asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many re- employed officers serving on VE-Day were in receipt of other ranks pensions in respect of previous service.

I regret that the exact figure is not available, but a rough estimate of the number of those who, having previously been pensioned as ratings were serving as commissioned or warrant officers on VE-Day, is 1,500.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the present strength of the W.R.N.S.

The strength of the W.R.N.S. at the end of November was approximately 55,000.

Is the First Lord satisfied that demobilisation is proceeding at a proper rate, in regard to these people?

I should say, from the figures, that they are moving more rapidly than any other branch of His Majesty's Service. More than 20,000 of this comparatively small number of people have gone, and they are going very rapidly.

What will the ultimate strength of the W.R.N.S. be?

I could not say at this stage.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many wives of naval ratings have joined their husbands in Malta since permission to travel to Malta was granted.

No wives of naval ratings have so far arrived in Malta from this country.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how long the wife of a naval rating has to wait after her application for a passage to Malta; and what is the minimum fare for a single person.

I understand that the period will vary according to the demand and the availability of shipping space, but I am afraid that it will be at least six months. The answer to the second part of the Question is £16.

Arising out of the First Lord's answer to both those Questions, may I ask whether they do not make rather nonsense of the somewhat affable answer which I received from the Financial Secretary on 10th December, in which the Minister indicated that it was a practical proposition for wives to join their husbands in Malta?

I do not think it makes nonsense of it at all. I said that the first thing to be done was to take a decision on the principle. The decision has been against this being done in wartime. We are doing our best to get on to a peace time level as soon as possible. I must, however, be frank with my hon. and gallant Friend and say that shipping space will delay us.

As it is possible for wives to join their husbands in Malta, will the First Lord do his very best to see that the wives get out there without delay?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many officers and men are on indefinite release.

On 30th November, the latest date for which figures are available, the number was 18,700.

How many of them were put on indefinite release during the war?

I should have to have notice of that question, but I would point out that the figure includes all the compassionate releases as well as those who are for the time being awaiting appointments.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is satisfied that the ones who were released during the war are fully aware of their rights to claim postwar credits and gratuities at once?

So far as I know they have all had their chance of seeing these orders, but if the hon. and gallant Member has any case in mind I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many physicists and engineers of B.Sc. standard or better employed by his Department, were engaged on telecommunications research and development, respectively, for 12 months ended June 1937 and 1945, respectively.

The overall numbers employed during the two periods mentioned were 55 and 400 respectively. The numbers engaged on research and on development respectively vary continually according to requirements. I regret, therefore, that it is not practicable to assess the numbers thus engaged.

Can the First Lord say how much of the resulting work has been made available to the Post Office?

If my hon. Friend wants me to get on to that aspect of the matter I must have notice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the date of the next entry, and for applications, into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook; and whether, in view of the modified physical and educational standards, the 70 candidates rejected on the last occasion will be eligible for a further attempt and will be so informed.

Preliminary examinations of candidates for the next entry to the Royal Hospital School have already taken place, and the final examination will be held at the School on 8th January, 1946. A further examination will probably be held in May, 1946, to which some of the 70 candidates who failed on the last occasion will be invited.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of boys who can be accommodated at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook; the number now borne; and, as A.R.P. reasons no longer restrict the number, when it is intended to fill the school to capacity, observing the increase in the number of orphans who are eligible for entry because their fathers served in the R.N. or Mercantile Marine and lost their lives in the late war.

:The school was planned to hold as a maximum 860 boys, involving a total of 80 boys in each hostel, other than the new entry hostel. The Standing Advisory Committee recommend that this maximum should not be entered unless certain structural alterations, designed to secure better supervision can be made. Meanwhile, the numbers in the School are expected gradually to increase, and all eligible candidates are being accepted. The average number borne during the last three months is 521.

As there is a large amount of accommodation available and a full staff, and there are a large number of orphans who ought to be accommodated, will my right hon. Friend do his best to remove the bottleneck and to ensure that as many boys as fall within the category of "orphan" are enrolled at the next entrance?

I am not aware that there is a bottleneck. The school is open for applications from all people of this kind, and, as I have said in my first answer, all eligible candidates are being accepted. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any case which seems to show that there is a hitch and he will let me have the details, I will look into it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will now make a statement with regard to prize money.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if it is intended that prize money shall be paid to naval personnel in respect of prizes taken during the war, as has formerly been the practice.

It has been decided that prize money in respect of the proceeds derived from the sale of captured enemy merchant ships and cargoes which has traditionally been granted to the Navy, shall again be granted, but it is the intention that a proportion of the proceeds should on this occasion be allocated for the benefit of Air Force personnel. It has been decided, however, that a grant of prize bounty shall not be made. In previous wars, this grant has been paid to the officers and crews of such of His Majesty's ships as were actually present at the taking or destroying of any enemy warships, but in the Government's view such a grant is inappropriate under modern conditions of war, and should be regarded as obsolete.

The Dominions Governments and the Government of India have concurred in principle in these decisions. So far as the United Kingdom Forces are concerned, however, it is the Government's intention that this shall be the last occasion on which prize money will be paid.

Arising out of that very satisfactory answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware of the great satisfaction that the answer will give, not only to His Majesty's Forces here and those of the Dominions, but to the R.A.F.? May I further congratulate him on being successful in being able to maintain this ancient custom of giving prize money?

Will my right hon. Friend consider paying this money on a flat rate basis?

That is what I might call a leading question. I do not think I can accept that proposition; but I do intend a variation of the payment among the ranks from that which took place in the last war and that the gap shall be very largely closed. A very different basis of distribution will be adopted from that of the last war.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the gradation of the payment of prize money has been in force for a very long time? Can he say how soon information of the new system will be made available to the Navy?

The decision, you mean?

The proportion in which the money will be shared and allocated.

We will make the information available as early as possible. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that most of this prize money is still the subject of long litigation in the courts. There is no great hurry, except to let people know what is likely to happen.

Will the First Lord of the Admiralty give serious consideration again to the question just put to him by my hon. Friend, that the prize money should be paid on a flat rate?

At this moment, I have nothing to add to the answer which 1 have given to the hon. Member.

Do we understand there will be no question of differentiation?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he now has any information about the recent mutiny in H.M.S. "Javelin."

The answer is rather long, so I hope the House will bear with me.

Read it after Questions.

I would rather read it now, as I have a rather important Press conference later.

In the early morning of 17th September last, a number of ratings in H.M.S. "Javelin '' refused to fall in for work. As a result of this mass disobedience, three courts martial were held in Malta between 5th and 13th November. I have now reviewed the sentences passed on the accused, and am satisfied that they were both just and appropriate.

Seventeen able seamen and one ordinary seaman were charged with mutiny not accompanied by violence, and with wilful disobedience. Two able seamen were acquitted of these charges, but found guilty of absence from their place of duty. They received a minor punishment of seven days' extra work and drills. The remainder were acquitted of the mutiny charge, but found guilty of wilful disobedience, and received the very lenient sentence of 60 days' detention, which was accompanied by a recommendation to the Commander-in-Chief, since put into effect, that the sentences should be suspended after 30 days. In consequence, these men have already been released.

One leading seaman was charged with taking part in mutiny, and with not using his best endeavours to suppress mutiny. These charges were withdrawn during the course of the trial, but the accused was found guilty of wilful disobedience and absence from his place of duty. In view of his former good record, this rating was sentenced to 60 days' detention, but the sentence was suspended before committal.

The most serious of the charges were those against eight petty officers, who were rightly found guilty of mutiny not accompanied by violence, of wilful disobedience, and absence from their place of duty. These were grave offences on the part of senior ratings, whose duty it was to use their utmost endeavour to suppress indiscipline among their subordinates. Whilst the sentence of one year's imprisonment with dismissal from the Service was not an excessive one for these offences, I have taken into account the former good records of these men, and the mistaken sense of loyalty to another rating which led them to act over-hastily. I have therefore issued instructions that while the sentences of imprisonment are to stand, the petty officers are to be released immediately as an act of grace without dismissal from the Service.

:Can the First Lord say whether the eight petty officers in question were active service ratings?

There were some of both.

Has the First Lord made inquiries into this mutiny to find out whether it is not someone up above the ordinary officers who is responsible, because it is rare for officers in the British Navy to mutiny, and I want to know whether he has made any investigations?

I have been through every word of the evidence myself, otherwise I would never have agreed to release men who were petty officers and who had been convicted on a charge of mutiny. It is a very grave offence. I have taken the whole of the circumstances, as I have seen them, into account in conjunction with my advisers at the Board of Admiralty, and I think we are now doing justice.

Is not the effect of the decision that the petty officers are not being punished at all?

I should have thought that my hon. and gallant Friend, with his great knowledge of the Service, would know that what I have said does not release them from the effects. If a man has been found guilty and sentenced for mutiny, first, he forfeits all his campaign medals and, second, he reverts to the ranks.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider publishing as a White Paper the evidence gathered from the interrogation of the German Generals, Haller and Keitel, and that produced in the course of the Nuremberg Trial, indicating that Germany was unable at Munich to challenge an Anglo-Franco-Soviet combination, that Hitler had told his General Staff that he would call off the attack on Czechoslovakia if France and Great Britain offered resistance, and that German generals had planned to depose and arrest Hitler if he did go to war.

The matter is at present sub judice and the question whether a White Paper should be published dealing with particular aspects of the evidence, some of which has not yet been used at the trial, is one which must await the end of the proceedings. In the meantime I must not be taken as agreeing that the effect of the evidence considered as a whole is as indicated in the question. A transcript of the proceedings before the Tribunal from day to day is being made available in the Library and arrangements are now being made for this transcript to be printed.

Is it not a fact that the interrogation of General Haller and General Keitel took place several months ago, was not connected with the Nuremberg trials, and that the evidence is publicly available, and if so is it not in fact stated that there was a plot by German generals to overthrow Hitler if he went to war over Munich?

A great deal of evidence is being produced, and will be produced before the tribunal, and it is obviously more satisfactory that the hon. Gentleman should consult the records and make up his own mind as to what exactly was said than that I should give piecemeal opinions as to parts of the evidence.

Is it not plain from the hon. and learned Gentleman's answer that there will be no submission to this House in the form of a White Paper of any evidence taken in this case while it is sub judice, and that only after a decision has been reached he will be prepared to answer questions?

I cannot add to what I have said. It is a question which must await the end of the proceedings.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the practice which is growing up at demobilisation centres of keeping the better variety of civilian clothing under the counter and producing it when a financial reward is considered likely; and what steps he is taking to discourage this malpractice.

I have not been able to establish any cases of this kind at the Royal Air Force civilian clothing centres. We should, of course, be glad to examine any particular evidence that is produced. Strict instructions are in force against any such practice.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this practice is quite widespread, and will he draw the attention of his right hon. Friends at the Admiralty and the War Office to this matter?

Yes, but we should like individual examples on which to act.

Will my hon. Friend say whether he has received my letter of 13th December, giving specific evidence of this practice, and if so, what steps he has taken?

That is under discussion now.

Could not the Minister quite easily overcome this by removing the counter?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when I recently passed through a demobilisation centre I did everything I could, short of acting as an agent provocateur, to find something under the counter, and was signally unsuccessful?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the increasing number of air accidents and the public disquiet which has been aroused, he will consider establishing in the R.A.F. a technical department equivalent in status to that of the engineer-in-chief of the R.N.

I should say that the technical efficiency of the Royal Air Force had, in the last six years, proved itself second to none. A comparison with the technical organisation of the Royal Navy which is designed to meet rather different problems might be misleading, or even invidious. But if the hon. and gallant Member considers that the status of the R.A.F. technical officers is inferior to that of their naval colleagues I would remind him that the technical problems of the R.A.F. are the direct concern of both the Air Member for Supply and Organisation and the Controller of Research and Development, who are members of the Air Council. The Council recognise the enormous importance of technical considerations, and the complex problem of this integration in the postwar Royal Air Force is now under searching examination. I am afraid, however, that this is essentially a long-term problem, the solution of which cannot be expected to have any immediate effect on the accident rate.

How many more accidents is the hon. Gentleman going to put up with in Transport Command before he arranges for some other body to inquire into accidents, other than the Air Ministry itself?

:The Air Ministry itself makes the initial inquiry into accidents, but the chief inspector of accidents and his staff, who inquire into all aspects, whether Air Ministry or other, is, if I may use the phrase, a semi-judicial body. There is very ample machinery for inquiry into the cause of accidents.

I am not sure that the hon. Gentleman is perfectly right in saying that. There has just been another accident in which 18 people were killed When the railway companies have an accident they have an impartial inquiry by Colonel Mount; is there any objection to a similar inquiry being held into air accidents and why should not the result of such inquiries be published?

Most exhaustive inquiries are made into these accidents, but they cannot in the case of a fighting service be of exactly the same character as in a civilian industry. The question of the investigation of accidents is very different from the Question on the Order Paper.

rose —

We have only reached Question No. 15 after nearly 25 minutes.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air how many reemployed officers serving on VE-Day were in receipt of other ranks pensions in respect of previous service.

Sixty, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for All whether he will cause the early vacation of camps on aerodromes which have be come redundant, in order that, when suit ably situated, they may be made available for housing purposes.

Yes, Sir. But the living accommodation which we give up is, in practice, mostly taken for other Service-men—because it is much more suitable for this purpose than for civilian housing, and the movement of the Servicemen into our camps makes it possible to release more private property elsewhere. We have offered accommodation in this way at 80 airfields and some or all of it has already been taken up at 60. We have sent R.A.F. ground units, most of which would otherwise be occupying civilian accommodation, into 48 more airfields.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many aerodromes have now become redundant owing to being no longer required for use by the R.A.F. and the U.S.A.F., respectively; what is the reason for the delay in derequisitioning such redundant aerodromes; and whether he will hasten their derequisitioning, both with a view to the restoration of the sites for agricultural use and also to the release of personnel now employed in their care and maintenance.

We are no longer using some 110 airfields. Thirty-five of these have been or are being derequisitioned. We have made all the others available for use as storage depots, prisoner-of-war camps, Service accommodation, and so on. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture is arranging for as much land as possible to be used for farming both at these airfields, and at some 140 others which we are still using, but not for flying.

Is there any reason why other storage accommodation should not be found and why these aerodromes should not be released? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a great part of the ground at aerodromes is taken up by concrete spaces which cannot be used for agriculture until the ground is derequisitioned and work has been done to clear it?

:The use of these aerodromes for storage accommodation usually frees from storage industrial premises which are urgently needed. Of course, the taking up of runways is a very big job.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the present strength of the W.A.A.F.

The strength of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force on 12th December was 99,950.

Is the hon. Gentleman now in a position to state what it is proposed the ultimate strength of the Service should be?

No, Sir. Its future is under consideration.

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

There are 909 officers and 10,300 airmen on indefinite release to industry. We have also approved, up to 5th December, 4,932 Class C releases from the Royal Air Force and the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the 909 officers and the 10,300 other ranks are fully aware of their entitlement to apply at once for postwar credits and gratuities?

They should be, and this Question and answer may help to make it clear.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what was his Department's estimate of the cost in casualties when planning the trooping programme; and how does this figure compare with the casualty rate so far experienced.

The trooping programme was planned as an Eastbound operation of war, with the object of taking men to the Far Fast to fight Japan. No estimate of the accidents likely to occur on such an operation was made. Since 1st May 11 accidents have occurred involving casualties on flights in the trooping programme in which 154 passengers and 41 crew have been killed; 22 passengers and five crew were injured.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that the time has arrived when the R.A.F. should admit that, owing to very understandable difficulties caused by the demobilisation of some of their most experienced air and ground crews, the air-trooping programme cannot be undertaken at the same rate as was originally supposed to be possible, and is he satisfied that the Minister of War Transport cannot produce any more ships?

We are, of course, deeply concerned with the accidents which have occurred in the trooping programme, and I am sure we should be most grateful for any assistance in the matter.

Can the Minister say what percentage of casualties to the whole number carried those figures represent?

I would like to have notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the proportion of foreign crews to British crews employed since the trooping programme began; and what is the proportion of accidents to foreign crews as compared with British crews.

I regret that this information is not readily available, but all aircrews employed on the trooping programme have been trained with the Royal Air Force to the same standards. Up to date, in 11 accidents on troop-carrying flights, nine crews were British and two were foreign.

:asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many trips on specific routes are carried out by pilots of troop-carrying aircraft before being sent on these routes as captains of air craft.

Captains of aircraft in Transport Command, covering the route to India and back, have to do a minimum of two return trips with freight only. Bomber Command captains make one preliminary flight over their section of the trooping route which is direct between Italy and the United Kingdom. Coastal Command captains do three, on routes over the sea.

Is the Minister aware that these accidents are doing irreparable damage not only to the R.A.F. but to British aviation as a whole, and is he satisfied that the flying training and discipline of the captains and crews are as good as they should be?

I have no doubt of the skill of the captains and crews. Our concern about the accidents is very great, and as I have told the House already, a most searching inquiry has been undertaken by the Air Staff and remedies are being applied at this very moment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many engine failures have been reported to the Director of Accidents from 1st October to 1st December in respect of aircraft engaged in trooping or carrying other passengers.

Thirty-three cases of an engine failure in passenger- or troop-carrying aircraft have so far been established for the months of October and November. The figure is not yet complete, as each case of apparent engine failure is investigated, and this necessarily takes time.

Is it the case that a considerable proportion of the failures has been due to the failure of the Merlin engine, and is that being taken into account in the steps now being taken to remedy the situation?

I should require notice of that question.

Is there any objection to the public being told the causes of the accidents?

The circumstances differ in each case.

Why should the public not be told in each case?

On what date did the Air Ministry appoint a Director of Accidents?

A Directorate of Accidents.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why, in the case of many commissioned officers repatriated from India in June, their accounts had not "reached England by 1st November.

I am not aware of any such case, but if the hon. Member will send me details about individual officers, I will make inquiries.

Will the hon. Gentleman be surprised to know that some of these accounts have arrived in this country only since the beginning of this month?

I know there have been delay and difficulty in getting accounts from India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why an officer, of whose identity he has been informed, who had been serving in Burma and embarked for this country for demobilisation on 3rd October, and is now on his final leave, has received no pay or allowances, including his final leave pay, since the date of his embarkation; and whether he will in future see that officers and men may enjoy their demobilisation leave without financial worry due to inefficiency in the Accounts Department.

Payments for credit to this officer's account were made on 2nd November and 1st December.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, according to my information, it is only during the last five days that the money has actually been paid into the bank, and will he make sure in future that people receive their allowances during the 56 days, so that they can really have demobilisation leave?

I am afraid there is a conflict as to the facts. I assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that I have been into the matter, and the payments were made on those dates.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in accordance with your Ruling of two days ago that Questions of this nature should have been received at the Table?

It is for the hon. Member putting the Question to decide whether it raises a matter of principle that he wants to put to the Minister.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that 3060749 Aircraftman F. G. Isaac has been confined to camp for three days on a charge of denying that he had written a letter, published in the "Grantham Journal," knowing this statement to be untrue; and if he will take disciplinary action against those responsible for this breach of the undertaking that there would be no further disciplinary action against this airman and cause suitable amends to be made to him.

When I made my statement last week, A.C.2 Isaac had been awarded three days confined to camp. He was in sick quarters at the time so the punishment was purely nominal and it does not involve any entry on his Service Conduct Sheet. What I said was that no further disciplinary action would be taken against him. There was no breach of my undertaking. As to the future, Members may like to know that this whole Unit will be disbanded in the immediate future and its members posted to other stations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he anticipates the release rates for equipment assistants will be approximately level with that of the most favoured trades.

We have now reduced the lag in the rate of release of equipment assistants to four groups. How soon we can bring them level depends upon whether and if so, by how much the general rate of release is speeded up in the New Year.

Is it a lag of four groups behind the average rate of release or behind that of the most favoured trades?

The rate of release of most airmen for January is Group 26, with half of Group 27, and it is behind that.

When will there be a corresponding improvement in the Accounts Branch?

There has been.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) what steps he has taken to prevent the issue of unauthorised pronouncements in official R.A.F. publications to avoid the raising of false hopes about demobilisation among R.A.F. personnel;

(2) upon whose authority the statement was published in the R.A.F. Journal of October, 1945, to the effect that by the end of this year the difference in release as between various trades would probably be greatly reduced, if not eliminated; how far this difference as between various trades has been reduced since October, 1945; and when it is hoped to eliminate it.

The statement in the Royal Air Force Journal was not unauthorised, and in fact the differences in the rate of demobilisation as between trades have been greatly reduced. In October, when the statement was made, 13.3 per cent. of Royal Air Force releases were delayed; in January the figure will be 5.6 per cent. The reason why the unevenness has not been further reduced is, of course, the successive speed-ups in the general rate of release. The faster you go the harder it is to achieve perfect evenness. In fact, even those most affected by the disparity which continues —six groups for the accounting trades in January—have all had their release speeded up compared with our first estimates for the end of this year. Whether we even out the remaining disparities in the New Year depends on whether or not there is a further speed-up in the rate of general release.

While thanking the Minister for his reply, may I point out that Question No. 44 should have been listed subsequently to Question No. 70? May I ask the Minister what justification there has been for the statement that it is hoped to eliminate this disparity?

It is hoped to eliminate it, and certainly it will be eliminated. The only question is, when?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will give an assurance that officers in the R.A.F. medical service up to Group 30 will be demobilised under Class A contemporaneously with officers in the R.A.M.C.; and, if not, by what date such releases will be completed.

I regret that I cannot give the assurance asked for since the ratio of doctors in the Army is higher than in the R.A.F. and the numbers in the different age and service groups vary as between the Services. Medical officers in the R.A.F. will be released in Group 25 this month and in Group 26 in January. They are therefore up to the general rate of release.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that nearly 1,500 R.A.F. personnel are or were recently stationed in the Azores, and that the duties in connection with such specialist services as air-sea rescue, staging posts, etc., are carried out by fewer than 500 of these; and how soon these 1,000 redundant or unemployed airmen are to be repatriated.

As my hon. Friend knows, it would not be in accordance with the present policy to give the figures for our forces in particular places overseas. We are steadily bringing down the strength of the Royal Air Force in the Azores. It is part of Coastal Command's contribution to the trooping programme to bring airmen home from the Azores as soon as possible.

Can my hon. Friend say how soon that will be, in view of the fact that the figures for the Azores have now been given on the Order Paper?

I have not confirmed any such figures, but airmen are steadily being brought home from the Azores.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any decision has yet been made as to the future use of Harrowbeer airport; and, if not, for what reason.

The Royal Air Force is not using Harrowbeer at present. A training centre for the building trade is to be set up there shortly. The final decision for Harrowbeer depends on postwar requirements for civil and Service airfields in the South-West.

Can the Minister give consideration to the disposal of this airport to the local authority of Plymouth for civil aviation purposes?

That sounds more like a question which should be addressed to the Minister of Civil Aviation. I think that very possibly they will have important use for the airfield.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many airmen remain in Iceland and for what purpose; and what transport is available for mails, leave, and those due for release.

The great majority of the Royal Air Force who are still in Iceland are doing signals work. It would not be in accordance with the present policy to give the numbers of our forces in particular places overseas. We have already made big reductions in Iceland—in fact one difficulty is that there are no longer enough men to justify regular troopship sailings for Iceland. Meanwhile, we are providing aircraft to make a weekly journey for mails and men who are due for release.

As there are only now about four hours of daylight, will the Under-Secretary of State do his utmost to improve the amenities for these men?

Yes, Sir, but what they mostly require, I think, is to come home, and that, for most of them, will soon happen.

asked the Minister of Food how many British Restaurants are operating in the United Kingdom; and if it is his intention to continue these restaurants in whole or in part.

On 15th September there were 1,450 British Restaurants operating in the United Kingdom. In addition to these there are 42 feeding centres set up by voluntary organisations and 24 school canteens serving meals to the general public. Under the Supplies and Services. (Transitional Powers) Act the temporary powers of local authorities to operate British Restaurants will be continued. The Government are in favour of local authorities being given permanent powers to operate British Restaurants and will when time permits ask Parliament to pass such legislation as may be necessary. With this object in view and in conjunction with the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland I propose in the near future to consult with the representative associations of local authorities.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether British Restaurants are running at a profit or a loss, and, if at a loss, whether they are subsidised by the Government?

Some are, and some are not, but in the future, the policy will be that each one will have to stand on its own economic footing.

If there is any closing down of restaurants will the Minister give first priority to West End hotels?

:Will the right hon. Gentleman consult with the catering industry about this competition with legitimate trade?

I imagine that the catering industry will wish to consult me.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the hardship caused to food executive officers and their assistants in the provinces, who are not allowed to claim subsistence allowances unless they are away from their offices for at least 10 hours; that, unlike their opposite numbers in the London area, most of these officers would normally eat their mid-day meal at home; and whether he will authorise reasonable out-of-pocket expenses to these officers when travelling on official business, even though their absence from their offices is for a shorter period than 10 hours.

The officers in question are dealt with under regulations applicable to all staff of the Ministry of Food and the Civil Service generally. The circumstances to which the hon. and gallant Member refers do not afford any grounds for special treatment.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why a town clerk, travelling as such, can draw his expenses, but if the same man travels as a food executive officer he has to pay the out-of-pocket expenses himself?

The only difference is that I do not employ the town clerk.

asked the Minister of Food how many adult people in this country, other than nursing and expectant mothers, are registered for priority milk; and whether he is satisfied that there is no great misuse of the priority permits for milk that are extended to certain classes of invalids.

The number of adult consumers, other than expectant mothers and mothers of infants under one year old, who receive priority supplies of milk, is estimated to be about 600,000. The possibility of misuse of priority arrangements, whereby certain invalids receive extra milk, is under review by my Department, with the object of ascertaining whether any tightening-up of the present procedure is necessary.

In connection with this question of high quality milk, is the Minister prepared to consider the supply of unpasteurized milk?

I am looking into the matter, and hope at some future date to implement the general policy on the provision of a clean milk supply set out in the White Paper issued in 1943.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that old age pensioners are receiving no increased allowances this winter, he will raise their milk ration to half a pint a day instead of only two pints a week.

I am advised that there are no nutritional grounds for allowing extra milk to old age pensioners. In any case, the milk supply position precludes any such additional allowance. My hon. Friend will appreciate that, while milk continues in short supply, the establishment of a large new class of priority consumers would reduce the quantity of milk required for non-priority consumption, and, during the period of low production, it would bring the weekly non-priority allowance below two pints. More than 50 per cent. of the present milk supplies are already given to priority consumers, who represent one-third of the total number of consumers.

Is it possible to investigate the present priority consumers and find out whether it would be possible for some of these priorities to be used for old age pensioners who badly need the milk, instead of some of the classes who are getting it?

I have already said in my answer that I am investigating it.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make an increase of rations available for building workers employed on sites where no canteen facilities exist and who have to carry their mid-day meal with them.

No, Sir. It would be contrary to general policy to give workers in any particular industry extra individual rations, except the special cheese ration, which is allowed to certain categories of workers for whom the provision of catering facilities is impossible, and who, therefore, require to take a mid-day meal with them to their work. The special cheese ration has not been authorised for workers in the building industry since, in the majority of cases, it is practicable for the employers to set up canteens or to provide packed meals.

asked the Minister of Food on what date the valuation of the loss sustained by a member of the Orford and District Allotment Association, Lancashire, took place; whether the assessment of the loss was after the offers of £6 4s. in the first instance and of £10 in the second instance and on what basis were these offers made; and whether the estimated loss of £13 17s. 8½d. was known to the director, Meat and Livestock Division, when the lesser amounts were offered as a final and full settlement of the claim; and for what reason.

The answer to the first and second parts of the Question is that the first valuation of the loss was made towards the end of October, 1944, before the offers of £6 4s. and £10 respectively. The answer to the third part is that the estimate of the loss at £13 17s. 8½d. was not made until 24th April, 1945, and was not known to the director, Meat and Livestock Division, when the lesser amounts were offered.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it was necessary for two assessments of this damage to be made, and how he assessed the damage owing to the produce consumed by the animals that broke into the allotments?

In the first instance, it was an official of the Ministry of Agriculture who assessed the damage, and in the second, it was my man. He increased it to £14.

asked the Minister of Food why the herring fishermen in the Clyde area are not implementing the agreement recently concluded with his Department by which they undertook to land herring for packing and export to the Continent.

No formal agreement was made with the Clyde fishermen in regard to the scheme to export surplus herring to the Continent, although their representatives were consulted and agreed to the prices offered. I am unable to say precisely why the Clyde fishermen did not respond to the scheme, but it seems likely that the main reason was their preoccupation with other forms of fishing.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that prices of turkeys and other poultry to producers are practically the same as those fixed in the early part of the war, at a level to discourage the production of such birds and, consequently, do not bring to the producers a price sufficient to over the costs of production and a fair profit; and whether he will review the whole position, with a view to encouraging a greater production and ensuring to the producer a fair price and a stable market.

I am aware that the maximum first-hand prices of turkeys and other poultry have not been altered since October, 1941, and of the circumstances in which those prices were fixed. The adequacy of the prices, and the advisability of encouraging production by increasing them, will be examined when the annual review of agricultural prices takes place in February next.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the bread supply in Cambridge is endangered by the shortage of baking operatives; if he will take steps to assist the transfer to that area of bakers from other parts of the country where the shortage is less acute; and, in particular, if he will approach the Service Departments with a view to obtaining the release under Class B of bakers now becoming redundant because of the decrease in the size of the Armed Forces.

I am aware that there are difficulties at Cambridge, as elsewhere, owing to the shortage of bakers, but bread supplies are being maintained. My Department has the position under constant review, and special assistance has already been given to certain Cambridge bakeries which were short of staff. As regards Class B, a considerable number of bakers are being released throughout the country.

Is the Minister prepared to meet this question of the shortage of bread by providing a better quality of bread and also wholemeal bread?

asked the Minister of Food if he is prepared to recommend that all men in the distributive food trades, who were compelled to close their shops oft entering His Majesty's Service, should be released under Scheme B to enable them to re-open in time for the next registration period in July 1946.

I am not prepared to go so far as my hon. Friend suggests, but would refer him to the comprehensive reply I gave on the question of releases to the hon. Member for Stalybridge (Mr. Lang) on 24th October last.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate the great disadvantage under which these men will be placed, in view of the fact that they will have to enter into competition, and may I ask him if he will see to it that men in the Forces who had to close their shops will be out very quickly?

All I can do is to suggest that my hon. Friend makes an application through the proper channels—that is, to the Ministry of Labour under Class B.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that ½lb. of sweets is to be issued to German children under the age of 10 years, he will rescind the regulation preventing the dispatch by individuals in this country of the personal sweet ration to children in other European countries.

No, Sir.

Does the Minister regard it as satisfactory that, whereas the Government are organising the provision of sweets for children in Germany, private individuals in this country should be denied the opportunity of sending their own sweet ration to friends in Holland and Belgium?

I am not aware that the Government are organising the provision of sweets for children in Germany.

Then will the right hon. Gentleman ask the B.B.C. to issue a denial?

I do not take my information from the B.B.C.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the opinion expressed by the trade representatives of the flour milling industry that the standards laid down by the conference of last January could not be applied unless millers were permitted to reinforce their flour, he will consider raising the rate of extraction to some figure in excess of 80 per cent.

I think my hon. Friend is under some misunderstanding, as I am not aware that the trade representatives of the flour milling industry have said that the standards suggested in the recent re- port could not be attained with 80 per cent. flour. I see no reason, therefore, why the present extraction should not continue in accordance with the unanimous recommendation of the conference.

Is it not a fact that the four ingredients considered essential to the life of the community were selected by the conference, and that Lord Horder's sub-committee was able to report only three of these ingredients in flour of 80 percent. extraction?

I said that the recommendations of the committee were unanimous, and their view of the necessity for continuing with the 80 percent. extraction was published in the White Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any special coupon allowance can be made in respect of those cripples who require one special boot, as a result of which there is increased wear on the other foot.

Yes, Sir. We are always glad to consider sympathetically applications in such circumstances.

Will the Minister take steps to have this made clear, in view of the fact that people suffering from this form of physical disability are unaware that they are entitled to additional coupon allowance?