asked the Minister of Works under what conditions it is now possible for local education authorities to obtain the necessary materials, particularly glass, to carry out repairs to schools due to war damage.

Glass and other materials for the repair of war damage to schools may be ordered in the usual way, and there is a special priority for the most urgent cases.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that a dwellinghouse at 122, Regent's Park Road, Southampton, under requisition by his Department for the Ministry of Labour, has been unused since August, 1945; and whether, having regard to the shortage of housing accommodation in Southampton, he will transfer the requisition to the local authority.

This house has been retained for use as a welfare centre for building trade trainees at the Southampton Government Training Centre and it is about to be reoccupied for this purpose. The premises cannot, therefore, at present, be transferred to the local authority.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that bricks are being sent from London to South Wales whilst local brickworks are idle; that this is causing delay to local authorities in carrying out their building programmes; and what steps are being taken to resume production in the brickworks which are now idle.

I am not aware that bricks have recently been sent to South Wales from London, but I am prepared to arrange for bricks to be sent from other areas if local manufacturers are unable to meet demands. Brick production in South Wales has increased steadily in the past six months, and every effort is being made to assist a further 13 works to reopen.

asked the Minister of Works if he will publish as soon as possible the names and office addresses of the 25 production officers and the branch of the building industry on which each is an expert.

The production officers are not appointed by me but by the National Joint Production Council for the Building Industry, which proposes to give the widest publicity to their activities when they are ready to start work. They will be men of wide practical experience of the building industry.

asked the Minister of Works what alterations are necessary to adapt the foundation of a Uni-Seco house for use with an Arcon house; what is the cost of altering one foundation; and how many man hours are spent on such alterations.

To adapt the foundation of a Uni-Seco house for use with an Arcon house it is necessary to alter the position of entry of a branch soil drain and of the electric cable and to extend the channel to a gully. The cost of alteration is about £12 10s. and the labour required represents about 70 man-hours.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider altering the Order of Questions so that Departments shall not answer on the same day each week, but shall advance one day each week.

I appreciate the hon. Member's point, but I should have thought that, on balance, the disadvantages of his proposal considerably outweigh the advantages.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the money paid into the Post Office Savings Bank for the six months ended 30th June, 1946, is in respect of war gratuities and postwar credits direct from Government Departments; and for what reason these payments continue to be made in this way.

In this period£153 million were credited to, and£94 million withdrawn from, Services Release Benefit Accounts. The payment of Release Benefits in the form of Savings Bank deposits continues as part of the demobilisation scheme. The transactions on Release Benefit Accounts are excluded from the published figures of small savings invested in the Post Office Savings Bank.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are being made in regard to the purchase of gold from South Africa.

An agreement has been concluded under which the South African Reserve Bank will sell not less than£80 million worth of gold to the Bank of England for each of these two years, 1946 and 1947, at a price of 172s. 6d. per fine ounce. This price, which is 3d. more than the price of 172s. 3d which is paid by the Bank of England for other newly-mined gold, has been determined by reference to the cost of the shipment of gold from Cape Town to New York and takes into account existing freight and insurance charges. This price is appropriate only to the special circumstances of South African gold and has no significance whatsoever with regard to our general gold price or exchange rate policy. This price of 172s. 6d. is subject to adjustment in the event of a change in the middle sterling dollar rate or in the net United States buying price for gold. The Bank of England will provide the Union of South Africa's requirements of foreign currencies against sterling.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the Report of the Commission on Equal Pay will be available.

I regret that it is not yet possible for me to say.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give a list of the firms in the Dagenham area which are participating in the training schemes for rehabilitating disabled men; and the total number of such men now being trained.

Under the scheme arranged by my Department two disabled men are now in training with employers in the Dagenham area, one with Mr. L. R. Browning, of 624 Rainham Road, the other with Messrs. Baker, Hammond and Laver, of New Road Works, Rainham.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that John Brooks, of Iwerne Minster, details of whom have been forwarded to him, is to be called up to the Forces on 23rd July; that this man is a key man in operating part of the Forestry Commission's training scheme for ex-Servicemen; that without his services this part of the scheme cannot operate; and whether he will grant deferment or suggest an alternative which will enable the scheme in Fontmell Magna to be carried out according to previous arrangements.

This is a young man who attained the age of 18 years last month and I cannot agree that the indefinite deferment of his military service for the purpose in question is either right or necessary. I have, however, arranged to defer his call-up until the end of October to give time for alternative arrangements to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the causes to which he attributes the increase in malnutrition amongst children in Edinburgh, as revealed by the figures for the year ending 31st July, 1946, as compared with the year ended 31st July, 1939; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this.

The medical authorities of the Edinburgh Corporation staff attribute the rise in the figures to a higher standard of assessment on the part of the examining medical officers. Nutrition standards are of course not capable of exact statistical measurement, and the view of the medical authorities is that the actual physical condition of the schoolchildren is, if anything, better than in 1939. So far as the standard of nutrition among schoolchildren generally is concerned any assistance which can be given by my Departments by the improvement of the school meal service or otherwise, will be readily forthcoming.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of houses completed by private enterprise and local authorities in 1919; and the corresponding figure for the period 1st June, 1945–46.

According to my information, no houses were completed in 1919. The number of local authority permanent houses completed during the period 1st June, 1945, to 1st June, 1946, was 1,880, and the number of private enterprise houses, 196. In addition, 3,470 temporary houses were completed in the period in question.

asked the Lord Advocate if he has yet received the Report from the Cameron Committee on the application of the recommendations of the Rushcliffe Committee on legal aid and legal advice to Scotland; and whether he will give an assurance that this Report, when received, will be published.

I have been asked to reply. I have received the Report of the Committee and will decide on the question of its publication as soon as I have considered its terms in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Lord Advocate.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent authority has hitherto been given to abrogate King's Regulations, with or without prior consultation with the Army Council, to commanders-in-chief or general officers commanding; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that such abrogation does not in the future take place either in peace or war without consideration by the Army Council and notification to this House.

No such authority has been given. The responsibility of general and other officers commanding for ensuring that King's Regulations are strictly observed is clearly laid down in the preamble to the Regulations themselves. The officers concerned are well aware of this direction.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Royal Signals reserve units in M.E.F. are not being called upon to supply replacements for officers in Royal Signals units in the same area thereby avoiding the necessity of deferring the release of these officers.

I am assured that all possible local sources are being tapped to assist in finding replacements for officers and men whose deferment might otherwise be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the majority of R.A. officers due for release in age and service Group 36 and serving in C.M.F. have been deferred; and whether such block deferment is in accordance with the policy of his Department.

Up to 1st July none of these officers had been deferred. I have called for a report of the current position and will consider whether any special instructions are called for I explained our difficulties in this command on Tuesday last in reply to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Maldon (Mr Driberg) and South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan)

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers of the Royal Signals serving in West Africa Command have had their release deferred.

Five officers, up to 30th June, 1946

asked the Secretary of State for War how many age and service groups in C.M.F. are affected by present orders on block deferments of release; how long these deferments will last; and what is the present flow of replacements.

There are no block deferments, though as regards officers in certain groups in certain arms, many of the individuals comprised therein may have to be deferred. Deferments do not, save in exceptional circumstanoes, last for more than three months. I explained the situation in C.M.F. on 9th July in reply to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) and South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan).

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers in the A.T.S. have had their release indefinitely postponed: and what is the reason for these postponements.

On 30th June, the number of compulsory deferments in the United Kingdom was eight. There were none' overseas up to 15th June, the latest date for which figures are available. They are held until reliefs can be provided, subject to a maximum of three months.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the recent case of Rex versus Moore at Devon Quarter Sessions in which the Army authorities interfered with the order of a civil court; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that this sort of action does not occur in the future.

I am most anxious to avoid any action by the military authorities which interferes with orders made by civil courts. The position which arose in this case appears to have been due to a number of exceptional circumstances, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary as to the best way of preventing any similar difficulty in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 14170365 Private I. Kleinman was given terminal leave on 3rd June, with a view to his discharge as being medically unfit and unemployable, and recalled on 15th June and upgraded medically without any further medical examination.

My inquiries into this case are not yet completed. I hope to be able to write to my hon. Friend within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for War when Lieutenant C. Carter, 293291, 12th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment, whose Class B release was sanctioned in December, 1945, will be able to return home to resume his duties as housing assistant to the Hertford Corporation.

This officer declined release in Class B. In view of his age and service group he should soon be released in Class A

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that no statement of accounts has yet been furnished with regard to 3593940 Sergeant J. T. Cross, and that as a result, debits were deducted from this soldier's pay between March, 1945, and August, 1945, and that, because he was sent on demobilisation leave on half pay, he was unable to have a holiday; and what steps are being taken to settle the queries on this account which have been outstanding for 19 months.

A detailed statement of account for the whole of his service was sent to Mr. Cross in September, 1945. He has raised certain observations which, in the main, apart from two minor points necessitating reference to the overseas authorities, merely repeat his claims for a full write off of the whole of the debt on his account. As already stated the decision of the competent military authority has been given and communicated but I am re-examining the case to see whether there is any ground for further relief. The restriction of cash payments during terminal leave is in accordance with the regulated procedure for recovery of debit balances outstanding when soldiers are released.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the present conditions of eligibility for L.I.A.P in each of the overseas commands.

Following are the details:The present conditions of eligibility for are as follow:(a)

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the proceedings at a recent court martial dealing with cases of flogging in Burma; and if he has any statement to make regarding the action of commanding officers in authorising the infliction of punishments not permitted by the Army Act.

I am aware of this matter. As the case if stillsub judice I cannot make a statement at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the golf course at Saunton, together with the club house, are still requisitioned by his Department; and how long this requisition will last as it is causing a great deal of adverse comment in the neighbourhood, together with considerable inconvenience to the public.

This property cannot be released until an existing minefield Las been cleared. The work of clearing minefields is proceeding as rapidly as possible but I cannot at present forecast a date for its completion in this particular case. The property will be released as soon as it is safe to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many berths on the s.s. "Otranto" were reserved for his Department on the last journey to the Far East; how many were left unutilised; and whether, in view of the large number of civilians desirous of returning there, he will see that his Department's reservations are either utilised or handed over for civilian use.

Only four berths were reserved for Army personnel and all were used. It is the normal practice to release reservations, whenever possible, if they cannot be taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for War how soon he anticipates that his Department will be able to remove the concrete blocks, barbed wire and other obstructions from the beach at Happisburgh, Norfolk.

The work has been delayed owing to the presence of minefields. The mines are now in process of being removed and I hope it will not be many weeks before the closed parts of the beach can be re-opened.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the emergency ration card issued to Servicemen proceeding on short leave will include coupons to enable them to obtain bread after 21st July.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of an order issued by Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. C. Stathoras that cigarettes sent to the 7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, stationed in India, should be given as prizes for shooting; and, as these cigarettes were given by the Overseas League for free distribution, if he will stop orders of this sort being given.

I am not aware of the order and I have not yet had time to make inquiries. However, where free gifts of cigarettes are made without a statement that they may be used by a commanding officer for any purpose he considers desirable, I consider that they should, where possible, be distributed equally amongst all troops, and I am taking steps to have this brought to the notice of all commands.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment, stationed at Pola in Northern Italy, has had the ordinary age plus service group demobilisation scheme, the Class B release system and the Python leave scheme altered

I have no knowledge of this. I have called for a report and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Secretary of State for War up to what group men are at present eligible for indefinite compassionate release or for release under Class B or Class C.

There is no age and service group restriction on compassionate releases for indefinite periods, that is, releases in Class C, except where they are required for purely business reasons; in such cases, at present, men who are in Groups 50 and later, are normally regarded as ineligible. This restriction is imposed to prevent undue delay in the release of older men in Class A. Similarly, there is no age and service group restriction on individual releases in Class B, although a year's Army service must have been completed in all cases. Bulk releases in Class B are governed by the numbers demanded in each of the different trades and employments, and the groups which have been reached to date vary accordingly

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider reducing the age, of 3o years, below which at present it is impossible for a young man to obtain a compassionate release on one-man business grounds

Age is not an absolute bar. The real restriction in these cases is the exclusion, at present, of men in age and service groups 50 or later, and the object is to prevent delay in the Class A release of older men.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men serving in India and Iraq are staying longer than is laid down by the medical authorities and that the scheme of not more than two summers' service in these countries is not being carried out; and if he will take steps to have this remedied.

As already announced, the full tour in Middle East Command, which includes the Force in Iraq, is now reduced to three years and six months and that in India to three years. There is an arrangement under which personnel serving in Iraq are, wherever possible, posted elsewhere within Middle East Command after serving for two hot seasons, though in the case of specialist personnel this has not always been practicable. There is no corresponding arrangement in India but nearly all men have the opportunity to spend periods of leave during the hot weather in hill stations, where the climate is good.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, pending a final announcement of Government policy on marriages of British troops with German girls, he will give commanding officers a discretion to approve such marriages where desired for the purpose of ensuring that a child is born in wedlock.

No, Sir. I regret that I cannot authorise exceptions to the existing rules until the general policy is settled.

asked the Secretary of State for War in how many cases, since the start of demobilisation, soldiers on demobilisation leave have been informed that their pay book is missing and as a result minimum rates of pay only have been made during release leave; how many of these books have subsequently been recovered in the offices of regimental paymasters; and what steps he takes to ensure when soldiers declare that they have sent in their books that a thorough search is made.

I am unable to give the total number of such cases since the release scheme began. but the returns relating to recent releases show that the pay books are not received by regimental paymasters in about 3½ per cent. of cases. The receipt of these books in pay offices is specially controlled and recorded, and whenever a soldier reports that his book was handed in at his unit for despatch, or has been sent by post, a thorough search is made.

asked the Secretary of State for War the average time taken by his Department to deal with applications from ex-Servicemen for the payment of postwar credits and gratuities; and when these will be paid to 1652386 Private R. Pillings, K.O.Y.L.I., who, when in Release Group 27, was granted indefinite release in October, 1945, and whose application for such payment, early in 1946, has not yet been met.

These benefits are now paid at the time of release, without application. I regret that, owing to a clerical error, Mr. Pillings' case was overlooked when he was granted indefinite release. Steps have been taken to issue the amount due. Ex-Servicemen who left the Army before the introduction of the release scheme must apply for payment, as has already been publicly announced. Payment has been made in about 400,000 cases; some 100,000 claims are s all awaited. Forms are obtainable at Post Offices. There is no delay on receipt of the form.

asked the Secretary of State for War the rates of retired pay for regular soldiers commissioned from the ranks and the rates of revised pay applicable to the quartermaster category of officers.

The new rates of pay of quartermasters and officers of similar category are as follow:

Service.		Rank.	Daily rate of pay.
Minimum	…	Lieutenant	20s.
After 2 years	…	Lieutenant	22s.
After 4 years	…	Lieutenant	24s.
After 6 years	…	Captain	27s.
After 8 years	…	Captain	29s.
After 10 years	…	Captain	31s.
After 12 years	…	Major	34s.
After 14 years	…	Major	36s.
After 16 years	…	Major	38s.
After 18 years	…	Major	40s
		Lieutenant-Colonel.	43s.

There will be time promotion to Captain after six years' service and to Major after 12 years' service. Promotion to Lieut.-Colonel will be by selection."Service" will include previous commissioned service and one-third of other rank service in excess of 12 years (excluding boy service).The previous arrangements whereby these officers could be given brevet and accelerated promotion, and special promotion to the rank of Major to till certain establishment vacancies are being abolished.Regular soldiers promoted to permanent Regular commissions in the Quartermaster class will be eligible for retired pay under the general conditions of the new retired pay code, details of which were given in Cmd. 6750 (Appendix III), but in their case the standard retired pay rates will be:

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the gun site adjacent to East Heath Road, Hampstead, is still occupied by derelict huts and surrounded by barbed wire and constitutes an eyesore; and when he anticipates restoring this portion of the heath to the public.

I understand that this surplus Army accommodation is at present required for housing a working party for German prisoners of war and is being handed over to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works in accordance with normal procedure. I am therefore unable to say when the site is likely to be released.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British troops are living under canvas in Singapore; and if he will take steps to get them better accommodation as soon as possible.

About 6,520 British troops are living under canvas in Singapore. Steps are already in hand to get them better accommodation as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in view of the fact that passages for businessmen in aeroplanes are difficult to secure and that the cost of the passage to Calcutta for a civilian is about£150, he continues to fly British soldiers to the Far East in order that they may be demobilised.

So far, only one British soldier has been flown to the Far East for release; this was done to enable him to resume civil employment which was particularly urgent in the national interests.

asked the Secretary of State for War what improvements have recently been made in the food allowance, working pay and supplies for German prisoners of war.

Full particulars of the ration scales were given on 9th July, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd). In future, German working prisoners of war will receive pay for all hours worked instead of a limited daily rate. They will also qualify for a small issue of free cigarettes subject to availability of supplies and a certificate of good work from their employers.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will issue instructions that prisoners of war who, during haytime and corn harvest, work overtime on farms until 8 p.m. shall not be denied In evening meal when they return to camp.

The instructions already prescribe the provision of an evening meal on return to camp. If the hon. Member knows of a case where the instructions are not being followed I should be obliged if he would send me particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War why German prisoners of war at Basingstoke are being issued with white bread.

They have not been issued with white bread or flour. They used up national flour of 85 per cent. extraction already in hand before beginning to use the new 90 per cent. extraction flour.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that, as a result of sending anti-Nazi German prisoners of war to Camp 2218 their desire to propagate anti-Nazi views is in no way deterred and that their confinement in this camp in no way prejudices the views they have been allowed to form in this country concerning the workings of democracy by the British.

As my hon. Friend informed the hon. Member in reply to a Question on 2nd July, Camp 2218 was for a time used as a transit camp for anti-Nazis, but its use for that purpose has ceased. I have no reason to suppose that the political outlook of men passing through this camp was adversely affected in any way.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of German prisoners of war in British hands, in this country and in Canada, or other parts of the Commonwealth, respectively.

The total held in the British Commonwealth is 399,161, made up as follows:

(At 30th June)
United Kingdom	…	…	…	385,438
Canada	…	…	…	8,633
(At 31st May)
Australia	…	…	…	1,566
East Africa	…	…	…	130
Malta	…	…	…	2,463
Gibraltar	…	…	…	399
Jamaica	…	…	…	532

About 118,000 are also held by the Army in B.A.O.R., Italy and Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Italian prisoners of war stationed at Baronsdown Camp, Dulverton, Somerset, and employed on farms in the district, were withdrawn on 9th July at less than 24 hours' notice without arrangements having been made for their immediate replacement, with resultant spoiling of large quantities of hay; what action he proposes to take with the officers responsible; and if he will consult the Ministry of Agriculture in future before withdrawing prisoner labour.

The short notice was due to an unexpected increase in the shipping made available for the repatriation of these men. Replacements were not available at once owing to a telegraphic delay, but they have now been provided.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German prisoners of war there are in this country; and whether he will arrange to separate them into those known to be sympathetic to Nazi teachings and those known to have been against it and to provide better amenities for those of the latter class in order that when they return to their own country this distinction may be appreciated.

The total is about 385,000. I could not undertake to segregate the different categories as suggested. Prisoners of war are widely dispersed in camps, working parties, hostels and billets, and segregation would not be practicable. Moreover, the anti-Nazi prisoners exercise a beneficial influence on the other categories. No Nazi is permitted to occupy a position of influence in camps, hut, as my hon. Friend was informed in reply to a Question last Tuesday, only the ardent Nazis, who might cause trouble, are kept apart from the others.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will ensure that units of the Polish Resettlement Corps will not remain under the control of Polish officers.

Polish officers will necessarily be employed, but as many British officers as possible will be made available. The command and control of the Corps will be exercised through British military channels.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Polish soldiers were in Scotland and where and in what numbers were they stationed on 1st September, 1945, and 1st July, 1946, respectively; what steps are being taken to reduce the numbers in Scotland; and when he estimates they will all have left Scotland.

The numbers were approximately 58,000 on 1st September, 1945, and about 33,500 on 1st July, 1946, of, whom 3,000 are due to leave for Poland this month. As my hon. Friend is already aware, it is intended to resettle members of the Polish Forces into civil life as soon as this can be arranged, but it will necessarily take some time. These new arrangements have involved the ad- mission of large numbers of Polish troops to the United Kingdom from overseas: the great bulk of these are being accommodated in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he consulted the Minister of Town and Country Planning before the adoption of, and the continued retention of, the Isle of Purbeck site as a tank gunnery school.

A schedule of all land now held by my Department, and from which the post-war training requirements will be selected, has been sent to my right hon. Friend, who has set up an inter-departmental committee to consider Services requirements, with a view to recommending which areas shall be made available. The land at Purbeck, a large part of which is owned by the War Department, is included in that schedule.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will extend the payment of war gratuities to full-time members of the Civil Nursing Reserve.

No, Sir. These gratuities are awarded only to members of the Armed Forces and whole-time members of the Civil Defence and allied Services whose remuneration was related to Army rates of pay. The award could not be extended in the way suggested by the hon. Member without inviting claims from many other classes which are outside its scope.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make alternative arrangements for the changing of ration books and the registration of births and deaths in Mix-bury, Oxfordshire, as these registrations have to be undertaken at present in Bicester and there is no omnibus service between Mixbury and Bicester.

I am advised that the number of births and deaths occurring in the neighbourhood of Mixbury is not sufficient to justify the establishment of a separate registration office there. As regards ration books the arrangements of the Ministry of Food enable any person who is unable to apply for the new book personally or through a friend to obtain it by post; the applicant must fill in page 4 of the present book and send the book and the identity card by registered post to the local food office.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the number of deaths in this country arising from the disease, multiple myelomatosis, of persons who have never been out of this country and of people who have been resident in the Far East, showing each category separately.

The number of deaths in this country from multiple myelomatosis during 1944 was 63. I regret that there is no information available to classify them as between persons who have never been out of this country and people who have been resident in the Far East.

asked the Minister of Health why the water main at Piddington, Oxfordshire has only been tapped to supply water to the south end of the village; and if he will arrange to supply the north end with water, especially in view of the need for it at the local bakehouse.

The matter is one for consideration by the Ploughley Rural District Council in the first instance and I will bring it to their notice.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware that the water at Fencott, Oxfordshire, is coloured and ill-tasting; that milk churns are sent to Aylesbury, a distance of 20 miles, to collect water; and when a piped supply of water will be available;(2) When it is anticipated that a piped water supply will be available at Mix-bury, Oxfordshire; if he is aware that the water drawn from the well provided for the council houses has been coloured yellow for the past two years; and if he is satisfied that this water is fit for drinking purposes.

I am aware that the water supply in these Parishes is not satisfactory and I am bringing these matters to the notice of the Ploughley Rural District Council. I understand that the Parishes are included in the scheme for a piped supply of water to the rural district to which I referred in my reply to a previous Question put to me on the 12th July by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that some Army authorities are unwilling to derequisition properties wanted by their owners when there are other places available, owing to the fact that they cannot get telephones in the new places; and if he will grant priority for telephone removals in such cases

I am not aware of any such cases, although it is possible that some have occurred owing to the extreme pressure of work in providing telephone services throughout the country. If the hon. Member will give me details of any such cases I shall be happy to pursue them with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Minister of Supply if, in view of the food situation he will immediately rescind the instructions of his Department whereby 410 acres of rich arable land on Foulness Island, Essex, is to be taken over for military purposes.

Only three or four acres of this Government owned land are required for building purposes in connection with the Ministry of Supply Experimental Establishment, Shoeburyness, and the existing crops will be reaped before it is put to this use. The remainder will continue to be available for agriculture, subject to certain restrictions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that no Service mail was delivered at Gibraltar during the week ended 6th July and that dissatisfaction over this was not lessened when troops were informed that this was occasioned owing to the requisitioning of the aeroplanes for the purpose of conveying V.I.P.s; and if he will see that this practice is not repeated and that the mail for overseas troops is given high priority.

Troops mail is given overriding priority by Transport Command and the use of a special aircraft ought not to interfere with its delivery. I regret, however, that by mistake the mail for Gibraltar was left off the aircraft on 2nd July. It was sent on the next aircraft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of animal feedingstuffs for the last month for which figures are available and for the corresponding months in 1944 and 1945, respectively.

The value of animal feedingstuffs, other than grain, exported in May, 1946, was £92,600. The corresponding figures for 1944 and 1945 are £600 and £3,700 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the weight and value of imported furs during the 12 months ended 30th April, 1939 and 1946, respectively; the value of exported fur coats during the same periods; and the proportions, in monetary values, of these items coming from, and going to, dollar countries during the latter period.

In the twelve months ended April, 1939, imports of fur skins, other than rabbit skins, amounted to 3,900 tons, valued at £11,42,000 and exports of fur clothing were valued at £106,000. Imports of fur skins in the twelve months ended April, 1946, amounted to 2,100 tons, valued at £8,471,000, of which 41 per cent. by value was from the United States and 22 per cent, from Canada. Exports of fur clothing during the same period were valued at £104,000, of which Canada received 5 per cent. and other dollar countries negligible amounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what new factories have been completed in or near Sunderland since July, 1945; what extensions to

——		Number.	Area.	Estimated additional Area. employment which these factories would provide.
			Square feet.	Men.	Women.
New Factories completed since July, 1945	…	3	280,000	200	1,850
Extensions completed since July, 1945	…	2	25,000	178	100
New Factories now under construction	…	3	172,000	140	1,780
Extensions now under construction	…	7	195,700	635	195
New Factories now under consideration	…	15	500,000	2,500	1,700
Extensions now under consideration	…	3	39,000	140	10
Total projects	…	33	1,211,700	3,793	5,635

The details given for projects now under consideration are provisional and subject to change as plans are worked out. The estimates of additional employment relate to the factories when in full operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he expects to be able to publish the evidence against the Jewish Agency, as he promised on 1st July, before the Debate on Palestine.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans and Old Age Contributory Pensions (Voluntary Contributors) Act, 1937, will benefit under the proposed National Insurance scheme if they continue to pay contributions until the Bill becomes law; and what will be the exact nature of such benefits.

Yes, Sir; but the transitional arrangements which will govern the

The following table contains the information for which my hon. Friend asks:position of existing contributors when the new scheme comes into operation will be laid down by regulations to be made after the Bill becomes law, and I cannot anticipate the terms of the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an estimate of the total tonnage of nuts grown in West Africa in 1945 and the distribution in tons to the various importing countries concerned.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to West African groundnuts. The following figures show the latest position in respect of the 1945West African groundnut crop

	Tons.
(1) Purchases for export	330,000
(2) Shipments to 6th July, 1946.
United Kingdom	147,556
Canada	17,531
Norway	4,771
Denmark	5,755
Holland	8,256
Belgium	776
Total	181,645
(3) Stocks on hand in West Africa on 6th July. 1946	145,355

These figures, which have been converted into decorticated weight where necessary, relate only to groundnuts bought for export. There is a considerable local consumption of this foodstuff in West Africa of which no figures are available. Unshipped stocks will be delivered to overseas buyers in accordance with allocations arranged by the International Emergency Food Council.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will accept as trainees under the Further Education Scheme candidates who are prepared to read for external degree courses at London University and provide maintenance grants on the same terms as are given to candidates undergoing courses in the training colleges.

Awards, including maintenance grants, are freely made by my Department to candidates following fulltime courses for external degrees of London University. If the hon. Member has some special case in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Food why he refused to grant a licence to the Northern Agricultural and Lime Company, Limited, of Aberdeen, to adapt, improve and extend their buildings and plant for the manufacture of oat precincts, of whose proposed extension of business he has had notice in writing; and if he will reconsider the matter.

In view of the present shortage of milling oats my right hon. Friend does not feel able, at present, to recommend the grant of licences for the erection or extension of buildings for the manufacture of oat products, involving a diversion of labour and building materials required for more urgent purposes.