asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the recent change in policy, he will reconsider applications for educational allowances which had been refused prior to 6th April, 1948.

Yes, Sir. I am glad of this opportunity of stating again that education allowances are no longer refused on the ground that the father would have been unable to provide the type of education proposed had he not been a war casualty, and of inviting pensioners whose applications have been refused on that ground to renew their applications.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many civilians are at present employed at Chilwell depot; and what are they doing.

Five thousand three hundred and eighty civilians are employed at the ordnance depot, and 1,259 at the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers workshops at Chilwell. Those at the depot are engaged on the receipt, storage, preservation, maintenance and inspection of mechanical transport and spare parts, and on issuing them to the Army at home and overseas; an appreciable proportion are occupied on the work of clearing up still remaining over from the war. Those at the workshops are employed on the overhaul of tanks, self-propelled artillery, tank transporters and other vehicles, and machinery required for issue to the Territorial Army, and for replacement of worn equipment in the Regular Army.

Is the Minister satisfied that the stores personnel are fully employed, and all doing useful work?

I am satisfied that they are fully employed, but I am looking into the number of persons employed at this depot.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it was on his instruction that General Stockwell, G.O.C. in Haifa, issued the announcement on 22nd April that he was unable, and therefore not prepared, to fight the Jews in order to stop the massacre of Arabs in Haifa, but was prepared to prevent the entry of armed Arabs coming to the defence of their co-nationals; and if he will make a statement.

No announcement was made by General Stockwell in the terms suggested in the Question.

As a number of prominent Arab leaders assert that he did make this statement to them, will the Minister have the matter looked into further?

I prefer to rely on the report which appeared in "The Times," which I understand is substantially correct.

Is it a fact that the High Commissioner stated there was no massacre, and that the Arabs started the fighting?

The High Commissioner may have made a statement to that effect, but that has nothing to do with this Question. All I am concerned with is that the allegation about General Stockwell has no foundation in fact.

In view of the fact that Arabs are coming into Palestine with British arms, British officers and British money, can nothing be done to stop that?

What about the American arms?

Arms have nothing to do with this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of men serving in M.E.L.F., whose release has been deferred, or who have been warned of deferment, because their duties are operationally vital; in which arms and in which release groups these men are serving; and how soon he expects that it will be possible again generally to release men serving in such arms by the dates originally scheduled.

On 30th April there were 1,549 officers and men serving in M.E.L.F. whose release had been deferred, or who had been warned of deferment, as operationally vital. They were serving in the Royal Corps of Signals, Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Engineers, Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Catering Corps and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and in age and service groups between 65 and 74. I cannot yet forecast when it will be possible to stop using compulsory deferment, but I hope the situation will improve as the evacuation of Palestine progresses.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the case of each individual officer and man has been considered on its merits; and have they all been made aware of the possibility of appeal on compassionate grounds?

On the first part of the supplementary question, I cannot say whether that is procedurally possible; I will look into it and advise my hon. Friend. The men have been advised from time to time that they can make the usual appeal on compassionate grounds.

Is the large number of deferments which has taken place the result of the lack of recruiting in these particulars arms in the years since the end of the war; and if so, what steps is the Minister taking to overcome these shortages?

I hardly think it is associated with any short-fall in recruitment. It is due to exceptional difficulties that have emerged in Palestine.

In that case, would the right hon. Gentleman say whether sufficient reinforcements have been sent out in order to make up the number who should be going home?

It is not always possible to provide sufficient reinforcements; but, as I say, this was exceptional and purely temporary, and we hope to overcome the difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the hon. Member for Westbury has been informed by the Ministry of Works that a final notice of redundancy has not been issued by the War Department in respect of Hill Camp, Westbury; and, in view of the announcement that this would be done immediately, why notice of redundancy has not been issued.

It has been found necessary to retain part of the site at Hill Camp, Westbury. The local authority has, I understand, raised no objection, but the case has not yet been considered by the Inter-departmental Committee on Services Land Requirements. The remainder of the site containing a number of huts and some ancillary accommodation is being put on the redundant list and the Ministry of Health will then have an opportunity to bid for them on behalf of the local authority for housing.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the case of the trooper of the Royal Armoured Corps, whose name has been communicated to him, stationed at the R.A.C. Depot, Barnard Castle, who was recently refused permission to see his commanding officer although he had been advised by his department to seek such an interview.

This soldier applied to see his commanding officer to obtain 48 hours' compassionate leave. When asked by the squadron sergeant-major why he wanted compassionate leave he said that it was to play rugby football for his local club. The sergeant-major told him that he could not see his commanding officer for this reason and rejected his application for a leave pass. Although an application for compassionate leave on the grounds stated would not have been granted, no soldier should be refused permission to see his commanding officer irrespective of the grounds put forward. The district commander has taken action to make this clear to all concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the date on which the annual camp of the 127th Infantry Brigade, Territoral Army, is to be held at Altcar has been changed three times; and why the duration has been shortened from 15 days to eight days.

The date on which this camp is to start has twice been slightly changed because the dates originally chosen proved inconvenient. The length of the camp has been reduced to eight days in conformity with a general decision that Territorial Army camps should this year last for eight days in order to reduce interference with civil employment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these changes of plan are extremely inconvenient to the men and also to their employers? In view of the difficulties of recruiting for the Territorial Army, will my right hon. Friend impress upon the officers concerned the importance of being firmer in their intentions?

I have no doubt that they are firm in their intentions, but we all know with what intentions the road to a certain place is paved.

asked the Secretary of State for War why A.A. Territorial units are being supplied with obsolete radar equipment.

Obsolete radar equipment is not being supplied to Anti-Aircraft Territorial Units. It is true that the radar equipment being supplied to these units is not of the very latest design, but owing to the large number of equipments involved it is impossible to introduce the latest equipment except by stages.

Will the Minister take steps to ensure that all Territorial units have opportunities for training with the latest types of equipment?

Yes, we are certainly doing that. As far as camp training is concerned, I have recently looked into the whole matter. The position regarding other forms of equipment is also under active consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the equipment to which he refers is mostly American? Will he give a high priority for these men to get the latest British equipment in order to encourage recruiting?

I will look into that and see what can be done.

asked the Secretary of State for War the approximate number of applications for civilianisation received from German prisoners of war married to women of British stock; how many have so far been approved; how long it will take to deal with outstanding applications; and what restrictions will be placed on the residence and employment of those who become of civilian status.

I have received 215 such applications which I have forwarded to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary for consideration; 108 have so far been approved; I understand that the outstanding applications should be cleared in four or five weeks; no restrictions not applicable to British subjects are placed on the residence or employment of those who are granted civilian status.

In view of the time taken in dealing with some of these applications at the Home Office, will my right hon. Friend make such arrangements as will prevent anybody from being sent back to Germany whose application is before the Home Office but is not decided by the end of June?

My function is to receive the application. The matter is then passed to the Home Office. I should prefer my hon. Friend to address his Question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Will the Minister try to bring about the "re-Englishment" of the horrible word "civilianisation"?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when he anticipates that work will start on a new town to accommodate the surplus population of north-west Kent.

I have not been able to find a virgin site to the south- east of London which satisfies all the requirements for a new town. I am now examining alternative possibilities of accommodating the surplus population of the overcrowded districts of north-west Kent by the expansion of existing communities.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the extreme urgency of this problem in constituencies such as my own, where there is a population probably of about 10,000 which can never be housed in that area, even though it is wholly built up?

If the hon. Member can offer any suggestions, I shall be obliged.

Will the Minister make sure that, when this virgin site is found, it will not be the best agricultural land that is used?

I have given up hope of finding it.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning the present position of the promised planning survey of North Staffordshire; and what progress is being made.

In reply to my hon. Friend on 5th November, 1946, I explained that the outline plan for the West Midlands would be prepared in two parts; part one, covering the whole of Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire, excepting North Staffordshire, would be prepared first; part two, covering North Staffordshire, would follow shortly thereafter. I understand that part one will shortly be submitted to me and that work on the plan for North Staffordshire is proceeding steadily. It is hoped that it will be completed by the end of October.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the average number of insured men and women who from 5th July will reach pensionable age each week and who will, therefore, be subject to the retirement provisions of the new scheme, and what is the estimated increased cost in contributions and Exchequer grants, respectively, of giving these persons the option of drawing 10S. a week non-retirement pension as an encouragement to stay on at work in lieu of their entitlement to an increase in the retirement pension for every year worked beyond the pensionable age.

It is estimated that from 5th July about 3,000 insured men and 1,300 insured women will reach pensionable age each week. As regards the second part of the Question no increase in the rates of contributions of insured persons and their employers would be required. I am unable to give an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer in the absence of any reliable data as to the probable effect of the proposed option on the rate of retirement.

Will my right hon. Friend watch the working of the new scheme carefully to see whether the increment of pension due to those who go on working proves a sufficient incentive for them not to retire? If it does not, will he consider giving the option suggested in the Question?

Yes, we shall watch with very great care the influence of this scheme on the age of retirement. The whole intention behind the new provisions is to encourage those who are able to continue at work.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has now received the report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee; and if he can make a full statement as to the liability of war disability pensioners, who cannot work, to make National Insurance contributions as from 5th July, 1946.

No, Sir. I am, therefore, not yet in a position to make the statement asked for.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is satisfied that there will be no difficulty in changing over to the new rates and conditions for unemployment benefit on 5th July having regard to the large amount of work falling on employment exchanges at that time in connection with the exchange of insurance cards.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service and I have considered this point. In order to spread out the extra work being undertaken by the employment exchanges, I am making the National Insurance (Increase of Unemployment Benefit) Regulations. These regulations anticipate changes which would otherwise have to be made at 5th July. The substantial effect is that payments of unemployment benefit due to be made on and after 3rd June will be at the rates, and subject to the main conditions, of the new scheme.

I should like to take this opportunity of paying tribute to the great assistance which the Ministry of Labour and National Service, with its network of employment exchanges, have given and continue to give to my Department in launching the new National Insurance scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the European Voluntary Workers brought to this country from displaced persons camps in Germany have left their families or dependants behind; and how many have brought them with them.

About 750 of the European Voluntary Workers here have left dependants behind, and about the same number now have their dependants here.

Have arrangements been made for those dependants who have been left behind to come to this country in due course?

Yes, Sir. They will have priority over other foreigners coming here with dependants.

Is it the policy that in any further recruitment the dependants shall come over with the men to this country?

That is our policy, but it is difficult to carry it out, because it is more awkward to provide accommodation for families than for individual workers.

Will there be any difficulty for those whose dependants are in the Russian zone?

asked the Minister of Labour what investigations have been made into employment exchange practice following the sentence on two employment exchange clerks for receiving bribes for supplying a builder with skilled workmen.

I have considered the existing employment exchange practice and am satisfied that no change is necessary.

In view of the very scandalous revelations which, as the right hon. Gentleman is aware, the trial exposed, surely the situation calls for a very close examination in other places as well? What reason is there to believe that this corruption is exclusive to this particular employment exchange?

I prefer to believe the fact that these two men have misbehaved themselves, which is reprehensible and to be regretted, rather than that this corruption is prevalent in all employment exchanges. In spite of everything we may do, we cannot always prevent a man from being dishonest.

Is it not the experience of the Minister and all those who take an interest in this matter that the officials are extremely courteous, efficient and honest as a general rule?

asked the Minister of Labour how many men at the Liverpool employment exchanges have been offered, and accepted employment in the coal mines from January, r947, to date; and how many men have refused offers of employment in the coal mines during the same period.

Figures are not available for the period before 22nd September, 1947. From that date until 15th May, 1948, 5,582 men were offered coalmining employment, of whom 2,035 accepted the offer and 3,452 definitely refused.

As this is a serious matter, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that this represents 25 per cent. of the men unemployed in the whole area, and that the figure suggests to many of us in the area that the employment exchanges have been offering this type of work to men who are not suitable, with the result that people are being disqualified from benefit?

My hon. Friend has raised a point which does not relate to this Question, but I will look into it to see whether there is anything in it

Have any of these 3,000 men who have refused been directed to other jobs?

That is a different question. We are not compelling a man to go down a mine if he does not want to.

asked the Minister of Labour on what date his Department propose to take over the hostel at Brinsford Lodge, Featherstone, in the County of Stafford; and if he will ensure that the standard of comfort in this hostel is maintained at the same level as in the past.

The date proposed is 17th July, but this has not yet been definitely decided. The hostel, when taken over, will be managed by the National Service Hostels Corporation in conformity with the general standards at their other industrial hostels, and I see no reason to expect any legitimate grounds for complaint on the score of comfort.

Will my right hon. Friend say why it is impossible for the National Hostels Corporation to take over furniture belonging to the Ministry of Supply which has been housed in the hostel? Furthermore, is it true that the Department have notified the residents that they cannot any longer carry on their club?

I have no information with regard to the furniture. With regard to the club, the hostel has for some time been running as a hostel for workers and not as a club. We do not propose to run it as a club.

Are not the Department prepared to allow the residents' committee to carry on the club which they have been running under the Ministry of Supply?

If they want to carry on in a normal way there is no objection, but if they want to run a licensed bar there are objections.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of workers in the furniture manufacturing trades who are at present working short time.

Statistics of short-time working are not available for any date later than the week ending 3rd April. Returns from employers covering, 89,000 operatives, showed that whilst about 1,700 workers in the furniture and upholstery industry in Great Britain worked less than full time in that week, losing about III hours on the average, about 7,100 operatives worked over-time in the same week to the extent of about five hours each on the average.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in touch with the manufacturers as to the cause of this short-time working? Will he consult the President of the Board of Trade who is very largely responsible for this short-time working?

If he is responsible for the short time, then he is also responsible for the over-time working.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are being made to expedite the call-up of persons who reach the age of 18 after 30th June to enable them to be released from the Forces to attend universities in October, 1949.

Arrangements have been made for these young men to apply to be called up before the end of July which should ensure their release from the Forces not later than October, 1949. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a memorandum giving details which has been circulated to headmasters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what interests are represented by the Scottish Council, Development and Industry.

The Scottish Council is an independent and non-party organisation constituted for the purpose of helping to further the economic welfare of the Scottish people. It is directly representative of the local authorities, chambers of commerce, trades unions and banks in Scotland; and membership is open to corporate bodies such as firms, trades associations, co-operative societies and trades councils, as well as to private individuals. It is entirely free to stimulate and co-ordinate Scottish enterprise and the Government give it all the assistance which is practicable.

Has the Secretary of State given consideration to the observations made by Douglas Young in regard to the proposed Development Council?

I have not seen those observations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the financial appeal recently made by the Scottish Council, Development and Industry, has his full approval.

Yes, Sir. The Scottish Council, as an independent and nonparty organisation, is doing most valuable work to uphold and strengthen Scotland's economic position. The financial appeal recently made by the Council deserves the fullest support of all sections of the community in Scotland as the Council is an independent Scottish institution representing Scottish views and interests.

Does the Council receive any Government financial aid?

That is another question; but I think that the Government give a grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will provide transport for labour allocated to private owners for forestry work on dedicated estates where no other transport facilities exist.

I regret that I am not in a position to provide transport for labour employed on forestry work by private owners. If the hon. Member has in mind the case of Mr. Kennedy about which he has written to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, I am looking into the matter and will write to him as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to transfer the Unemployment Fund and other National Insurance Funds from the National Debt Commissioners to the Public Trustee so that the management of such Funds shall be independent of his Department.

No, Sir.

May I ask the Chancellor when the National Debt Commissioners last met, and whether he agreed with the statements made by the Financial Secretary on 14th May that the Treasury must have control of these Funds, and that the policy must be laid down by the Government of the day?

Within the scope of the Act which provides how the Funds shall be invested, that is quite right.

Will the Chancellor give an undertaking that in future this Fund will be managed in the interest of those who should benefit from it and that other interests shall not be taken into account?

It will be administered in accordance with the Act of Parliament which laid down how it shall be administered.

Is the Chancellor aware of the criticisms being made, namely, that he or those responsible for the management of this Fund, who are the trustees, are taking into account other considerations than the interests of the Fund, and in consequence grave losses to the Fund have occurred?

I am quite aware of the criticism, which is wholly unjustified.

Would it not be better to put out of reach of the Treasury the temptation to use these Funds for market manipulations?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what goods have so far been received from the U.S.A. under the European Recovery Programme.

None, Sir. But the Administrator has already authorised supplies from Canada totalling 41.5 million dollars.

Is there any particular circumstance, such as a shipping strike or some other circumstance, holding up the commencement of these E.R.P. goods from the United States?

No, Sir—none.

Will the supplies from Canada include any newsprint?

No, Sir.

Has the Chancellor received any money under the scheme, and if not, will he contradict the statement made in the United States that money received under the scheme has been used by us to assist the Arabs in Palestine?

No, Sir; we have received no money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Weekly Campaign Circular, Number 327, issued by the National Savings Committee, contains political propaganda in favour of his Budget; and if he will require the Committee to desist in future from such interventions in party politics.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." The second part does not therefore arise.

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman observed the statement in the circular that his Budget contains skilfully contrived changes in taxation, and is he aware that that enthusiasm for his Budget is not shared by the majority of his fellow countrymen?

I was under the impression that it was.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered the appeal of the Fife and Kinross Area Council of the British Legion, transmitted to him by the hon. Member for East Fife, for a special concession of cheaper tobacco and cigarettes to 100 per cent. disabled ex-Servicemen; and what answer he has returned.

Yes, Sir. I fear that for administrative reasons the concession cannot be extended to this class of persons.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman encourage disabled ex-Service men to grow their own tobacco?

asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury what is the purpose of the publication, "Target"; what quantity of paper per year will be required for it; and what is its estimated annual cost.

There is, as yet, no publication of this name. Plans for the issue to industry of a broadsheet about methods of works publicity are being considered, but no decision has yet been taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an undertaking that no motor vehicles will be imported into this country from the United States under E.R.P. or any other arrangement.

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what types of motor vehicles have been exported to Portugal during the past year.

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with the hon. and gallant Gentleman's permission, circulate the information required in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain the reports that although cars have been exported to Portugal they have not been sold?

I cannot explain them, but I can deny them. There is no question of cars being exported for which orders were not placed in advance, but because of difficulty and delays at the Portuguese Customs, a number of cars were on the dockside for a considerable time. They were not only British cars.

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that only one pair of out-sized bathing trunks is being put on to the market for every four medium-sized; that the proportion of the population as between medium-sized and out-sized is two and half to one; and whether he will take steps to meet the shortage.

I do not control the size ranges which manufacturers produce, and which they are free to adjust in accordance with the orders they receive.

Are they being made in sufficient sizes to suit all eventualities?

Before the war, according to one of the largest producers, the demand for sizes above a 36 inch waist—which, I think, is the size the right hon. Gentleman has in mind—was one pair in eight.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the feeling in the trade concerned that women's coats, half-lined, using the same cloth as costumes, shall have coupons reduced in conformity; and will he reconsider the matter.

Yes, Sir. I would ask my hon. Friend to await a statement which I shall be making later today.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will endeavour to make his announcements of future alterations in the value of clothing coupons at the beginning of a rationing period instead of in the middle; and whether he is aware that his recent announcement has been the cause of discontent among those who had already made purchases at the former coupon value.

I shall certainly try to arrange coupon values so as to avoid alterations during the course of a rationing period, but exceptionally, special circumstances, like those which have developed in this period, necessitate changes before a new rationing period arrives.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reason the special allocation of clothing coupons given to mayors is denied to chairmen of urban district councils.

The dividing line between the claims of mayors and chairmen of urban district councils is admittedly a fine one where clothing needs are concerned, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. I am afraid I cannot extend this concession.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are only 572 urban districts in the country? How can he justify making a concession to the Mayor of Winchelsea, which has a population of less than 1,000, while he denies it to the Chairman of the Rhondda Urban District Council, which has a population of over 100,000?

Mayors do not receive extra coupons automatically. Regional controllers are authorised to give coupons only in cases of exceptional need, and consider cases on their merits.

Will my right hon. Friend allow the same discretion in the case of chairmen of urban district councils?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many utility furniture units were issued in 1947; and how many remained unused.

About 42 million units were issued in 1947. Units are valid for one year, and it is therefore impossible to say how many of those remain unused.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with the progress of the pilot census of distribution.

Yes, Sir, so far. The pilot census of distribution, which covered only 5 per cent. of the country, was voluntary and in spite of the attempts made to discourage traders from taking part, more than 10,000 completed returns and many letters containing useful suggestions have already been received. I should like to thank all those traders who have given up the time to complete their pilot census forms.

I propose shortly to set up an Advisory Committee under the terms of the Statistics of Trade Act to assist the Board with the preparation of the forms and with other matters concerning the national census of the distributive and service trades to be held in 1950 in respect of the year 1949. I am anxious not to place more burdens on traders than are necessary, and I therefore propose asking the Committee to consider, in the light of information obtained from the pilot census, how the forms may be made easier to complete while at the same time eliciting the information which should be collected at a first census of this kind.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the greatest discouragements came from an organisation in his own Department? I have an example where at least three identical forms were received by one firm?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will grant a special coupon issue to voluntary committees for the furnishing of old age pensioners' hostels, especially in respect of utility curtain material.

No, Sir. Special arrangements are already in force by which essential equipment for such establishments is made available by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. On the particular question of utility curtain material, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which I shall be making in the course of today's Debate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the retail price of curtain materials on dockets in Wolverhampton is 4s. 6d. per yard upwards; of similar materials on coupons 9s. 6d. to 17s. per yard; of coupon-free material 13s. 6d. to over 30s.; and if he will take adequate steps to reduce margins and prices of the two latter categories.

The maximum retail prices of the utility curtain materials which are available on dockets range from 2s. 7½d. to 13s. 1d. per yard; they are closely price-controlled and free of Purchase Tax. Non-utility curtain material bears Purchase Tax at 66⅔ per cent. and varies greatly in quality and price; it is frequently made from expensive yarns and in speciality weaves which involve high production costs. As regards the last part of the Question, I shall shortly be reviewing distributors' margins for these and other goods and reductions will be made if they are justified, but I can hold out little hope of a substantial reduction in prices so long as world prices of raw materials continue to rise.

Is it not clear that price as well as coupons plays a very important part in the ability of the average housewife to purchase this type of material? Would my right hon. Friend say whether the Government's appeal for reductions in prices has had any effect on the price of curtain materials?

I shall be saying something about curtains later today.

Does not my right hon. Friend appreciate that very poor people cannot get all the material they want unless they are granted special facilities?

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is world prices which are causing curtain materials to be so costly to the housewife? How does he justify adding insult to injury by another 66⅔ per cent. Purchase Tax on the price?

Purchase Tax applies only to non-utility curtain material, which is a very small proportion of the total production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is intended to commence payments under the War Damage Act (Part II) Business Scheme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13th November last to the right hon. Gentleman the junior Member for the City of London (Mr. Assheton).

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that he has not yet fixed a date for general payment under this scheme?

Yes, Sir.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this question is causing considerable anxiety to a large number of people?

Persons who are suffering hardship can make a special application.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that if this repayment is delayed much longer, it will be quite impossible for those who have suffered losses to re-equip themselves with the articles which they have lost? Will he consider extra compensation over the statutory fixed allowance, as has been done in the case of private chattels and buildings under the War Damage Commission?

We have already made it clear that, in addition to hardship cases, payment can be made, in whole or in part, where we are satisfied that it is expedient in the public interest to do so for the repair or replacement of equipment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many Colorado beetles have been detected in the course of the last six months in the import of vegetables to the United Kingdom.

During the past six months 18 Colorado beetles have been found on or are believed to have been associated with imported vegetables. In addition, a consignment of lettuce in refrigerator trucks from Italy was found to be infested; the truck was re-sealed and returned to that country.

Is the Minister aware that this is causing very grave concern to agricultural and horticultural interests, and can he state whether any of these beetles have been imported into the West Country or Cornish ports?

Is the Minister aware that there was a Tory beetle detected in the members' gallery at the Scarborough Conference?

Did the Minister study this Question? Have any beetles been detected importing vegetables?

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) if he will protest to the Australian Government against the treatment of Mr. Joseph Addison Martin, a British subject, who has been ordered to leave Australia because his mother was Burmese;

(2) if he will give assistance to pay for the passage to this country of a British subject, of whom he has been informed, threatened with expulsion from Australia on account of Australian racial laws.

It would not be possible for His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to make representations to His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia in a case of this kind. Australian immigration policy and its administration is a matter solely for the Australian Government and the United Kingdom Government is not in a position to intervene. There are no public funds here from which a passage from Australia to this country could be paid in such circumstances.

Cannot His Majesty's Government make representations on behalf of a British subject who is being treated in this way in a Dominion in the same manner as undoubtedly they would if this were being done in a foreign country? Surely a British subject is entitled to the protection of this country?

I do not think a British subject is entitled to enter a country of his own will. Apparently this gentleman had no grounds to think that he would be allowed to settle in Australia.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, in fact, he was given permission to go from Burma to Australia, and since he arrived there he has been ordered to leave after all his money had been spent on going to Australia?

That is not the information that I have. If my hon. Friend gives me that information, I will l00k into it again, but the main position remains that the immigration policy of Australia is a matter for the Australian Government.

Will the Minister consider, in conjunction with the Home Secretary, what can be done to relieve the injustice caused by this expulsion? I am now referring to his answer to Question 62.

I cannot admit that an injustice has been done.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this is not so much a question of local immigration laws as the application of a colour bar, and cannot any steps be taken to coordinate the policy of Governments within the Commonwealth on matters of this kind?

It is certainly possible to co-ordinate the policy of Governments within the Commonwealth, but that is not the question I was asked. What I was asked was whether this Government was going to make representations.

Surely my hon. Friend asked whether, since this bar would not have been applied in this country, we were not entitled to make representations to Australia to have a similar policy there?

I was asked in the Question to protest.

As the Minister has not directed his mind to the first part of my supplementary question, may I ask whether he will consider, in conjunction with the Home Secretary, what can be done to relieve the ill effects caused to Mr. Martin by the treatment that has been accorded to him in Australia?

The Home Secretary does not come into this until Mr. Martin returns to this country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of Sir Charles Reid's resignation and his condemnation of the present operations of the National Coal Board and the nationalised coal industry, he will set up an independent commission of inquiry to report to Parliament on the work of the Board and the organisation and progress of the industry.

No, Sir.

Is it proposed to take no steps whatever as a result of the resignation of Sir Charles Reid, who is the greatest mining expert in the country, and who has condemned the Coal Board wholesale?

I do not think we should assume, because one member of the Coal Board resigns when he is unable to persuade the eight other members to accept his views, that the one member is necessarily right.

Will the findings of the internal committee set up by the National Coal Board be made public?

That must be a matter for the Coal Board themselves, for they have appointed the committee.

Does not the Minister agree that it is about time the country was told something about the Coal Board which would relieve the great anxiety felt generally about it?

The country hears quite a lot about the Coal Board.

Will the Minister agree that it is vitally necessary to have some evidence from a commission of the sort suggested before further experiments are made with the nationalisation of other industries, particularly steel?

I would not agree that the resignation of Sir Charles Reid leads to any such conclusions as have been arrived at by the hon. Gentleman.

Since Sir Charles Reid's resignation follows that of several other leading production engineers in the mining industry, is not the Minister himself disturbed, particularly by the disappointing production of coal, and is he going to pass over this without anything being done about it?

I am certainly not complacent in any way about the production of coal, but the National Coal Board can claim up to date that they have been moderately successful, considering the circumstances in which they took over the industry. I would certainly not agree that they are indifferent to the possibility and the need for reforms in their organisation. That is why they have set up this committee.

Is not the Minister disturbed by the remarks of his predecessor on this matter?

No, Sir.

As the Minister appointed Sir Charles Reid, is not the House entitled to some information from him as regards that gentleman's resignation?

The House is entitled to ask me questions on the subject, and I have answered a great many already.