asked the Secretary of State for War who authorised the articles written by Lieutenant Gourlay, who was recently acquitted on a charge of libelling the 6th Airborne Division because of authorisation by higher authority; and if he will state the name of the officer responsible, together with an indication of the action to be taken.

The articles were authorised by a Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services who had been released from the service before the trial of Lieutenant Gourlay and could not be traced when required at the trial.

asked the Secretary of State for War what has been the cost to date since the end of hostilities of removing British troops from Egypt; and what is the cost for the same period to the end of the financial year of providing alternative accommodation both in the Canal zone and elsewhere, giving the cost for each area separately.

I regret that I cannot provide the figures of cost of moving personnel since it would entail an excessive amount of accounting work to separate these transport costs from the cost of normal movement. The approximate cost to date of moving stores is £200,000. The total estimated cost of providing alternative accommodation to the end of the financial year is £1,589,100 in the Canal zone and £110,000 elsewhere.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long it is anticipated that this accommodation will be required, and will the Egyptian Government take it over at cost afterwards?

I should require notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the proposed retention of Donington Park as a permanent Army vehicle maintenance and disposal centre.

Donington Park is being used as a vehicle reserve depot and its release cannot at present be contemplated. The question of its permanent retention is still being considered. I am writing to my hon. Friend about certain detailed points on this subject which he raised in correspondence

Is it not possible to find some other camp for these vehicles, so that the public interested in motor racing may look forward to the use of Donington Park in the not too distant future?

This matter has been very fully debated in this House and in another place. It may interest my hon. Friend to know that the War Office discussed the possibility of using this as a racing track with a society representing motor manufacturers, and they definitely recommended against it.

Is the Minister aware that there are many other people besides motor manufacturers interested in this matter, and will he communicate with them, including the British Motor Racing Drivers' Association?

asked the Secretary of State for War why Driver E. Turner, particulars of whom have already been sent him, was kept under close arrest for six months without trial; and whether he will make a statement in connection with this matter.

As the answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer.

Driver Turner was concerned in an incident in May, with three other men, whom it was thought necessary to try first. The trials of the second and third of these men could not be held until September since special investigation was necessary. Driver Turner was tried on 1st October but the proceedings were not confirmed. A second trial was delayed because his family were trying to obtain the services of a certain lawyer to defend him. Eventually, Driver Turner refused this assistance and asked to be tried at once. His second trial took place on 29th November and he was sentenced to three years' penal servitude. I have not yet heard that the proceedings have been confirmed. I am satisfied that there was good reason for keeping him in close arrest while he was awaiting trial, and that the delay in bringing him to trial was unavoidable. The time spent in arrest however was taken into account in fixing his sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the account of 14610781 Private J. Walwyck, Med. Pln. Admin. Company, 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment, S.E.A.C., has been revised, following the reduction of the soldier's voluntary allotment to his mother on 3rd December, 1945.

Following the reduction of the soldier's allotment in December, 1945, his unit was advised of the revised rate of pay available for issue. This information was repeated in routine notifications in April and August, 1946, and again on 3rd December, 1946, following a complaint by the soldier's mother. Payments made to him exhausted his available credit balance in July last, and the latest payments recorded are consistent with his full entitlement.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Silvertown can expect a reply to his letters of 4th September, 1946, and 19th November, 1946, relating to 14039062 Private L. Newlands, at present stationed in Troon, Ayrshire, who has appealed for a compassionate home posting near London.

A reply was sent to my hon. Friend today.

May I ask my right hon. Friend why my hon. Friend has had to wait from 4th September to 17th December to receive a reply on such a simple matter as this?

I do not think that it was quite such a simple matter as my hon. Friend makes out. There was a delay of a few days due to my insistence on more information, and, as soon as I got that information, I replied to the hon. Member.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if there were a few days' delay that does not take into account from 4th September to 17th December, which is more than a few days?

I quite agree, and I will look into that point.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the whereabouts of Mr. Waxman, 20, Sillwood Road, Brighton, were only recently discovered for calling-up purposes, in view of the fact that the Ministry of Labour, who issued the order, knew of his whereabouts all through the war and gave him permission to join the Merchant Navy in 1942, R.A.F. Ferry Command in 1944, and later allowed him to be transferred to B.O.A.C. and finally released him; what decision has been reached about his release; and the disciplinary action to by taken in this case.

A list is kept of men who are absent from their units; it is checked every six months and addresses, if known, furnished to the local police. It was as a result of one of these checks that Mr. Waxman's whereabouts were reported. His release group at present remains uncertain until particulars of his Merchant Navy service have been verified and taken into account. With regard to disciplinary action, he has been admonished by his commanding officer.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not feel that the reprimand ought not to be given to this man but to the staff who could not find him, in view of all the points in the Question? He has worked with distinction in the service of this country all throughout the war and is now being made to train again for no apparent reason except that he is losing his regular employment.

That is not quite the position. This gentleman did avoid military service, although it is true he served in the Merchant Navy, but as soon as we verify certain particulars about his release group, I do not think he will have too long to serve in the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will release the Warren Woods, Cromer, Norfolk, still requisitioned by his Department and thus enable the Cromer Urban District Council to put this former public walk and pleasure ground in order for use by the residents and visitors next summer.

As this land is no longer required by my Department we have agreed, at the request of the council, that they should clear the defence works, under the special scheme for South-East coast towns. Under this scheme the cost, subject to scrutiny by my Department, of making the land safe for the public is reimbursed to the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will permit Army vehicles to be used without charge by troops stationed 10 miles from Trieste when proceeding on leave or furlough to Trieste.

The normal charge at home and abroad for the use of War Department transport by troops for recreational purposes is ¼d. a mile, with a maximum of 6d. for each return journey, for each passenger. As this charge is certainly considerably less than would normally be incurred by troops if public transport were available, I am not prepared to modify it.

Is the Minister aware that this camp has no recreational facilities at all, and that the troops stationed there regard it as mean that they have to buy these tickets before they can use Government transport?

The G.O.C.-in-C. has permission to waive the charges if he thinks it necessary to do so.

Will the Minister draw the attention of the General Commanding to this position and ask him to reconsider the matter?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the incidents at Port Said, on 18th November, 1946, which resulted in a charge of mutiny

On the evening of 10th November men of a Docks Operating Company at Port Said held a meeting outside the canteen. Next morning the whole unit, about 200 strong, was absent from work. The officer commanding troops called in men of two other units, paraded the Dock Company and arrested the N.C.O.s. The majority were released after being addressed and questioned. All men of the company were back at work on 12th November.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to my information four N.C.O.s have been under close arrest since 10th November? Are these men still awaiting trial, and, if so, will my right hon. Friend do everything possible to expedite their trial?

I do not know whether the number mentioned by my hon. Friend is correct, but the trial of those arrested will take place before Christmas.

Will my right hon. Friend say what was the cause of the trouble?

If men refuse to obey orders and do not go to work that is sufficient trouble.

Is the same com manding officer still commanding the unit?

Off-hand, I do not know.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will define exactly the category of officers who are entitled to draw qualification pay referred to in paragraph 25 of Command Paper 6750.

There is at present in force an interim scheme for qualification pay at the rate of 2s. 6d. a day for lieutenants, 4s. for captains and 5s. for majors; the list of qualifications is a long one and I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL RETORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if war substitute courses will enable officers to qualify for this pay?

I have given a rather long reply, which I am circulating, and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will look at it first, and if he then puts down a Question, I will do my best to answer it.

Following is the List

In addition medical and dental officers classified as specialists may draw qualification pay at a that rate of 4s. a day in ranks up to and including lieutenant-colonel.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he has not derequisitioned Colne House, 51, Henley Road, Ipswich, although it has ceased to be used by his Department for some considerable time; and when this house will be returned to its owners.

I think my hon. Friend is misinformed. Colne House is occupied by the staff of the War Department Land Agent, who is a central figure in the derequisitioning of lands and buildings in the area; I expect that the house will become available for release in May, 1947.

That may be, but is my right hon. Friend aware that at the time the Question was put down the owner advised me that the house was empty? I do not know what happened to the people inside.

Perhaps the owner advised my hon. Friend wrongly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that complete reconstruction of the roads between Gallows Hill and Worgret Heath and between Bere Regis and Wool, Dorset, is becoming necessary owing to the use of these roads by tanks operating from Bovington Camp; and whether he will support the application of the Dorset County Council for financial assistance out of public funds for the reconstruction of these roads which in their present state, are causing great delay and inconvenience to the public.

If an application for assistance is received by my Department through the Ministry of Transport it will be sympathetically considered.

Would the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that this cannot be accepted as a precedent for dealing with other similar cases?

I should like to deal only with this particular case at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to improve living conditions in Ayer Raja Camp, Singapore, detailed complaints concerning which have been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Maldon.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend.

Can my right hon. Friend say roughly how long the inquiry will take?

I do not know. I have asked for a quick reply.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we have been making representations about Singapore since last May, and is it not time that we got some of these things improved?

My hon. Friend must not think that his representations do not result in some improvement being made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it was with his authority that Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery stated in Trieste, that the function of maintaining order in Greece belonged to the Greek Government and police and that British troops were not there to fight the Greeks; and whether he will immediately withdraw these troops.

No, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are two parts to this Question? Is he further aware that Field-Marshal Montgomery did make the statement, and in that case is he prepared to say whether he agreed to the statement and whether it was delivered by his authority or not?

I have answered the hon. Gentleman's question. The answer is still "No."

asked the Secretary of State for War what provision is made for leave for troops serving in Palestine.

Troops in Palestine are eligible for one period of 30 days leave in the United Kingdom during their overseas tour. This leave may be granted after 12 months overseas service provided that the soldier will have at least four months' service on return from leave before becoming due to depart for repatriation or release. Troops are also eligible for 28 days' local leave a year, to be taken in not more than four periods of not less than seven days. Free travel for this leave is admissible up to 100 miles from the soldier's station or to the nearest suitable destination if in the opinion of the commander-in-chief there is none within 100 miles

In view of the conditions under which these troops are operating, could my right hon. Friend arrange that they will get 30 days' annual leave at home?

I admit that the troops in Palestine are carrying on under very difficult conditions indeed and I am doing all I can to assist in providing them with full leave.

With regard to the leave which they have in the Middle East, and in view of the suspension of the services on the Palestine railway, is any arrangement being made for these men to have their leave outside Palestine?

I think I had better have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the labour and supply difficulties impeding the Government's plans to improve accommodation and entertainment facilities for troops stationed in Palestine: whether he has now examined this question; and if he will make a statement.

There is in Palestine a shortage of skilled civil labour available for the Army, and experienced Royal Engineer personnel for supervisory duties are also short. Supply difficulties have now been largely overcome, except for sewage pumps and certain cooking equipment, the production of which in this country is delayed. With regard to entertainment I am examining recent reports and will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the quantities of tinned food, held either by his Department or by N.A.A.F.I., in or within five miles of the Cheddar Gorge; how much of this has been allowed to remain so long as to become unfit for human consumption; and what is being done with this unfit food.

The only Army or N.A.A.F.I. tinned food stored within five miles of Cheddar Gorge is at Langford. The stores are in both cases in constant issue, and there is none that is unfit for human consumption. The Army stocks at the moment amount to 41 tons and N.A.A.F.I. merely hold normal trading stocks.

Can the Minister say within five and a quarter miles or some other small distance that there is not a large amount of food being wasted in that area?

I have not measured it myself, but I think I had better stick to five miles.

This situation is very remarkable. Could not the Minister investigate the matter and find out if there is not a large amount of food there?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement regarding the condition? on the s.s. "Empress of Scotland" arising from which, some 300 Servicemen walked off the liner and refused to embark; and, in view of previous incidents of this kind, if he will give an assurance that the accommodation for transporting Servicemen, particularly on long journeys, will afford reasonable space and amenities.

asked the Secretary or State for War if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which the troopship "Empress of Scotland" sailed for the Far East on 10th December; what was the nature of the accommodation; what was the ration scale issued; why the latrines were badly sited, and what steps were taken to deal with the men's grievances.

As the answer is long, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister give the House an assurance that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and that steps will be taken to ensure that reasonable amenities are provided for the soldiers? Is he aware that one of the grievances was that the amenities for the officers and nurses on the upper, decks were quite suitable, but they were not suitable for the soldiers down below?

I have made a close investigation and I am satisfied in my own mind that the majority of the troops in this ship were satisfied with the conditions when she was due 10 sail.

In view of the fact that there have been a number of there demonstrations in the last 12 months, does not my right hon. Friend think it desirable that someone in authority should make a complete inspection of messing, living and sleeping arrangements before the troops embark and ensure that there is no reason for them to complain?

I agree with my hon. Friend and that is done on every occasion before a ship sails.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say, in view of the considerable interest that this Question and the supplementaries have aroused, whether he could not make a statement at the end of Questions even in a shortened form so that the House would have the full information?

That is as the House wishes. I am at its service.

Is the Minister quite satisfied that the administration arrangements are in order and, particularly, is he aware that the Army Welfare Department appears to have no jurisdiction over the welfare of the troops from the moment they step on board ship, and is not this a loophole?

Perhaps we should clear up the position as to whether I am to answer the Question at the end of Questions. I am quite willing to do so if the House wishes.

That is a question for the Minister.

Later—

The following is the answer to Questions 25 and 27 which I proposed to circulate:

The troopship "Empress of Scotland" was scheduled to sail at 8 a.m. on 10th December for the Far East with Army and R.A.F. drafts and men returning from leave. At about 8.15 on the evening before, some men walked off the ship without having made any complaint in the normal manner at the final inspection which had just started. In spite of this act of ill-discipline, their subsequent complaints were investigated by the troopship's inspection officer, and some slight adjustments were made to the berthing. The men went on board once more. Owing to fog, the vessel was unable to sail until the evening of 10th December, and during the day men walked off on two further occasions, the last time being just before the ship sailed. I might add that only a small proportion of the men were involved in these acts of indiscipline.

The troopdeck accommodation in the ship is for 1,906 passengers, which represents a considerable improvement on the scales in force during the peak of troop movements, when the ship was rated for 4,432 troopdeck passengers. The actual number embarked, including the men who walked off, was 1,794. The rations issued were in accordance with the approved scales. The menus for the first two meals issued on board were very good and the following are the details:

Mid-day (9th December). Pea soup. Roast beef Gravy. Brown potatoes. Cabbage. Rice and raisin pudding. Bread.

Evening Meal (9th December). Lamb and vegetable stew. Boiled potatoes. Bread, butter, jam. Tea.

Some of the latrines are not conveniently sited, but this arises from the constructional difficulties inherent in the conversion of a passenger liner into a troopship carrying large numbers.

Apart from the immediate investigation of the complaints which I have mentioned, a court of inquiry was assembled on 11th December at which the complaints and the facts were more fully investigated.

At present, until postwar troopships designed as such, are available, we must continue to use converted vessels. The amenities in these, however, have been much improved and the number of passengers much reduced, since the days of active operations during the war.

Is it not very obvious that conditions must be very bad when men take such action? Does it not mean that, after 600 men had left, there would be much better accommodation?

What would have happened had it been in Soviet Russia?

I think the hon. Member exaggerates a little. It was not 600 men who walked off. I think the idea was a natural inclination of some of the men to try to remain in this country over Christmas.

In view of the fact that after the 1914–18 war there were instances of this kind, which were proved to be due to certain political influences from abroad, will the right hon. Gentleman look carefully into the matter and see whether the same influences, which were Communist after the 1914–18 war, were not the instigators in this incident?

I do not know the political complexion, neither do I inquire, of the troops I have to look after, but I would very much doubt whether there were very great Communist influences in this matter. At any rate, the greater number, whatever their political complexions, sailed quite peacefully.

In view of what my right hon. Friend said, will he say why a statement was issued from Western Command Headquarters admitting that certain conditions were unsatisfactory in this troopship? In view of complaints coming from other theatres about unhealthy conditions on troopships, will he take immediate steps to improve the standard?

There is a limit to what I can do in the way of improving conditions in troopships. But I can assure my hon. Friend that considerable improvements have been made, and are being made, within the limits of labour and material to do this work. I can also assure him that the inspection of troopships is very strict indeed, and I can see no reason why men who were to sail on this ship to the Far East should walk off when they have to go back to the Far East in any case.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what he means by "walking off" the ships? Were there no checks?

Perhaps that was not an entirely correct term. They clambered off the ship by getting down the safety nets.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there is all the difference in the world between reading out a menu, and the way in which that food is actually served to the men? Can we have an assurance that in troopships special steps will be taken to see that the catering staffs axe adequate, and that the food listed is served in a way that makes it eatable?

I think it is reasonable to assume that if 1,500 men did not complain of their food, it was all right.

May I ask the Minister whether, in view of the fact that troopship conditions are so much better than they used to be, he is satisfied with the training these men have received at the hands of commanding officers? Are we not up against the fact that in wartime very young commanding officers are an excellent thing, but in peacetime there has to be experience in training troops?

No, Sir. In this case it was not a question of complete units going under their commanding officers, when, perhaps, these incidents might not have occurred. It was a case of reinforcement drafts and men returning from leave. I have no reason to complain of the training the commanding officers are giving to men in general.

Does the Secretary of State not think that part of the trouble was due to the fact that too big a proportion of available accommodation was allocated to officers?

No, Sir. I would not agree with that, and I would urge the House not to make too much of this. I am quite sure in my own mind that there was really no serious grievance amongst these men, and I believe they are now on their way back to their units.

On a point of Order. Is it permissible, now that supplementary questions have been finished, to ask if it is in Order for the right hon. Gentleman to make accusations against the Communist Party about troubles which took place after the last war, before there was a Communist Party in existence? [ Laughter. ]

This seems to be no laughing matter. I have stated what must be in the knowledge of every hon. Member who was in the House at that time that there was such Communist agitation after the last war. What I asked the right hon. Gentleman was to say that there was no such foreign Communist agitation which in any way got hold of these men.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many wives of soldiers are still waiting to join their husbands in East and Central Africa; and what steps he is taking to make additional suitable accommodation available there for soldiers' families.

There are 30 families, whose applications have been sanctioned, now awaiting passages and they are due to sail at the end of this month Suitable accommodation may be hired for married quarters but there is little available, and surplus hutting may be adapted for use as temporary quarters. We cannot, however, meet all the requirements at once but plans for new construction are being drawn up.

With regard to the difficulty of accommodation, is the Minister aware that local contractors are advertising an offer to build houses in six weeks for £600, and why cannot the Army get some of this accommodation?

That seems prima facie very satisfactory, and I will look into the point.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will confer upon recipients of the Military Medal in the four years' war the grant of an additional 6d. per day and of an additional 1s. per day in the case of men disabled in winning the decoration, which has been granted to winners of the Military Medal in the war of 1939–45.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 26th November to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Ely (Major Legge-Bourke), of which I am sending him a copy. The arrangements for those awarded the Military Medal in the late war are that they may receive an addition to their pension of 6d. a day or a gratuity of £20 if they leave the Army without a pension. There is no provision for 1s. a day if they are disabled in winning the decoration.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for the Army Council to send officers to inspect the commands without notice that the inspection is to take place.

Inspections of troops and of administrative services in commands are carried out at intervals by senior officers on behalf of the Army Council. Owing to the scope of these inspections, the distances and time involved, and the necessity for arranging accommodation in advance, it is not possible for them to be made without previous notice. Within commands, formation commanders frequently visit units and carry out informal inspections without notice.

Is the Minister aware that this practice of giving notice of intention to inspect results in precisely the same cleaning up and window dressing as occurs when it is known that one of his right hon. Friends is expected in the factories?

I cannot speak for civil Departments; I have enough to do speaking for the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to be in a position to announce his plan of education for the postwar Army.

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 15th October. The final plans for Army education are now before the Army Council and I shall make a further statement about them immediately the details have been settled early in the New Year.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the delay in regard to this matter has now lasted for more than 12 months and that he is losing the best men for the job, and is this kind of delay regarded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory at the War Office?

May I ask what is the reason for this delay, because the right hon. Gentleman has already lost the best men?

There has not been any delay. What has been happening is that the Army has been running down and is now beginning slowly to be built up again. I have to make plans for the new Army; those plans have been in course of consideration for some time, and I hope very soon now to be able to announce something on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men in the Army on Regular engagements have terminated, or are terminating, their service.

I presume the Question is intended to refer to regular soldiers whose period of Colour service has expired but who are still held to serve until they are due for release under the Age and Service Scheme or because they are retained under the "Military Necessity clause." No figures are available but I can say that there are very few, if any, such men still serving.

asked the Secretary of State for War why personnel of the R.A.P.C, Edinburgh, are being refused Christmas leave to travel to their homes in Newport; and why they have been informed that, if further applications are made, the 24 hours' leave on Christmas Day will be withdrawn.

Nothing is known at the Army Pay Office in Edinburgh of any such refusal or statement. Men at this office who desire to spend Christmas at home are being given 48 hours' leave either before or after Christmas Day itself, making a period of three days in all.

If I give my right hon. Friend evidence that these men have been refused leave, will he make inquiries and also assure the House that they will not be victimised if their names and addresses are given?

In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, I will certainly look into the matter. With regard to the second point, we never victimise any man whose name is sent to us in connection with an M.P.'s correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that a civilian driving a War Office vehicle cannot be prosecuted by the police if exceeding the speed limit or committing other offences on the road, what arrangements are made by his Department to ensure that these individuals are subject to the same military discipline as uniformed drivers of vehicles.

Civilian drivers employed by the War Department are required to conform to Army regulations applicable to the driving of military vehicles, but they are also subject to prosecution by the police for any speed or traffic offences to the same extent as other civilian drivers.

Is any action taken against these civilian drivers when their misdemeanours are brought to the notice of the Army authorities?

Generally speaking, I should think so, but I will look into any particular case if the hon. and gallant Gentleman has one in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Wax why in view of the fact that a private owner of a motor-car has an obligation to see that all persons driving his motor-car are insured, his Department does not accept a similar liability for any vehicles, so that persons who suffer accident from such vehicles, when driven other than on military duty, may obtain damages.

Cases of accidents occurring on or after 1st July, 1946, involving service vehicles driven off duty, are covered by the statement made on that date by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he will be able to relieve the anxiety of the wives of men under 21 years of age who have been called up or will be in the near future, with regard to the non-payment of marriage allowances, as the grants from the War Grants Committee are quite inadequate to enable them to meet household expenses.

I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 3rd December.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what has held up a decision in this very urgent matter and who is the nigger in the woodpile—is it the Treasury?

Never.

I understand from my right hon. Friend that there are no niggers at the Treasury.

In any review which the right hon. Gentleman makes in this matter, will he bear in mind also the position of the wives of officers where an allowance is withheld if the husband is not 25 years of age?

Yes, Sir. I have already made that review and I hope that it may be possible shortly to make a statement on the subject.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's Department reached agreement on the matter in principle?

We have certainly gone a good distance towards it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many wives of serving soldiers under 21 who have now to pledge part of their homes in order to obtain the wherewithal to live?

:

The right hon. Gentleman shakes his head, but I have proof in my own constituency. Is he further aware that the mass of the people of this country think that it is disgusting that a person who is called up should not have his liabilities met by the Government?

The position is not quite as my hon. Friend presents it, but I agree that sympathetic consideration ought to be given to this matter and, indeed, it is being given.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the minimum age and service which entitles a man to release on compassionate grounds.

There is no minimum age or period for which an officer or soldier must have served before he is entitled to release on compassionate grounds. I would refer the hon. Member to the first part of the answer given by my predecessor on 16th July to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Dodds-Parker) and to my reply last week to my hon. Friend the Member for Moss Side (Mr. W. D. Griffiths). I am sending the hon. and gallant Member copies of these replies.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to reopen the road from Watton to Thetford through the battle training area; and how he intends to inform the public when the road is open and when closed to entail the least inconvenience to the road users.

Arrangements have been made to inform the local Press and the police of the times when the road will be opened, so that inconvenience to road users is avoided.

Can my right hon. Friend say when it will be opened?

I thought it had been opened by now, but as my hon. Friend knows, I have done my best to see that the road is opened.

asked the Secretary of State for War what disciplinary action was recently taken at L Camp, R.E.M.E., M.E.F., against demonstrators who protested about the slow-down in demobilisation.

As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 3rd December, disturbances took place at several units in the Middle East. Certain courts martial are pending and I am therefore not yet in a position to make a final statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at No. 1 A.A. Workshop Company, R.E.M.E., Loughton Hall Camp, Loughton, Essex, the men are paraded three times a day for roll-calls; that men with less than six months' service have to be in camp at 11 p.m. and that lights-out is at 10.35 p.m.; and what steps he proposes to take to put an end to such parades, etc.

As all the men in this unit do not work in the workshops on fixed tasks, parades are held at 8 a.m. and 12 noon in order that men can be detailed to their various duties. The third parade at 5.15 p.m. has recently been instituted as a temporary measure because some men have been leaving the workshops before the proper time and have been leaving camp bounds before the end of working hours without permission.

Young soldiers with under six months' service have to be in camp by 11 p.m. unless they have a pass, which is easily obtained by any man of good conduct. These passes allow men to stay out of camp till reveille if they wish. Many men of the unit go to bed at 10 p.m. and wish to sleep; therefore lights-out is at 10.15 p.m. because it is considered that men who wish to sleep should be considered before those who wish to stay out late.

These rules are in accordance with the recently declared policy on the way of life of the soldier. "Request Hours" are held by the commanding officer regularly each week and most of the points raised in this Question have been brought to his notice by young men of the unit. I do not think that there is any reason for me to interfere.

Does the sergeant take them glasses of milk?

asked the Secretary of State for War at what rate prisoners of war are permitted to change marks into sterling; and how this compares with the official rate.

Prisoners of war do not have occasion to change marks into sterling but my hon. Friend may be referring to the reverse procedure. Remittances to Germany and the payment of credit balances on repatriation are changed at the rate of 15 Reichmarks to the pound.

Will my right hon. Friend explain why this is inflicted on these people? Why should not they be allowed exchange at 40 marks to the £, which is the normal rate?

No, Sir. Forty marks to the pound is not the normal rate. That is a purely concessional rate for occupation troops. Fifteen marks to the £ was arranged in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for War to whom a prisoner of war detained in this country, can appeal if he is not satisfied with the way in which complaints made to the commandant of the camp have been dealt with.

A complaint may be made by any prisoner of war under Article 42 of the Geneva Convention. Such complaints are to be addressed to the commandant of the prisoner of war camp who is obliged to forward them to the War Office with such comments as he considers necessary.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he thinks this arrangement reasonable? Is he aware that we find it necessary to allow persons serving in our own Armed Forces to refer to Members of Parliament, and surely it is doubly necessary that prisoners of war should be allowed to do likewise?

I do not think that the analogy is quite correct. Prisoners of war are protected under certain conventions, and these international agreements certainly do protect German prisoners of war in this country.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Geneva Convention no longer functions, that we are no longer at war with Germany because there is no Government with which to be at war, and, therefore, we are at peace with Germany, so what about it?

That was not quite the point raised by my hon. Friend in his Question. I think that I can say to the House generally that prisoners of war in this country have been very fairly treated, and they admit it.

If the commandant of a camp does not pass on complaints, what happens?

He must do so, and it any hon. Member knows of any case where that is not being done, and will bring it to my notice, I will attend to it.

Can my right hon. Friend give a reason why there is any objection to prisoners of war writing to Members of Parliament? Does not the right hon. Gentleman's last answer make it all the more necessary that there should be some independent means of discovering what is going on?

I personally have no objection, but there are other considerations in this connection. There are certain undesirable elements in this country who would be glad to get in touch with German prisoners.

Can my right hon. Friend say what channels are open to him to find out whether a local commandant does or does not forward any complaints of prisoners of war?

In addition to other safeguards, there are visitors under the Geneva Convention constantly visiting these camps, and they would soon let us know if such were the case.

asked the Secretary of State for War why it is impossible to grant extra rations for the Christmas period to German prisoners of war in this country.

The food situation in this country has permitted my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food to make only very limited additions to the rations of the people of this country at this time. In these circumstances it is not considered either desirable or possible to increase the rations of prisoners of war who are adequately fed. I would add that no extra rations are given to British troops for Christmas.

Is the Minister aware that these men are prisoners, that we are responsible for them, that they are working on the land, and. therefore, we are responsible for their feeding?

In view of the fact that my right hon. Friend will not permit extra rations, will he make quite sure that the commandants do not arbitrarily stop parcels sent to prisoners as is mentioned in a Question later on the Order Paper?

The point is not that I will not, but that I cannot.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what authority his Department, through its usual publicity channel, informed a U.S. news agency, at the end of October, that British Empire and U.S. political and military chiefs had agreed in principle to standardise land, air and naval weapons and munitions to U.S. sizes and patterns and that the Defence Minister designate would give the decision practical effect as soon as he took office.

My hon. Friend is misinformed. My Department issued no such statement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Associated Press on 30th October sent a series of despatches to the United States containing this and much other information, and informed the editor that they had received it from the Public Relations Officer of the War Office?

No, Sir. That is not my information. I understand that the Associated Press cabled the story to the United States of America as from authoritative British military sources. That is certainly not the War Office.

Can the Minister say whether anybody but an enemy of these two Empires would gain from a refusal to standardise?

The Associated Press informed their editor—

Order.

Order You are a lot of yahoos!

It the Associated Press informed the editor in the sense mentioned by my hon. Friend, it is entirely incorrect.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear to the American people that the bulk of the people in this country are delighted if the arrangements have been made?