asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what training ships exist in Scotland, for training in seamanship and other qualifications necessary for service in the R.N.

Apart from three vessels used for R.N.V.R. Headquarters, there are no Admiralty training ships in Scotland.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether C/JX 540693 A.B. G. W. Freeborn, who died recently of smallpox in India, had been vaccinated at any time since when he joined the R.N. two years ago.

I have at present no definite evidence whether this rating was, or was not, vaccinated, and I am, therefore, having further inquiries made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that before the sinking of H.M.S. " Glorious"It was laid down by his Department that no aircraft carrier should go to sea without an escort of a light cruiser and four destroyers; and on what mission the light cruiser and the other two destroyers which properly belonged to her were engaged at the time the " Glorious " was sunk.

Detailed instructions of this nature are not issued by the Admiralty, since it is necessary to leave to the officer in command of any operation the disposition of the forces available to him. As my hon. Friend will see in the reply I gave him on 8th May, the Navy at that time was stretched almost to breaking point. Besides the tremendous task of guarding all our trade routes, the evacuation of Boulogne was actually in progress, and preparations were being made for the evacuation of Dunkirk, which was carried out only three days later. The loss of the " Glorious " must, therefore, be seen, not as an isolated tragedy, but as part of the sacrifice that had to be made during the great operation of bringing back our Expeditionary Forces in preparation for the defence of our own shores.

asked the Attorney-General if he is satisfied that existing enactments or regulations are adequate to enable Fascist activity and anti-Semitic activity to be dealt with in the criminal courts; and if he will specify the enactments or regulations under which such activities could be dealt with.

There are no statutory enactments or orders directed to the suppression of any particular political organisation, but the common law with regard to sedition, seditious conspiracy and seditious libel and the Public Order Act, 1936, give the authorities wide powers to prosecute those whose activities are designed to foster disaffection, or to promote hostility or between different classes of the community, where such activities are really mischievous and are calculated to disturb the King's peace. These provisions of the law have so far been found adequate to deal with those who abuse the generous measure of freedom of belief and of speech that has always been accorded to the citizens of this country. I have no reason to think that they will not be adequate in the future.

asked the Attorney-General how many writs of capias have been issued in each of the last 10 years; and in how many cases there has been actual imprisonment in consequence.

The writ of capias ad satisfaciendum is in practice used in cases in which the Board of Inland Revenue or the Commissioners of Customs and Excise are seeking to recover monies due to the Crown and where there is reason to suspect gross fraud or a deliberate attempt to evade payment of the debt. I regret that exact figures as to the number of writs issued during the past ten years are only available in respect of the former Department, but figures have been extracted showing the position over the last four years in the case of the latter. I will circulate these figures, together with figures showing the actual number of debtors imprisoned on them, in the OFFICIAL REPORT. So far as the Board of Inland Revenue is concerned, the figures range from 743 writs issued and 12 persons imprisoned in 1936 to 165 writs issued and four persons imprisoned in 1945. The number of writs issued by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise has varied between seven in 1942 and 36 in 1945 and a total of 22 persons were imprisoned on those writs in the period under review Of these, 14 were imprisoned in 1945 in connection with Purchase Tax evasions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (I) whether he is aware that correspondence to and from L.A.C. Attwood, whilst detained for investigation or awaiting trial in India, was systematically withheld from him, in particular, an express telegram from Drigh Road on 8th March advising him to get in touch with a certain firm of solicitors, which was still undelivered 10 days later; a letter from Karachi on 9th March, kept back until 15th March, and a number of letters written by him on 19th March, kept back for so long that one of them did not reach its destination, the House of Commons, until 3rd May; and if he will see that, in future, such correspondence is not delayed;(2) whether he is aware that a letter, written on 18th April by L.A.C. Attwood, then in Kalyan Army Detention Barracks awaiting trial by court-martial on Monday, 29th April, to a firm of solicitors in Bombay seeking to arrange for his defence, was held back until Friday, 26th April, and only reached the solicitors on Saturday, 27th April; and whether he will inquire into the matter and deal with the persons responsible for this prejudice to his defence.

Leading Aircraftman Attwood's trial is still proceeding. A plea that trial was barred by condonation of the offence has not been upheld by the confirming authority. I have called for a full report on the delays in this airman's correspondence and will communicate with the hon. and learned Member when my inquiries are complete. I need hardly say that if it was established that his correspondence had been deliberately delayed, I should regard it as a most serious matter. There is, however, no question of Attwood lacking skilled professional assistance. His defence is being conducted by a barrister and two solicitors.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that 1645929 L.A.C. A. W. Attwood, who was instrumental in preventing mutinous and disorderly behaviour during the recent R.A.F. strikes, is awaiting court-martial on charges of inciting to mutiny; that an express telegram and a letter to this airman advising him on the possibility of legal defence were withheld from him until after he had been questioned about his defence, in the case of the telegram for at least 12 days; and if he will issue instructions that this man is to be allowed to make such arrangements as he wishes for his defence.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to-day to the hon. and learned Member for North Hammersmith (Mr. Pritt)

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any decision has now been reached about the future status of education officers in the R.A.F.

I hope to be able to make a statement on this matter after the Whitsun Recess.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many former agricultural workers serving in the R.A.F. have been offered release under the Class B block scheme; and how many will be released by the end of May.

Up to the end of April we had offered release from the Royal Air Force under the Class B block scheme to 6,922 former agricultural workers. Two thousand four hundred and fourteen had actually been released by that date, and a further 179 were in process of being released. I am unable to say how many more will have accepted the offer and been released by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there is no pork butcher at Oxton, Nottinghamshire, and that the people of that village are unable to obtain either sausage, pork or pies, since a licence to supply the local butcher with pork has been refused; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

Pork forms part of the meat ration and is sold only by general butchers. The application to which the hon. Member refers is not for a supply of pork but for an additional allocation of manufacturing meat. Such an allocation is only granted to a general butcher if he had an entirely separate pork butchery business before the war. This condition is not satisfied in the case the hon. Member has in mind, and I regret that I cannot treat this case exceptionally. As regards the supply of sausages and pies for the people of Oxton, the local butcher receives the normal allowance of manufacturing meat for use in the preparation of unrationed meat products. I am happy to say I am now increasing this allowance generally by over 40 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food when the next allocation of dried eggs will be made, and the amount for each person.

Dried eggs will be available on points for household consumption as from 23rd June.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the seizure by the British Government of the unsolicited gift of 12 bottles of wine from a French subject in North Africa to a British subject in this country and shipped on the s.s. " Porjus " on r2th December, 1945: and what steps he proposes to take either to deliver the wine to the consignee or return it to the consignor.

As the gift in question exceeds the permitted quantity, I regret that I cannot give permission for it to be delivered; nor can I allow it to be returned to the sender.

asked the Minister of Food for what reason the sale was advertised in the " Egyptian Mail," of 10th May, 1946, of 76,815 lb. of R.N. chocolate to be sold through the victualling store officer of Levant; and why the chocolate was not reimported into the United Kingdom for the purpose of increasing children's rations.

" Navy chocolate "Is a drinking chocolate made to a special Admiralty recipe. It contains a considerable quantity of starch and would not be suitable for consumption by children; in any case I am advised that the chocolate in question would not have been fit for human consumption after being transported back to this country.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that despite the recent extension of the period during which lettuces may be imported into this country and the availability of home grown supplies, his Department still refuses to permit the importation of early carrots although such vegetables cannot be supplied from home sources; and whether, in view of the high dietetic value of fresh carrots, he will arrange to remove this restriction forthwith.

I am aware that licences are not being granted for the importation of early carrots. Home grown carrots are not controlled at present and will not come under control until the middle of June. I am, however, informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture that in the meantime growers of early carrots in the United Kingdom should be able to meet the limited demand for this class of carrot.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, owing to imports of vegetables from Holland, farmers in Yorkshire are experiencing considerable difficulty in selling spring cabbages which they have grown; and whether he intends to take any action to prevent the ploughing in of these crops.

As imports of vegetables from Holland have so far been confined almost entirely to lettuces and radishes, I do not see how they can have had any material influence on the sale of spring cabbage. As regards the second part of the Question I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 8th May to the hon. Member for Aberdeen and Kincardine, Central (Mr. Spence) and suggest that there is an outlet in Scotland for green vegetables from Yorkshire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of exports and imports between China and this country since VJ-Day

United Kingdom exports to China from August, 1945, to March, 1946, inclusive, amounted to about £1,040,000. The corresponding figure for imports was £180,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that bespoke tailors are not receiving sufficient woollen materials and linings to honour the coupons in the hands of ex-Servicemen and civilians; and what steps is he taking to make greater supplies available.

No, Sir. Supplies of wool cloth and linings suitable for the production of suits are slowly increasing, and will continue to expand as labour returns to the textile industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the alternative accommodation to the block of flats now occupied by the Board of Trade at West Walk, Leicester, is now ready, and on what date it is expected that his Department will evacuate the flats.

It is hoped to evacuate the flats at West Walk, Leicester, in August.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of the imports of foodstuffs from Spain for the first three months of 1946.

Imports of food from Spain in the first three months of 1946 were valued at £2.4million, of which all but 2 per cent. consisted of oranges. In addition, imports of white wine amounted to £200,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by the Central Price Regulation Committee in its consideration of the costs of funeral furnishings.

This is a difficult and complicated subject on which the Central Price Regulation Committee are making inquiries. I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department are taking to ensure that an adequate supply of copies of the list of members of the International Chamber of Commerce are available from the U.S.A. for circulation in this country.

The headquarters of the International Chamber of Commerce is in Paris and not Washington. I have made inquiries through our Embassies in Paris and Washington and I am informed that no comprehensive list of members of the International Chambers of Commerce has been published since the war. Records of United States associates of the International Chamber of Commerce are maintained at the I.C.C. Office, New York, but are not in a form designed for general distribution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he is aware that silk stockings at two pairs for 1d., at a coupon rate of one and a-half coupons per pair instead of three-quarters of a coupon, the stockings being of substandard quality, were being offered in a Marylebone market recently; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that such offers are being made. There is nothing illegal in such offers in themselves, but I am having certain of the transactions investigated with a view particularly to discovering the origin of the goods sold and the use being made of the coupons collected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has refused the hon. and gallant Member for Dumfries a licence for the purchase of pipe-band equipment by the Dumfries branch of the British Legion, in view of the fact that this equipment has been used throughout the war to assist in raising money for war charities, savings campaigns, etc., and that the equipment is available and the normal supplier is prepared to replace the equipment if a licence is issued.

Manufacturers are now being licensed to supply a limited quantity of orchestral musical instruments for general sale without formality. I hope therefore that the Dumfries branch of the British Legion will be able to obtain the equipment they require from their normal supplier, who no longer has to produce a declaration in order to get replacement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, if he is now able to state his plans for Turnhouse, Edinburgh; who will be the operators; what field of operation will be covered; and when a regular daily service will be established between Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham and London with Turn-house.

Turnhouse aerodrome will be used by scheduled civil air services as soon as it can be suitably adapted. The modification of existing buildings and the installation of the necessary technical facilities involve much work but the plans which have been made will be put into effect with high priority. The operators will be the proposed British European Airways Corporation. Edinburgh will be linked by air to most of the main centres in the United Kingdom, and, at a later date, to the Continent. Details of the routes will be announced later.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation which Department of his Ministry is now responsible for investigating accidents to civil aircraft.

The Accidents Investigation Branch of the Air Ministry, which was established to carry out investigations of civil accidents under the Air Navigation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1922, has been transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is responsible for investigating accidents to civil aircraft.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he will now give the names of flying clubs which have been able to restart flying activities since the war.

Eight flying clubs affiliated to the Association of British Aero Clubs have restarted flying activities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why the single fare from Renfrew airport to Belfast is 50s. whilst only 30s. from Prestwick; and, in view of the extra seating capacity of the Dakotas, if he will consider abolishing the differentiation.

These two fares arc not strictly comparable. The route from Prestwick is about 25 miles shorter than that from Renfrew, and the Renfrew fare of 50s., unlike the Prestwick fare of 30s., includes free surface transport to and from the airfield at each end. With regard to the second part of the Question, a revision of the fare schedule for all internal services is now under consideration, and the Belfast—Renfrew fare, which cannot be taken in isolation, is included in the general review.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether the survey being made by his Department in connection with the consideration of the provision of a new second runway at Prestwick has been completed; when he contemplates that a decision as to the provision of this run, way will be announced; and whether he will give an assurance that any necessary work will be completed before the new and heavier aircraft are available.

A preliminary survey has been completed and as a result it has been decided that a detailed engineering survey must be carried out. This will be put in hand as soon as staff at present engaged on urgent work can be released. The existing runways have already been used by Constellations, but it must be ascertained if they would stand up to intensive use by heavy aircraft.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if, apart from the plans submitted for an international marine airport near Southampton, any plans are under consideration for other areas in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and, if so, which areas.

Development schemes for many different places have been received and considered, including Loch Ryan and the Firths of Clyde, Forth, and Tay in Scotland, Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, Milford Haven in Wales, Langstone Harbour and the Thames Estuary in England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will arrange for the annual handbook of each colony to give salient facts and figures, rather than mere general statements and comparative facts and figures for the current and past year, and to show the rate of progress or decline in all branches of public life, such as defence, constitutions, social conditions, justice, crime, development of national wealth, education, health, employment, administration of land and fisheries, communications, population, standard of living and finance;(2) if he will ask the government of each colony and mandated territory to publish annually a handbook giving a brief but comprehensive view of the past history and present conditions of each territory, and not merely a report on the details of one year's administration, for the use of hon. Members of this House, the changing personnel of the Colonial Office and colonial services and for sale to the public interested in the colonies.

The publication of annual reports relating to Colonial territories was suspended during the war. The question of the future form and content of such reports is now being considered and in that connection I will bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestions, for which I am much obliged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any information is available in his Department of the number of directorates in colonial and other companies held by retired governors of Crown Colonies in the past two decades and at present; whether such information as is available can be published; and whether the question of ex-governors accepting appointments as directors of colonial companies involved in trade, etc., in colonies in which they formerly held high administrative positions, has been considered by the Government, having regard to the repercussions on the indigenous colonial population.

The question of ex-Governors holding directorships is already governed by the following regulation:

" A Governor should not, after retirement from the Service, accept a directorship or similar position with any company operating in a Dependency of which he has been Governor until he has obtained permission from the Secretary of State, who will in each case consult the Governor of the Dependency affected before approving an application. Save in very exceptional circumstances, permission will not be accorded within three years of the Governor's retirement,"

This regulation has been in force for the last 10 years. Applications from ex-Governors for permission to accept directorships with companies operating in the Dependency of which they were formerly Governors are received from time to time and are dealt with in accordance with this regulation I am afraid, however, that I have no information as to the number of such directorships actually held by ex-Governors beyond what is available in the usual works of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to abrogate or amend the sedition and deportation ordinances which now obtain in various Crown Colonies, notably in Nigeria, the Gold Coast and Malaya.

The great variety of conditions and laws obtaining in the Colonial territories makes it difficult to treat this matter in a general statement. But the problem is engaging my attention; and, if my hon. Friend has reason to believe that the powers conferred by these ordinances have been harshly or unjustly used in any particular case, I shall be very willing to investigate it if he will furnish me with details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there are any previsions for training colonial subjects in accountancy; and whether any scholarships are available to colonial students to study this subject in Britain.

Facilities exist in some Colonies both for studies in accountancy at Higher Colleges and for pupils to he articled to qualified accountants. Some scholarships have already been granted for training in this country. I have also tinder consideration the provision of scholarships under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, to enable Colonial residents to qualify for higher posts in the public service, including posts in which qualified accountants are required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any further action has been taken in respect of the abolition of corporal punishment for West African soldiers.

Yes, Sir. After considering the latest reports from the local military and civil authorities on this subject in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, I have decided that corporal punishment both in the East and West African Forces should be abolished. Arrangements are therefore being made for, the introduction of the necessary amending legislation in the African Colonies to make the awarding of corporal punishment for military offences in the African forces no longer legal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Syrians have entered the Gold Coast during the last five years; how many Europeans and other nationals have entered the Gold Coast in the same period; and what restrictions there are on Syrians purchasing land for trading or agricultural purposes.

Three hundred and thirty-five Syrians entered the Gold Coast and 326 departed during the last five years. During the same period 8,869 European and other nationals entered the Gold Coast, a large proportion being either in transit or merely temporary residents. Figures for departures are not available; but it is not considered that the resident European population has shown much increase. Apart from certain restrictions as to mineral and oil rights there are no legal restrictions on the holding of land by aliens in the Gold Coast, with the exception of the Northern Territories where all native lands have to be administered by the Governor for the-common benefit of the native population, and occupation by non-natives is strictly regulated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps the Government of Kenya have taken or propose to take to rectify the overstocking by livestock in the Nandi and other native reserves of Kenya and to see that it does not recur.

A stock census and land survey of the Nandi reserve has recently been completed and has revealed serious over-stocking. Strenuous efforts are now being made to persuade and to assist the people to reduce the numbers of their stock. Plans for fencing and paddocking and proper pasture management are also going ahead. Work on similar lines is also in progress in other areas. I will send the hon. Member a copy of a communique recently issued by the Kenya Information Office on this subject. I can assure the hon. Member that the Kenya Government has been giving careful and continuous attention to general agrarian problems for sometime past and that its efforts to remedy the stock situation will in no way be relaxed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the Game Laws in East Africa, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, with special reference to their relation to (he nutritional needs of the African population of those areas.

I am already in correspondence with the East and Central African Governments regarding the administration of the Game Laws generally, and I will ask them to consider the particular point to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now supply further information respecting the operation of the Sierra Leone Sedition Ordinance and the allegations of harsh treatment and miscarriage of justice under that ordinance.

I caused a note to be sent to my hon. Friend on 5th January last containing information on this subject which, I feel, dealt fully and satisfactorily with the allegations to which he had drawn my attention. I have nothing to add to that information, but if my hon. Friend wishes to furnish me with further material on the matter, I am, of course, prepared to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet reached a decision regarding the future of ex-German plantations in the Cameroons; whether the possibility of cooperative ownership has been explored; who is now operating the plantations; and to whom are the profits paid.

The future of the ex-German plantations in the Cameroons is at present under examination by myself and the Governor of Nigeria with a view to determining how these properties can be best used to the advantage of the people of the Territory. My hon. Friend can be assured that the possibility of cooperative ownership will not be overlooked in this examination. The plantations are at present administered by the Custodian of Enemy Property and under the normal procedure in such cases any profits made on the Custodian's operations would be credited to his accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now state what steps have been taken to release Choo Kow, leading member of the Malayan people's anti-Japanese army, who was tried on a charge of murder for having killed a collaborationist.

The Governor of the Malayan Union, who has commuted the sentence to one of imprisonment, reported a week ago that Choo Kow was being kept in prison until he had entered into a bond with two sureties in $1,000 each to keep the peace for 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the trade union ordinances in Jamaica requiring the usual prerequisites of registration, such as constitution, functions, office bearers, accounts and audit; and, if the Bustamente union complies with such prerequisites.

The Jamaica Law in question is Chapter 296 of the Revised Edition as amended by Laws 35 of 1938 and 36 of 194o. The Bustamente Industrial Trade Union was registered on the 23rd January, 1939, and the constitution and rules of the union are consistent with the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Trinidad Turf Club, British West Indies, has requested a lease for 99 years from the Trinidad Government of the Queen's Park Savanna, an open public space in Port of Spain, handed over no years ago for recreational purposes to all the subjects of the Crown and that the Trinidad Government proposes to introduce legislation granting this lease to a private turf club; what action he intends to take to prevent this; and whether he will direct that the present licence to hold races in the Savanna granted to this turf club should be tightened and more stringently scrutinised.

The Legislative Council of Trinidad by unanimous vote has passed an ordinance authorising the Governor to grant 60 years' leases of six and three acres respectively to the Trinidad Turf Club and the Arima Race Club. The total area of the Queen's Park Savanna is 201 acres. The Governor-has undertaken that the leases should contain a covenant enabling him to determine them on 12 months' notice, on paying compensation if the public interest requires.I understand that this legislation will not affect the present use of the Savanna by the public and that it involves no change in the present situation other than that the land occupied by buildings will be leased to the clubs, who are at present tenants at will. I have not yet received the ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Knavesmire Estate in Ceylon has been acquired for allotment in small holdings; and that Indian workers resident and born on the estate are being denied the right to share in the scheme by the application of a domicile of origin test; and what steps he will take to remedy this situation.

I understand that the Knavesmire Estate has been acquired, not for allotment in small holdings, but to be run on a cooperative basis for the benefit of selected allottees. In view of representations which have been received on the subject I have already called for a full report, which I hope to make available very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the McNair Report on Jewish Education in Palestine; and whether he will publish it.

I have received the report, which is being studied by my advisers, and the question of publication is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many racehorses are being bred and maintained for horse racing; the amount of grain allocated for the purpose of feeding them; and whether this food will be diverted for human consumption.

My right hon. Friend has no information as to the total number of racehorses that are being bred and maintained for horse racing, but the number of horses of thoroughbred breeding stock and racehorses in training for which feedingstuffs coupons were issued in April last was 8,353. The quantity of oats allowed in rations to such horses averaged 556 tons per month in the year ended 30th April last. In view of the commercial importance of the horse breeding industry and especially of the export trade in bloodstock, the value of which would be seriously affected by a cessation of racing, my right hon. Friend is not proposing to divert this comparatively small quantity of grain to human consumption

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that wheel centres for Fordson tractor are months behind in delivery in north Lincolnshire and, in view of their importance for the coming harvest, what steps he is taking to increase and expedite delivery.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge-Bourke) on 15th April, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will permit nationals of Lithuania, Latvia and Esthonia, now living outside their native land, to come to England as domestic or farm workers in the same way as nationals of certain other European countries are now permitted to do.

The admission of displaced persons for work in this country is not free from difficulty, but the matter is under active consideration with the other Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent the average size of classes in primary and secondary modern schools is declining.

I regret that I can give no recent figures of the size of classes because it will be some time before the statistics obtained from the schools earlier in this year can be tabulated. It can, however, be assumed that the number of over-large classes is declining since between October and April last the number of teachers has increased from 173,500 to 180,000 and I have no reason to suppose that there has been a corresponding increase in the number of children.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will repay postwar credits to all those disabled persons who are no longer physically able to earn their own living.

No, Sir. I regret I cannot see my way to go further than I have announced.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total cost of sending an A.T.S. hockey team to Germany a month ago; how long they were away; how were they selected; how many other similar teams are going on tour; and for what purpose these tours are undertaken.

The greater part of the journey was made in military boats and trains abroad for which no fares are paid. The party was accommodated in existing A.T.S quarters and messes. The tour lasted from 10th to 15th April. The players were selected by the Assistant Inspector of Physical Training of the A.T.S. ft is probable that three members of the A.T.S. will be included in the United Kingdom Army Tennis Team which has been invited by the B.A.O.R. Sports Board to tour B.A.O.R. in August. No other tours of A.T.S. teams are at present contemplated. The tours which have been arranged are primarily intended to assist in maintaining the morale of members of the A.T.S. serving in B.A.O.R

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will have a copy of A.C.I. 127 /1946 placed in the Library

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the A.C.I. for his personal information

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has yet been reached as to the widening of the conditions under which the Efficiency Medal may be earned by members of the Territorial Army Supplementary Reserve categories A and B and the A.T.S. who were serving on September, 1939

Under a Royal Warrant, published as Army Order 73 of 1946, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial Army who were serving on 3rd September, 1939, and were embodied for service but granted commissions, may be granted the Territorial Efficiency Medal provided they otherwise fulfil the necessary conditions for the award of that medal. In order that officers of the Territorial Army who were similarly serving on 3rd September, 1939, and were embodied, may not be placed in a less favourable position than other ranks, the Royal Warrant provides that they may also be awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal under similar conditions. This does not debar such officers from qualifying for the Territorial Decoration in due course under the usual rules for that award. The Royal Warrant deals only with the entitlement of officers, but the position of other ranks of the Territorial Army who have been transferred to other Forces without promotion to commissioned rank will be met by allowing them to count such service for the award of the medal as though it had been performed on their Territorial Army engagements.