asked the Secretary of State for War why Service railway trains have crashed through the level crossing gates across the public highway at Arncott Depot, near Bicester, four times in the last few months; what is wrong with the signalling system; what is the total cost of the damage; whether any people have been injured or killed; and what steps have been taken to stop this recurring.

I understand that there have been three accidents in the last six months at the five road crossings in this depot. In one case a train hit a gate that had not been properly closed and damage to the extent of £2 was caused. In the second incident an engine and wagon hit a Utility truck which ignored a signal at the crossing and was damaged beyond repair: the cost was £167. One officer and one other rank in the truck were slightly injured. In the third accident some wagons got out of control during shunting operations and hit the crossing gates, damaging them to the extent of £2. The rule regarding unprotected crossings is that the engine must stop dead unless signalled over the road by an authorised person. Gates, however, are now installed at four of the crossings and are being hung at the fifth.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the recent rioting and anti-British feeling in Padua; and to what extent it was due to excessive speeding by G.H.Q. military vehicles.

There is little that I can at this date usefully add to the communique issued at the time of the incidents to the Press, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy. I would like, however, to emphasise that I am satisfied that there is no evidence whatever to indicate that the incident in Padua on 10th December which gave rise to the demonstrations was due to exces- sive speeding or careless driving. The demonstrations arose from a variety of causes, in which economic and political factors were included. Stringent instructions about careful driving have always been in force in Italy, and the Supreme Allied Commander has made all commanding officers personally responsible for the maintenance of the highest standard of driving and road courtesy in their units.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the 3,000 British troops about to leave Japan, and previously understood to haw been returning to England, are now being sent to Malaya.

There have never been any grounds for supposing that the British troops being withdrawn from Japan would return to the United Kingdom. They are in fact going to Malaya

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will immediately review the sentences passed by court martial on the three corporals at Port Said.

The sentences on the three corporals, which I understand were mitigated before being confirmed, will be reviewed in the usual way at intervals of not more than six months and I see no reason to interfere with the normal procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will assure the House that the three British corporals found guilty at Port Said last month of conspiracy to cause a mutiny had every opportunity of being represented by civil counsel.

Yes, Sir, I can give that assurance.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many petitions he has received with reference to Corporal Stannard, connected with the Port Said incident; how many signatures were contained on these petitions; and what national or local bodies have forwarded petitions.

I can only trace the receipt of two petitions regarding Corporal Stannard, which have just been received and which contain a large number of signatures, not yet counted.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether men who were released from the C.M.P. to joint the Palestine Police, and who have now resigned from the latter force, have their period of service in Palestine counted towards their Army Class A release; and whether such men who are still in Class W (T) of the Reserve are entitled to clothing coupons.

Service in the Palestine Police is reckonable for age and service grouping in the case of those men who are subsequently recalled to the Army after the end of their employment with the Palestine Police. When these men return home on leave at the end of their police service they can obtain, provided they establish their need, a few coupons for essential warm clothing. After that their treatment depends on whether they are rejoining the Army or not.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of cases of venereal disease notified and treated among British troops in Berlin and in the British zone of Germany during each quarter of the past year; and what percentage this represents.

I have not immediately available the separate figures for Berlin but I am obtaining them and will send them to my hon. Friend. The figures for the British zone I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will release any surplus diesel generators to help industry during the present crisis, either on loan, hire or by other arrangements.

All our surpluses have been declared and our remaining stocks are at the disposal of the Board of Trade for loan in vital cases in consultation with my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 240 civilian lorry drivers, brought to London for some public purpose, are, under arrangements made by Headquarters London District, occupying two floors of the Great Central Hotel, which floors normally accommodate 700 soldiers; that these drivers have expressed themselves as dissatisfied with Army rations so that special steps have had to be taken to cater for them: and what is the expense to the public of the board and lodgings of these men as compared with a similar number of Service personnel.

The hon. and gallant Member has been misinformed. No such arrangements have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for War if steps will be taken to prevent the disclosure to the daily Press of the names of court-martialled Army deserters who have voluntarily responded to the Government's recent appeal to surrender

Courts martial are open courts and I could not, therefore, even if I wished, take steps to prevent the publication of the names of men who appear before such courts.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the claim of Mr. C. N. Christou, Heraklion, Crete, in respect of provisions supplied to British troops in Heraklion in 1941, regarding which the hon. Member for Newcastle Central wrote to his Department on 28th November, 1946, will be met; whether he will state the procedure which is followed for the settlement of claims by Greek civilians for services rendered to the British Army in 1941 and subsequently; and how many of these claims are now outstanding and still under consideration by his Department.

Claims by Greek civilians for services rendered to British troops in Greece and Crete are dealt with by the British Military Authorities locally, and no detailed information regarding them is available in the War Office. Some of the claims which arose in 1941 were paid during the enemy occupation from British funds placed at the disposal of the Greek Ministry of Finance and the American Legation before the British Forces were evacuated. Later, the outstanding debts were virtually extinguished by the provision of a Greek stabilisation law. Despite this fact, authority was given to the local military authorities in 1946 to meet, on a purely ex gratiabasis, such of the outstanding claims as could be reasonably substantiated. Settlement of outstanding claims has been delayed by the necessity for ascertaining which claims have already been met by the Greek Ministry of Finance and the American Legation, but investigation is proceeding as quickly as possible. The local military authorities have already been asked for a report on the particular case of Mr. Christou, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend on receipt of a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will immediately review the sentences passed by court-martial on the men concerned in the "Empress of Scotland" incident.

Nine N.C.Os. concerned in this incident were found guilty by a General Court-Martial. They were all reduced to the ranks and seven were awarded six months' detention which was, however, remitted. One was awarded one year's detention, of which six months were remitted, and the remaining N.C.O. was awarded three years' penal servitude. The outstanding sentences will be periodically reviewed in the usual way and I see no reason for interfering with the normal procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now state the result of his inquiries into the case of 14574803 Rifleman Pentland, 2nd K.R.R.C., M.E.L.F., application for whose temporary compassionate release, in order to help his invalid father in his coal distribution business, was made by the hon. Member for Newcastle, Central, on 17th December, 1946, 15th January, 1947, and 28th January. 1947.

My hon. Friend will by now have heard that Rifleman Pentland's indefinite compassionate release has been authorised, subject to his being available.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men, other than Regular soldiers, now serving in the Army were called up before VE-Day; and how many have been called up since VE-Day.

There are roughly 400,000 men still serving who were called up before VE-Day, but this figure includes a number of men who, while serving have taken on Regular and Short-Service engagements, or have voluntarily deferred their release. Since VE-Day about 270,000 men have been called up. I regret that more accurate figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number, location and areas of the establishments now retained by his Department in the county of Merioneth.

The only changes to the list which I gave in reply to the hon. Member on 9th December are that the Church Hall and the Congregational Chapel at Towyn have been released and that the Recreation Ground and the N.A.A.F.I. hut at the same place are being derequisitioned.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of British civilians killed by prisoner-of-war personnel-driven Service vehicles and whether such prisoners of war have been punished.

Up to 13th January 11 British civilians have been killed in accidents involving vehicles driven by prisoners of war. In 10 cases the drivers were exonerated from blame by the coroner. In the other the coroner added a rider that the prisoner of war had been driving too fast: disciplinary action was taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many prisoners are detained at Camp No. 268, Aston Abbotts; how many prisoners have been repatriated from that camp since the 1st October, 1946; and how many of them are at present working in industrial plants in the district.

On 12th February there were 1,655 prisoners of war in this Camp. 356 have been repatriated since 1st October, 1946. 797 are employed in industrial plants in the district.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German submarine commanders and chief engineers there are detained in camps under British control; and why they have been told that 'they cannot be included, proportionately, amongst the 15,000 prisoners of war who are being repatriated monthly to Germany.

U-Boat commanders and chief engineers are included in the categories, which, under the demilitarisation laws, are subject to special screening. There remain 227 cases still to be dealt with, but of the 133 already screened four only have been excluded under these laws from the general repatriation scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether officers and other ranks of the Regular Services who retire and emigrate to the Dominions are now able to draw their full pensions in the country in which they are domiciled or if he will ensure that this injustice is removed.

Yes, Sir, subject to any tax liability and, in the case of Canada and Newfoundland, to a maximum of 5,000 over four years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the commercial living theatre is suffering heavily from curtailment of performances and the prevailing public depression, and remembering that it is normally so profitable to his Department, he will consider remitting or refunding the entertainments tax during the present emergency.

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered a communication sent from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, embodying a resolution which emphasises the grave outlook of trade and industry, in view of the cumulative effect of the present trend of legislation; and what answer he has returned.

Yes, Sir, and I have replied thanking the Chamber for their letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when local authorities may expect to receive preliminary observations as to methods of valuing sites and other relevant matters; and when he will be in a position to submit an estimate of the yield of such tax at specific rates per £ in urban areas.

I cannot name a date

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider emergency measures to enable local authorities to proceed to taxation of site values at the earliest possible moment.

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the number of football pool firms whose books and relevant accounts have been thoroughly examined by Income Tax officers during the past 12 months; what proportion of the total football pool industry he estimates that number represents; and whether he is satisfied that the examinations made have been adequate;(2) what is the average number of visits paid each year by Income Tax officers to individual amusement arcades and pintable saloons for the purposes of checking the takings of the machines in these establishments; and the number of cases in which such checks have resulted in claims against the proprietors for arrears of tax

If my hon. Friend has any information snowing that profits are not being correctly returned for Income Tax, I shall be glad to have it. But I cannot answer Questions regarding assessment and liability of particular classes of taxpayers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrialists have travelled to Japan from this country since VJ-Day.

Nine British business men have travelled to Japan from this country since V J-Day in an official capacity on behalf of His Majesty's Government, but so far as I am aware, n. official permission has been granted to any industrialists, as such, to enter Japan for their own purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what period it is necessary for an ex-alien company director who has changed his name to print his former name and nationality under his new name; and if he will consider establishing a register of company directors who have changed their names to be made available to the public at Somerset House in order that the real control of companies may more easily be determined.

The obligation to disclose the information referred to in the first part of the Question was imposed by Section 145 of the Companies Act, 1929, on all companies registered since 23rd November, 1916, and continues throughout the existence of the company unless it is expressly exempted by Order of the Board of Trade under the section. The annual return which every company is required to file with the Registrar of Companies includes full information on the matters in question. The return is open to public inspection on the company's file at the Companies Registration Office at Bush House, Kingsway, W.C.1.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Paper Control Board refused to agree to an allocation of paper to the Barrow Printing Company for the publication of an industrial guide for the borough of Barrow-in-Furness.

The application, was refused owing to the shortage of paper. There are however certain stocks of paper in the hands of printers and merchants for the supply of which no licence is necessary and which may be used in such cases as this.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the estimated total of eight hundred and twenty football pools at present operating were parties to the agreement not to exceed 21 per cent. of their prewar paper supply; and whether those football pool firms that have commenced business since the end of the war are affected in any way by the agreement.

While I am not aware of the number of pools at present operating, six of the principal organisations who obtain their paper by licence have given an undertaking not to exceed 2½ per cent. of the paper they used prewar. On the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given him today on a similar subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances football pool forecasting agencies are enabled to acquire paper for the publication of weekly pool guides, pamphlets and handbooks; and what action he proposes to take to prevent the sale of paper to such agencies by printers and other holders of paper supplies.

According to the records of the Paper Control no paper is licensed specifically for the use of any football pool forecasting agencies but they may obtain paper from printers' and merchants' stocks of which the supply is not subject to licence. I do not at present contemplate taking any action to prevent this. Where the guides or the like are periodicals, however, the consumption of paper is restricted by order.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has now considered the Hobhouse Report and will he make a statement on national parks.

My right hon. Friend has not yet received the final report of the Committee, but hopes to receive it before Easter. He will publish the report as soon as possible after its receipt, but printing difficulties arising from the present emergency may cause some delay.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many national parks were recommended by the Dower Report; how many of these are now used by the Services as training areas; to what extent it has been agreed to release these in the near future; and what action he is taking to ensure that such training areas are reduced to the minimum.

Ten National Park areas were recommended in the Dower Report. Land in nine of these areas is still held by the Service Departments, but more than half of the lend so retained has been authorised for release and will be de-requisitioned when the land has been made safe or the necessary works of rehabilitation have been completed. Proposals in respect of the remaining land are now under consideration by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Services' Land Requirements.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will make a statement on the future development of the Laindon-Pitsea area of Essex.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet in a position to make a statement about the future development of the Laindon-Pitsea area, which is under active consideration, but he will do so at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will favourably consider the exclusion of Leysdown Beach, Sheppey, from the bombing practice area.

Leysdown Beach is excluded from the proposed bombing range, but its use for the purpose of an air firing range is under consideration by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Services Land Requirements.

asked the Minister of Town and County Planning what decision has been arrived at in regard to the total acreage of land to be retained in Wales for Service training areas, specifying, if possible, the actual sites.

No decision on this matter can be reached until consideration by the Inter-Departmental Committee of proposals of the Service Departments for the use of land for training purposes is completed after, in appropriate cases, public local inquiry.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will arrange for the inter-departmental inquiries into objections to the retention or acquisition of Welsh land by Service Departments to be held in Wales.

All public inquiries held in connection with proposals of the Service Departments will be held in the localities concerned, whether in England or Wales.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will see to it that persons appointed by him to conduct local inquiries into land retention and acquisition by the Defence Services in Wales have a knowledge of Welsh when such inquiries cover Welsh-speaking areas.

So far as is possible, my right hon. Friend's intention will be to make arrangements as proposed.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in view of the shortage of manpower, the Government will waive the deductions made from retirement pensions under voluntary insurance in the case of those who continue at work after 65 years of age.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind retirement pensions generally under the National Insurance Act, 1946, which are subject to reduction on account of weekly earnings over 20S. in the case of men under the age of 70 and women under the age of 65. I would refer him to the reply given on this matter to the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Butcher) on 28th January, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why Mrs. Nellie Atkinson, 230, Warley Road, Blackpool, who has been eligible for the increased rate of old age pension since 1st October, 1946, has not yet been issued with this increased rate of pension; whether he is aware that applications dated October, 1946, and 2nd January, 1947, the latter made after a personal call on his Department's office in Blackpool, have received no acknowledgment nor decision; and what steps have been taken to avoid such Departmental delays in the future.

A pension book at the increased rate was issued to Mrs. Atkinson on 7th February. A letter dealing more fully with the case was sent to the hon. Member on 10th February.

asked the Minister of National Insurance (1) why family allowance claim No. 1200962, made last August by Mrs. McVeigh, 20, Priestley Square, Birstall, near Leeds, in respect of six dependent children, has not yet been paid; and when he will arrange for this claim to be met;(2) when Mr. Tom Glenton, 654, Bradford Road, Oakenshaw, near Bradford, pension number 46495127, who retired from work in August, 1946, and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Glenton, pension number 32486947, will receive the 26s. and 16s. pensions to which they have been respectively entitled since the first week in October.

Inquiries are being made into these cases and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how soon the regulations governing the position of existing voluntary contributors will be issued, so that voluntary contributors will know exactly what their position will be when the National Insurance Act comes into force.

The regulations dealing with voluntary contributors will form part of the regulations governing the transition from insurance under existing schemes to the new schemes for insured contributors generally. These regulations will necessarily cover a very wide field and I cannot yet say when they will be made. It is my intention, however, to take special steps to ensure that voluntary contributors together with all other existing contributors are informed as fully as possible of their position in relation to the new scheme at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Labour particulars with regard to the employment of the 75,000 persons who will remain covered by the Essential Work Orders after May next.

Twenty-one thousand workers with agricultural executive committees and 7,000 workers with catchment and internal drainage boards will have been withdrawn from the scope of the Essential Work Orders by the end of May. Forty-seven thousand workers in the dock labour industry will cease to be covered by the Essential Work Orders on 1st July, 1947

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and

Industry.						Aberdeen.		Rest of Aberdeen County.
						Men 18–64.	Women 18–59	Men 18–64	Women 18–59.
Building	…	…	…	…	…	148	—	215	—
Civil Engineering Construction			…	…	…	63	—	117	—
Shipbuilding and Ship repairing			…	…	…	149	11	158	12
Hotel, boarding house, restaurant, club, catering, etc., service						77	45	84	50
Goods, transport by road		…	…	…	…	55	1	77	2
Fishing	…	…	…	…	…	117	1	747	1
Shipping service	…	…	…	…	…	75	—	117	—
Bread, biscuits, cakes, etc		…	…	…	…	60	2	69	3
Other food industries	…	…	…	…	…	67	46	207	115
Distributive trades	…	…	…	…	…	256	85	341	96
National Government service			…	…	…	87	35	252	42
Local Government service		…	…	…	…	98	10	112	11
Entertainments, sports, etc			…	…	…	43	5	43	5
Agriculture, etc.	…	…	…	…	…	48	3	120	6
All other industries and services			…	…	…	533	71	768	93
Ex—Service personne1 (not classified by industry)*					…	529	31	676	43
Total:All industries and services			…	…	…	2,405	346	4103	479
* These are ex—Service personnel who have not yet been classified to a particular industry although they may have had some employment since release or discharge from the Forces

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the growing practice in areas where unemployment exists of employers, when advertising vacancies, stipulating that those over 35 need not apply; and if he will take steps to prevent this.

I am not aware that the practice is growing. In some cases it may be appropriate to impose an age limit, particularly when considering new entrants to an industry, but, in general, I agree that it would be undesirable. It my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind perhaps he would let me know.

asked the Minister of Labour what provision has been made in his Department adequately to women are unemployed in the city and county of Aberdeen, respectively; to what trades do they belong; and how many of them are building trades workers.

The following is the answer:meet the demands which will occur in, local employment labour exchanges in the near future.

I presume the hon. Member is referring in his Question to the unemployment situation. My Department have standing emergency arrangements for dealing with large increases in the volume of unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, in table form, the comparative numbers of strikes which occurred during the 16 months following the cessation of the 1914–18 war and the 16 months following the 1939–45 war with Japan; the numbers of working days lost; and the minimum and maximum days duration of the strikes over the two periods

The number of stoppages of, work, arising from industrial disputes, and the number of working days lost were as follow:

Period	Number of Stoppages.	Approximate Number of Working days lost
November, 1918, to February, 1920	1,654	38¾
August, 1945, to November, 1946.	3,117	3¾

In both periods there were many stoppages lasting only one day or less. In the period following the 1914–18 war there were some stoppages which continued for many months before a settlement was arrived at. Since the end of the last war the longest stoppage lasted 17 weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in each of the principal categories comprised under the heading "Entertainment and Sport," at mid-1939 and in November, 1946; and, in particular, the number of professional musicians at the two dates.

The present industrial analysis of employment and, unemployment is based on a system of classification according to the business of the employer, which divides industry and the various services into ire) separate groups, one of which includes all kinds of entertainment and sport. Within each of these groups all workpeople have the same classification and code letters. Accordingly it is not possible to furnish statistics giving the numbers employed in individual occupations or within any other sub-division of a particular group.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons registered as unemployed in the county of Caernarvon in January for 1939, 1946 and 1947; and the total number of persons in insured employment in the county on those dates.

The numbers of unemployed insured persons on the registers of em- ployment exchanges in Caernarvonshire were as follow:

• 16th January, 1939–6,184.
• 14th January, 1946–2,241.
• 13th January, 1947–I,940

Estimates of the numbers of insured persons in employment are available for July only of each year. The estimated numbers in employment in Caernarvonshire in July, 1939, and 1946 were 25,000 and 27,000 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will explain the term "Working-class cost-of-living index" used in table 126, Wages and Prices of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics"; and whether this signifies the official acceptance of two standards of living or assumes the consumption of the workers to be limited to commodities listed in the antiquated standard of assessment

The term "working-class cost-of-living index" in the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" means the official cost of-living index instituted in 1914 on the basis of information about working-class family budgets collected in 1904. The method of calculating the official index figure is described in a Stationery Office publication issued in June, 1944, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the coal shortage, he is now prepared to reconsider the release of all miners now in the Services and willing to return to the pits.

All experienced coalminers in the Forces who could be employed underground have already been given the opportunity of release in Class B.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men between the ages of 21 and 39 years who have been permitted to emigrate to each Dominion respectively, since June 1945.

Since September, 1945, persons leaving the country have not been required to obtain exit permits and I have no information as to the number of men between these ages who have gone independently to the Dominions since June, 1945. Under the special arrangements referred to in my reply to a Question on nth February last by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers)—184 men between 21 and 39 were included in the group of ex-Servicemen who went to Australia recently.

asked the Minister of Ladour details of the training centres now operated by his Department in the West Riding of Yorkshire, giving the capacity and main types of training available at each centre; how many ex-Servicemen have already been trained; how many are awaiting such training; and whether, and how, he proposes extending the existing facilities.

Six Government training centres are now in operation in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The present capacity and main types of training available at each Centre are as follow:

Centre.	Places.	Trades.
Leeds	780	Building Trades, Civil Engineering Maintenance Fitters, Draughtsmen, Electricians, Hair-dressers, Motor Mechanics, Tailors, Type-writer Mechanics, Watch and Clock Repairers, Welders
Maltby	204	Building Trades.
Pontefract	496	Building Trades, Civil Engineering Maintenance Fitters and Black-smiths, Agricultural Fitters and Blacksmiths, Boot and Shoe Repairers, Radio Mechanics
Rotherham	328	Building Trades.
Sherburn in Elmet.	420	Building Trades and Pipe Jointers.
Thorp Arch	596	Building Trades, Pipe Jointers and Timber-men.

1,646 ex-Servicemen have already been trained at these Centres and 712 ex-Servicemen in the West Riding have been accepted and are awaiting allocation to training. The training facilities provided at these Centres must have regard to future employment prospects in the respective occupations and are at present adequate to meet the needs of industry.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now state a revised release programme for the three Services up to June, 1947, and a provisional release programme beyond that date.

Any amplification or modification of the provisional programme of releases from the Forces up to June, 1947, which I issued on 6th November last has been or will be announced by the Service Departments themselves. I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce a provisional programme extending beyond June, 1947.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men called up into each of the three Services in December, 1946, and January. 1947.

The numbers of men called up to the three Services in December, 1946, and, January, 1947, were respectively: Royal Navy I,100 and 1,900; Army 7,600 and 10,800: Royal Air Force 3,600 and 5,000.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young men, other than miners, between the ages of 25 and 30 years, have so far obtained exemption from, or otherwise avoided, National Service; and what steps are being taken to give them an opportunity to serve and to release men at present serving and called up before VE-Day.

It is estimated that the number of fit men now aged 25 and under 30, other than coalminers, who were retained in industry and agriculture because of the vital need of their services and who have not served in the Armed Forces is about 150,000. There were also about 10,000 ministers of religion, conscientious objectors, etc., who were not required to serve in the Forces. As stated in Command Paper 6831, call-up to the Forces in 1947 and 1948 will, with few exceptions be confined to men liable under the National Service Acts who were born in or after 1929, and to those born in 1927 and 1928 who were in process of being called up in December, 1946. It is open to any man, subject to consideration of his individual circumstances if he is employed in coalmining or agriculture, to volunteer for service in His Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that boys who are sent to Glasgow Remand Home are not medically examined when they enter the home; and whether he will take steps to see that such medical attention is given on entering and when the boys are leaving the home.

The Remand Home (Scotland) Rules, 1946, require that each inmate shall be medically examined by a doctor within 24 hours, or, if this is impracticable, within 48 hours after admission; that an inmate awaiting removal to an approved school shall be examined within 48 hours before removal; and that in other cases a medical examination shall take place at any time or times considered necessary by the medical officer or superintendent. I am assured that this rule is fully complied with in the case of the Glasgow Remand Home; and that in addition detention cases are medically examined on the day before discharge.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the leaflet explaining conditions on which grants may he made available under the Hill Farming Act, 1946, and the procedure to be followed in submitting schemes for approval will be published by the Department of Agriculture.

I expect to issue within a few weeks a leaflet explaining the conditions under which grants may be made under the Hill Farming Act, and the pro- cedure to be followed in submitting improvement schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will order an inquiry into the circumstances attending the detention and interrogation of Mr. Malcolm Lyle by the police.

The reports which I have obtained show that the police action was taken in the course of inquiries into certain grave offences which had been reported to them, and that the action resulted in the complete exoneration of Mr. Lyle. This was made clear at the time to Mr. Lyle and his father by the police who also expressed their regret for the inconvenience which the police action had caused. After careful consideration of all the circumstances I am satisfied that there is no ground for any action on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of applications for grants made by local authorities in the Highland counties for regional water supplies to rural areas, and the number for which grants have been given and refused.

Five applications for grant under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Act, 1944, have been made by four local authorities in the Highland counties for regional water supply schemes in their areas. No definite offer of grant has yet been made to any Scottish local authority, but with a view to offering grant on two of the regional schemes submitted, I have asked for certain further information from the two local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that four railwaymen sleeping in railway carriages at Old Oak Common, G.W.R. because they could get no other accommodation, were fined £20 and £3 3s. costs, with an alternative of two months' imprisonment, by the Acton magistrates, on 8th and 22nd January, 1947, for failing to surrender their ration books to the local industrial canteen; and, in view of all the circumstances of this case, if he will remit these fines.

My right hon. Friend has had inquiries made in this case but he regrets that no ground has been disclosed on which he would feel justified in recommending any interference with the penalties which the court thought fit to impose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds, other than business reasons, he can refuse an alien permission to change his name.

Section 7 of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919, as amended by Defence Regulation 20, prohibits an alien from changing his name without obtaining exemption from the Home Secretary, and requires the Home Secretary, before granting an exemption, to be satisfied that the name proposed to be assumed, used or continued is in the circumstances of the case a suitable name.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action must be taken by the British demobilised soldier who wishes to bring his German fiancee to this country; and why the Passport Control Officer for Germany at Berlin now requires, in addition to a statement from a local person of standing that the ex-Serviceman is free to marry and in a position to support his wife, a letter for his fiancee stating that he will marry her within six weeks of her arrival in this country, a statement on oath that he is free to marry and a copy of his birth certificate.

The recognised procedure for a British subject ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom who wishes to arrange for his German fiancee to come here from Germany to marry him is for him to advise her to apply to the British Pass-port Control Officer in Berlin for a visa for the journey. It will save time if he sends her also a letter giving his nationality and full personal particulars, stating where he is ordinarily resident and whether he is free to marry and intends to marry her as soon as she arrives. Corroborative evidence that he is free to marry should if possible be enclosed in the form of a letter from a clergyman or other responsible person to whom he is well known. I understand that the Passport Control Officer, Berlin, has recently found it advisable to take special precautions in dealing with such applications because a number were supported by statements which proved to be false. I am communicating with him about the particular case which my hon. Friend has been good enough to bring to my notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is taking any steps to improve the screening of German prisoners in this country.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the regulations for combating venereal diseases, now in operation in Berlin, were agreed to by each of the military authorities in Berlin; whether similar regulations exist for all or any part of the British zone of Germany; approximately how many women under these regulations have been compulsorily apprehended; whether there is discrimination in the application of these regulations between German and other women; and if, in view of the disquiet in respect of these drastic powers, he will reconsider them.

The Berlin Magistrat Ordinance of 28th September, 1945, was approved by each of the military authorities. As I explained in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Mr. Rees-Williams) on 13th February, the practice in the British zone varies from district to district. The regulations, however, both in Berlin and in the zone are in line with German law passed in 1927. The average number of women examined in Berlin during 1946 was about 460 a month. Figures for the zone are not readily available. The regulations are not applied against women of Allied nationality. I am not aware of any disquiet caused by these German regulations except in so far as it has been suggested on the German side that they are not strict enough.

asked the Minister of Defence what special steps have been taken in the past six months in the three Services to ensure the greatest economy in the use of manpower.

Special measures have been adopted by all three Services in recent months to ensure the maximum economy in manpower. I am hoping to deal with this question in the Debate next week on the recently published Defence White Paper.

asked the Minister of Defence how many medical officers there are per 1,000 men in the R.N., Army and the R.A.F., respectively; how many non-specialist medical officers hold specialist posts in these Services; and whether the proportions in South-East Asia are similar to those in other commands.

The numbers of medical officers per 1,000 personnel in each of the three Services are as follow; the figures take into consideration members of the Women's Services, but not families:

	World-wide	S.E. Asia
Royal Navy	3·25	4·4
Army	2·75	2·75
Royal Air Force	3·03	3·9

asked the Minister of Supply whether in view of the large stocks of barbed concertina wire, amounting to 45,000 miles, still held by the War Office and which are rapidly deteriorating, he will consider offering this to farmers and allotment holders in small quantities, free of cost, in view of the relatively heavy expenses of handling and transport.

I understand that the War Office are retaining for maintenance and reserve 28,000 miles of barbed and concertina wire. Of the remainder, the Ministry of Supply has sold for remelting 10,000 miles of concertina wire, which is unsuitable for agricultural purposes, and is at present consulting the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the best method of disposing of some or the whole of the 7,000 miles of galvanised and black barbed wire to farmers.

asked the Minister of Supply the production and consumption of penicillin in the United Kingdom in January; the amount imported and exported during that month; and why the Control of Penicillin (No. 1) Order, 1946, has not been revoked.

225,387 mega units were produced and 85,000 exported. Figures of the quantities distributed to meet demand in January are not yet available, but we are satisfied that there is ample to meet all prescriptions. About 5 mega units were imported for experimental purposes. As regards the second part of the Question, I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that penicillin should be used only under expert supervision, and at his request my right hon. Friend is retaining the Control Orders until such time as other arrangements can he made.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the manufacturers of articles required for agricultural purposes still subject to the Control of Iron and Steel Orders have informed retailers that the prices of such articles cannot be quoted definitely since the price must be that ruling on the date of dispatch; and whether, having regard to the considerable delays in delivery, he will reconsider the necessity of retaining the controls on such materials as fencing, wire-mesh netting, barbed and plain wire, etc.

Maximum prices at the date of dispatch are fixed by Order. There is no evidence that this control is hampering the production of agricultural fencing and I should not, therefore, De justified in removing it whilst the shortage of materials continues.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the mail service to Forces in Hong Kong is now taking five weeks; and if he will expedite delivery.

Under present arrangements letters for the Forces in Hong Kong are in general forwarded by air. The transmission time of the mails has recently averaged about 10 days. If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any letters which have taken five weeks, I will have the matter investigated. Surface mail necessarily takes considerably longer and five weeks is about the minimum time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give the ratio of medical officers to total personnel of the Navy at the close of the war in Europe and at the present time.

The ratio of medical officers to total personnel of the Navy at the close of the war in Europe was approximately 3 per thousand. The present ratio is 3.25 per thousand

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the expression "premises used or appropriated wholly or mainly for residential purposes,'' is intended to include hotels for the purposes of the Electricity (Reduction of Consumption) Order, 1947.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the Electricity (Reduction of Consumption) Order, dated 12th February, 1947, restricts use of electricity produced by private generating plants, which do not consume coal or products of coal; and whether he will issue a general permit to exempt such use from any restriction.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the provisions of the general permit under the Order in question which 1 gave on 14th February—Statutory Rule and Order No. 267 of 1947

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the restrictions imposed by the Rabbits Act, 1939, are in force; and whether the Defence Regulation under which it was within the authority of A.E.Cs. to grant permits to individuals to place steel traps in the open has now been annulled and all permits issued withdrawn.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir," and to the second part "No, Sir."

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of applications which have been made for the review of cases rejected by Pensions Appeal tribunals before 1st August, 1946; how many of such applications have been successful; and whether steps are being taken to expedite the review of the cases outstanding.

In all about 12,800 applications have been received. About 3,800 have been reviewed Departmentally, of which about 550 have been allowed. The Special Review Tribunals have just begun to sit and they have recommended acceptance of about 10 applications. The preparation of cases for the tribunals is both lengthy and difficult and whilst it is my desire that applications should be dealt with as quickly as possible, it will, I am afraid, take a considerable time before they can all be disposed of.

asked the Attorney-General when it is intended to set up a special arbitration tribunal in Scotland

War Pensions (Special Review) Tribunals have already been set up to hear cases throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has been agreed by the authorities in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland that the War Pensions (Special Review) Tribunals set up by the Lord Chancellor in England should hear cases arising in all these countries. The tribunals are already in operation and it is intended that one of them should visit Scotland as soon as a reasonable number of Scottish cases has accumulated.

asked the Minister of Food it he is aware that numbers of farmers in Tyrone and other parts of Northern Ireland are concerned as to how they can dispose of their potato supplies, large quantities of which are in pits on their farms; and if he will devise a scheme for the disposal of the crop now that spring is approaching and the lands must he cleared for tillage.

I am aware that there ate substantial quantities of potatoes on farms in Northern Ireland and am anxious that they shall be shipped in order to increase supplies in Great Britain. Any grower who has not yet made arrangements to move his potatoes should at once approach the Northern Ireland Ministry of Agriculture who act as my agents in this matter.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give figures of the overall production of oatmeal at Scottish mills for November and December, 1946, and January, 1947, respectively.

Statistical returns of oatmeal production cover periods of two weeks and it is not possible therefore to give accurate figures for production during calendar months. Figures of overall production of oatmeal by Scottish mills are available up to 18th January and are as follow:

4 weeks ended
1946	Tons
23rd November	10,575
21st December	10,262
1947
18th January	8,754