asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider recruiting for permanent service in the peacetime Navy coloured colonial person- nel in the United Kingdom and within the Empire who may wish to serve; and whether he will amend the conditions for entry in the Service which at present exclude anyone of non-European descent and which constitute an official colour-bar against entry.

While I have every sympathy with the object which my hon. Friend seeks to achieve, I feel sure he will appreciate that a decision of this character must await the return of my right hon. Friend. Quite apart from this I very much hope, however, that in any case developments in Imperial defence will provide opportunities of service at sea for coloured colonial personnel in local Naval defence forces.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if minesweepers of the British Pacific Fleet, engaged in actual sweeping, receive the same allowance that is paid to minesweepers operating in home waters.

Officers and men of the British Pacific Fleet engaged on mine sweeping duties are still in receipt of Japanese Campaign Pay, which covers the liability to engage in warlike operations. They do not, therefore, receive the extra pay which for the present is being issued for operational minesweeping in other waters.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will make an early decision with regard to the future of the R.A.F. stations at Horsham St. Faiths and Scottow, Norfolk, the use of which stations necessitates the continued closing of the Norwich-Cromer road, and the Norwich-North Walsham road.

I have been asked to reply. The airfields at Horsham St. Faiths and Coltishall near Scottow are still in use for flying and will probably be needed permanently by the Royal Air Force. The Air Ministry is, therefore, consulting the Ministry of Transport on the question of providing suitable alternative routes for traffic.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that 1775195 L.A.C. Plant, who, because his father was no longer able to manage his farm owing to multiple strokes, was given 28 days' compassionate leave whilst his case was being investigated by his Department, has now been ordered to return to service by the adjutant of 6247 Servicing Echelon, Chilbolton; and if he will grant Class B release to this man immediately as promised in his letter of 9th March.

The hon. Member will now have received my hon. Friend's further letter about this case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if a regular air service between Rome and the United Kingdom is in operation; and when it was inaugurated.

Yes, Sir. A weekly service was introduced on 14th March last.

asked the Minister of Food (1) what arrangements are made by his Department for starting a school canteen; and why similar arrangements have not been made for the opening of the canteen at St. Peter's Training College, Peterborough;

(2) if he is aware that the 15 residential tutors and 172 resident students of St. Peter's Training College, Peterborough, will not be able to buy a cup of tea and other rationed foods at the canteen, as his Department will only allow a canteen for the five non-resident tutors and 28 non-resident students; and how this ruling compares with the practice of the colleges at Cambridge and Oxford.

Under arrangements made between my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education and myself, catering licences for the provision of school meals are granted, on application by the local education or other school authority, to schools which have suitable facilities. Residential colleges are licensed as institutions and receive supplies of rationed foods on the ordinary domestic scale. Additional supplies of such foods are allowed on the catering establishment scale for meals served to non-residents. These arrangements apply in the case of the college mentioned by the hon. Member in common with all other residential institutions, including the colleges at Oxford and Cambridge. The college authorities are at liberty to use pad of their rationed food supplies for canteen purposes for resident students, but I am not prepared to make additional supplies available for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that the present price to producers for poultry and rabbits is in many cases insufficient to repay the cost of production, he will make the necessary adjustments to ensure that producers receive a fair return for their labours.

The adequacy of the present prices to producers for poultry is under consideration and I hope to be in a position to make a statement shortly. The prices to producers for rabbits are, in my view, adequate and I see no reason for increasing them.

asked the Minister of Food the reasons which caused the following to become unfit for human consumption, namely: 214 lbs. of tea, 924 cases of canned fruit, 83 cases of tomato puree, 125 cases of beans in tomato and 165 tons of cereals and cereal products; what steps he has taken to prevent a recurrence in the future; and how many dozen units were contained in each case.

Two hundred and fourteen lbs. of tea became unfit for human consumption through damage by oil or water while in public warehouses. The value of the damaged tea has been claimed from the warehousekeepers. Seven hundred cases of canned fruit, part of a consignment of 11,600 cases of pineapple received during 1945 from the United States under Lease-Lend terms for issue to the Fighting Services suffered deterioration and became unfit for human consumption owing to the acid action of the fruit upon inferior tinplate and as the result of a canning defect. This is unlikely to recur. Two hundred and twenty-four cases, less than 1 per cent.—a not undue percentage—of canned fruit, drawn from ten consignments, totalling 23,400 cases, exhibited various defects. Eighty-three cases of tomato puree were found on arrival in this country to have been damaged during ocean transit; the damage to stocks of this commodity amounted to 0.0385 per cent. of the total. One hundred and twenty-five cases of beans in tomato represents part of the residue of 19,000 tons released during a six-months' period after three years' storage. These defects are less than those to be expected in normal commercial practice. I am satisfied that all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure the satisfactory condition of stored foodstuffs. The number of units in each case varies according to the size of the cans, but the cases contained 45 lb. of canned fruit or canned tomato puree or 48 lb. of baked beans. Of the cereals and cereal products, 124 tons were either damaged in store or were sweepings collected during the clearing of stores. Forty-one tons were damaged by exceptional flooding. All damaged cereals and cereal products were used for animal feeding. Some loss of cereals and cereal products, when stored in bulk in any but the most modern stores, is inevitable. Since the outbreak of war, it has been necessary to use much accommodation that was not designed or ideally suited for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Food if he is satisfied that the possibility of increasing food supplies in this country from sources in Eire and Northern Ireland has been fully investigated, and that the maximum supplies are being secured from these sources.

The answer to both parts of the Question is, "Yes, sir."

asked the Minister of Food what is his estimated output of bacon from British factories for 1946 and 1947, respectively, with the esti- mated imports from Denmark and other countries for similar periods; and whether he will give an assurance that in arranging for any increased bacon supplies he will give priority to facilitating an increased output from British factories.

The estimated output of bacon from British factories in 1946 is 111,000 tons. Total imports from Denmark and other sources in 1946 are estimated at 184,000 tons. It is too soon yet to say what will be available in 1947. With regard to the second part of the Question, in view of the shortage of bacon, which will certainly continue for a considerable time, I am unable to give the assurance asked for, since I must obtain bacon from all possible sources of supply.

asked the Minister of Food if he will authorise a supplementary food permit for the supply of 250 midday meals at the works canteen of Messrs. Harland and Wolff (Finnieston), Limited, Warroch Street, Glasgow, on 13th April, so that the employees concerned may attend the international football match in the city on that day without loss of working time.

I regret that, in the present circumstances of food shortage, I am not prepared to sanction additional supplies of rationed foods for the purpose indicated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to make the second allocation, suspended since early in 1945. of yarn and cloth for utility curtains; and how many months he estimates will elapse between the making of the allocation and the appearance of the goods in marketable form.

Allocations of yarn for the production of utility curtains have already been resumed and cloth now being woven will appear in a marketable form from June onwards. Meanwhile, suitable Government surplus cloths have been added to the utility range and some of these are already available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of furnishing fabrics which is preventing even a supply of articles for home trade, utility curtains and other furnishings; and whether it is his intention of lifting the ban under which these articles are prohibited from being produced.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given on Monday last to the hon. Members for Newark (Mr. S. Shephard), Bolton (Mr. J. Lewis). and Chislehurst (Mr. Wallace).

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Messrs. Sanderson and Company, of Clydesdale House, Manchester, were only allowed one pound weight of wool material under Section 4 of the Wool Export Group. Bradford, for all countries.

With the allocations for each period, a guarantee is given to each exporter that he shall receive in four months at least one-seventh of his exports during the basic year. Allocations issued to this firm under Section 1 and 2, which embrace the Empire, certain specific markets and European countries, amount to some thousands of pounds but are 1 lb. short of the guarantee of one-seventh. This amount has been granted to them as an open allocation which can be exported anywhere in the world. It can, therefore, be added to one of their existing allocations for specific destinations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he anticipates being able to release the Hampstead Picture Playhouse, which at present is being used for sorting and storing potato sacks.

I am sorry that it is not yet possible to say exactly when the premises will be released. They are being used to full capacity by the Ministry of Food and I can only assure the hon. Member that they will not be retained any longer than is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the issue of coupon-free towels to the hairdressing trade, announced some months ago, is to take place.

I hope the distribution of towels will begin by the end of this month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the complaints of increasing shortage of children's sandals in Glasgow footwear stores: and whether he will take steps to have the supplies augmented.

If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the complaints he has received, I will have inquiries made and write to him as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends, at an early date, to announce the terms of reference of a committee to inquire into weights and measures legislation, having in mind the necessity of making progress on this matter in so far as coal and fruit and vegetables are concerned.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to similar Questions on the 5th and 26th November last. I regret that I cannot see my way to put such an inquiry in hand at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that official ceiling prices for dry South American cattle hides were advanced two weeks ago by 20-25 per cent. and that, despite repeated requests for a similar revision in prices for British Empire hides, no information can be obtained; and when an announcement on this matter will be made.

No further increases in the prices of Empire hides are in contemplation at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether priority will be given to ex-Servicemen in the disposal of surplus Army stores, furniture, etc.

I have been asked to reply. I regret that it is not practicable to make special arrangements for the direct sale of Government surplus stores, including furniture, to individuals.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) what types of surplus Government stores have been, or are to be, sold by auction; what is the total value of such stores; and what are the receipts to date from these sales;

(2) what are the factors which determine whether surplus Government stores are sold by auction or disposed of in other ways.

At present only vehicle, are to be sold by auction. No sales have yet been held and I am afraid it is not possible to estimate in advance what these sales will realise. Government surplus stores are normally sold by competitive tender or through a scheme negotiated with. the industry or trade concerned. Sales by auction will only be used in special cases to supplement these methods, so that the goods may reach the user as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the difference in price per ton being paid in West Africa and in Ceylon for British purchases of copra; what are the reasons for this difference; at what prices the copra is sold in this country; and what is the price of copra in New York.

The comparative prices are £20 l0s. f.o.b. Takoradi and £32 8s. f.o.b. Colombo. The higher price paid in Colombo is due to much higher production costs and to the inflated price of copra in the neighbouring Indian market. West Africa normally supplies only very small quantities of copra, imports from that area in 1945 being only 785 tons, compared with 50,000 tons from Ceylon. The Ministry of Food do not sell any copra in this country, but pass it to the manufacturers for conversion into processed products which they receive back for re-sale. Ceylon copra shipped to the United States under Combined Food Board allocations is sold at the Colombo price already quoted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the fact that no dockets are now issued for linen to planters and other civilians returning to the Far East after recuperation in Great Britain, he will arrange with the British military authorities there to leave all surplus stocks in the Far East for purchase locally by these civilians on arrival.

The hon. and gallant Member's suggestion will be brought to the notice of the Governors and the officer in charge of the disposal of surplus stores in the territories concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are detained or forced to reside away from their homes for reasons of a non criminal character. in the East African Colonies.

As stated in my answer to my hon. Friend on 27th March, there are no persons detained in the East African Territories. There are, however, 17 Africans who have been deported from one part of Uganda to another where, though they are not detained, their movements and relations with other persons are subject to restriction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that his labour adviser, in his recent Report on labour conditions in East Africa, states that Government Departments in Tanganyika do not always fulfil their legal obligation to provide housing for workers, thus providing private employers with an excuse for their own shortcomings; and what action he intends to take.

Yes, Sir. The law requires that employers shall properly house their servants if they cannot them selves obtain suitable housing conveniently near to their work. The Government of Tanganyika fully recognises its responsibility, but it has not been possible under war-time conditions to provide housing of a suitable standard in all cases. During the last 12 months since my Labour Adviser's visit the Government has been studying the problem of improving the housing of its employees and hope to remedy the present situation as more European supervisory staff, labour and materials become available. The situation will continue to receive my close attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans exist for the extension of education facilities for African girls in Kenya.

The provision of extended educational facilities for African women and girls forms part of a seven year plan for female education in Kenya for which a grant has been made under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. A sum of £39,000 has been included for the building of three provincial centres for the training of African women teachers. Two of the principals for the centres have already been appointed. Three specialists have also been appointed under the plan to supervise training in domestic science, physical culture and Froebel junior work. They will be employed on part time teaching duties in the African training centres. It is also intended to establish a secondary school for African girls. I may add that a conference will be held shortly to review the whole field of African women's education in Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the Government of Palestine have adequate plans for housing and adequate machinery for carrying them through.

Yes, Sir. The plans and machinery are satisfactory, but there is room for improvement in the supply of building materials. The Government of Palestine are fully alive to the serious nature of the housing problem, which has arisen as a result of great increases in the population and interference with normal building activities, first by the disturbances of 1936-39 and then by the diversion of effort and supplies to purposes directly related to the prosecution of the war. As a result of surveys conducted by public arid private bodies, which revealed the great congestion obtaining, particularly in urban areas, a central advisory committee on housing was appointed in 1944 and plans made for an expanding housing programme as soon as conditions would permit the importation of essential materials, such as timber and steel, which are not available locally.

Bulk orders were placed and importing arrangements made by the Government to ensure the provision of building materials at the lowest possible cost. When these began to arrive in 1945 the Government Emergency Building Scheme was put into operation, to provide accommodation at reasonable rents for the cramped population of the urban centres of Jerusalem, Jaffa, Tel-Aviv and Haifa. This scheme, which is progressing favourably, will provide accommodation for some 14,000 families. Municipal schemes and programmes of Housing Associations and Private Companies designed to accommodate some 12,000 families have received Government approval and are now under way.

The supply of building materials imported under Government auspices is constantly improving and the local mass production of standardised components organised by the Controller of Heavy Industries has substantially reduced the cost of those items. The plans and the machinery are satisfactory and every effort is being made to secure the materials necessary for the realisation of these plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has seen the Report of the Tuberculosis Adviser to the Comptroller for Development and Welfare, that special control measures will fail in Trinidad unless housing conditions are improved; and what plans the Government of Trinidad have to improve these conditions.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the statement to which my hon. Friend refers. The Government of Trinidad have extensive plans for the improvement of housing conditions. There are six housing settlements in the Colony, located at St. James, Morvant, Mon Repos, Les Efforts, Hubertstown and Siparia, at which a total of 1,170 houses have been completed while a further 170 are under construction. In addition, two areas of 50 acres each located in the sugar growing districts have been surrendered to Government free of charge by Caroni Estates, Limited, and Usine Sainte Madeleine Sugar Company for development into rural housing schemes. The provision of funds is now under consideration. There are also two land settlement schemes at which there are a total of 182 houses.

Further, slum clearance operations are proceeding within the areas of the City of Port of Spain and the Borough of San Fernando. In the former, 184 properties have been acquired and a number of self contained flats have been constructed or are under construction. In the latter, 203 properties have so far been acquired and self contained flats similar to those in Port of Spain are under construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the inquiry into the recent disturbances, resulting in deaths, in Jamaica has now been completed; and what steps are being taken to bring to trial those responsible for the casualties.

Inquiries have not yet been completed; and it is: lot possible at this stage to say what further action may be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make about the murder of 70 Malays in a mosque at Bikaw, Perak, on 6th March and, in general, about racial ill feeling and violence in Malaya.

I am aware of this regrettable incident, which has been reported by the military authorities in Malaya. In the Report, the number of Malays killed is stated as 56. The racial feeling in Malaya which has given rise to this and to a number of other clashes during the last four months between the Malay and Chinese communities in different parts of the Peninsula, is the direct outcome of the Japanese occupation. The Military Administration has reported that in the case of these outbreaks it has always been able to count upon the ready support of the leaders of both sides, Chinese and Malay, in re-establishing order. I am informed that the clashes, in which the provocation and the losses have been on both sides, have been most serious in the Perak River area. The position is being carefully watched by the Governor.

The following details of disturbances which took place prior to that referred to by the hon Member are given for the information of the House:

(1) In Kuala Pilah District. At Padang Lebar in the Kuala Pilah district, on 6th November, 1945, a large crowd of some three to four hundred Malays attacked and killed 40 Chinese, a large proportion of whom were women and children.

(2) In the Village of Lambor Kanan, north of Teluk Anson. Perak. On 30th December, 1945, in the village of Lambor Kanan, north of Teluk Anson, Perak, after increasing inter-racial friction during the previous several days, a party of about l00 Chinese attacked the Malay population of the village and killed some three Malays and injured 14. It is estimated that during this clash the losses to the Chinese were approximately 25 killed. Connected disturbances in other areas of Lower Perak spread over a period of three weeks brought the death roll up to approximately 60 Chinese and 30 Malays.

(3) In Raub District of Pahang. At Batu Malim on the 11th of February, 1946, a clash took place in the market when a party of about 200 Malays and about 150 Chinese became involved in a disturbance. In the fighting which followed, according to the latest official reports, some 30 Chinese were killed in- cluding 10 children and two Malays. In addition approximately 16 Chinese and 10 Malays were wounded.

(4) In a village on the Perak River in the Kuala Kangsar district A large party of armed Chinese made an unprovoked attack on the Malays in the very early hours of the morning while they were still sleeping in their beds killing as many as 50 of them and injuring many others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make about praedial larceny on rubber estates and about the arming of estate managers and other civilians for self protection.

Looting, gang robbery and theft on rubber estates were very prevalent during November and December last, but the position has considerably improved with the return of European managers and the patrolling of estates by mobile military and police detachments. Estates are being provided with guards, who are selected for their reliability, and are given the powers of police constables within the area o f the particular estate on which they are employed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider amending the Fiji Constitution to ensure that in any matter of local concern where a substantial majority of elected Legislative Council members support a motion, it should not be vetoed by the Governor without prior reference to himself.

Yes, Sir. I will consider this point in consultation with the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if sympathetic consideration is being given to the demand of the European Electors Association of Fiji for constitutional reform to provide for the abolition of unofficial nominated members and a majority of elected members in the Legislative Council elected on the basis of universal suffrage; that members representing Fijians should be elected and not nominated; and that unofficial nominated members of the Executive Council should be selected from elected members of the Legislative Council.

I am aware that proposals for reform on these lines have been put forward by certain of the European electors. But I am not sure how far they would receive general public support in Fiji. I will include the matters raised by my hon. Friend in the inquiries which I am making of the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that his Department is absorbing as many demobilised unemployed ex-officers as is reasonably possible.

Yes, Sir. Among the men of United Kingdom origin, selected for appointment to the Colonial Service since 1st June, 1945, 84 per cent. came from the Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish the full text of the Report on the Greek elections by the Allied Supervisory Commission as soon as it has been received by his Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has yet received a report from the official observers on what percentage of the total Greek electorate and what percentage of the actual voters recorded their votes for the Monarchist parties at the recent elections in Greece.

Information on the recent Greek elections is at present still incomplete, but it is my right hon. Friend's intention as soon as the complete report is received to publish it.

asked the Minister of Supply how many Sunderlands or other aircraft have been purposely destroyed since the end of the war with Japan; and for what reason

Apart from those unserviceable or obsolescent aircraft which have been broken down for scrap, a total of 26 Sunderland flying boats and 85 Barracudas have been sunk since the end of the war with Japan. It would not have been economical to dispose of these aircraft in any other way.

l00.asked the Minister of Supply what experiments and research are taking place in this country in the development of helicopter flying and manufacture.

Research and experimental work on helicopters is being carried out for my Department at three aircraft firms. Each firm is designing experimental types which it is hoped will lead to the production of small helicopters of the four-seater class for both civil and military uses. Research and experimental work is also in progress at the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will reduce the rents of the bungalows owned by his Department at Penffridd Gardens, Bangor, North Wales, as they are inferior to local council houses which are let at lower rents.

These bungalows were built to wartime standards and are not eligible for subsidy under the Housing Acts. My right hon. Friend, is, however, at present considering, with the other interested Departments, whether the basis of assessment of rent on this and other estates should be revised.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he considers the conditions and food served in canteens attached to Government Departments in London satisfactory.

In nearly all of these canteens responsibility for conditions and food rests with Committees consisting mainly Of staff representatives Canteen facilities in the Civil Service are under discussion with the Staff Associations

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the continuous strain on the wives of farmers, particularly on small farms in Wales, he will establish a scheme to render them some domestic relief to enable them to take a short rest to recuperate themselves.

I appreciate the difficulties with which farmers' wives have to contend owing to the shortage of domestic workers. My local offices already give their vacancies priority and make every endeavour to fill them. When the National Institute of Houseworkers is set up it will, as I indicated in my statement on 7th February, give special consideration to the needs of the farming community.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the shortage of many classes of building materials, he will consider granting immediate release from the Services for all key workers on terms no less favourable than Class A releases.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of agricultural workers who have applied for releases under the B and C Schemes; and how many of these have been granted such release since 1st January, 1946.

I have been asked to reply. Agricultural workers should not apply for Class B release, but individual authorities are issued by the Service Departments for an offer of Class B release to be made to all those eligible. The figures, which include both those dealt with under the Block release scheme and individual specialists are as follow: — Navy. Army. R.A.F. Offer of Class B release authorised 1,600 27,299 6,915 Released under Class B between 1st January and 15th March, 1946 172 6,420 1,586

In a considerable number of cases the release authority was issued comparatively recently and the result of the offer is therefore not yet known.

Two hundred and forty-four men released from the Army under Class C were recorded as agricultural workers, but it does not follow that all of them returned to agriculture, nor was the reason for their release necessarily connected in any way with their occupation. Records are not available of the number of agricultural workers released under Class C in the other two Services.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General by what means the B.B.C. knows that its broadcasts in German are listened to by an appreciable public in Germany.

The Corporation derives its information principally from letters from the public in Germany, from reports by members of its staff who visit Germany, and other visitors, and from references to the broadcasts which appear in the German Press.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that district nurses, specifically those associated with the Queen's Institute of District Nursing, who serve the sick and infirm in rural areas will have their position safeguarded.

At this stage of the new Bill I can give no guarantees, but it will certainly be my object to see that proper use is made of all good existing resources in the health services.

asked the Minister of Education at what colleges or other institutions and at what time intensive courses will soon be held to enable ex-Servicemen with ordinary national certificates, to obtain higher national certificates in electrical engineering; and what arrangements have been made to enable such men to obtain grants to assist them in attending such courses.

Intensive courses for Higher National Certificates in Electrical Engineering and in other subjects will be available for ex-Servicemen at selected Technical Colleges throughout the country. Grants will be made under the Further Education and Training Scheme. Arrangements have already been made for a few courses to begin in September, and at least one in June. Other centres will be utilised as the need develops and groups of students become available. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and I are considering arrangements for dealing with applications from individual students so that they can be directed to the most convenient centre

asked the Minister of Education why approval has not been given to the proposals submitted by the city of Oxford education committee on 7th December, 1945, with regard to heads of departments, senior assistants and posts of special responsibility in the schools of technology, art and commerce, Oxford.

The proposals of the Oxford local education authority will he dealt with as soon as practicable. The salary scales when agreed upon will, of course, be payable with effect from 1st April. 1945.

asked the Minister of Education how many emergency training colleges have been opened to date and how many are likely to be opened in 1946, giving the number of students accommodated or to be accommodated in each case and whether for men or for women.

Fifteen Emergency Training Colleges have so far been opened with 1,634 men and 1,196 women students. Buildings for 20 more have been secured and are in various stages of conversion. Of these, 17 will accommodate 3,557 men and 949 women; the accommodation of the other three is not yet settled. Further buildings are being secured on which it is hoped to complete the work of conversion before the end of 1946.

asked the Prime Minister if he will inquire which old age pensioners and which wounded members of His Majesty's fighting forces will be unable, owing to their infirmity, wounds or illness, to take part in the forthcoming Victory celebrations; and if he will make some special provision for, or grant to, them to enable them to enjoy the occasion.

I regret that it would be impracticable to make special provision on a national basis for old age pensioners who may be unable to take part in the celebrations. Arrangements are being made to enable disabled men of the three Services, widows and dependants of those who have fallen, and Service pensioners to be given special consideration in the forthcoming Victory celebrations. It is intended that a portion of the route in the procession shall be set aside for their use.

Local authorities have been invited to consider the provision of a special programme of entertainment for their benefit, and for aged persons who may be unable by reason of infirmity to take any active part in celebrations. It has also been suggested to local authorities that entertainments for hospitals and institutions would he welcomed by the residents, and His Majesty's Government hope that local authorities responsible for such establishments will arrange for the provision of suitable entertainments.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in connection with the forthcoming Victory celebrations, he will grant an amnesty to all naval, military and air force prisoners, undergoing sentences for service crimes.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton) on 6th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many R.A.S.C. officers, and in which release groups, have been warned that their release will be deferred.

Complete and up to date figures are not at present available. I hope, however, to receive up to date figures within the next few days and I will then write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will institute an immediate inquiry into the circumstances whereby Gunner David Pirie Hay, of the Cameron Highlanders, was recently charged before a court martial with offences which had previously been the subject of a charge before a civilian court, at a time when Gunner Hay was entitled to assume that he had been demobilised.

On 12th January a number of men dressed in civilian clothes broke into a military dance at Kirkwall, and one of them struck the officer in charge of the dance. The man who was alleged to have struck the officer, Gunner Hay, was arrested by the civil police. It subsequently transpired that he was a soldier on release leave and therefore subject to military discipline. The civil police asked that the case should be dealt with by the military authorities. Steps were therefore taken to recall Gunner Hay from leave and on 27th March he was tried by court martial on charges under Section 8 (2) and Section 40 of the Army Act. He was found not guilty on the first charge and guilty on the second charge. He was sentenced to seven days' detention, which has now been completed. Gunner Hay was never tried by a civil court as the civil charge against him was dropped in view of the fact that the Army authorities had agreed to dispose of the case