asked the Under secretary of State for Air the present cost to the taxpayer of the maintenance and upkeep, including all expenditure for such things as occupation of buildings, travelling, etc., of the Royal Observer Corps.

Present expenditure on the Royal Observer Corps, including all items, is at a rate of about £200,000 a year—as against about £3½ million a year in 1943.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many meteorological officers have been released up to date; how many of those are permanent employees; how many teachers are meteorological officers; and how many have been released under Class A and how many under Class B.

Up to 1st December we had offered release to 245 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve meteorological officers in Class A, 69 in Class B, and four in Class C, a total of 318. One hundred and eighteen of these were permanent employees of the Meteorological Office. We estimate that more than 50 per cent. of wartime meterological officers were drawn from the teaching profession but the exact number is not known. Nor do we know how many of the men re leased in Class A were teachers. Of the men offered release in Class B, 42 were teachers.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air why the advance promulgation for release, dated 16th November, 1945, does not forecast release during the period January-February, 1946, beyond Group 24 for clerks, general duty, R.A.F.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the continued dissatisfaction of clerks, special duties, who are falling behind the general level of release groups in the R.A.F.; and whether he will end the practice whereby these men are misemployed on duties, of other than their normal ones, so that they may be released from the Service on their due dates.

:We have been able to improve considerably on the November forecast referred to by the hon. Member. We have just announced that both general duties and special duties clerks in Groups 24, 25 and 26 will be released in January. This speed up for the general duties clerks would have been quite impossible without help from the special duties clerks. Surely it is fair that the release of these two categories of clerks should be kept abreast.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why Air Ministry Signal, PM 7737, dated 15th November, urging expedition of Class B releases, was limited to commands at home.

Similar signals were sent on the same date to overseas commands as well as to commands at home.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air to what extent it has been possible to organise the inter change of men in the various R.A.F. trades in order to even out releases; and to what extent, in particular, it has been found possible to interchange the various grades of clerks, wireless mechanics and wireless operators.

We are doing all we can to employ airmen from one trade in an other trade where that will help to even out the release rate. We have been able to spare some 23,000 aircrew for temporary ground employment between VE Day and 1st December, and we are encouraging other airmen to remuster where they can be spared. Besides this, many other airmen are now being temporarily employed in trades outside their own. This is on such a general scale throughout the Service that precise figures are not available. As for the particular trades mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member, special duties clerks have been and are being freely used to help out clerks, G.D., so that the release rate of these two categories of clerks has been kept the same.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why it is proposed to freeze the release of radar mechanics during December, 1945, and January and February, 1946; and will he take steps to prevent this happening.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave 'to the hon. Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon) on 5th December.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air in view of discontent respecting disparity in the rate of releases of certain trades in the R.A.F., when this is likely to be rectified or improved.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan) on 5th December, of which I am sending him a copy. This shows, in detail, many improvements for January, compared with our earlier fore cast for January and February. The position later will depend largely on the rate of release for the Service as a whole.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why clerks, general duties, code and cypher, are being released from the R.A.F. five groups ahead of clerks, general duties and special duties.

Clerks general duties, code and cypher, belong to the signals organisation and are released with the signals trades in which the rate of release for airmen has been above the average. In December they were three groups ahead of clerks general duties and special duties; they will be two groups ahead in January.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will consider the possibility of demobilising remustered men according to their original trade. rather than their remustered trade.

No, Sir. Remustering was in progress throughout the war, and to make a change of this kind now would be impracticable. We have had no compulsory remustering since the end of August. Men who are misemployed to release the delayed trades such as accountants are of course released according to their own trade.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that radar mechanics are not kept fully employed at 111 M.U., R.A.F.. M.E.F.; and to what extent he proposes to reduce the existing establishments for radar mechanics in this command.

We are arranging to train surplus radar mechanics (ground) for employment as radar mechanics (air). While they are waiting for local training for these air duties, radar mechanics who are temporarily surplus at No.111 Maintenance Unit are being used for other work. We are looking into the possibility of further reducing their establishment in Middle East Command.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air to state the number of engine failures on four-engined aircraft in the R.A.F. since 1st September, 1945; and if he is satisfied with the standard of maintenance generally.

255 cases of an engine failure in four-engined aircraft have so far been established for the period from 1st September to 30th November, 1945. The figure is not yet complete, particularly for commands overseas, as each case of apparent engine failure is investigated, and this necessarily takes time. Both the standards and methods of maintenance throughout the Service are under constant review and we shall always aim to make further improvements in dealing with these technical problems. We are specially watching the maintenance requirements for Transport Command and for the trooping programme.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he as satisfied with the direction and organisation of the R.A.F. meteorological services.

Yes, Sir, but the service is in the stage of transition to its peace organisation and the questions which this involves are under careful review.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether consideration will be given to married Servicemen on regular engagements, who have full war service of six years, to be allowed the option of taking their release under the age and service scheme.

I am afraid that we can not release a regular airman under the age and service scheme until his fixed period of engagement comes to an end. Regular airmen whose engagements have already expired are being released under Class A, with Class A benefits.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he has investigated the complaint, particulars. of which have been submitted to him, that there is considerable over-establishment at certain R.A.F. stations in the Middle East; and if he will submit a statement showing the establishment at the station which has been mentioned to him at 1st June, 1945, and 1st November, 1945;(2) whether he has investigated the evidence submitted to him, that there are attached to a squadron in the M.E.F., a total of 20 members of the photographic section for whom there is no work to do, and whose group number for release is only 26 in December; and whether he will take steps to expedite the release of these men by increasing the speed of release in this section or, alternatively, to bring all redundant personnel to this country and give them indefinite leave.

I received my hon. Friend's letter yesterday. It would be contrary to present policy to give the figures for our Forces in particular places overseas, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the redeployment of the Air Force is

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will consider making electricity available to the villages of North and South Reston, Castle Carlton, and Withern, from the electric power carefully planned to combine efficiency with the greatest possible economy in man power and other resources. We have all establishments, throughout the Service, constantly under review, as I stated in my reply of 14th November to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Stroad (Flight-Lieutenant Parkin). I said then—as I have on other occasions to the House—that in present circumstances particular airmen may be underemployed for short periods. It would be neither practicable nor fair to other airmen to bring such men home from overseas for special leave. The release of all photographers has, how ever, been accelerated; they reach groups 27 and 28 in January.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the mess at North Weald R.A.F. station is 1¼ miles from the station H.Q.; and will he take steps to rectify this inconvenience.

The mess and the station headquarters at North Weald are only 200 yards apart.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the monthly number of accidents in Transport Command from August to date, giving the number of casualties, fatal or otherwise, in each case.

Following is the table:supply at the Strubby aerodrome which is not now fully required for its original purpose.

We are ready to consider this suggestion with the electricity company concerned if it should become a practicable proposition. But at the moment there is a possibility that the full supply available will still be required for the airfield.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air how long is the period of initial training given to young men joining the R.A.F.; and if he is aware that men are being posted overseas at the age of 18, after only two months' training.

The initial training given to airmen on joining the R.A.F. lasts for eight weeks. If we are to fulfil our programme of bringing home men due for release or repatriation on completion of their overseas service, I am afraid we have no alternative but to post some air men overseas at the age of 18 on completion of their initial training.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what percentage of the strength of R.A.F. units in the United Kingdom will be permitted to travel on leave so that they may be at home during Christmas; approximately how many men and women this amounts to; and whether the same regulations apply to all units throughout the United Kingdom.

Just over 12 per cent. of the Royal Air Force from Units in the United Kingdom will be allowed to travel by rail so as to be at home at Christmas. This will amount to about 65,000 men and women. But more will get home than this since they will use other means of travel. The same regulations apply to all R.A.F. Units except for some training establishments, which are closed down altogether at Christmas.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) why 114 Squadron, recently withdrawn from Italy after serving overseas for some three years, has been transferred to a command in which no scheme for home leave obtains; if he is aware that these men have had no home leave although it has been promised; what steps he is taking to remedy this grievance; and how many other squadrons have been similarly treated;(2) if he is yet able to state whether a scheme for home leave for personnel of the R.A.F. serving in the Middle East has been formulated, and the arrangements thereunder.

This transfer was made as part of the redeployment of the Royal Air Force. I am extremely sorry that some of the men of this squadron have been disappointed in their hopes of home leave. We hope to hear before long from R.A.F. Headquarters in Italy whether they can arrange to give home leave to airmen who are eligible in the Central Mediterranean Forces if they are likely to be moving to the Middle East. I have already explained to the House the very real difficulties we have to overcome before we can arrange home leave from the Middle East Command, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the detailed replies I have given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory conditions under which aircrews of Transport Command are at present having to work in S.E.A.A.F.; and whether he will take effective steps to improve them.

I realise that living conditions have not, at first, been good for many members of the Royal Air Force in the Far East. Our commanders in the Far East are taking active steps to deal with these difficulties, and I think that the conditions will improve generally as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that many members of the W.R.N.S., formerly employed on SDX duties, were compulsorily remustered as writers after the end of the war in Europe, with the result that their demobilisation is now being delayed; and whether he will make arrangements for these girls to be released on the same date as they would have been demobilised had they not been compulsorily remustered to a trade where demobilisation is particularly slow.

No, Sir. It is an essential feature of the release scheme that every effort should be made to speed up release in those branches where, because of the importance of the duties per- formed, the rate of release is below the average. In order to achieve this, steps are being taken throughout the Navy to retrain personnel in those branches in which a faster rate of release is possible, or in which the personnel become entirely redundant.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has issued an instruction, similar to Air Ministry signal PM 7737, dated 15th November, with a view to accelerating releases under Class B; and whether such instruction was similarly limited to commands at home.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." The Admiralty instructions were contained in a General Message to Commands at home and abroad.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many of the 10,000 agricultural workers to be given Class B block releases are to be taken from the Navy; what conditions with regard to the 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.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 1,066. In addition about100 will be released on nomination by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Those eligible for block re lease will be selected from Admiralty records according to their pre-entry occupations in order of age and service groups after those who are due for release in Class A.I am not in a position to give a direct answer to the last part of the Question as release will be offered to eligible personnel irrespective of the station on which they are serving and in some cases it will be necessary to provide reliefs. The hon. and gallant Member may, however, rest assured that every effort will be made to release them all as early as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is intended to maintain for the future all Scottish dock yards now in commission.

No, Sir. Certain repair bases on the West Coast of Scotland are now being closed down. It is also in tended to close the dockyard at Lyness. The future of Rosyth is bound up with the strength, composition and disposition of the postwar Fleet. These matters are now under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the subject of inter-territorial co-ordination in East Africa.

Yes, Sir. After consultation with the Governors of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika His Majesty's Government are today issuing as a basis for public discussion proposals for the future management of the inter-territorial services in East Africa. Full details are given in a paper of which copies are being placed in the Library of the House and which I shall be glad to send to any Member who may be interested. In summary, the proposals are as follow:The existing organisation of the East African Governors' Conference has grown up gradually over a period of years to meet the growing need for co-ordination of policy between Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika in peacetime, and, more recently, to enable the Territories to make their maximum contribution to the war effort. There is, however, no permanent constitutional basis for the common ser vices and no effective means of securing the backing of public opinion for their operation; nor, except by the cumbrous procedure of passing Bills through all three territorial Legislative Councils, is there any method of enacting common legislation where this is required.The proposals being published as a basis for discussion are designed to remedy these defects and to secure the following main objects.—

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the number of head of cattle made available to His Majesty's Forces in East Africa by way of gift and by way of purchase by the Masai tribe, at a time when military operations in East Africa and elsewhere caused the supply of food stuffs for the Forces to be a matter of concern; and whether he will give some publicity to this helpful and generous action of the Masai tribe in this connection.

I have no particulars, but am obtaining information from East Africa and am consulting the East African authorities on the question of publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider granting the claim of the Mauritius Government Pensioners' Association for the extension of cost-of-living increases to all Government pensioners on the same basis as to salaried officers.

The cost-of-living allowances of pensioners of the Government of Mauritius are paid from Mauritius funds and are primarily a matter for the Mauritius Government. Under the scheme adopted by that Government. Cost-of-living allowance is payable to all serving officers, but no allowance is pay able on pensions of Rupees 250 a month or over. I see no reason to question the decision of the Mauritius Government in this matter. As the hon. Member is aware, the bonus payable to pensioners of His Majesty's Government, under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1944,. is subject to a much lower ceiling than the salary ceiling governing the award of bonus to serving officials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the fact that the cost of living of European officials in Ceylon has doubled since 1939 and that the cost of maintaining two households, one in Britain another in Ceylon, hits these officials hard, he will secure passages by air or sea for their wives who at present cannot join their husbands in Ceylon.

As I stated in the reply which I gave on 10th October to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart), I have every sympathy with those in this situation, but it cannot, I fear, be remedied until more shipping can be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that wage negotiations in the Trinidad oilfields broke down last May; and what action is proposed to resume consideration of the unsatisfactory wages in this industry.

Wage negotiations in the Trinidad oil industry were resumed on 26th November, and I am informed that there is a reasonable prospect of a new agreement being concluded in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give details of plans for the development of housing in Trinidad; and whether these plans include provision for Government assistance to workers who build their own houses.

I am asking the Governor of Trinidad for the latest details and will communicate further with my hon. Friend when I have his reply. I may say, however, that the approved plans for certain rural housing schemes provide for assistance on the lines referred to in the second part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the newspapers and publications of the Communist Party are banned in Trinidad; and when the ban will be lifted.

I am not aware of any general ban on the newspapers and publications of the Communist Party, but I understand that the importation into Trinidad of certain publications of a Communist character was prohibited under a Proclamation of 1932. I do not know why importation of these publications was considered undesirable at that time, but I have asked the Governor for a report on the matter and will communicate further with the hon. Member when I have received his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Rubber Study Group, in elucidating the basic facts about the natural and synthetic rubber industries, obtained any information with regard to the salaries paid to managers, technologists and workers in the U.S. synthetic rubber industry and to managers, assistants and native workers in the Malayan rubber industry; and whether he will make all such in formation available in order to ensure that due regard shall be had for raising to an adequate level the wages paid to employees in the Malayan rubber industry.

No, Sir. The in formation before the recent meeting of the Rubber Study Group related to the over all production costs of synthetic and natural rubber. Labour costs were included in this review in so far as they affected individual items of production costs, but it would have been outside the functions of the Study Group to consider wage and salary levels as such. One relevant factor which cannot be over looked is that the synthetic industry produces 45 to 50 tons a year for each man it employs, while the plantation industry produces barely a ton a year for each man.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an assurance that the Supreme Council of Sarawak, or the Council Negri, State Council, will be consulted before Anglo-Sarawak treaty relations are revised on the constitution of the territory altered so as to bring it under the Foreign Jurisdiction Act.

As indicated in my answer in the House on 5th December, I am in consultation with His Highness the Rajah of Sarawak on the question of the future relations between His Majesty's Government and that State. I have no doubt whatever that the Rajah is fully conscious of his position in relation to the Sarawak State Councils and I understand that he proposes to consult with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will report on the progress made towards the implementation of the recommendations of the West African Higher Education Commission.

I am not- at present in a position to add anything to the reply which I made to my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 24th October. I am still in consultation with the Governors of the West African territories regarding the recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Africans will be immediately represented on the new African Settlement Board and that the Member for Agriculture, who is responsible for this Board, will be in no way connected with the European community.

As explained in Kenya Sessional Paper No. 8 of 1945, the intention is that Africans shall be appointed to the Board as men possessed of adequate experience and professional qualifications become available. It will be appreciated that the Board involves highly difficult operations requiring technical and administrative knowledge and experience. As regards the second part of the Question, the Member for Agriculture Animal Husbandry and Natural Resources is an official of the Kenya Government and will supervise the activities of the African Settlement Board in that capacity. The position regarding the African Settlement Board is fully explained in Section III of the paper, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are his Department's plans for controlling the activities and profits of the large tin and rubber companies now returning to Malaya.

So far as profits are concerned, my general purpose will be to ensure that each section of the community makes its equitable contribution to the public revenues, and in the case of large companies I look to Income Tax, which did not exist in Malaya before the war but was introduced during it, as the principal instrument for the purpose. The general question is still being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken for the full development and utilisation of water power in British Guiana; and what steps it is proposed to take in the immediate future.

Two investigations into the utilisation of water power were initiated recently by bauxite companies operating in British Guiana, and reports on these investigations, when completed, will be made available to the British Guiana Government. In addition, that Government with the aid of a Colonial Development and Welfare grant, are themselves installing gauges to measure the flow of the rivers to provide the necessary basis of information for planning water power development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Kenya Government's recent Budget statement contained a warning that there must be a slowing down in expenditure on education of all races because of the burden of increasing population; and what steps he pro poses to take to prevent this.

I have not yet seen the report of the debate in the Kenya Legislative Council to which my hon. Friend is referring. I will communicate with him again when I have received it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of his decision to allow 500 new European settlers in Kenya, he will give an under taking that these settlers will be confined to Kenya nationals and no new European settler immigrants will be allowed until there is evidence that sufficient land is available for African settlement schemes.

No, Sir. The settlement schemes will be organised substantially as proposed in the report of the Settlement Schemes Committee, so that the tenant farming scheme will be primarily for ex-Servicemen, with first priority to Kenya residents, while undoubtedly such classes will receive special consideration in the assisted-ownership scheme. The schemes cannot be confined to Kenya residents. The provision to be made for African settlement and resettlement schemes is fully described in Section III of Kenya Sessional Paper No. 8 of 1945. It will not be affected by European settlement, which of course, by Order in Council, is confined to the Highlands. The position is fully explained in the Kenya paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among African troops stationed away from home; and whether he has had, or will have, consultations both with the respective Governors and the Secretary of State for War, with a view to expediting the. return of these men and ensuring that those not yet able to return and their families are fully in formed of the reasons for the delay.

Yes, Sir, I am aware that there has been some dissatisfaction in certain of the West African units serving overseas. With regard to the second part of the Question, I am fully aware of the importance of repatriating all African troops as soon as possible. Repatriation has already begun and details of the programme were given by the Secretary of State for War in his replies to the hon. Members for South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan) and Aston (Major Wyatt) on the 27th November. Steps have already been taken to let the troops concerned and the general public in Africa know why it has not been possible to repatriate all African troops immediately, but I am drawing the attention of the Governors concerned to the matter in case there is anything further that they can do.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied with the conduct and work of the Fiji Economic Warfare Department; if the Department and its personnel have now been disbanded; and to what extent trade with this country has improved.

The Governor of Fiji informs me that he is quite satisfied with the work of this organisation. He states that it has not been disbanded but that its staff has recently been much reduced. Trade with the United Kingdom has not yet shown actual improvement but importers are booking orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans have been made by the Government of the Bahamas for the economic development of the islands.

I understand that the Out Island and Economic Investigation Committee has recently issued a report which includes a long term programme and a statement of policy for future development. I have not yet received a copy of this report and cannot therefore state the nature of the plan. The Governor has informed the House of Assembly that he attaches great importance to the implementing of this programme, and no doubt they have it under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider appointing to his medical staff a psychiatrist to inspect Colonial mental hospitals and advise thereon.

I am unable to agree that such an appointment should be made in present circumstances and I propose to continue the arrangements whereby medical officers on leave from the Colonies are enabled to visit modern mental hospitals in this country and to study their methods. The knowledge thus gained should be of considerable value during the subsequent service of these officers. These arrangements can be supplemented, whenever the Colonial Government so desires, through a visit to the territory by a specialist from this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the House information about the allocation of the moneys to be provided under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1945.

Yes, Sir. I have recently addressed a despatch on this subject to Colonial Governments and a copy is being laid on the Table today.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will take steps to see that weighing machines are available at all markets where grading of livestock takes place.

Weighing machines are available for use in or near all markets where grading of cattle takes place. Occasionally as at the Bridlington Market a machine may break down and in such a case special temporary arrangements have to be made for the grading of cattle pending repairs or the installation of a new machine. There are a small number of markets at which only sheep are graded at which there are no weighing machines. Although weighing machines are not essential for the grading of sheep, every encouragement is given to the weighing of sheep where machines are available to assist graders in estimating the carcase weights. I have not however considered it essential to insist on the installation of a machine by every owner of a market where sheep are graded.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider reducing the points value on suet in order to avoid this material going bad in the shops.

I would refer the hon. member to the replies given today to the hon. Members for Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor) and Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) and add that shredded suet forms part of the domestic cooking fat ration and is not obtainable against the surrender of points.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will take steps to ensure that any surplus suet is distributed to consumers before Christmas.

If, as I assume, the hon. Member is referring to shredded suet, the answer is that on account of the shortage of oils and fats I am unable to authorise the sale of this commodity ration free. Any quantity which may be surplus to immediate requirements will be needed after Christmas.:

asked the Minister of Food the present cost of his Department; the number and cost of those at headquarters; and the number and cost of those employed in regional offices.

The number of the head quarters staff of the Ministry of Food at 1st October, 1945, was 6,924, and the cost approximately £2,443,000 per annum. The number of staff employed in the provincial offices of the divisional and local services department of the Ministry at 1st October, 1945, was 28,493, and the cost approximately £7,323,000. In addition, there are 5,145 provincial staff exclusively engaged in trading services whose salaries are borne on the trading accounts of the Ministry. To separate the cost of their salaries from other trading expenses would entail disproportionate expenditure of staff time. (In producing the above figures two part time workers have been reckoned as one fulltime worker.)

asked the Minister of Food when he intends to lift the zoning regulations on edible commodities and make the purchase of proprietary brands of food available to all who need them.

As I have already announced publicly the zoning Regulations for most foodstuffs will come to an end at midnight on 2nd March, 1946.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the distribution of grapefruit and apples at Scunthorpe on Wednesday, 5th December, has created considerable dissatisfaction; that supplies were sold out before 10 a.m., disappointing queues of waiting people; what total supplies were available; if such supplies were sufficient for an equal distribution to ration card holders; and if he will establish a more equitable method of distribution by the marking of ration cards.

I am aware that the recent allocations to the Scunthorpe area of 48,000 lbs. of grapefruit and 75,000 lbs. of imported apples left many would be purchasers unsatisfied. Unfortunately, the maximum shipments of these fruits I can bring in this Winter will be too small and intermittent to permit distribution on the ration book.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of deserters from the armed forces of the United Nations estimated to be at large in this country; and whether they are in possession of arms.

The information is not immediately available but my right hon. Friend is making inquiries from the Service Departments and will let the hon. and gallant Member know when he is in a position to reply to a Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to enable the widow's pension payable under the Police Act, 1921, to be paid to the wife of a pensioner who re-marries after his regular service in the police, but during his wartime service in the first' police reserve.

To do what the hon. Member suggests would, I am advised, involve an amendment of the Police Pensions Act, 1921, and I can find no sufficient grounds to warrant the introduction of legislation on this particular point in advance of the general review of the provisons of the Act which will be necessitated by the Government's National Insurance proposals.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will give his consent to the various proposals submitted by the Halstead Urban District Council for the acquisition of sites for building houses.

Clearances have now been given for all but one of the applications made by the authority referred to, and it is hoped that a decision on the remaining application will be given within the next few days.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered a letter, dated 17th November, 1945, from the chairman of Ideal Flats Ltd., drawing his attention to the conduct of certain tenants under the Rent Restrictions Act; and what reply has he made thereto.

The letter did not in terms ask for a reply, but the chairman of the company has been interviewed. The letter was printed, with a printed enclosure, and it is understood that it is being sent to all members of the Standing Committee which is now considering the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Bill.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what, in the production of prefabricated alu- minium houses, is the average hourly rate of wages, including all bonuses, paid to the workmen employed on the production of parts in the factories; and the maxi mum hourly rate of wages, including all bonuses.

Precise details are not available of the average or maximum hourly rates of wages paid to the many types of workpeople whose labour con tributes to the building of aluminium houses, but it is a condition in all con tracts placed by the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production that the fair wages resolution of this House shall be observed by the contractor. The appropriate rates of wages are, of course, a matter for settlement by the employers and trade unions concerned by means of the normal machinery of negotiation.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has now any information to give as to the future of eight houses in Chelsea, of the addresses of which he has previously been informed, which are still being prepared for use as Government offices, with the result that valuable housing accommodation and labour are being wasted.

It has been decided in agreement with the Ministry of Health that the 10 houses to which I believe the hon. and gallant Member refers, shall toe prepared for use as offices. As indicated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member on 20th November, the use of these houses will enable flats, now occupied as offices, to be released. The work of preparation, which is well advanced, is substantially less than that required to convert the houses so that each could be used to accommodate more than one family.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the restrictions on rail travel imposed upon officers and men of the Fighting Services at Christmas, he will arrange for appeals to be broadcast to the motoring public to give lifts to members of the Services in uniform.

No, Sir. There could bono assurance that men given lifts would be able to return to their units in the same way. While we have no wish to discourage motorists if they feel so inclined, from giving lifts to Service men, leave for the Services could not be administered on that basis.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, why it has become necessary to revert to the issue of un popular Indian brands of cigarettes produced by Indian contractors when an assurance was given many months ago that Virginia or popular British standard cigarettes would be given as free issue cigarettes to all services in India and S.E.A.C., including R.A.F. personnel; and if he will terminate at once such sup plies from the Indian contractors and issue only such brands as are in popular demand with the Services.

So far as India is concerned there has been no reversion to the issue of unpopular brands of cigarettes produced by Indian contractors. The cigarettes now being issued to the British Forces in India and S.E.A.C. are being manufactured in the factories of the Imperial Tobacco Company in India. They consist of 30 per cent. indigenous and 70 per cent. imported American Virginian tobacco, and the brands are mainly "Players," "Wills' Gold Flake" and "Woodbines." These cigarettes are issued to the troops either free as part of their rations or on payment through the canteens. If my hon. Friend will let me have any evidence that unpopular brands are being issued to the troops I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Education whether the method of marking and assessing the final examinations for engineering cadets is the same as that for the Higher National Diploma in engineering;how many assessed subjects there are in the Engineering Cadet Diploma examination and how many assessed subjects are normally taken in the Higher National Diploma; and whether she is satisfied that the two examinations are of approximately the same standard.

The method of marking and assessing the final examination for Engineering Cadets is the same as that for the Higher National Diploma in Engineering. The number of assessed subjects in the final part of the examination for the Cadet Diploma is six, the same as the number normally assessed in the examination for the Higher National Diploma. Four subjects are also assessed at an earlier stage of the course for the Cadet Diploma; in the course for the Higher National Diploma the equivalent stage is examined by the school and is not assessed. I am satisfied that the two examinations are of approximately the same standard. They are both accepted under similar conditions and for the same purposes by the professional engineering institutions.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he will give instructions for the abandonment forthwith of the break clause in Government orders placed with contracting firms, as its object was to meet the uncertainty of the date of the termination of the war.

The extent to which break clauses are to be included in future contracts is at present under consideration, but I cannot hold out prospects to the hon. Member of their general abandonment as they serve a wider purpose than that stated in the Question.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production how much the crash of the Handley Page Hermes aircraft will delay the production and delivery of large aircraft suitable for British air lines.

I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy—and I am sure that of the House also— with the relatives and colleagues of the two men who lost their lives in this accident. While some delay in the development of the Hermes aircraft is inevitable, its full extent cannot be known until it is seen whether the accident investigation necessitates changes in design. There are, how ever, four other types of aircraft suitable for British air lines either already in production or coming into production early in the New Year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to remove or reduce the age limit under the Increase of Pensions Act, 1944, in cases where the pensioner is medically unfit for further employment.

Increases may be granted under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1944, irrespective of age, if the pension authority are satisfied that the pensioner is disabled by physical or mental infirmity.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what allotment of motorcars he has authorised for Ministers and Under Secretaries; and whether such motorcars can be used for the family purposes of each allottee.

Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of Cabinet rank have been al located motorcars for their official use. These Ministers are permitted to use these cars for private purposes on payment of a standard mileage charge.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to estimate the excess of debits over credits in the balance of payments of the United Kingdom for 1945, disregarding Lend-Lease, gifts from Canada and the importation of goods imported for overseas armies stationed in this country.

We estimate the deficit in the United Kingdom current balance of payments in 1945 at the order of £750 million. This disregards supplies and services received on Lend-Lease and Canadian Mutual Aid and supplies and services furnished to U.S.A. on Reciprocal Aid. It also disregards similar supplies received and furnished after V.J.- Day which will be covered by the American credit according to paragraph 3 (a) of the Joint Settlement for Lend-Lease and Reciprocal Aid. It likewise disregards imports on account of foreign Governments for their armed forces stationed in this country

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if the relatively small amount of air transport necessary for at least a limited civilian postal service between this country and occupied territories can be allocated.

I have been asked to reply. 1 assume that my hon. Friend has Ger many and Austria particularly in mind, and 1 anticipate no difficulty in arranging, in collaboration with my noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Air, for a limited civilian air mail service as soon as the Allied Control Commissions authorise the resumption of postal communications with those countries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why he prohibited Pan-American Airways from landing as many aeroplanes as they wish in this country, and from charging what fares they think it.

:It is a cardinal feature of the policy of His Majesty's Government in the matter of international air transport that there should be inter-Governmental approval of the capacity to be operated and the fares to be charged on any particular route. Pending the negotiation of a formal bilateral agreement with the United States of America, His Majesty's Government have intimated that they were prepared to allow United States airlines, authorised by the Civil Aeronautics Board to operate to the United Kingdom, to come to this country on an approved number of frequencies and on the understanding that the fares to be charged were approved by His Majesty's Government. The company referred to by the hon. Member declared their intention to operate at a fare which had not been the subject of prior consultation or agreement. An assurance was, therefore, sought that United States air carriers would conform with international practice and not seek to increase their frequences before they had obtained the necessary permission of the country to which they desired to operate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of footwear for children, in sizes under three and over five, in Dumfriesshire, which is preventing children from attending school; and whether he will take steps to remedy this shortage.

If the hon. and gallant Member will let me have details of the particular places to which he is referring and, if possible, the names of the schools from which children are absent because of lack of shoes, I will have inquiries made at once.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that in map C, prepared by the Central Drawing Office of his Department and included in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Gas Industry, the town of Maldon in Essex is misspelt Maiden; and if he will cause this error to be corrected in any future edition that may be called for.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing my attention to this mistake in Map C and I can assure him that the error will be corrected as soon as the map is reprinted