asked the Secretary of State for War when he anticipates removing the Army huts which disfigure Nettlebed Common, Oxfordshire, and which interfere with the amenities; and for what purpose the camp is being used at present.

The two camps at Nettlebed Common, Oxfordshire, are both occupied by units of the Polish Resettlement Corps. I regret, therefore, that I cannot yet state when the huts will be available for dismantling and removal.

Will the Minister give an undertaking that when the Poles go, these huts will be removed and the common restored?

No, Sir, but I will give consideration to the suggestion, and I should think it likely.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that personnel of the Polish military forces now in Palestine who are being evacuated to this country are not permitted to take their dogs with them; and whether, in view of the hardship involved, he will make arrangements to have the present Order, under which all animals belonging to Polish troops must be destroyed before leaving Palestine, withdrawn.

Polish troops are eligible to take part in the Service quarantine scheme, fully set out in Army Council Instruction 1148 of 1945, under which a limited number of dogs can be brought home under Service arrangements. The number of applications, however, under this scheme greatly exceeds the quarantine accommodation available in this country and there is a very long waiting list.

As the Polish Forces, apparently, have so few friends in this country, especially on the benches opposite, would it not be a humane act to allow them to keep those who are really faithful to them?

May I ask whether the hardship mentioned in the Question refers to the dogs or to the Poles?

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Polish troops are stationed in Northern Ireland; and whether members of the Polish Resettlement Corps will be found employment in that part of the United Kingdom.

No Polish troops are stationed in Northern Ireland. The employment of Poles is not a matter for my Department.

Will my right hon. Friend consider enlisting the aid of the hon. Member for Queen's University (Professor Savory) to ensure that Ulster gets a fair share?

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that we in Ulster gave hospitality to thousands of Gibraltarians during the war, and welcomed hundreds of thousands of American and Belgian troops?

asked the Secretary of State for War in what way it is proposed to dispose of the Polish Military Welfare Funds collected from the Polish forces in this country, in view of the gradual dissolution of these forces.

Consideration is being given to the disposal and future administration of these funds.

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that these funds were deducted from the pay of Polish soldiers, and that the men who have returned to Poland have had no benefit so far from these funds?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many times Mr. Justice Lewis's Committee, set up last October to inquire into the court martial system, has met; and how soon a report may be expected from it.

The committee held its tenth meeting on 20th February. There is a great weight of evidence to consider and I cannot say how soon a report is to be expected.

Does my hon. Friend recognise that this is a very serious matter, and that this committee's report is awaited most anxiously?

I regard it as quite as serious as my hon. Friend does, and I have no doubt the committee will take note of what he has said.

Will the Minister ask the committee to try to have the report ready before the Army Annual Bill is introduced?

No, Sir, I should think that would be quite out of the question. The Oliver Committee, which did a somewhat similar job, took four and a half months to report, and the terms of reference in this case are such that I do not think it would be possible to have the report ready when the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the men on the staff of Darua camp, H.B.T.D., Deolali, India Command, have to complete two years' overseas service before qualifying for L.I.A.P. leave, whereas the men of other units enjoy this privilege after 15 months' overseas service; and if he will remove this differentiation.

No fixed period of overseas service is required in India for eligibility for L.I.A.P., but vacancies are allotted on a points basis, as my right hon. Friend explained in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aston (Mr. Wyatt) on 28th January. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that reply.

asked the Secretary of State for War what plans have so far been completed to secure adequate training areas in this country for the new Territorial Army.

It is proposed that, wherever possible, the training of the new Territorial Army should take place on training areas planned for the Regular Army and these, together with specific areas required for the sole use of the Territorial Army are, as previously stated, being considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the Prime Minister will touch on this subject in the statement which he has promised for this afternoon?

I am afraid the hon. Gentleman will have to wait and see.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is most important from the point of view of the Territorial Army to have available training areas sufficiently close to each headquarters area so that a lot of time will not be wasted in travelling during training periods?

Yes, that is one of our biggest problems.

asked the Secretary of State for War why British troops on the day prior to the visit of Press representatives to the camp at Xylotymbu, Cyprus, were ordered to clean up the filth of the camp with their hands as no shovels were available, and why this task was not performed by the Jewish inmates who had made the task necessary.

I have no information on this matter, but have called for a report and will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the lack of a canteen for our troops and the absence of a club for non-commissioned officers in Nicosia, Cyprus, is causing some dissatisfaction; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the situation.

There is a N.A.A.F.I. club for other ranks in Nicosia. I am making inquiries about the details of the accommodation there and will write to my hon. Friend.

is my right hon. Friend aware that there is an officers' club in the centre of the city, while there are no canteen or club facilities for troops or noncommissioned officers; and that the Church of England offered to bring an institute over from Cairo to Nicosia but have been refused facilities?

I have already said there is a N.A.A.F.I. club there, and from my experience N.A.A.F.I. clubs now are very good.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is still delay in the delivery of troops' mail to Cyprus; and if he will take steps to see that our troops in Cyprus are informed of the extent to which this is due to the severe winter weather.

Mails to Cyprus have not been delayed recently until the onset of the bad weather, which has caused interruptions of as much as three days. Information of delays of more than 24 hours is broadcast or signalled to the troops, together with full reasons.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that troops who have written to me from Cyprus complain that mails were delayed for to days, and no reason was given?

I am not aware of that. On the whole, the mail facilities to Cyprus have been very good.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is no garrison cinema for our troops in Nicosia, Cyprus, and that this is causing some dissatisfaction; and what steps he is taking to arrange for films to be shown.

The Army Kinema Corporation has agreed with the industry not to operate cinemas within three miles of public ones that are able to cater for the needs of troops in the vicinity. It is for this reason that there is no garrison cinema at Nicosia.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the only cinemas available in Nicosia are two commercial vermin-ridden cinemas, and that the troops refuse to go to them?

I will look into the point raised by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the shortage of accommodation for officers' families in Malaya; and what steps are being taken to remedy this.

Yes, Sir. Further semi-permanent married quarters in Malaya are being provided as part of the overall accommodation plan for that country. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that married quarters for officers are only one item in a heavy programme for improvements of housing generally in Malaya, which is being energetically carried out with available resources, but which is necessarily limited by labour and material shortages.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many troopships are now used to transport soldiers between this country and India and the Far East; to what extent the type of accommodation, meals and amenities have been improved during the last three months; and what further improvements are contemplated.

An average of 15 troopships are at present employed to transport Servicemen between this country and India and the Far East. During the past three months, the capacity of troopships in service has been reduced, and the majority of the sleeping accommodation thus released converted to extra amenity space. In view of the accelerated rate of release in the next three months, this process of improving amenities at the expense of berths will be considerably slowed down. With a few exceptions, which have been corrected during the voyage, there has been no cause of complaint either as to quantity, quality or preparation of meals. These have been in accordance with the scales laid down in regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that H.M.T. "Eastern Prince" is an unsatisfactory troopship; and when it is proposed to improve the ventilating system and the galley facilities and to ensure effective supervision of the catering service.

I am not aware that the "Eastern Prince" is an unsatisfactory troopship, though her most recent voyage to the Far East did give rise to an unusual number of complaints, which are being investigated. I have so far received no complaints about the homeward bound voyage just completed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport who ordered an inquiry into the conditions of the outward voyage; and will he see that the shocking conditions endured by the passengers who had to undergo that voyage are taken into consideration when he is examining it?

I have already said the complaints are being investigated. I do not agree with the hon. Member that the conditions are shocking. Indeed, there were no complaints on the homeward voyage.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) why the parents of 2888492 Private John Auchterlourie, Cameron Highlanders, have been refused payment of gratuity in respect of their son who was killed in action;

(2) why War Office letter, No. D/133937/W.G.7/Effects, dated 2nd August 1946, was addressed to the parents of the late Private John Auchterlourie, Cameron Highlanders, and not to the Coupar Angus branch of the British Legion who initiated the inquiries.

I am sorry that the War Office reply of 2nd August, 1946, which gave the reasons for refusing payment of war gratuity, was addressed in error to the parents and not to the British Legion who had asked the Department to look into the matter. On 5th October, however, a letter was sent to the Legion explaining why war gratuity was inadmissible, and a further letter dated 29th November, 1946, reiterated the decision and explained fully the grounds on which it was based.

The conditions laid down in the Royal Warrant require a minimum of six months' reckonable service, and any service given before a conviction for desertion is not reckoned unless that service is subsequently restored. Private Auchterlourie did not qualify for restoration of the service which he forfeited as a result of conviction for desertion.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman, first, whether he realises the great distress that was caused to the family of this soldier by this letter being sent to them and not to the British Legion, that being the first they had heard of his being a deserter; and, second, does the second part of his answer mean that in the opinion of the War Office it is more important that a man should serve six months' good conduct to get back his privileges than that he should give his life for his country?

With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, I have expressed the apology of my Department. With regard to the second part, I am administering the Royal Warrant, and if the hon. and gallant Member would like that amended to allow desertion to count for gratuity, we will consider any representations he has to make.

This is a matter of great principle. This was a man who gave his life for his country, and had he lived another six months he would have had all his privileges restored to him. This is so unsatisfactory that I give notice I shall endeavour to raise it on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War the cause of death at Ballykinler Camp, County Down, on 31st December last, of 19094813 Private Turner, of Stalybridge; and why his relatives were not informed of his illness.

Private Turner was admitted to hospital at 2.45 p.m. on 31st December and died less than an hour later from heart failure. Two telegrams, one reporting that he was dangerously ill and the other that he had died, were sent to his next-of-kin on 31st December. I should like to express my sympathy with his relatives, in the sad and sudden loss.

Can my right hon. Friend tell me why, after the family had written and received a reply on 2nd December, the commanding officer wrote, and no other communication was sent, and the last they heard was a letter from their own boy on 8th December that he was all right and these two telegrams which were delivered together?

We had no reason to believe that Private Turner was seriously ill, and after his admission to hospital he died from heart failure, as I have said. We did all we could in those distressing circumstances to inform his relatives.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has given further consideration to the claim made by Mr. A. S. Hill for payment at the rate of 20s. a day in respect of the period of leave granted to him on release from his duties at the special communications unit; and if he will make a statement.

As I explained to my hon. Friend in my letter of 3rd December, 1946, I had given very careful consideration to Mr. Hill's claim but could not accept his contention. Men in his circumstances were quite properly treated in receiving, during release leave, the normal rate of pay of soldiers of their rank and service, and they have no just grounds for claiming pay at special rates during such leave.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Hill, and many others who have been similarly treated in regard to their claims, firmly believe in the validity of their claims? Is he prepared to make a test case of this, by submitting the claim to the Law Officers of the Crown for their observations?

No, Sir. I have given both Mr. Hill and the hon. Member very full facilities for stating their case; and, on the legal advice I have received, I am informed they have no case at all.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg leave to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange, in the event of the death of a soldier away from home, for an escort of at least one soldier when the body is taken home for burial.

At present, if the next-of-kin so desire and arrangements can be made, commanding officers may allow one or two friends of the soldier to attend the funeral, at private expense.

If that is so, why is nothing of that said on the telegram which is sent about funeral arrangements, the price of the coffin and things of that sort?

I do not think the telegram could say that, but I will certainly look into the matter to see whether it is possible to inform the next-of-kin that these arrangements can be made.

How old was this soldier; and was there any connection between the first illness and the second illness, which obviously caused his death?

I think my hon. Friend is referring to a previous Question; this deals with a general principle.

asked the Secretary of State for War if household goods are being supplied to British families in Germany according to the scales mentioned in the pamphlet for the guidance of B.A.O.R. families, including 45 towels for a married officer; and if he will consider revising the booklet.

The pamphlet containing these scales was a provisional one, as indeed was stated in the introduction. A new pamphlet containing the authorised scales will be issued shortly.

While I appreciate that answer, will my right hon. Friend, when revising the pamphlet, consider the distinction which has been made between the married officer and the married other ranker in this instance, which happens to be 45 towels for a married officer and 45 towels for a married other ranker; and is not that quite unfair?

I must say, I quite agree, speaking as a hard pressed civilian, that 45 towels seems a lot for anybody.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause an instruction to be issued to all units of the Army making it clear that all ranks are entitled to write to Members of Parliament without permission from their military superiors.

It is well known throughout the Army that an officer or soldier is permitted to write to his own Member of Parliament. It is, however, most desirable, both in the interests of those who may have complaints and of the Army as a whole, that complaints should, at least in the first instance, be made in the proper and normal way. If this is done they can usually be dealt with far more quickly and efficiently.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some units are still issuing orders prohibiting the writing of letters to Members of Parliament, and that hon. Members of this House continually receive complaints about this? Will he take action that will prevent indiscipline on the part of colonels, as he would in the case of corporals?

Yes, I am aware of that, and I have taken steps to stop that. The hon. Member may or may not know that in the last Parliament I was one of the back bench Members who established this right.

asked the Secretary or State for War what progress he has to report in the preparation of the education scheme for the post war Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to announce the Army education plans for the coming years, in view of the disquieting reports on illiteracy, the paramount needs of trained manpower and the future intake at technical colleges and universities.

I hope to make a comprehensive announcement within the next three weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total strength of the British Army on 31st December, 1946, and its estimated strength on 31st December, 1947, on the basis of the estimates contained in Cmd. 7042.

The strength of the Army on 31st December, 1946, was 896,757, including A.T.S. Exact figures cannot be given at this stage. A provisional estimate is that the strength on 31st December, 1947, will be in the neighbourhood of 660,000, but it clearly depends on a number of factors which cannot yet be resolved.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, having given those provisional figures, also give the provisional release programme, taking the release groups of the Army up to 31st December, 1947?

I do not think that arises on this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Silvertown will have an opportunity of reading the evidence submitted at the court martial of the three non-commissioned officers at Port Said, held in December, and for which application was made on 23rd January last.

As my hon. Friend has recently been informed by letter, the proceedings have been sent back to the Middle East where they would be required in the event of any of the men submitting petitions. I have asked for their return in due course, but I am not prepared to press for their immediate despatch until I am satisfied that they are not required in connection with a petition. When they arrive I will consider letting my hon. Friend see them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable feeling in my constituency about this case, that many resolutions of protest have been made, and numbers of signatures obtained for petitions? Is he also aware that the prevalent impression in my area is, that justice does not appear to have been done in this trial, and that one of the men has been made a scapegoat? Will he see that something is done?

Certainly, Sir, but the matter is not entirely in my hands. I am bound to observe the ordinary machinery of justice, and therefore I am bound to wait to see whether any of these men submit petitions.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say what precedent there is for Members of Parliament expecting to have the right to see court martial proceedings? Surely, in his own Department he has a department concerned with reviewing court martial proceedings? Surely, it is undesirable that Members should have any right to see them?

Courts martial proceedings are open to the public and, therefore, the public have access to them.

In view of the feeling of dissatisfaction there is with this case, and with other courts martial recently, is the right hon. Gentleman considering a complete overhaul of the court martial system?

I should have thought that the hon. Member would have known that there is now a committee, presided over by one of His Majesty's judges, considering that question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the hon. Member for Central Bristol, who has also written to him on this subject, has an opportunity of reading the evidence?

If the hon. Member is interested, no doubt he will.

Are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply to my supplementary question, that any member of the public has the right to ask for any particular court martial proceedings to read?

No, Sir. I did not say that. All that I have said is that I am waiting for those proceedings to arrive here, and that I will consider letting the hon. Member see them.

But why only that hon. Member? If all this sort of information is not to be available to the general public, why limit this to only one hon. Member?

For obvious reasons, I should have thought; because the hon. Member is interested in the particular case of one of his constituents.

It might turn out that lots of people were interested if they knew all about it.

asked the Secretary of State for War the tonnage, by categories and types, of ammunition and explosives removed from the depot in Perthshire since 1st September, 1946; the amount of each category received into the depot in the same period; and the present rate of removal in tons weekly.

I am having the figures prepared and will send them to the hon. Member as soon as they are ready.

Is the Minister aware that there is grave dissatisfaction at the slow rate of progress, and would he expedite this?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would wait until he sees the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for War what measures are in force in each area of the ammunition depot in Perthshire for guarding the ammunition dumps therein by day and by night on week-days and at week-ends; what further measures are proposed to provide the additional protection required by the presence later in the year of hikers, cyclists, picnic parties and holidaymakers in general; and what special precautions are taken to prevent the illicit removal of gelignite or other explosive.

Twenty military personnel are on the average employed on guard duty each day, assisted by 12 civilian watchmen. There are no additional precautions at week-ends during the winter months, but as the hours of daylight lengthen, and improvements in the weather allows hikers and holiday makers to visit the area, the number of guards will be increased on the lines I explained td the hon. Member on 25th June. Such items as gelignite are concentrated into the areas which can be more readily guarded.

Is there not a great danger in not having a guard or patrol on Sundays during the winter?

We are doing our best, not only in this area, but in other areas, but there is a limitation to the manpower at our disposal.

Does "20 military personnel" mean "20 soldiers"?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the total of allied occupation currency issued in lire, marks and francs, respectively, by English authorities.

The issue of allied military lire in Italy was initially a combined Anglo-American responsibility until under an agreement of February, 1946, it was assumed by the Italian Government. Lire currency, mostly Allied military lire, was made available to the various armies operating in Italy. The amount drawn by the British forces is about 75,000 million lire. The British authorities were not, however, as such, separately responsible for the issue. Responsibility for the supplemental francs issued in France was accepted by the French authorities who agreed to make available the currency required by the various Armies. The currency drawn by the British Forces under these arrangements was about 1,200 million francs. I understand from my hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster that about 1,790 million Allied military marks have been issued by the British authorities in Germany.

Will the Minister make a supplementary statement about Austrian schillings, so that we may have the whole picture?

I should want notice of that. This Question deals specifically with lire, marks and francs.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will extend beyond six months the period for which suitable German prisoners of war are allowed to volunteer to remain for work in this country after their normal repatriation dates.

Prisoners of war who have deferred their repatriation for six months may in the fifth month defer for a further period, and so on each time.

How many prisoners have taken advantage of this offer?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make arrangements to enable German prisoners to obtain shaving materials, cigarettes, etc., at times when they draw no pay owing to illness or inability to work through no fault of their own.

German prisoners of war who are unable to work are not necessarily without means to make canteen purchases as they may well have credits existing in their pay accounts from previous employment. Those who have no credits available for canteen purchases may be issued with items which are essential to the maintenance of health and hygiene such as shaving materials or tooth paste. The cost of such issues is recoverable from the prisoners if and when their accounts are again in credit. Cigarettes are not issued in such circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the conditions at the prisoner-of-war camp at Ditchingham, Suffolk, are up to standard.

Yes, Sir, except that at a recent inspection the camp was found to be slightly overcrowded. This matter is being dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in those cases where there is proof that German civilians helped our own prisoners of war, the same rewards and privileges can be extended to them as in the case of Italians; and whether, in the interests of justice, he will arrange to adopt in Germany the same means of discovering those who assisted the allied cause as is operated in Italy.

I am not prepared to extend to Germany, where there were very few active helpers, the procedure adopted in Italy, where there were many. In those cases that have come to light in Germany, preferential treatment has been given where justified.

I am afraid I did not hear the Secretary of State's reply. May I ask him whether he Swill do all he can to iron out the discrimination between Italian civilians and German civilians, where they have adopted the same attitude towards British prisoners of war?

Yes, Sir; but I am bound to say that there were thousands of Italians who helped our men actively in Italy, but very few Germans who helped our men in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement about the service rendered by Poles and prisoners of war in helping to resolve the fuel crisis.

As arrangements are not made centrally I have no figures readily available of the number of Polish troops or prisoners of war who have been helping on the roads and railways during the fuel crisis, but I am sure that my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Fuel and Power and Transport join in welcoming the valuable assistance that has been and is being given from these services.

asked the Secretary of State for War, how many German admirals and generals are detained in this country as prisoners of war.

Three field-marshals, 164 generals, and 17 admirals, Sir.

How many of these men have been returned to Germany since the end of the war? What does the right hon. Gentleman intend to do with those now in this country?

Put them down the mines.

I am only the guardian of these officers. I think that the latter part of the supplementary question should be addressed to somebody else.

Who is responsible for these admirals and generals?

All these prisoners of war are now in the process of being screened by my hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

In view of the most unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible time.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what provision of the Geneva Convention German prisoners of war are still detained in this country.

The Geneva Convention is not the authority for the detention of prisoners of war, but deals with their conditions and treatment while detained. Article 75 of the Convention, however, does include mention of the liberation and return of prisoners of war, and on this point I have nothing to add to the reply given on 8th May, 1946, to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State.

Yes, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the whole of the Nuremberg trial was based on the theory that the Control Commission was the legal Government of Germany; that under Article 75 of the Geneva Convention, we must enter into communication with the existing Government of a State for the immediate return of its subjects we hold prisoners of war; and that we ought, therefore, to return the German prisoners of war to the C.C.G.?

That seems to me to be a very involved legal point. I have given the answer to the Question my hon. Friend put on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officer prisoners of war at No. 20 Prisoner-of-War Camp, Llanover Park, have volunteered for work outside the camp; how many are actually working; and how many of those who have volunteered, but are not working, are graded C.

Between 60 and 70 officer prisoners of war at this camp have volunteered for work outside the camp, and they are all working.

asked the Prime Minister if he will hold a public inquiry into restrictive practices, both in respect of labour and of trade.

No, Sir. As regards labour, I think these matters are best dealt with by negotiation between the employers and the trade unions. As regards trade, my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council informed the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne) on 30th July last that the 'Government intend to introduce legislation on restrictive practices when time permits, generally on the lines foreshadowed in the White Paper on Employment Policy. Power will be sought to inquire into the extent and effect of par- ticular arrangements and to take appropriate action to check those shown to he contrary to the interests of the nation.

Am I to understand that the Prime Minister regards the obtaining of this vital information as of less immediate importance than the head-hunting Press Commission to which he has given sanction?

No, Sir. It is a different method, that is all.

asked the Prime Minister whether, analogously with his appointment of a Minister of Defence, he will appoint a Minister of Production charged with the responsibility for coordinating those Departments concerned with production.

No, Sir. My hon. Friend may have in mind co-ordination by a Minister of the work of all the Departments concerned with economic development, including production, and not the establishment of a Ministry with executive authority in the field of production. This is already provided for in the system of Cabinet committees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of money has been expended in the U.S.A. since 1st January, 1946, on the purchase of coal-cutting and mine-loading machinery, and other mining equipment for use in this country.

£646,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the machinery for dealing with all claims for a rebate of tax already paid under Pay As You Earn is working satisfactorily, in view of the recent increase in the numbers of the unemployed.

Yes, Sir. I am glad to say that most employers are making these refunds themselves, and I take this opportunity of thanking them for their cooperation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider giving some form of financial assistance to small firms and businesses who had no E.P.T. standard in the past, and who were therefore unable to build up any substantial capital reserves, in view of the fact that they are today unable to meet the cost of keeping their businesses open during the present stoppage of work resulting from the fuel shortage.

No, Sir. I am afraid that this would be quite impracticable.

In view of the fact that the losses these firms have suffered are in no way their responsibility, and the Government have a certain responsibility to provide for them, does not the Chancellor of the Exchequer consider they should have some assistance?

I am afraid it is quite impracticable, from the administrative point of view, to single out the group of people the noble Lord has in mind. It is not possible to do it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what interest is being paid on the sterling balances which are held by overseas creditors.

Most of these balances are in Treasury Bills at ½ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the accumulated sterling balances held in London by our creditors have been used during the past 12 months for purchase of British goods and for the purchase of British assets abroad, respectively.

In the year 1946 as regards the sterling area increases in accumulated sterling balances amounted to ½98 million, and decreases to £149 million. In the case of the non-sterling area, increases amounted to £201 million, and decreases to £81 million. These increases and decreases of balances represent the net result of the purchase and sale of goods and services to or from the United Kingdom and other countries, expenditure on British troops overseas, receipts from surplus disposals overseas, and movements of capital. Figures are not available of the amount used for the two purposes referred to in the Question.

Is it not clear that we had a deficit during the last 12 months, and that sterling countries have been permitted by the right hon. Gentleman to use some part of their credits in this country for the purchase of goods? Does the right hon. Gentleman think that we are in a position to afford this, and will he say whether there is any principle governing his action?

If my hon. Friend will read the figures he will notice that whereas, in the sterling area, the decreases were greater than the increases, to the extent of £50 million, in the year, in the non-sterling area the reverse was the case, to the extent of £120 million. I do not think, therefore, that the position is so bleak as the hon. Gentleman may have imagined when he put his Question on the Paper.

In spite of the cloud of mystifying figures which the right hon. Gentleman has produced, is it not plain that we are, against no profitable return, financing and equipping places such as India with cotton machinery that had better be kept in this country?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what methods it is proposed to collect Income Tax on the pay, training expenses allowance and annual bounty recently announced for the reconstituted T.A.; and when the Pay-as-you-earn system is made use of, who is to make the calculations as to tax due, collect the money and keep the necessary accounts.

In most cases, by set off against the Income Tax allowances to which the man is entitled. The answer to the second part of the Question is—the Army.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the Territorial Army is reconstituted, it will be amateur officers who will have to go to these drills; and when he says "the Army," does he mean that these amateur officers have to add to their other tasks the great labour of keeping P.A.Y.E. accounts and making deductions? Is he aware that this is likely to wreck the whole scheme of reconstitution?

I would hope that there were no grounds for the pessimistic view the hon. and gallant Member has expressed in the last part of his question. We are now working out the exact detailed arrangements for all these matters regarding the Territorial Army, and we are approaching it with the utmost goodwill and desire to make the scheme work. If there is any proposal the hon. and gallant Gentleman can make on the matter, I shall be very glad to look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of dollar credits was spent on the purchase of capital goods during January, 1947, or during the last month for which figures are available.

Five per cent. of our imports from U.S.A. in December were machinery.

May I ask how the right hon. Gentleman reconciles the figure he has given with the statement made to the House on 12th December, 1945, that it is indispensable some considerable part of the dollar credit should be spent on the purchase of capital goods? Does he consider 5 per cent, is a considerable part?

I stand ready to deliver dollars for any orders for machinery from the United States sponsored by any Government Department.

Can the Chancellor of the Exchequer give the corresponding figure for Canadian dollars?

Not without notice.

Can the Chancellor say why the Government Departments have not made these claims? Surely they must be asleep.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a war-disabled person who, by reason of his civil occupation, has been assisted to obtain a motor car instead of an invalid chair, can claim exemption from, or partial reduction of, the Road Fund tax normally payable on his vehicle.

No, Sir.

In view of the fact that some relief is granted to disabled persons who have invalid chairs, and in view of the fact that cars are in lieu of chairs because of the nature of the work these people have to do, cannot some relief be given comparable with the other disabled persons?

The position is that invalid carriages are totally exempt, providing they do not weigh more than 5 cwt. In the case of private cars, I have tried to explain on previous occasions that we must, for administrative reasons, base the tax on the nature of the article taxed, and cannot base the tax on the use to which it is put, which is administratively im- possible. We have tried to meet the urgency of these cases by exempting invalid carriages in all cases up to 5 cwt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which countries loans have been made by the British Government since the end of hostilities; and if he will give details.

I will, with permission, circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the details:

The Amount of loans made to foreign Governments since the end of hostilities, and not yet repaid, is about £37 million, viz.:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent restrictions on the amount of money taken out by travellers will be relaxed for those countries where visas have been, or may be, abolished.

Not at all.

What is the point of relaxing the technical restrictions on travel, if the financial restrictions are not also relaxed? Will not the right hon. Gentleman back up the Foreign Secretary, who I understand is interested in this matter?

The Foreign Secretary is just as well aware as I and the noble Lord of the need to conserve foreign exchange, which is as great as if not greater than ever before.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that production graphs kept by most collieries throughout the country show good outputs of coal on Monday and Tuesday each week and general tendencies of a heavy decline on Thursday and Friday; and if he will inquire as to the extent such declines are attributable to the dislike of the miners to Pay As You Earn and make the result of such an inquiry public.

No, Sir.

Is it not the truth that P.A.Y.E. is doing an immense amount of harm to increased production throughout the country? Is it not the case that the Chancellor knows the truth of that, does not like it, and cannot think of a suitable answer?

No, Sir, the fact is that the hon. Gentleman has been misinformed. I have consulted the Ministry of Fuel and Power, which are the authority on these matters, and they entirely disagree with the hon. Member's statement that coal output generally falls on Thursday and Friday. That is not the case, and so the hon. Gentleman's Question falls to the ground.

Is it not the case that output in this House begins to decline by Friday?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the graphs I have demonstrate beyond all doubts that what I have said is so, and will he allow me to send him some copies so that he will not dispute what I have said? I would rather have the opinions which have been given to me than the opinion of the Ministry of Fuel and Power.

I should be glad to receive relevant information from any pitman, including the hon. Member.