asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the hon. Member for Chichester may expect a reply to any of his letters to his Department, dated, respectively, 1st May, 5th June, 16th June, 8th July and 21st July, all dealing with the question of night-flying training at Ford Aerodrome, Sussex.

As I informed the hon. Member verbally some time ago, I am not yet able to hold out any hope of the cessation of night-flying operations at Ford. While I regret the disturbance which such operations are bound to cause wherever they take place, they are in fact a necessary part of the training of the officers and men connected with naval aviation.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that he was exploring the possibility of transferring these night-flying training operations to some other locality? Can he say what is the result of his explorations?

I regret that, as indicated in this reply, my explorations have not so far been successful. Wherever night-flying operations take place, they are bound to cause disturbance. Another complication is that we have not adequate facilities for night-flying operations at other aerodromes which could take the place of those at Ford.

Is the Admiralty going to do nothing whatever to ameliorate the conditions of these unfortunate people, who are disturbed night after night, and can get no sleep in that part of the country?

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that our Services are suffering from great inconveniences, and will he assure us that their training facilities are not limited by Questions asked in this House, bearing in mind that the week-end should be kept free, but that normal training should take place?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the offers made to employees of Cable and Wireless employed in the supervisory grade in substitution for the profit-sharing bonus previously enjoyed by them; and whether, in view of the undertaking given by His Majesty's Government when this concern was nationalised, he will arrange for this offer to be increased so as to prevent a reduction in the earnings of this section of the staff.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of these offers. I think that this matter can best be pursued in the negotiations between the company and its employees which, I understand, have not yet been carried to a conclusion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the assurances that were given to the staff of this company that their position would not be made worse by nationalisation; and is he aware that in the case of the grade to which I invite his attention in this Question, the net effect is a reduction of salary of something in the nature of 30 per cent.?

I think that both parties to these negotiations are aware of the promises, and the whole matter is still under consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that the pledge given by His Majesty's Government, is, in fact, honoured?

I do not at this moment feel inclined to interfere. The negotiations are being carried on through the ordinary channels and in the ordinary way, and I think I would be ill-advised to interfere.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be certain to keep the incentive motive going in this particular industry?

I suppose that is always one of the considerations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what are the terms of the policy directive issued by his department to the managements of B.O.A.C., B.E.A.C. or B.S.A.A.C. to the effect that their trade union negotiations should take a particular line or be conducted in a particular way.

No such directive has been issued and my noble Friend has no intention of interfering with the established machinery for such negotiations which, in the case of civil aviation is the National Joint Council for Civil Air Transport.

Will my hon. Friend take into consideration the views of the British Air Line Pilots' Association in any of these negotiations?

The organisation referred to is a member of the National Joint Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to the U.S. Government concerning occupation forces in Germany with a view to securing a more equitable distribution of the burden of armed manpower in proportion to population and ability to pay the cost.

No representations have been made.

Will the Minister state why no representations have been made and whether it is a fact that the occupation Forces of Britain in Germany are twice as large as those of the Americans; also, has his attention been drawn to statements by American staff officers in Washington last week to the effect that the British Government are maintaining too large occupation Forces in Germany?

I hope that I did not mislead my hon. Friend. No representations have been made. I should not think that His Majesty's Government would necessarily accept advice upon the disposition of our Forces from an officer in another Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he proposes to take regarding the seizure by the Russians of an oil-refining plant in Austria, the disposal of which is under discussion between the Allies.

The British representatives on the Allied Council for Austria and Austrian Treaty Commission have protested against the occupation by Soviet troops of the Austrian Mineral Oil Works Company Refinery at Lobau on the night of 1st August to 2nd August. Furthermore the British Deputy Commissioner has stated that the Law of the Control Council for Germany quoted as a basis for the Soviet action has no application in Austria; further that reparations cannot be secured from property which is in joint British-American beneficial ownership. The United Kingdom representative on the Austrian Treaty Commission has stated that this unilateral action by the Soviet authorities is in total disregard of the discussions at the Treaty Commission on the question of what are, and what are not, German assets. The subject will be raised at the forthcoming meeting of the Allied Council in Vienna.

Are we to understand that so far no reply has been given by the Russians to these representations?

A statement has been made quoting an authority for the action, the authority being, we think, only relevant to German procedure and not to Austrian procedure.

In view of the apparent mystery which surrounds the operation by the Russians of the Austrian mineral oil resources and oil refineries and the apparent failure to supply more than a small proportion of the Austrian oil requirements from Austrian oil resources, will the Minister urge his right hon. Friend to continue to press the Russians to adopt his precept of putting their cards on the table face upwards.

His Majesty's Government, quite properly I am sure, have been as concerned about Austrian interests in this and allied matters as they have been about their own and about the legality of any behaviour in this area where we are joint operatives.

Can the Minister state whether this matter is being pressed through the Allied Control Commission, because I gathered from what he said that the protest had been made there but that the reply had been received from some other source?

We are using three instruments where it is appropriate to apply pressure, one of which is the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has sent, or proposes to send, to the syndicate which has offered to acquire the Milk River Baths in Jamaica and develop them as a modern pleasure resort.

This inquiry is at present being considered by the Government of Jamaica, with whom it rests to decide what response should be made to it.

Can the Under-Secretary assure the House that no obstacle will be put into the way either in Jamaica or by His Majesty's Government of any reasonable and legitimate schemes for the development of this very useful asset to the tourist trade?

This question is one that must, I think, be left to the Government of Jamaica.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any further statement to make on the rice situation in Malaya.

No, Sir, there has been no new development. All who are concerned with this problem are doing their best to obtain the largest possible quantities of rice for Malaya, consistent with the needs and claims of other rice-eating countries, and with proper regard to price. Every practicable step is also being taken to stimulate local production.

Is the position the same as it was a few weeks ago when the people of Malaya were getting a considerably smaller rice ration than the people of Japan?

I have no exact figures of the rice ration in Japan. The position in Malaya certainly is serious and we are doing our best to alleviate it.

Is it not the case that the rice ration in Japan is about 10 ounces, in India about 9½ ounces and in Malaya about 4½ ounces, and will my hon. Friend make representations to secure a more equitable distribution of rice? Further, is he aware that if the rice ration of one of the other countries were reduced by, say, half an ounce, it would enable Malaya to get a sufficient rice ration compared with what is now being issued in other countries, instead of a quite inadequate ration which compels Malaya, and all the Asiatic employees of the Services to be dependent on black market rice, so that the Services must pay a black market price for it.

I cannot confirm the figures, but certainly the ration in Malaya is lower than in a number of other countries round about and very much lower than we should wish to see.

Is the Minister aware of the absolutely desperate position, which cannot be dismissed lightly?

asked the Minister of Food what action he is taking on the offer conveyed to him on 23rd July by Messrs. H. S. Hames-Mathew on behalf of Indian tea exporters to supply, at once, any quantity of tea.

I have been asked to reply. All offers of tea received by the Ministry of Food are considered on their merits. The prices quoted by Messrs. Hamer-Mathew were considerably above the prevailing rates, and, accordingly, the firm were informed that the Ministry was not prepared to accept their offer.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that his answer which bases the refusal to take this tea on the question of price is completely inconsistent with the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary last week that all the tea that could be obtained was being obtained, but despite that the tea ration had to be reduced?

I understand that it was open to all Indian tea producers to offer their tea to the Tea Control in Calcutta, and that the tenders were asked for, but that the total offers received were in excess of the quantity which the Indian Government were prepared to allow us to purchase by private contract, and that, therefore, the offers had to be scaled down proportionately.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that that is the third inconsistent explanation which has been given to the country for this shortage?

asked the Minister of Health what reduction in the number of houses to be permitted for other than agricultural workers and miners is anticipated to result from the reduction by £10,000,000 in the value of timber to be imported in the next 12 months.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there must be other sources of supplies of timber available, and cannot he tell us whether he is doing something to enable these sources to be made available for housing purposes?

Every effort is being made by my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade to get softwood for housing and hardwood for furniture from various parts of the world, and he has had a certain amount of success. In the meantime, there need be no apprehension about our own housing programme. At any rate, the contracts will not be interfered with, and there is sufficient timber coming forward for houses already under construction.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade why he refuses to grant a licence for the import of 73,000 scaffold boards from Luxemburg?

That, of course, is a question which ought to be put to my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade. I will certainly make inquiries, because I am quite sure that, as usual, the hon. Member's information is inaccurate.

Can the Minister say what proportion of the £10,000,000 reduction on timber will affect the timber required for houses?

I am not yet in a position to apportion it, because we do not know how far it will fall on the rest of the building programme. But the House will recall that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke about the building programme being reduced. It does not necessarily follow that any substantial effect will fall upon domestic housing.

Does the right hon. Gentleman want the local authorities to understand from his statement that, when they are frustrated in building houses, his Ministry will never again say that it is due to a shortage of timber?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman must not interpret what I have said beyond the frontier of what I have said. Indeed, the local authorities are not being frustrated; they are being released to build houses, and they are extremely grateful because of the fact that this is the first Government to give them a chance to build houses.

Does the figure which the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned apply also to Scotland?

Yes, it is a United Kingdom figure.

The right hon. Gentleman says that all existing programmes will not be affected by the £10,000,000 cut, but can he give some indication as to when future programmes are likely to start?

I did not say programmes; I said contracts. Obviously, it is not possible for me to outline any modifications in the housing programme in answer to suppleraentary questions, but, when we return from the Recess, I shall certainly be prepared to make a full statement.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the proposed reduction in the Forces, he will reconsider the call-up of the medical officer of health for Enfield.

I am advised that this medical officer's services are still required by the Forces, though the future needs of the medical branches of the Forces will, of course, be subject to review in the light of the proposed reduction.

Will my right hon. Friend give very careful reconsideration to this matter, in view of the fact that this medical officer of health is 38 years of age and had only been able to be a full-time medical officer of health for Enfield for 12 months, that a deputy has only recently been named, and that the health centre will be seriously affected if this officer is called up?

As my hon. Friend knows, very careful inquiry has been made into this matter, but it is not fair that doctors should be retained in the Forces beyond a just period in order that other doctors may remain in civil life. There is always a matter of equity between the one to be called up and the one to be released, and that has always to be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Health the number of full-time medical officers of health that have been called up to serve with His Majesty's Forces during 1947; and their number over 30, 35 and 40 years of age, respectively.

Four whole-time public health medical officers have been called up during 1947, and two others are now under consideration for recruitment, Another has been nominated for call-up, but has been granted postponement on grounds of personal hardship. All these are over 35 and under 40.

In view of his reply, does my right hon. Friend really believe that there are not cases where the detrimental effect would be less than in the case of Enfield, which has a population of over 100,000?

I admire my hon. Friend for pushing Enfield's claims, but I must have regard to the claims of the country as a whole. I think he will realise from what I have said that very few medical officers of health have been called up, and that, therefore, the danger to public health is not great.

Is it not a fact that the proportion of medical officers in the Services is about four times as great as that in civil life?

I do not know whether my hon. Friend means medical officers or doctors, They are in completely different categories. But I can assure my hon. Friend that I am very conscious of the need for more doctors in civil life, and the Forces will not be allowed to steal more than they can justly claim.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a further statement in the case of Harry Joseph Stevelman.

This young man has now registered for National Service, and has already been medically examined.

Is the Minister aware that there are reasons to believe that this is not an isolated case, and that this man is one of a growing class of people; and, further, will he consider with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Food and his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary what steps can be taken to get rid of these petty crooks and leave street trading to decent honest traders.

On the information that we have about this young man, I do not think it is reasonable to put him in the class of petty crooks. After all, street sellers might be unnecessary, but that is no reason for calling them "petty crooks." So far as the question of making use of any manpower of that kind is concerned, when we have the powers for which the House has been asked, we shall take steps to see whether they can be used in that direction.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is true that this man has been fined £1,000 during the last 12 months, and if he does not consider that to be evidence of petty crockery, will he say what is?

If the question of petty crookery is based on the amount of money that people can make by the exercise of their wits, then there are lots of people who ought to be brought into that category. My opinion is that these people will be called up irrespective of whether they are petty crooks or large crooks.

Is the right hon. Gentleman suggesting that until this Bill which we are discussing becomes an Act of Parliament, he has no power to deal with these people?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Works for what purpose he proposes to use the buildings in Richmond Park, shortly to be vacated by 102 Convalescent Depot.

When the convalescent depot is vacated, which will probably be about the end of the year, it is proposed to use the buildings to house competitors in the 1948 Olympic Games.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the fact that the Kingston Council applied to his Department for the use of these premises for housing the homeless, and is it really the decision of his Department that it is better to use this accommodation for the housing of international athletes, than for the housing of thousands of homeless people?

It would not be possible, as the Amendment to the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1945, was withdrawn, to use these buildings in a Royal Park for housing purposes?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that with the permission of his Department that would be possible?

Since the decision was taken that the Olympic Games should be held in this country we are under the necessity of finding appropriate accommodation for the visiting athletes, such accommodation must be reasonably near to the scene of the meeting, and these are unquestionably the most logical premises to use for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport the present position with regard to the Severn Bridge and the Government's intentions in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether instructions have been issued to suspend the erection of the Severn Bridge; and, in view of its urgent need for developing transport and trade between Wales and South-west England and the continued unemployment in this area, if he will give every possible priority to its completion.

This scheme, together with other major schemes of capital equipment, is under consideration, and my right hon. Friend is not at present in a position to make a statement.

Are we to understand that it was not under consideration on 22nd July when the Order was made?

There is no question of the scheme not being carried out. It is only a question of time. It is a very necessary and desirable scheme in the interests of South Wales.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Minister of Transport has assured the House that this scheme is part of the rehabilitation of South Wales, and will my hon. Friend emphasise to his right hon. Friend that this scheme should have a very high priority if South Wales is to get back on to its feet?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend fully agrees with that.

Does not my hon. Friend also think that this scheme will help to cement the friendship between these two great countries?

Would the Minister give a clear answer to this question? Are they going on with the Severn Bridge, or are they not?

I cannot say anything further than what I have already said, namely, that this proposal and other schemes of capital expenditure will be considered very shortly.

When the Department are reconsidering this scheme, will they bear in mind that there is no point in stopping it while there is a large reserve of unemployed, unless those men are going into the export trades? Further, will the Department also bear in mind that if they do not supply another 10,000 tons of structural steel to South Wales, they will not get the export factories completed anyway, and they will just continue to have unemployment?

Yes, Sir. That is one of the factors which we have in mind.

asked the Attorney-General, if his attention has been called to the seditious libel contained in an editorial article in the "Morecambe and Heysham Visitor" of 6th August, which is professedly anti-Semitic in character and commends the use of violence against the Jewish community in Britain; and what action he is taking.

My attention has been drawn to the publication referred to by my hon. Friend, which I have forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend bear in mind that if the existing law and powers prove inadequate to deal wth this most dangerous disease of anti-Semitism, it may be necessary to introduce new legislation?

I have no doubt of the deplorable character of this movement, or, indeed, of the article in question, of which the avowed intention is to create anti-Semitism. Whether it involves any breach of the criminal law is a matter which is now going to receive consideration in connection with this article. The wider aspects of the matter will certainly be looked at in the light of the result of the consideration to which I have referred.

Will the Attorney-General bear in mind that while deprecating anti-Semitism, sometimes when one tries to cure an evil one only extends it, and that it is far better to allow public opinion and reasoned opinion in this country to operate instead of going in for wholesale repression which may affect more than the people concerned?

I quite agree. That is a very important consideration and and one to which, of course, we have regard, both in connection with prosecutions in particular cases, and in connection with the wider aspect of the matter which was put to me by my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg).

Is not the Attorney-General aware that anti-Semitism is, in its essence, an incitement to murder, and should it not be treated as the crime which it really is?

While hoping that some action will be taken against this movement, may I ask the Attorney-General at the same time to consider some of the violent anti-British propaganda?

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that a disabled ex-Service man, case No. 2/MH/2984, is unable to follow his employment on a seed farm at Kelvedon, Essex, because his surgical boots are completely unserviceable; that renewal of boots was due last December and that this man was remeasured for them at a Ministry of Pension's clinic on 14th January last; that he has for seven months addressed repeated appeals to the Department's regional office at Cambridge, but has still not received his new boots; and if he will expedite the provision of these boots and explain the cause of this long delay.

The order, which was placed on 16th January, two days after the man was measured, involved the making of a new last by the contractor. Owing to a shortage of skilled labour there is, in general, delay in the delivery of new boots and the position is especially difficult when a new last has to be made. In this case, delivery of the new boots has been promised within a fortnight from now. Appropriate allowances will be paid for any period during which the pensioner has been prevented from working. To help in remedying the position as a whole, some disabled ex-Service men have been taken into training, and a number of European volunteer workers have recently been brought to this country and are employed at the factory of our principal contractors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how soon the special arrangements for enabling old age pensioners to get tobacco cheaply will be in force.

I have been asked to reply. On 13th October next.

Would my right hon. Friend ask his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer if this decision could be made retrospective from the introduction of the Budget?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that there is an acute shortage in Liskeard, Cornwall, of ash slats or rods for repairing binder canvases; and if he will make supplies available with speed in order that these canvases can be repaired in time to cut this year's corn.

There is a shortage of ash generally, but my attention has not previously been called to any particular difficulty in Liskeard. I am, however, making inquiries.

Has the hon. Gentleman received the letter which I have sent to him, and will he make particular inquiries with regard to the specific matter which I mentioned in that letter?

I received the letter in my office this morning. We have taken the matter up with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and I assure the hon. Gentleman that we will do all we can, as we recognise the importance of the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a quantity of good ash which can be cut in Surrey, Sussex and the Home Counties if we get the labour? Will the hon. Gentleman take the matter up with the Ministry of Labour, because they are crying out for labour in those places?

Certainly. Perhaps the noble Lord will be good enough to communicate with me and let me have the details.