asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that during the month of October, fewer than 20 per cent. of the aircraft passing through the R.A.F. station. Elmas, Sardinia, were R.A.F. aircraft and that R.A.F. aircraft averaged fewer than one a day; and how soon he anticipates that it will be possible to reduce the present strength of some 200 officers and men at this station.

Over half of the 178 aircraft passing through Elmas in October were R.A.F. aircraft. At the end of August we reduced the number of men at this unit and I cannot say when we shall be able to make any further reduction.

In view of the concern felt about the wastage of manpower in the Forces, is my hon. Friend satisfied that this is the most economical possible use of these 200 men's services, and does not the figure he gives confirm my estimate of fewer than one aircraft a day?

The figure in regard to the second part of the supplementary is that there were 178, and 91 of these were R.A.F. On the other point, I am satisfied that the best possible use is being made of these men.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he has considered the detailed complaints forwarded to him regarding the inadequate mail services and film and other entertainment provided for airmen stationed at Elmas, Sardinia, C.M.F.; and what action he proposes to take.

I have been able to consider most of the points. We have now arranged for two films a week to be sent to Elmas. Other entertainment is difficult to provide as sea transport to Sardinia is poor, but we hope to arrange for parties to travel by air. With the contraction of the Air Force, it became impossible to maintain a regular air mail service to this station and we had to rely on Italian sea transport. This does not appear to have worked too well and I am seeing what can be done to improve the service.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the films will be relatively new?

They are relatively new. Of course, there are not so many new films produced and from time to time first grade films have to be shown again.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the shortage of personnel capable of servicing aircraft, full use is being made of the skill and experience of trained mechanics among recruits in the R.A.F.

Yes, Sir. If my hon. Friend has any information which seems to show that we are failing in this, I hope he will bring it to my attention.

Can my hon. Friend say if there is any ground for the belief among the recruits that full use is not made of engineering skill unless they are volunteers?

No, Sir. That is not quite right. It depends naturally on the amount of training which a recruit will require. To train a man to be, for instance, Fitter I takes 25 months, and it would be impossible to take somebody who is not a volunteer for long service. Generally we make the best use we can of these men's skill.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the de mobilisation programme for January, February and March, 1947, provides for the release of men up to Group 49 for ground personnel; that men with over three years' service are in groups as high as 56; and if he will give an indication as to when Groups 55 to 60 in the R.A.F. are likely to be released.

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the last part of the Question, there is nothing I can add to the statement of 6th November by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and to the White Paper on "Call Up to the Forces."

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give particulars of all strikes and mutinies which have taken place in the R.A.F. since VJ-Day; and the action taken in respect to them.

With permission, I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Without going into detail, can the hon. Gentleman give the number of R.A.F. stations in which incidents have taken place?

Under 30—in the twenties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that all reviewing authorities up to and including his Department have reviewed or purported to have reviewed the conviction and sentence of L.A.C. Cymbalist on a defective record wherein most of the evidence of Cymbalist himself appeared in the form of answers only, without any indication of the questions to which the answers were given; and if he will now have the case reviewed on proper materials.

If Mr. Cymbalist considers that the review of his case was impaired by this omission in the record of his trial, it is open to him to submit a further petition which will receive the fullest consideration. Even if Mr. Cymbalist does not petition the case will. be reviewed.

I am very grateful for that assurance, but can the hon. Gentleman tell us how it comes about that after the House and the country have been told that this case has been reviewed and, reviewed and found to be in order, the hop. Gentleman has to confess that the record is grossly defective?

I confess there was an omission from the record, and I have nothing to add to the statement which I have made.

How is it that the supposedly competent persons in the legal profession and outside of it, who have reviewed this thing stage by stage while the man concerned was sitting in prison, had not enough intelligence to realise that it was defective?

There is no evidence that the reviewing authorities considered the legal effect of this defect, and that is why the case will be reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the continued dissatisfaction felt by men mustered in the electrical trades at the fact that only two groups of Electricians I will have been released during the period August, 1946, to January, 1947; and if he will make a full statement showing the numbers 'of electricians now being recruited or trained, together with a forecast of the release dates for groups of Electricians I above Group 42.

Between 1st August, 1946, and 31st January, 1947, we shall have released six groups of Electricians I. On 1st November, 1,113 airmen were on recruit courses before being trained as Electricians II, and 257 and 1,457 were in training as Electricians I and Electricians II respectively. I regret that I cannot forecast the release date for Electricians I above Group 42.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that this receives publication in R.A.F. orders, because there seems to be a great deal of dis- satisfaction on this point and some misunderstanding?

I think that has been covered in a demobform, but I will look into the whole matter and if it is not so I will certainly do what the hon. and gallant Gentleman suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when the hon. Member for Huntingdon may expect a reply to his letter of 12th September, asking for the handing over to the Hunts County Council of certain huts at Little Stukeley aerodrome which are urgently required for the accommodation of civilian employees of the county council, many of whom are married ex-Servicemen.

I hope to send the hon. Member a further letter by the end of the week.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that negotiations have been going on for over 12 months on this subject and that there are 100 huts in that particular area, and since only just these few are needed urgently, will he please do something about it very quickly?

I am not aware that negotiations have been going on for 12 months. The difficulty has been a shortage of manpower. It has been impossible to move the 11,000 bicycles which are at present in the huts. In any event it is not certain that the huts are suitable for housing accommodation.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the bicycles were put in the huts that are particularly required long after negotiations were started, and that a lot of the trouble would not have arisen but for that fact?

I am not aware of that.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the measure of discontent existing among R.A.F. personnel in E1 Adem camp; that the conditions in this camp are steadily worsening, particularly in the matter of food, which is mainly tinned and contains practically no allocation of fresh fruit and vegetables; and what steps he proposes to take to rectify this state of affairs.

E1 Adem is on the edge of the Libyan desert and considering where it is the living conditions are good, and it appears to be a particularly happy station. There were seasonal shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables between August and October, but the Command catering inspection for last month shows the following comments on the messes: Officers'—good, sergeants'—good, airmen's—very good.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, contrary to the information he has given the House, the men allege that conditions in the camp, both as regards accommodation and food, are progressively deteriorating, that they describe their relief at being posted or demobilised from the camp as similar to that which would be felt on being liberated from a concentration camp, and that the belief is growing among the men that someone is deliberately sabotaging the policy of His Majesty's Government to bring better conditions for the Forces?

That, is not my information. As I have stated, I have been informed that this station is a particularly happy one, and certainly with regard to food this is borne out by the remarks I have quoted from the inspection report of last month.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that civilian passengers who have passed through this camp and have stayed there overnight say that it is a highly satisfactory camp?

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of personnel employed in the Meteorological Office; and the number so employed on 2nd September, 1939.

In the office itself there were 371 on 1st November, 1946, and 208 on 2nd September, 1939. The total strength of the service was 3,018 and 862 on these dates.

In view of the fact that most unfair attacks have been made on the personnel of this office for their failure to predict the bad weather last summer, will the Minister make it clear that in the opinion of His Majesty's Government the calamitous weather last year, including the sunspots, was entirely due to 25 years of Tory misgovernment?

I am glad the noble Lord has raised that point because there is, unfortunately, a tendency to confuse weather forecasting with weather control, and I am giving away no Cabinet secrets by saying that, whatever the present Government do, they are not going to attempt to control the British weather.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the former air-sea rescue base at Gibbhill, Kircudbright, will be derequisitioned in order that the premises may be utilised as an engineering factory.

We have already authorised derequisitioning of the site and are now negotiating with the owner about the disposal of the buildings.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the necessity of giving a decision on this matter as early as possible because a great contribution to production is being lost through the delay?

I will bear that in mind, but I am not sure that the delay is entirely on my side.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the strength of the A.T.C. in Scotland at the latest convenient date.

Four thousand six hundred on 31st July.

Is it the intention of the Minister to revive the A.T.C. in Scotland, what is the target figure, and can anything be done under the local committees or under the auspices of the T.A.?

The target is 8,000, and certainly we are doing everything we can to get it going again in Scotland. We have reached the bottom of the curve and are now on the upgrade again. The A.O.C. was appointed in September and will work through the local committees. If the Territorial and Auxiliary Associations wish to help, as I am sure they will, we shall be very grateful for their assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement as to future plans for the aerodrome at Baldoon Wigtownshire.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's Question of 17th July in which I said that we planned to keep R.A.F. Station Wigtown for permanent flying use.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the owner of these farmlands is being placed in a very difficult position and that the aerodrome in question is hardly used at all now, and will he appreciate the point that much good grazing ground is more or less going out of production through remaining unused?

With regard to the depreciation through lack of use, I think the hon. Member should take that up with the local agricultural authorities, because that matter is in their hands and has bee for a couple of years.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that about 20 officers and men of the 318 (Polish) Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron, 239 Wing, R.A.F., C.M.F., are under orders to proceed to Austria for demobilisation; that there is apprehension existing amongst these men that they will not be permitted to return to this country for vocational training and enrolment in the Resettlement Corps; and what action he proposes to take.

I am not aware of these instructions but I have called for a report and I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why A.M.O. N.933/1946, dated 7th November, makes a special recommendation that tenders should be called for from local Co-operative societies; and whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to advance the claims of specific trading concerns.

This order instructs units to make every effort to obtain competitive tenders for funeral services. Co-operative societies were mentioned so as to widen the field of tendering, since many units did not appear to know that they carry out these services. The answer to the second part of the question is No, Sir.

May I ask the Minister why, when competitive tenders are called for, he recommends Co-operative societies which apparently are so un businesslike that they are not likely to submit tenders, and does he intend to recommend the Army and Navy Stores, Harrods, and similar concerns in the same way?

The point is that these are local contracts. I should have thought that the hon. and gallant Gentleman would have been delighted to learn that we are widening the field for tendering and getting bigger and better and fuller competition.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will arrange for the catering arrangements at the Croydon airport to be improved.

Steps are being taken by the catering contractors to expedite the restoration of their premises at Croydon airport, but it will inevitably take some time to make good the damage occasioned by wartime requisition. As from 9th December, it will be possible to supplement the existing buffet in the terminal building by the allocation of a room for passengers in the airport hotel where a limited number of meals will be served.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary also see that it is possible to buy an alcoholic drink there, since this is about the only airport in the world where one is unable to do so?

There is no licence at the moment for the one buffet that is available, but that matter will be looked into.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will give a list of the continental countries at present operating air services to the United Kingdom who maintain a priority system.

I understand that a priority system is in operation on foreign airlines from the following continental countries: Belgium, France, Denmark, Spain and Switzerland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when it is proposed to use Prestwick Airport as an international and national air junction.

Prestwick was designated an international airport on the day it was taken over by the Ministry of Civil Aviation—1st April, 1946. There are 15 international services at present operating through it every week in each direction. There is at the moment also a service six times weekly London-Prestwick-Renfrew-Aberdeen. As British European Airways Corporation's resources expand, additional services touching Prestwick will be established to feed the international services and serve the Ayrshire coast.

Despite that customary soothing answer, can the Minister explain why the Scottish company operating this great airport have had to go to Dutch K.L.M. and French Air France to get charter work in order to keep themselves alive?

We are most grateful to Scottish aviation for doing that. These airlines are run on bilateral agreements and when they take such action we get the aircraft based in this country on both routes when we establish our own air line. Also, from the Chancellor of the Exchequer's point of view, it is a very important invisible export.

Can the Minister tell the House whether there are any Scottish-built aircraft flying from Britain?

I am afraid not.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why, and when, the flying-boat service from Cairo to the Cape is being suspended; and what service is to be instituted in its place.

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to the flying boat service on the "Horseshoe" route between Durban and Calcutta which calls at Cairo. The decision was made at the Southern Africa Air Transport Conference in 1945 that the flying boats, which had then been in service for nine and a half years, would be withdrawn at the end of 1946 and that the service between the United Kingdom and South Africa should be operated by landplanes.

What action has been taken to safeguard the very important flying boat bases all the way down that route?

That is a question which ought not to be addressed to me but to the appropriate Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the reason for the stoppage of the Renfrew-London air service in September and the steps that were taken by the B.E.A.C, to avoid it.

The reason for the temporary stoppage of the Renfrew-London air service was that, owing to the overall shortage of suitable aircraft, British European Airways Corporation were unable to replace aircraft temporarily withdrawn for periodic inspection and overhaul. As deliveries of new aircraft are made, the corporation will be increasingly in a position to meet such contingencies.

Were any steps taken to secure other aircraft?

Yes, Sir, steps were taken.

Is it not a fact that application was made to the company at Prestwick to maintain this service, and that they refused?

I hope that my hon. Friend will not press me to reply. Feeling in the Scottish area has not been too happy in the past. I have done my best, in the few weeks during which I have been able to assist my noble Friend, to establish a better relationship, and I would not like to say anything to undo the good that has been done in the last few weeks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many British European Airways services operate weekly on the Mediterranean routes; and how soon it is proposed to replace with British European Airways aircraft those services now operated by Transport Command.

The answer to the first part of the Question is seven. The services operate to Gibraltar, Marseilles, Rome, Athens, Istanbul and Ankara. As regards the second part of the Question, the replacement of Transport Command services by civil air services, where necessary, is a continuing process, kept constantly under review, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air. It is not possible to say, at present, when this process will be complete.

What was the difficulty in the way of complete replacement of Transport Command aircraft by British European Airways machines?

The difficulty has always been that Transport Command contracted much more quickly than civil aviation has been able to expand. The expansion of civil aviation is retarded by the lack of aircraft available and, in some instances, by lack of available ground facilities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the future arrangements for operating a British air service between this country and Switzerland.

British European Airways Corporation intend to operate four regular scheduled services daily with "V" Class aircraft to Switzerland, terminating at Zurich, Geneva and Basle, as soon as the supply of aircraft, trained crews and ground facilities permit.

In view of the heavy traffic that is to travel to Switzerland in the coming months, will the Minister see that British airlines participate? When will the lines start?

The programme provides that it will start as early as possible in the spring of 1947.

Will the Minister undertake that, before he sends these planes to Interlaken and other places, he will establish a good service between Belfast and London?

The Question asks only about an air service between this country and Switzerland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what proportion of the empty seats in aircraft leaving this country during the last six months have been booked by the Government and private persons, respectively; and in how many cases under each category a deposit of part of the passage money was forfeited.

I am afraid that the necessary information is not available in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and to obtain it from the corporations in the time available would involve dislocation of their current business. I am asking the corporations to obtain the information as soon as they can conveniently do so, and I will then forward it to the hon. Member.

Does not the Minister think that the number of empty seats in outgoing aircraft—taking the figures which he gave last week—is a public scandal? Will he answer the second part of my Question and say whether he uses the deterrent of a forfeited deposit to persuade people to give adequate notice of cancellation of their bookings?

There is a forfeit where adequate notice of cancellation is not given.

What is it?

The forfeit varies on a sliding scale according to the time in which the cancellation is made.

Does it apply to Government Departments?

No, Sir, it does not.

In that event, will the Minister use his good offices to impress upon Government Departments the importance of notifying these cancellations at the earliest possible moment—[An HON. MEMBER: "Fine them."]—thereby giving a fair opportunity to other sections of the community, not forgetting the members of friendly societies?

Government Departments are urged to make cancellations at the earliest possible date, if the aircraft is not going to be used. The seats are then available to the corporation—[Interruption]—perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman is not interested in the reply to the question he has asked—for sale to the public. In most cases such seats as are not taken are disposed of by private sale.

Why could not Government Departments be fined, like individuals?

That is an entirely different question. It is a matter for discussion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on how many occasions during the last four weeks scheduled flights between London and Paris, in both directions, have been delayed by more than one hour beyond their advertised starting times.

During the period from 25th October to 21st November, 15 scheduled flights from London to Paris and 16 scheduled flights from Paris to London were delayed by more than one hour beyond their advertised starting times. Cancelled flights between London and Paris were 23 in each direction.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the lack of confidence which is prevalent now on both sides of the Channel in respect to British airlines? It seems to be caused mainly by the lack of proper ground control at both ends, so that one never knows whether an aircraft will fly.

I hasten to assure the House that the assertion made by the hon Member is quite untrue.

Always running down his own country.

The delays arise from very difficult weather, mainly fog, which has always been a weather condition interfering with all forms of transport, from foot to the air.

While appreciating the difficulty connected with weather conditions, may I ask whether there is any excuse for the extremely peremptory notice of delays given to intending passengers by the officials of the air transport organisation?

Everything possible is done to avoid inconvenience, but perhaps it is true that in some cases the information is not given as quickly as it might have been, because in point of fact, the officials always hope that the aeroplane will be able to take off somewhere near to time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is proposed to operate a direct air service between Dyce and Scandinavian countries.

While there is little prospect of such a service starting in the near future, it has always been part of British European Airways Corporation's general plan to operate one when their resources and the facilities at Dyce are adequate.

What Scandinavian services are available in the North of Scotland?

At the moment, through British corporations, none. The first service will be from Turnhouse to Scandinavia, and the connection from it will be from Dyce to Turnhouse.

Is it not a fact that the total amount of traffic between the North of Scotland and Scandinavia would not justify one aeroplane per week?

The amount of traffic originating in Scotland is very small indeed at the moment, but the Scottish statements are that lack of a service prevents traffic arising.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when he expects that a decision will be reached regarding the flying-boat base at Langstone Harbour.

I regret I cannot add to the reply I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Portsmouth (Major Bruce) on 6th November last, when I said that the Report of the Pakenham Committee was under examination and that until a decision had been taken by the Government it was not possible to make a statement on the future of Langstone Harbour, or any other possible site for a marine base.

Cannot the Minister say when the Government will come to some decision in this matter, instead of dithering about with it?

At the moment I cannot. The matter is outside the control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, having been referred to the appropriate committee for consideration, in connection with matters other than civil aviation.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the average percentage of the ration which has been met in the British zone during the past six months.

The ration was effectively met in May, June and July. It is estimated that in August, September and October 93 per cent. of the ration was met, and that in the present month about 90 per cent. of the ration will be met.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster of what the 1550-calorie ration in the British zone is comprised.

The composition of the ration varies with the supplies available and all the items on the ration do not, of course, figure in each day's diet. With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the average daily ration for the present ration period.

Can the Minister state whether any fats are included in his statement, and if so how many, because fats have been absent from many parts of the zone for many months?

Yes, Sir, the proportion of fat is about one quarter of an ounce, of which the calorific value is estimated at 50 or 51.

Can the Minister state whether there are any special ration scales for hospital patients?

Certainly, Sir. Special ration scales are laid down for a whole variety of special cases, including various grades of workers, age groups of children, expectant and nursing mothers and hospital cases.

I hope it will not be a purely average list in the printed answer. I hope the Minister will give details.

The Question asked for details about the 1,550 calorie normal consumer's ration.

,—To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the present calorie value of the rations issued to the inhabitants of the British zones in Germany and Austria, respectively; and whether any increases are in sight.

Mr. Speaker, in asking Question No. 37, may I apologise for the spelling of "calorie" which has infected my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes) in his Question No. 34?

On a point of Order, I never spell it that way; it is the officers of the House who do it.

Shame.

The basic ration for the normal consumer in the British zone of Germany and throughout Austria is 1,550 calories a day. In Austria the ration is fixed by the Austrian Government. In view of the present difficulty of maintaining even this level of sustenance, I am afraid I cannot, at present, give any assurance of an early increase, although every effort is being made towards this end.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether a decision has been made to dismantle the firm of Messrs. Imhausen. Witten, in the British zone.

No decision has been made to dismantle this factory, which is being reactivated to produce synthetic industrial fats for soap and other essential needs.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether a complete survey has now been made of the firms, factories, machines and harbour works to be dismantled in the British zone; and how far the work has progressed.

The survey is not yet complete; the list of plants to be declared available as reparations has not yet been finally settled and in the great majority of the cases already listed as surplus to German peace economy, an inventory has still to be prepared and a valuation agreed between the four occupying Powers. As for the progress made with dismantling, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 20th November to the Hon. Member for the High Peak (Mr. Molson).

May I ask my hon. Friend why there has been this interminable delay? Why it is not possible for us to follow the Russian example and merely declare that the factories belong to us and continue to work them with German workers? That is what the Russians are doing in their zone.

One of the reasons for the delay is the very fact that we have not been able to get one of the first conditions which the British element laid down in connection with the level of industry in the reparations agreement that there should be a unitary Germany.

How many factories have been dismantled and brought to this country, and how many have been taken to Russia?

The answer is none in both cases. The actual number of factories that have been dismantled or are in course of dismantling—and I think they are all in course of being dismantled—is seven, of which five are allocated to the East, and two to I.A.R.A. in Brussels for allocation among the Western Powers.

Will the Minister undertake to announce at an early date the ultimate limits and details of the dismantling programme in order to remove this quite paralysing uncertainty?

I should be only too glad to give such an undertaking, but the House should understand that we laid down the very definite condition that the level of industry agreed upon in March, 1946, was dependent upon the acceptance of central administration and of a common economic unity in Germany, that that has not yet been achieved and that the probability is that the level of industry will have to be completely reviewed.

rose—

We cannot remain on one Question for ever.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent requests he has made to the Soviet authorities to release any substantial quantity of grain from their resources to help solve the further food crisis in the British zone of Germany; and what reply he has received.

The Soviet authorities are being constantly pressed to offer more food, including grain, under a programme of trade exchanges concluded last September between the British and Russian zones of Germany. Quantities are now coming forward, in return for steel, of which the Soviet authorities are in urgent need.

Will the Minister agree that there is no possible solution to this recurring food problem in the British zone unless we can draw food from the territories East of the Elbe as was done before 1945, and that it will not be solved by job lots from America?

I entirely agree that it is highly desirable that as soon as possible Europe should get back to a proper and normal economy and to the exchange of goods in the proper direction, but the simple fact is that that is not yet the position and His Majesty's Government are not in complete control of the situation.

Can the Minister say what proportion of the total requirements in the British zone has been provided this year from the Soviet zone?

If the reference is to food, I could not give any actual figures, but it has been very small indeed and in exchange for other commodities.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the number, description and total tonnage of German ships in the British zone; how many are seaworthy; and what is being done with them.

A census of German seagoing shipping has recently been taken but the results are not yet available. Before the census we had, however, traced over 400 merchant ships of over 100 tons intended for the German peace economy. These vessels are with a few exceptions in the British zone. They consist mainly of cargo vessels but include a few special types such as cattle transports and refrigerator ships. Their total tonnage is some 160,000 dead weight tons. Forty are at present unseaworthy. The remainder are being used for German coastal traffic and on certain short sea routes. There are in addition some 1425 fishing vessels of various kinds, all of which are engaged in fishing or minesweeping operations.

Is the Minister aware that a report appeared in the Press that 964 boats have recently been discovered? Is this true, and, if so, is there not something wrong with our method of building up the industry?

I thought I had made it clear that we are not in a position yet to give the complete results of the census, but before the census was taken we had traced over 400.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what vegetables are being supplied to the British zone from Holland this winter; and if he will state the approximate quantity in thousands of tons.

We have arranged for the supply of some 100,000 tons of turnips, beetroot, cabbage, carrots and cauliflowers.

Is it not correct to state that no less than 140,000 tons was then or will be available, and why has all that not been taken up?

As a matter of fact, the estimates of availability of Dutch vegetables have been reduced very considerably in the latest estimate. The reduced figure we have is of no more than 300,000 tons of Dutch vegetables available for general disposal, and we have secured at least 100,000 tons for Germany alone.

Have we taken up all we can get?

We have taken all that has been offered to us so far.

Is it not true that in recent months we have refused to accept vegetable products from Holland for reasons of barter difficulties or the argument as to who is going to pay?

I am not at all aware of that. The total available in Holland is only 300,000 tons. We have accepted all that has been offered, representing one-third of the total amount.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many persons are engaged in the construction of the Hamburg project.

There are about 9,000 Germans and 180 British, including those employed on preparing alternative living and office accommodation for Germans

Is it not a fact that there are only 1,700 people engaged in repairing houses for the people, and is it not scandalous that 9,000 people should be engaged on this project when so few people are engaged in repairing houses?

The figures I gave were 9,000 Germans and 180 British engaged on both operations. On the construction of flats, 1,318 are employed, and on construction and rehousing for the German people nearly double that number—2,526—are employed

Is it not a fact that the majority of the people employed on rehousing are employed on rehousing as the result of the Hamburg project and that if it were not proceeded with, they could be employed on building houses?

The question is which houses. I do not quite see why we should not be building houses in Hamburg as well as somewhere else, but these people were engaged as building labour for the building of houses in Germany.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people have been evacuated from homes in Hamburg in order to make room for British families.

So far 7,027 Germans have been displaced for this purpose.

How does this tally with the statement which I understood the Chancellor of the Duchy to make only a few weeks ago that, as a result of this operation, no Germans were being evicted from their houses?

I have no recollection of making any such statement. I did make the statement that in connection with the Hamburg project it was not anticipated that there would be any evacuations of Germans until late 1947 or 1948. On being asked on a previous occasion whether I could give an assurance that no further evictions would be necessary in connection with the families, I said I could not give any such assurance.

Is it incorrect to say that a total of 30,000 people will ultimately be displaced, and that many of them have been already?

The question is in regard to those evacuated in Hamburg to make room for British families, and the figure is as I have given it.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will state the monthly cost and the number of persons engaged in the administration and process of supplying German timber to this country.

There are 457 British persons engaged on administrative and supervisory duties at a cost of about £21,000 per month. These form the staff of the North German Timber Control which is not solely concerned with supplies of timber to this country. It is impossible to estimate the numbers and cost of personnel engaged on the actual felling, sawing and transporting of timber; the work is paid for by the Germans in marks and is done in the main by the German timber trade and forestry service whose numbers ran into many thousands augmented by some 7,000 displaced persons.

Can the Minister give us an assurance that he is satisfied that the costs of administration are not excessive and that the price of the timber in this country is truly economic?

The price of timber to this country?

The price of timber when it is brought in.

The price of timber is agreed between the Board of Trade and the Control Office for Germany and Austria On the basis of. ruling world prices, and in relation to the results we are getting from this operation, I think the cost is very well justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give a list of the names and salaries of members of the Control Commission, Germany and Austria, in receipt of annual salaries of £2,000 and over.

As the list includes 26 officers in Germany and two in Austria I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what requests have been made by the commanding officer of the radio section of the Public Relations and Information Services Control Group of the Political Division of the C.C.G., Hamburg, since September, 1945, that an inquiry should be held into the conduct and suitability of the staff posted to that section; and what action has since been taken.

One such request was made in September, 1945, by an officer temporarily in charge of this section. This was fully investigated on the spot and the charges found to be unsubstantiated.