asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which communities in Scotland with a population of over 500 have no piped supply of water for domestic purposes.

I have been able to identify 19 such communities. With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the Minister take immediate steps to get into touch with the local authorities which have the responsibility of supplying water and drainage to these villages, and see that everything possible is done to get them brought up to modern standards?

That is exactly what I have been doing now for the last three or four months with a view to solving this particular problem.

Following is the list: Back—Lewis. Barvas—Lewis. Bayble—Lewis. 178 Bragor—Lewis. Carloway—Lewis. Coll—Lewis. Crossbost and Raernish—Lewis. Knock—Lewis. Leurbost—Lewis. Ness—-Lewis. Sandwick—Lewis. Shawbost—Lewis. Tolsta—Lewis. Balintore, Shandwick and Hilton of Cadboll —Easter Ross. Portmahomock—Easter Ross. St. Margaret's Hope—Orkney. Ceres—Fife. Springfield—Fife. Kirkcowan—Wigtownshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider, in connection with agricultural development, the building of suitable agricultural engineering shops in agricultural centres where they do not exist and leasing such premises to those qualified and willing to give agricultural and engineering services to communities which are at present denied them.

I am always willing to consider proposals for the development of agricultural services, including proposals for the development of agricultural engineering in suitable areas, and if the hon. Member has any specific centres in mind I will be prepared to have them examined, always keeping in mind under present conditions of shortage of building and other materials the priority needs of housing and other services.

Is the Secretary of State for Scotland aware that the great difficulty is to get permits in these agricultural areas where it is wished to set up agricultural engineering shops? The persons responsible cannot get the necessary permits to get the material with which to build them. It is a very present difficulty, and I hope the right hon. Gentleman will take it into account.

I am aware of some of the difficulties facing the agricultural community at the present time. I am doing everything possible in the existing difficult circumstances to assist them to meet and to overcome these problems.

Would the Minister agree that the first need in this country is to get houses for the people to live in?

That is exactly what I have said in reply to the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the delays in recording of deeds in the Register of Sasines; that formerly such deeds were obtainable in about five weeks, but the practice now is approximately four months; and what steps he proposes to take to facilitate the transaction of business.

In 1938 the average period for the registration of writs in the Register of Sasines was 51 days, and it is now 108 days. The delay is due to the serious depletion of the Register House staff during the war, and to the fact that in the current year the number of writs recorded will considerably exceed the prewar annual average. Additional staff have been authorised, and the delay will be reduced as the new staff gain experience.

How long does the right hon. Gentleman expect it will be before we can get back to something like prewar conditions, because this really hampers people very much?

I agree it hampers, but I cannot answer how long it will be until we get back to prewar conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to announce the allocation to local authorities of the £6,375,000 grant made under the Rural Water Supplies Sewerage Act, 1944, towards the cost of water supplies and drainage schemes in Scotland.

I am making a provisional selection, from the local authorities' phased programmes, of the works which are to rank for grant, and I hope this month to ask the particular authorities concerned for the rating and other information necessary to enable firm offers of grant to be made.

Does that mean that only those selections will qualify for the grant, and that the lower priorities of works will not qualify at all?

It does not necessarily follow they will not qualify at all, but there are such things as priorities and I have discussed this fully with the local authorities. I have £6¼ million to distribute, and I have to see that that cake is shared fairly amongst the respective authorities.

Is it not obvious that the amount allowed is completely inadequate for the job in hand?

I think it is true that the £6¼ million will not enable me to solve that problem so far as Scotland is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reason the huts at Closeburn prisoner-of-war camp, which are urgently required for educational purposes, have been reserved for Polish agricultural workers; and during which months in the year these workers are to occupy the huts.

The huts in question, which until recently housed prisoners of war engaged in agriculture, have been reserved by the Ministry of Works at the request of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, for the accommodation of members of the Polish Resettlement Corps who, according to present plans, will be required for and employed in agriculture throughout the year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last year the agriculture labour came, not from these huts, but from a camp fairly close, within about 10 miles? Could he arrange that, as there is a demand for these huts for educational purposes, agricultural labour should again be provided from Carron Bridge?

I will certainly look into the point raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the decision, announced in the House early this year, to acquire that part of Ballinaby Farm, Island of Islay, requisitioned by the Department of Agriculture in 1943, will now be reconsidered, in view of the uneconomic manner in which' this farm has been worked under requisition, and the unsatisfactory results achieved from the taxpayers' point of view.

It was decided to acquire part of Ballinaby Farm, Islay, for the purpose of preserving for the Crown the benefit of the increase in the value of the land due to improvements, mainly of a capital nature, carried out since the land was requisitioned in 1943. The decision was taken after full consideration of the circumstances, and I do not propose to reconsider the matter. In view of the condition of the subjects at the date of requisitioning, it was not to be expected that the farming operations would be economic during reconditioning. In all the circumstances I cannot agree that the results are unsatisfactory.

Is the Minister aware that the methods of his Department in cultivating this farm are notorious? Would he not again investigate the question of allowing it to be rejoined to the estate to which it belongs, in order that it may be farmed in a proper manner?

That is an entirely new point, and I will certainly look into it to see what the position it.

Can the Minister state what the loss was during the past year?

Not without notice. But I can say definitely that the whole of the lands, hereditaments and buildings were in a very bad state when taken over.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what circumstances the holding of Mrs. Flora Shaw, Gartachrossan, Bridgend, Isle of Islay, was taken over for cultivation by the local A.E.C. on behalf of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland; what has been the result of such cultivation; and how it comes about that Mrs. Shaw is now being asked to meet the financial losses incurred by the Department of Agriculture as a result of their fanning operations on her holding.

The holding of Gartachrossan, Islay, was not taken over by the agricultural executive committee. In 1943, the holding was without crop or implements and was semi-derelict. The tenant was unable to comply with the cultivation directions issued by the com- mittee for 1944 and voluntarily entered into a formal agreement with them, under which they undertook to carry out, on her behalf, the required cropping. On the same understanding, the committee carried out cropping in 1945. The holding was in grass in 1946. The results of the committee's operations under the agreement have been the production of crops yielding a return of £533 6s. IId., the improvement of grazing and the restoration of the land to a reasonable state of cleanliness and fertility. There has been a gross profit of £90 18s. 6d. which, after deduction of a small management charge, still to be agreed with the tenant, and of interest charges, will be paid to the tenant in terms of the agreement. I regret that an earlier, but incomplete, statement sent by the committee to the tenant showed a deficit of £2 19s. An amended statement has now been issued to her.

Is the Minister aware that it was not until my Question was put down that the amending statement was issued, showing a profit instead of a loss? Does not he agree that it would be fairer to the small landowners if they were allowed some form of appeal against this system of directions by the committee on behalf of the Department?

An entirely different question is contained in the last part of the hon. and gallant Member's supplementary question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say exactly what he means by "a gross profit"?

I mean exactly what English conveys to anyone who understands it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what steps he is taking about this gross inefficiency on the part of his Department?

What does the hon. and gallant Member mean by "gross inefficiency"?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no inefficiency, and I will not bring in the word "gross "as far as my Department is concerned.

Was not the difference between £8 and £90 discovered almost overnight?

In view of the fact that the gross profit was £49, can the Minister tell us what was the net profit?

Not without notice. I did not give the figure of £49 but the figure of £90 18s. 6d., so that there is evidence that inaccuracies can arise in this House, as well as in the operations of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet received a report from the members of the Development Commission who visited the village of Carradale to inquire into the possibilities of establishing a fishing boat harbour there.

No, Sir. I understand that the report by the Development Commission, which will be made to the Treasury, has not yet been received, but that the site was inspected by the Chairman and Secretary of the Commission on 27th November.

Will the Minister say whether the decision of the Commission is likely to be long delayed?

I sincerely hope not. I am anxious that we should be able to come to a decision as speedily as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will call for reports from the police authorities regarding the incidents on the 13th/14th September at Irvine, when a number of Polish soldiers were attacked, and at least one was injured; and whether he will make a statement to the House.

Full reports, furnished to me at the time by the police, showed that a number of Poles were attending a dance when four or five British soldiers arrived and intimated that they had come to rid the place of Poles. Refused admission to the hall, these men remained about the door and were joined by civilians. They had in their possession the top parts of broken beer bottles. They challenged any Polish soldier entering or leaving the hall to fight. After this provocation had gone on for some time, most of the Polish soldiers in the hall came out and a fight developed at the entrance to the hall, and in the streets, which lasted until the arrival of the police. It is not known which side struck the first blow. The weapons used included pieces of gates and railings, broken bottles, sticks and knives. By midnight the streets were quiet. Three British soldiers, two Polish soldiers, and one civilian are known to have received injuries.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the incident began by one of the Poles at the door being stabbed, and that that began the whole thing?

I am not aware of that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if conditions in Walsall are so completely satisfactory that the hon. Member has surplus time to devote to other hon. Members' constituencies?

I have sufficient problems to deal with in Scotland, without looking so far afield as Warsaw.

No, Walsall.

My apologies. I understood the hon. and gallant Member to be referring to Warsaw.

Will the Secretary of State take steps publicly to dissociate himself and his party from the outrageous accusation in connection with this incident made by a delegate to the recent T.U.C. Conference?

I certainly dissociate myself from one particular statement, which was made by Mr. McKerrow, of the Transport and General Workers' Union, in which he definitely said that bayonets and swords had been used. According to the information I have, no such thing occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that during the war 30,000 women left Scotland for war work in England, of whom it is estimated that 15,006 have settled in England; that there are now 20,000 women unemployed in Scotland; and what steps he is taking, as a matter of urgency, to prevent the Lowlands of Scotland being depopulated in the same way as the Highlands have already been.

I am (informed that during the war approximately 16,000 women went from Scotland to undertake war work elsewhere. No estimate is available of the number of these who may have settled in England. Some 20,000 women —more than half of whom are married— were registered as unemployed in Scotland in October. With regard to the last part of the Question, the population of Scotland is estimated to have increased by 6 per cent, during the last 15 years, and there are more persons in employment in Scotland now than in pre-war years. The Government's plans for ensuring the provision of additional opportunities for work in Scotland have been announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the reason I put this Question down was because of the reply I received from the Minister of Labour last week, when I drew his attention to the state of unemployment in Scotland? He said: 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."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 26th November, 1946; Vol. 430, c. 1390.] Is the Secretary of State for Scotland watching what is going on in the Cabinet to see that no such idea is perpetrated on Scotland as transferring the unemployed men now in the way the women were transferred during the war?

I can assure my hon Friend that I very carefully watch an') fight for the interests of Scotland inside the Cabinet.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the anxiety so rightly shown by the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood) is also shared throughout the whole of Scotland, especially among the women, at the raw deal they are getting from the present Government?

I deny that they are getting a raw deal from this Government They are getting a far better deal from it than' they ever got from previous Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what use he proposes to make of Gordon Castle, Fochabers.

Gordon Castle is part of the Gordon Estate which is administered by the Commissioners of Crown Lands and has been occupied by the War Department during the war, but has now become surplus to their requirements. Its future use is being investigated by the Commissioners and my Departments and I will advise the hon. Member of the outcome as soon as possible.

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind the possibility of setting up a school of forestry at Gordon Castle, in view of the need for foresters, and in view of the suitable position in which Gordon Castle is placed in Scotland?

That is an idea to which I will give serious and immediate attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will reconstitute the Advisory Council on Education at an early date so that it may consider the proposed remit on library provision prior to the introduction of the proposed Measure for the consolidation of the local government law of Scotland.

I am at present selecting the members of the reconstituted Council to take office on 1st January, 1947. I propose at once to give them a remit on library provision, but the re-introduction of the Local Government Consolidation Bill cannot await their report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in arranging for daily visiting in public assistance institutions.

As the hon. Member is aware from the letter I sent him on 18th March, 1946, a number of public assistance institutions already allow daily visits as a matter of course and all others allow daily visits in special circumstances in addition to the normal arrangement for specified visiting days. I have no statutory power to enforce any arrangement in public assistance institutions but I am urging upon all public assistance authorities the desirability of allowing daily visits as the ordinary rule unless there is any practical reason which prevents this being done.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total annual value of Scottish agricultural and fishing output; the total annual value of coal, iron and steel output; and the relationship of each, proportionately, to that of England.

In 1944–45 the total value of Scottish agricultural output was £73,000,000, or 15.6 per cent, of the output of England and Wales. In 1945 the value as landed of all fish landed by British fishing vessels in Scotland was £7,676,173 or 44 per cent, of that landed in England. Questions regarding the total value of coal and iron and steel output are matters for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Fuel and Power, and the Minister of Supply.

Could my right hon. Friend say if that is the reason why the Government are so "sweirt" to give Scotland Home Rule?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reasons for the continued delays in the completion of the Swedish timber houses in Edinburgh, and the steps that have been taken to overcome them.

The delay has been due to the lack of certain materials and components. I personally visited these houses in August last, and took steps to expedite deliveries of outstanding requirements, some of which, I subsequently discovered, had not then been ordered. Contrary to recent Press statements, as a result of the steps which I took, substantial deliveries have been made, and I am assured that the only items now required to enable the houses to be occupied are taps and cast iron goods. I am taking every step possible to hasten the delivery of these outstanding items.

Do we understand from that reply that the report which appeared in the Press, that there were two months' delay on the part of the Housing Department of Edinburgh in giving details of the work required, was inaccurate?

When we made inquiries, it was obvious that certain items had never been ordered by the town council. The steps I took were effective in having the goods delivered.

Did the corporation take advantage of what was done by the Department?

As I say in my answer, some of the items had not been ordered, and there was a delay in the ordering of the material required.

Will the hon. Member say how long these houses have been in course of erection?

I could not say exactly, but round about 12 months, I should think. But whether it is long or short, it does not excuse people from not ordering the required goods.

Can the hon. Member assure the House that until he visited this important housing site certain items which were essential had not been discovered until he found them?

The hon. Member must not understand that I go looking for things, not even for him. I went there and had a conversation with a very intelligent clerk of works, and he gave me information.

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that of 360 plasterers employed in Edinburgh only 30 are employed on houses to rent; and what steps he proposes taking to meet this situation.

I am informed that there is no shortage of plasterers on the Corporation's housing schemes, on which 38 plasterers, three plasterers' apprentices and 28 plasterers' labourers are at present employed. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any particular difficulty he has in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

Will my hon. Friend indicate what steps he can take to increase the number of plasterers on Corporation jobs, particularly those for homeless people?

I have made inquiries of the Corporation to see if they, were short of plasterers' labourers. I am informed that the Corporation are employing the full number they require at the present time. If any shortage develops it will certainly take the necessary steps to have them supplied.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is just the point of the Corporation not requiring plasterers that requires looking into?

I have made inquiries from every source I can. There is no sense in supplying plasterers if there is no work for them. However, if my hon. Friend has any kind of information on this matter, and will let me have it, I will sec what I can do.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the increasing practice of the sale of small one and two apartment houses, hitherto rented; and what steps he is taking with regard to the extortionate prices demanded for all houses for sale with vacant possession.

Yes, Sir. I trust that the publicity given to this matter will serve to warn would-be purchasers of modest means who may not fully realise the liabilities attached to the ownership of tenement property. Besides liability for owners rates, these include responsibility for the maintenance of the structure such as repairs to the roof, the common stair and courtyards. If hon. Members will let me have any details in their possession showing the extent of the problem my right hon. Friend will consider what action can usefully be taken. Apart from this I hope that having regard to the clamant need for housing accommodation at the present time prompt steps will be taken by the citizens to draw the attention of the local authority to any houses being deliberately kept vacant for possible sale so that their suitability for requisitioning can be considered.

On a point of Order. May I ask, respectfully, what that answer has to do with Question No. 17?

Question No. 17 was not asked. The Question asked was No. 18.

Since Scotland was so successful in introducing the Rent Tribunals Act. may I ask whether Scotland cannot now lead the way with an Act to control the selling price of all these houses with vacant possession, or to suggest that the local authority might acquire compulsorily all such houses, and either let or resell them on a needs basis?

This problem is in some respects so urgent that to wait for legislation would be wrong. The fact is that no house should remain vacant at all, and requisitioning is the first effective remedy to deal with the problem. As to my hon. Friend's question whether legislation can be introduced, either for Scotland or for England, that is another issue. If she has any evidence, my right hon. Friend will gladly consider it, but meantime the effective thing is to step in at once by considering immediate requisitioning.

Can my hon. Friend take immediate steps to control the extortionate prices being demanded for these houses with vacant possession? Does he realise that this practice is causing a great deal of hardship in Scotland?

As I have replied already, that would need legislation. The first effective beginning is to stop a single house remaining vacant. The immediate power available is to effect requisitioning to see that the houses are used for families in dire need.

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps he is taking to expedite the delivery of surgical footwear to war-disabled men.

I hope the position will soon show improvement, as my Department's principal contractors removed to a modern and larger factory a few days ago.

Is the Minister aware that a large number of these men are almost barefooted and unable to follow their employment, being subject to great physical discomfort? They are waiting for long periods for new surgical footwear, and will he do something exceptional to expedite delivery?

I am aware there have been serious delays in some of these cases. My answer indicates that we have done something about it, and I hope that the position will improve.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has now considered the representations made to him on various matters, including the abolition of the 10-year limit for family allowances; and what action he proposes to take.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) if he will now state whether it is his intention to remove the ban which prevents the wife's allowance being paid when she has married 10 years after her husband's disability;

(2) if he will make a statement about widows' and orphans' allowances.

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have decided to make the following changes with effect from 1st January, 1947:

Allowances for Wives and Children

The requirement that marriage must take place within ten years of discharge will be abolished. This means that a disablement pensioner of either World War in receipt of pension at the standard rates will be eligible for allowances for his wife and children of his marriage irrespective of the date of his marriage.

South African War Disability Pensioners

Allowances will be payable for the wives and children of officers and men suffering from disablement due to service in wars before 1914 if they are in receipt of pension at the standard rates applicable to World War cases.

Pre-South African War Widows

There are a few widows of campaigns before 1899 in receipt of modified pensions from the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation. Grants will be made to the Corporation to enable them to raise those pensions to World War rates.

Orphans' Pensions

The pension of the infirm total orphan will be increased to 26s. a week at the age of 18.

Attendance Allowance

The minimum attendance allowance payable to a 100 per cent, disablement pensioner whose condition necessitates some regular attendance will be 10s. a week, and adjustments will be made in the rate of allowance payable in certain other cases. Applications will not be necessary but the task of identifying and dealing with the many thousands of cases affected, particularly those where wife's and children's allowances are involved, will take some time.

Is the Minister aware that this clean-up of long outstanding anomalies and injustices will give great satisfaction; and could he indicate to the House approximately how many people are involved? Also, could he take an opportunity, either now or at an early date, to make a statement on another long outstanding problem, the question of the seven-year limit of entitlement for benefit?

The number of people affected will be about 50,000 to 55,000. The seven-year limit is a matter already under consideration.

Will the Minister make it clear—it does not seem clear from his statement—whether every child born of these marriages is subject to an allowance?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Service applicants for disability pensions whose appeals against original negative decisions by his Department are allowed by the appeals tribunal are, under Article 65 of the Royal Warrant, only awarded disability pension or retired pay from the date of the appeal instead of from the date on which they ceased to draw Service pay; why such applicants should be penalised for what has been held by the appeal tribunal to be an erroneous decision by his Department; and whether he will take the necessary steps to remedy this injustice.

The position is not as suggested by the hon. Member. Normally in the circumstances indicated pension would be awarded as from the date of cessation of Service pay. Where, however, representations against the Ministry decision were not made until after six months from that date, any award would usually take effect as from the date of those representations.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many days leave a Regular soldier stationed in C.M.F. can expect during his tour abroad of three years and three months and how many days leave a Regular soldier stationed in M.E.L.F. can expect during a similar period of foreign service; if he is aware that the latter person forfeits his leave if it is not taken between the 12th and 20th months of his tour; and why those in M.E.L.F. are not treated on an equality with those in C.M.F.

A Regular soldier in C.M.F., where the overseas tour is at present three years nine months, is eligible for 38 days' privilege leave a year in the United Kingdom. A soldier in M.E.L.F. can get one period of 30 days' L.I.A.P. during his overseas tour of three years three months. He becomes eligible for this after 12 months' overseas service provided he will have at least four months useful service to do on return before becoming due for Python or release. Thus he can take his leave between the 12th month and approximately the 35th month. I agree that leave conditions in C.M.F. are more favourable than in M.E.L.F., but owing to the distances involved it would be quite impracticable, from the shipping and manpower aspects, to equate the leave granted from these two theatres. Some compensation is, however, made to those in M.E.L.F. in the shape of a higher scale of embarkation and disembarkation leave in this country, as well as in the shorter qualifying period for repatriation under the Python Scheme.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when transport facilities will be adequate to provide leave for these men in M.E.L.F. in line with those in C.M.F.?

I do not think we can improve the leave facilities at the present moment. Of course, I am constantly bearing this in mind to see whether I can make any improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Treasury grant that used to be given to E.N.S.A. has not been continued to the Army K.S. authorities to help subsidise entertainment, with the result that now other ranks have to pay 40 per cent, more for cinema shows, etc.

With the end of war conditions, the continuance of expense to the taxpayer in the provision of film entertainment to the troops was not considered to be justified, and it was decided that in peacetime the troops should pay for their own film entertainment without subsidy from public funds, except in special circumstances as, for instance, in hospital.

Is it the policy of the War Office that there should be a lower standard of welfare for troops than that which existed under the last Government?

No, Sir. I would not have put it in that way.

Is not it almost a fallacy to say that the Treasury ever paid anything over the last three years? Is not it true that this came out of the profits on tobacco and beer which the troops themselves bought from N.A.A.F.I. and that N.A.A.F.I footed the bill, and not the Treasury, at least in the main?

Not entirely. The Treasury did pay a subsidy to E.N.S.A.

How much?

Could the Minister say that he is entirely satisfied with the present form of entertainment which is being given in Germany?

I do not know about Germany, Sir. There are theatres in overseas commands where I am not entirely satisfied that the right kind of entertainment is being provided but I am doing my best, with the aid of good artists, to provide it.

How about Germany?

That is not too bad.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the regulations regarding bread which apply to the United Kingdom are also applicable to officers' and other clubs in the British zone of Germany.

The Ministry of Food regulations apply to the United Kingdom only, but the amount of flour and bread made available to clubs in B.A.O.R. is on a scale which is comparable with that agreed by the Ministry of Food for canteens in this country.

Does not the Minister think, in view of the situation that prevails here and in Germany, that a regulation similar to that which obtains here should be enforced in British clubs in Germany?

I thought I had already said that regulations which apply here also apply, in a comparable manner, to Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Bureau of Current Affairs pamphlet, entitled "Control of the Press," was withheld from circulation to Army units.

This pamphlet was withheld from circulation to Army units because at the time it was ready for publication, the question of whether a Government inquiry into the Press of this country should be held was being actively discussed, though no decision had then been taken.

Is the Minister aware that the pamphlet concerned was first published on 21st September and that a statement on the question of a Debate in this House was not made until 24th October; in other words, that five weeks elapsed between the publication of the pamphlet and the announcement?

Now that this matter has been decided in the House, could my right hon. Friend say whether it is proposed to reintroduce this pamphlet?

I am afraid that, as a result of the Debate in this House, it is somewhat stale.

Would the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that such pamphlets will not contain excerpts from the Press quoting songs making detrimental personal references to his Majesty's Ministers?

Is it the right hon. Gentleman's view that only non-controversial matters must be circulated for discussion in the Forces?

I think that the question of the B.C.A. pamphlet, which is published by a private body, wants looking into. I do not see why I should distribute every pamphlet supplied by that organisation.

Would the Secretary of State say whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government that information concerning matters which are being freely discussed in the Press should not be given to the Forces except through the Press?

No, Sir. The hon. and gallant Gentleman entirely misrepresents the position. We want the Army to be as well informed as possible, but that will not always be achieved by distributing one limited pamphlet only.

On a point of Order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I wish to give notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to re-enlist men who after nearly completing 21 years' service were released to civilian occupations and are now anxious to respond to the call for volunteers; and whether such men are liable to be rejected for reasons other than medical grounds

Under certain conditions, such men may re-enlist. As the details of these conditions are long, I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the details:

A non-Regular soldier or a Regular who has no Section B Reserve liability and who was released before the announcement of the short service engagement scheme, 26th April, 1946, may re-enlist on a short service engagement, subject to certain age limits, medical fitness, character and the existence of vacancies, provided that he has had at least two years' service with the Colours since 3rd September, 1939. The age limits are, up to 40 for a three or four years' normal short service engagement, up to 50 for a three year short service engagement for extra regimental employment (open to staff sergeants, sergeants and corporals only), and from 50 to 57 for a three year short service engagement with the Polish Resettlement Corps (open to staff sergeants, sergeants and corporals only). A non-Regular soldier or a Regular soldier who has no Section B Reserve liability, and has been released at any time, may re-enlist on a normal Regular Army engagement of five years with the Colours and seven years with the Reserve subject to age, medical fitness, vacancy and character. The upper age limit is 30 years.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to release Ashdown Forest.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the retention of Ashdown Forest is depriving many cyclists, including the members of the National Cycling Club, Leicester, of necessary amenities which they had enjoyed for a considerable time; and whether he will now release the same to the Ashdown Forest Conservators.

I am aware that there is anxiety for the release of this area, but I would refer my hon. Friends to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 6th November. The position is still as then stated.

Is the Secretary of State aware that there is great uneasiness in the country about the way these pleasure spots are being taken away, and will he try to reverse his policy of taking them over?

I am aware that there is anxiety-some of it justifiable and some exaggerated. When the complete picture is given, I think that a lot of this dissatisfaction or anxiety will disappear.

Can my right hon. Friend tell the House whether or not an undertaking was given at the time this forest was taken over that it would be released on the termination of hostilities, and will he say something in order to satisfy those people who relied upon that undertaking?

This is the first I have heard of it. I should be very surprised if an undertaking had been given, but that is not the main point.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a compulsory church parade was held at Abbassia on Armistice Day; that during the service the padre welcomed compulsory church parades as essential to the maintenance of discipline; and whether he proposes to take disciplinary action against those responsible for this breach of regulations.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave last week to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison), of which I am sending him a copy. I have called for a report on the second part of the Question, and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend.

Can the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure, on receipt of this report, that orders issued by the War Office are carried out by everybody in the Middle East, irrespective of rank? This is particularly necessary in view of the slowing down in the release from the Forces

If I hear of any case where orders of the War Office are not being carried out by subordinate officers, the people concerned will hear further from me. [ Interruption. ]

On a point of Order. Are hon. Members above the gangway in Order in howling, Mr. Speaker?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for increased leave to be granted to men whose discharge will be delayed by the slowing down of the rate of demobilisation.

Men whose discharge is delayed continue to be granted leave in their turn, under the arrangements in force in the Command in which they are serving. I could not agree to increase their leave during service, since it is already being granted on the maximum scale possible, nor could I consider increasing the amount of release leave for particular classes of men.

Can no concession of any kind be made to men who have served for very long periods, and whose release is being delayed for reasons beyond their control?

I have answered the Question on the Order Paper, which was whether increased leave could be granted.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the recent protests against demobilisation delays by N.C.O.s and other soldiers serving in the Tel el Kebir garrison and elsewhere in the Middle East; whether disturbances occurred; and what action has Sheen taken.

Protests took place at four stations in Middle East Command. They took the form of men absenting themselves from duty in order to attend meetings. There were no disturbances. Certain arrests were made. I am not in a position to give further information, but am awaiting a final report from Headquarters, M.E.L.F.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the protests had anything to do with the extraordinary mistake in General Dempsey's recent order, in which it was stated that everybody who had served for more than three years would be out by the end of next year?

No, Sir. I am inclined to think the men protested at the slowing down of the rate of demobilisation.

Has the Minister anything to say in regard to the matter men- tioned in Question No. 99 on the Order Paper about infantry with Bren-gun carriers and armoured cars being used?

asked the Secretary of State for War how many protected personnel, under Article 9 of the Geneva Convention, are being retained in this country on work other than the care of their sick and wounded, contrary to the Convention.

I apologise for the length of the answer. I explained to the hon. Member in a reply on 22nd October, the basis of the retention of protected personnel required to look after prisoners of war still in this country. There are now about 1,300 medical orderlies who are surplus to our present requirements, many of whom were captured in the later stages of the war. It was not until the autumn of this year that the number of prisoner-of-war camps in this country was stabilised, and it was not, therefore, possible to estimate earlier what the surplus would be. In order to give the fairest possible treatment to these men, I am now withdrawing from medical duties those captured earlier, and replacing them from the surplus. By this means I hope to repatriate by the end of February all medical orderlies who were captured before July, 1944. When this exchange has been completed there will be no medical personnel surplus to our requirements. While awaiting this reorganisation, some of the surplus orderlies have volunteered for work on a day to day basis, but none have been compulsorily employed on other than medical duties. Owing to the intermittent character of this work, records are not available of the exact number employed on any one day, but I can assure the hon. Member that none has been compulsorily retained for such work. As repatriation reduces the total number of prisoners of war held in this country a corresponding reduction will be made in the number of protected personnel employed on medical duties. I should, perhaps add that, owing to the limited numbers available, the repatriation of medical officers and chaplains must, at present, be restricted to those who are unfit for work.

Will not the Minister agree that the employment of these men, on duties contrary to the Convention which we have signed, is very bad for our prestige, and will he see that this never happens again?

I do not think that, while we are waiting to repatriate these protected personnel, there is anything wrong in letting them volunteer to do a little bit of work.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that German prisoners of war were refused permission to subscribe to the collection in aid of orphan children of Europe at a recent service specially arranged in Durham Cathedral, and have since been refused permission to make toys to be added to the Christmas tree and decorations in Durham Cathedral which would later be distributed to children in local hospitals; and whether he will immediately cancel all such unchristian regulations.

Prisoners of war are not allowed to subscribe to funds of this sort because, by increasing their expenditure in this country and thus reducing their credit balances which are payable in marks on repatriation, the cost of the subscriptions would fall on the British taxpayer instead of being charged against German economy I am advised by my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade that the free distribution on a large scale of toys made by German prisoners is open to considerable objection while the output of the British toy industry is restricted. After consultation with him, however, I am issuing instructions that special cases, such as this, should, in future, be brought to my notice for exemption from the general rule.

Is not the Minister aware that the answer is most disappointing and gives the impression that his Department is going out of its way to stifle some of the small amount of charity which still exists in this world, and docs he mean that the manufacture of a few toys in a camp workshop cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, affect the toy industry?

Can my right hon. Friend say whether, in fact, this is not merely a book entry? Surely, it ought to be possible for prisoners of war to transfer their camp money, as, otherwise, it merely means that the Chancellor is making more money out of prisoners of war than I thought he was.

It is not entirely a book entry; we try to encourage prisoners of war to remit money abroad.

With regard to the first part of my right hon. Friend's reply, is he aware that the overriding consideration should be that it is wrong to thwart the generous impulses and emotions of any body of people anxious to promote human welfare?

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds it is proposed to maintain the detention of prisoners of war in the Middle East; and why steps cannot now be taken to repatriate them at least at the rate of 5,000 a month, which is proportionate to the rate of repatriation from this country.

A total of 8,300 Austrian and German prisoners of war are being repatriated from the Middle East in November and December. Between 2,000 and 2,500 Germans will be repatriated each month from January to June next year, but facilities are not available for the movement of more than this number The situation thereafter should improve, and I expect that at least 5,000 a month will then be repatriated

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that the only reason for not repatriating them at the same rate as the repatriation of those from this country will be the absence of transport facilities, and not because they are required for slave labour in the Middle East?

I do not know what my hon Friend's interpretation of "slave labour" is

What we are doing here.

I must say that German prisoners of war held in British hands are not subjected to forced labour, as many were under the German régime

Will my right hon. Friend look into the question of improving the conditions of these prisoners in the Middle East, which are nothing like as good as those obtaining in this country for their compatriots?

I will do what I can.

At the same time as the right hon. Gentleman is concerned about that, I know he will also bear in mind the position of our own people out there.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many prisoners of war were repatriated to Germany during the month of November; and when he expects to speed the rate of repatriation up to 30,000 a month.

15,429 German prisoners of war were repatriated during November I am unable to say when the rate of repatriation will be increased materially beyond the target of 15,000 a month.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he will not be left alone until he can say?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to Ulrich Wolfs, Fritz Oeder and Joseph Schoensteiner, German prisoners at 106 Prisoner-of-War Camp, Stamford, Lincolnshire, who, on 19th September, 1946, attempted to rescue Flight.-Lieutenant Page and Flying-Officer Ashworth from a blazing Mosquito aircraft after it had crashed near Wittering, and whose gallant conduct was commended by the coroner; and whether he Is able to arrange early repatriation for these men.

Yes, Sir. The conduct of these three prisoners of war has resulted in arrangements being made for their repatriation on 21st December.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the statement made at a court martial held at 151 German Prisoners-of-War Working Camp at Coven, on Friday, 18th October, to the effect that a British detective struck Erwin Maiwald, a German prisoner of war, several times and that the prisoner collapsed; if he is aware that the charge brought against the prisoner was dismissed; and, in view of the death by hanging of Walter Shatka, German prisoner of war, in the Drakelow camp, near Kidderminster, if he will inquire into and report upon the general conduct of German prisoner-of-war camps in this country.

The prisoner of war to whom the Question refers was tried by a military court on two charges. To one charge he pleaded guilty and on the second he was acquitted. The detective referred to in the statement made at the trial is a member of a civil police force, and the allegation has been reported to the competent civil authority. An inquest on prisoner-of-war Walter Schatka was held on 22nd October, and the verdict of the coroner was that he committed suicide while the balance of his mind was disturbed. I understand that he had recently had bad news about his family. I am satisfied that the general conduct of camps in this country is of a high standard, as will I am sure be agreed by hon. Members who have visited them

In view of the fact that at the trial of Maiwald five men gave evidence, but an English lance-corporal as well as the Germans emphasised the fact that Maiwald had been struck down, and struck in the stomach, and that these incidents are the cause of very grave concern to both Germans and Englishmen, does not my right hon. Friend think there ought to be some inquiry into this kind of thing?

I do not know what evidence my hon. Friend has. I only know that my information is that the prisoner in question was charged with assaulting a police officer, found guilty and sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

Are the conditions in these camps the cause of the instruction which has been given recently, that no Member of Parliament shall visit these camps without previous permission from the War Office?

No, Sir, not at all. I have done everything possible to ensure that any hon. Member of this House who wants to visit prisoner-of-war camps shall do so, but at least I expect him to tell me when he is going.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider offering an amnesty to all men absent without leave who surrender to their units before a certain date.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 28th November, of which I am sending her a copy.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that His Majesty's Government will not assent to the incorporation in the Union of South Africa of Bechuanaland, Swaziland and Basutoland.

I have been asked to reply. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in reply to my hon. Friend on 24th January, the position of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom is governed by pledges which are set out in the Parliamentary Paper Cmd. 4948. These are to the effect that, if any proposal for the transfer to the Union of the government of these territories, in terms of the South Africa Act, 1909, is put forward, the United Kingdom Government would not make any decision until the inhabitants of the territories, native and European, had been consulted, and until Parliament had been given an opportunity of expressing its views.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a South African Government spokesman in London recently stated that this issue would be raised as soon as the other South-West Africa issue had been disposed of; and would he, therefore, make that pledge about consulting the population of these territories a little more definite, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the recent plebiscite?

The South African Government, like any other Government, British or foreign, may I add, have a right to raise anything they want; that is their responsibility. But the pledges that were given by my right hon. Friend, and which I have repeated, are, I think, completely specific, and really ought to satisfy my hon. Friend.