asked the Minister of Education why a child living at Hardwick has to cycle to school at Fringford, Oxfordshire, while children living nearer the school are provided with an omnibus service.

Hardwick is not on the route of the nearest school bus service and owing to the isolated position of the village, the cost of diverting the bus through Hardwick would be considerable. The Local Education Authority do not consider that this cost should be incurred to provide motor transport for one child only.

asked the Minister of Education the number of students accepted by Welsh interviewing boards for the Emergency Training Scheme; and what proportion are men.

One thousand, seven hundred and eighty-two candidates have been accepted by the Welsh interviewing boards. Of these, 83 per cent. are men. Many of these candidates were English Servicemen and women stationed in Wales, but I am unable to say precisely what proportion.

In view of the fact that these figures mean that almost 10 per cent. of the students accepted for training under the Emergency Training Scheme come from the Principality, does the Minister propose to give a greater number of colleges for Wales than has already been proposed?

As I said in my reply, a large number of these candidates are English Servicemen and women. Actually, rather less than 5 per cent, are Welsh, and we are planning three colleges which will represent rather more than 5 per cent. of the total number of places to be provided.

Is it clear that these students who are accepted by Welsh inter- viewing boards can go, and are going, to the training colleges across the border?

Yes, Sir, certainly.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will take steps to ensure the prompt and up-to-date payment of maintenance grants due to ex-Service students undergoing a teachers' training course.

I took steps several months ago to expedite the payments to students in emergency training colleges, and I am satisfied that these payments are now being made at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the necessity for obtaining comparative statistics, she will direct local education authorities to make examinations to ascertain the comparative heights and weights of schoolchildren of five to 14 years of age, as soon as possible this year and at the close of suitable periods of, say, five or 10 years.

The view of my medical advisers is that records of height and weight should be made of each child at least three times a year, not only from the point of view of comparative statistics but in order to watch and record the growth rate of individual children. I am afraid that this cannot be undertaken yet, because of the shortage of medical and particularly nursing staff, and, incidentally, of weighing machines. A standard medical card is, however, being prepared in the Ministry, and with it will be issued a memorandum to local education authorities on its use and on medical inspection generally, including advice about the periodic weighing and measuring of children.

Could not this work he undertaken just as well by the teachers?

I feel that I can hardly ask the teachers to do any more than they are doing at present.

asked the Minister of Education how many schoolchildren in the city of Manchester receive meals at school; and how these numbers of children compare with the figures before and during the 1939–45 war.

The number of children in grant-aided primary and secondary schools in Manchester who had dinner at school on the day of the return in February last was 32,313. As the answer to the second part of the Question is long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Education if she is aware that the publication called "The Nation's Schools" is still on sale in unamended form at His Majesty's Stationery Offices, Cardiff; and when she proposes to withdraw this pamphlet.

As I have already stated, I have given instructions that no further copies of this pamphlet should he printed when the present stocks, which are now small, have been sold.

May we take it that this publication will be withdrawn this week from Cardiff?

I have repeatedly stated that I have no intention of withdrawing it. What I have said is that this pamphlet is now out of date, that it does not represent the views of the present Government in one or two respects, and new pamphlets are in course of publication.

Do I understand the Minister to say that, although the pamphlet does not represent her point of view, she wants it to be sold?

We are dealing with a pamphlet a very large proportion of which is a mere statement of fact, and one cannot withdraw statements of fact. [Laughter.] No, but one can express regret for having stated them. There are certain expressions of opinion in that pamphlet, and I have stated categorically that those expressions of opinion do not represent the views of the present Government.

asked the Minister of Education which universities accept the Forces Preliminary Examination in lieu of their ordinary entrance examinations.

I am sending my hon. Friend a list of the universities and university colleges which accept the Forces Preliminary Examination as prima facie evidence of a candidate's eligibility to be considered for admission.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a general impression among members of the Forces, arising from the prospectus of examinations issued by the Civil Service Commission, that the purpose of this examination is to take the place of the ordinary entrance examination for the universities; and that some universities are now refusing to accept candidates on the grounds that they do not regard that examination as any longer acceptable?

I have no control over what the universities do or do not accept as eligibility for admission. I have said I will send my hon. Friend a list of those that do.

In view of the fact that the Secretary of State for War told me the week before last that the results of those examinations which were held in February are only just known, and that the universities are pretty well full up, could my right hon. Friend reconsider this question; and could she state how many people are involved, because they do think they are entitled to go to a university?

I do not think I quite see the relevance of that supplementary question in connection with my answer. There is a list of universities and colleges which do accept these preliminary examinations. As my hon. Friend knows perfectly well, the Ministry of Education has no control over what the universities will or will not accept.

If the list submitted by my right hon. Friend does not coincide with the list given in the prospectus which I have in mind, will she take steps, in concert with the Civil Service Commission, to rectify the impression that is being given?

I think my hon. Friend had better see the list first. If he then has any question to raise on it I shall be delighted to discuss it with him.

asked the Minister of Education whether she will abolish all forms of corporal punishment in all schools under her jurisdiction for both boys and girls.

The question of corporal punishment is generally left to the discretion of school authorities. I believe this discretion to be wisely exercised and, apart from what is said in the "Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers," I see no cause for general directions on the point. There has been a welcome decrease in the infliction of corporal punishment as a means of maintaining discipline in schools, and I am confident that this will continue.

Does not my right hon. Friend consider it is an anachronism that children are kept disciplined as a result of force and fear, and does she not consider it should be abolished?

I think my hon. Friend has not kept in touch with the conditions of discipline, and of the changed conception of discipline which has taken place.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why he proposes to withdraw the second delivery of letters at it 11 a.m. in the Lyonshall Kington, Herefordshire, district, seeing that this service was in operation both prewar and during the war period.

As from the 30th June an afternoon delivery beginning about 2.30 p.m. has been restored in the Lyonshall area. A house to house delivery has never been made in this area at 11 a.m., but I presume the hon. Member refers to the morning caller's delivery, which was introduced as a wartime measure and has now, on the introduction of the afternoon delivery, been withdrawn.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will give an assurance that the hours of collection and delivery of letters will be determined solely by the convenience of the public.

My noble Friend's policy is, with due regard to the wider interests of the community, to strike a fair balance between the convenience of the public and the interests of the postal staff.

Is there not a very obvious distinction between the question of hours and wages, on which the union is very properly consulted, and the question of what facilities should or should not be given to the public, on which the public alone and the Government are concerned?

Questions of the times of delivery involve the hours of the staff.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps have been taken to improve the telephone lines in the neighbourhood of Finmere exchange, Oxfordshire, and, in particular, Featherbed Lane, where the trees are continually causing interruption in the service, and subscribers are thereby unable to use the telephone.

Conditions in the Finmere exchange area are similar to those in many other rural districts where overhead telephone wires are used. These are sometimes damaged during high winds, but I regret that in present circumstances it is not possible to contemplate any general modification of our methods of supplying telephone service in these districts. Damage in Featherbed Lane appears to have been exceptionally frequent recently, and I will see what can be done there to reduce the liability of interruption of service as soon as labour is available.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some of these subscribers are without the use of the telephone for about 25 per cent. of the year; and will he consider allowing a rebate, as they cannot use the telephone during that time?

They are without it for only short periods of very inclement weather, and there are only four of them altogether.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many new telephone instruments have been installed in Aberdeenshire during the last six months; and how many would-be subscribers in Aberdeenshire are on the waiting list at the present time.

In Aberdeenshire 1,551 applicants have been given telephone service during the past six months, and there are at present 1,870 outstanding applications.

Does the hon. Gentleman expect to be able to accelerate the rate of supply so that we can have these subscribers fitted out with instruments by the end of the year?

Yes, there is a general acceleration. While, on the face of it, it would take another six months to clear off those at present outstanding, every time we put in a new telephone we are liable to get another two applications.

Can the hon. Gentleman saw how many of those two classes of figures apply to the City of Aberdeen?

This is about the county.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post Office is charging 10s. air mail postage on a single copy of a Croydon weekly newspaper addressed to a member of His Majesty's Forces in Burma; and whether he will reduce this charge to a reasonable amount.

Newspapers can be sent by air to the Forces in Burma at the rates applicable to the air conveyance of letters, namely, 1½d. up to one ounce, and, for heavier letters, 6d. for the first 1½oz, and 6d. for each succeeding half-ounce. A charge of as much as 10s. would thus be appropriate to a packet weighing 11 ounces. This seems very high for a single copy of a newspaper at the present time and the charge may have been wrongly assessed. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the packet, including the weight, the address, and the office of posting, I will gladly have inquiry made.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why postal communication with the U.S.S.R. is so slow.

The mail service to the U.S.S.R. is, so far as I am aware, reasonably satisfactory. Air and surface mails are despatched from this country daily via Prague and Berlin respectively and should occupy about four and seven days in transmission to Moscow. The incoming surface mails from the U.S.S.R. take about seven days to reach this country. No inward air mails have been received from the U.S.S.R. since the Berlin route was adopted for surface mails in April last, but proposals have been made to the U.S.S.R. postal authorities for the exchange of air mails via Berlin. Their reply is awaited.

Has the hon. Gentleman received any complaints regarding this matter from the hon. Gentleman the Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher)?

That is another matter.

They call me on the telephone.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what special or other facilities are provided by his Department for the posting of circulars and other material from football pool firms; what is the number of Post Office staff engaged wholly or largely in dealing with packages posted by such firms; and whether he is satisfied, in view of the present labour shortage, that such staff could not be more usefully employed.

No special facilities are provided which are not available to other equally large users of the post. I regret it is not possible to segregate staff time engaged in handling pool correspondence; the time so occupied is expected to assist materially in promoting economical staffing and in improving the duties of the Post Office delivery staff in connection with the postwar postal services now in course of introduction.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in addition to circularising all their prewar clients, the pools are today sending out hundreds of thousands of packets of circulars to people who have neither asked for them nor want them, including my wife, and can we have his most specific assurance that in no circumstances, in view of the present staff shortage, will Post Office workers be diverted from essential work to handle these mountains of football pools?

They are not. The work is very carefully arranged. What happens is that in the time between deliveries, when the staff might otherwise be unoccupied, they are economically employed.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many enemy wavelengths became available for use by the liberating Powers after the liberation of Germany and Austria; to which nations they have been provisionally allocated pending a general revision of the Lucerne Plan- and for what purpose any wavelengths allocated to this country are being used.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will make representations under the Lucerne Agreement for the temporary or permanent acquisition of ex-enemy medium wavelengths not at present in use, so that listeners in the South-West may be provided with a reasonable wireless service.

Fourteen wavelengths were allocated to Germany and four to Austria under the Lucerne Convention. They are all still in use in those countries for broadcasting by the occupying powers to the inhabitants, displaced persons, and the occupying troops, with the exception of one which is used to carry German broadcasts from Moscow. There are thus no ex-enemy medium wavelengths not at present in use which could be used for listeners in the South-West.

Could my hon. Friend assure the House that His Majesty's Government will not agree to the allocation of these wavelengths to other Powers, pending any general revision of the Lucerne Agreement?

Until a new revision takes place the Lucerne Agreement stands.

Will my hon. Friend explain why 14 wavelengths are in use in Germany at the present time? Would it not be possible for some to be used by this country?

Fourteen wavelengths were allocated under the Convention. Germany is a larger country than this, and if my hon. and gallant Friend will consider the proportion of wavelengths in this country and those in a country the size of Germany he will perhaps see the reason.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will hold an inquiry in Bristol or the West of England into the merging of the Midland and West Regional services of the B.B.C. before taking definite action; and if he is satisfied that Birmingham is the most suitable place for H.Q. in the event of this merging taking place, seeing that the reception in the west is likely to be adversely affected by such a change.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." The location of the headquarters of the amalgamated region is a matter for the B.B.C., who, I understand, consider that Birmingham is the most advantageous centre for the administrative headquarters. Offices and studios will, however, be maintained in Bristol, and there will be a Bristol director. The location of the headquarters will not affect reception conditions in the West of England.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the disquiet that has been caused in the West of England by the proposed change, and that people think that an inquiry would cause him to change his opinion?

I am aware of the feeling about it, and I have a good deal of sympathy with it, and in so far as it is possible for us to improve reception technically, we will do all that we can.

Bearing in mind the strong feeling aroused in the West of England over this decision, is the hon. Gentleman quite satisfied that every possible avenue has been explored?

Yes, Sir, I am perfectly satisfied, having regard to the requirements of the whole of the country and the allocation of our wavelengths, that everything possible has been done in the circumstances.

Has my hon. Friend thought of the possibility of getting Northern Ireland merged in Eire as an alternative?

rose——

Cannot the hon. Gentleman recover for the West of England programme one of the wavelengths he has apparently allocated to Germany?

We have not given any wavelengths to Germany; the noble Lord is mistaken. What we have done is to keep for ourselves two medium wavelengths for use in Europe.

rose——

This Question, after all, dealt with Western England and not with Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps have now been taken to ensure the employment, on conditions not less favourable than those which previously obtained, of individuals who were concerned in the operation of workmen's compensation with ordinary insurance companies.

I cannot add to the statements regarding the recruitment of the Ministry's staff made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and myself during the Committee stage of the Industrial Injuries Bill.

Can the Minister give an assurance to the House now that no single employee will lose as a result of the operation of this Act?

I cannot give any such undertaking. The undertaking I gave was that we would recruit, from both the employers' and trade unions' side, suitable persons to administer the new scheme.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is yet in a position to announce the appointed day on which increased sickness benefits will be payable under the National Insurance Bill.

I cannot at present add to what I said on this subject in the course of the Debate on the Third Reading of the National Insurance Bill.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of the people who are trying to manage on the existing sickness benefit rate are really desperate, and will he give them an assurance that they will stand high on his list when he comes to apply the different parts of his insurance scheme?

I have received representations on behalf of sick persons, and on behalf of others too, to bring special parts of the new Bill into operation as soon as possible, but I would warn my hon. Friends that if we were to attempt to introduce this legislation piecemeal it would delay the coming into operation of the full scheme, and I think that would be a mistake from everybody's point of view.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he intends to renew the Workmen's Compensation (Temporary Increases) Act, 1943, which expires on 31st December of this year.

There is provision to this effect in Clause 88 of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has considered the communication concerning family allowances paid to widows from the Cardiff District Committee of the Transport and General Workers' Union; and whether he is able to meet the request made in this correspondence.

This letter raised a paint with regard to the net increase in the payments to widows with young children when family allowances begin to be paid. This is governed by statute and I have no power to alter it.

Do I understand then that this anomaly exists, that a widow will lose the benefit of the family allowance while it will go to the family which has an income from the wage earner?

Yes, Sir, that is part of the Bill. My hon. Friend will know that when the full scheme comes into operation there will be other provisions for widows and children.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware of delays in forwarding new old age pension order books to the Post Office for pensioners before the time of expiry of the old one; and why, despite the assurances to the contrary, neither the original new order book nor a duplicate which was promised have reached the local post office for a pensioner, particulars of whom have been sent to him, despite the fact that the pensioner's old book expired on 13th June.

In general, the renewal of pension order books, averaging nearly 80,000 each week, is carried out without a hitch. In the particular case to which the hon. and gallant Member refers a book containing orders available from 2oth June was issued to the proper Post Office on 24th May. As the book could not be found on 10th June when the first payment from it was due, the Post Office made an emergency payment of pension for that week. A duplicate order book was issued to the Post Office on 5th July in response to letters from the pensioner, and this book is now in his possession.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that an American, required by a British firm to train aircraft crews in the operation of apparatus used in survey work for Government Departments and local authorities, has been trying for nearly two months to get permission to remain in this country; and whether, to avoid further delay in the preparation of maps required for housing and town planning, he will now give a decision.

The first application to my Department in this matter was dated 6th June. I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that British subjects, with specialised qualifications in photogrammetry, including ex-members of the R.A.F., are available for this type of employment, and that further men with these qualifications are expected to register on the Technical and Scientific Register as they become demobilised. In the circumstances, I regret that permission cannot be given for this American to enter this employment.

The 6th June being six weeks ago, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these long drawn out delays are holding up the work of the country? Could he not in some cases get the officials concerned to settle the matter round the table, instead of firing minutes at one another?

The first application was received on 6th June——

Six weeks ago.

The hon. Gentleman put his Question down on the first occasion on 28th June for answer a fortnight ago. The matter has been disposed of.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of applicants who have been granted naturalisation since the revised regulation was issued, giving the number separately for those who have served in His Majesty's Forces and those who have been granted priority owing to special services rendered; the total number of applications now pending; and how many of these are in a priority category.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates of naturalisation have been issued this year; how many applications have been received each year since 1939; and when he anticipates being able to deal with all those who applied before the war.

I have granted 1,123 certificates of naturalisation this year up to 30th June. The machinery for dealing with applications by persons who have served in His Majesty's Forces, and those who claim priority on the ground of the value of their work to the nation, is only just beginning to produce results, and it will be some time before I shall be able to give figures illustrative of the speed at which the machine is working.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a few applications referring to elderly people who are very distinguished in their particular walks of life, and whose naturalisation would do credit to this country? Would he put them in a special category?

I do try to have regard to the individual claims, but with so large a number as 24,000 I have to be very careful, lest, by granting a whole number of priorities, I really cancel all the priorities out.

May I ask whether merchant seamen are getting priority, because there is a large number at Cardiff clocks, and I understand that a large number have not yet received their certificates?

If a merchant seaman is recommended to me specially by the appropriate Government Department, he gets priority in the same way as does any other skilled worker.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the British passport control officer in Vienna has declined to authorise a visa to Mr. Johann and Mrs. Karoline Gräbner, 5, Margaretenstrasse, Vienna, for the purpose of visiting their son in this country under the Distressed Relatives in Europe Scheme; and if he will reconsider the application with a view to the visa being granted to Mrs. Gräbner.

The distressed relatives scheme applies to cases where a man and wife living together abroad are unable to look after and support one another, and are in special need of filial care. These persons are not infirm, and they have a married daughter and, between them, three brothers and three sisters in Austria. They have not suffered from Nazi oppression, and there is no reason to distinguish them from numerous other enemy nationals whose circumstances are similar. I regret that they cannot be regarded as having a special claim to come to this country for protection and help.

Does the Secretary of State in such cases consider it fair that poor people in this country, like this son, should have to get a certificate from a Commissioner of Oaths, for which they have to pay a guinea; and that the parents have to get a certificate abroad from a doctor, which also costs them their last money? Does he think this quite fair?

The list of categories of persons I was willing to consider was read out in this House, has been published, and is generally available; and if people who are clearly not within the categories put forward claims, I really cannot be held responsible for that.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the conditions prevailing in the British Zone in Germany, he will introduce a long-term British civil service there in substitution for the short-term service now in operation.

I have been asked to reply. The Chancellor of the Duchy is considering this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will establish in the British Zone in Germany a Whitley Council to which relevant matters affecting the British personnel of the Control Commission may be referred.

A scheme for the introduction of Whitley machinery is in preparation.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what rations are received by unemployed displaced persons in U.N.R.R.A. camps in the British Zone in Germany; and how these compare with the rations received by the working German population.

Displaced persons who are not working have been receiving 1,840 calories per day in rationed foods, but this is being reduced to 1,550 calories as from tomorrow. Ordinary German workers receive from 1,250 calories per day for moderate heavy work, to 2,330 calories for very heavy work.

Does that ration include Red Cross parcels of which all these men have been in possession?

I do not think that is quite an accurate statement. The figures I have quoted refer to the issue of rations to these people.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether in view of the fact that many displaced persons have been maintained for 12 months without making a contribution to their support by way of work, he will now give them the option either of returning to their countries of origin or of performing such work in Germany as they may be directed.

My hon. Friend is at present considering what further steps can be taken to encourage the repatriation of remaining displaced persons, and to make those meantime in Germany undertake useful work.

Will the Minister prosecute more actively the search for opportunity of emigration for the very great number of displaced persons who are industrious and skilled, and cannot be thrown out into Germany or forced back into their country of origin without gross inhumanity?

The Government have never lost sight of this second question which the right hon. Member raises, and they will not deal with it inhumanely. Our first consideration must he to see that where repatriation can be fairly achieved no obstacle shall be placed in the way.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will prepare a release scheme for the repatriation of non-Nazi prisoners of war now in this country, with priority for those who were in concentration camps or prisons under the Nazis; for those who were anti-Nazis before 1945, or who refused to join the Hitler Youth for political or religious convictions; and for politically reliable qualified experts not reckoned within the Oberon Scheme.

Arrangements are now being made for the repatriation of non-Nazi prisoners of war on a larger scale than has so far been possible under the Oberon scheme. My hon. Friend's other suggestions will be taken ito consideration in working out the details of the scheme.

Will the Minister also try to obtain the release of those members of the 999 division who were recruited from concentration camps and were forced into the German Army?

I should require to have notice of that question.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that in British-controlled Germany wild pigs are seriously interfering with the potato crops and that the shooting of sows with young has been forbidden; and what has been done to make shooting and trapping effective.

I am aware of this danger, but the amount of damage done is relatively small. Firearms cannot be issued freely to the German population, but in areas where wild pigs constitute a real danger the German police have been armed to shoot these vermin, including sows with young. Trapping has, so far, been found to be ineffective. It is not true that the shooting of sows with young has been forbidden.

Can the Minister tell us what figures he has about the seriousness of this threat to the food of the popula- tion? How many thousands of lbs. of potatoes are supposed to be destroyed in this way?

I am sorry that I have not the figures, but I can assure the hon. Member that while I was there we investigated this question, and where there is any prevalency British officers as well as the German police are encouraged to shoot wild pigs.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the object of the recent visit to Germany by a delegation from the National Council of Labour; and whether visits to Germany can now be made by delegations from all political parties.

The object of this delegation was to make contact with the Social Democrat Party and the trade unions and co-operative movements in the British zone and in Berlin. Each application will be dealt with on its merits.

Can the Under-Secretary state whether any charge is made against public funds?

I should like notice of that question.

Can the Minister tell us what constitutes "merits" on the part of any political organisation?

Most certainly—so far as they might contribute towards rebuilding a democratic Germany.

Does the reply mean that some hon. Members on the other side of the House would be able to re-establish their associations with the Nazis of Germany?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the present regulations governing visits by German nationals to this country.