asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied with the promised speed-up in the rate of release of the accountant trade and equipment trade; whether he will give an assurance that the release target aimed at for those in these trades will be reached by June; and how many men have been remustered into these trades from other trades since September, 1945.

asked the" Under secretary of State for Air what is the latest position with regard to the deferment of clerks accounting.

Equipment assistants are this month three groups behind the general level of release for most airmen, but the gap comes down to one group next month. The position is not so good for airmen in the accounting trades, who are five groups behind at present and will be six according to the latest forecast for May. This is most disappointing for all the men concerned; precisely because their work is essential to the general speed-up in release, they cannot at present share the advantage themselves. There is, however, absolutely no question of stopping their release or of going back on the May forecast. While we are doing our best to narrow the gap, we know that there are still difficult problems to overcome—for example, the introduction of the new pay code next July—and so I cannot give any promise at present. We are ready to train every suitable man for accounting duties, and since the beginning of last September up to the end of February the output, including recruits, has been over 3,500. We have also trained about 5,500 men and women as equipment assistants over the same period.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air when meteorological officers of age and service Group 27 will be released; and to what extent the release of meteorological officers scheduled for February and March has been cancelled.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what release group of meteorological officers does he anticipate will be reached by June next.

Junior meteorological officers of the Royal Air Force in Group 27 will be released in June; from Flight-Lieutenant upwards the release group for meteorological officers will be 25 in June. No release of meteorological officers for February and March has been cancelled. We were not able to confirm our advance promulgation at the time of our action promulgation, but I am able to do so now.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether applications for release under Class B are dealt with summarily by commanding officers; or whether each application is dealt with by his Department.

We deal with all applications for Class B release in the Air Ministry. Commanding officers have no power either to make or to refuse an offer of release in Class B.

It I bring to the hon. Gentleman's notice a case which has been dealt with summarily by a commanding officer, will he look further into the matter?

Yes, certainly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many R.A.F. medical officers are specialists, and on that account frozen from the operation of the Class A release scheme and what steps he is taking to replace these officers by civilian specialists who have no previous service in the Armed Forces.

There are 134 Royal Air Force medical officers filling specialist posts. So far, we have told those who would otherwise be due for release up to the end of May—74 in all—that we shall have to keep them on under the Military Necessity clause. The Central Medical War Committee is calling up specialists, for a period of 18 months, who have not yet served in the Armed Forces and who are over 30 years of age, and we trust that we shall receive a sufficient allocation of these new entrants tr. enable us to release as many as possible of our own specialists. We are also accepting volunteers aged 40 and over for a similar period of service.

Will the hon. Gentleman represent to the Central Medical War Committee that it is important that they should reach an early conclusion in this matter of replacing these specialists, as these men have been held frozen for a very long time?

We agree it is a case of real difficulty, and we shall put in a very strong plea for a good allocation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will reconsider the treatment for release purposes of R.A.F. personnel who have been serving in the G.D. branch and are transferred to the A. and S.D. branch on account of injuries sustained in flying accidents, and who consequently have the date of their release deferred by reason of the difference in treatment for release purposes between personnel of the same group in these two branches.

No, Sir. The rule to which the hon. Member refers has applied throughout the Royal Air Force ever since the beginning of the release scheme, and it would not be practicable—or indeed fair —to change it now.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that sometimes these transfers cause a delay of up to two months in the date of release of the individuals concerned; and that when they have made arrangements to take up a civilian job on their original expectation the result is not only disappointment, but actual damage to the individual concerned?

We try to avoid making these transfers at all near the date of release, but some such transfers are inevitable in order to even out the rate of release as between trades. That is the justification for -them. I quite agree that they result in disappointment, but I feel that it would be worse not to make them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when a reply can be expected to the letter of nth January, 1946, sent by the hon. Member for Louth, respecting 1775195 L.A.C. Plant, whose immediate release was requested because his father had a stroke and is unable to work on his farm; since application for the son's release is supported by a doctor's certificate, the W.A.E.C. and the N.F.U., if he will immediately release this man; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the efficiency of his Department in dealing with Members' letters.

As the hon. Member has been informed, we have been able to grant this airman an immediate 28 days' agricultural leave. So he is at work again on his farm. We are ready to consider full compassionate release, but the evidence submitted was insufficient. Delay has been due to the fact that the airman, although matters were explained to him, had not taken any steps to obtain additional evidence.

With regard to the second part of my Question, is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Press keep telling our constituents to write to us about their problems, and it makes Members look fools when they cannot get answers from Ministers in less than 11 weeks?

In this case the delay was due to the fact that the airman himself was a very long time in producing the additional evidence. It is a very difficult case. We cannot get the sponsoring departments to support Class B release, and on the evidence so far submitted there is no valid case for Class C release. I really cannot take responsibility for the delay in this case.

This is not the first question —

Delay in answering letters is being raised on the Adjournment shortly, and we cannot anticipate the Debate by questions now.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when a reply may be expected to a letter from the hon. Member for Shrewsbury, dated 22nd December, 1945, regarding 1350308 Corporal Craston, G. W. E.

This was a case of considerable complexity, since a new ruling which affected the matter had been introduced, But the hon. Member will now have received my letter of 7th March.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many R.A.F. hangars are now redundant; and how many of them have been passed over to the Board of Trade for disposal.

We have informed the Board of Trade that 387 hangars are no longer required by the Royal Air Force. The Board of Trade allocates the hangars to various Departments for storage.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I addressed a Question to the Board of Trade on this particular point, and that it has been handed over to the Ministry of Works? Can the hon. Gentleman say which Department is dealing with it?

My information is that the Board of Trade is the Department responsible for allocating.

Have these hangars actually been handed over?

Yes, it is analogous to our declaring surplus procedure. We have informed the Board of Trade that we do not want the hangars, and the Board of Trade is allocating them for storage purposes.

:. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I had a similar experience to that of my hon. Friend, and it took four months to get a very unsatisfactory reply?

That is the position. We cannot be responsible for the allocation, because I understand it is the Board of Trade which allocates. It certainly is not we.

Is not this another example of lack of co-ordination between Departments?

May I recommend the right hon. Gentleman to study the evidence given to the Procedure Committee by the acting Leader of the Opposition?

asked the Under secretary of State for Air if he will allow a. hay crop to be taken off those parts of R.A.F. airfields which cannot be cultivated owing to flying commitments.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air when it is pro posed to commence regular leave by overland route for men in the C.M.F. who have still some time to serve.

Fourteen days' home leave is granted to members of the Royal Air Force in the Central Mediterranean Forces who have completed 12 months of their overseas tour, provided they have at least six months more of the tour to serve.

asked the Under secretary of State for Air whether he will reconsider his decision to discharge temporary Air Ministry constables to enable R.A.F. personnel to take over their duties at R.A.F. stations and to suspend such discharges until the general man power shortage has materially eased.

The Air Ministry constabulary is a civilian police force, and precisely because of the general manpower shortage we are reducing as rapidly as possible the number of civilians working for the Royal Air Force. There is no question of establishing Service posts to take over the work of these constables.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will facilitate the early release of Oulton airfield, Norfolk, so that this extensive area can revert to food production.

We are using this airfield for storing aircraft, and I am afraid that we shall need it beyond this ploughing season, but we shall not need it permanently.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air if he will cause an inquiry to be held into the conditions at the camp at Deenethorpe, Upper Benefield, at which bad conditions are reported, with lavatories beyond description, cooking bad, the cookhouse intended for 600 made to serve well over 1,000, and training done on the perimeter regardless of weather conditions.

The station is at present about 30 per cent. above its usual strength, owing to its temporary use for the training of recruits. This will end in about two months time. Living and working conditions have sometimes been rather difficult during the bad weather. The standard of messing is said to be good. However, I am having further inquiries made.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air what persons, other than civilian or service police, have authority to question R.A.F. drivers as to their duties and destination.

No one else, except of course their superior officers or N.C.Os. acting in the course of their duties. If, however, my hon. Friend has in mind the questions apparently put to three R.A.F. drivers in Palace Yard last week by the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Squadron-Leader Sir G. Fox), I am delighted that the drivers answered these questions courteously, though they were no doubt quite unauthorised. For the drivers' answers should have satisfied the hon. and gallant Member that the cars were being used for the right and proper purpose of fetching Ministers from this House, although, as I said in the House on 5th December, we are hoping that this work willbe put on a civilian basis very soon now.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air what action is being taken to dispose of surplus stocks of coal at present lying on R.A.F. or U.S.A.A.F. stations which have closed or are closing down; and if arrangements will be made for these stocks to be sold to augment supplies for civilian needs in the vicinity.

Surplus stocks of coal at R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. stations are, in the first instance, redistributed to other R.A.F. stations within a fifty mile radius. Normal deliveries to the latter stations are then cancelled. Any remaining surplus is then reported to the regional officer of the Ministry of Fuel and Power for disposal.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air, what action is being taken against the senior R.A.F. officer or officers implicated in book-keeping irregularities and extensive black market transactions at the Control Commission clubs at Detmold and Vinsebeck, which have recently been under investigation by the public safety branch of the Control Commission's Internal Affairs and Communications Division.

An inter-Service court of inquiry has been convened, and at present I can only say that certain members of the Royal Air Force have been relieved of their association with these clubs.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is aware of the damage caused to British prestige among German civilians at Detmold and Vinsebeck by the extensive black market transactions engaged in by senior British officers at the Control Commission clubs; and if he will give an assurance that attempts by such officers to impede full investigation of this matter by officials of the Public Safety Branch of the Control Commission's Internal Affairs and Communications Division have been, and will be, resisted.

An inter-Service Court of Inquiry is now investigating these alleged irregularities. I am informed that investigation by the Public Safety Branch has not been impeded, and any attempt to do so would, of course, be resisted.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there have been attempts to do so, because the people concerned, as in the R.A.F. Regent's Park case. took care to implicate a number of senior officers— quite innocently, in the first instance— by giving them small presents of coffee and so on, and will he look into that?

As I have said, my information to date is that there have been no attempts at intimidating or impeding the Public Safety Branch, but the whole question is now under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Poles, how many Germans expelled from Poland and how many non-German displaced persons, respectively, there are in the British zone in Germany.

There are some 326,000 Polish displaced persons in the British zone of Germany. The movement of German nationals from Poland to the British zone has only just commenced; the only figure available is that some 4,300 have arrived in Schleswig Holstein. In addition to the Polish displaced persons there are approximately 119,000 other non-German displaced persons in the British zone.

In view of the serious food situation in our zone in Germany, will the hon. Gentleman say what progress is being made to restore those displaced persons to their homeland, and also whether the expulsion of Germans from Poland can temporarily be suspended?

The progress has been very considerable. I have not figures available, but considerably over 1,500,000 have been repatriated already, and the progress, of course, must slow down as we are coming to what is regarded as the hard core. In regard to the second part of the supplementary question, I think the answer has been given already in reply to an hon. Member on the other side.

In reference to my hon. Friend's remark that these expulsions are continuing, may I ask if he has read the outrageous reports of what is going on? Will he make representations in the proper quarters to see that the expulsions are carried out humanely, or else stopped?

I have no knowledge of the outrages to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but I can give him the fullest assurance that the conditions under which these expulsions are carried out, and the reception so far as the British zone in Germany is concerned, are being rigidly adhered to.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many of the Poles had been repatriated to Poland?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he intends to suspend all further immigration into the British zone in Germany.

Organised transfers of population to and from the British zone depend in general on terms agreed by the four occupying Powers. The present intake from Poland is governed by a later arrangement, the modification or suspension of which would have to be agreed between the Governments concerned.

In view of the fact that it is not possible adequately to feed the existing population of the zone, is the Chancellor taking steps to obtain the necessary consent to a suspension of this immigration?

The provisioning of the British zone is obviously a very difficult question, raising quite a number of problems. I can assure the hon. Member that all these considerations are being very closely and urgently examined. The proposal that he has submitted is, of course, among the questions which will be considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if it is proposed to form a Scottish airways division of the projected British-European Airways Corporation; and, if so, will the operational management of Scottish air services be left entirely in the hands of Scotsmen resident in Scotland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is proposed to establish, in Scotland, a purely Scottish organisation to administer air services, aircraft construction and the international airport, with freedom to make airline agreements with other countries.

With permission, I will answer Question No. 21 and Question No. 24 together.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I must withhold my permission. My Question is fundamentally and very substantially different from Question No. 21.

There will be a Scottish division of British European Airways which, as part of that corporation, will be responsible for the administration of air services within and radiating from Scotland, and there will be a Scottish Advisory Committee to advise the corporation. There will also be a Scottish regional headquarters to administer all transport aerodromes in Scotland, including the international airport. The making of agreements with other countries for all services will remain in the hands of the Government. Questions on aircraft construction should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and Aircraft Production.

Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that this will not lead to Scotsmen being displaced from principal managerial posts elsewhere?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is the first satisfactory answer we have had on Scottish aviation since the Government came into power?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware that the air service between Belfast and Prestwick is now operating twice daily and carrying 450 passengers a week; that an additional allocation of petrol would enable it to operate five times daily and reduce fares below third class fares by rail and boat between Glasgow and Belfast; and if he will consider a further allocation of petrol for this purpose.

.I am aware of the present operating capacity of this air service. I am unable to support an application for an increased allocation of petrol, but arrangements are being made to augment the direct Glasgow-Belfast air service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is now able to make a statement as to whether foreign operators were refused permission to land at Prestwick.

Yes, Sir. No foreign operator has been refused permission to land at Prestwick.

On a point of Order, Mr.Speaker. Perhaps you, Sir, misheard me when I withheld my permission from the hon. Gentleman with regard to Question No. 24.

The hon. and gallant Member said it was the only satisfactory answer he had received.

That was merely an interim commendation.

The hon. and gallant Member will perhaps put his question down again if he is not satisfied, and we" will consider the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to what degree air traffic to this country is likely to be affected by the decision to make Rineanna, in Eire, a free airport; and whether there is any proposal to establish a similar free airport in this country.

The airport at Rineanna is used in the main as a refuelling point for aircraft in transit and is thus in a substantially different position from international airports situated in this country. The Customs regulations in force here are designed to reduce to a minimum formalities in respect of through traffic, and I am satisfied that air traffic to this country will not be adversely affected by the decision to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. The answer to the latter part of the Question is in the negative.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the Americans have adopted Rineanna as a terminal point, whereas he referred to it as a refuelling point?

No, Sir. Rineanna would not generate or receive much traffic on its own account. It just happens to be the nearest airport to the United States.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is intended to insist on the use of Henderson crash proof fuel tanks in civil aircraft, the design of which is subject to the approval of his Ministry.

No, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether air editions of news papers in bulk enjoy any priority over mails for the Forces.

No, Sir. Mails for His Majesty's Forces are accorded priority over air editions of newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the arrangements for ceasing to collect war damage contributions are the same in the Colonies as in the United Kingdom.

The only Colony in which war damage contributions are now payable is Malta. Under the Malta War Damage Ordinance, 1943, contributions are payable by 10 half-yearly instalments, the first of which became due in 1943, the last becoming due in 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the price of Malayan and Nigerian tin is now only £300 per ton as against £422 per ton for South African tin, £350 per ton for Belgian Congo tin and £345 per ton for Bolivian tin; what is the justification for this difference in price; and whether he will initiate early discussions with a view to obtaining a uniform and satisfactory world price for this commodity in view of its importance to the British Colonial Empire.

The price of tin in Malaya was fixed after consultation with expert opinion on the spot. No price has yet been settled for current supplies of Nigerian tin. In regard to the future of tin prices generally, I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. I would add that according to my information the figures quoted by the hon. Member in respect of other territories are not on a comparable basis with those quoted for Malaya and Nigeria.

Would the hon. Gentleman consult with the tin producers, so as. to get a price which is in some way related to the conditions, in view of the damage done to the Malayan tin mines, and will the Government see to it that they do not deliberately throw away a valuable source of dollar exchange?

That matter will be noted, of course, in the discussions now going on.

Will the hon. Gentleman make clear to the House who fixes these prices? Is it the international tin cartel or His Majesty's Government?

Obviously, these prices are determined by the Government in consultation with expert opinion on the spot.

What does the hon. Gentleman mean by expert opinion?

Various interests and administrative people who are responsible for the territory.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider making it compulsory for manufacturers of carbonated drinks to display their names on the bottles at present bearing only the label of S.D.I.

:In fairness to those soft drinks manufacturers whose factories have been closed as a result of the concentration of this industry, operating firms must continue to sell their products under anonymous labels as prescribed by the Soft Drinks Order.

Does not the hon. Lady agree that this single label principle does now lead to dishonest manufacturers getting away with a lot of shortcomings?

No, I do not, because the label bears the approved code marks which are recognised; and, therefore, we can identify the manufacturer.

asked the Minister of Food what is the total amount of each variety of food used in 1945 by the brewery and distillery industries; and whether it is his intention to utilise any of this supply to meet the present food shortage.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 21st February to the hon. Member for West-houghton (Mr. Rhys Davies) and on 6th March to the hon. Members for Altrincham (Colonel Erroll) and for Clapham (Mr. Battley) of which I am sending him copies.

Is the hon. Lady aware that there is widespread apprehension over the existence of the waste of this food, particularly in view of the starvation throughout the world, and will she consider allocating some of it to some useful purpose?

When the hon. Member has read the answers to which I have referred him, he will find we are no longer allocating grain to distillers and, therefore, the production of whisky has ceased for the time being. [Hon. Members: "Shame "] We are reviewing the position of the brewers.

asked the Minister of Food what staple foodstuffs can now be imported at a landed cost substantially below the price now being paid by his Department for comparable home grown produce.

The staple foodstuffs which can now be imported at a landed costsubstantially below the price now being paid for comparable home grown produce are shell eggs, meat, bacon and sugar.

asked the Minister of Food whether every practical means will be adopted to ship the rice stocks in Siam to meet the urgent needs of India; and if he will give an assurance that no rice from Siam shall be despatched East ward untilthe demands of India are satisfied.

Rice is subject to allocation by the Combined Food Board, and, accordingly, all supplies which can be made available for export from Siam are placed at the disposal of the Board for allocation, according to need, amongst the various claimants, of which one is India. It is not possible, therefore, to give the assurance desired by the hon. Member, since it will be necessary for the Board, having regard to the overall supply position, to allocate some part of the rice available for export from Siam, to countries other than India, e.g., Hong Kong, Malaya, British Borneo and China, all of which are claimants upon world supplies. The rice requirements of India have, however, been submitted to the Combined Food Board and have the full support of His Majesty's Government.

Is the Minister aware that owing to the hold-up in the decision the total amount of rice which will become available will be much less because buyers are being held up at the export ports and are not able to get up country to buy rice?

We are aware that there is a big deficit, and I can assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend is trying to expedite matters.

Will the Minister take urgent steps for the procurement of this rice, which is held up in Siam because of the lack of confidence in the currency, and because of prejudice against disgorging this rice pending reparations?

We are aware of that, and we are doing everything possible to encourage merchants to disgorge their rice.

asked the Minister of Food if he will take steps to alleviate the points position in Aberdeen and on the North-East coast of Scotland during the winter, at least regarding vitamin supplying syrups needed by all, but especially by children; and secure that a greater quantity be made available in the shops of that area.

The North-Eastern Food Division of Scotland is receiving its appropriate share of all points rationed foods, including syrup. My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot make special supplies available for this area only.

Does the hon. Lady realise that fresh green vegetables which produce vitamin "C" have a short season in the North-East, and will she bear that in mind in making allocations to the North-East?

I was assuming that the hon. Member's Question referred to syrup.

asked the Minister of Food (1) whether he is aware of the hardship caused to retail grocers by the delay of 10 to 12 weeks in his Department in considering PCL 7 applications; and whether he will take steps to reduce this delay;

(2) whether he is aware that the public is being deprived of foodstuffs owing to the delay by his Department in considering the applications of retail grocers for a review of their points capital position; and whether he will accelerate the consideration of these applications so that sufficient goods may be available for the public in retail grocers' shops.

My right hon. Friend is aware that owing to the number of applications received in the latter part of 1945 some delay occurred in reviewing under the P.C.L. 7 procedure the points capital of the applicants. That delay has now been reduced to the minimum required for the work involved. The public has not suffered from shortages of points foods on account of the delay.

the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the demands which will be made on the supplies of foodstuffs in holiday resorts in the coming season by visitors; and what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate supplies of both rationed and unrationed food will be available for bona fide residents in holiday resorts during the coming holiday season.

As the reply is rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

asked the Minister of Food how many applications for release on the grounds of ownership of one-man businesses have been recommended by the Manchester divisional food office; and how many refused from the inception of the scheme to 28th February.

Out of 260 applications, 40 have been recommended for release under Class B. A substantial proportion of the balance obtained release on compassionate grounds under Class C arrangements

Does the hon. Lady really think that that is a satisfactory proportion? Can she say if the recent change in personnel in Manchester means that there will be a little more sympathetic consideration given to these cases?

I would remind the hon. Member that we cannot release men on compassionate grounds. That is a matter for the Services. All one-man businesses do not necessarily indicate that the one man concerned must come out on industrial grounds

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the confusion felt in Australia on account of the conflicting announcements of his Department regarding the need for additional food supplies from Australia; and if he will make a clear statement indicating the needs of this country and the machinery agreed between his Department and the Australian Government for the collection and despatch of food supplies from Australia.

As the reply is rather lengthy I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

Could the hon. Lady now, so as to relieve anxieties, indicate that really effective steps are taken so that people may make their gifts and be assured that they reach this country?

I can assure the hon. Member that we are in the closest touch with the Australian representatives in this country. I have given this long statement because he asked for a clear statement, and I thought he would like to have the details. I think he will be satisfied that we are in touch with Australia, and that Australia is satisfied with the contact.

Is it not a fact that the Combined Food Board allocates all the food and that, therefore, no matter how generous the Australians are—and they are wonderfully generous—we get no additional food?

The hon. Member has overlooked the fact that the Combined Food Board is not a supernational State. It can allocate food but it cannot direct food. It may allocate an amount of food, but if that food is not there to purchase, we cannot purchase it. If the Australians happened to have a surplus amount they would be in a position to give us the food to purchase which has been allocated.

May- we thank them for their wonderful generosity?

asked the Minister of Food why he refused to allow the Northern Agricultural and Lime Company, "Limited, Aberdeen, to extend their manufacture of oat flakes, at present amounting weekly to 60 tons of human food, 30 tons of animal food and by- products, whereby the food supply of the country would be increased and additional employment would be given to from 15 to 20 people; and if he will re consider this matter and see that this project is encouraged.

The existing productive capacity is more than sufficient to meet the demand for oat flakes, and there is accordingly no occasion to increase manufacturing capacity at the expense of labour and building material required for more urgent purposes. Such additional employment as might be created, if permission were granted to this undertaking to extend its plant, would be counterbalanced by reduced employment elsewhere in the industry.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has completed his inquiries into the system of priority permits for milk; and, in view of the possibility that these permits may be misused, what steps he proposes to take to obviate their misuse.

The statistical inquiry has now been completed. My right hon. Friend is seeking the advice of his medical advisers on certain aspects, but there does not appear at first sight to be any serious or widespread abuse of the arrangements so far as the issue of permits is concerned.

asked the Minister of Food on what grounds Mr. R. Foreman, of 79, Station Road, Whitstable, was refused a licence to open a shop for the sale of fresh fish, seeing that suitable premises were available and that Mr. Foreman's supply would be caught by his own vessel; and whether, with the cessation of fish zoning, he will, in the interests of greater food production, reconsider this application.

Mr. Foreman's application was refused on the grounds that there were already sufficient fish shops in Whitstable. As, however, the refusal was given in March, 1945, I am arranging for Mr. Foreman's application to be reconsidered by the Food Control Committee, and I will notify the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Minister of Food whether there will be any allocations of imported Canary tomatoes to Scotland.

Canary tomatoes will be allocated to Scotland, provided their condition on arrival permits of their being carried by rail for long distances without excessive waste.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Eireann producers are eager to export more foodstuffs to Britain, but that the prices offered are inconsistent with the costs of production; and if he will open negotiations with the Government of Eire for the purposes of settling price rates and relieving the food situation at home.

As my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the prices offered to Eire producers are sufficient to encourage exports to Britain, he sees no reason to open special negotiations.

Can the hon. Lady assure us that no political prejudice now stands in the way?

I can give the hon. Member that assurance

Is it not a fact that the production of foodstuffs in Eire has been considerably reduced in the last three years as a result of the consistent policy of the Government in refusing—

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Eire is the second biggest exporter of foodstuffs to Britain; and if he will consider the mutual advantage that would come from the issuing of more licences to the exporters of British agricultural machinery, feeding stuffs and fertilisers to Eire.

Although Eire is not the second biggest exporter of foodstuffs to Britain, as my hon. Friend suggests, we are anxious to give every encouragement to her exports. So far as concerns agricultural machinery and fertilisers, all the supplies possible are being provided for her out of the limited quantities available, but regard must be paid to other needs, particularly those of United Kingdom agriculture, and to our obligations under Combined Food Board arrangements. As regards feeding stuffs, exports from the United Kingdom are not at present possible.

asked the Minister of Food what decision has now been reached by the Government in regard to reducing Service rations so that the rations of men engaged in the heavy industries may be increased.

The question of reductions in the home Service rations is still under consideration.

During that consideration, will the hon. Lady bear in mind that the people of this country do not understand how it is that a young girl typing a few hours in the A.T.S. should have more food than a miner or a skilled worker?

I am fully sympathetic with the hon. and gallant Member's point of view.

asked the Minister of Food if he intends reverting to the prewar arrangements regarding the marketing of fruit for jam-making, or to renew pre-emptions for the coming year to selected merchants.

Arrangements are being made again this year for the pre-emption of soft fruits for jam-making, on similar lines to those of last year.

Will the hon. Lady say whether the merchants concerned are the same as last year?

Yes, Sir, the same licensed merchants will handle the business.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, how many applications by officers and men of the Forces have been made for the importation of wine under duty purchased by or gifted to them; and how many such applications have been refused and for what quantities.

I regret that records arc not kept in a form which would enable me to give the hon. and gallant Member the information for which he asks. In general, however, licences have not been issued in such cases.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary, in view of the general satisfaction this would give to these men and their families, say what motive prompts the Government to refuse these licences?

Licences are issued, or are not issued, according to the advice of the Ministry of Food, whose policy is based on a fair share for every one, and the feeling that it would be destructive to that principle if privileged people were allowed to import into this country quantities of wines and spirits greater than those which are normally available here.

When the Minister talks about privileged persons, does he not agree that it is a small recompense by way of privilege for what these men have done for the country?

I cannot agree that the way to award people for their services to this country is to enable them to import wines and spirits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many glove-cutter apprentices are employed in the factories on the Pontypridd estate;

(2) whether it is in accordance with the policy of His Majesty's Government that glove factories on the Pontypridd estate are sending skins to other areas to be cut, to the detriment of the older-established centres of gloving.

One glove manufacturer on the Treforest Estate, to whom the hon. and gallant Member presumably refers, has employed since his establishment shortly before the war a small amount of cutting labour in other areas. The firm is training a number of local apprentices to do this work, but it is a skilled operation requiring considerable experience, and, while local labour is being trained, it is necessary to have the assistance of a few skilled workers from other areas in order to provide full employment for the labour engaged on other operations.

Is the Minister aware that the old established glove firms are so short of skins that they are unable to start production, and does he not consider that there has been a misallocation of skins?

No, Sir, the fact is that the allocation to this particular firm is on the same basis as for the rest of the industry, but, since their labour forces were better maintained during the war than in glove firms generally, they were able to do a fair amount of Government work. We have maintained their allocation at the wartime levels to avoid unemployment. We have emphasised to this firm that we expect them only to employ Welsh labour, but there is always. a certain amount of out-work in the glove industry and we have no legal means to prevent them from doing so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that, in connection with any arrangements made under the auspices of his Department for buying furniture from European countries, such furniture will not come from forced labour in concentration camps.

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of logs have been supplied to this country from the German State forests since the armistice; whether he is aware of the necessities of an adequate timber supply for our housing programme; and if he will take steps to expedite imports of timber through the Army authorities on the Rhine.

One thousand, two hundred and ninety-three tons have so far arrived from Germany in addition to 6,300 tons of sawn timber, but I am unable to say whether they were derived originally from the State forests. In view c-f the need for timber in this country, a strong organisation for timber production has now been created as part of the Control Commission in the British zone and supplies will be developed as rapidly as production and transport conditions allow.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Forestry Commission sent to Germany commenced operations; and if he will state the quantities of timber exported to this country since these operations commenced.

Timber production was started in Germany in the early days of the Allied occupation mainly to provide for the needs of the forces of occupation and of the coal mines. The first part of the enlarged organisation left this country at the end of February. The answer to the second part of the Question is 7,500 tons.

Can the Minister give an assurance that German forests will not be permanently destroyed by the present exploitation?

There is certainly no desire on our part to exploit German forests to the point of annihilation, but we have to meet our essential requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that every order prohibiting the carrying on at any premises in the United Kingdom of any trade or business, made by him under the powers conferred on him by Defence Regulation 55A, as continued and amended by S.R. & O., 1945, No. 1618, by virtue of the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945, will be laid before Parliament.

The laying of Orders under Defence Regulations is not a matter for Ministerial assurance, but of statutory requirement. Under Section 4 of the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945, every Order made under a Defence Regulation which is of the nature of a Public Act is required to be laid before Parliament, and is subject to negative resolution. Defence Regulation 55A empowers Orders to be made prohibiting the carrying on at any premises in the United Kingdom, or in any area in the United Kingdom, of a trade or business of a class specified in the Order which was not being carried on during a specified period. It does not empower the Board of Trade to make an Order prohibiting a named firm from starting business. All Orders made under the regulation have been of the nature of Public Acts, and I cannot conceive of an Order being made which would not be of that nature.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a large surplus of textile manufacturing capacity available in Northern Italy; and whether he will consider making arrangements for the supply of raw materials on the basis that the major proportion of the manufactured goods would then be available for disposal in this country or elsewhere in the sterling or dollar areas.