asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will erect a telephone kiosk at Kidlington, Oxfordshire; and if he will take steps to improve the service at this telephone exchange.

There are already three telephone kiosks at Kidlington, Oxfordshire, but the Post Office is prepared to provide a fourth, at Gosford Turn if the local authority will undertake the usual contribution of £4 per annum for five years. Steps will be taken to improve the quality of the service at Kidlington exchange.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will erect a telephone kiosk at Fencott, Oxfordshire, as the nearest telephone to this village is a mile away, and at Blackthorn, Hethe, Hardwicke, near Bicester; and when it is anticipated each will be working, respectively.

Arrangements are already in hand to provide a kiosk at Blackthorn and it is expected that the work will be completed within two or three months. A public telephone already exists at Hethe. This will be replaced by a telephone kiosk, but in view of the heavy demands which are being made on the Post Office resources, it is not possible to say when this work can be put in hand. At Fencott and Hardwicke there are no spare wires available with which to provide service and in the case of Fencott there is no spare equipment at the appropriate exchange. In view of the exceptional amount of work involved, therefore, it is not possible to say when kiosks could be provided in these two localities. In any case, it would be necessary for the Local Authorities to undertake to pay the usual contribution of £4 annually for five years.

asked the Assistant Post-master-General if he will erect a telephone kiosk at Cottisford school crossroads, Oxfordshire; if the present military wire to the control box can be so used when the explosives in the neighbourhood have been removed; and if he will erect another kiosk at Juniper, in the parish of Cottisford.

I am prepared to erect a telephone kiosk at Cottisford school crossroads and another at Juniper, if the local authority will in each case contribute £4 annually for five years towards the installation. The military line at Cottisford could be used as the hon. Member suggests when it is surrendered by the Military Authorities, but at Juniper an underground cable would have to be laid because of the proximity of an air field and it is not possible at present to say when this work could be put in hand.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what sums of money are received from local authorities towards the upkeep of telephone kiosks; and whether, in the postwar plans of his Department, it is proposed to continue to levy these sums.

The Post Office undertakes to provide, free of charge, a public telephone kiosk wherever there is a post office or wherever there is a reasonable chance of the kiosk paying its way after two or three years. Where neither of these conditions apply, the Post Office will provide a kiosk if the local authority will contribute £4 a year for five years towards the cost in rural areas or will guarantee to make good the difference between receipts and expenses for seven years in urban areas. Because of the war, the programme for the provision of kiosks is considerably behind hand and, until more progress has been made in wiping off these arrears, it would be inopportune to make any change in the present basis of charging, which has the merit of indicating to the Post Office those cases to which local opinion attaches particular importance and of giving the local authority the power to decide where a kiosk is to be provided.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General at what hour registered letters are delivered in the E.I district of London if handed in at 5 p.m. on the previous day at an E.I district of London and at a W. C. district of London, respectively.

Registered letters handed in as stated should be delivered in the E.1 District by the first post the following morning. If delivery cannot be made because the premises are closed, they would be taken out again for delivery by the second post in the forenoon.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether a public telegraph service has yet been arranged between this country and the U.S. zone in Germany.

No, Sir. The reopening of international public telegraph services with Germany requires the authority of the Allied Control Commission and this has not yet been forthcoming. As regards a service to the Forces in the U.S. zone, this is a matter for decision by the U.S. authorities in that zone but the Post Office has indicated its willingness to participate.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what are the technical reasons which prevent clear reception in Moscow of B.B.C. Russian broadcasts.

I am not aware of any reasons why the B.B.C. Russian broadcasts should not be clearly received in Moscow, and in fact all available information shows that clear reception of those broadcasts is obtained there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why ex-Dutch soldiers who are engaged to be married to British women are not allowed to visit this country on holiday.

I think there must be some misunderstanding. An application to come to this country for a short stay for the purpose of visiting a fiancee would be granted in the absence of any special reason for the contrary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to state when Bruno Bernard, an Austrian subject, details of whom have been given him, will be repatriated, following an extended stay in Brixton prison.

This man's repatriation had to be delayed until the authorities in Austria agreed to receive him. This agreement has just been received and he will be repatriated in the next party which will leave, I hope, within a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why His Majesty's Vice-Consul at St. Malo recently prevented three Spanish Republican exiles from travelling to Jersey for the potato harvest although they were in possession of the necessary passports and permits.

The admission of aliens to Jersey is a matter for the Island authorities. I understand these authorities sent representatives to St. Malo to recruit and grant visas to foreign workers required for the potato harvest and these representatives selected Bretons and other French nationals of whom there was an adequate number available

asked the Minister of Pensions why pensioners of the South African War are subject to a means test.

The widows of men who lost their lives through service in the South African War, and a substantial proportion of men pensioned for disablement due to service therein, are in receipt of pensions at the rates applicable to World War pensioners. These pensions are not subject to any means test. There are some disablement pensioners who did not qualify under the provisions which were made for bringing South African War pensions to World War rates, because on medical examination it was found that with the passage of time their war disablement had become too slight to justify a pension under those provisions. These men retain their existing pensions and are, moreover, entitled to apply for their pensions to be increased under the Pensions (Increase) Warrants. Increases under these Warrants are subject to an income test, like those under the Pensions (Increase) Acts on which they are based.

asked the Minister of Pensions when he will complete his inquiries into the case of Mr. P. Livock, c/o 14, Kew Bridge Court, Chiswick, W.4, who is anxious to secure a grant under the Further Education and Training Scheme and who is due to start his course at Reading University early in September, in view of the fact that his application for a grant is held up pending a decision on this case by his Department.

An inquiry was received on 20th May when it was believed that the officer's date of discharge was towards the end of April. Actually he was not discharged until 23rd July and the Army documents in connection with his case were received on 26th June. The information required from my Department in connection with Mr. Livock's application was furnished on 9th July.

asked the Minister of Labour how many actors, actresses and other employees of theatres are unemployed.

The available information relates to the numbers of actors, actresses and certain other theatre employees registered as unemployed at employment exchanges. At 17th June, 1946, the numbers so registered were 118 men and 39 women.

asked the Minister of Labour what penalties may be enforced against workers under the Essential Word. Order who refuse to handle perishable foodstuffs.

No special penalties are provided for refusal to handle perishable food. The maximum penalty, on summary conviction, for failure to comply with a reasonable and lawful order is imprisonment for three months or a fine not exceeding £100, or both.

asked the Minister of Labour why lists of all vacancies are not exhibited at employment exchanges as before the war, so that all unemployed, as well as the officials, can be aware of the opportunities that exist.

The employment situation is very different from that existing before the war and I am considering what policy should now be adopted regarding the exhibition of lists of vacancies at my local offices.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the reason for the recent increase in charges to the residents of the Industrial Hostel, Barnoldswick; what profit was made by the hostel for the last financial year, or alternatively, to what extent was the hostel subsidised from public funds; is the hostel fully occupied at the present time; and, if not, what plans he has for making the surplus accommodation available to the general public.

The reasons for the forthcoming increase in charges to the residents of Government Industrial Hostels are set out in my reply of 2nd July to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. William Paling), to which I would refer the hon. Member. Detailed figures of the losses on individual hostels are not available. During the 1945–46 financial year the deficit incurred by the National Service Hostels Corporation, Ltd., in managing industrial hostels on behalf of my Ministry was approximately £230,000. This figure excludes the substantial cost of rents and of heating and maintenance services provided by the Ministry of Works, the figure for which is not available. The Hostel is not fully occupied at present. Industrial hostels are provided by the National Service Hostels Corpora-tion to meet the needs of certain specified classes of transferred workers for whom the accommodation must be reserved in the national interest. In these circumstances it is not practicable to make accommodation, temporarily surplus to requirements, available to the general public.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled persons attending training schemes in the Northern Region; and the number who have completed courses and have been placed in employment since the inception of the scheme.

In this Region on 1st July, 1946, 319 disabled persons were in training under the Ministry's scheme. Since the inception of the scheme, 848 disabled persons in this Region have completed courses of training, of whom 715 have so far been placed in employment by the Ministry after training.

asked the Minister of Labour how many businesses or works in Fal-mouth are still under the Essential Work Order.

Twelve.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the working of the Reinstatement in Civil Employment Act, 1944, in Aberdeen during the last four months or other convenient period.

The Act appears to be working smoothly at Aberdeen as elsewhere. Difficulties have, of course, arisen in individual cases, which have been referred to the Reinstatement Committee for decision. The number of cases so referred during the period of four months ending 30th June, 1946, was 37.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that bakers in Edin- burgh are unable to find the clerical staff necessary to operate the bread rationing scheme except on a cash and carry basis; and what plans he has for obviating this restriction of public service and convenience.

No, Sir. In Edinburgh there are only two outstanding vacancies for clerical staff for this purpose and in each case applicants for the posts have been submitted.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is now intended to set up a Commission to inquire into the loss of British Malaya and the fall of Singapore and all relevant matters.

No, Sir. It is still too early to assess all the factors which would have to be taken into account in appraising the events leading up to the loss of British Malaya and the fall of Singapore. I would ask my hon. Friend to await publication of the Official History of the War.

asked the Prime Minister whether a decision has yet been reached as to which Ministry will be responsible permanently for dealing with coast erosion.

No, Sir. The investigation referred to in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council on 27th May to the hon. and gallant Member for Horncastle (Commander Maitland) is continuing, but is not yet completed.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of deferments granted to apprentices and others during the last 12 months at the Falmouth docks, together with the number of apprentices granted deferment who are employed in other businesses in Falmouth.

I regret that the information desired is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will investigate the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of certain students of a college of London University, called up in 1943 for National Service, who will have completed three years in that Service on 13th September, 1946, but are precluded by existing regulations from release under Class B because they will not have completed that service before 1st September; and, as the original delay in joining the Service was caused by slowness of machinery of enlistment and as these students have been accepted from next September by the college concerned to complete their degree course in science, if he will accelerate their release to enable them to do so.

The time taken during the war to place men in work of national importance necessarily varied, as did the time taken to call men up into the Forces. To make exceptions in the manner suggested would be to give civilians an unjustifiable advantage over members of the Forces.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of sterling securities held by French subjects; and what representations His Majesty's Government is making to the French Government about the disposal of them.

I have been asked to reply. The amount is not known. The Anglo-French Financial Arrangements of 29th April, 1946, contained in Command Paper 6809, provided for the use of French-owned sterling securities to cover French sterling needs. These arrangements are being carried out. We are in constant and friendly touch with the French on these matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will permit coalface miners exemption from Pay-as-you-Earn on output earnings which are in excess of those required for the minimum wage, from 1st October to 1st January, in order to provide concrete evidence on which to base his next Budget proposals;(2) if he will allow all agricultural workers' overtime to be free of Pay-as-you-Earn for the harvest period.

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, why Messrs. J. H. Bean & Company, Limited, builders' and plumbers' merchants, Leeds and Grimsby, were refused permission to issue 4,500 shares to certain employees actively engaged in the business, on the grounds that it was against the national interest; and if he will give more flexibility to the Capital Issues Committee in dealing with such cases.

The ban on bonus issues is only waived in exceptional circumstances, and the Treasury was not satisfied that this case was exceptional.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will authorise the transfer of sufficient funds to the U.S.A. to enable the return to this country of the family about which there has been correspondence with the Treasury; and whether the monthly transfers now permitted will be continued until such time as shipping space can be found for the journey.

Yes, Sir, within reason.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, in spite of appeals to persons who would normally retire to continue their employment because of the nation's need of manpower, employees at His Majesty's Stationery Office have been notified that the old practice of retiring employees, on reaching the age of 65 is being reverted to and that their employment will be so terminated; and whether he will take steps to deal with the matter.

Retirement at 65 is not at present enforced by the Stationery Office in those cases where retention would be in the interests of efficiency, but the return of men from the Forces entitled to reinstatement, or reduction of wartime work, is liable to create a surplus of manpower in the Department, and the industrial staff generally have been warned of the normal possibility that they may be retired at 65.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that over 20 Army huts on site 309, East Boldon, County Durham, are fitted with bathrooms, washing basins and electric light; and if, in view of the grave shortage of housing accommodation on the north-east coast, he will authorise the local authority concerned to use these huts for emergency housing accommodation.

I understand the camp referred to is a permanent Ordnance Camp which, though not fully occupied now, will shortly be occupied by a medical depot. There is no immediate prospect of its release by the Service authorities.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the growing custom of the courts to grant eviction orders against tenants to enable previous tenants or owners to resume possession, whether he is aware that some of these evicted tenants have had to be accommodated in wartime rest centres; and whether particular attention will be given to the need of ensuring that urgent accommodation of this character, with suitable amenities, shall be available either in the municipality of the evicted tenants or elsewhere.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of these unfortunate cases, and particular attention will be given to the accommodation which can be made available, though the main effort of local authorities must be directed towards providing accommodation of a more permanent kind.

asked the Minister of Health if public assistance authorities have been authorised to store furniture and effects of families made homeless through Court orders.

No question of special authorisation arises, but I have no doubt that the authorities will do what they find practicable on the merits of each case.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the frequent resale of houses, often before stamp duty has been paid for the completion of the first transaction at increasing prices, and especially in view of the case of 12 Cedars Gardens, Brighton, of which he has been informed, he will consider issuing an order to prevent the resale of houses within six months of purchase.

This is one aspect only of the control of the selling price of houses and, as I have previously stated, I can hold out no prospect of legislation in this matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Regulations will empower local authorities who purchase houses under the terms of Circular 92/46 to sell those houses in the future to any tenants who wish to buy them; and on what terms.

Houses erected under Circular 92/46 are in this matter subject to the same conditions as other houses provided by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health how many Airey rural houses have been applied for by the rural district councils; and whether it was his intention to allocate the whole of the first 20,000 through those councils.

Over 9,000 Airey rural houses have now been applied for by rural district councils. I should like, however, to take this opportunity of emphasising that an application by a local authority for these prefabricated houses cannot be taken as a firm order until the particulars asked for in the enclosure to Circular 86/46, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, have been supplied; and the number of firm orders is at present less than 3,000. I am urging the councils concerned to supply the necessary particulars, and any assistance my hon. Friend can give me will be welcome. I hope that most of the 20,000 Airey rural houses for which components are being produced will be allocated to rural district councils; but if the response of these authorities is inadequate or belated, it will be necessary to offer these houses to urban areas.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of the permanent houses now being erected for the county borough of Wallasey are at a cost exceeding 25s. per super foot; and what percentage is below that figure.

Approved tender prices for the permanent houses now under construction for the county borough of Wallasey are all below 25s. per superficial foot.

asked the Minister of Health what is the position in regard to the temporary houses required by the borough council of Bexhill-on-Sea; and if he has considered the previous request for information by the hon. Member for Rye and the anxiety caused to the Bex-hill Council by the long delay

The foundation slabs are ready for the 39 houses on one site and another site for 41 houses is expected to be ready for slabbing next month. As has been explained in a letter sent on 23rd July to the hon. Member there has been delay due to shortage of asbestos in the production of Uni-Seco houses, the type allocated to Bexhill, but deliveries will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to protect families, whose children qualify for the receipt of family allowances, against the exploitation of these allowances by landlords through additional rent charges.

The tenants of unfurnished lettings to which the Rent Restrictions Acts apply are protected against unauthorised increases in rent and rent tribunals are now being established under the Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act, to which the tenants of furnished lettings may apply.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that unscientific fuel burners are being installed in new and reconditioned houses; and if he will require all Government-subsidised housing schemes to be equipped with the latest appropriate scientific equipment.

With the present stringency of supplies, the type of appliance installed must depend on what is available. The Government are taking steps to increase the production of approved appliances and I hope shortly to be in a position to advise local authorities what appliances have been approved, with particulars of cost and where they can be ordered.

asked the Minister of Health how many requisition notices have been posted on unoccupied house property by the Colchester Borough Council and the Lexden and Winstree Rural District Council, respectively, since the power to issue such notices was conferred on local authorities; and in how many cases the two councils, respectively, have actually taken over such property for rehousing purposes.

The information is as follows:

Colchester Borough
Notices Posted	65
Properties taken over	11
Lexden and Winstree Rural District
Notices Posted	11
Properties taken over	7

asked the Minister of Health the approximate cost per house, erected under Government or local government supervision, of the salaries and other expenses of the officials of his and other Departments engaged in work connected with the housing programme.

The cost of salaries and of other expenses, excluding accommodation, of officials in the Ministry of Health who are engaged on work connected with the housing programme is approximately £375,000. I am not able to give the figures for officials in other Departments. The Housing Returns which I publish monthly give the number of houses built, building or in train.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate cost of fireplaces, baths and kitchen fittings, respectively, in houses erected under Government or local government supervision.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the possibility of using disused military camps and hutments for the temporary accommodation of families in urgent need of housing; and if the appropriate local authorities could be authorised to control such camps and allocate necessitous cases.

Arrangements already exist whereby surplus Government property, including Service camps and hutments, can be made available to local authorities for housing purposes. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a Circular which has been issued to authorities on the subject. The management and allocation of the dwellings is in the hands of the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if his advisers have, as yet, come to any decision as to the periods at which mass photographs of the population should be made, in order to diagnose early cases of tuberculosis.

I am advised that there can be no standard rule about frequency of examination. Regular survey of the same groups is obviously desirable, but present resources—which are steadily increasing—still keep us short of that ideal.

asked the Minister of Health approximately how many have now been examined by miniature X-ray methods; how many have been found to be suffering from any form of tuberculosis; how many who should receive hospital treatment are unable to find hospital accommodation; and what progress is now being made towards providing suitable treatment and accommodation.

The number of civilians examined by mass radiography in England and Wales up to 31st December, 1945, was approximately 797,000, of whom 2,900 were diagnosed as suffering from active tuberculous conditions. Of those requiring institutional treatment 830 had been admitted to such treatment up to 31st December last, and admissions since then will have substantially increased this number. I cannot give the exact figure of those who have had to be placed on the waiting list for sanatorium beds because of the prevailing shortage of hospital staff but I can assure my hon. Friend that unceasing efforts are being made to remedy this shortage.

asked the Minister of Health how many mentally deficients are now in appropriate institutions compared with six months ago; what percentage of the total number of mental deficients this represents; and what plans exist to meet the present needs of suitable accommodation, particularly in view of the many cases of domestic unhappiness imposed on parents and on other children owing to mental deficients having to be cared for in their own homes.

I regret that figures of the number of mental defectives now in institutions are not available, but the number on 1st January last was 52,788. This is approximately 20 per cent. of the estimated total number of defectives in the country, many of whom, however, do not require institutional care. I have authorised the Board of Control to consider plans for the provision of additional accommodation for low grade and tubercular patients, whose care in ordinary homes imposes great hardship upon parents.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the amendment of the smoke abatement law.

If my hon. and gallant Friend will write and let me know what amendments of the law he has in mind, I will consider them.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Welsh Board of Health have instructed the House Committee of the Carnarvonshire and Anglesey Infirmary to vacate Heath Home, Llanfairfechan, by 30th September, 1946, although the home has been utilised as an annexe to the infirmary since 1940; and whether, in view of the critical situation which will arise if the infirmary is deprived of the annexe, he will take steps to ensure that Heath Home is retained for hospital purposes at least until full alternative accommodation has been secured.

The owners of this convalescent home have given proper notice under the tenancy agreement, and I cannot ignore their pressing need for their premises. I have, however, already undertaken to consider sympathetically proposals for adapting alternative premises which the infirmary has in view.

asked the Minister of Health in view of the urgent need for the recruitment of female nurses, if he will arrange for the employment of girls who leave school at the age of 16 years and who intend taking up nursing as a career, in hospitals on work that would not be too severe a strain either mentally or physically, but would enable them to study for the preliminary examinations and accustom them to the life of their chosen profession.

Many hospitals already employ girls of this age on work away from the wards. This is useful preparation for a nursing career, though there are, of course, other suitable occupations, outside the hospital, in which valuable experience may also be gained. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Education is encouraging the establishment of more part-time pre-nursing courses for girls who are in employment.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the current epidemic of dysentery, attributed to food poisoning, in mid-Essex; approximately how many persons have been affected; and what steps he is taking to prevent an extension or recurrence of this outbreak.

Yes, Sir. The number of persons affected cannot be stated, since it appears that the majority were not ill enough to seek medical attention. The local health authorities have taken due sanitary precautions to guard against a recurrence of the outbreak.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the setting up of an independent commission to inquire into the progress, if any, made by the various uses of radium in the cure of cancer.

I do not consider such a commission to be necessary, since the progress of cancer research and treatment is kept continuously under review by the bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the percentage of deaths per 1,000 of population of England and Wales from cancer during the past ten years; and if there has been any appreciable reduction in this percentage owing to earlier diagnosis.

The following are the death rates per 1,000 population in England and Wales from cancer, 1936–1945:

1936	…	…	…	…	1.575
1937	…	…	…	…	1.583
1938	…	…	…	…	1.616
1939	…	…	…	…	1.628
1940	…	…	…	…	1.723
1941	…	…	…	…	1.780
1942	…	…	…	…	1.834
1943	…	…	…	…	1.899
1944	…	…	…	…	1.897
1945	…	…	…	…	1.933
					(provisional)

The rates for the years 1939 to 1945 relate to civilians only. Although these rates show an increase, my information is that earlier diagnosis is resulting in reduced mortality, which is concealed by the simultaneous increase in ascertainment through better facilities for diagnosis and treatment.

asked the Minister of Health how many intimations he has received from hospitals saying that they are having to dispose of their assets in default of voluntary contributions since the announcement of the introduction of a health service scheme.

I have been approached by a few hospitals about their general position, but I am not aware of any case of the kind described by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether the officers appointed by him to make a survey of the extent and effects of coast erosion have completed their investigations; and whether their report has been considered.

No, Sir. I do not expect that this comprehensive survey will be completed before the autumn.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of the differences which have arisen between the Glamorganshire County Council and the governors of St. Illtyd's College, Cardiff, with regard to the provision of places for pupils from surrounding districts; and what steps she proposes to take in order to enable these pupils to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents.

I understand that some parents living in Rhiwbina, Glamorgan, recently asked the local education authority for that area to accept financial responsibility for the education of their children at St. Illtyd's College, Cardiff, and that this request was refused. An application has since been received under Section 15 (2) of the Education Act, 1944, for a direction that the school should be an aided voluntary school. If this application is granted, it will be open to the governors, by arrangement with the Cardiff local education authority, to admit children living in Glamorgan, and the Cardiff authority will be able to claim contributions from the Glamorgan authority under the provisions of Section 106 of the Act. Such contributions cannot be refused except under a direction from the Minister. My right hon. Friend has indicated to local education authorities in Circular 83, dated 14th January, 1946, the general principles on which she considers that they should cooperate in matters of this kind, and I am sending a copy of this Circular to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to acquire the premises at Luton Hoo for use as an emergency teachers' training college now that the War Office has decided to close down No. 5 Formation College.

This building could be suitably adapted for use as an emergency training college for teachers, but it would also be very suitable for a training centre under the vocational training scheme of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. The future use of the building is at present being discussed with him.

asked the Minister of Education whether she is aware of certain anomalies and minor injustices in the working of the Burnham scales for schoolteachers; and whether she will take steps to cause a comprehensive review of such scales to be made at an early date in order to remove such anomalies and minor injustices.

The present salary scales for school teachers, which have been recommended by the Burnham Committees and approved by the Minister, remain in force for a period of three years ending on 31st March, 1948; but during that period the committees are free to consider and to submit to her recommendations for their amendment or modification in any particular respects in which they consider it necessary or desirable to do so.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the delays and congestion in the Personal Application Department in the Probate Registry at Somerset House, he will increase the staff.

The Personal Application Department has now been removed to Ingersoll House, 9, Kings-way, W.C.2, where the premises are more commodious and suitable. Personal applicants are able to be dealt with privately in separate rooms. The staff of the Department has already been increased and will be further increased as and when required.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that diabetics have their sugar coupons cancelled and that in consequence they do not receive the supplementary allocation intended for jam preserving; and whether he will remedy this injustice by issuing them with coupons to obtain the jam preserving-sugar.

There is nothing to add to the reply on this matter given to the hon. Member on 22nd July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Palestine publication, "Kol-haam," has been forbidden publication for four weeks for exposing anti-Jewish activities on the part of certain members of the Palestine administration; and if he will take immediate steps to get this prohibition of publication withdrawn.

I have no information about the suspension of this publication. I will make inquiry of the High Commissioner for Palestine and communicate with the hon. Member on receipt of his reply.

asked the Minister of Food what advisers he took with him on his visit to the U.S.A.; and what are their business qualifications.

My visit to Canada and the United States was primarily to discuss the question of a wheat contract with the former country and to attend the opening meeting of the International Emergency Food Council in Washington. I took with me the deputy secretary of the Ministry of Food, the head of the Cereals Division and the finance director of the Cereals Division. The latter two remained in Ottawa for discussions on the wheat contract and did not go to Washington. I had the assistance, both in Canada and the United States of members of the British Food Mission at Ottawa and the British Food Mission at Washington. Both missions contain officers with business experience in the trades from which they are drawn.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for the 5.30 King's Cross train to Newcastle to stop at Durham, as was the case up to 1939, and so help the many people of Durham who often make their journey from London.

I am making inquiries on this subject and will arrange for a statement to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the congestion at Euston station, due to the decision of the railway company not to issue platform tickets; and if he will take action on this question.

No, Sir. The issue of platform tickets at Euston is suspended between 12 noon and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and between 7 p.m. and midnight on Sundays to ease platform working. I am informed that this does not cause any serious congestion outside the barriers, but the position will be carefully watched.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make arrangements for an omnibus service to include Maidensgrove, Henley-on-Thames.

Maidensgrove is within half a mile of two omnibus services running between Watlington and Henley-on-Thames. The Regional Transport Commissioner has received no application for authority to extend either of these services to Maidens-grove and is of opinion that such a proposal would be difficult to justify.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of heavy oil, light oil and electric hackney vehicles, other than tramcars, as at February, 1946.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 8th July to a similar question by the hon. Member for West Leicester (Mr. Janner).

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the No. 11 omnibus service between Beaufort Street and the House of Commons is so overcrowded between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. that fares are habitually kept waiting 40 to 50 minutes; and if he will take steps to bring about an improved service.

The statement contained in this Question is not confirmed by the general experience of the London Passenger Transport Board or by a special check which was made on 17th July between 7.45 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. On that occasion, the largest wait at Beaufort Street was one of 12 minutes on the part of four passengers; at Chelsea Town Hall the maximum wait was eight minutes by two passengers. Some delay is inevitable at the peak periods, but every effort is being made to shorten it as much as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport how many motor-omnibus companies demand a deposit upon the issue of initial season tickets in addition to the cost.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th July, 1946, Vol. 425, c. 4], supplied the following statement:My inquiries show that three motor omnibus companies require deposits upon the issue of season tickets.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now increase the allowance of petrol for tradesmen's delivery vans.

Since last August it has been the practice of Regional Transport Commissioners to issue the fuel required for any reasonable delivery services which retailers are prepared to give.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs why no explanatory memorandum accompanies the Merchant Shipping (Registration of New Zealand Government Ships) Order, 1946 (S.R. & 0., 1946, No. 1086); and if he will explain the effect of Article 13, which specifically refers to 437 sections of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and to three other Statutes.

This Order was not regarded as falling within the category of those calling for explanatory memoranda. The purpose of the Order, which was issued at the request of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, is to provide for the registration of New Zealand Government ships as British ships in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Acts which are the relevant law in force in New Zealand. The effect of Article 13 is to exempt New Zealand Government ships from various legal requirements applicable to British ships generally.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will consider loaning R.A.F. "Queen Mary" trailers to farmers during the coming harvest season to help bring in the crops.

There is an Air Ministry Order authorising commanding officers to hire R.A.F. mechanical transport to farmers at harvest time. Unfortunately there is a shortage of both drivers and tractors for these trailers so I do not think they will be as much help as other R.A.F. transport.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will grant to men who, even if they expressed preference for another service, were conscripted into the N.F.S. the same rights as ex-Service-men in rehabilitation in business.

I do not see my way to add to the priority classes eligible for assistance in opening shops at present, but I will keep my hon. Friend's point in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now permit the sale of men's utility socks to be sold coupon free, because outfitters still have large stocks not asked for since the re-introduction of men's long socks for sale.

No, Sir. I have no general evidence that stocks of austerity short socks are frozen but I am keeping the position constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to indicate when British troops will be withdrawn from Greece.

No, Sir. I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks) on 3rd April.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, in view of the shortage of timber and tiles for roofing, he will reverse the decision of the North Kent Joint Planning Committee in refusing to pass the plans submitted by Mr. A. W. Lake, 12, Bryant Road, Strood, for a bungalow wife a concrete roof, on the ground that it would be detrimental to the amenities of the area.

It is for the Strood Rural District Council in the first place, after consultation with the North Kent Joint Planning Committee, to give a decision on the application referred to, and I understand that no decision has yet been given by them It would be open to the applicant to appeal to me under Section 10 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, against the decision when given if he is dissatisfied with its terms and if the matter comes to me on appeal I shall, of course, give full consideration to all aspects of the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why His Majesty's Government proposes to send an official of the Ministry of Labour to Greece for the purpose of advising the Greek Government on the work and formation of trade unions; and why His Majesty's Government refuse to accept the validity of the Greek T.U.C., an organisation recognised by the World Federation of Trade Unions.

My hon. Friend will no doubt be aware that the Greek Ministerial Order 24792, under the provisions of which the provisional governing body of the Greek Confederation of Labour was appointed, has been declared illegal by the Greek Council of State's decision on an appeal lodged against the order by the trade union leader, M. Makris. The result appears to be that the Greek Trade Union Movement must now revert to its position in February, 1945, and must, therefore, frame machinery for trade union elections and must form a new provisional executive body.His Majesty's Government are anxious to encourage the growth of strong trade unions in Greece and are as a result most concerned at the present stalemate. The question whether His Majesty's Government can in any way assist the Greek Labour organisations and the Greek Government to find a solution to their present difficulties is at present under consideration.It is not for His Majesty's Government either to accept or reject the validity of the Greek Confederation of Labour, which is an internal matter for the Greek people to work out for themselves. The Greek Government recognise the validity of the confederation, though not of its present governing body, and His Majesty's Government are glad to offer any assistance which they can both to the Greek Government and to the confederation.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in reference to Command 6750, whether he will now give particulars of the new lodging allowances payable to members of the Armed Forces and furnish information as to the revision of other allowances referred to in paragraph 39 of Command 6750.

Yes, Sir. The rates of lodging allowance have now been settled. A supplementary allowance, to be known as London allowance, will also be paid to personnel stationed in London to meet the extra cost of working in the London area. The basis of ration allowance has also been revised.In the following statement reference is made to Army ranks, but all these arrangements apply also to corresponding ranks in the Navy and Royal Air Force and in the Women's Auxiliary Services:

asked the Secretary of State for War with reference to paragraph 65 of Command Paper No. 6750, whether he can now state what arrangements as regards pay and allowances and retired pay will apply to members of the nursing services.

Members of the Nursing Services of the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force at present receive rates of pay based on those recommended for civilian nurses in the First Report of the Nurses Salaries Committee (Cmd. 6424). It has now been decided to revise these rates in the light of increases in the rates of pay which have been recommended for application to civilian nurses as from 1st January, 1946. The rates at present in force, and the revised rates, are as follow:

Rank	Present Rates. Annual.	Revised Rates. Annual.
	£	£
Sister	105(a)	130(a)
1 year	130	160
2 years	140	170
3 years	150	180
4 years	160	190
5 years	170	200
6 years	180	210
7 years	180	220
8 years	180	220
9 years	180	220
10 years	200	220
11 years	—	220
12 years	—	240
13 years	—	240
14 years	—	240
15 years	—	240
16 years	—	240
17 years	—	260
Senior Sister	220	250
1 year	230	260
2 years	240	270
3 years	250	280
Matron	275	300
1 year	300	325
2 years	325	350
3 years	350	375
4 years	375	400
5 years	400	425
6 years	—	450
Principal Matron	500	525
Chief Principal Matron	610	635
Matron in Chief
Navy and R.A.F.	700	725
Army	730	755

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to make a statement on the question of the extra pay issuable in respect of service at headquarters of Service Departments, to which reference is made in paragraph 18 of Cmd. 6750.

It has been decided that headquarters pay is inappropriate under the new pay code, and it will therefore, not be issuable to male officers after 30th June, 1946. It will, however, remain in issue to members of the Women's Auxiliary Services temporarily as part of the general standstill arrangements. With reference to the note to paragraph 66 (i) of Cmd. 6750, headquarters pay in issue on 30th June, 1946, will be taken into account in determining an officer's "war excess"; the "war excess" will, however, be abated by the amount of such pay when the officer ceases to hold an appointment at the headquarters establishment in accordance with the rule in paragraph 66 (i) of Cmd. 6750.

asked the Secretary of State for War the average battle casualties incurred by infantry battalions, other than motorised battalions, which formed part of the British Liberation Army continuously from 1st July, 1944, until the conclusion of hostilities, giving separate figures for officers and other ranks.

I cannot give average figures by battalions but the total infantry (less motorised) battle casualties in 21st Army Group from 6th June, 1944, to 8th May, 1945, were 4,723 officers and 78,724 other ranks (killed, wounded, prisoner of war and missing). These represented 48 per cent. and 60 per cent. respectively of the total British officer and other rank casualties incurred in 21st Army Group during that period.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many public rights-of-way in each of the administrative counties of England and Wales were barred by his Department on 31st May, 1945, 31st May, 1946, and 30th June, 1946, respectively

The following table shows the numbers of roads and footpaths on which closing orders under Defence Regulation 16 were in operation, on the dates requested, in England, Scotland and Wales.

Date.	Roads.	Footpaths.	Total.
31st May, 1945	495	246	741
31st May, 1946	331	167	498
30th June, 1946	323	159	482

These exclude highways included in the omnibus closing orders relating to East Holme, Thetford, Orford, Imber, Senny-bridge and Corsham. Action is in hand for the reopening of individual roads and footpaths as and when circumstances permit, and all commands have been instructed to ensure that although a closing order under Defence Regulation 16 is in force, the road or footpath should not be kept closed unnecessarily.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for the failure to derequisition Down House Cottage, Down House, Blandford, Dorset, which is now empty; and give a date on which this cottage will be free for housing purposes.

I am aware that the cottage is empty at present, but it is not possible to derequisition it as it is within the perimeter of existing camps which are still required. There is no entry to the cottage save through the camps. The camps are either in use for German prisoners of war or earmarked for Polish units.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Upton can expect an answer to his letters concerning the compassionate discharge of Craftsman H. Marshall.

An answer has been sent to my hon. Friend today.