asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now completed his inquiries into the alleged large stocks of towels held by wholesalers and retailers, in accordance with his letter to the hon. Member for Bucklow; and whether he is now able to announce an increase in the coupon values.

Yes, Sir. The information which I have obtained shows that stocks are not excessive. In the case of certain types of utility towels, however, I am arranging, in consultation with the Hairdressing Standing Committee, a scheme for the release of about 720,000 of these towels in 1946 against certificates issued by my Department and presented by hairdressers. The situation is not such as to warrant an increase in coupon values.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that almost all the members of the trade feel that there are large stocks available, and would he make a further inquiry into this matter?

I have made inquiries and I am releasing 720,000 as a result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will yet specify in detail the future of Tullos factory, Aberdeen, the complete use of which is necessary to diminish future unemployment in that city.

The Board of Trade is at present negotiating with industrialists who have applied for this factory, and it is hoped to make an announcement in the near future.

Is the Minister in a position to say how many workers continue to be employed in this factory?

Not until the negotiations are completed.

Can the Minister give any assurance that the number of workers who have been employed up to the present will not be decreased?

Obviously in view of my answer I cannot say anything further at the moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take under his statutory powers to maintain and extend the industrial development of the city of Aberdeen.

I have no statutory powers to maintain and extend the industrial development of the City of Aberdeen, but, in pursuance of the Government's general policy, the Board of Trade will endeavour to assist and encourage industry in that district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the establishment of new industry in Barton-on-Humber; and what steps are being taken, to provide industrial prospects for the juvenile population and to provide against unemployment which was experienced in this area prior to the war.

A proposal to this end is at present under consideration. My officers will take advantage of any opportunity offered to encourage the establishment of new industry in this district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of U.S. exports of manufactures to Eire during the past six months, as compared with those from this country.

Exports to Eire of United Kingdom goods classified as wholly or mainly manufactured amounted to £6,140,000 in the six months April to September, 1945. The value of similar goods exported from the United States to Eire during this period was roughly £320,000.

Is the Minister aware that Dublin shops are full of American goods and that this represents a failure to capture a market on our doorstep?

I cannot see how that could be, as we exported 20 times more goods to Eire than America.

Will the Minister read his replies a little more slowly, so that we can hear them?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the granting of a licence for the proposed carpet factory at Creetown, Kirkcud brightshire.

My information is that the proposal to which the hon. Member refers has been dropped.

Is the President aware that the dropping is slightly due to the inordinate length of time it takes his Department to answer—over six weeks?

According to my information the dropping is for another reason.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that business firms frequently experience a delay of three to four weeks in obtaining a reply to their letters from his Department; and if he will give instructions to his officials to speed up their replies.

Owing to the heavy pressure of work in my Department and to the shortage of staff, there is unfortunately some delay in answering letters. I am taking all possible steps to improve matters in this respect.

Could the right hon. and learned Member consider setting up a working party to investigate his Department?

There has, for a long time, been such a party.

Could the Minister issue a circular indicating which letters should be addressed to his regional offices and which to his head office, as that would save some delay?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will look at the "Board of Trade Journal" he will see that particulars are given of which matters are dealt with regionally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now allow the sale of fancy lace and lace net in the home market.

No, Sir. The quantity of yarn that can be provided for the manufacture of fancy laces and lace net is still only small and is all required for export. Production on a limited scale of utility curtain net for the home market is now beginning, but it will be a few months before supplies are available in the shops.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that women are utterly disgusted with this unnecessary austerity regulation and that men like to see women and children wearing a bit of lace?

I am quite aware of that, but I am also aware that exports are essential for this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what organisations have been set up by his Department to deal with the disposal of Government surplus stores; and what value of goods have each disposed of, to a recent date.

The trading organisations which have been set up, or are used, by the Board of Trade to deal with the disposal of Government surplus stores and the value of goods which each has disposed of to the 30th November, are as follows:

Is the Minister satisfied with the present progress of the disposal of surplus Government stores?

I am never satisfied with anything, but this is going, I think, as well as can be expected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet able to make a statement on the future of the retail shop licensing system.

Yes, Sir. With your permission and that of the hon. and gallant Gentleman, I will make a statement on this matter at the end of Questions.

After careful consideration, I have decided to bring the Location of Retail Businesses Order to an end and to close the Register of Withdrawn Traders on 31st December next.

The House will remember that my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he was at the Board of Trade, announced in December, 1943, that this licensing would be continued for a time after the end of the war in Europe and that, so long as it was continued, it would be used to facilitate the re-entry into retail trade of persons on the Register of Withdrawn Traders and the resettlement in civil life of selected disabled persons. It has not, I think, been fully appreciated by hon. Members that this policy was designed to help ex-traders as a class, and the war-disabled, and not ex-Servicemen as such. According to my information a minority only of these ex-traders are in the Forces, many are civilians transferred to other work, while there are a number of branches of large businesses. On the other hand, there are many ex-Servicemen whose interests we all desire to regard, who have been prevented by the policy laid down from setting up in retail trade because they are neither ex-traders nor war-disabled.

Ex-traders as a class will have had six months in which to come forward in person or by proxy to take up their former businesses, and I consider that it would not be justifiable to hold the field for them any longer to the exclusion of ex-Service-men who desire to enter retail trade. Special steps will, however, be taken during the first three months of next year to continue to help the present priority class—ex-traders- and war-disabled persons. In particular, we shall do what we can to assist them to get building licences where these are necessary for the minimum repairs and alterations to fit their premises for the business proposed. We will also issue coupon floats to the war-disabled, in suitable cases, and to ex-traders who used to sell consumer goods which are now rationed and who desire to re-start their businesses in the sale of rationed goods. For these purposes, I am asking the local licensing committees to consider any such applications for building licences and to make recommendations upon them to the Ministry of Works and also to advise the appropriate Department of the Board of Trade on the issue of coupon floats. I must emphasise, however, that, while everything possible will be done to help the priority classes to get their shops sufficiently repaired to enable them to open their businesses during this period, there can be no absolute guarantee that labour and materials to carry out the actual work will be available in the period in any particular district. The grant of licences must be contingent upon other urgent demands for building labour in the area. During the operation of the Order, my Department have obtained the co-operation of supplies in assisting war-disabled new entrants to get supplies. I take this opportunity to thank those who have thus helped and to express the hope that they will continue to give such assistance as lies in their power to war-disabled persons who set up in the retail trade.

While after 31st December it will thus be open to anyone to enter retail trade without a licence, it is right that I should warn ex-Servicemen and others to consider, before putting their money into a shop for the first time, that supplies will still be difficult for a considerable time to come, particularly for those with no former trade connections, and that they cannot rely, while labour and material shortages continue, on getting premises repaired, adapted or furnished, or on the grant of coupon floats to establish a trade in rationed goods.

I wish to take this opportunity to express my thanks on behalf of the Government to the men and women of the local licensing committees who have voluntarily spent so much of their time and energies in the administration of this Order. The burden has been an ever-increasing one and the work, involving, as it has, decisions affecting the livelihood of their fellow men, has been of a particularly arduous character. I am sure that all sides of the House will join me in thanking the committees for their work

and in expressing our sense of obligation for the very fair and conscientious way in which they have administered the policy laid down for them. Finally, I desire to make it clear that what I have said refers only to businesses covered by the L.R.B.O. and does not cover either food shops or catering establishments.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman suggest that Service traders who are now out in the Far East have had a fair chance to reopen their businesses, and will he amplify what he means when he suggests that these men should be given some, special facilities within the next three months?

I think that, on balance— and, in all these matters, it must be a balance of justice—the balance of justice now falls in the direction of ending the Order. They have had six months, either themselves or by proxy, to make application. So far as the second part of the question is concerned, the facilities which, for the next three months, we are giving to this priority class, arc that we will assist them to get the necessary licences to adapt their premises and we will give them coupon floats, if necessary, to start their businesses.

While thanking the Minister for that reply, which, I am quite sure, will bring great satisfaction to many people in this country—not only those who wish to open shops, but also those who wish to be customers—I would like to ask him whether it means that a man who has been a greengrocer or who had a food shop before the war, or a man who has been wounded in the war, cannot now open a shop?

It does not mean that. I do not deal with food shops; the Minister of Food is responsible for them.

May I ask the President if he is aware of what happened after the last war, when many ex-Servicemen were cajoled into buying businesses of which they had no experience, with the result that they kept open for seven days a week but lost their all, and that we do not want that to happen again?

I quite agree with the hon. Member, and I hope all ex-Service-men will inquire very carefully before they embark upon such businesses.

As the grant of a licence by the Ministry of Works unfortunately does not mean that repairs can be done by anybody, will the Minister consult with the Minister of Works to see that these licences will have no time limit so that the men will be sure that, when labour and materials are available, they will be done?

Is the Minister aware that this statement will give universal satisfaction throughout the country and throughout this House, except to some hon. Gentlemen opposite—who looked to him with a morbid hope that he would exercise control for the sake of control?

Can the Minister say whether he has consulted the Minister of Food to see whether similar action will be taken by him?

I have consulted with the Minister of Food to see whether he had any objection to the action I was taking, but I have not ventured to suggest to him what he should do about his own responsibility.

Does the President's reply mean that traders who commenced trading during the period of the war will now have an allocation with respect to goods that are rationed, which they have been denied up to now?

No, this is only dealing with the question of opening new shops.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the case of an ex-Serviceman, Mr. P. E. Jackson, whose application to sell plants and seeds at 14a, Lower Bridge Street, Canterbury, was rejected, without any explanation, by the local Price Control Committee, Tunbridge Wells, on 27th November; if he will state the reason for this rejection, and if he will cause the case to be reconsidered.

Under the existing policy, licences under the Location of Retail Businesses Order to open new businesses are granted in the main to two classes of persons, war-disabled and ex-traders who are eligible for inclusion in the Board's Register of Withdrawn Traders. Mr. Jackson did not, I understand, claim to be in either of these classes. The Local Licensing Committee therefore acted rightly in rejecting his application.

With regard to the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I am making at the end of Question time today, in reply to Question No. 9.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that there have been a great number of these cases of ex-Servicemen trying to get back into work and of his Department being rather difficult about it?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will await the statement which I shall make after Questions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total number of children's boots and shoes made available to retailers during the months of September, October and November, 1945.

I am afraid that the only figures available are quarterly and relate to manufacturers' supplies. For July-September quarter, these figures are as follows: boys, 2.28 million, girls, 3 million, and infants, 2.8 million.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether there has been any recent increase in this urgently needed commodity?

Not very marked.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman doing anything to improve the quality of the leather used for children's shoes?

We are getting the best leather we can import. We cannot improve much beyond that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that large sums of money, lent to Dutch subjects by British subjects for commercial purposes, have been confiscated by the Germans from the persons concerned; and what steps he will take to recover these debts from the Dutch firms involved.

:This matter has been the subject of discussion with the Dutch Government, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the "Board of Trade Journal" for 24th November, 1945, which contains a full statement of the position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much wool there is in the country; and if he will do all in his power to secure labour for the worsted and wool factories so that clothing for the home and export market may be manufactured.

Stocks in the hands of the Wool Control at 31st October were 600 million lbs. greasy weight. In addition, substantial quantities are in the hands of the trade. My Department and the Ministry of Labour are doing everything possible to assist the Wool textile industry to secure additional labour.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman know that warehouses in the Bradford district are bulging with wool, and the owners have to pay rental at great expense? He may think it is necessary to control a shortage, but why is it necessary to control an abundance?

The necessity arises from the fact that the allocation of the ultimate manufactured material, which is in short supply, has to be dealt with.

Does the Minister also realise that there are large orders awaiting export?

Certainly, and we have not yet the capacity or labour to cope with them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reason an import licence for mistletoe for sale in this country during the forthcoming Christmas season has been given to one firm and refused to all others; and whether, in view of the fact that the grant of such a monopoly must tend to encourage undesirable practices, he will undertake that henceforward all such applications will be dealt with in consultation with the appropriate trade organisation, thus ensuring a fair deal for all traders involved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction of the fruit and flower trade about the decision of his Department to grant a licence to one firm only and to no others to import mistletoe during the present season from France; that this decision is unfair to the pre-war importers of French mistletoe and will result in unsatisfactory and uneven distribution of the small importation permitted; and what steps he proposes to arrange for a more equitable form of importation and distribution in similar cases in future.

In order that the mistletoe should arrive in time for our first postwar Christmas, licences were issued to the first two applicants, and these absorbed all the very small amount of foreign exchange available for this purpose.

Will the Minister make it clear that the words "undesirable practice," refer to the granting of monopoly, and not to the possible use to which mistletoe might be put?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide other ranks in the Army with coupons for the purchase of shoes in order that men can take advantage of the present War Office walking-out regulations.

No, Sir. While this suggestion has my sympathy, a concession on these lines is not possible so long as supplies of shoes are as short as they are at present.

Would the Minister consider consulting the Secretary of State for War to verify the facts? This refusal of special coupons for the purchase of shoes is very serious in the Forces and they cannot take advantage of these Regulations with regard to walking out.

I am well aware of the difficulties in purchasing shoes, but we cannot take them from civilians for that reason.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Telco, Limited, machine tool makers, of Gordon Square on the Bedford Estate, in spite of repeated protests, have been given notice to quit on 25th March next; and whether, in view of the fact that similar evictions of small industrial firms and commercial businesses are taking place all over the London area, he will consider taking the necessary powers to prevent such evictions during the transition period.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 12th November.

Could I ask my right hon. and learned Friend how much more evidence he requires of these cases, happening all over London, before he makes any move?

There would have to be a very considerable volume of evidence before I could ask Parliament to legislate for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increasing number of firms in the London area who have been, or are being, given notice to quit their existing premises, he will, in the interests of maintaining supplies and services, take powers tinder the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, to protect these firms against eviction during the difficult period of transition to peacetime operations.

No, Sir. I have not sufficient evidence of the necessity.

May I ask my right hon. and learned Friend how much evidence he requires? A number of firms are suffering seriously from being turned out; how much evidence is necessary to get something done?

It would be necessary, I think, to show a widespread occurrence of this difficulty before we should take any action.

Is the Minister not aware that the only way to stop this practice of dog eating dog is for the Government to take over all the industries?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average interval of time between application and provisional consent by the Registrar for the use of titles by new companies.

I regret to say there has been a delay of up to two months in the work of this office, owing to its location at Llandudno and the acute shortage of staff. Recently, it was arranged to bring the office back to London. Since then some of the work has been brought up to date, but a shortage of staff still persists. Every effort is being made to bring the staff up to full strength, so as to clear off arrears of work.

Could the right hon. and learned Gentleman say when the staff is coming to London?

It has come to London.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to advertisements in the Press announcing the flotation of a public limited company under the style of British Universities, Limited; and since this commercial concern has no connection with any British university, what steps he is taking to prevent the assumption by this company of a misleading title for financial gain.

Yes, Sir. British Universities Press Limited, registered in 1944, is a reconstruction and amalgamation of a group of companies, one of which, a private company of that name, was registered in 1938. I am advised that the powers conferred by the Companies Act, 1929, would not have enabled the Board of Trade or Registrar to prevent the registration of this company by the name in question. The Cohen Committee on Company Law Amendment have, however, made a recommendation on this subject which, when carried into effect, will enable the Department to refuse a name calculated to mislead the public

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman be disposed to give a gratuitous opinion as to whether this is a case in which a "passing off" action would lie?

No, I would not b prepared to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that instructions have been issued to chrome leather tanners to withhold 20 percent, of their output of chrome tanned upper leather from the shoe manufacturers from 1st December, 1945, to 28th February, 1946, because this quantity is required for U.N.R.R.A.; why this is done when the home market is so short of supplies of leather and shoe manufacturers are unable to supply the people with sufficient, shoes to maintain health; and what steps does he propose to take to enable shoe manufacturers to maintain necessary supplies of shoes for the home market.

:At the request of U.N.R.R.A., we have taken over certain hides belonging to them for tanning here, and we are consequently providing a corresponding quantity of leather for the liberated territories. This will, in total, be only 6percent, of the full chrome upper leather output of all kinds for civilian use. This arrangement will not diminish the supplies of upper leather available for the home market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the present situation regarding inner tubes for bicycles for home use.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is a shortage of tubes and outer-covers of size 26 inch by 1⅜inch for bicycles; that this shortage affects a large number of wage-earners who rely on this means of transport to convey them to their place of employment; and what steps he is taking to relieve this shortage.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Members to the statement on the production of bicycle tyres and tubes given to my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins) on 11th October. The present position is substantially unchanged. Every endeavour is being made to secure additional labour for the existing tyre industry and increased production facilities are being provided as speedily as possible

Is the Minister aware that this shortage of tyres is causing great hardship to people who are forced to go to work on their bicycles, and will he do something to speed up the production of tyres?

I am quite aware of the inconvenience, which I much regret, and we are doing our best to increase production.

:Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that workmen are losing a great deal of time because of the shortage of tubes and tyres for their bicycles which are the only means they have of getting to work? What does he propose to do, because many of their bicycles are laid up for want of new tyres?

I am quite aware of the difficulties, and we are doing our utmost to solve them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the impediments to the conclusion of a large- scale trade agreement between Britain and the U.S.S.R.

As I have previously stated, we are prepared to enter into such negotiation as soon as the Soviet Government are ready to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the extent of Britain's exports of machinery and machine tools to the U.S.S.R. during the first nine months of the years 1937, 1938 and 1945, respectively; and what were our imports of timber from the U.S.S.R. for these periods.

The value of the exports of machinery, including machine tools, of United Kingdom manufacture exported from this country to the U.S.S.R. in the first nine months of 1937, 1938 and 1945, amounted to £510,000, £1,961,000 and £9,808,000 respectively. The value of the timber imported into the United Kingdom from the U.S.S.R. during these periods was £6,778,000, £3,856,000 and £557,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the amount of rubber saved during an average year by changing the grip on women's suspenders to metal; whether he is satisfied that this saving is essential having regard to the fact that the utility types of suspender now in compulsory use either fail to keep stockings up, or are effective at the expense of laddering the stocking; and if he will give instructions for the use of rubberised grips to be resumed.

Separate statistics of the materials used in suspender buttons or collets are not available. The manufacture of suspender collets in synthetic rubber has been allowed again since 23rd November.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that what he is gaining on the—

Swings.

—he is losing on laddered stockings?

asked the President of the Board of Trade when elastic braces are likely to be again available in the shops.

Production of braces containing elastic will be resumed as soon as elastic webbing can be made available, but this will not be for some time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of his department's exhortations to the book trade to increase production for export and of his restitution of 65 percent. of their paper quota, what steps he is taking to increase their supply of book cloth from 50 percent. of their pre-war requirements.

I cannot take any such steps at the present time owing to the continuing shortage of cotton yarn.

Is the Minister aware that there is likely to be something in the nature of a book famine in the middle of next year, especially in educational books, owing to the failure to release more cotton yarn for the book trade?

The only remedy I can suggest is to use paper covers in the meanwhile.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of the furniture to be imported into this country under arrangements with Canada and Norway; and the value of our total imports of timber suitable for furniture during the past three months.

We hope to be able to import from Canada about £250,000 worth. I am not at present considering the importation of any furniture from Norway. During the last three months, we imported hardwoods to the value of £1¾ million and plywood to the value of about £2 million. A considerable proportion of both hardwoods and plywood would be suitable for furniture.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman satisfied with the policy of importing made-up furniture while furniture manufacturers in this country are being refused permission to make furniture because of the scarcity of materials?

Yes Sir. We cannot import the timber, but there are one or two pockets where we can get furniture, and, in order to relieve the needs of the civilian population of this country for furniture, I think we should do all we can to get it in immediate supply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate an approximate date when the hon. Member for North Camberwell can expect an answer to his letter of 9th November last in respect of an application for dockets for utility furniture, etc., made by Mrs. Vallis, 16, Barkworth Road, S.E.16, who was allotted a prefabricated bungalow by her local authority last autumn.

:There have been certain complications about this case, but I will write to my hon. Friend about it this week

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, out of his surplus war store of 2,000,000 blankets, he will now release the 750,000 which he is waiting for the trade to take up, so that they could be used for the needs of those in Germany and other countries, where great numbers of displaced persons and of the native population are actually freezing to death.

Of the 2,726,000 blankets which have been made available from surplus stocks, 1,476,000 have been allocated for dispatch to the Continent of Europe for liberated countries and displaced persons. The bulk of these have already been dispatched to the Continent, and shipment is proceeding as fast as the blankets can be sorted, packed and dispatched. The remainder of the surpluses are being made available for disposal to the general public in this country.

In view of the still enormous need on the Continent, could not some of the large quantity of blankets which are being held for future sale to the trade also be released?

I do not think it would be fair in the circumstances to take all surplus blankets and give them to people abroad.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what paper supplies still exist in this country which were reserved for emergency war time purposes.

I am not aware of any appreciable supplies of such paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that sub-standard utility cloths are taken out of the utility ranges and sold as general; that these imperfect goods are then sold at prices greatly in excess of the legitimate prices of perfect goods and become subject to purchase tax; and if he will stop this practice.

No, Sir, but if my hon. Friend will let me have details of any cases he has in mind, I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of tyres for vehicles used for the haulage of sugar-beet in North Norfolk; and if he will make the supply available in that area and thus prevent a waste of this valuable crop.

:asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware of the shortage of motor-lorry tyres in East Anglia; and if he will arrange for additional supplies of such tyres to be made available in that area.

:Yes, Sir, and we are doing our best to direct available supplies to the sugar-beet area, but it would be of material assistance if users could give as much prior notice as possible of their demands to the Regional Tyre Officer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of graph paper or other stationery has been imported from the U.S.A. since 30th May, 1945; how much such paper has been supplied for the use of Government departments; to what extent the necessity for this import has been caused by lack of supply of raw material or labour to manufacture in Britain; and whether he is taking action to ensure that the home producer will in future be put in a position to be able to supply all Government requirements

Small quantities of such paper, mostly of special types and to the value of about £250, have been so imported. Approximately half of these imports have been for Government use, and of types not produced in this country.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the paper used at Rothampstead Experimental Station appears to be of recent foreign importation?

That may be part of the £125 worth which has been imported on Government account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will undertake the preparation of a handbook of British firms working specially for export and will arrange for the widest distribution of this handbook through embassies, legations, consulates and tourist offices, in order that foreign firms may have no difficulty in ascertaining what British articles are immediately available and where they may be obtained.

No, Sir. The practical value of such a handbook would not be such as to warrant the cost and labour of its original compilation and constant revision.

:Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that at present any firm which wishes to buy British goods has to get in touch with a very large number of firms before it can find out those which are prepared to export? Is he further aware that before the war the Austrian Government had an extraordinarily useful book of that sort, and would he, perhaps, consult with some Austrians who may be able to assist him in this matter?

:If persons will use the machinery which is available through the Department of Overseas Trade, they will find there are perfectly adequate methods of getting in touch with the right people.

asked the Under secretary of State for India how many members of British nursing units in India and Burma are engaged on nursing sick and wounded Indian soldiers at the present time.

:The number of nurses of the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service employed, against Indian Military Nursing Service vacancies, and therefore employed in nursing Indian soldiers in Indian and combined British and Indian hospitals, is 389.

In view of the urgency created by the serious shortage of nurses in this country, cannot the Minister return these women to the United Kingdom as soon as suitable Indian substitutes have been found?

:I would remind hon. Members that these nurses are being used mostly to nurse men who were wounded in action against our late enemy.

asked the Under secretary of State for India, how many names of persons on the lists submitted By the trades unions in connection with the amendment of electoral rolls in Orissa did not appear on the lists submitted for the same purpose by factory owners.

I have no information, but will make inquiries and inform by hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Under secretary of State for India whether India produces enough rice to meet the annual need, and, if not, what steps are being taken to put under cultivation the great areas of arable land that could be cultivated.

India is not self-sufficient in foodgrains, and in the years before the war it was necessary to import annually from abroad for the rice-consuming areas an average of over 1½million tons of rice. During the war, the Government of India and the Provincial Governments have taken all practicable steps to increase the production of rice and other foods, mainly by substituting food crops for other crops. The Provinces have plans for irrigation works which are expected to increase considerably the amount of land under cultivation. I would however point out that a high proportion of the uncultivated land in India, is, in fact, unsuitable for cultivation.

Is it not possible for India to be self-supporting in this respect?

:I should say that depended upon the amount of increase possible as a result of the projected improvements.

When will those improvements be instituted?

It is impossible for me to answer that precisely at this stage.

In view of the Minister's reply, can he explain why less land was under cultivation in Bihar in 1941 than was under cultivation there in 1921?

What progress is being made to get the production of rice going in Burma?

:I should like to see that question on the Paper.

Is the Minister aware that the steps which he has outlined are not those which are really necessary, and that what is wanted is an increase in agricultural efficiency? What steps is he taking in that direction?

:Again I must say that I am not in a position to answer the question without notice.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India why, in view of the Government's intention to Indianise the Indian Army, the recently appointed chairman of the Recontruction Committee of the Defence Services of India is a British service lieutenant-general and not an Indian Army officer.

:General Willcox, who has wide experience of Indian conditions, was selected by the Commander-in-Chief as the best available officer for the appointment in question. There are two Indian Army members of the committee, one of whom, a brigadier, is an Indian.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that there is considerable resentment in the Indian Army because nearly all the high appointments in India have been given to British Service officers and not to officers in the Indian Army, either British officers in the Indian Army or even Indian officers in the Indian Army; and will he take steps to look into the matter and have this state of affairs altered?

I will look into what my hon. and gallant Friend represents, but as regards this particular appointment, I am satisfied that the Commander-in-Chief took the view that General Willcox was the best officer for this work.

asked the Under-Secretary for India how soon men in release Group 22, serving in the Indian Army, are to be repatriated.

The Government of India have not yet reported what dates have been fixed for the release of Indian Army officers in Group 22, but inquiries are being made and I will communicate with my hon. Friend on receiving a reply.

:Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that these officers were originally told that they would be sent home in November and were then deferred another three months, and that many of them have now been for five years continuously on overseas service; and will he do something to equalise their treatment with that of officers in the British Army?

The policy is to seek to equalise the treatment of British officers serving in the Indian Army and officers in the British service; in the case of British Service officers in Group 22, the period of release fixed is 10th January to 24th January next year, and I hope the same rule will apply to officers in the Indian Army.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India what special steps are being taken to avoid famines occurring in Bengal at times when monsoons are below the average.

The Government of Bengal are in a far better position to deal with any threat of famine than they were in 1943. In particular rationing of the population of over 4 million in Greater Calcutta has now been running smoothly for the past 18 months, and it is being gradually extended to other urban areas. Also the local government now hold considerable working stocks of rice and they have at their disposal the necessary transport and storage facilities to enable them to distribute these stocks to any area where a threat of shortage may exist.

If I put down the Question again, will the Minister give a more comprehensive answer, as he has given only a few high spots and has not explained the situation?

I shall be glad to give a full statement if the hon. Member will put down a Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps are being taken, or will be taken, totally to dismantle all German arsenals, aircraft factories and naval dockyards; and whether all German industries capable of being used for the production of armaments and munitions will be controlled and, if necessary, closed down.

:It was agreed at the Potsdam Conference that all arms, ammunition and implements of war and all specialised facilities for their production in Germany should be held at the disposal of the Allies, or destroyed. This decision is being implemented in full by H.M. Government in the British Zone of Germany and good progress has been made. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes, Sir."

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was the failure effectually to dismantle and close down these various establishments that was largely responsible for Germany being in a position to make war again in 1939, and will he accelerate the process of dealing with those places and with the German war potential?

I am afraid I cannot give an affirmative answer to the last part of the question, because the process is being accelerated as much as possible in present conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the large numbers of Polish displaced persons who have been repatriated or are being assembled for repatriation in Germany are being sent back only with their consent or irrespective of their wishes; do they include men, women and children; and do they include Jewish persons.

Poles, including Jewish persons, in the British Zone in Germany are not repatriated against their wishes. Those who have gone back include men, women and children.