asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when the accounts of B.O.A.C., covering the year ended March, 1947, will be available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when it is intended to publish the annual accounts of the three air corporations.

The statements of accounts of the three airways corporations for the year ended 31st March, 1947, will be laid as soon as possible after Parliament re-assembles in October.

While I appreciate the difficulties of getting the accounts from overseas, may I ask the Minister to be sure that there is no delay, because of the large sums which may be involved, and because of the public interest in this matter?

Most certainly. There has been active co-operation between the Minister, the chairman of the corporations, and the accountancy sections and auditors of the corporations. We have brought publication of the accounts to within seven months of the end of the financial year, and we are desirous of bringing them as close to it as possible, because that is, in itself, an efficiency test.

In view of the long delay in presenting these accounts, will my hon. Friend consider giving more information in this House in response to questions put to him by Members of this House, pending publication of the accounts?

That is an entirely different question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether, as a result of the acquisition by the State of Doncaster airport, he now proposes to construct the necessary runways and other essential works; when he anticipates the plans will be ready or the work of reconstruction will commence; who will use the airport in the meantime; and what facilities will be given to commercial operators or charter companies to develop, in the near future, regular airline services.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in regard to aerodromes in the United Kingdom on 9th July, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Beswick), but I may add with regard to Doncaster that preliminary plans for its development, which is a heavy constructional undertaking, have been prepared, though for the reasons given in my earlier statement I am unable to forecast the date of implementation. Meanwhile, the aerodrome is already being used by one aircraft repair and maintenance firm, and will be available within the limits of its capacity and accommodation to other commercial, charter and private flying interests to engage in their legitimate actiivties. A civil operated reserve school will resume flying activities there in the autumn.

Is not the Minister aware that we in the West Riding of Yorkshire, particularly in the City of Sheffield and other towns around Doncaster, attach considerable importance to the development of this airport? Will my hon. Friend give it the same consideration as he gives to Prestwick in Scotland, because the West Riding produces a considerable amount of wealth for Britain, certainly in the export field?

The development of this aerodrome will cost a considerable amount of money and will require a lot of labour and materials, and its development must, in relation to these factors, be in accordance with the national programme.

asked the Parliamentary Secreary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many Atlantic arrivals and departures to and from Prestwick, by aircraft of the three corporations, took place during June; and how many by other airlines.

In the month of June there were 17 arrivals and 19 departures to and from Prestwick Airport on transatlantic services by the British Overseas Airways Corporation, 41 arrivals and 41 departures by Trans-Canada Airlines and 54 arrivals and 56 departures by foreign airlines.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that these figures abundantly bear out the contention that if left to themselves to choose between Prestwick, Heathrow and Shannon, a great many foreign companies will, in fact, prefer to use Prestwick?

Yes, as and when it is the most effective route on the Great Circle route.

Do these figures bear out the prognostication that a Labour Government would close Prestwick?

asked the Parliamentary Secertary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether all British air-liners operating on the ocean routes carry emergency dinghies, lifebelts and other standard air-sea rescue equipment for passengers and crews.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will now state when Gatwick racecourse is to be derequisitioned.

Gatwick racecourse is now an essential part of Gatwick Aerodrome which is being extensively used for the testing of transport aircraft under modification on the aerodrome, for air charter work and for the Ministry of Civil Aviation's experimental and communication work. I can, therefore, give no promise that it will be derequisitioned.

Does the hon. Gentleman mean that it will be requisitioned permanently?

The answer means that I can give no promise when it will be derequisitioned. From my information, I think it will be in use for a number of years, for there is no alternative aerodrome within the London area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many German doctors and surgeons in the British zone, whose medical services are urgently needed, are prevented from resuming practice because of their former connection with the National Socialist Party.

None, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the weekly weight and calorie content of each item of the rations issued to British officials of the Control Commission in Germany; and whether the quantities are the same for large messes as for issues to individuals.

The rations for the Control Commission are the same as for the British Army of the Rhine. I have obtained the details asked for in the first part of the Question from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for War, and with permission will circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The answer to the second half of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the allegations I sent him that there is a good deal of waste and does not his reply to the last part of my Question corroborate that, as it is a well known fact that the issues need not be the same for a large mess as for an individual?

I will look into that very carefully. The Commander-in-Chief is coming over, and I am constantly trying to tighten up the administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the large concentrations of guerillas along the Yugoslav and Albanian frontiers and their subsequent repeated and increasing violation of the Greek frontier; and whether he proposes to draw the attention of the Security Council of the United Nations to these unprovoked aggressions.

The Greek Government have already brought before the Security Council the latest case of a guerilla attack from across Greece's northern frontier. In addition, the Subsidiary Group of the United Nations Balkan Commission has investigated, and reported to that Commission in New York on, various frontier incidents which have taken place since the Commission's report was drawn up. The Security Council is, therefore, fully informed upon these matters which are, I understand, engaging its attention at the present time.

In view of the fact that these frontier situations are connived at, if not actively assisted, by the Yugoslav and Albanian Governments, will the Foreign Secretary consider making very strong protests to those Governments?

I think the matter has been taken up by the United Nations. We have a representative on the United Nations, and he speaks with the voice of His Majesty's Government, and I think we ought to stick to that instrument.

Could the Foreign Secretary say whether the United Nations Commission will have a representative on these frontier area commissions, or have these commissions been withdrawn?

There is some doubt about it; there is a partial commission at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in view of the action taken by the Greek Government in arresting, without charge, thousands of trade unionists, Socialists and Communists, he will now withdraw the British Police Mission.

No, Sir.

In that case, will the Foreign Secretary say whether he is satisfied that the Police Mission which we sent over to Greece is there for a useful purpose or merely in order to ensure the unwarranted arrest of Socialist and Communist trade unionists?

They are there for a very useful and successful purpose.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that this present attack on the Left and the working-class in Greece is a useful purpose?

I think that when any party, like the Communist Party—

And the Socialist Party.

I beg the hon. Gentleman's pardon, perhaps he will allow me to answer the question—sets out to destroy the elected authority of the State, the elected authority of the State is entitled to protect itself.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in Greece, anybody who opposes the Government is apparently classified as a Communist, and that this also ha:; the appearance of a Nazi doctrine to which exception has been taken this afternoon?

I am not expressing a view whether the Greek Government are right or wrong; I am expressing the view that the Police Mission is out there doing its duty. On the other hand, when I was asked a question as to this attack on the State, I gave an answer, and I limited it to the Communist Party.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from the British Ambassador in Warsaw as to the number of Polish Socialists who have been re-arrested since the political amnesty was declared and in violation of the Potsdam Agreement.

A communiqué issued by the Polish Ministry of Public Security on 8th June named seven Socialists who had been arrested. Of these, two were arrested last year, and have been in prison ever since. Two others were arrested last year, released and re-arrested in June of this year. The remaining three were arrested in June. Certain other prominent Polish Socialists have also been arrested in May and June. According to the Press, the total number arrested is 23. Not all the persons arrested are at present members of the Polish Socialst Party. Some of them are former members who have resigned from the Party.

Can my right hon. Friend say what were the charges against these men?

No, I really could not.

Is it not a fact that there is nothing in the Potsdam Agreement to prevent the arrest of people identified with sabotage, and is he aware that the chairman of the Socialist Party has stated that, having seen the documents, he is convinced that these people had planned sabotage?

I have not gone into the question of the charges at all. I must say to the House that I cannot take up every charge made against these people. It is impossible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the cost per acre for farming the highland areas in Malaya; and the crop yield per acre.

Agriculture in the Malayan highlands is almost exclusively concerned with tea growing and market gardening. Tea is grown on about 50,000 acres, the average annual cost of production including manufacture being 470 dollars and the yield 700 lbs. per acre. Market gardening is carried out on about 750 acres, the average annual cost of production being 4,850 dollars, and the yield 12 tons per acre. These figures do not include capital outlay. The area is unsuited for rice cultivation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amount has been spent by the Government of Malaya on Government farms opened up for the cultivation of rice substitute crops; what acreage has been planted; what are the weight and value of the crops harvested to date; and whether he is satisfied with the results of this experiment.

The Government of the Malayan Union has spent 4,200,000 Straits dollars on short-term food production for crops, including rice, during the period April, 1946, to June, 1947, of which over 2,000,000 dollars is capital expenditure. Five thousand, three hundred and twenty-three acres have been planted, the weight of crops harvested being 196 tons, value at 20,000 dollars. Heavy expenditure has been entailed in the preliminary work of clearing and preparing land for cultivation, and it must be some time before the full benefits of this development become apparent. Nevertheless, in the Governor's view, the results have so far been disappointing.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there seems to be some difference of opinion between the experts of the Department of Agriculture and the short-term food production committee with regard to the cutting down of the tropical Malayan forest whose natural productions are tropical trees and rubber, and that, consequently, the 80,000 acres of highland that were put down for rice will not yield sufficient rice to make it worth while?

I am fully aware of the importance of conserving the Malayan forests. On the other hand, there is a tremendous drive by the Agricultural Department to grow more food wherever that can be done.

Will the Minister confirm, as he has done before, that there is a large part of the population for whom no substitute for rice can be obtained?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that Malayan officers are compelled to retire from the service at the age of 55 years and under in certain cases; and why such officers are excluded from temporary increase in pension until they have reached 60 years of age unless incapacitated by ill-health.

I took occasion at the end of April, when sending them particulars of the increases introduced in this country by the Pensions Increase Act, 1947, to invite a number of Governors, including the Governors of the Malayan Union and Singapore, to consider reducing the minimum qualifying age for pension increase from 60 years to 55 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the question of revising the pension increase for Malayan and other colonial pensioners in the light of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1947, is still under consideration; and when the result is to be announced.

I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on 2nd July. I have not yet received replies from the Governors of the Malayan Union and Singapore to the invitation sent them on 26th April to review their schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will announce the use to which he proposes putting the large sums, exceeding £20,000,000, arising from Government profits on cocoa deals.

It will be for the Cocoa Marketing Boards which are being established in the Gold Coast and Nigeria to consider how these funds may best be utilised for the benefit of West Africa farmers. Some of the uses to which these funds may be put are set out in Command Paper 6950 on the Future Marketing of West Africa Cocoa, which I presented to the House last November.

Will the Minister confirm that this enormous sum will not be put to any uses other than those indicated in his reply—that is to say, for general purposes?

The purposes are set out in the White Paper, and obviously these funds which have accumulated will he used for these purposes.

Will the West African farmers be consulted first?

Certainly. The West African farmers are represented, in the case of the Gold Coast, on the Production Board; and in the case of Nigeria their voices will be heard through their officials.

If the Government carried on this business for themselves, would it not be a profitable investment for this country?

The answer is that this is bulk purchase and trading by the Government.

Will the Minister agree that hulk trading, where he pays £60 a ton to the natives and sells to the Americans at £177 a ton, is hardly a practice to he encouraged?

That is another question, but the whole of the proceeds of the sales of the cocoa will go back to the producers in West Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what regulations the funds of the native authority of Ijebu-Remo are used to provide for the Akarigbo of Ijebu-Remo a salary which includes a sum paid in discharge of a treaty obligation of the Central Nigerian Government.

I am consulting the Governor on this question, and will communicate further with my hon. Friend when the reply is received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Jewish displaced persons from Iraq are still interned in Uganda; and when it is proposed they shall be released.

Including women and children, between 20 and 30 persons of Jewish race who were transferred from Iraq for internment during the war now remain in Uganda. Those of them who are unable to obtain accommodation elsewhere live in a provided camp, but are subject only to the rules necessary for the organisation of the camp. They are free to accept any employment they can obtain in Uganda and to leave the country. It is hoped that an official of the Preparatory Commission for the International Refugee Organisation will shortly visit Uganda with a view to discussing the problems of these people on the spot, and that, as a result, the Commission will be able to arrange for their settlement elsewhere.

Would my right hon. Friend tell us how long they have been there?

They were taken to Uganda at different periods during the war. A large number of them have now found places in which to live outside of, the country, and they are all free to go, and all possible help is given to them if they go elsewhere.

Will the right hon. Gentleman avoid the use of the term "Jewish race," because, in fact, the Jews are a religious community and not a race?

Has it occurred to my right hon. Friend that most people there would desire to go to the Jewish National Home in Palestine, and has he considered that at all?

In point of fact, the vast majority of Jews amongst these people have already left Uganda. But it is not a Jewish problem only. It is a much larger problem than that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how soon it is estimated that it will be feasible to introduce compulsory education for Africans in townships in Kenya.

I regret that I am unable to give an estimate at the present time. The Kenya Government are re-examining their education programme for Africans in the light of the financial resources available, and as soon as I am informed of their plans I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many cases have local native councils voted a special cess for education in 1945 and 1946; and in how many cases have the proceeds been spent, and with what result.

I assume that my hon. Friend's Question refers to the African Territories. I am making inquiries from the Governors concerned and will write to my hon. Friend when I have their replies.

asked the Minister of Defence approximately how many British Service men have married Indian women in India during the past three years; how many of these wives have come to reside in this country or are known as desiring to accompany their husbands on repatriation; and whether permission to marry Indian women has to be granted to Service men by military or other authorities.

I have been asked to reply. The information asked for in the first two parts of my hon. Friend's Question is not available. As regards the last part, there is no provision in Service law which prevents marriages of Service personnel to Indian women, though if the Service authorities considered it to be in a man's own interests there are a variety of steps which they could take to dissuade him from such a marriage.

Could my right hon. Friend give some rough idea of the number of Indian women who are married to British Service men?

No, Sir, I am afraid we have not any statistics.

Does that mean that none of the Services has any particulars at all regarding these marriages?

No, Sir, that is what I have said in the first part of the answer.

asked the Minister of Defence what numbers of men and women were serving in each of the three Services on 30th June, 1947, or on the latest date for which such information is available; and what are his estimates of the corresponding strengths at 31st December, 1947.

I have been asked to reply. On 30th June there were 188,100 men and women in the Royal Navy, 806,200 in the Army and 307,000 in the Royal Air Force. As to the second part of the Question, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the promised statement of the release programme for the last quarter of this year following which it will be possible to give an estimate of the strength of the Forces at 31st December next.

Can my right hon. Friend say when that statement will be made?

I have an idea that it may be tomorrow, but, at any rate, it will he very soon.

asked the Minister of Defence if, before a final decision is taken on the question of the number of free travel warrants issued to Service men, he will consider the inequality between man and man caused by the present cut in the number of warrants, the hardship to those posted far from their homes, the increased cost to Service men of cigarettes and other amenities, and the consequent lessening of incentives to voluntary enlistment; and if, in view of all these considerations, he will revert to the wartime practice of allowing four free warrants a year.

I have been asked to reply. All the factors mentioned by my hon. Friend will certainly be taken into account in deciding the annual number of free travel warrants for Service men, but my right hon. Friend can hold out no hope of reverting to the wartime practice of issuing four such warrants a year.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when the Civil Lord of the Admiralty was pressed about this matter last week, he seemed to be somewhat impressed by the argument put forward by several hon. Members that this is particularly hard on naval ratings whose homes are in Scotland or in the North of England, and who are mostly stationed in the South of England?

Yes, Sir, I am also impressed by the argument, but then, I believe the Chancellor of the Exchequer has a few arguments, too.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what sum is involved in this matter, and how much saving there will be by cutting down on these warrants?

Quite a considerable sum. It may surprise the House to know that this wartime concession was one of the most costly of the welfare amenities given to Service men.

Would not this difficulty be overcome, so far as naval ratings in Scotland are concerned, by locating a naval base in Scotland?

Partly; but, of course, the Navy does have to go to sea

Will not my right hon. Friend agree that when a young man is taken from his home, it is in his moral interests that he should be able to go home at least four times a year?

I could not accept that suggestion entirely, although I am bound to say that the Services' leave provisions and free travel arrangements are generous when compared with what the men get in civil life.

asked the Minister of Defence whether he has considered, or is considering, proposals for lending Servicemen to industry whilst retaining them in the Services and if he will make a statement; and whether he will bear in mind the prior claims for release through demobilisation of men in the early release groups.

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. The wartime scheme for lending men to industry from the Services was discontinued in June, 1945, on the institution of the release scheme for the Forces, which made provision for the out-of-turn release of men urgently required for reconstruction work. In the circumstances, the second part of the Question would not appear to arise

asked the Minister (it Food to what extent food supplies are being wasted owing to the fact that food processing firms are short of cans; and what action he is taking to remedy such a shortage.

If my hon. Friend knows of any case where food is being wasted owing to shortage of cans, I shall be glad to look into it. So far, no such case has come to my notice.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a reduction in the purchases by his Department of the publications of the Bureau of Current Affairs, proportionate to the reductions in newsprint imposed by His Majesty's Government on the daily newspapers.