asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if conditions at Shiabah Camp, Paiforce, have been improved, particularly in regard to food and health.

There has been an improvement in food and some small improvements in the camp at Shiabah during recent months and these improvements have been reflected in decidedly better health statistics. But I must tell the House frankly that the real job of bringing this very difficult Station up to modern standards on the scale now necessary has only just begun. Additional refrigerators are now on their way to the Station by sea. The building of an up-to-date and air-conditioned central airmen's dining room and institute has been approved and the production of the necessary building materials has been begun. What is really needed, however, is to build a completely new modern air-conditioned camp including, of course, really ample refrigeration facilities. This will be done but the House will understand that in present circumstances it is a fairly long-term project.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether, in regard to minor amenities, such as prompt delivery of mail and newspapers, anything has been done in the last few months?

Yes, Sir; I am informed that that has been done.

Could the Under-Secretary say whether this station is in Persia?

It is in the Persian Gulf.

Can the Under-Secretary say whether the officers there have hard-lying allowance and, if so, why is not a similar allowance made to other ranks?

I should need notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when war service gratuities will be paid to Regular airmen who sign on for further service.

The date has not yet been fixed. But meanwhile, as the White Paper on postwar pay makes clear, service will continue to count for war gratuity up to 15th August next.

Does not the Under-Secretary agree that doubt in this matter is delaying quite seriously recruitment to the regular Air Force?

If there is such a doubt, I am very glad of this opportunity to dispel it, but we cannot pay the gratuities, because they are still being earned in the case of regulars up to next Autumn.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that many bombs, including 10 ton bombs, are still stacked on the Horncastle—Caistor Road and cause apprehension to the farming community; and what steps he is taking to have them removed.

There are, of course, no fuses in the bombs to which the hon. Member refers, but all the Departments concerned realise the importance of taking every possible precaution while these stocks are in the open. I am afraid that it is simply impossible to find at once the labour necessary to move and dispose of the very large stocks of bombs which we possess.

Is the Minister aware that there are roads still closed in that vicinity, and will he say why, if the bombs are as safe as all that, the roads are still closed?

The hon. and gallant Member must give me notice of the particular roads which are closed. Whether they are closed for that reason or not, I do not know.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the cause of the delay at No. 62 P.D.C., R.A.F., S.E.A.A.F., where R.A.F. officers are kept waiting for trooping at Karachi for over a month instead of the promised four days.

Bad weather in December delayed the air trooping programme, and there was an accumulation of personnel at Mauripur. We have succeeded, however, in reducing the average time spent by each man at the camp during January to three days.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many drafts for overseas have been held up in the United Kingdom owing to shortage of spare parts for transportation aircraft; and what steps he is taking to provide reserve aircraft against such contingency.

None, Sir. Reserve aircraft are available in Transport Command squadrons.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many Servicemen have been flown home under the air-trooping scheme in each of the months November, December and January from the Far East.

The figures are as follow:

Is the Under-Secretary aware that he stated that there would be 12,000, that that statement, for one reason or another, has not been able to be fulfilled, and that that failure is causing great discontent on the part of people who looked forward to the programme being carried out?

No, Sir. I stated that 10,000 a month would be flown each way, and then I made a very full statement to the House recently as to why that programme had been cut down to 5,000 a month for safety reasons.

But does the Minister realise that the point is that the men were informed that the figure would be 10,000, and, now that it is only 5,000, there are, quite naturally, great disappointment and disillusion?

The hon. and gallant Member must realise why; a great number of hon. Members on both sides of the House pointed out the safety factor.

It was a misstatement.

Does the hon. Gentleman see any objection to extending this mode of sending men home by air?

I do not see any objection, but, unfortunately, I see an impossibility. Transport Command have not the resources with which to do it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that transit camps in Bombay are overcrowded with troops awaiting repatriation; that no boats have left the port during the last fortnight; that the air-trooping scheme is well behind schedule; and what steps he proposes to take to speed up transport arrangements.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in the Warli R.A.F. camp, S.E A.A.F., at the prolonged detention of men assembled there for demobilisation; how many men are now there; the number, respectively, who have been in residence since October, November and December, 1945; how many ships have sailed from Bombay and their complement of Servicemen for demobilisation.

There has been an accumulation of airmen in the R.A.F. Rest and Leave Camp, Worli. On 25th January, there were 213 officers and 1956 airmen awaiting repatriation. I am making inquiries regarding the numbers there in October, November and December and will communicate with the hon. Member. Shipping is now becoming available and all arrears of Air Force personnel will be cleared up by February 8th next. Since 1st October last, 34 ships have sailed from India including 27 from Bombay carrying 31,379 members of the Air Force. There were no sailing in the first half of January but four ships have sailed within the last fortnight, including one (the Cape Town Castle) carrying 4,325 R.A.F. passengers. As the House knows, the air trooping programme has now been cut down to a lift of 5,000 men a month each way but this figure is being achieved. Sufficient air and sea transport taken together will be available to cover all R.A.F.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these R.A.F. lads in India have a slogan, "All boats for 'Blighty,' none for Indonesia," and will he assure them that every available boat will be used for repatriation?

The boats I have spoken of were on the way home to "Blighty."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) whether men who have completed the wireless operator part of the wireless operator navigator course for aircrew, and have since become redundant, are eligible for the rank of sergeant and for the award of the signal badge;

(2) whether men who have completed the wireless operator part of the wireless operator navigator course for aircrew, and have since become redundant, are to be classified as wireless operators or in the category of general duties.

Aircrew cadets who are under training as navigators cannot, as a rule, be promoted to the rank of sergeant and awarded the aircrew badge until they have completed their training as navigators. We have, however, decided that cadets who have not completed their navigator training and who are no longer required for employment in that category may be promoted to sergeant and awarded the aircrew badge as wireless operators (air) if they have qualified to the appropriate standard. This is a special arrangement to meet present conditions, and we shall shortly issue the necessary instructions to the Service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if steps will now be taken to remove the Defence Regulation closure of two Class I roads, one Class II road and 11 unclassified roads in the combined district council areas of Abingdon, Faringdon, Wantage, Wallingford and Bradfield, in the county of Berkshire, on account of the inconvenience to residents;

(2) the reason for the continued closing of the Abingdon—Dry Sandford Road, across the airfield at Abingdon, the previous grounds of operational necessity for dispersal purposes being no longer valid, but the inconvenience of the residents in the district remaining unresolved, since a detour of some miles is involved.

I understand that arrangements have been made for the hon. Member to give our local superintending engineer further particulars of the roads about which he is most concerned. I will then have the matter reviewed again and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we are arranging for the Abingdon—Dry Sandford Road to be opened again across the R.A.F. Station at Abingdon, though for the time being there will have to be a traffic control for safety.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that keeping roads still closed in different parts of the country causes the greatest inconvenience to local residents, and, as a great many airfields are not used for aircraft, but only for storage, is it not difficult to see what the danger is?

The trouble is that, in the Abingdon case, many of the roads which the hon. Member has in mind have been completely obliterated in the course of building the airfields, and they cannot be reopened. I hope the hon. Member will meet our representative there and see what can be done.

Are we to understand from that answer that it is the policy of the Air Ministry to refuse to replace roads which have disappeared?

No, Sir; they can be replaced, but these particular ones cannot be reopened.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how the present release of personnel in the accounts branch of the R.A.F. now compares with other release groups and when he anticipates that all groups will be brought into line.

Airmen in the accounting trades were last month seven, are this month five, and will next month be four groups behind. How soon they catch up depends upon whether, and if so, by how much, the general rate of demobilisation is further accelerated.

Can the Minister say whether the question of releases in the accounts branch has anything to do with the mutinies in India?

No, Sir. There was no indication of that.

May I ask whether it would be possible, in the new intake, to see that a certain number of young men are trained in this branch? It is not a very highly skilled branch, surely.

We are training them on a very large scale, and I have given the figures to the House on many occasions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why demobilisation of R.A.F. officers in the equipment branch is so far behind other branches in the Service; and when will officers in group 28 be released.

Royal Air Force officers in the equipment branch are four groups behind the general level of release. This is because of the heavy burden thrown on that branch by the huge task of receiving, storing and disposing of surplus equipment. There was also a deficiency of equipment officers at the end of the war. I cannot forecast when equipment officers in group 28 will be released, this must depend on whether and, if so, by how much the general rate of release is speeded up. We are doing all we can by way of retraining surplus G.D. officers to level up the rate of release in this branch.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider granting permanent commissions to N.C.Os. of this branch so that they can take on the work of officers and thus enable them to go back to civilian jobs?

We offer permanent commissions to all suitable applicants, but I do not think we should specially favour N.C.Os. in this branch as against others.

All branches.

That is so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air which demobilisation group in the R.A.F. will have been reached by May.

We have announced that group 28 will be reached by the main body of R.A.F. officers and airmen by the end of March. The forecast of releases up to the end of April will be published shortly, and that is as far as we can go at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what documentary evidence is required to support an application for Class C release.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the detailed Service Regulations. These show the kind of independent evidence we need before making decisions in various types of Class C release cases.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of misunderstanding on this point? I had a case where an airwoman, who wanted compassionate release, was told to produce a medical certificate, a letter from a bank manager, a letter from the local M.P. or J.P., and a letter from S.S.A.F.A. Will the hon Gentleman not use the Army Welfare Service for this type of work?

I use the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association very freely, and I think they do good work.

Will the hon. Gentleman have this list published in the OFFICIAL REPORT as most hon. Members are interested in the answer?

That is a very good suggestion; I will do so.

"It is essential that facts relied upon be confirmed or established by independent corroborative evidence. Evidence of the following nature should ordinarily be available and acceptable—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that for some weeks past a number of R.A.F. personnel have not been issued with civilian raincoats on release at Wembley and that many of these airmen have not been informed that they are entitled to retain their Service greatcoats until the civilian raincoats are forwarded to them; and if he will issue an instruction that in every case the airman's attention is to be drawn by the staff of all release centres to this entitlement.

The staff at Wembley have already been given written orders to let an airman know that he may borrow a Service greatcoat if there is no suitable civilian coat ready for him. We have confirmed these instructions by an Air Ministry letter to all our Clothing Centres.

Is my hon. Friend aware that I have given him particulars of an airman who went to this particular place at Wembley and was without civilian clothing seven weeks after coming from the centre, and could he say if this sort of thing is general or not?

If a civilian suit was being made for him, as it was for me—I am wearing such a suit at the moment—it would take about eight weeks to have it made to measure.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the alarm caused recently to the people of Swindon by the dropping of bombs in the vicinity of the town by the R.A.F.; and why, if such bombing practices are necessary, no notice was previously given to the public.

No bombs were dropped during the air exercises which took place near Swindon on the night of 15th January. Some photo flashes were, however, released over the authorised bombing range at Odstone Down. The sharp re- port of these flashes, which explode about a mile and a half above the ground, probably gave the impression that bombs were falling. I regret the anxiety which may have been caused to people in the neighbourhood. We are now considering the best means of issuing a public warning before exercises of this kind.

Can the Minister say why this bomb flash, or whatever it was, fell so wide of the target?

That is the inevitable result of precision bombing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the Grimsby Rural District Council on 5th November, 1945, wrote for permission to use as temporary dwelling-houses the R.A.F. hutments in High Street, Ings Lane, Grove Lane and Cheapside, Waltham; why, after 11 weeks' delay, no answer has been given; and what steps he now proposes to take in this urgent matter.

I regret the delay in dealing with this letter from the Grimsby Rural District Council and I am going into the matter with the branch responsible. A reply has now been sent. The Royal Air Force is still using the huts in Grove Lane and Ings Lane; those in High Street and Cheapside are being held at present for other Government use, but they may be available within about eight weeks.

May I ask the Minister for what other Government use these premises are being held, and whether he realises that it does not help the people who are wanting homes to see these places left empty? Why cannot something be done?

They are being held for a most important use; there is the possibility of using them to accommodate prisoner-of-war labour for agriculture.

They have been empty a long time, and this possibility is of no use to the people who want houses.

I think labour on the land is of the utmost importance to the British people.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why weekly parcels and letters addressed to men serving in the R.A.F. in S.E.A.C. fail to reach the addressees; and if he will take steps to see that such parcels and letters are delivered regularly in the future.

We have had very few complaints of the actual loss of letters or parcels to S.E.A.C. But there were considerable delays in the arrival of air mail in this theatre during the last quarter of 1945. These delays have now been largely overcome. Parcels for S.E.A.C. go by sea and may take up to four months to reach the most distant destination.

Does that answer include Hong Kong, and will the hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to the widespread dissatisfaction among Royal Air Force men in Hong Kong?

It does include Hong Kong, and it is especially there that the sea passage has recently taken up to four months.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what accommodation is being provided on the Northolt aerodrome for sick quarters.

Sick quarters are shortly to be provided at Northolt by adapting or extending existing buildings which can now be spared on the station.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is able to state the arrangements made for families to join men serving in Malta.

A member of the Royal Air Force serving in Malta may apply for his family to join him on certain conditions, of which the most important are that he must have at least a further year to serve overseas and that suitable accommodation can be found there. I am afraid accommodation is the big difficulty.

In the event of an airman having accommodation for his family, is transportation found for them?

Some families have actually arrived there.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is in a position to make a statement about the continued closure of many footpaths and rights of way in the vicinity of establishments whose functions have changed since the end of the war; and whether, in the interests of ramblers and lovers of the countryside, he will arrange for as many of them as possible to be freed.

When a Royal Air Force station is closed, or flying is discontinued, we naturally see what footpaths and rights of way can be reopened, and we welcome local suggestions. These should be made in the first place to the local planning authority, who will then get in touch with us.

In the case of all future developments in the Royal Air Force, will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that free and unfettered access to the country is a very important element in developing our national character?

Yes, Sir, I attach great importance to that myself.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that at the R.A.F. station at Lasham, Hampshire, much useful material is being destroyed by breaking up, burning or burying, to save the trouble of removing or otherwise disposing of it; whether he is satisfied that similar destruction is not being carried out at other R.A.F. stations, as they become redundant; and whether, in view of the shortage of goods of all kinds, he will give an assurance that henceforth no surplus stores or equipment shall be destroyed when aerodromes become redundant, but shall be either sold or made use of in some way.

No R.A.F. stores or equipment are destroyed if they contain material which has a further use, unless its salvage would be uneconomical. I do not think any material has been wasted at the station referred to, but I will gladly investigate further if the hon. and gallant Member would send me particulars

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it has been alleged by very responsible persons in that neighbourhood that such articles as large rolls of linoleum from the huts and parts of machines, and even tents, have been destroyed by burning or burying? Is he also aware that even if this is not going on now, it was going on within the last fortnight or three weeks?

We have gone into the question of burnings which caused comment locally, but we are informed that the only materials burned were entirely rotten and unfit canvas tentage and oil saturated wood from unserviceable packing cases. I do not think there was anything reprehensible in what happened.

Was the matter investigated by the Provost Marshal of the Air Force?

I shall need notice of that question.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider setting up a commission consisting of a few business men who would go round the country inspecting such stocks and, where possible, make arrangements for their sale?

These stores are realised by the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how much equipment, such as beds, bedding, spoons, forks and the like, is at the redundant aerodrome at Chipping Ongar; why this equipment has been allowed to deteriorate; how long it is since it was used; and why it has not been made available to the public.

The camp at Chipping Ongar will probably be used for other Government purposes, so we are keeping there, for the time being, a supply of beds, bedding and cutlery. This equipment was last used in September, 1945. It is held in covered storage and is inspected at regular intervals to ensure that it has not deteriorated.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that an eye-witness has reported to me that this equipment has deteriorated? Is he also aware that there are 700 or 800 beds there which could be used by the public, and will he take disciplinary action against the official who is responsible for this waste of public money?

No, Sir, I cannot admit, for one moment, that these stores are deteriorating. I have had them carefully inspected, and I am assured that they are not.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, if the valuable construction equipment at present lying idle at Hatfield and other airfields will be made available, through departmental channels, for use on housing sites.

We report all our surpluses of constructional equipment to the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production for disposal. For instance, we are reporting 53 of the concrete mixers at Hatfield, and 19 excavators have already been transferred for housing work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he can now make a statement on the recent strike of airmen at Mauripur and the events leading up to it.

For a general account of recent troubles in the Royal Air Force in the East and the events which led up to them, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. As he said, the evidence available suggests that the main cause behind these events was the men's very human and natural desire to get home now the war is over. But no doubt the local situation at each particular station has often been a contributory factor. The situation at each station affected will be the subject of inquiry which will have these terms of reference:

(1) to investigate and report to the Air Council upon the recent instances of disaffection at Royal Air Force stations in Air Command, South. East Asia; (2) to examine the causes of discontent among the airmen concerned and the extent to which it was justified; (3) to determine the responsibility, both for the actual outbreaks of indiscipline, and for the circumstances which gave rise to them; (4) to make any necessary recommendations.

It has not yet been decided whether one inquiry will cover all the incidents or whether a number of inquiries will be necessary. I cannot, of course, anticipate the findings of this inquiry, or inquiries, by any expression of opinion today.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this station at Mauripur is both especially bad and especially important, as it is the bottleneck through which all traffic passes to and from India and the East? Can he say whether there has been much improvement in conditions at this place, and to what extent "de-mob-forms"—an admirable scheme in themselves—are really made available to the men?

I have talked with a very high officer who has been there recently and he is very well aware of the importance of the station and its size, and the vast works which are going on there which do add to the discomfort of everybody there very much, but I am assured that very considerable improvement has taken and is taking place.

May I ask who will conduct these inquiries? Will they be conducted by officers of the Royal Air Force, and at an appropriate time will the House be told the names of those who conduct them?

Yes, Sir. They are Service inquiries and certainly the House will be told.

Could the Under-Secretary inform the House what, in his opinion, is the difference between a strike in the Royal Air Force and a mutiny in the Army?

I do not think it very much matters what word we apply to these incidents. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] No, I do not. I think it might do a good deal of harm if the more severe word were applied. I prefer to use the words which have been used in the official Terms of Reference to the Service Inquiry, which are "the causes of discontent and indiscipline."

Will not the Under-Secretary agree that there is a very big difference between a strike of airmen acting under Service conditions, and an industrial strike in this country, and that the circumstances are quite different?

Certainly.

Will the hon. Gentleman state what will be the position of any man who becomes due for release before the investigation takes place, and will the hon. Gentleman do all in his power to get the investigations started as soon as possible?

Yes, Sir. They are starting immediately.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the word "strike" is not applicable to any member of His Majesty's Forces, whether Army, Navy or Air Force? The term is "mutiny" and not "strike".

The hon. and gallant Gentleman may have noticed that I did not use the word "strike."

Mr. Driberg.

Question No. 30. [ Interruption. ] Will my hon. Friend disregard that archaic nonsense and answer Question No. 30?

rose —

On a point of Order. Is it in Order for an hon. Member to instruct another hon. Member to disregard what he calls archaic nonsense?

It is not out of Order.

On that point of Order. Is it in Order for an hon. Member, when you call his name at Question Time, to say anything more than the number of his Question?

It is the usual thing, but the hon. Member may have been asking a supplementary to the previous Question.

Could I have an answer? Is it in Order, when you call an hon. Member's name at Question Time, to say anything but the number of his Question?

It is in Order. An hon. Member may, for instance, point out that there is an error in the Question, but frankly I object to an hon. Member taking advantage of an occasion like this to make a provocative remark.

I apologise profoundly to the hon. and gallant Gentleman if my remark was in any way provocative. I only made it because, owing to the uproar created on the other side of the House, my hon. Friend had not heard me the first time I said "Question No. 30."

rose —

I think this discussion has gone far enough.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air why the accounts in Britain of officers, repatriated from India, are debited with items purporting to have been incurred in India, before their last pay certificates have been received from India.

Without details of actual cases it is difficult to give a categorical reply to this Question. An item chargeable to an officer's account, such as a cash issue, might reach England before the receipt of the last pay certificate, but this would be a rare occurrence. It is due to the fact that a belated charge mighty be dealt with by a different section in the Base Accounts Office from the one transferring accounts. All items are eventually reflected in the officer's account in England.

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that it is very inconvenient to officers if their accounts in the United Kingdom are debited with amounts which it is quite impossible for them to examine?

Yes, Sir, I do see the difficulty. It is a most elaborate and difficult matter to get the Indian accounts into line promptly with the accounts at home, but perhaps if the hon. Gentleman would communicate with me and give me details we might be able to improve the situation.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of officers and airmen bringing home clearance certificates with debits or credits they may have, so that when they produce the certificates they can be cleared once and for all?

That sounds most reasonable. In accounting matters I cannot, at first sight, say whether it is practical or not, but I am willing to go into it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he has considered the copy of a letter from an airman stationed in the Azores, forwarded to him on 21st January by the hon. Member for Maldon, and the arguments advanced therein against the continued retention at that station of over 1,000 personnel of all trades, including many building trade workers; to what extent the delay in repatriating these men is caused by their use in the development of civil aviation; and if he will take steps to secure transport for the repatriation of all those whose retention in the Azores is not essential.

Yes, Sir. I have considered the letter referred to. The Royal Air Force in the Azores have been employed on providing services—in particular, safety services—for the British and U.S. air trooping programmes with occasional assistance to civil services. This requires a self-contained organisation to keep the airfield and aircraft serviceable in difficult conditions, to run a wireless control service and to man a small hospital. Building workers employed on airfield and other maintenance comprise less than 10 per cent. of the diminishing number of men still there, and they are essential so long as the base is in use. The Air Ministry is most anxious to end its commitments at this base, and, as I have already informed my hon. Friend, we are reducing our strength as rapidly as circumstances permit. A reduction of some 20 per cent. in the establishment was effected recently, and there will be a further major cut at the beginning of March. Both air and sea transport is being used over the next few weeks to repatriate the men no longer required.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, whether bush hats and sun glasses have yet been issued to R.A.F. personnel in Singapore.

I have sent a signal to the Command and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, what facilities for study and education exist in Singapore for the benefit of R.A.F. personnel.

I have received a report from the Command this morning. The present position is that the R.A.F. Educational Staff are helping to arrange private study. Libraries and text books which have recently arrived are already in use for this purpose. In addition, they now have accommodation for organised classes which will start in about 10 days' time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, what are the prospects of the various aerodromes and properties under his control in Wem rural district, Shropshire, being released in the near future, if not in their entirety at least in part.

We have been using four airfields in the Wem Rural District—Shawbury, Tilstock, Bridleway Gate and Sleap. We shall shortly be releasing one of them, Bridleway Gate. The future of the other three is being considered as part of the general Government review of airfields. We have no other requisitioned property in the district.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he proposes to arrange a conference with the Manchester Corporation for the purpose of releasing a portion of Heaton Park for use by the public.

A conference with the Manchester Corporation is being arranged in the next few days, when a detailed scheme for re-opening parts of Heaton Park will be ready to submit to the Corporation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether arrangements have yet been completed for the Polish Air Staff College to leave their present requisitioned accommodation at Weston-Super-Mare; and what has caused the prolonged delay in moving them.

We shall release this accommodation early in May, after the end of the present staff course. No more courses will be started.

When the Polish Air Staff leave their accommodation at Weston-Super-Mare will the Under-Secretary see that their next accommodation is somewhere in Poland?

That would be by far the best arrangement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many redundant aerodromes there are in Britain; how much equipment of all kinds they contain; and will this equipment be made available to the public immediately.

Until the size of the postwar Services is determined we cannot say how many airfields in this country will eventually be redundant. The equipment on airfields has to be sorted to decide what is surplus. This is a continuous process and a useful estimate of total quantities could hardly be given at this stage. We report all our surplus stores and equipment usually to the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production, who are responsible for their disposal.

Will the hon. Gentleman make sure that equipment in these redundant aerodromes is used for the public service as soon as possible?

Yes, Sir. I am sure the Ministry of Supply has that object in view.

In view of the need of these aerodromes for agricultural purposes, will the hon. Gentleman say when he will be in a position to make these aerodromes available?

There are already a number of surplus airfields being used for agricultural purposes; they are grass airfields. The position with regard to the run-wayed airfields is much more difficult because they have been spoilt for agricultural purposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to take over all municipal airports which, before the recent war, were scheduled as recognised airports.

As stated in Cmd. 6712, only airports required for scheduled air transport services will be acquired and managed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

How soon can the hon. Gentleman tell us which are to be so earmarked, because ratepayers and municipalities have put up a great deal of money for these places and are anxious to know what is to happen?

My Noble Friend is addressing himself to this particular problem at the moment and I hope to be able to make an announcement at an early date.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether his reply applies to Dyce Airfield, Aberdeen?

I prefer not to make any announcement about any particular aerodrome now, as one must have repercussions on the others. I prefer to make an announcement later about the whole aerodrome position.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will give some indication of the nature of the security reasons which prevented the use of elementary radio-telephony facilities for the flying control at Whitchurch airport.

I am informed that in order to avoid disclosure of information to the enemy, radio communications were kept to the minimum. The use of radio-telephony to civil aircraft in circumstances in which messages might be overheard by the enemy was therefore forbidden.

Is it not a fact that aircraft using this airport operated W/T; that the machines themselves had R/T which on some occasions—I have done it myself—they used to pass a message to the next aerodrome which had to pass the message by telephone to Whitchurch? And does not the answer indicate that the Ministry officials are out of touch with modern facilities?

The hon. Member is now dealing with a time long before my own Department was formed. It is a fact that the danger of communication to the enemy was less great with wireless telegraphy and with very high frequency apparatus, but no high frequency apparatus was then available for civil aircraft.

asked the Prime Minister when the House may expect a statement or a White Paper on the proposals to nationalise cables and wireless.

It is hoped that a White Paper will be issued shortly, or that a statement will be made.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that this matter will not be rushed upon the House in the same way as some of the American agreements were?

I do not admit the soft impeachment, but in so far as it has any validity, I will try to avoid that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why cables and wireless have to be nationalised?

I should imagine that there will be quite a lot to be said about that when the moment comes.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the food position in the British zone and how far have the efforts of the Control Commission succeeded in increasing agricultural and horticultural production; and how much food and coal, and of what kinds, has been imported from the United Kingdom since September.

The British zone is not self-supporting in food, and imports are necessary to maintain even a minimum level of nutrition. The Control Commission have so far had little opportunity to increase food production: last year the enemy were still in occupation of the zone at the vital sowing period. There are serious shortages of seeds, fertilisers and implements. A comprehensive plan to increase the arable acreage has, however, been put into operation this winter.

As regards the second part of the Question, food imports from the United Kingdom in the period 1st September, 1945, to 15th January, 1946, have been 12,000 tons of flour, 11,400 tons of barley, 40,000 tons of potatoes, 465 tons of potato flour and 15,000 tons of biscuits. In addition, some 280,000 tons of wheat, and quantities of other foodstuffs of various kinds, have had to be procured on United Kingdom account from other countries in order to prevent disease and unrest. No coal was imported from the United Kingdom.

Would not the hon. Gentleman admit that very good work indeed has been done by the Allied Control Commission to increase food production, and could he put some papers in the Library to show what that work is, because every item of food grown saves exporting food from this country?

I agree that remarkably good work has been done in this direction, as in most other directions by the Allied Control authorities. Information as to the progress in these matters is already contained in the excellent publication "The British Zone Review," which is in the Library, and we hope within the course of a very short period to be able to publish a comprehensive statement of what has been achieved.

Is any food coming in from the agricultural zones of Eastern Germany which normally supplied a good deal of the British Zone's requirements?

I should like notice of that question to give a precise reply, but in general I should say that no food is coming from the Eastern zones, although certain quantities of fertilizers, etc., are being received.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the allocation of barley sent to Germany has been at the expense of the Scottish distilling industry, as a result of which valuable exports which arise from that industry will not be available to his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he approved the order of 17th November, 1945, a copy of which was sent to him on 19th January, 1946, by the hon. Member for Spen Valley, and which prevents all public officials, including teachers, from taking any part in political activities in Hanover Province; what was the object of the order; and whether he will arrange to withdraw it.

This instruction was a local one, issued before it had been denned how far public servants should be allowed to take part in political activities. It is being amended and the policy generally is being reviewed.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether in view of the prevailing hard weather conditions on the Continent, the Allied Control Council have now suspended transfer of the German population from Austria. Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland into the four occupied zones of Germany in accordance with the provision of the Agreement reached on 20th November, 1945.

The transfer of German population to the British zone has not yet begun. I have no precise information about the other zones, but I understand that practically no transfers have yet been made. As agreed by the Allied Control Council, there will be no movement of population during the hard weather, except under humane conditions ensuring warmth and food.

We have heard that story before. May I ask my hon. Friend whether representations have been made to the Governments responsible—to the Czech and Russian Governments—that these expulsions should stop until the weather makes it possible to transfer people under reasonable conditions?

I do not quite understand the purport of that supplementary question, since the answer states that no transfers have taken place, precisely because of the assurances given to my hon. Friend before and of the representations that have been made.

But that is not the fact. Will my hon. Friend investigate for himself what is actually going on now? Thousands of people every day are being heaved out of their homes despite the weather conditions, and will he please make representations to the Governments concerned?

I can only repeat that no transfers have been made under the scheme to which reference is made in the Question, so far as the British zone is concerned. So far as the other zones are concerned, I understand from the information available that no substantial transfers have been taking place, and any that have taken place are relatively small. There is, on the other hand, a certain amount of uncontrollable voluntary emigration from those countries into the zones over the frontiers, and it is just impossible to stop it.

In order to help my hon. Friend, may I give notice that I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment?

asked the Minister of Food when controlling prices of articles of food, what steps is he taking to ensure standards of quality.

It is my practice, before making an order to control the price of any article of food for which a standard is not already prescribed under the Food and Drugs Acts or under the Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations, 1943, to consider whether it is desirable in the public interest to ensure that a certain standard of quality is maintained in the case of the article in question, and if so, to prescribe provisions to that end in the relevant maximum price order. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a note of the main maximum price orders which prescribe standards of quality. The note also includes the quality standards which have already been prescribed under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and the Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations, 1943.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that whatever his practice is, the result is that distributors get away with distributing very inferior qualities of stuff, because of the policy of the Government?

I do not understand any such statement.

The right hon. Gentleman will.

Following is the note :

(1) STANDARDS INCORPORATED IN CONTROL AND MAXIMUM PRICES ORDERS.

Order and Standard prescribed.

Bread (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1943, as amended—Fat content of flour for bread-making.

Coffee (Retail Prices) Order, 1943—Coffee content of a coffee mixture.

Fish Cakes (Maximum Prices) Order, 1943, as amended—Fish content of fish-cakes.

Soya Flour (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1943—Fat content of soya.

Low Fat Soya Products (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1943—Fat content of soya products.

Soft Drinks Order, 1943.—Acid, fruit juice and sweetening content of certain soft drinks.

Pickles and Sauces Order, 1944—Composition of tomato ketchup or catsup.

Meat Products, Canned Soups and Canned Meat (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1944, as amended—Meat content of certain meat products; solid, protein and fat content of canned soups: meat and fish content of meat and fish pastes respectively.

Flour Confectionery (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1944, as amended—Fat content of uncooked pastry Price of other flour confectionery related to cost of ingredients.

Fruit Pulp Order, 1944—Maximum water and preservative content.

Saccharin (Control and Maximum Prices), Order, 1944—Saccharin and water-insoluble matter contents of saccharin tablets. Saccharin and dulcin content of other sweetening tablets.

Canned Fruit and Vegetables Order, 1945, as amended—Standards of fruit and vegetable packs and for sugar and salt content of covering liquids.

Flour Order, 1945—Content of germ and other such ingredients as the Minister may from time to time prescribe.

Wherever practicable, the Orders controlling the price of fresh fruits and vegetables and of fish make provision as to the grade or quality of the fruit, vegetable or fish thereby controlled.

(2) STANDARDS PRESCRIBED BY AND UNDER FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1938.

Standard prescribed.

Section 4—Alcohol content of whisky, brandy, rum and gin.

Section 32—Maximum water content of butter, margarine and milk blended butter and milk fat content of margarine.

Sale of Milk Regulations, 1939—A minimum of 3 per cent. milk fat and 8.5 per cent. milk solids is presumed.

Public Health (Condensed Milk) Regulations 1923–43—Fat and milk-solids content of condensed milk.

Public Health (Dried Milk) Regulations. 1923–43—Fat content.

(3) STANDARDS PRESCRIBED UNDER DEFENCE (SALE OF FOOD) REGULATIONS, 1943, REGULATION 2.

Food Standards (General Provisions) Order, 1944, as amended.

Food Standards (Mustard) (No. 2) Order, 1944—Proportions of brown and white mustard to be included in mustard, compound mustard and mustard condiment.

Food Standards (Self-Raising Flour) Order, 1944—Content of available carbon dioxide.

Food Standards (Shredded Suet) Order, 1944—Fat content.

Food Standards (Baking Powder and Golden Raising Powder) Order, 1944—Content of available carbon dioxide.

Food Standards (Preserves) Order, 1944—Content of fruit for jam and marmalade. Content of soluble solids for fruit curd and mincemeat, jam and marmalade.

Food Standards (Liquid Coffee Essence) Order, 1945—Caffeine content of coffee essence and coffee and chicory essence

Food Standards (Salad Cream and Mayonnaise) Order, 1945—Content of oil and egg.

asked the Minister of Food why wholesalers and wholesaler-retailers are allowed, during the school holidays, to dispose of quantities of milk normally supplied to schoolchildren, whilst ordinary retailers are not allowed to do so.

The arrangements for the disposal of milk not required for schools during holiday periods are not restricted in the manner suggested. All distributors, whether wholesalers, wholesaler-retailers, or retailers, are permitted to dispose of the milk in the same way.

Is the Minister aware that milk and its distribution is at present causing more complaints than all the other commodities which come under his administration?

I am aware that there are complaints, but I am also aware that this is the most perishable article I have to deal with, and is therefore likely to engender complaints.

What happens to milk normally supplied to schools during the school holidays, because no one in any home of which I have any experience knows what happens to it?

It is consumed.

Is it possible to have this surplus milk made into local cheese?

No, Sir. There is a need for the maximum amount of milk at all times; it is essential for the community.

asked the Minister of Food how soon he anticipates being able to make any improvement in the distribution of milk and an increase in the ration.

I am glad to say that the output of milk is rising and I hope to increase the non-priority allowance in a very short time, several weeks earlier than was possible last year. I shall make an announcement shortly. With increasing supplies and the return of roundsmen from the Services, I look forward to improvements in distribution.

Is the Minister aware that his answer will cause great satisfaction?