asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware If the need of the Aberdeen granite industry for raw material; and if, as the exchange of iron grit for granite would not affect the rate of exchange or the currency problem, he will give to the Aberdeen Granite Supply Association the licences they seek to import iron grit which Swedish exporters have offered to exchange for granite blocks.

are no longer needed for the export of iron grit. We are not prepared at the present time to grant facilities for the import of granite.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that golf club makers in East Fife, because they are unable to secure an increase in their quota for manufacturing golf clubs for the home market, are likely to be obliged to pay off a considerable number of skilled workers; that these firms are receiving large orders for golf clubs from all over the country, which they are unable to meet; and what action he proposes to take to maintain this British industry offering substantial attractions to overseas visitors as well as to the public at home.

I fully appreciate the desirability of maintaining employment, and I suggest that the golf club makers to whom the hon. Member refers should get into touch at once with the Board of Trade regional officer at Glasgow and he will go into their difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of children's shoes in London; and to what extent maldistribution is the cause of this shortage.

I am not aware of any particular shortage in the London area, but if the hon. Member will give me details of any specific complaints he has received I will look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a shortage of women's shoes, sizes 8½, 9 and 10; that many women wearing these sizes have been unable to obtain shoes for several years past and have been obliged to wear men's shoes; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs.

Yes, Sir; I know that as a result of the general scarcity of footwear there has been a natural tendency for the less popular sizes to be under-produced; but the general footwear position is improving, and the production of larger sizes will rise as more workers return to the industry and increasing supplies of lasts and equipment required for these sizes become available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now include chocolate and confectionery retailers in the scheme to provide coupons for overalls and towels to the food trade.

No, Sir. I do not think that assistants in sweet shops can reasonably claim privileged treatment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he now requires the expenditure of 12 coupons to buy an overcoat for a boy five years of age, whereas he only requires the expenditure of 10 coupons to buy an overcoat for a girl of any age up to 14 years.

Young children's wear, whether for boys or girls, which is pointed at a lower level than adult clothing, very roughly covers the ages 5 to 14. Until 7th June, girls' lined woollen coats within this range which ordinarily cost 12 coupons are reduced to 10 coupons only, whereas a boy still pays 12 coupons for a similar garment. This difference results from the fact that in the case of boys' garments there was no accumulation to justify temporary downpointing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what effect the reduction in the supply of fuel to the alkali factories of Imperial Chemical Industries, in the North-West region, has had on the export trade in alkalis and on the price to the home consumer.

Production of alkali was curtailed towards the end of January owing to insufficiency of coal supplies, and exports during February and March fell below programme by about 34,000 tons. I am informed that, as from 1st April, Imperial Chemical Industries have withdrawn certain price concessions to home consumers who purchase on contract terms, the effect being to increase the cost to such consumers by about 5 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the comparative figures of imports and stocks of potash for agricultural purposes this year as compared with 1944–45.

The comparative figures, in terms of K2O, are as follow:

1944/ 5. Tons. Opening stocks at 1st.July, 1944 14,847 Imports to 31st March, 1945 87,407 Opening stocks plus imports to 31st March. 1945 102,254 1945/6. Tons. Opening stocks at 1st July, 1945 3,270 Imports to 31st March, 1946 89,786 Opening stocks plus imports to 31st March, 19.46 93,056

No stocks were held at the end of March in either year, all imports at this time of the season going direct to compounders or distributors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange a simple and expeditious procedure whereby the applications of disabled persons to purchase items of surplus stores which are essential for their rehabilitation shall be accorded a priority.

I regret that it is not practicable, within the limits of the staff and space available, to set up an organisation for the direct sale of Government Surplus Stores to individuals. In the case of motor cars, however, surpluses disposed of under the trade scheme are allocated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, and priority is given to badly disabled ex-Servicemen as well as nurses and midwives.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will grant concessions of clothing coupons to cricket clubs, similar to those granted to football clubs.

I am starting to make limited allocations to cricket clubs, but there can be no question of an issue big enough to supply any but the worst cases of hardship.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will amend the law to ensure that no film made in the United Kingdom by U.S. producers, directors, artists and technicians shall constitute a British film within the meaning of the Cinematograph Films Act of 1938.

This object is already achieved by Section 25 (2) of the 1938 Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet able to give any indication of the number of foreign tourists who will be visiting this country during the current year.

No, Sir. It is not possible to give my hon. Friend any such estimate. As I stated on 8th April in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Leeds (Mr. Gaitskell) we are taking no active steps to encourage tourists to visit this country before 1947.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the hon. Member for Canterbury may expect an answer to his letter of 14th February regarding Mrs. Marjorie Smith, of Ellis Road, Tankerton.

The hon. Member will, by now, have received a reply to his letter, from which it will be seen that the Department have been in communication with Mrs. Smith several times since the date of his letter.

asked the Under, Secretary of State for Burma if he is aware that internees who have been India recuperating have been sent back to Singapore to the Syme Road Camp, where many of them suffered for three and a half years at the hands of the Japanese, owing to the fact that the military authorities are occupying the homes of these people; and if he will take steps for this procedure to cease at once.

I have been asked t5 reply I am aware that, owing to the acute shortage of accommodation in Singapore, the military authorities were planning the reception in transit camps of considerable numbers of evacuees who had been repatriated from India. I have no further information but I am asking for a report from the Governor who took ever the administration at the beginning of April and I will communicate with the horn and gallant Member when I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been received by His Majesty's Ambassador at Warsaw to the inquiry concerning the date of the elections in Poland; and whether His Majesty's Ambassador has received any reply to his reminder that Monsieur Bierut at Potsdam took the view that these elections could be held this spring.

As regards the first part of the Question, His Majesty's Ambassador at Warsaw has now been informed by the Polish Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs that a referendum will probably take place in June and that he expects the elections to be held in September or, more probably, October. As regards the second part of the Question, I regret that His Majesty's Ambassador has not yet been informed of the reasons for the deferment of the elections beyond the period agreed with Monsieur Bierut at Potsdam.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is prepared to make a statement on the demand of the U.S.S.R. that the Persian question should be removed from the agenda of the Security Council of U.N.O. when it meets on 6th May.

It is the view of His Majesty's Government that the Soviet Government's request for the removal of the Persian question from the agenda of the Security Council should not be accepted, and His Majesty's Government have instructed their representative on the Security Council accordingly. My hon. Friend will no doubt have seen Press reports that the Persian delegate has been similarly instructed and that Mr. Byrnes has been quoted as holding the same view.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what amounts have been paid up by the various governments to the funds of U.N.R.R.A.

The information asked for is as follows:

OPERATING AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MEMBER GOVERNMENTS AUTHORISED OR IN PROCESS, BY COUNTRY, AS OF 31ST MARCH. 1946. (In U.S. Dollar Equivalents). Country. Total. Paid or Available. In Process or Due in 1946. CONTRIBUTIONS—TOTAL 3,670,799,021 2,973,638,423 697,160,598 CONTRIBUTIONS OF NONINVADED COUNTRIES(Operating and Administrative)—TOTAL 3,656,465, 110 2,967,328,423 689,136,687 Australia 76,800,000 ( a ) 38,400,000 38,400,000 Bolivia 108,238 ( b ) 31,746 76,492 Brazil 30,195,000 ( b ) 20,000,000 10,195,000 Canada 138,738,738 ( a ) 138,738,738 0 Chile 2,179,312 ( b ) 0 2,179.312 Colombia 2,427,312 ( b ) 1.219,907 1,207,405 Costa Rica 406,500 ( b ) 97,718 308.782 Cuba 6,061,000 ( b ) 1,235,000 4,826,000 Dominican Republic 1,400,000 ( a ) 1 400,000 0 Ecuador 156,500 ( b ) 0 156,500 Egypt 4,346,833 ( b ) 70,000 4,276,833 El Salvador 135.250 ( b ) 8,750 126,500 Guatemala 15,250 ( b ) ( c ) 8,750 6,500 Haiti 55,250 ( b ) 48.750 6,500 Honduras 115,000 ( b ) 58,750 56,250 Iceland 1,409,306 ( a ) ( b ) 1,402,806 6,500 India 24,562,072 ( b ) 24,042,072 520,000 Iran 338,100 ( b ) 0 338,100 Iraq 231,250 ( b ) 17,500 213.750 Liberia 20,250 ( b ) 18,750 1,500 Mexico 3,692,500 ( b ) 1,148,000 2,544,500 New Zealand 16,952,000 ( a ) 8,476,000 8,476,000 Nicaragua 135,250 ( b ) 128,750 6,500 Panama 415,250 ( b ) 142,083 273,167 Paraguay 44,949 ( b ) 18,649 26,300 Turkey ( d ) — — Peru 1,032,500 ( b ) 646,538 385,962 Union of South Africa 18,265,000 ( b ) 4,130,000 14,135,000 United Kingdom 624,650,000 ( a ) 624,650,000 0 U.S.A. 2,700,000,000 ( a ) 2,100,000,000 600, 000,000 Uruguay 546,000 ( b ) 505,000 41,000 Venezuela 1,030,300 ( b ) 684,166 346,334 CONTRIBUTIONS OF INVADED COUNTRIES—TOTAL.( e ) 14,333,911 6,310,000 8,023,911 Belgium 305,000 175,000 130,000 Byelorussian S.S.R 65,000 0 65,000 China 1,525,000 875,000 650,000 Czechoslovakia 515,000 ( f ) 385,000( f ) 130,000 Denmark 5,293,161 ( f ) 18,750 5,274,411 ( f ) Ethiopia 15,250 8,750 6,500 France 1,300,000 ( g ) 1,300,000 ( g ) 0 Greece 152,000 87,500 65,000 Luxembourg 15,250 8,750 6,500 Netherlands 457,500 262,500 195,000 Norway 91,500 52,500 39,000 Philippines 15,250 8,750 6.500 Poland 1,355,000( f ) 1,225,000 ( f ) 130,000 Ukrainian S.S.R. 195,000 0 195,000 U.S.S.R. 2,790,000 1,750,000 1,040,000 Yugoslavia 243.500 ( f ) 152,500 91,000 ( a ) Includes both first and second contributions. ( b ) Council's administrative allocation for 1946 included pending Government's legislative action. ( c ) No operation contribution authorised as of 31st March, 1946. ( d ) Amount of contribution not determined as of 31st March, 1946. ( e ) Excludes payments in local currencies to defray local expenses of U.N.R.R.A. missions. ( f ) Includes value of contributed supplies. ( g ) Includes advance payment of 80,000 dollars.

asked the Secretary, of State for Foreign Affairs what action the British authorities in Greece are taking in relation to the 1,099 officers now serving in the Greek Army who formerly served as Quisling officers in the Security Battalions sponsored by the Germans during their occupation of Greece, a list of whom, giving full details of the points where they served under the Germans and those where they are now serving, has been handed to the Allied Mission for Observing the Greek Elections.

The question of officers in the Greek Army who were formerly members of the Security Battalions is the responsibiliy of the Greek Government and His Majesty's Government do not propose to take any action in the matter. I understand that the cases of such officers have in fact been reviewed in accordance with legal machinery established for this purpose by a former Greek Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is to be the scope of the Foreign Ministers' talks in Paris next month.

The purpose of the Foreign Ministers' talks which are due to start in Paris on 25th April is to further the fulfilment of the Agreement reached in Moscow in December last about the preparation of Peace Treaties with Italy, Roumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland. The opportunity may also be taken of discussing outstanding German questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in view of the fact that under the Cairo Declaration of 1943 it was agreed that all territories stolen by Japan from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa and the Pescadores, shall be restored to China, what steps will be taken by the British Government to support the Chinese claim to the Loodioo Islands, in view of the fact that these islands were yielded to Japan as a result of pressure in the same year as Formosa.

The status of the Loo-choo Islands, like that of other Japanese territories, is a matter for decision at the eventual Peace Conference with Japan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons for the severance of diplomatic relations with Albania.

On 10th November, 1945, His Majesty's Government, having first received assurances regarding free elections and the establishment of a democratic Government, agreed to recognise the Albanian Government and to exchange diplomatic representatives. A British diplomatic representative was accordingly nominated. However, before he could take up his appointment the attitude of the Albanian authorities towards His Majesty's Government appeared to change. Many obstacles were placed in the way of the work of the British Military Mission in Albania; movements within the country of the members of the Mission were greatly restricted and were recently confined to the capital itself; a British War Graves Mission, engaged in discovering and concentrating the graves of British servicemen who fell during the war in Albania, was expelled before its work was completed; and the Albanian Government refused a visa to an official on the staff of the British Minister Designate who for a considerable period had rendered excellent service to Albania as a liaison officer with the Albanian partisans.

In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government doubted whether the Albanian Government were any longer anxious to re-establish diplomatic relations, and sought assurances from the Albanian Government before authorising His Majesty's Minister Designate to proceed to his post. The Albanian Government's reply was not satisfactory and His Majesty's Government have therefore felt obliged to inform the Albanian Government that they do not feel able to authorise His Majesty's Minister Designate to proceed to his post in present circumstances, and that they will not be able to agree to receive an Albanian Representative in London. In informing the Albanian Government of their decision, His Majesty's Government have added that they would be prepared to reconsider the matter should the Albanian Government have any fresh proposals to make to meet His Majesty's Government's legitimate request for assurances.

asked the Minister of Transport why no explanatory memoranda are attached to S.R. & O. Nos. 402, 403 and 404 of 1946; and if he will state the effect of each Order.

No explanatory memoranda were appended to these Regulations because it was considered that their purpose was adequately explained by the Regulations themselves and by the references to the subject matter of the earlier Regulations which were being amended. The effect of S.R. & O. Nos. 402 and 404 of 1946 is to continue until 1st January, 1947, the postponement of those requirements of the earlier Regulations which are set out in the recitals. The effect of S.R. & O. No. 403 of 1946 is to add to the exceptions to the application of the earlier Regulations the classes of vehicles described.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many Class B releases for agricultural personnel have been sponsored by his Department to date; and to what extent his treatment of such applications has been modified in recent months owing to the shortage of agricultural labour.

Up to 11th April, 1,094 recommendations for Class B release for former agriculturists as individual specialists have been sponsored by my Department. Release has been approved in 1,016 cases, 36 recommendations have been rejected, and in the remaining 42 cases no decision has yet been reached. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has made clear in reply to previous Questions release. under the Class B block arrangements is being offered by the Service Departments to all former agriculturists who are releasable and who have served for at least one year in the Forces. Returns of releases under this scheme by 31st March, which are not quite complete, total over 9,800 Everything practicable is being done by my Department and the other Departments concerned to secure the early release of all eligible agricultural workers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the proposed erection of a steeplechase course and hunting centre at Hambledon, near Portsmouth, by which many miles or arable and agricultural farm land will not be available for producing food now in demand in this country; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such action.

I am not aware of proposal to establish a permanent steeplechase course and hunting centre at Hambledon. A half day point-to-point meeting was held there on 6th April last, and my Department was consulted by the hunt committee before the meeting took place. Virtually no damage to agriculture was caused.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken, in view of the need to increase food production, to encourage cooperation and the pooling of machinery, especially among small farmers.

Farmers are aware of the need for cooperation with each other, and a great deal of neighbourly help is being given. Attempts to stimulate more organised pooling of machinery resources have had only limited success, but I shall continue to do what I can to encourage this. The machinery service provided by county war agricultural executive committees will also continue to give help needed by the smaller farmers.

Farmers are aware of the need for cooperation with each other, and a great deal of neighbourly help is being given. Attempts to stimulate more organised pooling of machinery resources have had only limited success, but I shall continue to do what I can to encourage this. The machinery service provided by county war agricultural executive committees will also continue to give help needed by the smaller farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that farmers in the Newark area who received compulsory orders to grow sugar beet during 1946 are now being refused seed; and what action does he propose to take in the matter.

Arrangements have now been made whereby all farmers who have received compulsory directions to grow sugar beet will be given contracts, under which they will be supplied with seed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has given consideration to the resolution forwarded to him on 29th March, 1946, by the Poultry Association of Great Britain, S.P.B.A., Ltd.; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I have considered this resolution, but I regret that I cannot add at present to the statement which I made in this House on 5th February last.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that passengers for Bedford were turned away from the 5.25 p.m. train from St. Pancras, due to arrive at 6.35 p.m., on Friday, 29th March, by a notice directing them to assemble for a 5.30 p Bedford-only train on another platform; that at 5.56 p.m. loudspeakers informed several hundred waiting passengers, who had acted on instructions, that the 5.30 p.m. train would not leave till 6.15 p.m. or later, but that passengers could board the 5.58 p.m. train; that three or four hundred persons forced their way into this already overcrowded train and arrived 29 minutes late at Bedford; and if he will take immediate action to prevent a repetition of this dangerous state of affairs.

I regret the inconvenience caused to passengers which arose from a failure in the working of some points at Finchley Road. I have sent to my hon. Friend a full report from which he will see that the circumstances were quite exceptional.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the reopening of camps at the seaside for boys' brigades, etc., he will consider reintroducing cheap fares for distances over 60 miles

Yes, Sir. I am Mad to say that the restriction of distance has been removed so parties of juveniles can obtain cheap travel tickets for journeys of any distance to and from camp. The other conditions to which these tickets are subject will continue to apply.

asked the Minister of Transport the reason for the unpunctuality of trains running on the North Kent line of the Southern Railway, between Maidstone and London.

The average late arrivals on week days on this route during the two weeks ended 30th March were 3.1 minutes for down trains and 3.5 minutes for up trains. These delays were mainly due to the operation of four speed restrictions in the down direction and three in the up direction, two of them being due to war damage.

asked the Minister of War transport the amount of compensation paid for loss of office under the Railways Act, 1921, to railway directors; the amounts paid in compensation to officers receiving salary at the rate of more than £350 per annum; the amount of compensation paid to members of the railway staff receiving £350 or less per annum; the number of cases settled by agreement and the number referred to the arbitrator in each class above; and the legal costs of the cases decided by the arbitrator, to the railway companies, and to the railway trade unions.

Mr. BARNES, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 18th March, 1946; Vol. 120, c. 280), supplied the following statement:

Inquiries have been made and I am now able to inform you that compensation totalling £304,146 was paid to directors of 25 constituent companies who suffered loss by abolition of their office under the Railways Act, 1921. This amount does not include one constituent company for which no record can be found. The figures in respect of individual directors and the compensation paid to directors of absorbed companies are not readily available nor are the amounts paid as compensation to members of the railway staff.

asked the Minister of Transport the present release arrangements for officers and men serving in the Merchant Navy; up to what groups have releases been promulgated; and by what dates will they be released.

The majority of officers and men in the Merchant Navy are following their normal occupation, and no question of a general release programme arises. For those who desire to be released, arrangements follow broadly the lines of Service releases, but since it cannot be known in advance how many will seek release, it is not possible to announce a future programme.

The groups in which officers and men arc at present eligible for release on termination of their current engagements were extended on 18th March last. I am arranging for a copy of the announcement to he circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Further extensions will be approved as the manpower situation in the Merchant Navy permits.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken to compel shipowners and shipping companies to improve the conditions and living accommodation for the crews on British ships.

All new ships are surveyed under construction by the surveyors of my Department who see that the accommodation of the crew complies with the official requirements.

New instructions to surveyors were issued by my Department in January, 1946, embodying improvements in the standards applicable to new deep sea non-passenger ships of 3,000 gross tons and over. These were agreed, before issue, with the National Maritime Board Committee on crew accommodation, representing all sections of the shipping industry. As regards improvements in crew accommodation in existing ships, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on the 5th November to the hon. Member for Newport (Mr.Peter Freeman) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that large quantities of stores have recently been sent by rail from S.R.D. at Barry to English ports for shipment; what is the tonnage of stores so sent; and why they were not shipped from a Welsh port.

Stores from the Supply Reserve Depot at Barry are shipped from nearby ports whenever possible. Some 2,500 tons from this Depot were shipped from Swansea and Newport, and about 2,700 tons from English ports, during February, March and the first ten days of April. The cargo was sent to English ports because no ships for the required destination were sailing from Welsh ports. My hon. Friend will appreciate that ships sail generally from the port convenient for the major part of the cargo, and that cargo from other areas is sent to that port.

asked the Minister of Supply the estimated production for the year 1946 of private motor-cars and commercial vehicles, respectively.

Actual production for the first three months of 1946 together with target production for the rest of the year total 373,000 private cars and 150,000 commercial vehicles.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has now completed his investigation of the channels of distribution of liquid paraffin; and what steps he proposes to take to overcome the present shortage of supplies to retail chemists.

No, Sir. I am afraid that it will take some time to examine the very large number of replies which we have received as a result of our inquiries.

asked the Minister of Supply whether the patented designs of German and Italian motor cars, such as the B.M.W. and the Lancia, have been made available to British manufacturers.

Full facilities have been afforded to the British motor industry to investigate the whole field of the work of German motor manufacture. We have not had any requests from the industry for similar facilities in Italy.

asked the Minister of Works what steps are to be taken by his Department to secure the mass production of efficient standardised domestic fuel appliances, as recommended by the Fuel and Power Advisory Council.

I have been asked to reply. We are at present making arrangements to place blanket orders for the production of efficient standardised domestic fuel appliances as recommended by the Ministry of Fuel and Power Advisory Council.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give a comparative table of the prices charged for a range of current products for civil use from his Department's factories and from private undertakings.

Most of the work so far undertaken by the Royal Ordnance Factories for goods for civil use is of the nature of sub-contract work or work on components. Where controlled or standard trade prices are applicable these are normally charged, but for much work, such as that to special designs or particular requirements, there is no standard price or basis of comparison. In such cases ordinary tendering is applicable and to disclose the quotations would be contrary to general commercial practice; it would prejudice the Royal Ordnance Factories in comparison with other producers and also prejudice the Department in its relations with the manufacturers for whom the production is undertaken.

asked the Minister of Supply the present world price of lead; the latest price paid for supplies by the Government; the quantity purchased and the date the purchase was made.

There is no recognised. world price for lead at the present time. Prices for current supplies are now under negotiation with the producers and I am not able to give particulars, but those paid by His Majesty's Government for supplies during the latter part of February and March, covering 24,000 tons, were based on a price of 7 cents per lb. (approximately £39 per ton) f.o.b. port of shipment to this country.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the shortage of land drainage tiles in North Lincolnshire, owing to the fact that firms previously manufacturing them have been switched over to the production of bricks; and what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of these tiles.

The output of land drain pipes has fallen, partly owing to increased brick production. I am not aware that any serious shortage has developed, and if any particular requirement is not being met and the hon. Member will let me have details, I will see that supplies arc made available.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has considered certain scientific discoveries whereby bricks declared suitable for building purposes can be produced from slag and heather; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am not aware of any process whereby bricks could be produced economically from slag and heather, but I shall be glad to consider details of any process of this nature which my hon. Friend can send me.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the prospects of the Vickers-Armstrongs' works continuing at Crook; if he is aware that the local authority is disturbed at the reduced number of employees; and whether any arrangements have yet been made for the conversion of this factory from war to peacetime production.

Work in the Admiralty Factory at Crook occupied by Messrs. Vickers-Armstrongs, Limited, is coming to an end and should be completed by about the end of July, 1946. The Board of Trade are being informed that this factory will not be required after July and are being asked to arrange for its re-allocation for peacetime production.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the numbers employed on the programme and administrative staffs, respectively, of the Scottish, Welsh, Northern, Midland, West, and Northern Ireland regions, respectively, of the B.B.C.

The numbers on 31st March, 1946, were as follow:

Region. Programme staff. Administrative staff. Midland … 40 49 North … 50 50 Northern Ireland … 27 19 Scotland … 64 54 Wales … 37 32 West of England … 36 43

As the regional establishments of the Corporation are still in the process of reforming, these numbers are liable to increase in all the regions.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that much business is being lost to Northern Ireland manufacturers, whose premises are situated in country districts, owing to lack of postal facilities for deliveries and collections of mails; if he will revert to prewar two deliveries daily and more frequent collections of mails, particularly as there is an ample supply of labour for these purposes, and facilitate a shorter period of transit between his postal department and Northern Ireland.

I am aware that as a result of the war the postal services in the country districts of Northern Ireland as in England, Scotland and Wales are generally speaking inferior to the prewar services. I would, however, like to refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the statement I made to the House on 12th March about the improvements which my Noble Friend proposes to make in the postal services, and in this connection to assure him that the need for improving the services in the country districts or Northern Ireland will receive full consideration.

The transit of mails between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is at present mainly dependent upon the surface transport services, and some improvement may be possible as a result of any acceleration given to those services. As was announced on 12th March, my Noble Friend is also considering the use of night flying air services.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that H. G. Hill, late factory foreman, Post Office Factories Department, who retired on 19th March, is still not in receipt of either pension or lump sum; and if he will take steps to remedy this.

The lump sum has now been paid to Mr. Hill and arrangements are being made for payment of his pension to be started at an early date. I am sorry that there has been some delay in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can give any information regarding the dates of release of Army groups after 32.

I have been asked to reply. I propose to announce a further programme of releases from the three Services tomorrow.

asked the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, what persons, other than Members of Parliament, arc allowed to reserve tables for lunch or dinner in the Strangers' dining room.

Officials of the House, together with certain other persons who attend the Palace of Westminster on official business, as notified daily by the Serjeant at Arms.

asked the Minister of Food the number of persons now engaged on rat destruction under the combined Ministries; the cost to the country; and if their services arc satisfactory.

I can only answer for the activities of my own Department. The number of staff of my Department at headquarters and in the provinces employed on the destruction of rats and mice is 298, and the estimated annual cost of salaries and wages is £108,800. I am satisfied hat this organisation is doing excellent work in protecting foodstuffs from the ravages of these pests.

asked the Minister of Food what complaints he has received to the effect that imported tinned fruits are being distributed in some quantities to multiple stores and that small grocers receive only negligible quantities; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction felt in some areas, he will look into the whole matter of the distribution of this fruit.

I have received several complaints regarding the distribution of imported canned fruits from individual grocers and their trade associations. I regret that some small grocers received negligible quantities only, but this was inevitable with the total available for disposal. The multiple shops suffered equally by comparison with their normal requirements. I am satisfied that, having regard to the comparatively insignificant quantities which were available for allocation, the widest possible distribution was made to the consuming public.

asked the Minister of Food why he will not extend the Order limiting the prices at which whisky and gin are served with meals in restaurants to the prices at which they are sold in bars; and why he will not control the prices of bottles of whisky and gin in shops.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd April, 1946; Vol. 421, C. 1254], supplied the following statement:

I do not propose to extend the Order limiting the prices at which whisky and gin are served with meals in restaurants to cover the prices at which they are sold in bars, because—

(1) The amenities provided in bars vary enormously, not only between different establishments but also between different bars in the same establishment, and the charges made for drinks have always reflected these differences. It would be quite impracticable to fix scales of charges varying with the amenities. The alternative of a flat maximum charge irrespective of the class of bar would either tend to cause the drinks in question to be in less plentiful supply in the more expensive bars, if the charge were fixed at a price to suit the cheaper bars, or conversely, the high maximum prices appropriate to the expensive bars would be quite inequitable in the case of cheaper ones and would indeed tend to increase the prices there.

(2) There is no uniform measure for spirits. If prices were fixed per gill or fraction of a gill, every bar would need a set of officially marked measures which would be most difficult to provide under present conditions.

(3) Prices were fixed for whisky and gin served with meals in restaurants primarily to prevent a simple evasion of the price restriction for meals. The fact that in this limited case it has been found possible to fix prices for whisky and gin affords no assurance that the same could be done effectively in every bar in the country.

I do not doubt that the vast bulk of the sales by the bottle of whisky and gin in this country are effectively controlled at the proper price by the assocaiations concerned.

(1) There is no doubt that the vast bulk of the sales by the bottle of whisky and gin in this country are effectively controlled at the proper price by the associations concerned.

(2) It would be necessary for the Ministry's enforcement officers to devote a considerable amount of energy to policing any such Order and in my opinion this can be better spent on the control of essential foodstuffs.

(3) The remedy for this particular evil, which I am advised is a somewhat local phenomenon, lies in the hands of the public themselves.

(4) I am convinced that, if this proposal were put into effect, it would not result in any increase in the quantities of whisky or gin available for sale by the bottle at the proper prices; it might well have the opposite effect.

asked the Minister of National Insurance in which category of insured persons under the National Insurance Bill, pilots, sea, who served to contract will be placed.

Assuming that the National Insurance Bill becomes law in its present form my right hon. Friend will, in due course, consult with the parties concerned as to the proper classification of sea pilots for insurance purposes under the special powers conferred in the Bill.

asked the Minister of National Insurance, to what extent pilot funds under the Pilotage Act will be affected by the proposals in the National Insurance Scheme

This will be, in the first instance, a matter for discussion between the Ministry of Transport and the interested parties.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the wholesale fruit and vegetable market in the city of Edinburgh has been requisitioned by his Department for over five years; and when the present inconvenient arrangements of holding public markets in the open thoroughfare are likely to be terminated.

I have been asked to reply. The Fruit and Vegetable Market at Cranston Street, Edinburgh, is held by my Department not under requisition but under a tenancy agreement, which commenced in December, 1940. A formal notice to remove from the premises as at 28th May, 1946, has just been received from the proprietors and search for suitable alternative accommodation is being actively pursued.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when barristers, who have returned from war service, may expect their chambers at 2, New Street, Leicester, to be derequisitioned; and whether this can be done immediately, in view of the fact that the rooms in question have been empty for some time and are not being used.

Unless these premises are needed for any further Government use, we hope to release them by the end of this month.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will issue in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all persons at present serving on the Boards of the British European Airways Corporation, the British South American Airways Corporation, and the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

A British European Airways Corporation and a British South American Airways Corporation do not exist and will not until the Civil Aviation Bill, now before Parliament, is passed. The members of the Board of British Overseas Airways Corporation as announced by my Noble Friend on 23rd January, 1946, are:

Lord Knollys, K.C.M.G., M.B.E.. D.F.C.

Sir Harold Howitt, D.S.O., M.C.

Sir Harold Hartley, K.C.V.O., C.B.E., M.C.

Lord Burghley, K.C.M.G.

Mr. George Morgan Garro Jones.

Major Roland Hobhouse Thornton, M.C.

Major John Roland McCrindle, O.B.E., M.C.

Mr. Gerard D'Erlanger.

Mr. Clement Wakefield Jones, C.B.

Sir Harold Hartley and Mr. Gerard D'Erlanger have special responsibilities in relation to the development of European services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the estimated expenditure of £335,000,000 ofcost-of-living subsidies will be in respect of imported and home produced foodstuffs, respectively; and if he will give details of how this gross figure is made up.

£157 million of the subsidies on foodstuffs is for imported supplies, and £161 million for homegrown supplies. The details are as follow:

Estimated cost of subsidies in year 1946–47 £ million. Bread, flour and oatmeal 64.2 Eggs, fresh, frozen and dried 40.2 Meat and livestock 30.0 Milk 27.0 Potatoes 23.1 Sugar 21.8 Cheese 11.4 Butter 8.0 Margarine, cooking fats, oils—net 8.0 Dried fruits 5.5 Bacon and ham 5.0 Tea 5.0 Dried and condensed milk 4.6 Pulses and soya products 2.3 Net gain on other foodstuffs, etc. Cr. 0.4 National milk and milk-in-schools schemes 21.0 Other welfare schemes 7.7 Animal feeding stuffs 22.6 Fertilisers 7.5 Contribution to cost of New Zealand Government's stabilization policy in respect of food production 4.0 Total, foodstuffs, etc. 318.5 Clothing 12.5 Raw materials 3.0 Coal transport 1.0 Total, all items 335.0

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional revenue is likely to accrue to the Tithe Redemption Commission by the inclusion of farmhouses in the Income Tax inspector's Certificate of Value to determine the remission due to certain tithe payers.

Complete figures are not yet available, since a number of appeals to general Commissioners of Income Tax have yet to be decided. If these are decided in the same way as previous appeals, it is estimated that remissions under Section 14 of the Tithe Act, 1936, may fall by about £10,000 a year in consequence of a correction in the method of certificatiosn in certain districts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of traders and dealers who keep no regular accounts in their business; on what basis they are assessed for Income Tax purposes; and whether there is any approximation of loss to the national revenue on this account.

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available. The law provides for the making of assessments in estimated amounts in any case in which either no return has been received or the amount returned is considered to be inadequate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the National Debt from 1914 is due to the cost of the last two wars; and how much to other causes.

Owing to changes in the composition of the National Debt in the period 1914–46, it is impossible to relate the total of the nominal debt at present outstanding to the amount of cash raised by the borrowing in the period for war purposes and for other purposes. But, broadly speaking, the whole of the net increase in the National Debt since 1914 is due to war.

asked the Prime Minister for what reasons the award of the Defence Medal is withheld from medical staffs who have given service in the Emergency Medical Service and other war work, while subordinate hospital servants such as theatre porters and mortuary attendants are eligible for the award; and whether he will rectify the position.

Hospital officers and servants, other than nurses and midwives, are not, as such, eligible for the award of the Defence Medal. It is granted to civilians primarily for Civil Defence service, and medical officers of the Civil Defence first aid services are eligible, subject to the approved conditions. If medical officers of hospitals, whether in the Emergency Medical Service or otherwise, were included, it would be difficult to exclude any qualified medical practitioners and it is hard to see where the line could be drawn.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has now been reached on the reassessment of the retired pay and pensions of officers and other ranks who have given fulltime service in the Armed Forces in the 1939–45 war.

Yes, Sir. A scheme for the reassessment of these awards has now been approved. The details arc as follow:

REASSESSMENT OF SERVICE RETIRED PAY AND PENSIONS IN RESPECT OF WAR SERVICE

The new Service retired pay and Service pension codes for Regular members of the Forces which were announced in the White Papers Cmd. 6715 and Cmd. 6750 apply to those who were serving on the active list on 19th December, 1945. The White Papers however contained a promise of consideration of the position of officers and other ranks who had retired or been pensioned before that date, and who had given full-time service in the Armed Forces in the 1939–45 war.

It has now been decided to reassess the existing pensions of those who were awarded service retired pay or pension before r9th December, 1945, by the grant of additions in respect of their 1939–45 war service, on the general lines set out below.

In framing this scheme it has been necessary to take into account that the re-employed retired officer or pensioned other rank has drawn in the one case a special bonus normally in the form of an addition of 25 per cent. to his pay, and in the other service pension in addition to pay, specifically in place of counting the re-employed service for increase of pension. It has nevertheless been decided to allow increases of retired pay and pension to these classes, modified to take account of the special benefits they thus received.

Conditions for reassessment

1. The reassessment will be in respect of satisfactory full-time paid naval, military, or air force service during the 1939–45 war, or equivalent service in the Forces of a Dominion or Colony. No other service will be taken into account.

2. A minimum of six months such service will be necessary.

3. The total service, including reemployed service, must he such as would confer an entitlement to service retired pay or pension under the new code.

Other rank pensioners

The addition to the original pension will be the difference between ( a ) the service pension for which the pensioner would have been eligible under the new code on the whole of his service, including service while a pensioner, and taking into account the ranks held during service while a pensioner, and ( b ) the service pension for which he would have been eligible on the whole of his service under the old code, had his service while a pensioner been given in the highest rank for which he originally earned rank element of pension.

The following examples illustrate the effect of the above:

(1) A staff sergeant pensioned before the war after 21 years' service who served again for six years during the war (continuing to draw his pension) and rose to the rank of warrant officer, class I, would receive an addition of 10s. 6d. a week to his existing pension of 28s. a week, giving him a new award of 38s. 6d. a week.

(2) A warrant officer class 11 pensioned for the first time on release in 1945, after 25 years' service, would receive an addition of 6s. 7d. a week to his existing award of 36s. 2d. a week, giving him a new pension of 42s. 9d. a week.

Other rank pensioners commissioned during re-employment

The addition to the original pension will be calculated as for other ranks, but in assessing the entitlement under the new code the officer service will carry a special rank element at the following rates, in addition to the normal service element:

For each year as Rank element. 2nd Lieutenant and Lieutenant or equivalent ranks in the other services 1s. 9d.a week Captain 2s. 3d.a week Major 2s. 9d.a week Lieut. Colonel 3s. 3d.a week Colonel 3s. 9d.a week

Ratings, R.N., re-employed in Warrant rank will have a similar special rank element of Is. 3d. a week for each year of such service.

As an example, a sergeant pensioned after 21 years' service before the war, who served again for five years during the war (continuing to draw his pension) for three of which he held a commission rising to the rank of Captain, would receive an addition of 15s. 2d. a week to his existing pension of 26s. 6d. a week, giving him a new award of 41s. 8d. a week.

Retired Officers.

The addition to the original retired pay will consist of a proportion of the difference between

( a ) the retired pay rate which would have been applicable under the new code had the officer continued to serve consecutively beyond the date of his retirement for a period equivalent to the length of his re-employment, and then retired from the original cause, and

( b ) the existing retired pay entitlement including "automatic" pensions increase.

The proportion of the difference to be added will be calculated as follows:

For each year of active list service during the war One sixth For each year of re-employed service during the war, during which a bonus on pay or corresponding benefit has been drawn One-twellth

Not more than six years of war service will be allowed to reckon in any case. In calculating reckonable years, a period of six months or more will count as a full year, while a period of less than six months will be ignored. An officer who retired during the war, and continued in service as a re-employed officer will carry over, to reckon as re-employed service, any fraction of a year of active list service.

The effect is thus that an officer who served continuously during the war and then retired will get full reassessment to the new terms, while an officer who was re-employed throughout the war (receiving a bonus on his pay) will be given half the difference between his existing award and the new scale award.

As examples of the effect of the above scheme:

(1)A lieutenant- colonel who retired before the war and who was reemployed for six years during the war (during which he received a 25 per cent addition to his pay) holding the temporary rank of colonel for three years, would receive an addition of £120 12s. 9d a year to his existing retired pay of £583 14s. 6d. a year, making his new award £704 7s, 3d a year.

(2) A lieutenant-colonel retired in 1945 on retired pay of £583 14s. 6d. a year would now receive an addition of £41 5s. 6d. to his retired pay giving him a new award of £625 a year.

General

In view of these arrangements for the reassessment of retired pay, the addition to the pay of re-employed officers will be withdrawn with effect from 1st July, 1946.

There will be no reassessment of the award in the case of officers who were re-employed after retirement with gratuity.

The retired pay or pension reassessed as above in respect of war service will be regarded as a new code pension, and will be subject to the conditions attaching to awards under the new code as set out in the White Papers. The reassessed pension will not carry Pensions Increase additions or, in the case of other ranks, age increases.

Reassessment of retired pay and pensions as above will be undertaken automatically and will be operative from 19th December, 1945. It will however necessarily take a considerable time to complete the re-assessments and notify them to the retired officers and pensioners concerned. In the meantime retired pay and pensions will continue in issue at existing rates.

In the White Papers referred to above, the position of certain categories of officers and other ranks was reserved. For the time being, therefore, these reserved categories are also excluded from the scope of this announcement.

Note.—The examples included above are typical, but the effect of the reassessment scheme will of course vary according to the circumstances of the individual case.