asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant permits to enter this country to Austrian women who wish to marry British soldiers who have been demobilised, provided that those soldiers had submitted an application for permission to marry while serving in Austria and such permission had been refused.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bilston (Mr. Nally).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he granted permission for an Austrian woman to come to this country for the purpose of marrying a British subject while, at the same time, he is withholding permission for another Austrian subject to join his wife and family in Glasgow.

If the implication is that the decision on the one case should be applicable to the other, I am unable to accept it. The considerations involved in cases of the two types to which my hon. Friend refers are in fact wholly different, and no useful inferences can be drawn from an attempt to compare them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of Jewish displaced persons who have been, brought into this country under the existing regulations from France, Belgium, Holland and the British zone in Germany, respectively.

Statistics kept by my Department do not classify foreigners according to race or to religion, and the information asked for is not therefore available.

asked the Minister of Pensions what action has been taken by his Department with reference to previously decided cases in the light of the decision of the King's Bench Division in the case of Birt and the Minister of Pensions.

On the general question I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Attorney-General to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. T. Macpherson) on 22nd May. In the Birt case, the circumstances of which were unusual, the learned judge held that the tribunal which heard the case erred in law in admitting certain material as evidence, and he accordingly remitted the appeal for further hearing by another tribunal.

asked the Minister of Health under what authority a local authority requisitions a house in process of building which has been bought by a demobilised man with a view to occupation as soon as the house is completed.

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the case he has in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the difficulty now being experienced by unmarried men and women in finding living accommodation, either with or without board; and if he will now consider favourably applications by local authorities to build new hostels for the accommodation of such persons as a part of their housing policy.

Yes, Sir. All types of persons are now unfortunately experiencing difficulty in finding accommodation. It is the policy of the Government to provide first for those in greatest need, and the greatest need is in general for accommodation for families; but if a local authority had evidence that the housing needs of their area might best be served by providing a proportion of new accommodation for single persons my right hon. Friend would be prepared to consider their proposals.

asked the Minister of Health how many temporary houses will be delivered to Wallasey by 30th June 1946

I hope that go temporary houses will be delivered to Wallasey by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the fact that his Department are providing two W.C.s in the B.I.S. steel house, it is proposed that similar services will be provided in all permanent houses; what will be the additional cost and the position with regard to cisterns, etc.

Local authorities were instructed to provide two water closets in all three bedroom and larger houses by Circular 200 of 1945, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The plan of the B.I.S.F. house, therefore, accords with general policy. The approximate cost is £11 if the separate closet is provided inside the main building, £17 if it is provided in an out building. The supply position of cisterns is difficult at the moment, but steps are being taken to improve it. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend is considering how to allocate supply; if necessary, equipment of the second closet in each house could be deferred until the position has improved.

asked the Minister of Health why he no longer grants sealed authorisation to local authorities for the purpose of enabling them to recover possession of requisitioned properties.

A county court judge in the London district recently decided that my right hon. Friend was not empowered under the Defence Regulations to authorise a local authority themselves to institute legal proceedings to recover possession of requisitioned properties. An appeal from this judgment will shortly be heard in the Court of Appeal and pending the hearing of the Appeal my right hon. Friend has thought it better to discontinue the issue of these authorisations.

asked the Minister of Health in how many cases the absence of necessary paint is preventing the completion of temporary or permanent houses at this time.

I am not aware of any such cases at present, and I hope that adequate supplies of paint for new housing work are now assured as a result of the new materials priority scheme. But I should be glad to look into any case in which difficulties are brought to my notice.

asked the Minister of Health the number of permanent and prefabricated houses, respectively, built or in course of erection; and the number of housing sites acquired by the following local authorities: Leek Rural District Council, Kindsgrove Urban District Council, Biddulph Urban District Council and the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Appendix B of the Housing Return for England and Wales as at 30th April, 1946. He will find all the information he requires in this Return.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make it compulsory that joint consultative committees be set up in all hospitals and institutions with adequate trade union representation on the committees.

In November last, my right hon. Friend recommended the authorities of all hospitals and similar institutions to set up nurses' representative councils and domestic staff committees. As my hon. Friend knows, my right hon. Friend has no compulsory powers in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the advisability of issuing a report on the results obtained in the special areas, arising from Government grants of £19,000 to the National Birthday Trust Fund, which provided extra nourishment and vitamins to over 21,000 expectant mothers; and if he proposes to continue and extend along these lines.

My right hon. Friend does not think such a report is necessary as the results of these investigations have been published in various journals. On the last part of the Question, we have now moved on from this useful pioneer work to a complete national scheme for milk and vitamin supplements for all expectant mothers and young children.

asked the Minister of Health when it is intended to close down the Leatherhead E.M.S. hospital; and what alternative hospital accommodation will be provided after this has been carried out.

The Leatherhead Emergency Hospital will be closed before the end of this year. It is expected that there will be a gradual reduction of cases and that the residual cases will be pensioners for whom the Ministry of Pensions will accept responsibility.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is no mass radiography service available to the people of Newark; and what steps he proposes to take to provide this much desired service.

Mass radiography facilities are not yet available in many parts of the country, but I intend steadily to increase them as manufacture of the highly specialised apparatus permits and medical and technical staff can be found to operate additional units.

asked the Minister of Health if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a medical graduate of London University, a specialist in bacteriology, who has been doing work as a bacteriologist throughout the war, and is now threatened with the loss of his livelihood, by the supersession, without compensation, of the borough appointments he has been holding; and if he will rectify this position.

I am looking into this matter and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health what progress had been made in the Government's consideration of the question of reimbursement for loss of time and travelling expenses of public representatives on local government bodies.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend are appointing a committee to consider and report on this matter and they hope shortly to be able to announce the terms of reference and membership of the committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the extraction rate of the loaf in the British zone in Germany.

The extraction rates for grains milled in the British zone of Germany are no per cent. for wheat and rye, 85 per cent. for barley and 60–65 per cent., according to quality, for oats. Some flour is imported as such and the extraction rate depends on the country of origin.

asked the minister of Labour what steps he will take to ensure that a disabled ex-Serviceman, particulars of whom have been sent to him, shall obtain employment; and what instructions he has recently given to employment exchanges in relation to checking up on the fulfilment by employers of their obligation to employ a certain percentage of disabled persons.

If, in the first part of his Question, my hon. and learned Friend refers to his letter of 3rd June about the provision of training in Commercial Art for Mr. J. H. Chamberlain, I am having inquiries made and will write to him. As regards the second part of the Question, I have today sent him this information in reply to his letter of 23rd May.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has any statement to make regarding the recruitment of nurses; and if he will give approximate figures as to the number required to fill present requirements.

In collaboration with the other Departments concerned, steps are being taken by publicity and other means to encourage suitable men and women to take up training or employment in nursing and midwifery. The numbers recruited have been increasing for some months but many more are still required to meet the needs of the hospitals and other nursing services, and I would urge the importance of these services upon young people choosing their career as well as on those with nursing or midwifery qualifications they are not at present using. The number of vacancies notified to my Department at 13th May for all grades of nurses and midwives was 31,612.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the settlement of demobilised Poles and their families in Great Britain, he will take steps to ensure that priority in regard to training courses, employment and housing will be accorded to British ex-Service personnel and their families.

Questions of training and employment will be referred to the subcommittee of the joint consultative committee of representatives of the Trades Union Congress and the British Employers' Confederation which, as I stated on 30th May, is being appointed to help in working out the details of the scheme of resettlement of members of the Polish Forces.

asked the Minister of Labour the remuneration and expenses paid to the Deputy Chairman of the Catering Wages Commission when acting as such during the past financial year: and what is the agreed remuneration and expenses to be paid to the Chairman of the Commission for the current financial year.

During the last financial year the Deputy Chairman of the Catering Wages Commission, when not acting in the absence of the Chairman, received a fee of five guineas a day in respect of meetings of the Commission together with expenses comprising a subsistence allowance of 25s. for each night necessarily spent away from home and first class rail fares. The Chairman of the Commission will be paid during the current financial year a fee at the rate of eight guineas for each day's attendance and expenses as stated above.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in each of the counties of Wales, including Monmouthshire, in August, 1938, August, 1945, January, February, March, April, May and June, 1946, respectively.

I am having the figures extracted and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will inquire immediately into a case, details of which have been submitted, of an undergraduate of London University preparing for his final B.Sc., for which he sits on 17th June, who has been ordered to report for military service at Canterbury on 6th June; and if he will postpone this student's calling-up date until after the end of June.

The enlistment notice requiring this man to report on 6th June has been cancelled. Arrangements have been made to issue another enlistment notice after his examination.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities do not give the maximum period of 12 weeks, plus 10 days for mid-term and other occasional holidays; and what steps she is now taking to obtain uniformity, bearing in mind time spent on homework and other school activities by the pupils and on correcting, assessing and preparing lessons by the teachers.

I cannot supply precise figures, but my information is that the number is small. In reply to the latter part of the question interim recommendations made by the Association of Educa- tion Committees in consultation with teachers have been issued which it is proposed to follow by final recommendations in the light of experience. The matter is primarily for the discretion of local education authorities, but I shall continue to keep closely in touch with developments.

asked the Minister of Education why her Department has refused to approve arrangements under which parties of schoolchildren from county and voluntary secondary schools in the urban district of Harrow would attend a recital by the London Symphony Orchestra at the Granada Cinema, Harrow, which has been made available, free of charge, for the purpose on Friday, 12th July; and whether she will reconsider her decision, in view of the fact that it is impracticable to arrange for the recital to take place on a Saturday morning because the cinema is then reserved for children's cinema clubs.

Application to allow 2,000 children to attend the concert in school hours was refused on the ground that the general educational value of the performance, which is fully recognised particularly in the case of children from schools which do orchestral work of their own, might not outweigh the serious dislocation of the school curriculum caused by the withdrawal of so large a body of children from a large number of schools. I am, however, looking further into the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Education the payment given to a temporary teacher referred to in Circular 106; and how long can such teachers be employed.

The scales of pay for temporary teachers as prescribed by Section 7 of the Burnham Committee's report on scales of salaries for teachers in primary and secondary schools are for men £180 rising to £228, and for women £162 rising to £198 after four years service. War service will entitle many of these teachers to be paid on entry at rates above the minimum. The teachers referred to in Circular rob will be employed as temporary teachers only until they enter on their course of training at an emergency college.

asked the Minister of Education what status she proposes to give to the new category, described in Circular 106, of temporary teachers to be drawn from the list of candidates accepted for training under the emergency scheme, but before they have undergone any preparation qualifying them to teach and without having submitted to any test of fitness other than a short interview.

There is already provision, in Schedule I of the Primary and Secondary Schools (Grant Condition) Regulations, for employing as a temporary teacher a person who

(a) is over 18 years of age,

(b) satisfies the Minister of his health and physical capacity for teaching,

(c) has passed an examination approved as a first or second examination for secondary school purposes or possesses other approved qualifications.

A large number of the candidates accepted for the emergency training scheme already possess a school certificate or its equivalent. For the remainder, I am prepared to regard acceptance for the emergency training scheme as an " approved qualification." Selection is based on consideration of a candidate's complete record and not merely on an interview.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that under grant regulations issued by her Department, visits to works and places of historic interest, nature rambles and concerts are being forbidden by local education authorities, unless permission has been obtained, stating the purpose of each visit, the follow-up of the visit and the date, and that this document must carry the signature of the headmaster, chairman of governors, the Director of Education, and the H.M.I.; and whether she will amend these regulations.

The regulations provide that the instruction during the period required for school attendance must be on the school premises

" except in so far as the inspector consents to arrangements which permit such instruction to be given elsewhere."

The inspector naturally has to satisfy himself that this instruction outside the school is of educational value, and the arrangements for it are satisfactory. The regulations do not prescribe a detailed procedure, and, if the hon. Member cares to let me have particulars of instances he has in mind, I will see whether it is possible for the procedure to be simplified.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of teachers and pupils in the national schools in November, 1944; and the total number which she estimates will be in the national schools in November, 1948.

Taking maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools, the nearest available figures are:

	Teachers.	Pupils.
October, 1945	173,501	5,022,068
November, 1948(estimated)	597,000	5,640,000

Comparable figures for November, 1944, are not available.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that communications to her Department relating to a schoolmaster at a provincial grammar school, Mr. D. A. Palmerstone, have received no reply; and if she will inquire into this case, and rectify the position.

My Department has received an inquiry from the local education authority regarding the salary applicable to Mr. D. A. Palmerstone under the terms of the Burnham Committee's report. Certain further particulars are required before a decision can be given and these are now awaited.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish a list of authorised parking places in the West End and centre of London; if he will extend the system in operation in Jermyn Street of parking on one side only, alternating each day; what steps he is taking to provide garage accommodation; and if he is considering dual purpose garages which could, if necessary, be used as air-raid shelters.

Below is a list of authorised parking places. It is the responsibility of the local authority to provide parking places and I have asked the appropriate authorities in London to take urgent action in this matter, both in the provision of temporary car parks and as regards a survey of additional parking places in suitable streets. Consideration of the point referred to in the last part of the Question can be taken into account in the plans which must be made for more permanent car parks off the highways.A list of authorised parking places in the West End and centre of London is as follows:

Council within whose area parking place is appointed.	Name of parking place.
City of London	Finsbury Circus, E.C.2
Holborn	Bedford Row, Holborn
	South Crescent, Holborn
Holborn and Westminister.	Kingsway, Holborn
Westminister	Ambrosden Avenue
	Conduit Street
	Great Marlborough Street
	Great Scotland Yard
	Grosvenor Square
	Grosvenor Street
	Hanover Square
	Horse Guards Avenue
	Matthew Parker Street
	North Row
	Northumberland Avenue
	Abbey Orchard Street
	Red Place
	St. Ann's Street
	St. James's Square
	Savile Row
	Soho Square
	Thirleby Road
	Victoria Embankment
	Whitehall Court
	Whitehall Place

asked the Minister of Transport the number of private motor cars licensed at the present time under the following headings: 8 to 10 h.p., 10 to 14 h.p., 14 to 19 h.p., and over 19 h.p., respectively.

I regret that particulars of the horse power of private motor cars licensed are not available. This information was obtained before the war by a census of mechanically-propelled road vehicles which was carried out in September of each year. No such census has yet been taken since the war, the last being that relating to September, 1938.

asked the Minister of Transport how much money is at present being spent on research and publicity relating to road accidents and on new roads and road improvements, respectively.

The Government have just completed the expenditure of £250,000 on poster and Press advertising about the need for greater safety on the roads and consideration is being given to an extension of the campaign. In addition 50 per cent, grants have been made, or will shortly be made, to proposed expenditure amounting to £180,000 approximately, for local safety activities, and substantial financial assistance is being given to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in the work which they are doing. Research into road safety will be carried out by the Road Research Board and by my Department, but I cannot say at present how much money will be spent on this during the current financial year. As regards the construction of new roads and the improvement of existing roads, schemes to the value of about £650,000 have been approved for grant since 1st April last.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the raising of the school-leaving age, he will arrange for half-fare travel facilities to be available for young people up to the age of 16.

I understand that the present school-leaving age of 14 years will be raised to 15 years on 1st April, 1947. I will consider nearer that time, whether a similar increase should be made in the present age-limit of 14 years for children's general railway travel at half-fares

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage increases in steamship charges have been sanctioned in the case of the North of Scotland and Orkney and Shetland Steam Navigation Company, Limited, the Orkney Steam Navigation Company, Limited, the Orkney Direct Line, and Bremner and Company, respectively.

The following increases upon prewar rates have been sanctioned since the vessels were released from requisition on and March:

	Not exceeding Per cent,
(i) North of Scotand and Orkney and Shetland Steam Navigation Company	77⅔
(ii) The Orkney Direct Line	77⅔
(iii) The Orkney Steam Navigation Company	75
(iv) Bremner and Company	75

asked the Minister of Transport the names of the Sea Passages Priority Board; upon what principle selection is made of passengers; how far permits are restricted to Government-sponsored individuals; and when these restrictions will be removed.

The Sea Passages Priority Board is composed of representatives of the Government Departments sponsoring intending passengers by sea. Available space is so limited that passages can only be found for persons travelling in the national interest, whose journeys must be sponsored by the Government Department most closely concerned with their business, and for a limited number of persons for Whom passages are provided on compassionate grounds. This machinery to ensure that passenger space is fairly allocated to those having high priority claims must necessarily be retained until the space available is adequate to the demands upon it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the reasons for the delay in the repatriation and release of 961516 L.A.C. C. Ruffle, who left Southern Rhodesia in March, is now in the Middle East, is in age and service Group 31 and should therefore have been released before the end of April.

L.A.C. Ruffle was released in this country on 25th May. I regret the month's delay in his release, which was due to restricted shipping from South Africa to Suez.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he has considered the representations made to him regarding the amendment of the regulations governing the award of the R.A.F. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal; and if he is now in a position to make a statement.

We are considering various points in connection with the regulations concerning the R.A.F. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. I will let the hon. Member know when our review is complete, but Meanwhile if he has any particular point I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that 6022416 C.S.M. H. H. Bracey, 11th (K), K.A.R. (F.F.I.), East Africa Command, at present in transit camp, Mombasa, whose wife, relying on the undertaking that men serving overseas would be repatriated in time to be, demobilised with their age and service groups, has booked holiday accommodation for the presumed period of his demobilisation leave, will be repatriated in time to be demobilised with Group 30, that is, between 2nd and 16th June.

As my hon. Friend is aware there has been some delay owing to exceptional circumstances in the repatriation of men from East Africa who are due for release. I am making inquiries as to when C.S.M. Bracey is expected to reach home, but I cannot give any guarantee that he will arive home in time for release within the normal period for his group. Although I sympathise with his disappointment at the interference caused to his plans, it would not be possible to treat him differently from other men ho are in the same position.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now give a reply in the case of 5666209 Corporal E. Luckes, which was first referred to him by the hon. Member for Taunton, on 29th January, 1946, and again on 4th April.

An interim reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 27th March and he will no doubt by now have received the final reply sent on 4th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to forward to Mr. E. A. Stanford, of 24, Heathcote Road, Portsmouth, the personal effects of his son, 7372012 Private B. Stanford, who died on 31st January, 1946, in Germany; and whether he will instruct his Department to reply to Mr. Stanford's letter of 29th April, 1946.

Instructions have been given to the Officer in Charge, R.A.M.C. Records, to forward the late soldier's effects to Mr. E. A. Stanford. Mr. Stanford's letter of 20th April, 1946, was replied to on 1st May. A further letter giving full details of the estate was sent to the father on 4th June, 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the release date for officers in Group 30 who are serving in the M.E.F. has been deferred.

According to the latest information in my possession, 65 out of a total of 251 officers in Group 30 in M.E.F. have had their release deferred. This has been done on grounds of military necessity.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers of Group 28 in C.M.F., due for release by 31st May, had not left that theatre by that date; and how deferment of officers in C.M.F. compares in its incidence with deferment in B.A.O R. and the United Kingdom.

As regards the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hampstead (Mr. Challen) on Tuesday last. On the latest dates for which figures are available the total number of officers compulsorily deferred represented about.6 per cent. of the total strength of officers in C.M.F. as compared with.6 per cent. in the United Kingdom and.24 per cent. in B.A.O.R.

asked the Secretary of State for War the effective date to which the postwar credits of 6d. a day is allowed to personnel demobilised prior to 30th June, 1946; and whether the whole period of release and overseas leave is included as stated in Section 13 of pay-form R 17 for Class A releases.

Postwar credits of 6d. a day are allowed for soldiers, but not officers, up to the end of the period of paid leave granted on release or up to 30th June, 1946, whichever is the earlier. The announcement that postwar credits will cease to accrue as from 1st July, 1946, was made in the White Paper on the postwar Code of Pay and Allowances. Steps are being taken to amend the pay form referred to, so as to make this limitation clear.

asked the Secretary of State for War when married quarters will be available in those permanent establishments and camps where at present none exist.

The first instalment of a programme of permanent houses to make up existing deficiencies in other ranks' quarters has been initiated during this financial year. This programme includes a proportion of houses for static establishments as well as for camps definitely required for post-war use. It is also proposed to initiate a building programme for officers' married quarters as soon as opportunity offers. But shortages of labour and material naturally restrict the size of the Army's plans for the rehousing of married personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for the delay in granting passages to Japan for the wives and families of members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, in view of the fact that families of members of the United States Occupation Force and also of British civilians have already arrived there.

It has been agreed in principle that the wives and families of members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force should be allowed to go to Japan, but before any scheme is started the Commander-in-Chief has been asked to report on local conditions and accommodation. In any case local conditions and the shortage of shipping will prevent more than a very few families being granted passages to Japan for a considerable time to come. The only British civilians who have been given priority over Service families for passages to the Far East are officials of the civilian governments and those who are being repatriated to their homes there.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now give instructions for the rifle range and assault course at the foot of the Inkpen Down, Berkshire, to be cleared of unexploded shells and wire so that the local people may again have unobstructed passage to the Down.

The land has already been cleared of unexploded missiles so far as possible and a clearance certificate given; but if any unexploded missiles which have been overlooked are discovered they should be reported to the police and steps will be taken to remove them. I understand that the barbed wire has been removed from the area and stacked at the edge of it in a position where it is not obstructing anybody's passage. The land was released in March and the farm track across the area affords access to the downs to the same extent as before the war. The War Department does not normally fill in such works as target butts, but the cost of restoration would be a proper subject for a claim under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939.

asked the Secretary of State for War the annual number of volunteers and the annual size of all three Services for the years 1929 to 1939.

The figures of entries on normal Regular engagements and permanent commissions are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the delay in effecting the release of former G.P.O. engineers who have been offered their release in Class B; and if he will take steps to ensure that all those men offered release in Class B do not have to wait longer than 10 days or a fortnight before they are actually discharged.

The time taken before release is effected inevitably depends upon where the individual is serving. Many men who are offered Class B release are serving in distant commands and apart from communication difficulties their actual movement may take a considerable time. It is therefore not possible to give any guarantee such as the hon. Member suggests. I am not aware of any particular delays in the case of former G.P.O. engineers. All commands have been instructed to carry out the release of all those to whom offers of Class B release are made as rapidly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is a waste of specialist surgical experience in the R.A.M.C., India Command, as in an example furnished to him of a London graduate, holding the qualifications M.S., F.R.C.S., assigned to duties within the capabilities of a G.D.O.; and, in view of the sense of frustration amongst these officers, if he will rectify the position.

Every effort is being made in India and elsewhere to economise in specialist establishments wherever possible, but difficulties are presented by the fact that units are scattered over large distances and may require specialist assistance at short notice. I am inquiring into the specific case of alleged waste of specialist skill of which the hon. Member has sent me particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War the name of the person responsible for the German prison camp at 161 Rue de Stalle, Uccle, Brussels; upon what qualifications he was selected for this post; and what his service and experience have been during the war.

This camp is a transit camp for displaced persons which belongs to the Belgian Government. The commandant and all the staff are Belgian.

asked the Secretary of State for War if ex-Servicemen of all three Services are permitted by Service regulations to wear their Service uniforms stripped of badges of rank; and, in view of a recent prosecution, if he will take steps to draw the attention of all concerned to such regulations and, if necessary, introduce legislation to make the position clear.

There is no objection so far as the Service Departments are concerned to an ex-Serviceman wearing uniform clothing which he has been allowed to retain on release, provided all Service buttons, badges and insignia are removed. I am advised that further legislation is not necessary, but the Service Departments are considering whether any further steps are necessary to make the position clear to all concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Palestinian lawyers are permitted for professional purposes to visit clients now detained in Eritrea.

Entry into Eritrea is controlled by the Military Administration to whom application for entry has to be made. Each application is treated on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that officers of his Department have inspected G officer lines in Kensington Gardens in the Victory camp, in which Colonial and Empire officers are living in bad conditions.

" G " officer lines as well as the other lines in Kensington Gardens have been frequently inspected by officers, including the Brigadier Commanding the troops in the camp. Unfortunately the bad weather and the need for economising space have led to a certain amount of discomfort, but everything possible is being done and will be done to secure for the troops the greatest degree of comfort that is practicable under the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider giving instructions that, where possible, men and women taking official part in Victory day celebrations should be allowed an extra day's holiday on Tuesday.

In the case of Army and R.A.F. personnel taking part in the Victory Parade, a day's leave will be granted instead of Victory Day, although this will not necessarily be on the following Tuesday. In addition commanding officers will no doubt take into account the fact that a man has been in the Victory Parade in granting short pass leave. In the case of the Navy, where arrangements for leave are necessarily somewhat different from those applicable to the other Services, I understand that personnel taking part in the Victory Parade will receive three to four days' special leave commencing on Saturday afternoon if they wish to take advantage of it. This is in addition to normal Whit-sun weekend leave which will be given later at the discretion of commanders-in-chief.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been sent by the Colonial Secretary of Malta to the ultimatum of nine labour councillors that they will resign if dismissals from the dockyard are not suspended pending the introduction of a master plan to absorb redundant labour.

Members of the Malta Council of Government are aware that dismissals from the Dockyard have been suspended and that the whole position is under urgent consideration by the Departments concerned in this country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what are the qualifications required of electors to the Legislative Assembly.

I would call the attention of the hon. Member to Rule 8 and Schedule II of the Legislative Assembly Electoral Rules and Regulations, a copy of which has been laid in the Library.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the total expenditure expressed in pounds sterling, on public works during each of the 10 years immediately preceding the war; and the extent to which such works were planned and controlled by Hindu, Mohammedan or British officers, respectively.

The accounts available to me are not prepared in a form which permits a reliable figure for total expenditure on " public works " of all kinds readily to be ascertained. The figures which follow are aggregates of expenditure, Central and Provincial, under the head " Civil Works " (mainly roads and buildings) and of capital expenditure, Central and Provincial, under the heads " Railways," "Irrigation," " Electric Schemes " and " Posts and Telegraphs ":

					£million.
1929–30	…	…	…	…	39
1930–31	…	…	…	…	26
1931–32	…	…	…	…	19
1932–33	…	…	…	…	16
1933–	…	…	…	…	7
1934–35	…	…	…	…	9
1935–36	…	…	…	…	11
1936–37	…	…	…	…	11
1937–38	…	…	…	…	10
1938–39	…	…	…	…	7

I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available and could not be compiled without excessive labour on the part of all the Governments in India, and I should be reluctant to impose this task upon them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma if he will make a statement on the withdrawal from the Governor's Executive Council of the three Myochit Party members, U Ba On, U Aye and U Lun.

I understand that two of the three Myochit members of the Governor's Executive Council, U Ba On and U Aye, have, on instructions from Myochit Party headquarters, tendered their resignations, which have been accepted by the Governor. U Lun has not, so far as I am aware, resigned. Their resignations are, I understand, consequent on a Myochit Party instruction that, failing the immediate grant to the Governor's Executive Council of the ministerial powers and privileges contained in the Government of Burma Act, Myochit support should be withdrawn. An essential preliminary to the re- establishment of a ministry with ministerial powers under the Act is, of course, the holding of democratic elections and if all goes well it is hoped that a Legislature will have been elected and a Ministry formed before June of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies which African Colonial Governments have appointed special mass education officers; what qualifications these officers possess for this special work; and whether he is yet in a position to give details of the results of their work.

Mass Education Officers have been appointed in the Gold Coast and in Nyasaland. The officer appointed in the Gold Coast gained valuable experience in charge of an Army unit which did similar work in East Africa during the war. He has recently been advising the Government of Uganda on the general framework and inter-relation of social welfare and public relations activities. The officer appointed in Nyasaland has had wide experience in teaching, vocational training and social welfare work and has served on the staff of a mission in Northern Rhodesia. Both officers will take up their new appointments in the near future. A woman has been appointed locally as an Assistant Mass Education Officer in Nyasaland and I am asking the Governor for information as to her qualifications and the work she is doing.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the 15 per cent. cut in malting barley for the brewers has resulted in a 50 per cent. cut in beer for the consumers and that great discontent has been caused in consequence amongst the workers, particularly in the heavy industries; whether he is aware that in some cases the brewers made their 50 per cent. cut even before the 15 per cent. cut in malting barley was announced; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent brewers making such cuts.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that the recent reduction which had to be made in the supply of barley for brewing has resulted in a cut of 50 per cent. in the amount of beer being sold. There may be local variations in the incidence of the cut but my right hon. Friend is confident that brewers are doing all they possibly can to distribute their beer fairly.

asked the Minister of Food what is the price of wheat delivered in this country from the U.S.A.

There have been no recent shipments of U.S.A. wheat to the United Kingdom and there is no firm price for such wheat. If we were to buy U.S.A. wheat the price (cost, freight and insurance) to this country is estimated at £26 6s. per ton equivalent to £5 12s. 8½d per quarter of 480 lbs.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider broadcasting to the country, explaining the present food situation, with a special appeal to save bread.

My right hon. Friend hopes to broadcast soon.

asked the Minister of Food what instructions have been issued from his Department whereby a person must get a doctor's certificate in order to obtain canned carrots.

No such instructions have been issued. A doctor's certificate is not required for canned carrots.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to ensure the supply of materials and to prevent the closing down of the factory at Southwick, Sunderland, recently opened by Messrs. Rego Clothiers, Limited.

With the termination of: Government contracts this firm will not be continuing work at Sunderland, but arrangements are being made for another firm engaged on important production to take over the factory immediately the work of Messrs. Rego Clothiers, Limited, comes to an end.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that hats trimmed with the feathers of birds of paradise are being shown at dress shows and sold here; and, as the full plumage can only be obtained by killing birds in the breeding season, if he will enforce the law preventing the importation of their feathers owing to the cruelty involved.

No licences are being issued for the importation of feathers of the bird of paradise. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any case which he has in mind, I will arrange for inquiries to be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why traders in large and small stores were unable to supply gas mantles to their customers in the Liverpool city area during the week ending 1st June last.

Supplies have been sent to Liverpool at intervals within the last three weeks, and will continue to be sent. If they are sold as soon as they reach the shops it is because of the heavy demand arising from the shortage, the reasons for which were given by my right hon. and learned Friend in his answer to my hon. Friend the Member for North Kensington (Mr. Rogers) on 13th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reduce the coupon value of men's sandal shoes from nine to five.

I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Attorney-General what is the procedure for an appellant who wishes to take his case from the Appeals Tribunal to the High Court; what is the estimated cost of such an appeal; and who would bear that cost.

The procedure to be followed in an appeal from a Pensions Appeal Tribunal to a judge of the High Court is set out in Rule 23 of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal Rules, 1943, and Order 55E of the Rules of the Supreme Court, to which I would refer the hon. Member. The taxed costs of such an appeal vary, according to the importance and complexity of the case, from about £20 to almost £200. They are borne by the Exchequer irrespective of whether the appellant succeeds or fails in his appeal.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of increased imports of petrol, he is prepared to consider a more generous allowance to private motorists during the summer months and thereby ease the holiday traffic on the railways.

We would like to provide a more generous allowance to motorists during the summer months, but this would involve additional dollar expenditure, which, I regret, cannot at present be justified.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the number of officials and staff in his Ministry on 1st September, 1945, and on 1st May, 1946; and what were the total salaries payable on each of those dates, respectively.

The staff (other than industrial employees) of the Ministry totalled 7,503 on 1st September, 1945, and 7,156 on 1st May, 1946, with salaries and wages at the annual rates of approximately £2,750,000 and £2,700,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that, as soon as it is established that Soviet troops have been withdrawn from Persia, he will open discussions with the U.S.S.R. on the zoning of oil and other concessions in that country.

I do not think that the moment has yet come for action on the lines proposed by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange to place in the Library a collection of the leaflets dropped by the R.A.F. in Germany during the war.

A complete collection of the leaflets dropped by the Royal Air Force over Germany during the war was delivered to the House of Commons Library on 20th August, 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Executive Committee of the British Council have now elected a new chairman; and whether a statement will now be made on the future constitution, functions and policy of the British Council.

I am glad now to be able to inform the House of the decisions which have been taken regarding the future of the British Council. The report which Sir F. Stewart presented in February, 1945, to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary has been very carefully considered, and the work and organisation of the British Council has been reviewed in relation to the work and organisation of the Government's overseas information services. It has been decided that the Council shall continue to work under its Charter for another five years, after which the position shall again be reviewed. General Sir Ronald Adam has been appointed Chairman of the Council. In order to avoid overlapping between the. British Council and the Government's overseas information services, it has been laid down that in future the Council's scope will be restricted to educational and cultural work. Provision is consequently being made for close consultation between the Council and the Overseas Departments responsible for information work, and there will in general be a closer scrutiny by the Government of the Council's projected activities. The Council will, like the information services, draw on the Central Office of Information for the production and procurement of its material. The British Council will continue to be financed by a grant in aid paid by the Foreign Office, and the Colonial Office will continue to repay the Council for the expenses of its work in and for the territories for which the Colonial Office is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many German prisoners of war are still in this country, and the number of men in white, grey and black camps, respectively.

The total of German prisoners of war in the United Kingdom on 31st May, 1946, was 374,388. The total number of prisoners of war who had been screened up to 31st May was 196,958. This total is made up as follows: 20,706, White; 42,867, Black; 133,385, Grey. White, grey and black prisoners of war are not segregated in separate camps. With their wide dispersal into camps, working parties, hostels and billets the segregation of prisoners of war into separate units is neither practicable nor desirable. White prisoners can and do exercise a beneficial influence on the other categories.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make about the basis of compensation on the acquisition of properties in reconstruction areas.

The Government have carefully and sympathetically examined the proposal that where a war damaged property qualified for a cost of works payment is acquired with a view to reconstruction of the area in which it stands the right to the cost of works payment should be transferable to some other site. They regret that they have found this proposal to be impracticable and that they cannot adopt it. They have, however, considered the basis on which monetary compensation is paid in such cases, and also on compulsory acquisition of property generally, and they have decided that the maximum supplementary payment to owner-occupiers which is now 30 per cent. should in future be 60 per cent. An order, which will require an affirmative resolution of each House of Parliament, will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any statement to make regarding the relief of double taxation between the United Kingdom and Canada.

Yes, Sir. I am glad to announce that yesterday I signed two double taxation agreements with Canada, relating respectively to taxes on income and Estate Duty. Draft Orders in Council, which contain the texts of the agreements, are being laid before the House today.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether arrangements can be made for His Majesty's Stationery Office to make available for the use of Members of Parliament and others an up to date volume on Parliamentary procedure.

I would refer the hon. Member to "The Manual of Procedure in the Public Business " and " Standing Orders of the House of Commons " published by the Stationery Office, copies of which may be obtained from the Vote Office.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is prepared to consider the introduction of legislation for the repeal or amendment of the Super- annuation Act, 1834, in view of the hardship that its provisions are imposing at the present time upon superannuated employeees of the Civil Service who are engaged in part or whole-time employment following retirement from the Civil Service.

No, Sir. I assume the hon. Member is referring to Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, under which the pension payable during any period of re-employment is restricted to the amount, if any, by which pre-retirement pay exceeeded pay on re-employment. I cannot agree that this is an unreasonable provision.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that the rent strike on his Department's housing estate, Victoria Avenue, Ilkley, still continues; and what is the suggested revised basis of assessment of rents for these prefabricated temporary houses, some of which are derelict.

Yes, Sir; but I cannot agree that any of these bungalows are derelict. All necessary repairs are receiving attention and the reassessment of the rents is expected to be completed within three weeks.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that the houses on his Department's estates at Horsforth, near Leeds, have rents far in excess of better local authority houses in the neighbourhood; and if he is now prepared to reduce the rent.

A revised basis of assessment of rents has been fixed for all estates owned by my Department, including the Horsforth estate. Charges for the Hors-forth houses are at present being reviewed in the light of the new formula.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that spare parts for repairing watches, which usually come from Switzerland, are not available; and what action he intends to take to improve the position.

There is difficulty at present in obtaining certain spare parts from Switzerland. The importers have been informed that the capacity available in the Swiss factories making them is overloaded and that deliveries will be delayed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many officers in his Department are entitled to sign Statutory Rules and Orders on his behalf; and what are the Departmental ranks of these officers.

The number of officers authorised to sign Statutory Rules and Orders on my behalf is 24. These officers hold the rank of secretary, deputy-secretary, under-secretary, principal assistant secretary and assistant secretary.

asked the Minister of Works if his attention has been called to the removal of iron railings, gate and posts, the property of Mr. H. Alwen, of Ash Tree Cottage, Cudham, Kent, for which he was offered 1s. 10d.; that there is now a recommendation from his Department at 44 Lowndes Square for the sum of£1 5s. to be paid; and, in view of the fact that replacement will cost about £30, if he will review the whole matter.

Yes, Sir. I have seen the lengthy correspondence with the hon. Member on this matter, and the facts are as stated by him in the first two parts of the Question, But, for the reasons given in my reply to the hon. Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen) on 13th November last, the answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what was the number of officials and staff in his Ministry on 1st September, 1945, and on 1st May, 1946; and what were the total salaries payable on each of those dates, respectively.

I refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) on 27th May. The annual cost of salaries and wages of the staff at the 1st October, 1945, and 1st May, 1946, was respectively £319,168 and £560,220.