asked the Secretary of State for War why the British Military Administration which is responsible for maintaining order in the Ogaden area, under the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement, 1942, has refused to protect the employees and installation of the Sinclair Petroleum Company, engaged in oil extraction in the Ogaden under a concession granted by the Ethiopian Government to the Company, who have been attacked by armed bands with the consequence that oil extraction has been suspended and the Company's representatives have been obliged to retire for safety to Dire Dawa.

As my hon. Friend the Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. House) was informed in reply to a similar Question on 6th April, a report on this matter has recently been received. I am, however, not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to arrange for redundant staffs of Army Records, Edinburgh, to transfer to other Government Departments where vacancies exist.

In accordance with the usual practice, the names of redundant staff at the General Service Corps Record Office in Edinburgh have been reported to the Ministry of Labour, who will endeavour to place them in other employment, either in Government Departments or elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for War for which units of the Army the accounts have been, or will be in the near future, transferred from Edinburgh to the Records Office, York.

Before 1st April, 1948, men entering the Army were administered by General Service Corps Record Office for six weeks, while they were undergoing their primary training in the General Service Corps. On completion of this period, they were posted into the various corps and arms, and their records were then transferred to the parent Record Offices of the corps and arms. Since 1st April all men joining the Army are enlisted direct into their respective corps and arms and are administered from the beginning by their parent Record Office. The General Service Corps Record Office in Edinburgh is, therefore, being closed down and, in future, only boys and apprentice tradesmen will be on the strength of the General Service Corps. These will be administered by the Record Office at York.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the existing regulations and arrangements affecting the domestic claims of women against Service men in respect of their legitimate or illegitimate offspring in view of the number of men who evade their financial responsibility.

These arrangements, which are based on the Army Act, have been most carefully considered and I do not know how it would be possible to improve them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a New Zealand Camp near Cheverill, Wiltshire, has not been used by the Army for the last two and a half years and that there appears to be no prospect of it being used again; and whether he will give instructions that material there which is urgently needed for civilian housing be disposed of for that purpose.

The huts referred to have not been used for some time, but arrangements are now in hand to restore them for use as living quarters for a party of Service officers and other ranks who will be employed there in connection with range exercises.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that his Department informed the solicitors acting in divorce proceedings for the wife of a patient, of whose name he has been informed, under treatment at a Military Hospital for V.D., that they could obtain the information regarding the nature of his disease from the medical practitioner who was named to them as having had the care of this patient in hospital, in breach of the assurance given to all patients entering hospital with V.D. that no such information will be given to any third party; and if he will inquire into this case and take steps to prevent a repetition of this breach of confidence.

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. No such statement was made to the solicitors. The name of a doctor formerly serving in the R.A.M.C. who it was thought might be able to give evidence from personal knowledge of this case was supplied to them in accordance with the normal practice of my Department for the sole purpose of enabling a subpoena to be served.

asked the Secretary of State for War why soldiers are forbidden to arrange for mail to be addressed to them at 156 Transit Camp.

I was not aware of any special instruction relating to this camp. It has, however, been a common practice to instruct soldiers that they should not arrange for mail to be addressed to them at transit camps. A great number of officers and men pass through such camps, staying as a general rule only for a few days. To undertake the correct readdressing of mail to them would require staff which cannot be afforded. The permanent staff of transit camps are of course allowed to have their mail addressed to them at the camps.

asked the Secretary of State for War why soldiers due to return home from East Africa for release were collected at Myali Transit Camp, near Mombasa, early in December, 1947, when there was no ship available until 26th January, 1948.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Caernarvon Boroughs (Mr. Price-White) on 17th February last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the demobilisation of Army drivers stationed in Egypt is being held up for several months; and if he will take steps to expedite the release of these soldiers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to Questions by the hon. Members for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) and Maldon (Mr. Driberg).

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning how many persons have applied for prospective tenancy for houses to be erected at Harlow; mainly from what areas these applications have been made; and when some indication will be given to the applicants in respect of their priority and the probability of houses being available for them.

Inquiries of the sort referred to in the first and second parts of the Question are dealt with by the local authorities concerned and consequently the specific information asked for is not in my possession. I am aware, however, that numerous applications have been received, particularly from North-East London. On the third part of the Question, applicants will be given definite information as soon as possible but it would be premature to attempt to allocate priorities at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the savings in the Post Office Savings Bank Department of British subjects finding themselves resident in enemy territory as a result of the outbreak of war in 1939 were paid to the Custodian under the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939; that such monies were held by the Custodian at the disposal of the Board of Trade until refunded; that the Custodian Order makes no provision for interest to be allowed on monies paid to the Custodian; and whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure payment of interest to such British subjects thus deprived of interest on their savings for several years.

I am aware that the Custodian of Enemy Property required banks, including the Post Office Savings Bank, to pay to him moneys standing in the accounts of persons who were then resident in the countries with which we were at war; it would not have been possible to differentiate between account holders by reference to nationality. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative. There are no funds available from which payment of interest to British subjects could be made, and I am not prepared to consider asking for Parliamentary authority to make such payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the once for all levy on investment income is to apply to such cases where, as a result of difficult business conditions during the war, arrears of preference dividends were only paid in 1947–48; or whether such arrears of preference dividends shall be deemed to be outside the scope of the levy, this latter applying only to the preference dividends for the year 1947–48.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the other net receipts referred to in the Command Paper 7324 on the United Kingdom Balance of Payments.

I regret I cannot add to the footnote to this item on page 5 of Cmd. 7324 where a list of the main types of transactions included in the item "Other (net)" was given.

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury if he is satisfied that the preferential allocations of materials, particularly steel, which are made to firms achieving high exports do not unduly prejudice the allocations to manufacturers of components and common service items, such as ball bearings, which are required for incorporation in products both for export and for essential home use.

Yes. In the case of intermediate products such as my hon. Friend has in mind, material allocations are determined not by reference to export performance but to the level of supplies necessary to meet the whole of the essential demands of such products.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate for the fiscal year 1947–48 of the total tax relief which has so far accrued to the cotton spinning industry in respect of the sale of machinery and plant for more than its written down value, and whether he still estimates £2,500,000 to be the cost of this concession over the three year period contemplated for the completion of the re-organisation of the industry.

No claims for this relief have yet been lodged and, while I have no reason to question the estimate of £2,500,000, I cannot give any estimate of the relief for any particular year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give a list of the concerns, classified according to the principal industries, trades and vocations to which they belong, to whom credit facilities have been granted by the Finance Corporation for industry during the period 1st August, 1945, to 25th February, 1948; and whether he will show the total amount of the credit provided in each case.

It is for the Board of the Corporation to disclose such information as they may consider proper, and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the published reports and accounts and Chairman's speeches made at the annual meetings. Up to date information will no doubt be available for the next meeting, which is due in a few months. The Corporation's transactions are, of course, subject to Capital Issues Control and are, therefore, included in the figures given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 10th March last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Messrs. E. C. Rich and Sons, of 113 Station Road, Wylde Green, have been refused a licence to export, against a firm order, to Egypt 25 tons of best quality zinc oxide, which cannot be disposed of within the United Kingdom owing to manufacturers being overstocked; and if he will now issue a licence.

The quota of best quality zinc oxide allotted to this manufacturer for export has been exhausted, and it is not possible, therefore, to issue a licence at present. The supply position of zinc oxide is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Supply, who, I understand, has the matter under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the closing down of the National Film Studios, he will arrange for them to be requisitioned so that they may be used for the production of British films, or undertake that if no producer is prepared to produce films in these studios, to consult with the trade unions in the industry for the purpose of finding ways and means whereby the services of film technicians can be mobilised upon a co-operative basis to produce films so urgently required.

According to my information the owners of the National Studios at Elstree are closing them down for the time being because no film producer can be found at present to rent space there. Requisitioning the studios would not make good this lack of a tenant. I do, however, now look forward to an early revival of confidence in this industry—among those responsible for financing production as well as among British film roducers—as a result of the Government's recent Agreement with the motion picture industry of America. That Agreement has dispelled the prospect of British cinemas closing down for want of American films to show—a factor which has of recent months been causing widespread unsettlement in the studios.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to issue clothing coupons to those demobilised from the Forces after June, 1946.

I regret that the clothing situation does not enable me to sanction any further issue of additional demobilisation coupons for the present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that seven coupons are being asked for coats supplied to children as young as twelve months of age; and is he prepared to review this matter with a view to remedying the anomaly.

Coupon rates for infants' overcoats are based on the average cloth content and the rate for a coat more than 14 inches long is seven coupons. A child of 12 months does not normally wear this type of garment, but if my hon. Friend will send me details of any particular case he has in mind, I will look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking in the interests of the reading public, and publishers in the Dominions, including Eire, to secure some mitigation of our non-discrimination obligations to the U.S.A., and Canada, and whether he will make a statement.

The Government have prominently in mind certain difficulties arising from the general non-discrimination obligations to which my hon. Friend refers, and they hope that an opportunity will soon arise to seek some further clarification of these principles as they apply to current operations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the requested appropriations for Marshall Aid from 1st April now being drafted, he will include specifically for the building industry at least a further £5 million above the present allowance for timber to augment the inadequate housing programme; or what figure he proposes to include for building timber and whether this will result in increased supplies being made available for house-building.

The amount of timber available for the building industry must depend on the total supplies of timber obtainable from all sources, of which timber covered by appropriations from Marshall Aid can only be a part. The amount of timber to be imported from the Western Hemisphere during the early months of the European Recovery Programme is at present being examined by His Majesty's Government and the United States authorities, and until this examination is completed it is impossible to say what the supplies will be.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, on what grounds the Assistant Area Officer, Area 8 of Timber Control, Bristol, has refused to allow Messrs. Venables, of Stafford, to tender for a parcel of timber to be sold by the Tewkesbury Park Estate through the Home-Grown Timber Marketing Association.

In issuing licences to sell and fell trees the Timber Control has regard to the location of the applicants and their stocks and outstanding purchases of round timber. A licence was originally refused to Messrs. Venables on the ground that their stocks did not justify acquisition by them in a distant area where local sawmills were going short, but after discussion a licence was issued on 18th February on the understanding that a proportion of the timber produced would be made available to the local sawmills.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what co-ordination exists between Government Departments concerned to ensure that tree felling is planned and executed with maximum reasonable regard to protection of woodlands and amenity.

The Board of Trade, which is responsible for the control of felling, keeps in close touch with the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Town and Country Planning on matters of common interest. All applications to fell in excess of 25,000 cubic feet are referred to the Forestry Commission for approval before a licence is issued; and areas covered by Tree Preservation Orders are notified to the Timber Control by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Administrator of the European Recovery Programme is obliged to refuse delivery to participating countries of any commodities which go into production for re-delivery to any non-participating European country; and if His Majesty's Government is satisfied that the present Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement, and trade agreements now under negotiation will not be placed in jeopardy as a consequence.

I am aware of the provision in the Economic Co-operation Act which my hon. Friend has in mind. Its bearing on our trade agreements with other countries is a matter on which it will be necessary to seek clarification in discussion with the Administrator.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information about the allocation and delivery of witherite in the current period.

There is no statutory control of witherite, although the two producers of this material normally consult the Board of Trade about the distribution of their output. Deliveries of witherite to consumers will probably be less in the current quarter than in recent months, but output is being maintained and the opportunity taken to build up stocks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent it is estimated that the supply of more cloth to meet the new fashion in women's clothing has restricted the supply of other garments.

Supplies of cloth to women's wear manufacturers have not been increased; on the contrary, yarn rations for the manufacture of wool cloth suitable only for women's outerwear have been reduced with a view to correcting the lack of balance between the output of men's and women's clothing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what respective quantities of osseine, edible gelatine and technical gelatine have been imported during the past three months from Belgium.

Imports from Belgium of osseine and edible gelatine during the three months ended February, 1948, amounted to 236 tons and 280 tons, respectively. Technical gelatine is not separately distinguished in the trade returns, but imports of technical gelatine together with glue and size, during the same period, amounted to 65 tons.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many helicopters are in operation in this country; how many are being produced; and what is the average cost.

There are eight helicopters on the Register of Civil Aircraft which have valid Certificates of Airworthiness. Five firms are engaged in the development of eight different types of helicopter, and one of these firms hopes to commence production this October. It is impossible at this stage to give an accurate estimate of the cost of production as it is likely to vary between wide limits, according to the size of helicopter and the number ordered.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the continuing shortage of spare parts for bicycle repairs in Cardiff; and whether he will increase the allocation to this area.

Owing to the large number of bicycles and spares now being exported, I fear that some shortage at home will be unavoidable. The shortage in Cardiff may, however, be due to uneven distribution and we have asked the trade to ensure that a fair share of available supplies is sent to this area.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the fact that certain sports cars and motor cycles find a ready sale in America, he will take steps to remove the present handicap of there being nowhere where machines can be tested at high speed and thereby help the export trade in these machines.

Yes. We are making a surplus airfield available as a proving ground for the motor car and motor cycle industries and the final details for its transfer to these industries' manufacturing and research association are now being settled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will take steps to increase the payments made to jurors;(2) in view of the widespread opinion that they no longer serve a useful purpose, whether he will take steps to abolish special juries.

These matters are receiving the earnest attention of my right hon. Friend, who hopes to make a statement shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to stop the circulars from the Hospitals Trust (1940) Limited, of Dublin, stating that persons resident in the United Kingdom can send written applications for sweepstake tickets to Dublin for their own use, accompanied by the appropriate remittances, as these circulars are not in accordance with the Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934.

I have been asked to reply. I am aware that circulars are being issued by the Hospitals Trust seeking to tell the addressees in this country that they may lawfully send remittances to the Trust for sweepstake tickets. This is not the case. On the contrary, as the hon. Member will be aware, the use of the post for the transmission of lottery material is prohibited. It is not possible in practice to stop the entry into this country of all postal packets containing lottery material, but action is taken when there is information that persons are concerned in the sale and distribution of lottery tickets. In this way a substantial check is kept on evasions of the law.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the report on the survey of the financial position of ex-Service university students has yet been received by him, and whether he will now make a statement.

I have not yet received the report.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of a case of which the name has been given to him, where a man has been ordered to attend three medical examinations within a few months prior to being called up, and that the man has now been ordered to attend a fourth medical examination at which a psychiatrist will attend even though the man's local doctor and other specialists have certified that he is physically unfit to be called up; and what action he is taking.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he proposes to take in view of the fact that certain awards under the Catering Wages Board are at variance

I wrote to the hon. Member on 6th April explaining the circumstances of this case.

asked the Minister of Labour how many European voluntary workers were permitted to enter the United Kingdom in 1947; and of such number how many were male and female.

In 1947 34,688 European Volunteer Workers (25,115 men and 9,573 women) were brought to this country under the "Westward Ho" Scheme. In addition, in the earlier part of the year 1,800 women were brought to this country under the earlier Balt Cygnet Scheme for employment in essential domestic work. This does not include those who come to this country under an individual permit.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled persons registered at the Romford and Hornchurch Employment Exchanges, respectively, who cannot be found employment; and whether he will give the corresponding figures for 1st January, 1948.

The numbers of unemployed registered disabled persons at Hornchurch and Romford were:with the innkeepers' obligations under Common Law.

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware that any of the provisions of the wages regulation orders I have made under the Catering Wages Act, 1943, is at variance with the legal obliga- tions of innkeepers. These orders, which give effect to the recommendations of the several Catering Wages Boards, set out the minimum remuneration (including holiday remuneration) which must be paid by their employers to workers to whom the orders apply and specify the holidays which must be allowed by employers to those workers. These are all matters upon which I am empowered to make orders by the Catering Wages Act.

asked the Minister of Labour for how many ex-officers of the Burma Government employment has been found through his offices and for how many he is still trying to find employment; and in each case if he will give the numbers of those with technical or scientific qualifications.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations has accepted primary responsibility for the resettlement of these ex-officers and has set up a "Re-employment Branch" which has been the channel for placing a number of them in posts in the Home Civil Service and the Foreign and Colonial Services. The Appointments Department deals with the others who are in the main the older men and those who do not want to continue in Government Service. The Appointments

asked the Minister of Labour what were the figures of unemployed registered at the employment exchanges of Winchester and Eastleigh, respectively, at the latest convenient date; and on the corresponding date in 1939, in trade groups.

The following Table gives the information desired.Department has found employment for 13 of them and is still seeking employment for 88. Of these four and 31, respectively, have technical or scientific qualifications.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware that possession of the Lorne Hotel, Bank Row, Wick, at present occupied by the Ministry of Labour, has been requested for several months and that the proprietor's provisional licence for the hotel will expire in May; whether he is aware that alternative accommodation on the opposite side of Bank Row and elsewhere has been pointed out to his Department; what efforts have been made to find accommodation elsewhere; and at what date he will evacuate the Lorne Hotel.

I am aware that the proprietor of the Lorne Hotel is pressing for the release of the premises. Several premises have been considered but no acceptable alternative has yet been found and I am unable to say when the hotel will be released.

asked the Minister of Works what quantity of value of surplus hutments have been disposed of to private contractors within the last convenient 12 months; and what are the comparable figures for hutments directly allocated to sponsored applicants.

I regret that these figures are not available. Surplus hutting is almost invariably offered in the first place to sponsored applicants.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the case, particulars of which have been sent to him, of a student, a certificated teacher before the war, who had received assistance from his Ministry in connection with his certification, and who now desires to take a. degree, in order to improve his teaching, but has been refused assistance because of that earlier aid; and if he will review this decision.

It cannot be claimed that the teacher in question was prevented by the war from qualifying as a teacher and he does not come within the scope of the Further Education and Training Scheme. I am corresponding with the hon. Member on the point.