asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what arrangements exist to enable established members of the clerical grades in his Department who, because of war service, are recommended for health reasons to seek outdoor work, to be transferred to appropriate duties without loss of pay or prospects of promotion.

When a member of the Post Office staff is recommended for health reasons to seek a particular type of duty every effort is made to comply with the medical recommendation. The number of clerical duties containing outdoor work is, however, very small and it is not always possible to provide this type of duty for members of the clerical grades who may be recommended to seek it. Where it is possible, there would be no loss of pay but restriction to outdoor duties might lessen prospects of promotion. The ques- tion of transfer to other grades employed on outdoor work would also be considered for officers having the qualifications required for the work.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the 7.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. collections in London will be resumed; and whether he intends to restore the midnight collection.

The 7.30 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. collections will be introduced in London oil weekdays, excepting Saturdays, towards the end of the year. The midnight collection will not be restored.

As regards the first point, is the Minister aware that the improvement was promised for this summer and, secondly, does the non-resumption of the midnight service mean that the Government are asking the people of London to accept permanently a service inferior to that which existed before the war?

With regard to the first part of the question, the statement was that there would be a considerable improvement in many places during the summer, and generally by the end of the year. As to the second part of the question, I do not think it would be either in the public interest or in the interest of employees if postmen collected letters at midnight.

Why not in the public interest?

Because I think it would encourage the public to go back to the old late hours from which we have got away during the war.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the withdrawal of the Saturday after noon delivery in Greater London has resulted in letters posted in London after the last collection on Friday evening being withheld from delivery in Greater London until Monday morning; and whether he intends to restore the Saturday afternoon deliveries.

Letters posted in London on Friday evening after the last collection are collected on Saturday morning and I regret that it is not possible to arrange for them to be delivered on Saturday afternoon in the area contiguous to London. After the reintroduction later in the year of the 9.00 p.m. collection in London, letters posted in time for that collection will be delivered in this area on Saturday morning.

Does this again mean that there is to be a permanent deterioration, and is it not exceedingly inconvenient for the people of Greater London?

No, Sir, there is no deterioration at all. It means that the nine o'clock collection will allow sufficient time to enable people. to post on Friday for delivery the following morning

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in each of the priority categories have applied, or had application made on their behalf, for admission to the United Kingdom up to 31st May, 1946; how many of such applications have been granted; and how many of such persons have entered the United Kingdom.

Owing to pressure of work in passport control offices abroad, detailed statistics have not been kept of the numbers of applications made and of visas granted, and the information asked for in the first two parts of the Question is not available. With regard to the third part, up to 31st May 979 foreigners arriving in the United Kingdom had been identified as coming under this scheme.

Is the Minister aware that this works out to a total of about 20 or 30 a week since the scheme was announced last November, can he declare himself satisfied with that situation and, if not, will he take steps to speed up the admission of people who have made applications?

The hon. Gentleman's arithmetic appears to be correct. With regard to whether I am satisfied or not, the reply is that I am not satisfied, but the matter is not entirely within my control. The flow is steadily increasing and I hope that the full stream will very soon be flowing.

Does my right hon. Friend know that it is being widely said that since he announced this scheme last November not a single person in a displaced persons camp in Germany has benefited by it, and can he say whether that statement is true?

I have not heard the statement and would not, therefore, like to contradict it without having an opportunity of going into details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of applications for naturalisation now awaiting decision; and what prospects there are for these requests to be granted.

Over 22,000, Sir; these applications will be dealt with in accordance with the arrangements announced in my statement of 28th February as rapidly as is possible consistently with the need for making' full inquiries as to the applicants' suitability for naturalisation.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say if there are any priorities in selection and, if so, what priorities take precedence over the others?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the statement I made in the House when I announced it, which indicated that certain persons who have rendered notable service to the country during the war, in the Forces and in trade, and certain other classes, have priority.

Is the Minister aware that very considerable delay has taken place in the case of people who are good citizens and would be good citizens, and can he do something to expedite decisions in such cases?

No, Sir. The grant of British citizenship is a very considerable privilege․[HON. MEMBERS: " Hear, hear."] ․and it is essential that one should establish beyond all doubt that the person to whom it is granted is worthy of the receipt of so high an honour

Could the priority granted to those who have given service in this war be extended to persons who saw service in the 1014–18 war?

They were not included in the priority classes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of the 22,000 cases have been allotted priority?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the circumstances determining his decision to grant an entry permit to Frau Maria Holy; whether at the time of granting such permit he was aware that it had been applied for to enable this lady to marry a British Regular Army officer; and if equally sympathetic consideration will be given to applications for an entry permit made for the same reason by other Austrian women of equally good character.

When a British subject who is resident in this country wishes to marry a foreign woman, it has been the settled practice not to refuse her admission to the United Kingdom, provided there is satisfactory evidence that there is no legal obstacle to the marriage and there is an assurance that it will take place as soon as possible after her arrival. There have been several cases in which members of the Forces after returning to this country and being demobilised have applied that a German or Austrian woman may come here for the purpose of marriage, and such applications have been granted; and the same policy is followed in respect of men still serving in the Army, whatever rank they hold, provided they are serving in this country and not merely on leave from the Occupation Forces.

Am I to understand from my right hon. Friend's reply that in the case of a Serviceman being demobilised and returning to this country, his Department will look favourably upon an application from that demobilised ex-Serviceman for a permit for an Austrian or German woman to enter this country for the purpose of marrying the demobilised soldier?

I have to be satisfied that both parties are free to contract a marriage. A gentleman recently applied to my office who was obviously intending to perpetrate bigamy, and I refused permission for the woman to come to be made the victim of such a conspiracy. When I am satisfied on that score, and with the fact that security considerations are also safeguarded, permission is granted.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has now any statement to make regarding the establishment of pensions appeal tribunals on assessment.

I have considered this matter in the light of the views expressed by my Central Advisory Committee and in consultation with my Nobie Friend the Lord Chancellor and the other authorities concerned. It is proposed to seek an Order in Council appointing a date on which Section 5 of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals Act, 1943, shall come into operation as regards both those interim assessments and the final decisions or assessments against which that section gives a right of appeal. I anticipate that the appointed date will be some time in July. In the course of the discussions with my Advisory Committee stress was laid on the need for early provision for the hearing of appeals against interim assessments and in the early stages priority will probably be given to appeals of this type.

:Is it proposed to have these tribunals in Scotland?

In the course of time, I think that will be so.

asked the Minister of Pensions why a disabled ex-Serviceman who is admitted to a Ministry of Pension's hospital for observation prior to the settlement of his pensions claim is refused treatment allowances for himself and family; and whether he will take steps to put such men on the same basis as those admitted for treatment.

Normal treatment allowances are payable in respect of a condition which has been accepted as due to war service. Where a married ex-Serviceman is admitted to hospital in order to determine the nature of any disability from which he may be suffering and whether or not it is due to war service any National Health Insurance Benefit or other payment to which he is entitled is brought up to at least 42s. a week. This is the rate which is proposed in similar circumstances under the new National Insurance Bill. In addition an allowance of 5s. a week is given for each child. No deduction is made for maintenance and if the condition is subsequently accepted as connected with war service normal treatment allowance rates are paid with retrospective effect.

While appreciating the fact that the grants may later be retrospective, docs not my hon. Friend think that the actual operation of the arrangement causes an interim condition of hardship? Is he aware that I have sent him particulars of a case where a man who is in hospital for observation is given anxiety by the knowledge that his wife and two children are having to manage on just over £2 a week?

My trouble is that I have not any power to pay him full rates until he is actually admitted for pension. When he comes in for observation, he is actually a civilian but if, as a result of observation, he is admitted for pension, then we pay full rates, and we pay them retrospectively.

asked the Minister of Pensions what decision has-been reached in the case of 3608154 Private Henry Rush, particulars of which were sent to him by the hon. Member for Newcastle, Central, on l9th March and 17th April last.

As the hon. Member is aware, inquiries, which were unavoidably protracted, have had to be made in this case. I am glad to say that as the result of the additional information now available Mr. Rush's condition has been accepted as pensionable.

asked the Minister of Health why he has sent a series of circulars to local authorities to increase rents, when the local authorities do not receive the rents but account for them to his Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to the letter of 2nd April to local authorities, which was published in HANSARD of 8th April, and which set out the basis on which the rents of requisitioned premises should be assessed. In this matter local authorities act as agents for the Government. In some cases they had been charging too little, in other cases they had been charging too much; there were, therefore, both increases and decreases of rent.

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Health is a party to the rent racket? May I have an answer?

asked the Minister of Health how many local housing authorities have submitted proposals under Circular 92/46; and how many new houses such proposals cover.

My right hon. Friend regrets that his records do not distinguish houses provided under the arrangements being made with small builders or with private builders owning their own land, from houses built following competitive tenders.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the effect of regulations recently made by him is to suspend indefinitely the long term plans for the repair and modernisation of numerous workers' houses in West Sussex; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the consequence of houses becoming uninhabitable and the housing shortage in rural areas being accentuated.

My right hon. Friend is afraid that with the present shortage of building materials and components, priority must be given to the building of new houses and there will inevitably be less available for the improvement of existing dwellings. Special arrangements have been made to ensure that materials can be obtained, where required, to comply with a statutory notice, or to avoid risk to health, or danger to the structure.

:Does the Minister appreciate that houses are falling into an uninhabitable condition? Will he not consider the advisability of preventing them becoming uninhabitable as a quicker expedient than building new houses?

As soon as materials are in such supply as to make it possible to allocate them for repair, that will be done, but we regard the use of materials for building new houses as having the priority claim.

asked the Minister of Health the number of families rehoused by local authorities as a result of possession orders granted by the courts in the Metropolitan Police district for each month in 1946; and the number of families for whom local authorities had no other accommodation than rest centres and institutions on the date such orders became operative, respectively.

My right hon. Friend is aware that difficulty is being experienced in such cases, but he has no figures distinguishing families for whom occupation has had to be provided as a result of possession orders granted by the courts, and other families.

Can my hon. Friend explain how it comes about that, since these orders can only be made if greater hardship on the landlord is established, orders have been made in cases where the family have no accommodation at all, other than a rest centre provided by the authority?

Would my hon. Friend look very carefully into this problem, because a very serious situation is developing, which is handicapping local authorities in the development of their housing programme? I would refer him to HANSARD of yesterday's date where he will see figures which will give him great anxiety.

We are very much concerned about the number of cases that are having to be dealt with in rest centres. We are undertaking an investigation to find out the causes.

Does not my right hon. Friend appreciate what is happening? How can there be greater hardship on a family than to have no home to go to? Ought there not to be some inquiry as to how this is working out?

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the difficulty experienced by families in securing storage accommodation for their furniture, when compelled to enter rest centres and institutions as a result of court orders for possession made against them in the Metropolitan Police district; and if he will give powers to local authorities to make arrangements for the temporary storage of furniture belonging to such families until they are able to be rehoused.

General allegations have been made, but my right hon. Friend has no direct evidence. If my hon. Friend has any evidence that he can give him, he will be happy to consider it.

I do not quite understand that reply. I do not know whether it is really in reply to my Question, which refers to the granting of powers to local authorities temporarily to store furniture of families who have been dispossessed from their homes and who have to resort to rest centres. Will the Minister give the local authorities power to store the furniture of these, families until they can get rehoused?

We know of no case, after investigation, in which people turned out as a result of a court order, have had difficulty in storing furniture as a result. As I have said, we have no direct evidence that there is a need for this, but if there is any evidence, we shall be glad to consider it in dealing with the problem.

I submit that the reply my hon. Friend has given, which is obviously Departmental, is utter nonsense. I have evidence with which I can convince him that that is so. I would like to refer him to Sidcup Council where we are at our wits' end to obtain accommodation.

Is not the Minister aware that people are continually coming to hon. Members and drawing attention to the fact that their furniture is going to waste where it is stored, and that it will be almost impossible for them to get new furniture when they get new houses?

That is not dealing with the problem with which we are asked to deal here. We are asked to deal with the problem of families dispossessed, and for whom furniture storage accommodation cannot be found, and we have been unable to find any such case in the London area.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his regional officers have declined to allow some local authorities to undertake the temporary storage of furniture of families made homeless by court orders?

The truth is that the local authorities have no power to store furniture in the ordinary way.

Is not the important question how such a family comes, under existing legislation, to be dispossessed at all? Will not the hon. Gentleman make an inquiry to see how the legislation is being worked, when it results in families being dispossessed of their homes and having to put their furniture in store and go to rest centres?

I repeat that we have not had particulars of such a case.

What is the objection to giving the local authorities such power?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that his circular 100/46, dated 13th May, which prohibits the issue of priority certificates for materials for the repair and maintenance of houses, is making it impossible for householders to comply with statutory notices to remedy defective sanitation; that in consequence some local authorities are proposing to discontinue the issue of such notices, which could not be enforced; and whether, in the interests of health, he will arrange for priority in supply to be given when the local authority gives a certificate of urgency.

No, Sir. As my right hon. Friend explained in answer to a number of hon. Members on 9th May, builders merchants have been instructed to meet demands for materials and components required for specially urgent work, or for repairs and other work required by statutory notice; and, as he further explained in answer to subsequent Questions on 23rd May, arrangements have been made whereby merchants who supply materials in good faith for urgent repair work can obtain priority for the necessary replacements. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the instructions, and if he knows of cases which have arisen since the issue of these instructions, in which householders have been unable to obtain materials required to comply with statutory notices, I should be glad if he would let me have particulars.

Has not the Minister seen representations which have been sent to him from the Town Clerk of Twickenham and the Town Clerk of Westminster․ both very important places? Is he aware that whatever the instructions were that were issued some weeks ago, the machinery for obtaining supplies for replacing such things as broken lavatory pans and broken waste pipes has, in fact, broken down?

Our information is quite contrary to that; that since the issue of the instructions to which I have referred, things have gone quite well.

Would the hon. Member be so good as to look into the matter, because it is the experience of a large number of hon. Members that it is not at all satisfactory at present?

I should question that. In the first issue of the W.B.A. priority arrangements, there were misunderstandings. But since the issue of the instructions of which I have spoken, things have been put on a right basis, and are working satisfactorily. But, as I have said, if there are any instances brought to my notice which can be investigated, they will be investigated.

Is the Minister aware that recently plumbers have made official representations to his Department that that they cannot get the necessary materials for local sanitary repairs, and, therefore, it looks as though his intentions have not percolated to the merchants who are wanting to use these materials?

I think the complaints to which hon. Members are referring were those which originated before the issue of the subsequent instructions to which I have referred, but I can only repeat that, if specific instances are given to us, we will make every inquiry and see that they are dealt with.

Is the hon. Gentleman referring to repairs which are necessary as a result of a statutory instruction or which become necessary although there is no statutory order, but which are just as important in many cases?

In my reply I stated that these were things arising either from the issue of statutory notices, necessities for sanitary repairs or the necessities to prevent danger to the structure. Those three categories were covered by the answer I gave.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware there are other things, for example, a lock which was broken by a burglar, and for which it is impossible to get a replacement? There is no sanitary difficulty arising there.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a serious situation is arising in Birmingham on this particular point; that there is a considerable number of houses which cannot be put into a proper state of repair because several builders now say that they are not able to obtain the necessary materials in order to carry out statutory obligations?

Is not the Minister aware that this House was asked to vote £100 million so as to make ordnance factories capable of making these special parts, and are we to understand that the ordnance factory proposals of his Ministry have failed dismally?

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has given approval to the use of Maycrete, with its special form of construction, in the housing drive.

No, Sir. The system is however being investigated further.

Could the Minister look into this with considerable care? The matter has been greatly revised since it was considered on the last occasion.

Yes, Sir, we have asked the firm concerned for fuller details and we await their arrival.

Could I ask my hon. Friend to get into touch with the Secretary of State for Scotland before he comes to any decision in regard to Maycrete houses? Is he aware that this house has been the subject of a great many complaints from hon. Members on these benches; will he take every one of them out of Scotland and give them to England, and then give us some habitable houses instead?

asked the Minister of Health why the infantile mortality rate of Bath rose from 28 in 1938 to 53 in 1944, while the national rate fell from 53 to 46 over the same period.

Within such a small number of cases․74 infantile deaths in Bath in 1944․annual variations are not very significant. Between 1938 and 1944 the Bath rate exceeded the national rate only twice, and both rates were fluctuating.

Is the Minister aware that the latest figures are as low as 2 and that the figures before the war were 42 in the five years in which the figure of 28 is quoted, and 43 in the other five years?

Those figures confirm the statement I have made.

asked the Minister of Health how many beds in E.M.S. hospitals had been closed by 31st December last; how many will be closed down by 30th June and 30th December next; and how many beds in E.M.S. hospitals will still be available for use after that date.

I think there may be some misunderstanding here. Most E.M.S. beds have been beds reserved in the country's ordinary hospitals, supplemented by additional accommodation. As E.M.S. reservations diminish, the beds are normally left available for ordinary use. Reservations were 47,344 on 31st December last, 35,000 at 31st May. I cannot forecast future figures, but they will go on diminishing.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this decision is likely to cause a great shortage in hospital accommodation in the coming winter? Is it too late to urge on the authorities responsible the grave danger of closing down hospital beds?

I can assure the hon. Member that we shall take every step to prevent the premature closing down of hospital beds, which are so much in demand. Our great difficulty in providing the hospital beds, is not so much the availability of beds, as the availability of staff to deal with them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that at the Queen Charlotte's Hospital, Stamford Brook, all maternity out-patients are ordered to appear at 8.45 a.m.; that many of them are kept waiting in uncomfortable conditions for two to three hours; and what steps he will take to ensure that a system of appointments is instituted at this and other similar hospitals.

As the hon. Member will appreciate, my hon. Friend has no jurisdiction in the voluntary hospitals at present, but he has drawn their attention to this Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total of gold reserves in dollar balances held by His Majesty's Government at 1st June, 1946, or, alternatively, as at the latest date for which information is available.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my answer on 15th February last to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson).

Yes, Sir, but the figures given in that answer referred to those shown in Cmd. 6707, published last December, quoting the situation nearly a year ago; and can there be any reason of security to preclude the publication now of those, at least, for December, or is the Chancellor afraid of giving an account of his stewardship?

No, Sir; but I think we might wait a little longer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total of blocked sterling balances at 1st June, 1946, or, alternatively, as at the latest date for which information is available.

Three thousand five hundred million pounds at 31st March, 1946.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement concerning the Income Tax position of individuals working abroad who were interned by the enemy and came to this country to recuperate.

Yes, Sir. I have decided to authorise a further wartime concession under which an individual working abroad, who was interned by the enemy and came to this country to recuperate, will not be regarded as resident in this country for the current Income Tax year if he returns to his work abroad before 6th April, 1947.

I thank the Chancellor for the concession that he has made in accordance with his promise to look into this matter some months ago. May I ask him if he will consider how the widest publicity may be given to this concession, because a great many people will not hear this Question or answer or read about it?

I will do my utmost to give publicity to this concession. I regard the group of persons referred to by the hon. Gentleman as worthy of the most sympathetic treatment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a premium is demanded from local authorities by the Public Works Loans Board for premature repayments of sums loaned to enable authorities to make advances under Section 59 of the Housing Act, 1925, when no such premium is de manded for repayments of advances made under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act.

I understand that the hon. Member intended to refer to Section 89 of the Housing Act, 1925. Borrowers under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts have a statutory right to repay the local authority at any time. Borrowers under the Housing Acts have no such right, but if a borrower's mortgage allows him to repay, the normal premium payable by the local authority on repaying the Local Loans Fund is in fact reduced by 75 per cent., or, in cases of special hardship, waived altogether.

Would the Chancellor of the Exchequer consider waiving all questions of premium in these matters and in similar cases in order to encourage thrift on the part of those who may in time repay the local authorities concerned?

We are operating, as the hon. Gentleman pointed out, under an Act of 1925. The general principle is that when loans are made by the Public Works Loans Board and when they are repaid before the due date, an amount sufficient to liquidate the liability incurred by the Local Loans Fund in respect of the advance should be paid. Otherwise, it is difficult to keep the accounts in balance. We do now waive this claim wherever hardship can be shown, and I think I can give an undertaking that hardship will be interpreted not ungenerously.

asked the Minister of Education what are the latest figures available of teachers registered with the Appointments Board as having been unemployed for a period of two months or longer; and what proportion comes from Wales.

The National Union of Teachers Appointments Board informs me that on 28th May there were on the register no teachers who had been unemployed for two months or more, of whom 40 came from Wales. I am glad to say that by 3rd June the number had been reduced to 80, of whom 33 were from Wales. Some of the teachers cannot be immediately placed until vacancies arise in particular localities where they desire to serve for domestic or other reasons.

Is the Minister aware that a considerable proportion of these teachers are lads who qualified before entering the Services but never took up an appointment, and now when they come out they are finding exceptional difficulty? Will he take special steps to help that category?

I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that we are issuing a circular to local education authorities on the whole question of recruitment of teachers and we are discussing the whole problem with these bodies.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many graduates are included in the number he has given?

No, I do not think I can break up these figures without notice.

asked the Minister of Education how many qualified teachers are at present, unemployed in the county of Carmarthen.

I understand from the Appointments Board for Teachers, which is conducted by the National Union of Teachers in conjunction with the Association of Education Committees, that on 3rd June there were four teachers on their books who were resident in the county of Carmarthen.

Will the Minister circularise local authorities which have very large classes, to see if they can make use of these unemployed teachers wherever they are?

I think I have already answered that point in reply to an earlier question.

asked the Minister of Education what are the difficulties preventing her Department from giving unsuccessful candidates the reason for their rejection by the interviewing boards held in conjunction with the emergency scheme for teachers.

The interviewing boards are made up of members with wide and varied educational experience and their recommendations are based on a balanced assessment of the many factors which affect a candidate's suitability. In these circumstances it is not possible to give unsuccessful candidates any detailed reason for their rejection.

Is the Minister aware that people with considerable experience are astonished at some of the fantastic decisions taken by the interveiwing boards, and could he make it possible for some second chance to be given?

I can only say that I have myself personally investigated many of these decisions which have been in question and I confess that I have found that the boards who have dealt with these appointments have, in my opinion, done their work extremely well and taken into consideration all kinds of personal factors.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the Circular which defines the obligation, the phrase appears, " As this decision is based on the results of a personal interview "? May I ask if the result is based only upon a personal interview, and also whether this Circular may be reworded so as to be a little more pleasant to those who receive it, and that the words " Your obedient servant " may be deleted, because they give neither obedience nor service?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in some cases some of these people who have been rejected by the interviewing board have been accepted subsequently?

No. I was not aware of that but I should be very glad to have some facts to prove that statement.

Can the Minister say whether copies of the proceedings are available for the Minister to see at a later date if he should so require?

Yes. The Minister can see a detailed report which gives the details of the particular interview that has taken place. We have all the information that we require.

My Noble Friend recently discussed with Sir Rowland Nugent, the Minister of Commerce, matters affecting civil aviation in Northern Ireland, in order to decide how her interests and needs in regard to air services could best be met. As a result of these discussions, and in agreement with Sir Rowland Nugent and the Chairman-designate of the future British European Airways Corporation, Sir Harold Hartley, it has been decided, when the Civil Aviation Bill becomes law, to establish a Northern Ireland Advisory Committee, which will be appointed under the terms of Clause 3 of the Bill. After consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Commerce for Northern Ireland, my Noble Friend also proposes, with the full agreement of Sir Harold Hartley, that the Chairman of the Advisory Committees for Scotland and Northern Ireland should be appointed to seats on the British European Airways Corporation. I take this opportunity of adding that it is my Noble Friend's intention that Northern Ireland shall be given air services and aerodromes in every way commensurate with the needs of her business community and of her travelling public. Her geographical position renders such services of vital importance to Northern Ireland, and, indeed, to ourselves.

While expressing my deep gratitude to my hon. Friend, may I ask him to make it quite clear whether there is going to be representation of Ulster on the joint board of the company of Eire and Great Britain, on which Eire has a 60 per cent, control?

I did not understand that the Question raised that point. I think that would be looking for trouble.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman, as he has referred to the Chairman of the Scottish Advisory Council, whether that means that he will consult the Secretary of State for Scotland on that appointment?

That would naturally be the case.