asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that no vocational training courses are available for men who wish to become cutters in the tailoring trade; and whether he will arrange to provide such training.

Proposals for training cutters for the wholesale bespoke tailoring trade are at present under discussion with representatives of the industry and will, I hope, be agreed in the near future.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building trade workers in the Wolverhampton area are held on maintenance work in factories under the Essential Work Order.

I regret that this information is not readily available and its extraction would involve an expenditure of time and labour that would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Labour if it is the policy of his Department to allow the continued employment of Italian or German prisoners of war in establishments where unemployment and redundancy has affected local labour; and if he will make a statement on this subject.

No, Sir. My local officers are instructed to keep a close check on all cases where the employment of prisoners of war has been authorised in the absence of suitable British labour, and to ensure that the prisoners are withdrawn as soon as British workers are available for the job.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent he can announce an improvement in the number recruited for the nursing profession since the recent announcement of improved terms and conditions of service.

The Government statement published on 10th November last, to which I assume the hon. Member refers, together with the publicity measures, begun before that date and since continued, have been accompanied by an appreciable increase in recruitment. The numbers of placings by the Ministry and direct engagements by hospitals of persons for recognised courses of training as nurses or midwives for November and December, 1945, were 4,534 as compared with 3,462 for the corresponding months of last year. Further recruitment is, however, still required on a considerable scale to meet the continuing needs of the various nursing and midwifery services.

asked the Minister of Labour when the final Report from the Catering Wages Commission, concerning the rehabilitation of the catering industry, will be published.

The Commission's Report on the development of the Catering, Holiday and Tourist Services is now being printed and will be published within the next few days.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider exempting from the Services all keysmiths, as these skilled workers are essential to the building programme.

For the time being young men, including keysmiths, necessarily employed on the manufacture of housing fitments are not being called up in those cases where they are identified as such by the interested Government Department.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will issue fresh instructions to District Manpower Boards allowing them to defer the call-up for military service of apprentices who are on the point of completing technical courses of instruction, where the final examination is due within a period of three months from their call-up dates.

No, Sir; but it would be appropriate for anyone placed in the position to which the hon. Member refers to exercise his statutory right and to apply for postponement on the ground that his immediate call-up would cause exceptional hardship.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the difficulty in which young men called up to the forces are placed by being wholly unaware of the period during which they will be required to serve; and if he is able to give approximately the length of such period.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) on 29th January.

asked the Minister of Labour if, owing to the shortage of teachers, he will give consideration to the release of those members of His Majesty's Forces who have served for two years and who wish to qualify as teachers by studying at a university.

No, Sir. I regret that I cannot agree to extending releases in Class B in the manner indicated.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of clerical and administrative staff is included in the recent release of 5,000 railwaymen from His Majesty's Forces; and, in view of the heavy incidence of sickness and holiday arrears due to war conditions, especially on the Southern Railway, if he will take immediate steps to afford some immediate relief by releasing additional staff in the grades mentioned

The bulk release of railwaymen in Class B is confined to the operating grades and I should not at present feel justified in extending these arrangements to clerical and administrative staff. If any particular man is considered to be a key specialist it is open to the employer to apply for his release as such.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the decision to allow full time members of the N.F.S. who subsequently were called-up into the Army to count their full time service in the N.F.S. towards their age and service group, he will make the same decision in respect of ex-members of the Police War Reserve whose conditions of enrolment and service were on exactly similar lines, in order to remove the present anomaly in this respect.

No, Sir. Full time service in the N.F.S. before enlistment in the Armed Forces does not count towards release from the Forces.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a graduate of London University who has been offered an appointment as research assistant on the staff of the largest college of the university but whose application for release has been refused by his Ministry although the officer in command of his unit and the Ministry of Supply are supporting his release; and whether he will facilitate this officer's acceptance of this position.

I have not yet received the details referred to by the hon. Member, without which I am unable to proceed.

asked the Minister of Labour what factors will have to be considered in order to allow the present cost-of-living index to be superseded by an index based upon modern standards.

The primary point for consideration in connection with any proposals for the compilation of a revised cost-of-living index would be the question of the standard of living on which the index should be based. Consumption of many commodities is still greatly affected by shortage of supplies, rationing, etc. The latest available information of a comprehensive character as to the distribution of working class expenditure under normal conditions relates to 1937–38. It is a matter for consideration whether that information provides a valid basis for an index intended to measure future changes in cost of living, or whether it requires modification to take account of post-war changes in supplies and consumption. I am proposing to refer this question to the Advisory Committee which has considered this subject in the past.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that nationalised industries will bear their full share of taxation.

Yes, Sir. In the Coal Industry Nationalisation Bill, this is made clear in Clause 42.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that the accounts of nationalised industries will be presented and made public in the form of normal commercial accounts and in accordance with the provisions of company law.

Yes, Sir, so far as the provisions of company law are applicable to such cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that when citizens who, during the war, lent money to the Government free of interest are repaid, no word of appreciation is expressed; and will he take steps to remedy this.

All these citizens received a personal letter of thanks when making their interest-free loans, and tributes to their public spirit have been paid in this House by myself and my predecessors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider abolishing all purchase tax on housing fitments such as wardrobes, bedroom cupboards, dressers, dry foods cupboards, broom cupboards, sink cupboards, draining boards and similar articles, in view of the extra cost it places on housing generally, and because local authorities are thereby prejudiced from including such items in their housing schemes, which are mainly for the benefit of demobilised men.

I will consider this suggestion in connection with the next Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that a man who buys tools with which to carry on his employment is entitled to certain reliefs from taxation, he will take steps to see that disabled persons are entitled to relief from taxation in respect of such necessary mechanical aids to their employment as calliper instruments and surgical boots.

I have given sympathetic consideration to this suggestion, but I regret that I cannot adopt it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of profits returned by farmers for income tax purposes for the years 1938–39 and 1944–45, respectively.

This information is not available but particulars of Schedule B assessments for 1937–38 are given in the 82nd Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to make a statement indicating the date of issue of postwar credits for the year ended 5th April, 1945.

As soon as the present acute shortage of staff and pressure of work in Inland Revenue offices permit.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total money spent on Press advertising during the six months ended 31st December by all Government Departments including the savings campaign.

Approximately £737,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that an old age pensioner in the Glasgow area found the sum of £1,000 in notes and handed the money to the officer in charge of a police station on the South side of the river; that the money was found to be the property of a Government Department; that this citizen was rewarded with the sum of £1; if there is any rule governing rewards for the return of money lost by Government Departments; and whether he will take any action to suitably reward this citizen.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will declare 1st May an annual public holiday to celebrate the peace of the world and to honour all those, both in the Forces and civilians, who helped to bring this about in all countries.

This, and other related questions, are now being considered.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been called to the declaration of the Eire Prime Minister that citizens of Eire are not British subjects; and if, in view of this declaration, His Majesty's Government intend to continue admitting Eireann citizens into the British Civil Service.

According to the law of the United Kingdom, citizens of Eire with a few exceptions are British subjects and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom do not propose to discriminate against them in making appointments to the Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the greatly increased rents being demanded for small flats in London, the rateable value of which, being slightly in excess of £100 a year, excludes them from the Rent Restrictions Act; and whether he will introduce legislation to bring all houses, flats, etc., used for purely residential purposes and private accommodation, not exceeding six rooms in all, within the scope of the Rent Restrictions Act, irrespective of their rateable value and to provide compulsory arbitration in the case of rent demands exceeding by 25 per cent. the rent previously paid for any residential premises by the same tenant.

I will consider this matter in connection with the general review of the provisions, of the Rent Restriction Acts but I can hold out no prospect of legislation this session.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider, in view of the greatly increased cost of house repairs, legislation to enable a small percentage to be added to rents of 20s. and under.

As I have stated in answer to previous similar questions, I can hold out no hope of such legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that bombed-out tenants of council houses are being classed as new tenants when reoccupying the premises on completion of repairs; and whether he will take steps to see that such tenants are not called upon to pay the increase of postwar rents.

If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of new houses estimated as being needed at 31st December, 1918; the number under construction at 31st July, 1919; the number completed at 31st December, 1919; and the corresponding figures for 1945.

I regret that the figures asked for are not available in this form but I am finding out what information can be obtained in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is taking any action to ensure that, in the construction of new houses, inconvenience resulting from frozen water systems will be reduced to a minimum.

Advice on this matter has been given in Housing Manual, 1944, issued by my Department and the Ministry of Works. The subject is also dealt with in the report on plumbing published by the Ministry of Works in their series of Postwar Building Studies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to expedite the production and encourage the use of new model grates such as will assist in the abatement of smoke and atmospheric pollution.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will reconsider his decision to exercise his powers under Regulation 51 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, in order to acquire for the temporary housing scheme of the East Ham Borough Council land at Wanstead Flats in Epping Forest, which is vested in the Corporation of the City of London, in view of the fact that such action on his part will render valueless safeguards provided by Parliament in the Housing Act, 1936, and the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1945, for the preservation of such open spaces and the plans of the Corporation of the City of London to develop the area as playing fields.

asked the Minister of Health in what circumstances a requisition notice has been served upon the City of London Corporation for 25 acres of land in Epping Forest; and whether, in view of the fight which has been put up by the common people to retain their rights in Epping Forest, he will see that the requisition notice is withdrawn forthwith.

Powers of requisitioning were exercised in this case as the only means of making available this land for the erection of temporary houses. After exhaustive search it was impossible to find sites for more than 300 out of the 1,000 temporary houses which have been allocated to East Ham to meet an urgent housing need. I was reluctantly driven to the conclusion that some open space must be used towards meeting the deficiency and that the land now in question was the most appropriate to use for this purpose. In view of the urgency of the housing need I cannot reconsider my decision but the land will be made available again as an open space at the earliest moment practicable.

asked the Minister of Health why the objection lodged by Mrs. Stopford's solicitors to the compulsory purchase order in respect of land in Rowtan Grange Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith, was not communicated to the rural district council until 7th January, 1946.

This land is required to provide access to a housing site, the purchase of which by the Council is still under negotiation. The communication of Mrs. Stopford's objection to the Council was deferred until there seemed to be a reasonable prospect of acquiring the main site.

asked the Minister of Health what special assistance the Government intend to give to badly-bombed cities in relation to the housing programme; what special assistance has already been afforded to Exeter; and whether he is aware of the necessity for priorities of labour and material as well as exceptional financial aid being granted to devastated areas.

As regards financial aid for housing I cannot anticipate the terms of the Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; as regards labour and materials, my present concern is to get some house building started in all areas, and except for war damage repair I have not taken steps to divert labour, and materials from one area to another.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he has made to provide housing accommodation for approximately 5,000 people who will be dependent on the activities of Heathrow aerodrome.

I am not in a position to make any statement on this at the moment.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that despite the housing shortage, there are many persons who have residences in different parts of the country which they maintain for social and sporting occasions only, and will he cause inquiries to be made by all local authorities and instruct them to carry out rigidly the requisitioning powers they have.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to similar questions on 22nd November last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the number of permanent and temporary houses which have been completed in the city of Bradford since VJ-Day; how many-are in the process of building; and how many licences have been issued up to 31st December, 1945.

The figures at 31st December, 1945, were as follow:

Note .—A further 203 temporary houses have been allocated to the city and the preparation of the sites for these houses is well under way. Tenders have been approved for a further 29 permanent houses; and tenders have been authorised for 125 permanent houses in all.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that the last census of the population was taken in 1931, what plans the Government have for holding another census in order to provide up-to-date information on the subjects involved.

The next normal date is 1951. The Government have not taken any decision as to anticipating that date. Information as to numbers and area distribution of the population is available from current records such as the National Register.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been directed to a communication from the medical officer of health for Willesden concerning the nuisance caused by vapour and grit emitted from the power stations in the borough of Willesden; and will he consider taking steps to abate this nuisance and menace to health.

Yes, Sir. I am in communication with the Electricity Commissioners and understand that certain measures are in hand to mitigate the alleged nuisance. I am arranging for a visit by one of my inspectors to report to me on the conditions and to recommend what further measures can be taken.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the Rushcliffe Committee's decision that the new scales of salaries for ward sisters, staff nurses and assistant nurses should operate from 1st January, 1946, whether he has any announcement to make regarding improved rates of pay for student nurses.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave him on 22nd November, 1945. I am awaiting the further recommendations of the Rushcliffe Nurses Salaries Committee.

asked the Minister of Health why, in his recent intervew with some representatives of local authorities concerning his 'proposals for hospital administration in his forthcoming National Health Bill, they were forbidden by him to consult their associations or to divulge his proposals.

The Government's proposals for a National Health Service will be published in the proper manner, by the submission of a Bill to Parliament. Before settling final details of that Bill, I am seeking advice on various points from expert representatives from local government and other fields. I am not asking them to commit the local authorities or other bodies to any particular proposal, and my discussions with them must obviously be confidential.

asked the Minister of Health, whether he has considered an application from the rural district council of Wantage, in Berkshire, for permission to arrange for a water supply to be made available to the village of Fawley, south of Wantage; and whether, in view of the urgent need for such a water supply, he will expedite this application through the department, in order that work may proceed at the earliest possible moment.

A scheme for the supply of water to the parish of Fawley was prepared and submitted to my Department just before the outbreak of war, but did not proceed. If the Council now wish to carry out the scheme and make application accordingly, the matter will receive immediate attention.

asked the Minister of Health, if he is aware that divorces, are being obtained in America by former members of U.S. forces who, when stationed in this country, married British girls, many of whom with their children are thereby rendered destitute; and if he will afford some assistance, financial or otherwise, to these women.

I know of no special funds or machinery, other than those available to all persons rendered destitute, that would be applicable in these cases; I am making further inquiries into the dimensions of the problem.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been directed to the difficult position of British wives of U.S. citizens whose husbands have divorced them; that these women remain married under British law; and whether he will take steps to assist women in these circumstances.

My hon. Friend's Question is, I think, based on the assumption that an English woman who has married a citizen of the United States and is divorced by him in the United States remains by the law of England still married to him. This assumption to a large extent is erroneous. Our law recognises decrees of divorce made in accordance with the law of the domicile of the parties. By English law, the wife would take the domicile of her husband, and our law would recognise a decree of divorce made in accordance with the law of that domicile. Moreover, Section 1 of the Matrimonial Causes (War Marriages) Act, 1944, enables women who since the outbreak of war have married men domiciled outside the United Kingdom, subject to certain qualifications, to take divorce proceedings against their husbands in this country.

asked the Minister of Education if she will consider, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Air, the use of Donna Nook aerodrome, Lincolnshire, as a holiday camp for poor schoolchildren during the coming summer, since it is within a mile of the sea and is fully equipped with electric, water and sanitary services, besides having a theatre and a cinema.

I am discussing with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works the question of machinery to enable local education authorities and other suitable bodies to obtain the use of surplus sites and buildings for school and holiday camps. Meantime if any local education authority desires to organise a camp at this particular aerodrome and makes proposals to me I will take all possible steps to help.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in the provision of meals for schoolchildren.

On the day of the return made in October last the number of pupils in grant-aided primary and secondary schools who received dinner was 1,831,000, i.e. 39.5 per cent. of the number present. In the four months July to October last 718 additional canteens were provided, making a total of 16,478, and the number of schools or departments served by canteens increased by 868, making a total of 21,354.

asked the Minister of Education if she will give the names of any local education authorities who are still imposing the use of the teachers' time-record-book on the staffs of secondary schools.

The records in my Department do not include the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Education the total population and the number of grammar school places in maintained schools, direct grant schools and independent day schools inspected by the Ministry, respectively, for the local education authorities for the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Devonshire, Kent, Lancashire, London, Norfolk, East Suffolk, Somerset, Surrey and the West Riding of Yorkshire and the county boroughs of Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Salford and Southampton, respectively.

Figures of grammar school places are not available and the following table shows instead the number of pupils on the registers of the schools. The latest figures available are for 1944,

asked the Minister of Education, how many ex-Servicemen are now studying for the teaching profession in emergency training colleges, university training departments and training colleges, respectively.

The emergency training colleges admit men who have been engaged in all forms of national service and are not restricted to men released from the Armed Forces. While the exact number falling within the latter category is not available, 160 ex-Servicemen can be readily identified among the students now attending these colleges. The actual number is certainly larger. Similarly students at normal training departments and colleges are not recorded separately under this heading. Awards have, however, been made under the Further Education and Training Scheme to 102 ex-Servicemen now attending courses at two-year colleges and to 185 at university training departments.

asked the Minister of Education (I) if she will state the grounds for the rejection by an interviewing board of the application of 973229 Corporal Stephens, R.A.F., Abingdon, for training

and the table is based on the classification of grammar schools as it was in that year.

as a teacher under the emergency training scheme, having regard to the good service character and educational standard of the applicant;

(2) for what reasons her department decline to give the grounds for rejection by interviewing boards of applications for training under the emergency training scheme.

This candidate was rejected after consideration of the recommendation of the interviewing board by which he was seen. These Boards are composed of members with wide and varied educational experience and their recommendations are based on a balanced assessment of the, many factors affecting a candidate's suitability. In these circumstances I do not consider it feasible to give rejected candidates any more precise information than that the decision to reject them has been reached after careful consideration of the report of the interviewing board before which they appeared.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the large numbers of the local youth who joined the Transferred War Workers' Clubs in Birmingham and the need which still exists in that city to provide healthy recreation and social intercourse, she will consider helping the local education committee to help these clubs to continue after the grant in aid by the Minister of Labour has ceased in March.

I fully appreciate all that has been done by the War Workers' Clubs to provide social and recreational opportunities for transferred workers, and I hope that many of them will be enabled to find a permanent place in local community provision I am anxious to encourage local education authorities to assist these clubs as may be necessary and I am prepared, in calculating the Ministry's grant to the authorities, to recognise the expenditure thus incurred.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the 20,300 schoolmasters who were in His Majesty's Forces have now been released under Class B.

The number of teachers who had been released in Class B of the Re-allocation of Manpower Scheme by 15th January, 1946, was 6,926.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will consider the establishment of a scale of salaries, equivalent to the Burnham scales, for the payment of wardens engaged in the youth service, or alternatively, indicate to local education authorities that youth service wardens should be paid in accordance with the Burnham scales.

I assume that the youth service wardens to whom my hon. Friend refers are the leaders of individual clubs. These clubs vary greatly in size and in the range of their activities, and the majority of the leaders are employed by one or other of the voluntary organisations. In present circumstances, therefore, it would, I think, be premature to consider the establishment of national scales.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that a Beeston boiler ordered at the beginning of last October for the Hanham Road, Kingswood School, has not yet been delivered; that, as a consequence, it has been necessary to send the children home during the cold weather; and will she take steps to see that this necessary equipment is supplied at the earliest possible date, and that schools are given a higher priority for such supplies in future.

The Beeston boiler required at the Kingswood Hanham Road Council School has now been delivered; the delay in its receipt was due I am informed, to staff shortage at Beeston's, and the firm's large volume of orders. With regard to the last part of the Question, I am glad to say that the production department of the Ministry of Supply has always shown itself ready to give all possible assistance when cases of delay in delivery of boilers to schools have been brought to its notice.

asked the Minister of Education what information she has received to the effect that the allocation of posts of special responsibility as recommended by the Burnham Committee has caused disaffection among the staffs of our schools and opposition on the part of certain education committees; and what steps she proposes to take to remedy such a situation.

I am not aware that the allocation of posts of special responsibility under the recommendations of the Burnham Committee for the salaries of teachers in primary and secondary schools is giving rise to dissatisfaction or difficulties so widespread as my hon. Friend would appear to suggest. The determination and distribution of the value of the allowances attaching to posts of special responsibility rests primarily within the discretion of the local education authority, but, so far as my approval is required to schemes of allowances, I shall, of course, have due regard to any representations that may be made to me.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the dissatisfaction among heads of technical institutes arising from the delay which is occurring in the pronouncement of her Department relating to their salary scales; and whether she can promise that an early announcement will be made.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that some delay is arising on the determination of the salaries to be paid to heads of technical institutes under the terms of the Burnham Committee's report on scales of salary for teachers in technical colleges. This, I am afraid, is at present inevitable, having regard to the shortage of staff, both in my own Department and in the offices of the local education authorities. I can only promise that the matter will be pursued with all the speed our resources make possible.

asked the Minister of Labour how many medical students have received grants from the Further Education and Training Scheme since its inception; what is their total amount; and whether, as the need for qualified medical practitioners will become greatly increased under the proposals for future health services, he will make grants in proportion to that need.

Up to 24th January 130 awards had been made for courses of training in medicine. The grants provide for maintenance and the cost of fees, but it is not possible, without undue labour, to give the total cost for this type of award in particular. All applications from men and women who appear to be eligible for awards under the Scheme will be very sympathetically considered.

asked the Minister of Information if he is aware of the hardship which will be caused by the increase in the cost of wireless licences, particularly among old age pensioners who can often afford no other form of entertainment; and if he will give an assurance that he will not increase the amount of their licences.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in the proposed revision of the cost of wireless licences, he will exempt old age pensioners from the increase.

asked the Minister of Information if, when the cost of the licence for a wireless set is raised to £1 , he will arrange that old age pensioners will pay only 10s.

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend regrets that he is unable to exempt old age pensioners from the increase in the wireless licence charge. Apart from the merits of developing a policy of making special licence charges for particular sections of the community on grounds of means, practical difficulties of administration would arise.

asked the Minister of Information if it is proposed to publish the accounts of the B.B.C. and the estimates of future expenditure or in any other way to satisfy the public that the increase in licence fee from 10s. to £1 is justified.

Publication of the B.B.C's annual accounts was resumed towards the end of 1945, when the accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1945, were published in Command Paper 6705. The reason for the increase in the licence charge is that the product of a 10s. licence is already insufficient to cover the cost of the B.B.C's home services, a cost which will progressively increase. Its justification must in the end depend upon the sound and television services provided; and the need for satisfying the public in this respect is fully recognised.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will consider instituting a system of licensing wireless sets on sale, in a similar manner to that adopted for motor cars and motor cycles, to prevent the use of receiving sets without licence.

Motor cars and motor cycles are not licensed on sale but for use. I do not consider that the institution of a system of licensing wireless sets on sale—which would in any se require legislation—would achieve the object in view.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General by what route newspapers and periodicals are now sent to East Africa; and what is the average time involved from the date of posting in London to the date of receipt in Kenya.

Surface mails for East Africa are being despatched by direct ships, via Suez. Recent mails have reached Mombasa in about four weeks, but on account of the shipping situation the service is somewhat irregular.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to speed up surface mail between Britain and the West Indies, and air mail between Britain and Iceland, the latter of which has been taking on average 17 days, for what is approximately a seven hours flying trip.

Surface mails for the West Indies are despatched by all useful outlets both by direct ships and by way of North America, and full advantage will be taken of any improvement in the shipping services. Air mails for Iceland are despatched by all available air services and allowing for the intervals between the aircraft departures, the average transmission time should be about six days. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of any letters which have taken appreciably longer I shall be glad to have inquiry made.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General by what authority the Victoria Street, 32, branch post office, and some other London offices have been withholding free distribution, on request, of the list of air-mail services revised last in September, although admitting possession of stocks.

There is no recollection of any such incident at the office referred to but the attention of the counter clerks has been drawn to the instructions which provide for distribution to the public, on request, of air mail leaflets at all offices where stocks are held. If the hon. Member will name the other offices he has in mind, I will make sure that the staff are observing these instructions.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the poor telephone service to subscribers on the Silverthorne exchange and of the inconvenience caused by the delay in getting connections; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this.

I am aware that the service at Silverthorne exchange, like that at other London exchanges, is not yet up to pre-war standard. The present difficulties are due mainly to the relatively short service of a high percentage of the operating staff and I confidently expect that a satisfactory quality of service will be attained soon.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the rates of remuneration and hours of work for sub-postmasters, indicating any special arrangements when the Post Office is run in conjunction with the village store; and whether the addition of a telephone exchange or weight of Post Office transactions makes any difference to the remuneration.

The remuneration of sub-postmasters depends on the amount of business transacted and the hours of attendance, subject to prescribed minimum payments for various types of office. No office, however small its business, receives less than £54 is a year; the highest paid office receives at present over £2,000 a year. The business is calculated in units, on a system agreed with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters; the system, with its associated monetary tables, applies whether or not the office is run in conjunction with a private business. The hours of attendance for Post Office work vary according to the circumstances of each office. Where telephone exchange work is done, payment is calculated separately. The basis of payment is now under review in consultation with the Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates of naturalisation have been granted since 15th November, 1945.

220; but as regards progress under the policy announced on 15th November, I would refer to the reply given today to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Sheffield (Lieut.-Colonel H. Morris).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that his Department is limiting grants of naturali- sation to women of British birth whose husbands are of enemy nationality, in general, to cases where both husband and wife are resident in the United Kingdom; and why he is thus restricting the wide powers granted to him by the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1933.

As during the war it was impossible for the Home Office in numerous cases to determine how far a wife might be influenced by loyalty to her husband if this conflicted with loyalty to her country of origin, the policy was for inquiries to be made about the husband as well as the wife, and for this reason it was generally impossible to grant applications if the husbands were abroad; but in present circumstances the same considerations do not arise and the present policy of my Department is no longer subject to the restrictions entailed by wartime circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants for the assistance of horse breeding in this country were made by the Racecourse Betting Control Board during 1944 and 1945 respectively, and whether any arrangements are being made for an increased advance during the coming year.

The sums granted by the Racecourse Betting Control Board in 1944 and 1945 for the assistance of horse breeding amounted to £2,150 and £2,205 respectively. It is anticipated that a much larger sum will be available for this purpose in the present year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a concern calling itself the Forces Employment Bureau with offices at 13, Duke Street Hill, London Bridge, advertising for ex-Servicemen who are then informed that they will be appointed as area representatives providing they deposit £25 with the bureau and will thereafter be paid by commission from the wages of other ex-Servicemen for whom they find work; and whether he will instruct licensing authorities to submit employment agencies who purport to find work for ex-Servicemen to a thorough investigation before a licence is issued.

My attention has not previously been drawn to this concern. I am informed that the agency referred to has recently been licensed by the London County Council in pursuance of their General Powers Act of 1921. The powers in this and other local Acts for the control of employment agencies enable the local authority concerned to refuse or revoke a licence if the person conducting the agency is unsuitable or if the agency is being improperly conducted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make any statement about the recent disturbance in Holloway Prison.

On the afternoon of 23rd January, between about 7 p.m. and 9.30 p.m., 10 girls at Holloway Prison awaiting removal to a Borstal institution created a disturbance by shouting and breaking their cell windows and furniture. They appear to have been incited to this demonstration by certain of the ringleaders of the recent disturbance at Aylesbury who had been temporarily removed to Holloway, and for whose removal from Holloway arrangements were already in train. These have now gone back to Aylesbury or been sent to other prisons, except for two, who are in another part of Holloway Prison. At the time of the disturbance the girls were confined to their cells, and there was no fighting with, prison officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number and proportion of chief regional fire officers, fire force commanders, deputy fire force commanders, and assistant fire force commanders have been reduced in rank on the grounds of redundancy in the current year 1945; what number is still employed by the N.F.S. in these ranks; and what proportion is this- number to the total still retaining their rank.

The information requested is presented in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will, at an early date, reintroduce the Criminal Justice Bill, suitably amended, in order to embark on a comprehensive programme of penal reform and the improvement of prison conditions.

I am anxious to introduce a measure on the lines of the Criminal Justice Bill, with such amendments as experience has suggested, but in view of the very full Parliamentary programme, it will not be possible to introduce a Bill on this subject this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the increase in the cost-of-living bonus recently given to civil servants will be applied to the police force.

No; the war supplement, which was the equivalent for the police of the Civil Service bonus, disappeared when the improved and consolidated rates of police pay were introduced as from 1st April last, and it was made clear that the improved rates would not be subject to temporary fluctuations in either direction, but would be stabilised for three years in the absence of any really large change in general wage levels.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give detailed information relative for the two six-year periods 4th September, 1933–1939 and 4th September, 1939–1945, showing for each period the number of invalidings from Royal Naval service due to tuberculosis; these totals expressed as the percentage of the total of all invalidings due to disease; the proportion of tuberculosis total contributed by each of the following groups of vessels, for this purpose classifying the invalidings according to the group in which the major portion of a man's sea service was spent, namely, submarines, surface craft other than cruisers, cruisers and aircraft carriers and battleships, respectively.

The information asked for in the first and second parts of the Question is shown in the table below. The records are organised so as to permit analysis of diseases on the basis of calendar years only. The information is, therefore, given in this form, and the year 1939 omitted so as to show a true comparison between peace and war. The classification of tubercular invalidings into groups according to the class of ship in which a man's service was spent would involve a very detailed inquiry that would necessarily extend over some months, and I regret that with the present shortage of staff I cannot agree to undertake it.

Period 1934–1938

No. of invalidings due to pulmonary tuberculosis—836.

Percentage of total invalidings due to disease—16·9.

Period 1940–1945

No. of invalidings due to pulmonary tuberculosis—8,039.

Percentage of total invalidings due to disease—13·8.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why, in the supply and secretariat, and engineering branches, only 13 and 35 per cent., respectively, of temporary warrant officers have been promoted under A.F.O. 3009/45 to temporary acting commissioned rank, as compared with 75, 85, 61 and 61 per cent., respectively, in the gunner, gunner (T), boatswain, and regulating branches.

My hon. Friend is referring to the figures furnished in my reply to his Question on nth December, 1945. To receive the accelerated promotion to temporary acting commissioned rank at three years' seniority, a warrant officer must be outstanding. The records of those recommended must be considered with the records of all the warrant officers of the branch concerned, who are in the promotion zones. On this basis, the percentages of officers promoted in the branches now in question were as follows at 31st October and 31st December, 1945, respectively:

It will be seen that at 31st October, 1945, the discrepancy between the engineering branch and the supply and secretariat branch on the one hand and the other four branches was not so great as my hon. Friend's Question suggests. By 31st December, the engineering branch was, in fact, one of the branches with a high percentage. There are many factors which militate against any close correspondence in these figures. I would finally remind my hon. Friend that all temporary warrant officers, subject to satisfactory record, receive this promotion at four years' seniority.

asked the Minister of War Transport what arrangements have been made for the provision of transport facilities for residents in the new building estate of 581 temporary houses to be built near Gallows Corner, Romford.

I understand that work has not yet commenced on this site. The London Passenger Transport Board will watch developments and make necessary adjustments to the three local bus services to meet traffic demands.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many civil policemen are being kept in the special investigation branch of the Army; how many have been refused Class B release; and if, in view of the rapid recruitment to the civil police force in this country, he is taking steps to assure these men that their chance of promotion in the civil force will not be overlooked.

The total number of civil policemen at present serving with the Special Investigation Branch is 540. None of these men have so far been considered for Class B release as their retention in the Army is essential in view of the numerous important tasks which they are required to perform, particularly in occupied territories. As regards the last part of the Question I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that the promotion of policemen on release from the Army is a matter for the individual Chief Officers and police authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will explain the delays in air mail letters to Hong Kong, some having taken as long as 43 days, as typified by the case of C.S.M. Clarke's record of letters posted at Ramsgate from 30th October, 1945, to 19th December, 1945, a copy of which has been sent to him.

The original air mail route to Hong Kong via Calcutta and Kunming proved to be unreliable. A different route via Rangoon and Saigon has therefore recently been brought into use. It is hoped that this will lead to a general improvement in the position.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the soldier, 7935800, authority for whose temporary release was stated, in a letter of 14th December, 1945, to the hon. and gallant Member for Colchester, to have been given, had not had any information about this authority as late as 12th January, 1946; and whether he will state the cause of this delay.

I regret the delay in dealing with this case, but this was due to the fact that when the original release orders were issued the soldier in question was found to be serving overseas. A recommendation has, however, now been sent to the overseas command concerned that the soldier should be returned to this country for indefinite release on compassionate grounds.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will state the approximate length of service with the R.A.F. that those being called up at the present time may expect to have to serve in aircrew and ground staff categories, respectively.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 29th January by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton). I should add that men are not called up for aircrew duty; candidates are selected from volunteers from ground trades who are willing to undertake a period of regular service with the Royal Air Force.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of air accidents, the number of fatal casualties involved and the number of passenger miles flown on the European scheduled air routes operated by Transport Command.

Since the inauguration of these R.A.F. services in September, 1944, until 31st December, 1945, there have been no accidents involving fatalities. During the period 106 million passenger miles were flown.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that civilian passengers for Ceylon and the Far East, travelling by Transport Command, who were advised to report at Command Headquarters in London, on Thursday 16th January, were then taken to Bowwood Hall, near Lyneham aerodrome in Wiltshire, and were subsequently obliged to report there each evening at 6.30 p.m., on the following Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but had still not left this country on Thursday 23rd January; and whether, in view of the importance of making civil aviation services attractive to business men, he will take steps to prevent incidents of this kind.

Yes, Sir. I know there was considerable delay on this service from 17th January until 23rd January. The passengers referred to eventually left on 24th January and. 25th January. While we naturally regret delays of this kind, I must emphasise that this is primarily a military service on which the transport of troops must have general precedence at present. That is why we cannot always avoid some delays for other passengers. In these circumstances the arrangements cannot really be comparable with those made for civil aviation services.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when the National Insurance Bill, formally introduced before the Christmas Recess, will be published.

This Bill was published last Thursday.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many old age pensioners are at present in receipt of supplementary pensions exceeding 16s. per week; and what is the maximum sum that may be awarded by way of supplementary pension.

It is estimated that about 380,000 single old age pensioners and widows over 60 are in receipt of a Supplementary Pension of more than 16s. a week. No maximum is prescribed to the amount which can be paid by way of Supplementary Pension each case being assessed according to the needs of the applicant and his dependants.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many persons at present drawing old age pensions it is estimated are in employment earning more than 20s. per week.

About 750,000 men and women over pension age were engaged in insurable employment early in 1945, but I have no information as to their earnings.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what are the respective increases in rates of contribution as proposed in the National Insurance Bill as against those proposed in the White Paper Cmd. 6550; and what is the total increased yield anticipated from employers, employees and self-employed.

The answer to the first part of the Question involves a table of figures, which is given below. The total yield from the contributions of insured persons, including self-employed and non-employed persons, and employers is estimated to be £349 millions for the year 1948.

The above increases refer to the General Scheme of National Insurance, excluding Industrial Injury Insurance but including contributions to the new Health Service.

asked the Minister of Labour the present total assets of the Unemployment Fund.

I have been asked to reply. At 26th January, 1946, the balance of the Unemployment Fund was about £365,700,000 on the General Account, and £10,300,000 on the Agricultural Account.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether, in view of the importance of animal feeding-stuffs which are urgently required to increase milk supply, he is aware that there has been difficulty in the Boston area of Lincolnshire, details of which have been sent to him, in obtaining transport by rail for this commodity, particularly in cases where it has been dispatched from Hull or Selby; and whether he will give an?assurance that now that the war is over there will be no further embargoes on the transport by rail of animal feeding-stuffs.

I regret that owing to severe congestion it has been necessary in recent months for the London and North-Eastern Railway to impose restrictions On acceptance of traffic, including animal feeding-stuffs, for conveyance to stations south of Doncaster. During the past fortnight I am informed there has been an improvement in the traffic position and the restrictions have been removed. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that the importance of animal feeding-stuffs is fully realised and that every effort will be made to transport it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that British musicians are handicapped by the limitation on the import of fiddle strings; that British strings are of inferior quality, except in the case of E-strings, which are in short supply; and if he will make easily possible the import of fiddle strings into this country.

The difficulties suggested by the hon. and gallant Member have not been brought to my attention, but if he will let me have particulars of any case which he has in mind I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what has been done to bring production up to potential capacity in the iron foundries, where it has been restricted to date owing to shortage of labour.

We are trying hard to get more labour into the iron foundry industry. In addition to taking the steps set out in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to the hon. and gallant Member for Colchester (Captain C. Smith) on 6th November [OFFICIAL REPORT; Vol. 415, cols. 1093–4], we are endeavouring to improve the position by other measures such as the transfer back to the industry of workers previously engaged in it, the release to it of men under Class B, the mechanisation of foundries, etc. I would add that the highest priority in labour supply is given to those foundries which are producing castings for the housing programme.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the expense caused to appellants resident in Cornwall by having to arrange for themselves and persons assisting them to travel to Exeter to present their cases to the appeal tribunal, he will have such cases heard in Cornwall.

The expedient suggested by the hon. Member has already been tried on one occasion, when a Tribunal held a sitting in Truro. But as a rule the number of appeals in that area is only sufficient to justify such infrequent visits by Tribunals that the delay in the majority of appeals would probably prove more undesirable than the inconvenience of a journey to Exeter. As regards expenses, there is adequate provision for their payment in the Rules made pursuant to the Pensions Appeal Tribunals Act, 1943.

asked the Minister of Food if he will implement the suggestions contained in the County of London Plan and the Greater London Plan for a wider distribution of certain markets, equitable and beneficial food distribution for the larger centres of population contemplated by the decanting of more than 1,000,000 people from the London and inner urban area to new and other regional towns.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Town and Country Planning, in collaboration with the local authorities concerned, has at present under considera- tion all the proposals of the County of London and Greater London plans and I can assure my hon. Friend that I will Co-operate fully with the Minister of Town and Country Planning should any of these proposals result in a movement of population which would render necessary an adjustment of present food distribution arrangements.

asked the Minister of Food the total quantity of liquid milk consumed in England and Wales under the milk-in-schools scheme, in 1945 and in 1938, respectively.

It is estimated that the quantity of milk consumed under the milk-in-schools scheme in England and Wales in 1945 amounted to 41,440,000 gallons. Consumption in 1938 was 26,516,000 gallons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that great flooding and damage to property was caused when mines broke the sea bank between Weybourne and Blakeney, Norfolk; and is it intended to proceed with the erection of a sea wall along this stretch of coast.

I am aware of the damage caused by the flooding at high tides of land between Weybourne and Blakeney, although I understand it has not been established that the sea defences were breached by the explosion of mines. The North Norfolk Rivers Catchment Board have had under consideration a scheme for improving the sea wall at Blakeney. When the matter was considered in 1944, the cost of repairing the length between Blakeney and Weybourne appeared likely to be prohibitive, having regard to the nature and value of the property affected; but the drainage authority will be asked to consider again whether a practicable scheme for the protection of the area can be devised.