asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what as0sistance or en couragement is to be given to gliding clubs.

My Noble Friend wishes to en courage gliding clubs, but there are at present no suitable gliders available, other than a few German gliders which arc being lent to clubs through the British Gliding Association for test purposes. It is hoped that arrangements will be concluded to enable gliding clubs to purchase other Government equipment of which they are in need.

When gliders are available, does the Minister propose to give any encouragement, financial or otherwise, to gliding clubs?

It is not proposed to give direct financial assistance, but as gliders become available we will consider the matter.

Cannot assistance be given to gliding clubs in the same way as to light aeroplane clubs?

No, Sir. The help given to light aeroplane clubs is by the sale of surplus aircraft, but no surplus gliders are available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if companies operating charter services are employing pilots with B licences and ground engineers with the necessary qualifications.

Yes, Sir. So far as I am aware these requirements, which are laid down in the Air Navigation (Consolidation) Order, 1923 are being com plied with by charter operators.

If I give the Parliamentary Secretary details of irregularities, will he look into the matter further?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is now prepared to supply parachutes to passengers on civil air lines.

No, Sir. The safety of passengers is a paramount consideration with all those responsible for the operation of air services and engages the constant attention of my Noble Friend. The advisability of supplying parachutes has been exhaustively reviewed, and as a result it has been decided that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Is the Minister aware that in an accident which occurred near Gibraltar, of nine passengers, seven were saved by the use of parachutes?

I do not know the circumstances, but I do not think that they were such as to come under the control of my Noble Friend. It does not follow that these passengers would not have been saved by other measures.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what are the disadvantages of parachutes?

The use of parachutes would require passengers to undergo parachute drill, and we do not think that it would be practical to ask passengers to undergo such drill. There are also pyschological disadvantages.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to state what will be the future of the Clifton aerodrome near York; and what steps he proposes to take to protect the surrounding residential area from the nuisance of night flying.

It is not desirable to make statements regarding particular aerodromes in advance of a comprehensive statement regarding aerodrome policy. The second part of the Question, therefore, does not arise, but I can assure the hon. Member that in all cases every effort will be made to minimise the nuisance of night flying.

Before reaching a decision, will the Minister take into consideration the fact that this aerodrome is in the centre of a residential area, with schools all around it, and that there are six alternative aerodromes which have not this disadvantage?

I will look into the cir cumstances mentioned, but I cannot, as the hon. Member well knows, accept the suggestion that there are six alternative aerodromes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why rail services are not used to transport air passengers between Hum airport and London.

The railway service is used to transport air passengers between Hurn and London, but passengers are also conveyed by road.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that passengers have arrived from America at midnight and that they were put into a coach which took four and a half hours to reach London? And will he try to arrange for train services to meet air passengers arriving at midnight?

I know that there are disadvantages owing to Hum airport being so far from the Capital, but this was a wartime necessity and the real answer is to get Heathrow operating as soon as possible.

As Hum airport is so frequently fog bound, why not divert the traffic to Prestwick?

Is the Par liamentary Secretary aware that when the rail services are used only Pullman tickets are offered? Will he sec that ordinary third and first class tickets are available?

I will consider that.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he can now state which airports in this country are to be taken over by the Government.

My Noble Friend hopes to make a statement on this subject in the early future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he can now report to the House the outcome of the Dublin Air Conference; and whether he has arranged for the siting of the trans-Atlantic Safety Organisation at Prestwick, or whether it is to be at Rineanna.

The Dublin Conference is still in session, and I am not in a position to say what its final recommendations will be. The matter referred to in the second part of the Question is one of those under discussion at the Conference.

Is the Minister aware that international air delegates at Dublin are reported to have been officially pre vented from going to Prestwick and, if so, will he take steps to counteract that?

I will look into the matter, but I am rather sceptical about it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will state the proposed functions and powers of the Scottish division of the British European Airways Corporation; and whether these will include the power to inaugurate new services or to modify existing ones in accordance with Scottish needs.

As I stated on 13th March, the Scottish division of British European Airways will be responsible, as part of that Corporation, for the administration of air services within and radiating from Scotland. It follows that the division will be able to make proposals for the inauguration or modification of services in accordance with Scottish needs.

Does the answer mean that they will not have power to inaugurate new services or to modify existing ones?

The ultimate responsibility will lie with the Board of British European Airways. As the part of the Corporation responsible for services in Scotland their proposals will naturally have great weight.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this does not satisfy the deep feeling in Scotland on this matter, and that Scotland feels it should be given power to provide services in Scotland within the organisation?

I can assure my hon. Friend that full weight is being given to Scottish feelings in this matter It is my Noble Friend's desire to do what we can to meet them.

If decisions are made in London in respect of these services will the hon. Gentleman see that they are taken by Scotsmen?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if preparations are being made to publish receipts, expenditure traffic and other statistical details of the three State-operated civil air lines at regular intervals, in the same way that the privately-operated railway companies published information about the results of their activities.

I ask the hon. Member to await the Civil Aviation Bill which will, I hope, be available in the near future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware of the anxiety felt by cadets serving on training ship H.M.S. "Conway," and other similar ships, concerning the delay in announcing arrangements for such cadets to take courses which will fit them for careers in civil aviation; and if he is now in a position to make a statement on the subject.

As the reply is rather long I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, if he will make a statement about the recent overseas tour of the Minister; and what results were achieved.

The Conference which my Noble Friend attended in Wellington recommended the establishment of a South Pacific Air Transport Council, for the co-ordination and development of air services in that area. It also recommended the early establishment of a new organisation to be called British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines to operate services between Sydney and Vancouver and between Auckland and Vancouver in parallel partnership with the Canadian company, Trans-Canada Airlines. The new organization will comprise the interests of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what is meant by the words "parallel partnership?" Does it mean that the partners have been extended and so far produced that they will never meet?

I certainly trust that the aircraft will never meet in this parallel partnership.

What does "parallel partnership" mean? The Parliamentary Secretary has not told us that.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on what date B.O.A.C. will resume a regular trans-Atlantic air service.

The British Overseas Airways Corporation has been operating a trans-Atlantic service between Prestwick and Montreal six times a week since September, 1941. It is expected that this will be supplemented by a service between the United Kingdom and the United States in July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a decision has yet been reached on the Report of the Commission on Higher Education in West Africa.

No, Sir. During the recent West African Council, my right hon. Friend discussed with the Governors the very complicated issues raised by the reports. The recommendations of the reports are now receiving active attention in the light of the Governors' reports and the information gained at the West African Council.

Has not a long time been taken by the hon. Gentleman to make up his mind? I thought he gave some indication to West Africa that he had his mind partly made up on this matter. Has his mind deteriorated?

No, Sir. I think my hon. Friend will appreciate that it was a matter on which the fullest opportunity' should be given for the West Africans to express themselves and for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies to learn at the recent West African Council the views of the Governors and the local people.

Are there any educated West Africans who would put into English the phrase "complicated issues "?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any encouragement has been given to the West African colonies to expand their production of wheat, rice and millet, in order to ensure the adequacy of their food supplies in the prevailing world shortage.

Ever since the war started the West African Colonial Governments, in common with other Colonial Governments, have been urged to do all in their power to increase production of foodstuffs both for local consumption and export, and to keep me informed of progress made and assistance required. The question has again received special emphasis and attention in recent months. As far as cereals are concerned, the West African Colonies are expected this year to be virtually self-sufficient in rice, maize, millet, and native seed crops. Wheat can be grown only in small quantities in Northern Nigeria and flour therefore has to be imported, but the quantities required are very small.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when supplies of acetic and formic acid are likely to be available to estates which have joined the Malay Rubber and Estate Owners' Company, Limited, and which are now in production.

The Malayan Rubber Estate Owners' Company has placed orders through the Ministry of Supply for 134 tons of formic acid and one-third of this quantity is now awaiting shipment in this country. I understand that the company has placed, and has had accepted, orders for acetic acid in Australia, but I have no information as to the date when these supplies will be shipped.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the basis on which plantation supplies are being made available to estates which have joined the Malay Rubber Estate Owners' Company, Limited.

The Malayan Rubber Estate Owners Company was formed among all companies and owners of over 100 acres of rubber for the purpose of ensuring a fair distribution of equipment and services which were thought likely to be in short supply. Arrangements have been made whereby the company's requirements of supplies in this country are ordered at its request by the Colonial Office from the Ministry of Supply against an undertaking by the Company to take them over on a c.i.f. basis. The distribution of such supplies after the c.i.f. stage is a matter for the Board of the Company.

Is the Under secretary aware that some estates which are now in full production have received nothing from this organisation so far except requests for subscriptions and reams of paper? If it cannot produce supplies of essential materials would it not be better to wind it up?

The delay is not on the side of the Government. These orders were placed in December and the Ministry of Supply is handling them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, under what pro vision of the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1890, Orders in Council conferring British citizenship upon inhabitants of a foreign country are promulgated.

I am not aware of any Orders in Council made under the provisions of the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, which confer British nationality upon the inhabitants of a foreign country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, under what pro vision of the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1890, it is proposed to vest in the Crown all lands in the Malay States not in private possession and to issue titles to such lands as Crown grants; whether the explanatory note supplied to Sir Harold MacMichael referred to this proposal; when it was communicated to the rulers of the Malay States; and whether it is contained in the treaties recently concluded with these rulers.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the proposed transfer of assets described in paragraph 12(a) of Command Paper No. 6749 as qualified by the exceptions noted in paragraph 12(d) of that Paper. The answer to the first part of the Question is that the necessary powers are conferred by Section I of the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1890. As regards the remainder of the Question, I would invite the hon. Member's attention to Sir Harold MacMichael's report recently published as Colonial Paper No. 194. As stated in paragraph 10 of Appendix I to the Report the explanatory note handed to each Ruler contained a clear statement of His Majesty's. Government's intention in this regard. That note was given to each Ruler, after a full verbal explanation of its contents, at interviews which took place on various dates between the 18th of October (Johore) and the 21st of December (Trengganu). It was not necessary for the treaties with the Rulers (the texts of which are contained in Appendix II to the Report) to deal specifically with this matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what will be the rate of demobilisation, in groups, up to June, 1946, of officers and warrant officers in the following branches of the R.N.: medical officers, dental officers, chaplains and Naval schoolmasters.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 11th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Dumfries (Major N. Macpherson).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has considered the resolution from the Dunfermline Trades Council and Burgh Labour Party sent to him by the hon. Member for Fife, Western, calling for an immediate decision on the future of Rosyth naval base; and what answer he has made.

Yes, Sir. I fully appreciate the anxiety of Scotland to be given a definite decision on the future of Rosyth Dockyard. This must, however, depend upon the size of the postwar Navy, and the commitments which it is required to undertake. These questions are engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government, but it is likely to be some time be fore any firm decision is reached. As soon as I am in a position to make any statement concerning the future of Rosyth, I shall do so. The reply to the resolution will be on these lines.

Is not the Minister aware that the question of Rosyth should be considered in relation to Scotland and not in relation to the plans for the South of England, and will he consider it from that point of view?

I will certainly consider the urgent need of Scotland, but I am primarily concerned with the urgent need of the Navy to have the bases in the right places.

asked the Minister of Food how many food officers are. without supplies of the special cards for giving pregnant women priority in food queues; why these cards were allowed to go out of print; and what steps he intends to take to grant pregnant women priority in food queues until the cards are again available.

No food office should be without supplies of the queue priority labels for expectant mothers, but I am aware that certain food offices in the London area failed to replenish their stocks of these labels and some offices were without supplies for a time, although ample stocks were available and the form is not out of print. This position in London has now been remedied and steps will be taken to see that similar circum stances do not arise again.

asked the Minister of Food why he is insisting that importers without selling or wholesale premises should sell through first hand salesmen to wholesalers; and whether he will consider allowing them to sell direct to wholesalers as in prewar days.

Importers, whether they have selling premises or not, may sell direct to wholesalers. They may not themselves act as wholesalers unless they did so before the war and hold a whole sale licence.

Is the hon. Lady aware that these first hand salesmen are additional middlemen between the tomatoes and the public, and will she look into the matter again?

The first hand sales man and the wholesaler have the same licence, and the importer can deal with either. He does not have to deal with both. They are not an extra link in our chain of distribution.

asked the Minister of Food why he has introduced into the distribution machinery for tomatoes from the Canary Islands a superfluous category known as first hand salesmen; whether he is aware that these men were not used before the war and that they will serve no function other than raising the retail selling price; and whether he proposes to establish first hand salesmen pools for the distribution of other fresh fruits and vegetables which he has promised to have imported from the Continent.

If the hon. Member is referring to the two associations which have been established to secure as far as possible equitable distribution of Canary Island tomatoes, these are in no sense an additional or superfluous category of distributors. They do not affect the importer's freedom to sell to any wholesaler. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No, Sir."

Is the hon. Lady aware that a certain group of importers of Canary tomatoes did offer to bring them across to this country and sell them to the public cheaper, provided that the first hand salesmen were dispensed with?

I think the hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. These organisations are sponsored by the Ministry of Food, but they are non-profit . making. There is no question of their getting an extra margin. We set them up merely for the purpose of ensuring equitable distribution of the avail able tomatoes.

Will my hon. Friend examine again the Tomatoes Order of October, 1945, in which she will find there are additional middlemen?

I am very anxious that additional middlemen should not be introduced. I can assure the hon. Gentle man that I have examined these Orders very closely, and I cannot agree with him.

Is the hon. Lady aware that there is a distinct difference between the Ministry's definition of a first hand sale or a first hand salesman in the Tomatoes Order, 1941, and the Tomatoes Order, 1945, and that it is a fact that, if a first hand salesman does not make a profit, he receives a definite, substantial and almost totally unearned increment?

What happens to the difference between the buying and the selling price of the tomatoes paid to and received by the first hand salesman?

Of course, we have middlemen at the moment. What I have told the House is that we have not introduced any additional link in our chain. During the war, when we set up our machinery of distribution, we decided to use the men who were functioning in the particular industry, which I think was equitable, and for the time being we are using them; but I cannot at the moment tell the hon. Gentleman what the shape of things to come will be.

asked the Minister of Food why ships carrying food for storage are being diverted from Glasgow to London and Liverpool.

No ships carrying food intended for storage in Glasgow are being diverted to London or Liverpool, but the normal interchange of destinations necessitated by the food position in this country has taken place.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the approaching victory celebrations on 8th June, he will afford bakeries an increased amount of sugar, fats, tea, etc., so that children and old people may partake of a public tea as part of the day's celebration; and if, to regulate possible abuse, he will make it obligatory that persons organising such a function shall obtain a certificate of bona fides from the clerk of the local authority, or the food officer for the area.

The arrangements for the victory celebrations on 8th June are being prepared, and a statement will be made in due course.

asked the Minister of Food what is the price being paid per cwt. for the bulk purchase of blue peas by his Department in Holland.

My right hon. Friend does not consider that it would be in the national interest to state publicly the prices which his Department pay for their purchases.

Is the hon. Lady prepared to give any reason for that statement?

Certainly, Sir. I think every businessman in the House realises that the Ministry of Food are in part a trading concern, and it is not advisable to disclose all the prices we give.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will state the amount of wheat and flour held in reserve at 31st December, 1943.