asked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement regarding arrangements to implement the policy of equal pay for equal work for members of the teaching profession.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham (Mr. Hale) on 19th December last.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if he appreciates that the principle of equal pay for equal work has already been accepted by the Government in the payment of Members of Parliament and even of Cabinet Ministers, as well as in many of lie professions, and, as our new Minister of Education, will he promise to do his best to try to establish this long overdue reform so far as the teaching profession is concerned?

Again, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer previously given, which takes all those things into consideration.

asked the Minister of Education whether all children who attain the age of 14 years by 31st March will be able to leave school by the end of the term that finishes at Easter, 1947.

A child who attains the age of 14 during a school term is deemed by reason of Section 8 (1) of the Education Act, 1946, not to have attained that age until the end of the term. Any child attaining the age of 14 during a school term which ends on or after 1st April next will have to remain at school to the end of the term in which he or she attains the age of 15.

asked the Minister of Education why, under Regulation 18 (3) of the Primary and Secondary Schools (Grants Conditions) Regulations, the consent of His Majesty's inspectors has to be obtained before the secular instruction in maintained schools can be given off school premises.

Since average attendance is no longer a factor in calculating grant to local education authorities, or in determining the grading of a school for the purposes of the head teacher's salary, an important reason for the regulation has ceased to exist. My predecessor had, therefore, decided to revoke it, and I shall shortly be publishing the necessary amending regulation.

The purpose of this change, about which I shall be sending a circular to local education authorities, is to extend to all maintained schools, whether primary or secondary, the freedom, so far as the Ministry's requirements are concerned, in arranging such activities as school visits, that was formerly enjoyed by a limited number of secondary schools under the old regulations for secondary schools.

asked the Minister of Education if his attention has been called to the difficulty of obtaining straws for children with which to drink milk in the London and extra-Metropolitan areas; and if, for the sake of health and cleanliness, he will take steps to see that straws are supplied to these districts.

Yes, Sir; every possible step is being taken to increase the output of drinking straws for school milk.

asked the Minister of Education when he proposes to give effect to the recommendation of the McNair Committee that the period of college training for intending teachers should be at least three years.

I cannot yet say when it will be possible to give effect to this recommendation.

asked the Minister of Education how many ex-Service students are in receipt of grants; and how many have received no payment for the current term.

The number of students in receipt of grants before the beginning of the current term was 18,573; in 15,505 of these cases, payments in full have been made. In addition, 6,930 new awards have been announced; in 2,180 of these cases, payment has been made in full, and, in over 2,000 other cases, a payment has been made on account.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that at University College, London, out of 783 students in receipt of Further Education and Training Grants 433 have not yet received their grants for this term although their attendance forms were returned on 20th January last; that at the Northern Polytechnic, N.7, 200 out of 294 students have not yet received their grants although their forms were returned on 13th January; that a similar situation prevails at many other colleges and universities; and when these grants will be paid.

At University College, including the Slade School of Art, and the Bartlett School of Architecture, 578 students were in receipt of grants before the beginning of the term. Certificates of attendance were received on 21st January and payments were completed on 11th February. In addition, new awards have been announced to 92 students, of whom 67 have now been paid.

At the Northern Polytechnic, 132 students were in receipt of grants before the beginning of the term. Certificates of attendance were received on 23rd January, and payments were made on 15th February. In addition, new awards have been announced to 26 students, of whom four have been paid and the remainder are about to be paid

Payments have now been made to all students who were in receipt of grant at the beginning of this term, in 456 out of 497 institutions, and the remaining 41 will be completed shortly.

asked the Minister of Education what deductions are made from further education and training grants in respect of a student's vacation earnings.

If a student holding an award under the Further Education and Training Scheme earns in vacations, half his earnings are deducted from his grant.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if, in view of the great national need for maximum productivity, we should not encourage the effective use of every pair of hands, and, in view of that, will he consider either greatly reducing these deductions or abolishing them altogether?

I will certainly look at it, but there are more complications than that.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will reconsider the idea of having this extraordinary means test applied to these grants?

I would point out that it is not so much a question of a means test, as of the varying needs of the students.

Does the Minister recognise that there are very many cases in which these grants are not sufficient for a man during the half-year when the university is not in session, and that, therefore, it is essential that he should be able to earn?

Grants are made to these people on the assumption and on the basis that they will not need to earn, and that is the only basis on which their receipts are taken into account.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the necessity for schoolboys to plan their careers, he can give an assurance that grants for ex-Servicemen will he continued for the next five years.

No, Sir. but I expect that an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Education whether, as a contribution to fuel economy and a convenience to mothers, he will arrange for the midday break in primary and secondary schools to be from 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. instead of from 12 noon to 1.30 p.m.

The arrangements for the mid-day break are within the discretion of local education authorities, governors or managers, as the case may be. I should see no objection to an arrangement of the kind which my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give further consideration to the possibility of providing special transport for schoolchildren between Bradwell-juxta-Mare and Maldon Grammar School, Essex, since some of them are obliged, by the present inconvenient arrangement, to be away from their homes for nearly 12 hours each school day.

I am looking into the position further in consultation with the Regional Transport Commissioner and will write to my hon. Friend.

While my right hon. Friend is looking into the position, will he bear in mind that some of these boys and girls have to leave home at 6.30 a.m. and do not get back until 6 p.m. or after, and, in such circumstances, how can they possibly be expected to do homework?

The right hon. Gentleman referred to the Regional Transport Commissioner. Has he not also been in contact with the Essex Education Committee?

Yes, Sir.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, if he finds that the reason is that there is not sufficient ordinary transport, he will suggest to the Education Committee that two or three taxis would do these journeys, and will he remember that boys and especially adolescent girls cannot stand the strain of these long hours?

I will take that into consideration when I consult the Committee.

asked the Minister of Education how many places in training colleges he proposes to offer to uncertificated teachers in -September, 1947; and on what basis the selection of applicants is to be made.

I cannot yet say how many uncertificated teachers it will be possible to admit to special one year courses this autumn. If we fall short of the target of 400 admissions suggested by my predecessor last July, the deficiency will he made good a few months later. The basis of selection will in the main he length of service, subject to the special requirements of particular areas.

May I urge upon my right hon. Friend the need for as much speed in the execution of this work as possible, as, otherwise, we shall lose the enthusiasm and the urge to train which these young people had when these arrangements were first announced?

I will.

asked the Minister of Education how many persons have now been accepted for training under the emergency training scheme.

Up to 6th February, 38,399 persons had been accepted for Training under the Emergency Training Scheme.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many are already in training?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Education how many of the temporary H.O.R.S.A. huts have now been erected; and how many it is anticipated will be completed by 1st April and 1st September, respectively.

Several hundred H.O.R.S.A. huts are now virtually complete, except for certain components in particularly short supply, and approximately 60 rooms are finally completed. No additional accommodation in H.O.R.S.A. hutting will he required by 1st April. As I indicated last week to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Bossom), every effort is being made to complete the total, namely, 2,545 classrooms and 1,081 practical rooms required by 1st September. 1947.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say what a H.O.R.S.A. hut is?

These are the huts that are being provided under the scheme to enable the age to be raised.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the huts which are not finished, but are waiting for accessories, are capable of being used, or whether they will have to be completed before being capable of being used?

They may be capable of being used, but, obviously, they can be used to better advantage when all the components are in. We are pressing the Department concerned to provide the components.

asked the Minister of Education the total size of the staff, other than those engaged in teaching, employed by local education authorities today and in the year previous to the war.

The total number of employees of county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales, excluding teachers and trading services, is estimated to be approximately 514,000. Separate figures for education services are not available, nor are the corresponding figures for 1939.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the fact that the contemplated building programme for 1947, summarised in Circular 134, makes no reference to reduction in the size of classes and large numbers of young children will enter primary schools this year, he will now revise that programme.

Reduction in the size of classes depends largely on the provision of new accommodation, and, for the present, this has to be restricted to the categories set out in paragraph 4 of Circular 134. These include the provision of new schools to meet housing developments and of additional classrooms to prevent serious overcrowding.

Will my right hon. Friend, at any rate, give it the second priority, after getting ready the huts necessary for raising the school leaving age?

I do not know about the second priority. With regard to the equally important priority which has been given, so far as housing schemes are concerned, that will assist to the extent that the children from overcrowded areas may be moving into the new housing centres.

Am I to understand I the right hon. Gentleman as saying that the shortage of teachers is no impediment to reducing the size of classes, and that the difficulty is solely due to the lack of buildings?

I would not say that, but with the number of teachers in training and who are likely to be available in the near future, buildings will be the limiting factor, rather than teachers.

Does not the Minister remember that, in the period of evacuation, every sort of building was obtained by the education authorities in which to house the children for school purposes, and could he not, if he has the teachers, make a real attempt to reduce the size of classes by taking every possible building?

Where buildings are available, I hope to do that.

Is it not a fact that the only buildings which are going to be available are the stables referred to in a previous Question?

asked the Minister of Education whether he will publish a detailed Report of the U.N.E.S.C.O. Conference held in Paris last November.

Yes, Sir; a report has been prepared which I hope to present shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total grossage of glass bottles ordered by Government Departments during the year 1946; and the comparable figures or 1938.

301,200 gross of empty bottles were ordered by Government Departments during 1946. I regret that no comparable figures for 1938 are available.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman's reply mean that there is now a bottleneck in bottles?

The total production of bottles is 17,500,000 gross.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the object of maintaining in force the provision under the Auction and Tender Control Orders which forbids a person to have any of his goods sold by auction if he has had cause to allow to be sold by auction other goods, being goods to which these Orders apply, during the six months immediately preceding the date of the declaration which has to be made prior to any auction; and whether he will review this provision with a view to its abolition in the near future.

The object of the provision to which the hon. Member refers is to ensure that advantage is not taken of auction facilities to carry on a business of selling goods without complying with Price Control Regulations, which cannot conveniently be applied to auctions. In bona fide cases of disposal of personal effects for which auctions are primarily designed, exemption from the six months requirement is freely given by licence. I am satisfied that the provisions are still necessary, and the answer to the second part of the Question is accordingly in the negative.

All the same, is this not really one of the petty controls that might well be abolished in the very near future?

For the reasons I have already given, no.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many contracts have been made with softwoods exporting countries for sawn softwoods for forward delivery; and how many standards, arid from whom.

I hope to make a statement on the softwood supply position in the course of the next few weeks when the negotiations of the Timber Control missions in North America have been completed. I am circulating the information for which my hon. Friend has asked in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but he will appreciate that the outstanding balances of contracts with European countries at this particular juncture are relatively small, pending negotiations for the 1947 season which are due to take place next month with both Sweden and Finland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a comparison of the price to the purchaser in this country of softwood in the round and of sawn timber per cubic foot of Scandinavian, German, Canadian and homegrown timber, respectively.

Taking typical specifications of sawn softwood, the comparative prices per cubic foot to a purchaser in this country are: Scandinavian, 6s.; German, 5s. 7d.; Canadian, 5s. 5d. Home-grown 3s. 11d. to 8s. 6d., according to species, length of seasoning and type of mill in which the softwood was converted. Softwood in the round for conversion is not being imported except from Germany; for a comparison of the prices of German logs with home-grown logs, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Vane) on 6th February.

Could the right hon. and learned Gentleman give the approximate proportions of the different kinds of timber that we are getting?

That is quite another question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what basis the recent increased prices of timber in the round were calculated; and what factors were taken into account.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to standing timber in this country. Since the previous prices were fixed seven years ago, the prices of other materials have risen substantially, as have the costs of maintenance of woods and of replanting. In the absence of detailed costings, the matter had to be dealt with on broad lines, and an increase of 25 per cent. was considered to be fair.

But what about the evidence produced to the right hon. and learned Gentleman that the cost of production had increased by 40 per cent.? Did he not take that into account when fixing the increased prices?

Certainly, Sir, but we had a lot of evidence of a differing character, and we took it all into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that there is no danger of clothing supplies being insufficient to meet the present coupons owing to the stoppage of production through the coal crisis.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my, hon. Friend the Member for Coat-bridge (Mrs. Mann) on 13th February.

Is the Minister aware that there is a growing shortage of small, sizes in the shops, and will he take steps to remedy that?

That is another point altogether.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is with his authority that inspectors are visiting shops with a questionnaire as to whether they are satisfied with the quality of floor coverings; and whether they have had any complaints from customers.

Yes, Sir. Inquiries have been made by officers of my Department who operate under no powers and whose normal work it is to investigate complaints about supplies and shortages of consumer goods. I understand that complaints of the quality of some of the felt base floor covering being sold have been made by customers to retailers.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that the result of these inquiries will be quite valueless since the ingredients for the making up of floor coverings and linoleum are all in very short supply?

I appreciate that fact, but it is valuable to know the results of what is being manufactured.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any changes, in view of the coal crisis, have been made in the allocation of industrial production as between goods for export and the home market; and what effect it can be estimated that such cuts as have been necessary will have on long-term contracts abroad.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Members for St. Ives (Mr. Beechman) and Eddisbury (Sir J. Barlow) on Tuesday last.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the opinion is gaining ground in the country that his present policy of "exports come what may" is driving the people of this country into abject poverty, and will he look with a friendly eye on the generous offers now being made in the United States and Dominions to help us in our hour of need?

I cannot agree with the analysis of the noble Lord with regard to the effect of the policy which has so far been pursued. Perhaps he will wait until he sees the Paper on Economic Policy before he makes further similar observations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of baby linen and small children's clothes in the city of Aberdeen; and if he will increase the supply of these commodities, which are badly needed during the winter, and so alter the points system as to make them available to the public.

Every effort is being made still further to increase the production of baby linen and small children's clothes, and to keep pace with the steadily rising demand. I have no information that the position in Aberdeen is more difficult than elsewhere or that present pointings prevent the public from buying the supplies which are available.

In fixing points for clothing, particularly children's clothing, will my right hon. and learned Friend have regard to the winter climate on the North-East Coast of Scotland?

That is one of the matters to which we have regard.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Brighton shops are so poorly stocked with youths' and boys' outerwear; and how soon can they expect supplies to be improved.

I attribute the shortage, which is confined to the better quality outerwear of the school uniform type, to the return of many schools to Brighton. I hope that some further supplies will reach the shops very soon and that, despite production hold-ups, the position will have eased before the next school term.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that this case would not have come to his notice without agitation from the town of Brighton and, in the circumstances, has he not somebody in his Department who watches over these matters?

Certainly, but one cannot have sufficient people to watch every area all the time.

Is any concession which is made to Brighton being extended to other parts of the country?

This is a special question because a number of schools which moved from Brighton have now returned there Therefore, there is a much larger school population.

Are we to understand that whenever we want a thing we have got to agitate before we can get it?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that London booksellers are now charging to students for secondhand hooks two or three times the new price; whether he is aware of the hardship thus being imposed upon students; and whether he will, therefore, allocate increased supplies of paper to the publishing trade for printing books essential to university students for the purpose of passing their examinations.

I am aware that the prices of secondhand books are high, but it has not been found possible to make them subject to price control As regards the last part of the Question, book publishers are at present allocated 90 per cent of their prewar consumption of paper; in addition, there is a special, though limited, reserve from which allocations are made for important books for which paper would not otherwise be available. While there is a shortage of educational books, this is due, in general, to a shortage of printing and binding capacity rather than to lack of paper.

Is the Minister aware that students are being examined with text books of which they cannot obtain copies, and will he agree that that is an impossible situation? Also, in view of the fact that the number of students has increased since before the war, will he not agree that prewar standards are not a good guide?

I quite appreciate the difficulty as regards the shortage of books, and the only thing to do is to borrow one if one cannot buy one.

Be sure to return it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many anonymous letters are, on average, received each month by his Department about rationing offences being committed by named individuals; and what action his Department takes over such anonymous communications.

About 200 such letters are received each month and, where they appear to be of substance, the allegations are investigated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the reason for the shortage of clothing workers in the utility side of the clothing industry compared with the abundance of labour on the non-utility side, in view of the fact that no more than 16 per cent. of the production of cloth for the home market is distributed for non-utility manufacture; how this distribution takes place; and what check and control his Department maintains upon it.

The labour force engaged in the production of utility clothing is in general adequate, having regard to the limited supplies of utility cloth and linings available. The relative proportion of utility and non-utility cloth is planned at the production stage and the results of the planning are checked at frequent intervals. The distribution of both utility and non-utility cloth to the makers-up is left to the trade who supply it against coupons.

Does not the Minister agree that as, apparently, far more than 16 per cent. of the output goes to the non-utility producing firms, this is a case for ensuring that all clothing is utility so that the labour goes into the right channels?

No, I am afraid I cannot agree.

Does the Minister tell the House that there is adequate labour in the spinning industry?

No, I have not said that. We are dealing with the making-up trade for clothing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he is making arrangements to give priority to coalminers in the allocation of consumer goods.

Manufacturers and wholesalers were asked last autumn to increase supplies of unrationed household textiles and other household goods to the main mining areas, and these areas have also received preference in the distribution of Government surplus clothing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why His Majesty's Government have declined the offer of the Soviet Government to participate in the Leipzig fair.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Ramsden Committee, official participation at trade fairs overseas is now undertaken only in exceptional circumstances, and there has been no such participation since the Committee's report was laid before this House last March. So far as commercial participation is concerned, we have only recently learnt that the Leipzig fair is to be open this year to firms from outside Germany and, as the opening date is 4th March, it would scarcely be possible for firms in this country to organise exhibits in time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the special difficulty in obtaining children's Wellington boots experienced by parents living in remote rural areas who are unable to pay frequent visits to shops in search of these scarce goods; and if, in view of the greater need for such boots in muddy country lanes than in urban streets, he will endeavour to make special arrangements to meet this need.

When supplies of children's Wellingtons improved sufficiently to allow the dropping of formal priority schemes, the trade were asked to pay special attention to the needs of rural areas. I believe that this arrangement has proved generally satisfactory, but I will certainly look into any special cases which my hon. Friend will send to me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the list of countries to which chocolate and sugar confectionery is permitted for export during the first six months of 1947 contains dollar paying countries.

No, Sir, but the matter is being reviewed.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that manufacturers are being asked to deliver to the United States and Canada, while imports are authorised from the same places, and will he consult with the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to whether this conforms to his dollar policy?

There are other considerations as regards exporting foodstuffs when this country is short of food.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many dollars have been allocated for the importation of women's leather shoes from Canada and the U.S.A.; whether a ceiling price has been fixed to prevent luxury shoes being imported; and why these dollars cannot be used for purchasing either hides and skin, or leather, so as to provide greater employment and more footwear in this country.

The value of imports of women's leather shoes from the United States and Canada during 1947 is not expected to exceed £130,000 or approximately 520,000 dollars. A reasonable average price has been agreed with both countries for the bulk of these shoes, although a small proportion will be admitted without any restriction in order that the best of style and design may be available to stimulate our production. These imports do not prejudice our purchases of hides and leather, additional quantities of which are also being imported so as to increase our leather supplies as far as possible.

Will the bulk of those shoes have to come within the utility specifications, and will they have to be sold within the maximum utility prices?

No, they cannot because the type of manufacture is different. Therefore, they cannot conform to the utility specification but, as I have said, reasonable prices have been fixed for the bulk of them.

Is the President of the Board of Trade not overlooking the recommendations of the working party which enjoined that any minimum quality standards imposed upon the domestic industry should be correspondingly imposed upon imported footwear?

We are doing that, and that is why I say arrangements are being made as to quota and price.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state in detail the values of goods imported from, and exported to, Italy during the year 1946.

A considerable amount of information about our trade with Italy is contained in the Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation. I will send the hon. Member the particulars that were published in the Accounts for December, 1946.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that we are importing a certain amount of manufactured goods from Italy, which include very expensive silk clothing, and will he look into this matter to see whether this country still needs Italian silk clothing?

I will certainly look into any matter which the hon. Member wishes to raise, but if he will look at the figures I think he will be satisfied with what is being done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the countries from which pineapples were imported during 1946, indicating the respective values from each country.

Total imports of pineapples in 1946 amounted to £153,000, of which all but £1,000 come from the Azores.

Does the Minister think it was essential for this country to import pineapples at a cost of £153,000, in view of the fact that, though I. too, am a lover of fruit, I am not able to afford the price of pineapples at 20s. each? Will he restrict the imports of these pineapples?

Quite a number of pineapples, I understand, have been sold off barrows to people who are not very rich people; and they do give some variety to the diet.

Does the Minister disagree that pineapples are being sold at 20s. each? Does he really think the working class can buy them at that price?

I am afraid I have not seen any at that price.

The right hon. and learned Gentleman should ask his wife.

In any case, it is a question for the Minister of Food.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that the information services at the disposal of the Government took adequate measures during December and January to prepare the public for the difficulties that would arise out of the fuel shortage, even in the event of favourable weather conditions; and what steps he proposes to take to strengthen these services.

Ample warning of the danger of a coal shortage arising this winter, and the consequences of such shortage on industry and the domestic consumer, were given well in advance of December and January; my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power recapitulated some of the warnings given during the Debates in this House on 7th February and 10th February. In January when it became necessary to restrict supplies of coal to industry and to introduce the Fuel Allocation Scheme, my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Fuel and Power held a Press conference on r3th January at which the situation arising out of the fuel shortage and the need for fuel economy was fully explained.

Surely my right hon. Friend agrees that the public did not realise how serious the situation was, nor did they realise the absolute necessity for saving the maximum amount of fuel in their own homes? Does not that mean that the Government information services need strengthening so that people can be fully informed of these things before they happen?

There have been criticisms in this House that there are too many people in the information services.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was not the information services which were at fault, but that it was a case of the inefficiency of the Minister of Fuel and Power and of the Government?

Will my right hon. Friend consider reviving and filling the office of Minister of Information so that the Government's case will not go by default, as it has done, as a. result of the Opposition Press activities?

asked the Prune Minister what co-ordinating machinery exists between the Minister of Fuel and Power, the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Supply; and whether some explanatory statement will be made showing the Government's comprehensive plan to clarify the future position, and to get industry again into full operation.

In order to deal with urgent inquiries about the application of the recent restrictions on the supply of electricity to industry a special committee, with representatives of all the Departments concerned, has been in daily session, and I myself preside over a committee of Ministers which keeps the general situation under review. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made to the House yesterday.

Is the Prime Minister aware that it is never too late nor too early to speak the truth—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."] There was nothing in that remark which was discourteous. Hon. Members have not understood what I am saying. I am asking whether the Prime Minister is not aware of that. Would it not be better for the Government to take the full blame for all that has happened, rather than put it all on the shoulders of one Minister?

There is no suggestion on this side of the House that everything should be blamed on or put on the shoulders of one Minister. He is not responsible for the weather.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give special consideration to the issue of labour permits to Italian citizens who are married to women of British birth, and whose wives cannot leave this country for domestic and compassionate reasons.

Sympathetic consideration is given to these cases.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the signing of the peace treaties and the manpower shortage, he expects, shortly, to be able to announce a further substantial acceleration of demobilisation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the "Statement Relating to Defence," Cmd. 7042, which has just been presented to Parliament.

But is not my right hon. Friend aware of the deep concern caused by that statement, and the announcement in it that more than a million men will still be in the Forces at the end of March, 1948; can he not say anything further; and is he bringing constant pressure on the Service Departments and on the Foreign Secretary, from his particular point of view?

I cannot say anything further than what is contained in the statement itself. Surely, the hon. Member does not want an opinion from me?

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-Servicemen in receipt of disability pensions are unemployed; and how many of these are in receipt of unemployment allowances.

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available. The total number of ex-Servicemen on the Disabled Persons Register who were unemployed at 20th January was 43,819.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied with the results achieved by the recent exhibition in Oxford Street, which showed the disabled at work.

Yes, Sir. The exhibition was open from 8th January to 1st February and, despite the inclement weather, was seen by 62,786 visitors, including large numbers of employers. The object of the exhibition was to bring home to the public, and particularly to employers, what is being done to re-establish disabled persons in useful employment; and I am convinced that it was successful. So much so, that I would like to take this opportunity of appealing to all employers and managements to give the disabled every chance to use their gifts, and to show that they can hold their place in industry alongside their able-bodied fellow workers.

Is not it a fact that for a long period of years the employers of this country have made every possible effort to provide work for men and women in the category to which he has just referred?

I will be fair. A great number have, but a great number have not. I must say, since the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act has been passed there has been a very genuine effort on the part of employers.

Will the Minister indicate whether it is the intention to extend this exhibition to the provinces?

We will have a look at it as soon as the better weather comes, to see if we can do anything.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some employers are unable to secure sufficient disabled trainees; and is he satisfied that the arrangements are sufficiently satisfactory to enable employers to obtain the services of these men?

I am totally unaware of the first part of my hon. Friend's question. If he will give me any instances of employers who have been unable to get the services of disabled workers we will take it up. As for training facilities, I am satisfied they are quite adequate.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Government representatives there are at present in Germany interviewing displaced persons with a view to placing them in employment in this country; how long the Government's representatives have been in Germany; and how many displaced persons they have so far found suitable for employment in this country.

Under the scheme for recruiting displaced persons for hospital domestic work, hitherto in force, two officers of my Department have been engaged in interviewing displaced persons since September, 1946. One thousand three hundred and seventy-two women recruited under this scheme have already started work in British sanatoria and hospitals, and several hundreds more, who have been passed as suitable, will be brought here as soon as possible. The inflow is being stepped up by some hundreds a week, and there are prospects of the demand being satisfied at an early date. The organisation for classifying and selecting displaced persons for employment in this country, to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister referred on 18th February in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. M. Lindsay), is being set up, and officers of my Department will be allocated for the purpose.

Will their power be limited to interviewing, or will they have additional powers of recruitment?

Under the new scheme they will be given power to find out the capacity and to bring persons over here, if there is available employment for which they are suited without further delay.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many aliens there are now in this country who are forbidden to work owing to the terms of their entry permits, imposed by the Home Office; and when he is considering the question of bringing in aliens for permanent employment, will he consider whether the restrictions upon those already here may not now be reconsidered?

I could not give the information asked for in the first part of the question. I certainly give the undertaking asked for in the second part.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are in our Colonies, notably in Malta, a number of people who are unemployed who would like to come to this country; and would he consult with the Colonial Secretary before proceeding, in order to take people from those countries first?

That is an entirely different question. I think I have answered very fully the Question put to me.

asked the Minister of Labour if it is intended to modify the terms of the Control of Engagement Orders, in view of the changes in the age of call-up of men to His Majesty's Forces which have been in operation since the beginning of this year.

Yes, Sir. I have made an order, with effect from 24th February, abolishing all control of engagement except in relation to agriculture, coal-mining and building and civil engineering, in which industries the existing control of engagement continues unchanged.

asked the Minister of Labour if the Railway Clerks' Association was represented at the National Joint Advisory Council meeting which issued the statement in Cmd. No. 7018; and if he will make a statement on the association's demands for a 35-hour week and £1 wage increase.

The statement to which the hon. Member refers was issued by the Government, but with the endorsement of both sides of the National Joint Advisory Council, which consist respectively of members representing the Trades Union Congress and the British Employers' Confederation. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No, Sir."

Does the Minister think that in our present economic crisis the country can afford a 35-hour week?

It is not a matter of what I think. [HON. MEMBERS: "0h."] If negotiations are going on between a trade union and employers it would be quite wrong for the Minister of Labour, who ultimately may be called upon to negotiate between the two parties, to say what he thinks.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House that the claim represents an effort to introduce order where chaos now prevails, and is in respect of the hours of employment of clerical and administrative workers in the railway services of this country, which have resulted in huge withdrawals from the services?

asked the Minister of Labour when he now expects to publish notices of the Draft Order and permanent schemes of decasualisation under the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act. 1946.

I expect that the prepartion of the final draft will be completed by the end of this week. Actual publication may, however, be delayed, as the process of duplication of the necessary number of copies depends on electric current which is subject to the current cuts. If these cuts continue, a period of about a fortnight will be required for duplication.

Does my right hon. Friend anticipate there will be any difficulty in bringing the permanent scheme into operation by the date mentioned in the Act, namely, 1st July of this year?

No, Sir. I think we can keep to that date. We have had informal conversations with both sides of the industry, and with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport. I think we have prepared a scheme which will not give rise to many objections; at any rate, we hope so. We will keep that in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the figures for Post Office Savings Bank withdrawals for the past six months; and whether these are bigger than the deposits.

These figures have already been published by the National Savings Committee; I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No, Sir."

Can the Chancellor say whether he contemplates any reduction in the rate of interest?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a Question on that.

Has there been any marked increase in cashments during the past fortnight, since the severe increase in the number of unemployed?

I think that question might be put down. As a matter of fact, it is very good to see how the national savings have kept up, in spite of all the circumstances.

In spite of the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what articles of food and other commodities are not included in the £364,000,000 subsidy; and what is their respective cost to the taxpayer.

Utility clothing, £14,500,000; and leather, £17,500,000.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer give a clear statement as to what extent the taxpayers are subsidising the food prices, and to what extent the purchasing power of the pound sterling is being upheld by the Government?