asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified female nurses there were in Scotland on 1st January, 1946; how many there are now, or at the latest convenient date; how many girls enrolled in Scotland as student nurses during the years 1945, 1946 and 1947, respectively; and how many female nurses left the profession during the same respective periods.

On 1st January, 1946, the number of State-registered and Enrolled Assistant Nurses in Scotland was 17,767. On 31st May, 1947, the number was 20,858. The numbers of women who became student nurses in Scottish hospitals during 1945, 1946 and the first five months of 1947 are estimated as 2,500, 3,200 and 1,300. I regret that I am unable to give my hon. Friend the numbers of women who left the nursing profession during the same periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total requirements for houses in the Burgh of Ayr at 31st July, 1945; how many of such have been completed at 31st May, 1947; and when it is anticipated the present housing needs will be met.

In April, 1946, the Town Council estimated their needs at about 3,000 houses. At 31st May, 1947, 160 temporary houses and 49 permanent houses, including 19 built by private enterprise, had been completed, and 437 permanent houses were under construction. It is not possible to estimate when the housing needs of the Burgh will be met, but I hope that as we overcome our present difficulties and shortages the rate of progress will substantially increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the shortage of women teachers of physical education and the small number of applicants for the emergency training courses, he will consider the introduction of a full course of training at Wollman Hall Training College, Aberdeen, for some of the 120 applicants for the three year courses of whom less than 40 can be accommodated at Dunfermline College of Physical Education.

I understand that this matter, in all its aspects, is receiving the attention of the National Committee for the Training of Teachers, the body responsible for the supply and training of teachers in Scotland. If the Committee decide to recommend the temporary establishment of a full course of training for women teachers of physical education at Aberdeen, I shall be ready to consider their recommendation without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fat-stock farmers in Scotland have changed over to dairy farming during the five years ended 31st March, 1947.

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. and gallant Member is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the fact that in Scotland the salary or wages of a subject of the Crown, other than servants of the Crown, are liable to arrestment for debt, he will take steps to provide that the exception in favour of servants of the Crown be eliminated and especially that the remedy of arrestment for recovery of rates from Crown employees be available to local authorities.

The exception referred to derives from common law, and is of very long standing. Any change would require legislation, and I can hold out no hope of legislation for this purpose meantime.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the percentage of passes was in the recent higher leaving certificate examination in Peebles; and how this percentage compares with the previous five years.

As the percentage of passes in relation to presentations at the examination for the senior leaving certificate depends partly on the extent to which schools include among their candidates pupils who have little or no chance of attaining the required standard, comparison of one year's percentage with that of another is apt to be misleading. For this reason I prefer to continue our past practice of publishing only the number of certificates awarded each year. The number awarded at Peebles High School this year was 15; for the five years 1942 to 1946 the figures were 23, 20, 27, 16 and 12.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Herring Industry Board has completed arrangements for the catching and transport of herring to Germany in order that the terms of the contract for the supply of herring from British ports shall be successfully completed.

Yes. The arrangements made by the Herring Industry Board with the catchers, curers and exporters will I hope ensure that, with a normal season, the quantities of cured and fresh herring which we have undertaken to supply to Germany will be delivered.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many pensions hospitals there are in Scotland; where they are situated; how many patients they accommodated on 1st January, 1946, and on the latest convenient date; how many of these are curable and how many incurable; what tests are applied; and how often is each case reported on to the patients or to their immediate kindred.

There is one hospital in Scotland administered by my Department at Edenhall, near Edinburgh. Special provision for the treatment of pensioners is also made at the Princess Louise Hospital, Erskine House, near Glasgow, and under arrangements made with the Department of Health for Scotland and other Authorities pensioners may be treated in hospitals in various parts of Scotland. The numbers of patients in Edenhall Hospital on 1st January, 1946, and on 25th June, 1947, were 154 and 187 respectively. In Erskine House there were, on 28th December, 1945, 99 pensioners, and there are at the present time 115 pensioners. On 31st December, 1945, there were 201 pensioners in 53 general hospitals, and on 31st December, 1946, 236 pensioners in 51 hospitals. In addition there are at the present about 520 pensioners in sanatoria and about 55o in mental hospitals in Scotland. I regret that as regards these two categories the numbers under treatment on 1st January, 1946, are not readily available. As regards the other parts of the Question, it is not the practice to classify pensioners on the lines mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for War what answer he has made to the request of the London County Council on 28th February, 1947, subsequently renewed, that he might receive a deputation of members of the Council to discuss release of commons and parks lands.

My Department has written to the L.C.C. on several occasions about the matters raised in their letter of 28th February. So far I have not been in a position to discuss them as it has been necessary to make investigations regarding most of the sites mentioned. I am now prepared to receive a deputation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now able to make a statement on the release of lands requisitioned for Army purposes.

Future policy will be dealt with in the forthcoming White Paper on Service Land Requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now able to say what decision has been made with regard to the proposal to requisition part of Cleeve Common, near Cheltenham, for military-training purposes.

There is no intention to requisition Cleeve Common. A proposal to use an area for military training without prejudice to public access is, however, being considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Service Land Requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of Jews, either Palestinian citizens or residents, who volunteered for work and service in enemy-occupied territory between 1939 and 1945; the number who were dropped by parachute or other means in enemy-occupied territory; the percentage killed or shot by the enemy; what other people in Palestine or the Middle East volunteered and served similarly as British agents; the number of such volunteers; and the number of casualties suffered.

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether British soldiers who marry German girls are fully entitled to the same allowances as if they had married British girls; and whether he will consider granting allowances to British soldiers in respect of their illegitimate children by German girls both where there has been application to marry and otherwise where paternity has been admitted.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." The answer to the second part of the Question is that I cannot consider any special concessions in respect of illegitimate children of German girls. The soldier can, of course, make a voluntary allotment from his pay in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he will arrange for war excess pay to be granted to officers who rejoined on short service commissions after 1st July, 1946.

The war excess arrangements were designed to ensure that officers already serving on 3oth June, 1946, did not suffer a reduction in pay on the introduction of the new pay code on 1st July, 1946. War excess continues to be paid so long as service on the active list is continuous, but I regret that it is not possible to extend the arrangement to cases where there has been a break in service, except where the officer had applied in writing for a Regular commission before proceeding on release leave. As an exceptional and temporary measure, officers who applied in writing before the end of their release leave, and who rejoin for duty as soon as they are ordered to do so, may receive war excesses; this arrangement applies only to applications made before 3oth September, 1947

asked the Secretary of State for War, if he is aware of the drastic cut in beer and other supplies to the British troops in Austria; what is the reason for the cut; and, in view of the effect on the morale of the personnel of the B.T.A., if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any cut in beer or other supplies to the troops in Austria. I have called for a report from H.Q., British Troops in Austria and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of German prisoners of war held in Malta; and when he expects a start to be made in repatriating prisoners from that island.

Nine hundred and seventeen. A number have been repatriated recently. The rest will go as they can be fitted in with other from Middle East Command.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the brand of cigarettes known as "Melange," of which two are issued to German prisoners of war for every working day of not less than eight hours, is of extremely low quality; and of what tobacco or other ingredients these cigarettes are made.

No. These cigarettes are not of low quality. They are made of a good blend of Greek and Turkish tobaccos and nothing else.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action will be taken to avoid the inequity of a German prisoner of war being prosecuted for a disciplinary offence arising out of his association with a British girl; and whether, under some circumstances, permission to marry will be given to German prisoners of war.

The question of marriage of German prisoners of war to British women is under consideration and an announcement on the subject will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German prisoners of war have been brought over to this country from Europe and the Middle East respectively, since 1st October, 1946.

Approximately 100 from Europe and 200 from the Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for War what conditions are attached to the privilege of German prisoners being billeted on farms, etc.; and whether it is a condition that papers should be signed by the prisoner promising that he will stay in England after the date he is due for repatriation.

There are no special conditions except that they must be men of good behaviour and that ardent Nazis are not eligible The answer to the last part of the Question is, "No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the future use of Wilton Park, Beaconsfield.

I do not contemplate any immediate change in the future use of the prisoner-of-war camp at Wilton Park. It will continue to be used for the re-education of German prisoners of war and it is proposed to bring over further parties of German civilians to attend short courses there. These parties will in future include a proportion of women.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the position in respect of postwar credits of refugees from Nazi oppression who return to their own country.

Such persons are entitled to receive payment in this country on the same conditions as other people, but transfers of money to Germany are permitted only in cases of exceptional hardship.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that black wool for darning and mending purposes has been unobtainable in retail shops for a long time; and what action he proposes to take to restore supplies.

The quantity of each colour produced is settled by the manufacturers in the light of the demand, and I am not aware that black is scarcer than other normal mending colours. The general shortage of supplies was aggravated by the loss of output during the fuel crisis early this year, but production is now increasing and I hope the position in the shops will shortly improve.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining 5.25 x 19 tyres; and what steps he is taking to help owners of motor cars fitted with tyres of this size who use their motor cars for farming or essential purposes and who are unlikely to be able to obtain new motor cars for some years.

Yes. This is a semi-obsolete size, but I am discussing with the industry means of increasing the supply of these and other sizes no longer in general demand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the urgent necessity to increase our exports, why the fine-spinning section of the cotton trade cannot have licences granted to them to export their surplus production, since the home trade cannot absorb all the fine yarns that are produced, with the result that the spinners of these yarns are piling up stocks in their warehouses.

Arrangements for a yarn export scheme are well advanced. Meanwhile the Cotton Control will consider favourably requests for export licences from spinners who have yarn accumulating which cannot be absorbed in the home market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the 20 per cent. allowance of paper for book publishing is allotted to educational books for use in this country, as contrasted with books for export; and whether he is aware that the scarcity particularly affects books of university standard, and is thus impeding higher education.

I am aware of the scarcity of educational books of university standard. No proportion has been laid down as between educational books and books for export, since some publishers are better able to produce the one and some the other.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what sites in Lancashire have been decided upon for the erection of new towns; and what further sites are under consideration.

No decision has yet been taken to. establish a new town in Lancashire. A consultant is, however, being appointed to examine a site in the neighbourhood of Eccleston in the Chorley Rural District, and consultants will also be asked to report on the possibilities of new town development in the general area stretching North from Inglewhite and Garstang to Wennington and Carnforth.

asked the Minister of National Insurance when Mr. and Mrs. Edward Preece, 8, Woodcote Road, Swaythling, Southampton, Nos. 51517604 and 20518419, may expect to receive their old age pensions due in November last.

Pension order books, together with the arrears of pension due to Mr. and Mrs. Preece, were sent to the local Area Officer of the Assistance Board on 27th June for delivery to them. Specially prolonged inquiries have been necessary in this case in order to obtain proof of Mr. Preece's age, in the absence of a birth certificate.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will draw the attention of all pensioners entitled to the recent increases that it is necessary for them to make individual applications, as many pensioners appear to be unaware of this procedure.

Wide publicity has been given to the fact that any pensioner who thinks he is entitled to the increased rate of pension should apply through the local area officer of the Assistance Board. All pension order books at the 10s. rate issued since the beginning of October last contain instructions about giving notice of retirement.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many pension claims from the city of Glasgow under the Contributory Pensions Act and the National Insurance Act, respectively, from widows of men who were in insured employment have been disallowed because the necessary statutory condition at the date of the husband's death was not satisfied.

I regret that the statistics of my Department are not kept on a local basis which would enable me to give the information requested.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many pension claims under the Contributory Pensions Act and the National Insurance Act, respectively, from widows of men who were in insured employment have been disallowed because the necessary statutory condition at the date of the husband's death was not satisfied; and what action he proposes to take to deal with the problem created by these refusals.

No widows' pensions will be payable under the National Insurance Act until after the Appointed Day. Some 2,300 widows' pensions are awarded each week under the Contributory Pensions Acts and the average number of claims found to be inadmissible each week is 250. It is estimated that about three-quarters of these are cases in which the husband was not an insured person at the date of his death and so did not satisfy the principal statutory condition for the award of a pension. Of the remainder about one-third, or one-tenth of the whole, are cases in which the contribution conditions laid down by the Acts were not satisfied.As regards the second part of the Question my hon. Friend will be aware that I have no power to modify the statutory requirements for the award of pension. Existing provision for meeting the needs of persons not qualified for insurance benefits will be replaced next year by a comprehensive National Assistance Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour if the period of time served by a man in an essential industry will count as equivalent to time served with the Forces; and whether he will be free, at the termination of the period which he would have served with the Forces if he had not been retained in such industry, from any further obligation, industrial or military.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a large number of physically robust men are engaged in unproductive occupations as doormen at cinemas, hotels and clubs and that such jobs can be operated by men who, because of their physical condition, cannot do hard and strenuous work and are at present unemployed; and if he will introduce legislation to ensure that jobs of this character shall only be done by men on the Disabled Persons Register.

Under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act vacancies in specific occupations can already be reserved for registered disabled persons, and this has been done for car park attendants and passenger electric lift attendants. The possibility of extending this to other occupations of a similar kind has recently been under consideration in consultation with the National Advisory Council. As at present advised, I doubt whether it would be in the interests of disabled persons to do so, as it is more important to emphasise the ability of the disabled to do valuable work than to do minor jobs of the attendant type.

asked the Minister of Labour when the Rempley factory for disabled workers will be completed at Pallion, Sunderland; and whether it is intended to acquire other premises to employ disabled persons pending its completion.

It is hoped that building will commence in the near future but it is not possible to state when the factory will be completed. If suitable premises can be found, they will be used pending completion of the new factory but so far the search for temporary premises has been unsuccessful.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present distribution of manpower in the industries detailed in Table A on page 29 of the White Paper. Cmd. 7046.

The estimated distribution of total manpower (men 14 to 64, women 14 to 59) at the end of April, 1947, among the industries shown in Table A on page 33 of the Economic Survey for 1497 (Cmd. 7046) was as follows. Figures are not available for a later date, except for coal mining, where the total at the end of May was 754,000 (corresponding to 716,000 wage earners on colliery books):

asked the Minister of Labour the categories of occupations in which prisoners of war are at present engaged in this country, together with the number of men working in each.

One hundred and twenty-seven thousand prisoners of war are engaged on food production, 34,000 on work in connection with the housing programme and 12,000 on miscellaneous work at the allocation of various Departments. In addition, 26,000 are engaged on camp duties.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the exclusion of Polish displaced persons from operation "Westward Ho" is a temporary measure; and whether their position will be made clear to the displaced persons concerned.

There is no exclusion of Polish displaced persons from this scheme but it is necessary to have regard to the large number of Poles in the Polish Resettlement Corps already awaiting absorption into employment in this country.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Baltic displaced persons have been granted permits to come to England to work in agriculture and the building industry; and how many of these have arrived.

It is not a question of permits for individuals to come here for specified employments. The scheme provides for the general recruitment of volunteers and they are found the most appropriate employment after arrival here. Up to 23rd June, 2,000, mostly Balts, had been placed in agriculture. They are not at present being placed in the building industry.

asked the. Minister of Labour what progress has been made to arrange for a general staggering of working hours in industry; and whether he is satisfied that the present arrangements for establishing such staggered hours of work are proving successful.

As stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Palmer) on 24th June, considerable progress has been made. As regards the second part, my hon. Friend may have seen the notices in the Press this morning announcing the agreement between the two sides of the Engineering Industry on the terms and conditions to govern revised hours of working designed to facilitate the spreading of the load. I wish to pay tribute on behalf of the Government to the public spirit of both sides in thus giving a lead to industry generally which cannot fail to be of the utmost value.

asked the Minister of Works the number of officials in the equivalent Department in Scotland to the English Ministry of Works who are stationed at headquarters; and how many of these had any technical knowledge or experience of the building trade before joining that Department.

The number of staff employed at the Edinburgh Headquarters of my Department on 1st June, 1947, was 775 of all grades. Of this number 356 are professional or technical officers. As far as the technical grades connected with building are conerned, the standards laid down are such as to ensure that the officers so employed are fully competent to carry out the duties required.

asked the Minister of Works how many prisoners of war are at present employed in the brickmaking industry.

There are approximately 4,160 prisoners of war employed in the brickmaking industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inform the House of the terms of the message conveyed to the British Government by Mr. Clayton on behalf of the U.S. Government, in connection with the Marshall statement dealing with the reconstruction of Europe.

Mr. Clayton brought no message from the United States Government on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inquire into a matter, details of which have been submitted to him, of a number of members of the Polish Resettlement Corps and of the Polish Combatants Association, Branch 317, now stationed in Essex, who have been separated from their families in the Middle East, East Africa and India since September, 1939; if he is aware that notwithstanding promises that their families would be brought to England, these promises remain unfulfilled; and if he will take steps to remedy this position.

As was explained in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wallsend (Mr. McKay) on 3rd June, a substantial number of Polish dependants overseas have already been re-united with their menfolk in this country. The question of the ultimate re-union of the remaining Polish families, either in this country or abroad, continues to receive the sympathetic attention of His Majesty's Government, and, subject to difficulties of transport, and especially of accommodation in this country, I hope that plans will soon be announced for the move to this country from the Middle East, East Africa and India of certain categories of dependants of members of the Polish Resettlement Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the foreign countries whose defence, at present, Britain has undertaken by treaty to share.

This country has treaties or agreements with the following foreign countries, in accordance with the terms of which she might, in certain circumstances, be called upon to come militarily to their assistance: Iraq, Transjordan, Portugal, the Soviet Union, Egypt, Turkey, Poland and France. As regards the last-named, ratifications of the Treaty signed at Dunkirk last March have yet to be exchanged.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present position in regard to the various bodies, lay and medical, which are to be set up under the terms of the National Health Service Act, 1946; whether any have been appointed; and if he will give a list of those so set up, with their personnel.

The 14 regional hospital boards have been constituted by an order (S. R. & O. 1947 No. 1297) which contains the names of the members, and it will be for the boards themselves in due course to appoint hospital management committees. The designation of teaching hospitals is at present under consideration, after which the boards of governors of those hospitals will be constituted. About 60 executive councils have so far been constituted, and their appointment is being announced locally. I will send the hon. Member details if he should so desire. Local medical and pharmaceutical committees have been provisionally recognised in all areas, and local dental committees in practically all, but I have not the names of the members of all these bodies. The arrangements for the appointment of ophthalmic services committees, the tribunal, the medical practices committee and the Dental Estimates Board are under consideration. On the establishment of health committees by local health authorities, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26th June to my hon. Friend, the Member for Acton (Mr. Sparks). Suggestions are under consideration for appointments to the Central Health Services Council, which will in due course be consulted on the constitution of standing advisory committees.