asked the Minister of Health if he will state in tabular form in Hansard, the number of persons who have applied for houses to the Maldon Borough and Rural District Councils, the Braintree and Bocking Urban and the

asked the Minister of Health what is the general practice of principal local authorities in the country at the present time as to placing the majority of the responsibility for their housing upon their architects' department; and whether any advice on this subject has recently been issued by him.

The arrangements made by local authorities for carrying out their responsibilities under the Housing Acts in this respect vary widely and are for them to determine. Advice as to the employment of architects for new housing Braintree Rural District Councils, the Witham Urban District Council and the Burnham-on-Crouch. Urban District Council, respectively; the numbers of permanent and of temporary houses approved or allocated; and the numbers of houses now being built and to be built in each of the next five years by each of these local authorities.

I append a statement. With regard to the final figure asked for in the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the Debate on 17th October.schemes is given in Housing Manual, 1944 (paragraphs 10 and 11).

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now say what arrangements he is making to accelerate and simplify the giving of consent to local authorities' housing proposals.

From 1st January all housing proposals of local authorities will be dealt with at regional offices of the Ministry, except in London Region whose work will continue to be dealt with at Whitehall. An officer of the Ministry to be known as Principal Housing Officer will be stationed in each region and it will be his responsibility to settle any question with which other Departments are concerned by direct contact with the regional representatives of those Departments, and to ensure that proposals for housing sites and building schemes are cleared with the minimum of delay.From 1st January too, local authorities will be empowered to issue for their housing proposals their own priority certificates for labour and for all restricted materials with the exception of timber. Certificates for timber will be issued from the regional offices of the Ministry as tenders for housing schemes are approved.I think that these arrangements should materially accelerate and simplify the giving of consent to local authorities' housing proposals.

asked the Minister of Health to whom do the houses built by the North-East Housing Association belong; and is it his intention to hand these houses over to the local authorities for whom they were built.

The houses built by the North-East Housing Association belong to the Association and are managed by them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfiedthat the county of London has its fair share of the building labour available for the construction of permanent houses.

I have no reason to think that the County of London has not got its fair share of the building labour available fox the construction of permanent houses, bearing in mind the amount of work being done in the county on the repair of C(b) houses.

asked the Minister of Health how many men are at present engaged, respectively, in the provision of sites for permanent dwellings and in the erection of such dwellings for public authorities in the area of the county of London.

I regret that this information is not available in the detail required.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the response to his Share-your-homes appeal.

I could only estimate the response to this appeal by asking local authorities for information, and I am anxious not to ask them for more returns than are essential. Nor could they estimate at all accurately since a part of the response has been by private arrangement. All I can say is that local authorities have co-operated well in giving wide publicity to the appeal.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in viewof the fact that his Department has as yet no plans for the requisitioning of rooms in private houses, he will withdraw his instruction that: in certain cases compulsory powers should be used for this purpose.

I do not intend to exercise my compulsory powers unless the voluntary appeal fails to produce the results. I have said that any case of. the kind in which a local authority consider that requisitioning powers must be used should be referred to the Ministry. If such a case is so referred it will be considered on its merits.

asked the Minister of Health bow many prefabricated permanent houses of each type have been applied for by local authorities in response to his Department's Circulars Nos. 182 and 186, issued in October, 1945.

So far, 562 local authorities have replied and have indicated a possible demand for 39,366 prefabricated houses of various types. As the figures in respect of each type are purely provisional, I would prefer not to publish them at present.

asked the Minister of Health the programme for completing bomb-damage repairs in London; and, in particular, what steps he is taking with the object of quickly relieving the discomfort which is still being experienced in many parts of London.

I would refer the hon. Member to Circular 219/45, which I issued on 10th December, and of which I have sent him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take in answer to the representations made by the Hornsey Borough Council that part of Alexandra Park should be made available for housing purposes.

This case is still under consideration, and I regret that I am not yet in a position to give this information.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a house at 8, Darwin Road, Southampton, which has been requisitioned by the local authority and for which £ 65 per annum is paid as a fair rent under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, is now being rented by the requisitioning local authority to an occupier at £ 73 6s. 4d. net, with the result that this present occupier is paying an excess of £ 13 6s. 4d. over therent legally payable if he had taken the tenancy direct from the landlord; and whether he proposes to take any action to prevent such injustice to landlords and occupiers in these cases.

I am not aware of this case but I will make inquiries and inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses for temporary homes have been completed and are lying idle due to non-delivery of the prefabricated houses; and what steps he is taking to remedy the position.

At 13th December sites for 67,668 temporary houses had been handed over by local authorities in England and Wales to the Ministry of Works for the construction of foundations. Foundations had been completed on sites for 33,067 houses and 18,808 houses had been begun. The rate of delivery of temporary houses from the factories has now much improved and we are beginning to overtake this lag.

asked the Minister of Health to which local authorities have directions been given by representatives of his department to obtain bricks of cheap quality from brick works 50 miles or more from the building site concerned, when local bricks were available at the controlled price; and why is he authorising the use of Fletton common bricks in foundations in districts where plastic clay common bricks are available locally at the controlled price.

No general directions of this sort have been sent out from my Department. If the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind I shall be glad to investigate them.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the misunderstanding that has arisen in the public mind consequent on the raising of the limit of advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, he will re-state the maximum cost for which private enterprise builders can obtain licences for the erection of houses.

The maximum selling price applied to houses which may be erected under licence from local authorities at the present time is £ 1,200 including land, roads and services, or £ 1,300 in the London Region.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the present world glut of copper, he willtake the opportunity to ensure that a large proportion of the houses to be built in this country during the next few years are fitted with copper water pipes, with a view to avoiding the present prevalence of burst pipes in frosty weather.

The use of copper water pipes in houses is consistent with the recommendations made in the Housing Manual issued in 1944 and with the report on Plumbing published by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works. There are advantages in the use of copper for water pipes and fittings particularly where soft or moorland waters are concerned. I understand that the copper supply position is not unfavourable at the present time, and I am advising housing authorities accordingly.

asked the Minister of Works why a soldier who, prior to the war, was a builder and decorator for many years employing at least 20 men, on applying for release to carry on his business, was informed that he could only be released if he agreed to accept employment as a bricklayer.

If the hon. and gallant Member will let me have particulars of the case he has in mind, I will have inquiries made and will write to him.

asked the Minister of Works what was the total quantity of bricks and the total tonnage of cement produced in the United Kingdom in the years 1938 and 1939 and in each of the months June to October, 1945.

Information as to pre-war production of bricks is not available, but sales in 1938 totalled some 7,500 million. No figure is available for 1939. The monthly production from June to October, 1945, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Works whether he will take steps to improve the standard of doors used in housing schemes, as the present type is of poor unseasoned quality.

I propose shortly to review with the joinery industry arrangements for the production of doors and other articles of joinery, and will bear in mind the point raised by my noble Friend. It will be understood, however, that the continuing difficulties in the supply of timber impose strict limitations on what can be done at present in the way of improvement.

asked the Minister of Works the number of men employed in the Government's direct building labour force, known as the special repair service, on 1st July and on 1st December last; what expansions he is contemplating in this or any other directly employed mobile building force; and what special rates ofpay, allowances or holiday privileges are accorded to this force which are not enjoyed by ordinary building trade operatives.

Apart from Service personnel, transport drivers and others attached to the special repair service there were 4,389 building trade operatives employed in that service on 1st July and 3,623 on 1st December. Members of the special repair service are paid wages, travelling and lodging allowances in accordance with the agreements laid down by the National Joint Council forthe building industry, subject to the payment of the Grade A rate as a minimum. An additional lodging allowance of Is. per night is paid to men who are sent away from home for less than six nights, and a further 2s. 6d. per night to men who have to maintain their homes in one area and retain lodgings in a second, whilst they are send to a third for a brief period. One day's holiday with pay is given for every six weeks of service as compared with six days per annum under the industrial agreement; and in thecase of sickness, National Health Insurance benefit is made up to full pay for four weeks in any one period of 12 months, after three months service. I am at present in consultation with the employers and operatives organisations as to the future of this service.

asked the Minister of Health if any decision has been arrived at with the Ministry of Works with regard to giving permission to the Gosforth Urban Council for the building of 50 Howard houses; and will a date be fixed to meet a deputation from the council.

I have already informed my hon. Friend in reply to a letter I have had from him that arrangements are being made to supply 50 Howard houses to the Gosforth Urban District Council. I understand that the council are satisfied and there is therefore no need to trouble a deputation to come to London.

asked the Minister of Health how many living-rooms in London are held available for renting by the British Council and C.E.M.A.; what retaining fee is paid to the owners by these bodies for holding this accommodation available; and whether all of it is at all times occupied.

I am not in a position to supply this information.

asked the Minister of Works how many baths are now in stock in depots under the control of the following: Army ordnance depots, other War Office stores, R.A.F. depots and stores, Admiralty depots and stores, Ministry of Aircraft Production, C.D. stores, N.F.S. stores, special repair organisation depots, N.A.A.F.I., local authorities and Ministry of Works, respectively.

I am informed that 18 baths are held in Army stores, 34 in R.A.F. stores, and 29 in Admiralty stores. The Ministry of Works holds 11,911; of these 11,500 are provided for housing and 266 are held by the Special Repair Service for war damage repair and use in their camps. I am informed that no stock is held by M.A.P., N.A.A.F.I., or in CD. and N.F.S. stores.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the system of leasehold tenure of property as it affects the owner of thesmall dwelling house.

Inquiries are made whenever they appear to be necessary into various aspects of the law relating to leaseholds, and several amendments have been made in recent years. I see no need for further inquiry for the time being into that aspect of the law referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health when he is proposing to meet the deputation from the West Ham Council as requested by the town clerk of West Ham in his letters to him dated 25th September, 10th October and 14th November, 1945.

A full statement on the matters referred to in this correspondence was sent to the town clerk before receipt of the last letter mentioned in the Question, but if the council feel that it is still necessary to send a deputation my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary will be pleased to receive them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is taking steps to meet the shortage of nursing and domestic staffs at the Central Home, Leytonstone, West Ham,particulars of which have been communicated to him by the town clerk of the county borough of West Ham.

The reply which I gave my hon. Friend on the 13th December about certain West Ham hospitals applies equally to the institution referred to in the Question.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received the report of the surveyors for the West Midland area on the hospital services in the regional district included in the survey; and if he will state the action which he proposes to take to give effect to the recommendations embodied in their report.

The report was issued on 24th October last for consideration by those concerned, locally and centrally, in the future planning and organisation of hospital services. General action on the recommendations made would be premature in advance of the organisation and development of the health services as a whole.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the number of persons awaiting sanatoria treatment for tuberculosis is about 5,000 and the number of beds normally available, but at present out of use owing to shortage of staff, is about 3,000; that there are available and idle in displaced persons camps in Europe not less than 2,000 persons able and willing to undertake this work, who could be brought here to do this work temporarily; and whether he will arrange with the other Departments concerned. to bring them here.

I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the Question, and all possible measures to remedy the shortage of staff are being taken by my officers and those of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. The importation of displacedpersons for this work is under consideration, but it is not without difficulty, and I cannot, of course, say how many would be available.

asked the Minister of Health whether the inter-Departmental Committee on dentistry have yet submitted their final report.

Yes, Sir. The Secretary of State for Scotland and I are grateful to the Committee and to Lord Teviot, its chairman, for this Report, to which we shall give close study. We propose that the Report shall be published as a Command Paper and made available to Members as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he will withdraw Memo. 266/T, which rules that advanced or chronic cases of tuberculosis are ineligible for an allowance under the Government scheme.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Tottenham (Mr. Messer) on 6th December, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered a petition signed by over 1,000 residents in Portishead, regarding the emission of grit from the Bristol Corporation generating station; whether he has yet received a report on the position from the Electricity Commission; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Yes, Sir. This matter was the subject of a joint visit by an officer of the Electricity Commission and one of my inspectors on 5th December. Proposals for further works to remedy the trouble are matters for the Electricity Commission who have written to the corporation as a matter of urgency indicating steps which should afford substantial relief.

asked the Minister of Health whether there has been any alteration in the composition of the Reading Committee on London Government; how many times has it met; and what: are its terms of reference.

The only alteration in the composition of the Committee has been the appointment of Mr. L. A. Freeman in succession to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Lindgren), who resigned on taking office. I understand that to date the Committee have met on seven occasions. The terms of reference are:" To examine and review the number, size and boundaries of the Metropolitan Boroughs and the distribution of functions between the London County Council on the one hand and the Common Council of the City of London and the Metropolitan Borough Councils on the other hand, and to make recommendations."

asked the Minister of Health if the powers of compulsory acquisition of land for village hall sites can now be restored.

These powers have not been withdrawn, but borrowing for the purpose is necessarily limited to urgent projects.

asked the Minister of Health how many deputations he has received, personally, from local authorities since he took office.

I have received in London deputations from five local authorities and have met the representatives of 603 local authorities in a series of regional and local housing conferences. I hope to continue this series in the New Year.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any estimate of the numbers of members of local authorities who are also members of His Majesty's Forces; and how many are unable to undertake their public duties on that account.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce a short Bill to amend the Asylums Officers Superannuation Act, 1909, so as to remove the anomaly whereby an employee is not allowed the return of his own contributions on voluntary resignation when he is not guilty of misconduct.

I will consider this suggestion with others which have from time to time been made for the amendment of the law relating to the superannuation of local government and other officers, but I can hold out no hope of early legislation on these matters

asked the Minister of Health the amount of land owned by statutory undertakers but not required for the essential purposes of their undertakings.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to prohibit a horse, pony or donkey being worked in harness for any longer period than seven hours per day on six days a week, including a break of one hour per day for rest and food.

I have no power to impose such a prohibition and I am advised that it would, in any event, be unenforceable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals have been performed under the Act, 39 & 40 Vict., c. 77, for the purpose of investigating atomic energy; at which places experiments were performed; and what was the nature of the experiment.

I am not aware that any such experiments have been performed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the owner of the land on which the wardens' post was constructed near Canal Bridge, Polesworth, has offered £ 4 for the building, but that the local authority state that rather than accept this offer the Home Office are prepared to incur expenditure in demolishing the structure; and will he take steps to prevent such waste of public money and resources.

I understand that negotiations have not yet been completed in this case, and I am arranging for my regional office to discuss it with the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that frequent breaches occur in the Wild Birds Protection Act in rural districts; and if he will circularise chief constables in rural districts asking that action be taken against anyone found committing such an offence.

If the Noble Lord will be good enough to let me have particulars of the breaches to which he refers, Ishall be happy to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now publish the names in the padlocked book found when the Right Club was raided.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the proposals now being made to local authorities by the N.F.S. for the use of air raid sirens for fire service purposes; and if he will arrange to have this circular withdrawn, having regard to the fact that, especially in the southern parts of England, the air raid sirens have been sounded frequently during the war period and the residents in these districts have no desire to hear them again, even though any warning to firemen may be in the nature of the raiders passed signal.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Mr. Dumpleton) on 25th October, and to the hon. and gallant Member for Pudsey and Otley (Colonel Stoddart-Scott) on the 13th December, copies of which I am sending to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Shaftesbury Rural District Council are being penalised to the extent of £126 5s. 6d. per year under the National Fire Service (Finance) Regulations, 1941, for the enthusiasm which they showed in bringing their fire service organisation up to date; and whether he will accept a contribution from that council of not more than 75 per cent. of a 2d. rate, as he would have done from an authority which had taken no action whatsoever.

As has already been explained to the hon. and gallant Member in correspondence the contribution payable by the Shaftesbury Rural District Council was computed in accordance with the Statutory Regulations, full account having been taken of the exceptional expenditure incurred by the Council in the standard year (1939-40). In the circumstances I cannotundertake further to vary the computation, nor have I any power to accept, in lieu, a contribution based on the product of 2d. rate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the function held recently at the Royal Hotel, presided over by the ex-leader of the British Union of Fascists; and will he take steps to prevent this ex-internee from reviving a spirit of Fascism amongst undesirable elements which can only result in a recurrence of breaches of the peace.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave in the House today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the estimated numbers of Service deserters in this country, British and Allied respectively; and what steps it is proposed to take to enable these men to surrender themselves so that some may become absorbed in their previous occupations.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 12th December. As regards the second part of the Question, the question of the action to be taken when deserters surrender themselves is a matter for the Service authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what statutory provision a watch committee acts in conducting a trial and bringing in a verdict on a criminal charge.

A watch committee is not a court exercising criminal jurisdiction. It is the disciplinary authority for a borough police force, and, as such, deals with charges of misconduct brought against members of the force under the Police Discipline Code.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider making the evidence in trials of Fascists, held in camera during the war, available for publication.

I understand that editors of newspapers have recently been informed that the publication of information with respect to the proceedings of trials held in camera will be authorised subject to the deletion of any information which the War Office considers on security grounds it would still be contrary to the interests of public safety to disclose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will include among the categories of persons whose claims to naturalisation deserve some priority, persons who have served creditably in the Allied Forces or Mercantile Marine other than British, and who have good reasons for not desiring repatriation.

Service in an Allied Force or in a foreign ship is not in itself a qualification for naturalisation. Some of these aliens may be able to satisfy the statutory residence requirements, but I cannot regard them as having as strong a claim for the early consideration of their applications as aliens who have served in the British forces or in British merchant ships.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cut out any administrative processes normally associated with naturalisation, in the cases of those applicants whose histories have been investigated a number of times in recent years, and so relieve them of much uncertainty.

I am anxious that the procedure for considering naturalisation applications should be as expeditious as possible, but it is impossible to say what enquiries may be necessary in any individual case. Naturalisation is not a privilege to be granted lightly, and the information available to the Home Office is not usually sufficient to enable the normal inquiries to be dispensed with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now consider removing the restrictions which require British women married to aliens to report to the police.

Yes, Sir. This matter is receiving consideration, but I am not in a position to make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that wash boilers, formerly costing 12s. 6d. each, are now obtainable in Thornaby-on-Lees at prices varying between £ 3 10s. and £ 4; and if he will take steps to reduce this increase in cost.

If my hon. and gallant Friend will send me details of the case he has in mind, I shall have the matter investigated by the local price regulation committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the arrangement for preliminary negotiations referred to in the Joint Statement in paragraph 3, page 18, Cmd.6709, he will give facilities for representation of, and consultation with, the primary producers of the Dominions and Colonies who would be adversely affected by the elimination or reduction of the preferential tariffs now accorded by the United Kingdom.

I cannot speak for the Governments of the Dominions, but I assume that they will hold such consultations with their primary producers as they consider necessary. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, will keep me informed of the views of primary producers in the Colonies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the need of increasing hotel accommodation at the earliest possible opportunity and in view of the fact that many hotels are shortly to be derequisitioned, he will now consider the preparation of some scheme by which a reasonable proportion of some coupon-free material and priority dockets will be available to hotel proprietors.

No, Sir. This would not be possible so long as supplies of household textiles remain insufficient to meet the pressing needs of many classes of private householders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the complaints regarding shortage of sports goods for the use of civilians; what percentage of home production is handed over to N.A.A.F.I. for the use of men in the Services; and what is the total value of stock held by that organisation both here and overseas.

I am aware that there is still a shortage of sports goods for the use of civilians. For the proportion of supplies distributed through N.A.A.F.I., I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Salisbury (Major Morrison) on 3rd December. The question of the stocks held by N.A.A.F.I. is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in the most recent Paper Order, an allowance is granted for advertising circulars in respect of theatres but not of cinemas.

Cinemas are allowed under the Control of Paper (No. 70) (Economy) Order, 1945, to distribute advertising circulars gratuitously to approximately the same extent as theatres, although the quantity allowed for theatres is calculated in a rather different way to conform with the arrangements previously applicable in their case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many cinemas in England, Scotland and Wales failed to show their quota of British films during the period 1st October, 1943, to 30th September, 1944;(2) how many of the cinemas controlled by Odeon, Limited, Gaumont British and A.B.C. Companies, were included among those who failed to show their quota of British films during the. period 1st October, 1943, to 30th September, 1944.

One thousand, one hundred and twenty cinemas in Great Britain failed to show the prescribed quota of British films during the 12 months ended 30th September, 1944, including 37 cinemas comprised in the Odeon, Gaumont British and A.B.C. circuits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much was paid for United States tobacco imported into this country in each of the years 1938 to 1944.

, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th December, 1945; Vol. 417, c. 416), supplied the following statement:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make possible the manufacture of D.D.T. in those factories which have produced this article during the war; if he will arrange facilities for production by former producers; and what conditions will attach to this important feature of post-war reconstruction.

The factories at which D.D.T. was manufactured during the war are still in production. A small reduction in Ministry of Supply orders when the war ended enabled one firm, which made D.D.T. on its own plant, to commence commercial distribution of its product in September last. In view of a further substantial reduction in Service requirements, it is proposed to give the other producers, who have been operating Government-owned plants upon which they hold pre-emptive rights, an early opportunity of making D.D.T. for their own account, subject to provision for current and future requirements of the fighting Services and other Government demands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider allowing coupons to Regular fighting-men now arriving in the United Kingdom after having served for over three years in foreign stations in order to enable them to possess some plain clothes.

No, Sir. As the House has previously been informed, supplies do not, at present, permit a concession.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the male officers in the Supply branches of the R.N. are beingdetained longer than W.R.N.S. officers and longer than other groups; and what steps he will take to remedy the situation.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche) on 31st October last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the delay in the demobilisation of Naval Combined Operations personnel passing through H.M.S. "Rosneath "; and what action he is taking to expedite it.

I am aware that there was a temporary hold-up in the rate of release of Combined Operations personnel passing through "Rosneath," the cause of which I explained in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Croydon (Lieut.-Colonel Rees-Williams) on 26th November. The release of Combined Operations personnel is now proceeding regularly at "Rosneath," and the rate of release of these personnel is equal to, if not slightly ahead of, the average rate of release for the Royal Navy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps have been taken to secure accommodation in military camps and hutments for R.N. personnel now housed in requisitioned premises in Weymouth and Portland.

There are no military camps in the area available to the Admiralty at the present time, but the closest liaison has been established with the War Department Area Quartering Commandant to ensure that any such camps will be considered for Naval purposes as soon as they become surplus to military requirements. Few properties in this area are now held on Admiralty requisition for the housing of R.N. personnel, and most of these will be released shortly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many premises in Weymouth and district are now requisitioned by his Department; and what were the comparable numbers on VJ-Day.

Thirty-two premises were held on requisition by the Admiralty in Weymouth and district on VJ-Day. The number held now is 24, and of these, 17 are due to be released in the near future. The position of the remainder is under careful review.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that at Kings-moor Camp, Corsham,Wiltshire, artificers and shipwrights are being constantly misemployed; and will he consider the inclusion on the camp administrative staff of an experienced engineer officer and senior artificer rating to ensure that these men are employed and treated in accordance with their rank and status.

Kingsmoor is an overflow camp used mainly for ratings awaiting draft abroad. Whilst there, some of the men are employed on essential duties inside the camp, whilst others are employed outside on agricultural and other work of national importance for which civilian labour is not available. So far as possible, full use is made of the skilful attainments of individual ratings, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that this is not practicable in all cases. So far as I am aware, no complaints or representations have been made officially by any rating at Kingsmoor, and nothing would be gained by augmenting the administration in the manner suggested.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of continuous service ratings promoted to the rank of acting sub-lieutenant on the permanant active list in the executive and engineering branches respectively, during the period 1939 to the latest available date.

The figures for period 1939 to date for the executive and engineering branches respectively are 213 and 46.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what extent mail for personnel serving in the Far East is sent by air; and if, inview of the importance of rapid correspondence in maintaining morale, he will order the mail to be sent that way.

All letters of one ounce and under, and all heavier letters which arc prepaid for air transmission, are sent by air to the main bases in the Far East, and are sent on from these bases by air when air services exist.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he is aware of the delay in demobilisation of the Accounts Branch of the R.A.F. and W.A.A.F. as compared with other branches; and if he will remedy the position.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 5th December to my hon. Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air by how many groups the release of parachute instructors is at present retarded; and what their position will be at the end of January, the end of March and the end of June.

Parachute instructors are two groups behind the general level of release for this month and for January. The forecast for February and March will be announced shortly. We cannot at present forecast what the relative position of particular trades will be at the end of June.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will state the precise nature of the services of clerks S.D. and clerks G.D., respectively, and whether, in view of the dissimilarity between their duties, he will put an end to the present arrangements under which clerks S.D. are being singled out to fill vacancies in the trade of clerks G.D., with consequential delay to their release from the services.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Memberto the reply I gave on 12th December to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetlands (Sir B. Neven-Spence) and on 31st October to my hon. Friend the Member for Erdington (Mr. J. Silverman).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will now complete to 30th November, 1945 the return of accidents so far published only to October.

The figures for accidents on passenger-carrying flights of Transport Command during November were given to the House in my reply of 12th December to the hon. and gallant Member for South Blackpool (Wing-Commander Robinson). The provisional estimate of total passenger miles on these flights is 140 million.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what facilities for learning Russian are available under the E.V.T. Scheme.

Wherever possible we arrange for personal tuition for members of the Air Force who want to learn Russian under the E.V.T. scheme. If facilities are available in a nearby town financial assistance may be given to enable students to attend classes. We also provide books and gramophone records.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether he will nowrevise the regulations whereby R.A.F. ground staff suffering injury during the performance of those duties are granted full pay for 12 months only, while personnel engaged on flying receive full pay for 18 months, and the former are charged 2s. 6d. a day while in hospital and the latter pay no charge; and whether he will assess these case equally and abolish the automatic cessation of these concessions based on a time limit so that each case is treated till either fit for some form of duty or until invaliding.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to the hon. Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox) on 18th December. As to hospital charges the existing distinction is rather different from that implied in the question. Briefly, the officer whose disability is attributable to wounds received in action or illness contracted on service in the field or an account of injury received or illness contracted as a result of a flying accident while on duty, is not generally called upon to make any contribution from full pay towards the cost of hospital in-patient treatment. In other cases, the officer is expected to pay 2s. 6d. a day.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the proposed plan for the half finished aerodrome at Lakenheath, Suffolk; and when it is proposed to reopen the road from Lakenheath via Wangford to Brandon, which was closed when the construction of the runways for this aerodrome was commenced.

The airfield, now practically completed, at Lakenheath has been specially extended for the largest types of aircraft. Parts of the Lakenheath-Wangford-Brandon road have been obliterated to make way for runways, but my Noble Friend will consider, with the Minister of War Transport, the practicability of providing a replacement to run round the north of the airfield in addition to the diversion of the Milden-hall-Brandon road already constructed to the east of the airfield.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air the number of. medical officers in the R.A.F. who, respectively, hold permanent commissions or have agreed to extend their service by four years, which are now current; the number of medical officers who will have been released from the R.A.F. in the second half of this year; and the number of medical officers who will have been recruited in the second half of this year.

The number of medical officers holding permanent commissions in the R.A.F. is 139. In addition, a further 56 officers have recently been selected for permanent commissions. 35 officers have been offered extensions of four years— so far five have accepted. 880 medical officers will have been released in the second half of 1945. Recruitment during the same period will have been nil.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why prisoners of war from Burma are threatened with courts martial if they speak of, or write about, their treatment while they were in captivity.

I am not aware of any such threat. What is done is to point out to former prisoners of war that publicity may be undesirable on some points— it might, for example,cause distress to the relatives of other men who were prisoners of war.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a graduate of London University, a schoolmaster who wishes to return to teaching under Class B scheme but who, although belonging to Group 26, finds that teachers in Group 28 have been released while he is retained; and if he will ensure that this man is now released.

This airman is now to be offered release in Class B. I regret that the offer was not made earlier.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 1090977 L.A.C. Hunter, J., 57 Unit, R.A.F., S.E.A.A.F., India, after being overseas for three years nine months, is not getting his home leave and others in the same unit, who went out two months later, are on their way home.

L.A.C. Hunter is due for return to the United Kingdom, as we have now started to reduce the overseas tour for single men to 3½years. We cannot bring home at once all the extra men who have just become eligible for return, but we are making enquiries about the arrangements for this airman. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a group of young refugees previously lodged in Kitchener Camp, Rich-borough, have now been demobilised from the services, and are having considerable difficulty for lack of a suitable address, since the Army authorities will not accept Kitchener Camp as a proper home address; and whether he will make arrangements for the Regional Council for Refugees in each CD. region to be regarded as a recognized home address for such people.

I am making inquiries into this matter and will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is a dump at Melbourne, near Derby, of some 473 cranes of various types; and whether he will take steps to make these available immediately to other service departments, thereby enabling the new products from factories to be shipped to export markets.

These cranes represent the entire reserve stock for the British and Indian Armies, who are at present operating some thousands of cranes in various parts of the world, many of them being of lend lease origin. In view of the uncertainty regarding retention of the lend lease equipment it has been necessary to maintain a higher reserve than would otherwise have been called for. This uncertainty would be removed by the rati- fication of the British-Americar agreement now under discussion, and it is hoped that it may be possible to release a substantial number for disposal in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that U.S. and Dominion officers have been reimbursed forvoluntary allotments which they made while prisoners of war for camp welfare and escape purposes; that no such repayment has been made to British officers; and whether he will reimburse them for the expenses incurred for such purposes.

I am not clear as to the nature of the payments by British officer prisoners of war which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind. If he will send me further particulars I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a number of complaints of bad leave travel arrangements on the Continent are reaching hon. Members; and what steps he is taking to improve present conditions.

I am aware that there have been complaints. In order to speed up repatriation and leave every effort has been made to make the maximum use of the limited facilities available, and I realise that travelling conditions have not always been as comfortable as one could wish. But, as I have previously stated, Iam sure that the soldiers would prefer a certain amount of dis comfort to a postponement of their homecoming, where this is the only alternative. Improvements are constantly being made and will continue as far as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now give the release dates for officers in Groups 25 to 30 inclusive.

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, in view of the considerable number of large houses still unoccupied in various parts of London it is still necessary for the Provost Department of the A.T.S. to occupy the offices of Rowton Houses Ltd., in Buckingham Palace Gardens; and whether, taking in view the useful social work which this institution performs, he will make special efforts to secure the release of these premises without delay.

There are no large houses held by the War Department in London which are unoccupied. The reason for the retention of these particular premises is that there is at present no alternative accommodation for theunit. I hope that alternative accommodation will become available in the Spring of 1946, but I am unable to give a specific date at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in H.Q., 56 Area, C.M.F., a notice, dated 20th November, 1945, has been circulated to the effect that supplies of tobacco were likely to be restricted for a few weeks and that the shortage, whilst not applying to cigarettes, was attributable to strikes in the United Kingdom; and if he will take steps to see that the true facts are circulated to the troops in the area.

I understand that although tobacco was available in C.M.F. at the time, certain brands were restricted in consequence of the shipping delay which resulted from the dock strike. I am, however, calling for the exact terms of the notice referred to and will consider whether any further action is necessary in that respect.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the commanding officer of the military hospital at Catterick issued an order on 23rd November, 1945, that privilege leave during Christmas and the New Year period would only be granted in normal turn, namely only 7½per cent. of the personnel; and whether, as this is in contradiction of the policy announced on that day, he will have this order cancelled and see that the personnel involved, many of whom have been overseas for four years and some of whom are ex-prisoners of war from Japan, are treated in accordance with that policy.

The order in question was issued before the revised arrangements were notified. It has since been superseded by the grant of privilege leave in accordance with the policy outlined by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will institute an inquiry into the conditions prevailing at 148 pre-O.C.T.U. training establishment at Wrotham camp, Kent.

I have had no complaints as regards 148 pre-O.C.T.U., but if the Noble Member will send me details I will have the matter investigated.

asked the Secretary of State far War if he will have the military obstructions, such as pill-boxes, road-blocks, during the war period, removed by members of His Majesty's Forces to avoid the need of using building workers to do this.

The military tasks of the Army in this country do not permit of the War Department undertaking general responsibility for this work. As already announced it has been decided that the Ministry of Works should accept responsibility for the removal of temporary defence works on private land where this is desirable in the public interest, and of receiving and examining the claim of the owner or occupier if he does the work. The Service Departments, on their part, will make fully available to the Ministry of Works their records about temporary defence works and make Service personnel available for the work where this is practicable. As regards works on public land, the responsibility rests with the civil Departments concerned. Wherever possible, however, and where it does notinterfere with essential military training, troops are used to the fullest extent on the removal of defences or barbed wire no longer required. Exceptionally in certain coast towns special arrangements have been made under which the local authorities are carrying out removal on repayment by the War Department in accord- ance with schemes approved by that Department. The removal of all dangerous defence works is undertaken by the Army and is well in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the regulation which requires that regular engagements in the peacetime Army shall be offered only to British subjects of unmixed European descent; and, as this makes a distinction between British subjects based on racial differentiation difficult to ascertain and might be injurious to the enlistment of British subjects in the Dominions and elsewhere, if he will withdraw this regulation.

I do not consider it would be in the general interest to make any change at present to the existing rules, so far as United Kingdom regiments or corps of the Regular Army are concerned, but the hon. Member's suggestion will certainly be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Arabs and Jews, respectively, men and women, served in the Palestinian Forces during the war; and how many in the British Forces other than the Palestinian.

I regret that it has not been possible to obtain the figures in the time available. I have, however, called for the figures and will write to the hon. Member when they are received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the delay which occurred in notifying Major G. H. Sanderson, of the R.A.M.C, of his release and in bringing him back to this country from India; and whether, in view of the urgent need for the services of this doctor in the large area of Lincolnshire in which he is in practice, he will arrange for this matter to be dealt with at the earliest opportunity.

This officer's release in Class B was authorised in October last, the Overseas Command having been notified by signal on 22nd October. Some delay is inevitable when officers have to be brought home from the Far East, owing to the distances involved, and the wide deployment of troops and the shortage of shipping. For this reason, applications for Class B releases are given high priority when allotment of passages is made, and provided Major Sanderson has accepted the offer of Class B release, his return at an early date may be expected.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now make a statement regarding the case of T/14902343 Driver K. Pratt of the R.A.S.C.. who, it is alleged, was sent to the East from a mobilisation centre without medical examination, especally having regard to the written medical certificate that this man had chronic sinusitis before he embarked.

Driver Pratt was medically examined at the mobilisation centre on 2nd November, 1945, prior to proceeding overseas on 6th November, 1945. At that examination he neither complained of sinusitis nor did he produce any medical certificate to the effect that he was suffering from this disability. I am sending further details to the hon. Member by letter.

asked the Secretary of State for War when a decision will be made in the case of 4267943 Private D. Williams, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, attached East Yorks Regiment, now of 76, Blenheim Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, details of which he was informed by the hon. Member for Newcastle, Central, in a letter of 26th November, 1945

The general position is as stated in my reply to the Question by my hon. and gallant Friend on 4th December, but I decided to have this particular case further re-examined. This involved a reference to the overseas command and I am not yet in a position to give a decision. I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make on the circumstances in which a man, whose particulars have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Colchester, was arrested at Colchester during November; what charge was made against him; how long he was in custody before trial what sentence has been passed upon him; and what his medical category is.

I regret that I am unable to trace the relevant correspondence in this case. If my hon. and gallant Friend will send the name and regimental particulars of the soldier concerned I will deal with his inquiry as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Captain H. A. C. Evans, No. 222667, whose father was notified on 31st October of his pending release under the Class B block release scheme for teachers, has still heard nothing about it himself.

Instructions regarding release in this case were sent to S.E.A.C. by air mailon 31st October and I have no knowledge that they are not being observed. A cable has now been sent to S.E.A.C.

asked the Secretary of State for War why a soldier, of whose name he has been informed, who has served since September, 1939, except for a period when he was released for special building repair work from 12th December, 1940, to 29th July, 1942, and who was a master builder for six years before being called up, has not been offered release under Class B.

Instructions are now being given to permit release in Class B in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War why a soldier, particulars of whom he has been given, was sent to the Far East in August last, although the hon. Member for Tavistock had been informed in writing by his Department on 3rd July that instructions had been issued for the retention of this soldier in this country on compassionate grounds in view of his home circumstances; and whether he will take immediate steps to have this man sent home.

I regret that it has not been possible from the particulars given to trace this case or to identify the correspondence referred to by the hon. Member. If he will be good enough to send me the name and regimental particulars of the soldier concerned I will arrange for an immediate investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 1083006 Bombardier E. George, C Troop, A Battery, R.A. depot, Woolwich, who was born 19th August, 1910, and joined the Army on12th September, 1940, should be in Group 23, but owing to some mistake when he entered the Forces is registered as 10 years younger and is in Group 33; and has this man now been re-grouped in accordance with his real age, evidence of this being indicated on Bombardier George's national service card.

This man's group number was calculated according to the date of birth he declared on enlistment. If a man contests his assessment of age and service group on account of a difference in his date of birth as stated in his documents and his correct date of birth, the case is submitted by his Commanding Officer to the Officer in charge of Records who obtains confirmation from the Ministry of Labour and National Service whether or not correct date of birth was declared on registration. It was not until 15th December that the soldier asked for his date of birth to be amended. The case was submitted by his Commanding Officer for confirmation on the same day. If this is received his age and service group will be re-assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 1838329, Gunner J. R. Hunter, has been returned to C Battery, No. 2 Holding. Regiment, R.A., Dodding-ton Park Camp, near Nantwich, Cheshire, in spite of the letter from the hon. Member for Gateshead, dated 26th September, 1945, enclosing a medical certificate testifying to Mrs. Hunter's serious illness and those of 12th October and 20th October marked Urgent, for immediate attention, requesting action in this matter and his Department's reply, of 31st October, saying that inquiries into this case had not been completed.

The soldier was returned to his unit solely for the purpose of effecting his release, which, I understand, will be completed today.

asked the Secretary of State for War (I) if he is aware that Sapper Rawsterne, 2048930, 196 Transportation Stores Company, R.E., C.M.F., who has been in the Army for the whole period of the war with two years abroad, was due on 24th November for his disembarkation leave which has now been withdrawn; and why his disembarkation leave was cancelled;(2) why Sapper Rawstone, 2048930, 196 Transport Stores Co., R.E., C.M.F., who, in November, was promised leave from Germany but was transferred to Austria, then to Italy, has not yet obtained leave.

I regret the delay in this case. A report called for from the Overseas Command on 3rd December has not yet been received. An urgent reminder was sent on 19th December and 1 hope to be able to write to my hon. Friend very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War why has Signalman V. C. Locke not yet received his pension, in spite of the fact that all the necessary forms have been sent in and the original application was made on 12th March,1945.

I regret the delay which has occurred in this case. The pension due has now been awarded with arrears from 12th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that where extensions of leave are granted and announced at short notice through the B.B.C., R.T.Os. have no authority to issue warrants to cover the return journey of soldiers who have arrived at the station in good faith; and whether he will remedy the situation.

If my hon. Friend is referring to extensions of leave granted to personnel returning to overseas stations after a period of leave in the United Kingdom, whose sailing is postponed in consequence of bad weather or other causes, I am aware that. there is no authority to issue return warrants to enable the soldier to return home. Every endeavour is made, by means of broadcasts, notices in the papers and at the principal railway stations to prevent men leaving their homes when the return journey has to be postponed and, in cases where notice cannot be made effective by these means, they are offered the choice of proceeding to the port and waiting 24 hours there, breaking their journeys in London, with free military accommodation if required, or returning home at their own expense. As the men have already completed the full period of their authorised leave, I regret I am unable to authorise an addition to the approved cost of this leave by the grant of an additional free journey.

asked the Minister of Information what steps were taker, by his Department to ensure an immediate reply to the allegations in Izvestia, that the Wehrmacht is not being disbanded in the British zone of Germany; and whether, in view of the fact that this claim was given prominence in the French Press of 5th December, without any reference to the British case, he will ensure that more adequate arrangements are made to deal immediately with incidents of this kind.

It is not in accordance with practice for publicity to be given to discussions in the Four-Power Control Council in Germany except in the form of an agreed official communique. When it became known, however, that publicity had been given in the Russian Press to the allegations referred to in the question, the facts were at once made available to the Press in this country and overseas.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the number of British civilian officers, to the nearest convenient date, who have resigned from the Allied Control Commission.

The number of civilian officers who have resigned from the Control Commission for Germany (British Element) up to 30th November, 1945, is 98.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps are being taken to see that the proceedings of the Belsen and Nuremberg trials receive a more permanent form of publicity in Germany than that of newspaper reports.

There is a record in English of the Belsen trial, and a record is being made in German and English of the Nuremberg trial which is also being filmed for permanent-record.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any statement to make with regard to the renewal of postal communications between Germany and the outside world.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Levy) yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how long is there to be military control of Germany; and whether there is any intention on the part of the Government to instal a system of civilian control that will assist in the development of democratic organisations in the country.

In the initial stages of the occupation, the Army and the Control Authorities in Germany were necessarily closely interwoven. The British Element of the Control Commission still is largely dependent on the British Army of the Rhine, for a multitude of services, e.g. transport, messing and supplies. The British Element of the Control Commission already has a large civilian contingent and it is being increased as rapidly as civilians can berecruited to the Control Service. I cannot at present say when the process of civilianisation will be complete. Meanwhile, it is the policy in the British zone to make Germans govern Germans, subject to the control of the British authorities, to the maximum extent possible, and everything is being done to encourage the development of a sound democratic spirit in the country and to foster the growth of political parties with democratic ideals.