asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what will be the cost per passenger of operating the Tudor I across the Atlantic.

The forecasting of operational costs depends on the assumptions made and is necessarily uncertain. In view of possible detriment to the operators by the publication of such forecasts, it would not be right to make public me details involved.

Are we to assume that the service will be operated at the agreed cost and that the public will be involved in a substantial loss?

The rates on this service will be fixed with the other operators in the rates conferences of the International Air Transport Association.

Is there any probability of rates for the trans-Atlantic passage being reduced by spreading the costs over feeder lines as well as over the Atlantic service itself? The great advantage of the crossing is lost if it is too expensive.

The costs will be reduced, and a recommendation to that effect has recently been made to the Governments concerned. I do not think it would be possible to adopt altogether the suggestion made by the hon. Gentleman because the rates must be agreed by the operators on that particular route.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, when it is intended to inaugurate a British service between Scotland and France.

It is planned to divert the present Glasgow—Croydon service to Northolt in the early autumn and to afford rapid connection at Northolt with the services to Paris. Direct services between Glasgow and Paris, and Edinburgh and Paris are planned to start as soon as aircraft are available, which it is hoped, will be early in the New Year.

Is it not a fact that a French line is already providing this service, and cannot we hope to provide a service as quickly as the French?

We are providing it in a different way, via London. It would be quite easy to pick out any part of the world and say that a particular country has an advantage.

What type of aircraft will be used on this route?

When the direct service comes into operation, the type used will, in all probability, be the Viking.

Is Prestwick going to be used?

No, Sir, Prestwick is the trans-oceanic airport in Scotland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he has now succeeded in finding a terminal airfield near New York for the B.O.A.C. service; and, if so, which is that airfield.

At the outset, La Guardia airport will be the New York terminal for the British Overseas Airways Corporation trans-Atlantic services. But La Guardia is very congested, and the use of Islip airport is being considered.

Is Idlewild out of the question?

According to present information, it will be six to 12 months before Idlewild is in operation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what fares have now been agreed by the North Atlantic Traffic Conference for the single journey, New York to London.

The recent North Atlantic Traffic Conference of the International Air Transport Association recommended that the fare for the single journey by air from New York to London should be 325 dollars, equivalent to £80 15s. This recommendation is now being considered by the Governments concerned.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether that is subsequent to the fixing of the figure of £90, which was objected to, and that we have now arrived at 325 dollars?

This is a subsequent reduction.

If there were competition, would not fares be cheaper?

There is competition between British airlines and those of other countries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is solely responsible for all negotiations in connection with the establishment of air services with foreign countries; and, if not, with what other Government Departments is this responsibility shared.

My noble Friend is responsible to Parliament for the substance of all agreements with foreign Governments relating to civil air services. These agreements are always negotiated in conjunction with the Foreign Office, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is responsible for their form and all the diplomatic formalities involved; he is also responsible for laying before the House the texts of the agreements and any other documents. Moreover, if points are likely to arise which affect other Departments, for example, Commonwealth considerations or the grant of rights in colonial territories, consultations with the Department or Departments concerned takes place before the negotiations start.

Will it be in order to lay the blame at the doors of the Foreign Office in respect of any failure to provide an air service to any foreign country?

I am prepared to take the blame.

Will the Minister share his responsibility with the Scottish Office, so that that office could decide when and where flying should take place?

The Scottish Office and all other Government Departments are brought into full consultation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the premises of the Aberdeen Flying Club, at Dyce Airport, consisting of a clubhouse and a bedroom block, were requisitioned on 13th October, 1939, on the plea of national necessity; that from that date all civilian social activities ceased, that the clubhouse has been unoccupied for more than three years and 80 per cent. of the bedroom block for more than two years; that both buildings have been left in a deplorable condition; that there are approximately 30 rooms unoccupied; and whether he will now derequisition the property and give permission for Aberdeen Flying Club to resume, or indicate a date when it may do so.

As I informed the hon. Member on 19th June last, flying club activities could not, until recently, be permitted by the Air Ministry for operational reasons. The administration of Dyce Aerodrome was transferred to my Department at the end of May, and permission has been given for the activities of the club to be resumed. I am aware that the premises of the Aberdeen Flying Club has been damaged during heir occupation for war purposes, and I am arranging for the dilapidations to be agreed with the owners of the property, and for the lease of the premises to be examined with a view to considering whether the property can at this stage be derequisitioned.

May I take it that the Parliamentary Secretary has no desire to interfere with existing leases?

I should like to consider all the implications of that question, for reasons which the hon. Gentleman will understand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why a number of schools in the Ikorofoing and Ikot Iryang districts of the Calabar Province of Nigeria have been closed down; and why financial assistance was not forthcoming to keep them open.

These mission schools were closed owing to the failure of the local churches to pay their usual quarterly contributions, although adequate funds were available and they had been warned by the mission authorities of the consequences of non-payment. All the schools except two have reopened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been agreed with the ex-Rajah of Sarawak regarding the trust fund of £1,000,000 or any other moneys which he will receive as a result of cession.

I apologise to the House for the length of this reply. There has been some modification in the financial arrangements in connection with the cession of Sarawak to His Majesty since my original statement in this House on 6th February.

As the House will recall, the original proposal was for the creation of a trust fund of £1,000,000 out of Sarawak reserve funds, the income from which was to provide for the Rajah and his dependants, and certain local functionaries, for the remainder of their lifetimes. The balance of the income from the trust was to be devoted to social and other measures designed for the progress and benefit of the territory. It was the Rajah's intention to contribute towards the capital of this trust fund the proceeds of a trust fund established by the second Rajah in 1912, amounting to approxi- mately £150,000. Under the terms of the trust deed this sum becomes payable to the Rajah on the cession of the territory to His Majesty.

The Rajah subsequently decided not to proceed with the proposal for the creation of a £1,000,000 trust fund. He also decided not to make any claim on Sarawak revenues for himself and his immediate dependants. His Highness has, however, generously decided to make available approximately one-third of the capital of the 1912 fund for the purpose of providing for the further education of the inhabitants of Sarawak. He will, in fact, make available for this purpose the balance of the fund over and above £100,000. The latter sum will, therefore, represent the only provision for the Rajah and his immediate dependants on the cession of the territory.

As regards the other beneficiaries, the Council Negri of Sarawak passed a Bill on 17th May making annual provision from Sarawak revenues for them during their lifetime only. The beneficiaries include the Rajah's brother and the Rajah's nephew, Mr. Anthony Brooke, who are to receive annually from Sarawak revenues sums of £5,000 and £2,800 respectively. The payments to the other beneficiaries mentioned in the Council Negri Order are those which have been paid hitherto out of Sarawak revenues. They do not constitute any additional charge.

The whole of the Sarawak Reserve Funds of £2¾ million remain, of course, under the control of the Government of the territory. This statement will, I hope, make it quite plain that there is no question of Sarawak having been sold to His Majesty's Government.

Is it not true that feeling in Sarawak is so strong that the ex-Rajah has sold Sarawak to the British Government for £1 million and that is the real reason why he had to give up this sum; and, any way, is he not left with £100,000 out of the £150,000 Fund? It is entirely his, and is he not really in a better position?

That is not entirely true. The Rajah gave up the idea of the £1 million trust fund before he went to Sarawak.

Now that the Rajah has ceased to be the ruler of Sarawak, does he become liable to British Income Tax?

That is a question which I think should be put to the Chancellor, but I assume that he will be liable to Income Tax.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is satisfied that at the proceedings of the Council Negri of Sarawak on 15th May when the Cession Bill was debated, all the native members fully understood the issue, in view of the fact that the speeches in English were not translated into either the Malay or Dyak languages.

I am informed that the question of cession was fully and freely debated in the Council Negri on 16th and 17th May, in English, Malay and Dyak, and that the issue was well understood.

In view of the fact that, as far as we in this House understand, it was not discussed in anything but English and the whole speeches of the British spokesmen was made in English, while many of the members do not necessarily understand English—surely in view of that and the fact that the Colonial Office must by now have received a full report of what was said, it would be possible for us to have a definite copy of what was told to them, what was argued, and what was promised?

We have had a full report, not only from the Colonial official who was present, but also from the Members of Parliament who were sent from this House to Sarawak, to show that the thing was done quite above board. They reported quite fully and frankly and said, "In our view the decision represents the fair view of the Council as constituted."

Is there any reason why this House should not have an exact statement of what was said, for Members to read? Everybody knows there is a strong feeling that it was a most sordid arrangement, and we want to see what actually was said. If it is all right, there will be no further trouble.

I repudiate that there has been strong feeling—

There has.

Only in the minds of a very few people. I am quite prepared to trust the opinions of the two hon. Members who went out to Sarawak and said that it is in the interests of Sarawak that cession should take place.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are a number of hon. Members on this side of the House who feel somewhat disturbed by what has happened in Sarawak?

Quite apart from the merits of the case, if the right hon. Gentleman has received a transcript of the proceedings in the Council Negri, will he be prepared to put it in the Library of the House?

Yes, I would be prepared to put the report in the Library of the House; I am sure it will bear out what has been stated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will consider appointing a delegation of Members of Parliament to visit Cyprus, with a view to reporting on the prospects of setting up a legislative assembly and examining the position of trade union organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will immediately hold an inquiry into the administration of Cyprus and the political condition of the colony, as a preliminary step to taking measures to end the alienation of the people from the Government.

The difficulties of the postwar period have added to the complexity of the political and economic problems which face the Cyprus Government and, as those familiar with the historical and racial background are aware, they do not admit of any easy solution. For some time past I have been considering general plans for dealing with the situation which cover the points mentioned in the Questions, and I shall hope soon to make a general statement.

As regards the suggestion of the appointment of a delegation of Members of Parliament, although I cannot commit myself to arranging a visit with the specific objects referred to in the Question, I favour visits of groups of Members of Parliament to the Colonies, and I should hope that it might be possible to include Cyprus among areas to be visited.

Who chooses these delegations?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a land utilisation survey has yet been carried out in Cyprus; and whether development plans for the island include provision for this.

There have been a number of investigations into specific aspects of land utilisation in Cyprus. For agricultural purposes alone grants of up to £750,000 have been made during the war years under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act and large sums have been granted for ancillary projects. In addition there has been a considerable annual budgetary expenditure. This subject has been comprehensively dealt with in proposals for development prepared by Sir Douglas Harris, which are now under discussion with the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now allow the return to Cyprus of persons exiled for political offences since 1931, and declare an amnesty for Cypriot troops convicted for their part in disturbances caused by delays in demobilisation.

I am not at present in a position to make any statement about the future of those persons who were deported from Cyprus after the disturbances of 1931. The second part of the Question is not a matter for my Department.

Would the Minister agree that anything which can wipe out the follies of 1931 is highly desirable?

Yes, and that must apply to both sides.

Would the Minister make it quite clear that a condition precedent of self-government in Cyprus is the maintenance of law and order, and will he therefore see that no permits for entry into Cyprus are given to those likely to promote disaffection?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether town planning legislation for Cyprus will include provision for the creation of adequate machinery to ensure that local schemes will be coordinated into one central island scheme.

I have been impressed with the desirability of a general scheme to coordinate town planning in Cyprus on these lines, and I am in consultation with the Governor on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will cause the Government of Cyprus immediately to remove all British officials who were in Government service at the time of the crisis of 1931, and are, there for, unacceptable to the people.

No, Sir. I do not accept the implication in the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will inquire into the causes of delay in the sanctioning of local budgetary schemes by the central Government of Cyprus.

If my hon. Friend will give me specific instances of the delays alleged I will make inquiries of the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the composition of the present Malayan Advsiory Council; and how many of its members represent organised political bodies or trades unions.

The Malayan Union Advisory Council is composed of four officials and seventeen non-officials, the latter comprising seven Malays, five Chinese, two Indians, two Europeans and one Eurasian. Membership is broadly representative of the principal interests and communities in Malaya. As yet none of the Malay members has attended any council meetings. A leading member of one of the principal trade unions has recently become a member of the council. The Singapore Advisory Council consists of five officials and six non-officials, the latter comprising two Chinese, one Malay, one European, one Indian and one Eurasian. None of the members represents political bodies or trades unions as such.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an assurance that the objectives of the Malay Reservations Enactment of 1913 are to be pursued in the Malay Union by maintaining and extending the reservation of land for Malays; and if the ownership of such reservations is to be vested in the Crown, while occupiers are given tenancy rights subject to proper use of the land.

As stated in paragraph 7 of Cmd. 6724 the Malay Lands Reservation policy will be maintained, and assurances to this effect were given to the Sultans by Sir Harold MacMichael in the course of his mission. The question of extending the areas already gazetted and the matters raised in the second part of the question are primarily for consideration by the Governor of the Malayan Union to whom I am sending a copy of my hon. Friend's question.

In view of the fact that the vesting of this State land in the Crown as opposed to the rulers in council is one of the major grievances in the Malays at the present time, will the right hon. Gentleman make it perfectly clear that land is vested in the rule of the State Council, and thus carry out not only the letter but the spirit of the original Malay Reservations Enactment?

As I explained to my hon. Friend, that is a matter which is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the fact that the Island of Penang is to be a free port and exempt from Custom duties paid by other parts of the Malayan Union, any additional taxation is to be levied in order to equate the general burden of taxation for the whole Union.

The Governor of the Malayan Union recognises that some such adjustment is necessary and has the matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the recent disturbances in Singapore between Indians.

Yes, Sir. Trouble between Moslem and Hindu Indians is Singapore, originating over differences between political parties in India, came to a head in April. After a few clashes, an amicable settlement was arranged by responsible leaders from both sides. Later there was a resurgence of trouble arising from the actions of two small rival gangs but in the opinion of the Governor these further clashes were not communal in origin. Police action has resulted in 44 arrests and the seizure of a number of weapons. At present the Governor does not consider that there is cause for undue alarm but the position is being carefully watched.

Will the Minister say if this is a local trouble or really a reflection of the wider disunity in India itself?

Well, as stated in the reply, the Governor is of the opinion that it is not connected with disunity in India.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he expects to make a statement on the negotiations being carried out between the Malay rulers and the Governor-General of Malaya and the Governor of the Malayan Union.

I appreciate the importance of an early statement on this subject, but regret that I am not at present in a position to make one.

Will the Minister say if it is not a fact that negotiations have broken down between the Government and the Malay rulers, and will he also say if these negotiations are not only between the Government and the Malay rulers, but also between the Government and representatives of United Malay National Organisation?

No, Sir. I do not regard it that the negotiations have broken down. As a matter of fact, there is a meeting today between the Governor-General, the Governor and Dato On, representing the Malay Union.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the new rates of pay for personnel now being recruited into the Colonial Service in Malaya; and how they differ from those being paid to those recruited before the war.

Recruitment is still on the scales in force before the war, but credit is given, in the form of increments on those scales, for war service and experience.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in certain cases, officers who were recruited before the war have had posted to them cadet officers on higher rates of pay?

I do not think that is so, but if the hon. Gentleman can let me have any instances of this kind I will certainly look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what powers exist in Palestine for the requisitioning of buildings; whether these have also been kept in force for a further period of five years as in the case of land; and, as the retention of powers to requisition land for five years ahead in peacetime are likely to lead to hardships for the ordinary citizens of the country, if he will reconsider the position.

The powers for requisitioning buildings in Palestine are the same as those for requisitioning land to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend on 5th June, as the term "land" in that legislation includes any building or other fixture on that land. These powers will be retained in force only so long as circumstances require and the situation is continually kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the interview given to the "Daily Mail" on or about 27th May, by Brigadier Glubb, Commandant of the Transjordan Frontier Force, in which he attacked the report of the Anglo-American Commission on Palestine and stated that if its recommendations were implemented there would be an immediate Arab uprising throughout the Middle East, was authorised by His Majesty's Government; whether he will take steps to prevent British officers giving unauthorised newspaper interviews; and what action has been taken in this case.

Brigadier Glubb, I am assured, gave no interview. A statement by Brigadier Glubb that the opinions attributed to him were totally unauthorised has since been published in the Middle Eastern Press. Brigadier Glubb is not commandant of the Transjordan Frontier Force. He is not a serving officer of the British Army. He is employed by the Transjordan Government as Commandant of the Arab Legion. In the circumstances, the second half of the Question does not appear to arise.

Assuming that some such report had been correct, would this officer's action have been any worse than that of the hon. Member for East Coventry (Mr. Crossman) who, although a member of the Commission, publicly criticised—

That does not arise from this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many men have been discharged from the dockyards in Malta during the last six months; and what plans have been made for finding employment for any dockyard employees who may in future be discharged.

There was a reduction of 466 Maltese industrial employees of the dockyard, exclusive of the superintending civil engineer's department, during the six months ended on 31st May last. This was more than offset by an increase in the same period of 490 on the number employed by the civil engineer's department and other Service employment. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for South Dorset (Viscount Hinching-brooke) and the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. G. Jeger) on the 6th of February and the 6th of June last, to which I have at present nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to facilitate emigration from Malta; whether a register of prospective emigrants is kept, and if so, how many have registered.

I attach the greatest importance to the resumption of emigration from Malta, but difficulties of transport present a serious obstacle at the present time. The subject is under urgent consideration by the departments concerned in this country and is also being taken up with the receiving countries. With regard to the second part of the Question, the answer is in the affirmative; over 8,000 persons, not counting their dependants, have registered as prospective emigrants.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider consulting the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and ascertaining if it is possible to facilitate (emigration into Tripolitania?

We are fully aware of the importance of emigration, and we are dealing with every aspect of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the policy of His Majesty's Government regarding the employment of His Majesty's colonial subjects in the armed forces of the Crown.

The question of future arrangements for raising and maintaining Colonial Forces is under discussion with the Service Departments, and I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

Is the responsibility for the administration and training of Colonial troops still to remain with the War Office?

That is so, as far as the existing troops are concerned. Of course, it is realised that demobilisation has not yet been completed. There has been no new recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the recent increase in the price of sisal, any measures will be taken to ensure that improvements in the housing and condition of labourers on sisal estates are made; and whether any such measures will be taken to ensure improvements on sisal estates in East Africa now under the management of the Custodian of Enemy Property.

I have approved a scheme under which the Governments of Kenya and Tanganyika will arrange for £2 10s. per ton out of the recent increase in the price of sisal to be retained to the credit of the producing estate and paid out on certificate from the Labour Department that sums equivalent to this credit have been expended on improved housing and other welfare amenities. This will be applicable to estates under the control of the Custodian of Enemy Property. Total expenditure under this scheme will be of the order of £350,000 a year, in addition to a substantial contribution from the industry's other resources.

In view of the reluctance of the Custodian after the last war to expend any capital to this purpose, as he regarded himself merely as a temporary administrator, can we have an assurance that there will be no delay or repetition of that experience now?

I think this is a very good start. It will produce a substantial sum of money.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has considered the further information sent to him about General Mihailovitch; and, in view of the services rendered by him to the Allied cause, if he will forward this information to the Yugoslav Government.

I am not clear to what further information the hon. Member is referring. My right hon. Friend has received a number of communications on the subject of General Mihailovitch. They add nothing to the evidence prepared by former British liaison officers with General Mihailovitch, and communicated to the Yugoslav Government by His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires on 18th May.

Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that His Majesty's Government are doing all in their power to secure a fair trial for General Mihailovitch?

His Majesty's Government have already submitted all the evidence which we thought was relevant and proper.

Is my hon. Friend doing anything to discover whether the allegations made by General Mihailovitch at the trial, that he was instigated by British officials to liquidate the partisans, are correct or not?

My hon. Friend may be assured that all relevant material is being carefully considered by us, but there is a good deal of conflict in the evidence submitted.

Is there not further proof of the real necessity to issue a White Paper very soon on everything that has been going on in this connection?

Is there any evidence that General Mihailovitch is being tortured?

rose —

I think we had better not go on with this as the trial is still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the resolution of protest from the West Ham Trades Council, a copy of which has been forwarded to him, over the settlement of the Polish army in this country; and what answer he has made to this resolution.

My right hon. Friend has received the text of this resolution from the hon. Member, and has made due note of the contents.

Will the Minister assure the House that there will be no departure from the pledge given to our gallant Polish Allies, in spite of any inspired pressure of this kind?

I do not wish to be unfair or evasive, but I am not sure to which pledge the hon. Gentleman is referring.

The pledge that they can come over to this country if they do not wish to go back to Poland.

We will not depart from the statement made by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has considered the material submitted to his department showing the valuable assistance rendered to escaping British and United States servicemen from Hong Kong and Kowloon by the East River Column, Anti-Japanese Corps; and if he will extend some form of recognition for their services during the Japanese war.

The question of the recognition of the East River Column, Anti-Japanese Corps, is under consideration with the other departments immediately interested. His Majesty's Government desire, however, to take this opportunity of expressing their appreciation of the services rendered by the East River Column as well as other Chinese organisations in assisting persons escaping from Hong Kong.

Will the Minister make certain that all other organisations get equal recognition so that there is no unfair discrimination in the matter?

The hon. Member will note that I have referred to the other organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a referendum is being held in Poland before the general election; whether this was provided for in the Potsdam or any other agreement; and whether His Majesty's Government and the Government of the U.S.A. have inquired into the objects and terms of this referendum and have signified their approval of such a measure.

A referendum is to be held in Poland on 30th June. It is not required by the Potsdam or Yalta agreements, which, as the House is aware, provided for the holding of free and unfettered elections. In the circumstances, the last part of the Question, therefore, does not arise.

Does it not appear to the Minister that this referendum is merely a device to put off holding a free and fair election until Mr. Mikolajczyk's party has been liquidated by the Communists?

I could not accept the implication, but it is fair to say that quite clearly, in the view of His Majesty's Government, this referendum is no substitute for a free and unfettered election.

Can the hon. Gentleman ascertain whether this referendum, should it take place, will be applied to Polish nationals resident in other parts of the world as well as in Poland?

If the hon. Gentleman will put down the question, if he thinks it is really necessary, I will answer it.

Has the hon. Gentleman any information regarding what this referendum is about?

Yes, I have some information. It refers primarily to the proposed constitution of a single Chamber, and also asks for an endorsement of the nationalisation measures which the present Warsaw Government are carrying out.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the Ulster Tourist Development Association, Limited, is greatly concerned at the number of complaints coming to hand regarding the delay which is taking place in the issue of travel permits for journeys to Northern Ireland from Great Britain; and if he will improve the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the continuing delay in obtaining the necessary travel identity cards for Northern Ireland; and whether he will take further steps to accelerate the delivery of these cards.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement which I made in the House on 23rd May in reply to a question on this matter by the hon. and gallant Member for West Edinburgh (Lieut.-Commander Hutchison). The delay in the issue of travel identity cards is a matter of anxious concern to His Majesty's Government. As the result of the measures taken at the Branch Passport Office at Glasgow, the situation there has improved. The position at the Branch Passport Office at Liverpool and at the Passport Office in London is still acute. Additional staff up to the limit of the accommodation available has been engaged. It has not yet been possible, however, to adopt the remedy successfully employed at Glasgow of obtaining separate premises for the issue of travel identity cards for Ireland, owing to the lack of suitable office accommodation.

Would it be possible to issue a travel permit within 10 days of the application being received at the transport office?

In questions of urgency, commercial or compassionate, it is always possible to issue the travel identity document quickly, sometimes within a matter of hours, but I regret that in those two other offices to which I have referred the ordinary issue is taking some days longer.

Is the Minister aware that in Glasgow many people have made applications and have had to cancel their holidays because it has taken a month to get these permits? Is he also aware that the premises in Glasgow, where people have to wait in the streets in inclement weather when applying for these cards, are a disgrace to any Government?

I am not aware that it has taken as long as a month, but following a visit which I myself made almost by accident, I think the hon. Gentleman will agree with me when I say that the position in Glasgow has improved, and we have separate offices for identity cards and passports.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in London, according to information which I have received, it very often takes a month to obtain these travel identity cards?

I would not rule out the possibility that in some cases it is taking nearly as much as a month, but we are on top of the job, and if we could get additional premises it would be of great assistance to us.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the average time taken by the Permit Office to grant a permit to an applicant who desires to travel to Ireland.

At the present moment the average time taken to issue a travel identity card is three to four weeks. Travel identity cards for business or urgent compassionate journeys are granted in three or four days, or in cases of compelling urgency within a few hours.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that very often six weeks elapse before such a permit is granted, and could he give the widest publicity to the delay in order that many people who have decided to take a holiday in Ireland should not be disappointed?

I hope that as a result of this publicity, those with such intentions will apply timeously.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the names and ranks of the members of the Noble Committee and Sub-committee appointed to inquire into the future status and conditions of service of naval warrant officers, their terms of reference and the procedure for selecting witnesses; and what progress have they made in their inquiries.

The committee under the chairmanship of Admiral Sir Percy Noble, on the conditions of promotion from the lower deck in the Royal Navy mentioned in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on the 6th March, is continuing its investigations with an inquiry into the future of warrant officers in the several branches of the naval service. The committee is now composed as follows: Admiral Sir Percy Noble, G.B.E., K.C.B., C.V.O. (Chairman), Sir J. S. Barnes, K.B.E., C.B., Captain P. K. Enright, C.B.E., R.N., Commander R. S. Foster Brown, R.N., Mr. J. F. Mountain, and Mr. K. W. Matthews (Secretary). The committee has complete discretion in the selection of witnesses. I am not in a position at present to give any information about the progress of its investigation.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of a certain amount of dissatisfaction amongst warrant officers about the undue age of some of the witnesses who have been called, because they represent a past generation and are not putting forward the views of the present generation of warrant officers?

Quite the contrary. I have given this matter my personal consideration, and I am satisfied that the ages of the officers are by no means old ages for the rank they hold, for warrant officer rank. In fact, men junior to warrant officers have been called before this Committee, men who might in future be promoted to that rank.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us whether any representatives of the lower deck are sitting on this Committee?

I have just read out the list, and quite obviously they are not.

If I send my hon. Friend the names of some warrant officers who would like to give evidence before this Committee will he consider them?

Most certainly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of warrant electricians and commissioned warrant electricians, respectively, recently awarded accelerated promotion, and the amount of acceleration granted; the number of electrical lieutenants whose seniority has been antedated and the amounts; and the number of officers in this branch all of whose seniority in warrant rank is now to count as commissioned service, respectively.

Thirty-five commissioned and three warrant electricians have recently received promotion to lieutenant. These were exceptional promotions, made as part of a reorganisation of the electrical duties in the Royal Navy which is now in progress. The seniority awarded to these officers as lieutenants has been based on the revised needs of the service, and on the age and merits of the officers themselves. Their original seniority has been taken into account as an important factor, but their seniority as lieutenants has been determined by their fitness for service under the reorganisation and cannot, therefore, be regarded as an acceleration of original seniority. Seniority in warrant rank, as such, accordingly does not count as commissioned service under this scheme. In the same way, ten of the existing electrical lieutenants had their seniorities recast. Their new seniorities have in practice been more favourable to these officers by an average of 26 months.

Will the Admiralty consider applying the same principle of accelerated promotion to other branches of warrant officers in the Navy who are equally deserving of such recognition?

I will bring that to the notice of the Committee which is now sitting in regard to that subject.

In view of the rather widespread allegation that some of the outside officers who have been recruited to this branch are not very efficient, is my hon. Friend certain he has combed out the lower deck in order to provide the maximum number of promotions from that source?

Yes, Sir, certainly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make on the cost of entering the R.N. as a Special Entry Cadet.

Yes, Sir. The present system of selection of officers through the Special Entry Examination at the age of 17 to 18 involves parents of candidates in some considerable expense. The main items fall in the first year of a boy's service, when he is in the cadet stage, and amount to about £150. Arrangements have now been made for a system of grants to be available from public funds up to a maximum of the full £150 in the case of parents in the low income categories. In future, therefore, no candidate should be prevented by lack of means from joining the Navy as a Special Entry Cadet.

Can my hon. Friend tell the House whether this is a first instalment of the programme of what, for want of a less ugly word, I would call the democratisation of the Navy, at which he hinted in the last Navy Estimates Debate?

I can say it is a process of democratisation. There is a committee now sitting, as I have said before, inquiring into the whole system of entry at Dartmouth. That committee will report in due course to the First Lord. I might add that the number of people affected by this particular concession, the number of people who go in for this examination, form approximately 40 per cent. of the officer entry into the Navy.

Why is a means test applied to this arrangement?

No doubt for the same reason that it has been applied in the case of Dartmouth.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state the present level of production as compared with 1939, expressed in terms of volume.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the May issue of the Monthly Digest of Statistics, where figures are given showing the present level of production of the principal industries compared with 1939.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that that is no answer to the Question? Can he give me some comparable figures?

It really is no good the Government going to the trouble of publishing returns of this kind if the hon. Gentleman will not take the pains to read them.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the totals of livestock and poultry in the British zone in Germany on 1st December, 1st March and 1st June, respectively.

So far as my information goes, the livestock population remained practically constant over this period at approximately 9,000,000; this figure excludes horses. The poultry figure in December last was some 10,000,000; I have not been able to obtain later figures but it was intended to reduce them to approximately 5,000,000 by 1st June.

Could the hon. Gentleman say on what his figures are based? Is he not aware that the population of livestock and poultry is very seriously increasing because the Germans are feeding their grain to animals and to poultry?

On the contrary, there has been a considerable reduction in the livestock, and it is our policy to continue to reduce the livestock in order to save grain. It is true that at the moment that process has slowed down because of the fact that animals are being turned out to grass and are not feeding on grain. It would be folly to destroy them at this time of the year when they represent a potential supply of food.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements are being made to close camps for displaced persons in Germany and Austria; and if he has any statement to make as to the arrangements to be made for the further relief and rehabilitation of the men, women and children still in those camps.

We have, as yet, made no arrangements to close down assembly centres generally. Some have been closed because the number of displaced persons has declined with the progress of repatriation. When a centre is closed, any displaced persons remaining are transferred to other centres.

Would the hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the Question, with regard to rehabilitation?

The second part of the Question asks in regard to the arrangements to be made for the further relief and rehabilitation of the men, women and children still in those camps which are, presumably, to be closed down. The answer to the Question has already been given.

Could the hon. Gentleman inform the House whether there are still considerable numbers of displaced persons crossing the Eastern frontier into the British zone in Germany; and if so, what steps are being taken to avoid this happening?

The Question referred to displaced persons. I think the hon. Lady's supplementary question refers to refugees and not to displaced persons. Refugees are coming into the British zone in accordance with the quadripartite agreement for the transfer of displaced populations in Eastern Europe. They do not come into the category of displaced persons, nor are they accommodated in these camps, nor given the same status.

asked the Minister of Food if he now has any statement to make with regard to the discussions which have been taking place between his Department and the Ministry of Agriculture on the subject of levy adjustment to sustain the inshore fishing industry.

My right hon. Friend has discussed with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries the question of sustaining the in- shore fishing industry by an adjustment of the transport levy or by other means. Any scheme of this kind would be extremely difficult to carry out, and my right hon. Friend has come to the conclusion that no special steps are necessary at the present time. In any further revision of maximum prices he will bear in mind the position of the inshore fisherman.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that individual food parcels are being sent from Denmark to persons in Britain and various European countries, such parcels being purchaseable with dollars in New York or in Paris, and containing butter, cream, ham and steak; approximately, what percentage of the total food exports of Denmark is represented by this traffic; and what steps are being taken to secure all available food from Denmark for the world's common stock.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the arrangements referred to. I understand that the Danish Government have limited the total amounts of butter, bacon, canned meat, canned milk and cheese which may be used in such parcels to quantities which in no case would exceed one half of one per cent. of the probable Danish exportable surpluses, and in most cases would be a much smaller percentage. His Majesty's Government is doing all that they can to enable Denmark to increase her food exports. The allocations of the Combined Food Board took full account of these exports.

However small the percentage may be, is not this a rather undesirable traffic, in so far as these parcels are not going to really hungry people but to prosperous people in countries where there are adequate rations?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we have made representations. However, he must remember that Denmark is a sovereign country.

Can the hon. Lady say why there should be any restrictions placed upon people who want to send parcels of food to this country?

I would remind the hon. Gentleman that the Combined Food Board is allocating food today.

In regard to the second part of the Question, is the trouble about buying food from Denmark that they want coal in exchange?

They probably want a lot of things in exchange. We are doing everything possible. We have a commission over there now, and at the moment we are considering long term contracts for bacon, butter and cheese.

asked the Minister of Food why no salad oil is being imported from Italy; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure a plentiful supply in future.

At the present time Italy could supply this country with olive oil only in exchange for other vegetable oils which cannot be spared. We shall continue to seek supplies from the Mediterranean countries, but there is little prospect of obtaining olive oil without sacrificing other necessary oils.

Is it not correct that the Department of the hon. Lady ordered from Italy £2 million worth of oil and were prevented from shipping it by the Treasury?

I would remind the hon. Member that we must be practical in these matters. If Italy asks a price which we cannot afford, and at the same time asks us in return to send cheap edible oils, it would surely not be economic. The hon. Member is a business man and he would not enter into such a contract.

The hon. Lady has not answered my question. I asked whether it is a fact that her Department ordered £2 million worth of oil and were prevented from shipping it?

We may enter into negotiations, but that does not mean there is a firm order.

Will the hon. Lady bear in mind that Greece also produces fine salad oils, and that there are indications of a surplus of oil in that country?

Is the hon. Lady aware that the housewife is not concerned with the large financial dealings of the Ministry of Food with other countries, but feels that this country has contributed a certain amount towards winning the war?

asked the Minister of Food (1) whether he will make provisions to enable self-employed agricultural smallholders, who do manual work on holdings not exceeding 100 acres, to draw the same additional rations as are allowed to agricultural workers employed by farmers;

(2) whether he will arrange that agricultural workers or their wives shall themselves draw the extra rations allowed to them instead of such rations being drawn by farmers and handed over to them as at present.