asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take in answer to the representations that have been made to him by the staff of the Savings Certificates Division, Manor Gardens, N.7, protesting against their compulsory transfer to Nottingham.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on nth December to a similar Question asked by the hon. Member for Orpington, Sir W. Smithers).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will be able, in the near future, to reduce the letter and postcard post in this country; and when he expects to be able to reduce the parcel post.

I am not in a position to make a statement in this matter at present.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that Christmas air-mail greetings dispatched from South-east Asia to this country are being delivered immediately, and if he will issue instructions that the delivery of such formal greetings correspondence is delayed until nearer Christmas, in conformity with the statement printed on the letter form to the effect that delivery will be made as near to Christmas as possible.

I regret that it is impracticable to retain in this country correspondence from abroad for delivery nearer Christmas unless it is received in this country in separate mails. The use of letter forms bearing a legend as stated by the hon. Member has not been authorised for this Christmas.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will be able to arrange for some postal facilities with Austria before Christmas.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Croydon (Lieut.-Colonel Rees-Williams) on 6th December, of which I am sending him a copy. The Post Office is prepared to reopen postal services with Austria as soon as the necessary authority has been given by the Control Commission with whom the matter rests. At the moment I cannot say whether or not a postal service will be in operation by Christmas.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether the air mail between London and Belfast is dispatched on Sundays as well as weekdays.

The despatch from London on Sundays connects with the air service from Liverpool to Belfast on Monday morning. The mail plane does not fly on Sundays.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General for what foreign States his Department is printing special victory stamps; and in what quantities.

None.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the only postal facilities for 20,000 people in Sheldon, Birmingham, are those provided by a small sub-post office; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

My inquiries on the subject are not yet complete, and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will move to repeal Section 1 to 4 of the Allied Powers War Services Act, 1942, so as to restore to the civil power control over Allied Services personnel and so prevent the carrying of arms and live ammunition which is now the practice and over which the civil police have no control.

:The Act referred to is not concerned with the carrying of arms and ammunition by members of the Allied Forces, though it is in fact proposed to repeal Sections 1 to 4 of the Act

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of our efforts in Europe to destroy Fascism, he will take steps to curb the growth of Hitler worship in this country.

:I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on 4th December to the hon. and gallant Member for Barnstaple (Brigadier Peto)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to assist the people who returned to Jersey and Guernsey from this country in view of the fact that the local government administration take up the attitude that they should not have come here; and if he has considered sending those people who were specially trained to take over the local government administration and who should have gone with cur occupying forces.

I know of no foundation for the suggestion in the first part of the Question. As regards the second part there were on the staff of the Military Commander of the liberating force officers specially qualified to assist him in co-operating with the civil administration in the restoration of normal conditions. On the departure of the Military Commander in August last, and the appointment of lieutenant governors a few of these remained to assist the lieutenant governers, but there has never been any question of impairing the responsibilities of the Island authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose Latchmere House, Ham Common, Richmond, Surrey, is now being used by his Department.

These premises, which are not at the moment in use by my Department, will shortly be taken over for use as a Borstal Allocation Centre.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the allegations of physical violence by warders at Wormwood Scrubs against a Borstal prisoner, Arthur Clatworthy, who has since died.

Yes, Sir. On 27th March it was necessary to remove Clatworthy forcibly from his cell, but I am satisfied from the inquiries which I have made that no more force than was reasonable and necessary was used for this purpose. At the inquest held on the 11th instant, the medical evidence showed that there was no connection between this incident and his illness four months later, and the jury returned a verdict of "death from natural cause." I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with Clatworthy's parents in the untimely loss of their son.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the recent disturbances in Aylesbury prison and other prisons; and what steps is he taking to prevent a recurrence of such disturbances.

The disturbance at Aylesbury was at the Borstal Institution and consisted of a display of indiscipline by 19 girls out of a population of 235. The incident was dealt with by turning the fire hoses on the offenders, who have since been removed to Holloway and punished. Constant attention is given to the problem of maintaining proper discipline in prisons and Borstal Institutions, and everything possible will continue to be done to effect this object.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions he proposes to grant permits to pigeon fanciers to allow them to send their birds to race on the Continent; and when he will allow pigeon racing in this country.

The Defence Regulation which restricted the taking or sending of live pigeons out of the country was repealed in September, and I am not aware of any restriction on pigeon racing in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that many relatives of distressed persons are anxiously awaiting the special arrangements which he undertook to make for Germany and Austria; and how soon he expects to be able to announce these arrangements.

:I am anxious to announce the arrangements at the earliest possible date, but I have not yet heard whether certain proposals agreed upon with the various Departments concerned in this country are capable of implementation in Germany or in Austria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a list of the present Regional Commissioners; the total of the staff in each case; and the cost of each organisation.

There are now no Regional Commissioners or Deputy-Commissioners. The number and cost of the Home Office staff in each region are set out in the following statement:The total staff in each region other than London is:Newcastle 35, Leeds 29, Nottingham 29, Cambridge 43, Reading 32, Bristol 39, Cardiff 25, Birmingham 43, Manchester 44, Edinburgh 35, Tunbridge Wells 36; total 390.The staff and work of the London Civil Defence Region was merged with the Headquarters staff on 1st August, 1945.The annual cost of salaries and wages for each regional office at the present time is as follows:Newcastle £19,868, Leeds £18,990, Nottingham £14,850, Cambridge £21,196, Reading £18,991, Bristol £24,812. Cardiff £14,601, Birmingham £29,331, Manchester £22,192, Edinburgh £21,275, Tunbridge Wells £19,502; total £225,608.It is not possible to give the estimated cost of travelling and subsistence for each region separately but the total expenditure for the whole of the regions for one year is estimated at £55,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why alien doctors, who have British medical qualifications and are on the permanent medical register, have to apply to his Department for permission to take up any new appointment, whether permanent or temporary, whereas, alien doctors on the temporary medical register can move from appointment to appointment without such permission; and if he is aware that alien doctors on the permanent medical register are handicapped, compared with those on the temporary register, in obtaining new appointments because of the long delay in dealing with their applications.

Alien doctors on the permanent medical register require permission to take a new appointment only if their stay here is subject to conditions requiring them to apply to my Development for such permission. The supervision of the work undertaken by alien doctors who are only temporally registered, however, has been entrusted to the Central Medical War Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the conditions in Germany at present of threatened starvation and of extreme shortage of housing and other necessaries, he will refrain during the winter months from deporting or force repatriating pregnant women and young children to that country or to Austria.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees from Nazi oppression, including children, were admitted to this country or came independently, between 1933 and 1945; how many of these remained here; how many have applied for visas for Palestine; and how many of these applications have been granted.

It is not possible to give a reliable figure showing how many of the persons admitted to this country between 1933 and 1945 can properly be classified as refugees from Nazi oppression. In one sense most of the persons admitted here from the countries which, during the war, were overrun by the Germans can be so described, and there are no figures to show how many of them had previously fled from Germany or Austria. So far as can be estimated, the number of German and Austrian refugees now in this country is under 40,000. Between 1933 and the end of June 1945, figures supplied by the Central Office for Refugees show that over 23,700 have emigrated, but the available figures do not show how many of these have gone to Palestine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many county councils in Wales, who are beneficiaries under the Welsh Church Commissioners Fund, have received approval of their schemes and the names of those schemes which have not been approved.

No schemes have yet been formally approved or disapproved, but I hope that, as a result of negotiations which are now in progress, it will be possible for me to approve schemes in respect of all the councils at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it is necessary to extend the powers of the Welsh Church Commissioners for the fourth time.

The life of the Commission has been prolonged until the end of 1946 because the Commissioners are still engaged in carrying out their duties under the Welsh Church Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the formation of volunteer patrols of Home Guards and former CD.workers as an additional protection for the public until the police have been sufficiently strengthened to deal with the present outbreak of crime with violence.

No, Sir. If an emergency arose calling for the reinforcement of the police they would look to the Special Constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to give further information concerning proceedings consequent upon the death of L.A.C. Alfred Geary, who was killed at Sutton Coldfield, on 8th August, by a U.S. Army vehicle.

I understand that the driver of the United States vehicle is now in America, and in these circumstances it may take some time to complete the inquiries which I undertook to institute, but I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I have any further information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, at and from 1st January, 1946, he will remove all restrictions on travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider relaxing the regulations which compel taxicabs to be constructed without side windows, thus exposing the drivers to the inclemencies of the weather; and if he will permit the size of the window at the back of the cab to be increased, thus enabling the driver to obtain a better view of oncoming traffic.

There is nothing on the Conditions of Fitness for London cabs, as laid down by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, to prevent the adoption of the features which the hon. Member advocates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the inadequate sentences passed by magistrates in cases of cruelty 10 dogs and their failure to make orders prohibiting offenders holding a dog licence in the future; and if he will take steps to call the attention of all magistrates to their powers under the Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act, 1933.

I have no evidence that the courts are not aware of their powers under the Act referred to or are failing to pass adequate sentences or to make use of their power to order disqualification in cases of this kind. I therefore see no need to send any special communication to courts generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware ox the Durham County Council education experiment in His Majesty's Prison, Durham, and of the success of this scheme; and will he consider the advisability of providing grant-aid courses in His Majesty's prisons throughout the country where prisoners are serving long-term sentences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered the experiment in organising further education classes for persons undergoing detention in His Majesty's prison at Durham, which has been undertaken by the Durham county local education authority; and in view of the success of this scheme, he will instruct the Prison Commissioners to negotiate with local education authorities with a view to extending this scheme to all places of detention.

Yes, Sir. This interesting scheme was authorised as an experiment, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education, and I shall in due course consider with her whether and on what basis it should be extended to other prisons and Borstal Institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of those crimes to which the increase in the prison population may be attributed; whether such increase bears any relation to any age group; and whether any particular forms of crime appear to be decreasing in so far as may be deduced from the statistics of the prison population.

There has been an increase in the years 1943 and 1944, as compared with 1938, in the number of persons committed to prison on conviction of burglary, house-breaking, larceny and receiving, but this is balanced by a decrease in the numbers committed on conviction of other offences. The available statistics do not enable the increase in the above-mentioned offences to be related to age groups. I regret that it is not yet possible to say definitely to what causes the present increase in prison population should be attributed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the blowing of the air-raid siren by the N.F.S. in IIkley every Saturday and upon the outbreak of a fire, is causing alarm amongst old people and nervous reaction amongst evacuees who have been bombed out of their homes; and will he issue instructions at once so that some alternative system of warning can be instituted without delay.

:I regret it is not possible to avoid the use of sirens in some places as. so far, no satisfactory alternative has been found, but instructions have been given for the Saturday tests at IIkley to be discontinued.

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants whose salary was £2,000, or over £2,000 a year in 1939, have received increases in salary since 1939 or have been recommended for such increases.

Apart from those recently announced as taking effect from 1st January next, there have been no general increases at this level.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why, when presenting a statement as to the number of aliens employed in Government Departments, he makes no differentiation between German and Stateless.

It has been found convenient to adopt this form because the majority of Stateless persons were formerly of German nationality.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in view of the Nuremberg trial revelations, he will take immediate steps to dismiss all aliens in the employ of Government Departments.

No, Sir. Such aliens have all been persons possessed of special qualifications employed on work for which no suitably qualified British subjects were readily available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many aliens are temporarily employed in Government Departments; and will he take immediate steps to terminate their employment and to replace them by British subjects.

The number of enemy aliens whose employment has been specially permitted is 159 to date. We have no central information on friendly aliens employed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider extending free rail travel facilities, as enjoyed by Members of Parliament, to Scottish representative peers, elected under the Act of Union, travelling between their normal place of residence and London in order to attend sittings of the House of Lords.

No, I could not justify such a charge on the taxpayer.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the report on the unsatisfactory condition of the public assistance institution at Red House, Bulcamp, Halesworth, Suffolk, with regard to the shortage of staff, the lack of proper sanitary and washing arrangements and the dilapidated state of the building, including the deterioration of the walls and brick floors; if any of his officers have recently inspected this institution; and what steps he intends to take to have it made habitable for the children and infirm aged who are at present living there.

I have not received any recent report on this institution, but I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the figures of expenditure on public social services in 1943 and 1944.

Yes, Sir. Following is a statement giving the figures for 1943 (or the latest available year) and 1944. These are comparable with the figures published in the Official Report for 14th December, 1944, in respect of 1942 and 1943

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended under the powers given in Section 70 of the War Damage Act, 1943, to assess mineowners for War Damage Contribution from the outbreak of war until 1st January, 1942, when all mining royalties were acquired by the Government.

Section 70 of the War Damage Act, 1943, does not confer powers to levy contributions in respect of properties falling within the scope of that Section. Legislation will be required for that purpose and is in preparation, but I cannot anticipate its terms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to fix the appointed day for the purpose of Section 45 of the Requisitioned Land and War Works Act, 1945.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to a Question and supplementary by the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor), on 4th December, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if Circular 183/45 to local authorities has yet been superseded by other instructions.

Yes, Sir. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the amending Circular.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the case of Mrs. Todd, High Street, Upminster, Dorset, whose husband is in the Forces overseas and who has five children, from 3 to 16 years of age, and has had her rent for these requisitioned premises raised by the Sherborne Rural District Council from 3s. 9d. to 7s. a week and brought into arrears as from 1st October, 1945, to be recovered by payment of 10s. a week; is this the intention of his recent circular; and will he make a further statement on the matter.

A revised circular has been issued, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the number of local authority houses under construction by the Newark -on-Trent Corporation, the Bingham Rural District Council, the Newark Rural District Council, the Southwell Rural District Council, all of which are in the Parliamentary Division of Newark; and when these houses will be ready for occupation.

Tenders for 46 houses to be built by the Newark-on-Trent Corporation have been approved and construction of 12 of these houses has begun. I am afraid that I am unable to say when they will be ready for occupation. Bingham Rural District Council, Newark Rural District Council and Southwell Rural District? Council have been authorised to invite tenders for 32 houses, 78 houses and 96 houses respectively, but tenders have not yet been submitted to me for approval.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Fylde Water Board is unable to obtain the services of 12 labourers necessary for the construction of mains in connection with the water supplies for the housing schemes of local authorities in the area; and whether he will take steps to ensure that housing schemes in the Blackpool and Fylde area are not held up on account of this bottleneck.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to the hon. Member for North Blackpool (Brigadier Low) on IIth December. All possible steps are being taken to ensure that housing schemes shall not be held up.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he is aware of the shortage in the supply of domestic hot water boilers; to what extent this is due to the labour shortage; and, having regard to the need for such equipment in the new housing schemes, it he will press for the return or men from the Forces for this class of work.

The deficiency in the supply of domestic hot water boilers is due primarily to shortage of labour. All possible steps are being taken to secure the release of labour from the Forces and production has increased during the last few months.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the slow speed at which U.S. type prefabricated houses are being erected on the Rayners Lane site, Harrow; and if he will take steps to expedite the erection of these houses.

Yes, Sir. The rate of progress on the particular site is disappointing. All the hulls have been erected and the last of the houses should be ready for handing over by approximately the end of February.

asked the Minister of Works why he will not allow a charge of less than1os. per 1,000 for hauling bricks no matter how short the distance.

The lowest addition to the prices of bricks on account of haulage is 9s. per thousand in certain areas. The additions for haulage reflect a fair and reasonable charge and were settled in consultation with the industry. It is part of the price Control structure that the price of bricks ex works and on site should be separately controlled.

asked the Minister of Works how many prefabricated houses are to be erected on the prepared sites at Hough End Fields and Burton Road, in the Withington Parliamentary Division, respectively; and when the work of erection will commence.

The number of temporary houses to be erected at Hough End Fields and Burton Road, Withington, is 399 and 34 respectively. I understand that the site at Hough End Fields will not be ready for the foundation work to be put in. hand until 1st March next. Work on foundations for the houses in Burton Road started on 29th October and house erection will begin as soon as possible after this work is completed.

asked the Minister of Works whether, in connection with the temporary housing programme, he will state the number of hulls delivered to sites or depots by Arcon, Uni-Seco, Tarran, Universal, Spooner, Phoenix and Aluminium companies, respectively; and the amounts paid to the various companies and amounts included in such payments for various sub-contractors.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that there is still a storage of nursing and domestic staffs at Whipps Cross Hospital, West Ham; and whether he will take steps to improve this position;(2) whether he will improve the staffing position at the Forest Gate Hospital, West Ham, to overcome the shortage of nursing and domestic staffs.

I am aware of the shortage of nursing and domestic staffs at the institutions mentioned. My officers and those of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service are doing everything possible to assist in filling the vacancies, and we hope that West Ham, as well as other areas, will benefit from the action we are taking, as outlined in my statement to the House on 8th November, to relieve the general shortage of hospital staffs.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give detailed information as to the parishes within the boundary of the Brigg, Lines, constituency without a piped water supply; which parishes are affected by schemes already prepared by the water authorities under the provisions of the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944; and which parishes will be affected by schemes known to be in course of preparation.

The parishes in the Brigg, Lines. constituency without piped water supplies are Barrow-on-Humber, Bonby, Cadney, Croxton, East Halton, Elsham, Goxhill, Horkstow, Kirmington, Manton, Melton Ross, N. Killingholme, Saxby, S. Ferriby, S. Killingholme, Thornton Curtis, Ulceby, Wootton, and Worlaby. Schemes have already been prepared for the provision of piped supplies in all these parishes and are now awaiting the observations of the county council.

asked the Minister of Heatlh whether the release and demobilisation scheme applies to the Civil Nursing Reserve.

No, Sir, but I hope to announce before the end of this month a special scheme for the release by stages of members of the Civil Nursing Reserve who desire to leave.

asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to meet the shortage of accommodation in the public care of mentally and physically defective children.

:I am issuing a circular, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy, asking local education authorities as a matter of urgency to consider making additional boarding special school provision for educationally sub-normal and maladjusted children. Authorities have already been asked to include in their development plans proposals for dealing with physically handicapped and delicate children. As regards mentally defective children who are ineducable, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health gave on 25th October to the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Education (1) whether, in view of the many representations which have been made to her, she is prepared to reconsider her decision to remove Redland High School from the list of direct grant schools; (2) whether in view of the many representations which have been made to her, she is prepared to reconsider her decision to remove the Colston Girls' School, Bristol, from the list of direct grant schools.

The applications from the. governors of Redland and Colston Girls' Schools have been carefully considered in the light both of such representations as I have received and also of the general provision of grammar school facilities in the area. In the result I am unable to alter the decisions already announced.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will consider the acquisition of the Technical College Camp at Warton, Lancashire, when it is vacated by the U.S. Army so as to secure this centre with all its technical equipment for use as a technical instruction centre for.the United Kingdom.

Officers of my Department have visited this camp and reported on its possibilities. I am consulting the Air Ministry about the possibility of using some part of the premises for an emergency training college, and if any other educational use can be made of the rest of the accommodation or the equipment I shall approach the appropriate authorities in order to secure, if possible, the use of the camp when it is vacated by the United States Army.

asked the Minister of Education when a reply will be given to any of the letters sent to her Department by Mr. T. Howells of Dinos Powis, or to the letter which the hon. Member for Llandaff and Barry sent on 20th November, asking for a reply on the matter which he raised.

I understand that Mr. Howells has been interviewed in the last few days.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether a report of the work of the Assistance Board during the war years will be issued; and if he will make available the regulations under which the Board distribute assistance to the destitute.

A copy of a report by the Assistance Board for the year 1944 (Cmd. 6700) published this month has been placed in the Library. This report includes a general outline of the work done by the Board during the war, and it is not proposed to publish detailed reports for the earlier years now. The current Unemployment Assistance and Supplementary Pension Regulations were published in the Statutory Rule and Order series for 1943, Nos. 1759 and 1737, respectively, and are available in the Library.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that men employed on the boats of the British and Irish Steam Packet Company have to pay Irish National Health Insurance; why those employees living in Britain have to do so; and what is their position regarding health and pension benefits.

I assume that my hon. Friend has certain specific cases in mind. If he will let me have further particulars I shall be happy to have any necessary inquiries made, and will communicate with him again as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that a salary of £420 a year, including war allowances, deprives a member of a railway staff of the services of a National Health Insurance doctor; if this deprivation is confined to clerical staff members only, or all railway workers; and what period of time elapses from the date when salary again falls below £420 a year.

If, as I assume, the members of a railway staff referred to are voluntary contributors, the position is as stated in the first part of the Question, and a lower rate of contribution becomes payable. The only other railway workers similarly affected are non-manual workers who cease to be compulsorily insured on attaining a rate of remuneration in excess of £420 a year; in their case medical benefit ceases after a free insurance period of from 18 months to 2? years. Voluntary contributors whose income again falls to £420 a year or below, and non-manual workers who become compulsorily insured because their rate of remuneration falls to 420 a year or below, become at once entitled to medical benefit.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in view of the reduction of interest rates and the increase in the cost of living, he will increase the capital sum which is calculated to produce an income of 6d. per week when assessing means for the purpose of supplementary pensions.

This change, which I do not think is required in present circumstances, would necessitate legislation. I would point out that the income attributed to capital taken into account by the Board was substantially reduced as recently as 1943 by the Determination of Needs Act.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state, by trade, the number of building trades operatives employed in the city of Portsmouth in July, 1939, or on the nearest available date there to, and the number of those unemployed; and whether he will furnish the comparative figures, on the basis of the latest data available to him, showing the position now.

The table below shows the numbers of unemployment books ex- changed at July, 1939, and July, 1945, the latest date for which figures are available, at Portsmouth Employment Exchange and Juvenile Employment Bureau

					1939.		1945
					Numbers of unemployment books exchanged, July, 1939.	Numbers registered as unemployed at 10th July, 1939.	Numbers of unemployment books exchanged, July, 1945.	Numbers registered as unemployed at 12th November, 1945-
Men aged is and under 65:
Carpenters, Joiners			…	…	565	11	249	—
Bricklayers		…	…	…	429	11	234	—
Masons	…	…	…	…	46	4	3	—
Slaters, Tilers (Roof)			…	…	26	4	51	—
Plasterers		…	…	…	201	28	67	—
Painters, Decorators, etc.				…	779	74	305	—
Plumbers, Gas Fitters, etc.				…	173	6	107	—
Labourers		…	…	…	1,437	53	798	13
All other occupations			…	…	424	64	130	4
Youths and Boys			…	…	414	5	55I	0
Women and Girls			…	…	59	2	76	—
Total			…	…	4.553	262	2.571	23

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give consideration to the problem of adding to the training facilities for alternative employment and callings in South Wales for ex-miners and ex-Servicemen.

Yes, Sir. Two new centres for training mainly in building occupations have recently been opened at Cardiff and Swansea, and training facilities are kept continually under review in the light of new requirements or those likely to arise.

asked the Minister of Labour it, in order to indicate the speed with which production for home and export needs is being expanded, he will publish a monthly report of the numbers of workers employed in each industry and trade.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Burslem (Mr. Edward Davies) today, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that Mark Liell

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware there is a considerable shortage of building labour which is in great: demand for all kinds of housing work. I am arranging for my officers to get in touch with the firm in order to see what can be done to help them.

asked the Minister of Labour what would be the estimated effect, so far as service requirements are concerned, of changing the call-up age for men from 18 years to 21 years.

If this were done the current requirements of the Armed Forces could be met only by calling up additional men over 21 years of age at the rate of about 230,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers are employed by the Directorate of Selection of Personnel, including W.O.S.B.s, and what are their ranks; how many of these officers hold academic qualifications in psychology and what are their ranks; and under what conditions is specialist 0r additional pay issued to officers employed by D.S.P.

343 military officers, 42 A.T.S. officers and one civilian are employed by the Directorate of Selection of Personnel. The ranks of the military and A.T.S. officers are:

Military.
Major-Generals	3
Brigadier	1
Colonels	15
Lieut.-Colonels	24
Majors	49
Captains	235
Lieutenants	16
	343

A.T.S.
Controller	1
Senior Commanders	8
Junior Commanders	23
Subalterns	10
	42

Fifteen military officers, six A.T.S. officers and one civilian hold academic qualifications in psychology. Their ranks are:

Military.
Colonel	1
Lieut.-Colonels	2
Majors	6
Captains	4
Lieutenants	2

A.T.S.
Senior Commanders	2
Junior Commanders	3
Subalterns	1

asked the Secretary of State for War why he is building army huts in Gladstone Road, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, while there are already two hutted camps not fully occupied adjacent to the town.

One hut and a few small services are being provided for A.T.S. who are moving out of requisitioned property. The two camps are fully-occupied by a Command Supply Depot for which the A.T.S. are working.

asked the Secretary of State for War the operational necessity to defer the release for three months of architects, surveyors and other skilled housing non-commissioned officers and men in 277 R.E. Works Section, C.M.F., at Salonika; and who gave authority for their deferment.

Army commanders have authority to approve deferment on these grounds in individual cases. This authority is used very sparingly, but there is a general shortage of skilled men in the Royal Engineers, accentuated by the large number of Class B releases concurrently with the demand for improved accommodation and amenities in all Commands. Work in Greece, including the provision of facilities for the R.A.F., is particularly heavy at present and I have no reason to assume that more deferments have been authorised than are necessary to meet the immediate needs of the situation. I will, however, confirm that this is the case by inquiries of the command concerned. Every endeavour is made to provide replacements as quickly as possible in order to limit the period of deferment.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the officers in Group 25 will be released, seeing that they were not mentioned in the last statement on demobilisation which applied to noncommissioned officers and men.

The statement by my right hon. Friend covered the releases up to about the end of February, 1946. It is not possible at the moment to give exact dates for later releases but a further statement will be made as soon as the requirements of officers in the spring of 1946 have been worked out.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state what action has been taken regarding North Moreton House, Didcot, Berkshire, requisitioned by his Department but in occupation by the caretaker who refuses to leave; and what steps are being taken by his Department to evict this person and restore the property to its owners.

I am at present seeking advice as to the further action which can properly be taken in this and similar cases. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will revise the form of declaration to be completed by a pensioner claiming an increased pension under the Pensions Increase Warrant, 1944, by eliminating the imposition of the means test to persons who deserve well of their country.

The conditions for the grant of increases of Army pensions under the Pensions Increase Warrant, 1944, including the income condition to which my hon. Friend refers, follow the terms of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1944, and I am not able to make exceptions to the general rules in favour of Army pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the postal deliveries to S.E.A.C. are so erratic that complaint is made that soldiers sometimes receive mail seven days after posting and sometimes as much as 23 days after; and if he will take steps to make deliveries more regular.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 29th November to a Question by the hon. and learned Member for the City of Chester (Mr. Nield).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to ensure that as many ex-prisoners of war as possible spend Christmas at home, he will make arrangements that ex-prisoners of war, whose period of six months at home has recently expired, will not be posted overseas before Christmas.

Instructions to this effect have already been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the repatriation of British officers and 13 N.C.Os. employed with West African Forces is at present being held up; and if he will give special consideration in the case of 7629848 C.S.M. Phinn, J.S., who has served close upon six years in the Forces and is in Group 23, and remove this ban in the case of long-service men.

As stated by my right hon. Friend on Tuesday, this matter has already been the subject of numerous Questions by hon. Members. I would refer my hon. Friend particularly to the replies given on 13th November to the hon. and gallant Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland) and on 4th December to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Cambridge (Major Symonds). I regret that the need for this special deferment has arisen, but I do not think it would be fair to single out an individual case for specially favourable treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to continue the W.R.N.S., A.T.S. and W.A.A.F. after demobilisation is complete; and, if so, for what purposes.

I cannot at present add anything to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 9th October, to a Question by the Noble Lady the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Viscountess Davidson).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many pairs of boots and shoes are locked up in Government stores, whilst many people are badly in need of them; and if he will take steps to have them distributed in such a way that the whole country, where there is need, shall have access to them.

I have made arrangements for all surplus Government rubber boots to be released to the public through ordinary trade channels as fast as they can be inspected and, if necessary, cleaned or reconditioned. The main stocks of surplus footwear consist of heavy boots, of which there is no great shortage in supplies available for the home market, and these are either being returned to the Services after reconditioning or are being used to meet urgent relief requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of permitting merchants to market textiles, such as towellings, which have deteriorated through lengthy storage in warehouses, at a lower coupon value than sound goods of similar categories.

Provision has already been made in the Consumer Rationing Order for traders to dispose of rationed goods at one half or one quarter of the normal coupon rate if supplied at or below certain reduced prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether arrangements have now been made whereby persons wishing to send clothing for general relief in Europe can do so by delivering it to the British Red Cross depots throughout the country, after which it will be distributed by U.N.R.R.A.

No such arrangements have yet been made, but I understand that urgent discussions are now proceeding between the British Red Cross Society and U.N.R.R.A. If, pending the con- clusion of these discusions, people wish to send clothing for relief in Europe, their gifts will be received by U.N.R.R.A. and will be properly distributed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many lorries have been made available for shipment to the Continent for relief work since 1st November; how many have been shipped; and whether he has sufficient shipping space to ensure the immediate transfer of all available lorries.

I understand information in the form requested is not readily available, but the following information will, I feel sure, be of interest to my hon. Friend. The total number of vehicles acquired by U.N.R.R.A. in the United Kingdom for relief work on the Continent is 30,000. Of these, 14,000 were procured from the United States Army, 2,000 from the Canadian Army surpluses and the balance of 14,000 from United Kingdom sources. Of these, 10,000 have been shipped up to date to the. Continent from the United Kingdom and, of this number, 3,000 have been shipped since 1st November. I regret that there is not sufficient shipping space to ensure the immediate transfer of all available lorries.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the recent decision of the courts in awarding compensation to a workman of £11,050 for the loss of his two hands in the course of his work; and if he will. consider amending the Royal Warrant and bringing it into line with compensation for industrial injuries.

I have as ye t seen only Press reports of this case, from which it would appear that the damages were awarded as a result of a Common Law action on the grounds of breach of statutory duty. For an injury of the same nature through an ordinary industrial accident, where there was no breach of statutory duty and no negligence on the part of the employer, compensation would be payable under the Workmen's Compensation Acts. The benefits of the Royal Warrant compare by no means unfavourably with what is paid under these Acts.

asked the Attorney-General whether when a case goes before a Pensions Appeal Tribunal and there is conflicting medical evidence and any reasonable doubt exists, the appellant is given the benefit of that doubt.

In any case of difficulty the Tribunals have power to seek medical advice from a specialist whom they may appoint. Where any reasonable doubt arises on a question, whether medical or otherwise, the benefit is given to the appellant in accordance with the principles laid down by the Royal Warrant or other relevant instrument.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that recently there have been delays of two weeks in the mail to the British Pacific Fleet now stationed at Hong Kong; and whether the outgoing letters can be given the same priority as official mail which gets there on time.

Owing to bad flying conditions and unserviceability of aircraft, delay occurred recently in the delivery of mail to Naval forces in the Far East. The situation is now normal, and I am informed that the average transit lime of ordinary one ounce letters and airmail to Hong Kong is eleven days. As a general rule, private mail takes priority over official mail. Until recently, mail for the British Pacific Fleet was sent via Australia, as the direct Lancastrian air service could not cope with the bulk of private Naval airmail, and that service was therefore used for the much smaller volume of official mail. A direct air link between India and Hong Kong has now been established, and both private and official mails are being carried by the same aircraft.

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.

pursuant to his reply (OFFICAL REPORT, 12th December, 1945,Vol. 417, c. 394) supplied the following

1.	Number of airfields constructed in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland from September, 1938, to September,1945 (includes airfields taken over and extended)	560
2.	Average cost in 1945 of Bomber airfield	£1,000,000
3.	Average cost in 1945 of Fighter airfield	£850,000
4.	Number of airfields with grass Runways	167
5.	Number of airfields retained for—
	(a) Flying use, to meet present requirements of all services and departments	252
	(b) In use at present by ground units, storage use by R.A..F. or ground use by other departments (including 10 U.S.A.A.F.)	265
6.	Number of airfields—
	(a) under derequisition	34
	(b) returned to Civil Aviation	6
		560

Notes.—(i) The number of airfields originally designed for 'heavy bomber and,for fighter types of aircraft cannot be satisfactorily determined. Changes in the.tactical situation have led to airfields designed for one type of aircraft being modified for use by other types and to some airfields being designed suitable for use by any type of aircraft.(ii) Since 1938, there have been considerable developments in the design and requirements of airfields, together with general increases in prices.- For purposes of comparison, costs in May, 1941, were as follows:

Bomber airfield	£550,000
Fighter airfield	£500,000

(iii) The figure for grass airfields includes advance landing grounds, relief landing grounds and grass airfields previously in civil use which have been taken over for training purposes. No comparable average figure of cost for grass airfields is readily available. The cost varied considerably according to the amount of work involved.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will see that rural areas in North Herefordshire have supplies of salt available in order that farmers and farm workers can slaughter and cure their bacon pigs, special attention being given to the shortage which has existed for some time in the district of Leintwardine.

The Departments' officers are doing all they can to keep up supplies where the need is greatest. They have received no complaints about special shortages in North Herefordshire, but if the hon. Member would care to send me particulars I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for the release of agricultural workers under Class B have been received by the W.A.E.C.s of Orkney and Shetland, respectively; how many have been forwarded to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland; how many have been recommended by the department for release; and how many releases have been granted.

The particulars requested, up to 10th December, are as follows: applications received by the Committees—Orkneys 7, Zetland 21; releases recommended by the Committees—Orkney 7, Zetland 21; releases recommended by the Department of Agriculture—Orkney Nil, Zetland 1; releases granted Orkney Nil, Zetland Nil.Applications from these areas have been mainly for the release of skilled workers or in respect of crofts. Skilled workers do not qualify as individual specialists unless they occupy "Key" positions. The management of crofts can seldom be held to be of sufficient national importance to justify Class B releases, but applications for releases in respect of crofts can often be entertained by the Service Departments on "one-man business" compassionate grounds.

asked the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Price), as repre- senting the Charity Commissioners, the total sum subscribed by the public to the Transvaal War Fund and Lloyds Patriotic Fund between 1899 and 1902 and to the Prince of Wales Relief Fund between 1914 and 1918; the total amount of relief granted to Servicemen from these funds and the amount still remaining in the funds.

The Charity Commissioners do not possess particulars of the total subscribed by the public to the Transvaal War Fund in response to an appeal made by the Lord Mayor of London on 21st October, 1899. At that date Parliament had not provided for the registration and supervision of war charities as in the War Charities Acts of 1916 and 1940 and the jurisdiction of the Commissioners under the Charitable Trusts Acts does not extend to collecting charities.The fund subscribed was divided into four parts: