asked the Minister of Education if any special allowance will be made to those teachers who have been selected to go to the U.S.A. for a year in view of the high cost of living there; and if any arrangements have been made whereby they will not be eligible for British Income Tax during that period.

:No special allowance will be made this year to teachers who have been selected for interchange, but I have promised to consider this question further with reference to future years. As regards the second part of the Question, I understand that the teachers will remain liable to United Kingdom Income Tax, but that Article XVIII of the Double Taxation Convention which was signed last year [Cmd. 6624] provides for exemption from American tax on the teachers' pay in such cases.

asked the Minister of Education the number of schools for the deaf; the present waiting period before entrants will be accepted; and if there is any discrimination made between those hereditarily deaf and those deaf as the result of illness or accident.

:There are in England and Wales 22 day special schools and 21 boarding special schools for deaf pupils. In the case of the day schools and a few of the boarding schools there are no waiting lists and pupils can be admitted without delay, but my information is that in most of the boarding schools applicants may have to wait for a year or even longer before admission. So far as I am aware no discrimination is made on grounds of the age of onset or cause of deafness.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to overcome the difficulties his contractors are experiencing in obtaining the essential copper and lead for cables.

:The amount of lead allocated to cable manufacturers is fixed by the rationing scheme covering all users of lead. There have been some arrears in the distribution of lead for the manufacturers of Post Office cables, and this is now being made good. My noble Friend has received no representations as regards copper but is looking into the position.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will consider issuing a postage stamp of the denomination of 1s. 3d. which can conveniently be used for air mail letters to most parts of the world.

:It is not yet clear that the need for a 1s. 3d. stamp will remain at such a level as would justify the issue of an additional stamp of that denomination, but I will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the inadequate postal facilities in the West End Lane district of Hampstead; and if he will arrange for the early establishment of a branch post office in that area.

:Under existing conditions the standard of facilities in the area in question compares not unfavourably with that in many other localities in London. It would not be possible, in view of the present building situation, to arrange for the early establishment of a branch post office, but as soon as the provision of additional Crown post offices throughout the London area generally can be pursued the claims of West Hampstead will receive consideration.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that delivery and collection of letters only takes place every three days to farms in the parish of Llandewi-Abergwessin, Breconshire; and whether daily deliveries and collections will be made immediately.

:This parish is very scattered and deliveries are divided between three offices. Two portions of the area obtain daily deliveries. The third which comprises certain outlying farms and is served from Tregaron Post Office, Aberystwyth, is very mountainous, cut by many watercourses, and impracticable for cycle, foot or motor working. Delivery is effected on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by a postman on horseback, who, in the course of a long round, serves fifteen points of call and delivers on an average twelve letters a day. I regret that in the circumstances a daily delivery is not warranted.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when it is proposed to install the automatic dialling system in the Wallasey telephone exchange.

:A new building will be needed, and I regret that I am unable to say at present when it will be completed.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many new subscribers are connected to the Wallasey telephone exchange each week; and how many subscribers relinquish their lines each week.

:The number of new subscribers connected to the Wallasey Exchange each week now averages 38. The number who relinquish their lines each week is 4.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will now issue a duplicate savings book to Miss Rosemary Grierson in place of Savings Book No. 73196, which was lost or stolen on 13th March, 1946, and the loss of which has been repeatedly communicated to the Director of Savings.

:A new bank book was sent to Miss Grierson on 12th July with an apology for the delay. The verification of the transactions in this account, which was necessary before a new book could be issued, took longer than it should have done, and I much regret the inconvenience to which Miss Grierson has been put. I should like to add in extenuation, though not in excuse, for the delay that the Post Office Savings Department is working under great difficulties. Not only has the number of savings bank accounts more than doubled since 1939, but in the last year there has been a vast increase in the activity of the accounts. It has been impossible for the Department to obtain staff, either in sufficient numbers or with sufficient experience adequately to meet these developments. In these circumstances there have inevitably been occasions where individual applications have not received the prompt treatment which the Department wishes to give: but I am happy to say that the vast majority of the transactions are carried through with speed and, I hope, satisfaction to the depositors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it is proposed to build a new fire station at Lyndhurst, Hampshire, which will take labour and materials away from the council's main task of providing houses.

:A new fire station is needed at Lyndhurst in order to enable the requisitioned premises which have been used for the last few years to be given up and because it is not possible from the old prewar station to provide adequate cover for the important area served from this centre. As regards competition with the building of new houses, the systems of priorities in respect of building labour and materials set up by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works will apply to this job.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of the crime of murder have taken place in the United Kingdom since 31st December, 1943; in how many instances the accused were found guilty and in how many acquitted; how many accused, found guilty, were subsequently reprieved; and what is the number of cases where no individual has, as yet, been accused.

:The analysis of the figures for 1945 has not yet been completed, and I will send them to the hon. Member as soon as possible. The figures for 1944 are as follow:

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex-Servicemen who, as a result of the 1939–45 war, are suffering from psychoneurosis and are in receipt of a disability pension; and the corresponding figures for the 1914–18 war; and to what the difference between the two figures is attributed.

Approximately 33,000 awards have been made to persons suffering from psychoneurosis arising out of service during the 1939–45 war. Owing to the need for economy in manpower, awards in payment at any particular time are not analysed according to disabilities and I cannot, therefore, say how many of the 33,000 are still suffering from psychoneurosis and in receipt of pension. The records of my Department do not enable me to give comparable figures for the 1914–18 war, but I estimate very roughly that there are at the present time about 25,000 men from that war now drawing pensions in respect of psychoneurosis.

asked the Minister of Pensions when Mr. W. Woods, of 12, Belle Vue Road, Colchester, may expect the renewal of surgical boots about which he has been in correspondence with his Department since January and about which he wrote to the Eastern Regional Office on 2nd June and 1st July.

According to my records Mr. Woods sent his boots to my Department in April when a new pair was ordered. The boots should be delivered in a few days.

asked the Minister of Labour how many qualified electricians are registered on the employment exchanges of Orpington and Sidcup.

Eight at 17th June.

asked the Minister of Labour how many tramdrivers and conductors employed by the L.P.T.B. have been prevented from working because the Transport and General Workers' Union dislike the trade union which these workers prefer; whether they are still so prevented; and what steps he proposes to take to end enforced and paid idleness at a time of national need.

I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown) on 18th June and 11th July.

asked the Minister of Labour how long a U.S. ship, which put into Falmouth for repairs, has been held up because the A.E.U. and the Boilermakers Society could not agree which union's members should fix some plugs; whether he will give an estimate of the waste and loss involved; and what steps he has taken to end the dispute and prevent a recurrence.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the "Sea-Snipe" whose repairs were completed on 26th June after a delay of some three to four weeks. I am not in a position to estimate any loss involved but I am informed that the unions have reached an agreement designed to obviate similar difficulties at this port in the future.

asked the Minister of Labour it he will take immediate steps to help hotel and boarding-house keepers, who are inadequately staffed, by granting permits to aliens who are anxious to take up domestic duties in this country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland) on 25th June.

asked the Minister of Labour the anticipated output in each of the next six months from Government training centres in the Eastern Region of men who have been undergoing training in the trades of bricklayer, carpenter, plasterer, painter plumber and wood machinist, respectively.

I am collecting the information and will send it to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of commercial vehicle drivers registered as unemployed in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow; and the number of ex-Servicemen who have registered in the above towns as commercial vehicle drivers without having had pre-Service experience in the road haulage industry; in each case up to the latest convenient date.

At 17th June, the latest date for which figures are available, the total numbers of wholly unemployed men aged 18 years and over registered as applicants for employment as motor, steam or electric van, lorry, tractor or truck driver at employment exchanges in the areas specified were: London Administrative County, 1,360; Birmingham, 175; Manchester, 521; Liverpool, 1,200; Glasgow, 984. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered disabled persons on 17th June in the Northern Region; the number of unemployed registered disabled persons; and the number of unemployed disabled ex-Servicemen, 1939–45.

The number of registered disabled persons in the Northern Region on 17th June was 44,607; the number of unemployed at that date was 7,472, of whom 4,585 were ex-Service. Separate figures for 1939–1945 ex-Servicemen are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed building trade operatives there are in the borough of Bury St. Edmund's and the county of West Suffolk.

Three and ten respectively at 17th June.

asked the Minister of Labour if arrangements can be made for newly qualified teachers who have not done their period of military service to be called up immediately on leaving colleges and universities, in order to ensure that they will be available to take up teaching posts in the shortest possible time.

Under normal practice arrangements are made to call up before his turn any man who asks for that to be done, and I will see that newly qualified teachers are so informed.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an assurance that any interruption of the studies of a university student for service in the Forces or the mines will not exceed two academic years.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to intending undergraduates who will be called up for a specified period under the arrangements announced in the recent White Paper. Provided the young men are available for call-up shortly after the end of the summer term at school, they will not be kept away from their studies for more than two academic years.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now prepared to consider advancing the release date of undergraduates in age and service groups due to be released before 31st December, 1946, in order that they may begin studies at the commencement of the academic year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the hardship involved, he will reconsider the position of students who are anxious to begin a course at a Scottish university in October, 1946, but whose release from the Services would be one or two months subsequent to that date.

As I explained in reply to the hon. Member for the Sutton Division (Mrs. Middleton) on 30th May, I cannot extend the present arrangements for the release in Class B to include men in groups later than 55.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the case of a married couple in Barrow-in-Furness where the husband was granted an increase of 4s. 6d. in his Army pension which necessitated a reduction in pension of 2s. each for the husband and wife; and whether he will consider allowing the full old age pension to remain in such cases.

My attention has not been called to this particular case. Presumably, this is a non-contributory pension under the Old Age Pension Act, 1936. I have no power to vary the application of this Act by administrative arrangements, but these old age pensions, like others, will be increased in the autumn under the provisions of the National Insurance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the increase in farm produce prices, consequent on the fixing of higher farm wage rates, is to be borne by his Department on the food subsidies account; if there has also been an increase in the cost of imported food supplies; and if he will give a revised estimate of the annual cost of food subsidies on home supplies and imports.

Yes, Sir, since I am continuing to hold retail prices steady in accordance with the terms of my Budget Speech. The cost of imported food supplies has fallen since my Budget estimate, owing to enforced reductions in quantity. The revised estimate of the cost of food subsidies in this financial year is now £334 million, an increase of £16 million over my Budget estimate. Of this total, £191 million is for Home supplies and £143 million for imported supplies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total receipts of football pool proprietors is normally allowable for Income Tax purposes as a legitimate business expense.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration has been given to the position of assessors of taxes appointed as a result of the centralisation of collections on 1st November, 1936, who have held their appointments for just under 10 years and are therefore ineligible by a few months for compensation under Clause 53 of the Finance (No. 2) Bill, 1946.

The centralisation of the Collection Service took place from 1929 to 1936. Only 15 out of the present total of 155 assessors were appointed at the time referred to, and I see no reason to make any special concession in their favour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates would be the loss to the Revenue if an amount of the production expenditure upon each new full-length play produced for profit for the first time in the United Kingdom were exempted from Entertainment Tax, assuming such production expenditure as averaging £2,500 per play.

I regret that it is not practicable to make such an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of owner-occupied premises, covered by war damage contributions, for which war damage payments have not yet been made.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Report of the committee under the chairmanship of the late Sir John Clapham on the provision for social and economic research is ready: and whether it is to be published.

This report is to be published today as a Command Paper, and copies are available in the Vote Office. The Government accept the Recommendations of the Report.

asked the Minister of Health what was at the most recent convenient date, the total number of persons in Lancashire in receipt of public assistance; and what was the corresponding figure a year ago.

On 25th May, 1946, the total number including the county boroughs, was 66,394, as compared with 59,755 for 26th May, 1945.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the activities of some building firms in persuading people who desire to own their own houses to enter into contracts at present prices for the building of houses at some unspecified future date when present restrictions on house building may be relaxed; and whether, in view of the harmful effect such contracts are likely to have upon any prospects of reduction in the costs of building, he will take steps to warn the public about the inadvisability of signing such contracts.

I was not aware of this practice, which is certainly very much to be deprecated; I cannot think many people will be so imprudent as to indulge in it.

asked the Minister of Health what percentages of the permanent and temporary houses which, to date, have been erected by local authorities and private enterprise, respectively, are occupied or ready for occupation; and what are the totals which cannot be occupied owing to lack of minor internal fittings.

The number of houses completed by local authorities, and private developers respectively, is given in the Housing Returns which I publish monthly. Completed houses are houses which are occupied or ready for occupation. I am afraid that I have no figures to show how many houses which are structurally complete are not ready for occupation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a farmer at Kirby Bellars, Melton Mowbray, rents a house from the Melton and Belvoir Rural District Council to house a farm worker in his employment, uses it as a tied cottage and has secured from the Melton Mowbray Court an ejectment order and an order for possession within 28 days; and if he will investigate the case and take steps to prevent houses that are the property of local authorities from being treated as tied cottages

Yes, Sir. The facts of this case have recently been brought to my notice. It is contrary to policy that council houses should be let in this way and I am in communication with the council on this case. I have no know- ledge of any other cases of this kind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many new electricity schemes in rural areas are now being held up by the failure of applicants in existing houses to obtain W.B.A. priority for the necessary wiring; and whether he is prepared to make some con-cession in this matter in order that villages should not be deprived of electricity when the electric companies are prepared to make the necessary supply arrangements.

There is at present a short-age of certain electrical components, and W.B.A. priority for these can only be given to new housing since, without the components, new houses cannot be ready for occupation. As soon as the supply position is sufficiently improved. W.B.A. priority will be extended to the wiring of existing houses.

asked the Minister of Health what are the material terms of the instructions or recommendations given to the local authorities in relation to the re- quisitioning of houses or flats for tenants who are threatened with dispossession.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of Circular 75/46, dated 8th April, 1946, which I have sent to local authorities on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health the average price per super foot of the tenders approved by his Department during the last three months for the erection of new houses; and the cost per super foot of new houses completed during the last six months where the final bill has been agreed and paid.

To give the average price of tenders approved would be misleading, owing to the wide variation in local circumstances, and would tend to raise minimum price to the level of the average. The information requested in the last part of the Question is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will indicate the progress of the two schemes propounded in his Circular 92/46, dated 30th April last, under which small housebuilders were to be invited to build houses for sale to local authorities; and if he will arrange for statistical information relating to the two schemes to be included in his monthly Housing Return.

Approval has been given to the use of 51 sites for the erection of 1,387 dwellings, of which 95 were under construction on the 30th June. I hardly think that this information is of sufficient importance to be included separately in the monthly Housing Returns.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the increasing shortage of sanatorium accommodation at the present time; whether steps will now be taken on a national and international scale to assist the large numbers of early tubercular cases now awaiting sanatorium treatment; and whether he will take joint action with the responsible authorities to retain some of the existing E.M.S. hospitals for conversion into sanatoria.

The crucial factor is not shortage of accommodation but the dearth of nurses and other hospital workers which precludes the staffing of sufficient additional beds. Every effort is being made to remedy this.

asked the Minister of Health what improvement is being made in the staffing of maternity homes in Birmingham and district; and what proposals he has to this end.

The staffing of maternity homes here, as elsewhere, continues to be difficult. The measures to which I referred in reply to the hon. Member on 16th May are being continued, and I have recently announced increases in the salary scales of both wholetime and part-time midwives.

asked the Minister of Health on what date the Temporary Registration Scheme for alien medical practitioners expires; and what is the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to these doctors, particularly those of Allied nations.

Under the Emergency Laws (Transitional Provisions) Act, 1946, the scheme expires on 31st December, 1947, unless the relevant Defence Regulation is revoked earlier by Order in Council. Future arrangements are under consideration and it is not yet possible to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health how many children have contracted diphtheria after immunisation since the practice was first introduced; how many fatal cases have occurred after being immunised during the same period; what information he has of temporary or permanent injury to the health of such children following immunisation; and to what extent such children have been proved to be more likely to be subject to other diseases or illness in later life.

Returns from local authorities in England and Wales show that between January, 1940, and June, 1945, diphtheria notifications and deaths respectively numbered 19,040 and 142 among immunised children, as compared with 141,600 and 3,635 among children not immunised. Of some six million children immunised in England and Wales 14 cases have come to notice of later illnesses in the possible causes of which, I am advised, the diphtheria prophylaxis cannot be positively excluded as having had no part. I know of no evidence to support the suggestion in the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health what action has been taken to deal with the inadequate water supply to householders at Whinney Hill, Stockton-on-Tees, particulars of which have been sent to his Department by the hon. Member for Sedgefield.

A scheme is being prepared by the Stockton Rural District Council for laying a length of 4 in. water main, which will afford a better supply to this area. The Council have been informed that the scheme will be considered on its merits for grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of schemes received by him from the district councils and their estimated cost under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944; to how many he has given his sanction; and what progress is being made in carrying them out.

Formal applications for grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944, have been received from 148 local authorities in respect of 283 schemes estimated to cost £9,138,000. Thirty schemes, estimated to cost £379,500, have been recently finally approved, and a further 38 schemes, estimated to cost £1,254,000, have been approved in principle. I have not yet received returns of progress made.

asked the Minister of Health when it is anticipated that a water supply will be laid on to the parish of Cottisford, Oxfordshire; and whether it will be a piped supply or standpipes.

This parish is included in the scheme for a piped supply of water to the Ploughley Rural District to which I referred in my reply, on 4th July, to the hon. and gallant Member's question with regard to a supply of water to Weston-on-the-Green.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for Ploughley Rural District Council to prepare a sewerage scheme for Charlton-on-Otmoor, Oxfordshire.

The Question is one for consideration by the rural district in the first instance. For the reasons given in my reply on 27th June to the hon. and gallant Member's Question with regard to Bletchington, I do not propose to press the Council to prepare a sewerage scheme at the moment.

asked the Minister of Health when it is anticipated that a supply of piped water will be laid on to Stoke Lyne, Oxfordshire.

This parish is included in the scheme for a piped supply of water to the Ploughley Rural District to which I referred in my reply on 4th July to the hon. and gallant Member's Question with regard to a supply of water to Weston-on-the-Green.

asked the Minister of Health when he anticipates that a piped supply of water will be available in Maidensgrove, Henley-on-Thames.

The area is included in the comprehensive scheme of water supply in the Henley Rural District to which I referred in my reply on 11th July, to the hon. and gallant Member's question with regard to water supply to Pishill-with-Stonor, Oxfordshire. I am unable to forecast when the supply will be available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mrs. C. Barker, 118, Fairview Road, Penn, was refused a medical certificate by her doctor, of whose name he has been informed, on the ground that she attended an osteopath without the doctor's permission and thereby lost benefit from her friendly society; and if he will inquire into this case and take steps to rectify injustices of this nature.

I am aware of the doctor's refusal to issue a medical certificate in this case. An insurance doctor is under no obligation to issue a medical certificate to a patient who is obtaining treatment from some other person without his consent. The payment of sickness benefit is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance, but I understand that approved societies are required to give due consideration to whatever evidence of incapacity is submitted in support of a claim to benefit, and I am sending my right hon. Friend particulars of this case.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider taking the necessary steps to reduce the recruitment age for female nurses from 18 years to 16 years, and thus encourage girls leaving school at 16 years of age to take up directly nursing as a career, and also en- abling candidates to pass through the more elementary stages of the training at an earlier age.

The view has been taken that girls of 16 are too young for the physical and mental strain of nursing the sick and injured. They can, however, prepare themselves for a nursing career by taking an approved pre-nursing course, which enables them to sit Part I of the Preliminary State Examination before entry into hospital.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the difficulty of recruiting nurses in all branches of the profession, he will consider establishing facilities for the promotion and training of suitable members of the domestic staffs and thereby widening the promotional opportunities for such staffs.

Yes, Sir. I have already asked hospital authorities to give every facility to suitable domestic workers who wish to train as nurses.

asked the Minister of Food (1) by what authority certain hotels and restaurants make a house charge in addition to a charge for a meal; how many hotels and restaurants in London make a house charge; and what are the respective amounts of such charges;(2) whether, in view of the fact that making a house charge in addition to charging for a meal places the hotel or restaurant so doing in a position to buy food at more than the control prices, he will prohibit the making of house charges in such hotels and restaurants.

Licences to hotels and restaurants to impose a house charge are issued in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of the Meals in Establishments Order, 1942. The purpose of the charge is to meet exceptional costs and establishments making a house charge are not entitled to pay more than the permitted maximum prices for food, which in any event would be illegal. I do not propose to abolish house charges. The number of catering establishments in London authorised to make house charges is 127; the amount of the house charges varies from 6d. to 3s. 6d. for lunch and from 6d. to 6s. for dinner.

asked the Minister of Food if he will inquire into the high charges for bed and breakfast in certain London hotels; and if he will take powers to control such charges.

I will gladly look into this matter if my hon. Friend will let me have details of alleged overcharging. If the Government have evidence of widespread overcharging they will certainly consider how best to stop this kind of abuse.

asked the Minister of Food whether he proposes to make an allowance of 35 ounces of bread for agricultural workers during special periods of hard work on the farm, as well as during the harvest period; how he proposes to define such periods; and what allowance he proposes to make to other workers in agricultural districts in the building, transport and similar trades.

The agricultural workers themselves are regarded as manual workers receiving an allowance of 15 ounces of bread a day and in general they will qualify for a further 6 ounces a day because they need to take packed meals to work. The farmer will be able to obtain extra supplies at the daily rate of 14 ounces as part of the general arrangements for the supply of "harvest" allowances in respect of all workers during harvesting, haymaking, sheep-shearing, threshing, lambing, and hoeing and singling of root crops. In consultation with the Trades Union Congress I am always prepared to consider the special needs of other workers.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on the contribution in food supplies made by Northern Ireland to Great Britain as at the last convenient date since the close of the war with Japan.

This information is not immediately available. I am having a statement prepared and will circulate it is the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the estimated cost of the Special Armoured Devices Establishment for 1946–47.(2) when he intends to close down the Special Armoured Devices Establishment; or is it going to become a permanent postwar establishment.

It is not intended, at present, to close down this establishment. It is still needed for carrying out the user, tactical and field trials of fighting and other special vehicles and devices. How and by what establishment these functions will be carried out as a permanent measure has not yet been decided, but in the meantime this establishment will continue in its present form. For reasons of security it is not the practice to furnish particulars of the estimated cost of such establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether newspapers and parcels dispatched from this country to British soldiers in Greece, which take more than one month in transit, go through the A.P.O. at Nottingham; how far the delay is attributable to this; and how far to any other causes.

Yes, Sir: all the mail goes through the Army Post Office, Nottingham; but this does not result in any delay. Newspapers and parcels for Greece travel by sea, the average transit time varying between 17 to 24 days.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the claim for damages of Mr. F. C. Cooper, of Hampton-in-Arden, who was injured by a R.A F. vehicle on 22nd September, 1944, reference W/AM/ 40922/101 /ACG, has not yet been settled by the Claims Commission.

This has been rather a difficult case; an accountant's investiga- tion was necessary. The local representative of the Claims Commission is in touch with the claimant's solicitors and it is hoped that a settlement will not now be long delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for the delay in the dispatch of 14558869 Private F. E. Stokes, R.A.M.C., A. Military Hospital, M.E.F., from the Middle East on compassionate grounds, in view of the fact that his application was sent to the Middle East on 2nd July and his mother is critically ill.

I understand from the Overseas Command, with whom the decision rests in these cases, that the soldier left Cairo by air on 15th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) why the letter of the Junior Member for Oldham, of 18th June last, asking for information of the whereabouts of 14654321 Private J. T. Price, R.A.O.C., transferred to R.E.M.E., whose last known address was R.A.O.C. Pool X (4A) List, India Command, has not been dealt with;(2) the present address of 14654321 Private J. T. Price, R.A.O.C., transferred to R.E.M.E., whose last known address was R.A.O.C. Pool X (4A) List, India Command, and who left this country for an unknown destination by air on 20th January last and has not been heard of by his parents since; and why letters addressed to this man by his parents are being returned to them marked, "Not known."

As my hon. Friend was informed by letter on 12th July, I have cabled to India for a report on this case. A reply has not yet been received. The latest known address of the soldier is R.A.O.C. Reinforcement Pool, Central Ordnance Depot, Dehu Sidings S.O., Poona District, India Command. I am unable to say why letters have been returned from India marked "Not known," but I am making inquiries, and will write to my hon. Friend on both points as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds No. 5 Formation College, Luton Hoo, is being closed; and if he will take steps to see that the building and equipment is put to a useful public purpose.

This college is being closed because of the reduction in the number of troops now serving in the United Kingdom. Nos. 5 and 6 Formation Colleges were selected as the first two to be closed because the accommodation is inferior to that at the remaining three colleges. The question of the disposal of the premises is still under consideration and I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider complaints by men now training at the New Barracks, Lincoln, that they are not receiving the full rations to which they are entitled and take steps to remedy the situation.

These men were receiving the basic home service ration until 12th July, when the special supplement, provided for men engaged on strenuous work, was added to their ration in view of their heavy duties.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the total resources of a British soldier on leave in Jamaica are 8s. 1½d. a day and that it costs 15s. a day to stay in the cheapest place in the island; and whether he will concede a special lodging allowance to such British Army personnel.

I am investigating this complaint and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the inquiries are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for War the estimated annual cost of maintaining German and Italian prisoners of war in this country, giving the figures for each, respectively.

The costs of maintenance and other expenses relating to prisoners of war are brought to account under many different votes and, as stated by my hon. Friend on 25th June, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft), a separate estimate could not be prepared without a disproportionate amount of work by hard pressed staffs. I feel that the work would not be justified in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Works what he is doing to stop black-market activities in the building industry; and if he has any estimate of the number of building operatives so engaged at the present time.

As the hon. Member will be aware, the penalties for illegal building have been considerably increased. In addition I have strengthened the machinery for the detection of offences and vigorous action is taken to deal with the cases that come to light. I am unable to give an estimate in reply to the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Works to what extent dumps of building materials and components have been set up by the National Building Corporation; and which dump is the nearest to the city of Manchester.

The National Building Corporation is not yet established. The question of its having set up dumps of building materials and components does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that owners of vehicles on essential work are unable to obtain shock-absorbers for motor-cars; and if he will take steps to make these spare parts available, especially for vehicles which have to be used in conditions such as rough-surfaced roads in which springs are frequently broken.

There is at present a shortage of shock absorbers, but supplies are increasing. I was not aware that any vehicles engaged on essential work were immobilised on this account, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will let me have details, I will do all I can to help.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will appoint a special committee of inquiry into the sale of surplus Government vehicles, in view of the irregularities which took place at Ruddington over 25 amphibious ducks.

No, Sir. No irregularities took place. We received a number of inquiries for these amphibious Terrapins (not DUKWS). Tenders were therefore invited from all who had shown an interest—over 30 in number—and they were sold to the highest tenderers. The average price realised was about 10 per cent. of their original cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to bring to an end the thefts of U.N.R.R.A. supplies in China; and, since U.N.R.R.A. is 72 per cent. U.S. and 25 per cent. British finance, if he will consider recommending the same be charged to the Anglo-American Relief Organisation.

No specific cases of thefts of U.N.R.R.A. supplies in China have been brought to my notice. I am, however, informed that U.N.R.R.A. have recently suspended shipments to China— other than those of food and certain other essential commodities—on the ground that congestion in Chinese ports has led to pilfering and to the deterioration of relief supplies, and, I understand that this matter is being urgently investigated by the Administration.With regard to the second part of the Question. I am not clear to what Anglo-American Relief Organisation the hon. Member is referring. I understand, however, that his figures regarding the United Kingdom and United States contributions to U.N.R.R.A. are not entirely accurate. I should not be prepared to recommend that any losses which U.N.R.R.A. may have incurred through theft should be charged to other organisations; and it would, of course, not be possible to alter the existing financial arrangements of U.N.R.R.A. except by international agreement

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a statement as to the steps it is intended to take to implement the recommendations of the Anglo-American committee of inquiry that 100,000 certificates be authorised immediately for the admission into Palestine of Jewish victims of Nazi and Fascist persecution.

Discussions on all the recommendations made by the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry are now proceeding, between British officials and representatives of President Truman's Cabinet Committee on Palestine and related problems. I cannot make any further statement while these discussions are in progress.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the British Legion Club at Oakdale, Mon-mouth-shire, was burnt down and all the furniture destroyed in November last; that they have erected a temporary building to carry on their work but want a permit to purchase 150 chairs for the convenience of the members; that a firm is prepared to supply these chairs if a permit is granted; and if he will consider the granting of this permit.

I am making inquiries and will write to my right hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, since it is the declared policy of His Majesty's Government only to maintain controls whilst shortages exist, why Wool Control is kept when there are about four years' wool supplies available.

Control has been relaxed, but is still necessary for certain purposes, particularly in view of the shortage of labour in the woollen and worsted industry and the necessity for planning production of utility cloths and other goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the hon. Member for Hornsey can expect an answer to the letter sent to his Parliamentary Secretary, on 13th April, 1946, about Mr. J. O. Dale, who wants a licence to manufacture toilet preparations.

I have written to the hon. Member today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how long he contemplates being able to rely on prisoners of war to supplement the labour force in agricultural districts.

The retention of German prisoners in this country is not solely an agricultural matter but is concerned with questions of national and international policy. As my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has stated today, in reply to another Question on the Order Paper, a number of non-Nazi prisoners of war are being repatriated to meet particular requirements in Germany. My right hon. Friend fully appreciates the importance of the matter to which the right hon. Member refers but regrets that he cannot at this stage indicate the length of the period for which German prisoners will be available for agricultural work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, since it is his policy for essential home requirements of ploughs and tractors to have first priority, David Brown Tractors are exporting 65 per cent. of their production on the instuctions of his Department whilst British farmers have been waiting for as long as 12 months for delivery.

No such instructions have been given to David Brown Tractors. During the past nine months 13 per cent. of this firm's tractor output has gone for export.

asked the Prime Minister whether the volume of the official History of the Great War dealing with the campaign of Passchendaele, 1917, will be published this year as hoped, or what has caused the delay.

The volume of the official history which deals with Passchendaele is ready for the Press. The date of its publication will depend on the time taken to see through the Press two other volumes already with the printers and the Passchendaele volume itself. This will take rather longer than was formerly estimated, and the hope that it would be completed before the end of this year is now unlikely to be realised.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what measures are in contemplation for the security of rights and privileges, including pensions, of retired officers of the Indian Medical Department when the independent Indian Government takes over responsibility inasmuch as the Indian Medical Department is an un-covenanted service with no statutory protection; and whether, in the absence of such measures, he will grant statutory protection to these officers equal to that provided for covenanted services.

The position of retired personnel of the Indian Medical Department will receive due consideration when the time comes for the settlement of matters arising out of the transfer of power, but I regret that at the moment I can give no precise undertakings on the subject.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many approved societies are affected by the dispute about dental fees, and the total membership of these societies.

The provision of dental benefit is included in the additional benefit schemes of nearly 5,000 approved societies and branches, the total membership of which is about 13 million. All these societies are necessarily affected to a greater or less extent if there is difficulty in obtaining dental service at the agreed rates.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to restore the permanent licences and prewar privileges to compulsory River Thames pilots.

This matter is one for the Pilotage Authority, but I understand that the authority are of the opinion that it would not be in the interests of the pilots to restore the prewar licences pending the settlement of byelaws now under negotiation fixing the postwar pilotage rates.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when 1878198 L.A.C. Attley, H.Q. No. 3 Indian Group, whose father was informed that he was to be posted near to Cardiff for Service reasons as long ago as December, 1944, and who was given a further verbal assurance a month ago, can expect to arrive in this country.

We have recently authorised the release of this airman on compassionate grounds. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I hear from the command the date he sailed for home.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give a list of the members of the Book Selection Committee of the Control Office for Germany and Austria; and upon what principle British books are banned from admission to zones under that control.

The members of the committee are Miss Elizabeth Bowen, Mr. Gerrard Hopkins, Dr. R. B. Jones, Me. Alan Pryce-Jones, Mr. Goronwy Rees and Mr. Michael Sadleir. There is no ban on the admission of British books into our zones of Germany and Austria. The absence of a public parcel post and the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act mean, however, that the only books available in practice are those supplied under arrangements made by the Control Office, and, in the case of Austria, by the British Council. Most of these are published in translation in the zones concerned. The number of books which it is possible to supply is at present severely restricted owing to production difficulties, and the function of the Book Committee is to advise me on the best use of the limited resources available.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the allocation of paper to the British zone in Germany for the printing of text books for use in schools.

During the last six months 1,678 tons of paper have been allocated in the British zone of Germany for the printing of school text books, but production difficulties have prevented the allocation from being met in full

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the titles and authors of the books which have been passed for publication in the British zone of Germany indicating those which have actually been published.

The list is long, comprising 62 English and 875 German books. I am therefore sending the hon Member the complete list of English books and a representative list of the German books. So far, 439 of the German books have been published. The first of the English books should appear in the near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many applications were received by his Department from German students who wished to participate in the Basle Congress of Christian Students held on 21st June; and whether facilities were made available.

I have no knowledge of any such applications, but I am having further inquiries made in Germany; if any applications come to light I will communicate further with my hon. Friend.