asked the Secretary of State for War for what purpose Clifton Heath and the adjoining wood are still requisitioned by his Department; what rent is being paid for this land; how the game which is shot by members of his Department is disposed of; and what is the percentage and value of the game credited to his Department.

The Royal Engineer dump at Clifton Heath and the adjoining wood has now been cleared and, subject to the usual procedure, the land will be derequisitioned. The rental compensation paid is £10 12s. 6d. a year. I am not aware that members of my Department have shot over this land but if the hon and gallant Member has any detailed evidence I will investigate the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War why no allowance has yet been paid to the wife and children of 19091316 Private Joseph William Elliott who joined the Army on 24th October last.

Private Elliott claimed an allowance for a special dependant. Certain inquiries were necessary which have now been completed and special dependant's allowance has now been authorised at the rate of 45s. 6d. a week from 24th October.

asked the Secretary of State for War what compensation is being paid to 3387913 Sapper Wesley, R.E., No. 3, M.P., D.B., for the negligent amputation of the wrong finger during a surgical operation; and why this soldier is at present serving sentence in a detention prison.

I have already been investigating this case as a result of inquiries from my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Miss Lee). The Proceedings of a court of inquiry into this incident have just been received and are being examined. The question of compensation will be considered. I was not aware that this soldier was serving a sentence of detention overseas but have called for a report and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War the precise grounds on which the Army Council has decided that Private No. 14944324 shall not be transferred to the Army Education Corps, in view of the fact that he passed a War Office Selection Board as long ago as August, 1945, and has on three separate occasions since then been recommended by specialist selection boards for transfer to the Army Education Corps.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 26th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will investigate the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a nursing sister, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R., now working at the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, who, in 1941, volunteered to come to England from Argentina in order to take up nursing, which she has carried out ever since, and whose application in July, 1946, to be repatriated to Argentina has been refused by his Department; and why this action has been taken.

This nursing sister's claim to repatriation has not been refused but her passage has had to be postponed until she is eligible for release. I am having her case investigated from the compassionate aspect and if the circumstances warrant it, I will arrange for her immediate compassionate release and subsequent repatriation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the feeling of parents of young men undergoing military training that the measures taken to prevent accidents are inadequate; if his attention has been called to the recent case where several men lost their lives in a quarry; and if he will take steps to reassure the public that no unnecessary risks will be taken.

My attention was called at the time to this accident and I would refer my hon Friend to the reply I gave on 8th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Parkin). Every possible precaution is being taken to guard against similar tragedies and I can certainly give an assurance that the regulations governing precautions in military training are comprehensive and if interpreted correctly and reasonably ensure that no unnecessary risks are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War what buildings are still held under requisition in Huntly, Aberdeenshire; and what is the probable date of release.

There is one building, the Auction Mart Building, Strathbogie, still held under requisition in Huntly. I regret that it is at present impossible to give a probable date for the release of this building.

asked the Secretary of State for War what educational facilities are available for soldiers serving in the post office at Milan.

The Army Post Office at Milan was closed on 30th November

asked the Secretary of State for War in how many cases since VJ-Day the Army Council have intervened to prevent commissions being granted to men who have successfully passed War Office Selection Boards; in how many cases they have intervened to prevent transfers from one arm of the service to another which had been recommended by specialist interviewing boards; and how many of the latter cases were proposed transfers to the Army Education Corps

I regret that no figures are available of the number of cases of men recommended by War Office Selection Boards who have not been commissioned or of those recommended for transfers who have not in fact been transferred.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many citizens of Eire who are not in possession of residence permits are employed in a civilian capacity by the military authorities in Northern Ireland.

Twenty-one, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the range at Ross Links, Northumberland, has not been used for 16 months; and if he will, therefore, derequisition the area.

Yes, Sir, I am aware that the range at Ross Links has not been used for the last 16 months. The owner of this land has, however, been allowed to graze the area for some time and he will be allowed to continue so long as the land is not required for military purposes. This area, which is included in the War Department's proposals now under consideration by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Service Land Requirements, is being held pending a decision on its future.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many beds are available for Service patients in the Lincoln military hospital; how many are in use; and whether he will arrange for the transfer to this hospital of R.A.F patients shortly to be removed from Rauceby.

Four hundred and eighty-six beds in Lincoln Military Hospital are at present available for Service patients, of which 303 were occupied on 6th December. It is possible that, by the New Year, the number of beds for military patients will have to be reduced to 300. I understand that at Rauceby 350 beds are available for R.A.F. patients, of which about 200 are occupied. It is, therefore, impossible for the patients at Rauceby to be transferred to Lincoln

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will communicate to the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick the further information about the Asmara trial held on 1st and 2nd August, which he is now awaiting; and what decision he reaches after considering that information.

I am not yet in a position to communicate with my hon. Friend but will do so as soon as I can

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state, by age and service groups, the number of R.A.M.C. officers now serving in the India Command whose release has been compulsorily deferred, distinguishing specialist and general duties officers.

Up to and including the last report, dated 15th November, received from India there has been no case of compulsory deferment of either a specialist or a general duty R.A.M.C. officer during the last three months.

asked the Secretary of State for War what communication he has received from Camp H.Q., B.B.R.C., Kalyan, India Command; and if he will make a statement.

The circular letters, signed by a soldier at Kalyan, though they contain certain derogatory remarks about His Majesty's Ministers, amount to complaints about the rate of release. I would refer the hon. Member to the statement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 26th November, which I may say has now received wide publicity throughout the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of soldiers who are on the 1924 rates of pay.

All reserved rights to special rates of pay were abolished when the new pay code was introduced on 1st July, 1946, but soldiers who were receiving pay at a rate more favourable to them than that provided by the new code were permitted to retain the excess until absorbed by increases on promotion or for other reasons. There may, therefore, be a few soldiers still drawing pay equivalent to that under the pre-10.25 rates but no figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for War what regulations or practice govern addresses or statements by visitors to meetings of German prisoners of war in this country; who presides at such meetings; what steps are taken to prevent political attacks at such meetings on allied governments or administrations; and whether and on what conditions the Press is allowed to attend and report such meetings.

I have authorised certain representatives of the German Churches to meet and address German prisoners of war in this country; their addresses were informal and so far as I am aware contained no political matter; the Press is allowed to report such meetings without conditions. My hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is responsible for the political re-education of German prisoners of war, and for arrangements for any meetings necessary for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the order refusing citizens of this country permission to send cigarettes and small gift? to prisoners of war whilst allowing books, music and small sums of money in the form of postal or money orders.

The ban on prisoners of war receiving gifts of cigarettes and parcels was imposed because of the shortage of cigarettes and many other articles in this country, but the amendment of this rule is at present under consideration

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on a change of ownership of a business any allowance for Excess Profits Tax will be made under his regulations to the vendor in respect of expenses incurred after the change on the carrying out of deferred repairs and the removal of works designed to afford protection from hostile attack.

No. Sir

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the general rule, that expenditure incurred by the purchaser of a business on restoring defective business assets is capital expenditure, is subject to any exception under his regulations, so as to afford relief for Income Tax where there is a substantial identity of interest between the vendors and the purchases, as on the incorporation of a private business.

The rule applies in every case of conversion of a business into a company.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state with regard to goods seized as forfeited by His Majesty's Customs and Excise on the ground that they have been imported in contravention of the Customs Acts; the value of the goods seized since 1st January, 1946; the means adopted by the Customs Departments in notifying the Central Offices; whether these goods are sold by auction or put out to tender; what means are adopted to make the public aware of the forthcoming sales; where these sales take place and how often; whether all goods are sold; and, if not, what happens to the unsold goods.

The value of the goods seized since 1st January last is about £30,000. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the other parts of his Question, since these cannot adequately be answered shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give instructions that no more Government paper shall be issued without the backing of corresponding additional assets.

No. Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the 12-months' target of £520,000,000 from War Savings was progressing, at the latest available date; and the actual benefit to the Exchequer in increase of real cash, as a result of the National Savings Campaign for the first six months of the current financial year, after taking into account all debits and credits including interest paid and accrued.

The National Savings target of £520 million for the present financial year consists of gross purchases of Savings Certificates and Defence Bonds and the net increase in the balances standing to the credit of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank and Trustee Savings Banks. The total so raised for the 35 weeks ended 7th December, 1946, was £365,114,000. a weekly average of £10,432,000. We are thus more than £15,000,000 ahead of the target up to date. The following table, which is reproduced from the statement given on 22nd October last, in reply to the hon. Member, shows the sums received and paid out in respect of principal and interest on each class of small savings, with estimates of interest accrued, for the first six months of the financial year.

SMALL SAVINGS, SIX MONTHS, APRIL TO SEPTEMBER, 1946. Aggregates for the six months £000 Savings Certificates: Purchases 68,300 Estimate of Interest accrued 26,600 Repayments of principal 70,050 Repayments of interest 10,996 Defence Bonds: Purchases 126,748 Repayments 17,403 Post Office Savings Bank: Deposits 237,051 Estimate of Interest accrued 21,580 Withdrawals 214,964 Trustee Savings Banks: Deposits 121,610 Estimate of Interest accrued 7,520 Withdrawals 100,081

NOTES.—1. Services Release Benefits Accounts. The figures for the Post Office Savings Bank exclude Services Release Benefits Accounts. In the period April to September, 1946, sums amounting to approximately £106 million were credited to, and £108 million withdrawn from, these accounts.

2. Estimates of Accrued Interest. As regards Savings Certificates, the figures represent the increases during the period in the estimated amount of the interest due on Savings Certificates remaining invested. As regards the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks, the figures represent the estimated interest due, on the outstanding balances, at the end of period— interest on the balances in Services Release Benefits Accounts being deducted

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of French francs held by the Bank of England at the latest available date; and what is their sterling value

I am not prepared to disclose details of the assets of the Exchange Equalisation Account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what part of the average cost of the 469,000 tons of cotton, contracted for by the Government at 23.26 cents. per lb., is represented by the usual charges for freight, transport, insurance warehousing, loss of interest and the proportionate administration costs of the Cotton Control.

About 2.45 cents. was included in the average cost of 23.26 cents. to cover freight, marine and marine war risk insurance, and warehousing overseas. The figure of 23.26 cents. was for delivered price to United Kingdom ports, and cost of administration and interest were not included. These costs, to United Kingdom ports, would be about 0.25 cents. per lb.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much industrial floor space is still under requisition by Government Departments.

40,900,000 square feet of industrial floor space is still under requisition by Government Departments. Of this, 28,900,000 square feet will be derequisitioned by the end of the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what motorcars there are in prototype, or in production, to which tyres are being fitted of a non-standard size.

I am advised that no British cars are so fitted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many sheets made in the United Kingdom were exported in the first nine months of this year to countries other than the U.S.A.; and how many were distributed to meet the home demand.

During the first eight months of this year, the latest period for which information is available, 3,051,000 pairs of cotton and linen sheets were manufactured for the home market. In the same period, 137,855 pairs were exported to countries other than the U.S.A., the corresponding figure for the nine months being 186,214 pairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of flowers are to be imported into the United Kingdom during 1947; and what will be the cost expressed in sterling.

Licences will be issued for the import of flowers and blossoms from France and Holland, between 15th December, 1946, and the end of March, 1947, to the extent of 572 tons. Imports will probably be mainly for sale on a commission basis, and I cannot therefore give a precise figure for the value of these imports. I cannot at present say what quantities of flowers will be imported during the rest of 1947.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the issue of clothing coupons to members of the Armed Forces to enable them to procure civilian clothing to wear off duty.

I cannot yet add to the reply which was given to my hon. Friend on this subject on the 26th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to state the number of clothing coupons to be issued in the next rationing period.

No, Sir. I might perhaps take this opportunity to say that there is no foundation for the exaggerated rumours which have been recently in circulation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many farm tractors were exported from the United Kingdom in August, September and October, 1946, respectively.

The number of agricultural tractors of all types exported were 837 in August, 1,231 in September, and 1,298 in October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the separate quantities of domestically produced glue and gelatine exported monthly since the re-imposition of the Control of Glue (No. 3) Order.

Figures for exports of domestically produced glue and gelatine are not available. Exports of animal and fish technical gelatine and glue and size were 95 tons in August, 152 tons in September, and 92 tons in October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of cotton thread for sewing garments in the London area; and if he will take steps to ensure sufficient supplies to the clothing trade before allocating quantities for export.

We are aware that some clothing firms were having difficulty in obtaining sewing thread, and we arranged some time ago for the cotton yarn allocation for thread for the home market to be increased The effect of this may not yet be fully effective, owing to the time needed to produce the finished thread, but the position should improve early next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the report, signed by a number of Members of Parliament, which was sent to him, containing recommendations respecting film undertakings; on what date he received it, and on what date it was shown to Mr. Eric Johnston, a representative of the U.S. film industry, visiting this country last month; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has given preliminary consideration to the report, and he will study its proposals more carefully in connection with the framing of new legislation to replace the Cinematograph Films Act, 1938. Mr. Eric Johnston is reported to have said last month that he had seen it, but I do not know when that may have been.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement with regard to the recent visit to this country of Mr. Eric Johnson on behalf of the U.S. film industry; and whether any conversations took place with regard to prospective legislation renewing quota protection for the British film industry.

Mr. Eric Johnston recently visited this country for the purpose of making a first-hand study of current developments in the British film industry and exchanging views on matters of common interest with representatives of His Majesty's Government and leading British film personalities. Those matters naturally included the prospective new legislation to replace the Cinematograph Films Act, 1938, and also the prospects of wider distribution for British films in the United States. These useful conversations were informal, and no commitments were entered into on either side.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why timber cannot be imported from the countries with which arrangements have been made for a supply of furniture; and what representations he has received about the possibility of unemployment in the British furniture-making industry owing to these arrangements with foreign suppliers.

The hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. The maximum quantity of timber available for export to the United Kingdom is being obtained from all countries with which arrangements have been made for the supply of furniture. The only countries from which furniture, but not timber, has been imported are Poland and Holland; these countries have no timber to export. No representations to the effect that the import of furniture is causing unemployment in the British furniture making industry have been made to us.

asked the Minister of Supply when it is expected that new publications and newspapers will be allocated a larger allowance of paper.

I have been asked to reply. No increase can be made in the allocation to new periodicals and newspapers until the paper supply position improves, and I am unable at present to forecast when this will take place.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will take steps to improve the supply of candles to shopkeepers in the districts of Kirkdale, Walton and Bootle, Merseyside area, owing to their being unable to supply gas mantles to their customers during the last three weeks.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that there has been an increase recently in the output of gas mantles and there is no reason to suppose that shopkeepers in the districts mentioned by my hon. Friend have not received their appropriate share of the improved supplies. In the circumstances, I am afraid I cannot arrange to increase the supply of candles in these districts since, owing to the present world shortage of wax, this would inevitably result in supplies to some other district being reduced.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if, before giving any decision with regard to the establishment of a cement works near Westbury, Wiltshire, he will hold a public inquiry at which any interest likely to be affected can make representations.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when the declaratory order can be expected on the Bristol, Central Area, Replanning Scheme to enable the council to proceed with the work, following the public inquiry which was held in June last.

The City Council's application extended to an area of approximately 770 acres, of which a comparatively small part had actually sustained war damage Very many objections were made to the application and the inquiry occupied 16 days. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the issues involved have been difficult; but I hope to issue my decision within a few days.

asked the Minister of National Insurance approximately what percentage of those entitled to the increased old age pension have not yet received it.

Of just over 4,000,000 old age pensions in payment at the end of September, some 600,000 were not put up to the new rates, principally because the information available indicated that the pensioners had not retired. While precise figures are not available, the number of these cases in which an outstanding claim to an increase of pension is still being investigated is estimated to be not more than 1 per cent. of the total number brought under review. The claim in the great majority of these cases is that the pensioner or her husband fulfilled the retirement condition at 1st October, but they also include cases in which retirement is more recent.

asked the Minister of National Insurance with regard to the future employment of the existing staffs of approved societies in the new service, when the terms both of that employment and of compensation to displaced staff will be intimated.

On both these matters my right hon. Friend is awaiting the reports of the advisory committee representing the approved societies and the staff organisations concerned. He anticipates that the terms of engagement may be announced in the early part of next year. The terms of compensation will be contained in regulations which will be submitted to Parliament for approval as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if all who are entitled to family allowances, but have not yet received them, will get them before Christmas.

Claims to family allowances are still being received at the rate of nearly 10,000 a week, and it is therefore impossible for me to give the assurance asked for. Every effort is, however, being made to clear as quickly as possible claims which have been held up because detailed investigations have been necessary.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why the widow, of whose name he has been informed, has received no reply to the four letters, one sent by registered post, which she wrote to his Department at Blackpool with regard to her widows' pension; and if he will arrange that she receives authority to draw this without further delay.

A new pension order book has been sent to the widow pensioner and the local postmaster instructed to cash the orders when it is presented

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the fact that new recruits are conscripted for a period of two years he will now state when the different groups under the age and service scheme will be released, to enable the men in such groups to make plans for their civilian life and also to enter the universities.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 3rd December to the hon. Members for Melton (Mr. Nutting) and North Hendon (Mrs. Gould) a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to expedite the release of university students serving in the Forces who, under the new arrangements for demobilisation, will not be released in time to start their studies at the beginning of the academic year which had previously been in contemplation.

The arrangements for the next academic year are under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that representatives of football pools are seeking facilities to address employees during working hours with the object of touting for weekly pool investments; and whether he will take the necessary powers to prevent this undesirable practice which will interfere with the production drive.

I am not aware of any instances of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers. In any case I should expect employers would be able to prevent such practices interfering with production.

asked the Minister of Labour whether vacancies for football pool canvassers are being filled through employment exchanges.

Vacancies for football pool canvassers notified to my local offices would be brought to the notice of suitable applicants for employment as well as other types of vacancies for which they appear suitable. I have no information readily available as to the extent to which vacancies for football pool canvassers are being filled.

asked the Minister of Labour at what date he estimates the 31,000 applicants now awaiting vocational training will have commenced their instruction.

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-Servicemen and women are still waiting for vacancies for training courses; the average time a trainee has to wait; and what action he is taking to speed things up.

The date of entering training will vary, according to the trade the applicant has selected, from a few weeks in the case of some of the building trades for which large numbers are required, to some months in the case of trades for which the numbers required by industry are at present strictly limited. I might add that during the four weeks ending 18th November, 1946, 6,069 applicants were allocated to training. The number of ex-Service applicants accepted and awaiting training is 29,294. Most of the men awaiting training are meantime in employment, and many who have waited a long time are men who have indicated that they would prefer to wait rather than take some other form of training. Where delay is due to lack of training facilities, every effort is being made to expand those facilities as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of men discharged from the Forces who have completed their basic training in plastering at a Government training centre; what are the num- bers of such men who have been placed for further training with an employer in the scheme; and what is the average period of delay between the completion of basic training and the commencement of further training.

The number of men who had completed their basic training in plastering on 21st November was 889, of whom 819 have already been placed for further training with employers. In the case of the majority, placing is arranged before the trainee leaves the centre, and he goes direct to the employer. In certain cases, however, there is delay averaging about three weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the National Institute of Houseworkers has been set up; and if he is in a position to issue a report on progress.

Yes, Sir. The composition of the board of directors was announced in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Heywood and Radcliffe (Mr. Anthony Greenwood) on 23rd July, 1946. Headquarters offices have been obtained for the institute and the headquarters staff appointed. Questions of policy have been considered by the board and negotiations for premises for the opening of experimental local centres are well in hand.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the delay, often as long as a year, being experienced in obtaining surgical boots and shoes for those with foot disabilities, he will consider transferring some of the labour in the boot and shoe industry and training them for this vital work.

Bespoke and surgical boot and shoe making is a specialised employment and no useful purpose, therefore, would be served by encouraging the transfer of factory operatives to this work. In agreement with the industry, training has for some time been given to a number of new entrants in hand-sewn boot and shoe making with the object of placing them after training with firms engaged in bespoke and surgical boot and shoe manufacture.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is in a position to state the average number of applicants dealt with, by interview, at the Appointments Office in Leeds, during the last three months; and the number of staff employed in dealing with them.

Two thousand and twenty-three interviews were conducted at Leeds regional appointments officer during the three months ending on 11th November, 1946. Any one of 30 staff would be available to conduct such interviews, but their duties embrace the normal work of the Department including executive action to place applicants and to deal with applications for business training and for grants under the Further Education and Training Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that grants to disabled men to assist them in setting up in business are not paid if a business is set up during the period between disablement and registration as disabled; and if he will consider revising the regulations so as to make grants payable in these circumstances.

I am not quite clear what the hon. and gallant Member has in mind. In order to be eligible for a resettlement grant as a disabled person it is not necessary for an applicant to be registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, as long as he satisfies the statutory definition of disablement laid down in Section 1 of the Act. If the hon. Member is thinking of any particular case and will let me have details I should be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Labour the date when he set up a committee of inquiry on staggered holidays in Scotland; what is the composition of the committee and what are its terms of reference; how many sittings has it held, and where and when; what evidence it has taken; and when it is expected to report.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given on 4th April to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood). The full committee has met on 5th April, 3rd May and 9th December in Edinburgh. The committee is not appointed to make an inquiry and report, but is a standing committee appointed to stimulate and coordinate action. No formal evidence is therefore taken.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the strike of bricklayers and masons in the city of Aberdeen; what requests he has had to conciliate with a view to its termination; and if he will make an early statement on the subject.

I am aware of the stoppage of work to which my hon. Friend refers. Conciliation by my Department was not requested. Work has now been resumed.

asked the Minister of Labour why there is such a delay in granting permits for displaced persons to enter this country and engage in useful work; and whether he is aware that there are many hundreds who would gladly accept employment of a domestic nature but who are both temperamentally and physically unsuited for employment in hospitals and sanatoria.

There is no avoidable delay in issuing permits for displaced persons nominated by their prospective employers, but there are great difficulties in obtaining transport to this country. A note on transport arrangements containing some advice on this matter is issued to prospective employers at the same time as the issue of the permit. While the needs of hospitals and sanatoria remain substantially unsatisfied, I cannot consider making additional official arrangements for the recruitment and transportation to this country of displaced persons for private domestic employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the shortage of supplies in the textile trade, he will state what steps are being taken to attract labour into the textile industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) on 26th November.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons at the Swansea Technical College who have taken courses under the training scheme for commercial purposes and for business administration up to date; the number who have been placed in employment; the number who have found their own employment; and the number who have finished their courses and are without employment.

The number of persons who have completed the general business course under the Business Training Scheme at Swansea Technical College is 19, of whom 18 have been placed by my Department in specialised business courses with business firms. The remaining, student has not yet been placed as he is at present sick. Of the 23 persons who recently completed the commercial course at this College under the vocational training scheme, four have been placed in employment, two have found their own employment and action to place the remainder is still proceeding.

asked the Minister of Labour what procedure was adopted by his Department to interview the students who recently undertook the commercial course under his Department's training scheme to place them in employment; and whether consideration is to be given for them to be placed in Government employment.

I assume my hon. Friend refers to the commercial course recently completed at the Swansea Technical College. These trainees were interviewed by my local officers three weeks before the course was due to terminate and the possibility of placing them in Government employment has been kept in mind. Three of the trainees have already been placed in such employment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that in June, 1946, the total male civilian population in Great Britain in the age-group 15 to 64 years of age numbered 13,915,000 and the total number of men in the Armed Forces was 1,895,000, making an aggregate of 15,810,000; whereas the total male working population aged 14 to 64 years of age, excluding private domestic servants, numbered 14,568,000; and if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT an occupational analysis of the 1,242,000 or more males aged 15 to 64 years of age who are not included in table four of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics."

The total male civilian population in Great Britain aged 14–64 at the end of June, 1946, is estimated at approximately 14,390,000. This figure excludes the civilian population of Northern Ireland, but includes boys aged 14 in Great Britain, and also certain classes of seamen who are excluded from Table 2 of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics." With the addition of 1,895,000 men in the Forces, this total becomes 16,285,000, while the total male working population of the same ages in Great Britain at the same time is estimated at 14,638,000, leaving a balance of 1,647,000. A statistical analysis of this figure is not available, but it includes school-boys, students, private domestic servants, those who are incapable of work, those who have retired from employment and all others who are not gainfully occupied. It does not however include the registered unemployed or demobilised men who will eventually take up employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in order to permit the earlier demobilisation of those now in the Forces with long periods of service, whose release has recently been deferred, he will carry out a comb-out of men between 20 and 30 years of age, including men released in Class B, who have since left the industry for which their early release was given.

The policy of the Government has been, and still is, to call up as many young men as possible so as to facilitate the release of men who have already served for long periods in the Forces. As explained in paragraph 4 of the White Paper, Cmd. 6831, there has been a continuing and severe comb-out of all men who are over 18 and under 30 years of age and who are still in civil life. As regards men released from the Forces in Class B, the number who leave the industry for which they were released before their special obligation has ceased is small, but steps are taken to effect recall in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of men between the ages of 18 and 30 years at 1st December, 1946, or the nearest convenient date; how many of these had served in the Forces; how many were still in the Forces; how many were medically unfit for service; and how many were deferred.

The estimated numbers of men aged 18 and under 30 in Great Britain are as follow: 1. Estimated total number in the age-groups (i.e. men born in 1917–1928) 4.200,000 2. Number who have served of are serving in the Forces 3,100,000* 3. Number of men unfit for military service 500.000 4. Number of men, fit for military service, still retained in industry 550,000† 5. Others who have not served in the Forces (Conscientious Objectors, Students, Ministers of Religion, etc.) 50,000 * The number in this age-group still in the Forces is not known precisely, but it is of the order of 1¼ millions. † Nearly two-thirds of these men are in the coalmining, farming, shipping and building industries. The majority of the remainder are key men in the engineering and metal industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount of the hill sheep subsidy referred to in the Hill Farming Act per breeding ewe and gimmer for the current year.

I am not yet in a position to lay before Parliament an order prescribing the amount of subsidy payment for sheep kept on hill land in terms of the Hill Farming Act. This is a matter on which I wish to have discussions with the interests concerned, and a meeting has been arranged to take place shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what principle his Department fixes the percentage increase on the threshing and other agricultural machines made by Messrs. R. G. Garvie & Sons, Aberdeen, details of which have been sent to him; if he will direct that a single principle be applied to all kinds of agricultural machines made by this firm; and, since the application of different principles for different machines causes delay, expense and confusion in the pricing of machines, if he will take immediate steps to have the position simplified

The percentage increases in the prices of farm machinery authorised by me under the provisions of the Farm Machinery (Control of Manufacture and Supply) Orders of 1943 and 1946 have been fixed with regard to the overall increase since 1939 in costs of production. These authorised increases are maximum increases but if any manufacturer of farm machinery, the price of which is still controlled under the 1946 Order, is satisfied that his costs justify an increase greater than those authorised, he may apply for special consideration, supporting his application with a statement of the items in the cost of production in respect of which he considers that his costs have shown abnormal increase. All applications for increase in prices are dealt with on the basis of production costs for individual types of machines and I regret that I am unable to make any exception in the case of the machines manufactured by Messrs. R. S. Garvie & Sons, of Aberdeen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the county fever hospital at Ovenstone, Pittenweem, Fifeshire, is lighted by paraffin lamps although there is an electric cable quite convenient to the hospital; and whether he will take action to remedy this.

I understand that the Fife County Council have this matter in hand and are making every effort to secure the supply of electricity. The County Council do not, however, propose to send any more fever patients to this hospital after the six at present there have been discharged. If suitable proposals for the future use of the buildings are submitted to me by the Council Council, I shall do what I can to see that provision is made for electric lighting.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of English speaking Poles who have been admitted to the police forces in Scotland during the last three months.

None, Sir. It is not the practice to recruit persons who are not British subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will inquire into the question of requisitioning the Conservative Club, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, and turning it into working class flats or a commodious hostel, in view of the fact that it is not used nowadays to any great extent and that this large building would be willingly surrendered, due to the need for accommodation in Glasgow.

I am not personally acquainted with the club referred to, but I have approached the proprietors to see whether they are prepared to make it available in the interests of providing accommodation for the working classes. I am informed that the premises are fully occupied' and used, and that the proprietors are not prepared to surrender them for housing purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will appoint a committee to inquire into the developing practice of offering for sale small dwelling tenement houses in Glasgow area at excessive prices and also ex-Servicemen and others being served with notices of a blackmailing character in which they are informed that they must pay inflated prices to purchase small shops or get out; and if he is aware that in most cases these small men are unable to purchase and are faced with economic ruin.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the Hon. Member for Coat-bridge on 3rd December about the sale of small houses As regards small shopkeepers, my right hon. Friend would be glad to have particulars of any cases which the hon. Member may have in mind so that he may consider whether any action could usefully be taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what percentage of agricultural machinery manufactured in this country has been exported during the last 12 months.

During the 12 months ended 30th September, 1946, the agricultural machinery exported was about 25 per cent, by value of the total production in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many motor vehicles are working wholly or mainly on duty for county A.E.Cs. in England and Wales.

The number is 15,079, of which 13,343 are Government-owned and 1,736 are hired.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the quantities of motor vehicle fuel for which coupons were issued in the last completed ration period for the several categories of basic ration, S coupon, E coupon, I coupon and any other category, specifying, for each category of coupon, the duration of the respective rationing period;

(2) what were the petrol ration periods covering the year 1946 and for what amounts of petrol were coupons issued during each of those periods, distinguishing between petrol for use in private motor cars and petrol for use in commercial vehicles;

(3) what amounts of petrol are being allocated for use in private motor cars and commercial vehicles, respectively, in the rationing period ending February 1947;

(4) the total quantity of motor fuel for use in motor vehicles represented by the ration coupons which were issued for the nine months from 1st January, 1946, to the end of September.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox) on 3rd December in answering similar questions.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the maximum number of E coupons allowed for essential business in the grocery trade, for eight and ten horse power vehicles, for each tour monthly period.

Where E coupons are issued the allowance does not normally exceed 76 gallons per four months for an eight horse power car and 84 gallons per four months for a ten horse power car, but an additional quantity may be allowed on proof of need.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd December, 1946; Volume 421, c. 20], supplied the following statement:

The number and grades of conciliation staffs of the four main-line railway companies who, at 16th November, 1946, had resigned from their employment since the withdrawal of the Essential Work Order, excluding retirements under age rule, or deaths, are as follow: Grade. Appointed. Unappointed. Footplate Staff and Cleaners 2,803 299 Loco shed Staff 703 471 Signalmen 258 116 Guards 264 155 Shunters 419 311 Goods Cartage 137 918 Goods Handling 530 2,722 Permanent Way 748 1,880 Signal and Telegraph 101 132 Other Conciliation Graces 1,378 2,882 7,341 9,886

The distinction between "Appointed" and "Unappointed" staff is slight as during the war additional staff were recruited on an "Unappointed "basis but are now, subject to satisfactory medical examination, being given permanent appointments.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the respective average costs of traditionally mined coal and opencast coal and state how much of the present increase in output is due to opencast coal and how much to traditional mining.

It is difficult to make any direct comparison between the cost of producing deepmined and opencast coal respectively. Broadly, however, the position is that for the former the cost in the second quarter of 1946 was 35s. 8d. a ton, and for the latter 35s. 4d. a ton, exclusive of amortisation of plant. This latter item ranges from about 3s. to about 7s. a ton, according to the expected life of the plant, a question on which it is not yet possible to form a definite opinion. In the 13 weeks ended 23rd November, weekly output of deepmined coal was 122,500 tons higher, and that of opencast coal was 21,800 tons higher, than in the corresponding period of 1945.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to withdraw Defence Regulation 47A, with its special application to merchant seamen, now that the war has ended

The intention is to withdraw this Regulation when the Essential Work (Merchant Navy) Order ceases to operate at the end of the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that it has been made compulsory for the British National Anthem to be played at all performances of State opera in the British zone of Germany and that German citizens are expected to stand while this takes place; that this practice is resented by the German public, including those who have been anti-Nazis throughout the Hitler regime and whose records in this respect are unimpeachable; and whether he will take steps to have this practice discontinued.

It is not the general practice in the British zone for the British National Anthem to be played at operatic performances primarily intended for Germans. The National Anthem is of course played at performances primarily intended for British personnel, and Germans who are guests at such performances are expected to stand

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who are the members of the Polish Repatriation Mission; when it was established, and on whose authority; what are the purposes and functions of this committee; and if its decisions are made public in this country.

The Polish Repatriation Mission is accredited by the Polish Provisional Government and was established in the British zone of Germany on 6th November, 1945, under the authority of the Commander in Chief. Its staff consists of about 50 officers appointed by the Polish Provisional Government and it is led by General Prawin. The purpose of the mission is to encourage and assist the repatriation of Poles in the British zone and to cooperate with the British authorities, the British and Polish Red Cross Associations and U.N.R.R.A. in Polish welfare matters. It is not within the functions of the Repatriation Mission to make decisions on policy which would require publication.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that stocks of refined lead have fallen from 121,900 tons at July, 1945, to 19,800 tons at September, 1946; and what action he is taking to increase the present stock.

Yes, Sir. I can assure the hon. Member that every effort is being made to import as much lead as possible, but in present conditions of world shortage I see no prospect of building up stocks.

asked the Minister of Works the reason for closing, from 11th December, 1946, to 9th January, 1947, Messrs. Uni-Seco's dispatch depots for hulls of temporary houses.

Two of the depots are being closed shortly in view of the approaching completion of the Uni-Seco programme for England and Wales. The remaining depots will remain open for some time yet, but during the period mentioned by the hon. Member they will be engaged mainly upon a redistribution of stocks.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will take steps to give the requisite priority for the rebuilding of the Rio Cinema, Craigmillar, which was recently destroyed by fire, to enable work to be commenced without delay.

The application for a building licence to rebuild the Rio Cinema, Craigmillar, was not received until 28th November, 1946. It is now being considered in conjunction with the Board of Trade and the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether His Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to abolish the existing system of dramatic censorship.

Whatever may be the arguments in favour of the hon. Member's view, my right hon. Friend is not in a position to suggest that there is a prospect of legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Works the number of hotels, business premises and dwelling-houses, respectively, in the city of Edinburgh which are at present under the control of his Department; the numbers in each category of these premises which will be restored to their owners within the next six months; and the numbers in each category which his Department proposes to hold permanently.

Five hotels, 16 business premises and 35 dwelling-houses are still held for official purposes by my Department. During the next six months, it is anticipated that none of the hotels will be given up, but that 13 properties previously used as business premises and nine dwelling-houses will be released. Until alternative accommodation can be made available it will be necessary to retain indefinitely one private hotel which had been closed voluntarily by the owners early in the war, one property previously used as business premises and 16 dwelling-houses.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of teachers, male and female, who are at present unemployed.

I have been asked to reply. I understand from the Appointments Board for Teachers in England and Wales, which is conducted by the National Union of Teachers in conjunction with the Association of Education Committees, that on 6th December there were on their books 123 men and 35 women teachers. These figures, of course, vary from day to day as demands are quickly met.

asked the Minister or Education how many ex-Service students at- the University College of the South-West, Exeter, have not yet received their Further education and training grants; and when it is anticipated that these students will be paid

Payments have been made, or are in process of being made, to 83 students at the University College and University Training Department. The majority of these could not have been paid earlier, as, though the term began on 5th October, the certificate of attendance, which is my Department's authority to pay was not received from the college until 18th November. There are, no doubt, other applications at various stages of consideration in the Department, but until an award has been decided, candidates are not classified under institutions, and it is, therefore, not possible to say, without having names, whether a particular candidate has applied for an award, has been told that he will receive one, and has supplied the necessary particulars for calculating his grant.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken by his Department to reduce the number of cases of, and deaths from, post-vaccinal encephalitis to which reference is made in the recent report of the Chief Medical Officer of his Department for the six years of war; and whether he is in a position to report any further developments in connection with the experiments on the production of chick-embryo vaccine lymph, to which reference was made in the annual reports of the Chief Medical Officer of his Department for the years 1934 and 1938.

Encephalitis is a rare complication of measles, mumps, chickenpox, influenza and other conditions, including vaccinia. The risks of the complication may be greatly minimised if primary vaccination is carried out in early infancy, as has been frequently emphasised by the Chief Medical Officer of my Department, and not left until a child has reached school age or early adolescence. Experimental work on chick-embryo vaccine has continued in an endemic smallpox are in India, but there is, as yet, no evidence that it confers adequate protection against small pox, or that its employment does not involve a risk of encephalitis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the new 10-year plan of education for the peoples of British Malaya.

A programme of educational development is being drawn up in Malaya which will be in accord with the intention of His Majesty's Government that the inhabitants of that country shall be afforded the fullest opportunity for self-development. I understand that the Governor of the Malayan Union has recently made a statement on this subject, and I will write to my hon. Friend when its terms are available in this country.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many officers and men, respectively, in the R. N are serving on Regular engagements; and how many have been so recruited during each of the last six months.

It would not be in the public interest at present to give the figures asked for in the first part of the Question. The following have been recruited during each of the last six months:

Month Regular R.N. and R.M. Permanent Commissions and Normal Regular Engagements Short Service Commissions and Engagements Total Regular Permanent Commissions and Engagements and Short Service Commissions and Engagements 1946. Offrs. O.R's. Total Offrs. O.R's. Total. Offrs. O.R's Total. May … 106 1,383 1,489 192 270 462 298 1,653 1,951 June … 8 1,499 1,507 103 367 470 111 1,866 1,977 July … 50 1,762 1,812 48 607 655 98 2,369 2,467 August … 18 1,802 1,820 49 388 437 67 2,190 2,257 September … 153 1,666 1,819 65 566 631 218 2,232 2,450 October … 20 2,345 2,365 52 609 661 72 2,954 3,026 Total … 355 10,457 10,812 509 2,807 3,316 864 13,264 14,128

asked the Undersecretary of State for India an estimate of the number of occasions in the last six months in which units or sub-units of British troops have been employed to deal with communal riots or on similar duties in aid of the police or civilian authorities.

I regret that without detailed inquiries by Army Commands in India, for which there has not been time, it is not possible to supply even roughly the estimate for which the hon. and gallant Member asks, since during the last six months many British units have been engaged for long periods in standing by or in providing patrols.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider fixing ceiling retail prices in respect of uncontrolled foreign fruit imports.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 2nd December to the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin) to which there is nothing that I can usefully add.

asked the Minister of Food if he will reconsider his decision to withhold a wholesale allocation of bananas from Mr. Mark Barnett, 35, Queen's Block, Stoney Lane, E.I, in view of the fact that before the war Mr. Barnett was a regular wholesale dealer in bananas.

I have reconsidered this case, but for reasons which were fully explained to the hon. Member by letter on the 21st November, I cannot see my way to make this allocation at present.

asked the Minister of Food how much home grown wheat was marketed in September, October and November this year; and how much of this was classed as non-millable.

The total amount of home grown wheat sold to approved buyers in September was 231,000 tons and in October 290,000 tons. The amount certified by local wheat committees as non-millable was about 7,000 tons in September and 24,500 tons in October; of this a proportion was retained on farms. I regret that similar information for November is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Food' whether his attention has been drawn to a case, details of which have been submitted to him, of an experienced miller who was refused a licence to mill wheat in a windmill at Upminster last July, but whose case was promised to be reviewed in the autumn; if he is aware that he has again been refused a licence on the grounds that the mill is unsuitable; and whether, in view of the need for high extraction bread, he will revise this decision.

The case has been reviewed, and in accordance with practice the mill was inspected in order to establish whether the premises and plant were suitable for the production of flour. At present the mill is unsuitable for production but the applicant has been informed that a licence will be granted immediately the necessary repairs and re-equipping have been completed, and has been invited to notify the Ministry when he is ready for a further inspection to be made.

asked the Minister of Food why the controlled price of linseed oil in Britain has been raised from £65 to £135 per ton.

The price was raised to cover the increased cost of this commodity in the present conditions of extreme shortage.