asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on his negotiations with the football pool promoters; how much labour he estimates would be saved by re-establishing the wartime Unity Pools; and if he will give an assurance that, in the event of the industry being moved from Liverpool to another centre, he will take powers to ensure that the firms do not take their workers with them.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement about these negotiations.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements have been made to transfer the football pools headquarters from Liverpool to Malvern.

I have no information on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a recent organisation at the Ministry of Labour Training Centre at Marchwiel, Wrexham, has resulted in trainees not receiving a hot midday meal as hitherto; and if further arrangements will be made to enable a hot meal to be served to trainees in return for their weekly payment of 5s. for their meals.

A hot meals service has always been and continues to be provided at this centre. During the recent cold weather difficulties were experienced in serving the meal really hot but these difficulties have now been overcome.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange for German prisoners of war now living and working on farms in this country, who have lost all associations in Germany, or territories previously German, and who, if they were returned by the War Office to Germany for demobilisation, would become displaced persons, to register at the appropriate local office of his Department for the purpose of continuing employment as civilians on the farm where they are now employed.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeffington-Lodge) on 13th March, arrangements for this purpose are being worked out on the basis that accommodation can be provided by the farmer, and that no other suitable labour is available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the programme of releases in the Armed Forces for the second half of 1947.

The statement I made to the House on 6th November last gave a detailed release programme, by groups, for both men and women in the Services up to the end of the present month, together with a general indication of the probable releases during the months April to June, inclusive. As the House will be aware from recent announcements by the War Office and by the Air Ministry, the programme I then furnished for the Army and the R.A.F. will be somewhat improved upon by the release of additional numbers from those Services in the second quarter of this year.The following statement gives the provisional programme in detail for the period April to September, 1947, inclusive, during which the estimated number of men and women to be released and discharged will be approximately 308,750. The cumulative total from 18th June, 1945, to 30th September, 1947, will be approximately 4,717,300. The statement also indicates the release groups which it is hoped to reach by the end of 1947. As the Prime Minister reminded the House, in his statement on releases from the Forces on 26th November last, the Government's aim is to release in the present year all men called up before 1st January, 1944. This aim will be achieved under the provisional programme.I am asked by the Service Ministers to make it clear that compulsory deferment of release of individuals will continue to be necessary, and as in the past there will be some inequality in the rate of release for certain branches, categories and trades of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.The target for releases by the end of this year which I am now giving is one which we consider we shall be able to implement. If developments later on

asked the Minister of Labour whether the privilege of release for entry into the universities applies as equally to those students who have served in the mining industry as to those who have served in the Armed Forces.

Yes, Sir, provided they can be spared from their present employment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has yet received a report of the inquiry into the treatment of soldiers detained arising out of the events at Tel-el-Kebir; and if he will make a statement.

No, Sir. The inquiry will necessarily take some time owing to the necessity for a thorough probe amongst all staff connected with this incident.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the honourable Member for Uxbridge can expect a reply to the letter sent on 30th January, 1947, regarding the death of 14495466 Lance-Corporal O. E. Handscomb, for details of whose death the honourable Member first wrote on 13th February, 1946.

I wrote to my hon. Friend about this matter on 13th March.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British soldiers are stationed in Transjordania.

Only a very small number, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the rate of payment by British non-commissioned officers for requisitioned properties in Germany which they occupy; and for what purposes are any sums thus received applied by the authorities.

The rate varies between 14s. 0d. and 17s. 0d. a week according to the type of quarter. The proceeds are credited to Army Votes.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many shorthand-typists and how many copy-typists were employed by his Department at 30th November, 1946, and 28th February, 1947, respectively.

214 shorthand and 356 copy typists at 30th November; 136 shorthand and 327 copy typists at 28th February. These figures include the War Office branches at Droitwich and Liverpool. In addition, some 40 members of the War Office staff were employed partly on typing and partly on other duties at both dates.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the average amount of overtime worked by shorthand-typists and copy-typists, respectively, in his Department during February.

None, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the average length of time which elapsed during December, 1946, January, 1947, and February, 1947, between the receipt of letters from Members of Parliament and the sending of final replies.

22 days, 30 days and 23 days respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War for how many officers there is accommodation in the War Office mess at Woolwich; and how many officers are living there now

There will be accommodation for 168 officers in this mess when it is complete. At present 14 officers are living in it, but the remaining accommodation will be filled as work on it is finished.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give the present charges levied on officers and other ranks of B.T.A., respectively, for rent, fuel and light when living with their families in Austria; and whether these charges are based on the amounts actually received by the Austrian house-owners and fuel and light undertakings for these services, or on some other considerations, and, if the latter, what are those considerations.

The charges vary according to the type of accommodation. For furnished accommodation the charges are for officers from £80 to £175 a year, and for other ranks from 14s. to 23s. a week. For fuel and light the charges are for officers from £26 to £70 a year and for other ranks from 4s. 3d. to 8s. 10d. a week. These charges are based on the charges which are made for similar quarters in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of the total strength of the Army, as at present planned, will be Infantry, Armoured Corps, Artillery, Engineers and Signals, respectively; and if these percentages will be approximately the same between 1st April 1947, and 31st March, 1948.

I regret that it would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 14972217 Lance-Corporal T. Willis, D.L.I. H.Q. 10 British Infantry Brigade, British Forces, Greece, who has been with this unit since November, 1945, is not being permitted to take his L.I.A.P., whilst many men who arrived a considerable time after this man are being given home leave before him.

Owing to shipping difficulties, it is not usually possible to despatch personnel on L.I.A.P. immediately they become eligible. Soldiers serving in Greece and other parts of the Middle East normally receive L.I.A.P. between their 16th and 10th month overseas. Lance-Corporal Willis may, therefore, expect to be given L.I.A.P. between now and next July. As regards the last part of the Question, the men referred to may well have had longer total overseas service than Lance-Corporal Willis, although they may have arrived in Greece after him.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the numbers and percentage of men called up to the Army in 1946 allocated to each arm of the Service.

The details are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the precise purpose for which his Department is now using hutments in Gunnersbury Park, W.4; and when he expects to find alternative accommodation and thus free these hutments for use as housing.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ealing (Mr. J. Hudson) on 3rd December. I hope that it may be possible to find alternative accommodation by the end of July, though I cannot make any promise. Whether or not the hutments can then be released will depend on whether the site is likely to be required for anti-aircraft defence purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will withdraw from military officers, at Command H.Q., the power to sign notices for the taking of land under the provisions of Regulation 52 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939.

The officer in charge of administration at a Command Headquarters has authority only to renew orders made under Defence Regulation 52. Any proposal to use new land is submitted to the War Office. I do not consider that any change in this procedure is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will sympathetically reconsider the present disciplinary regulations regarding fraternisation by prisoners of war in this country, with a view to securing that undue publicity and excessive punishment shall be avoided and other means be pursued to secure restraints where these are necessary.

Most careful consideration was given to these disciplinary regulations before their introduction, and I do not regard them as unduly severe Although sensational publicity in connecton with these cases is to be deprecated, my hon. Friend will no doubt agree that it would not be desirable to attempt to exclude the public or the Press from trials by military courts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are his proposals for the repatriation of Rumanian and other nationals who served, voluntarily or under compulsion, with the enemy forces and are now held as German prisoners of war.

Prisoners of war whose non-German nationality can firmly be established and against whom no special security charges lie, can be and are being released for repatriation to the authorities of the countries concerned. Distinction is however made between ex-enemy and other nationals, in that the former must, subject to transport and administrative requirements which might necessitate movement in bulk, await the date at which they would otherwise be repatriated to Germany within their Group, whereas the latter are released as soon as the authorities of the countries concerned state their readiness to receive them. An exception to this rule is, however, made in the case of Austrian nationals, almost all of whom have already been repatriated.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the names of the industrial plants near the prisoners-of-war camp at Aston Abbotts in which prisoners of war are employed, together with the number employed in each of these plants.

The latest available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the desire of the town council of Paisley, expressed to him some time ago, to have an allocation of Atholl steal houses and of his inability at that time to grant

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of new houses permitted to be built in each of the burghs in East Fife under the new regulations of his Department, showing in the case of each burgh the number of houses which the burgh had previously intended to build.

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate; it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Yes, Sir. A further programme of Atholl steel houses is being arranged, and it is proposed that 200 should be built in Paisley.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the War Damage Commission will now make payments in urgent cases of damage.

As I have already stated, I propose that value payments shall be made this year. Cost-of-works payments are made when the work is done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of dollars will be involved as the result of the grant by his Department of an import licence to Sperry Gyroscope, Limited, to enable them to bring into this country radar equipment manufactured in the U.S.A. for the purpose of fulfilling a £30,000 contract placed with them by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.

No such licence has been granted, and so far as can be traced no application for such a licence has been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now allow import licences for similar quantities of magnesium chloride as those allowed for magnesite in view of the fact that approximately equal quantities of each are required for magnesite flooring.

No, Sir. Magnesium chloride is produced in large quantities in the United Kingdom and, on balance of payment grounds, substantial imports cannot be justified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the making of an order whereby the retailers of goods subject to Purchase Tax shall on all price tickets show the amount of tax payable, separately.

I do not think the hon. Member's suggestion is practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state the Government's plan for the industrial development of North Wales and, in particular, to deal with the special problems of Blaenau Festiniog, Merionethshire.

My right hon. and learned Friend has replied to the North Wales Development Council and has sent my hon. Friend a copy of his letter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new private motor cars were imported from France during 1946; what was their total value; what different makes of motor car were included; and to whom, and for what reason, were the import licences granted.

Three licences to import new motor cars from France to a total value of approximately £2,450 were granted during 1946. I am communicating the makes of car, the names of the importers and the special reasons for the importation direct to my hon. Friend.

asked toe President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking, in conjunction with the other Ministers concerned, to ensure that the recommendations of the Barlow Report, which emphasise the undesirability of large communities being heavily committed to one specialist or particular type of industry or vocation, are progressively applied to the city of Portsmouth with a view to a more balanced and secure economy being achieved there.

While Portsmouth's economy is heavily committed to one particular type of industry, the town is, by reason of other activities, less vulnerable to unemployment than many manufacturing towns throughout the country, particularly in the Development Areas, upon the solution of whose problems the Board of Trade must concentrate at the present time. The Board, however, are giving assistance, in conjunction with the other Departments concerned, in the repair and rebuilding of industrial and commercial premises destroyed or damaged by enemy action, which is the first task in repairing the town's economy. Approval has also been given to the construction of several new factories and extensions which will provide additional employment in the town.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new factories have been constructed in each of the development areas from 31st July, 1945, to 28th February, 1947; and what is the number of men and women employed in these factories for each development area.

Between 31st July, 1945, and 28th February, 1947, 13 new factories have been completed, or so far completed that the firms are in occupation, in the North-Eastern development area, three in West Cumberland, four in South Wales, and 16 in the Scottish development area, making a total of 36. The latest returns available show that a total of 1,537 men and 948 women were employed in these factories: 466 men and 485 women in the North-East, 50 men and 117 women in West Cumberland, 170 men and 30 women in South Wales, and 851 men and 316 women in the Scottish Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will permit Service clothing coupons to be used for the purchase of all types of civilian clothes.

No, Sir. Such a concession would be unfair to the civilian. I would, however, refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Mr. G. Jeger) on 13th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that it is still almost impossible to obtain gas mantles in Birmingham; and what further steps he is taking to ease the position.

The position has not changed materially since the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Burslem (Mr. Edward Darcey) on 27th January. The output of mantles is improving in spite of seven days' loss of production through the recent power cuts, but there is still a general scarcity throughout the country and considerable arrears of demand remain to be overtaken. The number of mantles sent to the Birmingham gas undertaking and wholesalers in the last four weeks was well up to the average distributed throughout the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many electric generators have been exported to Spain since the end of the war; what conditions were imposed by His Majesty's Government as to the use of these generators in Spain; whether he is aware that one such generator is now being used by the 46th Artillery Regiment based on Vitoria; and what action he intends to take in view of this use of British exports for military purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of electricity generating plant exported to Spain during 1946; and what is the quantity on order to be supplied during the current year.

No electrical equipment was exported to Spain in 1945; 2,274 tons were exported in 1946, together with 38 tons of spare parts and 48 tons in January, 1947. I regret that figures are not available in terms of kilowatt capacity. This equipment was sold to Spain through normal commercial channels, and I have no information about the purpose for which it may now be used. No orders have at present been received for turbo-generators of a heavy type; I have no information about orders which may have been placed with manufacturers for smaller types.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of the fact that the importation of certain publications from Eire is prohibited, he does not take similar steps in respect of the importation of publications of the same type from the U.S.A.

No imports of new periodicals of whatever type are being permitted, either from Eire or from the U.S.A.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of British exports in 1946 were surplus Government stocks.

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of British exports in 1946 were to N.A.A.F.I. and U.N.R.R.A.

These exports were not recorded separately prior to June, 1946. For the period June to December, 1946, exports to N.A.A.F.I. and U.N.R.R.A. were just under 5 per cent. of the total.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a shortage of sheets and blankets in Crediton; and whether he will take steps to improve the supply.

I fear that recent interruptions in production may affect supplies to many areas. The Board of Trade Regional Distribution Officers are watching the position in the shops, and I will see that Crediton is visited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of Australian tobacco have been imported into this country in the last three years; and what arrangements have been made for future imports.

No tobacco has been imported into this country from Australia in the last three years and no special arrangements have been made for future imports. Australia herself imports very much more tobacco than the small amount she produces.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to replace the parts of the Everall sectional railway bridges presented recently to the Polish Government, a part of which was lost at sea on the voyage out.

I fear that for supply reasons replacement is not practicable. The material in question formed part of a gift to the Polish Government out of surplus stores, and replacement parts are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the effect on our economy and trade of President Truman's announcement regarding the gift of £100,000,000 to Greece and Turkey; and, in particular, if it will have the effect of removing those countries from the sterling area and converting them into hard currency areas.

President Truman's proposals for aid to Greece and Turkey still await action by the Congress, and it would be premature for me to make a statement at this stage. As regards the last part of the Question, Greece and Turkey are not within the sterling area and our monetary relations with them would not be affected by an American gift.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories approved for development areas are intended for the production of mining machinery; and how many of them are already engaged in production.

Four factories and extensions have been approved for the production of mining machinery in the development areas. One has been completed and is in production. In addition to these four projects, one Government factory has been allocated for this type of production on the North East coast, one in West Cumberland, and one in South Wales. There are four further projects which have been approved for the production and repair of open-cast coal mining equipment in South Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many charitable organisations in Cornwall have been disturbed by a report that alterations have been made with regard to giving coupons at jumble sales, etc.; and if he will confirm that no such alterations have taken place.

The position is the same as it always has been since the beginning of clothes rationing. Under the Consumer Rationing Order, anyone conducting a bazaar or sale of work is required to take the appropriate number of coupons when rationed goods are supplied. Re-made garments are not exempt from coupons

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware that, after six months' correspondence, Mr. J. E. Chapman was granted permission by the Louth Town Council, on 24th January, 1947, to erect a workshop in the town in which to earn his living; that subsequently his Department has been asked, on three occasions, for confirmation but that no acknowledgment has been received; and if he will give sanction forthwith and consider eliminating this further sanction once a responsible local authority has investigated and approved a scheme.

My right hon. Friend is aware of this case. I should explain that once a permission has been granted by the interim development authority, the developer is entitled to proceed without further sanction. Under Section 4 of the 1943 Act, however, an interim development permission may be revoked or modified by an Order made by the interim development authority with the consent of the Minister, or the Minister may himself give directions requiring the authority to submit an Order for his consent. In the present case, the Joint Planning Committee asked my right hon. Friend to consider intervention, but he decided that the circumstances did not call for such action and has notified the authorities concerned accordingly.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he will instruct his representatives throughout the country to take into account the essential requirements of farming when considering the location of agricultural cottages, and if he will discontinue insisting that they all be built in groups.

My Department's Regional Officers are already aware of the need to take account of essential farming requirements in the siting of agricultural workers' cottages. As regards the second part of the Question, while it is the Government's policy to ensure, so far as practicable, that houses for farm workers shall be built in villages which provide, or are capable of providing, community facilities, it is recognised that there may be cases where it is necessary for workers to live close to the farm.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will state the number of applications received at White-haven, Cleator Moor and Millom employment exchanges' for standard benefit arising out of his recent decision; how many applications were conceded; and how many are at the latest date available in receipt of unemployment assistance pay.

I assume my hon. Friend refers to applications for unemployment benefit under the National Insurance (Extension of Unemployment Benefit) Regulations, 1946. I am informed that the number of applications received up to 13th March, 1947, at the employment exchanges of Whitehaven, Cleator Moor and Millom were 203, 205 and 8 respectively, and the numbers admitted were 195, 183 and 8. The numbers of persons in receipt of unemployment assistance (excluding supplementation of benefit) at 13th March, were 22, 54 and none.

asked the Minister of National Insurance why the applications of Mr. Reynolds, 45, Cannon Lane, Culcheth, Lancashire, a member of the Beamers, Twisters and Drawers Society, No. 43484648, for a pension have been ignored; and if he is aware that Mr. Reynolds retired from work at the end of September, 1946, and gave notice of such retirement three months before that time and is now aged 69 years.

A pension book at the increased rate is now in the hands of the area officer of the Assistance Board for delivery to Mr. Reynolds.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is aware that Mrs. A. J. Bennett, a widow, of Saleby Rectory, near Alford, has written to his Department on many occasions over the last five months about her pension, and has received no adequate reply; and if he will have the matter investigated and remedied without further delay.

Inquiries are being made into this case, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what proportion of families entitled to children's allowances have failed to draw them.

The total number of families entitled to draw allowances under the family allowances scheme is not precisely known. It is estimated that up to the present date about 93 per cent. of the families initially entitled have received awards and belated claims are still coming in.

asked the Minister of Defence the numbers of civilian stokers and batmen employed in the Services; and whether he will consider their replacement by Service personnel and so release the civilians for employment outside the Services.

The figures are not readily available and could not be obtained without considerable expenditure of time and labour. The distribution of the duties between Service men and civilians varies to some extent according to the local manpower availability. We could not replace the civilians by Service men without increasing the manpower requirements of the Forces, and it does not follow that this rearrangement would ease the civilian manpower situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that men now being released from the Forces and who might otherwise return to agricultural employment are being engaged at R.A.F. stations as stokers and batmen and are being classified as civilian employees; and if he will make arrangements that the work they are called upon to do should be carried out by R.A.F. personnel and so release them for civilian work.

I cannot say how many men who have been released from the Forces and are now employed by my Department as stokers or batmen would otherwise be working in agriculture. I am anxious that we should be as economical as possible in our use of manpower, but I do not think there would be any saving if we adopted the suggestion in the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's Question. If we dismissed these civilian workers, we should have to recruit at least an equal number of uniformed men to take their place.

asked the Minister of Defence whether it is intended that the Mi of Supply shall be responsible for the procurement and supply of stores to the Admiralty to the utmost possible extent consistent with optimum efficiency; and what was the proportion of these stores handled by the Ministry of Supply for the 12 months ended December,1938, the average during the war years and for the 12 months ended December, 1946.

Yes, Sir, this is the present practice. I regret that the information requested in the second part of the Question is not available, but it is estimated that, during the current financial year, of the total requirement of stores for the Royal Navy, including aircraft, approximately two-thirds by value will be obtained through the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when 1514957 L.A.C. A. Sunderland, who was demobilised on 30th December, 1946, will receive the £14 19s. 6d. balance of his pay account.

Mr. Sunderland has already been paid £ 6s. 0d. of the balance of his pay account, and the remainder will be paid within the next few days.

asked the Minister of Works what is the allocation of labour as between housing and industry in the building trades; and whether the construction of a new electricity station and erection of new plant will entail the withdrawal of men from housing and the erection of other factories and business premises in the Plymouth area.

The proportions of the labour force in the building and civil engineering industry allocated to housing and non-housing work are 60 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively for the country as a whole, but is subject to local variations. The target allocation agreed for Plymouth is 70 per cent. for housing and 30 per cent. for other work. The construction of an electricity station at Princes Rock is included in the agreed programme of non-housing work, and should not therefore be detrimental to housing in that programme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what special provisions he is making to ensure the complete collection of all the crops in 1947.

A number of labour supply measures are being taken to assist the agricultural industry to cope with the 1947 harvest. These include the maintenance of the Women's Land Army, the employment of foreign labour, including prisoners of war, and the provision of harvest assistance from volunteers, schoolchildren and the Services. The call-up of the main classes of farm workers is suspended.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now estimate the losses in cattle, sheep and lambs in the county of Denbigh during the recent severe conditions.

I have arranged to obtain information about losses of livestock as soon as conditions permit, but I am advised that a reliable estimate cannot be made for a few weeks.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that electric light and power have been cut off, without warning, several times a day in the extreme West of Dorsetshire during the past week or 10 days; and if he will ensure that in future such cuts are reduced to a minimum and that adequate warning is given on each occasion so as to avoid serious inconvenience to consumers and particularly to farmers who use electricity for milking purposes.

I am informed that, apart from load shedding lasting 15 minutes on the morning of 3rd March, the interruptions in supply to which the hon. Member refers were caused by bad weather and no warning could therefore be given.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will investigate and direct any necessary experiments to test the possibilities of underground gasification of coal, particularly in any closed pits which are not excessively flooded.

Underground gasification ref coal and the possibilities of developing the process in Great Britain have been examined by the Departments concerned. They have recently submitted a report which my right hon. Friend is considering.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will publish figures showing how many men in the mining industry are employed underground on hewing coal at the face and on haulage and other work, respectively, and on the surface on screening and haulage and on other work, respectively; and what numbers of surface workers are trained to work underground but permanently prevented from doing so owing to disability.

The occupational classification of coal miners employed underground is given in the Statistical Digest which my right hon. Friend presents annually to Parliament (Table 147, Cmd. 6920). The particulars relating to surface workers asked for are not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is aware of the expense and delay caused by the necessity of members of aircraft crews obtaining visas when flying through Europe and Africa; and if arrangements will be made for regular crews of aircraft to be granted, say, a six months' visa as in the case of Sweden.

I have been asked to reply.The Interim Council of the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organisation have recommended as a "Standard" (this is "any requirement, procedure or practice in respect of which a high degree of international uniformity is desirable and likely to be attainable") that no visas shall be required on any general declaration or any passenger or cargo manifest of any airline. Recommendations thus approved by the Interim Council are directed to Member States for adoption in accordance with Article XIII, Section 3 of the Interim Agreement on International Civil Aviation signed at Chicago on the 7th December, 1944, which provides that the Member states shall apply such recommendations as rapidly as possible in their national civil aviation practices.Aircrews of foreign air navigation lines arriving in this country are not required, except in the case of Russia, to obtain visas. When an aircrew arrives in this country, a temporary discharge is issued by the immigration authorities which allows the members of the aircrew freedom to leave the airport and to move about the country without restriction, on the understanding that their stay will not exceed a few days.The foregoing does not apply to charter companies or private companies, and it is understood that with a few exceptions, e.g., France, foreign countries do not grant any special facilities either.The information available with regard to British aircrews on regular services to countries in Europe and Africa is as follows:

asked the Minister of Education whether it has been decided to erect a planetarium; and what is the estimated cost.

This matter has been and remains under active consideration, but I must point out that owing to present demands on building it will not be possible to erect suitable premises for some time to come. Inquiries into the possibility of obtaining a planetarium instrument from German or other sources are proceeding, but I cannot give an estimate of cost at this stage.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many Servicemen were discharged suffering from idiopathic epilepsy both during the war and since the cessation of the war.

The total number is a little over 15,000.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will accord a measure of priority in the allocation of new load-carrying vehicles to firms engaged in food distribution.

The allocation of load-carrying vehicles is handled by the manufacturers, who are aware of the claims of the distributive side of essential industries such as coal, building materials and foodstuffs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Miss Anne Mary Alpers, 22a Krefeld Traar, Hans Kemmerhof, British Zone, Germany, has been waiting for over three months for a reply to her application for a passport, which was made to the Passport Control Office, Room 222, York House, Berlin; and what steps he proposes to take to expedite the working of this office and to arrange for the issue of this particular passport.

The Passport Control Officer, Berlin, has no trace of any application from a Miss Anne Mary Alpers but a Miss Anna Louise Albers applied to the Headquarters, Military Governor, Krefeld, for an exit permit for the purpose of marriage to a resident in the United Kingdom. This exit permit was submitted on 28th February to the Passport Control Officer to consider whether a visa for the United Kingdom could be granted. The Passport Control Officer is still awaiting her parents' consent to her marriage, which is required as she is a minor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the names and addresses of all places in the county of Sussex where experiments on living animals are conducted; and the number of experiments performed at each with and without anesthetics, separately, during 1946.

I am sending my hon. Friend the particulars for which he asks in the first part of the Question, but the information asked for in the second part is not tabulated on a geographical basis.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, due to the failure of providing appropriate labour for the manufacture of wall ties, accepted orders cannot be completed under from 10 to 12 months at the earliest, and the substitutes are nothing like as satisfactory; and if he is taking any special action to overcome this bottleneck.

I am not in a position to add to the answer given on 13th February. If, however, the hon. Member has any particular type of tie in mind, I will have the matter examined.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that because of infirmity many old age pensioners are unable to stand in queues or go far field to shop for unrationed foodstuffs; and whether he will therefore consider granting to old age pensioners living alone some increase in the fats and sugar rations.

I fully appreciate the difficulties experienced by the old and infirm, but I regret that it would not be possible to vary the rations according to the size of the household, in order to give more to those who live alone.

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of salvaged evaporated milk was sold each month for the past three months to the Ice Cream Alliance; what price is charged for a case of 48 tins; and how this compares with the wholesale price of normal evaporated milk.

Sales to the Alliance were 48 tons 10 cwts. in December, 1946, 35 tons 19 cwts. in January, 1947, and 75 tons 18 cwts. in February, 1947. The price charged to the Alliance was 26s. 8d. per case ex-store. The wholesale price of normal evaporated milk is 29s. 9d. per case delivered.

asked the Minister of Food, whether, in view of the inconvenience caused to citizens of Chiswick, particularly the aged and infirm, by the present location of the local food office, he will provide and staff a temporary structure upon land at the rear of the Chiswick Clinic, in order that the borough council may distribute milk and other foods from this more central point; and when he expects this temporary structure and the staff to be available.

Welfare foods for expectant mothers and children under school age, with the exception of national dried milk, are already distributed by the Borough Council from the Chiswick Clinic. I do not feel justified in recommending the erection of a special building for use as a welfare foods distribution centre, but I am looking into the question of improved arrangements for distribution in the Chiswick area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that there is a shortage in the piped water supply in Barbados; and what steps have been taken to implement the report of the geologist, Dr. Senn, last April.

Yes, Sir, I am aware that there is a temporary water shortage, due to the low rainfall in recent years. The working capacity of the pumping station which operates in the underground sheet water area, where there is adequate water, has been expanded to supply reservoirs which serve Bridgetown. Reserve stocks are now being accumulated and it is expected that adequate water will be available within a few weeks at all points of the piped supply. In accordance with Dr. Senn's report, on underground water resources, which is about to be published locally, the hydraulic and electrical engineer on the staff of the Comptroller for Development and Welfare is now framing recommendations for future water policy.

asked the Minister of Food on what grounds Bruces', Limited, chemists, of Canterbury Road, Hawkinge, Kent were, in view of the difficulty of obtaining soap in the village, refused an allocation of soap for retail sale.

I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Member that an allocation of soap was granted to this firm on 26th February.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the interests of the efficient operation of the L.P.T.B., a full-time vice-chairman, general manager and chief engineer have yet been appointed.

No appointments have yet been made, but the matter is under active consideration.