asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the policy of the United Nations to exact from Germany compensation in kind or otherwise for war damage inflicted by her upon other countries.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Attorney-General whether it is intended to prosecute the non-German Nazi sympathisers named in secret files of the German Foreign Office; and whether he will now disclose this list to the House.

As my lion. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs stated in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for West Wolverhampton (Lieutenant Herbert Hughes) on 10th December, the documents referred to have not yet been fully examined and as far as I am aware no such list exists. Until the examination of these documents disclose material evidence the question of prosecution can not be considered.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that his vacillating answer is not in accord with the sentiments of the country at large which sympathises with the view expressed by a British officer who said that he wished he could blow the lid off the whole dirty business?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement as to the policy of His Majesty's Government regarding the future of the former Italian territories in North and East Africa and of Italian-occupied islands in the Mediterranean.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made to the House on 9th October.

May I ask if this country has not got a policy, and whether that policy will include terms which will prevent the occupation by Italy or any European Power of points of our lines of communications from which those lines of communications could be threatened?

I think that when I gave the report to the Council of Foreign Ministers I made a comprehensive statement which deals with that point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to allow the further growth in Italy of the Fascist movement, The Front of the Common Man, organised by Giannini through the newspaper "Uomo Qualunque"; or whether it is the intention of the Allied Control Commission to ban this movement; and whether he will state the source of the newsprint and paper which is used by this movement.

The question of political movements in Italy is now primarily one for the Italian Government. His Majesty's Government are of course well aware of the movement and newspaper to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, and I am sure that the Allied authorities in Italy can be relied on to watch the matter with close attention. As regards the last part of the Question, I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many naval officers are teachers by profession, and what number of these have been released from the Service under Group B.

The answer to this Question is rather lengthy and detailed. I propose, therefore, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will accelerate the demobilisation of supply and secretariat officers, R.N.V.R., particularly in view of the situation revealed in Admiralty General Message 682A Too 121119/ November.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche) on 31st October.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, to relieve the situation, he is making use of special branch officers to help with clerical duties, thus releasing some of the supply branch so that they may return to their banks and insurance offices from which they have been away for so long?

A great many improvisations are taking place. The main thing which we have to do, with the limited intake we can get at the present time, is to have people properly trained to do what is, after all, very important work.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will publish the dates of release of naval V.A.D.s, by groups.

Yes, Sir. I have arranged for the programme of releases to be published in the Official Report today.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will now make a full statement on the recent mutiny in H.M.S. "Javelin" and the events leading thereto.

The full report of the inquiry into this incident has recently been received and is now being examined. I regret, therefore, that I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will now consider the resale, or restoration to former owners, of such motor yachts and launches as were requisitioned or purchased on behalf of his Department in the early part of the war, in view of the fact that such action would help to relieve the present housing shortage.

Nine hundred and seventeen of these craft have already been released from Naval service. The rest are being released at the rate of about 150 a month.

May I ask the First Lord if the rightful owners of these craft have the first option of repurchasing them?

I believe so, but as the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, these ships were requisitioned or purchased on our behalf by the Ministry of War Trans port and when released from the Navy are handed back to the Ministry of War Transport for disposal.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that naval officers have to pay Purchase Tax on articles of clothing, etc., bought from the paymaster, while ratings can obtain the same articles tax free; and what is the reason for this anomaly.

Yes, Sir. The reason for this difference is that naval ratings are entitled to be clothed at the expense of the Crown, whereas officers are not. The addition of Purchase Tax to the prices at which clothing is sold to naval ratings would involve a corresponding addition to the money allowance known as kit up keep allowance which is paid to them to cover the cost of maintenance of their kit. Such an arrangement would result in administrative complications with no gain to the Crown.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the new system of forwarding mail to naval ratings serving in merchant ships, through the shipping companies, is causing much delay in the receipt of mails; and what steps he is taking to make the system more satisfactory.

I am aware that certain difficulties have arisen in this connection, and I have made arrangements to bring the naval personnel concerned within the scope of the Naval Mail Organisation.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why it is now considered necessary to form a Movements Directorate of the Admiralty when the war is over, seeing that all naval movement during the war was adequately performed without such an organisation.

The war showed the need for centralised control of the movement of personnel and freight, and after a very full inquiry early in the year, I decided to set up a Movements Directorate on lines generally similar to those of the Directorates of Movement in the War Office and Air Ministry. The Director assumed office in June, and the Directorate is manned almost entirely by staff transferred from the various Departments which had previously handled these matters.

Is the First Lord really not aware that the creation of this organisation could not possibly be justified, and that it is plainly and simply the com- mencement of another racket to justify the creation of high-ranking appointments, nothing more and nothing less?

I dealt with this matter myself in the earlier part of the year, and there is really no foundation for the impression which my hon. and gallant Friend has. In fact, it is already leading to economies in staff.

Then may I ask the First Lord how itcomes about that when I suggested he should have this form of organisation early in the war, he Was most emphatic that it was not necessary? While I am on my feet, may 1 give notice, Mr. Speaker, that in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment?

The answer to the first part of the Question is—

Nothing more can be said when notice of an Adjournment has been given.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the cost of recommissioning and reopening the Shipbuilding Corporation's yard at Southwick, Sunderland.

The reopening and re-equipment of the Southwick Yard were arranged and paid for by the Shipbuilding Corporation. I understand that the cost was in the neighbourhood of £350,000.

the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Ship building Corporation's yard at Southwick, Sunderland, is to be closed down and dismantled.

So far as the Admiralty is concerned, no final conclusion has yet been reached in this matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is satisfied with the standard of the labour employed in the Shipbuilding Corporation's yard at Southwick, Sunderland; and how it com pares with normal shipyard standards.

One of the reasons why the Admiralty requested the Ship-building Industry to re-open this yard was to absorb labour available in the neighbourhood. Key personnel and experienced skilled labour were provided from the permanent well established yards in the vicinity, but it was desirable that those yards should not be unduly weakened. Consequently, Southwick has never reached their level of production, but in the circumstances I have no reason to complain of the standard of labour at this yard.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, how many M.T. Drivers, W.R.N.S., are at present at Chatham without regular employment.

At the present time there are 70 but these will be absorbed in requirements in January.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the waste at present being caused at R.N. demobilisation centres by the removal by burning of bed mattresses, retainable by personnel being demobilised and which, not being required by such personnel, are left behind by them at the centre.

No, Sir. This happens only in those cases in which the mattresses are handed in such a condition as to render their immediate destruction absolutely necessary.

Will the First Lord consider whether in the case of such mattresses as are in a bad state of repair some of them could not be made better use of by the upholstery trade?

I do not think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman can be aware of the circumstances. I looked at one selection at one depot, where hundreds of mattresses had been returned, out of which a dozen or so were destroyed because they were verminous. I do not think that upholstery people would want those.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what percent age of the permanent W.R.N.S., of the W.R.N.S. training establishment, Mill Hill, will be given leave at Christmas; and when such personnel will be informed as to whether they will receive such leave.

Two-thirds will be given leave from Saturday afternoon, 22nd December, to Thursday morning, 27th December, and the remainder from Saturday afternoon, 29th December, to Thursday morning, 3rd January, 1946. The staff were notified of these arrangements on 10th December, 1945.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the names of the Governors of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, their duties and the interest they represent; how often they are required to meet and have, in fact, met; and whether he will consider the appointment of one or more governors to represent the interests of the applicants for entry, in particular, orphan boys from poor families.

As the answer to this Question contains a list of names, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's per mission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL Report.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the ages between which boys are eligible for entry into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook; the physical standard required; the educational standard required; and whether he will arrange for copies of the last educational examination papers to be placed in the Library of the House.

Boys are eligible for ad mission between the ages of 11 and 14 years. In the case of boys whose fathers are living, applications for admission are not accepted after they are 13 years of age unless special reasons are given for the delay in application which may be made when boys reach nine years of age. The physical standard required aims at the boy being able to reach the medical standard for entry to the Royal Navy at the appropriate age. The standard of vision required on entry has recently been re viewed and reduced.

Candidates must also show promise of ultimately reaching the educational standard required for entry to the Royal Navy. In the case of fatherless boys, it is now sufficient that they shall be capable of benefiting from the education the school offers. I am arranging for a copy of the last educational examination paper to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of boys in the last entry into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, who had, respectively, lost both parents or father or mother, or had both parents living.

Of the 35 boys entered at the last entry, one had lost both parents, 21 had lost either father or mother, and 13 had both parents living.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether or not originally this school was primarily intended for orphans, and will he ensure that orphans of men who lost their lives in the service of their country shall receive first consideration?

That obtains already.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what the future of the naval air station at Zeals is to be and for how long it is to continue in use; and whether he will consider improving the conditions under which those people employed at this station have to carry out their work.

The naval air station at Zeals will be closed down in the very near future. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Asked the Under secretary of State for Air if he will bear in mind, when considering applications for Class B or Class C release for West Indian officers and other ranks, many of whom are now redundant, that there are no reinstatement in civil employment rights in the West Indies and that positions will not be kept open for these men indefinitely.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air why men in the equipment sections of the R.A.F. have had their normal date for release postponed to such an extent that by February next, only such men in Group 22 will be released, whilst the normal group will be 32 at that date; and whether the question of storage, etc., can be reviewed so that more men in these equipment sections who are married and have employment waiting for them and are over 35 years of age can have their release at the usual date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why airmen in the trade of equipment assistant are being deferred as much as ten groups. in demobilisation when the course for training men who could replace them in that trade is only a seven-weeks' course.

we shall be releasing all the equipment assistants in groups 22 and 23 in January, compared with group 26—not 32—for most trades. They are therefore three groups behind, not ten. We are already training all the men we can find for this work, which is very extensive while we are closing down stations and arranging for the disposal of equipment and industrial storage space.

Could the Minister say whether in respect of Indian stations he could draw on equipment assistants from the Royal Indian Air Force to help these groups out?

I must have notice of that.

When does the Minister anticipate that the men of the equipment section will catch up with the other groups of the R.A.F.?

They are catching up very rapidly as I have shown in my answer; but when they will become level depends on how much, and when, we can accelerate general release.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why all the four physical training instructors in the Cocos Islands are being deferred eight groups in demobilisation when none of them is engaged on physical training, but one is supervising the scrubbing of tables, one is doing office work and two are running a sports store.

The Royal Air Force Headquarters in the Cocos Islands have sent me a full report on this subject. The release of one of these P.T. instructors has been delayed for three months—because he changed his mind after he had first volunteered at another unit to postpone his release. Apart from this airman, there has been no delay in release for the P.T. instructors serving in the Cocos Islands, though as a trade throughout the Service they are two groups, not eight, behind the average. One, or possibly two, of them in the Cocos Islands have been helping out with other service duties but this was in addition to P.T. instruction. There are now only two instructors in the Islands and they are both fully employed on P.T. duties.

In view of the fact that both youth clubs and senior schools in this country are very badly in need of P.T. instructors, will my hon. Friend do his best to get instructors out?

We are doing our best.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what release group in the W.A.A.F. has now been reached; how far behind are the clerical grades and when it is expected that they will reach the ordinary grades and be released simultaneously with others of the same group.

All married members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force have now been given the choice of leaving the Service. In December we are releasing unmarried Women's Auxiliary Air Force officers of most branches in Group 31, and airwomen of most trades in Group 37. As for the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 5th December to my hon. Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air to what extent the release rate of the model maker trade of the R.A.F. is lagging behind the normal release rate.

Their release is one group ahead of the average.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many of the 10,000 agricultural workers to be given Class B block releases are to be taken from the R.A.F.; what conditions with regard to age and length of service categories of these men will be applied; and how many men will be released during the next three months, respectively.

our share is to be just over 2,100, plus some rural craftsmen who will be nominated individually by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The 2,100 agricultural workers will be offered Class B release under the block procedure, in order of age and service, but disregarding those who are nearly due for Class A release or who have served for less than a year.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Air how many civil airfields were taken over by the R.A.F.; how many of these were owned by local authorities; and how many have been restored to their former use.

uring the war the Royal Air Force took over 62 civil airfields. Local authorities owned or were closely interested in 29 of these. We have given up 12 of the 62. In consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, we hope both to add to this number rapidly, and to arrange for joint service and civil use at the majority of the remainder which must be retained for the present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will circulate in the Official Report the total number of airfields constructed during the period September, 1938, to September, 1945; how many of these were designed for heavy bombers; how many for fighter type of aircraft; what was the approximate cost of each type; how many of them have grass runways; how many of each type are now retained for operational and storage requirements, respectively; and how many have been returned to their former use.

i am circulating in the Official Report a table showing the present position for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether provision is made in all transport aircraft for parachutes for all passengers; and whether instruction in their use in an emergency is given before each flight.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. Dye), on 5th December.

Is the Under-secretary aware that this precaution is taken in a number of aircraft of American Air Transport Command?

The practice of civil lines, as the hon. and gallant Member knows, is not to do so. Perhaps I had better give the reply which I gave:

"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."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th December, 1945; Vol. 416, c. 2472.]

Is the Under secretary aware that in the event of a collision or forced landing at night, the chances of getting away by a landing are about 100 per cent. against, and will he consider fitting parachutes to these air craft to bring down the accident rate?

We will consider that, but it is the considered view of the Air Staff that the balance of safety is the other way.

In view of American experience, will the Under-secretary discuss the matter on a technical basis with the American authorities?

Certainly.

Will my hon. Friend give consideration to the further communication I have sent to him on this matter?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the conditions of food and accommodation at R.A.F. station, Araxos, C.M.F., particularly with regard to the R. & R. parties in the mountains; and will he take steps to investigate and improve this position.

We have a Royal Air Force re-fuelling party at Araxos, which is on the West coast of Greece. It is rather isolated, but conditions there have been carefully investigated and I do not think that they are now too bad. The unit has been living in tents, but huts are being provided for the winter.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air if he has considered the letter, forwarded to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, from the mother of a pilot in the R.A.F. flying Dakotas in Indonesia; if he is aware that this pilot volunteered for service in the R.A.F. and has been on active service in the Middle East, India and Burma; that this mother has strong objection to her son being used to defend Dutch imperialism; and what steps he is taking to bring to an end the use of the R.A.F. against the Indonesian people.

yes, Sir, I have read this letter. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in the course of his speech on 23rd November, stated the purpose for which British Forces are employed in Java.

is the Minister not aware that this lad was called up on the ground that his job was to fight for freedom, and that it is certainty out of the question that he should be used to fight against Indonesian freedom? Would not the Minister bring this lad and other lads home, and leave the Dutch to settle their differences with the Indonesians?

The Royal Air Force are having to do a very unpleasant task.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air if he will con firm the undertaking given to airmen re leased from service for essential war work that their period of release will count as service and ensure that their demobilisation proceeds accordingly.

i would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member. for Bewdley (Major Conant) on 5th December, in which I said that i willingly repeated the undertaking on this subject which I gave on 10th October.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if, in offering a further period of service to H.O. aircrews, he will modify the two deterrent qualifications that make the retention of rank subject to review and that render aircrews liable for groundwork instead of discharge if they should subsequently become medically unfit for flying duties.

we arc offering the same conditions for these aircrew as for all our Regulars. We cannot go further than this.

will not the Minister even undertake that a review of rank should take place before, instead of after, they are accepted for an extended period of service?

The main thing is that they must be kept in line with the policy for the engagement and the treatment of the Regular Forces.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement on the action taken recently in connection with the publication in the "Grantham Journal" of a letter from an aircraftman; and what disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible for this infringement of the right of Servicemen to contribute such letters to the Press without permission or censorship' and the right of editors to publish such material without censorship or subsequent inquisition.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if he is aware that under King's Regulation 1073, a commanding officer has the right to take action in the event of his disagreeing with a Press communication written by one of his subordinates; and if he will consider modifying this Regulation to prevent a repetition of the situation which has recently taken place in Grantham with reference to A/C Isaacs;

(2) if the attention of his Department has been drawn to the case of Aircraftman Isaacs, who wrote a letter to a Grantham newspaper criticising the manner in which a Remembrance Day church service had been conducted; if he is aware that two visits were paid to the newspaper demanding the return of the letter and that disciplinary action was threatened against the airman; and if he has any statement to make.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will investigate the circumstances in which officers of the R.A.F. Group head quarters at St. Vincents, Grantham, visited the offices of the "Grantham Journal" and demanded from the editor the original manuscript of a published letter contributed by Aircraftman F. G. Isaac, which commented on a civic Remembrance Day service; whether he is aware that the CO. has notified all men at St. Vincents that they may not write to newspapers without his consent; and if he will make it clear that every Serviceman may write to the Press on non-Service matters.

I will with the permission of Mr. Speaker and the House, make a statement on these. Questions at the end of Questions.

i want first of all to say what the rule is on the subject of officers and airmen writing to the Press. Broadly speaking, the rule as set out in the two relevant paragraphs of King's Regulations, 1072 and 1073, is that an airman or officer is at liberty to write letters to the Press so long as his letters do not concern the Service in any way. What he must not do, without his commanding officer's permission, is to put anything in his letters which criticises or even discusses his own Service.

I have carefully re-read those paragraphs of K. R's and 'they seem to me reasonable and just, and I do not think they require alteration, but I am not sure that they are always clearly understood by commanding officers throughout the Service. For example, it is true that a statement was included in station standing orders at St. Vincents, Grantham, to the effect that officers and airmen must not write to the Press at all on any subject without their commanding officer's sanction. This, of course, was quite wrong. These orders have now been amended and steps are being taken to see that all commanding officers understand those two paragraphs of K.R's.

Now I come to what happened recently at Grantham. A.C.2. Isaac wrote a letter to the "Grantham Journal" in which he criticised somewhat severely the con duct of the ceremony held there on Remembrance Sunday, alleging that the ceremony was conducted not so much for the sake of its proper purpose as to redound to the honour and glory of the Mayor of Grantham. Be that as it may, there was nothing, so far, to involve the Royal Air Force. Unfortunately, the air man's letter went on to criticise the way in which the Royal Air Force church parade, held in connection with the ceremony, was organised. Thus his letter did discuss and criticise his own Service, and I'm afraid that in so doing he did technically commit an offence against Service discipline. Nor do I think that his Commanding Officer could simply have overlooked this offence. It really would not do if serving airmen were allowed to engage in controversy in the public Press about the orders issued to them by their superior officers.

On the other hand, I am bound to say that the Commanding Officer from the outset began to make very heavy weather of the incident. He had Isaac up and asked him if he had written the letter. Unfortunately, the airman—he was very young and very nervous—lost his head and denied that he had written it. It was at this point that the Commanding Officer was led into a course of action which had serious consequences, since it raised the issue of principle of the freedom of the Press. The Commanding Officer attempted to obtain the original of the letter from the Editor of the "Grantham Journal." He first sent the R.A.F. Police down to the editor's office and asked for the letter. When this was quite rightly refused, the civil police were approached and the impression was apparently conveyed in some way to the Editor of the "Grantham Journal" that he could be forced to produce the letter under a Defence Regulation. No such Defence Regulation, of course, exists.

Finally, A.C.2 Isaac himself, accompanied by the R.A.F. Police, was sent down to the editor's office and, on Isaac's own request, the editor did surrender the original copy of the letter. It was over these attempts to re cover the original letter that—in my opinion, and in the opinion of the Air Council—the R.A.F. authorities concerned definitely exceeded their authority. The editor was completely within his rights in withholding the original copy of the letter and the attempt to extract it from him was ill-judged, to put it mildly. Instructions are being issued to all R.A.F. authorities on their relations to the Press in the new situation of peacetime conditions.

Having made that apology to the Press, I would like to add this appeal. I would ask editors in general, and the editor of the "Grantham Journal" in particular, not to encourage members of the Forces to discuss their own Service in the Public Press. The editor of the "Grantham Journal" has, in his quite natural annoyance at what has happened, invited airmen to send him anonymous contributions, contrary to established journalistic practice. I suggest to the House and to the Press that in this rather difficult period of transition for the Forces from a wartime to a peacetime basis, the interests of the men in them will not be served if the Press does this. I hope the House will accept my assurance that this case is not typical of the methods used by commanding officers of the Royal Air Force in dealing with the Press or in administering discipline, and that the Regulations are normally applied with understanding and commonsense. Finally. there is the question of the airman concerned, A.C.2 Isaac. I would at once assure the House that no further disciplinary action will be taken against him.

Can the Under-Secretary state whether or not the Commanding Officer concerned will be told that in similar cases he should not have the airman visited by a psychiatrist to find out whether he is right in his head or not; and' is it not a fact that the Commanding Officer did threaten the young man in this case that, if he were found to be right in his head, he would have to face a court-martial?

There is a conflict of evidence on that point, but I have read a very full and sympathetic report from the doctor concerned in this case, and I think it will be handled in the airman's best interest.

On the general principle, has not the application of these two Regulations been in fact modified since the statement in this House by the right hon. Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill) in 1943, and would it not, for instance, be competent for an airman to write to a paper about some general subject such as demobilisation, which, though political in a general way, does affect his own Service?

The answer to that question does not depend on whether the subject is political or not, but upon whether it affects his own Service.

But a general subject like demobilisation?

I think that if he discusses his own Service he had better get permission first.

Will the hon. Gentleman state what action, if any, will be taken against the Commanding Officer at this station?

I think the Commanding Officer will see the statement I have read to the House, and if I was in his place I should not exactly like it.

In view of the fact that what the airman criticised was the church parade, would it not be the case that if the Labour Government had abolished these un-Christian compulsory church parades this would never have arisen?

That is another question.

Could an air man write about demobilisation in the Army or the Navy without mentioning his own Service?

I should want notice of that question, but as things stand under King's Regulations, I rather think he could.

In the interests of the man himself, will he be moved from this station?

I think some action of that kind will be taken.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the delays in the delivery of mail to members of S.E.A.A.F. are due, in part, to the fact that civilian passengers have been given priority over services mail; and if he will have this matter investigated, with a view to restoring speedy delivery of Forces letters.

Air mail for the Services is and always has been given overriding priority over passengers or other freight in Transport Command. There have been some delays in delivering mail to South-East Asia Air Forces for the reasons given in my reply of 10th December to the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin). I hope the average time for delivery will shortly be brought down again to between five and nine days.

"asked the Under secretary of State for Air if consideration will be given to the award of the Defence or other medal to the officers of the A.T.C. for their services during the war period.

This subject has been very carefully considered for officers of the three cadet corps. I am afraid that they are not eligible for the war service medals because they were not called up for full time service.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air if he will now make a comprehensive statement as to the future policy in connection with the A.T.C.

Our policy for the A.T.C. was stated by my Noble Friend in another place on 14th November. The Air Training Corps is to continue as a volunteer cadet organisation under the control, and with the financial support, of the Air Ministry. The Corps will be the main source from which recruits will be drawn by the Air Forces, to which it will be related in size.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if arrangements will be made for A.T.C. personnel to be issued for winter wear with greatcoats and boots which may now become surplus to R.A.F. requirements.

We already issue a limited number of greatcoats and boots for cadets who are on gliding exercises. With the other Departments concerned, we are looking into the possibility of making a wider issue.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that the airmen and W.A.A.F. at present stationed at Castle Camps R.A.F. Station are fully and profitably employed.

This station and the unit at present based there are part of the permanent air defences of this country.

Asked the Under secretary of State for Air if he is aware that a notice was posted at aerodrome on 23rd November, signed by the senior meteorological officer on instructions from the wing-commander, to the effect that two Russian Dakotas, expected to arrive on the following day, were not to be given any meteorological information nor to be allowed to see the synoptic charts and adding that these instructions had been received from higher authority; on whose authority this notice was issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Yes, Sir. There was a misunderstanding with the Russians about the carriage of British mail from Berlin to Moscow, and it was intended to with hold take-off facilities to the Russian air craft in question until this business was settled. We have sometimes had to do the same thing to aircraft of other nationalities; and, of course, similar, or indeed more vigorous, measures are sometimes taken to withhold take-off facilities to our own aircraft while arrangements of this kind are under discussion. In this case, as a matter of fact, the matter in dispute was cleared up in good time and the Russian aircraft was cleared without let or hindrance. We have now discussed the whole matter with the Soviet Embassy and have come to an under standing which should prevent any similar situations from arising in the future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when the Perdiswell air port at Worcester is to be returned to the city Corporation.

Perdiswell airport at Worcester has been temporarily lent to the Board of Trade for storage purposes. It is not yet possible to state when the airport will be returned to the Corporation. I understand that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Board of Trade are considering the possibility of using the airport for civil flying as well as for storage.

Is the Minister aware that more than 100 acres in the city of Worcester have been ploughed up for the growing of food and that the city very badly needs this airfield for recreational purposes for its young people, as it is the only place that is possible? Can we have it returned as soon as possible?

We will bear that question in mind, but we have to bear in mind also the needs of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, as regards airports.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Air if he will take immediate steps to expedite home leave for R.A.F. men at present in Army Welfare Service, 56 Area, C.M.F., who have been overseas for four years.

Only two members of the Royal Air Force have been serving in the Army Welfare Service in this area. One of these had home leave in the United Kingdom in October, and the other has left Italy on completing his overseas ser vice. He is due to arrive in this country any day now.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is his intention to control the price of oranges, bananas and other soft fruits.

Yes, Sir. Orders controlling the price of oranges, bananas and other soft fruit are already in existence.

Could my right hon. Friend say when we shall get regular sup plies of these commodities, which are now in strong demand among the general public?

Just as soon as we have dollars and means of achieving it.

Will take the necessary steps to prevent their disappearance when they are controlled in the same way as eggs disappeared?

Will the Minister give us some understanding that at Christmas he will lower the prices of these fruits to children? I think we owe it to them.

No, I have never given such an undertaking.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that almost the only fruits on sale in the Lon don area during the last week were invalid grapes at 30s. per pound; and whether, as this is not a fair price to charge under existing conditions, he will control the price of grapes to make them available for invalids who cannot afford to pay such a high charge.

Supplies of fresh fruit at this time of the year are naturally scarce. I am aware that some grapes are selling at high prices. However, the total quantity of hot-house grapes available this year—about 1,000 tons—is so small that I cannot justify the introduction of a control scheme. In order to meet the demand for fresh fruit in the winter I propose to make several allocations of oranges at a maximum retail price of 7d. per lb.

When will my right hon. Friend release some grapes of a less sour variety for the benefit of His Majesty's Opposition?

Just as soon as I can get them.

Asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider lowering the maximum price of 5s. for a meal in certain circumstances which even in many small restaurants and cafes has now become a minimum.

No, Sir. I have not sufficient evidence to justify such a course.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the maximum price has become almost a farce? Large hotels charge house charts and many smaller ones charge the maximum for a very inferior meal?

I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the position in the Birmingham Wholesale Fish Market owing to the shortage of labour; if he has considered a letter from the Birmingham Joint Fish Trades' Council; and if he intends to take any action to get men released from the Forces, both for the wholesale and retail fish trades in that city.

Yes, Sir. Of 11 names of ex-employees of fish traders in Birmingham recently submitted for re lease under Class B, one man has refused release, two have already returned from the Forces, and two have been recommended for release. Of the rest, three men were employed by one firm, which has since stated that it requires no further assistance, and the cases of the remaining three did not justify support. While I cannot, therefore, subscribe to the views of the Birmingham Fish Trades' Joint Council about shortage of labour, I am anxious to do all I can to help in suitable cases, and if my hon. Friend cares to bring other names to my notice I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Food the procedure for distribution of the gifts of foodstuffs from Kenya.

Gifts of food received from Kenya for free distribution in this country will, together with similar gifts received from other Colonies and Dominions, be distributed direct to hospitals, rehabilitation centres and similar institutions, and, through local authorities, to the old and needy.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that fish mongers in the Cheltenham area are able only to obtain fish of inferior quality from Fleetwood under the existing zoning scheme, he will consider either abolishing the zoning or permit Cheltenham fish mongers to obtain supplies also from Grimsby.

Cheltenham retailers, under the existing zoning scheme, are allowed to obtain, in addition to their regular supplies from Fleetwood, surplus fish when it is available from ports in the Milford Haven zone. I regret that I cannot at present allow Grimsby fish to go to Cheltenham, but I am reviewing the zoning arrangements in view of the increased supplies which may be expected in the Spring, and I will bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestions.