asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he is aware that several tenants of the 75 aluminium houses recently erected in Leven, Fifeshire, have lodged complaints to the effect that the houses are damp, causing wire mattresses to rust, hair and wool mattresses and blankets to become so wet that they have to be dried several times a day and furniture and curtains to become mouldy; that recent efforts to deal with these conditions have proved useless; why no representative of the Department of Health has visited the houses, in view of the danger to health of children and adults; and what steps he is now taking in the matter.

I have obtained a report on the condition of the houses on this site. It is the case that dampness has occurred in some of the houses, due partly to leakages but mainly to condensation. The Ministry of Supply have arranged for certain immediate repairs to be carried out and will keep the houses under observation to ascertain what further action is necessary. A special report which I have had from one of my medical officers affords no evidence that the condition of the houses has had any adverse effect on the health of the occupants. I have no reason to think that in general the aluminium house is not proving satisfactory. Such complaints as have been received in individual cases are being attended to as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance he has offered to local authorities with a view to providing alternatives to concrete flooring in houses, in view of the universal objection by local authorities and the people to the prohibition of timber flooring in new housing schemes; and what action he proposes to take where local authorities defy his prohibition and, acting upon high legal advice, proceed to build timber floors where they can do so without exceeding the quota of two standards of timber per house.

I propose to issue shortly some advice to local authorities on suit- able coverings for use with concrete flooring. I regret, however, that during the present acute timber shortage, concrete ground floors must be accepted and any further savings which it is possible to make must be additional to this basic economy. With regard to the latter part of the Question, the amount of two standards per house is not a quota but a maximum, and my Department will authorise only so much timber as is required on the basis that the ground floors are constructed in concrete. Apart from this, before Exchequer contributions are payable the local authority must, in terms of the conditions of grant imposed under the Statute, certify that the houses have been constructed of materials approved by the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that some potential commanding officers are hesitating to consent to serve in the reconstituted T.A. because the terms and conditions of service have not been announced; and whether, in view of the fact that his Department proposes to open recruitment in the near future for all ranks, he will now make a statement concerning the terms and conditions of service of officers and other ranks.

As I stated last week in reply to hon. Members, I had hoped that the pamphlet containing the full statement of conditions of service would have been ready by now. It is at the moment being reproduced and I will place copies in the Library in a day or two.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Class A tradesmen in the Royal Signals in Group 48, who have already served 42 years, are having their demobilisation deferred.

Group 48 is due to be released between 27th March and 21st April. No compulsory deferments, there- fore, can yet have been authorised. I hope that there will be no need for such deferments in Group 48.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in 22 VRD camp and others, English soldiers were granted Christmas leave plus two days extra, while Scots got neither Christmas nor New Year's leave of equivalent period.

In the unit named, men had the option of taking Christmas or New Year leave. Those on Christmas leave were due to return on 29th December and the others to depart on 30th December. However, on the 27th December my Department was asked to delay the return of soldiers on leave to ease the unexpected strain on the railways and consequently men due to return on 29th or 30th December were given two days' extension. At No. 22 V.R.D. the New Year party could not be allowed to leave before the others returned and they were, therefore, sent on leave on 1st January. They received exactly the same leave, including the two extra days, as the Christmas party and everybody in the unit had either Christmas or New Year leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Regular infantry battalions had been put into suspended animation.

Seven Regular infantry battalions have been ordered to go into suspended animation by 1st March, 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the evidence recently given in court by the defendants in the action of Rocke v. Connor and Cundlipp, he is now satisfied that Colonel Rocke was not a paid propagandist of the Italians; and whether Colonel Rocke is now in receipt of his retired pay.

In answer to the first part of the Question, no evidence was given, but the hon. and gallant Member is referred to the statement made in court in the settlement of the action referred to. His Majesty's Government do not dispute the accuracy of that statement. As regards the second part of the Question, the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that certain of the troops stationed at Catterick Camp are compelled to parade twice daily without overcoats even during the present inclement weather; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

On many parades, such as most of those indoors or for physical training or drill, greatcoats are not desirable. No general orders have been issued in Catterick that greatcoats should not be worn for parades other than of the types mentioned and in the absence of particulars of the unit and parades concerned I cannot usefully make further inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give permission for German prisoners of war to attend Combination League football matches when accompanied by English friends.

There would be certain difficulties in carrying out the suggestion made by my hon. Friend but I am examining the point and will let him know what I decide.

asked the Secretary of State for War why officer prisoners of war are not allowed to volunteer for work outside their camps.

Officer prisoners of war are allowed to volunteer for work outside their camps unless this is undesirable for security reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for War in how many cases are commissioned officers of His Majesty's Army employing German prisoners of war as batmen; and whether this has been undertaken with his knowledge and approval.

In prisoner of war camps and working companies German batmen are employed on a recognised scale in place of British troops. There is authority at present for the employment of about 700 such batmen in the United Kingdom, but I cannot say exactly how many are doing this work at the moment.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many ex-Service pensioners have been re-examined during the past six months; and how many have had their pensions reduced as a result of such examinations.

About 124,000 ex-Service pensioners were examined during the six months ending 31st December, 1946. A decision was notified during the same period in slightly under 120,000 cases. In about 52,000 of these cases pension was reduced or terminated.

asked the Minister of Pensions when the hon. Member for North Dorset can expect an answer to his letter of 31st December, concerning Mr. Lowe, 1, St. Leonards Terrace, Blandford, Dorset, who wises to secure a pension.

Investigation of this case has involved two separate periods in a Ministry hospital. I will write to the hon. Member giving the results within a day or two.

asked the Secretary of State for War what provision has been made for compensating former British prisoners of war in Japan for loss of personal belongings, including Japanese currency.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to personal belongings, including currency, confiscated from prisoners of war by the enemy. Compensation for these is the responsibility of the Detaining Power, but, in the circum- stances, ex gratia awards of compensation on a limited scale have been made from Army funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many families and persons have been displaced by requisitioning accommodation in Olpe for 220 officers and other ranks of a Belgian brigade; and why, in order to quarter the rest of it, the eviction from their homes of many German families at Gummersbach was carried out at short notice.

My information is that no families have yet been evicted either at Olpe or Gummersbach to make way for Belgian troops. The exact dispositions of the various units of the Belgian Brigade have still to be finally decided.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider removing an anomaly in the calculation of the means of claimants for the purposes of the old age and blind persons pensions, which anomaly consists in taking the yearly value of the capital value of property owned by these claimants as 5 per cent. after excluding the first £25 in respect of the next £375 and as 10 per cent. in respect of all capital value in excess of the first £400, whereas, in fact, owing to the present cheapness of money the amount actually received by the claimants is well under 5 per cent.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 24th January to the hon. and learned Member for Chester (Mr. Nield).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the hardship caused to British subjects who have lived many years out of this country in not being able to draw the old age pension, unless since their return home they have completed 12 years' residence here; and if he will take steps to remedy this position.

This residence condition applies only to non-contributory pensions and is, I think, reasonable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of dollar exchange involved in the purchase of strawberries from the U.S.A. for the Christmas season; and why dollar exchange is given for the purchase of commodities which are unlikely to reach this country in an edible condition.

£20 sterling. I have no evidence that any of this fruit arrived in bad condition.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the 5 per cent. of our dollar resources, spent during the last six months of 1946 on machinery, is represented by industrial machinery, agricultural machinery and office machines, respectively.

Seventy-eight per cent., 10 per cent. and 12 per cent., respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total annual sum required in order to restore to all ex-civil servants, whose pensions were stabilised in 1935, the amounts by which their pensions, after the coming into force of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1944, and the Pensions (Increase) Bill, now before Parliament, will still fall short of the rates at which they stood before those rates were reduced on account of the fall in the cost of living.

About £40,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement concerning the letter addressed to him by Mr. John Snyder, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, which was released to the Press by the British Treasury on 5th February, concerning the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to their obligations under the financial agreement for the disposal of sterling balances.

I did not receive Mr. Snyder's letter dated 3rst October, 1946, until 27th November, when it was delivered to me personally, by a member of the American Embassy. I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT yesterday the full text of this correspondence, to which have nothing to add.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to help our export trade, he will exempt from Purchase Tax articles imported for re-export.

Such articles are not taxed now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider proclaiming 1st May, 1947, a national holiday, as a mark of esteem for the efforts made by the workers of this country during the war period.

No, Sir, for the reasons which I have already given to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to obtain a true appreciation of our economic position, he will publish an estimate of the value of invisible exports for the year 1946.

Yes, Sir, in the forthcoming White Paper on the Economic Situation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider making some concession in the Stamp Duty payable on articles of clerkship by ex-Servicemen.

I have noted the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion, but he will understand that any question of reduction of taxation is a Budgetary matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been called to the hardship caused by his Department's refusal to reimburse travelling expenses and examination fees to candidates who took their examination prior to 29th July, 1946; that his Department has informed applicants who took the open reconstruction competition for the administrative class of the Civil Service that refusal to pay was due to the work it would entail and not the merit of the matter; and if he will now order the reimbursement of these expenses to such candidates.

I do not consider that any hardship has been inflicted. It was decided to apply the reforms announced by me on 26th July, 1946,. to future cases only, for the reason that a date had to be fixed for the change and that chosen was the appropriate one.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether young men in the Civil Service called up to the Forces are continuing to receive their civil rate of pay when their Service pay is less than what they have been earning.

Yes, Sir. The question whether any change should be made in the present arrangement is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if civil servants already appointed as justices of the peace will be allowed one day's leave every fortnight for the purpose of fulfilling their obligations to the Bench.

A hard and fast line would not be desirable, and the decision in individual cases must rest with the head of the Department concerned. While reasonable facilities are allowed, the officer's official work must have first claim.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an estimate of the value in sterling of the consumer goods designated for export which were not produced during the period 1st to 14th January owing to the shortage of industrial fuel.

No, Sir. I regret that it is not possible to provide such an estimate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what it is estimated will be the loss in production by firms dependent on the steel industry following the 25 per cent. cut in coal allocation to that industry.

Many of the firms dependent on the steel industry for raw materials have their own coal allocations reduced by amounts up to 5o per cent. I do not think that shortage of steel will be the principal cause of loss of production in these firms during the next few weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he is aware of the widespread concern in the British furniture industry over the importation of foreign furniture, especially when non-utility; and what further purchases are proposed.

I am aware of the industry's anxiety in this matter, but the argument that imports of furniture take work away from our own factories rests on the belief that we could buy more timber if we did not buy furniture. This belief is entirely unfounded. We buy all the timber we can get and great care is taken to see that timber purchases are not prejudiced by furniture purchases. I have no evidence that extra timber would be forthcoming if we stopped buying this furniture which the public so badly needs. The amount of non-utility furniture which has been imported is equivalent to less than one day's utility production in this country. We shall make further purchases abroad as and when suitable utility type furniture is offered, but we do not propose at present to make any further bulk purchases of non-utility furniture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that 1, 000,000 each of shirts, ties, sports jackets, flannel trousers and pyjamas are to be diverted from the home trade for the purpose of supplying Servicemen overseas, and that as a consequence, home market supplies will be insufficient to meet civilian requirements; and what action does he propose to take in the matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Members for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) and Ludlow (Lieut.-Colonel Corbett) on 28th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that in 1946 the U.S.A. supplied almost all Japan's imports and bought 67 per cent. of her exports and in order to prevent Japan from recapturing her position in Far Eastern markets, particularly in textiles, and obtaining world monopoly in the supply of silk, he will instruct our representative on the Allied Council for Japan to press for a policy which will avoid this danger to British commerce.

In response to the invitation of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan, His Majesty's Government have indicated the commodities they would be interested to purchase or supply in order to assist him to complete the 1947 import/export programme which he is at present preparing. This programme will then be submitted to the Inter-Allied Trade Board in Washington where the views of His Majesty's Government will be made known through their representative. On the general question of Japanese exports, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend in the House at the end of Questions on 28th October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how he proposes to compensate retailers for the loss of coupons which they have suffered through the operation of his Department's Order, S.R. & 0. No. 1981.

The purpose of this licence, which was issued in response to strong representations from the retail trade, was to reduce stocks of yarns generally by eliminating those of inferior quality. I do not consider that any compensation for the loss of coupons is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reason he has in fact decided to abandon the recognised furniture trade principle that the retail margin is a fixed percentage of the manufacturers' price for utility furniture; and whether his decision was reached in agreement with the trade machinery set up for consultation in such matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether under S.R. & O., Nos. 2122 and 2132, of 1946, the principle of retailers' percentage margins on the sale of utility furniture has been varied; and what is the new basic principle for marginal profit imposed by his Department.

We have not yet reached any final decision on the method which will be adopted in future in fixing distributors' margins on utility furniture. This is one of the matters to be discussed shortly with the trade. In the meantime it became necessary to increase manufacturers' maximum prices for certain models to cover substantial increases in production costs. We were not satisfied that this justified an increase in the distributor's cash margin, which was accordingly kept at the current figure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of barter transactions in postage stamps and cash transactions in the export of postage stamps, respectively, between this country and countries outside the sterling area during the six months ended 31st December, 1946.

The total values were £110,140 and £116,447, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the need for increased exports, he will now permit firms who were not actually exporters in 1938–39 to obtain raw materials for export trade only, as the present practice prevents ex-Servicemen and other new firms from assisting in the export drive.

We are anxious to do all we can to encourage new enterprise in the export field subject to due consideration of the needs of the home consumer and the availability of materials.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why retailers holding stocks of dishcloth cotton are forbidden by his Department to sell it; and if he will authorise its release for sale forthwith.

I do not know of any provision for which the Board of Trade is responsible which forbids retailers to sell dishcloth cotton. If my hon. Friend will give me further information about the problem he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Isle of Ely is not included in the distribution area for Government surplus clothing.

Traders have been asked to send the small quantities of demobilisation clothing which have become available only to the main mining areas and to favour the main mining and industrial areas in the distribution of Government surpluses, because these areas are, in general, less well supplied or in greater need than others. Apart from this, Government surplus clothing is distributed as widely as possible by wholesalers and there is no reason why the Isle of Ely should not be getting its share.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage the distribution overseas of films made by industrial concerns demonstrating the achievements of British industry.

Arrangements for the overseas distribution of officially sponsored industrial films produced by the Central Office of Information, are made through the information officers attached to His Majesty's Embassies and Legations, and through United Kingdom information officers in the Empire. These officers will assist as far as possible with the distribu- tion of industrial films produced privately, provided the quality is high enough and their appeal sufficiently general. To this end it would be helpful if the Overseas Information Division of the Board of Trade could be told of any suitable films which industry has already produced, and given advance information about forthcoming productions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if in view of the fact that laboratory workers are allowed industrial coupons, he will similarly issue coupons to medical students to enable them to purchase the white coats essential for their laboratory work.

Arrangements are already made for medical students to obtain protective clothing and I am satisfied that no additional provision is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made towards filling the post of Chief Administrative Officer to the Tourist, Catering and Holiday Board, by public advertisement.

The officers of the British Tourist and Holidays Board will be appointed by the board itself. I understand that the filling of the principal posts on its staff will be considered by the board at its first meeting tomorrow.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of new private motorcars imported into the United Kingdom direct from the U.S.A., and from the U.S.A. through other countries during the year 1946.

Forty-one new private motorcars were imported direct from the United States last year. No information is available regarding imports through other countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new private motorcars were exported from the United Kingdom to Canada, South Africa, Australia New Zealand, Eire, India, the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories during the year 1946.

The numbers were: Canada 733, South Africa 4,885, Australia 1,317, New Zealand 7,096, Eire 1,466, India 5,430, and 14,990 to all other British countries, including Mandated Territories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the letter, dated 28th January, from the British Federation Master Printers to his Department regarding the communications between the association and his Department before the Partial Census of Production, 1946, for the printing industry was issued; and what answer he has given thereto.

A reply was sent on 31st January, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that boot and shoe distributors are asking for less grained leather footwear and more of the softer calf types; and whether he will arrange for the available hides to be classified and rolled with this end in view.

I am aware that many manufacturers and distributors are anxious for more high grade footwear but there is unfortunately a shortage of the raw material for producing plain leather of the softer calf types. In prewar years about half of the total calf leather, and a much larger proportion of the men's weight calf produced in this country came from Continental raw calf skins, supplies of which are now only obtainable to a very limited extent. We are seeking to obtain additional supplies from all sources but there is a world shortage. Leather manufacturers are only too anxious to produce plain leather of the type demanded by the footwear manufacturers and I am sure that all suitable skins and hides are used for this purpose. The problem is in no way related to the classification of the hides and skins.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether in view of the need for attracting labour to the heavy industries, among such attractions being the amenities provided by the new towns, he will consider, in the process of the planning of the new towns, the allocation of a number of heavy industrial enterprises.

Yes, Sir, Subject to the overriding consideration that the selection of firms to settle there must be such as to secure that the new towns are properly balanced economically and socially, there is no reason to exclude heavy industry from consideration It will, of course, be appreciated that for a variety of reasons heavy industries are normally less readily mobile than others. So far as the new towns are situated in the Greater London area, the introduction of heavy industries would be limited to such enterprises as were already located in the congested central areas of London and were willing to transfer to the new town.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what action he is proposing to take with regard to the area between West Wittering and Pagham Lagoon; and whether he will hold a public inquiry before any denial of access to that area to members of the public.

The Air Ministry requirement to which the hon. Member refers is to be considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Services Land Requirements. If, on examination, it is desired to adhere to the proposal, and there is a substantial body of objection on grounds of public interest, a local inquiry will be held.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why Mrs. Emily Broadhead, 6, Firthcliffe Mount, Liver-sedge, pension number 36515460, whose husband is receiving the 26s. pension, is still only receiving a 10s. pension despite reminders to his Department and to the area assistance officer; and when she will be paid the 16s. pension to which she was entitled as from the first week in October, 1946.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mr. C. J. Roote, 2, Simpson Terrace, Shieldfield, Newcastle-on-Tyne, will receive his new pension book, regarding which the hon. Member for Central Newcastle wrote to the Unemployment Assistance Board, Bentick Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on 3rd December, 1946.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mrs. Annie Louisa Barker, 6o, Westcliffe Road, Cleckheaton, pension number 20394547, will receive the £I 6s. pension to which she has been entitled since the first pay week in October, as advised to his Department on a number of occasions, including 2oth January, in a letter from the hon. Member for Spen Valley.

I am having inquiry made into these cases and will write to my hon. Friends as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mrs. N. Hinchcliffe, Leeds Road, Liversedge, pension number 39515727, will receive the 6s. pension to which she has been entitled since the first pay week in October, as advised to his Department on a number of occasions, including 13th January, in a letter from the hon. Member for Spen Valley.

My hon. Friend will already know from a letter sent to him by my Department on 7th February that a new pension order book at the increased rate has now been handed to Mrs. Hinchcliffe.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the delays that occur in the paying of benefits in some London employment exchanges; and whether he will take steps to ensure that these are paid promptly.

No, Sir, but if the hon. Member will give me details of any cases that have come to his notice, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Labour how much unemployment exists in Aberdeenshire in the milling industry and the industries associated with it; what is the cause of this; and if he will take steps to rectify the position.

Only three persons attached to the milling industry are registered as unemployed at local offices in Aberdeenshire, and the position is not such as to call for any special action by me.

asked the Minister of Labour if grants are made to ex-Servicemen, who are engaged in the building trades, for the purchase of tools for their work; and whether all such men are notified of this grant at the time of demobilisation.

Assistance towards the purchase of a kit of tools may be given to ex-Servicemen who need them for work in a trade where it is the custom for employees to possess their own tools, and who are unable to buy them wholly from their own resources. These arrangements are a later development of the resettlement grants scheme, which is referred to in the pamphlet "For Your Guidance" issued to all men on release. They have been brought to the notice of members of the Forces through the Services' Resettlement and Information Bulletins and through talks and lectures in both home and overseas commands.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the increase or decrease in employed persons not industrially employed which will be caused by the legislation passed in 1946.

I regret that the detailed information required to make such an estimate is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will provide statistics showing the latest position with regard to the number of persons who have been fully employed for less than three days a week in the North-Western district of England; and how these figures compare with those for the rest of the United Kingdom.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an estimate of the number of people employed in various forms of the betting industry.

I regret that the information required to make such an estimate is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour under what heading or description persons engaged in the conduct or service of bookmaking businesses, totalisators or football pools are accounted for in the Appendix on Manpower, to the White Paper Cmd. 7018.

These activities are included under the heading "Entertainment and Sport".

asked the Minister of Labour how many man hours have been lost by the unauthorised Saturday strikes amongst Clydeside shipworkers.

According to the information available, on the four Saturdays from nth January to 1st February inclusive, the number of employees of shipbuilding and ship repairing firms on the Clyde who ceased work varied between 25,000 and 28,000, resulting in a loss of some 500,000 man hours.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 196,000 persons occupied in entertainment and sport are occupied in entertainment and sport, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many craftsmen or other workers have been sent, since July, 1945, to Australia at the taxpayers' expense; and, in view of the shortage of manpower, is it proposed to send any more.

So far 192 ex-Servicemen have gone to Australia under arrangements for assisted migration agreed with the Australian Government, and it is anticipated that about 400 more will sail during the next two or three months. Generally in regard to the last part of the Question I would remind the hon. Member that, as stated in the White Paper "Migration within the British Commonwealth" (Cmd. 6658), it has been decided that, for reasons of broad policy, overseas settlement within the Commonwealth should be encouraged. It is the view of His Majesty's Government that the advantages of migration within the British Commonwealth considerably outweigh the relatively small loss of manpower to this country.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, until all vacancies relating to production have been filled, he will instruct his officials at labour exchanges to suspend directing personnel to jobs which are unconnected with the Government's policy to secure the biggest possible output of food, goods and materials.

No, Sir. The effect of doing as the hon. Member suggests would not prevent the filling of vacancies in nonproductive industries; on the other hand, it would limit the opportunities of my local offices in endeavouring to persuade applicants to take essential jobs in productive industries.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest available figures of men and women industrially insured and unemployed in North Staffordshire, particulars for each town to be shown separately.

I have had the figures extracted and am sending them to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give details separately of the number of industrially insured men and women in North Staffordshire who have been unemployed for more than six months, on a trade and industry basis.

The following table shows, for 9th December, 1946, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of insured persons on the registers of each employment exchange in North Staffordshire who had been continuously unemployed for more than six months:

asked the Minister of Labour whether the normal weekly hours of a civil servant, which are 42 in London and 44 in the provinces, include the luncheon period; and what are the normal hours of duty agreed upon by the National Joint Council for local authorities administrative, professional, technical and clerical services.

The normal weekly hours of civil servants include a luncheon interval. The normal hours agreed upon by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services are 38 per week excluding meals.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as handicapped by disablement.

The number of persons registered as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the 16th December, 1946, was 729,113.

asked the Minister of Labour how many companies have been incorporated under the provisions of Clause 15, (2) of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act; the number of such persons employed by each; and the nature of work upon which they are engaged.

One company, The Disabled Persons Employment Corporation has been incorporated under the provisions of Section 15 (2) of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act. The number of severely disabled persons at present employed by this Corporation is 264. These workpeople are engaged on light assembly of engineering and electrical components, wood work, leather work, cardboard box making, polishing and painting, watch and clock repairs, and rug making.

asked the Minister of Labour whether entries to the universities in October, 1947, are to include a fixed proportion of ex-Servicemen.

It has been agreed with the universities that ex-Servicemen should have the same priority as last year with regard to entry into universities in October, 1947. This does not necessarily imply a fixed proportion of ex-Servicemen; it: means that if there is competition for admission between ex-Servicemen and others, at least 90 per cent. of the available places must be given to the former, provided they are accepted as suitable for admission. It is for the university concerned to decide whether an ex-Service candidate is or is not up to the standard for acceptance.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if his attention has been called to the target set by the U.S.A. for coal export to Europe of 3o to 35 million tons; and if any plan is in process to secure an allocation of this coal for Great Britain.

I am advised that the appropriate United States authorities are examining the possibility of increasing the programme, which is at present about 2,000,000 tons per month, of shipments of U.S. Coal to Europe, but I am not yet aware of any firm target. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many factories and work places were closed down or working only part time as a result of the cut in coal supplies during each week between 1st January and 7th February.

The figures available, how stoppages of work at industrial premises consuming more than 100 tons of coal per annum, resulting from shortage of coal due to all causes. Separate figures for closure r part time working consequential upon the introduction of the revised coal allocation scheme on 201–11 January are not available.The figures are:

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the shortage of raw materials for electrical domestic apparatus and its consequences, particularly in regard to the nation's housing programme; and what action he has taken, or proposes to take, to alleviate the problem.

Despite the shortage of certain raw materials, production of domestic electrical apparatus is adequate to meet essential requirements

asked the Minister of Defence to what extent periods of compassionate leave are added to the man's period of service in the Armed Forces; and what cases there are in which, owing to compassionate leave, a man's release group is altered to his disadvantage.

Compassionate leave is paid leave and counts as normal service in calculating a man's release group. It is normally granted only for short periods. Until 31st December, 1946, when a prolonged absence was necessary on compassionate grounds, temporary release was granted. This was unpaid and did not count towards service for purposes of r.‡-lease. Since that date, cases in which a period of compassionate leave is inadequate may be dealt with by premature release or discharge.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why, after the Red Cross had informed Mr. R. Edwards, 100, Goldstone Road, Hove, that his fiancee, Fraulein Adele Nitzrath of Dortmund-Brackel, Westphalia, British zone, Kreuzweg 85, had received her visa and that on receipt of £8 for her journey she could travel, she has not yet arrived, although the proper authorities have received the money five weeks ago and all his Department's requirements have been fulfilled.

Fraulein Nitzrath left Dortmund on 3rd February and should have sailed from Cuxhaven on 8th February. Owing to an outbreak of diphtheria in Cuxhaven it was not possible for her to leave as planned. It is hoped that she will leave for England on 22nd of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will approach the French Government to secure the return to Germany of prisoners of war held by France.

His Majesty's Government are well aware of the importance of this question and are considering whether an approach can be made to the French Government with a view to their granting to those prisoners of war held by them who were originally captured by British Forces, similar conditions as regards repatriation to those which have been decided upon for German prisoners of war in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate number of doctors, dentists, nurses and other health workers, respectively, who he estimates will be employed in the National Health Service at the end of its first year of operation.

I regret that I cannot, at this stage, give estimates of the number of such persons who will take part in the new service.

asked the Assistant Post-master-General what steps have been taken and what consultations have been held with the local authority with a view to establishing a new telephone exchange in the Yetminster-Sherborne district.

Tenders will be invited in a few weeks for a new telephone exchange building at Yetminster, Sher-borne, to be erected alongside the existing exchange. This proposal has been agreed by the North Dorset Planning Committee and the Dorset County Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many whippings have been ordered at assizes for criminal offences during the last period for which figures are available; and how many such whippings have actually been carried out.

The latest figures available are for 1945, during which year 18 sentences of whipping were passed by assize courts. All these sentences were carried out.