asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make arrangements for officers of the Mercantile Marine to be allowed to retain the prism binoculars and telescopes issued to them for their use during the war.

Arrangements are being made to enable Merchant Navy officers to purchase binoculars which become surplus to naval requirements. These arrangements do not apply to telescopes, of which there are no surplus stocks.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what amount of flying pay is paid to members of the Naval Air Arm; and how this compares with the equivalent allowance in the R.A.F.

As the answer to this Question is long and detailed, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, so far as I know, the overall pay of the Fleet Air Arm is on the average between is. and 6d. less per day than the equivalent in the Royal Air Force; and would he agree that it is to the advantage of the Fleet Air Arm to cut out this difference as soon as possible?

There is no actual flying pay in the Royal Air Force, but I think that, broadly speaking, when the special flying pay of the Fleet Air Arm and the ordinary pay is added together. there is not very much difference. But if I find that there are any particular inequalities I will look into them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that in consequence of lack of work at Londonderry naval base, skilled and unskilled workmen are being paid off; and whether, in view of the shortage of labour at British shipyards, he will take steps to provide sufficient work to keep these men fully employed at Londonderry.

It is true that shipyard workmen are being discharged at Londonderry owing to decreasing Admiralty repair work there. This is unavoidable, partly due to the reduction of Naval establishments to a peace-time footing, and also to the fact that the major firm engaged on ship repairs in that port have expressed their intention of ceasing work at Londonderry and re-transferring their workers to Belfast. The facilities at Londonderry are not suitable for major repairs. This limits the amount of repair work which can be assigned to that port. I regret that it will not be possible for the Admiralty to provide further work when the vessels new in hand have been completed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is possible to carry out that work by local firms who have done some contracting work, instead of a firm which is employing its resources at Belfast?

I suppose that when the original dock establishment is free it is open to the prewar firms working there to do what work they can there. I shall have a look into it.

If it is found possible to carry out this work with local firms will the right hon. Gentleman look into it?

I will look into it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in the disposal of. admiralty-built M.F.V.s, he will give first opportunity of purchase to fishermen whose vessels have been lost on Admiralty service during the war.

The allocation of Admiralty-built M.F.V.'s released to; the fishing industry is decided by my right hon. Friends, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, who are in the best position to judge the relative priority of applications to purchase.

What steps has the right hon. Gentleman's Department taken to make details of these vessels available to fishermen who may wish to purchase them now?

That is rather a detailed question. I could supply the hon. Member with particulars if he would drop me a line. There certainly have been very adequate steps taken.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware' that men who have been released from the Royal Navy under the group scheme are not receiving their gratuities because the Savings Bank Division of the Post Office complain that the Naval accounts section has not provided them with the schedule containing the released men's accounts; and why ex-personnel of the Royal Navy are at a disadvantage compared with the other Services in this respect.

:The world-wide dispersal of the Naval Forces makes it difficult to ensure that Service documents reach the dispersal centres at the proper time. The. vast majority of Naval personnel released receive. their gratuities without delay, but there are bound to be a number of cases in which some delay is unavoidable. Considerable improvement has been effected recently, and measures to secure further improvement are being actively pursued.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what warships have been transferred to what foreign, Dominion or "Imperial Governments during the past three years.

As the answer to this Question can best be given in tabular form, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total displacement tonnage of warships transferred by the British Navy to foreign and Dominion or Imperial Governments during the past three years; and what price has been received for them.

A total displacement tonnage of 269,064 has been transferred to foreign, Dominion or Imperial Governments since 1st January, 1943. For those which have been sold, a total sum of£3,014,206 will be paid.

Have we not got very little for this very large quantity of tonnage that has been transferred?

:What I have referred to applies only to that part of the transfers which have been sold. We have made some gifts within the Commonwealth, and we have also loaned ships to foreign Powers.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that in view of the existence of the atom bomb battleships are worthless?

I do not agree with the argument.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many officers and ratings have been transferred from the submarine branch to general ser vices since VJ-Day; and whether this has resulted in any loss of pay.

Two hundred and twenty-one officers and 1,210 ratings have been transferred from submarine to general service since VJ-Day. These transfers result from the reduction in the Navy's submarine commitments and necessarily involve the loss of Submarine Allowance or Spare Crew Allowance.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is now in a position to make a further statement regarding the claim for patent rights of Mr. Buchanan Reith.

:No, Sir. Mr. Reith, through his solicitors, has expressed dissatisfaction with the payment offered ex gratia in settlement of his claims. I cannot at present say anything more on the subject.

Is not the First Lord aware that the ex gratia payment offered to this Gentleman is, in the opinion of Mr. Reith, totally inadequate, and that Mr. Reith's brother, a distinguished former Cabinet Minister and a Member of this House, is fairly of the opinion that he is entitled to a much more substantial payment than that offered by the First Lord?

I could not base the Department's judgment of the value of services simply on the opinion of a-brother, however distinguished. I must leave it to the technical advisers to deal with and, if need be, to the legal channels.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that answer I give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

I am not sure how the hon. Gentleman proposes to raise it. This matter is very largely sub judice.

Would it be in Order for me to raise this matter?

That remains to be seen.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that 76 ratings serving in H.M.S. "Birmingham" will become entitled to Class A release before 29th April; that this ship is to sail on a cruise in foreign waters lasting 2 to 2½ months on or about 7th March; that of the 76 ratings concerned some 10 are to be allowed to leave the ship before 7th March because there are, in addition to their Class A entitlement, special compassionate grounds for their release; and if, as there is no operational necessity for the retention of these men, he will take steps to prevent this breach of the age-plus-service principle by causing all those concerned to be drafted from the ship before 7th March and held in the United Kingdom for release within the dates proper to their groups.

The hon. Member has been misinformed with regard to the duration of the cruise. It is expected that H.M.S. "Birmingham "will have returned to this country well before 29th April. The last part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

:There will be no men then, can we take it, who will be delayed beyond their proper time?

I do not think so

:asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of candidates for each branch of

:Is it not a fact that conditions of service are such that insufficient candidates are coming forward to be warrant officers? Will the right hon. Gentleman investigate the matter with the object of making that rank more attractive?

I think the whole question of the warrant officer position is under review at the present moment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the executive and engineer warrant officers who are qualified for promotion; the numbers under training; and the number of promotions which his Department intend to make in 1946.

The reply to this Question can best be given in tabular form. I will, therefore, with permission, cir-circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

As the answer to this Question contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is expected to announce the new rates of pay, etc., for officers.

Very shortly, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of naval cadets he intends to enter this year, under the 13 and 17 to 18 age schemes, respectively; and the number of commissions he expects to award to ratings, in the executive and engineering branches.

The present intention is to enter 135 cadets at.13 years of age, and about 100 at 17–18 years of age. The subject of the second part of the Question is at present under review. I am not, therefore, in a position to give the numbers.

Is it not high time that there was a far greater measure of democratisation in the Navy?

Democratisation is a matter which can be expressed in two or three different ways. It can be expressed by broadening the educational field of entry within our community, or it can be expressed by not having any entrants to these Services except through the ranks. All that is under review.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what allowance is payable to officers and men of sea-going ships who wish to live ashore with their families during refit periods in dockyard.

As this answer is long,-I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICAL Report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air under what circumstances wives' family entitlement allowances are stopped for the period of a wife's visit abroad.

People who go outside the sterling area cannot normally receive sterling payments there from the United Kingdom because of the present currency restrictions. In these circumstances there is no entitlement to family allowances, which are paid to help members of the Royal Air Force in meeting current expenses of accommodation and maintenance for their families.

May I ask the Under-Secretary whether there will be back payments for these wives when they return to this country?

At present, no, Sir. This is an inter-Service matter and also a Treasury matter, and I cannot go further than that.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the relaxation of the order requiring all W.A.A.F. personnel to re turn to their stations by 10.30 p.m. daily.

:Airwomen can spend one night a week away from their stations and return after 10.30 on one other night. The Women's Auxiliary Air Force authorities do not consider that any change in these regulations is called for.

While admiring the hon. Gentleman's sense of responsibility in emphasisng my own impartiality in this matter, would he not think that 10.30 is possibly a little early?

I would be advised by the W.A.A.F. authorities on this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement of his Department's intention in regard to the continuance in use or otherwise of the Sawbridgeworth aerodrome

We do not intend to use Sawbridgeworth for flying again. It will be needed for storage for some time 10 come, but arrangenments are being made to cultivate all the available land there.

Will not the Undersecretary also bear in mind the inconvenience at present caused by the closing of the Sawbridgeworth - Much Hadam road, and will he give an undertaking that the storage arrangements will allow for the reopening of that road?

Perhaps the hon. Member would communicate with me on that matter.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the water shortage at the R.A.F. Station, Halton, Buckinghamshire, which has lasted since December; and what step have been taken to remedy it.

:Yes, Sir. The difficulty is that there is a general shortage of water in this part of the country after last year's dry autumn. We have therefore had to limit the supply for members of the Royal Air Force at Halton. I understand that a new supply of water is being arranged for the neighbourhood which should bring the shortage at Halton to an end, but I am afraid that the works will not be completed before the end of the year at the earliest.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air in how many cases at German prisoner-of-war camps for R.A.F. officers, moneys paid under the Geneva Convention to officers were administered as a communal fund; whether the accounts for these funds are held by his Department; and whether it is intended to refund to the officers concerned all sums allocated by the communal fund, either to alleviate conditions in other rank R.A.F. prisoner-of-war camps in Germany, or in settlement of barrack damages caused by escapist activities.

Moneys paid under the Geneva Convention were administered as communal funds at three German prisoner-of-war camps for Royal Air Force officers, namely, Stalag Luft I, Stalag Luft III and Stalag Luft VI. All these funds were, however, eventually absorbed into the Stalag Luft III fund. The accounts of this fund are held in my Department. The point raised in the last part of the Question is still under consideration.

Can the Minister state when consideration of this matter will give place to action; particularly as in the case of Stalag Luft III escapist activities were on a large scale, and the dependants of those officers murdered by the Germans as a result of escapist activities could well do with the payment of these moneys now?

I feel great sympathy with the hon. and gallant Gentleman's view on that matter, but again it is not a matter solely for my Department, as he well knows.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware of the impression that posting to the Far East automatically means a deferment of release; and whether he will take steps to remove this impression.

There is no justification whatever for any impression that a posting to the Far East means that a man's release will be postponed. If the hon. and gallant Member encounters such an impression I should be extremely grateful if he will deny it categorically. It is a principle of the Bevin release scheme that men in each age and service group are released in the same month all over the world. That principle will be upheld. All this has, of course, been repeatedly explained to the Service, in Demobforms for example. What we cannot give is any absolute guarantee against a hold-up in transport home—such as occurred for instance for 2,000 airmen in January for about a month. That hold-up is now cleared, however, and the prospect of preventing any new hold-up in March is good.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied with the conditions of travelling of R.A.F. personnel between Calcutta and Karachi.

Owing to the shortage of rolling stock airmen sometimes, have to travel third-class on this route, but the numbers concerned are not large. Hot tea, and one hot meal a day are provided during the journey, and feeding arrangements have improved during the last year. The Command considers that on the whole, and taking local difficulties into account, travelling conditions on this route for members of the Royal Air Force are reasonably satisfactory.

Will the hon. Gentleman assure the House that the Air Ministry is having everything possible done to improve travel, which certainly is not good?

Travelling conditions in India are not under the control of the Air Ministry, but certainly we do everything we can to ensure the comfort of our Air Force members.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will now state when the log books of deceased pilots will be available for next of kin; and if individual application for them will be necessary.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the announcement that we issued to the Press on 17th January, which explained that these log books were available and how they should be applied for. Over 1,000 have been applied for and despatched.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many relatives do not know that they are entitled to these books owing to insufficient publicity, and will he make another announcement in the Press?

The Press gave a very good show to our announcement, and I hope that they will report the present interchange of question and answer in the House

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he proposes to reply to letters sent by the hon. Member for Heston and Isleworth, on 26th October, 10th December, 1945, and 3rd January, 1946, respectively, regarding the attitude alleged to have been taken by the air officer commanding-in- chief, Middle East, towards a demon stration at Aden.

I am sorry to have taken such a long time in dealing with this correspondence. On the other hand this delay gave me the opportunity to talk with the Commander-in-Chief Middle East about this matter on his recent visit to this country, and satisfy myself, as I said in my letter of reply, that what he said had been entirely misunderstood by my hon. Friend's correspondent.

Is the Minister aware that the reply which I received yesterday came as a pleasant surprise to me?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air in how many cases disciplinary action has been taken against R.A.F. personnel in connection with recent events in India.

I am waiting for information from the Command on this question and will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible. As the House will be aware from my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 30th January, Service inquiries are now in progress whose terms of reference include instructions to determine the responsibility both for the actual outbreaks of indiscipline and for the circumstances which gave rise to them.

Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that these Communist agitators who have brought disgrace to the Royal Air Force will be severely dealt with?

I can give the hon. and gallant Member the assurance that I do not accept for one moment the implication in his remarks.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the script of his recent broadcast is in the Library, and, if not, whether he will have one put there.

Yes, certainly

Which?

It is in the Library as tar as I know, but if not I will put it there if the hon. Member would like to look at it. I would be honoured if he would do so

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will now state what facilities and financial assistance are going to be provided for the re-establishment of light aerodrome clubs.

The Government have decided to make available to members of the General Council of Associated Light Aeroplane clubs 100 light aircraft, consisting of Tiger Moths, Austers and Magisters at a nominal price of£50 an aircraft. This will be a substantial help to the flying clubs in re-establishing themselves, and no direct financial assistance is proposed.

Might I ask the hon. Gentleman in the first place whether the aircraft he has enumerated are in a serviceable condition today, and, secondly, are there ample spares available?

I cannot give a guarantee that they are in a serviceable condition, and they will certainly need a certain amount of repair, but I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that supplies of spares are available.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary state whether assist- ance will be given to gliding and gliding clubs as well as light aeroplane clubs?

No, Sir. The aircraft for club flying are of the types I have indicated. We certainly want to encourage gliding too.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that petrol is also supplied to these clubs, otherwise the aeroplanes will not be able to fly?

That is a point which should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that the supply of 100 unserviceable aircraft is very little encouragement to promote private flying in this country?

:I have not said the aircraft are unserviceable and I think they are a substantial measure of help. The price of these aircraft new is about£1,250 each.

Can we take it from what the hon. Gentleman says that there will be some sort of assistance for gliding clubs others than by the provision of cheap machines?

I should be. willing to consider that, but I would like the question put down on the Paper.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why one month's notice is required for charter flights to India; and whether, in view of the potential loss of traffic as a result of consequent delays, he will consider reducing it.

Ample notice is required for these long distance flights as the concurrence of the Governments of the territories concerned has to be obtained. It has been found in practice that a period of one month is necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a letter printed in the "Daily Telegraph "of 18th February from the Director of Public Relations, Control Office for Germany and Austria; with what authority the letter was published; whether its contents represent Government policy; and if he will ensure that in future such pronouncements are manifestly made by, or on behalf of the Minister concerned and not over the signature of a civil servant.

The purpose of the letter was to correct any misunderstanding of the state of affairs in the British zone of Germany to which an earlier letter in the same paper may inadvertently have given rise, and accordingly the letter was within the normal scope of the duties of a public relations officer. It contained no announcement of policy, and I can assure the hon. Member that any such announcement would normally be made only by, or on behalf of, the Minister concerned.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that this letter did, in fact, contain a great many implications of policy, and that all statements of policy, whether implicit or explicit, had better be manifestly seen to be upon the responsibility of a particular Minister?

I quite agree, if it is a question of a statement of policy, but this was a statement, as I read it, on the facts of the situation.

There was not a fact in it.

asked the Prime Minister if the disturbances in India will cause any delay in the return to this country of men in the Forces stationed there and due for demobilisation.

So far as I am aware, the disturbances which have taken place have had no effect on the programme for -bringing men home from India for release.