asked the Minister of Works when the occupation by the Inland Revenue of 1, Lancaster Place, is likely to be terminated, since the owners of the premises, Messrs. Thomas Headley and Company, Limited, would like to know at what future date it may be possible for them to reoccupy their premises.

I regret that it is not at present possible to state when the Inland Revenue will be able to vacate the portion of 1, Lancaster Place, requisitioned from Messrs. Thomas Hedley and Co., Ltd., as no suitable alternative accommodation is yet available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the inability of the Norwich Corporation and the East Anglian Electric Supply Company to commence their extension schemes in North Norfolk owing to the shortage of materials and labour; and if he will consult with the other Government Departments concerned to overcome this difficulty.

My Department is already in consultation with other Departments concerned and everything possible is being done to alleviate the position arising from the present shortage of labour and materials.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now extend the mileage limit imposed on motor car hire firms.

I regret that I am not yet able to modify the limitation imposed on the movement of hire cars.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much public money has been spent in each year since 1942 on new machinery for coal cutting, conveying, haulage and other purposes below ground in mines; and the total sums spent in each division.

The total value of mining machinery of British manufacture, the cost of which was borne by public funds, supplied to colliery undertakings for mechanisation, etc., schemes during the four financial years ended 31st March, 1946, amounted to £1,659,860.

Year ended Cutting Conveying. Power Loading Total £ £ £ £ 31.3.43 … … … 21,000 89,000 6,000 116,000 31.3.44 … … … 75,000 322,000 20,000 417,000 31.3.45 … … … 71,000 303,000 20,000 394,000 31.3.46 … … … 132,000 564,000 37,000 733,000 TOTAL … 299,000 1,278,000 83,000 1,660,000

In addition mining machinery of American manufacture to the estimated value of £861,000 was also delivered to colliery undertakings during the four years in question. The large majority Year ended Cutting. Conveying. Power Loading. Total. £ £ £ £ 31.3.43 … … … 25,000 43,000 17,000 85,000 31.3.44 … … … 100,000 167,000 67,000 334,000 31.3.45 … … … 110,000 184,000 74,000 368,000 31.3.46 … … … 22,000 37,000 15,000 74,000 TOTAL … 257,000 431,000 173,000 861,000

Expenditure on haulage is only a negligible proportion of the total, and it is not possible to separate this item. The above does not, of course, represent the total expenditure on mechanisation schemes as there are also other mechanisation schemes not sponsored by Ministry of Fuel and Power, the cost of which is not borne on public funds.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the contribution of each district to the Coal Charges Account for 1944–45 and the recovery from each district from the account in the same period.

The detailed figures for 1944 are given in the Statistical Digest 1944, Cmd. 6639 (see p. 68 et seq. ). Those for 1945 will be published in similar form shortly.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of power loaders in use in British mines for each year since 1942; the number of electric battery locomotives; the number of diesel locomotives; and whether tests are being made with suitable flame proof diesel loco-

The amount is divided approximately as follows:

of this machinery was supplied to this country under Lend-Lease terms.

This American type equipment is divided as follows:

motives in British mines of the kind used in German and Belgian collieries.

The number of power loaders in use in British coal mines at the end of each of the years 1942 to 1945 was 21, 110, 192 and 260 (approximate figure) respectively. There are at the present time 10 electric battery locomotives and 43 diesel locomotives in operation below ground. No special tests are being carried out in connection with diesel locomotives. Those used in British collieries are of flame proof type, similar in design to the kind used in German and Belgian collieries.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he intends to issue instructions to the National Coal Board to make experiments with the gasification of underground coal in suitable industrial areas where there are abandaoned coal barriers where these experiments can be carried out; and whether his Department has first-hand information of gasification of coal carried out in other countries.

Investigation into the problems of underground gasification of coal is clearly a matter of importance. To this end, a Working Group composed of representatives from the Ministry of Fuel and Power, the Fuel Research Organisation and the Geological Survey of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, was set up, at the end of 1944, to examine all aspects of this process, including the selection of suitable sites, the choice of the system of gasification to be employed, and the scale on which such experiments should be carried out. The Working Group is also examining all available information about operations carried out in other countries. I shall see, of course, that the National Coal Board is kept in touch with the results of the investigations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the wives of officers in the defence Forces who wish to live abroad with their husbands are entitled to obtain sufficient foreign exchange for the purpose, or whether they are still subject to the£100per annum maximum; and whether, in view of the desirability of letting as many serving officers as possible have their wives with them, he will make new regulations in regard to this matter at an early date.

An officers' wife wishing to live abroad with her husband does not need any special foreign exchange concession. The officer may draw all his pay and allowances, if he wishes, at the place where he is serving.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the nearest million pounds, the amount of debt held by the issue department of the Bank of England and the Exchange Equalisation Account; and how these are distributed between funded and floating debt.

As shown in the published Bank return for 10th April, 1946, the Issue Department then held £1,399 million of Government securities and £1 million of other securities. Details of these holdings have never been published, and I think they should continue to be regarded as confidential, as also should particulars of the assets of the Exchange Equalisation Account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make on the conclusion of a monetary agreement between this country and Portugal.

A Monetary Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Portuguese Government has been signed today. It provides a satisfactory mechanism of payments between the sterling area and Portugal and will thus facilitate the development of Anglo-Portuguese trade. The text of the Agreement will be presented to Parliament and copies will be available in the Vote Office today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been made to the International Monetary Fund for interpretative declarations as to certain parts of the Bretton Woods Plan; by which countries such applications have been made; and of what parts of the plan have they sought such interpretation.

The White Paper on the Inaugural Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will be available in a day or two. It will give, in full, the information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any approach has been made, or is contemplated, by His Majesty's Government to the International Monetary Fund for a dollar credit pending the ratification of the U.S. loan.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of his decision not to make use of Mulberry equipment for building a breakwater at Fair Isle, he has made plans for the repair of the boat slip at the earliest possible date.

The boat slip at Fair Isle belongs to the County Council of Zetland, and the position was discussed with representatives of the county council at a meeting last week. It is expected that some first aid repair work will be undertaken this year with the aid of a grant from the Department of Agriculture, pending further consideration of the larger problems involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the existing facilities in Scotland for the dredging and maintenance of fishing port harbours; and if he will give favourable consideration to the instituting of a State dredger service, adequate to meet the needs of the inshore fishing industry.

Two dredgers are provided by the Government for use in Scottish fishery harbours. While dredging has fallen into arrear because the dredgers were employed on war work, they are capable of meeting normal demands. Financial assistance is available in suitable cases for the reconditioning of particular harbours and there is technical staff for the supervision of this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can yet make a statement regarding the salaries of sheriffs substitute in Scotland.

No, Sir. Consideration of this subject has not yet been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the recent appointment of solicitor to his Department is an addition to the present legal staff or represents an economy in administration.

The continuation of the legal branches of my Department under a solicitor in charge represents an improvement in administration and does not involve an addition to the previous numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of each type of house to be built in the Shettleston division of Glasgow during the next year; the number at present in course of erection; and the number completed since September, 1945.

Glasgow Corporation propose to erect 90 permanent houses and 229 temporary houses in the Shettleston division during the next year. No permanent houses are at present being erected and none has been completed since September, 1945. Of the 229 temporary houses, 73 are now under construction, and 12 have already been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average number of bricks laid in a normal working day by bricklayers in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen engaged in house building; and the contrast in each case between direct labour and private builders.

According to recent estimates the number of bricks laid per man-day in Glasgow and Edinburgh is 350, and in Aberdeen and Dundee 830 and 600 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken for the provision of unorthodox types of permanent houses in Edinburgh.

The corporation are now erecting 410 Orlit concrete houses and 100 Swedish timber houses. I discussed the question of the adoption of other forms of non-traditional building with the housing committee on 8th April, and I understand that the corporation are considering further projects of this kind. I propose to invite the corporation to share in the allocation of 5,000 B.I.S.F. houses which will shortly be offered by the Government to the larger local authorities in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that various houses owned by Messrs. Bairds and Dalmellington, Limited, coalowners, Linkieburn Square, Muirkirk, Ayrshire, and occupied by miners, have been certified as unfit for human habitation by the sanitary authorities; that these conditions are detrimental to the health of the miners who arc being urged to increase production; and if he will take steps to remedy this situation.

I am informed that 15 houses owned by the firm mentioned at Muirkirk have been certified by the local authority under the Rent Restrictions Acts as not in all respects fit for human habitation. I am in touch with the county council to see what remedial action is practicable pending the provision of new houses in the locality. The local authority have in preparation an immediate programme for the erection of 41 temporary and 68 permanent houses at Muirkirk.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the ratio of houses built for sale as compared with houses built to let which has been accepted for Edinburgh represents the general policy in this matter for the whole of Scotland.

As the recent White Paper shows, tenders had been approved at 28th February, 1946, for 20,061 houses while the number of houses licensed by local authorities for erection by private enterprise was only 574. It has, therefore, not been necessary to consider the general question of limiting private building in Scotland but should this become necessary in any particular area in the interests of progress with the building of houses to let; I shall certainly take the matter up with the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is anticipated that Shotover Hill will be derequisitioned; by what method it is proposed to renovate the damage done to the land and to remove the inconvenience and danger to life involved; and whether steps are being taken to bring under cultivation for crops this year large parts of the area.

This area is no longer required for military purposes. It must, however, be cleared of unexploded missiles before it can be released and it is also intended to fill in certain trenches. There is a grenade range which cannot be searched because it is at present under water, but this will be fenced in and dealt with separately without delaying the release of the remainder. Otherwise the area has been cleared of unexploded missiles. Arrangements are being made to fill in the trenches and as soon as this work is finished the land will be derequisitioned. As it is hoped that the land will be released in the near future cultivation will be a matter for the commoners.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is anticipated that Nettlebed village hall will be released by the military authorities.

I hope that the Hall will no longer be required so far as my Department is concerned by the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that admission fees are being required for C.E.M.A. entertainments from those who are serving in the British Army of Occupation in Austria; that, while officers and men pay the same admission fee, the best seats are reserved for officers and the men can only have what are left after the officers have taken their choice; that a soldier has been put on a charge for occupying a seat reserved for an officer; and whether he will take steps to have a stop put to this practice.

Admission charges for entertainment are now made in all the major overseas commands except S.E.A.C. For disciplinary and administrative reasons, officers and other ranks are allocated separate blocks of seats at entertainments in many overseas commands but a reasonable proportion of the higher priced seats would normally be allotted to other ranks. I am not aware of any instance in which the allocation has been otherwise than fair but if my hon. Friend will give me details of any case she has in mind, I will look into it

asked the Secretary of State for War the proportion and GENERAL SERVICE INTAKES Allocation to Arms from Primary Training Centres. Arm.(1) Output Oct.-Dec.1945.(2) Percentage of Total Output Oct.-Dec.,1945.(3) Output 1st Jan.-4th Mar., 1946.(see Note)(4) Percentage of Total Output 1st Jan.-4th Mar., 1946.(5) (1) Royal Armoured Corps including Household Cavalry 967 2.9 1,488 4.3 (2) Royal Artillery 4,194 12.5 2,789 8.1 (3) Royal Engineers 2,477 7.3 4,085 11.9 (4) Royal Signals 2,684 8.0 3,172 9.3 (5) Infantry, including Foot Guards, Army Air Corps and General Service Corps 9,197 27.4 10,448 30.6 (6) Royal Army Service Corps 4,446 13.2 4,302 12.6 (7) Royal Army Medical Corps and Army Dental Corps 1,904 5.7 774 2.3 (8) Royal Electrical and Mechanial Engineers 1,539 4.6 1,560 4.6 (9) Royal Army Ordnance Corps 2,520 7.5 1,415 4.1 (10) Royal Army Pay Corps 482 1.4 640 1.9 (11) Pioneer Corps 264 .8 377 1.1 (12) Other Corps including Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Army Educational Corps, Corps of Military Police, Army Physical Training Corps, and Army Catering Corps, and Intelligence Corps 2,937 8.7 3,187 9.2 Total 33,611 100 per cent. 34,237 100 per cent. Note —The allocation to Arms for the second half of March, 1946, has not yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the strength of the intake into the Army in the quarter ended 3rst December, 1945, and 31st March, 1946, respectively.

37,023 men were recruited from civil life into the Army in the quarter ending 31st December, 1945, and approximately 48,970 in the quarter ending 31st March, 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for War what period and type of educational training are now being given in the primary training centres.

At primary training centres one 45 minute period a week is numbers of men trained in primary training centres during the quarter ended 31st December, 1945, and 31st March, 1946, allocated to each arm of the Service.

Following are the figures:

allotted to A.B.C.A. discussions and periods may also be devoted to lectures in Citizenship. In addition, arrangements have been made to send selected men who are illiterate to Basic Education Centres for full-time educational courses of six weeks' duration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will instruct his officers that, when premises are being derequisitioned, suitable arrangements are made for the disposal of all pets, such as dogs and cats, who are otherwise left unattended and uncared for and to advise the R.S.P.C.A or the Dumb Friends League so that these animals may be removed without unnecessary suffering.

Instructions were issued some time ago that suitable arrangements must be made, with the assistance of the R.S.P.C.A., for the disposal of stray pets when premises are vacated. The attention of all concerned was drawn to these instructions as recently as last month.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for the delay in dealing with the personal problems of a nurse, at present serving in Q.A.I.M.N.S.R., Jubbulpore, India, particulars of whom have been communicated to him; and if he will expedite her repatriation

There was, I regret to say, delay in dealing with this case, which should not have occurred, but to some extent it was caused by the difficulty of obtaining a passage in proper accommodation from India. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the case. I am informed that the nursing officer in question is sailing on s.s. "Strathnaver" for this country about the middle of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will allow 132835 Driver T. of B.A.O.R., of whom he has particulars, to marry a German woman in order to prevent their child from being born out of wedlock.

So long as it is necessary to continue the general ban on marriage with German nationals I regret that I cannot consider making an exception in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Solihull can expect a reply to his letter of 15th March, in respect of 6356301 Private B. West.

A reply was sent to the hon. Member's letter yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the meagre and unsatisfactory evidence and confusion as to identity indicated in his Department's correspondence about 2873886 Private A. G. Thompson, Gordon Highlanders, reported missing in 194o, he will inquire into this case, of which he and his predecessor have had notice in writing since 1940; and if he will now direct that arrears of allowance and an appropriate pension be paid to Mrs. R. Thompson, of Aberdeen, and her children.

As a result of a court of inquiry this man was declared a deserter with effect from 2nd July, 1940. Consideration has been given to the case on several occasions but I am making a very careful investigation of the details of this case and will write to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War why there has been so much delay in making effective a Class B release for 14765388 Gunner R. T. Phillips, C Troop, 46/10 Field Regiment, S.E.A.C., having in mind that a notification that he was to be released was received from the Welsh Board of Health as long ago as 31st January.

I regret the delay which has occurred in sending this man home for release under Class B. I am taking steps to find out from the Command concerned by cable what action has been taken and as soon as I have received a reply I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that two Polish Jewish soldiers, David Glicenstein and Shimon Getreuthendler, have been sentenced by Polish court martial to terms of imprisonment; if he will inquire into these cases which represent victimisation of two Jewish soldiers who were among those who left the Polish army owing to anti-Semitic conditions in 1944; if he is aware that they were charged with being absent from their units at a time after the amnesty had been issued on 25th June, 1945; and if he will cause the sentences to be rescinded so that these Polish Jewish soldiers can return to their own country as they wish to do.

I have no knowledge of the two cases referred to, but I will make such inquiries as are open to me and write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the need for teachers, when he will release Winchester Training College so that it can be returned to its proper use.

I am not yet in a position to give a definite date for the release of the Winchester Training College. Certain difficulties remain to be overcome, but I hope to be able to release it during June.

asked the Secretary of State for War what restrictions are still in force with regard to fraternisation between British military personnel and Italians in former Italian territories now subject to British military occupation.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds fraternisation, which is allowed in Italy, is prohibited in Rhodes arid the Dodecanese.

The situation as regards non-fraternisation with Italians in the former Italian colonies in Africa remains as stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke (Squadron-Leader Donner) on 26th March. Similar considerations applied in the case of Rhodes and the Dodecanese but it is proposed to lift the ban in these islands in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information concerning the welfare or conditions of the 10 British and 244 Indian personnel missing in the Indonesian operations.

I regret that I have no definite information regarding the British missing in Indonesia, but inquiries are being made through Indonesian officials. I have no doubt that the local military,authorities are doing their best to obtain information about both British and Indians who are missing As soon as definite information is received the relatives of those concerned will be informed immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the delay that is taking place in implementing the orders of medical boards for the evacuation of officers and men from India and Burma to the United Kingdom; and if he will take steps to hasten these transfers.

I am making further inquiries into this matter, but I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for West Dorset (Major Digby) on 9th April.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has investigated the deferment of many officers in Group 26 in M.E.F.; whether he can say how many officers have been deferred; whether he is satisfied that the wholesale deferments do not amount to a block deferment; and what steps he is taking to meet the position.

asked the Secretary of State for War the result of his further investigation into the question of block deferment of officers in M.E.F.

On 31st March, there were 235 officers in Group 26 in the Middle East whose release had been compulsorily deferred. These include 97 Pioneer Corps officers who may yet be released within the period fixed for Group 26, namely, 10th April to 5th May. Those deferred represent about 26 per cent. of the total number of officers in the arms affected in Group 26 in M.E.F. at 31st December, 1945. This does not amount to wholesale or block deferment. The arm worst affected, apart from the Pioneers, is the R.A.S.C., and in the case of R.A.S.C. officers I am going into the matter further. Among the steps being taken to reduce the numbers deferred and the period of deferment to the minimum are the transfer of officers from other theatres, the attachment of officers from other arms to the arms where the shortage is greatest and insistence on units making do with less than their full complement of officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers in each theatre who have had their release compulsorily deferred on grounds of military necessity; and if he will give the answer, in the form of a table, showing the arm or branch of the service to which they belong, their age and service group and the length of time for which they have been deferred.

The number of officers serving on 31st March whose release has been deferred on operational grounds represent 0.58 per cent. of the total number of non-Regular officers. Following are the figures:

ANALYSIS BY ARM, LOCATION AND AGE AND SERVICE GROUP OF BRITISH ARMY OFFICERS (MALE) IN AGE AND SERVICE GROUPS ELIGIBLE FOR RELEASE DEFERRED AS OPERATIONALLY VITAL AND SERVING AT 31ST MARCH, 1946. NOTE.—(*)In the case of B.A.O.R. and S. Caribbean Area, only the blocks of A. & S. Gps. as shown are available. (†)Length of time held beyond release date at 31st March: a —8 months; b —7 months; c —6 months; d —5 months; e —4½ months; f —2½ months g 2¼ months; h —1½ months; i —2 weeks. 1.Theatre or Comd. Age and Service Group and Arms to which officers held on 31st March, 1946, belong. 2. A. & S. Gp. 3 Staff. 4 R.A. 5. R. E. 6.R. Sigs. 7. Int. 8. R.A.S.C. 9. R.A.M.C. 10. R.A.O.C. 11. R.E.M.E. 12. R A.P.C. 13. A.D. Corps. 14. P. Corps. 15 Int. Corps. 16. A.C.C. 17. Gen. List. 18. Total. U.K 1–9 — — — — 9 — — — — 12 — — — — 5 26 10–12 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 1 13–14 — — 1 — 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — 3 15–18 — 1 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 3 19–20 — — 1 — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 2 21 — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 1 23 — — — — — — — 1 — 3 — — — — — 4 24 — — — — — — — 8 — 37 — — — — — 45 25–26 — — — 1 — — — 40 — 56 — — — — — 97 Total 1–26 — 1 3 2 11 — — 49 — 111 — — — — 5 182 B.O.A.R.(*) 25–35 — — 3 — — 1 2 — — — — — — — 1 7 M.E.F 22 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 24 3 — 1 — — 44 — — — — — — — — — 48 25–26 14 — 23 19 4 165 — 16 — — — 97 — 1 — 339 Total 1–26 18 — 24 19 4 209 — 16 — — — 97 — 1 — 388 C.M.F. 15–18 — 1 — — 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — 3 22 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — — — — 1 23 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 1 24 — 2 — — — — — 1 — — — — — — — 3 25–26 — 1 — — 1 1 — 1 — 17 — — — — — 21 Total 1–26 — 4 — — 2 1 — 4 — 17 — — 1 — — 29 E. AFRICA 25–26 — — — — — 1 — — — 1 — — — — — 2 W. AFRICA 1– 9 — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 24 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Total 1–26 — — 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 2

1. Theatre or Comd. Age and Service Group and Arms to which officers held on 31st March, 1946, belong. 2.A. & S. Gp. 3. Staff. 4. R.A. 5. R.E. 6. R sigs. 7. Inf. 8. R.A.S.C. 9. R.A.M.C 10. R.A.O.C. 11. R.E.M.E. 12. R.A.P.C. 13. A.D. Corps. 14. p. Corps. 15. Int. Corps. 16. A.C.C. 17. Gen. List. 18. Total. MALTA 15–18 — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 19–20 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 25–26 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 1 Total 1–26 — 1 1 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 3 S. CARIB. AREA(*) 1–18 — — — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 1 19–24 — 1 — — 2 1 — — — — — — — — — 4 25–35 — 1 2 — 2 2 — 1 1 1 1 — — — — 11 Total 1–35 — 2 2 — 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 — — — — 16 B.A.S. 19–20 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — — — — 1 WASHINGTON 24 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 2 — — 3 25–26 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 2 Total 1–26 — 1 — — 1 — — 2 — — — — 2 — — 6 MELBOURNE 22 — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 1 23 — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 25–26 — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Total 1–26 — — — 1 2 — — — — — — — — — — 3 TOTAL WORLD 1–9 — — — 1 9 — — — — 12 — — — — 5 †27 a WIDE. 10–12 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — — †1 b 13–14 — — 1 — 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — †3 c 15–18 — 3 1 1 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — †7 d 19–20 — — 2 — — — — 1 — 1 — — — — — †4 e 21 — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — †1 f 22 1 — — — l — — 1 — — — — — — — †3 g 23 — — — — 1 — — 1 — 3 — — 1 — — †6 h 24 3 2 2 — — 44 — 10 — 37 — — 2 — — †100 i 25–26 14 2 23 21 6 167 — 57 — 74 — 98 — 1 — 463 See note (*) 1–26 18 7 29 23 20 211 — 71 — 129 — 98 3 1 5 615 1–35 — 2 5 — 4 4 3 l 1 1 1 — — — 1 23 Total 18 9 34 23 24 215 3 72 1 130 1 98 3 1 6 638

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the 37 R.A.O.C. officers in Group 26 who have had their release deferred are serving in the M.E.F.; and what is likely, under present circumstances, to be the length of the period of deferment and its effect on officers of the corps in later groups.

The latest information I have indicates that, on 31st March, 1946, there were 30 R.A.O.C. officers in Group 26 whose release had to be deferred on military grounds. Of these, 16 are in M.E.F. I regret that I can give no precise forecast of the period of deferment but every effort is being made to keep both the numbers deferred and the period of their deferment to a minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for War what sentences were imposed on the 200 men who were charged with mutiny in Sicily; how many of them were sentenced to penal servitude; how long each of those so sentenced served; and what were the respective dates of their release.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to 189 men who were convicted of mutiny arising out of an incident at Salerno in September, 1943. Three sergeants were sentenced to death, their sentences being commuted to reduction to the ranks and 12 years penal servitude. Five corporals were sentenced to reduction to the ranks and 10 years penal servitude. 180 private soldiers were sentenced to seven years penal servitude and one to five years penal servitude. The sentences were suspended immediately, or within a few weeks, in all cases, except two where the men concerned were found to have had recent previous sentences of penal servitude. In these two cases suspension was directed after 11 months and 21 months of sentence had been served.

Subsequently, however, a number of sentences were put into execution as a result either of further convictions or of unsatisfactory conduct while under suspended sentence. In these cases the soldiers failed to take advantage of the act of clemency extended to them by suspension, and their committal to undergo punishment may be attributed to this rather than to their convictions for mutiny. Most of the sentences have since been suspended again, but I cannot give the exact position in all these cases without detailed inquiry in several commands.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now able to make a statement on the shooting of Basuto troops in Palestine, in November last.

I am not yet in a position to make a final statement on this matter as the court of inquiry proceedings which are being sent from the Middle East have not yet been received and considered. I think, however, that the House will wish to have the facts so far as they are at present available. One hundred and nineteen Basutos of a particular company in Palestine were dissatisfied with the rate of repatriation and resorted to mass disobedience. They were charged with the offence and confined for safe custody in the military prison and detention barracks at Nuseirat. On 19th December, 1945, they were sentenced to six and nine months' imprisonment.

The sentences were promulgated on 31st December and immediately following the promulgation, a mutiny broke out. The prison staff called for assistance, as two British officers and a number of British other ranks were injured by bricks thrown by the mutineers. Personnel of a Parachute Brigade were sent to the assistance of the prison staff, and in order to restore order, after use of tear smoke had failed, were compelled to open fire on the mutineers killing three and wounding 12 Basutos.

I should prefer not to express any opinion on the action which was taken by those concerned until I have considered the full proceedings of the court of inquiry. All the sentences were suspended on 5th March and remitted on 25th March. All the Basutos concerned left the Middle East on their way home on 25th March.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the views on the U.S.S.R.'s domestic and foreign policy and on Egypt's role in the war expressed in a broadcast from the official military broadcasting station at Singapore by Lieut.-Colonel Bernard Braines on Saturday, 2nd March, 1946; and whether this represented the views of, or were approved by, the British military administration in Malaya.

I understand that the broadcast to which the hon. Member refers was one of a series of commentaries on World Affairs in which speakers summarised the week's news and that the British Military Administration in Malaya accepted no responsibility for any views expressed or interpretations placed on the news by individual speakers. I am making further inquiries into the circumstances in which a broadcast in this series was given by a serving officer.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will restore to other ranks who volunteered tinder a Regular engagement the right to purchase release at any time after they would have been released in Class A had they been conscripts, thus giving them the same opportunities as those who, on being granted temporary commissions, were discharged from their Regular engagements and are obtaining release in Class A.

No, Sir. A man on a Regular engagement has contracted of his own free will to undertake a certain period of military service. There is no reason why he should not be held to fulfil this contract, if the Army requires his services, and in present conditions the Army cannot afford the loss of Regular soldiers which the reintroduction of discharge by purchase would involve.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers and soldiers doing a second or third tour in the Gold Coast are in all cases volunteers for a continued term of service there.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Royal Scots, the Royal Regiment, was not in its historic place at the march past of the Army Cadet Corps on Sunday, 7th April, in Hyde Park, London; and if he will see that in future no alteration will be made in regimental precedence.

The march past was organised on the basis of county cadet contingents. Within any county contingent cadet units are affiliated to numerous different regiments and corps. An order of march based on regimental affiliations and precedence would therefore have meant breaking up county cadet contingents and would have produced a ragged column consisting of a large number of small parties.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions regarding enlisted men's choice of regiment are issued to personnel selection officers of the Army: and if he is proposing to revise these instructions with a view to allowing men to serve with units of their choice.

The powers of personnel selection officers are limited to recommendation. A man's actual posting is done by the War Office and depends on his qualifications and the vacancies in various corps and regiments. The Regular recruit is, wherever possible, allotted to the arm of his choice or if he is allotted to the Infantry he will almost invariably be posted to the regiment of his choice. In posting men called up under the National Service Acts considerable weight is given to any family connections with a particular corps or regiment, and in the case of the Infantry to territorial connections.

asked the Secretary of State for War the conditions under which demobilised personnel are permitted to re-enlist; and why such persons cannot be re-engaged so that the rank previously held can be retained.

Men who have been released may re-enlist on a Regular engagement for five years with the Colours and seven years with the Reserve provided they are under 30 years of age and of appropriate medical category. Men re-enlisting on Regular engagements within a year of release will be re-granted their substantive or war substantive ranks. The general conditions are given in the pamphlet entitled "Why drop out" of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the statement on short term engagements made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the lengthy delays in the release of university students under Class B to return to their studies from India Command, in spite of their applications having been approved by the Ministry of Labour and his Department; and whether he will take steps to expedite the return of these men

Troops are widely scattered over India and it is inevitable that it should take some time to offer Class B release to individuals and to move them to the ports of transport home. Nevertheless India Command have been making efforts to accelerate all Class B releases. No special priority can be given to students over other Class B men.

asked the Secretary of State for War why it is necessary to retain in the Army men in lower groups than 27, who volunteered for service in the Far East for an extra year, on the understanding that this undertaking applied only to such period as the Japanese war was in progress; and if he will now consider offering these volunteers the full advantages of early demobilisation within their group categories.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Dumfries (Major N. Macpherson) on 12th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the order in which officers in the M.E.F., whose release is being compulsorily deferred, are ultimately to be returned to the United Kingdom for demobilisation, is to depend on the relative duration of their current overseas tours, as this is a departure from the age plus service principle.

The system in operation in the Middle East is that priority for the release of officers deferred on operational grounds depends on age and service groups in the first place, but within any age and service group those who have served longest overseas are released first.

This seems to me a perfectly fair arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of officers of the R.E. serving in Palestine at the time at which they were due for release under Class A have been so released since 1st January, 1946.

During the period 1st January, 1946, to 31st March, 1946, 38 R.E. officers in M.E.F. were held beyond their dates for release under Class A. Of these, 14 were released during the same period, leaving 24 who were still retained. These consist of one in Group 24, 10 in Group 25 and 13 in Group 26. The total number of R.E. officers in M.E.F. as at 31st March, 1946, was 1,127, so that the proportion held at that date was only about 2 per cent. I regret that I have no separate figures regarding the numbers held compulsorily in Palestine.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to visitors by the decision of his Department to prohibit access to the beaches at West Runton, Weybourne, Salthouse and Cromer golf links, Norfolk, when firing takes place; and if he will take such action as will allow access to these beaches and links at all times.

The restrictions referred to have been imposed in the interests of the safety of the public. Consideration is at present being given to the possibility of releasing some of these areas altogether.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Principal Probate Registry has recently laid down that soldiers' wills cannot be admitted as privileged until evidence is furnished to show that at the date they were made the testator was serving in a theatre of war, or was under orders to proceed to a theatre of war; and whether, in these circumstances, he will arrange for the revision of the will forms which are supplied to soldiers, and which, in the light of this ruling, no longer fulfil the exact purpose for which they were intended.

I am in communication with my legal advisers on this subject. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that the instructions given to soldiers on their pay books will be revised if this is considered necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War what British troops are stationed in Lagos; why they are being retained there; what time they are expected to put in at this station without home leave; and if he will consider fixing the maximum period of service of British troops at such stations as Lagos to a maximum period of 12 months.

There are in Lagos an area headquarters, a battalion of African Infantry and various African administrative units, all of which contain some British personnel. The Infantry Battalion is required for internal security and the administrative units are engaged in the day to day work of maintenance of the military forces in the area and in dealing with contingents of Africans being repatriated from overseas.

Eighteen months is the normal tour of duty in West Africa. It is not until British personnel have learned the language that they reach their full usefulness when serving with African troops, and as this takes some time it is considered that a tour of 18 months is the minimum for which it is economical to post them to West Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many sheds containing ammunition and explosives are located in the county of Perth.

The total number of sheds containing ammunition and explosives in the dump centred on Aberfoyle, Perthshire, is 10,380, of which approximately 60 per cent. are in Perthshire, and 40 per cent. in Stirlingshire. I should add that these sheds are small portable steel shelters.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much ammunition and explosives have been received for storage within the county of Perth since 6th April.

Ammunition received for storage in the Perthshire area since 6th April, 1946, amounts to less than seven tons. During the same period 1,670 tons were removed from the area for breakdown in Ministry of Supply factories and dumping at sea. A further 1,760 tons are due to be removed in the course of the next week or so.

asked the Secretary of State for War why no travel concessions have been allowed for Easter camps for the Army Cadet Force, in view of the announced Government policy of giving all possible assistance to this cadet force.

I regret that there has been some misunderstanding over this matter. The Army Cadet Force will be allowed concession fares for Easter Camps this year as usual. It is, however, desirable that wherever possible travel should be confined to the middle of the week.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether those Palestinians, Greeks and Cypriots who lost limbs fighting with the British troops in the Middle East received the same treatment and the same quality of artificial limbs as men of British nationality who came home for treatment.

The men to whom the hon. Member refers have received the same surgical care and treatment as their comrades of Britisth nationality. Arrangements were made for them to be fitted with artificial limbs at a centre established in Alexandria under the supervision of an experienced craftsman trained by the contractors to the Ministry of Pensions Hospital at Roehampton. The limbs supplied have not the same finish as those fitted at Roehampton but they are satisfactory and serviceable. They have the advantage of not requiring the same amount of skilled maintenance as those made at Roehampton.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the danger to the public arising out of unexploded missiles on the Downs in East Sussex; and if he will take steps to remove this danger before the holiday season.

Four out of the eight blocks of land included in the South Downs Training Area have now been cleared of unexploded missiles and are in process of being derequisitioned. The physical clearance of the remaining areas is delayed by the acute shortage of trained personnel and the necessary technical equipment, but I am most anxious that these areas should be cleared and relinquished as quickly as possible and every effort is being made in this direction.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made for wives to join their husbands serving with B.A.O.R.; and how many wives have been allowed to go to Germany for this purpose.

No families have yet been allowed to go to Germany. A scheme has been worked out, but the availability of transport and accommodation and other conditions in Germany must be the dominant factors in reaching a decision as to when the scheme can be started.

asked the Secretary of State for War the dates for the evacuation of British forces from Batavia, Bandoeng, Semarang and Surabaya, in view of the agreement now reached with the Indonesian Republican Government for the evacuation of all Japanese from Java.

Although agreement was reached between His Majesty's Government and the Netherlands Government in London last week on the subject of the withdrawal of British and Indian troops from Java, it would be premature to make any detailed statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War if Markeaton Park, Derby, can now be derequisitioned and the troops at present using this park accommodated elsewhere, in view of the fact that this park is required by the people of Derby, particularly during the coming summer months.

I regret that I am not in a position to add anything to my answer to my hon. and gallant Friend on 5th February.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to inform the House of all the circumstances as a result of which British soldiers were murdered in recent mob riots in Cairo.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will extend the same facilities for free travel warrants for privilege leave to Servicemen in Europe as those afforded to Servicemen in the. United Kingdom.

In commands abroad we. do the best that is possible to' reunite the soldier with his family by shortening the Python tour and arranging leave at the shortest intervals allowed by shipping and administrative difficulties. In B.A O.R. two free privilege leave warrants a year to the United Kingdom are allowed and also free travel for two local leaves per year to the nearest approved leave centre up to a maximum distance of 100 miles. In other commands abroad free travel is allowed for L.I.A.P. on the approved scale and also for up to four local reaves per year.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent there is a censorship of mail from our Forces in Greece at the present time, preventing them from informing Members of Parliament as to their impressions of the political situation in that country; and if official instructions have been given to our Forces in Greece, apart from censorship, to the same effect.

There is no censorship of mail from our Forces in Greece at the present time, preventing them from informing Members of Parliament, or anybody else, as to their impressions of the political situation in that country, and I have no knowledge of any such instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the difficulties experienced by local authorities, in coastal and other districts, in the removal of barbed wire placed in position by his Department and no longer required for defence purposes; and will he arrange for its removal.

The arrangements for dealing with defence works generally were described in the reply given to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom) on 20th December. The War Department normally takes responsibility for physical removal only of works which are dangerous to the remover. In addition, in certain coastal areas, other defence works, which cover not only beaches but also promenades, etc., may be cleared by local authorities under arrangements with the War Office to the extent of making access to the sea safe for the public.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the new increases to the retired pay of Regular officers who have retired from the active list will be made; and if these increases will be retrospective, and from what date.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Knutsford (Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport) yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consult with the local planning authorities before buildings, erected by his Department during the war, are offered for sale to landowner and others, in view of the fact that many of these buildings do not conform to town planning and building bye-law requirements of local authorities.

The hon. Member is no doubt aware of the provisions of the recent Building Restrictions (Wartime Contraventions) Act which provide for the sanctioning in proper cases of continuance of buildings which do not comply with planning control and building laws. The War Office consults the Regional Planning authority before disposal of huts to the owners of requisitioned land. In other suitable cases the purchaser is advised to clear the position on the buildings he intends to purchase.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers were commissioned in the Army during each half-yearly period from 1st January, 1942, to 31st December, 1945; and, in respect of each such periods, what proportion of the officers so commissioned were educated at public elementary schools, headmasters' conference schools and schools receiving no form of financial aid from the Ministry of Education or local education authorities, respectively.

The numbers of officers commissioned into the Army during the half-yearly periods from 1st January, 1942, to 31st December, 1945, were as follow:

January-June, 1942 … … … 12,824 July-December, 1942 … … … 16,824 January-June, 1943 … … … 19,270 July-December, 1943 … … … 15,714 January-June, 1944 … … … 14,411 July-December, 1944 … … … 11,082 January-June, 1945 … … … 7,525 July-December, 1945 … … … 7,587 Total … … … 105,237

The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available from the records, nor do the records kept, which do not cover the whole period, relate to those actually granted commissions but to those accepted for training. The following sample figures show the proportions in the case of the 1,218 candidates who were accepted for training for commissions in July and August, 1945:

34.15 per cent. public schools.

20.69 per cent, elementary schools.

16.58 per cent. grant aided independent schools.

24.31 per cent. grant aided municipal schools.

4.27 per cent. other schools receiving no financial aid.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers were commissioned to the Brigade of Guards in each of the half-yearly periods from 1st January, 1942, to 31st December, 1945; and, in respect of each of those periods, how many of the officers so commissioned were educated at Eton, Harrow, or Winchester, at other headmasters' conference schools and at public elementary schools, respectively.

The numbers of officers commissioned into the Foot Guards during the half-yearly periods from 1st January, 1942, to 31st December, 1945, were as follow:

January—June, 1942 … … … 170 July—December, 1942 … … … 165 January—June, 1943 … … … 90 July—December, 1943 … … … 128 January—June, 1944 … … … 199 July—December, 1944 … … … 121 January—June, 1945 … … … 126 July—December, 1945 … … … 177 Total … … … 1,176

The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not readily available, and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War what authority exists for the stoppage of pay and allowances to a soldier believed to be absent without leave prior to the holding of a court of inquiry under Section 72 of the Army Act.

Section 138 (1) of the Army Act provides for the forfeiture of all ordinary pay for every day of absence either on desertion or without leave. A soldier absent from his place of duty without permission and for no ascertained reason is unable to receive his pay while absent. If he subsequently returns or is apprehended and is convicted of desertion or of absence without leave his pay for the period of absence is forfeited under the above quoted section. The suspension of family allowance after seven days' absence is made under the authority of the Royal Warrant (Paragraph 7 of the Schedule to the Royal Warrant promulgated as Army Order 135 of 1943).

asked the Secretary of State for War what office and authority is responsible for providing office accommodation for use as temporary headquarters by Territorial regiments during their period of suspended animation; and what staff is available to assist when necessary.

When units of the Territorial Army are placed in suspended animation they retain their identity and order of precedence in the Army List but have no men serving in them. They, therefore, require no office. Territorial Army Associations, however, retain considerable interest in the units they formerly administered and do assist representatives of these units in any way they can. I am also encouraging the formation of Old Comrades' Associations of Territorial Army Units at the drill halls they used to occupy and instructions to this effect have been issued to Territorial Army Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men serving in the R.A.O.C., A.L.F.S.E.A., have been notified officially that those in release Group 45 are unlikely to sail for home until February, 1947, and that this estimate is inconsistent with other estimates published previously and has caused despondency; and if he will take steps both to expedite home sailings from S.E.A.C. and to ensure the publication of authentic forecasts of sailings for as many months ahead as possible, sailings so forecast not to be subject to delay.

I agree that the notification referred to was unfortunately worded and I am having it amended. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour is announcing today a new programme of releases up till 30th September. The programme of shipping will be arranged so as to conform to this release programme. It is not practicable to forecast sailing dates months ahead as other shipping requirements are continually varying. As soon as dates of sailing are known they are published locally and are adhered to as far as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War why three large houses in Brownhill Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, at present occupied by Italian prisoners, cannot be released for native occupation and the Italians placed in local camps which are not fully occupied.

The Italian prisoners of war occupying these three large houses are part of a working company and have to be housed near their work. It would not be practicable to house the prisoners in either of the two camps in the neighbourhood. One is a Ministry of Works camp for civilian workers and the other is part of the Southampton Transit Camp. Like other transit camps the numbers in the Southampton camp fluctuate continually; it will not therefore be full all the time but this does not necessarily mean that the accommodation is surplus. I am unable to forecast a date when the houses will be released, but it is unlikely to be before July.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will lift the ban on German prisoners of war who are not allowed to hold conversation with British people and thereby help to bring about a better understanding between the people of both countries.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Flight-Lieutenant Haire) on 19th March.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what steps, in consultation with other Departments, are to be taken to give effect to the recommendations of the Scott Report.

It is not possible to deal with this matter fully within the compass of a Question and answer, but if the hon. and gallant Member has in mind any particular point perhaps he will communicate with me. In general, the recommendations of this Report have been and will continue to be given careful consideration by my Department in consultation with the other Departments concerned, and such recommendations as involve legislation will be taken into account, in so far as is desirable and practicable, in the various legislative measures which I hope to introduce in the course of the present Parliament.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning why he is refusing to allow the Cambome-Redruth Urban District Council to sell the freehold of a site near Cam Brea station to a firm desirous of erecting on it a factory calculated to give substantial employment to the people of the district.

Under Section 19 (5) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1944, I am empowered to give my consent to the sale of the freehold only if I am satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances which render the disposal of the land in that manner expedient. On the information at present before me in the Camborne-Redruth case I am not so satisfied, but I have arranged to receive a deputation on the matter from the District Council.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning under what statutory authority he authorised the Jarrow Corporation compulsorily to purchase land now proposed to be sold to the Jarrow and Hebburn Cooperative Society; and what is the statutory authority for such sale.

I confirmed the Compulsory Purchase Order submitted by the Jarrow Council under Section 10 (1) ( a ) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1944. I am precluded by the terms of Section 19 of the Act from consenting to a sale or lease for more than 99 years of land so acquired unless there are exceptional circumstances, and I have informed the Jarrow Town Council that I am aware of no such circumstances in this case.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that many of the London Square gardens are subject to special Acts of Parliament; whether he proposes to call a conference of those concerned, with a view to arriving at a settlement in regard to the reinstatement of those gardens which were requisitioned for various C.D. purposes and which, by the removal of the iron railings, became open spaces; and to consider what should be the future of London Squares in connection with town planning and public amenities.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir "; to the second part, that the question of the reinstatement of those gardens which were requisitioned for Civil Defence purposes has already been the subject of discussions between the various Departments and local authorities concerned, and restoration is proceeding so far as is possible, having regard to the necessity for employing available labour on more urgent work; and to the third part that the Question of further powers in regard to London squares is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, arising out of the Interim Report of the New Towns Committee and the problem of the congested urban areas and their development, he will give an assurance that the maintenance of green belts in full farming use will be an integral feature of the planning system.

The provision of an adequate green belt is an essential part of the planning of a new town, and the agricultural user of the land within it will be preserved subject to permitting the special forms of development which are normally allowed in a green belt.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, arising out of the Interim Report of the New Towns Committee, he will give an assurance that he will, as far as practicable, confine major expansion to larger and more industrialised towns since small towns are generally dependent for their existence on the surrounding country area.

The extent to which it is practicable to make major expansions of the larger and more industrialised towns is dependent on a number of complex factors such as transport, public utility services, and employment needs. Accordingly it is not practicable to confine major extensions altogether to towns of this kind.

asked the Minister of Transport how many ex-Service reconditioned motor cars he anticipates are, and will be, available for purchase by disabled ex-Servicemen; how many applications for a certificate to purchase have been received; and how many have been refused

At present the average number per month is 70–80 cars. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply cannot forecast the future supply but has no reason to expect an increase. I have no separate record of the total applications from disabled ex-Servicemen, but I have nearly 1,000 applications from seriously disabled men on my waiting lists.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Staffordshire County Council is employing German prisoners of war on road work; what are the terms of such employment; and were the trade unions concerned consulted before these arrangements were made.

Yes, Sir. German prisoners of war have been employed on road work by the Staffordshire County Council for the past nine months. The council pays the War Office at the rate appropriate for British civilians doing the same kind of work. I understand that no formal consultation took place with the trade unions concerned, but that the council is in constant touch with them and has received no representations from them on the matter during this period.

asked the Minister of Transport why a local builder and six of his men are employed putting curbs to the country road from Sudbury to Long Melford in West Suffolk, when they could be better employed providing houses urgently needed in this locality.

This is a Class 1 road maintainable by the West Suffolk County Council. Military traffic destroyed the verge and weakened the haunches of the carriageway; the curb is being laid to give lateral support to the carriageway and to protect pedestrians on the adjacent footpath.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that at Euston station seats are still being reserved by porters for passengers; that on the 5.30 p.m. train to Liverpool on Friday, 29th March, all six seats in one compartment were reserved by porters; and if he will see that steps are taken to stop this undesirable practice.

Instructions to platform staff prohibit the reservation of seats by porters unless the passenger is present at the time. Inspectors do their best to ensure that these instructions are enforced, but it is possible that there may be occasional breaches.

asked the Minister of Health when the revised contract for advance preparation of the site for permanent houses under the Hornsea Urban District Council scheme will be approved.

Action is being taken to finish this site in the quickest way practicable. Officers of the Department are discussing arrangements with the council's representatives today.

asked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to grant a W.B.A. priority for the completion of the bomb repair work at Montague Mansions, W.1., in view of the urgent demand for housing accommodation and the fact that this work was started on the instructions of his Department, on the cost plus basis, and cannot be completed within a reasonable time without a W.B.A. priority.

It is the policy of the Government to grant W.B.A. priority for such work carried out on a fixed price basis. If the balance of this work is carried out on that basis, W.B.A. priority will be given automatically.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the provision of temporary hostels in London for demobilised Servicemen who have found employment in London, but are unable to find accommodation.

Local authorities have powers enabling them to meet this need. The London County Council are establishing a number of hostels, two of which are already open, which will be available for persons, including demobilised Servicemen, who are temporarily unable to find accommodation.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the Trawler Owners Federation may expect an answer to their letter of 15th March on the urgent need for accommodation for trawler learners at Milford Haven.

The answer was sent on 3rd April. The right hon. Gentleman will, of course, recollect the reply on this subject which I gave him on 10th April.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will furnish figures showing, as at 31st March, or the nearest convenient date thereto, of each year from 1918 to 1946, the numbers of men and women employed in the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth, and distinguishing between established and non-established personnel; and whether he will state the intakes and discharges for each of the years concerned, giving the reasons for exceptionally large intakes or discharges.

The numbers of work-people employed under the Shipbuilding Repairing and Maintenance Vote for the years in question are set out in the table below:

— Total Men and Women on Yard Books. Total with H.M. Forces included in the fore-going. Net Numbers actually employed. Entries and Discharges during the year. Remarks. Established. Non-Established. Entries. Discharges. Net Increase + Decrease - Men. Women. Men. Women. 6th April, 1918 3,197 — 11,738 1,641 — — — — — Numbers serving with the Forces at this date are not known. 22nd March, 1919 3,502 — 14,362 782 1,637 17,008 Reliable data not now available 20th March, 1920 3,784 — 12,747 183 445 16,269 1,192 ( a ) 2,545 4,476 -739 Discharges due to reduced requirements for post war Fleet. 19th March, 1921 3,809 — 12,870 190 — 16,869 445 ( a ) 2,179 2, 024 +600 includes approx. 1,400 entries under the "short time" scheme. 25th March, 1922 3,849 — 9,736 156 — 13,741 531 3,659 -3,128 Includes approx. 1,600 net discharges under the "short time" scheme and reduction in Fleet requirements. 24th March, 1923 4,034 — 7,308 131 — 11,473 998 3,266 -2,268 Reduction in Fleet requirements. 22nd March 1924 3,925 — 8,051 123 — 12,099 1,535 909 + 626 Includes approx. 1,100 entries under a scheme to relieve unemployment. 21st March 1925 3,866 — 8,019 121 — 12,006 673 766 -93 20th March, 1926 3,892 — 7,982 116 — 11,990 1,009 1,025 -16 19th March, 1927 4,008 — 7,982 116 — 11,904 786 872 -86 24th March, 1928 3,801 — 6,888 107 — 10,796 385 1,493 -1,108 Reductions due to curtailment of Programme. 23rd March, 1929 3,666 4 6,873 103 — 10,646 783 933 -150 22nd March, 1930 3,500 5 7,240 102 — 10,847 1,288 1,087 +201 21st March, 1931 3,392 5 7,146 111 — 20,654 1,505 1,698 -193 19th March, 1932 3,249 5 7,406 105 — 10,765 1,373 1,262 +111 25th March, 1933 3,121 5 7,396 104 — 10,626 2,007 2,146 -139 24th March, 1934 2,990 5 7,649 106 — 10,750 2,091 1,967 -124 23rd March, 1935 2,820 5 8,718 107 — 11,650 2,486 1,586 +900 Period of re-armament. 21st March, 1936 2,651 5 9,589 116 — 12,361 2,396 1,685 +711 20th March, 1937 2,536 5 11,085 127 — 13,753 1,802 410 +1,392 19th March, 1938 2,590 20 11,347 125 — 14,082 1,788 1,459 +329 25th March, 1939 2,614 19 12,268 135 — 15,036 2,373 1,419 +959 23rd March, 1940 2,617 19( c ) 14,005 131 1,447 15,325 307 ( a ) 3,231 1,754 ( b ) 1,495 + 289 22nd March 1941 2,497 — 14,970 921 1,901 16,487 167 ( a ) 2,929 621 ( b ) 1,313 +1,162 Entry of 790 women. 21st March, 1942 2,296 — 14,837 1,881 2,121 16,893 124 ( a ) 2,711 344( b ) 2,085 +406

— Total Men and Women on Yard Books. Total with H.M. Forces included in the fore-going. Net Numbers actually employed. Entries and Discharges during the year. Remarks. Established. Non-Established. Entries. Discharges. Net Increase + Decrease - Men. Women. Men. Women. 20th March, 1943 2347 — 15,015 2,391 2,275 17,478 138 ( a ) 1,552 292 ( b ) 813 + 585 25th March, 1944 2,293 — 14,672 2,617 2,410 17,172 110 ( a ) 1,110 245 ( b ) 1,281 -306 During this period, women began to leave the Dockyard. Since August, 1945, persons wishing to leave have been allowed to do so. Losses have been party by returns of men from the Forces. 24th March, 1945 2,334 — 14,593 2,151 2,379 16,699 174 ( a ) 1,423 143 ( b ) 1,927 -473 23rd March, 1946 2,462 — 14,257 353 1,427 15,645 1,093 ( a ) 1,896 141 ( b ) 3,902 -1,054 ( a ) Released from H.M. Forces. ( b ) Joined H.M. Forces. ( c ) Established women tracers were transferred to non-industrial status in 1941.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will furnish figures showing as at 31st March, or the nearest convenient date thereto, of each year from 1918 to 1946, the numbers of men and women employed in the city of Portsmouth; and the numbers unemployed and distinguishing where possible, temporary and permanent unemployment.

The available figures corn-piled by my Department relate to persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and the first year for which comparable figures are available is 1923. The table below shows the approximate numbers of insured persons as indicated Date. Approximate numbers of insured persons. Numbers of insured persons unemployed Men aged 18 years and over.* Women aged 18 years and over.* Men aged 18 years and over. * Women aged 18 years and over. * Wholly unemployed (inc. Casuals). Temporarily stopped. Wholly unemployed.(inc. Casuals). Temporarily stopped. July 1923 … 32,830 8,400 Comparable figures not available 1924 … 33,430 9,000 1925 … 33,400 10,650 3,757 — 425 — 1926 … 33,220 10,150 3,901 17 544 91 1927 … 33,280 10,120 2,873 — 505 94 1928 … 32,920 10,090 3,164 4 387 85 1929 … 33,800 10,340 2,758 2 244 21 1930 … 35,190 10,670 4,066 — 441 73 1931 … 30,690 11,360 5,569 28 672 109 1932 … 37,790 11,380 6,520 24 760 155 1933 … 38,780 11,530 5,503 41 705 37 1934 … 38,890 11,310 4,900 5 457 202 1935 … 39,890 11,850 4,841 — 354 72 1936 … 41,110 12,030 3,498 — 419 117 1937 … 43,010 12,340 3,233 — 372 59 1938 … 45,590 13,440 3,167 3 353 54 1939 … 48,420 14,260 2,217 2 594 48 1940 … 44,530 15,820 964 — 838 97 1941 … 38,560 14,360 205 — 155 21 1942 … 37,560 18,470 215† — 121† 33 1943 … 36,130 19,710 211 — 47 — 1944 … 37,120 20,070 132 — 22 — 1945 … 34,690 18,250 377 — 107 — 1946 (March) — — 1,067 — 841 3 * The figures for 1923 to 1927 relate to persons aged 18 years and over, including those aged over 65. Persons aged 65 years and over ceased to be insurable under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in January, 1928, and the figures for 1928 to 1939 relate to persons aged 18 and under 65 years. Women aged 60 and under 65 years ceased to be insurable in July, 1940, and the figures for 1940 and later years relate, therefore, to men aged 18 and under 65 and to women aged 18 and under 60 years. † For 1942 and subsequent years the unemployment figures exclude persons classified as unsuitable ordinary employment. In 1942 the numbers so excluded were 44 men and 6 women.

by the statistics of unemployment insurance books exchanged at Portsmouth Employment Exchange in respect of men and women, employed and unemployed, insured against unemployment at July of each year from 1923 to 1945, the latest year for which such figures are available, together with the numbers of such persons recorded as unemployed in July of each of those years and at 11th March, 1946, distinguishing wholly unemployed, i.e., out of a situation, and temporarily stopped, i.e., temporarily suspended from work on the understanding that they were shortly to resume their former employment. Agricultural workers, who first became insurable against unemployment in 1936, have been excluded throughout.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed at Wallasey on 14th April.