asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that an investigation of 148 firms coming within the jurisdiction of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Disablement Advisory Committee showed that 25 per cent. of the firms were not complying with the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944; and what further action he will take to ensure that a section of industry and commerce does not evade its responsibilities under the Act.

No. I imagine my hon. Friend is referring to a statement that 25 per cent. of the firms are not employing 3 per cent. of disabled persons. But that does not necessarily mean that they are not complying with the Act. The Act allows an employer to work up to the standard percentage gradually by filling vacancies as they occur with disabled persons. As regards the last part of the Question, appropriate steps have been taken in this and other areas to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act.

asked the Minister of Labour the actual or estimated number of unemployed insured persons who have left the Penygroes and Caernarvon employment exchange areas, either voluntarily or by labour directions, since August, 1945.

I have no information as to the total number of unemployed insured persons who have left these areas over the period stated, but 313 persons for whom no suitable local work was available at the moment have been placed in employment in other districts by the employment exchanges. A large proportion of these have returned to the area. No direction was issued in any of these cases.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will set out in tabular form the additions to the civil working population from all sources which have taken place since 1st April, 1947, to the latest convenient date.

The information available is insufficient to enable a detailed analysis to be made, but the intake to the civilian working population during the half-year to the end of September is estimated to be made up of approximately 600,000 from civilian sources and 300,000 from the Armed Forces and Women's Auxiliary Services.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reasons the War Department has refused to allow the Pewsey Rural District Council to connect the houses at the village of Everleigh to the sewage plant that serves the Polish camp there.

The sewage disposal works at the camp referred to are not capable of dealing with the sewage from the whole village. The War Department has, however, agreed to give a connection to four new houses which the Council propose to build.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many War Department personnel are employed at the ammunition dumps in Savernake Forest; and for what purposes and if he will consider replacing these able-bodied men with troops from Devizes.

Twenty-five civilian watchmen are employed in patrolling this storage area. The suggestion made in the last part of the Question has been considered but I regret that it would not be practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long Captain A. Macnaughton Wright has been in close arrest; and for what reasons it has been necessary to confine him in this way.

This officer was arrested on 15th September, 1947, and was charged on 17th September, 1947. He was brought before a Military Government Court on 4th October but pleaded unfitness. He was formally charged before a court on 6th October, and remanded in custody. He was brought before the court again on 20th October, remanded for a further 14 days and released. He is now in open arrest in the Provost Officers' Mess, Vienna. When he was arrested he stated that his release leave had expired. The procedure adopted was normal for a case in which a person no longer serving is concerned, and involving charges such as those arising in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the indignation and plight of many Service and ex-Service families who have received eviction notices from the War Department in the Bulford and Larkhill areas; how many notices of eviction have been issued; and if he will ensure that satisfactory alternative accommodation is made available before any eviction takes place.

I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement which was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 11th November, 1947, in reply to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Paddington. Two hundred and twenty-five Service families in the area have received notices warning them that they may be required to vacate their quarters on or after 1st January, 1948. All these families will be offered alternative accommodation in Regular Families Hostels. Sixty-nine ex-Service families have received "Notice to quit" but no eviction orders have yet been applied for. As regards these ex-Service families, I regret that I cannot give the assurance asked for, because the War Department is not responsible for providing accommodation for them.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that summonses for possession have been issued against ex-Service men and their families occupying Queen Mary's Buildings, Stillington Street, London, S.W.1; that so far no alternative accommodation can be found; that rental has been refused; and if he will withdraw these summonses until alternative accommodation has been found.

Every effort has been made by the War Department during the past few months to come to an arrangement which will ease the hardships of these and similar tenants of War Department property. These quarters are, however, needed most urgently for the housing of Regular soldiers whose families are homeless and who have been separated from their families for long periods. While, therefore, my right hon. Friend is prepared to make any reasonable concession by suspending legal action where there is a guarantee that an ex-Service family will be rehoused within a reasonable period, he regrets that he cannot agree to an indefinite deferment of legal action to obtain possession of War Department property. In the interests of serving soldiers, legal proceedings must now be instituted.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he decided to survey Dovedale for possible use as a firing range; and whether he has now ordered the complete abandonment of the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the scheme to acquire a part of Dovedale as a rifle range; and whether he proposes to go on with the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the protests it has aroused, he will drop his proposal for taking over 578 acres of land at the entrance to Dovedale for the establishment of a small-arms range.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the proposed small-arms range to be built at Dovedale in Derbyshire; and if, as this beauty spot is visited each year by thousands of people, he will take steps to prevent the proposal being carried out in this area.

A Territorial Army range has been used near Thorpe Cloud in Dovedale for many years before the recent war. The use proposed is identical with the use in prewar days. The range is very small, consisting of two targets only. As far as I am aware, there were no objections to its use before the war. However, my right hon. Friend is looking further into the matter to see whether this proposal does, in fact, seriously interfere with the enjoyment of the beauty spot by the public, and, if so, whether there is any way of meeting the Army requirements which does not involve such interference.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the widespread public opposition to the proposal to use 578 acres of Dovedale as a small arms range for Army training; and whether he will make alternative arrangements elsewhere in such a way as not to deny access to or interference with beauty and amenities of this character.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply previously given today to several hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware of a War Department proposal to acquire 578 acres of land at the entrance to Dovedale, Derbyshire, for use as a small arms range; and what consultations have taken place between his Department and the War Office in connection with the opposition to the scheme expressed by the Ashbourne Rural District Council.

I am aware of the proposal, which will be considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Services Land Requirements when they receive the regional report, which will include a statement of the views of the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War what classes are at present being conducted by the Army Educational Corps; whether it is his intention to extend these facilities; whether they are compulsory and what proportions attend.

The Royal Army Education Corps administers classes in units and at Army Educational Centres; also correspondence courses, full-time courses organised by Commands, and residential courses of a month's duration at Army Colleges. These classes and courses cover a very wide variety of subjects. It is intended that an interim education scheme based on postwar plans should shortly replace the release period scheme at present in operation. Some of the classes now held are compulsory and others voluntary. It is estimated that during September, the latest month for which information is available, about live-sixths of the Army were attending one or more compulsory classes a week in training or working time. Statistics are not readily available of the proportion making use of the voluntary facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that territorial officers will be granted sufficient petrol coupons to enable them to carry out their duties efficiently.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the custom for his Department to decide to use land for training purposes without first ascertaining whether such land is already allocated or being used for some other purpose.

Land at present covered by Defence Regulations was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and other interested Departments. Proposals to use land permanently are submitted to the Inter-Departmental Committee on Services Land Requirements, who consider all interests which may be affected before acquisition or use is approved.

asked the Secretary of State for War what help is given by the British Army to German mothers who wish to trace the addresses in this country of British Service men or ex-Service men whom they allege to be the fathers of their children.

The same amount of assistance is given to German mothers as is given to mothers, in like circumstances, of other nationalities, namely, the applicant is informed that if desired a letter will be forwarded to the man's last known address, provided, of course, that he can be identified from the particulars furnished by the applicant.

asked the Secretary of State for War why only about three weeks warning was given to families recently informed that they would not now be able to join their husbands serving in Japan.

The Army families concerned were notified on 10th October, the same day as advice was received from Headquarters, British Commonwealth Occupation Forces, suggesting that the despatch of any further families to Japan should be deferred. I regret any inconvenience caused, but I would point out that only one of the Army families concerned had actually been allotted a passage and received instructions to embark on 6th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War why troop movements between Palestine and Cyprus involve entry into and exit from Egypt, with consequent inoculations and risks of cholera; and if he will state the comparative costs to the Exchequer of this journey and that between Haifa and Cyprus.

So far as I am aware, transport of military personnel between Palestine and Cyprus is normally by direct voyage between Haifa and Cyprus. In view, however, of the suggestion made in the Question I am making further inquiries into the matter. I would point out, however, that it must be a matter for the Commander-in-Chief, M.E.L.F., in consultation with the local representative of the Ministry of Transport to decide which is the most appropriate route to be used from time to time, bearing in mind the various factors involved, including cost.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many War Department personnel are carried each day from Tidworth to Warminster and back; and what is the annual cost to the public.

The number is 49. The cost of the bus service is less than the amount which would be chargeable to public funds in respect of lodging allowance if the employees concerned were accommodated in Warminster.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish a list showing the total number of prisoners of war still held in all parts of the world under British jurisdiction at the last known date; and whether it is intended to repatriate them all and when this will be accomplished in each case.

At 31st October there were approximately 195,000 German prisoners of war in the United Kingdom and 62,000 in the Middle East. It is expected that repatriation from the United Kingdom will be completed by 1st September, 1948, and from the Middle East by 31st December, 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made for granting Christmas leave to prisoners of war held in camps in this country who desire to visit friends who have extended definite invitations and are prepared to meet all the expenses of such visits.

This matter is under consideration and an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will authorise the limit in weight of articles taken home by German prisoners of war repatriated from this country to be varied to enable them to take back what they can reasonably carry, particularly, of those articles they have made themselves or that have been given to them.

The scales of baggage authorised are the same as for British troops. In addition the prisoner of war can carry a parcel of books and his small kit and can send surplus baggage in advance by parcel post.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the arrangements under which German prisoners of war can send parcels of mending materials and other goods in short supply to their relatives in Germany.

The list of goods which may not be sent out of the country is the same for prisoners of war and civilians alike. This list is in accordance with Board of Trade instructions and includes yarns and thread, wholly or mainly of cotton.

asked the Secretary of State for War why political grading is not now ignored in the Middle East when deciding on the order of repatriation of prisoners of war, in view of the fact that it has been for some time abandoned when considering the order of repatriation of prisoners of war from the United Kingdom.

This matter is under consideration but I am not in a position to make a statement about it at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now state the approximate balance between payments received for the services of prisoners of war in this country and the cost of their maintenance; and whether they will now be granted a better rate of exchange for accumulated personal credits.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 10th June last, and as regards the second to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeffington-Lodge) on 4th November.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to an order Ref. BAS, PRC Sc. C/BAS/EMP/451 dated 22nd August, issued from Polish Resettlement Headquarters in Scotland and by which special instructions are to be issued not to place Polish officers in any circumstances under German prisoners of war, and if will give an assurance that no Polish officers have been or will be so employed.

This order was issued as a precautionary measure to ensure that Polish officers employed on the harvest should not work under the supervision of German prisoners of war employed permanently on farms. So far as I am aware this has not occurred in the past, and there is certainly no intention of allowing it to occur in the future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has a statement to make about the effects of the proposed cuts in capital expenditure on factory construction in the South Wales Development Area.

The White Paper on the investment Programme which will shortly be issued, will explain the policy to be followed on factory building in the Development Areas. Its precise application in individual cases must await the outcome of the review of factory building which is now in train.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that bona fide travellers who wish to go abroad on business grounds are being refused the daily allowance of eight pounds; and if he will state the conditions which govern the grant of such allowance.

There are many kinds of business journeys. Some involve more expenditure than others, and not all of them justify the maximum allowance to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what basis the price of memoranda of evidence given to the Royal Commission on the Press has been fixed; if he is aware that the cost of Memorandum No. 3 will seriously restrict the accessibility of this evidence to the public; and if he will consider publishing this evidence more cheaply.

It was fixed on the basis of scales laid down for all official publications according to their size and format. These scales are designed to give the public Government publications at the cheapest possible price.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what conditions govern the acceptance of advertisements by publications produced under the auspices of Departments of State.

That the matter advertised should be considered suitable for Government publications generally and the individual publication particularly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response is being made to his appeal for week-end work in the unloading of railway wagons at factories.

No statistics are available on this precise point. There has been a slight but noticeable improvement in the time of wagon turn round during the last few weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is intended to set up a development council for the hosiery trade in the near future.

I am in touch with the organisations of both sides of the industry about the establishment of a development council and an outline of the main provisions of the necessary Order was sent to them about 10 days ago. I am awaiting their comments on this document, which I hope will provide the basis for agreement on the form and functions of the Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations for ensuring the full productive use of the factory owned by Hunting Aviation, Ltd., at Caernarvon.

I am informed that at least one firm is examining this factory with a view to negotiating with the owners.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to ensure the production and availability for farmers of 8.00-19 H.D.V. tyres which are required for farm carts; why none has been available this year and no early improvement in the position is anticipated; and when supplies will be made available to farmers.

Although demand is in excess of supply, increasing quantities of 800-19 H.D.V. tyres have been made-available for replacement purposes during 1947.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the large stocks of utility furniture now held by retailers, and if he will take steps to make these available to the public.

I am not aware that stocks of utility furniture in retailers' hands are excessive. I would remind my hon. Friend that large numbers of deferred units were validated on 1st September and 1st October last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the terms of the Tariff adjustments between ourselves, our Dominions and the U.S.A will now be made known.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made after Questions yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the issuing of permits to district nurses and midwives to purchase Thermos flasks.

District nurses and mid-wives working in country districts who find it necessary to have a vacuum flask for carrying a hot drink on long journeys can have permits for the flasks on application to the regional offices of the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity and value of marble in blocks and sawn slabs has been imported to this country since the issue of the open general licence for Marble—Order No. 238.

Imports of marble, rough or sawn, but not further prepared, and chippings thereof, from 1st March to 30th September, 1947, amounted to 18,093 tons, valued at £469,601.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the reason for refusing an import licence for leather from South America on sterling payment; and if the matter will be reconsidered on an assurance being given that the leather will be used for the manufacture of shoes for export.

In general, leather is only being imported to make good any deficiencies in home production. Import licence applications are considered on their merits, but I shall be glad to reconsider the application which my hon. Friend has in mind, if he will give me the necessary details.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Government of the United States imposes a 20 per cent. ad valorem duty on all British books imported by the United States; how long this tariff has been in existence; and if representations have been made by His Majesty's Government to the Government of the United States to abolish this impost.

The United States duty on imported books varies according to category. On the item of chief interest to United Kingdom exporters, which is unbound and bound books, sheets or printed pages of books bound wholly or in part in leather, pamphlets, and music in books and sheets, if of bona fide foreign authorship, the duty under the Tariff Act of 1930 was 15 per cent. ad valorem. This rate was reduced to 7½ per cent. ad valorem under the Trade Agreement with this country which came into force on 1st January, 1939. This duty has been further reduced to 5 per cent. ad valorem under the International Agreement just concluded at Geneva. The item second in interest to this country is books and pamphlets not of bona fide foreign authorship on which the duty under the Tariff Act of 1930 was 25 per cent. ad valorem. This duty was reduced to 20 per cent. ad valorem under the Trade Agreement with this country of 1st January, 1939 and has been further reduced to 10 per cent. ad valorem under the Geneva Agreement. Books for children's use in which the United Kingdom has a small interest were dutiable under the 1930 Tariff Act at the rate of 15 per cent. ad valorem. This rate has been reduced to 7½ per cent. ad valorem under the Geneva Agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences, and of what total value, have been issued for the sale of munitions of war to Foreign Powers or to the Dominions; and what munitions are to be exported to the Indian States.

This information is not readily ascertainable, but if my hon. Friend will indicate what is meant by "munitions of war" and in what period he is interested, I will try to supply the information he requires. My hon. Friend may care to know, however, that exports made by, or on behalf of, a Government Department in this country are not subject to licence by the Board of Trade and that, subject to agreement with appropriate Government Departments in this country, goods may be exported to the Dominions by, or on behalf of, their High Commissioners without specific licence from the Board of Trade. No arms or ammunition have recently been licenced for export to the Indian States excepting small consignments for sporting purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a large number of men are rendered unemployed at a works manufacturing agricultural machinery at Merthyr Tydfil because of the shortage of steel and other materials; that the number of unemployed persons in that area is increasing and is now about 2,300; and to what extent the Distribution of Industry Act, relating to development areas, has been suspended as the result of Government policy.

I am aware that over 100 men, out of a total labour force of between 700 and 800 employed by the firm in question, have had to be temporarily discharged owing to shortages of particular types of steel. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, with the assistance of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply, is doing everything he can to assist the firm. I am also aware that a slight increase in the number of persons unemployed was recorded in the district at the October count. This was the first increase for some months, but developments there should more than absorb those currently unemployed. The reply to the last part of the Question is "None."

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much cement has been exported to Belgium since 1st July, 1947, and at what average price per ton; and how much cement has been imported from Belgium and at what average price per ton since 1st July, 1947.

The quantity of cement exported to Belgium during the months July to September was 93 tons at an average value of £19 a ton; the quantity imported from Belgium in the same period was 3,738 tons at an average value of £6 a ton.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the concern which is felt throughout Scotland as to the effect of the decision to reduce substantially the labour force on road maintenance; and whether in view of the fact that this decision will reduce still further the standard of road maintenance on the roads in Scotland, which already leaves much to be desired, he will reconsider this decision.

My right hon. Friend is aware that the decision to reduce the number of men employed on road maintenance has caused concern, but the reduction is an essential part of the temporary postponement of schemes of capital investment. A close watch will be kept on road conditions.

asked the Minister of Supply what are the cuts made in the labour force in the last six months at the principal aircraft factories.

The labour force at these factories is continually adjusted by the firms themselves to meet the needs of their production programmes. During the six months ended 30th September, it is estimated that the numbers employed at the principal factories decreased by 4.2 per cent.

asked the Minister of Supply when, and to what extent, he has attempted to obtain supplies of steel from the United States; and what was the reply received from America.

Contracts for the supply of substantial tonnages of steel have been negotiated with steel producing companies in the U.S.A., but it would not be in the public interest to give the quantities involved. Owing to the pressure of their own domestic demands, especially for semi-finished steel, the producers have been unable in most cases to quote firm delivery dates, and imports, which have averaged about 16,500 tons a month this year, are much below the quantities on order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to see that file steel is produced in this country in reasonable quantities, particularly in view of the small percentage of the total steel production which need be consumed in this trade.

I have been asked to reply. Supplies of file steel from domestic production are running somewhat below demand. Expansion of output could only be achieved by the diversion of high carbon steel from other important uses, but arrangements have now been made to import appreciable quantities of this particular type of steel.

asked the Minister of Supply when Messrs. G. E. Whiteley, Upper Lane Mills, Westgate, Cleckheaton, will receive the allocation of three tons of carbon steel and one ton of mild steel wire which they require to produce hardened and tempered brush wire for the export trade, and so put into operation plant now standing idle.

I am making inquiries into this case and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Supply what effect the specifications issued for a general utility airliner will have on the developments of Brabazon and Tudor aircraft.

None.

asked the Minister of Supply to what extent the steel wire and wire rods conference at Manchester are responsible for the allocation of steel wire and wire rods; and what instructions he has issued or proposes making to ensure adequate allocations to small firms engaged in the export trade.

This organisation is not concerned with the allocation of wire, but, as part of machinery operating under the aegis of the Iron and Steel Board, it advises on the apportionment of wire rods between wire drawers. In order to conserve supplies for finished products the direct export of wire has had to be severely limited.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the details that have been sent to him concerning land at Southborough belonging to Mr. Kimpton; and if he will make a statement.

The land is held on my right hon. Friend's behalf by the Southborough Urban District Council. The amount of compensation rent to be paid is under negotiation with the district valuer; failing agreement, the claim falls to be determined by the appropriate tribunal under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the necessity of maintaining the food production of the country, he will take steps to ensure that where agricultural land has been acquired by local authorities for housing schemes which, although approved, have been postponed owing to the present crisis, such land will continue to be used for agricultural purposes until such time as the housing programme can be restarted.

I am sending the hon. Member copies of two circulars issued to housing authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons on waiting lists for council houses in the borough of Boston, the Spalding urban, Spalding rural, Boston rural and East Elloe rural districts, respectively; and the number of houses likely to be completed in each of these areas in the next six months.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the monthly Housing Returns.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a list of the undertakings which are at present exempted from the provisions of Rivers Pollution and Public Health Acts under Defence Regulation 54AA.

I am informed that no undertakings are so exempt at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that all contracts made by hospitals will be honoured by his Department when the hospitals are taken over.

Rights and liabilities under contracts made for the purpose of carrying on the work of a hospital transferable under the National Health Service Act are themselves transferable by virtue of Section 6 of the Act.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many D4 caterpillar tractors have been imported into the United Kingdom during the last 12 months; how many have been allocated to agriculture and, separately, to timber haulage, etc.; and if those allocated to agriculture, have been allocated direct to farmers or to the war agricultural executive committees.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th November, 1947; Vol. 444, c. 123], supplied the following information:The 37 machines distributed for uses other than agriculture were allocated among the sponsoring Departments as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps were taken to destroy rabbits in the Stanford Battle Training Area; and how many had been killed and made available for human consumption in October of this year.

Five warreners employed by the Norfolk War Agricultural Executive Committee are engaged full-time in destroying rabbits in the Stanford Battle Training Area. In October 1,784 rabbits were killed and made available for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Defence what is the estimated saving effected in the current financial year by the recently announced accelerated demobilisation schedules.

It would be very difficult to make any precise estimate but the saving in the current financial year will not be very large. The great bulk of the acceleration in release is taking place late in the year and this will occasion extra terminal expenditure in the current financial year on such items as transportation and release leave.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will reconsider the decision that military personnel are to provide their own fares home for every third leave, as that decision bears with undue hardship upon those men who are stationed long distances from their homes.

Members of the Services stationed at home will continue to be allowed three free travel warrants a year for leave purposes. Instructions limiting the number to two, which were issued provisionally while the matter was under consideration, are being withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that there is a shortage of plaster boards for municipal housing; and what steps he will take to increase the output of this material in order that greater progress can be made to complete the houses in course of erection.

Yes. As a result of the steps taken by my Ministry the output of plasterboard has risen by 25 per cent. during this year and further large increases of capacity are coming into production in the near future, subject to the availability of imported pulp for the paperliner.

asked the Minister of Works what plans have been prepared for the redevelopment of the Abingdon Street-Old Palace Yard site after the demolition of 5 Old Palace Yard; and whether he will publish such plans before they are finally approved.

Plans for the redevelopment of the Abingdon Street site have not yet been prepared; I will certainly publish them before they are finally approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of a terrorist movement now being organised in Cyprus by Greek X-ite officers; and if he will take steps to expel the alien organisers of this movement.

Posters have appeared in Nicosia and anonymous letters have been received threatening violence and purporting to come from an organisation calling itself X. These activities were not, however, on a scale such as to cause concern and no violence resulted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what criminal offence sentence was passed on Mr. S. S. Jacques Farchy, now at Gilgil Camp, Kenya, British East Africa; and what was the term of his sentence.

Mr. Farchy was arrested under Palestine Defence (Emergency) Regulations on 16th January, 1947, and subsequently deported to Kenya on grounds of complicity in the activities of an illegal terrorist organisation. He has not been charged with any criminal offence and has received no formal sentence. His case, in common with those of other persons detained under these regulations, is reviewed from time to time by the Palestine Advisory Committee on Detainees, the president of which is a British judge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will approach the Government of Southern Rhodesia to include Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland in the terms of reference of the committee set up to decide priority for economic development, in view of the closely linked problems of development in these three territories.

Co-ordination of development in the three Central African Territories can best be achieved through the medium of the Central African Council, which established a Standing Economic Development Committee for this purpose in 1945. The three Governments concerned have under consideration proposals for improving the existing machinery for close consultation on matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions still exist over the acquisition of land by members of the Colonial Civil Service in the dependent territories.

An officer desiring to acquire land as an investment or for the purpose of farming or settlement would have to obtain permission, which would only be granted if it were clear that his private affairs would not thereby be brought into real or apparent conflict with his public duties. Otherwise there are no special restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the recent despatch from Eire to Cambridge University Physiological Department of eight cats in an orange box, five being so badly injured during transit under such conditions that they had to be destroyed; and whether he will impress upon licensees under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, the importance of guarding against suffering to laboratory animals, apart from that permitted during actual experiments.

I understand that the dealer who was responsible for the despatch of these animals was prosecuted in Eire and convicted. I am in full agreement with my hon. Friend as to the need for a proper standard of care for animals acquired for laboratory purposes, and the importance of this is well recognised by those who hold licences under the Act of 1876 and by the Home Office inspectors.