asked the Minister of Education why the Education (Local Education Authority) Grant Provisional Amending Regulations, 1946, have not been superseded by regulations to the like effect made by normal procedure; and when such regulations will be made.

The Provisional Amending Regulations to which the hon. Member refers, and the further Provisional Amending Regulations which were laid before Parliament this week, will be superseded by incorporation in new regulations which will be issued as soon as possible to replace the existing Education (Local Education Authorities) Grant Regulations, as amended.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the case of Mr. Hill, of Whit-horn, Wigtownshire, against whom the Department of Agriculture for Scotland is instituting proceedings.

By direction dated 12th January, 1944, Messrs. P. G. and J. J. Hill, the occupiers of Baltier Farm, Whithorn, Wigtownshire, were instructed by the Agricultural Executive Committee for Wigtownshire to put not less than 108 acres under crop for harvest in 1944. This direction was not fully complied with and the Committee found it necessary in exercise of the powers under Defence Regulation 50, to enter on the land and undertake the work which Messrs. Hill had failed to perform The cost of the work undertaken by the Committee amounting to£151 16s. 9d., was recoverable in terms of Section 6 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 1940. In default of payment I recently authorised legal action for recovery, but settlement of the debt was effected in full on 25th March, before the case was due to be called in Court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider recommending some special recognition of those members of the C.D. services who joined before the war and served through to the end.

As the hon. and gallant Member may know, a similar suggestion was made in favour of members of the Territorial Army who joined before the outbreak of war. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) on the 23rd August last, that the creation of a special emblem in that case would be bound to give rise to many difficulties and it was not proposed to recommend this addition to the series of distinctions already instituted for war service. I cannot, therefore, consider the suggested special recognition for the prewar volunteers in the Civil Defence Services.

asked the Minister of Pensions why the pension paid to Mrs. G. C. Leek of 3, Ravenhill Terrace, Brereton Road, Rugeley, in respect of the death of her husband, 645301, Sergeant G. C. Leek, 49 Squadron, R.A.F., has ceased.

I very much regret that owing to a clerical error there was some delay in awarding widow's pension following the cessation in February last of the Service Allowance paid to Mrs. Leek by the Air Ministry Payment of the appropriate award of widow's pension has now been authorised.

asked the Secretary of Stare for the Home Department the number of persons engaged in the Kent police force in February, 1938, and February, 1946; the cost of the force for these two months or the total cost for the year 1938 and the total estimated cost for the year 1946.

On 28th February, 1938, there were 1,251 regular policemen and one policewoman in the Kent County police force and the nine Borough police forces now amalgamated with it. On the same date in 1946 there were 1,028 regular policemen, 20 regular policewomen, 228 male auxiliaries and 129 women auxiliaries, making a total of 1,405. The cost of the force for the financial year 1938–39 was £503,994 and the preliminary estimate of the cost for the financial year 1946–47 is £936.028