asked the Minister of Supply whether he proposes to send any member of the Petroleum Warfare Department, or anyone else from his Department, to study the developments in Fido experiments which are now taking place in the U.S.A.

No, Sir: that is not necessary as arrangements have been made with the British Supply Office in Washington for a competent member of their staff to keep in touch with Fido developments in America and to keep us informed.

asked the Minister of Supply how many flame-throwing technical officers have been released from the Petroleum Warfare Department since 1st October, 1945; and how many remain.

Twenty-four technical officers have been released from the Petroleum Warfare Establishment since 1st October, 1945, and 14 still remain.

asked the Minister of Supply how the 27 reconstruction schemes for the steel industry, already licensed, are to be financed; how the further 20 schemes, about to be licensed, are to be financed; and if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT precise details of the financing of each scheme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Debate today.

asked tie Minister of Supply if he will state his intentions in connection with the use of the Greengarth Hostel, Holmrook, Cumberland.

I am discussing the future of this hostel with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will state his intentions in connection with the royal ordnance factory, Drigg, and its continuance in production.

This factory is being retained for the present on the production of chemicals and the breaking down of surplus ammunition

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make available to ex-Servicemen, either on loan of by sale from His Majesty's Government stores or R.A.O.C. depots, Blake sole sewing machines and Victor outsole sewing machines, since these men can get no priority for new machines to restart their peacetime businesses.

No such machines are available for disposal

asked the Minister of Supply how many officers of his Department are authorised to sign Statutory Rules and Orders on his behalf; and what are the respective departmental ranks of these persons.

Thirteen, Sir. Their ranks are permanent secretary, second secretary and under secretary.

asked the Minister of Transport how many officers of his Department are authorised to sign Statutory Rules and Orders on his behalf; and what are the respective departmental ranks of these persons..

The number of officers authorised to sign Statutory Rules and Ordets on my behalf is 30. These officers hold the ranks of secretary, deputy secretary, under secretary, principal assistant secretary or assistant secretary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Avia- tion the numbers of temporary and permanent civil servants, respectively, employed in his Department at the latest convenient date; and the numbers employed one month, three months and six months previously.

The numbers of non-industrial temporary and permanent civil servants, respectively, employed in the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 1st May, 1946, and the corresponding numbers employed on 1st April and 1st February, 1946, and 1st October, 1945, are as follow:

—	Temporary and Un-established.	Permanent and Established
1st May, 1946	862	553
1st April, 1946	695	506
1st February, 1946	565	470
1st October. 1945	434	387

These figures include staff at headquarters and outstations. They do not include messengers or cleaners.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many cotton mills have been converted to the use of rayon yarn during the last six months.

Six, of which three, reopened under deconcentration, have started rayon spinning, and two of these mills are changing over entirely to rayon spinning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to safeguard tenants of business premises from unreasonable demands for increased rents made under threat of eviction.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on this subject on 10th October last to the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin), of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the hon. Member for Stepney, Mile End, has received no reply, other than formal acknowledgements, to his letter dated 21st February, 1946, concerning Mrs. L. Starkman, of 127 Hanbury Street, E.1

I wrote to the hon. Member fully about this case on 22nd May. Owing to the special circumstances and local staffing difficulties it took longer than anticipated to complete the investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the hon. Member for Silvertown can expect to get a reply to his letter of 13th March, 1946, in reference to Mrs. Allen, of Colman Road, E.16.

I wrote to my hon. Friend fully about this case on 23rd May. The delay, which is regretted, has been due to extreme pressure of work in the Department

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, in volume and value, the exports of horticultural glass since 1st January, 1946.

I regret that I am unable to furnish the desired information since exports of glass for horticultural purposes are not separately recorded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any manufactured industrial gloves have been imported into this country from the U.S.A. during the last two years; and if he will give the dollar value.

Imports of industrial gloves are not recorded separately in the trade accounts, but in the past two years there have been imports from the United States of gloves of all descriptions, wholly or partly of leather, the recorded value being about £210,000. These imports were on Government account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reasons why so many firms employing high percentages of female labour are allocated to the South Wales development area.

Before 1939 opportunities for industrial employment for women in South Wales were few, and, in order to secure a balanced industrial development in this area, steps have been taken to introduce a number of light industries employing a high percentage of females. Sufficient projects have now been approved to absorb practically the whole of this potential reserve of female labour, and new firms requiring disproportionately large numbers of women workers are no longer to be encouraged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications his Department have received from industrialists for factory space in South Wales; how many Government factories have been allocated; and what steps are being taken to provide additional factory space.

Altogether some 150 manufacturers of all classes have sought particulars of surplus Government factories in South Wales. Twenty surplus factories have been allocated to suitable applicants, including the two Royal Ordnance factories at Hirwaun and Bridgend, which have been converted into trading estates and will accommodate upwards of 90 firms. A substantial programme of further new building has already been approved and I would refer my hon. Friend to a list of new factories under construction in South Wales which I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT On 1st May, 1946.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange that licences to ex-Servicemen to start businesses carry with them a guarantee that the men to whom they are granted shall be enabled to obtain a fair allocation of the goods or raw materials with which these industries or businesses are concerned.

Circumstances vary greatly between one trade and another, and many Departments are concerned. I am satisfied that it would not be practicable to make a uniform arrangement such as my hon. Friend has in mind; but if my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind affecting the Board of Trade and will let me have details, I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he is making for the increased importation and production of Dictaphones and other labour-saving devices, so as to increase the output of Government Departments which are at present suffering from lack of shorthand typists.

My right hon. and learned Friend is prepared to consider the question of importation of dictating machines with those of his colleagues who are concerned. The question of increased production is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider including in the returns of export trade, as presented in the Accounts, Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom, the tonnage, volume and numbers of export articles in addition to the money values of exports.

Such information as is available regarding the number, weight or quantity of individual commodities imported or exported is given in each month's issue of the Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom. No common unit other than value would be suitable for the recording of all commodities, but a volume calculation is made every quarter and the results are published in the " Board of Trade Journal."

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make an increased supply of tyres available, in view of the difficulty that commercial and private users are experiencing in obtaining typres and the inconvenience thereby caused.

The production of all types of tyres has increased greatly in recent months and will continue to increase as additional labour is absorbed and trained in the factories. Larger supplies are already reaching both commercial and private users.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is yet possible to abolish the tyre rationing system under which the retail sale of new tyres is limited to authorised tyre depots.

From 1st June the system of authorised tyre depots will be abolished. New motor car tyres will be obtainable from any trader on presentation of the same authorisation as at present. I regret that it is not at present possible to extend the classes of persons who may obtain such lyres. At the same time, the distribution of other new tyres will be freed from all restriction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will be able to increase the allocation of rubber to manufacturers of rubber hot water bottles to ensure an incresed supply to the public by next winter.

Since last autumn, when the full scale production of rubber hot water bottles was resumed, there has been no restriction on the amount of rubber which manufacturers may acquire and use for this purpose. Production for the home market is now at a rate well in excess of prewar consumption.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that in the French zone of Germany there are some 40,000,000 litres of wine in store; that in Berlin and the Soviet zone the Soviet authorities are using potatoes, including seed potatoes, for distilling potable spirits for the Red Army; and whether he will cause this matter to be raised on a quadrupartite level in order to assure a more equitable distribution of food.

I understand that there are considerable quantities of wine in store in the French zone but I cannot confirm that potatoes are being used for distilling potable spirits in the Russian zone. We are already discussing with our Allies in Berlin how best to secure, in accordance with the Potsdam Protocol, a more equitable distribution of the economic resources of the country as a whole.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has considered the report issued by the Soviet Government on the rehabilitation of dwellinghouses, schools, hospitals, theatres and public buildings in the Soviet sector of Berlin and of 2,000 enterprises undertaken under Soviet administration in the same sector; and if a similar report will be issued on the progress of similar activity in the British sector of that city.

I have not been able to trace the report referred to. If the hon. Member will be good enough to send me particulars, I will consider the matter and communicate with him.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many wood-pulping factories exist in the British zone of occupation in Germany; and what is their monthly capacity

There are 46 wood pulping mills in the British zone of Germany. Of these, 41 are at present in operation and the remaining five, which were damaged by air raids, are under repair. The capacity of the mills in production is 25,000 tons of pulp per month. No estimate of the capacity of the five damaged mills can be given until further repair work has been carried out.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the average increase in the salaries afforded to temporary civil servants in the Control Service for Germany and Austria over the scale paid for similar duties in this country; whether the salaries paid are free of Income Tax; and how far these temporary civil servants obtain tobacco and drinks at prices free of taxation and other requirements tax free.

All members of the Control Service for Germany and Austria, whether temporary or not, receive the same salary as they would have received in London for comparable responsibilities, with additions as follow:(i) Control Commission allowance of 25 per cent. of salary, subject to a minimum of 30s. a week, for married men, and 12½ per cent., subject to a minimum of 20s. a week, for women and single men; this allowance, like the salary itself, is subject to Income Tax.(ii) Foreign service allowance, which is payable to home-based civil servants in other countries outside the United Kingdom besides Germany and Austria, amounting to £90 a year for a married man and £25 for a woman or a single man.They may obtain through N.A.A.F.I. limited amounts of tax free tobacco and liquor in the same way as members of the Armed Forces with whom they serve.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by what considerations he is guided in determining whether a displaced person is a criminal, quisling or a traitor, and thus liable to be forcibly returned to his country of origin.

I have been asked to reply. There must be prima facie evidence of violation of the laws and usages of war or prima facie evidence of collaboration with the enemy. Each case is considered on its merits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why his consent was given to a notice to quit, against the advice of the W.A.E.C., so allowing land graded as an A class farm and farmed in a first class manner by W. A. Rogers, of Manor Farm, Bletchington, Oxfordshire, to be ceded to a farm, the production of which is below normal and about which the hon. and gallant Member for Henley has already written to him.

The notice to quit concerned only 33 acres out of a total of 182 farmed by Mr. Rogers, and I was satisfied from the reports received that the purchaser intended to farm the land himself and was likely to farm it well. I reached the conclusion that on balance, food production was not likely to be adversely affected by the change of occupation, and there was, therefore, no justification for withholding consent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many new or reconstructed cottages are, according to his estimates, required for agricultural workers in England and Wales; and whether this information can be subdivided according to counties.

I have asked my war agricultural executive committees to estimate for each rural district the number of new permanent agricultural workers for whom housing accommodation will ultimately be required when existing temporary labour ceases to be available, and, by arrangement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, to discuss the results of their surveys with rural district councils, who will take into full account the housing needs of the agricultural population in formulating their housing schemes. The surveys are not yet complete, and the form in which the estimates are being made would not enable a direct answer to be given to the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why the 41½acres of agricultural land to the rear of Newstead Cottage, Fore Street, Eastcote, is not being worked.

The held is of three acres. It is occupied by gypsies, to whom it has been let by the owner, and is well grazed by their horses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the Government farm training scheme is intended to meet the needs of ex-Servicemen who wish eventually to farm on their own account; and whether provision is made for such men to learn the management side of farming as well as field work.

The farm training provided under the Government's Vocational Training Scheme is designed primarily for persons who propose eventually to take up employment as skilled agricultural workers. The facilities are also available to those who intend eventually to farm on their own account and such persons are strongly advised to participate in the scheme. Training in farm management and other matters, designed to equip persons for supervisory posts in the industry or to run farms of their own, is provided at a number of temporary training centres which are being set up for the purpose. Men and women with previous and adequate agricultural experience and those who complete the farm training course with outstanding success are eligible for further training at these centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the U.S.S.R. have been invited to send a contingent to the Victory parade on 8th June; on what date the invitation was sent; and what was the nature of their reply.

His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow was instructed by telegram on 25th February to invite the Soviet Government to send a contingent. The matter has since been raised with the Soviet authorities on several occasions. I regret to have to inform my hon. Friend that His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow has been informed that a decision has been taken not to send a Soviet contingent to London for the Victory Parade.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it is possible for a British subject by marriage, resident in this country, to send money to a parent in distressed circumstances in Rumania; and, if so, the amount and from whom a permit must be obtained.

There are at present no facilities for making remittances from this country to Rumania, but negotiations are proceeding with the Rumanian Government for the reopening of banking channels between the United Kingdom and Rumania.

asked the Minister of Transport the present state of traffic at the ports of Liverpool and London and, particularly, whether he is satisfied that they are able to handle without congestion the present arrivals and departures of ships with cargo and in ballast.

The present traffic at the ports of Liverpool and London is considerably less than in prewar years. Neither of these ports is working to capacity and I am satisfied that they are able to handle without congestion the present arrivals and departures of ships with cargo and in ballast.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange with shipping companies that men due for release from the Merchant Navy shall not be included in crews of ships setting out on voyages which will not bring the men back to the United Kingdom in time to be released with the correct age and Service groups.

The majority of Merchant Navy officers and men have made the sea their career and automatic release by age and service groups does not arise. From time to time, as the manpower position permits, extensions of release groups are announced but it is not possible to ascertain the numbers in those groups who will desire to be released or to fix in advance the dates of future extensions of release groups. I am afraid it is not, therefore, possible to adopt the suggestion made by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the demand for the restoration of the Rosslare to Fishguard mail boat cross-channel service; that there are now suitable ships available for that purpose; and if he will take steps to restore this service in time for this summer's holiday season.

I am anxious that this service should be restored as soon as possible but, contrary to my hon. Friend's information, there is unfortunately at present no vessel available which could be used for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to save petrol and time with due regard to the safety of pedestrians, he will consider the erection of green infiltration signals, so that motor vehicles turning to the left may do so at all crossings with traffic lights.

At points where traffic is exceptionally heavy it may be necessary to provide green arrow filtration signals but they inevitably reduce the margin of safety for pedestrians, and I am not therefore prepared to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion for general use.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the fact that ex-Servicemen who were engaged in small haulage contractor's businesses before they volunteered for service with the Forces at the start of the war have now returned to their homes and are in doubt whether or not to restart their businesses, he will now state which sections of road transport he intends to bring under national ownership.

I cannot at this stage indicate in detail the scope of the proposed legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that persons engaged in work of national importance find it impossible to obtain delivery of a new motor-car without being required to wait for many months; and, in view of the many complaints of inconvenience, whether he will consider reintroducing the priority system.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby) on 18th March. Motor manufacturers have been reminded of the importance of giving preference especially to doctors and midwives.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that the posters exhibited in connec- tion with his road safety campaign are having any useful effect in reducing the toll of accidents and deaths; and whether he will order the withdrawal of the recent poster, of which the hon. Member for Burslem has sent him particulars.

Posters are a valuable means of keeping before the public the need for greater care when using the roads, and I am sure that they are playing an important part in the national campaign. The use of the poster to which my hon. Friend refers was approved after very careful consideration and I do not propose to withdraw it.

asked the Minister of Transport when the London Traffic Advisory Committee will resume its functions.

I propose to call the committee together again, but there are a number of vacancies to be filled.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give immediate attention to the question of one-way parking on alternate days in the City of Westminster, in view of the number of suitable streets in that area; and if he will give an estimate of the extra accommodation this would produce.

The Westminster City Council, who are the responsible authority, are considering how best to increase parking facilities within the City. I am not at present able to say how much additional accommodation could be made available by adopting one-way parking on alternate days to a greater extent than at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that improved and extended transport facilities are urgently required during the short holiday season for people wishing to visit the city of Aberdeen; and what he intends to do to facilitate in this way the needs of this holiday resort.

Aberdeen has benefited from the improved summer train services, Relief and special trains for holiday makers will be run when necessary so far as the resources of the companies permit. Bus services and tours will be provided to the limit of the available vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has recently received for an increase in railway fares; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to make a statement at an early date.

asked the Minister of Works when the huts and other equipment will be finally cleared from Kinlet Park, Bewdley, where they have been lying unused and deteriorating for two years, so that 70 acres of agriculture land can be released by the War Office.

The site should be clear of huts and equipment by the middle of June.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will take steps to see that the supply of electrical parts and equipment to retail traders, in towns that have been devastated by the war, is stepped up so as to meet the unusually high demand for these goods arising from the conditions created by war damage.

The position of war damaged areas is receiving special attention in the allocation of supplies and if my hon. Friend has in mind any particular work of importance on which difficulty is arising my right hon. Friend will be glad to look into it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he proposes to give special consideration to the pay of R.M. and other officers as in Cmd. 6750; whether a White Paper will be issued; and whether he will give an assurance that second-lieutenants in the R.M. will now receive, irrespective of age, the same pay as second-lieutenants in the Army.

The revised pay rates for Royal Marine officers on the general list have now been settled. Details are given below. The pay of Royal Marine officers will continue to be related to the pay of officers of the Royal Navy of which they form an integral part, and it would not be equitable to equate the pay of one isolated Royal Marine rank with the pay of an Army Officer of the same title. The pay of naval officers of other branches, reserved in Cmd. 6750, is still under consideration.The new rates are as follow:

	s.	d.
2nd Lieutenant under 20 years of age.	7	6 a day
and Lieutenant over 20 years of age	11	0 a day
Lieutenant under 4 years from date of entry.	13	0 a day
Lieutenant after 4 years from date of entry.	17	0 a day
Then by biennial increments to	26	0 a day
Captain on promotion	32	0 a day
Then by biennial increments to	42	0 a day
Major, on promotion	47	0 a day
Then by biennial increments to	57	0 a day
Lieutenant-Colonel, on promotion	65	0 a day
Then by biennial increments to	71	0 a day
Colonel, on promotion	74	0 a day
After two years	77	0 a day
Major-General	110	0 a day
Lieutenant-General	135	0 a day
General	160	0 a day

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why Mrs. Eric Philcox was held up in a hotel in Udine, Italy, which is used as a British bride's hostel, without money since 7th April; why her allowances have been stopped by the naval authorities; and whether, in view of the amount of transport being used by our tourists going to Switzerland for holidays and returning, the wives of British soldiers in Italy will have priority over these holiday crowds.

Mrs. Philcox's allotment of 20s. weekly from her husband's pay, with Navy marriage allowance of 21s. 6d. weekly, was being paid by the Naval officer in charge, Trieste, but he was unable to effect payment beyond 28th March as she had left en route for the United Kingdom. She was accommodated in a hotel at Udine, whilst awaiting transport, and the Army welfare authorities made provision for her, which would replace payment of marriage allowance. Servicemen's wives travel by the special arrangements made for the transport of troops, and are not affected by the volume of Swiss tourist traffic.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent materials for the new Iraq pipelines are being supplied by Great Britain.

Over 85 per cent. by value of the material for the Iraq pipelines is being supplied by Great Britain.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he has yet received the report of the committee which he appointed last December to consider the use of the nation's scientific manpower and resources during the next 10 years.

Yes, Sir. The Committee have reported, and their report, which makes a strong case for a very substantial expansion in the output of qualified scientists from the universities at the earliest possible date, has been published today. The Government are in general agreement with the conclusions of the committee, which we recognise will involve a substantial liability on the Exchequer. We hope that they will receive the immediate and serious consideration of the university authorities, so that detailed proposals for giving effect to them can he formulated in consultation with the University Grants Committee.

asked the Minister of Food whether in view of the food shortage he will, as far as possible, reject all future applications for food licences from performing animal showmen.

All applications for rationed feeding stuffs for performing animals are carefully scrutinised and while the present shortages exist every precaution will be taken to ensure the utmost economy. The total quantity of feeding stuffs involved is exceedingly small.

asked the Minister of Food the liquid consumption of milk; the average retail price; the average regional wholesale price for liquid milk; and the average distributive margin tot 1938–39 and for 1944–45.

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is as follows:

England and Wales.	Years (October/September).
	1938/39.	1944/45.
	Million	Million
	gallons	gallons.
Quantity of milk consumed in liquid form.	767	1,072
Average retail price of milk.	per gallon d.	per gallon d.
	27·5	36·0
Average wholesale price of liquid milk to distributors.	16·25	25·25
Average distributive margin.	11·5	12·7

The distributive margin includes the cost of special allowances for transport and other services which are not covered by the retail price.

asked the Minister of Food how much milk is now being sent to factories for the production of goods other than food; and the purpose for which such milk is being used.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of the allocations of imported fruits and fresh vegetables for Scotland and England respectively, for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

The information for which my hon. Friend asks is as follows:

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered a letter, dated 14th May, 1946, from the Manchester and District Master Bakers', Confectioners' and Caterers' Association containing the master bakers' advice on the proposed cuts in sugar and fats to the baking trade; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, Sir. The letter raised many detailed points which I have carefully considered. I have had a reply sent to the letter and am sending a copy of that reply to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in Coventry for each of the last six months, respectively.

The numbers of unemployed insured persons aged 14 years and over, suitable for ordinary employment, on the registers of Coventry Employment Exchange and Juvenile Employment Bureau at one date in each of the last six months were as follow: November, 1945, 5,138; December, 5,236; January, 1946, 4,931; February, 4,948; March. 4,650; April, 4,118

asked the Minister of Labour the number of engineers unemployed in Coventry for each of the last six months, respectively.

At 10th December, 1945, and 11th March, 1946, the only dates in the period in question for which figures are available, the number of wholly unemployed men aged 18 years and over, other than labourers, registered at Coventry employment exchange as applicants for work in engineering occupations were 2,433 and 2,524, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many demobilised ex-Servicemen have found employment in Wales since 1st October, 1945; how many are unemployed; and how many have left Wales to seek employment elsewhere.

The number of ex-Servicemen who had had no employment since leaving the Forces registered as unemployed in Wales and Monmouthshire at 8th April was 3,484. Statistics are not available as to the number of demobilised ex-Servicemen who had found employment in Wales since 1st October, 1945, nor as to the numbers who had left Wales to seek employment elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many workmen, other than technicians and engineers, are employed on the Tummel-Garry Hydroelectric Scheme; how many of them are Scotsmen; and how many are prisoners of war.

Apart from technicians and engineers 105 British workmen of whom 102 are Scots are at present employed on the scheme. Up to 17th May the maximum number of prisoners of war employed was 265.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the possibility of removing the means test for persons over 55 years of age who, at the date of the passing of the National Health Insurance Act, 1936, were not eligible to join the scheme as voluntary contributors and so get no Old Age Pension until they reach 70 years of age and after undergoing a means test.

No, Sir. I cannot see my way to introduce legislation for this purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the total number of telegrams sent by his Department in their efforts to get payment of Major Forbes-Leith's war gratuity and over what period; when his overseas service grant is to be paid; and whether the delay in this case is exceptional or is the rule in similar cases.

Four, extending from 19th January to 21st March of this year. The explanation of the delay is that when it was decided in September, 1945, that payment of gratuities should be made to personnel who had retired before the commencement of the Release Scheme, it was also decided that the payment of gratuities when made here should be in chronological order, commencing with those officers who retired in the Spring of 1940, and it is understood that the Government of India adopted the same principle. Since Major Forbes-Leith did not retire until December, 1944, some delay in his case was therefore inevitable. I am glad to state, however, that so far as payments made in this country by my office are concerned, all arrears have now been overtaken and I trust that they will shortly be overtaken in India also if they have not already been so. I am now awaiting a reply from the Government of India regarding the overseas grant in the case of Major Forbes-Leith.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the selection committees which the Lord Chancellor proposes to set up in England to examine applications for appointment as lay members of pensions appeals tribunals are also to be set up in Scotland; and, if so, what will be their composition.

The Pensions Appeals Tribunals are entirely independent of my Department. I have accordingly no information regarding the selection committees referred to, nor do I know whether similar committees are contemplated in Scotland and, if so, the nature of their composition.

asked the Secretary of State for War why medical officers in Groups 43 and 44 in M.E.F. have suddenly been informed that their demobilisation is deferred indefinitely; for what reasons these orders have been given; and at what level the decision was taken.

Owing to the high proportion of those in earlier release groups who were serving in the Middle East, the release of medical officers in that theatre has presented difficulties. Every effort has been made to meet the situation by transfers from other theatres, but the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, has nevertheless found it necessary to defer the release of some medical officers in Groups 43 and 44. On 15th May the release of 21 medical officers in these two groups had been temporarily deferred. All these deferments will be confined to the shortest possible periods, and I hope that it will be possible to return 18 of the officers concerned to this country for release very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the designation and address of the military authority to which the local authorities of West Sussex should apply for military assistance in the clearance of defences and barbed wire no longer required.

Application for military assistance for this purpose should be made to:The Commander, H.Q. Sussex and Surrey Sub-District, The Welkin, Lind-field, Hayward's Health, Sussex. I should, however, emphasis that, although such assistance may be given if troops happen to be available in the areas concerned, the liability of the War Department is limited to the payment of compensation under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that authority was given by his Department on 18th September, 1945, for release of a Serviceman under Class B for employment as a teacher, and that notification was not received by the man in question until 7th April, 1946, a delay of six and a half months; and if he will take steps to see that such delays are avoided in future.

If the hon. and gallant Member will send me particulars of the case he has in mind I will investigate the causes of the unusual delay in this particular case. All commands have already been instructed to deal with Class B releases as rapidly as possible

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider permitting Servicemen in Palestine to be joined by their wives and families.

I regret that I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Sudbury (Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton) on 19th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for War if officers who are students will be released under Class B in accordance with the arrangements announced by the Minister of Labour on 30th April, so that they may take up their studies next September.

Applications for the release of students under Class B are initiated by the universities and are submitted to the War Office by the Ministry of Labour. Owing to the acute shortage of Army officers now and in the immediate future, it may not be possible for all such applications to be granted. The universities have been so informed by the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now state when the Victoria Road Church Hall, Leicester, will be derequisitioned.

The Victoria Road Church Hall is an integral part of the accommodation of the R.E.M.E. Record Office which is still heavily engaged on its work in connection with demobilisation and re-organisation of the Army. I regret therefore that I cannot foresee any early release of this property. At the same time, I would emphasise that the problem of re-accommodating Record Offices in War Department accommodation is already being examined in detail and the property will be surrendered as soon as alternative accommodation can be found and the run down of the Army permits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. H. C. Cunis, of Roehampton, may expect a reply or acknowledgment to his letter of 24th February and reminder of 9th March, concerning the admission to this country of a Swiss subject.

A reply was sent on 16th instant. I regret that owing to the vast number of similar applications it is impracticable to acknowledge them and some delay in replying is inevitable. The proper course for a foreigner who wishes to travel to the United Kingdom is to apply for a visa to the British Passport Control Office in the country where he or she is at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, owing to the recent reduction in the amount of alcoholic drink available to the public, he will take steps to regulate the opening of public houses in such a manner that the times of opening will be generally known and thereby avoid an extension of surreptitious backdoor admissions.

I fully endorse my hon. Friend's condemnation of back door admissions and I feel sure that any such practices will be reprobated by the trade organisations and by licensing justices as well as by the general public. Where special hours are arranged to suit local circumstances, publicity is, I believe, generally given to those arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in some cases there have been delays of more than a year in paying postwar credits and gratuities to men discharged from the N.F.S. through the regional headquarters at Nottingham; what is the reason for the difference in procedure as regards such payments between that headquarters and the regional headquarters at Birmingham; and when the men who were discharged at Kettering at the end of April may expect to receive their postwar credits and gratuities.

Authority to commence the payment of Civil Defence gratuities and postwar credits was given last September, and, as I have previously explained to the House, a considerable amount of work has been involved in National Fire Service cases in checking the particulars of service by reference to the former Fire Brigades' records. While the general procedure for setting up entitlement forms is the same in all Regions, such differences as there may be in the detailed local arrangements arise from differences in local circumstances. I understand that members of the Service who have been discharged in the North Midland Region will, with few exceptions, have received their entitlement forms within the next three or four weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of bread-and-water punishments there have been in His Majesty's prisons in each of the last three years; and if he will consider abolishing this method of punishment.

The number of occasions on which No. 1 Diet, consisting of 1 lb. bread per diem and water, was awarded in prisons and Borstal institutions in England and Wales during the years in question was 3,951 in 1943, 3,942 in 1944 and 5,496 in 1945. The number of persons in the prisons in each of those years, i.e., the number on the 1st January and the number subsequently admitted, was 75,702 in 1943, 77,938 in 1944 and 83,000 (estimated) in 1945. As regards the latter part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to a Question by the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hythe (Mr. Lang) on 9th May.