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Written Answers

Volume 434: debated on Monday 10 March 1947

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Written Answers To Questions

Monday, 10th March, 1947

Ministry Of Works

Closed Brick Works, Newport

10.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that the Star Brick and Tile Company, Limited, Newport, are proposing to close down their works; and, in view of the fact that they have been producing 40,000 bricks a week, that the urgent demand for these building materials is increasing locally and that about 30 men will be thrown out of work; what action he proposes to take to enable them to continue production.

This works has only recently reopened and has experienced difficulties with its plant and equipment. It will be started again as soon as reorganisation is complete.

Factory Building Licences, Brentford

14.

asked the Minister of Works how many building licences he has issued for the extension or alteration of existing factory premises in the Great West Road area of Brentford; and to which firms.

Statistics are not kept separately for this area and their compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of work. If the hon. Member will let me know whether he has any particular cases in mind I will have them looked into.

Belgian Bricks

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that Belgian bricks of poor quality are still being imported into South Wales; and what action he proposes to take.

One or two complaints of the quality of Belgian bricks have been received and the agents acting on my behalf have investigated them and allowed suitable credits in appropriate cases.

Registered Builders

asked the Minister of Works the number of master builders in Great Britain accounted for before their compulsory registration; the number registered in June, 1945; and the number registered with his Department to the latest available date.

The number of registered building and civil engineering undertakings excluding specialist undertakings which were reported to be in active operation at 1st October, 1941, 1st June, 1945, and 1st December, 1946, were 87,600, 69,890 and 117,132, respectively.

India Office (Information Department)

11.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what functions are being performed by the public relations department of the India Office; what reduction in staff has been made since the change in the Government in India; whether the Government of India has appointed its own public relations officer in London; and how long the India Office establishment will continue.

The Indian and Burma Offices maintain a joint information department. Its functions in relation to India are to keep the public in this country and abroad informed of Indian developments and of the policy of His Majesty's Government towards India. Recently it has had to undertake the additional duty of supplying to the United Kingdom High Commissioner in India material regarding developments in this country and guidance on publicity also. The additional work involved has offset the reductions in staff which would have resulted from the transference of certain functions previously discharged by the Information Department of the India Office to a public relations officer appointed in the last few days by the Government of India to the staff of the Indian High Commissioner in London. With regard to the third part of the Question I am unable to say how long the information department will continue.

Spain

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the French Government have notified His Majesty's Government of their intention to raise the subject of political conditions in Spain at the forthcoming conference at Moscow.

Travel Identity Cards, Ireland

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is able to announce an improvement in the facilities available for British travellers for obtaining passports and Irish travel identity cards.

Yes, Sir. With the cooperation of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, a scheme will operate from a date to be announced shortly whereby application forms for these documents will be available for persons calling at the local offices and resettlement advice offices of the Ministry of Labour. At these offices information will be given and the completed forms will be accepted for transmission to the Passport Office or one of its branches. The passport or travel identity cards will be issued and posted direct to the applicant by the Passport Office. These facilities are in addition to the existing arrangements for obtaining passports and travel identity cards.

Egypt (Murdered British Soldiers)

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present state of the negotiations in which he is seeking compensation from the Egyptian Government for the murder of British soldiers in Alexandria on 4th March, 1946.

No reply has yet been received to the further communication to the Egyptian Prime Minister referred to in my reply of 27th January last.

Malaya (Dutch Forces)

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is informed concerning the increasing numbers of Dutch military forces in Malaya, as seen at the Queen Wilhelmina camp and Changi airfield; if these forces are being equipped by Britain preparatory to their being sent to Sumatra and Java; and when this support for Holland is likely to cease.

Dutch forces in Malaya have not increased during past months, but have on the contrary been reduced. The present forces consist of certain Dutch officers and men engaged on claims, war crimes and administrative duties connected with the liquidation of the Dutch component of the former Allied Command in South-East Asia. No equipment is supplied to them by His Majesty's Government.

Indonesia (Cheribon Agreement)

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that the Dutch military authorities in Indonesia, under Lieut.-General Spoor, are acting in accordance with the Cheribon Agreement.

As my hon. Friend was informed on 17th February, the draft agreement initialled at Cheribon last November, to the terms of which His Majesty's Government are in no way a party, has not yet been signed, and is consequently not yet in force.

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the activity of the Dutch in holding up British and other ships inside and outside the territorial waters of Indonesia, in confiscating cargoes and in forbidding all exports from that country while placing all imports under strict supervision; and whether, in view of the Cheribon Agreement between Britain and Holland, he will make representations to the Dutch Government on the matter.

Representations on this matter were made to the Netherlands Government on 26th February, but, as has already been explained, His Majesty's Government are not a party to the Cheribon Agreement.

Food Supplies

Animal Feedingstuffs

35.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there has been a shortage of animal feedingstuffs in North Lincolnshire, because rail transport from Liverpool has been suspended for some considerable time; and if he will consider re-opening the Hull and Lincolnshire crushing seed plants, which were closed during the war owing to concentration schemes, and so save road and rail transport and guarantee supplies to the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire farmers.

My right hon. Friend is not aware that there has been any shortage of the feedingstuffs needed to meet the ration in North Lincolnshire. Oilseed crushing mills are closed in that area, as well as in other parts of the country, because of the overall shortage of imported oilseeds; and in certain cases also because mills were designed to crush seeds of a type which we are not at present able to buy. I regret that there is no prospect of an early change in this situation.

Canned Sausages (Price)

39.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the price of sausages is 1s. 3d. a pound, whereas tinned sausages are 2s. 10d. for a 15–16 oz. tin; and whether he will consider reducing the price of the latter to a figure more comparable with the former.

I am aware of these different prices. The maximum price for suusages manufactured here is based on costs to the manufacturer plus a reasonable profit. Imported canned sausages are bought at world prices to supplement our other meat supplies and must make their cost.

Vegetable Supplies

67.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that broccoli are being retailed at 4s. each and turnips at 1s. each; if he will give the. average price paid to the primary producers of these goods; and if any steps are to be taken to control the retail prices in the future.

The latest reports I have covering England and Wales are for the week ending 1st March. These reports show that the average retail price for broccoli was 1s. 1½d. per lb. and for turnips 3d. per lb. During the same period the most usual price to the primary producer was 70s per cwt. or 7½d. per lb. for broccoli and 14s. to 19s. per cwt. or an average of about 1¾d. per 1b. for turnips. Supplies are, of course, much restricted owing to the weather and I have arranged for the issue of an open general licence which will come into operation today for the importation of broccoli, cauliflowers cabbages and leeks.

Geological Survey (Teesdale And Weardale)

49.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make available to Members the report of the Geological Survey conducted some time ago in Teesdale and Weardale in the county of Durham.

The information is to be published in a comprehensive report of the Geological Survey on the "Geology of the Northern Pennines," volume of which covers the area from the Tyne to Stainmore, including Teesdale and Weardale. The report, which runs to 468 foolscap pages, 37 text figures and plates, is ready for printing, but it is unlikely to be issued for some months. Pending publication the officers of the Geological Survey are prepared to furnish information to hon. Members and others interested.

Agriculture

Summer Time (Increased Costs)

52.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will raise the prices paid to the producers of food in order to reimburse them for the increase in costs which will be caused by double summer time.

No, Sir. In accordance with the procedure for price fixing, which has been agreed with the National Farmers' Unions, I am not prepared to alter farm prices in anticipation of cost changes—upwards or downwards —of unknown amount.

Threshing Order (Returns)

53.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many clerks are employed to deal with returns made under the Threshing Order, 1946 (S.R. & O., 1946, No. 1058); and what use is being made of the information collected.

Work arising out of the Threshing Order, 1946, requires the equivalent of one-quarter of the time of one clerk at my Department's headquarters, and a very much smaller amount of time in the office of each county war agricultural executive committee. The returns provide an indication of the rate at which grain is moving off farms into consumption. They are also of service in connection with the administration and enforcement of the Home-Grown Cereals Control Orders of the Ministry of Food.

Potato Acreage

55.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the recent potato shortage and of the delay caused by the weather in the sowing of corn, he will take steps, including the issue of directives, to secure a substantially increased acreage of potatoes in the 1947 harvest.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 6th March and which set out the target acreage for crops of this year's harvest. County acreage targets for potatoes were notified to county war agricultural executive committees in England and Wales in the summer of last year, and the committees have taken and will continue to take all possible steps to secure them, including where necessary, the issue of directions. Having regard to all the circumstances I do not consider that these targets require modification.

Hill Sheep Subsidy

62.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider doubling the Hill Sheep Subsidy in view of the serious losses that the hill farmer has sustained this winter.

I appreciate that very serious losses of sheep have occurred in hill areas owing to the exceptionally bad weather, but in accordance with the usual practice the effect of these losses will be taken into account in arriving at the rate of subsidy for next year.

Land Fertility Research

asked the Minister of Agriculture how the sum of £40,278 2s. 5d. paid to the Departments of Agriculture by the Land Fertility Research Fund was arrived at; and what proportion of the total estimated cost of the advisory and investigation work this sum represents.

The total sum quoted, apart from £28 2s. 5d., the cost of certain small experiments undertaken by my Department, represents the full amounts borne on the Votes of the Departments in 1945–46 in respect of grants to colleges and institutions for advisory and local investigation work on the use of lime as a means of promoting the fertility of the soil. As regards England and Wales the payment of £34,816 represented about 13 per cent. of a total expenditure of £286,690 on specialist agricultural advisory and local investigation work, and in the case of Scotland the payment of £5,374 represented about 20 per cent, of a total of £26,402.

Poultry Ration

63.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will increase the poultry ration by one unit of balanced meal for this month.

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. T. Macpherson) on 17th February.

Workmen's Tickets (Night Work)

76.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for workmen ticket facilities to be made available to those workers affected by the decision to work night shifts and staggered hours.

The arrangements which existed during the war for the issue of workmen's tickets to shift workers are still generally in operation, and I am considering what alterations, if any, may be warranted by the re-arrangement of working hours in industry.

Railways

Oil Conversion

80.

asked the Minister of Transport the average amount of coal estimated to be saved per year by each of the engines transferred to diesel oil; and how many further engines it is proposed to refit with diesel-oil equipment this year on each of the main lines.

It is too soon to give a close estimate of the amount of coal saved by conversion of locomotives from coal to oil burning; but it is estimated that when the full programme of conversion is realised a saving of about 1,000,000 tons of coal a year should be obtained. Twenty engines have so far been converted and it is proposed to convert about 1,200 in all.

Underground (Early Trains)

85.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will restore the prewar early service on the Underground in order to assist workers in Central London who have to make an early start from the suburbs, and who at present lack adequate travelling facilities.

I am informed that the times of the first trains on all the Board's lines are either the same as, or earlier than those running before the war.

Idle Coal Trucks, Bristol

89.

asked the Minister of Transport why numbers of coal trucks have been standing idle for weeks on both sides of the railway line at Foxes Wood, Brislington, Bristol; and if he will take steps to have them shifted and used.

I am making inquiries and will arrange for a statement to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

Roads

London Buses (Route Indication)

83.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that an appreciable number of London omnibuses carry no indication of their route or destination, either at the side or at the back of the vehicle; and if he will request L.P.T.B. to remedy this defect, as and when these particular vehicles come in for servicing or repair.

The omnibuses in question are of an austere wartime pattern. Unfortunately, arrears of maintenance make it impracticable to bring them up to standard at present.

"C" Licences

87.

asked the Minister of Transport how many new applications have been made over the past six months for "C" licences; the number of vehicles involved; and how many were granted.

I have asked the licensing authorities to furnish me with the information required by my hon. Friend, and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

Radar Installation, Mersey

88.

asked the Minister of Transport why a contract for Radar equipment to control shipping in the Mersey harbour has been placed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board with the Sperry Gyroscope Company, Limited, as this company has no Radar experience and no Radar manufacturing facilities in this country, and in view of the fact that competitive tenders were submitted by British firms of unparalleled experience who have been producing this equipment during the war.

The placing of this contract is entirely a matter for decision by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, but I have made inquiries of them and am informed that they invited tenders for equipment for a shore radar installation to supervise the movements of ships which would meet the known technical requirements of such a device and the operational requirements of the port. Two tenders were submitted to the Board and after full consideration they accepted the tender of the company to which my hon. Friend refers. This company has established an organisation for the manufacture of radar equipment in this country.

Temporary Thames Bridges (Timber)

90.

asked the Minister of Transport how many cubic feet of timber are contained in the temporary bridge structure across the Thames at Millbank; and, in view of the acute timber shortage for the housing programme, if he will make this timber available.

There are some 55,000 cubic feet of timber in this bridge. The London County Council propose to dismantle it and the other two temporary bridges at an early date. Subject to the approval of the timber control all suitable timber recovered will be used for housing purposes.

Ministry Of Supply

Totalisators

92.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the Vickers-Armstrongs works at Crayford are manufacturing totalisators; what materials are allowed for this; and why such materials are not being used for more essential products.

No, Sir. My information is that this firm is not manufacturing totalisators.

Army Uniforms (Disposal)

93.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent new Army uniforms are being delivered to his Department's depot at Eastbourne; and how these uniforms are disposed of.

About 900 new khaki service dress jackets were sold by competitive tender in December. No new uniforms have since been delivered to the Eastbourne Depot.

Steel Sheet And Tinplate Project, Wales

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement on the proposed £50,000,000 undertaking to modernise the steel sheet and tinplate industry in South Wales; how it is proposed to raise the capital required; what are the prospects of obtaining the necessary plant and equipment; and when it is anticipated that construction will begin.

The project is being urgently considered by the Iron and Steel Board. There are many difficult factors involved and it may take some time to reach a decision. I regret that I cannot make a statement until I have received the Board's report.

Factory Extensions, Brentford

asked the Minister of Supply (1) what are the conditions which managements of factories in the Great West Road area of Brentford must satisfy before their applications to extend or rebuild their premises can be supported by his Department; and how many applications to build extensions on sites in this area have been supported by his Department since August, 1945;(2) on what grounds his London and South-East Regional Office has hitherto refused to support the application of Messrs. R. B. Pullin to extend their works on the Great West Road at Brentford; and whether, in view of the fact that the temporary accommodation used by this firm at Winchester Street, Acton, is now required by its owners, he will instruct his regional office to support their application.

Pig And Poultry Farmers (Call-Up)

94.

asked the Minister of Labour why, in view of the need of increased pig and poultry production, pigmen and poultry farmers are still being called up for military service.

Application for deferment of the call up of men engaged in these occupations can be made, and deferment will be granted if it is considered that the man's retention is necessary in the national interest.

Surplus Diesel Generators

95.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the efforts of Messrs. J. W. Bush and Company, Limited, of Widnes to obtain the use of diesel generating units, lying idle in R.E. Stores at Widnes, in order to enable them to continue the manufacture of essential medical supplies, particulars of which have been supplied to him, have so far been frustrated by their application being passed from the War Office, to his Department. from one branch of his Department to another, and from the Ministry of Fuel and Power to the Ministry of Supply; and what action he proposes to take in the matter to secure the supply of one of these generators to this firm and to ensure proper coordination between the Departments concerned in dealing with similar applications in the future.

The particular diesel generating units referred to are needed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, and cannot be made available to industry. A limited number of diesel generators from Service stores are available on loan to approved firms, and Messrs. J. W. Bush & Co., Ltd., have been offered the most suitable of these, I am satisfied that the arrangements for dealing with applications for such sets are operating satisfactorily.

Telegraph Service

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the average telegraph transactions in January, 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947, in Liverpool, Manchester, Bir-

Daily average transactions.Cardiff.Newport.Birmingham.Manchester.Liverpool.Bristol.
January, 194415,2877,49328,51724,05525,88725,546
194514,1157,00229,26326,45327,02526,350
194613,1005,75427,87826,22826,40926,831
19479,3924,27819,63821,29118,60617,379
Staff
January, 194411573271258186226
194512069250214154210
194611670245215174205
19479448216206168212
The figures of staff cannot be related directly to the number of transactions owing to the fact that during the war years the Post Office was short of telegraph staff with consequent deterioration of service; the deficiency was partly made up by overtime, records of which are now no longer available.

Television (Resumption)

96.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will fix a' date for the recommencement of the television service, in view of the fact that in the absence of any instructions all the staff, casts and artistes are attending at Alexandra Palace every day.

As already announced by the B.B.C. television transmissions between 8.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. will be resumed on 11th March. During suspension of the service the staff attended at Alexandra Palace, but the casts and artistes did not.

Fishing Industry (Training)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reasons for including in the proposed agenda for vocational training for inshore and herring fishermen in paragraph 3, Section X, an elementary course in the economics of the fishing industry, with particular reference to Cooperative societies.

mingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Newport telegraph offices; and the number of staff employed at the same period.

Among the suggestions being considered by the sub-committee, of the Technical Education Committee of the Fishing Industry in its review of the scheme for training herring and inshore fishermen is one that the scheme should include an elementary course on the economics of the industry with particular reference to Co-operative societies. The Sea Fish Industry Act, 1938, contemplated the setting up of co-operative schemes for inshore fishermen, and fishermen's co-operatives are operating successfully in this and other countries. I consider it proper that the sub-committee should consider whether the training scheme should make provision for informing fishermen of the benefits to be derived from co-operation.

Dr M Sargent (Detention, Austria)

97.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the detention of Doctor Malcolm Sargent by Soviet soldiers in Austria; what protests have been made regarding this treatment of a British citizen; and with what results.

I much regret the discomfort suffered by Dr. Malcolm Sargent. He first applied for, and was issued with, a permit to travel to Vienna by air. Later, when he decided to go by train, he was provided with the necessary visa to pass through Germany, but unfortunately not with the additional permit required to cross the Russian zone in Austria. He therefore set out without the complete papers necessary for his journey. In these circumstances a protest would seem inappropriate.

Dartmoor (Training Area)

98.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will now publish a map showing the boundaries of the 58,000 acres of Dartmoor proposed to be used for service training requirements and indicating the exact position of the 11,000 acres by which it may be possible still further to reduce the area.

It would be premature to publish maps at present as local investigations are still proceeding and have been delayed by the weather, but maps illustrating the proposals as provisionally settled will be available for local inspection before the Inquiry is held.

National Finance

Nationalisation (Guaranteed Stocks)

99.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give an assurance that holders of all stocks, guaranteed by the Treasury under the Trade Facilities Acts, will receive the contractual rate of interest until the agreed date for redemption.

The guaranteed stocks taken over under the Nationalisation Acts will now receive the contractual rate of interest until the agreed date for redemption.

Universities (New Grants)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement regarding the grant to universities which he proposes to make in the forthcoming Budget.

I have received and considered a report from the University Grants Committee on the financial needs of the universities for the five years 1947–52 Before the war Exchequer grants to the universities were settled for periods of five years. I propose to resume this practice in order that universities may plan development with knowledge of the resources they may expect. They will need Exchequer grants on an increasing scale for some time to come, both in order to effect improvements which were due even before the war, and to increase the number of students.As their needs will be on a rising scale, propose that Parliament should be asked to provide recurrent grants rising from £9,000,000 for the academic year 1947–8 to £9,970,000 for 1948–9 and thence by annual increments of £650,000 to £11,920,000 for 1951–2. The recurrent grants for the present academic year will amount to between £6,000,000 and £7,000,000. These figures exclude the grants of £500,000 now made to teaching hospitals, which will continue during the financial year 1947–8 and the amount of which for future years has not yet been determined. They also exclude grants for agricultural education, responsibility for which will pass to the University Grants Committee after the current year.The University Grants Committee estimate that the universities' programmes of development will necessitate during the quinquennium non-recurrent grants amounting to £50,000,000, of which £40,000,000 would be for new buildings and £10,000,000 for acquiring sites, existing buildings and new equipment. I accept this estimate of the need and will do my best to meet it. I am advised, however, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works that, even after allowing for a high degree of priority, the best forecast at present possible does not justify the expectation that Universities will be able to undertake more than £20,000,000 worth of new building during the quinquennium. I appreciate that such a restriction of the building programme must retard to some extent the expansion which the universities have in view and which, in the public interest, the Government most earnestly desire to see. I am afraid that for the present it would be only prudent to plan on the basis that not more than £20,000.000 worth of new building will be possible during the quinquennium, but I propose to review the position from year to year.The sum which Parliament will be asked to vote for the financial year 1947–8 is £11,875, 000. This figure includes the grants to the teaching hospitals, provision for agricultural education after the present academic year, and £3,500,000 for capital grants.

Raf, West Kirby (Airman's Death)

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of R.A.F. personnel stationed at the R.A.F. Station, West Kirby, near Liverpool, who died during February last; and what was the cause of their deaths.

One airman died at the R.A.F. Station, West Kirby, during February; the cause of death was staphylococcal septicaemia.

German Officer Prisoners

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German officers, prisoners of war, are still in this country; what is the cost of maintaining them in money and men; and whether under the present regulations it is possible to employ them on work of any kind.

Six thousand two hundred and seventy, Sir. The cost in men of maintaining them is 35 officers and 548 other ranks. I regret that it would not be possible without much labour to give the cost in money, as this is brought to account under many different Votes. Officer prisoners of war can volunteer for work and every effort is made to find work for those who volunteer.

Education

Secondary School Management

asked the Minister of Education what system of school management is to be finally adopted under the Education Act, 1944, as between the establishment of the multilateral school which the L.C.C. proposes to introduce and the system of primary and tripartite secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

In the field of secondary education I do not envisage any uniform system over the country as a whole. I want to encourage variety and I shall welcome carefully conducted experiments in suitable cases with multilateral schools and the like, provided that they are designed to cater adequately for the needs of all the pupils.

Awards (Personal Case)

asked the Minister of Education whether he will reconsider the application for an educational grant of M. F. J. Julietti, 48 Corney Road, Chiswick, who was re-entered for the Intermediate B.Sc. Examination of July, 1944, but was called up into the R.N. in 1943; and on what grounds his original application was rejected.

Mr. Julietti's application has not yet been rejected. Further inquiries are being made in order to ascertain whether my Department would be justified in making an award before he has succeeded in passing his intermediate examination. A final decision will be sent to him as soon as possible.

British Army

Territorial Army Camps

asked the Secretary of State for War if under the new scheme for the T.A., members of it will be required to do at least eight days in camp each year; and if he will consult with the Minister of Labour with a view to requiring employers of such members to permit their employees to have those eight days away from work in addition to their normal holidays.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." With regard to the second part of the Question, neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour have any power to require employers to allow their employees to have in addition to their normal holidays the period of paid holiday for the purpose of attending Territorial Army camps, but I feel sure that in dealing with this matter employers will bear in mind—as they have in the past—the importance of the Territorial Army to the national interest.

Ta Tenancy, Brentford

asked the Secretary of State for War why one week's notice to vacate 3, Boston Lodge Cottages, Brentford, was served on Mr. E. Enticott by the Middlesex Territorial Association on 14th February; whether there was any signed agreement as to conditions of tenancy between Mr. Enticott and the association; for what purpose the association intend to use this cottage; and whether he will make representations to the association to withdraw the notice, in view of the fact that the tenant has no alternative accommodation.

A warning notice that this quarter was required was served on the tenant as long ago as last August. He was given two months to find alternative accommodation. It was only after he had ignored this and repeated further letters, that he was given a week's notice as from 22nd February. The property is let on a weekly rent to the tenant who has refused to enter upon a tenancy agreement. It is required to house permanent staff of the Territorial Army.

Gunnersbury Park

asked the Secretary of State for War at what date he decided to retain a part of Gunnersbury Park as a permanent anti-aircraft site.

No decision has been taken to keep this gun position permanently. The anti-aircraft defences of the United Kingdom are at present being reviewed, and until this review has been completed in a few months time it is impossible to say whether the site will be needed permanently.

Ss "Orduna" (Complaints)

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the conditions under which troops returned to this country from Egypt in the s.s. "Orduna," from Port Said on 29th January, docking at Liverpool on 20th February, and why in addition to overcrowding and bad food four German prisoners-of-war officers travelled first-class; and whether he will ensure that on the return journey conditions are considerably improved.

On the voyage in question the number of troops carried on the "Orduna" was 11½ per cent. less than the agreed capacity. Complaints were received about the men's messing, and as a result of an investigation undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport steps are being taken to overhaul the galley facilities. Fifty German prisoners of war were on board, and five of them who were officers were moved to an empty dormitory in order to segregate them.

Personal Case

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to state whether it is possible for the service forfeited by 4036788 Corporal L. Cale, 2nd Battalion Cameronians, to be restored.

I am glad to say that this soldier has now earned restoration for purposes of release of his forfeited service.