asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he expects to publish before the Summer Recess any of the lists of buildings of historic or architectural interest to be protected under Sections 42 and 43 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1944.

It will not be practicable to publish any of the lists before the Summer Recess, but I hope to do so in the early autumn.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has received authoritative expert evidence as to the elimination of sulphur fumes from the proposed oil-fired Bank-side generating station; and whether he will publish his evidence.

asked the Minister of Town, and Country Planning (1) what steps he is taking to satisfy himself that no noise and sulphur or other noxious fumes will be given out by the proposed electricity generating station on Bankside;

(2) what reports he has received on the possibility of eliminating sulphur and other noxious fumes emanating from oil-fired electricity generating stations; and if he will make a statement thereon.

I am satisfied from the advice I have received that sulphur and other noxious fumes can be eliminated. In order to ensure that the design of the plant to be installed is satisfactory, a pilot gas-washing plant is to be constructed, and, when the results of this are available, the Electricity Commissioners will consult with my right hon. Friends, the Ministers of Health and of Works. I shall keep in touch with these discussions. As regards noise, the Electricity Commissioners imposed a condition in giving their formal consent that the undertakers shall provide efficient methods for ensuring the avoidance of noise, and I have no reason to think that any difficulty will arise.

May I ask the Minister whether he will ensure that no action compromising a final decision is taken until the public have had an opportunity of considering the expert evidence which he says is now before him?

But the decision has been given. I am required to give a decision as the result of the public inquiry which was held, and I have given it.

Will the Minister see that the public have the evidence so that other expert opinion can express itself?

I cannot give any undertaking to publish the advice which I have received.

Was not the decision to go ahead made conditional on the Minister being satisfied that sulphur and other noxious fumes could specifically be eliminated?

Well, I am satisfied.

Is the Minister aware that there is no plant in the world that is using this low-grade oil fuel which does not give off noxious fumes; is he further aware that, when Sir Christopher Wren built St. Paul's Cathedral, he made great efforts to get good stones there; and is the Minister going to wreck St. Paul's Cathedral by not preventing these fumes from coming across the river?

I am satisfied that these fumes will in no way wreck St Paul's Cathedral.

Will the fumes from the Bankside power station be subject to the Public Health Act, and, if the answer is in the affirmative, is the Minister aware that, as long as steps are taken to mitigate the nuisance, that Act is being complied with?

Of course, they are subject to the Public Health Act.

Is the Minister aware that it was stated in another place that it will take six months to prove whether the noxious fumes can be eliminated or not? is that experiment to be carried out, and will the main enterprise be held up until it is carried out?

I am satisfied, as a result of the advice I have received, that sulphur fumes can be eliminated.

Has the Minister investigated the suggestion that the extra cost of burning oil, together with the cost of eliminating the sulphur fumes, would far exceed the cost of bringing mains from a point downstream, where the power station would be unobjectionable?

No, I have not, and it is not my business. All I had to do was to consider a specific application, which I did.

We have already had one Adjournment Debate on this matter, and we cannot debate it all again at Question time.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when he will be in a position to confirm the order enabling the Birmingham City Council to acquire the properties necessary for the redevelopment of Ladywood and other redevelopment areas in the city of Birmingham.

I hope, to be in, a, position to issue, my decision on this proposal very shortly.

Will the Minister regard this as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that the application has been in front of the city council for nearly 18 months?

I am very well aware of that, but I have been held up by seven legal decisions.

Is the Minister aware that there are five redevelopment areas in Birmingham, and that thousands of people in those areas are living under inhuman conditions simply because landowners will not take action with regard to rotten property pending the Minister's decision, and will he speed up the matter?

asked the Minister of National Insurance when it is anticipated the National Insurance scheme will come into full operation.

I would refer the hon. Member to reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for West Willesden (Mr. Viant) yesterday.

While desiring that this scheme should be brought into operation at the earliest possible moment, will the right hon. Gentleman first assure himself that the necessary adequate administration is in existence, and that there will be no fiasco as occurred in connection with old age pensioners?

There was no fiasco with regard to them. It is because we are very anxious to put the scheme into operation, and to make as certain as we can that we shall have adequate administration, that we have fixed the date of 5th July, 1948.

Is it not a fact that there is still a fiasco in regard to Old Age Pensions?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what steps have been taken by His Majesty's Government to make reciprocal arrangements with the Dominions with a view to ensuring that elderly persons are not disqualified from pensions in this country on the ground that they have been resident in the Dominions.

A preparatory conference of officials, representing the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Eire and Southern Rhodesia, with an observer from Burma, sat in London last month to examine the principles on which reciprocity in the field of social insurance might be based. I am glad to say that the conference was able to frame a unanimous report. This will be submitted to the Governments concerned, and will, I hope, provide a basis for the consideration, in due course, of agreements for reciprocity between individual countries whose social service schemes have the necessary common ground for such arrangements.

Will the Minister take every possible step to ensure that any arangement made in this way will be retrospective?

The report has to be considered by all the Governments concerned. I am certain my hon. Friend will agree that we ought to study this report, and that I cannot make any definite promise until agreement has been arrived at by all the Governments.

Can the Minister say whether that agreement applies to persons who become entitled to a pension in this country, and then go to the Dominions?

The whole purpose of this agreement will be to ensure that people who move between these countries will be able, in a way yet to be settled, to take their pension rights with them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether an unemployed man sent by the employment exchange from one county to another to work producing opencast coal is entitled to a free railway voucher and allowed any lodging allowance; and, if not, on what conditions such assistance to get to work in a place far removed from his home is temporarily advanced.

Opencast coalmining is carried out by the building and civil engineering industry, whose working rules govern the payment of lodging allowances and travelling expenses. Apart from the contractors own key men, payment of allowances and expenses, which would in any case be made by the contractor and not by my Department, would depend on whether an award in respect of a particular contract had been made by the industry's own conciliation board. A worker wishing to proceed to a job which does not entitle him to the payment of his fare by the employer could obtain a railway warrant from a local office of my Department on an undertaking to refund the cost later.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been directed to strikes among bricklayers on local authority building sites, arising from the employment of trainees; and what steps his Department have taken in this matter.

I am aware that in one area bricklayers on a local authority building site withdrew their labour on account of the employment of trainees. The action was taken against the advice of their trade union, and I am informed that the majority of the men concerned have now returned to work.

Presumably, the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the case of Bolton. If that is so, is he aware that in that case the bricklayers alleged that the trainees were insufficiently trained, and that they had to undo much of their work and rebuild it, and, in these circumstances, would he consider investigating the training given to these men?

No, Sir. This is the first time that I have heard of the information given by the hon. Gentleman. All my experience has gone to prove that the trainees are doing exceptionally good work.

Will the Minister introduce at once, especially in the building trade, a system of payment by results.

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether, in view of the importance of getting the maximum advantage from new equipment, he will ensure that effective steps are taken at the earliest opportunity to initiate a system whereby impartial work-load assessments for the cotton-spinning industry can be arrived at;

(2) whether he is aware that one of the greatest difficulties in arriving at agreement for wage levels in the cotton-spinning industry is the absence of any independent system of assessment of the aggregate work-load for optimum production and fair working conditions; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

The Report of the Ever-shed Commission, which covers both wages arrangements wages arranements and methods of organisation or work, is at present the subject of discussion between the two sides of the cotton spinning industry. I am aware that the subject of work load assessment has been raised in the course of these discussions which, I understand, are being resumed today. I am sure that due regard will be paid to this and related questions, but they are matters that should be settled by agreement between the two sides of the industry.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to increase the compulsory percentage of disabled men to be employed for those establishments with a high proportion of sedentary work.

The Act does not empower me to fix a special percentage above the standard rate for an establishment, but only for a trade or industry, or a branch or part of a trade or industry, or a class of employer. But I have the question of an increase, either general or particular, in the quota obligation of employers under constant review, and an increase will be made if circumstances require it.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there is very considerable unemployment among disabled men, and that it appears to them to be very ridiculous that there should be only the same obligation on an organisation which does purely office work as there is on a factory?

I am not sure that that is a very material point, but, of course, I am bound by the Act, which provides the way in which special percentages shall apply.

Is the Minister satisfied that all employers are fully aware of their liabilities in the matter, and is he also satisfied with the machinery that exists at the present time?

I am not entirely satisfied that all employers are fully cognisant of their responsibilities, but the majority of them are playing the game. On the advice of our Advisory Council, we are taking steps to make a very extensive inquiry to find out whether employers do know, and, if they do, whether they are playing the game.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that large numbers of Lanarkshire girls are losing their unemployment benefit by refusing to leave home and go to England to work; and what steps he proposes to take to put a stop to this practice.

Employment is shortly becoming available to women as key workers in a factory in Lanarkshire to be opened there as part of the scheme for providing employment in that development area. In order to give this employment to local unemployed women, a number of them were asked to go to Yorkshire, for a limited period, to train as weavers. Twenty of them refused to accept this offer, and unemployment benefit was dis- allowed. Decisions on claims for benefit are given by the independent statutory authorities appointed under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance is able to interfere in any way with their decisions.

Does the Minister consider that £2 15s. a week, which has been offered to these girls to live in Leeds and to pay for their board and their hostel accommodation, is an adequate amount for any girl to maintain herself on a decent standard; and is he further aware that there is a strong feeling in Lanarkshire that these girls are subject to direction, which does not apply in other parts of the country?

It is not for me, on this question, to express an opinion on the rate of wages. All I can say is that 60 of the women who were offered employment accepted it. We shall not get the factories in this development area staffed with local unemployed unless they are prepared to take a little trouble to train themselves for the job.

Would the Minister say what possible justification there can be for refusing unemployment benefit to girls because they will not leave their own country and cross the Border into England?

. I never knew that it was a hardship for Scottish nationals to come to England.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that men or women might be compelled to go from Devon to Northumberland to work, and would lose their unemployment benefit if they refused to do so?

No, Sir, this is a question of training people for work in their local area. If they refuse to take the work available to them, it is my duty to report them to the statutory authorities. There My responsibility as to benefit rests.

In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has con- sidered representations made, to him by the Smithfield Guild of Clerks and Salesmen with reference to the proposed dismissal by the London Wholesale Meat Supply Association, Limited, of all men of 65 years of age and over; and whether, in view of the national manpower position, he will indicate his Department's attitude.

Yes, Sir. I have already made it clear that in view of the general shortage of manpower, I deprecate the discharge of efficient workers for no other reason than that they have reached a particular age. The Government's appeal to the older men to stay at work carries with it an appeal to employers to keep them at work where possible. The circumstances of individual cases vary greatly, however, and I could not express an opinion on the merits of particular cases.

Will the right hon. Gentleman convey a very clear expression of his own Department's opinion to the Ministry of Food who, so far, have refused to help in this dispute at all?

I hope that to whoever this opinion applies, they will take notice of it.

Has my right hon. Friend also received representations from the Transport and General Workers Union, which is the most effective organisation in a case of this sort?

I cannot recall any representations from that body.

asked the Minister of Labour how many meetings have been held by the Cost-of-Living Advisory Committee; when the final report will be ready; and whether the Government propose to take immediate action on it.

The Cost-of-Living Advisory Committee has held six meetings, and a technical committee appointed to prepare a detailed plan for the new index has held eleven meetings. I am unable to say when a final report by the latter committee will be available for approval by the Advisory Committee. I cannot say what action the Government will take until the report has been received

In view of the importance of this matter, will the Minister give an assurance that when the report is ready it will be published with the record of the evidence?

I could not give such an undertaking at present, but, knowing how interested the House and the country are in this matter, I will give a full and detailed statement and will publish some information on Thursday, when there is a Question down on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there are numbers of epileptics registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom; that many are unable to obtain employment because of their disability; and if he will consider ways of getting these people to work in the open air under medical supervision.

The latest available figures indicate that about 1,350 epileptics are now registered as unemployed. The problem of finding suitable employment for epileptics has recently been the subject of special study in my Department, in conjunction with the medical authorities. There are many occupations, including some in the open air, which are suitable for them. Every effort is being made to place the less severely disabled of them in such jobs with sympathetic employers, and some of the more severe cases have already been placed in employment under sheltered conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the shortening of working hours and the urgent need for production, he will consider taking steps to dispense with the Whitsun Bank Holiday next year.

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many remand homes for boys and girls there are in Scotland; where are they situated; how many boys and girls, respectively, each has accommodated yearly during the last 10 years and for what periods; what records he has of the success of the treatment and after careers of the boys and girls treated in these remand homes; and if he will make a statement on this manner of dealing with juvenile delinquents in Scotland.

Information as to the number and situation of remand homes is published in the relevant report of the Scottish Advisory Council on the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Offenders, of which I have sent my hon. and learned Friend a copy; and I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the total number of admissions to these homes during the past 10 years. Separate figures for each home and information as to the length of stay and subsequent career of each individual case are not available. As regards the last part of the Question, I am in general agreement with the views expressed in the Report of the Advisory Committee.

As the whole purpose of these schemes is to assist boys and girls from delinquency to good citizenship, will the Secretary of State say what he is doing to help them in providing constructive employment, which is badly needed at present?

I have already indicated that I am giving consideration to the Report of the Advisory Committee with a view to doing everything possible to help these boys and girls.

Are there no schemes in existence for the after care of these young people?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that an area of some 20 acres near Musselburgh, described locally as the Eye of Scotland, is being considered for housing or other public purposes; and what steps he intends to take generally to prevent first-class agricultural land from being sterilised in this fashion.

I am at present considering a compulsory purchase order in respect of a site of some 27 acres which has been submitted to me by Mussel-burgh Town Council for confirmation, and hope to be able to announce my decision shortly. I can assure the hon. Member that before approving the use of any land for housing or other public purposes, I invariably give the fullest consideration to the needs of agriculture, and that agricultural land is not so used 'unless I am satisfied that there is no suitable alternative site available.

Is the Secretary of State aware that this is an important horticultural area for the City of Edinburgh, and will he give an assurance that he will be reluctant to give his consent to any less useful exploitation of that territory?

I am certainly aware that in this area we have some of the very finest agricultural land in Scotland or elsewhere. It is my duty not only as the Minister of Housing, but as the Minister of Agriculture for Scotland, to see that the land of Scotland is used to the best advantage.

Does not the Secretary of State think the time has now arrived when we should take over the whole of the land in Scotland?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the omnibus or multilateral school has been recommended by the Scottish Advisory Council on Secondary Education as the best form of secondary education; and if he will take steps to ensure that in future all new Scottish secondary schools conform to this type.

I am aware that the Advisory Council in their report on secondary education have expressed a pre- ference for the omnibus type of school, wherever practicable, although they recognise that its adoption may not be in the best interests of every area. Until consideration of the report has been completed, I am not in a position to say to what extent the Council's recommendation will be adopted.

Will the Minister ensure that the officers in his Department give the closest attention to this question, as many of those who are interested in education consider that it is very important from the point of view of the further development of education in Scotland?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that not only are the officers of my Department giving this matter their closest attention, but because of my own experience and as the Minister responsible, I am giving it my personal attention.

Could not these schools be given less ridiculous and clearer names?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has taken note of the criticisms made of the Scottish Higher Leaving Examination by the Scottish Advisory Council on Education; and if he will take steps now to abolish this barrier to educational progress and substitute the recommended alternative of a fourth year Leaving Certificate based on teachers' estimates and corrected by a standardised test.

The recommendations made by the Advisory Council on Education in Scotland in their report on secondary education, including those which relate to the Senior Leaving Certificate Examination, are still under consideration. As they involve very important issues, some of which necessitate consultation between the Scottish Education Department and other examining bodies, it will be some time before I am in a position to make a statement on the subject.

Is the Secretary of State aware that I have known quite brilliant students with a very good record who have been affected so much by this particular form of examination because of their, nervous temperament, that they came out very badly in the examination?

I am aware that these things can happen in connection with examinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to provide facilities for the quick freezing of herrings during the summer and autumn fishings.

Three factories for quick freezing of herrings will be in operation in 1947; one in Zetland and one at Fraser-burgh during the summer fishing season, and one at Great Yarmouth during the autumn fishing season.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication of the capacity of these factories? Are they to be experimental, or will they be provided on an adequate scale?

Without notice, I could not give an indication of the capacity of these factories.

I beg to give notice that shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

May I ask whether these factorie—

The hon. Member said he would raise the matter on the Adjournment and, therefore, no other supplementary question may be asked.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish local authorities have plans which have been approved for small-size dwellings.

Out of 69.500 houses for which tenders had been approved up to 4th June, go were of two-apartments. 14 were of one-apartment and 69 single apartments were contained in two hostels. The number of local authorities involved was seven.

Could the Minister state how many different groups of architects examine these drawings before they are approved?

I could not say without notice, and even then it might not be worth the time spent upon it. The object is to build houses for the people.

Are the small-size dwellings designed specifically to meet the needs of the elderly people?

Not necessarily only the elderly people. The recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Housing in Scotland referred to single persons, who themselves may not be elderly.

Is the Minister aware that the desire is to build houses and not to waste time by letting several groups of the same type of men examine the same drawings?

There is little waste of time so far as Scotland is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his intention to make the White Paper on Industry and Employment in Scotland an annual publication.

If I find that there is any widespread desire for an annual White Paper of this kind, I shall consider what action might be taken in this direction.

Is the Secretary of State aware that there is a real public demand for such a publication, and that it is very desirable that we should have an authoritative statement annually of Scotland's economic recovery under a Labour Government?

I have already indicated that, if there is a widespread desire, I shall consider what can be done in the way of an annual publication. It could not follow exactly on the same lines as the White Paper, in view of the fact that much of it is historical, giving the background of exactly what is being done at the present time.

In view of what the hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) has just remarked, would the right hon. Gentleman say whether there are any signs of recovery in Scotland under a Labour Government?

Yes, Sir, there is adequate evidence that as a result of plans we are laying, Scotland is going to benefit from the Labour Administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is prepared to extend for another year the grants given for the past three years to honours students in physics and radio, attending Scottish universities, and so enable them to complete their course and to graduate.

No, Sir. State bursaries in science were introduced during the war to equip selected students for technical work in the Forces or in responsible civilian employment, and not necessarily to enable the holders to obtain degrees. The normal period of tenure has throughout the scheme been three years or less. The awarding of these bursaries ceased in 1945, but existing holders were allowed to complete the State bursary course. Since then I have, through the Education Authority Bursaries (Scotland) Regulations, 1947, introduced a new scheme of financial assistance for university and other students. In these circumstances it would be a misuse of the scheme of State bursaries in science to extend existing bursaries in order to enable the holders to spend an additional year at the university. Those of them who wish to do so, and can obtain deferment of call-up for military service, can apply to the appropriate education authority for financial assistance.

Does the Secretary of State realise that these young men are not simply spending an extra year at the universities, and that the course they have in part done is an honours course, and unless completed is useless? Consequently, is he not prepared to do something to meet their circumstances having regard to the fact that most of these young men are refused school bursaries of considerable amounts because they were offered State grants?

I have already pointed out that, to meet these and similar cases, I have, through the Education Authority Bursaries (Scotland) Regulations, 1947, made it possible for them to get, through the local education authorities, the financial assistance they so desire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why it is not the invariable practice to put grazings on Crown lands up for public auction rather than to put them out for tender.

Grazings on Crown land under the charge of the Commissioners of Crown Lands are generally let with neighbouring Crown farms. In exceptional cases where it is necessary to let such grazings separately, the method of letting adopted varies in accordance with the circumstances of the particular case, including the extent of the grazing and the custom of the locality. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and will let me have particulars of it, I will have further inquiries made,

asked the Secretary of State for War why German prisoners of war working on the land are not issued with ground sheets or gas capes so that they can continue work during rain like other landworkers.

The supply of ground sheets and gas capes is insufficient to provide prisoners of war with them. Prisoners of war have, in any case, greatcoats, and in each Command there is held a pool of protective clothing which may be issued to men engaged in special tasks which make its use necessary.

Is the Secretary of State aware that in my constituency these men are discontinuing work during rain; that that is most unsatisfactory for the farmers who pay for their services, and that a large number of gas capes have recently been disposed of as Government surplus stock?

Some may have been, having been declared surplus, probably, by the Service Departments; but not a large number, as far as I know. I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to see if we could help to alleviate the situation, but I am afraid I cannot help any more.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are still many British agricultural workers who cannot get these capes? Would it not be much better to look after our own agricultural workers before we worry about the prisoners of war?

Is my right hon. Friend await that the prisoners at Camp 18, which is an officers' camp, are, in fact, issued with gas capes? If it is possible to issue them at one camp, why not issue them at others, so far as the supplies go?

As I have said in my answer, there is a pool of protective clothing held in each Command. That probably accounts for those prisoners having gas capes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have a search made of the maintenance units in order to see what supplies exist and then sort them out?

Yes, Sir, I am quite prepared to scrape together what I can.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements have now been made to place German prisoners captured in the Channel Islands in their right category for repatriation, in accordance with the promise made in July, 1944, to the prisoners of war by the right hon. Member for Woodford (Mr. Churchill).

The Germans in the Channel Islands after July, 1944, were in the position of a beleaguered garrison; they did not surrender until the final capitulation of the German armed forces, and cannot be regarded as prisoners, of war until they actually came under British control. They are, therefore, correctly placed in the same group for repatriation as others captured during May, 1945.

Has my right hon. Friend studied the wireless declaration of the right hon. Member for Woodford? Because in that declaration he made the position perfectly clear, and if my right hon. Friend carries out what he intended all these people would be in category 19 instead of 29.

No, Sir, I have not personally studied in detail the speeches of the right hon. Member for Woodford' (Mr. Churchill)—

That was the promise.

We have made an exhaustive search in the War Office to trace what the right hon. Gentleman did say in this connection, but it does not confirm what my hon. Friend has said.

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that while the right hon. Gentleman was Minister of Defence he was not Secretary of State for War; that the declaration was made over the wireless; and that my right hon. Friend will find the record not in the War Office, but in the B.B.C.?

Well, we cannot find the record anywhere, not even with the right hon. Member himself.

I will send it to my right hon. Friend.

Has my right hon. Friend asked the B.B.C. for the record? Because it is generally known among these prisoners that there was some such promise, which they claim has been dishonoured.

We have made an exhaustive examination, even going to the private secretary of the right hon. Member for Woodford, and nobody seems to know anything about it except my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes).

Ask the B.B.C.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the G.S.C. Records are to be removed from Edinburgh.

The date is not yet settled, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the workers involved understand that the date is 31st July, and that according to what was said by representatives of his Department it would not be until the end of the year? As this is likely to cause hardship and inconvenience, will he consider it again?

Yes, Sir we shall certainly take the staff fully into our confidence as soon as the date has been definitely setled.

asked the Secretary of State for War why men now being called up to the Army under the National Service Acts are not issued with handkerchiefs; and, as they have to hand in any surplus coupons to the authorities prior to joining up, if he will arrange for the issuing of handkerchiefs together with other articles of Service clothing.

No, Sir. Handkerchiefs have never been supplied to soldiers from military sources, and there would appear to be no reason why National Service men should be treated differently in this respect from other soldiers. Ever since clothing rationing was introduced commanding officers have been empowered to issue coupon-equivalent certificates to soldiers to enable them to buy their own handkerchiefs from civilian retailers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the information is not given to the soldiers, that they have not the opportunity of obtaining the necessary coupons for handkerchiefs, that all their coupons are taken from them when they join the Army, and that consequently, great hardship is being caused to a great number of people?

I should be very much surprised if soldiers joining the Army do give up all their coupons. After all, I have a son myself.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the regimental sergeant-major attached to H.Q. Company Corps, 2nd H.L.I., B.F.I.G., has recently taken away the civilian belts, purchased and owned by the men of the company, and when asked for their return said he intended to burn them; and if he will take such disciplinary action as will ensure financial compensation to all those who had their belts taken from them and destroyed.

I am having inquiries made about this and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the 404,000 acres held by his Department on 31st December, 1946, under Defence Regulation 51 and the 1,290,836 acres then held under Defence Regulation 52 have now been released; and what further releases will be made by 30th June, 1947.

Up to date information about the amount of land held by my Department under Defence Regulation 51 is not readily available within the War Office. A return from all home Commands is due early next month. When it has been received I will send the information to my hon. Friend. On 31st May training rights under Defence Regulation 52 were held over 855,465 acres. Of this area 229,200 acres have been approved for release, and I hope that the greater part will be released during this month.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many inexpensive flats and small houses were held by his Department on 30th April, 1947; and how many of these he estimates will be de-requisitioned by 30th June, 1947.

At 30th April, 1947, my Department held 69 inexpensive flats and 196 small houses. I estimate that of these, some 40 flats and 60 small houses will be derequisitioned by 30th June, 1947.

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "inexpensive flats"? Does that term include flats that would come under the Rent Restrictions Acts if derequisitioned?

The term was used by my hon. Friend in his Question, and I have given him the answer. Perhaps, it would be possible for all three of us to study and define it.

In order to answer the Question, the right hon. Gentleman must have known what the Question meant. Could he not confide that to us?

Certainly, if a Question is put down I will give a detailed answer.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the term was originally used by his Department when submitting evidence to a Select Committee of this House?

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the size of the area of Cannock Chase at present requisitioned by his Department; for what purposes it is being used; and when he proposes to derequisition it.

At present an area of 485 acres known as Teddesley Park is being used under Defence Regulation 52 for general infantry training purposes. This area will be required also for training Territorial Army units, and a proposal to use it permanently will shortly be considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Service Land Requirements.

Is the Secretary of State aware that this area constitutes a great natural amenity for thousands of people in the West Midlands; that previously it has always been accessible to the public in peacetime; and that there is very serious opposition to any proposal that it should be taken over as military training ground?

Yes, Sir, I am in complete sympathy with my hon. Friend and his constituents. It may perhaps comfort him and them to know that the training rights which we shall want will he so small that we shall interfere with the publics very little, if at all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that he will not try to effect savings in dollar expenditure by cuts in imports of essential foods, or by refusal to buy increased quantities where these become available.

No, Sir. I cannot give an assurance in such general terms.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, if we are to make a success of the production drive, it is very important to maintain and, where possible, to improve our supplies of essential foods; and will he at least give an assurance that every form of luxury dollar expenditure will be ruthlessly pruned before basic food purchases are cut?

I hope the hon. Lady will set an example by stopping smoking.

In view of the supreme importance of this subject, will the Chancellor consider arrangements for a Debate in this House on the various items of dollar expenditure, so that we may compare one with another, before he considers making cuts in dollar expenditure on food?

In this House, that is a matter upon which a Question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council.

Is it not possible for the Chancellor to make any representations to the Lord President of the Council?

Would my right hon. Friend give an assurance that when he is considering any saving of dollar expenditure which may be necessary he will use all his influence to see that the first cuts are on our troops overseas and not on food for our homes?

Why did not the Chancellor answer this Question by saying: "We are up against it. Work or want"?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now completed his inquiry into the alleged Budget leakage.

Yes, Sir. In view of these allegations, the Chairman of the Stock Exchange, at my request, set up a Committee of Inquiry, which reported unanimously that there is no evidence that purchases of shares were made by any person on the strength of prior knowledge of the contents of the Budget. This conclusion is supported by the information which I have received from the Government Departments concerned. I should like to thank the Chairman of the Stock Exchange' and his colleagues for their co-operation in this matter. In the light of their report, I have decided that there is no case for any further formal investigation.

As regards the increase in the Tobacco Duty, arrangements were made, in accordance with long standing practice, for retailers to have notice of the change soon after 5 p.m. on the evening of Budget Day, that is to say, two hours after the Stock Exchange had closed. Since I did not announce this increase until nearly the end of my Budget Speech, some retailers knew of the increase before the announcement in this House could have reached them, but they were not thereby enabled to make any improper use of this information.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman two supplementary questions arising out of the result of his full inquiry, which he was good enough to make at my request, and which I am sure will allay the disquiet which undoubtedly existed at the time? First, did the inquiry cover share dealings on the provincial stock exchanges which are not under the jurisdiction of London? Secondly, did he follow up the evidence, backed by the names and addresses of credible witnesses, which I supplied to him through the learned Solicitor-General, which appeared to indicate an official indiscretion which disclosed the repeal of the Artificial Silk Duty one week prior to the Budget Statement?

Sir, I have been anxious that this matter should be fully probed, in view of the statements which were made in the House. The report of the Stock Exchange Committee is quite comprehensive. In reply to the first supplementary question, the conclusion is, as I have already stated, that there is no evidence that purchases of shares were made by any person—I emphasise, by anybody—on the strength of prior knowledge.

With regard to the second matter, it appears that there was—how shall I say?—some gossip which may arise at any time as to why certain persons were being moved from one post to another in the country. But I am satisfied on the report of the Chairman of the Stock Exchange Committee, and from many inquiries through the Customs and Excise Department, that it could have been no more than gossip—gossip which may very well have founded itself upon the very frank statement which I made last year in the course of the Debates in this House, that I was very anxious to see the repeal of the excise on artificial silk. Indeed, I went perhaps rather further than it is usual for Chancellors of the Exchequer to go, in saying that I should be disappointed if it was not possible for it to be repealed this year. This was a very flat statement, made quite sincerely, in response to pressure which I was sorry then to have to resist; and it is not at all surprising that this point should have been picked up and passed about in the course of conversation But, Sir, having said this much I hope that the hon. and gallant Gentleman will now see proper to withdraw the statement he made on 17th April:

"There has been undoubtedly a Budget leakage."— [OF FICTAL REPORT, I 7th April, 1947; Vol. 436, c. 428.]

In my view, the inquiries that have taken place have shown that there was no Budget leakage. In view of that, and in view of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's acceptance, as I understand it, of the report of the Chairman of the Stock Exchange Committee, I hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will now see it right to withdraw this rather flat-footed statement, which he made prior to the inquiry?

I do not know whether I can put this in an interrogatory form, when I am asked to make a withdrawal. In view of the full inquiry which the right hon. Gentleman has made, is he aware that I am satisfied that no improper conduct took place?

If the right hon. Gentleman is in office next year, will he try to time his speech so that this House gets the information before outside sources?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Exchange Control Act will come into operation; and when the Order will be made authorising the switching between dollar securities.

I hope in August, both for the Act and for switching.

Is it a fact that today switching can be made between dollar securities?

No, Sir, not in an absolute sense. I have answered Questions on this subject before. Perhaps if there is any particular case in which the hon. Gentleman is interested he will communicate with me. We cannot grant complete and unrestricted powers at present.

Would the Minister say whether it is possible today to switch between American and Canadian dollar securities?

No, Sir, it is not possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the price at which the British £ can be bought in the banks of the countries of Europe.

If the hon. Member will let me know what particular countries he has in mind, I shall be glad to give him this information.

Can the Chancellor tell me what can be obtained for the English £ in Belgium, for example?

The hon. Member's Question is in very general terms, and the reply I have given is, I think, a reasonable one. If he will put down a Question in regard to any particular country in which he is interested, I will try to give him the information.

Is the Chancellor aware that I have just given a particular case?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that he will give ample notice in advance of any intention to reduce the £75 foreign exchange allowance for persons going abroad, in view of the fact, that in present circumstances, it is necessary for people to plan journeys overseas many months in advance.

Yes, Sir, so far as possible.