asked the Minister of Labour how many men released from the Services are awaiting places at Ministry of Labour training centres; how many of these are in Wales; and what steps are being taken to provide additional training facilities for these men.

On 9th March, 14,623 ex-Service men were awaiting allocation to training classes and of this number 1,215 were in Wales. Four training centres are now open in Wales at Cardiff, Swansea, Oakdale (Mon.) and Treforest, and a fifth will shortly open at Swansea. These five centres will provide accommodation for 1,856 trainees. The question of additional centres in Wales is now being considered.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will enumerate the list of training establishments operated by his Department in Wales; where they are situated; the numbers accommodated; and the nature of the craft they are being trained for.

Training centres at present open in Wales with their capacity are Cardiff 592, Oakdale 212, Swansea 808, and Treforest 244. Provision has been made for craft training in bricklaying, carpentry, house painting and decorating, plastering, plumbing, slating and tiling, wood machining, boot and shoe repairing, cabinet making, watch and clock repairing and draughtsmanship; also motor mechanics for disabled men only. Training courses have also been sponsored by my Department at Cardiff Technical College in baking, 16 places and commercial subjects, 24 places.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will favourably consider extending the working day at all Government training centres under his control by half an hour from Monday to Friday in the interest of economy and in order that trainees might enjoy the advantage of a long week end.

It is in the interests of effective training that working conditions in a Government training centre should approximate as far as practicable to those in outside industry; for this reason I do not regard the introduction of a five-day week in Government training centres as desirable at the present time. But conditions of work in the training centres are kept continually under review, and I will certainly bear this suggestion in mind.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make as a result of his effortsin bringing together the leaders of the farmers and farm workers concerning the claims of the workers for a higher minimum wage, now that higher prices for farm produce have been announced.

My Department invited representatives of the NationalFarmers Union, the National Union of Agricultural Workers and the Transport and General Workers Union to a meeting, on 22nd February, to discuss the recommendation of the independent members of the Agricultural Wages Board that the industry should consult jointly on a system of grading of wage rates which would recognise special skill. After discussion the meeting was adjourned and will, I hope, be resumed at an early date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the domestic form of industry is approved by his Department; and to what extent workers of both sexes in this form of industry are secured against unemployment.

The approval of my Department is not required for people to work in their own homes, whether for an employer or as independent contractors. I understand that outworkers, while insurable under National Health Insurance are not insurable under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, except in rare cases where there is a contract of service.

asked the Minister of Labour the extent to which the domestic form of industry prevails in the glove making industry of this country, indicating, if possible, the varying percentage in different parts of the country

About 42 per cent, of the total wage earners engaged in the industry were employed as outworkers on 31st December, 1945—the latest date for which information is available. The particulars asked for in the second part of the Question are not immediately available, but I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as information covering the main centres has been extracted.

asked the Minister of Labour how many females under 25 years of age have been transferred from the Cardiff Employment Exchange to work outside Wales since June, 1945.

Since June, 1945, 18 women under 25 years of age have been placed by the Cardiff Employment Exchange on work outside Wales.

asked the Minister of Labour how many working days have been lost in stoppages in 1946 to the latest available date; and if he will give separate figures for the coalmining industry.

On the basis of the information at present available, it is estimated that about 300,000 working days have been lost during January and February, 1946, in stoppages of work arising from industrial disputes. The number of working days lost in the coal mining industry is estimated at about 70,000. Statistics of days lost since the end of February are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed in the employment exchanges in Sheffield; the periods for which these persons have been registered; and what steps are being taken to place them in employment.

:At nth February, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of unemployed insured persons suitable for ordinary employment on the register of employment exchanges in Sheffield was 1,574. Of this number 407 had been unemployed for not more than two weeks. As regards the last part of the Question, over 500 persons are being placed in employment each week by the Sheffield employment exchanges and special consideration is given to the placing of those applicants who have been unemployed for longer than a week or two.

- Davenport asked the Minister of Labour the number of members of registered trade unions; and the number of those members paying the political levy for each of the years 1926, 1927, 1939, 1944 and 1945.

information desired is only partially available for the year 1926.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to announce any change of policy with regard to the call-up of men who, during the war, were on active service with the Merchant Navy.

Any ex-merchant seaman whose period of war service would entitle him to early release from the Armed Forces in Class A under the age and length of service scheme will not be called up under the National Service Acts. At present men in groups 1–50 who are released or discharged from the Merchant Navy are not being called up for service in the Armed Forces.

asked the Minister of Labour what are his plans for retraining scientific personnel whose normal studies were interrupted, or who have been drafted into work which they would not normally have undertaken and are now in overcrowded professions.

Science students of First Class or Second Class Honours standard selected by their Universities as research students or Third Year students, and other science students selected by their Universities as of high promise or who were called up before the end of their normal deferment and before they had had an opportunity of taking the Honours Degree, are eligible for release from the Forces in Class B if they are in release groups 1–49 or from industry, if they have performed work of national importance for not less than three years. Financial assistance is available to such students if they come within the scope of the Further Education and Training Scheme.

Hughes asked the Minister of Labour how many men registered as building workers and civil engineering workers in Scotland are at present serving in His Majesty's Forces.

I regret that this informationis not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the agreements signed between Great Britain and the U.S.A., the result of which is to afford considerable relief in the burden of double taxation, His Majesty's Government are proposing to enter into similar agreements with the Low Countries and France.

Yes, Sir. I hope to start discussions soon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Double Tax Convention signed in April, 1945, has yet been ratified by the U.S. Congress, and when this agreement is likely to become effective.

The United Kingdom is ready to ratify now, but in the United States the necessary approval of the Senate has not yet been given. When ratified, the Convention will have effect retrospectively to the 1st January, 1945, in the United States and the 6th April, 1945, in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the gross revenue received on the sale of stationery to Members of the House of Commons from 1st August to 31st December, 1945.

£566.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware ofthe hardship caused to many charitable institutions by the fact that 100 per cent. Purchase Tax is levied on all collecting boxes, other than those made of wood; and whether consideration can now be given to the reduction of this tax.

Collection boxes, as a rule, are not chargeable with Purchase Tax at the higher rate or indeed at all. Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to send me particulars of the articles he has in mind.

asked the Chancellor ofthe Exchequer whether he is aware that many holiday resorts either loaned their deck chairs to the Forces during the war or had them requisitioned, and have now to replace them with new ones which are subject to Purchase Tax; and whether, in order to prevent these local authorities from suffering a loss, he will consider exempting them from Purchase Tax on chairs which are purchased as replacements.

The hon. and gallant Member will not expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present amount allocated by the University Grants Committee to each of the universities in Great Britain; what grants have been asked for by each of these universities in respect of the next financial year; and to what extent the University Grants Committee has met these requests.

The grants to university institutions for the academic year 1945–6 are as shown in the following statement:

asked the Chancellor ofthe Exchequer if he is aware that in respect of the payment of Income Tax no allowance is made to a single man who has a home of his own and who employs a housekeeper; that there are many cases now of disabled ex-Servicemen who could not dispense with the services of a housekeeper; and if he will be prepared to consider some relief for such cases.

My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that on the com- pulsory acquisition of a hereditament, or on the acquisition by agreement by an authority statutorily authorised to compulsorily acquire a hereditament classified by the War Damage Commission as ranking for a cost of works payment, the right to receive such payment is changed to a right to receive value payment; and whether, particularly having regard to the present high cost of building, he will consider the matter with a view to amending the position so that in such circumstances the right to receive a cost of works payment is not so changed.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Mitcham (Mr. Braddock) on 14th March, 1946 [Vol. 420; c. 1291–2].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the negotiations, for a financial agreement with Switzerland have now been concluded; and what are the terms thereof.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. Moyle) on Tuesday last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account is taken in the staffing of Government Departments of the contribution women can make in solving our present manpower problems.

His Majesty's Government are most anxious that women should continue the great contribution which they have made in the war years to the work of Government Departments. On the position of married women in relation to permanent posts in the Civil Service, I expect a report very shortly from a committee of the Civil Service National Whitley Council. Meanwhile, I am very glad that many thousands of married women continue to be employed in temporary Civil Service posts, and the special wartime arrangements enabling an established woman civil servant on marriage to draw her marriage gratuity and stay on inthe Service, retaining her former scale of pay and her eligibilty for promotion, are still in force. In pursuance of the Prime Minister's recent broadcast appeal to all women, who can possibly do so, to enter, or continue in, employment, Government Departments are most anxious to retain and to recruit married women as temporary civil servants, wholetime or parttime, during the present critical period of national effort.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General as representing the Ministry of Information the net contribution to the Revenue made by the B.B.C. during the currency of its first charter and its present charter to date, respectively.

I assume that my hon. Friend wishes to know how much of the revenue from wireless receiving licences accrued to the Exchequer as surplus after making payments to the B.B.C. and after deducting the share of the revenue assigned for collection and similar services. During the charter period which ended in 1936 this surplus was £7,365,000. In addition, the B.B.C. surrendered £637,500 to the Exchequer as a special contribution to national economy. Under the present charter, as a result of the expansion of the overseas services during the war, the total payments to the B.B.C. from 1st January, 1937, to 31st March, 1945, exceeded the net licence revenue by £14,100,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects he will be able to release the music hall, Shrewsbury, from requisition.

The Shrewsbury Music Hall is used as office accommodation for officers and clerks, employed mainly in the "release wing" of a regimental pay office vitally concerned with demobilisation. As there is no suitable alternative accommodation available, I do not anticipate that derequisitioning will be possible before the end of this year at the earliest.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the usual Service channels, through which Servicemen are normally to make their representations or raise grievances, are intended for the remedying of individual hardships only, or if collective grievances, such as demobilisation anomalies and delays or conditions of service, may also be expressed thereby.

Complaints through the normal Service channels may be made respecting any matter affecting the individual. They can be made by an individual only, but need not be confined tomatters affecting him alone.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men serving in 24 Company, R.A.S.C. (Div. Tpt.), S.E.A.C., have found inside tins of ration cigarettes, for which they have been charged $1.50, printed slips indicating that the cigarettes are a gift from readers of the" Daily Sketch "newspaper; and if he will make a statement on this matter.

I understand that the outside wrapping of a tin of gift cigarettesfrom "Daily Sketch" readers is the same as that of cigarettes normally on sale in N.A.A.F.I. In the canteen of the unit referred to these cigarettes were on one occasion sold by mistake. My information is that the mistake was discovered almost immediately and rectified the same day

asked the Secretary of State for War why a further reduction is being made in the rations of troops serving in Java, as these rations are already below normal scales.

So far as I am aware there has been no reduction in the rations of troops serving in Java. They are receiving the scale previously issued in operational areas of S.E.A.C. The reduction which was made on 1st February elsewhere in S.E.A.C. did not apply to 'the Netherlands East Indies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the food and entertainment given to our troops in the Java and Singapore areas are satisfactory; and what complaints he has received from the troops that this is not the case.

As regards the supply of food to troops in Java and Singapore I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Western Dorset (Major Digby) today, also to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on Tuesday last.Entertainment facilities are naturally comparatively restricted in Java although cinema units are available and a few small E.N.S.A. parties have been sent there. There are a number of static and mobile cinemas available in the Singapore area and there is normally at least one E.N.S.A. entertainment going on. Within the limits imposed by such factors as difficulties of transportation I am satisfied that every effort is being made to provide a reasonable standard of entertainment in these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for War when any or all of the many hotels and boarding houses in Ilfracombe, at present under requisition by his Department, will be handed back to their owners whose livelihood is dependent on a successful tourist season.

There are 13 hotels and three boarding houses at present under requisition bymy Department in Ilfracombe. They are all in use in connection with three pay offices which are a vital link in the release scheme. I think it most unlikely that it will be possible to release any of them before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for War by what approximate date the North Devon cricket ground at Instow will be derequisitioned, in view of the fact that it is not now serving any essential military purpose.

The Instow cricket ground will be derequisitioned as soon as alternative accommodation can be erected to fulfil the essential military purpose for which the cricket ground has been used. This is in hand and I hope that it will be possible to release the cricket ground in about a month, provided it is not required by any other Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that information of a top secret, secret, restricted or confidential nature passed by the Service Ministries to Members of Parliament in reply to letters, will be so marked.

Yes, Sir. It is the practice of all the Service Departments to mark letters to hon. Members with the appropriate security grading. Letters do, however, on occasions contain information which, though not strictly confidential, it may not be desirable to pass on to constituents. In such cases we must continue to rely on the judgment of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the hospital ship "Somersetshire," which arrived in the United Kingdom on 9th February, 1946, had 18 non-patient passengers on board, consisting of wives and children of officers stationed in India; that dissatisfaction exists amongst Service personnel in hospitals in India due to the delay in evacuating wounded Servicemen to the United Kingdom; that one Regular officer with 11 years and 2 months service overseas was struck off the roll of patients to travel on this ship owing to this misuse of shipping space, particulars of which have been given him; and whether he will make inquiries into this case to avoid repetition.

I am aware that a small number of passengers travelled in this hospital ship who should not have been allowed to do so. I have issued instructions to ensure that in future only invalid passengers will be embarked in hospital ships. I understand that the Regular officer with long overseas service to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers was not in fact prevented from travelling on this ship by the presence of non-patient passengers on board; he was not on the rolls for evacuation by hospital ship.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers of the R.Es. serving in M.E.F. whose release, has been deferred; and whether he is satisfied that deferments in all these cases have been necessary.

The latest available information is that on 31st January, 26 R.E. officers had been deferred on operational grounds. This represents 2 per cent, of the total number of R.E. officers in the theatre. I have no doubt that the Commander-in-Chief would not have authorised the deferment of these officers unless it was absolutely necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many R.A.O.C. officers in Group 26 have had their release deferred, and for how long; and whether officers so deferred are given the opportunity of home leave.

Thirty-seven R.A.O.C. officers in Group 26 have been warned that their release may have to be deferred on operational grounds. As Group 26 officers are not yet due for release I cannot say how many it will in fact prove necessary to retain or for how long their release will have to be deferred. An officer is not normally sent on L.I.A.P. unless he will have a reasonable period to serve on return before he is due for release. This period is either four or six months according to the Command. In assessing his eligibility any period of deferment which can be clearly foreseen at the time is taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for War what Class A release groups have been reached up to date in the block release scheme for agriculture.

The highest age and service Groups in which agricultural workers have been offered release under the Class B block release scheme are as follow: Army, 65; Navy, 66; R.A.F., 64.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will be prepared to consider cases of agriculturalists releasable under the Block Release Scheme who have not been identified as eligible by the Service Department.

Such cases may be considered individually on their merits if recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture and submitted to the War Office by the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to notify members of the Forces that agricultural workers with a year or more service are entitled to Class B release; arid whether commanding officers have been notified that disciplinary action will be taken if this release is delayed.

There is no question of "entitlement" to release in Class B. Certain demands were received from the Ministry of Labour and National Service for various types of agricultural workers. These demands have since been extended to an extent which covers practically all the releasable men with over a year's service in the occupations concerned and authorisations for release in Class B have been issued accordingly. Orders are already in force for Class B release matters to be treated as urgent and. I have no doubt that commanding officers are already carrying out these orders.

asked the Secretary of State for War why no man serving in the2nd Battalion The Buffs, S.E.A.C. at present in Sourabaya, has been sent on L.I.A.P. since the first week of January.

I am making inquiries and as soon as they are completed I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether personnel in M.E.F. and C.M.F. who had home leave in June, 1945, and are not due for demobilisation until September, 1946, are entitled to any further home leave within that period; and whether, now that the demobilisation rate has been reduced and transport facilities eased, he will consider improving home leave arrangements for C.M.F. and M.E.F.

All ranks serving in M.E.F. and C.M.F. are eligible for L.I.A.P. once only during an overseas tour. Those who have already had home leave in June, 1945, would not therefore, under the present rules, be eligible for any further home leave during their present overseas tour. As regards the future, the possibility of an improvement in leave arrangements is kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have not been fitted out with a suit at the time of demobilisation; and how long they have to wait before one is supplied.

The total number of men of all three Services who have not been fitted out with a suit on the day of their release is 99,500. In approximately 76,000 of these cases a suit has since been despatched. Hitherto, a made-to-measure suit has taken up to eight weeks to provide, a period which I hope will shortly be reduced to six weeks. Standard sizes, temporarily out of stock, have taken some six weeks to supply; this should shortly be reduced to three weeks.

asked the Secretary of Slate for War whether, in cases where the demobilisation centre is unable to provide a man with a suit of clothing because of his size, he will issue a clothing allow- ance to the man to enable him to buy his suit in the civilian market, instead of ordering him to wait until a suit is provided through Army channels.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Servicemen demobilised in January have not been given an overcoat; and will he require Central Ordnance Depot to speed up special orders.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 12th March. In the specific case brought to my attention by the hon. and gallant Memberfor North Blackpool (Brigadier Low) a suit was despatched to the man on 14th March.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men of Spanish nationality joined the Pioneer Corps from the French Foreign Legion and the French Labour Corps, respectively; how many are still serving; and what demobilisation rights do they possess.

On enlistment men are not required to declare former service under a foreign Power. I have therefore no information as to the number of Spaniards who joined the Pioneer Corps from the French Foreign Legion or Labour Corps, or the number still serving. I dealt with the position of aliens as regards demobilisation in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Winchester (Captain Jeger) on 5th March.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men serving at home; and the number of recruits now under training.

The total number of men of all ranks serving in the British Army in the United Kingdom on 31st January, 1946, was 774,302. Of these 75,281 were recruits under training.

asked the Secretary of State for War the names of those Members of Parliament who are still serving in the Army and in receipt of pay, other than those with Regular commissions and those on demobilisation leave; and what appointments they hold.

There are two emergency commissioned officers still serving in the Army who are Members of this House and who are receiving Army pay. They are: T/Lieutenant-Colonel M. Lipton, A.E.G. (Brixton), who is holding an appointment with the Legal Aid and Civil Affairs Section Headquarters, London District. T/Major C. C. Poole, R.E. (Lichfield), who is holding the appointment of Senior Railway Traffic Officer, Western Command.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the retention of the anti-aircraft gun site in Silver Jubilee Park, Kingsbury, in the borough of Wembley, is impeding the erection of a number of temporary houses; and if, in view of the urgency of the housing problem in Wembley, he will take immedate steps to release the site from requisitioning.

A part of this site has already been released for the building of temporary houses, but the remainder is still required for military purposes. Much as I regret any interference which may be caused to the housing programme, I cannot hold out any hope of an early release of this site.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether 2576985 Lance-Corporal H Drewry. H.Q. Wing 4 O.T. Battalion, Royal Signals, Humbleton Camp, Bernard Castle, the particulars of whose case were sent to the Minister on23rd January and 11th February 1946,will be released with his Group 28

:No, Sir. This soldier is serving on a Regular engagement and will not have completed his 7 yearsservice with the Colours until 1st September, 1946. Pre-war service in the Territorial Army does not count towards this period.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in the case of Mr. George Dee, of 99, Beacon Street, Lichfield,dealt with under reference5748/JMCS, which was represented by the hon. and gallant Member for Lichfield on 29th January, 1946. and on which the necessary correcting action was. Taken on 7th February, 1946, his Department failed to send any reply until 9th March,1946.

In order to deal with my hon. and gallant Friend's letter, it was necessary to obtain a report from the Record Office in the first place and subsequently from the Regimental Paymaster. When the report from the Regimental Paymaster was received it appeared that the matter had already been settled some little time before independently of my hon. and gallant Friend's inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now relax his attitude with regard to 14450856, Lance-Corporal W. R. C. Hinman, as this N.C.O. is urgently needed in agriculture.

This non-commissioned officer is a Regular soldier who has not completed his period of service with the Colours. He is not therefore eligible for release under Class B.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that letters, packets and parcels addressed to men serving with the Cameronians, S.R., C.M.F., are being returned to thesenders endorsed "Present address unknown "; that much anxiety is felt by the men and their relatives; and if he will take steps to ensure that delivery of correspondence to this unit is effected.

There is no battalion of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) serving in C.M.F. If my hon. Friend will let me have full details of any particular case he has in mind, I will have it investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider reducing the tour of duty in C.M.F. and M.E.F.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider reducing the tour of duty abroad for C.M.F. and M.E.F.

As the hon. and gallant Members will be aware, I announced last Thursday that the Python period for C.M.F. and M.E.F. is being reduced from four years to three years nine months.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements are to be made during the forthcoming summer for releasing service personnel temporarily for work on the land.

I described the existing arrangements for agricultural leave from the Army covering the period up to 30th June, 1946, in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Kincardine and Western on 26th February. Similar arrangements apply in the R.A.F. It is intended to continue the scheme in the Army and R.A.F. on the same general lines after 30th June. So far as the Army is concerned, individuals will not be allowed more than 28 days' agricultural leave, but the position will be reviewed again before December, 1946. I understand that the Admiralty grant up to two months' leave in the first instance to applications sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This may be extended in case of inclement weather up to a further 14 days.

asked the Secretary of State for War in regard to married officers and other ranks of the Regular Army serving in Palestine, whether their families are now permitted to join them when they so wish, seeing that separation has now lasted, in some cases, since the beginning of the war and that risk to such families is slight and no greater than in Egypt or India, where families are allowed.

Although a scheme is in operation to enable certain military families to proceed to various stations abroad, it is left to the Commanders-in-Chief concerned to decide whether particular areas within their Commands should be excluded for military or security reasons. I see no reason to question the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East's decision in the particular case of Palestine.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Territorials called to active service in August, 1939, are still serving.

With the present high rate of release I cannot give an accurate figure for the number of Territorials called to active service in August, 1939, who are still serving. But under the present release programme all Territorials who have served in the Army continuously since August, 1939, will be released during the next three months unless their release is voluntarily or compulsorily deferred.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Mediterranean allowance to troops of the M.E.F. is 4s. 6d.per day to officers and only 4d.per day to other ranks; and as the allowance to other ranks just covers the cost of a cup of tea and a piece of cake, if he will consider increasing the allowance to them.

As the hon. Member will see from paragraph 40 of the White Paper on officers' pay it is proposed to withdraw this allowance and replace it by such other allowance as may be considered necessary, as soon as detailed calculations of requirements can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he proposes to take to reduce the numbers at present serving in the A.T.S., in view of the urgent requirements of industrial reconstruction.

The strength of the A.T.S. is being reduced continuously under the Release Scheme and by 30th June 158,200 women will have been released. This represents 80 per cent. of the A.T.S. strength in June, 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider granting the Military Cross pension to commissioned officers.

I see no reason to make any change in the existing rule.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the shortage of nurses in Britain and the closure of hospital wards on this account, he will take steps to speed up the release of nursing sisters in military establishments in India and elsewhere.

Nursing sisters are being released as quickly as possible. Nursing sisters who are surplus to requirements in military establishments in India are either sent to other Commands to replace those due for release or returned to the United Kingdom as quickly as suitable accommodation in homeward bound ships can be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for War the circumstances under which R.A. Draft 331, destined for Burma, was held, due to an error, for some weeks in a transit camp at Calcutta, during which time the men were employed in fatigues, including making into piles small stones spread for this purpose on paths the previous day.

I have called for a report, and as soon as it is received I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many qualified teachers have been recruited to the Army since July, 1945; and what proportion of them are serving in the A.E.C.

The number of men joining the Army between July, 1945, and January, 1946, who were classified by the Ministry of Labour and National Service as teachers is 49, but they may not all be fully qualified teachers. So far as I have been able to ascertain, three qualified or semi-qualified teachers have since then been transferred to the A.E.C. I should, however, point out that soldiers cannot be accepted for transfer to the A.E.C. until they have completed primary and Corps training, and up till very recently they had to be over the age of 25.

asked the Secretary of State for War approximately how many military vehicles are dumped on the Bremen—Hamburg autobahn; how long they have been there; and what plans have been made for their disposal.

There are two vehicle parks on the Bremen—Hamburg autobahn; one is now holding 14,800 vehicles and the other 5,050 vehicles. These parks were opened in December, 1945, to deal with the vehicles behing handed in by disbanding units. Vehicles are issued to various European Allies, and the future maintenance of B.A.O.R. must be provided for from these and other similar parks. Any vehicles which have become surplus to these requirements have been offered to the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Regulation of 30th June, 1945, allowing boys who enlisted not to be called up until the end of the school term in which they were 18, was revoked on 21st February, 1946, as from 1st March; and, as this short notice has upset examination plans for these boys and may mean boys remaining at home instead of returning to school for the summer term, if he will consider at least postponing the cancellation of the Regulation until 31st July, 1946.

The scheme to which the hon. Member refers has been discontinued in view of the introduction of new terms of service for the Regular Army. Those who had already enlisted under this scheme before 1st March, 1946, will, however, still be allowed to remain at school until the end of the terms in which they reach the age of 18. It would be for the Ministry of Labour and National Service to consider any application for deferment of call-up under the National Service Acts in the case of those who had not already enlisted under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War why four companies of artisan works, R.E., are being employed in Palestine where there is local labour available which could be used and thus release British men for urgent building work in this country.

I understand that there is a general shortage of building labour in Palestine. Particularly in the areas in which the four artisan works companies are employed, civilian labour cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities. These troops are fully employed on the very necessary and important work of improving the standard of accommodation available for the Army in Palestine.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the British troops serving in Germany may now be allowed to travel on German tramcars and attend cinema and theatre performances for the civilian population, as the orders-prohibiting both these are resented.

The ban on British troops using German tramcars and attending cinema and theatre performances for the civil population is still in force. This was imposed in the interests of the health of our troops and in order to avoid depriving the German civilian population of part of their own limited facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what conditions of pay General Sir Ronald Adam has been seconded for work under the Board of Trade in connection with the linoleum business.

General Sir Ronald Adam is not being seconded. He is retiring from the Army as soon as he vacates his present appointment, and so far as the Army is concerned he will then receive retired pay under the same conditions as any other retired officer.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many training grounds, sites and forestry camps in Scotland his Department now occupies; how many of these are not now being actually used by, or for, the Armed Forces of the Crown; why these have not been returned to their owners; and when they will be so returned.

Thirty-two training areas are at present held by the War Department in Scotland, but only 12 of these are of more than 50 acres. Of these 12 areas one is to be released as soon as it can be cleared of unexploded missiles. I cannot say what the future of the remaining areas will be until the completion of the general review of future Army requirements of land as a whole, which is at present being carried out in conjunction with other Departments concerned. I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information asked for in respect of camp sites and forestry camps, but as soon as it is received I will write to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Boy Scouts training ground at Templars Park, Maryculter, near Aberdeen, which was requisitioned in 1940,is no longer used by His Majesty's Forces; that the return, by the beginning of 1946, of this ground to the Boy Scouts movement was promised, but it has not been so returned; that it is required by the Boy Scouts for the forthcoming season; and when will this training ground be returned, in good conditions, to the Boy Scouts movement.

I have called for a report, and as soon as it is received I will write to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War why certain units stationed in Malaya have their last meal of the day at 4.30 p.m.

The usual procedure in hot climates is for a light meal to be served at midday and the main meal of the day to be served at a suitable time between 4:30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m Suppers should also be made available for all troops and served at an hour convenient to them. I am inquiring into the situation as regards suppers in Malaya and as soon as I have received a report I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take immediate steps to find alternative accommodation for the A.T.S., who now occupy the club hall belonging to the Thame War Memorial Club, so that this hall can be derequisitioned.

Steps are already being taken to withdraw the A.T.S. from the Thame War Memorial Hall. When this process is completed, the hall will be derequisitioned, provided it is not required by any other Department.

asked the Minister ofTown and Country Planning if he is awareof the heavy liability for compensationupon local authorities who refuse development permissible according to an operative planning scheme; and will he takethe responsibility for the rejection of suchdevelopment and the financial liability involved where it does not conform to theessential proposals of the Greater LondonPlan.

I am well aware that the variation or revocation of an operative planning scheme and the refusal of permission for development may impose on local authorities a liability for compensation. In most cases, however, no question of immediate payment arises, and I shall be introducing legislation to deal comprehensively with the matter before very long.

asked the Minister ofTown and Country Planning whether hisattention has been directed to a schemefor the construction of a dog racing trackat Chalfont St. Giles, in the county ofBucks, which would sterilise 14 acres ofland; and if he will take steps to safeguard the amenities of this residential andsemi-rural neighbourhood.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of this proposal, which is under consideration by the local planning authority, and I have no reason to think that, in arriving at a decision, they will fail to have regard to the amenities of the neighbourhood.

asked theMinister of Town and Country Planningwhen he expects to receive the Report ofthe Reith Committee and whether it willbe published.

The Committee has made an Interim Report, which is at present with the printers; and the Secretary of State for Scotland and I hope to lay it before Parliament very shortly. I cannot at present say when the final Report will be available.

asked the Minister ofTown and Country Planning what stepshe proposes to take to ensure that theMitford and Launditch Rural DistrictCouncil secures adequate land for theirhousing programme which would accordwith the principles of town and countryplanning in those villages where newhouses are urgently needed.

The Council have been encouraged to meet the housing needs of the villages in their area by the provision of sites close to those villages, and five out of the seven sites submitted by the Council were approved in October and November last. Alternatives for the other two, which were undesirable for planning reasons, have been recommended by my officers, who are always ready to discuss these matters with the Joint Planning Committee and the Council to assist in finding suitable sites.

asked theMinister of Town and Country Planningthe names of the present members of theNational Parks Committee; their terms ofreference; and whether Members of Parliament and the public can submit evidence-orally and in writing.

The reply is as follows the present members of the National Parks Committee, under the Chairmanship of Sir Arthur Hobhouse, are:

• Lieut.-Colonel E. N. Buxton, M.C.
• Lord Chorley, J.P.
• Mr. John Dower, A.R.I.B.A., M.T.P.I.
• Mr. Leonard K. Elmhirst, B.Sc. (Cornell).
• Mrs. Gerald Haythornthwaite.
• Sir William Gavin, C.B.E.
• Mr. R. B. Graham.
• Dr. J. S. Huxley, F.R.S., D.Sc.
• Mr. Clough Williams-Ellis, M.C.. F.R.I.B.A., M.T.P.I.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, in his recommendation to local authorities advocating increased tree planting, he will also recommend that suitable fruit trees be grown along all country roads and other similar open spaces to increase the food supply in this country.

No, Sir. The circular which I propose to issue to local authorities about roadside tree planting is confined to the improvement of urban areas by incorporating trees in the design and layout of roads. Species of fruit bearing trees suitable for planting in roads and streets are few in number and other difficulties, such as maintenance and preservation of the fruit from theft, would prevent the extensive planting of such trees.

asked the Secretary of State for War why several Spaniards interned at the Hall o' the Hill Camp, Lancashire, are now on hunger strike; and why they are still detained at this camp.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on Tuesday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to continue the non-fraternisation order against German prisoners of war in this country.

German prisoners of war in this country are forbidden to fraternise with members of the public or to hold any conversation with them except in so far as may be strictly necessary for the efficient performance of the work allotted to them. There is no intention as yet of relaxing this prohibition.

asked the Minister of Works whether the construction of prefabricated houses is being held up by the non-receipt of timber from Russia.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Works when the part of Fownes glove factory at Worcester, at present occupied by the stores division of his Department, is to be derequisitioned.

Arrangements have been made in agreement with Messrs. Fownes to vacate one quarter of the requisitioned factory at the end of this month and to give up the remainder by the end of August.

asked the Minister of Works the names of the companies concerned with sporting activities in the London and Greater London areas to whom licences have been granted for building and repairs during the past six months.

There are 18 names and I am sending my hon. Friend a list of them.

asked the Minister of Works to what extent the brick manufacturing firms, whose premises have been used for storage, have been financially assisted by a fund created by his Department; and how such fund has been raised.

Payments have been made under the Care and Maintenance Scheme in respect of certain permissible charges incurred during closure, subject to deduction for any revenue received as a result of lettings for storage. The Care and Maintenance Scheme derives its source of revenue from a levy on brick sales amounting to 3s. per 1,000 on bricks sold, used, or otherwise disposed of up to 31st December, 1945, and thereafter at 1s. 6d. per 1,000.

asked the Minister of Works how many premises of brick manufacturing firms have been used during the war for storage purposes; what is the total cost of this storage; have the workpeople engaged in the brickyards been employed by his Department; and have the premises used been repaired and renovated by his Department.

Three hundred and five brickworks have been used for storage purposes during the war, but the total cost of such storage is not available. The workpeople were dispersed when the brickyards were taken over. Repairs and renovations have not been carried out by my Department but by the owners of the works to whom certain payments have been made within the terms of the Care and Maintenance Schemes.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that many allotment societies and associations are anxious to obtain surplus Service huts in which to store seeds and fertilisers for their members, but cannot afford to pay the prices obtained under the present methods of disposal; and whether, in view of the importance of encouraging food production on allotments during the coming year, he will make arrangements to dispose of a limited number of these huts at a reasonable price to recognised allotment societies.

Preference in supply is given to organisations whose applications for surplus huts are sponsored by the Government Department concerned, but it is not the Government's policy to give preferential prices.

asked the Minister of Works what steps are being taken to make available a larger quantity of facing bricks for building works.

The production of facing bricks is receiving the same urgent attention as that of common bricks. Every effort is being made to obtain the release of the skilled workers still in the Forces, and all other possible steps will be taken to secure the necessary labour recruitment.

asked the Minister of Works how many workable brickyards are available on the north-east coast; what is their potential output per week; how many brickyards in the same area were producing at the outbreak of war; and what was their weekly output.

The number of brickyards in Northumberland, Durham and North and East Ridings of Yorkshire in production at the outbreak of war was 113, and their rate of output was about 9,976,000 bricks per week. These brickyards are still workable and their potential capacity is much the same.

asked the Minister of works whether he will consider arranging a flat rate for the transport of bricks, having regard to the extra amount that is added to building costs in the more remote parts of the country under present conditions.

The rates for transport or bricks are at present under consideration and the point raised by the hon. and gallant Member will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Works how many brickworks are now in production in South Wales; how many are idle, and if he is satisfied that the present productive capacity of the undertakings now in production is adequate to meet building requirements in the area.

In South Wales 19 works produced finished bricks in January. Twenty-nine further works have not so far produced finished bricks but with the exception of two have received licences to produce. The output from these 48 brickworks if fully manned would meet building requirements in the area, and all possible steps are being taken to provide for the necessary recruitment of labour.

asked the Minister of Works when the temporary houses required by the Huntingdon Rural District Council, to whom they were first allocated in February, 1945, will be supplied.

It is intended to start deliveries of Tarran houses to Huntingdon Rural District Council next month.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that local authorities are unable to obtain delivery of baths for permanent houses under construction, owing to the fact that a high percentage of the present output is being sent to his Department's storage depots to be fitted into prefabricated temporary houses as and when they are completed; and what steps he is taking to speed up the production of baths.

I am aware of the shortage of baths. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production is taking all possible steps to increase the number of workers in the foundries and an initial production agree- ment for 50,000 pressed steel baths is being placed. He hopes shortly to place further production agreements of a similar type in order to relieve the strain on the foundries.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the shortage of plaster of paris which is required for medical purposes in hospitals; and what steps he is taking to overcome the present shortage.

The available amount of plaster of paris and of other types of plaster is limited by the output of gypsum, and steps are being taken to increase the gypsum supplies.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that 150 Germanprisoners were being transported daily byroad during February from Eastham, Cheshire, to Hale Bank Buildings Estate, Widnes, via the Widnes Transporter Bridge, making a return distance of about44 miles, when the most direct route viathe. Mersey tunnel is about 30 miles; and whether he will state the reason for the longer route being used and give instructions that the shorter route shall be used, as lorries carrying food over the Widnesbridge were being delayed up to three-quarters of an hour, thus increasing costs and diminishing transport capacity in theRuncorn and Widnes area.