asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when electricity will be supplied to the villages of Stoke Lyne and Hardwick, Oxfordshire, where the poles were delivered in 1939 and subsequently removed before erection.

The Wessex Electricity Company inform me that they will supply these villages as soon as materials are available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he anticipates that electric light will be installed in all the houses in Maidensgrove, Henley-on-Thames.

Certain premises in Maidensgrove were provided with electricity in 1939 and during the war no further applications for supply were received. I am, however, informed that the Supply Company have already made arrangements to provide a supply to the remaining premises in Maidensgrove as soon as the necessary materials and labour are available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will clarify the Government's policy on the use of reinforced concrete poles for the supply of electricity in rural areas.

To supply rural areas with electricity at the earliest possible date the Government are encouraging the use of concrete poles wherever practicable. A technical committee is studying the possibility of reducing the cost of concrete poles which, as I informed the hon. Member on the 2nd April, is higher than the cost of wooden poles.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to make a supplementary petrol allowance to Flight-Lieutenant L. G. Head, of Portsmouth, for use in his professional duties, particulars of which were sent to his Department on 25th June last by the hon. and gallant Member for North Portsmouth.

Yes, Sir. I hope that my hon. and gallant Friend has now received the reply to his letter.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that numbers of taxicabs, for which drivers are available, are off the road, especially in the evenings, because of petrol shortage; and if consideration can be given to increasing public convenience in this direction.

I am not aware that numbers of taxicabs are off the road because of petrol shortage. The allowances for these vehicles were increased by 33⅓ per cent. in June, 1945, and will be further increased by 25 per cent. on the 1st August next. The amounts issued should be sufficient to meet all reasonable requirements.

Stewart asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now able to restore the prewar system by which kerosene was supplied to users in country districts from tank wagons at reduced rates, in order to avoid the present inconvenience and expense incurred by users in collecting small quantities of kerosene at frequent intervals.

Before the war, the only users of kerosene who could buy from the major oil companies tank wagons were those who could take at least 20 gallons. Users of smaller quantities had to obtain their requirements either from travelling dealers or from local shops. This system has continued down to the present time, and it would not be possible, owing to shortage of transport and other reasons, to modify it. If the hon. Member would notify me of any cases of exceptional hardship which may have come to his attention, I will gladly investigate them.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps have been taken by his Department in the last 12 months to inform the general public of the latest scientific developments regarding efficient solid-fuel burning appliances; and if he will make available the utmost information in this regard.

During the last 12 months my Department has taken part in a number of exhibitions of modern fuel burning appliances. It has also assisted in making available facilities required by associations wishing to promote exhibitions of this type. In addition, a number of educational pamphlets and leaflets have been prepared and issued. I shall do all that lies in my power to bring information of this type before the general public. Two of the sections of the Fuel Conference being held in London in October will, I hope, play a big part in this publicity.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the wastage of fuel due to uneconomic appliances for burning in private houses; and if he is taking steps to facilitate mass production of scientifically - designed appliances to stop this wastage.

Yes Sir, many of the appliance manufacturers are themselves taking very active steps to adopt methods of mass production in order to increase the output of their more scientifically designed appliances. For action being taken by the Government, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 15th April by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Supply. The placing of blanket orders for efficient appliances will, I hope, lead to an increase in their production.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the ss. "Oliver" brought a cargo of steam coal from North Wales to Belfast which has been sold as grade 2 to customers in Northern Ireland at £1 1s. 11d. for a quarter ton; and, as this coal does not burn properly in household grates, if he will arrange that a better quality of coal is supplied in future for household use.

No steam coal has been sent from North Wales to Belfast, only recognised domestic qualities such as are supplied to the house coal market in this country. The grade and price at which coal is sold in Northern Ireland is determined by the Northern Ireland Government on the basis of the f.o.b. price of the coal. I am aware that complaints have been made regarding the quality of certain coal recently shipped from North Wales to Belfast and investigations are being made. I am, however, satisfied that in general the quality of coal supplied to Northern Ireland for domestic purposes is the same quality as that supplied to domestic consumers in this country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the tonnage of opencast coal produced in the years ended April, 1945, and April, 1946.

The output of opencast coal for the years ended April, 1945, and April, 1946, was 9,355,000 tons and 7,974,000 tons, respectively. Disposals for opencast coal (i.e., the quantity passing into consumption) were 7,871,000 tons and 9,778,000 tons, respectively.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power to what extent the average daily output of coalminers has decreased since 1930; and by what percentage their daily pay has increased.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed men are being sent by the Gravesend employment exchange to jobs at the Empire Paper Mills, Greenhithe, where they have to work 12-hour shifts to make up a 70-hour week; whether he is satisfied that such conditions of employment are suitable; and whether men are permitted to refuse such work.

Yes, Sir; although I understand the hours are in fact 66 per week on the day shift for which they arc paid 70 hours, and 60 per week on the night shift for which they are paid 66 hours. Thirty-eight men have been placed with this firm in the last three months, and I am informed that there have been no cases in which men have refused to be submitted.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of full-time and part-time employees in the football pool industry and the corresponding figures for 1938–39.

No information is available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information as to the average wages now being paid to juvenile and adult employees of football pool firms; and how such rates compare with wage standards generally.

No information is available.

asked the Minister of Labour why apprentice Cadet G. R. Mundey's services in the Merchant Navy from December, 1943, to 1946, do not count as war service, although he was awarded the Atlantic Star, the Italy Star and the 1939–45 Medal; why he is now being called up for the Armed Forces; how many other cadets in similar circumstances have received calling-up notices; and if he will alter the regulations applicable.

Mr. Mundey is, I am informed, still employed in the Merchant Navy under his articles of apprenticeship. He is accordingly not available for call-up to the Armed Forces. The other parts of the Question, therefore, do not arise.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider moving for a Select Committee to investigate the economic effects of all trusts and to report thereon to the House.

I have been asked to reply. I do not think this would be the most suitable way of dealing with this matter. As already announced, the Government intend to introduce legislation on restrictive practices, when time permits, generally on the lines foreshadowed in the White Paper on Employment Policy. Power will be sought to inquire into the extent and effect of particular arrangements and to take appropriate action to check those shown to be contrary to the interests of the nation.

asked the Prime Minister the names of the members of the Crown Lands Advisory Committee and when the last meeting of this committee was held.

I have been asked to reply. The Crown Lands Advisory Committee, originally appointed in 1933 for a term of four years, was in 1937 re-appointed for a further four years. When this further term expired in 1941, the then Prime Minister decided, with the concurrence of Lord Gorell, the Chairman of the Committee, that it was unnecessary to re-appoint the Committee, bearing in mind that the Committee's duties were likely to be adequately covered in future by new central planning powers and that the Royal Fine Art Commission was available for consultation on aesthetic questions. The Committee held its last meeting in 1939.

asked the Lord President of the Council what steps it is proposed to take to secure proper representation of Scotland on the Board of Governors of the B.B.C.

Governors of the B.B.C. are chosen for their individual qualities and not as representatives of particular parts of the United Kingdom. Special arrangements such as the hon. Member suggests would, therefore, be inappropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will now give instructions to suspend the non-fraternisation rule in Germany and admit anti-Nazi Germans to clubs and places of entertainment frequented by members of the Allied Commission of Control.

There is no general non-fraternisation rule in the British zone. Germans may now be entertained at official functions in officers' messes and to a limited extent at private functions in other messes and clubs. Any general entertainment of Germans would, however, still create difficulties. Germans are not admitted to entertainments provided for British personnel, but British personnel can visit German theatres, clubs and private houses.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why branches of the International Order of Good Templars have been allowed to reopen in many parts of the British zone of Germany but not in Flensburg and some other places.

Our attitude towards the reopening of branches of the Good Templars does not vary in the different parts of the British zone. A branch has in fact been formed at Flensburg. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of any other places where it is alleged that branches have not been allowed to reopen, I will have investigations made.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many broadcasting stations there are in the British zone in Austria; where they are situated; and how many hours a day and on what wavelengths they broadcast.

There are three broadcasting stations in the British zone in Austria. They are Sender Alpenland at Graz, Graz St. Peter (local station) at Graz, and Radio Klagenfurt at Klagenfurt. These stations broadcast for fourteen hours daily on the following wavelengths:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of our exports since the war has been made against sterling credits already held by the purchasing country and for which no return of imports may be expected.

Exports from this country arc paid for out of the general resources of the importing country, including the proceeds of current exports to the United Kingdom, and no division such as is suggested by the hon. Member can be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount by which the average cost of our imports have risen, as a result of both the rise of prices in U.S.A., Argentine and other countries, and the revaluation of Swedish and Canadian currencies; and whether any action is contemplated by His Majesty's Government to offset the adverse effect of their action on our balance of payments.

It is too early yet to answer the first part of the Question. We shall take such action, if any, as seems appropriate to the situation as it develops.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, for the enlightenment of Scottish taxpayers, he will submit an annual return of receipts from Scotland, expenditure in Scotland and the amount of grants and subsidy made to Scotland from general Exchequer funds.

No, Sir. The preparation of such a return would require more time and labour than could be justified at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department have prepared any national analysis of the wages and salaries of the community and what is the amount paid to State, local government and State-controlled employees and by all other employers, respectively.

Not in that form, but Table 21 of Command Paper 6784 throws some light on this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any decision has been reached as to requiring birth certificates from males over the age of 65 and females over the age of 60 applying for repayment of postwar credits.

Yes, Sir. Birth certificates will not be required, but a claimant will be required to state the number shown on his old age pension book or, if he is not in receipt of an old age pension, his National Registration identity card number.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Rhodcsian and other Empire tobaccos in bond on 31st March, 1946; how much of this tobacco has been in bond for more than three years; and how much has been in bond for eight years and over.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much foreign exchange has been spent in the importation this year of fresh fruit and vegetables from the Continent; and what proportion of this figure is represented by the cost of the containers and packing which have been exported from this country.

About £5¼ million in the first six months. The second part of the Question should be addressed to my hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government are entitled to convert the proceeds of the U.S. loan into currencies other than dollars and to use them for purchases, at its discretion, outside the U.S.A.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider permitting authors, who are seeking to sell their works in foreign countries, to send to such countries remittances in respect of reading fees.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what limit has been, or will be, placed upon the proportion of total revenue accruing to football pool firms which may be properly returned for Income Tax purposes by such firms as legitimate expenses.

The test under Income Tax law is simply whether expenses are wholly and exclusively incurred for the purposes of the trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a small house in Gravesend, in the occupation of the owner, was destroyed by enemy action in September, 1940; whether, as the owner cannot afford to buy another house, war damage value payment can be made, in view of the fact that he paid war damage contributions to insure against the loss of his house and is in a serious financial position because of failure to pay out against the incurred risk; and what steps are available to such persons to secure the pay-merits that are overdue.

I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the answers I have given to several recent Questions on this subject—the latest on 16th July, 1946, to the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Manningham-Buller).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the prewar practice under which dollar balances in excess of current requirements are converted into gold deposits and so retained until required for current payments is still in force.

It would not be in the national interest for me to make public statements on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of sterling expended on imported lettuces, strawberries, melons, peaches, apricots and other soft fruits in the period 1st January to 30th June, 1946.

The value of recorded imports was £762,977, namely:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, pending the receipt of the report of the Royal Commission on Equal Pay, he will implement the policy of the Government by paying the rate for the job to all women paid wholly or partially out of Treasury funds.

No, Sir. Having waited so long for this report, I think we had better wait a little longer.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reason for the long delay in obtaining and publishing the Report on equal pay for men and women.

I have been asked to reply. The Commission has had a large and complex subject to tackle and this has naturally taken some time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate number of Government servants paid by the British Treasury who reside overseas.

About 15,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps are being taken to see that civil servants who have had to revert to lower grades, owing to reduction of establishments, are not being made to continue their former work for a lower remuneration.

I do not know of any such case, but if my hon. Friend will send me particulars, I will make inquiry.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many of the candidates who were successful in the first stage of the Administrative Class Examinations are employed in the Civil Service in a temporary capacity.

Forty, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps have been taken during the current year to improve the staggering of holidays so far as civil servants are concerned.

Staggering of holidays is the normal Civil Service practice, and no special steps to improve the arrangements this year have been considered necessary.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the general responsibility of the Treasury for the adequacy of salary scales of scientific staff of the Civil Service extends to the qualified veterinary staff of the Ministry of Agriculture; and what steps are being taken by him to correlate their salary scales with those of other scientific staff of the Civil Service.

Yes, Sir, but, as regards the salary scales of veterinary staff, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now considered the terms of reference of the University Grants Committee; and if he is prepared to make a statement.

Yes, Sir. I am anxious that, in this new phase of rapid expansion and planned development of our Universities, the Committee should play a more positive and influential part than in the past. The Committee have, therefore, been given new terms of reference, as follow:

"To inquire into the financial needs of University education in Great Britain; to advise the Government as to the application of any grants made by Parliament towards meeting them; to collect, examine and make available information on matters relating to University education at home and abroad; and to assist, in consultation with the Universities and other bodies concerned, the preparation and execution of such plans for the development of the Universities as may from time to time be required in order to ensure that they are fully adequate to national needs."

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to improve the conditions in the refugee camp at the former military academy at Modena, of which he has been informed.

A report has been called for regarding the conditions at this camp. When it is received I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the lack of educational facilities in Germany, he will consider sending out first those B.A.O.R. wives who have no children or any children under five years of age.

A director of education has been appointed to provide the necessary educational facilities for the families in Germany of all the British Occupational Forces, and a scheme which should be ready to start well before Christmas has been worked out in consultation with the Ministry of Education. There is therefore no need for the suggestion made by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to hold 4860007 Private J. Bryan, 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, who signed for nine years' service in the Army when only 14 years of age, to his engagement; and why his boy service does not count towards the nine years.

Yes, Sir. This soldier enlisted to serve up to age 18 and for 12 years thereafter, this being the normal rule in such cases under Section 76 of the Army Act. In his case the 12 years are divided as between nine years with the Colours and three years in the Army Reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will explain the delay which has occurred in bringing to an issue the case of the soldier, whose name has been communicated to him, whose demobilisation under Class A, due to take place on 10th February, has not yet been allowed owing to the failure to hold a court martial for a technical offence alleged to have been committed on 5th February; and when the case will be disposed of and discharge given.

The delay was caused partly because the soldier in question was in hospital for some three months, and partly because it was necessary to obtain evidence from a number of witnesses who were widely dispersed. The court martial will be held in a very short time. The offences for which this soldier is being tried are by no means merely technical.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 1067044 Warrant-Officer H. R. Klein, who enlisted voluntarily in the British Army in Palestine in 1941, cannot be released in the United Kingdom so that he may rejoin his parents instead of being forcibly repatriated to Palestine where he has neither home nor relatives.

As this warrant officer, who is serving in the Middle East, is not a British national and was enlisted overseas, he falls to be dealt with under the release scheme relating to local personnel enlisted in Palestine. As I have previously explained, such soldiers must normally be released in the country of their enlistment and have no entitlement to repatriation to the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it was with his authority that a sergeant in the Intelligence Corps was detailed to visit bakers' shops in Barnet and Wood Green on 22nd July and succeeding days; and if he will state the purpose of these investigations.

No, Sir, these visits were not authorised by me or by any Army officer. The sergeant concerned acted entirely on his own initiative and appropriate disciplinary action has been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the present situation in Palestine, he will reconsider his decision that Staff-Sergeant A. Klein, J.A.G. Branch, H.Q., B.T.A., C.M.F., a Roumanian citizen who speaks neither Hebrew nor Arabic and has no relatives or means of earning a living in Palestine, must be sent to Palestine for demobilisation there; if he will assist this man to return to Roumania, where his home and family are; and whether he has applied repeatedly to be sent for local release.

As this non-commissioned officer, who is serving in C.M.F., is not a British national and was enlisted overseas in Palestine, he falls to be dealt with under the release scheme relating to local personnel. As I have previously explained, such soldiers must be released in the country of their enlistment and have no entitlement to be sent to the United Kingdom or elsewhere. In certain circumstances they can, however, be released in the country in which they are serving.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that 7640699 Private L. Simmonds, who was due for demobilisation two months ago is being detained in Italy on the grounds that he may be required as a witness in a court martial, the alleged offence having taken place six months ago; and what steps he is taking to expedite this man's release.

I have no information as to the details of this case, but have called for a full report and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War why T/181077 Driver E. F. C. Smith, R.A.S.C., who has been a prisoner of war in the Far East, has only received credits amounting to £201, when in actual fact he should have received £292 19s. 5d.; and why this soldier's letter, dated 20th January, 1946, addressed to the Regimental Paymaster, Finsbury Circus, London, E.C., has not been replied to.

I am having inquiries made, and will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will expedite the issue of an allowance book and arrears of allowances to Mrs. Field, 41, Buckwoods Road, Braintree, Essex, whose husband, 2320681 Sergeant C. Field, rejoined the Royal Signals on 15th May; and if he is aware of the inconvenience that such delays as this cause.

Provision is made for the paymaster to be notified of all re-enlistments so that any allowance admissible in respect of a dependant may be issued forthwith. Unfortunately, in this case the appropriate document went astray, and it was not until the receipt of a letter of complaint from Mrs. Field that the paymaster was aware of the position. An allowance order book was thereupon despatched to the Post Office, and a form of authority which would enable Mrs. Field to obtain the book was sent to her on 18th July. Since the address now given differs from that previously recorded a fresh form of authority has been sent to the new address and a postal draft for the arrears due to her has also been despatched. I regret any inconvenience caused by this particular delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the final figures for deferment of officers of Group 34 in the Middle East.

Fifty-five officers in this group, serving in Middle East, had been deferred up to 15th July. In no case is it likely that the period of deferment will exceed three months.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many tradesmen in M.E.F. have had their release deferred; and for how long.

Seventy-five, up to 15th July. I cannot give the exact period of deferment in each case, but, as I have previously stated, the period is kept as short as possible and should not normally exceed three months at the most.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total numbers, by groups, of Royal Signals officers released and deferred as operationally vital in the United Kingdom and in each of the main overseas commands up to some convenient date at the end of June; what is the average period of deferment in each command, by groups; what estimate can be given of the extent of deferment of

The hon. Member will no doubt appreciate that there arc many varying and conflicting factors governing the extent of deferment likely at a future date, and I therefore do not fee! justified in making forecasts which might cause disappointment among the officers concerned. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that we are making every effort to improve the position by sending to commands outside Europe practically every officer who is so eligible, and by maintaining B.A.O.R. and C.M.F. largely with ex-Python officers. In order to make this possible, it has been necessary to defer on operational grounds some officers serving in this country, the United Kingdom thus sharing the incidence of deferment with B.A.O.R. and C.M.F.

asked the Secretary of State for War if an officer in C.M.F., whose deferment as operationally vital is being applied for by his commanding officer, is permitted to appeal against such deferment on any or all of the following grounds: that he is not, in fact, employed operationally; that by re-organisation in his unit, he could be released without sacrifice of operational efficiency; or, that he will suffer personal hardship through the deferment; and to whom the appeal should be addressed in each case.

An officer or other rank may appeal against deferment of release on any ground, but normally only reasons of personal hardship are accepted. All appeals must be made to the commanding officer of the unit, who forwards them through the proper channels to the command headquarters.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the delay in releasing Royal Signals officers in the West Africa Command; and what steps he is taking to expedite the release of those officers.

The present total of Royal Signals Officers in West Africa Command whose release is deferred on operational grounds is three. This, I am glad to say, is an improvement on the figure of five at 30th June, which I quoted in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) on 16th July. Efforts are being made to find suitable replacements, at least one of whom is being despatched in August.

asked the Secretary of State for War, why all men in release Groups 34, 35, 36 and 37, including those granted Class B releases and those due for Python leave, in 13 Corps, C.M.F., have been warned that their releases will be deferred; whether he authorised the issue of these warnings of block deferments; whether these deferments will be for a definite period; and why adequate replacements are not available for this theatre.

I explained the situation in C.M.F. on 9th July in reply to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) and South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan), and I can assure my hon. Friend that I am continuing to do all I can to remedy the situation by providing replacements. I am not aware of block deferments having been made, but have called for a report from the theatre and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as a reply is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War why a compulsory block deferment of two months has been imposed on men in age and service Group 36 serving in 519 Company, R.A.S.C, C.M.F.

There has been no block deferment although I am aware that it has been necessary to defer individuals. The general position regarding R.A.S.C. drivers in C.M.F. was explained on 23rd July in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. W. J. Brown).

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the public feeling that Primrose Hill, London, ought now to be restored to its proper use by the public; and when he anticipates derequisitioning this area.

The A.A. gun position at Primrose Hill is no longer required by the War Department. Action is therefore being taken to declare this area surplus to War Office needs. The final release must in any case await the removal of the equipment and structures.

asked the Secretary of Sate for War when he proposes that men who have joined the Army since the beginning of the war on Regular service engagements shall be allowed to buy themselves out, provided that they have passed the time at which they would normally have been demobilised.

A man on a Regular engagement has contracted of his own free will to undertake a certain period of military service. There is no reason why he should not be held to fulfil this contract, if the Army requires his services, and in present conditions the Army cannot afford the loss of Regular soldiers which the reintroduction of discharge by purchase would involve.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet received the report of the court of inquiry which has been investigating the circumstances which led to the arrest of 250 men of the 13th Parachute Battalion in Malaya; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make available to the House at the earliest opportunity the findings of the two courts of inquiry into the cause of arrest of 260 members of the 13th Parachute Battalion, 6th Airborne Division, at Muer, near Kuala Lumpur, on 14th May.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now make a statement regarding the mutiny of the 13th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, in Malaya; why officers of this battalion are still in command of those other ranks confined in a detention camp awaiting trial; and whether he will see that a more normal procedure is adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish the results of the investigations now being made into the circumstances which led to court-martial proceedings being taken against the 265 now under close arrest in Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the correspondence sent him by the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Essex referring to the placing under close arrest of 265 British soldiers at a military camp in Malaya; how long these men have been under close arrest; what charge is to be preferred against them; and when the field general court-martial is to take place.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that some 260 men of the 13th Parachute Regiment, S.E.A.C, who were arrested on or about 14th May, were detained in conditions of acute overcrowding in nine rooms for 10 days after their arrest and are still awaiting court martial; and what action he is taking against the officers and the regimental sergeant-major whose excessive disciplinary requirements, in climatic circumstances which made their fulfilment impossible, provoked the incident that led to these arrests.

Full and thorough inquiries into this incident have been made. I regret, however, that the proceedings have not yet reached me from Malaya and I have little to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Aston (Major Wyatt) and Central Bristol (Mr. Awbery) last Tuesday. The men concerned are under arrest and they will be tried by court martial in a few days' time. They are in a tented camp and I had not heard before that the accommodation was bad or seriously overcrowded. I am enquiring into this.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make regarding grievances among the men. of the 13th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, S.E.A.C, as a result of which 265 of them ceased work and are now awaiting courts martial for mutiny; and whether he will give instructions that the grievances shall be investigated before the courts martial take place.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information regarding the reported mass detention of 200 men of the 13th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, who refused to go on parade as a protest against bad living conditions in camp at Muar, Malaya, and have been held in close arrest for five weeks without trial.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave today in answer to Questions by several hon. Members on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider his decision not to allow the exhumation of the bodies of soldiers killed on active service in Europe so that they can be buried in this country near their relatives if such relatives express their desire for such burial in this country; and whether, to meet the expense, he will allow those concerned to pay the whole or a proportion of the expense.

No, Sir. The decision not to repatriate the bodies of those who died overseas was made by the Government after full consideration of all the factors involved. I would refer the hon. Member to the detailed statement on this subject which was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 23rd October, 1945, in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore).

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the advisability of improving the status and pay of the Army Educational Corps in view of the increasing importance of education in His Majesty's Forces.

New rates of pay and conditions of service have recently been approved for officers. I gave lull details on 12th July in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Tiffany). Warrant officers and N.C.Os. of the Army Educational Corps receive the same scales as corresponding ranks in the rest of the Army; particulars of the new rates and conditions were given in Cmd. 6715.

asked the Secretary of State for War what strength is permitted for the Army Education Corps; and what is the percentage decrease from its war establishment.

The present authorised war establishment, that is, the permitted strength, is 947 officers and 1,590 other ranks. It varies from time to time according to requirements. The actual strength on 23rd July was 662 officers and 1,159 other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether hon. Members will have an opportunity of inspecting the proposed new Army uniforms before the summer Recess.

Yes, Sir. A uniform is now on view in the tea room.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the exact date when the new ceremonial and walking-out dress of the Army was approved; and what steps were taken to ascertain the views or secure suggestions from men and non-commissioned officers before such approval was given;(2) what instructions have been, or are about to be, issued as to the wearing of collar-attached shirts and ties by men and non-commissioned officers when in uniform; and why proposals for a new walking-out dress with which collar and tie could be worn were rejected in favour of the patrol-type collar.

The question of the Army's postwar dress is still under consideration in the War Office and no final decision has yet been taken. The committee on postwar dress which was specially appointed by the Army Council heard evidence from a large number of other ranks, whose views and suggestions were fully taken into account. Full instructions as to the wearing of collar-attached shirts were issued in November, 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give up-to-date figures of the number of other ranks and officers who have been recruited to the Army under the Short-Service Scheme and under normal engagements, respectively, during 1946; and if he will include in these figures, and also show, separately, the numbers of other ranks and officers then serving in the Army on emergency engagements or commissions, who have extended their service on a Short-Service Scheme or a Regular engagement.

Below is a tabulated statement of the numbers. In the case of the figures for the short service schemes for officers and other ranks, I must make it clear that they do not include those applications which have been received but not yet approved.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what conditions two children under the age of five years are accommodated at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle; and if arrangements have now been made for their transfer to more suitable surroundings.

The two children recently accommodated at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle, belonged to a soldier who was awaiting trial for desertion after his arrest by the civil police on 20th July. The person in whose charge they had been left was apparently unwilling to keep them and took them to the barracks on the following day. Since they were too young to be left alone, they were accommodated there temporarily, and the soldier has since been given seven days' compassionate leave in order to make suitable arrangements for their care and maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, when the Establishment Branch of his Department is recruiting 200 new applicants for employment each week, present temporary employees are being dismissed on grounds of redundancy.

My hon. Friend appears to have been misinformed. For practical purposes there has been no recruitment of temporary clerical staff at the War Office in London since early June, although there have been occasional transfers of redundant staff. Except for isolated cases it has not so far been necessary to discharge any temporary civilian clerks at the War Office for redundancy; some notices have been issued, but voluntary wastage has made it possible as a rule to withdraw the notices if the individuals wished to stay. Branches outside London are treated as separate units for this purpose, but where there is redundancy there has been no unnecessary recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present position of payments due to the French national railways for carriage of British military personnel travelling on S.H.A.E.F. travel vouchers between Dieppe and Paris.

The bills were received early last month by B.A.O.R. and are under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to reply to the hon. Member for Mile End with regard to the complaints made by personnel in the Signal Platoon, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, stationed in Palestine, concerning restrictions which are affecting the morale of these men.

I regret that the report previously referred to has not yet been received. I am endeavouring to have it hastened, and will write to the hon. Member when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made for the reception, accommodation and future living conditions for wives and families of serving soldiers who will soon be arriving in Palestine.

The number of married quarters existing in Palestine before the war was very small and no new building could be carried out during the war. The number of families that can be adequately accommodated in the immediate future is therefore limited, but plans are being considered for converting a camp to provide additional temporary married quarters of an austerity type. Wives and families will only be permitted to go to Palestine if the local commander is satisfied that suitable accommodation is available and that local conditions are safe for them. As in other overseas commands, the provision of permanent quarters can only be regarded as a long-term project owing to the shortage of labour and materials.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to improve the living conditions of the soldier in Palestine; whether standing camps are being erected to replace the present tented camps; and whether N.A.A.F.I. facilities for reading, writing and other recreations are being provided.

In addition to tented accommodation for personnel, the existing camps in Palestine comprise buildings constructed with the best available form of local material which house the various facilities provided by the N.A.A.F.I. These camps are not yet completed in all cases, but improvements are being carried out as and when labour and materials permit. I must stress that the attenuated resources of the Command and the dispersion of forces necessitated by the present conditions in Palestine make the provision of even temporary accommodation difficult. Steps are being taken to plan permanent accommodation to replace the present tented camps, but this is necessarily a long-term project.

asked the Secretary of State for War why His Majesty's Government are not prepared to provide a free passage home to Regular soldiers serving in Palestine who are now entitled to their 28 days' end of war leave.

The instructions regarding the grant of Special End of War Leave for Regular officers and men provide that the grant of this leave carries no special entitlement to free travel, the intention being that the leave should normally be added to other forms of leave of Regular personnel, whether taken locally overseas or in the United Kingdom. In this respect Regular soldiers serving in Palestine are receiving the same treatment as other Regular personnel at stations abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now announce the new educational programme for the Army.

I cannot at present add anything to the general statement regarding our educational plans which I made during the Debate on 27th June.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and resentment caused among officers by the provision in the postwar pay code, for the commencement only at 21 years of age, of service to count for retired pay; and if he will reintroduce the old rule whereby all service from the date of first commissioning counted towards eligibility for retired pay in due course.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 4th June last.

asked the Secretary of State for War what evidence he has in his possession of illiteracy among recent recruits.

Records for the six months prior to May, 1946, show that approximately .09 per cent. of the recruits retained in the Army were illiterate. Illiterates are also known to have been included among recruits who were found unsuitable during their first two weeks in the Army and discharged. I cannot say exactly what percentage they represented, but it is estimated that the overall percentage of illiterates among all recruits, whether retained or discharged, was about 1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to facilitate the re-raising in their localities of T.A. units which have been placed in a state of suspended animation, and for the purpose of keeping touch with former members of these units, he will authorise and encourage the formation in each case of an association of former members who might be willing to again come forward in the event of the unit being re-raised as part of a postwar T.A.

Yes, Sir. Territorial Army Associations have been encouraged to take all possible interest both in the units placed in suspended animation and in the old members of the Territorial Army. The formation of clubs has been represented to the Associations and I understand they are being organised as far as possible. Members of the old Territorial Army, who are eligible to volunteer for the new Territorial Army, will be of geat value should they offer their services in the re-formation of the Territorial Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he anticipates being in a position to announce his decision on the marriage of British Servicemen with German or Austrian women before the House resumes after the summer recess.

Yes, Sir. I hope to be in a position to make a very early statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers have been charged with disobeying the order prohibiting the marriage of members of the Armed Forces in Germany with German women; and with what results.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Captain Chetwynd) on 23rd July.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he is taking to assist relatives to visit former prisoners of war from the Far East who were evacuated to South Africa suffering from tuberculosis and who are still there.

No scheme of temporary visits is contemplated, but when the husband is a chronic invalid, and is likely to remain in South Africa for 12 months, his family are entitled to join him at public expense and are given a special priority in the provision of passages.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present approximate number of typewriters in the possession of his Department, how many are required, and how many are to be released as surplus during the current year.

About 93,000 are on charge to my Department, of which some 4,000 are in use at the War Office and the balance in the Army generally, but, as stated by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 14th May, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend many of those on charge to the Army may ultimately have to be written off as casualties. Surpluses are reported as they arise. About 5,000 were returned to H.M.S.O. Depots as surplus during the first six months of this year, apart from any disposals overseas which may have been arranged through the inter-departmental machinery for the local disposal of surpluses. It is anticipated that surpluses will continue to be declared during the remainder of the year, though I cannot give any reliable estimate of the numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in the draft scheme of his Department for the Post-War Ordnance Exhibition at Bicester, it is proposed that the illuminated plaque at the entrance to Section 2 shall bear an inscription indicating that the recent war was fought by Great Britain and France, joined later by the U.S.A., with no mention of any other Ally; and if he will arrange that the inscription should refer also to the part played by the U.S.S.R.

The draft scheme was only in its early stages and had not been approved or submitted in detail to the War Office. It has now been decided that the exhibition shall not take place.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recommendations for awards for outstanding gallantry or devotion to duty by prisoners of war in Japanese hands have been submitted; on what basis these recommendations were called for; whether they cover all Far Eastern territories that were in Japanese occupation, including Formosa and Japan; and what awards have been made.

I am afraid that the information asked for is not immediately available. Recommendations are being obtained on the basis of all Far Eastern territories, including Formosa and Japan. I will have the information extracted however, and send the hon. and gallant Member a written reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken during the current year to improve the staggering of holidays so far as troops are concerned.

Troops stationed in the United Kingdom are now granted 30 days privilege leave annually which will be taken in three periods each of 10 days. Not more than 1½ per cent. of the members of a unit will be despatched on privilege leave on each week-day from Monday to Friday. It will thus take approximately 13 to 14 weeks for all men of a unit to be despatched on each period of leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the wastage of specialist manpower in the Forces, in particular of orthopaedic and surgical specialists; and whether he will consider the early release of graded and recognised specialists in the Forces, who are specialists only by virtue of recognition by the Forces Medical Directorates and who, on reversion to civil life, will require to secure the higher qualifications in their special branch if they are to continue civil specialist practice.

I am not aware of any wastage of specialists in the Army. Cases which have been investigated have shown that the officers were essential because of the distances involved. I am not prepared to single out Army trained specialists for early release, as that would break down the basis of release by age and service group priority. Officers desirous of obtaining higher qualifications may apply for assistance on their release under the Government's Scheme of post graduate medical education for ex-Service medical officers, or under the further education and training scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the report on the loss of Singapore and the Malay Peninsula and of the first expedition into Greece will be available in the Vote Office.

The despatch on the first expedition into Greece was published in the "London Gazette" on 3rd July. I am not yet able to forecast a date for the publication of General Percival's Despatch on Malaya.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will expedite the repatriation to Austria of the 50 prisoners of war detained in camp 380 in Egypt, all of whom have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment by the Germans for anti-Nazi offences.

All the anti-Nazi Austrian prisoners of war in Middle East will be repatriated as soon as transport can be provided. I hope that transport will begin to be available in September.

asked the Secretary of State for War why German prisoners of war at Calvine Camp, Blair Atholl, are being issued with white bread.

They are not, Sir. During the recent turnover of reserve flour stocks they received some bread made from 85 per cent. extraction flour. Instructions have since been issued to ensure that prisoners of war are always given the 90 per cent. extraction bread now in use by civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the total number of prisoners of war in this country at the latest available date; and what is the amount of the bread ration they receive.

388,000, Sir. The combined bread and flour ration is now 74 ounces a week for non-working prisoners of war, 135 ounces for working prisoners and 145½ ounces for harvesters, absent from camp over 12 hours. I ought to add that the larger part of the total ration of prisoners of war is made up of bread and cereal products.

asked the Secretary of State for War the conditions and cash payments made to prisoners of war when employed; who pays the wages and meets the cost of maintenance, the Government or the employer; and, where any surplus value arises from the work performed, who gains in the shape of profit, the employer or the Government.

Prisoners of war employed on agricultural or other work are paid for all hours they work at the normal rates of working pay applicable to soldiers doing similar work in peace time. The working pay so earned is paid to them from Army Funds, which also bear the cost of their maintenance. As to the last part of the Question, receipts in respect of prisoner of war labour accrue similarly to Army Funds, but as stated in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) on 25th June, it is not anticipated that the cost of maintenance and other expenses of prisoners of war will be covered by such receipts.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for farmers to draw extra bread rations for prisoners of war who are kept after 5 o'clock during hay time and harvest.

Provision has already been made to cover absence from camp of more than 12 hours. I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the reply I gave on 9th July to a Question by the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd) which gave full particulars of the ration scales of prisoners of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at Port Fuad on the Sinai Peninsula in a prisoner of war camp there are some 250 Catholics for whom no adequate provision is made for attending Mass; and whether he will give instructions that when chaplains are not available prisoners are to be taken to the local church on Sundays.

I have called for a report from Middle East Command, and will write to my hon. Friend when it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will allow more accredited visitors for German prisoners of war; and if he will permit free and more frequent correspondence.

Visitors to German prisoners of war are at present limited to near relatives and the representatives of accredited societies and organisations, on whose numbers no restrictions are placed. I know of no reason for altering these arrangements. As regards correspondence, there is no restriction on incoming mail from Germany and, though limited to two letters and four postcards a month, outward mail can be sent free of charge.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Italian prisoners of war arc still in India; and when their repatriation will be completed.

There were 15,681 in India on 30th June. During July shipping space is available which will enable some 8,000 to be repatriated to Italy with the result that at the end of this month only some 7,700 will still await repatriation. The date on which their repatriation can be completed depends upon the quantity of shipping which can be made available for the purpose, having regard to other urgent demands upon our limited resources. It cannot at present be forecast.

asked the Secretary of State for War the estimated cost of bringing Polish troops now abroad to this country and of settling them here and providing them with training.

The approximate cost of transporting Polish troops from Italy to this country for enlistment into the Polish Resettlement Corps is £250,000, and the estimated extra cost involved in providing accommodation for the Resettlement Corps in this country is about £200,000.