asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make arrangements to allow a larger proportion of high-class hosiery to be exported, especially to dollar exchange countries.

The amount of hosiery which can be exported is limited only by the necessity of honouring the clothing ration at home, and of an adequate production of Utility goods. Subject to this, every effort is made to assist manufacturers of high-class hosiery who wish to export, especially to hard currency markets.

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman considered the possibility of getting a proportion of our utility requirements made by producers in ex-enemy countries, thereby freeing more of our home production for the export market?

That matter has been considered, and, as the hon. Member knows, we are getting some hosiery imported into this country.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman encourage British exporters only to send high-grade goods to the United States, where they enjoy a good reputation, and not allow cheap goods to he sent out there?

We want high-quality goods sent everywhere.

is it not time the Government exported some of the utility goods and kept some of the better things here?

I think it is better to keep the utility goods which are wanted by the mass of the population, rather than the luxury goods required for export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether European volunteer workers may be allowed in necessitous cases to anticipate their entitlement of clothing coupons provided that the total due to them over a period is not exceeded.

European volunteer workers on arrival in this country are issued with the ordinary civilian clothing ration. Thus, those now arriving are given 21 coupons to cover the remainder of the present ration period up to 31st October next. In addition, under a special arrangement for which my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour, is responsible, these workers, if inadequately clothed for employment here, are issued, without the surrender of coupons, with certain additional items of clothing drawn mainly from Government surplus stocks. These arrangements are, I believe, adequate to meet the needs of the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to say when 26 clothing coupons will be issued to those demobilised 'after the end of 1945.

Yes, Sir. Those demobilised between 1st January, 1946, and 30th June, 1946, inclusive will be able to obtain their coupons through the food offices in November. Precise details will be given in the Press nearer the time of issue. I am not yet in a position to say when those demobilised later will be given coupons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can yet make a statement on the children's additional supplements.

Yes, Sir. As I have already announced, the Children's Ten will become available on 1st August. I propose to maintain the children's addi- tional supplements at last year's level and to make them available as from 1st September through the food offices. Children, therefore, aged between approximately 10½ and 16 on 1st August will be entitled to an extra 20 coupons and those over 16 and under 18 to an extra 10 coupons. Children under 10½ will be able to qualify for the extra 20 coupons if because of height, weight or size of foot they require adult sizes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many householders now regard the collection of waste materials for salvage collection as unnecessary seeing such collections, if made, are at irregular and unknown periods, and if he will say what, in addition to waste paper and rags, should be retained for salvage collection.

I cannot too strongly emphasise the importance of improving collections of household salvage and I hope that householders will do their best to keep waste materials separate and local authorities will ensure as far as possible regular collections. In addition to waste paper and rags, kitchen waste should be saved in those areas where collection facilities are provided. Bottles, jars and bones are also important. This is very much a matter for local action, and it would be of very great help if hon. Members on both sides of the House would do all they can to revive local interest in this highly important subject when in their constituencies.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend do something to get local authorities to make periodic visits at definite times?

All local authorities have been circularised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, myself and others in order to try to stimulate them to carry that out.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the Housewives' League is making a collection of waste paper and proposing to dump it in this House? Will he see that it is duly disposed of?

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what articles are compulsorily salvaged under Defence Regulations at the present time, and which no longer are so? Is it the case that bottles do not have to be salvaged?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question on the Paper, and I will give him an accurate answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the price paid to exporters of timber from West Africa to this country is the same as that paid to them for exports to the U.S.A.

As exports of timber from West Africa to the United States are the subject of private contracts, I have no information as to the prices paid to the exporters under those arrangements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is a shortage of No. 5 ringed hooks in Looe, Cornwall; that cotton for long lining is in short supply and if he will take immediate action to rectify this position which is hindering the supply of food to the United Kingdom.

The present scarcity of No. 5 hooks is due to the general shortage of steel. I understand that cotton for long lining is not generally in short supply, but I am having inquiries made into the position at Looe and will write to the hon. Member.

is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that apart from the shortage of cotton, and apart from the shortage of No. 5 hooks, of which I have given him the correspondence, sisal for ropes is also in very short supply?

I will have the matter looked into.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the coke allocation to houses and blocks of flats for heating water is being considerably reduced for both the summer and winter months which means that tenants will only have hot water for a few days in every week; and whether, in view of the increased consumption of gas and electricity which will result, especially in families where there are young children, he will reconsider the present decision.

So far as ordinary domestic premises in general are concerned, the position is that the maximum permitted supply of coke for 12 months has been reduced from 40 cwt. to 35 cwt. The reasons for this were explained by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary in the Debate on the Adjournment on domestic boiler fuel on 23rd May. Actual deliveries are subject to the supplies being available. With regard to larger premises whose supplies are dealt with by licence from local fuel overseers or by individual programme, the position is under review.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, if he is aware that supplies of opencast coal coming into Birmingham from Derby and Nottingham areas are of poor quality and merchants are very much concerned; and if he will make inquiries into the matter with a view to some improvement in quality.

I have already had inquiries made into this matter, and find that while some of the coal is only discoloured and is quite a good domestic fuel, coal from one site contained a proportion of material which should have been extracted at the screens, but which it was not easy to distinguish from coal. Instructions have been given that the portion of the seam containing this material will be discarded.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is a widespread complaint in the city of Birmingham? In fact, I can give the Minister quite a lot of facts out of my cellar if he wants them. As there is a need to stock coal, people will be getting a much smaller quantity in Birmingham, where merchants are disgusted at having to supply such coal.

These are sweeping assertions. I am not prepared to accept all the implications of what my hon. Friend says. This is an isolated instance—[HON. MEMBERS: "No.]—I say that this is an isolated instance—[HON. MEMBERS: No."] If my hon. Friend or any other Member can produce evidence of this being of a general character, I will certainly make inquiries.

I will make every endeavour to get bags of it from my constituency.

Will the Minister consider the advisability of speaking to the National Coal Board about charging top price for coal which is admittedly of low quality?

Certainly, if the hon. and gallant Member can produce evidence of that: I have no desire that an unwholesome practice should be continued.

Can the Minister say on whom the loss falls? Does it fall on the consumer or the coal merchants?

I imagine that if the consumer is not being provided with coal at the right price the loss would be sustained by the consumer.

Charge it to Lord Hyndley.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the Wadebridge Rural District Council express anxiety with regard to the poor quality of coal being supplied to this area; and if he will take immediate action to ensure that at least one cwt. per week of better quality coal is made available for these rural areas.

There is no evidence to suggest that there has been any abnormal deterioration in the quality of coal supplies to the Wadebridge area. As regards the second part of the Question, special attention will continue to be paid to the needs of rural areas, and the National Coal Board have already taken certain measures to ensure that the quality of coal generally is maintained at as high a level as practicable.

I will send the Minister the evidence that coal being supplied in the rural district of Wadebridge and also in the vicinity of Polruan is extremely bad. In due course he will receive that evidence.

It is certainly true that there has been some trouble in this area, but it is partly due to the fact that most of the coal supplied is seaborne, and is, therefore, subject to more breakage, in addition to which a great deal of the coal which has been supplied has been ex- tracted from stock which has been lying for some time.

In view of the answer which the Minister has just given, why did he say in reply to the previous Question that it was an isolated case?

Because my hon. Friend the Member for Sparkbrook (Mr. Shurmer) was referring to Birmingham, and not to Wadebridge.

Oh.

Is the Minister aware that in a number of these rural cases there is no alternative method of cooking, and that wood has to be bought in order to make the coal burn.

That question appears to refer to the quantity of coal, whereas the original Question referred to quality. The National Coal Board and the Ministry of Fuel and Power are aware of the difficulty about quality, which is partly due to the difficulties arising from the absence of washing and screening facilities attributable in some measure to the war.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why a miner, particulars of whose case have been sent to him, of 12 years' experience, taken into the Army in 1939 was, on his return after 6½ years' service, refused work in the mines unless he first did a course of training.

There would, in general, be no necessity for a man with the previous mine experience stated to undergo preliminary training on re-engagement. If the hon. Member will supply me with the name and address of the person concerned, I shall be glad to ask the National Coal Board to look into the matter.

Is the Minister aware that, so far as I know, he has already had the information sent to him, and that absurd regulations of this kind take away a man's freedom of action and hold up the production of coal which is so urgently needed?

The hon. Member says that so far as he knows I have had the information, but so far as I know, I have not.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that Mr. V. C. Brains has been granted 57 supplementary U petrol coupon units for the period May to August inclusive, but that he has been refused a permit by the petroleum officer at Cambridge to purchase a set of tyres for his car, which is used for business purposes, to replace his present tyres which are worn out; and whether he will explain the petroleum officer's refusal of such permit.

The regional petroleum officer was unable to grant Mr. V. C. Brains a permit to purchase new motor car tyres since these are only to be issued to recipients of "E" petrol coupons except in certain cases of serious physical disability. Mr. Brains' business is of a type for which "S" petrol coupons are issued. There are no petrol coupon units marked "U."

Will the Minister explain what is the use of supplying any additional petrol coupons for a car which has not the tyres on which to run?

I can only say that we supply the petrol coupons and the petrol, but we do not supply the tyres. That is not our business.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will encourage the use of oil fuel for domestic heating purposes in private establishments, hotels, etc.; and whether such installations can be assured of reasonable supplies.

No, Sir. I am not prepared at this stage to encourage the wider use of oil fuel for domestic heating in private establishments, hotels, etc. As I said on 24th April in answer to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Swingler), schemes of coal/oil conversion already approved will account by the middle of 1948 for an annual coal saving of eight million tons. The practicability and desirability of going further is obviously a matter for the most careful consideration, and I am not yet ready to say if we shall require to do so.

Will the Minister make an announcement on this matter fairly soon, because a number of people wishing to help in saving coal are considering introducing these installations, if it is to be in the national interest?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, we have already made announcements on this subject. We have advised the industrialists who wish to use oil fuel and we are contemplating making another announcement very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new wireless communications for the police or the fire service are proposed; to what extent the erection of buildings and tall masts on high ground throughout the country will be necessary; and what steps he is taking to protect the landscape and other amenities.,

Although the wireless schemes at present contemplated will entail the provision by the local police authority of two aerial masts, and a small building at each transmitting station, it will, I hope, only be in very rare cases that any difficulty will be experienced in reconciling technical requirements with aesthetic considerations. In any such cases I am sure that the responsible police authority, in consultation with my Department and the planning authority, will take all possible steps to avoid interference with amenities and to meet any reasonable requests by national or local bodies interested therein.

Will the Home Secretary give instructions that amenities' societies are to he consulted?

In the answer I have given, I have expressed some views on that subject, and I will see that police authorities have the desirability 'of considering the views of amenities societies brought to their notice.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his duty to protect the public from crime is paramount, and that it will have the support of all right-minded citizens?

One of the crimes that I am particularly anxious to prevent is the desecration of beauty spots.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as a safeguard against a repetition of the recent disastrous fire in Roxton, Bedfordshire, he will arrange for a trailer pump and hose to be made available for this village.

I am having this suggestion investigated and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to speed up the carrying out of water supply schemes already approved; and where progress is hampered by lack of materials, what is being done to increase supplies.

Every effort is being made by the Government to increase the overall supply of essential materials upon which the progress of water schemes depends, but the position is such that progress must for the time being be confined to those schemes or parts of schemes which are vitally urgent.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make sure that a generous allocation of the supplies available will be granted to water schemes in rural areas?

Water schemes in rural areas have priority for the supply of available material, but we really are dreadfully short of iron and steel for these schemes. Schemes already approved this year will not be carried out unless we can have additional allocations.

asked the Minister of Health the number of smallpox cases in each of the weeks from 1st March until the latest available date; and if he is satisfied with the efforts being made to localise the outbreaks reported.

The numbers of smallpox cases recorded in my Department for the 13 weeks from 1st March to 31st May, omitting the weeks ending 15th March and loth April in which there were none, were respectively 3, 3, 2, 3, 8, 1, 3, 4, 10, 2 and 6. The answer to the last part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

asked the Minister of Health if he will give a list of all the certificates required by Government Departments which a doctor may be called upon to sign on behalf of a patient.

As the answer is rather detailed I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do all he can to save doctors from these duties?

I admit at once that members of the medical profession are called upon to provide a very large number of certificates and it adds very much to their work. I am very anxious to try to reduce it as much as possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the failure of his Department to allow the necessary materials after the priority certificates have been furnished for the alterations and repairs to Manor House, Purley, for divisional education offices to be carried out, is seriously affecting the proper administration of education in that part of Surrey; and if he will give directions for the materials to be supplied.

The priority certificates and timber licence necessary for the building materials have now been issued to the county council.

Does the Minister appreciate that very frequent delays occur between the approval of a scheme by the Ministry of Education and the receipt of licences from his Ministry? In nearly all cases the alterations are comparatively small, but the delay discourages local education authorities in carrying out their work.

It very often happens that the reason for the delay is not by any means administrative. It is no use issuing a certificate if the materials are not there. I have to be quite sure that if a certificate is issued those receiving the certificate will have it honoured by the provision of building materials.

We often have the assurance that we can have the materials.

The hon. Member may have the assurance, but my information is slightly more reliable than his.

asked the Minister of Health, in regard to the selection of a site for new council houses in Kedington village, at what date was the site selected; and when the Kedington Parish Council was consulted or given an opportunity of making comments or suggestions.

I understand that the Council's decision to purchase this site was made on 12th May, 1944, and that there was no formal consultation with the Kedington Parish Council.

Is the Minister aware that great concern was caused to the inhabitants of Kedington village when they discovered that this decision had been made some two years previously without their knowledge, especially as they preferred other sites; and, although there is no legal obligation on district councils to consult parish councils in such matters, does not the Minister consider that in the interests of local democracy it is highly desirable that they should make that a practice?

Parish councils are usually aware of what sites are proposed to be acquired and what sites are not to be acquired in their parishes. In this case the negotiations with the landowner ran for a period of two years and I would be really astonished to learn that negotiations over so long a period of time were not made known to the parish council.

asked the Minister of Health why the table showing the size and distribution of labour force has not been included in the Housing Return for England and Wales, 31st March, 1947.

I would refer the hon. Member to the notes on pages 9 and 8 of the Housing Returns for March and April, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if it is proposed to proceed with the production of aluminium two-storey houses; and to what extent.

Until I have further information on the technical merits of the prototypes, and the probable costs, it is premature to consider production..

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered a letter, dated 29th May, sent to him by the borough of Beckenham; and, in view of the urgent necessity for housing accommodation in that area, if he will accede to their request and revoke the suspension to issue licences for the erection of new houses by private enterprise.

I have considered the letter There is no reason why building contractors in Beckenham should not be fully employed under such arrangements as are suggested in Circular 92/46 in the building of houses for the local authority.

Is the Minister aware that local authorities are hampered by continual instructions from his Ministry, and that if he wants to get houses he must stop this flow of his political venom?

The hon. Member evidently does not realise that the purpose of the circular, which was issued last year and under which large numbers of houses are now being built by small builders for local authorities, was to get small builders out of their difficulties and not to obstruct them. If they were obstructed, it is because of the activities of the local authority the hon. Member represents.

asked the Minister of Health whether in connection with the issue of licences for houses for sale he will again call the attention of local authorities to the requirements that a deduction should be made from the amount of the authorised maximum sell- ing price where street works are subsequently to be carried out.

The attention of local authorities was again drawn to this requirement in a circular issued on 20th January of this year.

Since this is a most important safeguard, will my right hon. Friend look into cases which I can give him where local authorities have not done this?

I will, indeed. I hope that this Question and answer will call further attention to the matter.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the anomolous position which exists in regard to houses for sale on a cost-of-works basis upon which there is no maximum selling price, and does he not think that if it is necessary in one case to impose a maximum selling price, the same principle should apply?

That is an entirely different issue.

asked the Minister of Health what further steps he proposes to take to review the cost of house building.

I shall continue to exercise the closest control over the cost of house building by local authorities. In addition, I have appointed an independent Committee whose terms of reference are:

"to consider and keep under review the costs of house building and to make recommendations."

Can the Minister give the House an assurance that this Committee will investigate not only the cost of traditional houses, but also the cost of the houses built in conjunction with the Iron and Steel Federation?

It will investigate the cost of all houses.

Will the Minister give us the terms of reference of this committee?

I said that they were;

"to consider and keep under review the costs of house building and to make recommendations."

asked the Minister of Education whether he can yet state when the free midday meal for all schoolchildren will be operative.

No, Sir. The developments and improvements required to provide adequate facilities for free school dinners are still extensive. The work bears a high priority, but I cannot yet estimate how long it will take.

Can the Minister say whether there is any possibility of these facilities being ready before next winter starts?

No, I do not think so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will institute immediate negotiations with the Government of South Africa for the supply to Great Britain of 2,500,000 tons of coal within the next 12 months and the export from this country of 1,000 railway wagons to that Dominion.

The amount of coal exported from South Africa in 1946 was about four million tons. A considerable proportion of this was made available to British users outside the United Kingdom. The possibility of increasing exports at present is at our request being considered by the Union authorities. It is, however, clear from a recent ministerial statement in South Africa that an increase of the order suggested by the hon. and gallant Member would not be feasible. As regards railway wagons for South Africa, an order for 1,200 was recently placed in this country, but delivery will not be possible for some time. From the South African statement to which I have referred, it appears that the provision of these extra wagons would not, of itself, appreciably increase the amount of coal available for export from South Africa.

May I ask the Prime Minister, first of all, whether any communications have passed between his Government and the High Commissioner for South Africa in this country, because, when the Question was put down, no such communication had been made? Is he further aware that the High Commissioner is anxious to try and produce this amount of 2,500,000 tons of coal, and that my information is that, if the extra wagons were available, the extra coal would be possible for this country?

As a matter of fact, I discussed this matter very fully myself with Mr. Waterson when he was over here, and I have gone into the question of what coal can be made available. With regard to wagons, the point was raised, but, as a matter of fact, the order for wagons had been placed only a short time ago. Therefore, we cannot expect these wagons to be produced in about three weeks.

But is the Prime Minister aware that we are urgently in need of this coal, and that, unless this extra coal comes by October, the shortage will be very great? May I press the Prime Minister to reconsider the matter, because I am certain that the High Commissioner for South Africa has had more recent information since the conversation with Mr. Water-son, and could give the Prime Minister further information?

I am quite prepared to receive any further information. We have been in close touch with the High Commissioner, and, really, I do not know on what grounds the hon. and gallant Member suggests that it is possible to get this coal earlier. I know that the South African authorities are doing all in their power, and they do not suggest that it is possible on anything like the scale suggested by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Prime Minister if he has considered the Report on the release of requisitioned property issued by the Select Committee on Estimates; if he proposes to implement the committee's conclusion that the housing of the population should be given priority over all other purposes; and if he will make a statement.

His Majesty's Government are considering the Report from the Select Committee on Estimates on the release of requisitioned property, which makes a valuable contribution to the study of these difficult problems. The usual practice is for a reply to be sent to, and published by, the Select Committee, and this will be done as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister why the rules about the wearing of emblems denoting Mention in Despatches, published in paragraph 11 of the White Paper, Cmd. 7035, make no provision for Mention in Despatches for services during the South African War; and about how many people are thus affected.

An emblem was instituted to denote the award of a Mention in Despatches in the First World War, and a similar emblem was created during the recent war. The rules in paragraph 11 of the White Paper, Cmd. 7035, extend this arrangement to operations in the intervening years, after the grant of an emblem had become to some extent a recognised principle. No emblem for Mentions in Despatches was in existence before the First World War, and it is not proposed to take any retrospective action to alter that state of affairs. I have no information showing how many people would be affected by such retrospective action in relation to campaigns before August, 1914.

Does the Prime Minister realise that there are a large number of people, who would not be much more than 66 years of age at the present time, who did very good service in earlier days, and who feel that if this privilege concerning Mention in Despatches is accorded those who served in the later wars, there is no reason why they should not he allowed the same right?

I think it is rather undesirable to have retrospective legislation carrying us back a very long way, and I really do not see why I should necessarily pick out the survivors in a matter of this kind. I think it would probably be much better to go on a general basis.

Does not the Prime Minister appreciate that these elderly people—may be, it is their weakness—are quite proud of what they did in that war? Is there any reason why they should not be allowed this privilege?

After all, I think the honour is the Mention in Despatches and not the emblem. I believe it is a mistake to go back on these things.

asked the Minister of Labour the circumstances in which Mr. Albert Jones, a ballotee for service in the mines, ceased to be so employed at Rossington Colliery, Doncaster.

Mr. Jones was a coalmining ballotee employed at the Rossington Colliery, near Doncaster. In November, 1946, a strike was threatened if Mr. Jones and three other non-union workers at the Colliery were continued in employment. Mr. Jones was transferred to other colliery work for several shifts, but he was discharged on 23rd November. During the course of the next two or three months, efforts were made by our local officers to facilitate the return of Mr. Jones to coalmining employment, but on 28th April last, he stated that he had decided not to return to coalmining and that he would not join the National Union of Mineworkers. No action is, of course, taken by my local officers to persuade coal-mining ballotees or others to join a trade union. In the circumstances of the case, therefore, and despite the fact that, at this crucial stage, the industry cannot afford to lose any experienced underground worker, I do not propose to direct Mr. Jones to return to coalmining employment.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary's answer mean that the National Union of Mineworkers has succeeded in excluding from the coal industry a man who was directed into it by his own Department?

The position is that the local private colliery 'management decided to terminate this man's employment. The Ministry of Labour decided that it was not a proper case in which it should bring its influence to bear upon the private management to reinstate the man.

The Parliamentary Secretary, in his supplementary answer, puts the blame on the colliery management, but is it not a fact, as stated in his earlier answer, that this was merely because the National Union of Mineworkers threatened to strike for a closed shop?

The hon. Member has failed to realise the last part of my original answer—that the man himself decided not to return to the mining industry.

Is it not the case that a man who is taken by ballot for coalmining is obliged to work in a coal mine?

He is certainly obliged to work in a coal mine if the Ministry of Labour can find him a job. In this case, the man went to the pit and refused to comply with the conditions, and the management, rather than have the colliery dissatisfied, decided to terminate his employment. The man was consequently unable to work in the mining industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the anticipated amount of sterling which during the present financial year, will be drawn by member countries from the International Monetary Fund.

This must depend on the decisions of other members of the Fund who may be short of sterling. I cannot offer any estimate at present.

As His Majesty's Government have representatives on the management of this Fund, has not the Financial Secretary any idea of what these liabilities are likely to be?

It is impossible to forecast the future in this way. I am sorry, but I cannot make a guess.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the interpret- tation of His Majesty's Government of the extent to which sterling will become convertible after 15th July under the Anglo-American financial agreement.

I cannot add anything to the Agreement, which lays down clearly our commitments in this matter.

Would the Financial Secretary make it clear to the House whether that agreement is interpreted by His Majesty's Government as meaning gross or net balances, and also whether it refers equally to new and old balances?

It would be clearly impossible within the confines of an answer to a Question to go into these matters which are very complicated, and which, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, we have discussed privately more than once in the smoke room.

In view of that answer, Mr. Speaker, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matte on the Adjournment.

May I apologise to the House for using the phrase "in the smoke room"? I am afraid it slipped out, and I am extremely sorry.

In view, of the right hon. Gentleman s apology, I beg to withdraw the notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, by countries, the balances of sterling that have become convertible under existing payment agreements.

No, Sir. Such a statement might be misleading, since convertible currency passes freely from one country to another.

It His Majesty's Government, as they have already said, have no indication how much sterling will ultimately be convertible, and if they cannot estimate what sterling will be immediately convertible, how on earth can they enter into these agreements with satisfaction and credit to His Majesty's Government?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider putting an export duty on whisky to raise dollars; and the anticipated yield if £1 duty was imposed on each bottle.

No, Sir. The estimated yield of such a tax would be very conjectural, and I am not satisfied that it would increase our dollar receipts.

Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer unable to give any figure at all, and does he not think that if more whisky was kept in this country, there would be a greater incentive for the masses to work harder?

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that if sufficient quantities of whisky were available, the masses would be nearly unconscious?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in view of the continuing demand, he will now arrange for the import of at least 100,000 additional copies of the Report of the Royal Commission, published in Ottawa on 27th June, 1946, and arrange to have them made available to the public through His Majesty's Stationery Office and booksellers.

No, Sir. I am only aware of a demand for some 600 copies, and I have previously explained that additional copies are on order to meet this and future possible requirements.

Is not the Financial Secretary aware that Communist propaganda is at the root of most of the troubles in the world today, and will he not give the British public an opportunity of reading this evidence more widely, because in it there is direct proof of Communist propaganda in this very City of London, and the public ought to be allowed to realise the danger to this country?

May I ask the Minister whether, in view of this desire for sensationalism, he would publish the names of those registered in the book of Captain Ramsay and thus shake some of the Tories out of their seats?

On a point of Order. May I ask, Mr. Speaker, whether "sensationalism" is the proper word for a Member of this House to use about an official document published by a Dominion Government?

I must say that I think it is an unfortunate thing to say about a document issued by another Government.

The hon. Member should withdraw it.

On a point of Order. May I say, Mr. Speaker, that I have not seen this document, but that what I am concerned about is the sensationalism which was expressed in the supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers)?

It is a disgraceful thing to say about a friendly Government.

If, after reading the hon. Member for Orpington's supplementary question, hon. Members come to the conclusion that it is not sensationalism, then I will be prepared to make a pact of friendship with the hoe. Gentleman.

In complete fairness, must say that there is something in which I agree with the hon. Member, although that may be surprising. I will be quite frank and say that sometimes there is something rather extraordinary about the supplementary questions which are asked by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers).

On a point of Order. I am sorry, Mr. Speaker, to have to raise another point of Order, but I want to make it clear that your reference was not to the document issued by the Canadian Government.

It is most unfortunate to say that a document issued by a Dominion Government is sensationalism. I gather that the hon. Member was referring to the supplementary question.

In view of your remark, Mr. Speaker, which I accept, may I say that these questions are not really extraordinary, and that even you do not realise the danger Of Communism in this country?

Even so, questions should be directed to obtaining information, and not to airing personal views

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Poles are employed in the various departments of the Civil Service; and how many are being trained in supplementary pensions and unemployment assistance works.

One thousand, one hundred and none, respectively.

Would the Minister tell the House the purpose of training 1,100 men in this particular Service, and whether it is in connection with the municipal service or in connection with the Resettlement Corps?

They are civilian Poles, and they are engaged on temporary work only.

The main point of my question was, is it intended that these Poles should take the place of British civil servants in the performance of this work?

No, Sir. As I said, they are engaged on temporary work in connection with the settlement of Poles who happen to be in this country.

While I agree that the employment of Poles is wise and expedient, I would ask the Minister to see, if the occasion arises for the discharge of redundant civil servants, that no unnecessary trouble is caused by the retention of Poles while our own people may be discharged. I shall be grateful if he will bear that point in mind.

Certainly, Sir. That strikes me as commonsense. Because of the language difficulty, these Poles are very useful in dealing with their compatriots.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will instruct local authorities to grant licences for repairs to industrial premises to be carried out where evidence is provided that the necessary materials and labour are available.

A licence would normally be granted if the necessary materials and labour are available, and the requirements of other priority work are not prejudiced. The existing instructions to local authorities are in this sense.

Will the Minister take into consideration the fact that permission should be given in cases where both labour and materials are known to be available, and that permission should not be refused merely for the sake of control?

Where labour and materials are available, and where no work of greater priority is prejudiced, the instructions given to the local authorities are that licences in those circumstances should be granted.

asked the Secretary of State for War by what considerations he was guided in selecting 70 Poles for deportation to Germany from approximately 10,000 members of the Polish armed forces who were neither willing to return to Poland nor to join the Polish Resettlement Corps; and by what considerations he will be guided in selecting further men for deportation.

The number of members of the Polish armed forces in this country who are willing neither to return to Poland nor to join the Polish Resettlement Corps is now approximately 5,000. One hundred and five have been moved to Germany. The two principal factors taken into account in selecting those sent to Germany were the order in which they were offered enlistment into the Polish Resettlement Corps or return to Poland, and the desirability of spreading the selection as widely as-possible throughout units in the United Kingdom. I am not in a position to say whether others will be sent to Germany or, if so, how they will be chosen.

Is the right hon. Gentleman certain that these deportations are in accordance with previous promises given by the Government, and will he say whether he agrees that it seems a most extraordinary form of gratitude to Poles who, perhaps, fought at Tobruk and Monte Cassino, to deport them to Germany because they will not go home or join the Polish Resettlement Corps?

I do not think these Poles have shown the gratitude they ought to the British Government. We are endeavouring to do what we can for these unfortunate people, but they must go through the ordinary machinery and deal with the Polish Resettlement Corps, which is the organisation for resettling them.

Apart from the merits of the matter, can my right hon. Friend explain by what legal authority a man who does not belong to Germany is deported to Germany?

With regard to a certain number of them I could, because deportation orders have been made against them.

I am afraid my right hon. Friend has not understood my question. A deportation order to send a man to a particular country cannot be made without the man's consent, unless it is his own country. I ask under what legal authority a man is deported to Germany if he is not a German and does not agree to go there?

I should have thought those matters were for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. With regard to those who will neither return to Poland nor accept resettlement through the chosen instrument, the Polish Resettlement Corps, obviously, something has to be done to resettle them.

Could the right hon. Gentleman give a little more information on this matter? I thought a deportation order required the authority of a court. Who will issue the deportation order? Where are the men sent in Germany—what part of Germany? To whom are they handed over—the Russian zone?

No, Sir, they are not, but these Poles who will not accept "civilianisation," if I may so call it, through the Polish Resettlement Corps are under military authority.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that among those who were deported, or who are down for deportation, there is at least one man who was the assistant surgeon at the Auschwitz concentration camp, and who did not join the Polish forces until the conclusion of hostilities, and is it not a good thing that such persons should be deported?

Could it be made clear whether it is voluntary or compulsory that Poles who do not return to Poland join the Polish Resettlement Corps?

I should have thought, considering the arrangements which have been made through the Polish Resettlement Corps to obtain advantages for these people, that they would be only too willing to join, but if they are not willing to do so we have to settle them somewhere.

My right hon. Friend has said that 5,000 of these men have refused to join the Polish Resettlement Corps or to go back to Poland. If they are not going to be dealt with in the way mentioned, how are they to be dealt with?

May I have an answer to my question?

Do I understand that the point is this? These men are given the option of either joining the Polish Resettlement Corps or going to Poland. They refuse to go to Poland and, therefore, they are sent to Germany. The question I would like to ask is, why Germany, out of all the countries in the world?

It is obvious that we cannot continue to keep members of the Polish land forces in this country if they are prepared neither to go back to Poland, nor to accept rehabilitation through the Polish Resettlement Corps, nor to work.

Why send them to Germany?

In view of the thoroughly unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for your guidance. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has just informed the House that he is in the habit, in certain circumstances, the merits of which I will not go into, of compelling people who do not belong to Germany to go to Germany without their consent. That seems to be a confession by the Secretary of State for War that he is habitually acting illegally, and, in those circumstances, may I ask what remedy the House has got?

I understand that the matter is to be raised on the Adjournment.

My hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Major Beamish) has announced his intention of raising the matter on the Adjournment, but it may take weeks before he gets the Adjournment. Is there no statement which can be made on the Floor of the House?

On a point of Order. When an hon. Member has announced that he will raise a matter at some time on the Adjournment, does that mean that there are no other opportunities for discussing the matter until that Adjournment?

It means that Parliamentary Questions cannot be asked now.

Now that we have finished Questions, is this the moment at which I can ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, that is to say, the continuing deportation of Polish subjects to Germany?

May I rise to a point of Order?

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House to draw attention to the continuing deportation of Polish subjects to Germany. The Rule says that a matter to be discussed on such a Motion must be an urgent matter of definite public importance. But the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's Motion says that this is "continuing." That means that this has been going on for some time; and, therefore, it cannot come definitely under the Rule.

With all due deference, Mr. Speaker, this is the first time that the matter has been brought to the attention of the House—[HON, MEMBERS: "No."] For that reason it is definite and urgent.

Yes, but it seems to me that there is some confusion. I am not sure that the facts are quite clear. The facts must be ascertained. That is another reason for refusing the Motion for the Adjournment under Rule 8.