asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of disabled persons registered in the Pontypool Exchange under the Disabled Persons Employment Act; and whether he proposes to establish a disabled persons sheltered employment factory in the area.

On 19th August, 1946, there were 984 persons registered as disabled at the Pontypool Exchange; of this number 116 were unemployed, including 38 who are considered to require employment under sheltered conditions. The current building programme of the Disabled Persons Employment Corporation does not provide for the opening of a factory at Pontypool, but facilities for sheltered employment will be provided there as soon as the prior claims of areas with greater need have been met.

Can the Minister say the minimum number of disabled persons necessary to provide a British factory?

No, Sir. It is impossible to give a figure like that because it depends upon the nature and the extent of their disability. However, I can say that Pontypool is in the list for consideration in the near future.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in employment, giving separate numbers of men and women, and the numbers of men and women registered as unemployed in August, 1939, and August, 1946, respectively.

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of occupied houses in Wales for August, 1939, and August, 1946, respectively; and the number of building workers in employment in the corresponding periods.

The first part of the Question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. The number of insured men, aged 14 to 64, employed in the building industry in Wales in August, 1939, was approximately 35,000, and it is provisionally estimated that the corresponding figure in July, 1946, was about 28,000.

asked the Minister of Labour what instructions have been given to the Coal Board, B.O.A.C.and B.E.A., urging them to give any form of preference to ex-Servicemen in employment.

None, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how that squares with his often expressed sympathy for ex-Service men in employment in industry in general?

; It squares entirely with the policy originally established by the Coalition Government, and supported by this Government, that there should not be special preference in employment for ex-Service men, but that they should take advantage of the resettlement facilities offered to them under the Acts of Parliament.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to press his colleagues in charge of the various nationalised enterprises to give a fair proportion of employment to ex-Service men? Is he just going to leave them either to sink or to swim?

That is not the interpretation which should be placed upon my statement.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many trades are employers being used in connection with ex-Service men's vocational training.

There are 97 trades in which employers are giving training to ex-Service men under the Government's vocational training scheme. In many of these the numbers are very small. The overall number receiving such training is nearly 6,000 including those who have had a preliminary course in a Government training centre.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent his Department has issued directives to local and regional resettlement committees not to give personal interviews to ex-Service-men seeking grants and help towards resettlement in civilian life.

No instructions have been issued to the Resettlement Grants Boards to refuse a personal interview to any ex-Service applicant asking for one.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of builders from the United Kingdom are being encouraged to emigrate to Australia; what numbers are involved; and whether due consideration has been given to the building requirements of this country.

Yes, Sir. Over the next six months free passage to Australia is to be given to 600 ex-Servicemen with experience in building or civil engineering. The advantages of this arrangement in assisting migration within the British Commonwealth, considerably outweigh the comparatively small loss to the building industry of this country.

In view of that decision, will the Minister take up with his colleagues in the Cabinet the question of relaxing our own barbarous immigration restrictions, to allow foreign building operatives to come here to help us?

If the hon. Member will put down a Question on that point, I will look at it.

asked the Minister of Labour what action is being taken to increase the supply of machine toolmakers, particularly in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The remedy in the long run is improved apprenticeship arrangements, and this is under discussion with the engineering industry. An immediate, but temporary, alleviation is to use the services of men who have had appropriate experience in the Forces, and an agreement to do so has been reached.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unemployed ex-Service officers registered at the offices of the Appointments Board.

At 16th September, 1946, there were 9,910 ex-officers, men and women, from the three Services and the Merchant Navy registered as unemployed at the offices of the Appointments Department.

In view of the urgency of this matter, and because the figures are not decreasing, will the Minister appoint a commission to look into this, and alleviate the circumstances in which these men now find themselves?

I think it is right that the opposite figures should be looked at. During the six months ended 16th September, 3,850 ex-officers were found employment through this Department. Undoubtedly it is due to the success of finding men jobs that we are having such a large number of men registering for employment.

Is there no one else who can do these jobs besides officers?

Does the right hon. Gentleman think he is so successful, in view of the figures he read out, when one in three have found a job and three in one have not?

The answer is that nearly 4,000 have been found jobs.

asked the Minister of Labour how many other ranks ex-Servicemen were registered at the Appointments Board as unemployed, at the latest convenient date.

At 16th September, 1946, there were 2,978 other ranks ex-Service-men and women registered as unemployed at the offices of the Appointments Department.

Again, will the Minister appoint a commission to go into this matter?

Again, I would point out that 1,776 have been found jobs. While the work is not succeeding to the extent we should all wish, it is proving a great boon to these men, not able to find work otherwise.

Will the Minister appoint a commission?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour the quotas of Polish soldiers, now being settled in this country, which the various industries are prepared to take.

No quotas of the kind indicated by the hon. Member have been determined or are proposed.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consult with the Secretary of State for Air, with a view to tapping for the Government's housing drive, the labour force engaged in the maintenance of both permanent and redundant airfields; and what number of men at present so employed he estimates that he will be able to turn to housing purposes.

I have been asked to reply. The labour force engaged on the maintenance of airfields is kept continually under review by my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Air and myself. Approximately 10,000 men have already been released from this work since August, 1945, and if any further reductions become possible they will be made without delay, having regard to the necessity for the efficient maintenance of the permanent airfields.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now make a statement on the rate of demobilisation for men from Groups 40–60.

It is not yet possible to add to the provisional programme announced on 7th August, covering releases from the Forces during the last three months of this year.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the reasons which make it impossible to demobilise all men with two or more years of service before the end of this year.

The release of all men with two or more years' service by the end of this year would reduce the strength of the Armed Forces far below the essential minimum required to meet current commitments.

Does the Minister realise the resentment felt by men with long periods of service, much of it overseas, at the new conscripts only being conscripted for two years?

There may be some feeling of dissatisfaction among some of the men, but to attempt to bring this proposal into operation would create far more discontent and resentment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now prepared to allow all service in the mines to count as military service for the calculation of release group numbers, as is done in the case of conscripts selected for mining service by ballot.

No, Sir. The reasons for confining to ballotees the concession that a period spent in the mines might count towards release from the Forces were explained in my statement to the House on 29th November, 1945. Those reasons are still valid.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the desire of retired teachers to have their superannuation payments made monthly instead of quarterly as at present; and whether he will make the desired arrangement.

I am aware that such a change has been suggested from time to time by a few individuals, but it would involve a considerable increase in staff and in costs of administration, and I do not propose to make any alteration in the present arrangement.

Does not my right hon. Friend realise the importance of putting retired teachers in this regard on the same basis as Members of Parliament who are paid quarterly but may have their emoluments paid monthly?

I am willing to take that into consideration, but the Question, would mean a complete change in the arrangements. As I have pointed out, it would involve a great increase in staff and I am not prepared to do it at present.

Can my right hon. Friend say what increase in staff would be justified to make out three cheques instead of one?

I could not answer that question without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, why the request of the staff of Barlinnie Prison for a licence for their club has been rejected by him.

The request by the local branch of the Prison Officers' Association for approval of a licence for beer and spirits was refused because I regarded it as undesirable for a club licence to be held in respect of a club catering solely for members of the prison service.

Is not the Secretary of State aware that pretty well every prison in Britain has an officers' club, which in turn has a licence, and why this injustice to Scotland?

The fact is that the traditions in Scotland are slightly different from the traditions in England. If I understand the position aright, most of these clubs, if not all of them, have only a beer licence. What was asked for in this particular case was a beer and spirits licence.

Can we reach a compromise on the basis of beer?

Will the Secretary of State assure us that none of the private prejudices in the Scottish Office in favour of prohibition are prevailing?

I can assure the hon. Member that they are not. I do not allow my personal convictions to interfere with my administrative work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, when, and in what form, the proposals of the Boundary Commission regarding the re-division of certain Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland will be laid before Parliament; and from what date the approved changes will be effective.

I understand that the initial Report of the Boundary Commission showing the constituencies into which they recommend that Scotland should be divided and the number of Members which they recommend should be returned by each of them is likely to be submitted towards the end of this year. The Secretary of State is required to lay the Report before Parliament as soon as may be after its submission to him. It will be for Parliament to determine by legislation from what date such changes as may be approved shall be effective; and for practical reasons that date must presumably be the date of a General Election.

When these proposals are laid before Parliament, will they be laid in a form in which they can be debated in detail?

I should require notice of that question, and if I am given notice of it, I will endeavour to give the hon. Member an answer.

My supplementary question specifically asked in what form the proposals would be laid. If the Secretary of State can give me an answer on that, I think I would know the answer to my Question.

There will have to be a Bill about the new constituencies in due course.

Is not the Secretary of State able to say now whether the schemes of the Commission will be presented in toto, to be objected to or accepted in toto by the House?

The proposals will be embodied in a Bill. Beyond that I cannot go at the moment.

Cannot the Secretary of State, the Lord President and the Home Secretary now give us an undertaking that the proposals will be put into the Schedule to the Bill, and can, therefore, be amended?

Surely, if they are in the Schedule to a Bill, that will be in due Parliamentary form. That is what we propose to do as far as these proposals are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the siren is still being used in works and factories for assembly and dismissal purposes; and if, in view of its disturbing effect on public morale, he will take immediate steps to prohibit its further use.

I am aware of this practice but I have no power to prohibit it. If my hon. Friend will let me know of any particular case he has in mind, I shall be glad to consider whether anything can be done about it.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1), how many of the German prisoners of war still detained in North Africa belonged to No. 999 German Division; and how many of that number had spent three years or more in German concentration camps before being forced into the German army;

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the arrangements for repatriation of German prisoners of war apply to prisoners at present in the Middle East; and, if so, on what terms and conditions.

As explained on 4th June, in a reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Coventry (Mr. Edelman), separate statistics relating to 999 Division are not available and could not be obtained without a considerable amount of labour. In dealing with repatriation, however, full regard is paid to the individual records of prisoners of war. There are at present about 98,000 German and 5,000 Austrian prisoners of war detained in the Middle East Command, of whom 2,000 anti-Nazi Germans and all the Austrians are to be repatriated as shipping becomes available. It has not yet been found possible to bring the Middle East within the scope of the scheme decided upon for the United Kingdom but an accelerated programme on the lines of that authorised for the United Kingdom will be introduced as soon as circumstances permit.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that these camp officials have very little to do? Surely, it is possible for them to ascertain all about every prisoner under their control. Will he give the House an assurance that those people who are well-known anti-Nazis, as all these fellows are, will be given as speedy release as possible?

I think I can give the assurance for which my hon. Friend asks, that they will be given as speedy a release as possible, but the matter is not so easy to deal with as is the case of prisoners in this country.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the repatriations, when they are completed in June, will cover all members of the 999 Division?

They will take their turn. As I have said, we hope to expedite the arrangements for these men almost concurrently with the arrangements we are making for prisoners, a much larger number, who have to go from this country back to Germany.

Will the Secretary of State give an assurance that the release of these men in the Middle East is not beng delayed in order to complete the course in crypto Communism to which they are being subjected by the P.I.D.?

I was not aware of that fact, if such it be.

Is it not a fact that these men of the 999 Division were among the first opponents of Nazism in Germany and, therefore, is it not just that whatever the labour involved in order to avoid an injustice, even to a single man, the necessary research should be made?

Yes, Sir, many of them were, and we will do our best to get them home as speedily as possible.

In view of the fact that all the Austrian prisoners were found to be satisfactory, would my right hon. Friend give some preferential treatment to the Austrians, who have been labouring under a special grievance in this matter?

Yes, Sir, they will get some preferential treatment.

May I ask my right hon. Friend, in view of the expressions this afternoon, if he will give instructions that these people should be sorted out, as there are plenty of staff and plenty of time to do it?

I do not know if there is plenty of staff to do it—I do not think so—but I will see that these prisoners are sorted out, as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to give a date by which time all German prisoners of war who wish to return to their own country will have left these islands.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now announce his intentions with regard to the 400,000 German prisoners of war now in this country; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to discriminate in any way between those known to have been victimised for active anti-Nazi opinions and those who have held definite Nazi responsibilities.

The plans for the repatriation of German prisoners of war from the United Kingdom were announced by His Majesty's Government on 12th September. I am not able, at present, to add anything to the statement then made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now examined the many complaints made by officers who considered themselves financially worse off under the new Code of Pay and Allowances announced in Command Paper 6750; and what substance he has found in these complaints.

Certain complaints have been received but examination has confirmed that there is no substance in the suggestion that officers who were serving before 1st July, 1946, became financially worse off from that date by reason of the operation of the new code. As indicated in the White Paper, special arrangements were in fact made to safeguard the position of such officers. From the long term aspect I am satisfied that the new code offers a career which can well stand comparison with the attractions of professional careers in civil life requiring corresponding qualifications.

Was it the intention of the new code of pay that considerable numbers of senior officers of field rank and higher should be worse off than they were under the old code?

I am not satisfied that that is the case.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that the troops still serving in Norway enjoy, apart from limited N.A.A.F.I. supplies, no amenities such as were available abroad during the war and are unable to afford the inflated Norwegian prices for such things as haircutting, extra food and drink, railway and tramway fares and cinema tickets; that their duties bring them into close relation with their Norwegian comrades whose hospitality they are unable, but ought to be able, to return; and whether he will alleviate these hardships either by a Norwegian allowance or by arranging for pay to be drawn at a sufficiently high exchange rate.

A special allowance has recently been granted to these troops.

How much?

The allowance is 1s. 6d. a day for officers and 9d. a day for other ranks.

As that seems inadequate to meet the grievances specified in the Question, will the Secretary of State say whether the commanding officer is satisfied that they have been redressed?

There are only a few of these troops in Norway—

That does not make any difference.

I will certainly look into the question again to see if any representation has been made by the officer commanding.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many casualties have occurred among mine clearance parties in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many casualties have occurred among mine clearance parties in the United Kingdom.

One hundred and eighty-five casualties, of which 139 were fatal, have been sustained since 1943 by the British Army bomb disposal units engaged on mine clearance in the United Kingdom. Similar casualties incurred by other Army personnel are not separately classified, but the numbers are believed to be relatively small.

May we have an assurance that German prisoners will be used as much as possible to do this work, in order to relieve British Servicemen?

Yes, Sir. They are being used as much as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he took more than five weeks to reply to a letter concerning the availability of evidence to a prisoner asking leave to appeal.

This is not an Army case and before a reply could be sent it was necessary to ascertain the exact nature of the prisoner's request and to obtain legal advice on the procedure to be followed.

Can the Secretary of State for War assure us that there are standing orders in his Department for treating different classes of correspondence with a differential urgency, and that a very high priority is given to letters affecting legal process?

I would not like to give a specific answer to that question without examining it in greater detail in the Department. I shall endeavour to give great urgency and priority to all hon. Members' letters.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is now his intention to open recruiting for a British foreign legion.

No, Sir.

Does that answer mean that the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied with the success of his recruiting campaign?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War for how long 5292930 Private H. Johnson, of the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, has been under close arrest; what is the reason for keeping him under arrest for so long and for the delay in his trial; and what difficulties have prevented the War Office from giving a detailed reply to the request for information concerning his case sent to them by the hon. Member for Oxford City.

A full report on this case has been called for from India. As soon as it has been received and examined, I will write to the hon. Member.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this soldier has been under close arrest awaiting trial in India since the early months of this year—March or April, I think—and that I wrote as long ago as July, but still no report from India has come? Is not this quite intolerable, and a case which should be examined further?

Yes, Sir. I admit there has been some considerable delay in replying. That is the reason why I am sending a special cablegram demanding a reply with expedition.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what degree of expedition he can expect from a special cable to this Command?

I know that the writ of the Secretary of State for War does not run to the full extent in India as it does in other Commands, but I hope, at least, that my representations will have some effect when they are received there.

Could the Minister, without notice, tell us what is the maximum period in accordance with regulations during which a man may be kept under close arrest without trial?

I should like notice of that question.

Will the Minister look into the practice of the War Office in this matter? Surely, it should not be possible for a matter to lie in this state so long without some action being taken by the War Office, quite apart from representations by hon. Members.

The hon. Member for Oxford (Mr. Hogg) wrote on 23rd July, and a report was called for by letter from G.H.Q. on 2nd August. A "hastener" was sent by cable on 18th September, and I regret to say that a reply has not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to prevent the exhumation and re-interment in Germany of the bodies of those Welshmen who fought in the battle for the Siegfried Line.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered protests from British Legions and others in Wales and Monmouthshire against the decision to re-inter members of the Welsh Division, who lost their lives in the fighting on the Siegfried Line, in German soil; whether the decision is irrevocable; and, if not, if he will take the sense of the House on the matter.

It is clearly most desirable that all the British war graves overseas should be placed within permanent cemeteries, where they can be properly maintained. Re-interment in many cases is, therefore, unavoidable. The general policy regarding re-burial was carefully considered by His Majesty's Government, who decided that the graves should be concentrated within military cemeteries in the countries and zones in which the men fell. Many died and are buried in enemy countries, and the particular case to which attention has been drawn is in no sense exceptional. Repatriation to the United Kingdom would be impracticable as a general rule and the British and Dominion Governments decided about a year ago not to allow any exceptions to that rule.

Is the Minister aware that the British Legion in South Wales have expressed considerable feeling on this matter, and has a reply been sent on this issue to the people who have expressed their opposition to this move?

This is a very difficult matter. We can all understand and sympathise with the relatives of those who have fallen overseas; but, speaking with some experience of two world wars, I think we had better let them rest in the countries where they fell in conditions which I have seen myself and which, as far as cemeteries are concerned, are admirable.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to make a further statement with regard to the provision of facilities to enable emergency officers between the ages of 45 and 55 to serve on under a regular engagement until they can qualify for a pension.

It is not intended to provide for the grant of permanent Regular commissions to emergency commissioned officers aged 45 years or over. Such officers may apply for short service Regular Army commissions and, if accepted, will qualify for gratuity on completion of their contract.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that officers who made application nearly five months ago for short service regular commissions under A.C.I. 511/46 are still without news of the result of their applications; and if he will take steps to inquire into the reason for this delay, and to effect an immediate improvement.

I am aware that there has been some initial delay. The number of short service commissions is limited and in order to obtain the most suitable officers it was necessary to widen the original field of selection by including later applicants. Nearly half the applications so far received have now been dealt with, however, and extra staff was recently allotted to the work in order to accelerate the consideration of cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that the German local authority at Lemgo decided to requisition the Nuellberghof Estate which is owned by Hugenberg, with a view to turning it into a home for elderly refugees; that this proposal was sanctioned by the Military Government and that when the Military Government were approached by Hugenberg they vetoed the Lemgo local authority's action; and whether he will make a statement on this matter.

The requisitioning of the Nüllberghof Estate was at no stage vetoed by the Military Government, but was authorised over two months ago, after appeals had been considered and necessary arrangements completed for the continued cultivation of the agricultural land. A number of elderly refugees are already installed.

Will the Minister agree that it was authorised after this Question had been placed on the Order Paper?

I do not know on what date the Question was placed on the Order Paper, but the Lemgo local authority confirmed the requisitioning on 12th July, 1946, and authority was given by the Military Government at the end of July for the cultivation of 200 acres of agricultural land attached to the estate, for certain repairs to be carried out and for the disinfection of certain premises. When these matters had been carried out, requisitioning took place.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what total acreage of oats will be harvested this year in the British-occupied zone in Germany.

About 1,337,000 acres.

Can the Minister say whether the majortiy of this acreage has been sown with British seed oats?

In order to give an accurate answer to that question, I should have to have notice of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is aware of a statement published by the Control Commission for Germany in their official "Gazette" on or about 17th August, to the effect that, owing to a shortage of accommodation, it will not be possible to accept all the British families who may wish to go to Germany; and whether he will give an assurance that the difficulty of finding accommodation will not be allowed to prevent families going to Germany.

This statement related particularly to Lubbecke and Minden, where accommodation is very limited, and where a heavy concentration of British staff is located. In these and some other localities suitable accommodation cannot be made available at once for all the British families who wish to go there, without unreasonable dispossession of German occupants, but, in so far as conditions allow, every effort is being made to expedite the reception of families in all parts of our zone.

Is the Minister aware that, if better arrangements cannot be made, he will not get the best men in the Control Commission?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what countries imported coal from the Ruhr during the three months ended 31st August; what quantity each received; and what contribution each made towards the British Government's expenditure in cash and kind in the Ruhr coalfield.

As the list is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it with the OFFICIAL REPORT. The transactions were on a straightforward sale basis except in the case of Switzerland, where arrangements are being negotiated for electric power to be supplied in return for coal. Several of the other countries concerned are supplying essential imports to the British zone, but their import and export contracts are not linked.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the rates of Income Tax and Surtax imposed upon inhabitants of the British zone in Germany.