asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what will be the estimated annual additional operating cost of generating electricity through using oil fuel at the new Bankside power station.

The increase in operating costs due to oil firing cannot be assessed until the contract for the supply of oil has been made, and I would remind the hon. Member that the station will not be completed for about three years. The increase will be partly offset by savings in the cost of construction.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the ban on domestic heating by gas and electricity, what arrangements he proposes to make in regard to the payment of meter rents in private and commercial premises using gas and electricity only for heating.

I do not propose to ask supply undertakings to make special arrangements with regard to meter rents in the case of those consumers who use gas or electricity for no other purpose than space heating, since the undertakings have, in general, to meet the cost of providing and servicing meters irrespective of the amount of gas consumed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give a detailed statement of the form of administration of the mining industry, such as the National Coal Board, personnel and numbers, area organisations, etc., down to the pit committees.

The National Coal Board have from time to time issued statements concerning the organisation which they have set up to run the coalmining industry, giving information as to the divisions and areas into which the coalmining regions have been divided. They are still in the process of building up this organisation and I think it is premature to expect them to issue a comprehensive and detailed statement at this stage.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will identify the words in S.R. & O., 1947, No. 718, to which paragraph 3 of the explanatory note refers.

The power of local fuel overseers to authorise additional coal supplies is conferred by Article 6 of the Coal Distribution Order, 1943, under which the direction mentioned by the hon. Member is given. Paragraph 3 of the explanatory note is included, as it has been in the case of similar previous directions, for the information of the public.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the allocation of extra fuel to householders with new-born children will be maintained.

Local fuel overseers will continue to grant some extra supply of coal in cases of confinement.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider reducing or prohibiting the petrol allowance for private motor boats used solely for pleasure in order to increase the supply of petrol available for essential business purposes.

Allowances of petrol for essential business purposes are assessed on the individual requirements of applicants. I should not, in any case, feel justified in reducing or prohibiting the petrol allowance for private motor boats without considering similar action in respect of the basic ration for private cars and motor cycles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department during which hours each day the inmates of His Majesty's Borstal institution at Wandsworth are locked in their cells; during how many hours a day are they allowed to take part in conversation; what education or training they receive; what industrial or other work they do; and what is the average number of inmates and the average length of their stay in the institution.

The wing of Wandsworth Prison which has been set aside for Borstal inmates is used for the temporary detention of those whose misconduct and failure to respond to Borstal training is such that it is necessary to deprive them for a time of the opportunities for association, comparative freedom of movement and other advantages of an ordinary Borstal institution. The average length of stay is three months and the number of inmates at any one time averages 116. Their work consists of wood sawing and chopping and coal shifting. Conversation is allowed during the half hour's exercise period and within limits during working hours. Educational books are provided and there is physical training daily. The time for which the inmates are out of their cells is at present only 7¼ hours, but this is due to shortage of staff, and it is hoped to lengthen the period at an early date

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pending the withdrawal of the Residence Permits (Transitional) Order, 1942, he will immediately amend the Order so that natives of Northern Ireland holding temporary residence permits will be no longer deprived of their franchise rights in Northern Ireland

British subjects who are usually resident outside the United Kingdom do not acquire a right to vote in elections for the United Kingdom Parliament by residing temporarily in the United Kingdom, and it is this general provision of the electoral law which disqualifies persons who hold temporary permits under the Northern Ireland Residence (Restriction) Order but are normally resident outside the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he is aware that a censorship of letters and postal packets continues in Northern Ireland; and if he will take steps to stop it.

The emergency arrangements for censorship of letters and postal packets in Northern Ireland have now been discontinued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that some 70 per cent. of the acting profession are disfranchised at general elections and local government elections owing to the fact that their profession entails their absence from the constituency in which they are registered; and whether he will examine this matter with a view to enabling such people to register their votes in future elections;

(2) what progress has now been made by the Committee on Electoral Registration in studying the question of giving the right to vote by post at municipal and general elections to physically incapacitated people.

Under the existing law a person physically incapacitated, and a person who by reason of the nature of his occupation, service or employment may be debarred from voting at a poll can claim to vote by post at a Parliamentary election. I am advised that itinerant actors would be included in the latter category. The Committee on Electoral Registration, whose Report has been published, recommend that similar facilities for postal voting should be extended to local government elections "so far as practicable."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, although on 28th December last he decided to allow a married woman in Germany to visit her sick sister in England and had sent the necessary instructions to the passport control officer, no exit permit has yet been granted in Germany; on what grounds has his decision been ignored; and whether he proposes to take any action to prevent a delay of four months in carrying out his future instructions.

I have ascertained that on the receipt of my authority to grant a visa there was no undue delay on the part of the passport control officer in advising the woman in question as to the procedure for applying to the Control Authorities for an exit permit; but he did not receive the exit permit till 24th April. The grant of exit permits from Germany is not a matter within my control, but I am inquiring as to the cause of the delay

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Hornsey may expect to receive a reply to his letter of 10th March about a Polish officer and his request for a return visa to this country from France.

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 24th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that cup final tickets, priced 3s., were being sold for £7 each at Wembley on Saturday last; and whether he will take powers to prohibit the resale at a higher price of all tickets on which entertainment tax is paid.

I am informed that a number of tickets were resold at enhanced prices. I do not regard my hon. Friend's suggested remedy as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the lack of knowledge on the part of the public that dog collars should contain the name and address of the owner of the dog, he will consider putting a paragraph to this effect on the back of the dog licence since numberless dogs which are lost are either without a collar or have a collar without any identification.

I am looking into my hon. Friend's suggestion and will communicate with him as soon as I can

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the urgent need for coal production, he will review the arrangement whereby miners who wish to be released from the Forces to return to coalmining have to serve a minimum of six months before their release can be considered.

No, Sir. There are no underground coalminers in the Forces who have been recently called up, except those whose employment in the industry was serving no useful purpose. Six months seems a reasonable time to allow before revewing their potential usefulness in the industry.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state how many of the 70,000 miners who have entered the pits during 1946 were Servicemen being directed, after demobilisation leave, into the mines.

I have been asked to reply. The total number of ex-miners from His Majesty's Forces who were recruited for the mines in 1946 was 27,362, practically all of whom returned to the coal mines voluntarily. It was not the practice to issue directions save in a few exceptional cases.

asked the Minister of Labour why building operations have not commenced at Cleator Moor for the disabled persons' factory; and why, in the meantime, other suitable places have not been used as temporary buildings to enable the disabled persons to be given suitable employment and training rather than unemployment for at least 18 months or two years.

The acquisition of the proposed site for this factory, which is eminently suitable for the purposes the Corporation have in mind but which is part of a much larger site that the local authority is seeking to acquire, is taking longer than was anticipated. In the meantime temporary premises have recently become available and will be brought into use as soon as the necessary equipment can be installed.

asked the Minister of Labour how many firms in Middlesex have started a second working shift during the last two months and the number of employees affected.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the increase in the basic petrol ration for private motor cars effected last year has resulted in an increased expenditure of American dollars.

Six and a half million dollars in eight months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proceeds due to the U.S. film industry in respect of films exhibited in Great Britain is subject to British income tax.

Under Article VIII of the Double Taxation Convention between the United Kingdom and the United States, film rentals, in common with literary and patent royalties, are exempt from tax in the country of origin unless the recipient has a trading establishment there. Where a United States film producing company markets its films in this country through a subsidiary company, the subsidiary is liable to tax on the profits of distribution, and the rentals payable to the United States Company are exempt from tax. British film companies enjoy a similar exemption from United States taxation.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will now announce a conclusion of the consideration of claims concerning gratuities to locally-entered civilian employees of the United Kingdom Government serving in Palestine; and what retrospection will be allowed, having regard to the long delay in reaching a settlement with the various Government Departments concerned.

I regret the delay in dealing with this claim. It is now being considered in the Treasury and I will let the hon. Member know as soon as a decision is reached on it, which I hope will be very shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Government Departments will pay to retired pensioners from the public service the increases in pension determined upon in the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947.

As soon as can be managed. A good start has been made with the revision of existing awards.

asked the Minister of Health the number of forms a builder is called upon to fill in during the period of constructing four houses, three for letting and one for sale.

There are two forms, one for timber and the other for monthly returns of labour employed.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, owing to the greatly enhanced cost of maintenance and repairs, local authorities are raising the rents of their houses although private owners are prevented by the Rent Restriction Acts from doing so; and whether he will instruct local authorities to refrain from raising rents of council houses.

I am aware that a number of local authorities have made some increases in rents for this reason. The control and management of local authority houses are vested in them by statute and I have no power to intervene.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the housing programme for the county borough of Wigan; the number of applicants for housing accommodation; the number of houses in course of erection; and the number which is expected to be completed by the end of the year 1947

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the housing return for the month of March, which will be available shortly, and will include the programme of each local authority.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities throughout the country have had their applications for building licences reduced by 75 per cent.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health if he will raise the amount permitted to be spent on council houses, or what modification he proposes to make in the specifications or in the present building regulations as it is becoming impossible in many areas to build houses that conform to his Department's regulations under £1,500.

There is no such limit as the Question suggests, and I see no reason for changing the existing practice, under which applications from local authorities for sanction to house building are considered on their merits and under which tenders for 242,802 houses had been approved in England and Wales up to the end of February, 1947.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, on 1st March, the Lleyn Rural District Council forwarded to the Welsh Board of Health estimates of the cost of a sewage scheme for the district of Chivilog; that, because of the delay on the part of the Board in approving the estimate, the tender was withdrawn last week and the council have been obliged to re-advertise for tenders with every likelihood that the cost of the scheme will be appreciably greater; and whether he will direct that the Departmental grant towards the cost of the scheme will take this into account.

There has been no undue delay. The Council have been told that they can accept the second lowest tender if the lowest tenderer is unable to enter into a contract. I shall be ready to consider whether the grant provisionally allocated is sufficient if the cost of the scheme proves to be appreciably higher than was originally estimated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the plans submitted by the Shropshire County Council for the alterations to be made to the Copthorne Military Hospital; and on what date his decision was communicated to the Shropshire County Council.

I have asked the County Council to consider certain suggestions for improving their plans and await their reply.

asked the Minister of Education if he will examine the position regarding the supply of text books relating to general educational subjects and, m particular, to the supply of books referring to matters of law and current legislation, with a view to increasing the supply available to students.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on this subject given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) on 24th April.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that the supply of exercise books to schools in the county of Kent is being reduced to such an extent as to seriously interfere with the education of children; and what steps he is taking to ease the position.

The shortage of exercise books in Kent and elsewhere is due mainly to the shortage of coal supplies to the paper mills concerned. The recent increase in the basic quota of coal for the mills should improve the position to some extent. The question whether a further substantial increase can be made during the summer months is under consideration

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been called to an advertisement inserted on behalf of the Cornwall Education Committee in the "Teachers World" of 19th March, the effect of which is to discriminate against Emergency Training College teachers; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes, Sir. I understand that the authority consider that previous teaching experience is desirable in the posts in question and that the authority regard the posts as equally ill-suited to newly qualified teachers from other training colleges. The reason why emergency trained teachers alone were mentioned is that candidates from other training colleges would not be available at this time of year. I am advising the authority to avoid giving the appearance in any future advertisements of discriminating against emergency trained teachers.

asked the Minister of Education if he will reconsider his decision to deprive a teacher, concerning whom he has been furnished with details, of the training allowance to which he is entitled under Appendix II of the Burnham Technical Report, on the ground that during part of his training he held an unpaid student-demonstratorship involving not more than three hours teaching per week; and whether he will issue instructions that other teachers shall not be deprived of their appropriate training allowances through having gained valuable experience by rendering similar unpaid services.

Where entitlement to additions to scale salary in respect of training, under the conditions of the Burnham Report, is established, it is a statu- tory duty resting upon a local education authority to make such payments. The certified entries in the teachers' service book relating to this teacher did not establish an entitlement since there were no entries relating to the full time research work in the period from September, 1908. Details of this work have now been received from the local education authority, and it should be possible to agree the rate of salary paid to this teacher. My Department is in communication with the authority.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is yet in a position to arrange for the import of foreign granite to Aberdeen in order to diminish unemployment in that trade there.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. and learned Friend on this matter on 1st April.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why wool from this country is being sent to Germany to be woven into cloth

As was explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Darwen (Mr. Prescott) on 22nd April, facilities have been provided for United Kingdom merchants and manufacturers to send wool, and other textile materials, into Germany for further manufacture. The use of these facilities will supplement our own cloth production, which owing to labour shortage and fuel restrictions falls much below our requirements.

asked the President or the Board of Trade whether he will set up a committee of inquiry to go into the question of the tenure of shop premises as has been done by the Secretary of State for Scotland

No, Sir. Such complaints as I have received about conditions in England and Wales do not, in my opinion, justify the appointment of a committee of the. kind appointed in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of newsprint were consumed by the provincial weeklies for the weeks ending 11th January, 1947, and 29th March, 1947, respectively.

It is estimated that for the weeks in question the amounts are 949 tons and 960 tons respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the importance of high quality in our exported goods, what steps are being taken to ensure that the statistical method of inspection known as Quality Control is being brought to the notice of firms making large quantities of goods for export.

As a result of the activities of the British Standards Institution, the National Physical Laboratory, and certain of the research associations, as well as of the work carried out by Government Departments during the war, the principles of Quality Control are already fairly widely known. No specific steps have been taken to bring this matter to the notice of firms making goods for export, but I hope that such firms will realise that it is in their own interests as well as in the National interest to use all appropriate methods to maintain the highest possible standards of quality in the goods they export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a cargo of German timber arrived in Aberdeen about 22nd April and that another cargo of German timber is on its way there; if he will state the quantities of timber in these cargoes; and to whom and in what quantities and for what purposes this timber will be allocated.

Yes, Sir. The s.s. "Allen" had a cargo of 1,500 tons of German logs and the s.s. "Kimball Harlow" was expected to load 1,650. These cargoes have been allocated to 25 timber merchants in the north-east of Scotland in amounts varying from 200 to 350 tons on condition that the logs are cut as far as possible into housing specifications. I am sending my hon. Friend a list of the names of the merchants and of the individual amounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with the quality of plastic garments for which coupons are demanded; and how many complaints he has received about the quality of goods.

I am aware that some garments made from plastic sheeting have not proved satisfactory in wear, but these difficulties should be overcome as further experience is gained of this comparatively new material. In the last 12 months 15 complaints have been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase the production of perambulators, having regard to the recent increase in the birth rate.

Increased production of perambulators depends in the main upon the availability of steel, supplies of which are unfortunately very short at present. I am, however, very well aware of the need for higher output and we are doing all we can to help the manufacturers who are exploring the use of alternative materials. It has also been agreed to increase the proportion of total production represented by perambulators and bed-folders at the expense of push-chairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average price per pound paid for Greek tobacco by the Government; and at what price is the same tobacco sold to manufacturers in this country.

The price paid for the 10 million lb. of tobacco which was purchased by His Majesty's Government from Greece last year to assist the Greek economy, and is now being imported, was 4s. 7½d. per lb., f.o.b., which is a normal price for tobacco of this type. It is sold to manufacturers at 3s. 1d. per lb., c.i.f., which is the average price they would have had to pay for tobacco from other sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he anticipates being in a position to increase the allocation of fuel to the Sheffield steel industries.

I regret that it will not be possible to increase the allocation of coal to the iron and steel industry this month As regards the allocation from the 1st June onwards, I would ask the hon. Member to await a statement on coal supplies to industry in general during the summer months.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has considered the case, particulars of which have been sent to him, of a panel doctor at Birmingham influencing the non-payment of benefit to Mr. Buckingham, 12, The Coppice, Dene Wood Avenue, Birmingham, and removing Mr. Buckingham's name from the list of his panel patients because the latter, immediately following an accident, attended Mr. Oldham, a qualified naturopath, and refused to follow the treatment the panel doctor subsequently prescribed; and if he will alter his regulations to enable naturopaths to certify for National Insurance sickness benefit.

I understand that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health has already communicated with my hon. Friend about this matter insofar as it falls within the province of his Department. Sickness benefit is only payable on proof of incapacity for work. In considering whether this condition is satisfied in a particular case approved societies are not tied to the form of evidence they may accept and my hon. Friend has been advised as to the steps Mr. Buckingham should take if he wishes to pursue his claim for sickness benefit

asked the Minister of National Insurance if his regulations provide that a self-employed fisherman has to contribute to unemployment insurance.

No, Sir. Fishermen are insured under the existing unemployment insurance scheme only if they are employed under a contract of service or apprenticeship and are not wholly remunerated by a share of the catch. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. D. Marshall) on 4th March of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mr. L. O. M. Crosby, Oak Dene, Oak Terrace, Ponsanooth, Truro, will receive his appropriate old age pension.

A pension order book at the 26s. rate is in the hands of the local area officer of the Assistance Board for delivery to Mr. Crosby. A book previously issued to this pensioner appears to have miscarried owing to a change in the post office of payment.

asked the Minister of Supply when he proposes to revise the present inefficient accounting system in respect of housing estates under his control so that such housing managers' accounts will show clearly, in respect of each property, the total income and the exact expenditure on insurance and repairs, including repairs carried out by the Ministry of Works.

The housing managers accounts show only the receipts and expenditure for which the managers are responsible. These are purely cash accounts and it would be an unnecessary expenditure of time and effort to post to these accounts items for which the housing managers are not accountable.

asked the Minister of Supply the policy of the Royal Ordnance Factories when asked to submit quotations for civilian goods.

The policy is to comply with such requests whenever the Royal Ordnance Factories can undertake the work economically.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give a list of the classes of civilian goods now being manufactured in the Royal Ordnance Factories.

The principal orders are for the following goods: hosiery machinery, woodworking machinery, mining and excavating machinery components, oilfield equipment, fuel injection equipment, small oil engines, railway mineral wagons and components, railway wagon repairs, components for clocks, and for watch and clock-making machinery, marine engine components, steel furniture and housing fitments, cookers, taps, ceramics, nonferrous metal strip, medals, concrete sections for houses, concrete railway sleepers, clothing, industrial and agricultural chemicals, materials for gramophone records locomotive components and repairs

asked the Minister of Transport how many tons of double bunkers have been purchased during the course of 1947 with hard currency: and what was the cost in dollars.

I estimate that from 14th February, when double bunkering in North America was reintroduced, until the end of April, some 200,000 tons of coal bunkers have been purchased by British ships in North America at an approximate cost of 2½ million United States and Canadian dollars.

asked the Minister of Works what is the number of men in the Mobile Labour Force employed by his Department; and how many of these are employed in the London region giving the numbers borough by borough.

At 22nd April 1947, there were 4,167 men employed in the Mobile Labour Force (exclusive of men engaged locally, Belgians and prisoners of war) 1,846 of these were employed in the London region. This figure includes camp and depot staffs. The following are the details of the distribution by boroughs and urban districts:

asked the Minister of Works how many schemes for extension to factories requiring permits have been completed within one year of the original application; how many new factories have received permits and been completed within one year of the original application; and how many schemes in either category have exceeded two years.

I regret that no stastistics are available to enable me to answer this Question.

asked the Minister of Works how many applications there are pending for extensions to factory premises and new factories, respectively; and how long is usually required to complete investigations into such applications and issue final permits for the work to proceed.

Applications for extensions to factory premises and new factories are submitted in the first instance to the Department interested in the production of the particular factory, and it would not be possible without elaborate inquiry to obtain particulars of applications which may be pending at the present time. Once an application is received by my Ministry with the support of the appropriate sponsoring Department the necessary investigations, including technical examination and the issue of the final permits, should normally be completed within a few weeks provided there are no exceptional difficulties in a particular case.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the fact that the saving of fuel resulting from the restrictions on street lighting for March is estimated at only 30,000 tons, he will abolish these restrictions forthwith.

No, Sir. In view of the need for the utmost economy in the use of fuel and the fact that double summer time is now in operation, I do not regard the present restrictions as unreasonable.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the habitual unpunctuality of the train due to leave Kettering at 8.26 a.m. on weekdays and to arrive at St. Pancras at 9.56 a.m., causes inconvenience to passengers from Kettering having morning appointments or other business in London; and whether he will take steps to have the running of this train improved or its times of arrival and departure stated in the timetables with some nearer approach to accuracy.

The arrival time of this train at St. Pancras was altered to 10.25 a.m. from 21st February, when additional stops between Bedford and London were scheduled so that the 9.07 a.m. from Bedford could be withdrawn in order to save fuel. The alteration was advertised on blackboard notices at Kettering. With the better weather, timekeeping has improved, but speed restrictions due to permanent way work are having some effect. During the weeks ended 12th and 19th April the daily average period of late arrival at St. Pancras has been 16 and eight minutes respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport the tonnage of coal moved from pitheads and colliery sidings by the main line railway companies for each week in 1947 to the nearest convenient date and show the tonnage for Sundays separately.

, with reference to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th March, 1947; Vol. 453, c. 20), made the following correction:

Tonnages cleared from collieries on Sundays since 16th February were as follow:

Date			Tons
16th February	…	…	198,890
23rd February	…	…	123,220
2nd March	…	…	132,250
9th March	…	…	139,990

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take the necessary action to ensure that debts in the form of loans made by his Department, incurred by students whilst undergoing training as teachers and still outstanding, are cancelled.

Loans are not made by my Department to students who are undergoing training as teachers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are, today, the administrative costs to the nation of each land girl; and what was the comparative cost during the war.

It is not possible, owing to the fluctuating strength of the Women's Land Army and other considerations, to provide figures in the precise form requested by the hon. Member. The following table gives figures for England and Wales for the enrolled strength of the Women's Land Army at the end of the financial years indicated and for expenditure on administration, including salaries, wages, travelling and subsistence expenses, of headquarters and county secretarial staffs and organisers and general office expenditure in those years:

Financial year.		Enrolled strength of W.L.A. at end of financial years.	Administrative Expenditure for Financial Year.
			£
1940/41	…	11,715	35,220
1941/42	…	31,838	66,622
1942/43	…	61,730	131,190
1943/44	…	71,781	207,706
1944/45	…	63,130	269,248
1945/46	…	33,242	280,205
1946/47	…	25,939	288,000
			(approx.)

The above figures do not include the cost of allied services, e.g., postage, accommodation, etc., borne on the Votes of other Departments. The strength of the Land Army at the end of the last two financial years is no criterion of the administrative work involved. A substantial staff has had to be maintained to deal with releases and especially with recruiting campaigns. In addition voluntary workers have had to be replaced by salaried staff since the end of the war, and the salaries and wages of administrative staff have increased since June. 1945.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty for what reasons second-lieutenants in the R.M. under 20 years of age are paid 35. 6d. less than second-lieutenants of 20 years and over; and whether he will consider making these rates of pay the same by increasing the pay of those under 20 years of age.

The pay of second-lieutenants, Royal Marines, under the age of 20 is aligned so far as possible with that of officers of corresponding age in the Royal Navy. The majority of naval officers under 20 are midshipmen on the same rate of pay of 7s. 6d. a day, although a few may be acting sub-lieutenants on 11s. 0d. a day. To increase the rate of pay as suggested by the hon. and gallant Member would upset this comparison, and I am therefore unable to adopt his suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many German Review Boards have been set up in the British zone to deal with internees held in civilian internment camps; how many cases have been dealt with; and how many remain to be investigated.

Eighty-nine German Tribunals are in course of being set up to deal with the 18,900 persons awaiting trial as members of criminal organisations convicted at Nuremberg; the trials are expected to start in the near future. Six British Review Boards are dealing with the persons interned on security grounds; in the year ended 8th April, 1947, 25,100 internees have been released after investigation and 8,000 cases including some 800 internees suspected of individual war crimes remain to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will investigate the conditions at a unit in the B.A.O.R., details of which have been submitted to him, where British personnel are subjected to insanitary conditions and other deficiencies which constitute a menace to health; and if he will rectify this position.

My right hon. Friend is having inquiries made in Germany and will communicate with the hon. Member later.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make in connection with the investigation by His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Madrid of the report of the sentence of death of a number of Spanish citizens under 18 years of age; and whether His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires has made any representations on behalf of His Majesty's Government in the matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 30th April.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there is a shortage in Aberdeen of bananas and other fruit, both fresh and dried; and if he will arrange for a supply of both classes of fruit to that city.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 13th December to his Question on the same subject. Scotland, including Aberdeen and the North, is still receiving more oranges and apples than the South and no part of the country has had more bananas or apples than Aberdeen. For supplies of fresh fruits not distributed by the Ministry, Aberdeen is, of course, dependent upon the initiative of its own traders. The dis- tribution of dried fruits is based on sugar registrations and Aberdeen is thus assured its proper share.

asked the Attorney-General if he is now in a position to state when the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act will be repealed.

It would be premature at this juncture to repeal the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1943. Such persons as judgment debtors and mortgagors are still in many cases unable to pay their debts in full owing to war circumstances, and are, therefore, still in need of the protection given by the Act. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is, however, considering whether and to what extent the restrictions imposed by the Act on the rights of creditors can properly be relaxed by subordinate legislation.