asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he is aware that Wharfedale College, Boston Spa, which is held under requisition by his Department, has been unoccupied since July; and whether, in view of this, he will consider derequisitioning the house, thereby enabling the Wetherby Rural District Council to convert the property into flats.

Some time ago this property was declared redundant to the requirements of my Department. I understand that negotiations for its release are now proceeding.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he is aware that Hadfields, Wetherby, a large fully-furnished house for 25 residents with a domestic staff of five, held under requisition by his Department, has for the last three months been occupied by only four residents; and whether, in view of this, he will consider derequisitioning the house, thereby enabling the Wetherby Rural District Council to convert the property into flats.

I assume the hon. and gallant Member is referring to Hallfields House. This property has been notified to the Ministry of Works as redundant to our requirements.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production why the Daimler motor car works at Abbey Road, Park Royal, is still making armoured scout-cars.

These works have never been used for the manufacture of scout cars, but are being used for the repair of Daimler scout cars for return to the Amy.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether arrangements are now made for the disposal to private purchasers of service and Government motor cars and lorries no longer required; and if full information will be issued in all parts of the country.

As explained in my answer to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. S. Shephard) on 15th October last, the balance of surplus Service motor vehicles, after the needs of Government Departments, the paying Allies and U.N.R.R.A. have been met, is handed over to the manufacturers for re-distribution through trade channels. These vehicles are reconditioned either by the manufacturers or by their agents and are sold only to purchasers who hold permits to acquire obtained from the Ministry of War Transport, except in the case of motor cycles, which do not require permits.As my right hon. Friend the Minister of War Transport stated in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Bewdley (Major Conant) on 22nd October, these permits are, in the case of goods vehicles, issued by the Regional Transport Commissioners, up to the numbers available, to applicants who satisfy them that they need a vehicle and that it is in the national interest that one should be allocated to them. Permits for reconditioned cars, issued from the Ministry of War Transport headquarters in London, are at present available only to nurses, midwives and badly disabled ex-Servicemen, who need a car to follow an occupation.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what organisations to deal with the disposal of Government surplus stores have been set up in conjunction with his Department; and what value of goods have each disposed of, to a recent date.

A special disposals association has been set up to purchase and distribute all Government surpluses of pharmaceutical and allied chemicals. Up to the present all these surpluses have gone to U.N.R.R.A. and none have therefore, been passed to the association for disposal. Another association or similar lines has been set up to purchase and distribute surplus Government cinematograph equipment. All equipment sc far thrown up has been badly needed for other Government uses and none has, therefore, yet been passed to the association for disposal.

R.O.F.		Total peak strength.	Radius whence drawn.	Mode of travel.
In the county of Yorkshire:
Leeds	}(Engineering Factories)	3,187	8 miles	Mainly tram.
Maltby		4.398	10 miles	Buses.
Steeton		2.465	10 miles	Train and Bus.
Thorp Arch (Filling Factory)		11,150	40 miles	Those employees living within daily travelling distance came by bus from the North, West and East, and by train from the South, with "feeder" bus services where necessary.
In the county of Lancashire:
Blackburn	(Engineering Factories)	4,780	6 miles	Train and bus.
Fazakerley		9,568	5 miles	Tram and bus.
Patricroft		2,846	4 miles	Train and bus
Radcliffe		1.979	5 miles	Train and bus.
Wigan		1,040	4 miles	Bus.
Chorley	}(Filling Factories)	35,600	30 miles	Special train, bus and tram services, by arrangement with the L.M.S. Rly. and various Road Transport Companies.
Kirkby		22,480	15 miles	Normal train service to Kirkby station. Also special train, bus and tram services.
Risley		25,13	20 miles	Special train, bus and tram services as for R.O.F. Chorley.
Healey Hall (Factory closed on 19.7.43)		778	0.5 miles	Train. Special bus services.
In the county of Cheshire:
EllesmerePort	}(Engineering Factories)	1,257	6 miles	Train and bus.
Hooton		1,006	6 miles	Train and bus.
Radway Green		14,196	12 miles	Train and bus.
(There are no Filling Factories in Cheshire).

Of the above Royal Ordnance Factories, the following are to be retained in peace establishment: Leeds, Maltby, Blackburn, Fazakerley, Patricroft, Rad-

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if he will state the number of Royal Ordnance Factories situated in the county districts of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire; the number of employees during the peak war period; from what radius they were drawn and their mode of travel; how many of such factories are to be turned over to peacetime production; and what is the estimated number of persons likely to be employed.

The following statement shows the Royal Ordnance Factories situated in the county districts of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire, and the details concerning the peak number of employees during the war period:way Green and Chorley. The R.O.F. Wigan is being retained for the time being. After satisfying the need for war potential, the peacetime Royal Ordnance

asked the President of the Board of Trade, by what measures he proposes to secure efficiency in the motor industry with a view to the large scale production for export of modern motor-cars with standardised components.

I have been asked to reply. I am proposing to arrange for discussions with the manufacturers on production for export to ascertain what are the difficulties and to see what practical steps the Government can take to assist their solution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when motor car tyres will be available to meet the requirements of those to whom permits for replacement have been issued.

It has not yet been possible fully to overtake the arrears of demands under permit for new car tyres, though the position is improving. With the exception of users such as doctors and nurses, to whom special priority is given, permits are met in rotation and there is still a delay of two-three months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will cease issuing licences for the importation into this country of utility standard furniture, and will use the shipping space thus released for the importation of timber so that full-time employment in the furniture industry can be restored.

Shipping space is not now a limiting factor in the import of timber. It is not my intention to grant licences for the import of furniture if timber supplies would thereby be reduced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet received the Report of the Central Price Regulation Committee on the retail price of radio valves; and if he will make a statement thereon.

No, Sir. The report has not yet been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of industrial floor space derequisitioned during the month of November.

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the figures for November become available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of all the popular brands of cigarettes in London; and what steps he proposes to take to increase supplies.

Yes, Sir. Although 7½ per cent. more cigarettes of certain popular brands are being delivered to the London shops than were being delivered in September, demand is still greater than supply. It is not possible to increase supplies further, but it would materially ease the position if the public would refrain from buying in advance of their immediate needs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that ex-Servicemen without means obtain trading licences only with great difficulty and are frequently refused them, whilst those with means can and do purchase them at excessive prices; and if he will remedy this situation.

Licences under the Location of Retail Businesses Order are not for sale. If my hon. Friend will let me have examples of what he has in mind, I will examine them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he is sending to Germany a team from the British Woolcombers Federation to. investigate German machinery, when he has already in his Department a report from a U.S. textile delegation which visited the British zone in August; why was a British delegation not sent four months ago; why was a U.S. delegation permitted to visit the British zone; and if they were in the uniforms of the U.S. fighting services.

This team is being sent in agreement with the Federation to allow them to make their own investigation of the German Industry. The delegation has been delayed partly by negotiations as to its size and composition and partly due to the limited facilities available in Germany for such visits. The United States delegation was permitted to visit the British zone as part of a reciprocal arrangement between allies. I should imagine that the members of the delegation were probably in uniform.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Messrs. Samuel Cockroft and Company, Limited, Barkerend Mills, Bradford, were refused by the Wool Control permission to export 25,000 1b. of worsted yarn to an old customer in Cleveland, Ohio, when this firm have the plant, labour and raw material and this country needs the dollars.

The application in question was made after the firm had disposed of the whole of its share of a recent allocation of wool yarn. When a further allocation of yarn for export is possible the firm will participate in it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether industrial concerns in this country require licences from his Department to establish factories abroad; and whether any such licences have been granted for factories in Spain, Portugal or Southern Ireland.

No, Sir. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any further information to give about the industrial development of the South Bank of the Tees.

Yes, Sir. I am glad to be able to inform the House that, in addition to the Dorman Long scheme already announced, Imperial Chemical Industries have bought 3,500 acres three miles from Middlesbrough in the Tees-Side development area. This estate will be used for the large-scale production of heavy organic chemicals from coal and oil. It is estimated that employment will eventually be given to over 10,000 people, and that 3,000 people will be required during the constructional stages of this project.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply has been made to the letter forwarded to his Permanent Secretary by Mr. F. O. Wilson, of Manchester, on 22nd November, 1945, about the importation of manufactured box boards from foreign countries at the present time when the English saw-milling and box industry is capable of meeting all our requirements.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answer I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton (Mr. J, Lewis).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the reason for fixing the price of rubber in Singapore at 10d. per 1b. and in Ceylon at 1s. 6d.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Hornsey (Captain Gammans) on 19th November.)

asked the President of the Board of Trade, why Mrs. H. P. Daubrah, of The Sycamores, Alford, Lincolnshire, was refused dockets for curtain material, bedlinen, etc., when it appears that her application was entirely in order.

I am looking into this case and will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of newsprint consumed in the United Kingdom in each of the first 11 months of 1939 and 1945 respectively.

The individual monthly figures of consumption for the first 11 months of 1939 are not available. The average monthly consumption by newspapers and periodicals in January-November, 1939, was 86,200 tons. Their monthly consumption in 1945 was as follows: —

—					1937 January to November.	1939 January to November.	1941 January to November.	1945 January to October.
					£	£	£	£
Canada	…	…	…	…	1,082,831	1,596,206	1,804,907	1,635,872
Newfoundland		…	…	…	1,631,656	1,359,983	724,448	2,386,849
Finland	…	…	…	…	638,910	601,781	—	—
Sweden	…	…	…	…	123,279	228,292	—	—
Norway	…	…	…	…	183.723	161,371	—	—
Other Foreign Countries				…	9,093	24,931	14,034	—

Raw materials for newsprint production are also used for the manufacture of other types of paper and it is not therefore possible to give values of materials imported for newsprint production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what stocks of newsprint were held in the United Kingdom on 30th November 1937, 31st August 1939, 30th November 1941, 30th April 1945 and 30th November 1945.

Figures of stocks at 30th November, 1937, are not available. The stocks at the end of August, 1939, November, 1941, April, 1945 and November, 1945, were 208,672 tons, 186,321 tons, 110,715 tons and 145,318 tons respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, specifying the countries from which it was obtained, the value of the newsprint and of the raw material for manufacture into newsprint, respectively, which was imported into the United Kingdom in the first 11 months of 1937, 1939, 1941 and 1945.

Figures of imports for November, 1945, are not yet available, but imports of newsprint in reels in the first 11 months of 1937, 1939, 1941, and the first 10 months of 1945 are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of stocks of handkerchiefs in the Cambridge area; and if, in the interests of hygiene and health, he will take immediate steps to increase the quota allotted to that area.

Supplies of handkerchiefs throughout the country are necessarily limited by the yarn position. I am, however, having inquiries made, and if these show that there is an undue shortage in the Cambridge area, steps will be taken to get extra supplies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of children's perambulators in Sunderland; and what steps he is taking to increase the supply of perambulators.

I have no reason to believe that Sunderland is not receiving its appropriate share of supplies. My Department is assisting the perambulator manufacturers and the manufacturers of components in regard to labour and raw materials, and I am glad to say that the latest output returns show a marked increase.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that powdered whiting, which is an essential compounding ingredient in the rubber and cable industries, is in short supply; and if he will take steps to ensure that a proper allocation is made to these industries, having regard to the large demands for this material for the building programme.

I have been asked to reply. I am fully aware that powdered whiting is in short supply and that many essential uses, including those which my hon. Friend mentions, are going short. I am not aware, however, that the rubber and cable industries are receiving less than a fair share of the output in comparison with the other industries dependent on whiting. The shortage of supply is principally due to lack of labour, and all possible steps, including the submission of names for Class B release, are being taken in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour to provide for the necessary recruitment, and further expansions of capacity are being made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the multiplicity of legislation and the numerous regulations affecting his Department, the Ministry of Food and the W.A.E.C.s, he will consider consolidating the legislation and regulations into a comprehensive charter for agriculture.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that ex- Servicemen, while encouraged to go into farming, are not allowed rations for poultry or pigs unless their particular farm or smallholding received a ration in 1939; and what steps he intends to take to remedy this hardship as well as to increase production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the hardship caused to demobilised Servicemen who wish to keep pigs or poultry, but who are debarred unless they were keeping pigs or poultry in 1939; and will he make some concession in this matter, particularly in the case of released Regular soldiers, sailors and airmen and former prisoners of war.

I regret that owing to the present shortage of feeding stuffs it is not possible to provide rations for ex-Servicemen, or others, who wish to start pig or poultry production on holdings where such stock were not kept before the war. Ex-Servicemen are strongly advised not to go in for pigs or poultry keeping as a sole means of livelihood, but those who were in the business before joining up are eligible for rations on the same scale as they would be receiving had they remained on their holdings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quota of Class B releases for the agricultural industry; and why, in view of the gravity of the labour situation in the industry, the total quota has not yet been released.

Under the Class B individual specialists release scheme, my Department is authorised to recommend about 1,000 such releases in the period ending 31st December, 1945. Only cases which comply with the conditions of this scheme can be supported, but recommendations up to the number allowed will be sent to the appropriate authorities by the end of the year. As announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service on 4th December, 1945, approval has now been given to the inclusion of up too 10,000 agricultural workers under the scheme for Class B block releases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that some agricultural workers were, immediately prior to their call-up, engaged on public contract work and aerodrome construction; and whether such men will be eligible for Class B release for agricultural work.

Men who immediately prior to enlistment were engaged on work other than agriculture will not be eligible for release under the Class B block release scheme for agricultural workers unless their pre-enlistment civilian occupation as recorded by the Service Department is included in one of the specified classes to which the scheme applies. I am sending the hon. Member a statement explaining these arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that large dumps of sugar beet are lying alongside main roads in Yorkshire awaiting collection and in danger of being damaged or destroyed by frost; and whether emergency arrangements will be made to provide the necessary transport and storage accommodation to prevent any unnecessary loss on this account.

I fully recognise the risk of possible damage from frost to beet awaiting delivery to the factories and warnings have recently been issued both by the Ministry and by the National Farmers' Union, reminding farmers of the need to cover roadside clamps with bundles of straw or brushwood in severe weather. I am glad to have this opportunity of emphasising the need for protective measures of this kind. With the existing world shortage we cannot afford to lose any potential supplies of sugar from home sources. The provision of additional transport would not afford a satisfactory remedy because beet is already being delivered as fast as the factories can process it.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will consider reducing the present high level of ferry charges on the Queensferry passage.

The charges are within the statutory maxima but since the charges were increased in March, 1943, they have been considered in the light of financial results from time to time. A statement of the results for the first half of the current accounting year has just been received and I will communicate to the hon. Member the result of my further consideration of the charges.

asked the Minister of War Transport what time the last trains leave Westminster station; and whether any later trains are proposed.

The times of the last trains from Westminster station are as follows:

Destination.	Weekdays.	Sundays.
Eastbound
Inner Circle (via Aldgate).	11.43 p.m.	11.40 p.m.
Upminster	11.40 p.m.	11. 9 p.m.
Dagenham	11.53 p.m.	11.42 p.m.
Westbound
Inner Circle (to Baker Street).	12. 5 a.m.	11.48 p.m.
Wimbledon	12. 9 a.m.(E)	11.55 p.m.(E)
Richmond	11.40 p.m.	11.14 p.m.
Ealing Broadway,	12. 9 a.m.	11.55 p.m.
(E) Change at Earls Court.

No later trains are proposed at present.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will consider restoring the 12-journey tickets validity to 14 clays, as existed before the war; and that contract tickets should be made available to the public in County Durham.

I am glad to say that the contract tickets, which were withdrawn during the war on omnibus services in the Northern Region, will be restored on 1st February, 1946. It is not yet practicable to extend the period of validity of 12-journey tickets, but the matter is being kept under close review.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many persons have been debarred, since 1938, from obtaining driving licences because they are unable to read a motor-car number plate at 25 yards in good daylight; how many people since that year have been prosecuted for obtaining a driving licence despite the fact that they are unable to show that their eyesight is sufficiently good for that purpose; whether he is satisfied that the present arrangements are sufficient to prevent persons from driving and causing accidents by reason of defective vision; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the matter.

No figures are available, but I have no evidence to suggest that false declarations are made in this respect.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is aware that his Department will not grant a permit for the sale of an Army vehicle without the quoting of a chassis number and that certain motor-car agents will not allow a chassis number to be quoted without production of his Department's permit; and what steps he proposes to remedy this state of affairs.

No, Sir. I am not aware that applicants for surplus ex-Service vehicles are required to quote a chassis number but if my hon. Friend will send me further particulars of what he has in mind I will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether, in view of the number of applications for licences to acquire new private motor-cars which are being rejected on the grounds that there are higher categories of need, he will circulate in the Official Report a detailed list of all such categories in their order of priority, with the number of licences which have so far been granted and refused in each case.

Apart from the fact that individual circumstances vary widely, priority cannot be arranged in strict categories. In practice such professions and occupations as medicine and nursing, or housing and production for export receive preference.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the statement on page 120 of the Report of the Bengal Commission that during the months January to June, 1944, the number of deaths from smallpox was 126,471 is correct.

I am inquiring from what source the Bengal Famine Inquiry Commission derived their figure of 125,471 and whether it remains the latest available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that in Shahjahanpur in the United Provinces, 2,000 workers in the Government tailoring workshops, who are members of a registered trade union, are excluded from the franchise owing to the fact that their union has not been founded within the two-year qualifying period; and what steps he will take to ensure that these workers are enabled to participate in the forthcoming elections.

Under paragraph 16 (1).of Part V of the Government of India (Provincial Legislative Assemblies) Order, 1936, a trade union can be a constituent trade union in the United Provinces trade union labour constituency only if it is certified by the Governor as having been in existence for at least two years and to have been registered as a trade union for at least one year. No steps can accordingly be taken to enfranchise the trade union referred to without amendment of the Order, which, even if it were found desirable, could not be effected in time for the present elections.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware of the fact that in the Madras Province two Communists, Manali Kandaswamy and Amrithalingam, who are leaders in the peasant movement, have been expelled from their districts and are unable to take part in the election campaign; and what steps he will take to secure the revocation of such expulsion orders, and to place these people on the electoral registers.

I am making inquiries into this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how much money is paid to Reuter from the India Office Vote; and whether any payment is made from the same source to any Indian news agency.

The only payment made to Reuter from the India Office Vote is in respect of subscriptions to their news services to and from India. The annual payment is £100. No payment is made to any other news agency.

asked the Under-secretary of State for India if he will inquire into the state of health of Dr. Ram Mandhar Lohia, detained in the Agra central gaol, and into the conditions existing in the Lahore fort where he was detained; and if he will order the release of Dr. Lohia in view of the fact that he has no charges made against him that would warrant his trial in open court.

The Government of India recently received a medical report that Dr. Lohia has been practically cured of the skin disease from which he has been suffering and has gained weight. The Lahore Fort is under the control of the Government of the Punjab which has informed the Government of India that the allegations made by Dr. Lohia in respect of the conditions of his detention there are unfounded. The question of his prosecution is under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma if he will now make a statement on the pay of the Burma police.

The basic rates of police pay under the restored Civil Government in Burma are the same as before evacuation. Allowances given under Civil Affairs Service (Burma), however, still continue; and the Government of Burma is shortly to consider what upward revision of the basic rates of pay may be suitable. The basic monthly rates are as follows: constables Rs.20 to Rs.27 and Rangoon police constables Rs.28 and Rs.32; head constables Rs.32 to Rs.48 and Rangoon police head constables Rs.36 to Rs.46; sub-inspectors of police Rs.60 to Rs.115 (court prosecutors receive an additional Rs.10); inspectors of police Rs.140 to Rs.250, and deputy superintendents of police R3.300 to Rs.600.The allowances which were given under the Civil Affairs Service (Burma) and which still continue, are as follows:

asked the Under-secretary of State for Air if he has inquired into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a graduate of London University with a first class honours degree in physics, who is notified that he will shortly be sent to India after three and a half years in the Service to perform duties in which his special training will be wasted for a further two years. when he is urgently needed in industry; and what action he proposes to take.

We have specially trained this officer, who is in group 45, for important signals duty in connection with the air trooping programme. We have received no application for his release in Class B. His posting to India will therefore have to stand.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the advance release numbers for February are now as follows: clerk, accounting Groups 19 to 22; clerk, general duties, Group 24 only; clerk, cypher signals, Groups 27 to 29; several ground trades, Groups 29 to 32; and what is being done to bring these backward groups up to the higher levels of release.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan) on 5th December, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Air the date on which the personnel of the instrument section, T.C.D.U., stationed at Harwell, Bucks, and due for release between 1st and 22nd December had their release medical examination; how long these release reports were retained in the commanding officer's office awaiting his signature; and if he will ensure that the release of men is not delayed for the signature of the necessary reports.

These men are due for release in the period between 1st December and 31st December. There is no question of their waiting for any formalities and their release will not be delayed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of civilians employed at the Air Ministry depot, at Milton, now and six months ago, respectively.

Two thousand two hundred civilians are employed at the Air Ministry Unit, Milton. There were 2,371 on 1st May.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the delivery of mails to 36 S.P., R.A.F., S.E.A.A.F., has been delayed; that all mails are delivered by the B.O.A.C.; and whether he will be prepared to arrange for R.A.F. aeroplanes to supplement the B.O.A.C. service, where necessary, to secure the speedy delivery of mails.

Airmail to all the Services in the Far East has recently been delayed up to two or three days because of bad weather and of some difficulties with the aircraft in use, which are all in Transport Command. We are now putting these mails on to another Transport Command service. They should not take more than between five and nine days to deliver, depending on the weather and on the distances of units from the main distribution centres. It will, of course, take longer to deal with the Christmas mail which travels by air. It has already been announced that 7th December was the last date for posting this mail.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware that many business men in Northern Ireland are reluctant to travel by air owing to the possibility of their seats being claimed at the last minute by priority passengers; and if he will arrange that seats booked and paid for three weeks in advance will not be confiscated at a moment's notice.

I am not aware that the position is as stated in the first part of the Question. Between London and Belfast a proportion of seats is reserved on each day for business men whose applications are sponsored by Government Departments. It is unlikely that any business man to whom one of those seats is allotted would be displaced. The allocation of seats on air transport services is the responsibility of the Air Priorities Board and I am not in a position to make the arrangement suggested in the last part of the Question. Every effort is made to avoid last-minute displacements of passengers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer details of the approximate amounts and distribution, by countries, of the sterling balances owned by overseas holders.

I would refer the hon. Member to the figures given in Command Paper 6707.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Chapter 5 of the Crimea Declaration is to be regarded as abrogated.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the L.C.C. are unable to obtain from the Ministry of Supply, material necessary to complete bomb damage repairs to May-field School, West Hill, Putney; and when he anticipates being able to place these materials at the disposal of the L.C.C. and so provide the accommodation urgently needed for pupils who have been brought back to London.

I am informed that the only material in respect of which the L.C.C.'s contractors have encountered difficulty is distemper. There is a general shortage of this in London, and I am inquiring into the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the Polish Government's reply to the British Ambassador's recent demarche about freedom of speech and of the Press.

Although H.M. Government are naturally interested in the freedom of speech and of the Press, no formal demarche calling for a reply has been made recently to the Polish Government on the subject.

asked the Minister of Information the present annual expenditure of Government Departments on Press advertising; and what steps are being taken to reduce the outlay in view of the limited paper supplies and the need for resuming normal business as quickly as possible.

Expenditure on Press advertising placed by the Ministry of Information is now at the rate of about £450,000 a year, practically all on behalf of other Government Departments. A few Departments, including the National Savings Committee and the Ministry of Food, handle and pay for their own advertisements, and their expenditure is not included in this figure. This means of publicity is confined to essential Government purposes, and expenditure is already considerably reduced below the wartime level.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the telecommunication research and development programme planned for the immediate future provides for an increase in quantity and quality over that carried out in the years 1934 to 1939, inclusive; and by whom the future programme will be carried out.

I can only speak for the Post Office, in regard to which the answer is in the affirmative. The Post Office undertakes its own research and development. Research and development in the same field is also undertaken by other Government Departments, e.g. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Supply, Ministry of Aircraft Production and Admiralty, and by the Telecommunications industry itself.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the present strength of the Sea Cadets; and what is the financial contribution made by him to its upkeep.

The present strength of the Sea Cadets is approximately 40,500. It is estimated that the financial contributions to be made by the Admiralty during the current year will be in the region of £80,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the number of transmigrants in bond in the last year before the war of 1914 and in the five years before the war of 1939.

This information is given in the following Table:

Number of Transmigrants under Bond who Entered and Left the United Kingdom during the years 1913 and 1934–1938 inclusive.
Year.	Entered.	Embarked.
1913	153,634	154,660
1934	9,837	9,902
1935	10,641	10,650
1936	I3,471	13,480
1937	16,322	16,251
1938	14,053	14,114

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that there are over 1,000 pairs of worsted trousers in a Government store at Branston, near Burton-on-Trent; and if, in view of the shortage of clothing, he will make these articles available to the public.

Yes, Sir; the position is already under review. If any quantity is found surplus to the Department's requirements it will be notified to the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present strength of the A.C.F.; and what is the financial cost to his Department.

On 31st July, 1945, the date of the last half-yearly return, there were 9,489 adult officers and 159,916 cadets in the Army Cadet Force. The estimated cost of the Force, in cash and kind, during the present financial year is £550,000.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he has any information as to which countries within the British Empire have imposed military conscription since September, 1939, and where it has since been abandoned and/or it has been decided to abandon it.

Under legislation enacted before September, 1939, power existed in the Commonwealth of Australia and in the Union of South Africa to require all men to render military service in time of war. Similar legislative provision was made in Canada and New Zealand after September, 1939. Men have been called up for service under these provisions in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They are no longer being called up in Canada or New Zealand and it is understood that only boys of 18 are now being called up in the Commonwealth of Australia. Powers were also taken in many other parts of the Empire to call up men for military service, and were used in varying degrees.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what was the approximate number of trade unionists in Newfoundland in 1934, 1939 and today; and what is the present membership of the principal trade unions.

As regards the first part of the Question, the approximate figures are 20,000, 35,000 and 42,000 respectively.So far as the second part of the Question is concerned, the present membership of the principal trade unions is as follows:

Fishermen's Protective Union	15,000
Lumbermen's Union	7,200
Labourers' Union	3,500
Longshoremen's Union	4,000
Shop and Office Employees' Union	1,915
Workers' Central Union	1,200
Miners' Union	2,150
Paper Makers' Union	1,731
Various Railway Unions	1,523

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of co-operative societies in 1934, 1939 and today in Newfoundland; the approximate number of members; and total turnover at those respective dates,

In 1934 there were two co-operative societies in the island, one of which had a membership of 814 and a total turnover of 275,321 dollars. Detailed information as to the second society is not available. In 1939 there were 34 societies with 3,148 members and a total turnover of 449,113 dollars and in 1944, 121 societies with 11,260 members and a total turnover of 2,262,210 dollars.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps have been taken by His Majesty's Government to encourage the setting up of trade unions on a national scale in Germany.

The hon. Member will appreciate that action in respect of matters concerning Germany as a whole must be agreed and co-ordinated by the quadripartite authorities sitting in Berlin. While in the British Zone considerable encouragement is being given to the formation of trade unions—and the same applies, I believe, to other zones —no quadripartite agreement has yet been obtained for the establishment of trade unions on a national basis.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that in some areas the local education authorities have proposed a scheme which does not allow the full provision of holidays permitted to secondary schools by statutory regulations hitherto in force; and whether she will circularise local authorities on the desirability of maintaining the statutory provision of holidays.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on this subject on 22nd August last. On my present information, I do not consider that action by my department is called for. I understand that an interim report drawn up by the Association of Education Committees in consultation with the National Union of Teachers and the Joint Four Secondary Association will shortly be published, and I hope that this will assist authorities in considering the problem.

asked the Minister of Education the number of trade vocational schools in Wales; where they are situated and whether she has plans for their extension.

There are 23 schools in Wales which were recognised as junior technical schools prior to 1st April, 1945. These are situated in Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Glamorgan, Monmouth- shire, Montgomeryshire, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Swansea. In several cases, plans for extensions to meet urgent needs have been approved or are under consideration. My hon. Friend will appreciate that these are not trade schools but schools giving a technical secondary education; the further development of such schools will in general fall to be considered as part of the local education authorities' development plans. There are, of course, many trade vocational classes in technical colleges and institutions.

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, how much money has been received from the penny collected on dining-room bills up to the end of November, 1945; how many of the staff retiring at the age of 65 have received pension or gratuity; what amount each received; and what was the number of years' service of each recipient.

The amount collected from 1d. on meals from the Dining Room up to the end of November amounted to £1,427 19s. 11d. The number of persons who retired at the age of 65 and are receiving pensions is six. The amounts paid and the years of service are:

Weekly	15s. —51 years.
Weekly	20s. —41 years.
Weekly	10s. —25 years.
Weekly	20s. —24 years.
Weekly	15s. —36 years.
Yearly	£200 —40 years.