asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the employees of Short Brothers will be called upon to obtain residence permits to reside in Northern Ireland; and if they will be under an obligation to renew these residence permits every six months and to notify the police in Northern Ireland when they wish to change their address.

In accordance with the Residence in Northern Ireland (Restriction) Order, 1942, employees of Short Brothers, who were not resident in Northern Ireland immediately before 1st January, 1940, will require permits to reside in Northern Ireland, but it is proposed that so long as they remain in the employment of that firm they should not be required to apply for renewal of their permits or to notify changes of address to the police.

Will the Home Secretary say if the Northern Ireland Government have refused to renew the residence permit of an Englishman who is self-employed, and thus not depriving any Ulsterman of employment? Would he say if the Northern Ireland authorities can deport an Englishman as an undesirable alien if he has not a residence permit, bearing in mind that Ulster is part of the United Kingdom?

The original Question relates to employees of Messrs. Short Brothers. I cannot give an answer to the general questions put by my hon. Friend without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the employees of Messrs. Short Brothers will be disfranchised as not being residents in Great Britain and not having the residence qualification in Northern Ireland; that they will not be entitled to vote under the Franchise Acts; and what steps he is taking to preserve the rights of these men.

My hon. Friend appears to have been misinformed. The requirement of residence permits does not affect the eligibility of persons resident in Northern Ireland to be registered as voters either for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament or to the Parliament of Northern Ireland.

Is it not a fact that there is a seven years' residence qualification?

Not according to my information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that Patrick McBrien, a native of County Fermanagh, has already undergone 7½ years' imprisonment in Parkhurst gaol, of a sentence of 15 years imposed on him in 1939 in connection with I.R.A. bombings in Coventry and Birmingham and, considering that this man is now 68 years of age, if he will take steps to remit the remainder of his sentence and order his release forthwith.

I have carefully considered all the circumstances of this case, but I regret that I do not feel justified in recommending any interference with the sentence which the court thought fit to impose. The case will, however, like all cases of persons sentenced to long terms of penal servitude, be subject to further review from time to time.

As this man was over 60 years of age at the time of his trial, and according to my information—

The hon. Member must ask a question and not make a speech.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this man was over 60 years of age at the time? As, according to my information, no definite charge was made against him, because he acted foolishly with a number of young fellows, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision in this case?

I took into consideration the fact of this man's age, and the fact that he was acting with people younger than himself when the crime was committed. I had also to bear in mind that this man had been in trouble before this offence was committed.

In view of the fact that the offences for which this man and the others are in prison have now completely ceased, would it not be desirable to release those men?

No, Sir. I do not think it can be thought that, in this type of offence, the mere fact that we have caught all the offenders is any ground for releasing those who have been sentenced.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in similar cases in Eire and Northern Ireland, even in cases definitely proved, the Governments of those countries have released those prisoners? Would he take some similar action in this case?

I have these cases before me from time to time. As and when it appears that the offence has been purged, I release the prisoner. But I have not come to the conclusion that I should be justified in doing that in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the difficulties of Northern Ireland employers, principally farmers, in retaining the services of their employees from Eire, as a result of the Northern Ireland Ministry's refusal to grant renewals of residence permits; and now that there is a demand for increased production in agriculture and other spheres of employment, if he will take immediate steps to bring to an end the operation of the Residence Permits (Transitional) Order, 1942.

It is because there are some thousands of local agricultural workers unemployed in Northern Ireland at present that residence permits are not being renewed for Eire workers who came into Northern Ireland during the war; and this situation is a consideration in favour of the continuance rather than the ending of the Order.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as in the case of the refugees from Shanghai, so in the case of refugees from Eire, there is not always room for them?

I am very anxious to say nothing that would exacerbate feeling between the two parts of Ireland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that no such Order exists in any part of the British Empire? Is it not very unfair that an Order debarring Irishmen from going from one part of Ireland to live in another should be tolerated, in view of the fact that there is no necessity for the Order, and in view of the fact that this is a time when we are called upon to have increased production in industry—

This is a speech, not a Question.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the need to save domestic fuel he has issued instructions to local authorities to incorporate fuel-saving types of domestic fire-grates and appliances in all permanent houses now being built or which will be built in future in all parts of the country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the chapter on "The Heat Installation" in the Housing Manual, 1944, and to Circular 112/46, Appendix A, issued to local authorities, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a considerable amount of research has been undertaken, by such bodies as the Coal Utilisation Council, into the design of suitable grates which ensure a considerable saving of coal, and could not some steps be taken to make quantities of those grates available for our housing schemes at the present time?

If my hon. Friend reads the circular, I think he will find that most of these suggestions have been adopted, but if, after reading it, he has anything further to say, I shall be happy to consider it.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the present shortage of fuel, which is likely to continue for some years, he will issue suggestions or instructions to local authorities as to means of conserving heat in houses they are building or proposing to build.

I would refer my hon. Friend to a circular issued to local authorities on 3rd September last, of which I am sending him a copy.

Has my hon. Friend taken note of all the special arrangements, such as double windows and so on, which are used in Scandinavia, Switzerland, and other cold countries?

Those points have been considered by my Department.

Do the Government accept the hypothesis contained in this Question?

asked the Minister of Health whether the Maycrete prefabricated bungalow which is being exported to Holland in considerable quantities is suitable or can be adapted for rural Britain; and whether the rural district councils will be enabled to make use of this type of bungalow to meet their urgent housing needs.

There is no proof as yet, on the evidence available, that this system can provide satisfactory permanent dwellings. There are other prefabricated systems of tested endurance available to rural districts, in particular the Airey house, which has been specially designed for them.

In view of the need for additional houses in agricultural areas at the present time, and of the need that will arise in certain parts of the country as the result of the floods, would it not be advisable to make these houses available to this country, rather than to export them to Holland, together with all their fittings?

I am sure that my hon. Friend would not expect me to agree that we should support the use of houses about whose endurance powers we are not satisfied.

Could they not be used as a temporary remedy, because the shortage is serious?

I am not satisfied that we should use our resources in this way when other methods, of which I have already given an indication, are open to us.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this type of house has stood the test, and would really be very useful if adopted?

My information is all to the contrary.

Will my hon. Friend look at this again, with a view to seeing whether these houses can be used immediately in this country, rather than exported?

asked the Minister. of Health if he will withdraw his regulation that there must be four habitations built by a local authority for every one built by a private individual when agricultural cottages are under consideration.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 25 and 26 of the White Paper on the Housing Programme for 1947. My right hon Friend is ready to consider special cases on merits.

In view of the terrific loss caused in the rural areas due to this regulation, and the inability of local authorities to provide houses for private individuals, will the hon. Gentleman not abandon this regulation for rural areas, and allow them to get the houses for people to live in?

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the best way of providing the maximum number of houses is by providing the greater number to let.

asked the Minister of Health if the increased maximum price of £1,300 for houses built by private builders outside the London region will apply to houses not commenced before 25th February, and not only to those not licensed before that date.

Conditions which have been attached to a licence already issued cannot be varied, but where a licence is no longer valid, because building has not started within the prescribed time limit of two months, it would be open to a local authority to vary the conditions in issuing a new licence.

Will not my hon. Friend go a little further and adopt the suggestion made in the Question, in view of the fact that building costs will be the same in both cases?

I am sorry that I cannot agree to the suggestion in terms, but since, in fact, it is unlikely that very much new housebuilding has been started in the recent weather, I think there is a chance for builders, with good will on the part of the local authorities, to put themselves right.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent his Department assists local authorities to meet the extra cost incurred by their building contractors in the direct haulage of bricks, as opposed to rail and local haulage, when railways are unable to handle the traffic.

There are no funds at the disposal of my right hon. Friend from which any such contribution could be made.

asked the Minister of Health whether his estimate to build 240,000 permanent houses in 1947 still holds good; or whether he will be issuing a revised estimate.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 13th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Acton (Mr. Sparks), of which I am sending him a copy.

Does not the hon. Gentleman consider that at this period the nation should be given some overall figure of the houses which the Minister thinks he can produce, in view of the recent crisis?

It is far too soon to attempt to form any such estimate.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that local authorities all over the country have been told to cut down their estimates very largely? Is it not time that we got some idea of the Government's intentions with regard to the housing position?

asked the Minister of Health if he authorised the requisitioning of a house in Wellington-Hill West, in the Henleaze suburb of Bristol, previously occupied by a Mrs. Rosina Ann Cornock.

This house was requisitioned by the clerk to the local authority in the exercise of powers which my right hon. Friend has delegated to him.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this woman was on trial for her life and was an expectant mother, with the responsibilities which that entails? Was it not rather hard to take her house away before it was known whether she was innocent or guilty?

The house in question was vacant and unoccupied, and the lady in question had removed her furniture before the requisitioning took place.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, at a special meeting, on 7th February, of the Regional Building Committee, the principal housing officer stated that the allocation of houses to be completed by the local authorities in the south-western region during 1947 would be considerably less than the original programme, the programme of the three areas of special need, Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth, being substantially reduced; that the allocation of houses to be approved in the region during 1947 was fixed; and whether he will now state the figures for the original programme and the 1947 programme, and recognise the special need of Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth by adding to the labour force there, to ensure a substantial increase in the houses constructed during the next 12 months.

No, Sir. The statement made was that it would not be possible to make the substantial addition to the programmes upon which local authorities were already engaged which most of them were apparently contemplating. I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 22 of the White Paper on the Housing Programme for 1947 and to the circular to local authorities on the subject, a copy of which I am sending him. Individual programmes are examined with representatives of the local authorities at zonal conferences, having regard to the contracts already let, and to the labour likely to be available. I am informed that agreement on the programme practicable was reached at the Plymouth conference. The Exeter and Bristol conferences are being held in the near future.

While thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for the information which he has given us, I would ask him whether, in view of the almost intolerable worry of housing in the specially blitzed areas, he will keep under constant review in the next few weeks the possibility of helping them in some special way, as is merited by their exceptional difficulties?

I am at the present time giving special attention to the problem to which the hon. and learned Member refers.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain how he can decide the number of houses which a local authority can build when, in answer to a previous question, he could not say how many houses the nation as a whole could build?

asked the Minister of Health what weight of streptomycin is being manufactured each month in Britain; and what type of clinical trials are now being carried out by the Medical Research Council on the treatment of tuberculosis.

The present production is very small, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply hopes that by June it will be about 250 grammes per month. The Medical Research Council has organised clinical trials at selected hospitals in certain types of tuberculosis cases.

Is my hon. Friend aware that our civilisation will be judged by the care we take of our sick, and, therefore, by this type of work, rather than by the possession of motor cars, refrigerators, or how many of us chew gum?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that 80 beds have been closed at the King Edward VII Memorial Sanatorium at Hertford Hill, near Warwick; that this is the only tuberculosis sanatorium for Warwickshire; and what action he is taking to increase the staff in this and similar institutions.

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service are doing all they can to help. Eight male student nurses have joined the staff of Hertford Hill since December, and more can be sent as soon as living accommodation is ready.

Is the Minister aware that this is precisely similar to the reply I received to a similar Question 18 months ago, and does he not agree that it is about time something was done in this important matter?

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to implement the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Rag Flocks Act as contained in Cmd. 6866.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Sharp) on 25th November last.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary think that he or his Department are sufficiently sensitive to the fact that the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Rag Flocks Act made 40 recommendations referring to manufacture, storage and the use of rag flock and other fillings? Is he aware that those recommendations arose out of the alleged infectious, contagious and distressing afflictions to which humanity is apparently heir? Is he also aware that humanity spends one-third of its time in physical contact with these materials in sleeping or sitting, and will he give close attention to implementing those regulations?

Speech.

I do not see how the Parliamentary Secretary can be expected to answer a supplementary question of that length.

It is a maiden speech.

asked the Minister of Health approximately how many girls of 16 years of age and under have been engaged for nursing duties by public authorities; and what advice regarding the employment of young girls for this purpose has been given to public authorities responsible for hospitals and similar institutions.

Figures are not available, but the practice is not widespread. The Athlone Committee recommended that no girl under 17 should be employed in hospital wards. The Committee's Report was brought to the attention of local authorities.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in some areas quite a number of these young girls under 16 years of age are employed by public authorities, and can he do nothing to see that they are not given unsuitable or too hard jobs?

I deprecate the practice, and the Minister's view has been brought to the notice of local authorities.

My hon. Friend says that he has not got the figures. Would he mind trying to obtain them, because he would find that the practice is widespread in these days, when it is difficult to get nurses? These girls ought not to be seeing the unsuitable and distressing sights to which some of them are subjected.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether these young girls are given any training to fit them to become qualified nurses, or are they simply in blind-alley jobs?

That is an entirely different question. The point is that it is not desirable for girls of this age to be employed in hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health (1), what representations the board of management of the Doncaster Royal Infirmary have ever made to him or his regional officers to seek powers or financial assistance to acquire the St. George's Private Nursing Home, Doncaster, either to be used by this institution or to retain this nursing home as a potential part of the national hospital service; what was his reply; and whether these representations were made prior to or since the announcement that the owner intended to sell the premises to the National Coal Board;

(2) at what price the St. George's Private Nursing Home was offered to the public health authorities of Doncaster or the West Riding County Council as an addition to their hospital services; whether the institution was inspected by any of the officials of the respective local authorities; and what decision or action was taken by either authority on the offer.

I understand that the Coal Board entered into a contract to purchase the premises on 17th February. On nth March the hospital asked my right hon. Friend to support their proposal to keep the premises in hospital use. I have told them I am in communication with the Coal Board.

Will my hon. Friend ask his right hon. Friend to urge the Coal Board, whoever owns the premises now, to let these premises to the board of management of the Doncaster Irfirmary or the local hospital, so that we can continue to use this particular institution for this very urgent need in this area?

I can assure my hon. Friend that his view will be carefully considered.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that work on behalf of the Coal Board has started on part of these premises, while the other part still has patients in it?

That does not matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the success of modern methods of treatment of congenital deafness in the very young, he will take steps to make compulsory the notification of this defect as soon as it is recognised by parents or by medical practitioners.

No, Sir. Notifications could not reasonably be required owing to the difficulties of early diagnosis, even if it could legally be made compulsory.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that modern methods have achieved great success with very young children in earlier diagnosis and that there has been in London and elsewhere remarkable improvement in the early and successful treatment of congenital deafness?

I agree with my hon. Friend about the need for early diagnosis, but I very much doubt whether my right hon. Friend has the powers which would' be necessary to require early notification.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary think it highly desirable that the powers which are required should be obtained?

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the recruits to local government service during 1946 were ex-Servicemen; what representation he has made to local authorities in this matter; and whether, in view of the general shortage of manpower, he will direct the attention of local authorities to the importance of making use of disabled ex-Servicemen.

I have no information on the first part of the Question. As regards the remainder, a communication was addressed to the local government associations on this subject in December last, and I will send the hon. Member a copy.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether local authorities are enjoying the regulation three per cent., and, if not, will he make inquiries?

I should want notice of that.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that many local authorities are being compelled to make considerable increases in their rate demands; and, as these are now imposing too heavy burdens on many ratepayers, if he will bring some relief by substantial increases in Government grants.

The answer to the first part of this Question is "Yes, Sir." With regard to the second part, the Government hope shortly to begin discussions with the representatives of local authorities for a comprehensive review of the financial relations between them and the Exchequer which will take into account the forthcoming transfer of certain services such as the hospital services to the Central Government.

Is the Minister aware that his statement will give great satisfaction?

In the meantime, will the Minister give consideration to the very great hardship borne by the clergy and ministers at present where rates have risen?

Will the Minister bear in mind that the finances of local authorities can be improved by the early and practical consideration of the proposals for the rating of land values?

Does not the Minister realise that there is no difference in the increase of rates and taxes on production and the increase in the cost of—

That is hypothetical.

May I impress on the Government that the time is overdue for a thorough inquiry into the whole question of local rates and taxes?

asked the Minister of Health what was the expenditure of county councils in 1946–47; and what is the estimated expenditure for 1947–48 and by how much the rate poundage has increased.

I regret that the information is not available, and some of it cannot be known for some time.

Can the Minister say whether the great increase in county council precepts would be a factor to be considered in connection with the review of local government finances?

I think that all relevant factors will be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, as a result of the derating of industrial hereditaments, the Acton Borough Council loses in rate revenue for the year 1946–47, £135,988, a sum equal to a rate of 3s. 3d. in the £ and, in view of the inadequacy of the Exchequer block grant in its regard to the rateable value factor in calculation, if he will indicate what steps he will take to assist local authorities whose revenues have suffered heavy losses therefrom.

I understand that the figures quoted by my hon. Friend are correct. My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to begin discussions with representative associations of local authorities regarding a comprehensive review of the block grant, and I cannot at present say what weight will be given to any particular factor entering into the distribution of the grant.

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that the very heavy losses from derating will be a factor to be taken into consideration when local government finances are under review?

I obviously cannot give any such assurance as that.

Will my hon. Friend represent to his right hon. Friend that all these difficulties would be overcome if he introduced a rate on site values?