asked the Minister of National Insurance whether an insured person who appeals against an insurance officer's decision not to grant unemployment benefit is entitled to legal representation when appearing before a court of referees, in order to ensure that every aspect of a case is presented to the court.

The court of referees regulations allow the insured person to be represented at hearings before the court but not by counsel or solicitor. This has always been the practice.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will consider so amending the National Insurance Act as to allow men over 65 years of age and women over 60 years of age to draw full pension in addition to any wage they may earn, provided the rate for the job is observed, thus encouraging older people to assist in easing the present difficult man and womanpower situation.

No, Sir. As I have already said on previous occasions, the relevant provisions of the National Insurance Act, which has only recently received the approval of this House, were expressly framed so as to provide special inducements to old people to remain at work. These provisions will come into operation when the new scheme is brought into force as a whole.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state whether Italians, ex-prisoners of war or otherwise, who wish to come to this country to work on the land, will be able to do so.

Subject to the usual conditions being satisfied, applications made by farmers for permission to employ Italian ex-prisoners of war, who worked in agriculture before their repatriation, will be granted.

asked the Minister of Labour how many members of the Polish Resettlement Corps have now been placed in employment; how many are still unemployed; and what are the main industries in which employment has been effected.

The number of members of the Polish Resettlement Corps placed in civilian employment is 8,889. The largest numbers have gone into building and civil engineering, agriculture and coalmining, but placings have been effected in numerous industries and services. The remainder are engaged on such tasks as Polish Administration, work for the Service Departments, on loan to civilian Departments, learning English, and so forth. So far as I am aware, no member of the Corps is registered as "unemployed."

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated loss of employment at Newport which will directly result from the substitution of a new wide cold reduction mill at Margam for the one existing at Newport; whether his Department has been consulted upon this matter; and what action he proposes to take.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yester day by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of disabled persons who have registered at the Wigan employment exchange under the Disabled Persons Employment Act, 1944; and the number who have been placed in suitable employment by his Department.

The number of registered disabled persons at the Wigan employment exchange on 17th March was 2,698; but about 2,000 of the registered disabled were in employment on that date. I regret that statistics of placings in employment are not separately recorded.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will arrange for vacancies on the staff at the Wigan employment exchange to be filled by suitable persons taken from the register of disabled persons under the Disabled Persons Employment Act, 1944.

In so far as vacancies occur for temporary staff at employment exchanges every consideration is given to disabled persons. Over the country as a whole 5·9 per cent. of the total staff of my Department are registered disabled persons.

TAT ISTICS are not available in the precise form asked for in the Questions, but the following Table shows, for each coalmining area, (a) the number of men and boys placed in employment in the coalmining industry during a recent period (23rd January to 19th March), (b) the number of vacancies in the coalmining industry notified to Employment Exchanges and remaining unfilled at 19th March, and (c) the number of insured men and boys in the coalmining industry registered as wholly employed at 10th March (excluding men who had been found to be medically unfit for work in the coalmining industry but not excluding men fit for surface work only).
Area.		Number of men and boys placed in employment in the coalmining industry— 23rd January-19th March.	Number of vacancies in the coalmining industry notified to Employment Exchanges and remaining unfilled at 19th March.*	Number of insured men and boys in the coalmining industry registered as wholly unemployed at 10th March.*
Northumberland	…	442	167	231
Durham	…	1,248	298	587
Cumberland and Westmorland	…	32	10	72
Yorkshire	…	1,285	2,663	356
Lancashire and Cheshire	…	979	616	258
Derbyshire	…	666	579	22
Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire	…	946	1,296	149
Warwickshire	…	110	212	17
Staffs., Worcestershire and Salop	…	709	2,072	120
Gloucestershire and Somersetshire	…	35	216	12
Kent	…	99	69	24
Rest of England	…	6	2	40
Wales and Monmouthshire	…	1,971	2,264	2,435
Scotland	…	1,705	512	851
Great Britain	…	10,233	10,976	5,174
* Nearest relative dates

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what action is taken by his Department to ensure that adequate and well-cooked mid-day meals are provided for trainees at Government training centres; and whether he will ensure that such meals are provided at the Leeds training centre;(2) what action is taken by his Department to ensure that the National Service Hostels Corporation is run to provide a

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many vacancies have been notified to the employment exchanges in each coalfield; and how many miners are drawing unemployment benefit in each coalfield;(2) how many unemployed miners have been submitted in each coalfield for notified vacancies; and with what result.Mr. ISAACS,

The answer to both Questions is that canteens m the Government Training Centres are at present run, on behalf of my Department, by the National Service Hostels Corporation. My Department fixes the standard of meals required and ensures that the standard is reason- ably maintained. I am satisfied that an adequate and well-cooked mid-day meal is provided for trainees in the Leeds Training Centre; I am advised that it is not inferior to that available in the Leeds Town Hall British Restaurant.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will inform the hon. and gallant Member for East Grinstead when Mr. R. Fenney, 82, Moat Road, East Grinstead, Sussex, who was accepted for training as a plumber under the Government Training Scheme in August after he had taken a correspondence course and undergone considerable expense, may expect to start training.

It has been necessary on the advice of the industry to restrict the number of men allocated to training in plumbing in view of the subsequent employment prospects which are at present limited by shortage of materials. There is, moreover, a considerable waiting list of applicants for this training. In these circumstances I am unable to say when Mr. Fenney may expect to start training but it is unlikely to be for some time. I understand he is in employment meanwhile.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is proposed to regrade the salary station of provincial agriculture economists.

I assume that the Question refers to the staffs of the Agricultural Economics departments of the three Scottish Agricultural Colleges. New gradings and salary scales for these staffs have been settled and will operate as from 1st October last. I am hopeful that the arrangements which are now being discussed for assimilating existing personnel to the new gradings will be intimated to the college authorities very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is in accordance with the policy of the Depart ment of Education that members of the staffs of school meals schemes should be dismissed if they are over 45 years of age, on account of their ineligibility to participate in local authorities' superannuation schemes.

The dismissal of local authority staff is a matter committed by Statute to the discretion of the local authority, and I have no power to interfere. However, there is nothing in the Local Government Superannuation (Scotland) Acts which makes the staffs of school meals schemes ineligible to participate in a superannuation fund under those Acts because they are over 45 years of age.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider conversations with the French authorities with a view to obtaining facilities for British ex-Service men suffering from tuberculosis to go for cures in the French Alps and other suitable places in France.

The beneficial results of institutional treatment for tuberculosis are normally best maintained when this treatment has been given in the country in which the patient lives and works. In certain exceptional cases, treatment abroad may have a special value and consideration is already given to such cases. I do not feel, however, that a useful purpose would be served by initiating formal conversations with the French authorities on the lines suggested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the wartime Excess Profits Tax concession, No. 24, Cmd. 6559, under which a deficiency incurred by a trader may in certain circumstances be carried forward for set off against the excess profits of a company, to which the business has been transferred, is applicable in the case of a business of a professional nature transferred to a company in parallel circumstances, so as to afford relief in respect of the deficiencies of profit of the vendor computed on the basis that he was liable to Excess Profits Tax in his business, or if he will take steps to remove the comparative hardship so arising to a professional man as compared with a trader.

If my hon. Friend has in mind a professional business which, before the transfer to the company, was not chargeable to Excess Profits Tax, the concession to which he refers would not apply

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the institution of an old age pensioners' tobacco gratuity to be distributed in kind by a suitable local authority organisation.

My right hon. Friend said in his speech in the Debate on the Tobacco Duty Resolution that he would consider the case of the Old Age Pensioner.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount of duty that has been collected to the nearest convenient date on the import of fruit into this country since the end of the war.

The net amount of duty collected during the period 1st September, 1945, to 31st December, 1946, in respect of fruit imported and retained for consumption in the United Kingdom was approximately£4,530,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give consideration to the possibility of establishing certain temporary civil servants who haw given satisfactory service during the war years and who have proved their merit and their ability to hold their posts by practical experience rather than by competitive examination.

Many temporary civil servants have been established without competitive examination since the end of the war, under arrangements agreed with the representative staff associations concerned. I am not sure what further category the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, but if he will send me details I will consider them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that rates of pay for men and women civil servants are differentiated by reason of sex, he will reduce the charges made to women for accommodation in hostels occupied by evacuated and other Government staffs.

These charges are not standardised but are normally based on running costs. To prevent hardship, certain staff of both sexes, living away from home are given special allowances.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many persons are employed at the Customs and Excise situated at 184, Deansgate, Manchester; and how many are persons registered as disabled under the terms of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

Seventy-three and 13 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what special procedure merchants and manufacturers may place orders by direct purchase for German textiles or may put in materials for further manufacture in Germany.

A detailed statement as to the procedure for trading with Germany appeared in the Board of Trade Journal of 8th March, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the size of the tobacco crop in Southern Rhodesia last year; and what percentage of it was shipped to this and other countries.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but, in short, last year's Southern Rhodesian tobacco crop amounted to about 47 million lbs.; total exports in the first nine months of the 1946–7 crop year amounted to about 35 million lbs., of which 54 per cent. was shipped to the United Kingdom.Following is the statement:

Tobacco.	Southern Rhodesia
	Million Lbs.	Per cent. of Total.
		Percent.
Production Crop Year ended March, 1945	52.0
Domestic Exports—
12 Months, May, 1945, to April, 1946
Total	41·3	100
To:
United Kingdom	25·2	61
Union of South Africa	2·0	5
Australia	2·3	5
Egypt	3·9	9
United States	2·1	5
Production Crop Year ended March, 1946	47·2
Domestic Exports—
9 Months, May, 1946, to January, 1947
Total	34·8	100
To:
United Kingdom	18·8	54
Union of South Africa	3·2	9
Australia	1·6	5
Egypt	3·3	9
United States	0·4	1

The marketing season for Southern Rhodesian tobacco is in April and May and exports of the crop commence about May of each year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the hardship being caused by the continuance of the docket system; what is now the justification for the price of goods being cheaper when bought under dockets; and if he will reconsider the whole docket system.

The docket system is retained to prevent hardship for those in most need. It has been brought to an end for blankets and sheets and the position of the other goods for which dockets are still issued, namely, floor coverings, mattresses and curtain material, is kept constantly under review. I am aware that people not entitled to dockets find it difficult to get these goods but, while there are insufficient to go round, we must continue to give priority to those whose needs are most urgent. As regards the second part of the Question, the docket itself does not entitle people to purchase cheaper goods, but a considerable proportion of the available utility goods are reserved for docket holders who, therefore, obtain a high proportion of the closely price controlled goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that his decision to continue the crisis restriction of 2d. and 3d. weekly newspapers from 17th March indefinitely is imposing hardship upon many such rural journals, their staff, readers and advertisers, including local authorities, and is in contravention of the arrangements made in September, 1946; and whether he will now restore to all such newspapers at the least their right to publish nine pages per week.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consult with the Rationing Committee of the Newsprint Supply Company to ensure that anomalies are remedied in the case of those county weekly papers which are prejudiced by the scheme of allocating newsprint by the committee on 13th March.

The supply position is such that no increase in consumption can be allowed at the present time. My right hon. and learned Friend has discussed with Lord Layton, the Chairman of the Rationing Committee, the simplified basis on which newspapers are now rationed and he is satisfied that this removes anomalies which previously existed

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds he has refused an application for a licence to import 4,000,000 Empire cigarettes per month.

I am not aware that any such application has been refused, or even received. Cigarettes are on the list of goods imported under the Token Import arrangements from countries which have agreed to participate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of imported basketware during the year 1946 and in the first quarter of 1947.

:£20,931 in 1946 and£8,492 in the first quarter of 1947.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many clothing coupons recruits discharged as medically unfit after less than three months' Army service receive, in addition to civilian clothing and a re-issued ration book.

The provision for the grant of 90 supplementary coupons applies at present to all who are discharged from the Forces after at least one month's satisfactory service. We have recently proposed to the Service Departments that the qualifying period should be raised to six months and we hope to be able to make this change in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a newly-married couple are given dockets sufficient for the purchase of only two linen, or, alternatively, three cotton sheets; and whether, in view of the inadequacy of this provision because of the impossibility of washing and drying sheets in many homes and the long delay in the return of washing from laundries, he will consider increasing the allotment.

Newly-married couples are enabled to buy up to three double sheets, or six single if two beds are used, without surrendering their own clothing coupons. This is the same allocation as was made when sheets were on dockets and I am afraid that newly-married couples who want more must be prepared to surrender clothing coupons like other people Double linen sheets require one more coupon than double cotton sheets because they are made in larger sizes, but they represent only a small proportion of the total production; married couples who prefer them must, I am afraid, be prepared to surrender a small number of their own clothing coupons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what undertaking has been given to the U.S.A. whereby quantitative restrictions on the import or tobacco from dollar countries cannot be made by His Majesty's Government unless similar restrictions are imposed on the import of tobacco from Empire and other non-dollar countries like Greece and Turkey.

The United Kingdom's obligation under the American Loan Agreement not to discriminate, with certain special exceptions, against imports from the U.S.A. might conceivably in some circumstances prevent us from restricting imports of American tobacco unless imports of other tobacco were also restricted. This question, however, has not arisen in practice, since at present our imports from non-dollar sources are not limited by import restrictions, but by other factors, namely, the limited quantity of Empire tobacco available and the limited demand of the smoking public for Turkish tobacco.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the results of his trade negotiations carried on recently with Belgium and Holland.

The results of these trade discussions, which were both very satisfactory, were announced in agreed communiqués issued after their conclusion. As both are long, I will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why 5,988 tons of rubber sold to the U.S.S.R. were sold at a price of 3,1/16d. below that at which rubber was being sold to British manufacturers at the same time.

This special sale was made last autumn when the arrangements for receiving timber from the U.S.S.R. were negotiated. The price is the same as that charged to the U.S.A. under the special arrangements to supply from the United Kingdom the quantity by which U.S.A. purchases in Malaya fell short of 200,000 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the allocation of coal to the paper mills is quite inadequate to enable them to maintain even the present level of supplies of essential commercial documents to the business community; and whether he will give consideration to an increase in the fuel allocation to these mills.

Coal allocations to paper mills, as to other sections of industry, have recently been substantially increased. All paper mills receive the basic allowance to industry which now stands at 50 per cent. of requirements; and many of them are receiving, in addition, supplements from the regional pools. The level of paper production generally is, therefore, considerably above that appropriate to the present basic coal allocation. It is hoped to be able to make a statement about allocations to industry generally as from 1st June onwards in the course of the next few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that adequate publicity has been given throughout the Dominions, the Colonial Empire and foreign countries to the forthcoming British Industries Fair; and that, as far as possible, accommodation for visitors is being arranged in London and Birmingham.

Yes, Sir. A grant of£100,000 was made towards the publicity of the 1947 fair. Advertising in the daily and trade press, direct mail publicity, posters, show cards and so forth have been used in the Dominions, the Colonies and foreign countries. The national hotel interests have co-operated helpfully with the Export Promotion Department of the Board of Trade in endeavouring to secure accommodation for all the overseas business people who have sent advice of their intention to visit the Fair. The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has made special arrangements to the same end

asked the President of the Board of Trade if a competent body of interpreters has been provided at Olympia, Earls Court and Castle Bromwich to receive overseas visitors and assist with information and advice on the industries represented at the British Industries Fair and facilitate contact between exhibitors and potential purchasers of British goods.

Yes, Sir. In accordance with established practice, a team of interpreters will be on duty at the clubs provided for the convenience of overseas visitors at both Earl's Court and Olympia in London. The Birmingham Board of Management have made similar arrangements at the Castle Bromwich Section of the Fair.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what organised scheme there is for clearing and utilising the vast quantity of rejected wood, which is going to waste all over the country, from timber operations during the war.

Any organised scheme for the clearance and utilisation of this material on a national scale would be uneconomic in view of the heavy costs involved in handling and moving it. Accumulations are, however, disposed of locally where the demand exists. If the hon. Member has in mind its utilisation as fuel, this is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Fuel and Power, who, I understand, is taking all practicable steps to secure the fullest possible use of waste wood as fuel.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will inquire into a case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a small trader prosecuted by his Department for overproduction of certain articles used by the housewife; if he is aware that this check operates unfairly on small businesses who have responded to the Prime Minister's appeal for increased production; and if he will rectify the position.

The case to which the hon. Member refers has been the subject of court proceedings, in which the manufacturer concerned was found guilty and a fine was imposed. In reply to the first part of the Question, I consider, therefore, that any further inquiry on my part would be both unnecessary and inappropriate. As regards the latter part of the Question the control on the manufacture and supply of cosmetics and other toilet preparations restrict the amount that can be supplied to the home market by manufacturers, whether large or small, but there is no control on manufacture for export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the output of paper mills, whose production is being limited by a 50 per cent. allocation of coal, will be required for Government purposes; and if he will give an assurance that adequate supplies of paper will be available for business and commercial purposes.

The Stationery Office requirements for Government purposes in the current licensing period amount to approximately 5 per cent. of the total allocations of paper other than newsprint. I am not at present able to say how much paper will be available owing to the effects of the fuel cuts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the acute shortage of knitting wool in the St. Albans district; if he has considered the petition on this subject which has been sent to him on behalf of over 900 signatories; and whether, in view of the hardship, especially to mothers of young children, he will take steps to increase supplies in the district.

Supplies of knitting wool are short generally due to shortage of fuel and labour in the wool industry, but I am not aware that the St. Albans district is less well supplied than other areas. The importance of hand-knitting yarn, particularly of baby wool, is fully realised and the worsted spinning section of the wool industry, which spins the bulk of these yarns, has been given preference in fuel supply. I hope that the worst of the shortage due to the fuel crisis will soon be past.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions he has issued concerning the supply of rations and cooked meals to German civilians employed in Army establishments in B.A.O.R.

A midshift meal to be eaten at the place of work is provided from Army sources for a limited number of Germans employed in military installations on work essential to the maintenance of Rhine Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now state when the various halls and buildings occupied by R.E.M.E. and R.A.O.C. Records in Leicester will be derequisitioned and handed back to their owners.

One of the halls occupied by these Record Offices (St. John's Church Hall) has now been released. The remaining halls and buildings will be released as soon as the Record Offices can be re-accommodated, but it has so far proved impossible to obtain alternative accommodation, and I regret that I cannot forecast when release can be offered.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East, can expect a reply to his representations on behalf of the late Corporal Mannion, of Wolverhampton.

I have written to my hon. Friend about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a case in a R.E.M.E. workshop in Bridgend, South Wales, where a court of inquiry sought to impose on a civilian employee a penalty of a 30s. fine with the alternative of 28 days' detention; and what action he proposes to take concerning the military officer responsible for this breach of agreements and the usurping of powers held only by civil courts.

I am looking into this case and will write to the hon. Member

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of the late Gunner George Parrish, paratrooper, 42, Arundel Square, N.7, who died in hospital while on leave after instructions had been forwarded from his depot to send for an ambulance, full particulars being in military possession; whether he is aware that a military funeral has been refused by his relatives for private reasons; why a police van and three constables were sent to his home to arrest this gunner for being absent without leave when the coffin was ready for interment; and whether he will make a statement.

I have ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances in which this most unfortunate mistake occurred and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have received a report. In the meantime I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my regret for the distress caused to the relatives of the late Gunner Parrish.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, since the Army pay and allowances were based on an Income Tax rate of 8s. in the£, he will make a statement on the future pay and allowances of the British Army.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 10 of Command 6715 which states in the case of other ranks that the comparison between Service rates and civilian rates was made on the basis of Income Tax at 1946 rates, that is to say, a standard rate of 9s. Service personnel share with civilians in the concessions recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many ammunition shelters are now occupying agricultural land; what is the area of the land occupied; and what is the total annual rent being paid for the sites.

Approximately 30,000 shelters, occupying about 540 acres. As many of these shelters form part of larger sites, figures for the annual rental are not readily available and could not be calculated without a great deal of work.

asked the Secretary of State for War by whose authority were military policemen employed to direct traffic at Loddiswell during the wedding of an Army officer; whether this was at public expense; and if he will arrange for more useful and necessary employment to he found for such available military policemen in the Fens or helping with the spring sowing.

Six non-commissioned officers of the bridegroom's own unit volunteered to help direct traffic at this wedding. The wedding was held at two o'clock on a Saturday afternoon and the volunteer non-commissioned officers were giving up their own free time to assist.

asked the Secretary of State for War what allowances are made to members of the Army Cadet Corps attending camp to defray their personal expenses.

No personal allowance is made to cadets in the Army Cadet Force, but the camp site, certain equipment, and the cost of conveyance to camp are provided free, and grants are made towards the provision of messing, fuel and light and other services.

asked the Secretary of State for War what quantity of cloth is required to provide the new uniforms for the A.T.S.; and whether he will defer their issue until the needs of civilians have been met.

A new dress is in the design stage, but its introduction has not been approved and will not be considered until the textile supply situation allows.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to counteract the campaign of anti-British propaganda now being carried on by means of charges of maltreatment of Jewish prisoners of war by our troops in Palestine, in view of its inflammatory effects upon Jewish opinion throughout the world; whether he has considered the copy, sent to him by the hon. Member for Bosworth, of a letter from the Jewish Legion; and whether he will make a statement on the subject.

I am making inquiries into this and will write my hon. Friend. Jews apprehended by the security Forces as law breakers, cannot of course correctly be described as prisoners of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if his attention has been called to the case in the office of the D.C.R.E. at Northampton, where during December, 1946, to March, 1947, a civilian clerk of 10 years' service was displaced by a military clerk, the civilian having been offered downgrading or discharge; and whether he has approved this policy, which is opposed to previous ministerial assurances and causes discontent amongst the staffs;(2) the numbers of military and civilian clerical workers employed in R.E. works services in the United Kingdom at the latest convenient date; whether he is aware of the recent militarisation of posts held for many years on a civilian basis; and if he will take steps to prevent the discharge or downgrading of civilian workers for replacement by soldiers in this service.

At 31st March, 151 military and 1,993 civilian clerical workers were employed in R.E. works services in the United Kingdom. These figures represent a 50 per cent. cut of military clerks and an 11 per cent, cut of civilians during the previous six months. The proportionate reduction of soldiers has, therefore, been far greater than that of civilians and it is certainly not the case that there has been any general militarisation of posts. In the interests of training and overseas postings, however, it is not possible to reduce the soldiers below a certain figure or to guarantee that it will never be necessary to put a, soldier in a post occupied by a civilian. In the general process of reductions in both military and civilian staff, some adjustment of posts between military and civilians is unavoidable. Every endeavour is made to find employment in the same grade, either in the same office or in other War Department offices, for civilians whose posts are abolished, but the clerk in the particular case referred to did not wish to leave Northampton and there was no alternative to downgrading.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that men of the 274 H.A.A. Battery, R.A., are unable to sleep or rest at night because they are overrun with rats, cockroaches and other vermin; and if he will institute a general inquiry, with a view to making all camps fit for habitation.

The camp in which this unit is accommodated has only recently been taken over by the War Department. It is reported that the camp is not over-run by vermin as is alleged in the Question, but that some infestation existed in a detached gun site separate from the rest of the camp about six months ago. This infestation is now completely cleared. Before any camp is occupied by a military unit it is inspected by the local military authorities, including a medical officer, to ascertain whether or not it is fit for occupation: this being the normal procedure, I do not think that any general inquiry as suggested by my hon. Friend is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many commissions were granted in the Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry during the year 1946; what proportion was granted to men with service in the ranks; what was the average length of service in the ranks; and how many of the officers commissioned were educated at grant-aided primary and secondary schools.

In the Foot Guards, 64 permanent, 119 emergency and five short service commissions were granted during 1946; in the Household Cavalry 23 permanent and 23 emergency commissions. All officers granted commissions for the first time in 1946 had previous service in the ranks, but among the officers who were granted permanent or short service commissions while already holding commissions of other types there may be a very small number who were prewar Territorial Army or Supplementary Reserve officers without service in the ranks. I regret that the information asked for in the last two parts of the Question is not readily available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give a list of the Scottish regiments and the location of their pay and record offices.

Excluding Territorial Army Regiments the list is as follows:

—	Record Office.	Pay Office.
Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons).	Enfield	Knights-bridge
Scots Guards	London	Whit church
Royal Scots	Perth	Glasgow
Royal Scots Fusiliers	Perth	Glasgow
King's Own Scottish Borderers.	Perth	Glasgow
Cameronians	Perth	Glasgow
Black Watch	Perth	Glasgow
Highland Light Infantry	Perth	Glasgow
Seaforth Highlanders	Perth	Glasgow
Gordon Highlanders	Perth	Glasgow
Cameron Highlanders	Perth	Glasgow
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.	Perth	Glasgow

In addition, there is the 5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion. Its Record and Pay Office are at present in Edinburgh, but the Record Office is to be moved to Exeter shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War when, and by what procedure, payments of postwar credits and gratuities are made to soldiers released to WIT Reserve; and when such payments will be made to 153137 Staff-Sergeant W. E. Duncan, R.E.M.E., c/o 90, Wormald Street, Heckmondwike, who was so released in July, 1944, after nearly five years' service.

Payment is normally made by means of a credit in the Post Office Savings Bank but when the man is resident abroad, payment is made in cash. In claiming his gratuity and postwar credits, Staff-Sergeant Duncan gave an address in Iran and the sum due was, therefore, notified to His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Abadan, South Iran, for issue on application. Staff-Sergeant Duncan was so informed on 15th October, 1946. It therefore remains for him to apply to the Consul for the money if he is still in Iran. If he is not in Iran he should forward a fresh claim to the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to ensure that all official statements regarding the present and future status of prisoners of war are given prompt publicity both in their camps and in Germany.

Such statements are already promptly circulated to prisoner-of-war camps and publicised in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increase in the price of cigarettes, he will increase the allowance of five shillings per week which farmers may deduct from payment to A.E.Cs. in respect of German prisoners of war.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the arrangements by which farmers may spend up to 5s. a week on behalf of prisoners who are billeted on them, the money being subsequently recovered from the prisoners' pay account. This money is in effect an advance of pay which the prisoner has earned, and the limit of 5s. was fixed with regard to the average earnings of the prisoners, not to the cost of commodities. There is, therefore, no question of raising the limit because of the increase in the price of cigarettes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when funds are likely to be available for the payment of compensation for damage received by British-owned property in Germany.

It is anticipated that claims for compensation will be considered in connection with the general financial settlement following on financial reform. It is not possible at present to say when any payments may be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the interests of providing trained leaders for the youth clubs being promoted by the Control Commission in Germany, he will arrange for suitable prisoners of war to spend a period at selected British youth clubs so as to equip them for undertaking such duties on 'their return to Germany as will help to educate young people there in the principles of democracy.

I am indebted to my hon. Friend for his suggestion. I will investigate the possibility of making arrangements on the lines proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to improve the machinery for granting compassionate release to prisoners of war; and whether he will consider basing it, in special cases, on the advice tendered to him in this country, without reference to authorities in Germany.

The machinery is working satisfactorily so far as repatriation to the British zone is concerned. My right hon. Friend is trying to improve it in the case of repatriation to the other zones. In certain cases repatriation is granted without reference to authorities in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the activities of the American League for a Free Palestine at a meeting of which, on 22nd April, a drive was commenced for the raising of nearly£2,000,000 for the purpose of buying and equipping ships to run illegal immigrants through the British blockade into Palestine; and what representations he proposes to make, either direct or through U.N.O., to the U.S. Government with a view to ascertaining its attitude to the conduct of activities within its territories directly and, explicitly aimed at breaking British law within an area subject to British jurisdiction.

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to Press reports regarding this new drive to obtain funds for Jewish terrorism and illegal immigration into Palestine, and he is in communication with His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what gifts have been made to this country from countries overseas to help us to overcome the disaster caused by floods and the abnormally severe winter.

As my hon. Friend is aware, a fund for the relief of distress due to the recent floods has been opened by the Lord Mayor of London, who publishes daily in the Press particulars of the larger gifts received. I understand that gifts amounting to the magnificent sum of more than£1,000,000 sterling have been made or promised by Governments, societies and individuals in the oversea Dominions and Colonies. I take this opportunity to renew our profound gratitude, which I feel the House will share, to our friends overseas for their most generous help.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining supplies of cotton wool in shops in the South Kensington area; and if he will take steps to allocate larger quantities of this indispensable commodity to the district.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 24th April to the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Baldwin). There is no evidence to suggest that shops in the South Kensington area are not receiving their fair share of available supplies.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will reconsider his decision to withhold supplies of timber for the building of bodies on ex-Service vehicles purchased from his Department in view of the hardship and unemployment caused thereby.

I regret that, owing to the general shortage of supplies of timber, it is not possible at present to make an allocation for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Works why it was not until September and October, 1946, that he received the necessary drawings and specifications for the 50 temporary houses for the Chapelen-le-Frith Rural District Council, which his Department had agreed in their letter of 14th November, 1945, to provide, seeing that this was a duty accepted by his Department and- deputed to an architect chosen by them.

This regrettable delay was due to the difficulty experienced by the architect in settling a satisfactory layout and specifications.

asked the Minister of Works if he will now discontinue the arrangements whereby requisitioned property, on being vacated by the occupying Department, is then offered to all other Government Departments before release is contemplated.

The number of types of requisitioned premises to which the procedure applies is slowly being reduced and it does not now apply to small houses and flats, educational establishments, hotels and holiday camps, premises used for religious or welfare purposes and certain other classes of premises.

asked the Minister of Works when it is proposed to derequisition the Sunday school hall belonging to the Thundersley Congregational Church which has now been held for over six years; and if he is aware of the grave limitations placed upon the work of this church by the continued denial of the use of premises which were erected by the sacrifice of members of this church.

The church hall is used as the local food office. It has not been possible to find alternative accommodation and the erection of a hut is being considered.

asked the Minister of Works the present area of floor space occupied under Government requisition at Shell Mex House and I.C.I. House, Millbank, respectively; and the average number of people employed at each of these places during the last three months, or at the latest date for which figures are available.

The gross area, including corridors, etc., held on requisition in Shell Mex House is approximately 230,000 square feet of office space and 16,170 square feet of basement space. The net clerical area, excluding corridors, etc., occupied by Government staffs is 187,000 square feet. The average number of Government staff in occupation during the first three months of this year was 1,753. In addition the Petroleum Board have a staff of about 200 in the requisitioned accommodation. The net area excluding corridors, etc., held on requisition in House is 175,000 square feet of office space and 38,000 square feet of storage space. The average number of staff in occupation during the first three months of this year was 1,655

asked the Minister of Works the floor space area occupied by the War Office in their main building in Whitehall; and the number of staff there accommodated.

The total net area of the War Office main building, excluding corridors, lavatories, etc., is 239,000 square feet, of which 146,000 square feet is used for clerical purposes. The total number of staff accommodated in the building on 1st April, 1947, was 1,980.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will consider limiting the sale of electrical fires to persons setting up house for the first time or for the replacement of existing fires, or to special cases such as invalids.

My hon. Friend's proposal would require an elaborate and costly licensing system, the manpower for which we can ill afford in present circumstances. The measures to restrict the consumption of electricity which my right hon. Friend recently announced will, I consider, be more effective in achieving the objects which my hon. Friend has in view.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much electricity was consumed in Cumberland in the 12 months ended 31st December, 1945, and the 12 months ended 31st December, 1946, respectively.

Units sold in Cumberland totalled 195,445,733 in 1945 and 189,014,493 in 1946.

asked the Minister of Education the basic salary of the temporary teacher on entering the national schools; what increments he receives for service in the Forces; and the present overall number of such teachers in the schools including other than Service recruits.

The salary scales for temporary teachers in primary and secondary schools maintained by local education authorities are£180 to£228 for men and£162 to£198 for women. Increments are allowed for service during the war beginning in 1939 in His Majesty's Forces and for service which under the Teachers (Superannuation) (War Service) Act, 1939, is accepted as equivalent to service in His Majesty's Forces. On 31st March, 1946, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,035 temporary teachers in maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools.

asked the Minister of Education in what respects the contract that he now requires local authorities to make with Contractors so as to have their building work completed in time to meet the Government's plan to raise the school-leaving age differs from a cost plus contract.

Two alternative types of contract are proposed: authorities are not required to adopt either. The first is based on a schedule of prices; the second is a fixed fee contract. The difference between these two and a cost plus contract is explained on pages 13 and 14 of the Report of the Central Council for Works and Buildings on the Placing and Management of Building Contracts published by His Majesty's Stationery Office in 1944.

asked the Postmaster-General it he is aware of the bad wireless reception and distortion of sound in the Penrith area; and whether steps will be taken to improve wireless reception there.

Yes, Sir. Unfortunately the B.B.C. is unable to ensure entirely satisfactory reception of its three programmes over the whole of the country, owing to the shortage of wavelengths. Penrith is in an area where reception of the North of England Home Service is poor. Reception of the Light Programme on the long wavelength of 1,500 metres should, however, be satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has considered the views expressed by the L.C.C. and others regarding the proposal to erect a new power-station on the Bankside site directly facing St. Paul's Cathedral; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Keeling) on 22nd April, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what progress has been made since the war ended in reopening and recording public rights of way, in sign-posting main footpaths and in restoring those stiles and footbridges which are out of repair through wartime use and neglect.

I have no precise information regarding the matters referred to in the Question other than that reconstruction or repair work has been authorised by the Minister of Transport in respect of 23 footbridges since the war ended. I understand, however, that substantial progress has been made in reopening public rights of way and that, on the whole, the position in regard to recording is not unsatisfactory

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will inquire into the case, details of which have been submitted to him, in which, during the floods in the Fenlands, while farm labourers and others were working to clear the roads of snow and sustain the dams, the local staff of the Cambridgeshire A.E.C., with one exception, refused to co-operate, although unable, owing to floods, to carry out their normal duties; and whether this abstention was by direction of the committee of approved by them.

I have made inquiries and I understand that the labour, lorries and materials controlled by the Cambridgeshire War Agricultural Executive Committee were placed at the disposal of the Great Ouse Catchment Board which was directly responsible for co-ordinating the operations against the floods. In the district referred to the committee were made responsible for work on the stretch of bank between Bottisham Lode and Upware. When not actually engaged on the work done on this section of the bank, the committee's employees necessarily had to stand by day and night and thus quite properly were not at liberty to answer calls made by private individuals to undertake work elsewhere.