asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that medical personnel of the R.A.F. have been flying long hours in connection with the evacuation of military and civilian casualties in the Dutch East Indies; if they receive pay in recognition of their services similar to those of other R.A.F. personnel; and if he will make a statement recognising the excellent work which has been and is being carried out.

Yes, Sir. I am glad to have this opportunity of paying a tribute to all those whose efforts made it possible for nearly 4,000 sick and wounded to be flown out of Java up to the beginning of February. We are still evacuating as many sick and wounded as we can. All members of the Royal Air Force have a general liability to go into the air when required. Men who are not in one of the ordinary flying trades receive crew pay if they are filling established aircrew posts and this applies to the R.A.F. nursing orderlies who are established as air ambulance orderlies and who are helping with the work of evacuation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is now able to arrange for British air men in Paris the same financial advantages which accrue to U.S. servicemen.

So far as I know, the only special financial advantage for members of the United States forces in France is now the refund of tax on articles which they buy to send out of the country. This concession now applies to members of the British Forces as well. The earlier grant of francs to the American forces was stopped on 26th December last, when the franc was devalued.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air whether he will give details of the composition of Bomber Command and Fighter Command, respectively, including the number of squadrons, and the types of aircraft.

I regret that it is not in the public interest to give this information.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what justification there is for withholding this information from the House of Commons in times of peace?

I must refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's reply to the Leader of the Opposition on an earlier occasion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if, in view of the success of the Aries flight to South Africa, similar flights are contemplated elsewhere; and will he consider the making of similar flights by several air craft instead of only one as a routine exercise.

Yes, Sir. We are already arranging a series of long-distance training flights to the Dominions, to India, to the Mediterranean and Middle East, and to the Far East. Several aircraft may take part in some of these flights.

Is the Under-Secretary aware of the great satisfaction with which this decision will be received, in view of the value of these flights, the interest taken in them, and the very favourable impression caused by the bearing of the crew and appearance of the aircraft at the destination?

Yes, Sir, we believe that these are flights of very good value

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air why seven Sunderland aircraft serviced for return to England were flown out to sea and sunk off the coast of Africa about September, 1945.

Out of 59 Sunderlands in West Africa at the end of the war, 23 of the oldest were scuttled after useful equipment had been taken out of them. This was done with the full agreement of the Ministry of Aircraft Production. I should warn the House that numbers of obsolescent combat aircraft have been scrapped or may have to be scrapped, if we are to avoid quite an intolerable waste of manpower in maintenance.

Is the Undersecretary aware of the great indignation caused throughout Africa because of this action? Why was not full publicity given to the reasons for so doing?

I think the action was entirely justified, but it may have been that sufficient explanation was not given. If so, I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me this opportunity.

Will the Undersecretary see that the fullest possible publicity is given to the reply?

Yes, and I will take special steps to see that when scrappings of this kind take place full publicity is given.

Is the Undersecretary aware that military Sunderlands have been sold to South America as commercial aircraft and would it not be possible to convert some of them so that they could earn dollars for us?

Yes, Sir. Sunderlands are being used on our own civil air lines, but these particular Sunderlands were very near the end of their useful life, and I fear that no commercial air line would have cared to take them on.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the popular feeling at the numerous accidents to aeroplanes, with great loss of life, he will give instructions that all aeroplanes are examined and certified to be in perfect order before leaving aerodromes.

Every R.A.F. aircraft is inspected, tested and certified as serviceable before take-off. The inspection holds good for 24 hours only. If the aircraft takes off more than once in the 24 hours between-flight inspections are added.

May I take it that the hon. Gentleman gives the assurance to the public that everything possible will be done to avoid these terrible accidents?

Yes, Sir, but I would be very sorry if the impression was abroad that in the Royal Air Force generally there was a high rate of accidents at the present time. That is not so.

Is the Undersecretary aware that the proportion of accidents on the roads is infinitely greater than the proportion in the air, taking into consideration the number of aeroplanes flown and the number of motor cars driven on the roads?

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he will outline the duties to be performed by the 500 or so airmen who expect to remain at the R.A.F. station, Azores, after mid-March, with particular reference to their relationship with B.O.A.C.

The members of the R.A.F. left in the Azores after the completion of the major cut to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend on 30th January, will provide the necessary facilities for American, British and Canadian air traffic, which is predominantly military. These facilities include airfield and flying control, aircraft homing, and navigational aids, including a Long Range Cathode Ray Direction Finding Station. There are also wireless stations to be manned, both for general communications and for sending out meteorological information. All this work, and the normal operation of the base, is still an allied requirement which must continue to be met until peacetime civilian arrangements can be made. The only use to which Lagens airfield is put by B.O.A.C. is as an occasional stop when operating the return ferry service between U.K. and Canada.

Is it not the fact that the military traffic has already been cut down to a very small proportion indeed? While fully appreciating the importance of civil aviation, may I ask if it is really the job of airmen in the Royal Air Force at Service rates of pay to service civil air liners?

This is predominantly a military requirement, and military traffic is much more considerable, but on the general question of helping B.O.A.C. and civil aviation generally to get up speed, I think this is a justifiable task for the Royal Air Force.

As Canadian and American air lines also use this airport, should they not bear part of the cost of upkeep? Could arrangements be made to share the cost of maintaining it?

The traffic I have referred to is not Canadian and American air lines but Canadian and American military planes. I do not say air lines never use the Azores; that is a different matter.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he is aware that equipment assistants, in Group 26, are still retained in 351 M.U., R.A.F., C.M.F., although some men of the same trade and in the same group serving in the United Kingdom have been released; and if he will take action to repair this breach and prevent similar breaches of the undertaking, that men serving overseas will be brought home in time to be released in their groups.

Equipment assistants in Group 26 are due for release between 1st and 31st of the present month irrespective of where they may be serving. The command concerned has stated that airmen in this group will be on their way home from No. 351 Maintenance Unit next week and there is every reason to believe that they will be released on time. No equipment assistants in Group 26 at home were released before 1st March. I shall be grateful for my hon. Friend's assistance in scotching these persistent and entirely unwarranted rumours of uneven release as between home and abroad.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will rescind the order that there shall be no release of accounting clerks in March, in view of the fact that a promise was given to release Groups 24 and 25 this month.

There has been no Order cancelling the release of accounting clerks in March. Those in Groups 24 and 25 will be released this month as already announced.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that this information is given to the men concerned, because from correspondence I have received there is obviously some misunderstanding about this?

Yes, Sir. I have tried to trace how the rumour could have originated. Apparently there was a faulty teleprinter transmission of a "demob" form, but that is the only trace we can find. It did not actually say that even there, but it might have been read that way.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will publish a list of Members of Parliament who are still in the R.A.F.

Yes, Sir, I am circulating a list in the Official Report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether there has been any recurrence of the attacks made by Jews last week on R.A.F. stations in Palestine.

There have been no further reports of attacks on R.A.F. stations in Palestine.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air for what purpose, on 25th February, 1946, at 23.00 hours, three R.A.F. vehicles Nos. 42196,69761, of M.A.P., and 167895, entered Palace Yard; whether these three vehicles had Form 658; and how these forms were made out.

These cars took home three Ministers, including myself, from a late Sitting of the House. The appropriate form for authorising these journeys was carried and made out correctly in each case.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the driver of No. 42196 said he had come for the Chief Whip? Is the Chief Whip entitled to travel in a Service car? Would it not be much better to use other transport? Is it not a gross misuse of Service personnel, and if airmen were not so misemployed would not demobilisation be quicker?

Order.

The hon. and gallant Member should look towards me. I myself was standing for some time.

Could the hon. Gentleman explain what are the Regulations regarding the use of these vehicles for hon. Members of this House?

Yes, Sir, certainly. Two of the cars in question were part of a pool run by the Ministry of Aircraft Production—my own car was from the Air Ministry—and were only lent by the R.A.F. for that purpose. The rules governing the matter are that Ministers can draw on these pools on these occasions, and I think it is a fit and proper rule, if I may say so.

Is my hon. Friend aware that Service vehicles were used by Conservative Ministers in the last Government, not only for special purposes like this, after late Sittings, but to go shopping?

Is overcrowding of these cars permitted? In the R.A.F. only three passengers and the driver are allowed. I have seen four Members of Parliament and the driver get into these and similar cars.

I regret, then, that I shall not be able to give the hon. and gallant Member a lift.

Is not the whole basis of the Question a lot of cheapjack nonsense?

Is the hon. Member aware that the only complaint Members of Parliament have on this subject is that we were not included?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minis try of Civil Aviation when he expects to be able to designate Prestwick as an inter national airport.

Prestwick will be formally designated as an airport for international air services with effect from 1st April, 1946.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will arrange for a visit of Members of Parliament to Heathrow to view the airport and, if possible, to see the new types of civil aircraft.

I will gladly arrange for Members of Parliament to visit Heathrow. I will ask my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and Aircraft Production whether he can arrange a demonstration of new types of aircraft on the occasion of the visit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why B.O.A.C. has had to suspend its flying-boat service between this country and Baltimore; and what steps are being taken to prevent this happening in future.

The three Boeing flying-boats, which have each flown over 1,000,000 miles, are nearing the end of their useful life, and it was decided some months ago to take them out of service this year. The date of withdrawal has been advanced in order to release engineers and experienced aircrews for training on Constellation landplanes, in order to ensure the earliest possible introduction of an improved trans-Atlantic service with this new type of aircraft.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the cancel- lation of the services has caused great concern throughout the country in aviation circles, and in view of the knowledge he had that these aircraft, which have given very good service, were to be taken off could not engineers have been sent out earlier? There are hundreds of engineers free, looking for jobs.

It is more a question of the crews, perhaps, than the engineers.

Will my hon. Friend make quite sure that these craft are taken out of service before they reach the end of their useful life?

That is one of the reasons which have animated us. They will be used for a few months more between Baltimore and Bermuda and will then be taken out of service.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say what is meant by "useful life"? So long as they are fit and safe to fly, cannot they continue to be used?

There was an accident with one of these aircraft last week. I think that safety must be the paramount consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will take steps to see that men who have been employed by the R.A.F. as civilians on the control, meteorological and radio staff, who are now being posted for duty to such airports as Heathrow and Prestwick, are given priority for houses.

Applications for houses made to local authorities by the staff of outstations are sponsored by my Department, but I am not in a position to single out for special treatment the persons in questions.

Is the Minister aware that these men have been posted to different jobs in the last ten years and have no priority on paper? As they are now going to fill positions at new civil airports, would he give them special consideration?

There is no special consideration I can give them. If we have houses in our possession, we allocate them to the staff in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the negotiations to take place on Imperial Preference, special consideration will be given to the position of the Jamaican cigar industry, which is becoming of considerable economic importance to that Colony.

The interests of Colonial producers of all classes of goods will be considered before any decision is taken on margins of Imperial Preference which affect them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any legal action has been taken respecting the perpetrators responsible for the beating to death of a Mr. Nicholls in Kingston, Jamaica, on 16th February; and whether he now has further particulars of the behaviour of the crowd surrounding the victim and the disturbance on that and other days.

I have as yet no detailed information on this matter and I have asked the Governor for a report.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that this matter is causing considerable anxiety among friends of Jamaica in this country and will he make inquiries and report to this House?

We have asked for a very urgent reply to our telegram, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend when the information comes in.

As this matter interests everybody in this House, would the hon. Gentleman circulate it in the Official Report when it comes?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in the course of the recent negotiations with Malayan rulers, the Sultan of Kedah was threatened with deposition if he refused to sign the agreement presented to him by the British representative; and under what powers such action was taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Sultan of Kedah is being detained in Malaya; whether he is aware that any threat of deposition was made; whether he has considered the petition from the Sultan of Kedah; and if he has any further statement to make.

I would invite attention to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid) on 27th February. It will be seen from the latter part of paragraph 13 and from paragraph 20 of Sir Harold MacMichael's report, in which he gives an objective statement of his discussions with the Sultan of Kedah, that no threat of deposition was used. Nor is it a fact that His Highness is being detained in Malaya. I am aware of his desire to visit this country and I am communicating with the authorities in Malaya as regards the grant of facilities for him to do so. I have received several communications from His Highness, and these are now receiving my consideration.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I have a copy of a letter from the Sultan of Kedah in which he states explicitly that he was given a verbal ultimatum and that if he did not sign the Agreement within the time limit, someone else who would sign it would be appointed in his place? Is that not very largely confirmed by the statement of Sir Harold MacMichael that the Sultan signed because he saw no practical alternative?

I must give an emphatic denial to the serious allegation in the first part of the supplementary question. There was no time limit, nor was there a threat in regard to deposition or that someone else would be appointed in place of the Sultan.

When the hon. Gentle man tells us that the Sultan is not being detained, does that cover advice? Is he or is he not being strongly advised to stay where he is? On the third part of my original Question, may we have an answer? Is the petition from the Sultan of Kedah being considered, or has it been considered, and is there any statement to make on it?

Regarding the latter part of the supplementary question, the petition involves a series of representations to His Majesty's Government. Those matters are under active consideration at the present moment. I hope that in the Debate on Friday it may be possible to make a statement on the matter.

Can I have an answer to the first part of my supplementary question?

What was that?

Whether, when it is said that the Sultan is not being detained, what is meant is that he is not being forcibly detained, or whether it is true that he is being held there by strong advice?

To my knowledge he is not being held there by strong advice. In point of fact, we are in communication with the authorities there in order to help his visit over here.

Could my hon. Friend state on what authority he says that there was not a threat? The Sultan, who, after all, was a party to the conversation, has stated in more than one letter to friends in this country that there was a definite threat.

I would point out that in some of the communications which we have seen, there are certain misrepresentations of fact in regard to the question of being held up. The alleged fact that a time limit was placed on the negotiations, for instance, is completely untrue. Further, the suggestion that there would be a successor to the Regent, as he then was, is another untrue assertion.

Might I ask the Minister whether he really wishes to stick to the words he has just used and whether in this very important matter, which is under such very active negotiation, he really wish is to describe what one side says as containing misrepresentations of fact and what the other side says as being objective? Does he really mean to stick to those words at this stage?

I most emphatically do.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if it is proposed that in the future, residents in Malaya who acquire a Malayan Union citizenship, will not be British subjects; and what is to be the nationality of those residents in parts of Malaya who before the war were British subjects.

Those acquiring Malayan Union citizenship in the future will not thereby become British subjects, though they will be British protected persons. Nobody in Malaya, however, who was previously a British subject will lose that status, and persons born in the Settlements of Penang and Malacca in the future will, as in the past, be British subjects.

Can the Minister give an assurance that it is his intention to throw open Malayan citizenship to all bona fide residents in Malaya irrespective of race?

There must be certain qualifications. The House will have the opportunity on Friday of expressing its views on this matter.

Does this mean that people who are not British subjects and who continue to pay allegiance to a foreign Power can, in fact, acquire Malayan citizenship and enjoy equal rights with British subjects?

That is one of the points which will be dealt with in the Order in Council and on which the House will have the opportunity of expressing its views on Friday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the number of West African students now taking educational courses in this country; how many applications for study here have been refused; the estimated number of prospective students in this country during the next three years; and, approximately, the number or percentage of overseas students who have gone to countries other than Britain for their studies.

West African students now taking educational courses in this country number about 500, of which 200 are scholarship holders. I have no record of the numbers of applications for study which have been refused by universities and colleges. It is estimated that the numbers of West African students will possibly increase by 100–200 a year during the next three years. There are 25 West African students in the U.S.A. The number in other non-British countries is negligible.

Do I understand that everything is being done to provide facilities for West African students to come here rather than go to America?

Obviously, but there are difficulties with our own university colleges.

Can the hon. Gentleman say, when such applications are made, on what basis they are refused?

We have no precise information why applications are refused, but I think that, broadly speaking, it is because the applicants do not reach the standard for admission to the college which is set by the college authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can indicate a date for the publication of the promised White Paper on West Africa.

I presume that my hon. Friend has in mind the further White Paper which it is proposed to issue on the subject of marketing of West African cocoa. I regret that my right hon. Friend's consultations on the details of the future organisation are not yet complete, and it is not yet possible to say when a further statement can be made.

asked the Minister of Food if he proposes to renew his department's contracts with Iceland for high-grade frozen fish.

My Department is at present negotiating with Canada and Newfoundland for substantial purchases of frozen fish. Until the outcome of these negotiations is known our policy in regard to purchases from Iceland cannot be finalised.

As the hon. Lady's answer indicates dollar purchases, will she ask her right hon. Friend to renew the contracts which stood us in such good stead during the war, at a time when our food situation was better than it is today?

We shall certainly consider that.

asked the Minister of Food what is the present price of tomatoes in the Canary Islands and in this country; what allowance of profit is provided under the 1945 Maximum Prices Order for the exporter, importer, wholesaler, salesman and retailer; and whether he is satisfied with the method of handling this fruit.

So far as the information at my disposal goes it shows that the authorised selling price of tomatoes for export to the United Kingdom from the Canary Islands is 21 pesetas per 12 kilograms net. The maximum prices prescribed by the Imported Tomatoes (Maximum Prices) Order, 1945, on sales within the United Kingdom, other than sales by retail, vary according to the type of package used. For the type "B" package, containing an average of 27 1b. of tomatoes, these prices provide for a margin of 3s. 1d. on an import sale, 1s. 5d. on a first-hand sale, 2s. 3d. on a sale by wholesale, and 13s. 4d. on a sale by retail. I have no information about any allowance of profit available to the exporter. The reply to the last part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

Does this method mean that very often fruit is being sold to other countries and that it results in high prices? Could better methods for handling this fruit be arranged?

This is a highly perishable commodity, and the hon. Gentleman will agree that we are not in a strong position today to bargain.

Will the hon. Lady explain what "B" type packages are?

The packages are classified according to the number of pounds of tomatoes. Package "B" contains 27 lb.

asked the Minister of Food how many pounds of tomatoes have been landed in this country during the past two months and been re-shipped to Eire; and why this was done.

During December, 1945, and January, 1946, no tomatoes landed in this country were re-shipped to Eire. Figures for February are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Food how the 7,200 tons of tomatoes were disposed of during the last six months; if he will state the district allocations in each case; and whether such allocations were for the retail trade.

During the period of full control, i.e., up to the end of October, 1945, some 6,700 tons of the tomatoes imported from the Channel Islands to which my hon. Friend refers, were distributed to the public through the machinery of the tomato distribution scheme which makes use of the normal channels of trade. These supplies were sent in varying quantities to some 52 destinations in South Wales, the west Midlands and the south-west and north-west of England. After that period the small remaining supplies were directed to certain deficiency areas. The reply to the last part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a feeling in the county of Durham that they are always last? Is she further aware that they only received some bananas last week, and now there is no sign of tomatoes?

I promise my hon. Friend that I shall bear Durham in mind next time we have some tomatoes.

Would the hon. Lady arrange for samples to be placed in the Library?

Will the hon. Lady see that Northern Ireland gets her fair share, in view of the immense supplies she is sending to this country—three-quarters of her eggs, to mention only one commodity?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if he goes over the border he can buy unlimited supplies?

asked the Minister of Food why 1,300 tons of food was exported between 1st August, 1945, and 1st February, 1946, from the United Kingdom to Denmark; and if he will state the types of food exported.

In order to restore our trade connections with Denmark, 700 tons of cocoa products, 400 tons of tea and 200 tons of miscellaneous foods were exported to Denmark between 1st August, 1945, and 1st February, 1946.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider the importation of dried or dehydrated bananas, since these could be imported without special shipping and provide a concentrated and valuable food stuff.

One thousand two hundred tons of dried bananas were imported in 1945, and arrangements have already been made to import a quantity in the current year.

Can the hon. Lady say what the quantity is for the current year?

Arrangements have been made to import 600 tons of dried bananas from the British Cameroons.

Does not the hon. Lady think that that quantity is absolutely inadequate, and will she see that it is increased?

If there is an increased demand for this commodity in spite of our imports of fresh bananas, we shall certainly consider it.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the decrease in poultry rations pro posed by His Majesty's Government would mean a drop in home production of about one-third, and, as feeding stuffs are cheaper to buy from abroad than shell eggs, if he will consider leaving the poultry ration as at present and reducing the number of imported shell eggs.

With regard to the first part of the Question, my right hon. Friend hopes that the drop in the home production of eggs will, in practice, be less than one-third. As regards the second part. Of the Question, it is impossible for him to adopt the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion since feeding stuffs are not available for purchase abroad.

Will the Minister agree to an increase in the price of eggs to compensate for a reduction in turnover, and is she aware that, in consequence of the resultant reduction in egg production, it will be impossible to rear sufficient chicks to effect any increase in laying stock this year?

The answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question is "No," and to the second part that we will consider it.

asked the Minister of Food how many persons are acting as directors of departments in his Department who still retain their private trade interests; and whether he will take early steps to replace them by independent officials.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend circulated on 21st February, 1946. With regard to the second part, this is not a time when the country can afford to lose the services which these experts have rendered so ungrudgingly.

Is the hon. Lady aware of the grave concern felt by food manufacturers in this country at the retention of their trade competitors in official positions in the Ministry of Food?