asked the Minister of Labour whether he will instruct his local officials to make a full explanation to ex-Servicemen of the , delays in securing facilities under the Government training schemes and to find suitable employment for applicants for such training until vacancies occur.

Instructions to this effect have already been issued and are in operation.

asked the Minister of Labour (I) whether he is aware that training facilities for ex-Servicemen are falling far behind the needs; and what steps he is taking to enlarge these facilities to meet the demand;

(2) what are the facilities available under Government training schemes for ex-Servicemen; and how big is the waiting list for these facilities.

The training facilities available at Government training centres, of which there are at present 38, and at technical colleges, are adequate for some 9,800 men. Training with employers is also provided where appropriate arrangements can be made. I regret that it has been impossible to expand these facilities at a rate commensurate with the increasing demands for training, resulting from rapid demobilisation, and on 9th March there were 14,623 ex-Service men on the waiting list. These facilities are being expanded as quickly as possible, and in the last two months 10 new training centres have been opened,' and the number of training places available has been increased by over 2,300. The rate of expansion is being rapidly increased as new centres come into operation.

Is it not a fact that the Government's training plans for ex-Service men are failing lamentably owing to the lack of facilities, and will the right hon. Gentleman expand these facilities considerably to meet actual needs?

I cannot agree that the scheme is failing lamentably. I will admit that it is not coming up to pitch as quickly as we hoped, but our problem is to obtain appropriate premises, and that is rapidly being overcome.

Is it not a fact that there is a great number of building trade operatives wishing for training of this kind, but that there is no technical equipment in the various schools?

I could not accept that without looking into the matter. Our main problem is accommodation, and I am not aware of any shortage of equipment.

Is the Minister aware that, according to his figures, the average number at training centres is 250? Will he give an indication how many will be able to attend later on?

I am afraid that I could not give the hon. and gallant Member the average figure, but I will get it for him. What we are aiming at is to pass about 50,000 people through these centres each year. Individual centres will vary in number from more than 500 down to 60.

In view of the fact that it is unfair to keep men waiting indefinitely for training, cannot the Minister say when he will be able to absorb the 14,000 already on the waiting list?

No, Sir, not definitely. We hope to build up these places by the end of the year. These men are not unemployed. A vast number of them have been found other employment by the Ministry, and they are brought out of that employment" as soon as we have training facilities for them.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed, both male and female, to date in the village of Cockfield, County Durham, and the urban and rural districts of Barnard Castle.

The available figures relate to the numbers registered at particular employment exchanges at nth February, 1946. The number of unemployed insured persons suitable for ordinary employment on the registers of the Cockfield and Barnard Castle Employment Exchanges was as follows:

In view of the past black history of this part of County Durham and the figures given by the Minister, will the right hon. Gentleman indicate what the Government propose to do to stop a repetition?

It is not what the Government propose to do, it is what the Government are, in fact, doing, that is, inducing industry to go to these areas where there is unemployed labour.

:asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the working of the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act, 1944; how many persons discharged from the Forces have been reinstated in their former employment; in how many cases were disputes heard and determined by tribunals set up under that Act; and in how many were there appeals, and with what result.

The Act is working smoothly with the goodwill of employers and workers. I am not able to say how many persons released from the Forces have been reinstated by former employers, because, unless a dispute arises, reinstatement is a matter between the two parties. At the end of January, 1946, the Act had been in operation for 18 months, and during that period reinstatement committees decided 725 cases in dispute, of which 431 were decided in favour of the applicant. By that time the umpire had decided 49 appeals made under the Act, 22 of which were allowed. Other appeals were pending. In future, a statement will be published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" each quarter, which will include details of the orders made by committees and the result of appeals to the umpire.

Will the Minister consider enlarging the scope of this beneficial legislation by extending the time set out in Section 2, Subsection (2), which limits the period during which a person may apply to his former employer for reinstatement, and thereby rope in a much larger number of persons?

Without acquainting myself with Subsection (2), I should not like to answer that question.

:asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled persons who have been on the unemployment register at Gravesend and throughout the country, respectively, for more than six months.

At 18th February there were 27 disabled person registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act who had been on the unemployment registers at Gravesend Employment Exchange for over six months. For Great Britain, the total was 13,497. These figures include severely disabled persons who need employment under sheltered conditions.

In view of the figures which the Minister has given, is he satisfied that the machinery for reintegrating these people into industry is working satisfactorily?

The hon. Member asked me what happened on 18th February. I trust that he is aware that the quota scheme only came into operation on 1st March.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the qualifications for eligibility for a resettlement grant are that an ex-Serviceman is disabled or, if not, re-starting his prewar business; that a condition for the first category is that a disablement pension has been granted; and if, in view of the hardships created in the case of disabled men whose claim to pension has been rejected, he will reconsider the matter with a view to enlarging the field for such grants.

Although, to be eligible for assistance under the Resettlement Grants scheme, an applicant who is not a "re-starter" must have a disability attributable to his service in the recent war, he need not actually be in receipt of a pension. He is eligible under the scheme provided that his disability is of a kind which would entitle him to a pension if the disablement were of a sufficient degree. I regret that I am unable to accept my hon. Friend's suggestion as to enlarging the field for resettlement grants.

In view of the fact that the Minister's statement shows that there is a much more humane standard of assessment for disablement exercised by his Ministry than by the Ministry of Pensions, will be recommend that standard to his colleague?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will address that question to the right quarter.

:asked the Minister of Labour whether he can assure the House that any workers brought from the Continent to take up employment in hotels, restaurants, etc., will not be used to undercut rates and conditions of employment of British workers.

Yes, Sir. The safeguarding of rates and conditions of British workers has always been an essential part of the policy regulating the admission of any aliens for employment.

:asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of registered unemployed catering workers at the Denmark Street Employment Exchange, each month, as from 1st January, 1946; and how many of these have been found employment through the Denmark Street Employment Exchange.

The numbers of unemployed catering workers registered at the Denmark Street Employment Exchange were:

In view of the unemployment existing in the catering industry, does the Minister consider it desirable to bring in people from the Continent when there are many British workers willing to do these jobs?

That is a question of policy which is being looked into.

Will the Minister consider publishing these figures? If he would do so, it would save an awful lot of Questions.

They will be published in Hansard.

:asked the Minister of Labour how many males and females were unemployed at Congleton at the latest convenient date.

At 11th February, 1946, the numbers of unemployed insured persons on the registers of Congleton Employment Exchange were 143 males and 20 females.

Is the Minister aware that the figures of unemployment in this town are steadily increasing, and will he make representations to the President of the Board of Trade for the scheduling of this area?

I will look into that.

:asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-officers are on the waiting list of the Appointments Board.

On 11th March, 1946, 10,023 men and women ex-officers, of whom 764 were ex-Merchant Navy officers, were registered as unemployed at the offices of the Appointments Department.

Does not the Minister agree that this is a staggering figure? I appreciate the difficulty, and will he take particular note of the officers who fought in both wars, many of whom are now in their late fifties, and who are out of work, and will he do what he can to get them work either in the Colonial Office or some other Government Department?

I think that the House have every right to be concerned about these men, especially those who have come to the end of their career in the Services, and who have had no previous experience in industry. There are great difficulties about placing these men. We are getting good results from the employers, who are doing what they can to provide jobs for them. But many of these jobs are connected with wholesale distribution and management, and until firms can get more production going— [HON. MEMBERS:" Hear, hear."] — they cannot place them. Therefore, with the warm encouragement of hon. Gentlemen opposite, we shall do our best to improve production.

Can the Minister say what is the average salary asked for by these people when before the Appointments Board?

That is one of theproblems. I would not like to give an average. Some of these ex-officers have the most extravagant ideas, such as wanting £ 1,500 a year, while others are prepared to take a reasonable salary. It is those who are asking the most who are the most difficult to place.

They ought to become Members of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Labour up to which age and service groups are Servicemen previously employed in agriculture and the building industry and eligible for Class B release being offered such release.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 12th March, to the hon Member for Hertford (Mr. Walker-Smith), as regards building trade operatives, and to my replies to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 7th and 12th March, as regards agricultural workers.

Is the Minister satisfied, in view of the urgent need for workers in these two industries, that the group numbers are high enough?

They are just as high as we happen to want them. If we do not get enough from a certain group we go higher until we get that number.

:asked the Minister of Labour in which trades in the building industry Class B release is still being offered under the block release system.

Release in Class B is still being offered to men in the Army in the following main building occupations: bricklayer, slater and tiler, plasterer, roofing felt fitter, painter, plumber, concretor and scaffolder. Offers are being made to both craftsmen and their labourers in these occupations.

Is the Minister aware that, when these individuals go back and rejoin their firms, if these firms are not employed by local authorities, they are out of work?

I can only address my answer to the Question on the Order Paper.

Are not carpenters allowed to come out under this Class?

Yes, Sir, except that for the moment there is a superfluity of carpenters. [Hon. Members: "Oh."] Perhaps hon. Members will await the rest of my reply. We have on our books carpenters employed in several industries, who have expressed their willingness and readiness to go back to the building industry, when the different localities require them. At the moment we are concentrating on bringing out men where there is a real shortage.

asked the Minister of Labour up to which age-plus-service groups Class B release under the block release system has been offered in each of the trades in the building industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to the hon. Member for Hertford (Mr. Walker-Smith) on 12th March.

Will the Minister consult with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in order to see that this information reaches the various units, so that the disappointment which exists among those not offered release under the block release system may be dissipated?

I cannot say that I know exactly what measures are taken by the other Ministry, but I will consult my right hon. Friend and see if it is possible to improve on what they are doing.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will expedite the demobilisation of those serving in His Majesty's forces, where release has been specially asked for, in the interests of food production and industry.

Releases from the Forces under the Class B scheme, which are designed to meet the point the hon. Member has in mind, are being made as quickly as possible.

Will the Minister explain why, in the case of a man who has worked on the land before joining His Majesty's Forces and whose release has been asked for to enable him to return to agricultural work, a certificate is required from the Minister of Agriculture notwithstanding the fact that his former employer or another farmer has asked for his release as a necessity? I think that is very wrong.

The real difficulty is that many of these men are scattered so far across the face of the globe that it takes a long time to make contact with them and get them back.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of men and women released from the Forces in February, 1946.

Yes, Sir. I will, with permission, circulate a full statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The releases reported during February amounted to 363,930. The total number of men and women released and discharged from 18th June, 1945, to the end of February was 2,316,440.

Does the Minister realise that this will cause some disappointment, because he is about 25,000 below his target figure? Can he say whether he will be able to overtake that 25,000 during March?

All I can say is that we are working on the law of averages. We hope that we shall be able during March to bring that average nearer to the original figures.

Can the Minister say what will happen during April and May? Does he expect to retain the same average?

asked the Minister of Labour what further men it is his intention to call up from the occupations ancillary to agriculture before the end of this year.

It is proposed to continue to call up young men from forestry, horticulture, and the subsidiary agricultural occupations soon after they reach 18 years of age. It is expected that as a result 5,000 men will join the Armed Forces in 1946.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the effect on food production by calling up men from these ancillary occupations, who in many cases are as vital as those engaged in agriculture?

Great care will be taken in calling up these men, and everything possible will be done to avoid taking away men who will ensure production of food.

How many of these men will come from horticulture?

I could not say what the allocation will be, but. If the hon. Member puts down a Question on the subject, I will endeavour to obtain the information.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that horticulture is as important as agriculture?

That is a matter of opinion and not a question.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an assurance that students, training for the teaching profession, will be allowed to complete such training without interference by call up for National Service.

Yes, Sir. Students under the age of 18 who entered teachers' training colleges are deferred until the end of their two-year course. As regards the arrangements to be made for the next academic year, I am in consultation with my hon. Friend the Minister of Education.

Is anything being done for these people who cannot get into these training colleges, and will they be called up while they are still waiting to go to them?

This is a matter which is much too involved to deal with by Question and answer. The general idea is that we shall fill up all the places that the universities have available, and take those for whom there is no accommodation into the Forces and let them do their term of service. We are trying to ensure, and we shall insist so far as possible, that priority shall be given to the men who have served many years in the Forces.

:asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that instances occur where there are delays of over six months between the medical examination of young men of 18 years of age for the Services and the date of their calling-up; and whether, in view of the fact that this period of waiting increases the time of interruption in the young man's civilian training, he will take steps to obviate this.

I an aware that very exceptionally there is a substantial delay in calling up young men. In most cases this is due to a reduction in the number of vacancies in a particular Service trade. If it is intimated that anyone desires early call-up, he is called up immediately.

:asked the Secretary, of State for Scotland when he proposes to introduce legislation to give shopkeepers who have been dispossessed owing to the sale of their premises the same rights to compensation as those afforded to English traders under the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1927.

I am advised that in a great majority of cases the sale of property which is the subject of a lease leaves the conditions of the lease unimpaired, and that the Act to which the hon. Member refers does not provide for the payment of compensation merely on the ground that the lease has been brought to an end. So far as I am aware, there is no widespread demand for the extension to Scotland of the principles of the Act, and I cannot hold out any prospect of legislation on this subject in the immediate future.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why there should be this unfair discrimination against Scottish shopkeepers compared with the English?

I do not admit there is any unfairness and discrimination.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the English Bill was before the House we were also promised a Scottish Bill in this connection, and is he aware that at the present time in my division in Dennistoun there is a ramp in which shopkeepers are being displaced?

:asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the East Fife W.A.E.C. estimate that there will be a shortage of 3,500 or more potato gatherers in their area during the coming autumn; that this is causing hesitation on the part of farmers in planting increased potato acreages; what action he is taking to meet the deficiency; and when an announcement of his plans will be made.

I am aware of the estimates provided by the Agricultural Executive Committee to the Fife Education Committee and hope to be in a position shortly to furnish the Agricultural Committee with satisfactory details as to the labour which will be available for the potato harvest.

At the same time, I should like to take this opportunity of giving to farmers in Scotland a general assurance on labour supplies for the grain and potato harvests. While I am not yet in a position to give precise details of the numbers of seasonal workers who will be available from different sources, there has been a most satisfactory response from education authorities to my appeal with regard to the employment of school children, and there is no doubt that prisoners of war and other labour will be forthcoming in adequate numbers to make good any deficiency in the labour force as compared with last year.

In addition to his proposals, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that the farmers concerned are in fact reassured, because at the moment they are not reassured and so are hesitating to carry out the Government's requests?

I am perfectly sure that if the hon. Gentleman reads the answer I have given when it appears in Hansard tomorrow he will find that I have given the reassurance for which he asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many 65-feet motor fishing vessels the Herring Industry Board contemplate building; howmany tenders have been accepted; and where the vessels are to be built.

At the present time the Herring Industry Board have power to build vessels only for experimental purposes. The Board inform me that they are having two 65-foot motor fishing vessels built for this purpose and that an order has been placed for them with a firm at Granton.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his intention to submit to the Ship Building Committee set up by the Admiralty proposals for the building of a number of Admiralty vessels suitable for the fishing industry, to be used in the first instance either by the Admiralty or by fishermen on a system of charter; and if he will consult the fishing industry before making such representations.

No, Sir.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that in the recent Debate on the Admiralty Estimates a representative of the Government at the conclusion of the Debate said it was open to the Scottish Office to make such representations as I am here making, and why does he turn down that suggestion?

I suggest that if there is anything further in connection with this that my hon. Friend wants to know, his question ought to be put to the First Lord of the Admiralty. I would point out that all the facilities available for the building of motor fishing vessels are fully engaged on such building.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a matter which concerns future building, and as he is responsible for a fishing industry in Scotland and for fishing vessels, why does he decline to act upon his responsibilities and take an interest in this very important matter?

I certainly take an interest in everything pertaining to fishing and to those who live and are employed in Scotland. There is no use putting forward further proposals at the present moment because, as I have pointed out, all the slipways are full.

:asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will suspend the notice to terminate the services of the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps, in the meanwhile in view of the shortage of manpower and the fact that the regular police force and police auxiliaries are working overtime.

As police authorities are at liberty, subject to conditions which have been intimated to them, to retain the services of members of the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps after 31st March this year in the capacity either of regular policewomen or of civilian assistants to the police, I see no ground for postponing the disbandment of the Corps

In view of the conditions of which I am sure he is aware especially in the Glasgow area, cannot the right hon. Gentleman give some encouragement to the local authorities to be more sympathetic than apparently they propose to be? I am quite sure that if he will give a lead many of them will follow it.

Certainly I will keep in mind the point that has been raised by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

:asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Wartime Nursery Scheme in Scotland terminates at the end of March; that the consequent closing down of many nurseries will prevent married women with children from continuing in employment in response to the recent appeal by the Prime Minister; and what steps does he intend to take to make it possible for these married women, who desire to do so, to continue at work.

In December last I asked local authorities to consider, in conjunction with the education authorities, and in relation to the need in their areas, which of the wartime nurseries should be continued, cither as day nurseries or as nursery schools. Local authorities were informed that a special Exchequer grant of 50 per cent would be available to them in respect of approved expenditure on wartime nurseries retained as day nurseries under these arrangements The usual education grants are, of course, available for nursery schools.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it regrettable that the Government should do away with the 100 per cent, grant, thereby impeding their own production campaign?

I do not think it would impede the production campaign, or the results following that campaign. Local authorities used to be paid under the block grant system for their day nurseries; now they are getting a special grant of 50 per cent., and I can hold out no hope of increasing it. A grant of 100 per cent, cannot be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase in cost is represented, in the case of a 1,000 square-feet house, by the rise of 4d.per hour in building wages.

It is estimated that in general an increase of 3½ d. per hour in wages would add about £ 50 to the cost of such a house, but as output is improving with the return of the younger men the rise in wages should be absorbed by more rapid production on the sites.

Does the figure include shift times as well as the actual man-hours on the site?

It is a general average figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has studied the Report of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee on the provision of houses for owner-occupation in Scotland; and what action he proposes to take in view of the fact that the majority report states that the State subsidy for housing cannot reasonably be confined to houses to let.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on 12th March to the hon. and gallant Member for West Edinburgh (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison). As I then said, I am not in a position to accept the recommendation of the majority report with regard to subsidy, but I propose to commend to local authorities certain other recommendations designed to assist prospective owner-occupiers in providing new houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of con tractors who failed to complete their contracts for houses being built for the Glasgow Corporation between 1935 and 1937, giving each trade, separately, and the number of houses involved.

I am informed that in the period referred to eight contracts for joiner work for 2,326 houses and four contracts for the erection of railings for 863 houses were not completed.

Does the hon. Gentleman know what brickwork failed to be carried out at Berryknowes, and will he state what the delay was in the completion of those houses and what caused that delay?

I was not asked about the delay, I was asked about the contractors who had failed to complete their contracts. My information is that they only failed in joinery work and I have no other information about any other trade being affected.

Is not the Under-Secretary aware that one of His Majesty's Ministers said this afternoon that there are plenty of carpenters available for work?

I wish the hon. Gentleman would look at the Question. It refers to the years 1935 and 1937.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of tenders submitted by the Corporation of Edin- burgh for the erection of permanent houses; the number approved; and the total number of houses involved.

The Corporation have submitted five sets of tenders since 1st January, 1945, covering 715 permanent houses, and all of them have been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Edinburgh Town Council, at a meeting held on Thursday, 7th March, approved the erection by private enterprise of 218 houses for sale at £ 1,100 per house; if he is satisfied that this action will not retard the building by the corporation of houses for letting; and if this decision has his approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Edinburgh Corporation to allow Messrs. James Miller and Partners, Limited, to develop, for the purpose of erecting houses for sale, approximately 53.acres of land previously scheduled for temporary housing sites at Northfield and Longstone; and whether, in view of the declared policy of the Government to give priority to the building of houses to let, he will make a statement on this matter.

The facts are broadly as stated in the Questions. In issuing licences for the erection of houses by private persons local authorities have been instructed to have regard to the available labour supply and the requirements of their own housing programme. Within the limits of these instructions, the primary responsibility for the decision rests with the Corporation and the Secretary of State's approval is not required.

The sites at Northfield and Longstone extend to 53 and 75 acres respectively, and I understand the Corporation have decided that approximately 25 acres on each site should be developed by the firm mentioned. As both sites were scheduled for temporary housing, I have asked the Corporation what action they propose to take to find alternative ground for this purpose. I propose to have an early meeting with the Corporation about their whole housing programme.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that the building of these houses will un-doubtedly prevent the erection of houses to let, and that of the 715 houses which they are building one third of them are to be built by private enterprise for sale purposes?

As the hon. Gentleman will see, I am proposing to have an early meeting with the Edinburgh Corporation, and I will certainly bear in mind the question that has been raised by my hon. Friend.

Will the hon. Gentleman also remember that this firm were given the opportunity to build houses for sale on condition that they built houses to let for the Corporation, and that when they refused to build houses to let for the Corporation they were permitted to build houses for sale?

These are all very relevant facts which I shall keep in mind when my meeting with the Corporation takes place.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of Swedish houses in Edinburgh for which timber sections have been delivered to date.

Timber sections for 50 houses have been delivered.

Will my hon. Friend try to expedite the delivery of components, in order to complete the houses for which sites have been ready for some time?

The lack of components is not, so far, holding up the erection of houses. I am anxious that the Swedish houses should be erected even if components for them are not ready, because if the houses are standing there is more force in the argument for getting their components.

In view of the fact that there is abundant evidence that private enterprise is anxious to build houses in the City of Edinburgh, would the hon. Gentleman discourage the importation of houses from Sweden?

Far from doing that, if I had my way I would aid this importation in every possible way in order to give shelter to people in Scotland.

Will my hon. Friend look into this matter again, because from information I obtained on Saturday I believe that houses cannot be completed for want of components?

That is not quite my information, but if my hon. Friend, or anybody else, has any information that the completion of houses is being delayed I will make it my business to see that the problem is solved.

What is there to prevent the hon. Gentleman having his own way and seeing that Swedish houses are erected as fast as possible?

There are many reasons, which I cannot go into at Question time, but if the hon. and gallant Member raises the matter in the Debate today, I will give him an answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of the daily ration scale for displaced persons in U.N.R.R.A. camps in Germany.

The normal adult "displaced person" in the British zone receives a daily ration of 1,850 calories. I will circulate in the Official Report the particulars asked for by the hon. and gallant Member.

Is it not a fact that there is a generous allowance of Red Cross parcels, in addition to the ordinary rations?

So far as possible, Red Cross parcels are used for the purpose of making up the rations, because it is not possible, owing to difficulties of distribution and availability of supplies, to guarantee the maintenance of such rations without such assistance.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the normal prc- war German population of the British-occupied zone of Germany; and whether he will give approximate figures of the population at 31st December, 1945, or near date.

The German population of the British zone was approximately 20,400,000 before the war, and 20,800,000 in January last. These figures exclude the British sector of Berlin with its population of 890,000 prewar and 580,000 in January, 1946. In addition, there were in January, 1946, some 460,000 displaced persons in British charge.

If I put a question to my hon. Friend later, will he be able to tell me the proportion of food which normally came into this zone from Eastern Germany before the war?

I invite my hon. Friend to put his question, but I cannot guarantee to givehim the proportion of food coming from any part of Germany which was not clearly defined before the war.

:asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether it is with his approval that the Polish liaison headquarters to B.A.O.R. is being dissolved; and, if so, what provision he proposes to make so as to preserve the Poles in D.P camps from intimidation by other visiting officers.

This matter is under discussion, but in any new arrangement that may be made, my hon. Friend's point will be borne in mind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these unfortunate people regard these liaison officers as their chief bulwark against forcible repatriation? In the event of any change being made, will he reassure the House that the Government's policy, that there should be no forcible repatriation, will be adhered to?

I am not so sure that even displaced persons consider that liaison officers are the best bulwark against forcible repatriation. The best possible bulwark is that provided in the directives issued by the Control Commission, and the assurances given in this House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that London is the capital city, he proposes to grant any financial aid to the London County Council for its reconstruction plan.

Yes, Sir. The London County Council, like other local authorities, will receive grants for many activities connected with reconstruction, such as housing, roads and the rebuilding of blitzed areas.

Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer considering any special grant to the London County Council in view of the importance of reconstruction in the capital?

I do not see any reason for giving special treatment to London as compared with other important centres in the country, including the hon. Member's own constituency.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the pre sent tax on fuel oil is intended to be a protective duty and to what extent a Revenue duty.

Principally for revenue.

In view of the increasingly serious coal shortage, will the right hon. Gentleman consider removing this restrictive tax?