asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the present abuse of Great Britain, and misrepresentation of her foreign policy emanating from Russia; and, in view of the Treaty of Friendship between the two powers, if he will draw the attention of the Soviet Government to the fact that such action is inconsistent with the spirit of the Treaty.

My right hon. Friend regrets the present campaign carried on against this country by Soviet press and radio. It is difficult to reconcile the tone and intention of Soviet propaganda with the spirit of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of Alliance, Postwar Collaboration and Mutual Assistance of 1942. My hon. Friend, however, may be assured that His Majesty's Government will neglect no means by which misunderstanding may be removed and our policy made plain to the people and Government of Russia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been drawn to the evidence given by Mr. Birger Dahlerus, at the Nuremberg trial, on the meeting between Goering and seven British business men in August, 1939; and if he will publish all documents and papers relative to this meeting held by his Department.

I have seen reports of Mr. Dahlerus' evidence at Nuremberg in which he mentions the incident involving certain British subjects referred to by my hon. Friend. However, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to consider the special publication of any documents in the Foreign Office relating to this matter. Work is in progress for the publication of a selection of documents covering the years 1919–1939, and it would give a misleading picture if individual documents were published in advance of the complete collection.

asked the Minister of War Transport the number of applicants who hold B defence permits; and the number of applications that have been granted and refused, respectively, during the last 12 months, by each Regional Transport Commissioner, respectively.

27,480 operators hold B Defence Permits. During the year ending 28th February, 1946, 2,576 applications for B Defence Permits, other than renewals, were granted and 2,387 refused. Following are the figures for the regions: Region. Number of Holders of "B"Defence Permits at 28.2.46 Number of "B" Defence Permits granted in year ended 28.2.46 (excluding renewals). Number of "B" Defence Permits refused in year ended 28.2.46. Northern 1,056 169 19 North Eastern 2,064 134 21 North Midland 2,715 59 289 Eastern 1,800 80 75 London 2,413 374 312 Southern 1,710 50 250 South Western 2,403 301 240 Wales 1,433 307 134 North Wales 621 209 53 Midland 3,386 238 300 North Western 3,426 62 167 Scotland 1,611 162 157 North Scotland 1,191 131 120 South Eastern 1,651 200 250 27,480 2,576 2,387

asked the Minister of War Transport why he has approved the application of the City of Oxford Motor Services to run omnibus services from Nettlebed and Ewelme, and has refused the applications of the local motor omnibus companies to provide such services; and if he will in future give preference to applications from local companies and reconsider his present decision.

In deciding on applications to provide stage carriage services the Regional Transport Commissioners have regard to the provisions of Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. The City of Oxford Motor Services have served the route between Nettlebed and Henley for many years and I see no reason to interfere with the Commissioner's decision to authorise them to restor prewar facilities in preference to licensing another operator who has not hitherto undertaken stage carriage work. The Commissioner still has under consideration the competing applications to increase the omnibus service from Ewelme to Wallingford.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is yet in a position to state his plans for setting up an adequate road research organisation in this country.

My hon. Friend is perhaps not aware that a Road Research Organisation already exists as part of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and is fully competent to deal with all questions relating to road research. I do not think that anything further is required.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will arrange for a main arterial road, running from North to South Wales and through Central Wales, as a means of uniting arid developing its economic life and assisting in the revival of agriculture and rural activities of Mid-Wales, along the lines of the plans which have been sent to him.

I am anxious to improve the communications between North and South Wales, and also the roads which can serve the tourist traffic, but I do not think that we should be making good use of our resources by constructing at this stage a new arterial road on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend. Such a road would have to traverse mountainous country at a height of over 800 feet for a great part of its length, and would be both difficult and extremely expensive to construct.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether in view of the decision of the Northern Area Traffic Commissioner to bring to an end in the near future priority travel and special journey tickets for workers he will take steps to ensure that a. sufficient number of public service vehicles are available to give at least prewar service to the general public.

The restoration of the period of validity of 12 journey tickets to 14 days involves the withdrawal of priority travel and the Regional Transport Commissioner has decided that by the end of this month the services will be such as to justify that course. I understand that there are already more vehicles in operation at the evening peak period, when the priority scheme applies, than was the case before the war.

asked the Minister of War Transport what are the policy and functions of the European Control Organisation for Internal Transport; what nations are cooperating and which have refused.

The purposes and functions of the European Central Inland Transport Organisation are set out in Command Paper 6685 of 1945, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Governments of the following countries: United States of America, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Yugoslavia.

asked the Minister of War Transport why British cargo ships have been allowed to sail to South Africa in ballast, as in the case of the H.T. "Antenor," particulars of which have been sent to him, when quantities of exports cannot be delivered owing to lack of cargo space; and what steps he is taking to prevent a similar waste of cargo space.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Chertsey (Captain Marsden). There is no general shortage of shipping space for export cargo to South Africa and no useful purpose would therefore have been served by delaying the "Antenor," a troop transport, in order to load cargo.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production how many civilians and how many members of the R.A.F. are working on research in the development of F.I.D.O. which is being continued at Farnborough; what are their qualifications; were any of them previously employed by the Petroleum Warfare Department on similar work; and whether any liaison is being maintained with the U.S.A. experimental station in California where fog dispersal experiments are being made on a large scale.

No research is at present being carried out on the F.I.D.O. system of fog dispersal but the question of its resumption is under careful consideration. I am well aware of the importance of maintaining liaison with the United States on this subject. It is laboratory research into the general principles of fog dispersal that has been carried out at Farnborough.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if he is aware that payments to, or to dependants of, men and women serving in the Forces, manual labour only, are disallowed under his Department's instructions in Government costings, but that similar payments to salaried staff are allowable if considered reasonable; and if he will take steps to remove this anomaly.

This question was fully discussed with representatives of the employers in 1940 and the decision come to has been generally acceptable to industry.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what quantities and value of surplus goods have been disposed of in the past six months by his Department to the public.

The total value of sales by my Department, apart from those to U.N.R.R.A. and the paying Allies, during the six months ending 31st January last was approximately £14,200,000. This consists of:

Made up articles—worth £8,600,000.

Scrap wool and rags—worth £750,000.

Scrap metal—worth £4,850,000.

Quantities are a little difficult to express. Under made up articles are included 111,000 tons of stores measured by tonnage, 94,000 items of significant individual value and 29,000,000 articles of minor value. The scrap wool and rags weighed approximately 9,700 tons and the scrap metal approximately 816,000 tons.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he has considered the recommendation of Lieut.-Colonel Sir Alan Mount, Chief Inspector of Railways, for the adoption on all railways of the sound warning system in use on the G.W.R.; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, Sir. I have asked the railway companies to give consideration to this recommendation and to furnish me with their observations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what further steps have been taken by his Department for hastening the release by the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry of land suitable for agricultural purposes now occupied, by those Departments or affected by their activities.

The work of reviewing future Service requirements of land is being carried out as quickly as possible, and meanwhile arrangements are being made for the maximum agricultural use, compatible with operational requirements, of suitable land now occupied by the Service Departments, or affected by their activities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the Government's policy for agriculture will not enable agricultural workers, whether men or women, to be paid wages approaching those claimed by motor-works employees; and if, in consequence, he will reconsider this policy.

The objective of the Government's agricultural policy is to promote conditions which will allow of the provision of adequate remuneration and decent living conditions for farmers and workers. The Government are actively engaged in creating those conditions. The determination of agricultural wages is a matter for the Agricultural Wages Board and not for the Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure that skilled English farm workers, with several years experience, receive higher remuneration than that paid by the War Office for the services of German prisoners with no agricultural experience.

Skilled farm workers receive at least the appropriate minimum rates laid down by the Agricultural Wages Board and frequently more. The remuneration paid by the War Office to prisoners of war is at the rate of 6d. or 1s. a day, according to the nature of the work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cottage certificates were applied for to W.A.E.C.s in England and Wales from the commencement of the war to date; and the total number granted.

I regret that the information is not available without inquiry. I will write to my hon. Friend when it has been collected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will issue directions to enable those farm workers who were transferred from the arable counties to the grass counties in the early stages of the war to return to work in their home counties; and those who were directed to work in another part of their own county to return to their homes.

Farm workers who took up employment with W.A.E.C.s away from their home districts during the war are covered by the Essential Work Order, and I have no authority to issue directions of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend. A man subject to the provisions of the Order who desires to leave his employment has the right of appeal to the national service officer of the Ministry of Labour.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what extra supply of leather is to be allocated to shoe repairers now that it is permitted to through sole footwear, in view of the fact that their allocation is only two-thirds of the amount used in 1941; and that all ex-Servicemen's and women's repairs must be met from civilian supplies.

The increase in leather supplies to repairers from 60 per cent. of their 1940–1 usage to 66⅔ per cent. which takes effect on 1st April is as much as I can allow for footwear repairs. But any repairer who wishes to do through soling in leather can maintain or increase his total output by using more rubber composition, which will be uncontrolled after 1st April.

asked the President of the Board of trade if he is aware that new clothing regulations which took effect from 13th March, 1946, only reached retailers on that date; and if he will take steps to ensure that a longer period of notice is given in future.

We arc always anxious that reasonable notice should, where possible, be given of detailed changes affecting the trade. In this particular instance, however, my right hon. and, learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade had made a preliminary statement as early as 4th March, in reply to Questions. In view of the widespread interest that this announcement had aroused and the many speculations about the nature of the down pointing that were appearing in the Press, it was obviously desirable to bring the changes into effect as quickly as possible. The details of these changes were finally decided on 8th March, and a notice setting them out was accordingly issued to the Press for publication on 9th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Servicemen on leave in this country who are now allowed to wear civilian clothes, and who are anxious to do so, find in many cases that their prewar civilian clothes no longer fit them, and that, without coupons, they are unable to obtain other suits; and -whether some action will be taken to enable them to take advantage of the permission to wear civilian clothes.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Bodmin (Mr. D. Marshall) on 25th February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider arranging a special increased issue of coupons for disabled men who are compelled to use crutches with consequent greater wear and tear on clothes; and will he consider increasing the inadequate special clothing allowance where artificial limbs are used to bring this allowance into line with present day cost of clothing.

Yes, Sir. Applications for extra clothing coupons from people who have to use crutches or other surgical appliances over a considerable period are always sympathetically considered. The last part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of inadequate suitable clothing worn by some children owing to the shortage of coupons, the possibility will be considered of allowing a small number of coupons to be issued to responsible school officials to be used at their discretion in urgent cases.

As the hon. Member will be aware, children receive supplements additional to their basic ration and it is not possible at present to be more generous.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the inadequacy of the present allocation of clothing coupons to farm workers, in view of the exceptionally heavy wear and tear of this work on clothing and boots; and whether he will take steps to increase their allotment substantially in order to do justice to this section of the community.

No, Sir. Farm workers already receive the Industrial Ten and they can obtain against certificates issued by the county agricultural executive committees coupon free supplies of agricultural gloves, oilskin coats, capes, trousers, leggings or gaiters, rubber boots, milking overalls and oilskin sleeves.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to the demand for demobilisation clothing, delivery of other suits of clothing by manufacturers or wholesalers to retailers has been delayed, with a consequent delay in the delivery by retailers to customers; and whether, in the event of such delay the customer, if cancelling his order, is entitled under the regulations to the return of the clothing coupons lodged when the order was placed.

I am aware of this state of Affairs. Under the Consumer Rationing. Order, a person holding coupons on deposit is required, if so requested by the customer at any time, to return the coupons deposited. I hope, however, that, in such circumstances, customers will be slow to exercise their legal rights, since the delay is not the fault of the retailer and arises from our duty to re-equip those who are demobilised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the retail price of imported Finnish dining chairs is fixed at £I I4s., when the cost price at British ports is only IIs. I0d.

Finnish furniture intended for inclusion in the utility range will be imported in an unassembled, unstained and unpolished condition. The difference between the import and sale prices has accordingly to be made to cover not only the cost of distribution, but also the cost of assembly, staining and polishing. The furniture is also subject to import duty of 20 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take with respect to the North Kalgurli United Gold Development, Commonwealth Mining and Finance, Murchison Gold Development, Beryl Gold Corporation, Meckatharra Gold Mines, and Great Boulder Mining and Finance companies, which are being wound up.

These six companies are all inter-connected and were in voluntary liquidation. Petitions for their compulsory winding up were heard before Mr. justice Vaisey on 18th of this month, and an Order was made for each company to be wound-up by the court under the Companies Act, 1929. The Senior Official Receiver who is now the liquidator of each company is required by Section 182 of the Act to report whether in his opinion further inquiry is desirable as to any matter relating to the promotion, formation, or failure of the companies Or the conduct of the business thereof. As the administration of the affairs of the companies is now in the hands of the court, no action is required by the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why some multiple firms are allowed to open shops in certain towns for the sale of stocks of utility furniture, etc., and to advertise it, when established firms living in the same area are unable to supply their customers who have, in many cases, been waiting 8 to 12 months for the same goods.

As my right hon. and learned Friend informed the House on 17th December, the Location of Retail Businesses Order has now been revoked. No licence is therefore necessary to open a furniture shop. The recent relaxation of restrictions on the transport of utility furniture and the greatly increased production should go a long way toward reducing delays in deliveries, especially those which, like the ones mentioned by the hon. Member, greatly exceed the average for the country as a whole. In addition, manufacturers, who, for the time being, have produced articles in excess of the orders they have received, may, under licence, send these stocks to any retailer in advance of units.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total annual expenditure on the manufacture of British films in the year 1938 and for the latest year for which figures are available: and what he estimates to be the gross annual income derived from the export of British films during the same periods.

On the assumption that the total expenditure on the production of British films was roughly twice the labour costs of the films registered as British long films, the appropriate amounts so expended from the renters' quota year beginning 1st April, 1938, and for the 11 months beginning 1st April, 1945, are as follow:

12 months beginning 1st April, 1938— £4,300,000.

11 months beginning 1st April, 1945— £5,800,000.

I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of gas mantles in the borough of Hackney; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this situation.

Yes, Sir. I am fully aware of this shortage but there is nothing I can add to the statement which my right hon. and learned Friend made on 13th March in reply to the hon. Member for North Kensington (Mr. Rogers).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further statement about the assistance to be granted to ex-traders and the war disabled who wish to enter retail trade and indicate the course he proposes to pursue after 31st March, 1946.

Yes, Sir. We have decided to continue for a further period to assist the present priority classes—war disabled persons and ex-retailers of consumer rationed goods—by granting them coupon floats with which to stock retail shops and to extend this assistance to ex-Servicemen and women, as defined in Section 6, Subsection (1) ( a ) and ( b ) of the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act, 1944, with previous experience of this type of trading Sponsorship of building licences will also be given to the same classes of ex-Servicemen and women, as well as to the present priority classes of ex-traders and war disabled persons.

I should repeat the warnings which my right hon. and learned Friend gave in his statement on this matter on the 17th December. He then said that, while under these arrangements everything possible would be done to help the priority classes to get their shops sufficiently repaired to enable them to open their busi- nesses, there could be no absolute guarantee that labour and materials to carry out the actual work would be immediately available in any particular district, and the grant of licences must, in any case, be contingent upon other urgent demands for building labour in the area. He also stressed that men and women should realise before putting their money into a shop for the first time that they must expect supplies to be difficult for a considerable time to come, particularly for those with no previous trade connections.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma, whether facilities will be given to members of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League to visit this country, with a view to putting their case and their policy before the British people.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 4th February. No advantage has been taken by any member of the League of the facilities therein referred to, the offer of which was renewed by the Governor on 25th February.

asked the Minister of Works if, in view of the large number of unemployed in South Wales, he is taking steps to re-open the brickworks at Cardiff and Caerphilly.

Yes, Sir; in recent months three brickworks in this area were brought into production and two further brickworks are now being cleared and will begin production shortly. One further brickworks which was damaged by enemy action will be brought into production as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Works if he will state what is the present rate of output per week of the brickyards in Northumberland, Durham, North and East Ridings of Yorkshire; how many of these brickyards are not yet fully in production; and the number of men employed now and at the outbreak of war.

In February, 1946, the average weekly output was 3,108,000 bricks and 1,533 persons were employed. In July, 1938, there were 3,468 employees. 57 works are not yet in active production.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when it is anticipated that the proposed plans for Heathrow will be published.

Plans for the first stage of development have already been issued for publication and I am arranging for a sketch to be placed in the Library. My Noble Friend proposes to make a statement shortly regarding the later stages of development.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men are now having to wait over eight weeks for suits due to them on demobilisation; and when the one due to Mr. G. R. O'Donnell, details of which have been sent to him, will be delivered.

As regards the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan) on Tuesday last. I will look into Mr. O'Donnell's case, but it has been necessary to ask him for some further particulars before inquiries can be made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if any special facilities are being afforded demobilised aircrews to keep in flying practice.

I hope that before long an invitation will be issued for substantial numbers of released aircrew to join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and the Auxiliary Air Force, where they will receive refresher training.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution is made from Government funds towards the expenses of conducting the Rowett Research Institute and the North of Scotland College of Agriculture, respectively.

The net contribution from Government funds towards the expenses of conducting the Rowett Research Institute approved for the financial year 1945–1946 amounts to £14,051. In aid of the net maintenance expenditure of the North of Scotland College of Agriculture during the same period, grants amounting to £31,214 have been approved from funds administered by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the Scottish Education Department. In addition, grants of £9,984 have been sanctioned from the Development Fund for the maintenance of the Advisory Services provided by the College.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what number of German prisoners of war it is proposed to allocate to Aberdeenshire for agricultural work.

Under the plan of distribution of the prisoners of war, expected to be available in 1946, Aberdeenshire is, subject to accommodation being found, to get 3,850.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the lack of machinery for distributing vegetables and fruit that happen to be in good supply; and whether he will undertake to reorganise the price rates so that the producer can market, and the consumer have the advantage of such supplies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his next Question. My right hon. Friend is considering the whole question how to ensure that when there is a good supply of fruit and vegetables, as large a part of that supply as possible is brought to market.

asked the Minister of Food the price margins allowable to wholesalers and retailers of fruit and vegetables; and whether he will consider setting up new machinery that will allow fruit and vegetables being made available to the consumer at a more reasonable price.

As regards the first part of the Question the information for which my hon. Friend asks cannot readily be given within the scope of a Parliamentary reply, and I would therefore refer him to the undermentioned statutory rules and orders prescribing maximum prices for fruit and vegetables at all stages of distribution:

Home Grown Fruit and Vegetables

The Home Grown Apples Order, 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 852) as amended by 1946 No. 248.

The Cherries Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 417).

The Pears Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 821) as amended by 1946 No. 248.

The Plums Order (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 785).

The Rhubarb (Maximum Prices) Order 1944 (S.R. & O. 1944 No. 1270) as amended by S.R. & O. No. 1487.

The Soft Fruit Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 429) as amended by Nos. 644 and 712 and 1946 No. 248.

The Home Grown Tomatoes (Control and Maximum Prices) Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 428) as amended by S.R.0.'s Nos 912 and 1326.

The Home Grown Cucumbers (Maximum Prices) Order 1942 (S.R. & O. 1942 No. 477) as amended by No. 1093, by 1943 No. 5 by 1944 No. 1291 and by 1945 No 970.

The Green Vegetables Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No 1169) as amended by 1946 No. 248.

The Leeks (Maximum Prices) Order 1943 (S.R. & O. 1943 No. 1134) as amended by No. 1762 by 1944 No. 1291 and 1946 No. 248.

The Green Onions Order 1945 (S. R. & O. 1945 No. 1669).

The Home Grown Onions Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1382).

The Root Vegetables Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1135) as amended by 1946 No. 248.

The Potatoes (1945 Crop) (No. 2) Order (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1187).

The Carrots (1945 Crop) (No. 2) Order (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1105).

Imported Fruit and Vegetables

The Imported Apples Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1396).

The Bananas Order 1945 (S.R.& O. 1945 No. 1551) as amended by S.R. & O. No. 347.

The Citrus Fruit Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1404) as amended by S.R. & O. 1946 NO. 133.

The Imported Tomatoes (Maximum Prices) Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1325) as amended by S.R. & O. 1946 No. 325.

The Imported Onions Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1410).

With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Salisbury (Major J. Morrison) on 11th March, 1946, of which I am sending him a copy. My right hon. Friend's inquiry into marketing arrangements will cover the question of margins and prices.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a circular was sent to the Wick Kipperers' Association with an allocation form inquiring as to their capacity for kippering; that the association thereupon incurred expense by the purchase of boxes and mush, and in some cases engaged labour, but that on inquiry they were informed that the form had been sent for information only; and whether, in view of the unemployment in Wick, the decision will be reconsidered.

I am aware of the despatch of the circular and form in question, but the circular pointed out that allocations of Norwegian herring would be given only to kipperers at or within easy reach of the landing ports, and in relation to Aberdeen, the nearest landing port to Wick, the circular referred only to the Moray Firth, Edinburgh and Glasgow areas. I am sorry if the Wick kipperers misunderstood the circular, but in view of its terms, they would have been well advised to seek further information from my Department before incurring expenses. Since an allocation of Norwegian herring to Wick would mean unnecessary transport and expense at a time when smoke houses near Aberdeen are not working to capacity, my right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot reverse his decision.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of hostilities only engine room artificers who, having failed the examination for chief E.R.A., have subsequently been promoted to temporary sub-lieutenant (E), R.N.V.R.

To provide the information asked for in this Question would involve the examination of the service certificates of all R.N.V.R. (E) officers promoted from engine room artificer, and this could only be undertaken at the expense of other urgent work. Advancement to chief engine room artificer, which is based upon qualifying examination after very long service, is hardly comparable with promotion to temporary commissioned rank in the engineering branch, which de-

Region Controller Deputy Controller North Rhine Province … Lt.-Col. C. H. Gilbert … … Mr. K. V. Cook. Westfalen … Lt.-Col. R. W. Purvis … … Major S. G. Norton Fagge. Neidersachsen … Lt.-Col. K. F. Taster … … Mr. J. Kent. Weser Ems … Major G. Youard … … Major Hossack. Schleswig Holstein/Hamburg … Major J. A. Hassell … … Major N. Kirk.

Knowledge of conditions in Germany and qualities of leadership and administrative skill are as important as technical qualifications for the work which the

pends upon the early recommendation of candidates of outstanding ability and the successful completion of intensive courses of training. The rating of chief engine room artificer can be attained by examination after a minimum of six years' service, including three years sea going service as engine room artificer, 4th Class, and above, including the period of acting time allowed to reckon. Very few "hostilities only" engine room artificers could have been eligible for this rate before demobilisation.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the names of the controller and deputy controller in each of the five regional food teams in the British zone in Germany; and whether he is satisfied regarding their qualifications in respect of practical knowledge of agriculture and food distribution.

The following officers are acting as controllers and deputy controllers of the five teams:

teams have to do. Nevertheless, each team has leaders with practical knowledge of agriculture or food distribution.