asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is now in a position to indicate how he proposes to have the principles and provisions of the National Insurance Scheme explained to the general public.

My right hon. Friend appreciates the importance of making the practical details of the National Insurance scheme known to all members of the public, and it will be his aim to do so by every available means of publicity. He must, of course, await the passing of the Bill into law and the making of certain regulations before authoritative statements can be issued. As my hon. Friend knows, the rates of old age pensions for retired persons are to be increased in October, and the first of the series of explanatory statements will relate to this.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if my right hon. Friend is considering setting up a distinct section of the Department to do this very necessary piece of work?

Whilst I cannot guarantee that it will be a distinct department, there is a section of the office giving special attention to the general question of publicity and public relations.

Will my hon. Friend consider broadcasting to the people when this Bill becomes an Act, to explain the details to the whole country?

That is one of the proposed methods of publicity.

Will the Minister consider issuing a little booklet such as was issued previously?

Yes, Sir, but my right hon. Friend is advised that we cannot make any move, although we are taking internal steps, until the Bill is the law of the land.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will consider revising, when the new old age pensions become operative, supplementary pension rates in order that aged persons now in receipt of supplement may have the benefit of increases consistent with the high cost of living.

This is a matter for consideration in the first instance by the Assistance Board who assure my right hon. Friend that they are watching the position closely and that they would not hesitate to initiate action if in their view the situation should at any time require it.

I think the position is very serious and we cannot rely too much on what the Assistance Board may do. I think the Minister is aware—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—Is my hon. Friend aware that many of these people are now receiving the amount or rather more than the amount of the new pension rate, and that they have no other financial resources? They have a very meagre existence. I wish the Minister could look into this question.

There is very close relationship between the Chairman of the Assistance Board and my right hon. Friend, and I can assure the hon. Member that the matter is being given very close attention on both sides.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many claims to family allowances have been received so far; and how and when claimants may expect to hear the result of their applications.

Nearly 1,900,000 claims have so far been received and notifications to successful applicants will begin to be sent out on 10th July. I may remind the House that the first pay day is Tuesday, 6th August. The allowance order books, by means of which allowances will be drawn, will not be sent direct to applicants, but in the notification they will be told the name of the post office where they can obtain their book. Notifications to unsuccessful applicants will begin to be sent out about the same time, and except when it seems clear that the claim was made under a misapprehension, each applicant will receive a franked postcard for use if she wishes to appeal against the disallowance to one of the independent referees.

May I ask what proportion of the number of claims expected have been received and what was the percentage which had been wrongly filled in?

As I said, we have already received 1,900,000 claims. The total which could have been received is 2,500,000. Of the claims so far received, only 2 per cent. have had to be rejected. That figure was less than 1 per cent. in the early stages. It has risen to 2, and it may rise a little more as we progress because there is a tendency now for claims to be sent in which are perhaps just a little questionable. No doubt some of these questionable claims have been sent in on the advice of Members of Parliament in order to test whether or not they have a claim.

Will the Minister consider employing further publicity methods in order to increase the number of applicants who are entitled to family allowances?

I think the House will agree that to have received to date nearly 2,000,000 from a total of 2,500,000 is not at all a bad proportion. We did not expect at any time that the whole of the 2,500,000 entitled to claim would in fact claim. We are now fully satisfied as to the rate at which we are receiving the claims.

Could the Minister say what form the rejection of the 2 per cent. takes?

They are very largely rejections arising in cases where people who have one child of 18 and another of 12 think that, because they have two children, they can claim for one.

Is the Minister aware of the general feeling in the country that housewives are grateful for the clarity with which this matter has been expressed and for the courtesy of the Minister, which sets a new "high"?

asked the Minister of National Insurance how far, and in what circumstances, his regulations permit a person, other than a wife who is incapable of self-support on account of physical or mental infirmity, to be treated as an adult dependant of an insured person under the National Insurance Bill.

I assume my hon. Friend has in mind a case where the dependant is not in receipt of insurance benefit or pension in her own right. If no increase of sickness or unemployment benefit is being paid in respect of a wife the ordinary increase for an adult dependant will under Regulations be payable in respect of another prescribed relative who is living with and wholly or mainly maintained by the claimant whether or not he is crippled or mentally defective. Similarly a wife wholly or mainly maintaining her husband, who is incapable of self-support, will be entitled to an increase of benefit for him.

Having regard to the number of cases, of which the Minister is aware, where there is an adult dependant not covered by the Bill in any way, is his right hon. Friend taking care to put some provision for such people in any consequential Measure?

Yes, Sir. Hon. Members will know that there has been an announcement of a Bill to be introduced jointly by the Minister of Health and by my right hon. Friend. Negotiations are going on between those two Ministers and cases such as the hon. Member has in mind will be covered.

I thank the Minister.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what regulations affecting the position of local government employees and others at present covered by superannuation schemes he proposes to make, when the new social Insurance Bill becomes an Act.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to regulations which may be made under Clause 69 (4) of the National Insurance Bill. Regulations under this provision will not be made by the Minister of National Insurance but by the appropriate Minister or Government Department, or by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, as may be determined by the Treasury in the particular case.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what arrangements have been made to enable old age pensioners who emigrate to the Dominions to draw the old age pensions to which they would have been entitled if they had remained in this country.

There is statutory provision under which contributory old age pensions may be paid in any part of His Majesty's Dominions, and the necessary arrangements for payment are made by my Department on being informed by the pensioner of the date of his leaving this country. In all the principal Dominions the pensions are paid by approved agents; where no agency arrangements have been found possible remittances are sent by post from this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in the case of a large town like Swindon, whose fire brigade serves about 100,000 people, he has appointed the county council to administer the fire service.

The Government's decision as to the line to be adopted in future legislation on this matter was announced in a statement which I made to the House on 21st March last, and to which I would refer my hon. Friend.

Is the Minister aware that Swindon Council have been told they cannot get control of the fire service unless they become a county borough?

I would not go quite so far as that. Discussions are taking place as to the extent to which delegation may be possible within counties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Aliens Department did not reply to letters from M. Francois Valentyn, of Brussels, dated 12th March, 17th April and 6th May, 1946.

The letters referred to should have been addressed to the British Passport Control Officer, Brussels, since they related to matters with which it was appropriate for His Majesty's representative in that country to deal. I find that hitherto such letters have not received replies from the Home Office. As a result of my inquiries I have given instructions that in future they should be forwarded to His Majesty's representative abroad with a request that he should deal with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give statistics as to the numbers of male and female persons, respectively, found guilty of indictable offences by juvenile courts or ordinary courts of summary jurisdiction since the end of the war; how these figures compare with the war years and the pre-war years, respectively; and if he will show, separately, the numbers under the age of 14 years, between 14 and 16 years and between 16 and 21 years.

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I wonder if the Minister would say whether in view of the figures which he is about to circulate, he is satisfied with the present system; and what is being proposed to improve the treatment of juvenile delinquents?

I am quite certain the present system is capable of improvement and I am considering legislative proposals to deal with it.

Is the Home Secretary aware that many of the juvenile offenders at the moment have to serve the first part of their sentence in an ordinary prison without any provision for segregation? Is he aware of the very deleterious effect which may result, and will he try to prepare a new scheme for the treatment of juvenile offenders?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the introduction of legislation to render criminal the acceptance of money by a British subject from a foreign Power for the conduct of political propaganda in Britain.

I have had this matter under consideration but certain practical difficulties have prevented me from formulating legislative proposals.

Do I understand that my right hon. Friend will be prepared to reconsider the matter if representations are made to him?

I have previously stated here that I am concerned at the lack of accommodation for dealing promptly with juveniles who have received the attention of the court. I desire that appropriate training in a suitable institution shall be given as soon as possible. I have already taken some steps towards attaining that end and I hope to take further steps as opportunity, time, labour and materials become available.

Will my right hon. Friend also bear in mind, apart from the issue of figures, the issue of a statement showing the major causes and factors which give rise to juvenile delinquency?

That is so highly controversial a matter that I doubt if I could publish any statement that would command general acceptance.

Following is the answer:

I am still considering the matter and I shall be very grateful for any ideas that can be conveyed to me.

Is it not a fact that the only two occasions hitherto known or mentioned concern a member of the Communist Party in Canada and a former member of the Socialist Party in Great Britain?

He was also a former member of the Tory Party in this country, and most of his supporters have been previous members of that party.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making it necessary for political parties to publish their annual accounts?

That is one of the detailed considerations I have in mind. One of the difficulties is to define what is a political party.

Is it not the case that the only two men who were hanged for betraying the country were Conservatives?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has considered criticisms, communicated to him by the hon. Member for Hampstead, concerning action taken by the police in stopping people in the street in daytime and requiring them to reveal the contents of their pockets and handbags; and if he will make a statement on the subject.

Yes, Sir. The Metropolitan Police Act, 1839, gives power to a constable to stop, search and detain persons reasonably suspected of having or conveying in any manner anything stolen or unlawfully obtained.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer.

My right hon. Friend is very careful to keep his depredations within the law. However careful police officers may be in the exercise of these powers, it is inevitable that inconvenience should be caused from time to time to perfectly innocent persons who may attract their attention, for instance, because they are carrying a bundle of what might be stolen property in an area where there has been an epidemic of housebreaking. I am satisfied that these powers are not used unnecessarily by the police, and that it is generally appreciated that they are of value to the community as a means of preventing and detecting crime.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the letter sent to Cornwall House, dated 5th June, by the Borough of Bromley, regarding expenditure amounting to £15,686 10s. 9d., which Bromley are being called upon to meet in connection with shelter construction; and if he will state whether there is any means of meeting this expenditure from national funds.

£11,925 of the amount mentioned is the balance payable by the authority on expenditure incurred prior to 19th October, 1940. On this point, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Mr. Rees-Williams) on 28th February last. The remainder represents the balance of a sum of over £26,000 expended on shelter construction on which a grant of £22,900 has already been approved. After careful consideration, I cannot see my way to increase this amount.

Why should the local authority be liable for an amount in expenditure over which they have no control?

Unfortunately, they had complete control—

No.

I hope the hon. Member will allow me to complete the answer before he contradicts me. They had complete control, and, in fact, carried out their shelter policy, after being warned, to a standard higher than that which was approved by the Ministry of Home Security at the time.

asked the Minister of Pensions how far his Department is able to meet the demand for artificial limbs and their repair and maintenance; and if there is now any delay in dealing with cases.

I am glad to say that during the last six months deliveries of artificial limbs have exceeded orders placed. I have no reason to think that this position will not be maintained and I therefore anticipate that the time will soon arrive when the supply and repair of artificial limbs will be effected more expeditiously.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do everything he can to give the most immediate and prompt service to these men, because of the effect on their morale?

I realise that it is important, and we are doing everything we can to speed up the matter and deal with the arrears.

Will the Minister expedite the consideration of cases where the applicant has returned to the overseas Empire and cannot get maintenance without authority from his Department? Is he aware of a recent case or 100 per cent. disability which was sent to his Department, on which no answer was given until the threat of raising the matter in this House was made?

I am not aware of that, but I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now given the names of the members of the Central Advisory Water Committee together with the qualifications for their appointment.

I will, with permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the Statement:

CENTRAL ADVISORY WATER COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP.

Mr. Henry Berry, M.P., M.I.Mech.E., A.I.Struct.E., F.R.S.A., late Chairman, Metropolitan Water Board and member of the British Waterworks Association;

Mrs. E. M. Braddock, M.P.;

Sir Jocelyn Bray, D.L., J.P., Chairman Thames Conservancy Board, and member of the Catchment Board's Association;

Sir Wynne Cemlyn-Jones, member of the Anglesey County Council and of the County Councils Association;

Mr. J. Chaston, O.B.E., F.C.I.S., F.S.S., Town Clerk, Kettering, and member of the Urban District Council's Association;

Sir Robert Doncaster, O.B.E., J.P., member of the Rural District Council's Association;

Mr. D. McAdam Eccles, M.P.;

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Arthur Heneage, D.S.O., J.P., member of the Central Landowners Association;

Colonel F. Hibbert, C.B.E., M.Inst.C.E., F.C.I.S., Chief Engineer, Liverpool Corporation Waterworks, and member of the British Waterworks Association;

Mr. S. R. Hobday, O.B.E., Director and General Manager, Lee Conservancy Board;

Mr. J. E. James, Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd., member of the Federation of British Industries;

Mr. H. Johnson, Secretary, Bleachers Association Ltd., member of the Federation of British Industries;

Mr. M. Kissane, Secretary, Manchester Ship Canal Co.;

Mr. J. N. McLean, Vice-President of the National Farmers Union;

Sir Cecil Newman, Bart., Acting Chairman of the National Association of Fishery Boards;

Mr. Philip Porteous, M.Inst.C.E., Managing Director, Cambridge University and Town Waterworks Co. and member of the Water Companies Association;

Lord Rea;

Lord Walkden;

Alderman N. F. S. Winter, Halifax Town Council, member of the Association of Municipal Corporations;

Mr. G. A. Worth, Soham Internal Drainage Board, member of the Association of Drainage Authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now considered the report of his inspector on the public local inquiry held to investigate the provision of a sewage farm at Goring-on-Thames, in the vicinity of Hartslock Woods; and whether he will make a statement.

I have considered the report of my inspector who held the local inquiry into this matter, and I am satisfied that a scheme of sewerage and sewage disposal is necessary for the parish of Goring. I have, however, informed the Henley Rural District Council that I shall defer my decision on their application in respect of the proposed site for the sewage disposal works until they have surveyed all practicable alternative sites.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a preparation particulars of which have been supplied to him, is now being advertised in the London area, claiming that it heals skin troubles within a few days and that it is prescribed by skin specialists; and, in view of the importance of these claims, if he will have this preparation examined and make known the results.

I do not know the merits of this preparation at all. But, as I have no effective powers of intervention in these cases, I do not think I should be justified in adopting my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this preparation, the advertising of which has cost the firm concerned some hundreds of pounds in the last fortnight on London Passenger Transport Board vehicles, makes the most specific claim to cure all manner of skin diseases in a few days? Has my right hon. Friend no power to interfere in a racket of this kind, in which money is taken by false pretences out of the people's pockets?

I regret to say that I have no power. I know that, in very many instances, the public are grossly deceived by exaggeration.

Is it not a fact that the Government did exactly the same thing at the General Election?

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a further statement on the rentals to be charged for new cottages erected in agricultural districts, in view of the advice his Department has recently given to the Hungerford Rural District Council that the promised rental of 7s. 6d. a week must now be regarded as a notional figure.

The figure of 7s. 6d. was the figure assumed for calculation of the subsidy which should be paid to rural district councils for houses built for the agricultural population. This is only the assumed average rent and no promise was given that that should be the actual rent in every case. The actual rent to be chaged for any houses provided by a local authority is a matter for the authority to decide.

Will the Minister explain what his Department means by "notional"? My dictionary says "imaginary." Does his Department agree with that definition?

It is obvious that the hon. Member has exercised his imagination quite considerably in putting this Question down, because, on several occasions, I have explained to the House that the 7s. 6d. rent was a rent based upon housing costs and upon the subsidy provided by the Exchequer and the subsidy provided by the local authority. The average house could be rented at 7s. 6d. on that basis.

Then this is still an imaginary figure?

All averages are imaginary.

asked the Minister of Health what is the reason for the delay in approving the housing proposals of the Selby Urban District Council; and whether he will ensure that in future housing schemes are not held up by his Department.

The first tender for the erection of permanent houses by the urban district council was approved in February for 50 houses. In the middle of April, plans were submitted for a further 78 houses, and these were approved on 11th June. The reason for the time taken, which was substantially longer than usual, was that the plans were for one type of house only, and discussions were necessary in order to secure amended plans providing for different types of houses. It is not the case that housing schemes are held up in my Department, but discussion must take place where proposals are not satisfactory.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if it is anything more than a coincidence that his Department has given approval for the erection of these houses, after weeks of delay, only after this Question had appeared on the Order Paper?

It is always the case that, when a local authority is preparing its plans, it is working upon them, but that, when the plans are in my Department, the assumption is that they are being delayed. What we want to do is to supply diversified houses, and I am sure the hon. and gallant Gentleman would not wish to uglify the country by having uniform houses everywhere.

asked the Minister of Health how many refrigerators during the last six months have been installed in local authority built houses.

I regret that my records do not show how many refrigerators have been installed in local authority built houses.

Is the Minister aware that I am informed that persons are visiting tenants of these new houses and offering ridiculously high sums for these refrigerators, and that some are being sold on that basis? If the right hon. Gentleman is aware of it, can he inform the House what steps he is taking in the matter?

If the hon. Gentleman will give me particulars, I will have an investigation made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce legislation to authorise public assistance authorities to disregard family allowances, when these become payable, in assessing the amount of relief to be given to applicants for public assistance.

No, Sir. I would refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Hackney (Mr. H. Hynd) on 30th May last.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the introduction of family allowances is, in itself, an admission that children's needs are not at present being adequately met, and that they will, obviously, be less adequately met when parents are on relief, and will he not meet the desire of public assistance authorities that they should be entitled to disregard family allowances in assessing the amount of relief?

My hon. Friend is aware that I can only do that by legislation. It is contemplated that next Session there will be legislation dealing with residual categories left after the National Insurance Bill and the National Health Service Bill have come into operation, and that will be the appropriate way of dealing with the matter.

Cannot something be done in the meantime, while that legislation is being considered, to prevent the poorer sections of the community being deprived of benefit from family allowances?

The legislative time-table is hopelessly overcrowded, and we cannot anticipate the main Bill by bringing in an amending Bill in the meantime.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that local public assistance authorities themselves refuse to take children's allowances into consideration?

I was not asked about their powers; they have those powers. All I am asked is whether I can make them enforceable.

Can we take it that if public assistance authorities do decide to disregard children's allowances and to make up the payments, this will not be considered a matter for surcharge by the district auditor?

I cannot answer a hypothetical case of that sort, because in that matter I have to exercise judicial powers, and I cannot anticipate what the decision will be.

rose —

I think we had better leave the matter at that.

asked the Minister of Education if the figures giving the number of classes with over 50 on roll, and between 40 and 50 on roll, in the schools under her jurisdiction, have now been collated; and if she will state them.

I am afraid it will be impossible, for the reasons already given to my hon. Friend, to have the figures available before the autumn.

We have not had them for eight years.

During the war the collation of these figures was stopped and local authorities have only recently been asked to provide them. Obviously, they cannot be collated until we have got them all in.

asked the Minister of Education how many huts, for the purpose of raising the school-leaving age, in accordance with Administrative Memorandum No. 142, have been requisitioned by local education authorities; and how far the demand has been met.

The programmes so far received from local education authorities cover 3,241 classrooms and 1,204 rooms for practical instruction. Arrangements are being made to meet all these requirements before the date when the accommodation will be needed.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that children have been deprived of school meals at Southminster, Essex, owing to local disagreements; and if she will secure the restoration of this service as soon as possible.

The Southminster Voluntary School children were provided with school dinners at the local British Restaurant, but the arrangement was discontinued owing to difficulties about the time of the meal. I understand it has now been agreed that the meals shall be sent to the school.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the generous financial provisions now being made by her Department for the training of future teachers, she will consider relieving present ones of financial liabilities incurred by them in respect of loans for their training from education authorities and reimburse the latter for any financial loss they may sustain thereby.

I am strongly opposed to the granting of loans to intending teachers and have made this clear to local education authorities in connection with the new grant arrangements. I am, however, advised that any general remission of past loans would be of doubtful legal propriety, but I hope that authorities will consider whether they can properly make a total or partial remission in any particular case. The resulting expenditure will rank for percentage grant from my Department if it complies with the regulations.

May I ask the right hon. Lady whether she is sending a notification to local education authorities to consider this matter—

As I have said in my answer, I have already made this appeal to local authorities.

—with a view to taking the action suggested by her?

Perhaps the publicity given to the Question which the hon. Gentleman has put down will meet that requirement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some education authorities have even pursued men into the trenches and on to the battlefield with requests for token payments of loans made before the war, and that these men need their money in order to start homes? Could not the ex-Serviceman, at least, be excused?

This is a matter for the local authorities. They are the people who have made the loans and they are entitled to recover them, if they choose to exercise their rights, and, in that matter, I have no power whatever. All I can say, in reply to the hon. Member who raised the point, is that I hope the authorities will consider individual cases on their merits.

asked the Minister of Education what is her policy in regard to technical teachers not yet qualified; and whether such teachers, who obtain the necessary certificate to enable them to be graded as qualified, will receive retrospective new Burnham technical scale of salaries as from 1st April, 1945.

The regulations relating to educational institutions, to which the Burnham (Technical) Report applies, require that the teaching staff should be suitable, sufficient in number and adequately qualified. There is no requirement that teachers so employed should have been approved as holding a particular status. Scales of salary prescribed in the report for fulltime assistants apply as from the 1st April, 1945.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will make the provisions of Circular 104 retrospective so that holders of current scholarships to universities may benefit.

Holders of current scholarships to universities have already had the opportunity of competing also for State scholarships and the major scholarships given by local education authorities. The purpose of the arrangements set out in Circular 104 is to make sure, so far as possible, that those who go to universities from now on with open scholarships and exhibitions shall be spared the necessity of having to seek other means of supplementing their scholarships and of having to compete in a series of examinations. In the circular I have asked local education authorities to continue to assist holders of university scholarships or exhibitions who are not eligible for supplemental awards from the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Education when it is proposed to take steps to stagger school summer holidays.

I am not satisfied, after consideration, that a general staggering of school holidays is either practicable or desirable. I have already asked local education and school authorities to adjust school holidays to fit in with the arrangements of local industries, and I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, what further measures are necessary. I am afraid I can give no date by which these measures will be introduced.

Is the Minister aware that there is an appalling shortage of holiday accommodation this year and that a shortage is anticipated for many years to come, partly as the result of the destruction of property and partly owing to the increase in the number of paid holiday workers in Britain, which has now been extended to millions, and that, unless school holidays can be staggered, it will not be possible to take advantage of even the available accommodation?

All those matters were taken into consideration when we went into the subject thoroughly, but there are also a great number of other practical considerations. The only way to deal with the matter is to arrange the staggering of holidays with the local industries. When there is general staggering, we may easily get into the position where they are not staggered pari passu with local industries.

Could arrangements be made to stabilise the summer before staggering the holidays?

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that students leaving emergency training colleges are forced to wait months before receiving Service increments to their salary scale as teachers, thereby causing hardships, particularly to married men; and what action she proposes to take.

I am not aware that there has been undue delay on the part of local education authorities in assessing the starting salaries of teachers on entering service after courses of emergency training. Rules governing this matter are laid down in the Burnham Report which make it clear that war service shall be recognised for the purpose. In many cases, other experience may also be taken into account, and I propose to give local authorities general guidance as to the types of such experience which I am able to approve, so that there may be no delay in reaching a decision on particular cases.

Is the Minister aware that an emergency trained teacher left Goldsmith College last September, and that a decision has not yet been made? Further, that in the case of Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland, 67 per cent. of the teachers are married and that they say that great anxiety and hardship are being caused because of the fear of delay? I am quite prepared to let the right hon. Lady have the records.

I do not see why 67 per cent. of married teachers in Alnwick Castle should feel any anxiety or hardship because one person at Goldsmith College has not received the grant.

I am giving two examples to the right hon. Lady, of both of which I have records which I shall be pleased to send to her.

Please do.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware that it takes over three months for students in the Department of Education, Liverpool, to receive their grants for further education; that this delay is causing hardship, particularly to married men; and what action she proposes to take.

The summer term payments to students holding awards in the Department of Education at Liverpool University have been made and I assume, therefore, that the hon. Member is referring to candidates who have not yet been notified of the amount of their award. If he would care to send me the names of any particular students he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that not one of the students has yet received his grant and that this is in the third month of the course? There must be some reason for this.

I have already explained to the hon. Member on various occasions the great difficulties my Department have had in view of the large number of awards that have had to be made and the steps we have taken to overtake the arrears. I am glad to say that the arrears are being rapidly overtaken, but that does not mean that in some particular college there may not be persons who have not yet received their awards. Any individual case the hon. Gentleman cares to send me I will have looked into at once

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the new draft Charter for the B.B.C. will be made available to Members of this House.

I have been asked to reply. His Majesty's Government have the matter under active consideration, but it is not yet possible to make any statement

Before the draft Charter is finally approved by His Majesty's Government, would the hon. Gentleman consider the question of allowing the revision within a year or so from the date when it is brought into effect?

I am sure the hon. Gentleman will understand the peculiar rôle that I am occupying at the moment. My hon. Friend will, no doubt, take notice of that suggestion.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is on the Order Paper a Motion in the name of my right hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden), the hon. Member for Anglesey (Lady Megan Lloyd George), the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown), and a number of us asking for an inquiry? Surely the Government are not going to produce this Charter without giving an opportunity for discussion of this important matter? All we ask for in all quarters of the House is a Joint Select Committee of inquiry.

I am unable to give an answer to such a question. I am sure that every possible facility will be given to the House to ventilate the whole matter.

Surely it is possible for the hon. Gentleman to say if he has read the Order Paper and seen this Resolution? What is he proposing to do about it?

I have certainly done that.

Let us have something done about it then.

Is it not a fact that what is being discussed is a draft Charter and, presumably, a White Paper will be issued and facilities will surely be given to have the matter discussed here?

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why the Post Office refused to renew, before 1st June, wireless licences which expired during the last week of May.

As broadcast receiving licences are valid up to and including the last day of any particular month, I assume that the hon. Member's Question refers to licences which expired on 31st May. Such licences were not due to be renewed before 1st June, and accounting and administrative reasons made it necessary that the new types of licence forms incorporating the conditions which then came into force should not be issued in advance of that date.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the fact that the Post Office have not made the situation clear to the public, there are many people who are, perhaps falsely, accusing the Government of meanness and chicanery, and will the hon. Gentleman not do something to clarify the public mind in this matter?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the name of the officer in charge of the information control section of the Military Government in Germany, together with the names of his chief staff officers and the journalistic experience of each of them.

Mr. M. L. Balfour is in charge of the British Information Services Control Branch in Germany. His chief staff officers for Press control are Major N. B. J. Huijsman and Mr. P. de Mendelssohn. All three served during the war in the Ministry of Information and in the psychological warfare division of S.H.A.E.F. Before the advent of the Nazis, Mr. de Mendelssohn was on the staff of the "Berliner Tageblatt" and of the "Frankfurter Zeitung." Later he was deputy chief of the continental news department of the Exchange Telegraph Company and a special correspondent of the "New Statesman and Nation."

What was the experience of the other two?

Their experience was largely in the information service of S.H.A.E.F. under the Ministry of Information during the war.

What is their nationality?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many journalists are employed in the production of newspapers by the British section of the Allied Control Commission; and whether they are paid rates in accordance with the standard laid down by the National Union of Journalists.

I understand that the standard rates of the National Union of Journalists apply only to qualified reporters and sub-editors. The Information Services Control Branch does not employ officers in these capacities, but among other things it supervises the production of newspapers by German journalists. In any case, the rates of the National Union of Journalists would not be suitable for special duties in a foreign country. The staff of the Information Services Control Branch, many of whom have journalistic experience, are paid either as temporary civil servants or as Army officers.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the rates paid are far below what is generally acceptable in Fleet Street, and how does he expect to get responsible reporters and journalists there unless the proper rates are paid, and above the rates paid here?

I must point out that there is no basis for comparison between these rates and the rates paid in Fleet Street. These are not sub-editors or reporters; nor, in fact, are they employed strictly on journalistic work. The journalistic and editing work is done in 32 out of the 36 papers in the zone, and three of the remaining four are being handed over to the Germans in due course. These men are being engaged on supervising duties in connection with the Control Commission and are generally officers or of officer status.

Are we to understand that the Minister is using the civil servants to "blackleg" on journalists?

Not at all. This is not ordinary journalistic work. This is the control of information services, which goes far beyond the supervision of German edited news services, and includes films and books, and it is necessary that the men who do that work should have wide experience.

Is my hon. Friend not aware that there is great dissatisfaction about this matter in Germany, and that owing to the fact that decent rates are not paid, they are not getting the right quality people out there?

We have had no suggestion of any such complaint from Germany, nor any submission of any kind from other sources.

I have.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is aware that a district of the North German Coal Control recently issued a circular to the effect that trade union notices were not to be posted on the premises under their control; and if he will see that full facilities are accorded by this body to recognised trade unions and their officers.

I have asked for a report, and as soon as it is received I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the president of the Westphalian Regional Labour Office, who has the confidence of the manpower division, has on one occasion been forcibly removed from mine premises under the control of this body, and will he take steps to see that this sort of thing does not occur again?

That is not in the Question, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars I will have it inquired into.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can give an assurance that His Majesty's Government desire displaced persons in the British zone to have full knowledge of the facts relating to their countries of origin and to the choice open to them; whether he is aware that some of them are planning, in accordance with Canadian legislation, to join relatives in Canada and to become British subjects; why and by what authority displaced persons in the camp at Goettingen are prevented from seeing Canadian newspapers printed in their own language; and why such papers when obtained by them have been confiscated.

Yes, Sir. I can give that assurance. I have not had time to make inquiries in Germany, but I assume that the newspapers to which the hon. Member refers were those in the Ukrainian language originating from the Ukrainian Canadian Committee. They were confiscated because of the anti-Soviet propaganda they contained.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will publish a list of detention camps used at any time for prisoners of war, S.S. men or political prisoners in the Frisian Islands.

There are no detention camps on any of these islands, nor is there any record of any such camps having existed there since the beginning of the occupation.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of men and women released from His Majesty's Forces in May, 1946.

Yes, Sir. I will, with permission, circulate a full statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The releases reported during May amounted to 284,380. The total number of men and women released and discharged from 18th June, 1945, to the end of May, 1946, was 3,249,870.

Can the Minister say to what extent each Service shows an increase or decrease over the target figures for release?

Yes, Sir. All three Services have exceeded their programmes; the Navy by 12,550, the Army by 25,790, and the Royal Air Force by 17,050, making a total of 55,390. However, I should add that the release of women falls short of the target by about 10,000, mainly due to the fact that it has been necessary to retain them to speed up the demobilisation of the men.

Can they remain in the Forces where they are happy?

In future when these figures of releases are given, will the right hon. Gentleman state for the same period the number of men conscripted, giving the other side of the picture as well?

I can only answer Questions put on the Order Paper.

I will ask a Question.

Does the 25,000 for the Army include the 15,000 deserters?

In my answers I am only dealing with the release of those discharged.

Is it not very invidious for a hon. Gentleman who has not had the courage to take unto himself a wife to decide that women are very much happier in the Forces than out?

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