far Eastern Colonial territories.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to secure that part of the sterling balances standing to the credit of the Argentine and other South American Governments are applied in discharge of the obligations to British stock holders and bond holders who have lent their money for the development of these countries.

The existence of sterling balances may, in appropriate cases, facilitate the ultimate settlement of British claims on foreign debtors by eliminating some of the difficulties of transfer, and full weight will be given to this factor in negotiations with the countries concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the Government decision to reduce from 1⅛percent. to.⅝percent. the rate of interest on Treasury deposit receipts and to convert 2½ per cent. War and Conversion, Loans into if 1¾ percent. Exchequer Bonds and the fact that an interest rate of 4 percent per annum in respect of land compulsorily purchased, on which entry has been made before compensation is paid, is now too high, whether he will make regulations under Section 62 of the Town and Country Planning Act, prescribing a lower rate than 4 per cent.; and what rate of interest he will prescribe.

The rate of interest appropriate, where the purchase money for land compulsorily acquired is not paid until after entry, depends on a number of considerations of which the current rate for Government borrowing is only one. I do not think there is sufficient ground at the present time for revising the rate fixed a year ago.

asked the Minister of Labour what active assistance is being given to officers leaving the R.A.F., with no previous business experience, in obtaining employment in posts for which they are likely to be best suited.

The officers to whom the hon. Member refers will, in general, be either regular officers or young men leaving the Service in 1946. To deal with the former the staffs of appointments offices have been strengthened by the secondment of R.A.F. officers who can interpret Service experience in terms of suitability for civilian employment. For the latter, courses of training are being prepared as recommended in the Report on Training for Business Administration (Cmd.6673). Both forms of activity are complementary to the normal placing work of the appointments offices.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that numbers of disabled persons are leaving Glascoed Royal Ordnance Factory through redundancy; what His Majesty's Government intend to do with these disabled persons; and what provision they are going to make for them.

The Government's general plans for providing employment for disabled persons are set out in the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944. I am not aware of any special difficulty in the case of disabled persons becoming redundant from the Glascoed Royal Ordnance Factory, but I will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, without abandoning the widely-approved age and length of service principle for demobilisation, he will speed up the rate of demobilisation; and if he will make an early statement on the subject.

The progress of demobilisation is under constant review and every thing possible is being done to speed it up. If there is any change in the programme already published an immediate announcement will be made.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will arrange to have a regular monthly statement issued in the new year giving the number of persons demobilised out of each of the three Services; the number of persons unemployed; and the number who have been on strike during the preceding month.

Regular monthly statements on each of the matters referred to by the hon. Member are already being issued.

asked the Minister of Education how many teachers have now been demobilised under Class B release.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge-Bourke) on 4th December.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many extra omnibuses were run on the Hamilton to Coalburn route between the hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on each day of the week, giving each day separately, for the four weeks ended 29th September, 1945.

Three extra omnibuses were run daily from Monday to Friday inclusive on the Hamilton-Coalburn section, giving, between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on each of those days, one extra return journey between Hamilton and Birkenshaw, one between Larkhall and Canderside Toll, one between Lark-hall and Coalburn, and two between Hamilton and Lesmahagow.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether, in connection with his campaign for increasing road safety, he will take steps to reduce the number of accidents caused by faulty vision on the part of drivers by arranging that the issue and reissue of driving licences shall be dependent upon a declaration as to the adequacy of the applicant's eyesight or indicating that his defective vision has been remedied by optical means.

Applicants for driving licences are required to say whether they can read at a distance of 25 yards in good daylight, with glasses if worn, a motorcar number plate containing six letters and figures, and penalties attach if false statements are made. If the eyesight of an applicant does not reach this standard he is automatically debarred from obtaining a driving licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the horsepower and registration of the motorcar which was involved in an accident near the Wake Arms public house in Epping Forest on Tuesday, 20th November; and who were the occupants.

I am informed that the particulars of the accident were duly reported to the Metropolitan Police. Police records are confidential but the police are prepared to give particulars of any accident reported to them to interested parties or their properly authorised legal representatives, and it is open to any interested party to apply to the Commissioner of Police.

asked the Minister of Food whether consideration has been given to the possibility of voluntary relief agencies in this country being allowed to collect food for sending to Europe, and, if so, with what result.

Yes, Sir. I am opposed to anything in the nature of a campaign which, in my view, would inevitably bring pressure to bear on people to surrender foods to the detriment of their health and of the health of their families.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the present shortage of fats and frying oils, both for fried fish shops and the ordinary house-wife, is preventing them from making the best and fullest use of increased supplies of fish; and whether, in view of this fact and the increase in the civilian population arising from demobilisation, he will now arrange to increase the supply of frying oils with special reference to fried fish shops.

I am aware that house-wives and fish friers would like more fat, but I regret that supplies will not permit any further increases at present.

asked the Minister of Food on what date food surpluses in Denmark were allocated by the Anglo-American Combined Food Board, and to which countries are the surpluses being sent in addition to France, Belgium, Holland and the B.A.O.R.

No precise date can be given. Agreements made from time to time by the Danish Government to supply food to other countries are reported to the C.F.B. and where necessary, the allocations of food made to those countries from other sources of supply are adjusted accordingly by the Board. Food is exported from Denmark to Finland, Nor way, Sweden and the United Kingdom as well as to France, Belgium, Holland and the B.A.O.R. Arrangements are also being made to send supplies from Den mark to Czechoslovakia and to Germany for use in feeding displaced persons.