asked the Minister of Labour if he will defer the call-up of young men now gaining practical experience on farms whilst awaiting entry to agricultural colleges and thus enable them to complete their normal college course.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Northern Norfolk (Mr. Gooch) on 18th November.

Is the Minister aware that notwithstanding the unequivocal undertaking given to the hon. Member, one Ministry rules that such men can only be deferred if accepted by an agricultural college, and another Ministry rules that no agricultural college can accept them? Will he look into this matter further?

Yes, Sir, and I shall be glad to receive any particulars which will help me to straighten it out.

asked the Minister of Labour whether efficient service with the Sea Cadets, Army Cadet Force, or the A.T.C. will be counted wholly or partly towards the period of service to be performed in the Territorial auxiliary or reserve forces under the proposed arrangements for National Service.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an estimate of the number of men who will be called up for service with the armed forces during 1947; the number of these whose service will have been deferred; and the corresponding figures for 1946.

I estimate that in 1947 there will be called up 140,000 men born in 1929 and 35,000 born in earlier years and whose calling-up was deferred. The corresponding figures for 1946 are approximately 145,000 and 110,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that catering trade employees, being unable to obtain employment through the employment exchanges, are compelled to pay high fees to private employment agencies to obtain work; and why, when private agencies are able to find employment, his Department is not able to do so.

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. The employment exchanges find employment for many thousands of persons in the hotel and catering trades and have a large number of vacancies on their books.

Is the Minister aware that I can give him many instances where catering workers who have gone to the Denmark Street exchange could not find employment, but on paying a fee to a private agency have been placed in a job immediately?

I should be glad to have any such particulars, because according to my information, in the three months ending 7th August, we placed no fewer than 17,896 in the catering trades, and at that time we had vacancies for 15,007.

Is it the policy of the Government to tell the employers to find labour through the Ministry's exchanges rather than through private ones?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the malpractices adopted by many of the catering trade employment agencies; what steps he is taking to prevent these malpractices; and whether he will consider appointing a committee of inquiry to consider the abolition of these catering trade agencies.

The Catering Wages Commission have announced their intention of undertaking an inquiry under Section 2 of the Catering Wages Act, 1943, into the organisation and work of employment agencies serving the catering industry and have invited observations from interested organisations and persons. I must await the results of this inquiry before considering whether any action is required.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are employed in Scotland and Great Britain in the peat industry; and what are the possibilities of creating employment in rural districts in connection with the industry.

Information as to the number of men employed in this industry is not available. As to the second part of the Question, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power that a survey of peat sites which could be worked on an economic basis is at present being carried out, but it is not considered that this can be expected to provide more than a limited amount of additional employment in particular localities.

May I take it that the Minister will have in mind that there are over 70,000 men and women unemployed in Scotland, and that there is a shortage of fuel?

Yes, Sir, but we do not expect to find all of them jobs digging peat.

Will the Minister prevent the peat sites of Dartmoor from being interfered with by the military?

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the statement sent to him describing the unsatisfactory conditions, due to bad management, at the Brockworth Hostel, near Cheltenham, where, approximately, 1,000 workers from South Wales are housed; and, as these are affecting the supply of labour for the factory of Messrs. A. W. Hawksley, Limited, engaged in producing aluminium houses, if he will hold an inquiry into the complaints of the men, which are supported by the management of Messrs. A. W. Hawksley, Limited, with a view to remedying the grievances of residents in the hostel.

I have considered the statement sent to me by the hon. Member. I have made inquiries and am satisfied that there are no grounds for the complaint about feeding conditions although there is pressure at meal times owing to the large number of residents at the hostel; this would be substantially eased if the hours of work of the residents were staggered. As regards the need for redecoration, it is not possible without detriment to other more urgent work to do more than is absolutely essential. I have had no specific complaints from the firm mentioned, and I can assure the hon. Member that the conditions at this hostel have been under constant review.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman who conducted this inquiry? Will he have an impartial inquiry by Members of the House or by somebody else, because the conditions are serious, and they are affecting the supply of houses by this firm, whose management and men will receive the Minister's reply with disappointment?

I wish it were possible at Question time to go more fully into this matter, but this hostel has been under very constant attention and review over many weeks—

By whom?

Not by you, at any rate. [Interruption.]I will correct myself by saying Not by the hon. Gentleman on the Back Bench. "There has been a considerable amount of worry about this place, as another Question on the Order Paper shows. It is not so much a question of the residents being dissatisfied. The mischief is really caused by one individual.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I wish to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Minister of Labour what complaints have been made by the residents committee of Brockworth Hostel, near Gloucester; and what action has been taken.

Complaints by such committees would normally be addressed to the National Service Hostels Corporation and dealt with through a recognised procedure for consultation between such committees and the management. I understand that there is at present no elected residents committee at the hostel concerned owing to the unwillingness of residents to serve. In the circumstances the manager has nominated a committee with whom he is working.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to provide work for dock workers at Newport, in view of the increasing number of unemployed at this port.

During the past three months 26 dock workers have been discharged from Newport Docks on account of redundancy. Of these, 13 registered for employment at the Ministry's local office and every effort is being made to place them in alternative work.

Can my right hon. Friend tell us whether many others are out of work in Cardiff docks? Is he aware that while the Government have still power to direct boats to Newport not one vessel has been directed to Newport since the war terminated?

I must admit that I had a doubt whether the hon. Gentleman's Question was directed to that aspect of the matter; that is a point which should be -addressed to the Ministry of Transport which has to do with directing vessels.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men in the building industry were registered as unemployed at the last date when returns were made.

At 14th October, the number of insured men aged 16 and over in the building industry registered as unemployed in Great Britain, was 16,644.

How does the Minister reconcile this appalling waste of manpower with some of the statements recently made by the Minister of Health to justify his failure in housing progress?

The figures are taken on Monday, and 60 to 70 per cent. of the craftsmen who sign on as unemployed on Monday are placed in employment before the end of the week. It is a constant going in and out. As far as the unskilled men are concerned, 4,760 are fit for light work only, and although they are registered under the building scheme they are not really available for building work. In that case also 15 to 20 per cent. of the registrations on Monday are placed in employment by the end of the week.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications have been received for training under the Resettlement Scheme; how many accepted; and if he will state the number still awaiting training, giving details on a trade and industry basis.

Excluding applications made and subsequently withdrawn by the applicant, 138,490 applications have been received for training under the Vocational Training Scheme, of which 106,767 have been accepted. Of these 31,854 are awaiting allocation to training. As the details by trades require a long list, I am sending particulars to my hon. Friend.

Whilst "appreciating the progress which has been made, may I ask whether the other 30,000-odd are likely soon to be taken into the schools?

They will be taken in as soon as we are able to get ahead with the necessary building of the premises which we need to occupy.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements he has in mind for the training of the 4,540 unemployed disabled persons, male and female, who are registered at the present time in the county of Durham.

Only a proportion of the number quoted need training, which is provided at six Government training centres, a special residential training centre, technical colleges and employers' establishments. 769 severely disabled will have their need for training met by the establishment in 1947–1948 of three factories under the Disabled Persons Corporation at Durham, Chester-le-Street and West Hartlepool. If necessary further factories will be established.

I wonder if the Minister is aware of the general feeling in County Durham, which carries more than 50 per cent. of the total disabled, that the training has been bungled and muddled by incredible delays on the part of his Department, and that his statement will allay the fears of those who rendered such first-class service in this country in both an industrial and a military capacity?

I hope also that the statement I have made will do something to allay the misconceived statements which must have been circulated about this matter.

Can the Minister say if firms which are prepared to employ disabled ex-Servicemen will get priority in machinery which they may require to employ these men?

I have no authority about the allocation of machinery, but as far as employers are concerned, it is right to say that in the main throughout the country they generously come into line and accept their quota of disabled workers.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed workers there are in Scotland in the shipbuilding industry.

3,706 at 14th October, the latest date for which figures are available.

Is the Minister aware that these men are unemployed because of the shortage of raw materials, including sheet steel, and will he say what are the representations he has made to the other Ministers to see that their export is restricted in order to provide employment?

We are aware that this and some other unemployment is due to shortage of raw materials, but the matter is actively being pursued between the Ministers concerned in an effort to find a remedy.

As in the case of Question No. 8, is this count taken on Monday, and if so why is the same excuse not given here?

Because in this instance the men have remained unemployed and there was no need to give a reason which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has now twisted into an excuse.

Is the Minister aware that there is five times the amount of unemployment in Scotland that there is in London and the South of England?

Answer.

The point is that there is a shortage of labour in London and there is a surplus of labour in Scotland. There is, of course, a well known way of filling these London vacancies but there is some hesitation in introducing compulsory transfer.

rose—

We cannot pursue this any further. Supplementary questions are meant to seek information, but here they are giving information.

It is a futile reply.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of bricklayers available for civilian employment in England and Wales; and the number of men in this category still serving in His Majesty's Forces.

The estimated number of bricklayers in employment in the building and civil engineering industries in England and Wales at the end of October was 93,000. The number still serving in the Forces is about 6,400.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the last meeting of the Council of Former Secretaries of State for Scotland was held; and if, in view of the needs of Scotland, he will consult the council at regular intervals in the future.

The last meeting of the Council of ex-Secretaries of State took place on 16th February, 1945, during the Coalition Government. Its retention among the bodies to which I, as Secretary of State for Scotland, can look for advice would not appear to be appropriate in the absence of such understanding between parties as obtained during the war years, and I do not intend to reconstitute such a council as one of my advisory bodies.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that his administration of Scotland is so successful that he can dispense with the advice and counsel of experienced men?

There is no statutory duty upon me to appoint ex-Secretaries of State for Scotland as my advisers, and I believe that outside their ranks there are just as intelligent individuals to give me advice as among those who are ex-Secretaries of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for regular consultation with all Scottish Members at Edinburgh; and if, in particular, he will arrange for an early meeting to consider, with the Minister of Labour, the unemployment situation in Scotland.

I am always prepared to meet Scottish Members, as can suitably be arranged either in Edinburgh or London, whenever there is any indication of a general desire for such a meeting and when it is clear that the opportunity so provided of informal discussion would be advantageous in dealing with any particular Scottish problem.

With regard to the second part of the Question, I am in constant touch with my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Labour on the employment situation in Scotland; and I should of course consult them about any proposal made to me through the usual channels.

In view of that reply, may I ask the Secretary of State if he will arrange an early meeting of the Scottish Members in Edinburgh to discuss the question of unemployment in Scotland and to prepare a resolution for submission to the Government?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in view of the Parliamentary programme it would be more convenient if such matters were referred to the Scottish Grand Committee?

I am not aware of that, but I am aware that it would be of interest to Scottish Members to meet informally to discuss particular problems affecting Scotland in the same way as they did under my predecessors. As I have already said, if there are representations through the usual channels I am prepared to consider them.

Do I understand from the right hon. Gentleman that the initiative in this matter must come from Scottish Members and not from him?

I require to discover through the usual channels any particular subject they wish to discuss with me so that I may have an opportunity to see that the appropriate officials are present and that expert advice is available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the opinion of certain hon. Members is that most of the meetings in Edinburgh were a waste of time and money, and does he not think that if there are to be discussions they should be held in London, which is much more convenient than calling hon. Members to Edinburgh?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now prepared to reconsider the case of Mr. Hill Baltier, Whithorn, Wigtownshire, against whom proceedings were instituted by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

As the hon. Member has been informed in correspondence and in reply to his Question on 5th April, after the fullest inquiries, I can find no ground for intervening in this case.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that two members of the agricultural executive committee concerned admitted to Mr. Hill that the additional ploughing quota levied for the year in dispute arose from the fact that the penalty imposed upon him in Wigtown Sheriff Court was, in their judgment, too light, and will he therefore now be prepared to reconsider this question?

In view of all the facts which have been brought to my notice, and which I have endeavoured to place before the hon. Member—who has been very persistent in the interests of his constituent, for which I do not blame him —I am not prepared to reconsider this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in consequence of the passing into law of the Hill Farming Act, he will now announce long-term provisions for hill cattle schemes.

I am not yet in a position to lay before Parliament a scheme for the payment of subsidy for cattle kept on hill land, in terms of the Hill Farming Act. Discussions with the interests concerned will be necessary before such a scheme is prepared.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman is considering announcing a long-term policy in the future?

We are having discussions with the interests concerned which take some little time to carry through. The Act referred to has only recently been placed on the Statute Book and I am anxious to carry the various interests with me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has taken any action on the application by Grange mouth Town Council for approval of their water scheme upon which depends the provision of employment for 1,000 workers in the area through the extension of the I.C.I. factory; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. On 31st October—the day after I was informed of the result of negotiations betwen the town council and the Stirlingshire and Falkirk Water Board—I informed the town council that I agreed in principle with their proposals and that, subject to my statutory duty to consider objections, I would be prepared to entertain an application for an order under the Water (Scotland) Act, 1946, conferring the necessary powers on the council. On 22nd November the town council replied that they proposed to make application for such an order.

In view of the report that I.C.I. have placed a time limit upon giving a decision in regard to this matter, will my right hon. Friend use what powers he has to see that no delay takes place in dealing with the application?

Evidence of that is contained in the answer I have given, which states that on the very next day after the receipt of the application instructions were given to the town council to go ahead.

But the right hon. Gentleman will be aware that further steps have still to be taken?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take immediate steps to arrange for the publication of the registra-tration of voters in the divisions of Ruther-glen, North Lanark and Lanark

I regret that work on the printing of the registers for the Parliamentary county of Lanark was delayed in consequence of the recent dispute in the printing trade. The burgh sections of the registers were published on 15th October. As regards the remainder, I am informed that delivery to the electoral registration officer will be completed by 27th November and that copies will be published in the usual places on the following day.

Will the Secretary of State assure himself that when these lists are made available there will be no curtailment of time within which objections, alterations, and examinations can take place?

I will do my best to meet the point raised by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the function of the Scottish Information Office; in what respects it is the agent of the Secretary of State; who selects the panel of chairmen for the Sunday evening meetings run by the Information Office in Edinburgh; what are the terms of their appointment; and what instructions have been given to these chairmen regarding the admissibility of party political questions at the meetings.

The functions of the Scottish Information Office are to provide the public through the Press and other channels with information about the work of my Departments. It also acts as agent in Scotland for the Central Office of Information as regards meetings and the distribution of documentary films made by that office. The chairmen of the Sunday meetings in Edinburgh act in an honorary capacity on the invitation of the director of the Scottish Information Office, and have done so for a number of years. They are instructed, in dealing with questions, not to accept any of a political nature.

Can the Minister say how the expenses of these meetings are met?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing number of small houses in the city of Glasgow with a short expectation of life being kept vacant to be offered for sale; and what steps he proposes to take to protect inexperienced purchasers, in urgent need of shelter, against exploitation.

Would-be purchasers must be guided by their own technical or legal advisers. It is indefensible, however, in the face of the clamant need for accommodation in Glasgow, that houses should be kept vacant for possible sale. Empty houses in all categories should immediately be brought to the notice of the corporation for consideration as to their suitability for requisitioning.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that notwithstanding the provisions for requisitioning, it is common for such houses to remain vacant for periods of from two to four months, and that such offers are made in many cases in order to induce ex-Servicemen to part with their gratuities in exchange for property of very doubtful value?.

If houses are standing vacant I trust that this Question will draw the attention of the citizens to the fact. They ought not to be standing vacant, and my hon. Friend can take it that the Corporation of Glasgow are very much alive to their responsibilities in this matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a number of single apartment houses of a slum character are being offered, in particular by one firm of house factors, Messrs. Spiers and Knox, who have declared that they will keep them vacant until they get their price for them? An exorbitant price is being demanded for these shameful types of house.

If there is a vacant house the corporation have the power to request the Secretary of State to requisition. If hon. Members or other citizens know of houses remaining vacant and will furnish me with the particulars I give an assurance that prompt action will be taken.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if it were possible for these houses to be let for a short while after which the owner could be sure of getting them back this difficulty would not arise?

As I understand the situation in Glasgow, this type of house in a tenement has not commonly been sold hitherto in the same way as has the cottage type. The practice of selling such houses has increased since the war but what I am interested in is whether they are vacant. If they are, and I think they are at all desirable, they should not remain vacant any longer than necessary but should be taken over for human habitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the delay in the erection of council houses at New Abbey, Kirkcudbrightshire.

Tenders for this scheme of 12 houses were approved on 29th August. I am informed that because of labour difficulties the excavator and brickwork contractor has found it impossible to make a start. In view of these difficulties I have requested that the scheduling of the scheme under the Essential Work Order should be considered as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to have the figures for the additional houses provided by sub-division to be included in the monthly housing return for Scotland, under the heading Private Enterprise Permanent Houses.

I am arranging for the inclusion in the monthly Housing Return of a general note of the information asked for. I regret that it is impracticable to give detailed information for each local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that, for the period 1st January, 1945, to 30thSeptember, 1946, Edinburgh Corporation had received approval for tenders for 2,081 houses; that, during the same period, licences had been granted for the provision, by erection and sub-division, of approximately 650 houses for sale; whether this is in accordance with the agreement reached between his Department and Edinburgh Corporation; and what steps he proposes to take to see that the Corporation's programme is accelerated.

The facts are broadly as stated in the first part of the Question. The understanding to which my hon. Friend refers relates to the issue of licences for the erection of new houses, 306 of which had been licensed by the corporation up to 30th September 1946. I am not aware that it has been departed from. As I stated in a reply to my hon. Friend on 29th October, the corporation have also imposed restrictive conditions on the issue of licences for conversion work. I have no evidence to suggest that progress on the corporation's own schemes is being retarded because of private building, but I shall continue to keep the position under close review.

Could my hon. Friend say whether he is now taking steps to see that the corporation increases its permanent programme, in view of the fact that this activity is causing great concern among people who want houses but who fear that their needs will once again compel them to accept responsibilities that they have no wish to accept, and cannot afford to accept in any case?

I went into this matter rather fully. I found that conversion is on a fair scale, but I could not find any evidence that it is retarding corporation building. With regard to the general progress of corporation houses, I am constantly in touch with the corporation. Anything I can do to help them to increase the number of houses I shall be glad to do.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Swedish houses it is expected will be completed in Aberdeenshire by the end of the year.

All of the 32 Swedish timber houses under construction in Aberdeen county are roofed over and at an advanced stage and everything possible is being done to ensure their completion by the end of the year.

Could the Minister give an assurance that the necessary fittings and materials needed to complete the houses will be forthcoming?

These considerations do not apply only to the Swedish houses in Aberdeenshire. I have a special report on Swedish houses not yet completed in Scotland, with a view to action being taken to speed up the supply of components, &c. This week we have in Scotland a representative from the Ministry of Supply arranging for extra deliveries for the Swedish houses in particular.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will speed up the arrangements by which pension appeals submitted to the appeal tribunals can be heard; and if he will consider the appointment of more tribunals in view of the great hardship caused to the appellants by the long delay in arriving at decisions in these cases.

Considerable progress has been made in disposing of entitlement appeals and those still outstanding will be dealt with as quickly as possible. Recent decisions of the High Court and Court of Sessions are, however, necessitating a more detailed statement of the Ministry's reasons for rejection and this inevitably affects the speed with which cases can be prepared. The appointment of tribunals is not the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, but I have no reason to think that the hearing of appeals is being held up owing to a lack of tribunals.

Is the Minister aware that in Scotland in particular long delays take place before the appeals come before tribunals? One case in particular which I have referred to his Department from time to time has now taken two years. It has just come before the tribunal.

I am prepared to look into any cases of that sort to see whether a case can be made out for further tribunals. I would urge that it is not the responsibility of my right hon. Friend to deal with the actual setting up of these tribunals.

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps he proposes to take to ensure that men who are conscripted under the new compulsory military service scheme and who suffer injury will become eligible for disability pensions; and what arrangements he will make to provide for a right of appeal in the case of rejected claims.

Men called up for compulsory service who are disabled in consequence of that service at present come within the scope of the war pensions instruments and have the right of appeal to the pensions appeal tribunal. The existing instruments cover cases arising before the date to be declared, for war pensions purposes, to be the end of the war emergency.

But will the existing rules cover these cases when the new compulsory service legislation is introduced? That is the point of the Question.

The question has not yet arisen, but I am prepared to keep in mind the hon. and gallant Gentleman's views on the matter.

Cannot the Minister give us an assurance that he will—

rose.

asked the Minister of Pensions under what authority payment of War Service Grant to the wives of Servicemen under 21 years of age is limited to cases of pregnancy, unfitness for employment by reason of ill-health or the case of infirm relatives; and whether, in view of the fact that these wives receive no marriage allowance, he will extend the ambit of such grants to include cases of need or hardship arising from other causes.

From the inception of the War Service Grants Scheme in 1939, assistance to a childless wife has been given in cases where the circumstances are as set out by the hon. Member or in other cases of hardship in which the wife is prevented from taking up employment. The conditions for a grant are the same, irrespective of the age of the husband.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that this position cannot possibly be allowed to continue? Is he aware that the Service Departments ride off their responsibility by saying that war service grants can be granted by the Minister of Pensions and that the Minister refuses to grant them unless the wife comes within these particular categories?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Debate which took place on the Adjournment last night, when the Secretary of State for War made a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the shortage of hotel accommodation in the Edinburgh district; that this shortage will be detrimental to the success of the forthcoming International Festival of Music and Drama; and whether, under these circumstances, he will derequisition forthwith, Craigiehall Hotel, Cramond, to provide accommodation for visitors to the festival.

I am aware of the shortage of hotel accommodation in the Edinburgh district, but I cannot believe that the success of the forthcoming International Festival of Music and Drama will be impaired by the loss of the Craigiehall Hotel, which has only some 16 bedrooms. These premises, I regret, cannot be derequisitioned.

Is the Minister aware that not much use is being made of these premises at the moment, and that there is a disused camp about 1,000 yards away which his Department could use?

I do not think that it would be suitable for the purpose that we have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will announce the arrangements made for officers and other ranks living with their wives and families in Germany, to travel on leave to the United Kingdom accompanied by their families: and whether they can make the return journey accompanied by their wives and families.

It is a condition of families joining officers or other ranks at stations abroad that the husband ceases to be eligible for conveyance at public expense to the United Kingdom on leave. Service personnel and their families may, of course, return to the United Kingdom for holidays at their own expense. They could not, however, travel together as there are no facilities for families on the ships which carry Service personnel, and vice versa. Ships have had to be specially adapted for the transport of wives and children

Bearing in mind the fact that, for a great many purposes, service in Germany counts as home service, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he ought to make arrangements whereby families can go on leave where they like?

No, Sir, I think not. In some respects B.A.O.R. is in a much more favourable position than other commands.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has further news of the British soldiers missing after an ambush on the 10th June near Saigon; and what efforts have been made, and are being made, to get in touch with those who are believed to have been carried off by the bandits.

My information is that on 10th June, a French convoy of three vehicles was ambushed on the road between Saigon and Cap St. Jaques. One 15 cwt. truck travelling in the opposite direction in which were 11 British Servicemen, and one civilian interpreter, became involved in the ambush. The truck left the road and became bogged. The bandits, believed to be Japanese, heavily engaged the truck with small arms fire. Fire was returned until ammunition was exhausted, after which the bandits attacked the truck. It was during this attack that the following casualties were incurred: Army, four killed, four wounded and one missing; Air Force, one killed and one wounded, and one civilian killed. I am awaiting a further report and will write to the hon. Member.

Can the Minister say what has been done to try to trace the missing man? Does he not realise that the present position gives rise to much anxiety on the part of the parents?

Yes, Sir, I appreciate the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's question. I sympathise with the relatives and I am doing all I can to obtain further information.

Have diplomatic representations been made to the newly-established Viet-Namese Republic? If not, will my right hon. Friend consult the Foreign Office, with a view to that being done?

I could not say, without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War in which age and service groups the demobilisation of telecommunication mechanics, R.E.M.E., has been deferred; how many personnel are involved; and how many of these are not at present employed in their correct trade.

On 31st October a total of 51 other ranks of various trades in R.E.M.E. had their release deferred compulsorily. Their age and service groups ranged from 32 to 45 and I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers in each group. I regret that I cannot say to what trade in R.E.M.E. each of these men belong but I am satisfied that generally men who are deferred are not misemployed. If, however, the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the case of a soldier, 14944324, about whom the hon. Member for Colchester wrote to his Department on 23rd April, 28th May and 5th July, 1946; what this man's academic qualifications are; how long he has been in the Army; what his substantive rank now is; and whether he is aware that this soldier has, on three occasions, been recommended by specialists boards for transfer to the Army Education corps and, on three occasions, had the transfer cancelled by order of his Department.

The soldier referred to is a Bachelor of Arts. He joined the Army on 1st March, 1945, and his substantive rank is private. I am aware that he has been recommended on three occasions for transfer to the Army Educational Corps by interviewing boards and that such transfer has not been approved by my Department. It is a matter for the Army Council to decide the corps in which a soldier can best serve. I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given him on 19th February and 2nd July which state the true position.

Since the three boards in question interviewed the man and the Army Council have not interviewed him, will the right hon. Gentleman state on what grounds the Army Council refused this transfer on three occasions?

As explained in the previous answer to my hon. Friend, the Army Council delegate their duties to suitable officers and that is the reason why the Army Council itself would not have interviewed this soldier.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to be able to shorten to four months, as formerly, the period between United Kingdom leave allowed to B.A.O.R. troops.

There is no intention of introducing a four monthly interval between periods of leave for troops in B.A.O.R. The normal interval has, since privilege leave started on 1st July, 1945, been six months, and although the shipping situation immediately after the end of the war in Europe permitted a rather shorter interval, the paramount importance of releasing shipping for its normal purposes has now made it necessary to revert once more to the six monthly interval. Each period of leave has, however, been increased from 12 to 19 days.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider paying for part of the work performed by German prisoners of war in the form of credits cashable in marks by the individual prisoners on repatriation.

There is already in existence for prisoners of war in the United Kingdom a scheme under which in addition to normal working pay, which is available for current spending, they may receive credits for good output: such credits may be used for remittances to their families in Germany; and any balance not so used and any balance of normal working pay is payable to them in marks in Germany when they are repatriated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of no earlier relaxation of the non-fraternisation regulations, he will consider making such special arrangements as would allow German prisoners of war to spend Christmas day in British homes, where invited to do so.

I do not at present contemplate any relaxation of the current rules.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he does not think that this would be a golden opportunity to instil a little bit of British home life into these people? Surely this opportunity ought not to be wasted?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is important to return our prisoners of war to Germany as an example of our British way and purpose, and that the suggestion in my Question will do very much to achieve that end?

Answer.

I agree with my hon. Friend in the first part of his question and we are certainly doing a lot towards that end, but I am afraid that I cannot add anything to the answer I have given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the shortage of penny and shilling coins due to the accumulation in slot-machines; and what steps are being taken to secure their earlier release, or to augment the supply.

There is some shortage of penny coins but not of shillings. Additional pence are being coined by the Mint at the rate of over 60,000,000 a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Canadian Government make a capital charge of two per cent. before releasing shares in Canadian companies belonging to British firms but which happen to be registered in German names; and whether His Majesty's Government make the same charge under similar circumstances.

Yes, Sir. Canada makes this charge and we do not.

Would my right hon. Friend think it possible to make further representations to the Canadian Government on this matter?

I do not know that it is quantitatively a very big matter, but we will take it up with them and see if we can get uniformity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the loans advanced to local authorities by the Public Works Loans Board bear a rate of interest so far out of line with that achieved in respect of Government securities; and what steps he is taking to reduce this rate.

New loans by the Board are at 2½ per cent. or less. As regards old loans at higher rates of interest, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given last Tuesday to the hon. Members for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher), Central Edinburgh (Mr. Gilzean) and North Edinburgh (Mr. Willis).

Does not the Chancellor of the Exchequer think it is altogether out of order—I would almost say—for local authorities to be required to pay interest rates up to 5 and 6 per cent., and even 7 per cent. in some cases, for retrospective loans? Will he not do something about it?

Those local authorities had the misfortune to borrow under a Tory Government, but none the less, if my hon. Friend will study the answer to which I have referred him he will see that all the gates of hope are not quite closed.

Would the Chancellor of the Exchequer consider hitting the Tories and those they represent a real crack by doing away with interest altogether?

May I ask the Chancellor whether he contemplates introducing legislation to relieve some of the local authorities from these exorbitant rates which were perpetrated on them when the party opposite was in office?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the consent of the Treasury was given to the recent offer for sale of 2,000,000 shares of London Stadium. Limited, a company widely engaged in the provision of greyhound racing tracks;

(2) what instructions he has given to the Capital Issues Committee to refuse consent to capital issues which are for purposes not deemed socially desirable.

This case was not one which involved the raising of new money, but only a sale of existing shares. The Capital Issues Committee are guided, as regards priorities for new issues, by a Memorandum issued in May 1945 (Cmd. 6645) and by indications given by me from time to time. In May of this year I instructed them that consent should not be given to any new issues for greyhound racing concerns.

While I appreciate my right hon. Friend's answer, may I suggest to him that he indicated quite clearly on the Second Reading of the Borrowing (Control and Guarantees) Bill that in the case of new issues of capital access to the capital market would be limited to purposes deemed socially desirable? Is that still the policy of the Government?

I have indicated one example in which we have carried that out by a specific instruction to the Capital Issues Committee.

May I ask whether the National Investment Council was consulted in this case? Are we to understand that the Government, having failed to supply the people with bread, are now concentrating on circuses?

Does not the Chancellor realise that dog racing is a racket—

Sir Thomas Moore.

rose—

Order, order.

I am doing my best to try to get on with Questions. I have called the next Question.

Dog racing is a racket.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is now his intention to change the incidence of income taxation from a direct to an indirect method.

The hon. and gallant Member will not expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement.

As the right hon. Gentleman gave an indication of Tory intentions in a recent public speech, could he not take this House into his confidence?

I gave a general statement of intention in my last Budget Statement, and the lecture to the Fabian Society—to which I suspect the hon. and gallant Gentleman is referring—added nothing new of substance to what I said in my Budget speech.

asked the Chan cellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of our overseas investments that was sold for the purpose of the conduct of the war; and what is the amount at the latest available date.

£1,118 million were realised for this purpose. No estimate of the value of the remaining investments can be made at present.

In view of the apparently very heavy reduction in overseas investments, and in view of the fact that the sellers market is coming to an end, and the American loan is coming to an end, would the right hon. Gentleman tell the people that we must export at world competitive prices, or starve?

The Question which was asked dealt with the amount of our overseas investment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the heavy clerical work involved, he will allow deductions for expenses in the collection and payment of Pay as you earn.

The law is already what the hon. Member suggests that it should be.

Why is it then that many firms have' to employ extra secretarial staff to do the work for the Treasury, because if they do not make proper returns they are liable to very heavy penalties?

Is the Chancellor aware that there are frequent instances of persons who are not making a profit in their businesses having to add to the loss they are already making by employing clerical staff to collect Pay as you earn?

Answer.

I am anxious to answer any questions which would expand the field covered by the original Question on the Paper. I doubt whether an answer to that question would do so.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if proper systems of office machinery are used, the amount of clerical labour involved is by no means heavy?