asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on what grounds a Norwegian air charter company was refused permission to carry return cargo loads on aircraft bringing goods to this country.

I am not aware of any such refusal, but if my hon. Friend will furnish details of the application for this flight, I will look into it.

May I ask my hon. Friend whether, as a matter of principle, he would agree that it is inadvisable unnecessarily to impose restrictions on foreign charter companies operating to this country, because thereby we shall forfeit the possibility of receiving reciprocal facilities from them?

Yes, Sir, so long as they do not contravene Section 23 of the Civil Aviation Act.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why the new minimum standards of visibility imposed at London Airport are maintained in face of the strong representations made by operating companies to operate when the conditions are less favourable than the present minima permit.

In view of these representations, my noble Friend has sought the advice of the Air Safety Board. I am, therefore, not in a position to make a statement pending the result of the review that is now being undertaken.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that it is advisable, in such circumstances as this, to seek consultation with the air line operators concerned, so as not to impose unnecessary minimum restrictions which would put the London Airport out of use in conditions which really are not unsafe?

Yes, Sir, and in addition to the operators, there should be consultation with organisations such as B.A.L.P.A., as representative of those who fly the aircraft.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it advisable that there should be a very definite cloud ceiling, and not, in effect, to leave it to the discretion of anybody, but to have a standard, and keep it, instead of varying it from time to time?

The answer is not so simple as that. There is a considerable weight of responsibility on the pilot for the safety of his aircraft.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation why the B.O.A.C. Atlantic services of the Constellation aircraft cannot be maintained and the aircraft serviced in this country; and whether the Boeing aircraft, with which it is proposed eventually to replace the Constellations, will be serviced and maintained in this country.

Because the safe and regular crossing of the Atlantic nine times a week in each direction with a fleet of six Constellations requires adequate hangar and workshop accommodation, which will not be available in this country until the new base at Filton is ready. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

Does not the hon. Gentleman know that there is, and has been for some time, accommodation at Prestwick for three Constellations, provided that side-slipping gear be made available to take them?

No, Sir. I am afraid my information is not in accordance with that of the hon. and gallant Member.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are at least six hangars in the country, apart from those in Scotland, which could accommodate these Constellations, and will he reconsider this matter? With regard to the second part of his answer, will he say where it is proposed to service the Boeing aircraft in this country?

So far as the first part of the question is concerned, whilst it is true that the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. Cooper) drew the attention of the Ministry to the hangars at a number of places, one needs, in addition to hangars, housing accommodation for maintenance staff. It is little use having staff without housing, because other problems arise therefrom. So far as the Boeing aircraft are concerned, they will be maintained at Filton.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that it is not necessary to have hangar accommodation to maintain these large aircraft, and that during the war aircraft of this type were maintained quite satisfactorily in the open by the Royal Air Force?

I am afraid that, under civil conditions, men are not prepared to work in the open, as they were in the Royal Air Force.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether there is any target date to which he is working for the transfer of the service from Montreal to this side of the Atlantic?

Yes, Sir, December of this year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the circumstances in which London Aero and Motor Services, Limited, Stansted, were allowed to operate an air service to Australia; and if, in view of the fact that they have left a number of aircrew and other employees stranded in Australia, without pay or information, he will withdraw all facilities from them.

London Aero and Motor Services, Limited, are an air charter company and have not been granted permission to operate a scheduled air service to Australia. Following a report from the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Australia, the difficulties of the crew were taken up with the company who replied on 31st March that the crew of the aircraft "are being supplied with funds and that we hope to get them back to this country as soon as we get an adequate load." The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

Is my hon. Friend aware that on 11th April, II days after the date he mentions, the crew still had not heard from the company or from the United Kingdom High Commissioner about their difficulties, and can he consider doing something to extend to aircrew in these circumstances the protection already afforded to merchant seamen stranded overseas?

The company were in financial difficulties, and a new financial interest took over operations from 20th March. They are trying to take action. In reply to the latter part of my hon. Friend's supplementary, legislation would be needed; this case in particular, emphasises the necessity for such legislation, which is being considered.

Is the Minister aware that some hon. Members on this side of the House are less interested in the retribution suggested in the Question, than in getting their constituents home? Cannot he endeavour, through the High Commissioner, to get them home whether or not there is a pay load for the aircraft?

Yes, Sir. That will be done.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he has given approval for the purchase of M.R.E. 175 aircraft by B.O.A.C.

An order for prototypes has already been agreed. The question of a production order is being actively pursued and approval in principle has already been given.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that this aircraft will not be ready for five or six years, and that it is inferior in some respects, and not superior in any but one respect, to aircraft which are purchasable today?

I am afraid that I have not sufficient technical knowledge to give an authoritative answer to the first part of that question. It is true that this aircraft is an insurance against delay or failure of the D.H. rob. It is considered to be an improvement on the Constellation.

Would the Minister approve the purchase of Scottish built aircraft if the Government encouraged the building of a factory in Scotland for the construction of such aircraft?

Will the Parliamentary Secretary say if in his view we can afford the delay which is inevitable in the production of this aircraft, and is it not vital that we should obtain aircraft which are capable of being operated commercially now?

I am in complete agreement with the hon. Member.

Can the Minister do anything about it?

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that the statement he made that this machine is superior to the Constellation was made on the advice of his technical advisers?

That is the intention of those who prepared the specification.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary bring to the attention of those who are considering the possibility of buying some economic interim types, the fact that other people do not believe that this aircraft is superior to the Constellation?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the proposal to re-start the payment of long-service pensions to members of the German Army is subject to many restrictive conditions, while the payment of pensions similarly earned by police, railway and postal official is made in full.

The scheme authorising Laender Governments to pay maintenance grants to former long-service personnel of the German armed forces does not represent restoration of military pensions. In view of the provisions of Control Council Law No. 34 such pensions cannot be paid, and it has been necessary to specify that the grants shall be made in recognition of public rather than military service. The grants are designed to assist in cases of real hardship and the conditions relating to age and loss of earning capacity through physical causes have been inserted to restrict payment to such cases. The restrictions on grounds of denazification policy are no more stringent than those applying to the payment of Civil Service pensions. Police, Reichspost and Reichsbahn pensions are not analogous as they are payable under German Civil Service laws which have not been abrogated by quadripartite agreement.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is strange that the postal and railway services, which were strongholds of the Nazi Party, should be given so much advantage over the armed forces whose senior members on the whole provided the greatest resistance to the Nazi Party?

The matter must be adjusted with what the economy of the country can afford. I cannot take anything from the British taxpayer for this purpose. Therefore, we have tried to adjust it on the basis of the economy of the country.

Does the Foreign Secretary, who has a reputation for being a fair-minded man, really justify this penalisation of military personnel who have earned their pensions by service to their country?

I do not attempt to justify the difficulties which arise from people going to war.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this question which concerns a number of men who, whether they were right or wrong, did the job they were meant to do for many years? We expect our own people to be properly treated in this respect: why should not we do our best for these people, because, much as I dislike the Germans, I cannot see why we should not treat them equally fairly?

I really cannot undertake responsibility which involves the money of taxpayers in this country. I have done my best within the economy of the country to help harsh and difficult cases. I cannot go further.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's two answers indicating that the governing factor is the amount of money available, can he tell us why, if that is so, any distinction should be made between military pensions and police or other pensions? Why should they not all be cut down pro rata?

The civil pensions are dealt with under German Civil Service laws. They have been earned, and the services are still running.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an assurance in writing has yet been obtained from the U.S.S.R. that British aircraft flying to or from Berlin will not be interfered with by Soviet aeroplanes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on Monday, 19th April.

In order to avoid such incidents in future, would the right hon. Gentleman consider offering to our gallant Allies the loan of some flying instructors?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many sailing yachts of all types have been requisition in the British zone of Germany by the occupying forces and the Control Commission; and when these yachts will be returned to their proper owners.

Sixty-three yachts of over 30 square metres sail area have been requisitioned, together with 340 small sailing boats. Requisitioned craft are purchased from the owners by the German Economy and will be returned to the German Economy as and when the reduction of British personnel justifies. The return to the former owners then becomes a matter for the German authorities.

Do the figures cover all the inland lakes, and is that the total, because it seems very small?

I am sorry my hon. Friend is surprised, but those are the figures given to me.

Could the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that none of these yachts will be requisitioned for the Attorney-General?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many refugees and evacuees entered the British zone of Germany from the Soviet zone and areas further east during 1947; and whether he will give the resulting total of both classes of persons in each of the four lands of the British zone.

Since this Question involves a certain amount of research, I regret that I am not yet able to give my hon. Friend this information. I will, however, let my hon. Friend have an answer as soon as possible.

Could my right hon. Friend say whether the recent announcement, supposedly official, that 3,600,000 came in from the East in 1947 is correct or not? It was given out as an official statement, but I have never been able to get it authenticated. That is why I asked the Question.

I was not aware that there had been an official statement.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the anxiety of the Danish population in South Schleswig at being swamped by the influx of Germans, and to the complaints of these purely Danish people that they are losing their own nationality in their own land?

That is a separate question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what regulations in respect of the price of commodities have operated in the Gold Coast and in other West African Colonies during the past five years; to what extent commodity prices had risen before the Gold Coast boycott; to what extent they have fallen since then; what steps have been taken to increase local supply; and to what extent the cost of living in the Gold Coast has risen disproportionately to earnings.

I have been asked to reply. As the answer is rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it not true that, in fact, there is a gross disparity between the increase in wages, on the one hand, and prices, on the other, and seeing that commodity prices did come down owing to the boycott, why was not action taken before to see that they came down to a reasonable level?

I cannot altogether accept the first part of that supplementary question, but the facts and figures are plainly stated in the reply to which, perhaps, I may refer my hon. Friend.

Following is the reply: In the Gold Coast the prices of foodstuffs and of other essential articles have been controlled by orders under the Defence Regulations since the outbreak of war in 1939. These orders have been amended and prices varied from time to time. Similar control has been in force in Sierra Leone since 1940 and in Nigeria and the Gambia since 1943.

Commodity prices as a whole have risen over the past five years to a varying degree. In the Gold Coast the rise in the price of foodstuffs over this period ranged from 30 per cent. to 50 per cent.; the price of textiles rose in most cases by approximately 50 per cent. The figures in the other Territories are generally in accord.

There was no change in prices charged by importing firms after the boycott, except for certain lines of textiles, which were reduced by varying amounts up to 20 per cent. The effect of the boycott on prices was most marked in the retail market, owing to selling prices being checked by the Native Authorities.

The only local supplies which can be substantially increased are foodstuffs, and campaigns for greater production have been intensively pursued in recent years. Availability of manufactured consumer goods is inevitably restricted by world shortages and the need to restrict imports from hard currency areas to essentials.

By August, 1947, minimum 'wages in the Gold Coast had risen by some 100 to 150 per cent. above those of 1939, and were considered to be satisfactory in relation to the increased cost of living. The price paid to producers of cocoa has risen from 7s. per load in 1943 to 40s. in 1948. The inflationary effects of this increase and of restrospective payments of wage increases has since led to a rise in the price of consumer goods in the retail trades which cater for the African population. Such increases in the supplies of goods as have been possible in spite of the factors mentioned above are limiting the effect of this rise, with the result that minimum wage levels are today higher than in 1939 in relation to commodity price levels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Africans are serving as Directors or Assistant Directors of Medical Services in the West African Colonies.

No Africans have yet reached those grades, but a number are serving in senior specialist posts and administrative posts below the rank of Director or Assistant Director.

Would it not be a great encouragement to many African doctors with excellent medical qualifications if a precedent were set and a first appointment made in this direction?

We should be willing to see posts occupied by Africans in that way, and that, is quite possible; but it so happens that so far the best available candidates happen to have been Europeans.

Would it not also assist if African students were able to take the complete medical course at a West African university?

Perhaps I could have notice of that question.

While the best candidates may have been Europeans, would not the Minister accept as a principle that Africans, provided they have adequate qualifications, should have the right for appointment to these posts?

There is also the consideration that these health services are vitally important and must be run in the most effective way possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what contributions in men or money His Majesty's Government are contributing to international scientific inquiries into tropical, cocoa, and rubber diseases which are being undertaken.

As there are, so far as I am aware, no international organisations dealing with research on cocoa or rubber diseases the question of His Majesty's Governments contribution does not arise.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that our only contribution to the Amazon project consists of two scientists?

I will look into that point, but I did make inquiries, and I have failed to establish the existence of any international organisation dealing with these two subjects.

Does not the Under-Secretary's ignorance in this matter indicate the disadvantage in having the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs answering for the Secretary of State for the Colonies?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps for mutual economic assistance by way of exchange of products and temporary provision of labour resources have been taken between the French and British Colonies in Africa.

There is already valuable exchange of goods and of labour between these territories, and the possibilities of still further exchanges were discussed at a meeting of French and British officials held in Paris in February. Various useful lines of development were then agreed upon and are now being actively pursued. A copy of the communiqué issued after the Paris meeting will be sent to my hon. Friend.

Does my hon. Friend realise that there is considerable desire among all parties, except perhaps the Communists, for co-operation on this as a contribution to solving the economic problems of the two countries?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of that, and as a first step there are constant exchanges between officials of the two departments directly concerned in France and in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the delivery of oil from Kirkuk to Haifa and its refinement at Haifa have been decreased recently; and what protection will be given by His Majesty's Government to this British oil business in Palestine after 15th May.

The refineries were closed for three weeks early this year as a result of communal disorders, and full production was not resumed for a further three weeks. Work ceased again on 12th April as a result of a strike of Arab workers. After r5th May and until the final withdrawal the installations will be within the area occupied by British troops and will receive the protection afforded by their presence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the criticisms contained in the report of the United Nations Palestine Commission alleging that His Majesty's Government is refusing to allow the Commission to go to Palestine earlier than 1st May; is refusing to arrange a progressive transfer of authority; and that it is taking financial and economic steps without consulting the Commission.

My right hon. Friend dealt with these criticisms in his speech on the Second Reading of the Palestine Bill and in subsequent speeches during the Committee stage of that Bill. The United Nations' Commission have been kept closely informed of all the intentions and actions of the Palestine Administration and their views have been sought whenever possible before any steps of major importance have been taken.

Will my hon. Friend say whether we still intend to withdraw by the date we have given as our withdrawal date, and whether we still stand by the United Nations Resolution for partition?

Our policy has been made perfectly plain, and I have nothing to add to it.

On the third part of the Question, could the Under-Secretary assure us that the supply of bread grains and sugar to 30th June is now assured, as requisitioned by the representative of the Commission in London?

That is another question, which perhaps the hon. Member will put down.

Will my hon. Friend have published the contents of this very scathing criticism of our action, or at least put a copy of this document in the Library so that hon. Members will see that they have been misled by previous statements?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the responsibility of the Government of Palestine for the maintenance of law and order until 15th May includes the safeguarding of free access of medical and nursing staffs to their hospitals; and whether the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem is included under these arrangements.

The free access of medical and nursing staffs to their hospitals is being safeguarded so far as resources permit. Comparative freedom of travel on the road which leads from the City of Jerusalem through an Arab quarter to the Hadassah Hospital had been maintained for some weeks by military action, but was interrupted on 13th April by an attack launched by Arabs on a convoy, apparently in retaliation for the murder of Arabs by Jews at Deir Yassin. British Military forces immediately went to the scene, engaged the attackers and rescued the convoy. Thirty-four Jews were killed and 21 wounded in this engagement and the British forces lost two soldiers killed and two wounded. A senior British police officer was also seriously wounded. It is understood that in view of this incident the Jewish authorities have decided to evacuate the Hadassah Hospital.

Is not the Minister aware that a whole team of doctors engaged on full-time research work in the causation of cancer was wiped out in this engagement; and, if the British administration cannot safeguard the safety of two miles of open road, would it not be better to disclaim their intention of continuing responsibility for law and order in the whole of Palestine at the same time as our troops are engaged in withdrawal from that country?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Hong Kong Government expect to make interim or final payments to compensate former British residents for their war losses in the Colony.

It is hoped that a statement on the subject of war damage compensation will be made at an early date.

When my hon. Friend refers to "an early date," would he bear in mind that the Colony of Hong Kong is one of the most prosperous in the British Commonwealth at the present time; that most of these people have lost everything they possessed; that because they worked for many years in the Far East they find it very difficult to get into jobs here; and could not something be done to speed up that "early date"?

Yes, and I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies appreciates that. I will certainly draw his attention to that view.

Can the hon. Member say what has been holding up this decision?

I should like notice of that question.

Is not the Under-Secretary aware that similar answers have been given for a very long time; and that there are very many claimants, mostly people in business in a small way, with small claims, who are put to considerable hardship?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further statement to make concerning the new airfield for Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made regarding the negotiations to build a new civil airport at Hong Kong.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which he gave to the hon. Member for Brighton (Mr. Teeling) on 4th February. He hopes to be in a position to make a statement on the subject in the near future.

Does not the Under-Secretary realise that that answer said that the matter was under active consideration, which has now gone on for many months; and does he further realise that now international aircraft are by-passing Hong Kong because they cannot land there, and that the problem is becoming very serious.

Yes, Sir. There will be a statement, though, in the near future.

Before that statement is made will the hon. Gentleman convey to his right hon. Friend that at the moment no aircraft of any kind can land at night at Hong Kong, which, in view of Hong Kong's importance, is humiliating?

Would my hon. Friend also bear in mind that the existing airfield at Hong Kong is difficult at all times, and on many days of the year is positively dangerous to the aircraft which use it; and would he impress on his right hon. Friend the need for urgency in the matter?

I will certainly put those points to my right hon: Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the numbers of passengers passing through Kai Tak Hong Kong and Singapore, respectively, each month; what is the biggest aircraft which can land at either airfield at present; and what expenditure his Department has authorised to spend on airfields in Hong Kong and Malaya, respectively.

As the reply to this Question is rather long and contains a number of figures, I propose, with the permission of the hon. Member, to arrange for it to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

As Singapore receives, roughly, about a quarter of the number of aircraft received at Hong Kong, why has the Colonial Office already spent a considerable amount of money on Singapore and nothing on Hong Kong?

Perhaps the hon. Member would read the reply and put down a further Question on that subject.

On a point of Order. Although no doubt it will be interesting to read the reply, I feel that it really is time to give notice that I shall attempt to raise this on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment in order to secure a fuller discussion.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what tonnage of merchant shipping is at present under repair in His Majesty's dockyards; what further contracts for repair to merchant vessels are already in hand; and what provision is being made for merchant ship repair work in naval yards up to the end of 1948.

There are at present three merchant vessels totalling 26,000 gross registered tons under repair in the Royal dockyards at home. No further contracts are in hand and no provision is being made for any substantial merchant ship repairs in naval yards up to the end of 1948, beyond that necessary for completing the vessels now under repair. I should add, however, that there is continually under repair a considerable tonnage of Admiralty tankers registered at Lloyds, some of which are allocated to commercial work.

In view of the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 6th April, about the cost of repairing merchant vessels,' and the inability to do that work in our own yards, will my hon. Friend take steps to see that Admiralty yards are used to the full for this work during this critical time in our economic affairs?

The Primary of the Royal Dockyards, as I have told the House Previously, is to ensure that we have a most efficient Fleet. At present, we have a large volume of Fleet repair work which is long overdue, and it is Proposed to reduce that volume during this financial year. It might interest the House to know that even if we had sufficient space in the Royal Dockyards to undertake the repair of merchant ships it would not serve much purpose, because the steel which would be used for that work would be taken away from private yards which are undertaking merchant ship repairs.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a decision has yet been reached concerning the absorption of naval pensioners serving as pensioner clerks into the clerical officer grade of Admiralty service, or when a decision upon this matter can be expected.

A proposal is about to be made go the staff side of the Admiralty Administrative Whitley Council concerning the principle on which this question should be settled. Assuming agreement on this principle, some little time may be required to complete negotiations concerning its detailed application.

Will my hon. Friend hasten the conclusion of this matter, in view of the unfairness to many pensioner clerks who are employed in this service?

I can assure my hon. Friend that we have that in mind. I am happy to say that it is much nearer a solution than we expected it would be a short time ago.