asked the Minister of Education why the science laboratory at St. Peter's Training College, Peterborough, is not structurally completed, and why there is no scientific apparatus.

The science laboratory at this college is completed and there is sufficient apparatus for its effective use.

asked the Minister of Education what provision has been made to ensure that students at training colleges have the maximum amount of privacy in college life to enable them to live as civilians and not under Service conditions by giving adequate provision for quiet and private study; and why the figure of 200 students is aimed at, regardless of the amount of accommodation.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to colleges provided under the Emergency Scheme for the Training of Teachers. Wherever possible these colleges are planned so as to provide separate study bedrooms for single students, or pairs of students, but as existing buildings have to be used it would not be possible to make this provision in every case without a great expenditure of labour and material. Where students sleep in large dormitories, special rooms are set apart for private study. Some colleges take more than 200 students, some fewer, according to the accommodation.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that in certain emergency training colleges, courses will end during a school term and that the grant payable does not cover the interval between the end of the course and the entering upon employment which would normally commence at the beginning of the school term; and whether the situation will be met by a further grant to cover any waiting period.

Grants under the Emergency Teacher Training Scheme, as under all Government training schemes, are necessarily planned to cover only the period of the course of training. I am discussing with local education authorities proposals which will, I hope, ensure that teachers trained under this scheme shall not have long to wait before securing teaching posts.

asked the Minister of Education what special training facilities are available in the West Riding County Council area for mentally deficient and backward children.

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind children who are now classified as educationally subnormal. There is no special school for these children in the area of the West Riding County Council, but the local education authority are maintaining 46 educationally subnormal children in boarding special schools outside their area and have recently submitted a proposal, which I have approved in principle, to provide two boarding schools for such children in the West Riding.

asked the Minister of Education what arrangements she is making, to ensure the purity of milk sup- plies when the milk for schools scheme is extended; and if all such milk is to be pasteurised.

Under the Provision of Milk and Meals Regulations, 1945, the source and quality of school milk must be approved by the medical officer of health. The Ministry of Food arranges wherever possible for schools to receive heat treated or Tuberculin Tested milk in accordance with the policy laid down in the White Paper " Measures to Improve the Quality of the Nation's Milk Supply."

asked the Minister of Education why school certificate has now been made compulsory for students wishing to take the National Certificate in Institutional Management.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a statement which appeared in the leaflet issued by the Insti tutional Management Association regarding the acceptance of candidates for its National Institutional and Catering Management examination. The Ministry has not introduced a National Certificate in Institutional Management, and the responsibility for admission to the examination and the award of certificates lies, therefore, entirely with the association. I understand, however, that the association has now agreed that while candidates presenting themselves for training should have a good secondary education, not below the general level of school certificate, qualifications equivalent to the school certificate may be accepted. I am informed by the association that it is intended to publish a revised leaflet with this amended condition in the near future.

asked the Minister of Education the cost of education per child in London in infants, junior, central, senior or modern and grammar schools, respectively, for the year ended March, 1946.

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the Minister of Education whether the inadmissibility of maintenance aid for children winning university scholarships when a parent has an income of over£1,500 a year is to apply indiscriminately and without consideration of the number of children in the family.

No, Sir. In fixing the amount which a parent is expected to contribute, allowances are made from the gross amount of his income in respect of other dependent children and their educational expenses, dependent relatives, mortgage interest and certain other liabilities.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that prefabricated war huts are unsuitable as class rooms in the national schools; how many schools have, up to date, been supplied from this source; and how many local authorities have declined to accept such provision.

If the hon. Member is referring to the huts now being supplied to the schools, the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The number of schools supplied with huts for use as classrooms is about 800. No local education authority has refused to accept such provision.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether facilities are now available for passengers wishing to telephone Great Britain or the U.S.A. from mid-Atlantic.

I regret that it is not yet possible to provide facilities for telephone calls to be exchanged with ships in the Atlantic as suitable frequencies cannot yet be made available by the authorities controlling their use. The clearance of these frequencies is being negotiated as rapidly as possible.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what system is now in force in regard to routine cleaning and disinfecting of public telephones.

Standard arrangements provide that public telephone call offices and the instruments therein at Post Offices are cleaned and disinfected daily. In the London area, the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting varies from once to six times a week according to needs. Call offices in provincial areas are cleaned and disinfected three times weekly in towns and the immediate vicinity and once a week in rural areas. Standard arrangements were modified during the war, but instructions were issued in September last for a return to prewar standards as staff became available.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the telephone attachment for the recording of messages during absence of the renter now on exhibition at the Swiss Industries Fair, which is to be rentable by telephone users in Switzerland; and if similar facilities will be provided in this country.

I am aware of the device in question. The possibility of introduc- ing similar facilities in this country will be borne in mind, but, for the present, the resources of the Post Office must be concentrated in meeting the heavy demand for the provision of basic services.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the numerous complaints on the Eccles exchange; and when he will be prepared to introduce the automatic system there.

Eccles is one of the last three manual exchanges in the Manchester area; its conversion to the automatic system has been approved and a site acquired; but in view of the building position it is not yet possible to say when the new exchange can be installed and brought into use. Meantime, I am considering how the standard of service can be improved.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether it is his intention to continue the present system of six monthly telephone accounts indefinitely or when he contemplates making a change.

It is the intention to return to the system of quarterly accounts as soon as an adequate margin of trained staff and office machinery is available to undertake the additional work. It is not possible at present to say when the change can be made.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he proposes to continue the war surcharge on telephone accounts indefinitely at the present rate, or when, and by what amount, he proposes to make a reduction in this surcharge.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 2nd May to the hon. Member for St. Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will erect telephone kiosks at Hempton near Chinnor. Oxfordshire, for the use of six farmers who live nearby and have no telephone facilities, at Great Haseley, where there are 700 inhabitants and only six telephones, the post office telephone being only available during office hours, and in the market place, Henley-on-Thames; and approxi- mately on what dates, respectively, these kiosks will be erected and working.

Arrangements are in hand to provide a telephone kiosk in the Market Place, Henley-on-Thames, and another at Great Haseley. It is hoped that both kiosks will be erected and working in from two to three months' time. I should be prepared to provide a kiosk to serve Hempton and the nearby village of Henton, if the local authorities will pay the usual contribution of£4 a year for five years.

asked the Minister of National Insurance, whether he has concluded the negotiations with the dental profession on a new scale of fees for dentures: and what the result has been.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how long the dental practitioners have been asking for negotiations to be opened for a new panel scale; whether a new scale has yet been agreed; and what steps he is taking in order to introduce one.

No, Sir; I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins) on 16th May, a copy of which I am sending them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that many Polish men, women and children, with close relations in the Polish armed forces in this country, are now in displaced persons camps in Germany living in cramped and uncomfortable conditions; that nearly all these people have endured extremes of physical and mental discomfort and been separated from their families for almost seven years; and whether he will give an assurance that, subject to the usual regulations, arrangements will be made to enable all such people who wish to do so to come to this country directly accommodation is available for them.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 22nd May, in which he said that the ultimate reunion between the men of the Polish Armed Forces and their dependants now in Germany and elsewhere is receiving the attention of the Government and the steps which will he necessary to bring it about are now being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many formal acknowledgments of letters from Members of Parliament and others addressed to him and to the Under-Secretary he sends on an average each week; whether he intends to continue using best quality white octavo paper with the formal acknowledgment printed in luxury type; how much is the weekly cost of the paper, envelopes and printing involved; and whether he will consider altering his Department's system in this matter.

Two hundred, Sir. The paper does not differ from that previously used for individual letters of acknowledgment to communications from hon. Members. The approximate weekly cost of the paper and printing is 5s. 4d., and that of the envelopes is 11d. The printed notes were introduced for the first time just over a fortnight ago to expedite the despatch of acknowledgments to hon. Members and to save paper and secretarial and typing time. They are already achieving these objects and I see no reason for any change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons within his Department are authorised to sign Statutory Rules and Orders on his behalf; and what are the respective Departmental ranks of these persons.

The general practice is that such Rules and Orders are signed by the Home Secretary. In a few exceptional cases the Permanent Under-Secretary signs on his behalf.

asked the Minister of Labour 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 officers.

Ten officers of the Ministry of Labour are authorised to sign Statutory Rules and Orders on my behalf. These consist of the Permanent Secretary, two Deputy-Secretaries and seven Under-Secretaries.

asked the Minister of Pensions 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.

All Statutory Rules and Orders made on behalf of the Minister have been signed by the Secretary. The number of such Orders is small and no need has therefore arisen for a formal list of officers authorised to sign. I anticipate that any future Orders will be signed either by the Secretary or Deputy Secretary,

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider modernising the design of the uniform for policemen and, particularly, to do away with the design of present day tunic collars.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 31st January last to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster (Mr. Walkden).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Greek merchant seamen have been compulsorily repatriated since November. 1945; and what proportion of these men lived at Cardiff.

In view of the large surplus of Greek merchant seamen in this country, steps were taken towards the end of last year to reduce the numbers. Since November last 267 have been repatriated, representing 55 per cent, of the men remaining in, the Greek Pools. Of these 178 or two-thirds of the total were from the main Pool at Cardiff, representing 53 per cent. of the surplus there.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will arrange with St. Dunstan's or the National Institute for the Blind to supply a suitable blind person to join the censorship staff in the British zone in Germany so that German blind people may use braille reading matter fully for literature and correspondence.

Censorship and other difficulties are such that it is not yet practicable to send correspondence in braille through the post in Germany. The matter is being re-examined in consultation with the other occupying Powers and the hon. Member's suggestion, for which I am grateful, will be borne in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is satisfied with the standard of officers in the Control Commission, Germany; what proportion are under 40 years of age, and what proportion over 45 years of age; and whether the longest engagement is until 1952.

As I am sure the House agrees, our people in Germany have done and are doing a first rate job. The general standard is high but no higher than is necessary and we shall seek to improve it as opportunity offers. About 46 per cent. of the civilian officers are under 40 and about 36 per cent. are over 45 years of age. To date, the longest engagements are until 1952.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to state what action he has taken to secure that university students serving with His Majesty's Forces, who are due for demobilisation prior to 1st January, 1947, will be enabled to recommence their studies at the beginning of the academic year in October next.

As I stated in the House on 30th April, it will be open to the universities to apply for release in Class B of scholars and highly promising students in any subject who are still serving in the Forces and are in release groups 1 to 55. I am not prepared to extend these arrangements to provide that university students may be released from the Forces before their turn in age and service order solely on the ground that they would be due for release in Class A before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Labour if young men who were articled to accountants and solicitors prior to their being called up, may be released from the Services under Class B to enable them to complete their training, as is now the case with university students.

I regret that I am unable to agree to the suggested extension of release in Class B.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now willing to consider the transfer of men recruited for work in the coalmines to the Armed Forces of the Crown if they so desire.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, with the increase in railway fares, boys directed to the mines will find it increasingly difficult to afford visits to their homes; and whether he is prepared to arrange for more than the present two travel warrants yearly.

I appreciate the desire of all transferred workers to visit home as often as possible, but I regret that I should not be justified in increasing the number of cheap travel warrants because of higher railway fares. The increase in fares will not add to the small payment made by the worker for the two cheap warrants.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons at the latest available date in the county of Merioneth, and, in particular, in each of the urban districts of Bale, Barmouth, Dolgelley, Festiniog and Towyn.

At 8th April, the latest date for which figures are at present available, the number of unemployed insured persons aged 14 years and over, suitable for ordinary employment, on the registers of employment exchanges in Merionethshire was 391. The figures for the employment exchanges in the local areas named were as follows: Bale, 7; Barmouth, 27; Dolgelley, 19; Blaenau Festiniog, 253; Towyn, 30.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total amount of direct and the total amount of indirect taxation he estimates he will collect from his 1946 Budget.

£1,736 million of direct taxation and£1,182 million of indirect.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether war service grants now payable will be affected to the extent that family allowances are granted; and if he will ensure that there will be no general reduction in these war service grants on that account.

A War Service Grant is assessed by reference either to the serving man's pre-Service income or to a minimum maintenance standard. In neither case in determining the income during service can family allowances be ignored. In the assessment of grants to men called up from August onwards, family allowances will form part of the pre-service income and in the re-assessment of existing grants, family allowances will be added to the pre-service income figure. As a result, the reduction of existing grants will, in most case, be less than the amount of the family allowances.

asked the Minister of Health when the public inquiry is likely to be held in connection with the application for the raising of the level of the Ennerdale Lake in connection with the requirements of the local authorities and the projected factory at Sellafield; if the application is successful, how many men it is estimated will be employed on the scheme mentioned; and the estimated length of time for its completion.

No application has been made by the Town Council of Whitehaven. I regret, therefore, that the information s not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the grave concern at the disabled and Servicemen's hospitals and homes not being included in the National Scheme for Hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The hospitals which are subject to the provisions of the National Health Service Bill and will normally be included in the future service are local authority hospitals and all other hospitals which are not provided by some other public authority and are not run for profit. The relationship to the general service of hospitals belonging to other Government Departments will be a matter for later consideration.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the delay in emptying the cesspits at Woodcote, near Reading, is a menace to the health of the residents in that locality; and if he will see that this matter is dealt with without further delay.

The Henley Rural District Council arc not under statutory obligation to empty cesspools in their area, but for the convenience of the householders have provided a service for which a charge is made. Difficulty has arisen recently owing to the lack of suitable labour for this purpose and the local authority are doing their utmost to remedy this shortage.

asked the Minister of Health how many dwelling-houses and flats are at present requisitioned by local authorities in England and Wales; and whether he is satisfied that local authorities are using their powers sufficiently to safeguard tenants who do not enjoy protection of the Rent Restrictions Acts.

On 1st May, 88,731 houses and flats were held under requisition by local authorities in England and Wales. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that local authorities are not fully exercising their powers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now satisfied with the progress of housing in Birmingham; if housing sites acquired by the local authority are being made readily available; and if all misunderstanding between the Ministry of Works and the Public Works Committee has been removed.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that in general very good progress is being made in Birmingham having regard to present difficulties, though he hopes the local authority and Government Departments concerned may together be able to devise ways of achieving even faster progress. My right hon. Friend would be glad to see still more sites for temporary houses handed over to the Ministry of Works. He does not think there are now any misunderstandings.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities, and which, have altered tenders of a nonprofit making corporation works department, or local authority works department, to that of the lowest figure submitted by private firms, in respect of joinery and plumbing, respectively; for how many of the 236 houses tendered at Burnley was this practice adopted, and by how much was the total corporation works department tender reduced for the whole scheme.

I have no information as to the first part of the Question. In the particular case referred to in the second part of the Question, work was undertaken by the corporation in respect of joinery in 154 out of the 236 houses because the successful tenderer for the joinery contract was able to undertake work on only 82 houses and the successful tenderer for the plumbing contract shared the work with the corporation in the interest of speed, the corporation undertaking the work in respect of 76 house. The total reduction in the corporation's Works Department estimates was £401 14s. 1d.

asked the Minister of Health when will the proposed regulations under the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, 1946, be issued; and whether they will be made available to the public before quarter day, 29th September next.

The Regulations have been made and will be on sale as soon as copies can be printed.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department will examine the German designs of prefabricated houses made from plastics to be exhibited in Berlin on 15th June and report the result.

I am making the necessary arrangements in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the matter of permanent houses, he will give preference to rebuilding those to replace destroyed houses, before those for selling or letting on new sites.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on 6th December last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War the annual cost to the Exchequer of maintaining British forces in Greece and in Austria respectively.

The annual cost of the Pay and Family allowances of the present British forces in Greece and Austria is very approximately £9 million and £9¼million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the frequent delays in the delivery of letters from this country to the Army of Occcupation in Austria; and if he will take steps to remedy this.

During the last two months the average transit time for letters from the United Kingdom to bases in Austria has been just over three days, and the service has been working with regularity. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any case where delay has occurred I will gladly investigate it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries from the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs regarding.22 rifles with a view to taking steps to make more rifles available.

1,258 Winchester 22 rifles firing " short " ammunition are in the process of being declared as surplus to the Ministry of Supply. I regret that, as stocks of.22 rifles firing " long " ammunition are at present inadequate to meet Service requirements, I can see no possibility of being able to release any further.22 rifles.

asked the Secretary of State for War how the prices of.22 small-bore ammunition used by miniature rifle clubs compare with those charged in 1938; and if he will take steps to reduce the price of this ammunition and to increase the allocation to miniature rifle clubs.

Officially recognised miniature rifle clubs should be able to obtain their requirements of ammunition from the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs to which they are affiliated. I am not aware of the prices charged by that body. All Army stocks of.22 ammunition will be required during the next year or two to meet training needs, but should unforeseen surpluses arise, disposal will be carried out through the Ministry of Supply in the normal manner.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason the German prisoners recently quartered at Greystoke were moved to Hornby Hall, Westmorland; what was the cost of construction of the new camp at Hornby Hall; and why public money was spent for this purpose when nearby military camps at Lowther and Carleton were unoccupied.

These prisoners of war were held in temporary accommodation at Greystoke, while their original tented camp at Hornby Hall was being adapted for use during the winter months. The cost of this work was £1,200. I am informed that the camps at Lowther and Carleton were occupied at the time; they are required for further military commitments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the resolution of St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society of Edinburgh calling attention to the plight of people among the lower paid sections of the community who, with supplies of linen, footwear, clothing and household goods long since exhausted by scarcity, were suffering hardship, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take to increase such supplies for this society.

I have seen only the Press report of the Resolution which the hon. Member sent me, and I observe that it was not adopted by the conference of the Scottish Section of the Co-operative Union at which it was proposed. It is the purpose of the Utility policy to ensure that supplies of the essential goods mentioned of satisfactory quality are available at reasonable prices to all sections of the community. Subject to the limits set by the general shortage of consumer goods at all kinds, there is no reason to suppose that this policy is failing to achieve its object. As regards the particular Cooperative Society referred to by the hon. Member, I have had no evidence that they are failing to get a fair share of the supplies available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any contingent of the Palestine Regiment has been invited to take part in the Victory parade on 8th June, 1946: and what is the number of personnel.

The Palestine Regiment will be represented at the Victory Parade by a Detachment 16 strong. The hon. and gallant Member may be interested to know that the total strength of the Palestine Contingent is 54, made up as follows:

Palestine Regiment	18*
Trans-Jordan Frontier Force	18†
Palestine Police	18‡
*Comprising Jews and Arabs.
†Comprising British and Arabs.
‡Comprising British, Jews and Arabs.
Of these 48 will march—16 from each source.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the amount of research at present being undertaken into the problem of dust suppression in mines; and the estimated annual cost of these investigations

Research is now proceeding to improve the use of water for infusion at the coal face, with coal cutters and for spraying loose coal on the faces and at other dusty places underground. Investigations are being made regarding various types of foam for use with coal cutters and mechanical drills, wetting agents for consolidating the dust on roadways, and exhaust systems of dust extraction. Research is also being carried out to improve methods of sampling airborne dust and of evaluating the samples. Investigations in this field undertaken by my Department, the Medical Research Council or under other Government auspices involve expenditure amounting to approximately£20,000 per annum In addition much investigation and research on the problem of dust suppression is being undertaken by the colliery owners' research associations, by individual collieries and by manufacturers of mining equipment, but I am unable to state the amount spent by those organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has made any fresh representations to the Spanish Government regarding the position of political prisoners in Spain: and what has been the result.

This is an aspect of the present regime in Spain which I have very much in mind and which His Majesty's Ambassador is constantly watching. He recently discussed the detention and treatment of prisoners fully with the responsible Spanish Ministers. They provided the following information:

" Since 1940 some 200,000 prisoners have been released conditionally, including 14,251 who were serving sentences for offences committed during the Civil War and who have been released since 1st August, 1945. The total number of persons imprisoned in Spain today is slightly over 40,000. Of this total, 70,811 are still imprisoned for offences committed during the Civil War, but 7,200 of them have been convicted of common crimes and will therefore not benefit from the political amnesty of last October. 9,000 persons remain imprisoned for offences committed since the close of the Civil War and 3,206 of them are still awaiting trial: no amnesty has yet been decreed for such persons."

His Majesty's Ambassador again emphasised to the Spanish officials the strong feelings aroused abroad by the fact that civilians were still being tried by courts martial, by the unjustifiable severity of the sentences for offences substantially political and conscientious, and by reports of the harsh treatment meted out to prisoners on their arrest: He observed that, while it seemed that persons were not generally ill-treated in the actual prison, Spanish police officials too often brutally maltreated prisoners at the time of arrest. The Ambassador was informed that instructions had repeatedly been issued to subordinate police officials for the purpose of safeguarding persons under arrest from maltreatment. He was invited to bring to the notice of the Minister concerned any report of ill-treatment which he received, and was offered facilities to send a representative to interview any prisoners.The Ambassador will continue to watch this problem closely. It is to be noted that representatives of the British Embassy have, after representations, been permitted to attend some of the recent trials of persons charged with political offences.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assistance His Majesty's Government have recently extended to the French Government in the re-equipment of the French Air Force.

I am happy to inform the House that, as a result of recent agreements, it is possible for this country to give increased aid to France in the reconstruction of her Air Force, aircraft industry and Naval Air Arm.Under an agreement concluded by His Majesty's Government and the French Government by means of an exchange of notes dated 24th November and 4th December, 1945, His Majesty's Government have supplied or are to supply to the French Air Force and aircraft industry on favourable terms:First—Aircraft and equipment for units of the French Air Force in Metropolitan France, French North Africa, French Equatorial Africa and Indo-China including three years' maintenance requirements;Second—Aircraft and equipment for training schools in France and North Africa, including three years' maintenance requirements;Third—Complete radio, radar and signals equipments, again including three years' maintenance requirements;Fourth—R.A.F. schools and instructors to train French personnel in the use of British equipment;Fifth—Repair equipment issued by the Ministry of Aircraft Production for the use of the French aircraft repair organisation;and last—Facilities and technical assistance in the manufacture, under licence in French factories of British aircraft, engines and spare parts.Further, under an agreement concluded by His Majesty's Government and the French Government by means of an exchange of notes dated the 13th March and the 20th March, 1946, His Majesty's Government have undertaken to supply to the French Government on favourable terms:First—Aircraft and equipment for one carrier based fighter squadron, including replacement aircraft and maintenance equipment;Second—Aircraft, marine-craft and equipment for Other units of the French Naval Air Arm;Third—Radio and radar equipment for French manufactured aircraft, for ground training and for ground stations;and last—Training in the United Kingdom for personnel of the French Naval Air Arm.His Majesty's Government sincerely hope that these measures will prove of value to the French Government and people in the great effort which they are making towards national reconstruction.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, having regard to the fact that medical officers in the R.A.F. will, by July, still be about 10 groups behind the R.N. as regards their release and that the matter has now been under consideration for six months, when he expects the release groups to become approximately equal in the three Services.

The release of medical officers in the Royal Air Force is slower than in the other two Services because the wartime proportion of medical officers in the Royal Air Force has been much lower than in the Army or the Navy. We are, however, doing all we can to increase the intake in order to reduce the differences, but I am afraid that I cannot forecast at this stage when approximate equality between the three Services will be reached.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the present state of releases of dental officers from the R.A.F. stands at Group 30 for the end of May, whilst that of dental officers from the R.N. stands now at Group 5; that this inequality is causing concern to R.A.F. dental surgeons; and whether he will be able, in the immediate future, to bring these releases in the R.A.F. into line with those in the R.N.

This month we are releasing dental officers in Group 30, compared with Group 45 in the Royal Navy and Group 29 in the Army. We are doing our best to even up the rate of release by increasing the intake, but I cannot forecast at this stage when releases will be brought into line with the Royal Navy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number and names of airfields in Norfolk which his Department propose to retain permanently,

,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th May, 1946, Vol. 423, c. 1145],supplied the following list:

Bircham Newton.	North Creake.
Coltishall.	North Pickenham.
Feltwell.	Sculthorpe.
Fersfield.	Seething.
Great Massingham.	Snetterton Heath.
Hardwick.	Swanton Morley.
Horsham St. Faith.	Thorpe Abbots.
Langham.	Tibenham.
Little Snoring.	Watton.
Marham.	Wendling.
Methwold.	West Raynham.