asked the Minister of Works what is now the average factory cost of temporary prefabricated houses; and the average cost of the work on the site.

The average ex-works cost of the factory-produced temporary houses, including the aluminium houses, is approximately £690. This figure includes fixtures and fittings. The site work and erection is carried out under competitive tender and it is not in the public interest at this stage of the programme to publish the average cost at which it has been possible to have this work carried out.

Will the Minister say what is the average cost of the aluminium house as distinct from the other types and why he cannot publish these figures, of which the House should be informed?

I could not give the first immediately, and I cannot publish the second at this stage because new contracts and tenders are being accepted for the remainder.

What possible advantage can there be in concealing from the public the average cost, as distinct from individual tenders?

I am not asked the individual cost.

That was the Question and why will the Minister not tell us what is asked in the Question?

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that, of the 118 prefabricated houses allocated to the Gravesend Borough Council in December, 1944, fewer than 50 hulls have yet arrived and only some internal fittings for 12 have been supplied, but none can be occupied owing to the absence of certain minor plumbing parts; where, and why, this hold-up has occurred and when he expects to release the material so that Gravesend can get the first prefabricated house occupied.

By 10th April the hulls of 75 houses had been delivered to Gravesend, 37 had been erected, and equipment for 16 had been supplied except for some small plumbing parts which had been omitted in packing at the factory. This omission has been rectified and the first two houses should be available for occupation within a fortnight. Further supplies of fixtures and fittings are expected to be sent to Gravesend this week.

Does not the Minister realise that there has been a very serious lack of coordination between the various Ministries resulting in the fact that there have been houses standing empty in Gravesend which could have been occupied if there had been cooperation?

I think I have admitted before that there has been a shortage of components due to the fact that we were not manufacturing them at the same speed as the hulls. Whatever coordination there was, if there were not sufficient of them they could not have been supplied.

asked the Minister of Works what buildings it is proposed to demolish in order to make a space for the proposed George V Memorial.

The scheme approved by Parliament in 1939 for the George V Memorial requires the eventual demolition of No. 5 Old Palace Yard.

Is that a rather beautiful eighteenth century building?

I should imagine it is eighteenth century, but I think the question of beauty is a matter of taste.

asked the Minister Of Works the estimated cost in money and man-hours of temporary buildings, including accommodation for troops, to be erected in connection with the Victory Day celebrations in London.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 2nd instant, of which I am sending him a copy. It is not possible without undue labour to separate the cost of temporary buildings from the remainder of the camps. No temporary buildings are being erected by my Department unless the saluting base and the Press stands are so regarded. The total cost of these is estimated at £5,500.

Would not these men be better employed in putting up permanent houses instead of preparing for a victory march that no one wants?

asked the Minister of Works the estimated cost of the Victory Parade on 8th June and if he will give details of some of the larger items of expenditure.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will with the hon. Member's permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Whatever the figures are, in view of the appalling political and food situation throughout the world, and incipient civil war in Britain—

That supplementary question seems to be going very wide.

May I withdraw the wide part, Sir, and finish the question?

I imagine that if the hon. Member withdraws the wide part he would have to withdraw the whole of his supplementary question.

Following are the figures:

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 2nd instant.

The major items of expenditure on the Victory celebrations on 8th June are now provisionally estimated as follow:

There will in addition be expenditure on barriers, etc., for the protection of the public and on transporting and maintaining troops, for which details are not vet available.

asked the Minister of Works whether, having regard to the need to maintain public service vehicle services and to the present scarcity of omnibuses and motor-coaches available, arrangements can be made to return, immediately, approximately 30 vehicles, now standing idle in Regent's Park, to the original owners of those vehicles or to make them available to operators in the industry, those vehicles having been taken by the Government from their owners for war purposes and a list of them having been furnished to him for identification.

Nine of the 36 motor coaches in Regent's Park are beyond repair. Fifteen are awaiting their turn for repair and reconversion and are required, with the remainder, for further use in the Ministry's Mobile Labour Service. I regret therefore, that it is not at present possible to dispose of them

May I ask the Minister why these vehicles that are awaiting repair cannot be returned to the operators and owners so that they can repair them and put them on the roads for public use?

They are awaiting repair for public use, that is, by the Mobile Labour Service.

asked the Minister of Works (1) how many of the 212 houses in the Regent's Park terraces, which he proposes to convert into Government at offices, came within the scope of Regulation 68cA;

(2) upon what grounds he applied to the Minister of Health for exemption from the provisions of Regulation 68CA in respect of the Regent's Park terraces.

All but two of those houses in Regent's Park terraces, which it is proposed to convert temporarily into Government offices, come within the scope of Defence Regulation 68CA. The houses are not suitable for conversion into economic units of residential accommodation except at a disproportionate cost in labour and materials which cannot be spared at the present time. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Hertford (Mr. Walker-Smith) on 9th April, their use for offices will enable me to release requisitioned accommodation. These facts were borne in mind by the Minister of Health in giving his consent under the Regulation.

Was the Minister of Health informed of the large number of applications from people who wanted to live in these houses?

The Ministry of Health is fully informed.

Is it part of the policy of the Government to destroy all our architectural features in London?

If the hon. Member had been present last week he would have discovered that it was to save the architectural features.

As this is a point upon which the House would like to be clear, may we assume in this case that occupation means restoration?

Yes, that is the purpose of it.

asked the Minister of Works if he will install a microphone on the Table for the benefit of those hon. Members who cannot at present hear replies to questions by Ministers who read down towards the Despatch Box.

For technical reasons, a microphone on the Table would not be practicable, but some improvement might be effected in the reception of answers made by Ministers by altering the position of the microphone nearest the Despatch Box, and experiments will he carried out during the Easter Recess.

Is the Minister aware that this Question is not directed towards him?

May I ask whether something can be done not merely to— [HON. MEMBERS: Speak up."] —improve the audibility of the replies from the Front Bench but also substantially to improve the character of them?

That is not a matter for the microphones.

asked the Minister of Works why he has refused to grant a licence for the repair of Market Buildings, 29 Mincing Lane, in the City of London, in view of the urgent demand for office accommodation, especially in connection with export trade and the fact that the greater part of the work would not involve the type of building labour utilised in the erection of houses.

The demand for repair of office accommodation in the City of London is far greater than can be satisfied at the present time, and it is my policy to discriminate according to the amount of space that can be brought into use for a given expenditure of labour and material. The application for a licence in respect of Market Buildings has had to be rejected on this ground, and most of the labour that would otherwise have been required will instead be available for housing and other urgent work.

Does the Minister realise that if we are to get business going again and also if we are to derequisition many of the flats at present being unsuitably used for offices, some sort of priority must be given to the repair of office buildings?

Yes, Sir. I am fully aware of that and the only limiting factor is the availability of labour and material and the most economic use of the space that can be brought into being.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that there is a minor printing error in S.R. & O., 1946, No. 371; and what steps have been taken to correct this error.

I am aware and regret that in Paragraph (1) of Statutory Rule and Order No. 371, 1946, the word "of" has been printed instead of "or" in Paragraph (6B), sub-paragraph ( b ) of Defence Regulation Fifty-six A. The mistake occurred owing to an accident to the type at the Stationery Office after the proof had been read. Since the Order in Council itself was in the correct form, I was advised that the matter could be put right by an erratum slip, which was done as soon as the mistake was discovered.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Would you indicate whether this is a suitable Question to put on the Order Paper?

I do not see why not.

asked the Minister of Works the number of bricks that are now being produced monthly; what is the monthly national requirement; and what was the number in reserve on the latest date available.

The brick returns for March are not yet complete, but it is estimated that production will amount to approximately 170 million. The monthly national requirement for March was estimated at 290 million; the number of bricks in stock at the end of March is estimated at 725 million.

Does not the Minister realise that the British public infinitely prefer brick houses to houses of any other material and especially to many of those now being built by the Ministry today, and will he therefore see that every effort is made to increase the production of bricks so that we can have brick houses?

I can assure the hon. Member that we are doing all we can to increase the supply of bricks, and that any effort from any source that will increase the number of people going into brick works will be welcomed by us.

asked the Minister of Works, for which Departments his Ministry is responsible for the buildings and in how many of these cases the design for any important building was selected by competition or by some other suitable method which enabled independent architects to be considered for these commissions.

The Ministry of Works is responsible for the erection of buildings required by Civil Departments together with those needed for housing the headquarters staffs of the Service Departments. Between 1918 and 1939, at least 10 important schemes were entrusted to independent architects. In addition, as the hon. Member is aware, during the last war extensive use was made of nominated architects to carry out a large war programme of buildings, including hospitals, hostels, camps, schools and factories.

Can the Minister give the House an assurance that the same policy will be carried out in peace as was found successful during the war?

I cannot give an all-round assurance that the same policy will be followed, but I can say that it is our intention to use outside architects as well as our own.

asked the Minister of Works the present position regarding the proposed new factory for Messrs. Ramar, Limited, Crook, County Durham; whether any date has been fixed for the completion of this work or can be given now; arid if he is aware that the local authority are anxious to see the erection of this building as early as possible, with the view of providing further employment in this district.

I have been asked to reply. Negotiations which have been proceeding between the company and the North-Eastern Trading Estates, Ltd., are now nearing completion. Subject to satisfactory agreement, it is hoped to complete the factory before the end of the year. I am aware of the need for providing further employment in this district, and the company has been allocated temporary premises in Crook where they are employing over a hundred workers.

Is the Minister aware that the temporary accommodation is very limited, that this firm could employ at least another 400 people, that production could be much greater if they could have the new factory built, and that it is much better to have people employed and producing goods than drawing unemployment benefit and not being employed.

I am aware that there is a difference of about 500 between the panther employed now and the number who will be employed when the factory is completed. For that reason I am doing everything I possibly can to speed up the completion of the new factory.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if lie is satisfied that adequate materials and manpower have now been made available to electricity undertakings to enable them to extend electricity supplies to rural areas; and if he will now make a statement on the result of his discussions with representatives of the industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 12th March to my hon. Friend the Member for North Norfolk (Mr Gooch). As regards the last part of the Question the representatives of the Electricity Supply Industry have assured me that normal development work will proceed in the interim period before the industry is placed under public ownership.

Is the Minister aware that plans for supplying electricity to rural areas completed before the war are likely to take at least two years to carry out, unless steps are taken to increase materials and manpower?

I am well aware of the difficulties. We shall do all we can to expedite the work, but the hon. and gallant Member must also be aware that there are difficulties about materials and manpower. It is not so easy to overcome them.

Has there been any noticeable improvement since 1st March, when the Minister gave his answer about the supply of timber poles for electricity?

I could not say offhand. The matter is not referred to in the Question. I rather imagine that it is being dealt with.

Surely the word "materials" covers timber?

That point is rather outside the Question.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the present delay in the extension of electricity to farms caused by shortage of poles, potential consumers may be given the opportunity of supplying the poles themselves subject to the necessary specifications

Yes, Sir.

Will the Minister communicate with those concerned to see that advantage is taken of this?

I will look at that and see whether it can be done.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he is taking to ensure that main line railways arc supplied with coal of quality which will enable them to maintain efficient running.

Every endeavour is made to ensure as far as possible that the main line railways are supplied with coal of suitable quality, but so long as there is a shortage of the best large coal to meet all requirements the inclusion in the railways' supplies of some qualities which they would not normally use cannot be avoided.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make available in respect of the years ended 31st March, 1942, 1943 and 1944 respectively, the certificates of information referred to in the First Schedule to the Finance Act, 1938.

Under the Finance Act, 1942, the Minister of Fuel and Power was relieved of the duty during the period of the war of laying the certificates which were required under Section 2 of the Finance Act, 1938. Information in respect of the years mentioned in the Question was seriously affected by war conditions, but I will consider whether there is any information which could now be made available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the allocation of fuel to the alkali factories of I.C.I. in the northwest region was reduced from January last; and for how long this reduction will operate.

Existing coal supply arrangements are designed to spread available supplies equitably to all industrial consumers, and the I.C.I. factories have been getting their fair share on this basis. Any question concerning the relative priority of particular firms or industries is now a matter for decision by the regional production boards.

Is the Minister aware that according to the answer the Board of Trade gave me yesterday, the reduction of this allocation brought about a reduction of exports of 34,000 tons of alkali over February and March, and there was also an increase in price to the home consumer of about 5 per cent.?

I am aware that I.C.I. have experienced some difficulty as regards exports because of the shortage of coal, but obviously if there is a shortage, we must allocate it on the basis of suitable priority.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) whether the further inquiries into the maldistribution of coal, both among merchants and consumers, in Hull have been completed; and what action he proposes to take with the local fuel overseer, the house coal officer and regional officers in Leeds, particularly those who are members of the trade or connected with a colliery, to prevent a recurrence of such maldistribution in the new coal year May. 1946-April, 1947.

(2) what steps he proposes to take to ensure that small customers in Hull who, through maldistribution, have not received their fair share of the coal actually supplied to the city, some having several hundredweights due to them, will receive their coal before the end of the coal year 30th April, observing that many have to rely on coal alone for cooking as well as heating.

My regional controller has now completed his inquiries and I am expecting a detailed report at an early date. When I have had an opportunity of examining this report I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

May I ask the Minister if he is aware that no fuel officer in Hull will accept the responsibility for the equitable distribution of coal in the city, that regional officers have interests in collieries, that the Hull coal officer is a principal of a large firm of coal merchants and that large firms have had more than their equitable share of coal: and will he have a public inquiry into this grave problem of maldistribution to which merchants and customers can give evidence, instead of the present secret hole-and-corner affair by which the public know nothing?

Those are precisely the allegations which have been inquired into. So far as I can tell from the evidence available, some of them cannot be sustained, but further inquiries arc, being made.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage of the allocation of domestic coal has actually been supplied to Hull during the 14 weeks since 1st January, 1946, or nearest period for which figures are available; and what percentage of their allocation has been supplied, respectively, to Hull Cooperative Society, Risdale and Walker and other merchants in the city.

The percentage of the house coal allocation supplied to the Hull district during the 14 weeks ended 6th April, 1946, was 89.5. The percentages supplied to Hull Cooperative Society, Ridsdale and Walker and other merchants were 88.6, 90.5 and 89.7 respectively.

May I ask the Minister whether the difference of 6 per cent. in the allocation to the Cooperative Society has resulted in a deficiency of over 7,000 tons, and that a thousand different customers in various weeks of the 46 weeks have lost 2 cwts. of coal?

There is no difference of 6 per cent. There is a difference of about one or two per cent. at the most. Moreover, it depends very largely on where the coal supplies are provided. If the Hull Cooperative Society purchases from particular collieries, it must take the risk entailed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the amount of petrol in stock in this country in March or April, 1938; and what is the amount of petrol in storage at the present time.

I would refer the hon. Member to the last paragraph of the answer I gave on 18th December to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers).

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the actual figures for petrol in storage in this country?

I am sorry, but it is not customary to publish these figures.

Can the Minister publish the latest storage figures—a month ago, for instance?

That would be a departure from our customary practice.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that Mr. G. E. Reynolds, a Gravesend member of the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers, has been directed to work in the Greenside Pit of the Stella Coal Company, Limited, at Blaydon, County Durham, who are making deductions from his pay as compulsory contributions to the Durham Miners' Association; and whether his Regulations permit colliery owners to make such deductions from the pay of directed mineworkers.

The deductions to which my hon. Friend refers were made as a result of a misunderstanding and I understand they have been refunded. I have not made any regulations concerning deductions from pay on behalf of trade unions.

Will the Minister assure the House that representations will be made from his Ministry to make it certain that young fellows who are directed into the coal mines are not also directed compulsorily into any particular trade union, outside the union of which they were ordinarily members?

We shall not do anything to force men into any particular trade union, but obviously, it is desirable that the men should be in a trade union.

Oh.

Is not this a matter for negotiation among the unions concerned rather than for a Question on the Order Paper?

It happens to be on the Order Paper, and I was replying to it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many collieries have dispensed with the use of horses for underground haulage; and what progress is being made in the mechanisation of underground transport.

The number of collieries at which horses are employed fell from 1,582 in 1925 to 821 in 1945, and the number of horses from 60,852 to 23,491. This decrease is due largely to the replacement of horses by mechanical methods of transport and is likely to continue.

Is not the Minister aware that in many cases the transport arrangements are exceedingly primitive and that men have to travel long distances to and from their work? Is there not a tendency to concentrate on coal face mechanisation while neglecting the most important feature of mechanisation of transport?

It is because haulage arrangements are so primitive that we are presented with difficulties about coal. I agree with my hon. Friend that it is not much use to mechanise the coal face unless we modernise transport facilities.

Will not the National Coal Board have full power to deal with this matter? Will they be instructed to complete the mechanisation of coal mines at the earliest possible moment?

One of the primary duties of the National Coal Board will be to mechanise the pits.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps have been taken in the last three months to ensure that the opencast mining near Wentworth Woodhouse does not damage this famous Georgian mansion.

I anticipate there will be no damage to the mansion through opencast operations.

Has the proposal put up by the miners' leader, Mr. Hall, for winning the coal by normal methods, come before the Minister? Has the Minister rejected it and, if so, on what ground?

The proposal to work the coal from underground came before the Department many months ago, and was rejected on technical grounds.

Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that all alternative means of procuring the coal which is to be obtained from Wentworth Woodhouse have been explored? Many people are exceedingly disturbed at the proposed despoliation of this charming oasis of natural peace.

Of course, every possible alternative has been explored. It is obvious that if we could have secured the coal by other means we should not have adopted this method. As to "spoliation," we are very anxious to prevent any undue disturbance, and indeed, we are going to do it.

Before taking action of this kind does the Minister make it his practice to consult the Council for the Preservation of Rural England and other such bodies?

The decision to work the coal on the Wentworth Woodhouse site was taken by my predecessor, in consultation with the then Minister of Town and Country Planning. I have not consulted the organisations to which the hon. Member referred, but I have consulted the Minister of Town and Country Planning.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is not a question of blaming this Government or other Governments? I think that the genuine concern is whether amenities that might be preserved for the enjoyment of the nation will be destroyed. How does the Minister explain the views of the Yorkshire miners themselves?

The right hon. Gentleman is ill-informed. The Yorkshire miners have expressed no opinion on this matter. Mr. Hall does not happen to be the Yorkshire miners but the President of the Yorkshire miners, speaking in his individual capacity. I have received no representations against the scheme from the Yorkshire miners or from the National Union of Mineworkers. On the contrary, some of the Yorkshire miners have written to me commending the scheme, in existing circumstances. Nor do I blame my predecessor for what occurred. I merely state the facts. Moreover, it is not for the right hon. Gentleman to complain about blame. I notice that he has been dealing with that subject himself.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will withdraw the notice to close Knowes Colliery, Fauldhouse, in view of the firm pledge to prevent another stoppage given by 97 per cent. of the men employed, who have greatly increased production during recent months and who will be affected should the colliery be closed, because a few youths and the management had a dispute over a recent grievance affecting part of the pit.

With permission of Mr. Speaker and the House, I propose to make a statement in answer to this Question at the end of Question time today.

Later—

During the past six months the number of unofficial stoppages in Lanarkshire and the adjacent area in West Lothian was 285— compared with 194 in the rest of Scotland and 288 in the whole of England and Wales. Stoppages in this small area are thus proportionately far in excess of those in any other section of the British coalfield although in this, as in other areas, there exist joint agreements entered into voluntarily on the workers' behalf by their trade union representatives providing comprehensive machinery of collective bargaining, conciliation and arbitration for the settlement of any dispute on wages and conditions without recourse to direct action of this kind. Following discussions which I had with their Executive, the Scottish Area of the National Union of Mineworkers, recognising the dangers inherent in the situation, issued at my request in January of this year a general warning to a number of collieries that the continuance of unofficial stoppages was likely to involve the risk of the collieries concerned having to be closed.

There have been nine stoppages at Fauldhouse during the past six months, involving numbers of men ranging from six to 180, of which four have occurred since the beginning of this year Following one which took place on 25th and 26th February, I authorised my Regional Controller to cause a notice to be posted at the colliery to the effect that if any further stoppage of the colliery or any section of it took place after 1st March. the colliery would be closed without further warning being given. This notice was posted on 27th February, but notwithstanding its unequivocal terms, a further stoppage involving 18 men took place on 3rd April. Although I carefully considered the facts, I was unable to discern any extenuating circumstances in connection with this stoppage which would have justified me in intervening to prevent closure, and all the men employed were accordingly given notice terminating their contracts of service with effect from 13th April.

Every effort is being made to find alternative coalmining employment for the men displaced, and there is every prospect that the great majority will be engaged at other collieries in the vicinity with outputs of 25 cwts per manshift and over, as against an output at Fauldhouse varying from 12 to 17 cwts. This level of output at Fauldhouse had resulted in heavy losses being incurred, and since 1942 the maintenance of the colliery in production has cost the Coal Charges Fund £190,000. The position in Lanarkshire and the adjacent area in West Lothian is that the value of the joint machinery of conciliation and arbitration is gravely endangered by the recent course of events, which has also resulted in the loss in that area of over 100,000 tons of coal during the past six months. The maintenance of this machinery is of the highest importance not only in the national interest but also in the interest of the general body of workers in this basic industry. I cannot stand aside and see it weakened or destroyed as must ultimately happen unless there is an end re unofficial stoppages on this scale.

Limiting anything that I have to say to the Question I put on the Order Paper with regard to this one pit, may I ask if my right hon. Friend is aware that the last stoppage there could have been avoided if the management had accepted the desire of the hulk of the men, 370 of them, to dispense with the services of the nine who caused the stoppage? Does he not agree that that would have allowed production to go forward at a time when production was being stepped up owing to the way in which the men were trying to play their part? Does he not think it would have been advisable to deal with nine men who caused the stoppage instead of scattering 370 others over the whole of the coalfield?

There is no evidence to show that the nine men were entirely responsible for the stoppage. In any event, in all the disputes, unofficial disputes, which have occurred at this colliery different men have been responsible, and if on each occasion we dismissed those who were regarded as primarily responsible we should have no men left. Obviously, that is not the way to deal with this problem. This is not the only colliery in Lanarkshire and it is obvious drastic steps must be taken to put an end to this unconstitutional action.

Arising out of that historical survey, would the right hon. Gentleman care to indicate to the House that he at one time was the representative of West Lothian? Has his personal influence entirely abated in that constituency?

Unlike the hon. Member I have learned some sense.

I would like to ask, on a point of elucidation, whether the Minister in his original reply, which if I followed it correctly—[HON. MEMBERS: Speak up."] In the original reply given by the Minister, if I followed it correctly—

Is this a question?

Yes, it is. I want to know the point or policy in the original answer —[ Interruption. ] Please give me a chance. The point is that the Minister did state that he was looking for alternative employment for the men. He was having the machinery of the pit looked after. At the same time, he wanted disciplinary action. I want to know exactly what disciplinary action can be taken if the pit is closed, the cost of maintenance of the machinery is incurred, and men are sent to work somewhere else.

The cost of care and maintenance is not considerable. In any event, it is desirable to take precautions. Some day we may require to use the coal resources of this colliery. As for the distribution of the men over the collieries in the adjacent area, we shall get higher production, as I indicated in my reply, and that is very essential; apart from that, we think that distribution will prevent recurrences of this kind.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government could give consideration in connection with all these unofficial strikes to the question of dealing with the Communist shop steward movement?

We have no evidence that the Communists are responsible for these unofficial disputes. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] No. I have nothing to do with shop stewards. This matter relates to colliery undertakings where there are no shop stewards. We have no evidence that the Communists are responsible. We must be fair in this matter. There is evidence which goes to show that the Communists, at any rate in this area, are anxious to avoid these unofficial stop pages. It does not follow that every unofficial stoppage must be dealt with in this fashion. There are occasions where an unofficial stoppage is attributable to causes outside the control of the men. In these circumstances we are very careful not to take action which would seem unfair; but in the present circumstances it was impossible to do other than I did.

Is the Minister aware that immediately after his notice was put up at the pit head the whole of the miners in the colliery held a meeting? They conveyed to the manager of the pit the majority decision of that meeting, which was to discharge any man who caused an unofficial strike? Immediately these men struck unofficially, the secretary of the union went to the manager and asked that these men be discharged. Surely it is not at all the fault of the men. It is the fault of the management. I ask the Minister whether this is the sort of treatment to be expected by these 370 miners, who are willing to raise production and to back the Minister to the hilt in keeping unofficial strikes away—to be penalised for nine men whose action they deplored?

I must point out to my hon. Friend that on previous occasions the majority of the men were implicated. They cannot be excused on the ground that they did not all come into the dispute on this occasion. It may well be that in certain cases the manager may have been responsible. I direct the attention of my hon. Friend and other hon. Members to the fact that the men can always have recourse to the constitutional machinery and should not defy their union or its leaders.

rose —

I do not think we can debate this matter by question and answer.

I wish to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many hostels for ballotees for the mines there are in county Durham and how many are fully occupied; what use he intends to make of the Crook Hostel, which is now empty; and whether he will consider adapting it as a rehabilitation centre for disabled ex-Servicemen.

There are five miners' hostels now operating in county Durham. None is fully occupied. There were recently two other hostels which have since been handed back to the Ministry of Works. The Crook Hostel was reported on 30th March to my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Works, as available for disposal. I will convey my hon. Friend's suggestion to my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour.

Is the Minister aware that this is causing a considerable amount of discontent in the Crook district, and will he have this matter pressed forward?

Yes, that was my intention.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether since shortage of accommodation is part of the cause of the inadequacy of the Government training scheme for ex-Servicemen and women, he is satisfied that he has now earmarked sufficient accommodation for the planned expansion of training centres and colleges; how far such accommodation is immediately available; and what steps he is taking to obtain suitable accommodation without delay;

(2) how many Government training centres and technical colleges, shown separately, it is planned to have operating by 30th June and 31st December, 1946, respectively; and what is the total planned capacity of all centres and colleges that will be operating on these dates.

Training facilities are being extended as rapidly as possible. Since VJ-Day the number of centres has been increased from 18 to 39 and by 30th June 56 centres with 19,940 training places should be in operation. By 31st December next 69 centres with 25,488 places are contemplated. Similar figures cannot be given for technical colleges but their facilities will continue to be used to the maximum extent possible.

Is the Minister aware that, apart from nearly 15,000 ex-Servicemen on the waiting list hoping to go to these centres and colleges last month, thousands of officers would have applied if they had seen any signs of efficiency in the way the Government are running the scheme?

My source of information as to those who would have applied is not equal to that of the hon. and gallant Gentleman, but we admit there is a waiting list. The difficulty is to get accommodation in which to put our classes, and to make a proper balance between building of the training centres, the building of houses and factories and so on. We are pressing on, and will get the list down as quickly as possible.

Has the Minister considered taking over aerodromes, of which a great number are vacant and have suitable buildings which could be used as technical colleges?

They are being surveyed. They are not always easily made suitable. One cannot always use a shed on an aerodrome in its existing condition. It will want walls and partitions, and that is part of the difficulty.

Are there not vacant camps all over the country that could easily be used?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows of any—I do not say it sarcastically—if he will let me have particulars, I will be glad to look into them.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has now looked into the question of how far shortage of equipment is causing the inadequacy of the Government training scheme for ex-Servicemen and women; if he will make a statement; and what steps are being taken to remedy all shortages.

Certain trades, such as watch and clock repairing and hairdressing are dependent on equipment not normally produced in this country, and conditions in the producing countries place difficulties in the way of imports. Other trades, such as tailoring and the leather trades, which depend on still scarce raw materials present special difficulties. These are being overcome as far as possible by the use of reasonable substitutes. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Works, whose Department is responsible for supplying the training centres, assures me that everything possible is being done to ensure that supplies are available as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will withdraw Leaflet P.L. 156 and replace it by another giving a more accurate description of the Govern- ment vocational training facilities available to ex-Servicemen and women and of the conditions of eligibility for this training.

I do not accept that Leaflet P.L. 156 gave an inaccurate description of the Government training facilities. In order, however, that in future there shall he no question of misunderstanding, a revised edition of the leaflet has been prepared and will be issued shortly.

Will the new leaflet make it clear that training is not normally available for occupations other than that in which the Serviceman or woman was previously engaged or for which they were previously trained?

The trouble with the previous leaflet was that people put different interpretations upon it from those of the Ministry of Labour. Therefore, we have published a leaflet of questions and answers which we hope will clear up all the doubts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to announce permission for a limited number of suitable applicants from Austria to be allowed to come into this country for domestic service, especially as cooks and nurses, in view of the grave shortage of these workers at the present time.

Yes, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on Thursday, 11th April, a copy of which I am sending him.

Will permission have to be obtained from the Home Secretary as well as from my right hon. Friend's Department, or either, and also will he say what travel facilities will be available for those concerned?

I shall be grateful if my hon. Friend will read the statement, and if there is any point on which he has doubt, and he will see me, I will try to clear it up.

asked the Minister of Labour what investigations his Department is undertaking into the complaints that more staff than necessary are being kept on the pay rolls of Royal Ordnance and other factories making munitions; and when these investigations are likely to be completed.

My officers both regionally and locally, as part of their normal duties, bring to notice for proper action any instances in which there may be temporary under employment due to various causes, such as delays in the delivery of raw materials or components or uncertainty as to future contracts. In conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply I have taken and will continue to take all possible steps to see that staff is not retained unnecessarily.

In view of the statement made in, amongst other places, "The Times" to the effect that this was very widespread, is any special investigation being undertaken?

Yes, Sir. A special investigation has been undertaken and has been completed, and I am sure the House will be pleased to hear that whilst there were one or two instances of this, in the main no real case exists that would cause us to complain to employers of unnecessary retention.

asked the Minister of Labour why a man demobilised from the Services who takes the course in bricklaying, arranged by his Department, continues for five years to be treated as an apprentice and to receive only the wages of an apprentice.

The hon. Gentleman appears to have been misinformed. The bricklaying courses agreed with industry and in operation under the Vocational Training Scheme last, not for five years, but for 20 months, at the end of which time the trainee will be paid the full skilled rate.

Is it, then, a fact that for the full period of his training the man, regardless of his age and obligations, receives only the pay appropriate to an apprentice?

No, he receives the pay appropriate to this kind of apprenticeship in this scheme. The man goes into the training centre for six months. He gets intensive training there, then he goes out, and for 14 months is paid a special rate—something less than the craftsman's rate—and at the end of 20 months he gets the full rate. However, I am pleased to report that employers come to these training centres, and are so pleased with the results of the six months' intensive training, that many of them take men away and are prepared to put them on to the full rate straight away.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will favourably consider taking the necessary steps to abolish the hotel and catering employment agencies, with a view to all catering staffs being engaged either directly by their prospective employers or through the appropriate Ministry of Labour Employment Exchange.

This is a matter upon which I must await the views of the Catering Wages Commission.

asked the Minister of Labour the present number of unemployed in Wales; the areas and industries in which they occurred; and what steps are being taken to provide full employment for all concerned.

As the reply to the first and second parts of the Question contains a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate it the OFFICIAL REPORT. As to the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade on 1st April to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Cardiff (Mr. G. Thomas).

Do not these figures indicate that in some areas in Wales unemployment is still increasing? Does my right hon. Friend think that schemes now in hand will fully absorb the unemployed before long?

I think it would be helpful if my hon. Friend 'would look at the answer before he presses that further question. The evidence of the last week for which we have returns showed that in certain parts of Wales the unemployment figures, whilst not dropping, show considerably less increase than has been the case for some weeks.

Following is the reply:

At 11th March, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 69,644 unemployed insured persons suitable for ordinary employment on the registers of employment exchanges in Wales and Monmouthshire. Of this total, 60,839 were in the South Wales and Monmouthshire Development Area, and 2,461 in the Wrexham Development Area.

In the Table below the number of unemployed insured persons in Wales and Monmouthshire at nth March is analysed for the principal industries: Industry . Number of insured persons unemployed Building 983 Civil Engineering Construction 1,725 Engineering 8,325 Construction and repair of Motor Vehicles Circles and Aircraft 4,884 Explosives 18,747 Steel Melting and Iron Puddling, Iron and Steel Rolling, etc 1,042 Brass, Copper Zinc, Tin, Lead. etc.,Manufacture 1,238 All other Metal Industries 3,831 Hotel, Boarding House, Restaurant Club, Catering, etc., Service 1,060 Coal Mining 6,900 Distributive Trades 3,301 National Government Service 3,156 Local Government Service 1.299 All other Industries and Services 7,920 Ex-Service Personnel not classified by Industry* 5,233

*These are ex-Service personnel who have not yet been classified to a particular industry, although they may have had some employment since release or discharge from the Forces.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that employers are making sufficient use of the Higher Appointments Department to justifiy its continued existence.

I am satisfied that the Appointments Department fulfils a useful function and that its continuance is not only fully justified, but necessary. Nevertheless its usefulness would he very greatly increased, especially to ex-Service officers and men looking for suitable employment, many of whom are being forced to advertise and canvass for posts, if every employer would notify his vacancies.

Since VE Day, 47,406 vacancies have been notified by employers to the Appointments Department of my Ministry. During the same period, 26,925 vacancies were filled by persons submitted by the Appointments Department. In addition to this employment service, the Appointments Department provides an advisory service on the choice of careers, and administers the Further Education and Training Scheme and the Business Training Scheme.

Is the Minister aware nevertheless that in many cases employers appear to prefer to notify vacancies to private agencies rather than to the Higher Appointments Department? In many cases they say that they do not get any service from this Bureau at all.

I think that if a study is made of the figures I have given, it will show that we have quite a number of applications, and that we successfully fill the vast majority of the vacancies.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the dismissal of a disabled ex-Serviceman by Messrs. Washington of Manchester; whether he is award, that this man's dismissal prompted 17 of his colleagues including eight ex-Servicemen, all members of a newly-formed trade union branch, to strike in sympathy; and what action he proposes to take to secure this man's reinstatement.

I am aware of the case to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. A joint meeting between the employer and the trade union has been held under the auspices of my Department. I understand that the man concerned was dismissed in order to permit the reinstatement of a former employee returning from H.M. Forces. I have no powers which would enable me to secure his reinstatement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the first statement of the employer in this case was that he did not like this man's face—an excuse for dismissal, or an expression of opinion, which might go very ill with some of us in our employment in this House?

I would hesitate to gamble upon my security of tenure if that applied to me. This was a case in which 15 men and two women were concerned. They took action against the advice of their trade union and declined the advice of their trade union about resumption of work. The matter has been negotiated between the employer and the trade union concerned, and I hope they will find a satisfactory settlement.

May the House learn the name of this newly formed union? As a believer in private enterprise, I would like to know the name of this new enterprise.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements he is proposing to make in order to give effect to the policy outlined in the White Paper on employment policy (Cmd. 6527) in regard to the payment of resettlement allowances to workers transferred to new areas under approved schemes; and whether he contemplates making any alteration in the present arrangements for the payment of grants and allowances to transferred workers.

I am proposing to introduce on 1st May a new scheme for assisting the resettlement of workers who, with the approval of my Department, transfer permanently to a new area. At the same time, steps will be taken to modify in the light of present conditions the present temporary scheme of grants and allowances which was framed on a wartime basis. I am also introducing immediately a special voluntary transfer scheme for assisting the transfer of certain unemployed workers to temporary employment in a new area while they are awaiting the development of new industries in their home area. I will, with permission, circulate particulars of these arrangements in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the particulars:

1. — Scheme of permanent resettlement

(1) This scheme is designed to assist three types of cases:

(1) The permanent transfer of key personnel for the purpose of establishing new industries or extending the scope of existing ones in development areas or other areas where it is desired to encourage the growth or diversification of industry in pursuance of the Government's employment policy;

(2) The permanent transfer of unemployed workers from areas where the prospects of employment for them are poor to areas where the prospects are good; and

(3) The permanent resettlement of workers already in employment away from home for whom there are no good prospects of employment in the home area.

These workers will be assisted to resettle either in the area where they are now employed or in another area according to the existence of regular employment for which suitable persons are not available locally.

2. The main facilities which will be available are:

(1) Free fares to the new area for the worker and his dependants;

(2) A travelling allowance for unemployed workers to meet the incidental expenses of the journey;

(3) A settling-in grant of 24s. 6d. (for both men and women);

(4) Financial assistance towards the cost of removal of household effects;

(5) A lodging allowance of 24s. 6d. per week for a period up to three months for married men (and unmarried workers with similar responsibilities) while seeking family accommodation in the new area;

Note .—Until the general housing situation improves the three months' period will be extended, if necessary.

(6) A continuing Liability allowance of up to 24s. 6d. per week in cases other than (5) for the minimum period necessary to dispose of a liability for payments in respect of the old home.

II.— Temporary continuance in modified form of wartime scheme of grants in respect of temporary transfer

This scheme will continue to operate in a modified form. The scope of the scheme will be restricted as regards future transfers to workers placed in employment away from home in a very limited field of industries or services of the highest priority. In the cases of workers already transferred away from home the facilities of the scheme will continue to be provided for those whose employment away from home is still essential in the national interest and will otherwise he withdrawn after due notice has been given to the workers concerned.

III.— New voluntary temporary transfer scheme

The scheme is supplementary to the normal arrangements for assisting workers to obtain suitable employment. It is designed to meet the needs of workers in certain places where developments are planned which will, in due course, provide new employment, but where meanwhile considerable numbers of workers cannot be placed in work locally. The aim is to alleviate this special temporary situation by enabling such workers to accept temporary transfer to work in other areas pending the development of employment in their home areas. They will be able to record their names on a special Register in their home areas so that their absence from home will not result in the loss of opportunity of local employment and they will be eligible for submission for any suitable vacancies there in the same way as if they had remained unemployed at home.

Assistance available under the scheme will include, inter alia , free fares, a settling-in grant of 24s. 6d. and, for workers with dependants, a lodging allowance of 24s. 6d. per week.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the long term needs of agriculture, he will consider allowing universities to make application for the release from the Armed Forces of a limited number of students taking the ordinary B.Sc. agriculture degree.

I hope to make a statement about Class B releases of students at a very early date.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to announce a further programme of releases from the Forces beyond June next.

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Under the provisional programme the estimated num- ber of men and women to be released and discharged in the third quarter of this year will be 532,400 bringing the cumulative total since 18th June, 1945, up to 3,988,000. I am asked by the Service Ministers to make it clear that although as far as possible men and women will be released in accordance with this provisional programme, compulsory deferment of release of a number of individuals will continue to be necessary, and, as in the past, there will be some inequality in the rate of release for certain branches, categories and trades of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Can my right hon. Friend say what is the highest group reached in his programme in all three Services?

It is all set out in the statement which I am circulating. I will be obliged if my hon. Friend will refer to that.

Will my right hon. Friend tell us up to what period he is referring in his answer?

Up to the end of September.

Following is the statement: