asked the Postmaster-General if new premises have yet been chosen for the post office at Thornliebank, Renfrewshire.

I am advised that the circumstances have changed and the need for new premises does not now arise.

asked the Postmaster-General how many operatives are engaged on the Clissold Exchange after 7 p.m.

The number of operatives (including supervisors) on duty at Clissold Exchange after 7 p.m. on weekdays is 19 up to 8 p.m.; 21 from 8 to 10 p.m.; 16 from 10 to 11 p.m.; 14 from 11 to 11.30 p.m.; and five from 11.30 p.m. onwards. On Saturdays and Sundays the numbers are slightly less.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that sometimes subscribers on this exchange have to wait as long as 10 minutes before they get a response?

That is a consideration which belongs to the next Question.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many of the operators are employed full time, and how many are experienced operators, because the delays on this exchange are becoming abominable?

I think most of these people are employed full time. I have not the actual figures.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to improve the telephone service in the Clissold Exchange.

I can assure my hon. Friend that every effort is being made to improve the service at Clissold Exchange. On the technical side, the switchboard has been thoroughly renovated and extended, and constant attention is being given to the working of the junction lines to other exchanges. On the operating side, the bulk of the staff is of very short service as a result of heavy losses in 1947, but the wastage rate is now declining and the service should steadily improve as the staff gain experience.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply and for the assurance it contains, may I ask him if he can give any indication when the exchange will be transferred to automatic control?

I am afraid not.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delay in the delivery of gift food parcels arriving in this country from East Africa; and whether in view of the fact that such parcels carry customs declarations and that there is no need to examine them if no dutiable goods are listed, he will arrange for steps to be taken to expedite their delivery.

I regret that all parcels from overseas have been subject to delay over Christmas and New Year owing to the very large number received. Although some check of the accuracy of Customs declarations is necessary, food parcels, with few exceptions, are now being released within a few days of arrival at Postal Customs depots.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that an undertaking was given that in the case of gift parcels sent by air with special Customs delivery and examination forms there would be no delay, but that, in fact, delays of up to a month have occurred in the case of food parcels?

I think the longest delay occurred at Christmas and the New Year. We are catching up with it now, and I think deliveries will be back to the normal time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that when these undertakings are given they are honoured so that perishable foodstuffs are not sent under a misapprehension?

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for the provision of television in Wales; and when the Service will be inaugurated.

I certainly look forward to the time when it will be possible to extend the Television Service to Wales, but it is too early at present to say when that will be. We are pressing on with the first extension which will provide television in the Birmingham area.

Can my right hon. Friend give any indication of whether there is any chance of getting it this year or next year?

Not this year, anyway.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the extension from the Birmingham area will extend as far as Cheltenham?

I am not quite sure of the distance.

Forty miles.

That would stretch it somewhat.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he proposes to re-establish the aerial bombing range at Calshot.

Practice bombing has taken place off Calshot for over 20 years, and it is not proposed to alter either the use or the area of the range. Representations have, however, been received that it should be moved elsewhere and we are seeing what can be done to meet these representations.

Does not the Under-Secretary realise that because it has gone on for 20 years does not mean it should go on now; that it is a great menace to shipping and yachtsmen; and could they not find another place to carry out these exercises?

Without accepting the allegation that it is a menace, I would say that we are looking for another place. We are doing our best. If any hon. Member wants a bombing range in his constituency I will be pleased to consider it.

Would the hon. Gentleman assure the House that he is not selecting the Forth?

Yes, I can assure the hon. and gallant Member of that, because these squadrons are based at Calshot.

But will the Under-Secretary assure the Minister of Defence that the battleship "Rodney" will no longer be bombed in the Forth?

This Question refers to Calshot.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that several recent cases of death and serious injury to domestic animals have occurred in the vicinity of the village of Melchbourne, Bedfordshire, as a result of the presence there of mustard gas; and what steps he is taking to deal with this development.

I have seen newspaper reports that sheep dogs have received injuries through straying on to the land where this mustard gas is being burned. My right hon. Friend regrets the inconvenience which is being caused to the inhabitants of Melchbourne while this gas is being destroyed, and he is doing everything he can to ensure that its destruction will be completed as soon as possible. The contaminated area will be fenced off to prevent animals straying on to it.

Could the Under-Secretary say how much longer he thinks it will be before this gas is finally burned, in view of the fact that the inconvenience locally is very great indeed; and, although I appreciate that his Department has helped to the utmost extent, does he not realise that the people in this part of the country are most disturbed by the long continued period that it is taking to get rid of the gas?

It entirely depends on the weather. There are 50,000 more gallons to be destroyed. On a day such as this, without rain or wind, we can destroy about 4,000 gallons.

Can the Under-Secretary say why the precaution which it is now proposed to take to keep animals off the land could not have been taken initially?

It was not realised that animals were likely to stray there. However, to get this in proportion, I should point out that the only evidence of any animals being killed consists of one fox and one cat.

I will supply the hon. Gentleman with another list.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if, at the conclusion of the inquiry into the disaster caused by an aeroplane crashing into a trolley bus in the Edgware Road on 9th February he will give a full explanation of the cause of the disaster.

Yes, Sir. I will do so as soon as the inquiry is completed

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that people living in the vicinity of the Hendon Aerodrome are much disturbed by the continual low flying of aeroplanes; and will he arrange that no aeroplane in this built up area shall fly lower than is absolutely essential for taking off and landing at the aerodrome.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that low flying by R.A.F. aeroplanes during an exercise in the early hours of 12th February caused considerable alarm to residents of the N.W. area of Greater London; that the recent fatal accident at Burnt Oak Broadway has accentuated local anxiety; and whether he will take steps to check the practice of low flying over the densely built-up area around Hendon Aerodrome.

I am afraid that there must, inevitably, be a good deal of flying over North-West London, especially at weekends, when the two auxiliary squadrons at Hendon put in their training. There are the strictest instructions against unnecessary low flying, and I have no reason to believe that these instructions are not being followed. However, I will always investigate allegations of unnecessary low flying if I am given details of time and place, and if possible, the aircraft number. During the night of 11th–12th February there were, it so happens, no R.A.F. aircraft in the air over London.

Could my hon. Friend institute some form of check-up without actual times, places, or the exact craft, as when flying goes on the whole time it is impossible for people to know the exact moment that a particular aircraft is flying low; and would it not be possible to have a general check-up?

Certainly, I will have one. I should like to make two points clear. First unnecessary low flying is a most serious offence, the usual punishment for an officer being dismissal from the Service. Secondly, many allegations of low flying, not made by the hon. Lady, are made by people who forget that an aircraft can neither land nor gain operational height without at the same time flying low.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that the difficulty appears to be caused by aircraft flying in to land in the midst of a "saucer," the rim of which is a very congested residential area?

I realise that. Of course, the direction of approach depends on the wind, and so on. I will certainly give the undertaking that we will look for unnecessary low flying, and punish it very severely should it be found.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to what extent British European Airways Corporation have been consulted by the Irish Air Line, Aer Lingus, regarding their decision to dispose of seven Vickers Viking aircraft.

The decision to dispose of these aircraft was made by the board of Aer Lingus, on which the British European Airways Corporation is represented.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary not realise that the arrangement with Aer Lingus is most unsatisfactory; that the British have a financial interest, and that the decision made causes great harm to the British aircraft industry, as such; and will he see that representation is made that the British side of the board should participate in these decisions, and should have more say in what is to happen?

Yes, Sir, they do have quite a lot of say, but it is votes that count.

As the British taxpayers paid 50 per cent. of the loss last year, amounting to £63,000, ought we not to have 50 per cent. representation on the board.

I understand that representation on boards is dependent upon the amount of capital invested, and not upon profit or loss.

As this matter requires investigating, I give notice that I shall endeavour to raise it on the Adjournment at a very early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what percentage of the shares of Aer Lingus is held by the British Overseas Airways Corporation; and what percentage of the loss on current operations is payable by the Corporation.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 10 per cent., and to the last part approximately 12½ per cent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation which countries have agreed to operate weather ships in the North Atlantic and to what extent they have fulfilled their obligations.

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary say, in the meantime, whether we are doing more than the other countries, or whether everybody is doing as much as ourselves?

That is difficult to answer. There are 13 stations to be operated, seven of which are already opened. We have completed our part. The Americans have to do more, but they undertook greater obligations than we did.

Are these weather ships controlled by any international organisation; and, if so, has it any relationship with the United Nations organisation?

No, Sir. It is organised through the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which is not a part of the United Nations but is in association with it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many seats were wasted during the past year's operations of the Civil Aviation Services, as a result of Departmental demands subsequently cancelled; and what was the financial loss incurred.

For the calendar year 1947 the number of booked seats which were cancelled and not filled was 509. The fares totalled £46,403.

Is this one of the reasons, albeit a small one, why the Corporation lost £10 million in their first year's operations; and will the Parliamentary Secretary say what he intends to do about it all?

Whilst there is a lack of capacity—[HON. MEMBERS: "Where?"] In aircraft seats—for business men engaged on urgent affairs to get quickly from place to place, it is necessary to reserve some of those seats on a priority basis. As soon as possible that priority system will be removed, and is being progressively removed.

In the event of a seat being cancelled and not filled, is the Department concerned charged with the amount involved?

Yes, Sir, if a seat is cancelled. But there are priority seats which are not taken up, and those are not charged because there is nobody to charge.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the target date to which the B.O.A.C. are working, by which they can give an undertaking that the maintenance base at Montreal will have been transferred to Filton; and whether work is proceeding without delay for the preparation of Filton to receive the Corporation's Atlantic maintenance organisation.

It is hoped to complete the transfer before the end of 1948. The answer to the last part of the Question is: "Yes, Sir."

Does my hon. Friend realise that for over two years now I have been making representations to his Department that this transfer should take place, and that had notice been taken of those representations we should have saved many hundreds of thousands of dollars; does he realise further that at the present time delays are taking place due to protracted negotiations by his Department and B.O.A.C.; and will he see that those delays are eliminated?

There is a very happy co-operation between my Ministry, the Ministry of Works, the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the Ministry of Supply, to bring Filton into operational use as quickly as possible. The delay is really due to the fact that the American aircraft manufacturers of Stratocruisers are not keeping up to their delivery dates.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he is aware that a Tudor IV aircraft of B.S.A.A.C recently landed at Bermuda with insufficient petrol remaining to enable the aircraft to be taxied off the runway; whether a report was received from the Governor or any other authority in Bermuda; and what action was taken.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. This Question postulates a matter which, in my respectful submission, is now the subject of a quasi-judicial inquiry. It asks about the use of a Tudor IV aircraft on a voyage to Bermuda, and suggests one of the reasons why there may have been difficulty in connection with the aircraft. That is a matter which will be investigated. It is the same make of aircraft, and the difference between them—

Let us hear what is the answer to the Question.

The Governor of Bermuda telegraphed on 15th November that Tudor IV G-AHNK had landed at Bermuda from the Azores on 14th November after 14 hours 23 minutes flight with insufficient fuel safely to complete a circuit of the airfield. Inquiries were immediately made, and it was found that the aircraft had met abnormally strong headwinds of which the captain had received no adequate warning. British South American Airways Corporation state that the "dipping" of the tanks undertaken when the aircraft reached Bermuda gave a misleading reading because the aircraft was in a tail down position, and that, in fact, at least 100 gallons remained.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary answer the last part of my Question and say what action was taken? Will he also say why it was that when certain newspapers rang up the British South American Airways Corporation last week, they categorically denied any such incident had taken place, which was quite untrue?

So far as the last part of the supplementary question is concerned, I cannot give an answer, because I do not know the facts. As far as the first part is concerned, immediately it was brought to the notice of my noble Friend, he referred the matter to the Air Safety Board, who inquired into it and presented him with a report.

May I ask whether it was incidents like this, and not an article in the Press, which led to the disagreement between the Chief Executive and the Board?

I think incidents such as this did have a bearing on the lack of confidence of the Board in their Chief Executive.

Is this the only instance of an aircraft landing at Bermuda short of petrol, or is it true that there have been other instances of the same kind?

This is the only instance of an actual shortage of petrol. This is a difficult route. The range is very long, and the type of aircraft flown in regard to that range makes it the more difficult. There have been cases when the margin has been too narrow to be pleasant, but there has been no such case before.

Can the Minister say whether any of the types of aircraft which have operated on this service during the past year have had sufficient fuel to reach any other port if they experienced such adverse winds?

No, Sir. One of the difficulties on this leg is that there is no alternative aerodrome in the vicinity of Bermuda. Whether the flight is under- taken at all depends on weather reports, and if bad weather develops on the route, then there is a point of "no return" where the captain decides whether or not to return.

In an earlier answer to a supplementary question, the Parliamentary Secretary said that a weather report had not been received. Can any inquiry into why it was not received be made?

Weather does change. Reports are received by captains of aircraft before a flight takes place. Remember that this flight takes 12 hours and that there is a gap before the receipt of the weather report.

Is it not the case that when it landed this aircraft had sufficient petrol on board for a flight of 200 miles? Will the Parliamentary Secretary inquire into the possibility of faulty forecasting of winds, and will he bear in mind, when such suggestions are made, that B.S.A.A.C. have many foreign competitors who are jealous of their success?

I think we are getting on dangerous ground in view of the fact that there is an inquiry going on in respect of the Tudor IV.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many times the Air Sea Rescue Service in Bermuda has been alerted in the last six months owing to distress signals from aircraft of B.S.A.A.C.

Twice, Sir.

Will the Minister say whether on both these occasions there was a shortage of petrol, or whether it was due to other causes?

No, Sir. In one instance it was a shortage of petrol, and in the other it was an engine failure. On both occasions the captain thought it advisable to alert the Air Sea Rescue Service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether a direction has been issued to B.S.A.A. grounding the Tudor IV aircraft; and what advice has been received from the Air Registration Board on this subject.

British South American Airways Corporation were informed of the decision to ground all Tudor IV aircraft, as a measure of prudence, pending detailed investigation. My noble Friend made the decision following a report from the Air Registration Board. It may be assumed that the advice of the Board was given the fullest consideration in reaching a decision.

May I take it that the Minister of Civil Aviation has not taken a decision that the cause of the accident was a structural defect in the aircraft?

He is not in a position to make such a decision. His decision was that the cause of the accident might be one of a number of factors, one of which might be the aircraft. Therefore, it was deemed prudent to eliminate the possibility of the aircraft, as there were already aircraft of the same type in service.

Is it not a fact that the Air Registration Board refused to ground this aircraft, and that the Minister on his own responsibility made this panic decision which may have a very serious effect on British civil aviation?

No, Sir. Normally one would give the answer that it is the Minister who is responsible for making a decision, that it is the Minister who takes responsibility for that decision, and that he does not divulge the advice he receives which enabled him to make his decision However, in view of the question raised by the hon. Member and the number of times this question has been asserted in other parts, the answer is that it is not in accordance with the facts. What the Air Registration Board advised was that it would be prudent to ground the aircraft.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this decision was taken immediately following a full investigation which reported favourably on the Tudor IV? Is he further aware that this decision does infinite harm to the British civil aviation constructional industry, and should not have been taken except on the most sound, important and decisive grounds?

No, Sir. Here was an accident in which an aircraft had vanished into thin air. It might have been due to a number of causes, one of which might have been the aircraft itself. If these aircraft had been allowed to continue to fly and another accident had happened, what would this House have said then?

Is my hon. Friend further aware that these planes have been flying for two years, and that there were three accidents to American Constellations in the first few weeks of their existence, about which no such decision was taken?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what reciprocal rights were secured by British Airlines, in respect of the facilities given by the British Government to foreign services operating from Swatow and Foochow.

The reciprocal rights are shown in the schedule of routes attached to the United Kingdom-China Air Transport Agreement, published as Command 7211.

When shall we begin to take advantage of these reciprocal rights?

As soon as we have made the necessary local arrangements and the aircraft are available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether it is proposed to sanction the introduction of an air service in the near future between London and Errol

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation when it is proposed to sanction the institution of link services between Turnhouse, Errol, Renfrew and the main services.

British European airways are not intending to introduce, In the near future, services between Errol and Renfrew or Turnhouse to link with existing services to London, or to provide a through service to London Such services would involve a considerable operating loss, and also expenditure on the improvement and operation of Errol aerodrome. In view of the present need to curtail uneconomical and inessential air services, the introduction of an air service on either of these routes to supplement existing rail communications would not be justified.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Chairman of the Scottish Advisory Council wrote a letter to the Provost of the City of Dundee informing him that the Council were going ahead with this venture? Why is it suddenly cancelled, and what powers have the Scottish Advisory Council to make recommendations? Just where does the Ministry interfere in the day-to-day administration?

The duty of the Scottish Advisory Council is to give advice, but all the advice which is given is not necessarily taken.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary mean to say that the whole of this area of Scotland is to be without air service, when it had a service before the war? In view of the promises given by the Parliamentary Secretary, among others, that this would be looked into quickly, what is being done in the matter?

Scotland is well served. Perth and Dundee are within a small mileage of Glasgow and Edinburgh. We are continually being pressed to give the North-East Coast, Cornwall and Wales some services before link services are provided for Scotland.

Are Members of the Scottish Advisory Council being paid £1,500 a year to give advice which is not taken?

Strange as it may seem for Scotland, the services of members of the Scottish Advisory Council are given voluntarily.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary go to Dundee and try the service for himself? Is he aware that this is a growing industrial district covering a wide area, and that this aerodrome has to provide for two cities?

One appreciates the urgent need for a large number of services In a large number of places, but when the capacity is small, we have to decide where It is most proper to supply that capacity. As far as this case is concerned, we do not think it is proper.

Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reference to Cornwall, may I ask him to re-read the Debate on the Third Reading—

Cornwall is not in Scotland.

Has a stop at Errol on the Shetland Islands-Edinburgh service been considered?

No, Sir, that has not been considered. It is considered more important to give a service to the Islands and to provide communication with the mainland than to provide communication between Errol and Edinburgh and Glasgow, where road and rail communications already exist.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what were the financial arrangements upon which the British South American Airways terminated the services of Air Vice-Marshal Donald Bennett.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will now make a full statement about the reasons for the dismissal of Air Vice-Marshal Bennett.

I will, with permission, make a statement at the end of Questions.

Later—

The following is the statement in answer to Questions Nos. 26 and 32:

The Boards of the Corporations are responsible for making and terminating appointments to the post of Chief Executive. This is not, therefore, a matter in which, strictly, my noble Friend has a responsibility to Parliament. In view of the circumstances of this case, however, he considers it right that a full statement should be made.

The Chairman of British South American Airways Corporation informed my noble Friend, on Monday, 9th February last, that the Board had met that day to consider the serious situation which had been created for them as a result of statements made by the Chief Executive in an interview reported in a daily newspaper on 5 February. The Chairman said that the Board had unanimously concluded that these statements were in contradiction of the considered views of the Board, of which the Chief Executive was aware. Moreover, this was not an isolated instance of its kind, and was the culmination of a series of differences between the Board and the Chief Executive. They had accordingly lost confidence in him, and had decided that they had no option but to dispense with his services. He had refused the Board's suggestion that he should tender his resignation, and the Board were therefore obliged to dismiss him.

On Tuesday, 10th February, formal confirmation was received from the Chairman of the Board's decision, and my noble Friend was informed that notification of dismissal had reached Air Vice-Marshal Bennett. He was also informed that the Board were making a gratuitous payment of £4,500 to Air Vice-Marshal Bennett as compensation for loss of office.

Will my hon. Friend give Air Vice-Marshal Bennett every possible assistance with his conscience, in order to enable him to take this money from the nationalised industry of which he does not approve?

Is my hon. Friend aware that I, and various other Members of the House knew, when we returned after the Christmas Recess, that four things were going to happen—that B.S.A.A.C. was going to make £25,000 profit; that Air Vice-Marshal Bennett would resign from his post; that accidents would happen; and that he was seeking a very important position? It was only in the matter of order that it was wrong, because Air Vice-Marshal Bennett resigned after the accident and not before.

The hon. Member rose to put a supplementary question, but seems to be giving a lot of information.

The point I am trying to put is, in view of the fact that it was known that these things were going to happen, should this man be paid because of a position that he wanted to vacate and vacated by his own will?

That is a matter of management, and decision by the Board.

Was the £4,500 free of tax? If these differences had been going on for some time upon the Board, why did not this position come about some months ago?

So far as the tax is concerned, the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

What financial arrangements were made when lower grade workers were dispensed with several months ago?

Generally, if one is a workman, it is misconduct, and you collect your cards. If one is a chief executive, it is loss of confidence, you are asked for your resignation and you get a year's salary.

Would the Minister of Civil Aviation have any objection to Air Vice-Marshal Bennett making known his side of the case, since matters have become very confused, and would he give him access to any documents for the purpose?

In my opinion, Air Vice-Marshal Bennett appears to be doing so very successfully.

The Parliamentary Secretary has told us what the Corporation have reported to him, hut he has not indicated whether his noble Friend has heard both sides of the case and has come to any conclusion. What is the Minister's considered opinion?

It is not for the Minister to come to a conclusion on that point. It is a matter for the Board.

There are rumours that the former chief executive had given instructions to Tudor pilots that they were not to report any aircraft defect in the Tudor aircraft log. In fairness to all concerned, can the Parliamentary Secretary confirm or deny those reports?

I can do neither. Rumours have reached us, but I think it is far better that they should be a matter for investigation when the inquiry, which my noble Friend will institute, takes place.

Is Air Vice-Marshal Bennett still a member of the Board of the B.S.A A.C.?

No, Sir. He has ceased to be a member of the Board. He failed to resign, and therefore my noble Friend declared the position vacant.

If the Minister of Civil Aviation is not required to come to any decision on the matter of the chief executive of one of the main Corporations, what function does he discharge?

He appoints the Board.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if he will inform the House of the number of aircraft accidents which have occurred in each of the three aircraft corporations in relation to miles flown over any convenient period.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the number of passenger miles flown by each of the three Corporations in the last 18 months; and the number of fatal accidents to fare-paying passengers per million miles flown by each Corporation.

The provisional estimate for the revenue passenger miles flown by British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways Corporation and British South American Airways Corporation in the 18 months up to 31st January, 1948, is, to the nearest million, 432 million, 137 million and 66 million miles respectively; and the number of fatal accidents to fare-paying passengers per million passenger miles flown has been 0.025, nil and 0.88 respectively. The number of aircraft accidents involving fatalities during the same period per million miles flown is 0.09, 0.07 and 0.66 respectively.

Would my hon. Friend agree that in the running of an air line it is much more important to ensure the safety of passengers than to make profits? In framing future British civil aviation policy will my hon. Friend take into account the correlation in the figures which he has just given between the making of profits and the proneness to accidents?

I think it is well known to the House that my noble Friend has made safety the first consideration in civil air operations.

To what does the hon. Gentleman attribute the fact that the accident rate of B.S.A.A.C. does not compare favourably with the other two Corporations? What action is he taking to reduce the accident rate of that Corporation?

I do not think that the high accident rate is unrelated to the fact that the operations of the Corporation were very near to the bone. I said earlier that my noble Friend had instituted an Air Safety Board inquiry into the general operational standards of the Corporation. The result of that inquiry has been submitted to the Board of the Corporation, which is acting upon it at the moment.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what he means by operations being "near to the bone"?

The inference has been made with some justification, I think, that training and maintenance standards were not as high as they should have been.

While I appreciate that the policy laid down by the Minister is "Safety first," will my hon. Friend recognise that so long as aircraft take off and land at between 90 and 100 miles per hour safety cannot be guaranteed? It can only be guaranteed when the airframes of the machines are crash proof?

These two Questions asked about the number of accidents, and we are now getting on to genera] questions of safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that the plans of the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations are made effective so far as preserving Jerusalem and the surrounding Holy Places from damage is concerned; and whether to this end he will take steps to see that the United Nations Palestine Commissioners on no account select the city as a headquarters which would result in making Jerusalem the centre of political conflict.

The Trusteeship Council will consider the future of Jerusalem at its session which begins today. So far as I am aware, the United Nations Commission have not expressed any intention of establishing their headquarters at Jerusalem.

While recognising the delicacy of the present position, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he will do everything possible to prevent the Holy Places in Palestine from becoming seats of war, as they undoubtedly will become, if the headquarters of Government of the United Nations is established in Jerusalem?

I have already explained to the House that it is our intention to come out of Palestine, and I cannot add to that. The matter is now in the hands of the United Nations, and I have no doubt that this Question and answer will be considered by them.

Will my right hon. Friend make a distinction between Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine in the matter of security, and will he be assured that public opinion will be behind him if the United Kingdom will make a contribution to the defence of Jerusalem, whatever is done in the rest of the country?

I cannot undertake to leave British troops there.

As the Holy City of Jerusalem has been the inspiration of human progress for thousands of years, will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that it will be protected from riot and bloodshed?

It is now the responsibility of the United Nations; His Majesty's Government cannot undertake it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has now received details of the organisation of the U.N.O. Naval, Air Force, Army and Police units on whom responsibility for the maintenance of law and order in Palestine will fall alter 15th May; whether detailed arrangements for the hand-over of these responsibilities are now completed; and whether he is satisfied with the arrangements.

The only arrangements hitherto approved by the United Nations for the maintenance of law and order in Palestine after 15th May are those contained in the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on the 29th November. Under this resolution, the United Nations Commission are to establish in each state a provisional Council of Government, and these Provisional Councils are to recruit armed militias "sufficient in number to maintain order and to prevent frontier clashes." General military control, including the choice of the High Command of the militias, is to be exercised by the Commission. The United Nations Commission have now made certain additional proposals which have yet to be examined by the Security Council.

Will my right hon. Friend recognise that this country still has a responsibility in this matter as a member of the United Nations and a member of the Security Council, and will he take a positive attitude towards this by framing practical and constructive proposals for United Nations Forces along the lines indicated?

I have repeatedly announced, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies announced at the beginning, and His Majesty's Government adhere to it now, that they cannot take part in forcing partition in Palestine or in any solution that is not acceptable to the Arabs and the Jews.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the calorie value of the called-up normal consumer ration for with Period in North Rhine—Westphalia and Hamburg, respectively.

The calorie value of the called-up normal consumer ration for the 111th period has been fixed at 1,410 calories per day for Hamburg and the Ruhr, and at 1,280 calories for North Rhine—Westphalia outside the Ruhr.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the information in a letter issued in North Rhine—Westphalia, on 3rd February was that the calorie ration was 1,241, and that although that included meat, fat and potatoes none of these things is available, so that the ration is reduced to 1,005?

These are the latest figures; I asked for them yesterday.

Do they include meat, fat and potatoes?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what percentage of washing powder expressed in terms of 1936 domestic consumption has been provided for in the revised Level of Industry plan.

One hundred and thirty-two per cent.

Is my right hon. Friend quite sure about this? Is he aware that the area board stated openly that washing powder, as distinct from soda, has a domestic availability reduced to 11 per cent. of what it was in 1936?

I am assured that the available capacity left is 132 per cent. That is the capacity left in connection with the Question asked about the Level of Industry plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what tonnage allowance was provided for the export from Germany of steel plates and sections in the revised Level of Industry plan; and whether he will state the average tonnage yearly exported from Germany for the five years ending 31st December, 1939, or near date.

No provision was made in the revised Level of Industry plan for the export from Germany of steel plates and sections. In the five years ending 1939 the average yearly exports from Germany of heavy plates were 180,000 tons. Average net exports of heavy sections, light sections and bars amounted 10 510,000 tons a year, of which 45,000 tons were heavy girders, beams and joists and 465,000 tons were light sections and bars.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the official figures given to me averaged over 2½ million tons a year before the war, and can he say how Germany will be able to pay for extra imported food if she is not to be allowed to export steel?

All these factors were taken into account when the whole question of a level of steel of up to 11 million tons was considered, and I do not propose taking steel out of Germany until she has developed a steel capacity to recondition herself; this, I think, is the right policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Government refused a proposal of the Soviet Government that the latter's experts should collaborate with British and American experts in examining German-Soviet documents in the Government's possession.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish in full the text of the request made by the Soviet Government in 1945 that Soviet experts should take part in a joint study of German documents captured by Anglo-American troops; and if he will also publish, at the same time, the reply of His Majesty's Government to that request.

In June, 1945, the Soviet Ambassador who had read reports of the arrival in London of large quantities of German documents, requested—the Russian word was "insisted"—that Soviet experts should be allowed to examine them. On 10th July, 1945, Sir Alexander Cadogan told him that these reports were without foundation but that vast quantities of documents were in Allied hands in various places in Western Germany; no doubt the Russians had similar archives. Facilities for examination would depend on the exigencies of military administration and on the progress made in sorting the material. The moment, therefore, said Sir Alexander Cadogan, appeared premature for the Soviet Government to send experts to London to take part in any reciprocal arrangements which might eventually be made.

Arrangements are being made for the publication of these two notes. There has been since no further correspondence with the Soviet Government on this subject.

asked the Minister of Defence whether, in attempting to equalise Service and civilian rations, he has taken into account the fact that camp or barrack cook-houses have not usually as good access to non-rationed foodstuffs and marginal supplies as family households; and whether, under the new scheme he will differentiate between the needs of growing boys of 18 doing their basic recruits' training and older Service or civilian clerks living at home.

Yes, Sir. As regards the second part of the Question, recruits undergoing basic training benefit by the supplementary ration issued to men engaged on specially strenuous duties

asked the Minister of Defence why the service medical history of a demobilised man cannot at his request be made available for life assurance purposes.

The point is one of some difficulty. I am considering it with the Service Ministers and will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind while he is considering this matter that it may be desirable for soldiers who find it impossible to get life insurances unless they have their medical records to be allowed to get them in special cases?

It is quite a new principle in medical examination for insurance for a client to be told that he cannot be insured unless he produces his Army record. It is the responsibility of the insurance companies to obtain their own medical officers and to take their own risks.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is sometimes essential, in order to establish whether a certain disability has a certain cause behind it, to get hold of the records made at the time of the original injury or illness?