asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies his policy regarding private air enterprise in Tanganyika Territory, having regard to the censure on the East African Airways made by the Standing Finance Committee of the Tanganyika Legislative Council in its recent Budget Session.

As indicated in the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on 6th November, it is the accepted policy of the East African Governments, including the Tanganyika Government, that air services on scheduled routes in the four territories concerned should be provided by a state corporation, the East African Airways Corporation. Non-scheduled services can be provided by private enterprise subject to compliance with the local licensing regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he anticipates opening up roads in the industrial areas of Tanganyika, namely, the Western Province, including the diamond area at Shinyanga, so that the sparsely inhabited country through which the roads pass can become developed and inhabited.

The areas in question are already connected by road with the Tanganyika railway system. Arrangements to provide a branch railway to Shinyanga are far advanced and a branch line to the Mpanda Mine in the Western Province is contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the majority of workers in East Africa are "target workers"; that the postwar increase in salaries and rise in prices of produce have seriously affected the labour supply; that the general native working output has deteriorated as a result of their being able to achieve their target more easily than before the war; and what steps he proposes taking to improve the present situation and to prevent this state of affairs spreading further.

I am fully aware of these facts which were described in my Labour Adviser's Report on Labour Conditions in East Africa. This problem can be met in several ways, by improving the efficiency of the workers in terms of health and sound conditions, by increasing the incentive to work and by making the actual conditions of work more attractive. Greater efficiency should follow from the health educational and social services provided for in the long term programmes now being made. Increased incentive depends not necessarily on wages though these are receiving attention, but also on an increased supply of consumer goods which is only possible to a limited extent in present circumstances. All the East African Governments are taking active steps to secure an improvement in the general conditions of labour and with this object have, since the end of the war, given attention to improved welfare provisions and considerably strengthened the organisation of their Labour Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with mass education in Kenya; and whether he will give an assurance that mass education work will, in future, be carried out under the direction of the education department and not under the welfare department as previously.

I have asked the Governor for more recent information about mass education in Kenya than that at present in my possession and will send it to my hon. Friend, but I have difficulty in giving him the assurance he asks for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in view of the present shortage of hospital accommodation at Bathurst, he intends to proceed with the demolition of the existing Victoria Hospital, instead of retaining it for use as an out-patient centre, and constructing a new hospital on the housing estate in the neighbourhood of the projected new Government House.

The existing Victoria Hospital at Bathurst is inadequate and unsatisfactory and must be replaced of reconstructed. The original Gambia development plan proposed the construction of two new hospitals, one on the site of the existing hospital and the other in Kombo to which it is proposed to transfer part of the Bathurst population. The funds available, however, are now insufficient for the building or reconstruction of more than one general hospital. In the Governor's view this hospital should be located in Bathurst itself which will always be the centre of a large population, notwithstanding the proposed transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the average time and the longest time which elapsed in Tanganyika in 1946 between the committal for trial of a person accused of murder and the pronouncement of sentence by the high court, or confirmation of sentence by the Court of Appeal for Eastern Africa in cases where an appeal was lodged; and whether he is satisfied that there is no undue delay in dealing with cases where the capital sentence is involved.

The average time between the date of committal and the date of sentence by the High Court was 69 days and the longest time 142 days. The average time in cases of appeal between the sentence of the High Court and the judgment of the Court of Appeal was 66 days and the longest time 118 days. The two cases involving delays of 142 days and 118 days respectively were exceptional. In the first the accused was committed in a remote district of the Territory on 15th February and the information was filed in Dar-es-Salaam on 27th March. The High Court on circuit reached the district on 27th June. In the second case the High Court judgment was given on 2nd July and the Court of Appeal, which had just completed a session, did not sit again until October. I am satisfied that normally no undue delay occurs in disposing of murder cases, taking into consideration the distances involved and the means of communication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated shortage of houses in Gibraltar; how many houses have been started since the end of the war; land how many completed.

As I told the hon. and gallant Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) in the House today, new housing is needed in Gibraltar primarily to provide for the evacuees still in the United Kingdom, of whom there are about 3,000. Since the end of the war 155 temporary houses and 183 converted Nissen huts have been completed, and 45 more Nissen huts are under construction Twenty-four permanent houses have been completed, and work has begun on a building contract for 472 flats. It is estimated that the completion of this programme will enable all those Gibraltarians who wish to return to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why fully qualified auxiliary nursing sisters in Hong Kong, who were given a contract for the duration of the war, are only receiving three months' pay for the period of their internment; and whether, in view of this contract, he will see that they receive their full pay.

Three months salary is the minimum amount paid to women members of the Civil Defence Services in Hong Kong who were not normally dependent on their earnings. Where a woman can show that she was so dependent—and this would include the case of a nurse who was in private employment before joining the Auxiliary Nursing Service—an application for more liberal treatment would receive consideration. I was not previously aware that these persons were given contracts of service for the duration of the war, but I am advised that temporary engagements of this nature must be regarded as having been terminated on the Japanese occupation.

asked the Minister of Defence what was the ratio of dental officers per 1,000 of the personnel during the war; and what is it now.

The ratio of dental officers in the Services during the war was, Royal Navy 0.75, Army 0.7 and Royal Air Force 0.73 per 1,000. The corresponding current figures are 1.21, 0.5 and 0.64 respectively.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will give an undertaking that a deserter, classified as such because he has failed to answer a calling-up notice owing to a strongly-expressed preference

asked the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that, owing to the high prices prevailing in the Japanese commercial world, the non-operation of N.A.A.F.I. and the limited stocks supplied through the Australian Army Canteen for the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, gift shops have been organised by the military, but that stocks have not been replenished during the last three months; and what action is being taken to ensure that the

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Defence the age and service release group numbers of men who enlisted during 1946.

The following table contains the information requested:gift shops receive increased stocks of silk to prevent soldiers being exploited in the commercial free market.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that gift shops have been set up in Japan for the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces, but I am not in a position to give information about the stocks of silk which are held in the shops. Supply of Japanese goods is controlled by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers as part of his control of Japanese internal economy. Three months ago the attention of the Joint Headquarters in Australia was drawn to the need for improvement of facilities for the sale of Japanese goods in gift shops. I have since been assured that the B.C.O.F. is getting its proper share, according to numerical strength, of the available goods.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the shortage and high price of olive oil, he will take steps to increase the supply of cocoanut, linseed, sunflower seed and other vegetable oils to meet the demand for medicinal and domestic purposes.

Arrangements are being made to increase the amount of olive oil allocated for sale on medical certificates. In addition the Ministry will still be prepared to supply groundnut oil on application as an alternative to olive oil where this is recommended by the doctor. I regret that our supply of the vegetable oils mentioned is not sufficient to permit of any general distribution of them. We shall, however, arrange for the distribution of olive oil for domestic purposes as soon as it is possible to import a sufficient supply for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Food the average cost to date, including export duty, of copra and coconut oil bought from the Ceylon Government under the existing five year contract.

The average c.i.f. costs per ton of copra and coconut oil shipped from Ceylon since the five year contract was entered into are £37 1s. 1d. and £60 7s. 1d., respectively.

asked the Minister of Food on what basis is the fat for fried fish shops allocated; if he is aware that smaller shopkeepers feel they are not receiving a fair share; and if he will have the matter investigated and make a statement.

Fat is allocated to fish fryers on a datum basis, which ensures that all the traders in a given area receive the same percentage of their prewar usage. The percentage is modified in accordance with population changes, and increased supplies are to be made available to areas subject to heavy unemployment before the war.

asked the Minister of Food how many boat loads of potatoes came into Plymouth during the weeks ended 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd February and 1st March; what was the tonnage of potatoes carried by each vessel; and how each boat load was divided, respectively, between the claims of N.A.A.F.I. and of the civilian population.

During the five weeks mentioned seven ships came into Plymouth carrying a total of 3,709 tons of potatoes. The quantities carried by these ships were 516, 362, 566, 688, 338, 553 and 686 tons. During this period the allocation to N.A.A.F.I. through their supplying wholesalers was 445 tons; the Admiralty also received 477 tons; and the balance of 2,787 tons was available for the civilian population. I regret that it is impossible to say, without a great deal of investigation, how each shipment was apportioned.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that bags of potatoes received from his Department at Bristol have arrived in Plymouth with the bags burst and some of the contents spilled, causing short weight, which shortages the inspector of his Department in Plymouth refuses to make good to the merchants concerned; and what action he will take to remedy this.

It is impossible to avoid a certain number of burst bags in shipments, owing to the extra handling through the ports. The officers of my Department have authority to credit merchants in cases of short weight, but complaints must be made before the potatoes are resold so that the appropriate allowance can be worked out.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the shortage of potatoes in the borough of Oldham; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation.

The severe weather has seriously reduced supplies of potatoes, and I am sorry to say that Oldham, in common with other parts of the country, has experienced a shortage. In order to increase the supplies immediately available my Department has removed the restrictions on sales of certain varieties by growers, and this will facilitate restocking of the markets as soon as weather conditions permit.

asked the Minister of Food if, with reference to the expression, "all other powers enabling him," contained in the Canned Fruit and Vegetables (Amendment) Order, S.R. & O., 1947, No. 333, he will identify the powers and explain why the said powers were not specified in the Order.

The expression covers supplementary powers which cannot otherwise be conveniently described without overloading the preamble to the point of becoming cumbersome. In particular it includes, in this instance, the power to vary the previous Order.

asked the Minister of Food if he will cease to import flour and only import grain, so that the milling can be done in Britain and the resulting offals used for animal feedingstuffs.

No, Sir. British flour mills are already working to capacity and it would not be possible to produce here all the flour needed to meet the present demand which is 16 per cent. in excess of prewar.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, since provision was made under the Appendix to the Navy List, page 93, paragraph 5 (f), for widows' pensions, under certain circumstances granted prior to 17th December, 1929, to cover the period of the first world war, he will consider reintroducing these measures for retired officers re-employed in the second world war.

Yes, Sir. Consideration will be given to introducing some arrangement under which the widows of such officers may qualify for the award of pensions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the reason for the delay in the application of the revised salary scales for scientific officers on production duties in the Armament Supply Department of the Admiralty.

The delay in settling revised salary scales for these officers, which I regret, is due to two main causes. Firstly, it has become necessary to reexamine certain aspects of the problem as a result of further discussions with the staff association concerned. Secondly. it is necessary to take account of developments in connection with the revision of scales for comparable grades in other departments. I trust that it will be possible to announce the revised scales before very long.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will now say when his Department will be in the position to agree to the reference to the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal of a claim made on behalf of locally-entered staffs at Malta, who served at various establishments in the Middle East during the war, that they should be given the same foreign service allowance as was paid to United Kingdom staffs with whom they worked.

The proposals recently made by the Civil Service Clerical Association for arbitration on the Colonial Allowance rates payable to locally-entered Maltese staffs while serving in the Middle East are receiving consideration. I hope that it will be possible to let the Association have a reply at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many Fairey Swordfish have been preserved for museum and exhibition purposes; and where these aircraft are now located.

One Swordfish aircraft complete with typical wartime equipment has been accepted by the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, for preservation as a museum piece. Pending the com- pletion of structural reconstruction of the museum, this aircraft is being stored at the Royal Naval Air Station, Stretton, Cheshire. Two other Swordfish aircraft are being held for exhibition purposes and are at present at the Royal Naval Air Station, Arbroath, Angus.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that, 18 months after cessation of hostilities with Japan, no air branch of the R.N.V.R. has been formed; that flying personnel already demobilised will have lost touch with the service; that delay in the formation of such a reserve is daily prejudicing its ultimate success; and if he will take steps to form the branch without delay.

I am glad to be able to inform the House that as a first step in the formation of naval aviation reserves, arrangements have now been made for four R.N.V.R. Air Squadrons to be established. Three of these will be fighter squadrons based at Culham and Stretton, and a third station not yet finally decided. The fourth will be a fighter—A/S Squadron based at Abbotsinch. It is hoped that the first of these squadrons will begin operating by the early summer. For the present, the entry of pilots and observers is confined to Naval Reserve officers who have been employed on Front Line Squadron flying duties. Provision is also being made for air engineer officers. Reserve maintenance officers and ratings will not be recruited for the time being, but names of volunteers will be noted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give the number of long-service naval pensioners who are not yet in receipt of augmentation amounts to their basic pension; and whether he is in a position to state the reason for the delay in making these payments.

If the hon. Member refers to augmentation under the Pensions Increase Schemes of 1944 and 1947, the answer is that there is no delay in paying increases as they become due under the 1944 Scheme, and about 25,000 such, awards are in issue. The further increases payable under the 1947 Scheme, which has only just been approved by Parliament, are naturally not yet in issue. The number of pensioners who will be entitled to further increases under the 1947 scheme is expected to be about 32,000.If, on the other hand, the hon. Member refers to the scheme for re-assessment of pensioners who served during the war, the number of men entitled to these increases is about 40,000; 3,200 have already chosen re-assessment, and have been paid. The reason for the small number so far paid is that the introduction into Parliament of the 1947 Pensions Increase Act early in December last year made it necessary to suspend the work until the new Act was passed, and we could make the men a new offer, taking into account the increased benefits payable under the new Act. It must be remembered that the Pensions Increase Act, and the re-assessment scheme are complementary, and it would only have misled men into making wrong choices if we had continued informing them of the old pensions increase provisions while the new Act was in passage through Parliament. As it is, we now have to go back again to the 3,200 already reassessed and give them a new option. The work of calculation has, however, been proceeding all the time, and over 25,000 assessments have now been calculated. Certain other modifications in the scheme are now being considered to meet grievances which have arisen, but as soon as finality has been reached in these various inter-related matters, rapid progress should be possible with actual payments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) whether he will make a statement showing in detailed form, current commitments of the Naval Air Arm, covering aircraft carriers, aircraft and aircraft inspection and maintenance; and whether, in future, he will see to it that the Navy Estimates publish such information under separate headings;(2) what is the proposed numerical allocation in the Service, of personnel in the Naval Air Arm, inclusive of all categories, for 1947–48; and the number of civilians employed on aircraft main- tenance, repair and inspection for the Naval Air Arm for the same period.

I regret that it would not be in the public interest to publish the details asked for, but general information about naval aviation will be found in my noble Friend's statement on the Navy Estimates, 1947–48, which will be published today.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will make a statement outlining lodger arrangements made with the R.A.F. for the training of Naval Air Arm personnel.

The R.A.F. provide elementary and service flying training for R.N. pilot officers and ratings, and also admit R.N. personnel to certain specialised and staff courses. They also provide a certain amount of maintenance training, but responsibility for this is now being taken over by the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the promise made some six months ago to clear the site at the Central Park, Plymouth, of his Department's vehicles will be fulfilled; and, in addition, whether, in view of the acquisition by his Department of scores of bombed and cleared sites in the Devonport area, he will arrange for the stores to be removed from the park, required by the people of Plymouth, to their own land in the vicinity of the dockyard.

Complete clearance of the motor vehicles in Central Park will be effected by the end of this month. The acquisition by the Admiralty of bombed and cleared sites in the Devon-port area now proceeding will not provide alternative covered storage for the storage hangar. This hangar cannot, therefore, be vacated for the present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many captains R.N. and commanders R.N., respectively, are now on the active list; how many of these in each category hold seagoing appointments; and how many command seagoing ships.

There are 314 executive captains and 532 executive commanders now serving on the active list. Sixty-five captains and 100 commanders are at present in seagoing appointments, of whom 61 and 43, respectively, are serving in command in seagoing ships.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the present strength of the permanent R.N.V.R., giving the numbers of officers and men and distinguishing between List I and List II.

The numbers of officers and men enrolled to date in the permanent R.N.V.R. are as follow:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the Paymaster's Department, Royal Marine Barracks, Chatham, will pay Mr. H. T. Bender, 88, Alexandra Gardens, W.4, the credits and arrears of pay due to him, in view of the fact that he was demobilised in August, 1946.

An advance of £13 was made to Mr. Bender on his dispersal in August, and further advances were made in September and November. A savings bank book in respect of his war gratuity and postwar credit of wages was sent to him in October. On final balancing of his pay account, it was found that there was a small debit balance, and Mr. Bender was informed on 26th February that the over-payment would not be recovered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what aid is given by his Department to the Sea Cadets movement; whether stores and equipment left from the recent war are made use of to this end; and if he is satisfied that all possible steps are being taken to encourage the success of the movement.

In the Navy Estimates for 1946, a total of £83,000 was provided for grants to Sea Cadet Corps, and substantial provision is being made in next year's Estimates. Surplus stores and equipment, including boats, are provided for the Cadets on a liberal scale, and I am satisfied that all practicable steps are being taken to encourage the success of the movement, to which the Admiralty attach great importance.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he will arrange for a telephone kiosk to be provided on the Temple Estate, Sheldon, Birmingham.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what progress is being made towards the provision of a public telephone service for the island of Scarp.

To provide a public telephone service, it will be necessary to lay a submarine cable across the Sound of Scarp. The route has not yet been fully surveyed, but subject to no unforeseen difficulties arising it is hoped to under take the work this year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he is going to enlarge the capacity of the Reepham telephone exchange, Norfolk, as the demand for agricultural purposes exceeds the switchboard accommodation.

Equipment for an extension at this exchange has been ordered from the manufacturers and, if no unforeseen difficulties arise, I hope that it will be ready for service by about the end of the year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the rationing of poles and wire to farmers requiring telephones debars those in isolated districts from obtaining this service although their needs in this way are usually much more pressing than those of people living near the exchanges; and if he will give such places preference in his allocation of the material available to him.

I am fully aware of the special needs of farmers, and a substantial measure of preference is being given to applications from farms, so far as supplies of poles and other materials permit.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he can now say when the work relevant to the extension and improvement of the telephone service in Walthamstow, London, E.17, will be completed; and the number of applicants who will secure telephones by the end of this year and the number of applicants registered up to the end of 1946 who will not secure telephones.

The Borough of Waltham-stow is served by two exchanges, at each of which the exchange equipment and underground cables are already heavily loaded. Additional equipment is now being installed, and will begin to become available by mid-summer. The provision of additional cables will, however, take longer, and although this work is being pressed forward it is unlikely that service will be provided during the current year for more than about 1,200 of the 2,100 applications recorded before the 31st December, 1946.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the numbers of telephone instruments in operation in the London area in 1938 and in 1947, respectively.

The figures as at the 31st January in each year were 1,117,632 and 1,362,170, respectively.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that 160 subscribers on the Middleton exchange, Lancashire, are not able to use their telephones; what are the reasons for these telephones being out of use; and when they are likely to be restored.

A cable fault has interrupted the service of 25 (not 160) subscribers at Middleton, Lancashire exchange. In view of the widespread damage resulting from the severe weather and the presence of explosive gas in the vicinity of the fault it is not possible to forecast the date on which the service All be restored, but I would assure the hon. Member that there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General why no radio-telephone service is available from the United Kingdom to Atlantic liners on Sundays.

The difficulty in opening the radio-telephone service with Atlantic liners on Sundays has been due to the shortage of operators. I am glad to say, however, that arrangements came into force last Sunday under which the service in question will, in future, be available on seven days a week.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to state when a sub-Post Office will be provided for Sheldon, Birmingham.

If, as I assume, the hon. Member refers to the provision of a Crown Post Office in place of the existing sub-Post Office in Sheldon, I am hopeful that it will be possible to provide such an office about the middle of this year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if consideration is being given to the possibility of issuing a series of postage stamps, which, while keeping the royal head as an essential feature of the design, will also contain pictorial representation of British scenery and of outstanding events in British history.

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26th February to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins).

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the facilities afforded the public at the sub-post office in Hale End Road, E.4, are inadequate; and when he will be able to provide improved facilities.

Yes, Sir. I regret that postal facilities fall short of requirements at Hale End Road; the office is listed with others for conversion to a Crown Office when circumstances allow.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when lie will be able to give a decision on the question of the recognition to be accorded to those staff associations representing clerical staffs in his Department; and why, since the matter was raised on 4th September last, there has been this delay in reaching a decision.

Shortly, I hope. It has been necessary to consult other associations concerned before reaching a conclusion.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he expects the British Broadcasting Corporation to restore the television programmes.

The British Broadcasting Corporation evening television programmes were restored yesterday.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the B.B.C. have refused to recognise a bona fide trade union affiliated to the Trade Union Congress, namely, the National Union of General and Municipal Workers, as the negotiating body on behalf of their workpeople; and what action he proposes to take in connection with this matter.

I understand that the Governors of the Corporation are reexamining the question of staff representation in the light of Clause 8 of the new Charter. I suggest that my hon. Friend should await the result of that review.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when it is expected that the release of men in the R.A.F. police will catch up with the general rate of release.

The Royal Air Force Police are at present two groups below the general level of release. They will be one group below in May; and soon after that they will, I hope, reach the general level.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the interim revised rates of pay for civilian physiotherapists in the R.A.F. have been fixed at a scale far below that adopted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; why the annual increments are smaller than those generally accepted in the profession; why previous physiotherapeutic service does not count for increment; and when he proposes to remedy this state of affairs.

The rates of pay of civilian physiotherapists in the Royal Air Force and in Government employ generally are at present under review. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the new fates have been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why no Whitley machinery has been introduced for dealing with the affairs of locally-entered staffs in the employment of the Air Ministry at Malta.

The question of representative machinery for locally-entered staff abroad is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if the Under-Secretary in the course of his overseas tour, visited the R.A.F. camp at Miho, Japan, about which complaints continue to be made.

No, Sir. It was impossible owing to bad weather, and the circumstances were fully explained to all ranks at the British Commonwealth Air Force Station at Miho.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the billets in the R.A.F. camp at Miho, Japan, are still unheated; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.

Since my right hon. Friend's reply of 5th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Cardiff (Mr. G. Thomas) further progress has been made in heating the sleeping quarters at the British Commonwealth Air Force Station, Miho. Sixty-five per cent. of the airmen's quarters are now adequately heated and the remainder should be heated within the next week. It will take rather longer to complete the heating in the officers' and N.C.O.s' quarters, only 20 per cent. of which are heated at present. The difficulty here is that there is a shortage of the small stoves that are required for the individual rooms.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, what recreational facilities are available at the R.A.F. camp at Miho, Japan.

There are pitches for soccer, hockey, cricket and track athletics. There is also a gymnasium and a yacht club. In the winter there is ski-ing at Mount Dai-Sen which is nearby and which is one of the chief Japanese winter sport resorts. In the summer there is excellent sea bathing. There is a station cinema at which the programme is changed twice weekly, a canteen run by the Women's Voluntary Services and the usual Service canteens. The canteens provide indoor games such as darts, table tennis and chess.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what allowances are made to members of the Royal Observer Corps to meet the expenses they incur in this form of national service.

To meet the incidental expenses of their service, spare time observers in the Royal Observer Corps receive annual grants varying from £1 5s. to £3 10s. A grant for travel of 15s. to £1 15s. a year is paid to those who live more than two miles from their place of training. Observers who take part in exercises with the Royal Air Force also receive subsistence allowances of up to 6s. for each exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the discomfort which has been experienced by R.A.F. ratings at Credon Hill, Hereford, owing to the lack of fuel and suitable food; and whether it is proposed to avoid further hardship arising from restrictions and bad organisation generally in that camp.

The R.A.F. Station, Hereford, has had especial difficulties in the recent cold weather, with snowdrifts 12 feet deep. In common with other R.A.F. Stations in this country, it has done its best to save fuel. The station commander, who visits the messes twice a week, has had no complaints about the food. I should be grateful if my hon. Friend would give me particulars of the restrictions and bad organisation which he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when it is intended to de-requisition Old Court Hall, Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire, and the huts adjoining, so that they may be made available to the Godmanchester Borough Council which requires them urgently for civilian housing; and whether he is aware that those premises have not been occupied by the R.A.F. for nearly two years.

Old Court Hall, Godmanchester, and the adjoining huts were in full use by the Royal Air Force until February, 1946. Since then the Hall has been looked after by a care and maintenance party and the huts have been occupied by squatters. We are now hoping to take over both the Hall and the huts for use as married quarters for the neighbouring R.A.F. Station at Brampton Park.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what decision has been reached by his Department with regard to postage payable on mail sent by R.A.F. personnel serving with the India Command to England; what rate is proposed to be charged; and for what reason is the charge to be made.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the postal rates on mail sent home by the Royal Air Force in India are a matter for the Government of India. At present the postal concessions granted by the Government of India in 1945 are still in force. These concessions allow air mail letters weighing up to one ounce, and surface mail letters up to two ounces, to be sent home free.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many members of the Polish forces have been, and how many are to be, transferred to the R.A.F. for duties in the meteorological service.

No members of the Polish forces are being transferred to the Royal Air Force for meteorological duties, but some 70 officers and men of the Polish Air Force with suitable experience have been offered temporary civilian appointments in the Meteorological Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what action is intended to be taken to relieve the position of men who volunteered for Regular engagement with the R.A.F. under the impression that their wives would receive a war service grant and who now, as a consequence of no war service grant being paid on a Regular engagement, find themselves and their families falling into grave financial difficulties.

Full publicity has been given to the ending of the war service grants scheme for the Regular forces. It was made clear in the White Paper on the new pay code that claims from men serving on Regular engagements could not be admitted, and the attention of all members of the Service was specially drawn to the point. Action was also taken to ensure that every volunteer for Regular service after the scheme had ended was made aware that he was not eligible for a war service grant.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what arrangements are being made for the 500 civil air pilots and navigators whose examinations have been postponed to sit for their examinations for civil licences at an early date.

All the candidates for the navigators examination which was postponed from 10th February had the opportunity to be examined during the week commencing 3rd March, 1947. As a result of the deferment, it was necessary to postpone the technical examination for "B" pilots, arranged for that week, until 18th and 19th March.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether the renewed discussions between his Department and L.P.T.B. regarding the possibility of opening the West End Road to omnibus traffic have yet reached a definite conclusion.

The decision whether to run an omnibus service along West End Road rests with the London Passenger Transport Board. The occasional interruption of traffic on this road in the interests of safety has been fully explained to the Board who are now considering their decision.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he is aware that no facilities exist at the London airport for passengers to telephone once they have passed the Customs and Emigration officers; and if he will remedy this.

There are four telephone kiosks available for arriving passengers once they have passed the Customs and Immigration officers. At present no public telephone is available for departing passengers. A telephone is, however, being installed for the use of passengers before they pass through the Customs and further kiosks will be provided if there is sufficient demand.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, whether, in view of the undoubted confusion arising from the use of the initials B.O.A.C., B.E.A.C. and B.S.A.A.C., as abbreviations for the British civil airways, he will, by size of type and by emphasis of speech, give special prominence to the two words "British Airways," which are common to all three Corporations, and will discontinue abbreviations which carry no direct association with Britain.

"British" and "Airways" are common to the titles of all three Corporations and, therefore, ensure to them a natural prominence. Some indication in the titles of their separate existence and spheres of operation is desirable and I am satisfied that the initials of these titles are now so widely known and so generally used that any confusion, if it exists, is unlikely to continue.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he has considered the resolution passed by both Houses in the States of Guernsey and of Jersey that Channel Islands Airways might be allowed to continue as an associate company of B.E.A.; and, as a similar concession has been granted to Malta and Cyprus, if he will agree to the request.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and my noble Friend have under consideration resolutions of the States of Guernsey and of Jersey regarding application of the Civil Aviation Act, 1946, to the Channel Islands under Section 55 of that Act. The resolutions do not refer to Channel Islands Airways. I hope that an announcement about the application of the Act to the Islands will shortly be made simultaneously here and in the Islands.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when a copy of the Report of the Pakenham Committee will be placed in the Library of this House.

It is proposed to publish the Pakenham Report through the Stationery Office. There will be no avoidable delay in doing this, but the exact time of publication is conditioned by the pressure on the resources of His Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether Messrs. Menck & Hambrock, manufacturers of mechanical excavators of Hamburg-Altona will be dismantled for reparations: or whether, as one of the leading manufacturers of this type of plant in the British zone, they will be got into full production in the general reconstruction scheme.

No final decision has been taken on this plant which stopped work recently owing to lack of electric power. It is hoped that power and materials will shortly be available to enable the plant to operate again.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make a statement in connection with the recent arrests of Nazi conspirators in the British and U.S. zones; whether he will publish a list of the names of those arrested; and whether any of the persons arrested held any position in the administration of the British zone of occupation in Germany.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 5th March. It is not in the public interest to publish at this stage a full official list of those arrested. None of them held any position in the administration of the British zone.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many drivers are employed by the Control Commission in Germany, and what is the total cost.

There are 695 British drivers and about 8,800 German drivers employed on Control Commission work. In addition there are 691 British drivers and some 240 German drivers engaged in the transport of officially sponsored visitors to Germany, particularly those sponsored by the Board of Trade. These figures do not include relatively small numbers of driver mechanics who are usually employed only on maintenance. The cost of the British drivers, excluding allowances which are different for married and single men, is some £9,000 per week. The German drivers are employed at no cost to the British Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many women are employed by the Control Commission for Germany; and what are their principal occupations.

There are about 5,930 women employed of whom 108 are in the women's services. The great majority are employed as clerks, typists, censors, interpreters and mess supervisors, but there is a proportion in higher grades on administrative and executive duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many officers are employed in the Control Commission in Germany; and how many of them speak German.

Excluding clerks, typists and other subordinate grades there were 1,474 military officers and 7,300 civilians in the Commission on 1st February, 1947. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Flint (Mr. Birch) on 14th October, no figures are available to show the number who speak German.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to be able to make a further statement regarding the case of Mr. J. A. Thompson, 8 Granville Road, Stroud Green, N.4, who contracted tuberculosis whilst on duty for the Control Commission in Germany.

I cannot give an exact date. I have asked for the report from the medical authorities in Germany to be expedited. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether Mr. T. E. Radford, director of instruments and signals division, is paid solely by the Control Commission; with what firm he is connected; and how much he is paid by the Control Commission.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to Mr. A. S. Radford, who is head of the instruments and signals section of the electrical and instruments equipment branch of the industry division. So far as I am aware he is paid solely by the Control Office and I know of no connection with any firm. His salary. exclusive of allowances, is £1,720.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why postal censorship is still imposed on outgoing mail from Germany; and how many persons of British nationality are engaged in this task.

I would refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich (Mr. Paton) on 29th January. There are 48 British subjects engaged on this work.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps have been taken to secure the release of the German civilians removed by the Russians from a British military train; and how the Russians seek to justify their action.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to an incident which occurred on 26th February, when 27 Germans who were travelling in the Berlin—Bielefeld train were stopped at the interzonal border. They were not removed from the train, but were returned to Berlin in the same coach. In reply to a strong protest the Russian authorities have expressed their concern at the incident, and have stated that it was due to a misunderstanding. They have given an assurance that measures have been taken to avoid a repetition.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in conjunction with our Allies, he will set a time limit to de-Nazification.

No, Sir. We aim at completing the task this year but cannot announce a closing date.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he proposes to take to give effect to the Government's policy of socialising industry in Germany, in view of the announcement by Lieutenant-General Lucius D. Clay, American deputy military governor for Germany, that he would not allow Dr. Agartz, the social democratic chairman of the German bi-zonal economic committee, to introduce measures for socialising industry in the U.S. and British zones.

I have seen a report in the Press attributing a statement to General Clay to the effect that Dr. Agartz would not be allowed to use his newly acquired post as chairman of the German Bi-zonal Committee to introduce socialisation of industry in the American and British Zones. Socialisation of industry is no part of the fusion arrangements and so is no concern of the German bi-zonal economic committee. I can, therefore, see no objection to the statement as reported. It has no bearing on the policy of socialising industry in the British zone, which is a matter for the zone commander acting under the instructions of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when approval will be sanctioned for civilians of the Control Commission to marry German nationals, in view of the fact that on 4th December it was announced that such civilians might now so act.

As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member on the 4th December, the Commander-in-Chief in Germany has authority to permit such marriages.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will grant permission for troops of scouts and guides to be organised, under proper safeguards, in the British zone of Germany.

The matter is at present under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why it has been laid down that no machine tools may be made in Germany unless they are of antiquated design; and what use is being made of the machine tool designers in the German machine tool trade.

No such rule has been laid down in the British zone. There is however a very large surplus of machine tools in Germany and the production of new ones is therefore limited, in view of the general shortages of fuel, labour and materials.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why the general amnesty granted to members of the German armed forces born after 1st January, 1919, is not applied to pilots, navigators and aircrew of the Luftwaffe.

These men receive the same treatment as others of the same age except that, in view of their special technical knowledge which might be used against Allied interests, they are required to obtain permission before changing their address and to report to the police every three months.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the court for the trial of the 27,000 so-called war criminals under the Nuremburg findings will commence their sittings; and how soon it is planned they should complete their work.

As a result of the preliminary investigations already carried out the number of persons now in the British zone who are to be brought to trial has been reduced to some 18,900. The trials are expected to begin about the end of May and it is planned that they should be completed by the end of this year as already announced.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the limitation of shipbuilding in German shipyards today; and whether he is aware that Japanese shipyards are now being allowed to build whalers.

By the Potsdam Agreement Germany is prohibited from building sea-going ships. It has, however, been agreed by the Allied Council, that she should be allowed to build fishing trawlers. Capacity in German shipyards is also being maintained for the repair and maintenance of her coastal merchant fleet, her fishing fleet, mine sweepers, salvage and rescue vessels, and for her auxiliary craft. It has further been proposed that building of a certain number of ships should be undertaken to replace vessels of her coastal merchant fleet where necessary. The Japanese Government have been authorised to build five whale killer boats, three of 370 tons each, and two of 300 tons each.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether books and newspapers from this country are yet allowed to be sold in the British zone in Germany; and, if not, when it is expected that this will be allowed.

No books are exported from this country for retail sale in Germany and no change is contemplated in this position. Considerable quantities are, however, supplied through official channels to libraries and educational bodies and British books are printed in Germany in both English and German for internal sale. At present the "Manchester Guardian" (daily and weekly edition) is the only British newspaper on sale in the British zone. The principal British daily and Sunday newspapers are on sale in the British sector of Berlin, and I hope that they will be on sale in the British zone in the near future. It should be remembered that proceeds of sales cannot be transmitted outside Germany. Books and newspapers can, therefore, be supplied only at the expense of the Exchequer or of private interests here.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the number of primary schools, secondary schools, and universities in the British zone, and of these, how many are residential.

There are 11,618 primary schools, 623 secondary schools and six universities; of these 57 secondary schools are residential. There are also 353 intermediate schools, 2,103 technical schools and eight colleges of university standard; of these, only two of the technical schools are residential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it is proposed to increase the pay and allowances of members of the Foreign Service serving in South America to compensate them for the high cost of living in those countries.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 3rd December last to the hon. Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon). New allowances have been granted to Foreign Service officers stationed in the countries in South America and elsewhere already visited by the inspectors, and allowances for other members of the staffs concerned are under discussion with the Treasury. Tours of inspection are continuing, and the allowances of our staffs in each country will be dealt with on similar lines as soon as the inspectors are able to present reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the commencing salary and other emoluments of a married member of the diplomatic service serving in Tokyo in his first year.

The salary of a Grade 9 Foreign Service Officer in his first year is, under the new scale, £360 a year. At Tokyo a married officer would receive in addition free board and lodging and a foreign allowance of £200 a year. A deduction of £50 a year would be made for each ration supplied to his wife and children.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the constitution and powers of the European Economic Commission; the names of the countries represented on it and of the British delegates; and its terms of reference and the date when its first meeting is to be held.

The constitution and powers of the Commission will be embodied in its terms of reference which are at the moment under consideration by the Economic and Social Council. Details of its exact membership and time and place of meeting still have to be decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement upon the claim of Argentina to the possession of the Falkland Islands, in view of the recent exchange of Notes on this subject.

The Argentine has put forward claims to the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands Colony and of its Dependencies, which are not admitted by His Majesty's Government. These claims have occasioned considerable correspondence between the two Governments, and His Majesty's Ambassador addressed a note to the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs on 3rd January, 1947, rebutting the Argentine claims.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much assistance has been given to famine stricken Roumania.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the written reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Swingler) on 6th March, 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total number of staff employed in Malaya by the Special Commission for South-East Asia.

The total number of staff, including executives, office and technical staff, and junior employees, is 542.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds he justifies the withholding of the old rates of pay from T/5046839 Corporal J. T. Davies, since this man volunteered for further service on 28th April, 1946, and was not called up until 4th July, 1946, solely because of Departmental delay.

I am glad to say that it has been decided to give cases such as this—where a soldier made a written application to rejoin the Colours but was unable to do so through no fault of his own until after the introduction of the new pay code on 1st July, 1946—the benefit of the war excess rules which apply to soldiers who were serving on 3oth June and continued to serve without a break in service.

asked the Secretary of State for War, how many N.C.O.s and men are detained in Outram Road Remand Prison, Singapore; how many have not been tried; how long have they been awaiting trial; and if he is satisfied with the feeding, sanitary and other conditions of this establishment.

I am obtaining a report on this matter by cable and will communicate with my hon. Friend when it has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for War what charge is to be preferred against 7021616 Rifleman R Smith, now at Charles Ward, Northfield Military Hospital, Birmingham; and when, in view of the state of this soldier's health and of the assurance given to his mother by the officer i/c Infantry Records, Perth, on 21st February, that he anticipates he will be discharged.

This soldier was absent without leave from 10th December, 1946, to 9th January, 1947. In view of the fact that he has been recommended for discharge on medical grounds, application has been made to the competent military authority to dispose summarily of the charge outstanding against him. As soon as this has been done he will be discharged.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that adequate provision has been made to ensure a sufficient supply of seed potatoes in 1947.

Yes, Sir. As in previous years, supplies of certified seed will not be enough to satisfy all demands, but supplies of certified and once-grown seed together will be more than enough to plant the target acreage this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total British production of farm tractors for 1946; how many were released for the home requirements; and how many were exported.

I have been asked to reply. British production of farm tractors in 1946, excluding market garden types, was 28,796; of these 18,409 went to the home market, 8,787 went for commercial export and 1,600 were supplied to U.N.R.R.A.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications under the Further Education and Training Scheme have been accepted by his Department; how many have been handed over by him to the Ministries of Education and Agriculture, respectively, for the payment of grants; and to what extent there is delay in payment of grants to those who remain under the responsibility of his Department.

The number of awards made by my Department up to 28th February, 1947, is 18,000. The comparable figure for the Ministry of Education is nearly 35,000, and for the Ministry of Agriculture nearly 1,500. As regards cases appropriate to my Department, there is no delay in the payment of awards.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications have been received by prospective employers in this country for nominated Austrian women to come to the United Kingdom for domestic employment; how many of these applications have been approved; and how many Austrians have actually arrived and been engaged by hospitals and other institutions and by private employers.

No precise information is available as to the number of applications that have been made, but up to the end of February, 1,141 permits had been granted for nominated Austrian women to come to the United Kingdom for domestic employment of which 1,052 have been issued since December. I have no record of permit holders who have arrived in this country.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what claims for revised scales of pay submitted by civil servants' organisations are outstanding; what were the dates of lodging these claims; and what progress has been made in the negotiations.

The information is being collected and I will circulate it as soon as possible in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants, showing separately those of the administrative grade, were recruited during 1946; how many of these were recruited through the Civil Service Commission; and what he estimates will be the corresponding figures for 1947.

During 1946, 22,238 persons were declared successful in competitions for the permanent Civil Service conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners; of these, 252 were in the administrative class. During 1947 it is estimated that the corresponding intake will be approximately 30,300, including 250 to the administrative class. No central record is kept of temporary appointments made by Government Departments.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many men were receiving old age pensions, both contributory and non-contributory, on 30th June, 1946; how many men were receiving an old age pension at the reduced rate, owing to their continuing in employment, on 1st January, 1947; and how many men were receiving full retirement pensions on that date.

On 20th June, 1946, there were 1,440,237 contributory and 124,024 non-contributory men old age pensioners. It is estimated that on 1st January, 1947, 250,000 men between ages 65 and 70 were receiving contributory pensions at the basic rate because they had not retired from regular employment. At the same date contributory pensions at the increased rate were in payment to 370,000 men between ages 65 and 70 who had retired, and to 855,000 men over age 70 to whom the retirement condition does not apply.

asked the Prime Minister if the Inter-departmental Committee on Service Land Requirements is reviewing airfields as well as other claims; and if the forthcoming White Paper will include airfields in its scope.

This particular machinery is not being used for considering requirements for airfields but there is close consultation, and in examining total requirements the Government are taking account of airfields as well as other military land.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to lend to industry in Kettering or elsewhere 176 new mobile generators, being part of 180 which have stood idle for 12 months at Grafton Underwood aerodrome and which were recently put at the disposal of his Department by the Secretary of State for Air.

All the generating sets put at the disposal of the Board of Trade by the Air Ministry, including those referred to, have been, or are being, allocated on loan to approved firms requiring sets of the particular sizes available. Some of the sets in the hands of the Service Departments are of a small size for which there is little demand in industry.