asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that some 150 patients in 98 British General Hospital, C.M.F., have been awaiting repatriation for the past four to six months; that most of these men are not receiving any medical treatment and that a number of them belong to release Groups 15 to 24; and what steps are being taken to return these men to the United Kingdom.

There have been difficulties regarding the allocation of hospital ships, but I have no knowledge of the extensive delay suggested. All outstanding clearances were effected in mid-September, before the delay occurred, and one ship left Italy in November. Another is planned to leave towards the end of this month, the exact date depending on the completion of repairs. I am, however, making further inquiries on the specific points.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many re-employed officers serving on VE-Day were in. receipt of other ranks pensions in respect of previous service.

This information is not available and could only be obtained by considerable research among individual records, involving much clerical work and correspondence, and it would be some time before any reliable figures could be produced. All Army pay offices are now working under extreme pressure in order to keep abreast of release requirements and I do not feel justified in requiring them to undertake this particular research.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of officers and men who are discharged from the Army as permanently unfit, but still have to undergo hospital treatment, he will consider paying them their normal rates of pay until such time as they no longer require treatment.

It was announced in February last that no member of the Forces undergoing in-patient treatment in a Service or E.M.S. hospital would in future foe discharged from the Service until at least eight calendar months, including 56days' notice leave, had elapsed from the date of his first absence from duty on account of disability.It has now been decided to extend this rule in three respects in cases of injury or sickness contracted during the present emergency. Firstly, the rule has been extended to cover all cases of personnel undergoing medical or rehabilitative treatment under Service arrangements, even if this treatment is not being given in a Service or E.M.S. hospital. Secondly, the period of terminal leave, at present 56 days plus overseas service leave, will date from the end of the, eight months' period or from the date of discharge from hospital if earlier. Thirdly, it has been decided that, in order to obtain the full therapeutic value from the treatment given under Service arrangements, personnel who are suffering from disabilities attributable to or aggravated by service will be retained on Service pay until medical or surgical finality is reached, within an overriding time limit of 2½ years.It will not be possible to apply these rules retrospectively, but, where individuals who would have been covered by them have passed from Service pay to disability pension and are undergoing in-patient treatment under the Continuity of Treatment arrangements, an ex-gratis supplementary allowance will 'be granted with effect from a current date. The allowance will represent approximately the difference between the amount at present paid to them by the Ministry of Pensions and their appropriate Service pay and allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the discontent among soldiers who were discharged from the service while still in hospital, prior to 1st March 1945, at the failure to grant to them the concession granted to soldiers discharged after that date that they should remain on service pay for a minimum period of eight months after admission to hospital; and whether, in view of the comparatively small cost involved, he is prepared to grant this concession to men discharged during the two years prior to that date.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Army education scheme in B.A.O.R. since VE-Day.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 30th October to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Woodbridge (Lieut.-Colonel Hare). I have asked for a full report on the present extent to which the Army Education Scheme is being operated in B.A.O.R. and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend when it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War why there have not been lectures or education facilities of any kind for men in A Troop, 5th Surrey Regiment, for nearly four months; and will he arrange for them to be provided.

I am inquiring into this matter and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of dissatisfaction of men in S.E.A.C., due for repatriation under Python scheme, who find that men in India Command with the same length of overseas service are returned to the United Kingdom sooner, in circumstances of which particulars have been sent to him; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such inequalities do not continue,

The length of the overseas tour is the same in these two Commands and every effort is made to ensure equality of treatment. This is to some extent dependent on the transport arrangements, which may cause temporary inequalities on occasion. As I have already stated, however, it is hoped that all men from both Commands who have completed the tour of three years four months by the end of the year will have left for the United Kingdom by that date.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many ships and with what total capacity, were allocated last month for the repatriation of troops from the India Command, and of S.E.A.C. troops from Burma, respectively.

Fifteen ships sailed for the United Kingdom during the month of November, bringing 46,037 passengers, of whom 43,766 were Service personnel. The Army quota, apart from returning prisoners of war, was 27,794 In addition, 8,803 Service personnel returned by air during the month, including 6,141 Army personnel. I cannot say how these totals were divided as between men returning for release, repatriation and leave, nor can I distinguish between India and S.E.A.C, as personnel from S.E.A.C. are transported both direct and through India. As I have previously stated, however, I have no reason to think that the repatriation from S.E.A.C. is falling behind the schedule planned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether mere promulgation of the date of release for a given group automatically deprives members of that group from what would have been their legitimate home leave, even when the promulgation is in respect of release to be made six months ahead.

Privilege leave from overseas is not normally granted to men who are about to return to the United Kingdom for release or home posting. The object is to avoid bringing them home for long distances, returning them to their units and bringing them home again shortly afterwards. In the case of some commands, where leave involves long absence from the unit, it is not granted within six months of the date of repatriation. This arrangement is both economical and reasonable and, as I have previously stated, I see no grounds for making any change.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men due for repatriation being held up in Burma and the reason for the delay in repatriating such men.

I am not aware of any undue delay in the repatriation of men from Burma. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply on Tuesday last to Questions by several hon. Members, and to the further information given today in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Benn Levy).

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the concern felt by men serving in B.A.O.R. at the new order that from 1st December a man had to complete 120 days' service from his last leave before obtaining further leave, and, as that will deprive many of them from spending their first Christmas at home since the war, if he will rescind the order and revert to the former three-monthly leave intervals.

This order is a reasonable one. The present rules in B.A.O.R. allow the grant of 12 days' leave every six months. With extra shipping it has been possible recently to reduce the average interval to about 4½ months. The minimum period of 120 days is imposed to ensure equality of treatment between the different units. Vacancies forfeited under the rule are allotted to units which are not maintaining the average.

asked the Secretary of State for War why soldiers due for repatriation to England by the "Durban Castle" liner from Rangoon, on 4th and 5th November,1945, are held at Rangoon awaiting transport.

:The ship referred to sailed from Rangoon on 5th November, with 2,174 personnel. Other ships have since sailed and others are due to sail this month. It is confirmed from S.E.A.C. that all personnel with 3 years 4 months service or more in the Far East, and all other ranks up to Group 25, subject to the usual individual exceptions, will have left for the United Kingdom by 31st December.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions that Regular soldiers, such as those in the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, which battalion left this country in 1935, who have recently returned from being prisoners of war in the Far East, can be allowed to remain on leave over Christmas and the New Year.

Yes, Sir. As far as possible these men are being allowed to take their 28 days special "end of the war" leave at a time which will enable them to spend Christmas at home.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 550 East African civilians were given passage recently on the ss. "Cape town Castle "from Kilindini; and why this was permitted, when a number of Forces personnel, with more than four years' service, have to remain in East Africa because of alleged lack of transport.

The shipping space from East Africa is allotted under a general plan which provides for only the minimum of essential civilian travel. The fact that a comparatively large number of civilians embarked on one particular occasion has no significance. It represents merely one item in the overall plan, and there is no reason to suppose that it had any effect on the scheduled movement of Service personnel. The latter also come by way of Middle East and across France, a route not open to civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in the 9th Battalion, Dorset Regiment, soldiers with six years' service, including three years as prisoners of war, who have never had a Christmas at home during their service, are being refused leave for Christmas this year, though in the same unit, young soldiers with only a few months' service are being granted such leave; and whether he will make it possible for these men of long service to spend Christmas at home.

I am afraid the hon. and gallant Member must have been misinformed. I have confirmed that in filling the privilege leave allotment of this unit preference was given to all men who have been prisoners of war for long periods and to others who have not spent Christmas at home for several years. Leave is also being given to those who have to proceed overseas next month, but no preference has been given to soldiers with only a few months' service.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the signalmen of S.C.U. (No. 1) at Tattenhoe had their Christmas leave stopped after being informed that they were to have it; and whether he will reverse this order, which inflicts hardship on men some of whom have not had Christmas at home for five years.

Instructions regarding leave were issued prematurely in this case and had to be withdrawn for revision to comply with the general rules. The unit will receive Christmas leave to the full extent allowed by the latest general instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to consider the demobilisation, with their respective groups, of all Army personnel with five years or more service, irrespective of any order for deferment of release.

No, Sir. This would mean altering the basis of the release scheme. I see no ground for recommending such a course at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War if those men who, in response to the Government appeal in 1943, volunteered as engineering cadets and on completion of their training were drafted into the Army, can have the period served in the engineering cadets counted in arriving at their age-plus-service release groups.

No, Sir. No period before enlistment is allowed to reckon as service in fixing the age and service group, and I see no ground for recommending any exception to that rule in the case of these cadets.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that no further hold up of officers beyond demobilisation dates will take place.

I cannot at present give that assurance. As was explained by my hon. Friend on Thursday last, in reply to a Question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bedwellty (Sir C. Edwards), the requirements of officers in the spring of 1946 are now being worked out, after which a further statement will be made about the later groups.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers in the A.E.C. in C.M.F. have been offered Class B release as schoolmasters; how many have been accepted; and if the offers of release are made in numerical order in accordance with age-plus-service release groups.

As I have previously stated, the records regarding Class B releases are not maintained separately by commands. I regret, therefore, that I cannot answer the first two parts of the Question. As regards the last part of the Question, I confirm that offers of bulk release are made in order of age and service group. Members of the A.E.C, who are needed in connection with the operation of the Army Education Scheme, are, however, not normally offered bulk release, the requisite numbers being made up from other arms and corps. Individual release as keymen is made regardless of age and service group.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the approximate dates for the release of officers in Group 27.

These dates have not yet been fixed. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 13th December to a Question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Bedwellty (Sir C. Edwards).

asked the Secretary of State for War why the scales of baggage entitlement in respect of Army personnel proceeding from Kenya Colony to the United Kingdom were recently amended so that officers may take more baggage and other ranks less than before.

As I explained on 4th December, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Central Hackney (Mr. H. Hynd) there has recently been some standardisation of baggage entitlement, to simplify work at the ports, but in most cases this has increased the authorised allowance for other ranks. As I then stated, however, I am looking further into the matter, with particular reference to the effect of the general instruction on other rank entitlement in East Africa Command. I will inform my hon. Friend of the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that by Order, dated 23rd November, the maximum baggage entitlement of the wives and children of officers in East Africa Command has been doubled, so that it is now 12 cwts. and 2 cwts., respectively, which is, respectively, six times and four times the allowance to the wives and children of other ranks; and if he will take immediate steps to remove this injustice.

The Order referred to resulted from a recent War Office instruction to all overseas commands, which restored to the families of officers their normal peace time entitlement. This had previously been reduced for operational reasons. Other ranks' families have had their full peace-time scale throughout. The difference in the scales of baggage for officers and other ranks and their families is based on the assumption that whereas an officer has to provide everything in the nature of household requirements for him self and family, many of these items are supplied by the Army to other ranks and their families. In consequence the amount of personal baggage must of necessity be very much higher for officers and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether soldiers of the Regular Army whose current engagement has been completed and who have re-enlisted for further service and soldiers who have agreed to serve beyond the date when normally they would have been demobilised, are entitled to payment of their postwar credits and war gratuities.

The amounts payable in these cases cannot yet be assessed, as service continues to reckon for war gratuity and postwar credit. As soon as these benefits cease to be earned by further service the question of payments to regular soldiers and others remaining in the Service will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the number of Servicemen prevented from reaching the minimum period of six months' war service to qualify for a gratuity as a result of being either killed or wounded, he will consider reducing the qualifying period to one month.

As regards deceased soldiers I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 6th November to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Totnes (Brigadier Rayner). Only very rarely would a wounded soldier be discharged from the Army before completing six months' total service but I am looking further into this particular point and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that on the reoccupation of the Channel Islands our troops were handed gifts of French francs by the islanders, which they were ordered to deposit with the island paymaster; whether he will state the amount involved; and if it is proposed to credit the troops concerned with the value of the currency handed in.

I am aware that on the reoccupation of the Channel Islands our troops acquired French francs. The evidence in my possession points to their having been acquired very largely from enemy prisoners of war and not as gifts by islanders. At the time when the Bank of France withdrew their old notes, 327,400 francs were withdrawn from the troops in the Channel Islands and handed over to the French Consul together with the individuals' declaration forms. The French authorities have notified that they are not prepared to exchange the notes. It is not proposed to credit the accounts of the troops concerned with the value of the currency handed in, as exchanges through British Army channels are effected only for currencies issued as pay.

asked the Secretary of State for War why it is necessary to retain about 100 acres of good agricultural land at Kinlet, near Bewdley, which has been unoccupied for over 12 months and which is lying ungrazed and derelict, and for which compensation rent at the rate of £2 per acre is being paid; and whether he is aware that a caretaker is being paid £2 per week for supervising this unoccupied site.

This land, with the hutting, has hitherto been retained pending investigation as to its suitability for another Army requirement. It was used as recently as May last for storage purposes. Efforts to let the grazing since that date have been unsuccessful, owing to the amount of fencing needed. A part-time caretaker is employed to look after the hutting, sewage works, etc. I understand that it was decided a few days ago that the site was not suitable for the purpose intended and that release is under consideration, subject to arrangements being made regarding the hutting and other works.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the amount of land which is now held by his Department for training purposes and give some estimate of the proportion of this acreage which is now superfluous to present and future training requirements.

Approximately 5,000,000 acres including, roughly, 1,000,000 acres held solely because of the presence of unexploded missiles, which must be cleared before the land is safe to hand back, and 1,000,000 acres in process of release. Of the remaining 3,000,000 acres at present held for current training, the public is excluded from 345,000 acres only, apart from the permanently owned War Department land. The total holding will be decreased further as and when possible, but, as I have previously stated, I cannot say at present what the Eventual requirement will be.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men to be repatriated from abroad for demobilisation and under the various leave and home service schemes; with the extent to which these arrangements are behind time.

I am not sure what the hon. and gallant Member has in mind in the first part of the Question. The numbers due for immediate release, repatriation, or leave vary from day to day and, while I lay down general rules, "the detailed arrangements are made locally, in Commands. It would be impossible for me to provide any useful figures. But the arrangements are not behind time, except in the case of repatriation from the Far East on completion of overseas tour, which, as I have previously stated, is expected to be up to date by the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the extension of other ranks' clubs in occupied areas in Europe on a larger scale than is at present planned in order to provide suitable relaxation for these men during the coming winter months.

The scale of clubs is reasonably adequate, but non-availability of staff, and to some extent rations, are limiting factors. The changing needs of the different localities are reviewed weekly, and new clubs are opened, or old ones closed, as necessary. In addition to the clubs and canteens, there are local leave centres. If the hon. and gallant Member has in mind any particular case where the facilities are insufficient and will send me particulars I will have it investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange, in the case of applications for Class C releases made by hon. Members and referred by him to overseas commands, to advise the hon. Member making the application of the ultimate decision of the overseas command concerned.

Since the decision in these cases rests with the Command I do not at present require them to report it to the War Office. The number of cases involved is very large and my hon. Friend's suggestion could not be adopted without an increase of staff to cope with the considerable extra work which would result. I hope, therefore, that he will not press the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and men are on indefinite release.

I assume the hon. and gallant Member is referring to indefinite period release on compassionate grounds. If so, the numbers at 7th December were 14,903. Releases on grounds of national importance before the release scheme began totalled nearly 50,000. Subsequent releases in Class B, also for in definite period, totalled about 50,000 up to 6th December.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the bad conditions existing at the Intelligence Corps Depot near Rotherham, Yorks; that the bolster cases are covered with grease; of other innumerable complaints of which he has been informed; and what he proposes to do to remedy such conditions for soldiers on draft for Germany.

I have no information on this matter but have called for a full report. When this has been considered I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will institute inquiries into the administration of Temple Hill Military Prison, governed by Malaya Command, and take disciplinary action against those responsible for inflicting the wall punishment on British service personnel.

I have called for a full report and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it has been received and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and unrest among West African troops overseas owing to the lack of information as to when they will be repatriated and what they believe to be the needlessly slow rate of release; and it he will state the system by which releases are regulated, the release plans, give target dates for the repatriation of the various formations and a date by which it is hoped that all West African troops overseas will have been repatriated.

As I explained on 27th November in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Aston (Major Wyatt) repatriation has already begun. It is planned to complete it by the end of April so far as the 81st Division is concerned, and for the remaining units in India and S.E.A.C., by the late summer of 1946. All West African troops who have served in the Middle East for three years will, it is hoped, be repatriated by August, 1946, after which no West African troops will remain in that Command for more than three years. Details of the demobilisation plan for West Africa are not yet available, but it is understood that about 106,000 men are to be demobilised by March, 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for War the size of our military force in Norway; what are its duties and commitments; and when will its withdrawal have been completed.

An Allied Land Force was sent to Norway in May, 1945, to effect the disarmament and evacuation of some 300,000 German Wehrmacht who were in Norway on VE-day. This force is now being rapidly withdrawn. Withdrawal is to be completed this month except for essential rear parties and certain small administrative units, which will be withdrawn by the end of February, 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for War if arrangements will be made for a meeting of the War Office Administrative Whitley Council to discuss policy in regard to the future of ordnance depots before any recommendations of the Defence Committee in this connection are finally adopted and put into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the assurance that no definite steps would be taken in the reorganisation of the ordnance depots which would affect the civilian staffs until discussions with their representatives had been held is still operative; and what method will be adopted to secure such consultations.

The general policy as to the future of the ordnance depots, including the number required, their situation and respective functions, must depend entirely on military and economic considerations, but the proposals have been communicated to the Staff Side of the Whitley Council, in order that any representations by the Staff concerned may be taken fully into account in the detailed application of the policy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that officers of the R.A.P.C. are urgently required in this country, he will consider repatriating certain groups from 23, inclusive, and lower, who have been compulsorily deferred and are not fully occupied in their present stations abroad.

As far as I am aware, all R.A.P.C. officers serving abroad are fully occupied in their present stations. Officers of other arms and corps not yet due for release are already being used, whenever practicable, to assist in Royal Army Pay Corps duties, both at home and overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that soldiers' letter mail is taking up to 25 days to reach Hong Kong from this country; and what steps does he intend to take immediately to reduce this long period.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave 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 the case of officers of Groups 22, 23 and 24, stationed at home and surplus to establishment and without useful employment, it is his policy to give them leave or to keep them at their depots doing nothing.

Officers in these groups who are not suitable or eligible for overseas have been posted to depots, so that they may be available for any kind of work which may be required. I cannot agree that they are doing nothing, or that those who are not always fully employed should be sent on leave. To do so would amount to discrimination in their favour against other officers and soldiers.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has now received a report on the proceedings at Cambridge Petty Sessions on 29th November; and if he has any statement to make.

I have now received the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry, but have not yet received particulars of the related proceedings at Cambridge Petty Sessions on 29th November. When they a re received I will decide what further action is necessary and will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of my decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has now received the proceedings of the court of inquiry into the accident at Cambridge on 22nd October, when a civilian was killed in collision with a tank; and what action he has taken or intends to take.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to his other Question today.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has now come to a decision whether to permit the free issue of civilian-clothing to officers leaving the Service after 8th May, 1945.

I am not sure what point the hon. and learned Member has in mind. The decision to extend the free issue of clothing to temporary officers leaving the Service after 8th May, 1945, was given several months ago. It was recently decided to extend this concession to those who ceased to draw pay on or after 16th October, 1944, when the present civilian outfit first became issuable to other ranks. I announced this on nth December in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton). Regular officers are not eligible for a free civilian outfit, but it has been decided that they may obtain the outfit on repayment, if they ceased to draw pay on or after 16th October, 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the men in the S.E.A.C. are not receiving the same comforts, cigarettes and so forth that the B.A.O.R. receive; and is he taking any steps to remedy this situation.

:So far as comforts are concerned, S.E.A.C. has been treated more favourably than other Commands as to scale of issue in some cases and as to priority of issue, though it will be appreciated that men in outlying districts may not always receive regular and complete supplies owing to the difficulties of distribution. They receive the same free issue of cigarettes of popular British brands, which, although manufactured by the Imperial Tobacco Company in India, contain 70 per cent. of imported Virginian tobacco.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the practice of declaring as deserters soldiers who disappear in a theatre of operations where the circumstances are equally consistent with innocent disappearance; that such postings are made after a court of inquiry at which the soldier's dependants or relatives are not represented; that the records of the proceedings, including the evidence, are thereafter destroyed; and if he will take steps to remedy this procedure, which may cause injustice.

These declarations are made in accordance with the provisions of Section 72 of the Army Act, where the court is satisfied that the soldier absented himself without leave or other sufficient cause. Each individual case is dealt with on the evidence available. Members of the courts of inquiry must be presumed to exercise their functions in accordance with the law, and come to their conclusions accordingly. The actual proceedings of the court of inquiry are not admissible in evidence at any subsequent court martial, and are therefore destroyed after the declaration of the court has been entered in the regimental books in accordance with King's Regulations, 1940, paragraph 1708.Instructions are now being prepared drawing the attention of presidents and members of courts of inquiry to their responsibilities in these cases and in particular to the fact that if they are of the opinion that the absence may have been due to some sufficient cause, they should record on the proceedings that they are unable to make a declaration, giving the reasons if necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the consternation that exists amongst all the troops, their wives, sweethearts and families at the recent barring of all travelling over the Christmas period; and whether he will take effective action possible to raise this band, wholly or in part, or in as many individual cases as possible.

No such ban has been imposed. Possibly my hon. Friend is referring to reports which appeared in the Press relating to an order extending the period of Christmas leave of those soldiers who would otherwise have had to travel between 22nd and 27th December.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it will continue to be the practice of British troops in Java 10 destroy native villages as a reprisal.

Our commanders in Java have full authority to take all measures which in their opinion are necessary to ensure adequately the safety of their own forces. On the other hand, their instructions are to refrain from taking measures which are intended to be merely punitive and which are not necessitated by the requirements of military security.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many N. A. A. F.I. canteens it is considered necessary to open in the B.A.O.R.; and how many have so far been opened.

The ultimate requirement is still under consideration, but additional canteens are needed and, as I stated on nth December in reply to a Question by the hon. Member, new ones are being provided as quickly as possible. The number of clubs and canteens now in operation is 183.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a Mr. Kuranda is delivering, by official permission, to troops in the Huddersfield area, anti-Soviet lectures, consisting largely of statements, unsupported by evidence, about alleged U.S.S.R. imperialism and alleged misbehaviour of the occupying forces in Austria; that this is causing much resentment among the troops; who is responsible for permitting this person to deliver such lectures; and whether he will take steps to prevent him lecturing further.

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will suspend punishment of the men who have escaped from Stakehill military detention barracks and been recaptured, pending the publication of the findings of the court of inquiry into the administration of this military detention barracks.

I can see no reason to interfere with the normal disciplinary procedure in these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of second and third year art students at present serving in the Forces.

I regret that these figures are not obtainable from the official records.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many premises in Weymouth and district are now requisitioned by his Department; and what were the comparable numbers on VJ-Day.

Fifty-four premises in the Weymouth Urban District are at present under requisition by my Department. Of these 29 are already in process of release. On VJ-Day the number held was 151.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to secure accommodation in military camps and hutments for Army personnel now housed in requisitioned premises in Weymouth and district.

All units in Weymouth and district have been reaccommodated in camps except for those now occupying 25 requisitioned premises. The majority of the troops occupying these premises will be re housed in a nearby camp by the end of February.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will allow Regular officers resigning their commissions during the period of demobilisation the same concessions of leave on full pay and allowances as are granted to other officers and to all other ranks.

Regular officers who are permitted to retire or resign their commissions voluntarily are allowed 56 days' leave if, under normal regulations, they have reached the age limit for retirement or would have had to retire on account of age or disability; provided also that their age and service group is due for release.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is in accordance with instructions issued by his Department that a man of Group 39 should have just begun a six months' refresher course in signalling at Catterick camp.

No, Sir. The training in this case was expected to be completed in a much shorter period. As this is not possible, however, he has been withdrawn from the course.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Staff-Sergeant E. Moon, 1690560, R.E.. of Newall, Otley, and 14 other sergeants in the R.E. and a draft of N.C.O.s and men, who left the United Kingdom on 15th November for Italy via Switzerland, on Saturday 24th November left Novara for Naples in cattle tracks with straw on the floor, leaking roofs, no lighting, heating or latrines, 20 men per truck, and food never ready at halts during this journey of 62 hours in these primitive conditions; and if he will give an assurance that men and women in the Forces will not again have to travel under such conditions during the winter months, now that active operations are over.

I have cabled for a report on this incident and will write to the hon. and gallant Member when it has been received and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he may expect a reply to his letter of 19th November, concerning the compassionate posting of Lance-Corporal E. H. Crampton, to enable his wife to undergo a serious and urgent operation.

The hon. and gallant Member will by now have received the reply sent to him on 12th December. I am sorry for the delay in notifying the hon. and gallant Member. Instructions regarding the case were sent out on 29th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Mr. H. R. Mossop, D.F.C., a Pathfinder pilot who was shot down over Germany and has been recently repatriated, wishes to reoccupy his farmhouse, Clyde House, Marshchapel, Lincolnshire; and if he will give immediate instructions that the Pioneer company officers' mess should be transferred at once to the village inn, where there is ample accommodation.

This house is already in process of derequisition.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a graduate teacher of London University now serving in the A.E.C. who has been posted to the Far East and who wishes to return to his teaching post at a county grammar.school where his services are urgently needed;(2)if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a man serving with the A.E.C. who has been informed that he will be excluded from applying, under Class B regulations, for release to return to his duties as assistant' master at a county school for boys where his services are urgently needed; and whether he will remedy this injustice;(3)if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted, of an Arts honours graduate of London University, with six years' teaching experience before being called up in 1940,whoso release under Class B to return to the teaching profession has been applied for and who is informed by the headmaster of his school that in his absence his department is practically non-existent; and whether he will remedy this position forthwith.

I have been unable to trace the receipt of the necessary details in these three cases. If the hon. Member will forward the names and regimental particulars of the individuals concerned, enquiries will be made without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 5613488 Tpr. Jewell, [., K.A.C. Depot, Poona, who was due for release with Group 18, was still being held by the Army in India on 25th November; and whether instructions have now been given for this man to be sent to the United Kingdom for release.

I am making enquiries through G.H.Q. India in this case and will write to my hon. Friend. I am not able to confirm that he is in the age and service group mentioned, owing to the fact that he has forfeited certain service, but his point is also being investigated.

asked the Secretary of state for War whether he is aware that subsequent to the recent massacres in Tripoli, the local Arab leaders refused to guarantee that order would be maintained unless the following demands were met: removal of the Palestinian company attached to the British troops, disbandment of the Jewish Boy Scouts' Association and dismissal of the Jewish" members of the police; and what reply has been given to these demands.

Demands of this nature have not been made, and the local Arab leaders have made no such refusal to guarantee law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information to give regarding the Spanish prisoners-of-war camp at Chorley.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on this subject on Friday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the distribution of campaign medals will commence; and whether he will endeavour to see that this distribution is completed prior to any official victory celebrations which may take place next year.

Arrangements for the manufacture of the Campaign Stars are in progress, but are not sufficiently advanced to enable me to fix a date when distribution is likely to begin.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men who fought in the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem are not entitled to any medal except the Defence Medal and this only if they have served for three years; and what steps he intends to take to remedy the matter.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated on 16th October in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish), and on 30th November in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Western Dorset (Major Digby), he has a scheme under consideration dealing with the terms of qualification for the Campaign Stars and similar matters. I am informed that the problem to which the hon. and gallant Member has drawn attention is to be included in this review, and that the replies from all the Dominion Governments have not yet been received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, if he will cause to be reopened for public use the portion of the Cromer-Norwich main road at St. Faiths, Norfolk, and the portion of the North Walsham main road, near Scottow Aerodrome, Norfolk, and thus end the wartime inconvenience borne by North Norfolk residents who desire to journey to Norwich.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 31st October to my hon. Friend, the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. Dye).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many of the 27 public highways that have been closed during the war for the construction of airfields in the areas of the district councils of Abingdon, Faringdon, Wantage, Wallingford and Bradfield, in the county of Berkshire, still remain closed, taking into account that on 9th October an alternative for one had been provided and 12 were about to be reopened; and when it is proposed to reopen these roads and restore to the public their rights.

It has not been possible to make as much progress in reopening these 27 roads as we had hoped. A diversion and one other road are now open. Two roads are in course of reconstruction and nine more can be reopened as soon as the highway authorities concerned say that they are fit for public use again. The remaining 14 go across airfields which are still in use for flying. Nearly all of these are obliterated, so that extensive work would be needed before they could be replaced or diverted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that men of the low release groups are being sent abroad, only to discover, a few weeks after they have landed, that they become due for release; and as this is a waste of shipping space and manpower, what action he proposes to adopt to stop this practice.

We do not normally post to distant commands members of the Air Force who are due for early release. The release groups excluded from overseas. posting are constantly under review and are advanced as the Release Scheme progresses.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that there are still moorings of four R.A.F. targets half a mile off shore from Westgate Bay which are interfering badly with the local fishermen and casing them severe hardship owing to loss of nets on these obstructions; and if he will take immediate steps to have these moorings removed.

There is one mooring that could not be traced by divers when the last of the others was taken away early in November. If my hon. Friend can give particulars of continued obstruction which might be caused by this mooring, we will certainly make a renewed attempt lo deal with it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now able to consider the release under Class B of art students other than those who were studying at universities prior to joining the Forces.

No, Sir. I regret I am unable to extend the Class B arrangements.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position 10 include engineering and other technical students in the Services release scheme already afforded to arts students.

Students in scientific and technical subjects within Release Groups 1–49 are eligible for release in Class A in the following categories:

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the thousands of unsuccessful applications from builders all over the country for the release from the Services under Class B of former employees with experience in all sections of building, he will reconsider his present policy and allow the release of these men even if they are not considered specialists and key men and so ensure that as many men as possible are able to take up work immediately for the purposes of helping with the housing programme.

Building operatives are already being released in Class B in considerable numbers, under the procedure for block releases. The adoption of the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion would retard rather than hasten the releases of building trade workers.

asked the Minister of Labour why he has issued instructions to his regional officers that applications for Class B release are not to be accepted if the Serviceman in question is due for Class A release within three months.

No such instructions have been issued to my regional officers, who are in no way concerned with accepting applications for Class B release. In practice, however, sponsoring Departments do not ordinarily recommend the release in Class B of men who would in any event be released within two or three months in Class A, as it would not normally be worth while.

asked the Minister of Labour if Servicemen who volunteered for I he coalmines and whose age and service group is now being released are eligible for release so that they can return to their pre-war occupations.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply given today to the hon. Members for Islington South (Mr. Cluse) and Bewdley (Major Conant).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that until the labour situation is improved, no more men will be called up for the Services who are the owners of one-man businesses, if the future of such businesses is thereby imperilled.

The withdrawal of owners of one-man businesses for the Armed Forces must continue but subject to the normal safeguards with regard both to the national importance of their work and to considerations of personal hardship. Under the National Service (Postponement Certificates) Regulations a man who has business responsibilities and interests would be entitled to postponement if the circumstances were such that the business concerned could not be carried on in his absence unless and until alternative arrangements had been made, and that such arrangements could not be made immediately.

asked the Minister of Labour when he proposes to introduce the quota scheme under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

I have made an Order under Section 10 of the Act specifying 2 percent, as the standard percentage with effect from 1st March, 1946. As from that date all employers with 20 or more workers will be under the obligation imposed by the Act to employ their quota of disabled persons.The standard percentage is not likely to remain as low as 2 for many months. It will be increased as the numbers on the Register increase. Only those disabled persons who are registered as such under the Act will count for the purpose of the quota scheme. It is therefore

asked the Minister of Labour the number of building trade employees at present working in the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee, respectively; and the average number of building trade employees who were working in each of the above cities in 1938.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed at the latest available date.

The number of insured persons suitable for ordinary employment who were registered as unemployed in Great Britain at 12th November was 266,461.

asked the Minister of Labour the current figures of unemployed workers in North Staffordshire, on a trade industry basis.

The table below gives an industrial analysis of the number of insured persons aged 14 years and over registered at employment exchanges in North Staffordshire as unemployed at 12th November, 1945;:

Building	100
Public Works Contracting, etc.	87
Engineering, etc.	1,618
Construction and Repair of Motor Vehicles, Cycles and Aircraft	362
Explosives Manufacture	210
Pottery, Earthenware, etc.	146
Coalmining	334
Distributive Trades	158
National Government Service	466
Local Government Service	78
All other industries and services	656
Total	4.215

The total excludes 1,022 insured men and women on the registers who had been classified as unsuitable for ordinary employment.NOTE.—The local offices included for the purpose of the table are the following: Audley, Biddulph, Burslem, Chesterton, Hanley, Kidsgrove, Leek, Longton, New-castle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unemployed, at the last available date, in the townships of Aspull, Blackrod, Hindley, Horwich and Westhoughton, respectively.

:The only figures available relate to the numbers of unemployed persons registered at particular Employment Exchanges. The numbers of insured persons aged 14 years and over registered as unemployed at 12th November, 1945, at Aspull, Hindley, Horwich and Westhoughton Exchanges were 139, 312, 286 and 186 respectively. These figures are exclusive of persons on the registers classified as unsuitable for ordinary employment, numbering three at Aspull, 70 at Hindley, one at Horwich and 34 at Westhoughton. Figures are not available for Blackrod, where there is no separate employment exchange. It is understood that residents in Blackrod, when unemployed, mostly register at Horwich.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons it is envisaged will take a managerial training course under the auspices of his Department during the next 12 months; and if he is satisfied that industry will by that time have sufficiently revived to offer situations to all these trained personnel.

Under the Business Training Scheme, there will be a main course of training in business administration which it is expected will be taken by some three to four thousand persons during 1946. This General Business Course will last three months, and on its completion selected trainees will be assisted to take more specialised courses within industry and commerce, some of which may well last upwards of a year. The absorption into employment of persons who take the General Business course during 1946 will thus be extended over a longer period. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper on Employment Policy (Cmd. 6527).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to abolish or reduce the purchase tax on hairdressers' tools, equipment and appliances, in view of the hardship it is causing to hairdressers generally and, hi particular, to ex-Servicemen and women wishing to start or restart in the business.

Not now, but I will consider this and other suggestions before next April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reason for continuing the purchase tax of 100 per cent. on silk and silk fabrics in view of the fact that such articles are now manufactured in Great Britain; and whether it is proposed to remove this discrimination between silk fabrics and other textiles at an early date.

Silk fabrics are taxed at the higher rate as being goods of a luxury character. There is no distinction for tax purposes between imported and British made fabrics. As regards the second part of the Question, I cannot anticipate my next Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the hardship caused, particularly to demobilised men and women, of the imposition of purchase tax of 33⅓per cent on national price controlled wool blankets while utility cotton blankets and sheets bear no tax; and will he take steps to have this anomaly relieved.

As I stated on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill, I cannot agree to extend the range of remissions from Purchase Tax now, but suggestions for exemption of particular articles will be considered between now and next April.

asked the Chancellor of he Exchequer the annual amount received in dollars from sales by British authors to U.S. publishers; and the amount expended in dollars on purchases by British publishers from U.S. authors.

The first figure is not recorded. Our annual dollar outgoings, in literary and artistic royalties, including outright purchase and payments for literary contributions, are about 600,000 dollars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what claims he is making against the Polish Government for repayment of advances made during and since the war.

Negotiations with the Polish Government are still proceeding.

asked the Minister of Labour when he intends to revise the present cost-of-living index.

Consideration will be given to a revision of the cost of living index as soon as a return to more normal conditions makes this possible.

asked the Minister of Food how many parcels sent from the U.S.A. to this country in excess of the number allowed have been confiscated by this country; and what has become of them.

I have been asked to reply. No figures are available of gift parcels confiscated as being in excess of the number allowed, but the number must be exceedingly small. Any confiscated parcels are handed over to one or other of a number of charitable organisations which have been approved for the purpose of distributing gifts sent from abroad for free distribution in this country. In the case of perishable goods, they are handed to the Ministry of Food for immediate disposal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with regard to paragraph 4 of C.S.C. 5, which deals with the entry into the Civil Service of ex-Service men and women, he will waive the stipulation that candidates must have remained at school until the age of 16 or have obtained a higher leaving certificate in order that no ex-Service man or woman who can now pass the necessary examination may be prevented from entering.

No, Sir. These educational qualifications are an essential part of the scheme of Civil Service recruitment which Parliament has already approved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will extend to all Service personnel the present concession granted to Regular soldiers whereby men over 36 years of age can sit for the special reconstruction examinations for the clerical classes of the Civil Service since many Servicemen volunteered for Service in the late thirties.

No, Sir. The arrangements which have been announced have been very carefully considered, and I am not prepared to change them now.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will advertise more widely to serving and ex-Servicemen and women the advantages of the civil service as a career and the preference which is being given to them for the reconstruction examinations.

A good deal has already been done; but I am anxious to secure the widest publicity and if the hon. and gallant Member has any suggestions I should be pleased to consider them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will keep open all vacancies for permanent employment in the administrative and executive grades until ex-Servicemen and women have had a full chance of sitting for the reconstruction examination.

The reconstruction competitions for these classes will continue for long enough to ensure that the last man or woman released from the Forces has as good a chance of competing as the first.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will keep open all vacancies for permanent employment in the clerical grades until ex-Servicemen and women have had an opportunity of sitting for the reconstruction examination; and if he will increase the proportion of vacancies to be allocated to them above the present figure of 50 per cent.

The reconstruction competitions for these classes will continue for long enough to ensure that the last man or woman released from the Forces has as good a chance of competing as the first. The quota of 50 per cent. for the Clerical Class is reserved as a minimum only for ex-Servicemen; it is part of the scheme already considered and approved by Parliament and I cannot hold out any hope of increasing it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether in order to save Members' time, he will consider delivering a weekly index of Hansard to the Library.

Arrangements have now been made for an index to be available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for War what relation rates of pay of Army officers in military government in Germany bear to the rates of pay of civilian officers of the Control Commission serving in posts of equivalent rank.

Military and civilian rates are fixed on entirely different bases, and it is not possible to draw any real comparison between them. Particulars of civilian salaries are shown in a pamphlet of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy. As he is aware, military rates are laid down in the Royal Warrant, for the Pay, etc., of the Army.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reason the Military Government in Hamburg is employing Major Hennigsen, a former Nazi Party member up to the collapse of Germany, as a major of Schutzpolizei in charge of important appointments in Hamburg, in which work he secures that only Nazis are appointed; and if, as this individual falls within the category of CI compulsory arrest or CI compulsory investigation, he will give directions for his immediate replacement from among the available anti-Nazi Germans.

Hennigsen is not employed with Military Government, Hamburg. He was dismissed on 12th November. He did not fall within the Compulsory Arrest Category. Nor was he in charge of important appointments.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in what capacity the Military Government in Hamburg is employing Lieut.-Colonel Klewe, a former member of the HÖhere S.S. and a Polizei-fuhrer; for what reason he is so employed; and if, as he falls within the category of CI compulsory arrest or CI compulsory investigation, he will give directions for his immediate replacement from among the available anti-Nazi Germans.

Klewe is not employed by the Military Government, Hamburg. He was dismissed on the 12th November because he was within the compulsory removal category. There is no evidence that he was a member of the S.S.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reason the Military Government in Hamburg is employing Lieut.-Colonel Ulbrich, a former member of the S.S. and police official in Hamburg, who was instrumental in having various Hamburg police officials who refused to join the Nazi Party or the S.S. sentenced to long terms of imprisonment or to death, as a lieut.-colonel of the Schutzpolizei; and if, as this individual falls within the category of CI compulsory arrest or CI compulsory investigation, he will give directions for his immediate replacement from among the available anti-Nazi Germans.

There is no record of a Lieut.-Colonel Ulbrich being employed with the Hamburg police. There was, however, a Wilhelm Ulbrich employed as Regierungsrat with the rank of major in the Criminal Police. He was suspended on 23rd October and subsequently dismissed. There is no evidence that he was responsible for police officials being sentenced to imprisonment or death for refusing to join the Nazi Party or S.S.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reason the Military Government in Hamburg is employing Major Schröder, a former Nazi Party member and an S.S. Obersturmbannführer, who, being in charge of the records of the Hamburg police up to and at the time of the collapse of Germany, removed from those records all evidence of membership of the S.S. of various members of the Hamburg police force, as a major of the Schutzpolizei; and if, as this man falls within the category of CI compulsory arrest or CI compulsory investigation, he will give directions for his immediate replacement from among the available anti-Nazi Germans.

SchrÖder is not employed by the Military Government, Hamburg. He was dismissed on 22nd September. He held the rank of SturmbannfÜhrer in the S.S. and not ObersturmbannfÜhrer. So far there is no evidence that he tampered with the Hamburg police records.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what reports His Majesty's Government have received as to the increase of democratic opinion in Germany; and if any conversations have been held with the other occupying powers as to the desirability of holding elections in that country.

Three main parties are active, Social Democrats, Christian Democrats and Communists. Other groups are also forming and are seeking recognition. Political leaders are emerging and there is latent democratic energy in the parties, but they are still small. Discussions have taken place between the occupying powers about the holding of local elections. In existing conditions these cannot be held for some time, but work is going ahead as quickly as possible in compiling an accurate electoral roll, a matter of some difficulty in view of the movement of populations.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will permit local groups of Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, Liberal Democrats and Communists, established within the British zone of Germany, to affiliate themselves with the central bodies of these parties, established in Berlin.

It has been the policy in the British zone of Germany to foster the formation of political parties, first on the Kreis level, which is roughly equivalent to that of a borough council, so that subsequent wider groupings would be truly representative of local democratic expression. The three principal parties that have thus emerged in the British zone, namely Christian Democrat, Communist and Social Democrat, are now being encouraged to form zonal committees and if and when these bodies propose to amalgamate with other groups in other zones so as to form central organisations covering the whole of Germany, the British authorities, for their part, will not wish to discourage them.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what was the result of the recent municipal elections in Wildershausen Oldenburg; and, in particular, how many Nazis were returned.

There have been no municipal elections held in Wildershausen or elsewhere in the British zone. A representative council, however, was nominated last October. Protests were raised by the Social Democrats against certain of the nominees and the Military Government is at present engaged on a special check. Meanwhile, the council is not functioning.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much petrol was imported into Britain during each of the last fourth months: what was the stock in Britain at the latest available date; and what was the stock in August, 1939.

According to the latest published information shown in the Trade and Navigation Accounts, the imports of motor spirit into this country during the months July to October inclusive were:

Tons.
July	488,000
August	248,000
September	242,000
October	375,000

These figures include imports to meet military requirements.Stocks of petroleum products held in this country are never published, and a recent review has led to the conclusion that it would not be in the public interest to depart from this practice. I am not therefore able to give the information asked for in the second and third parts of the question.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider further economies in street lighting in order to increase further the amount of fuel for domestic purposes.

Some time ago I requested all lighting authorities to put out street lighting at midnight, but owing to a number of practical and technical difficulties, I later asked them, as an alternative, to make an overall cut of at least 50 per cent, in their fuel consumption on street lighting. I have made it clear that I regard this 50 per cent. as a minimum, and that a substantially greater saving should be practicable in most cases. I am glad to say that in general the authorities have co-operated readily, though in certain individual cases there is still room for further economies; I shall continue to press for these.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the importance of the work of commercial representatives in developing home and overseas trade, he will increase their present inadequate allowances of petrol.

I should be glad to increase the supplementary petrol allowances of the business and professional classes, according to the importance of the work on which they are engaged, and in a number of cases recently minor relaxations have been made, but I regret that the petrol supply position precludes any general increase at present.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider the desirability of staging an exhibition in the early future in London and all the chief provincial towns of the various types of up-to-date coal-burning appliances which it is proposed to fit in the new houses with the object of economising in fuel, reducing smoke and providing greater amenities for "the inhabitants of those houses.

This matter has already been considered. An exhibition of up-to-date fuel burning appliances, sponsored by my Department, has recently taken place in Glasgow and I hope it will be possible to show them in a number of other large cities as well in the near future.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how soon he will remove the regulation restricting taxicabs to 10 miles and private hire motor cars to a radius of 20 miles.

I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave on 14th December to a similar Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Hythe (Lieut.-Colonel Mackeson).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will consider a regulation making compulsory the attachment of an electric battery lamp to the collars of horses and ponies used in the coal mines, as is the case in Canadian coal mines, in the interest of greater safety and efficiency and for the protection of the animals concerned.

Trials were made with horse lamps as long ago as 1930 and some arc still in use, but the number is not large, and it is difficult to form a reliable opinion as to whether they make any effective contribution to safety and efficiency. I will, however, make further inquiry, although I would remind my hon. Friend that every pony driver carries a light.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what representations he has received concerning reforms in the conditions and care of horses and ponies used below ground in mines, including the statutory provision of a single working shift for all horses and ponies in every 24 hours; and whether he is giving consideration to these suggestions in relation to forthcoming legislation dealing with the mines, or by administrative action in the way of order or regulation in the near future.

I have recently received from one of the animal protection societies a number of suggestions for revision of the existing regulations, and I am considering these suggestions in consultation with my Inspectors.