asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement concerning the replies which he has received from the local education authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire to his letter concerning the recommendations of the Working Party on Educational Adminstration in Wales.

I have been informed by all the local education authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire that they agree in principle to the formation of a Joint Education Committee on the lines recommended in the report of the Working Party. The Federation of Education Committees, and the Advisory Councils for Technical Education, have also agreed. I hope to receive the reply of the Central Welsh Board very soon.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that very encouraging statement indicates the desire on the part of the Welsh people for the establishment of a national committee for education? Will he therefore waste no time in issuing an order to make this possible?

As soon as I receive the report from the Central Welsh Board, I hope to go ahead.

Does my right hon. Friend propose to reconvene the Working Party to provide them with a report on the response of the local authorities and to invite them to make their own suggestions about the best way to establish the new body?

I will look at that. I question whether it is necessary in the form sugested, but I will certainly look at it.

asked the Minister of Education the number of courses and classes conducted in Wales by extra-mural departments during the years 1939, 1946 and 1947, respectively.

The numbers of courses and classes conducted in the sessions 1938–39, 1945–46 and 1946–47 by the extra-mural departments of University Colleges in Wales were 205, 391 and 360, respectively.

asked the Minister of Education the total amount of grant contributed by local education authorities in Wales towards the cost of extra-mural departments' work during 1939, 1946 and 1947, respectively; and what total amount is proposed for 1948.

The figures are £827, £1,201 and £1,201. No information is yet available for the year 1948.

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities now make available financial assistance in case of need to all full-time students securing places in a university.

So far as I am aware, no local education authority has undertaken to give a major award in case of need to every student who secures a place in a university.

Will the Minister consider his powers and influence to recommend this policy to local education committees?

I have just set up a working party to advise me on this question.

Is my right hon. Friend taking any steps in connection with the scheme put forward by local authorities to see that the more backward authorities are brought up to the standards of the more advanced authorities? Is he taking any steps to prepare a comprehensive policy in respect of scholarships and entry to the universities generally?

I have set up a working party to advise me quickly on the objects my hon. Friend has mentioned.

asked the Minister of Education the composition and terms of reference of the Committee on University Scholarships recently established by him.

As the reply is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Are the terms of reference wide enough to make it possible for the Committee to recommend to his Department and to local education authorities a comprehensive peacetime university scholarship policy which will adequately replace the further education and training schemes?

I definitely had distinctly limited the terms of reference on this occasion in order that I might have a quick report on these matters. The other matter to which my hon. Friend referred will be taken later.

Some of us hoped that this working party would produce a scheme to replace the further education and training scheme; could the Minister assure us that that is to be considered quite soon?

Yes, that is in the terms of reference, but the question asked by my hon. Friend went much further than that.

Will the working party offer any guidance on the question of whether the amount of money available for State scholarships should be increased or not?

That is not a question for the working party.

My right hon. Friend will agree, I think, that with the disappearance of the further education and training scheme the number of students supported by his Department will drop from 30,000 to less than 7,000 in a year or so. Therefore is not the question the wider one of university policy, which is a matter of some urgency?

Yes, and it is on the administrative side of that problem that I am asking for information. It will not be in 12 months' time, but may be in three to four years' time perhaps that the change in the numbers suggested will take place.

Following is the answer:

Composition of the Working Party:

Mr. G. G. Williams, C.B., Ministry of Education ( Chairman. )

Mr. P. V. Arculus, Ministry of Education. Dr. W. P. Alexander, Association of Education Committees.

Mr. R. H. Barrow, H.M. Inspector.

Mr. G. B. Brown, C.B.E., Chief Education Officer, Cumberland.

Dr. J. F. Duff, University of Durham.

Mr. L. G. Duke, Ministry of Education.

Dr. W. W. Grave, University of Cambridge.

Mr. R. G. K. Hickman, National Union of Teachers.

Mr. A. W. S. Hutchings, Joint Four Secondary Associations.

Mr. B. L. Pearson, C.B., D.S.O., M.C., Ministry of Education.

Sir Martin Roseveare, H.M. Inspector.

Dr. E. Stephens, Chief Education Officer, Glamorgan.

Mr. F. Stephenson, Chief Education Officer, Nottingham.

Mr. J. N. Archer, Ministry of Education ( Secretary ).

Terms of reference:

On the basis of the present system of State Scholarships and Major Awards to advise on any administrative or other changes that may be desirable, particularly having regard to:

( a ) the increased numbers at Universities;

( b ) the termination of the Further Education and Training Scheme;

( c ) the probable abolition of four year grants for intending teachers.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to prevent disloyalty to the Crown by Communist propaganda being surreptitiously fostered in the national schools.

My Department has always set its face against the dissemination in the schools under its jurisdiction of doctrines distinctive of any political party. Any case where there was evidence of a contravention of this policy would be investigated at once.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say if he has taken any action to ensure that any literature dealing with Russia, for instance, is written objectively?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these attempts to introduce political discrimination into the teaching profession are greatly resented by the teaching profession, and that there is no evidence whatever to encourage the hon. and gallant Gentleman in his irresponsible Question?

Quite apart from politics, would my right hon. Friend keep alive the tradition that proscription of textbooks by the central authority is against the whole spirit of education?

That would have been the tenor of my reply to the first supplementary question that was asked. We expect all these textbooks to be written objectively, and we have no occasion to think that the position is otherwise.

Is not the Minister aware that if a true teaching of history is given, particularly in relation to the activities of the Tory Party, it will be good Communist propaganda?

asked the Minister of Education (1) the total number of employees of education committees in England and Wales in 1947 and 1938;

(2) the number of employees of the county council education committees in England and Wales for the years 1947 and 1938.

I regret that I have no information on the points raised.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has considered a resolution sent to him from a committee of some 600 parents in South-West Middlesex protesting against the introduction of comprehensive schools in that area; and what action he proposes to take.

I have considered the resolution, and I have informed the Middlesex authority that I welcome their proposal to set up a small number of comprehensive schools as an experiment. I have suggested that the experiment should be limited this year to two such schools. To secure the most favourable conditions for the conduct of this experiment, it is important to select the two schools so that their staffs and the parents of the pupils concerned should be in sympathy with the aims and methods of the experiment.

While I am in perfect agreement with experiments, might I ask my right hon. Friend whether he realises that not only 700 parents, but the Urban District Council of Staines, and others, including the local divisional executive, have all opposed this? It involves the only grammar school in the district. Can the right hon. Gentleman give me an assurance that if he is allowing two of these experiments to take place this will not be one of them? It is an absolute farce, and the scheme will not provide a comprehensive school because it consists of three schools three miles away from each other.

I cannot give an assurance that any particular scheme will be barred. It is for the local education authority to put up the schemes and for me to advise them whether on educational grounds it is desirable that they should go on.

In view of the fact that the parents in thins area and the local divisional executive are strongly against this proposal, has not my right hon. Friend certain powers to protect the parents under the 1944 Act?

Yes. But I have also the duty to consult the local education authority. I have called their attention to the conditions and circumstances which in my judgment should be taken into consideration in starting an experiment of this kind. To that extent I am seeking to influence them in the direction which I think necessary.

Is it not as important to allow local education authorities to experiment in methods of education as in textbooks?

asked the Minister of Education what representations he has received from the Headmasters' Conference with regard to his decision to impose a minimum age limit of 16 for candidates sitting for the new examination for the General Certificate of Education; and what answer he has returned to these representations.

I had a letter from the Chairman of the Headmasters' Conference which, among other things, deprecated the imposition of a minimum age limit. This was followed on 15th March by a meeting between representatives of the Conference and myself at which there was a full and frank exchange of views.

Can the Minister say whether the Headmasters' Conference changed their minds or did they continue to press upon him the inadvisability of these proposals?

When a conference takes place one is left in some doubt at the end of it as to whether one has converted the others, or has been converted by them. The fact remains that the circular was issued after the conference.

Will the independent schools, which form a large part of the schools represented by the Headmasters' Conference, be bound by the age limit of 16 for their pupils who wish to take the examination?

They will be bound to the extent that if they want their pupils to take this particular examination their candidates cannot take it until they are 16 years of age.

Must it not have a deadening effect on a clever boy who is ready to take the examination at 15 if he is compelled to mark time because he cannot take the examination for another year?

It certainly will not. One has to keep in mind the purpose of the examination, which is to determine the capacity of the pupil at the age at which he is going to the university. Surely the time most closely approaching the age when he is to enter the university is the best time for him to take the examination.

Why was the date of 1st September after the boy reaches the age of 16 chosen?

I cannot say without notice, but there is a very good reason.

How does the Minister reconcile his answer today with the statement of the Parliamentary Secretary last Thursday that this proposal had the unanimous approval of the representative people?

The Secondary Schools Examination Council, which includes the representatives of the Headmasters' Conference, unanimously suggested this arrangement.

In view of the Minister's former answer is he suggesting that this examination will be a qualification for entrance to a university, or will the universities be perfectly free to set their own examination?

What I am hoping, in accordance with the circular sent out, is that the universities will, in the light of this decision, make known their requirements to the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if his attention has been drawn to an announcement by Mr. J. A. Costello, the Prime Minister of Eire, of forthcoming talks of great importance with His Majesty's Government; when and where these talks will take place; and what will be their scope and purpose.

I am grateful to my hon. and learned Friend for this opportunity of telling the House that there will be a meeting of Ministers from Eire with Ministers of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on 17th and 18th of this month. The meeting will be held in London, and the representatives of Eire will be the Prime Minister, Mr. Costello; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Welfare, Mr. Norton; the Minister for External Affairs, Mr. MacBride; the Minister for Finance, Mr. McGilligan; the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Dillon; and the Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr. Morrissey. The subject of the discussion will be the trade relations between Eire and this country.

While I thank the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether the talks will be directed to effecting long-term as well as short-term agreements, and will they be concerned with the supply of coal to Eire as well as of food to this country?

I think that anything concerned with trade between our two countries will be discussed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman invite Sir Basil Brooke, Prime Minister of Ulster, to participate in these discussions?

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind in connection with these negotiations, especially as they will affect agricultural produce, that it is most important to stop discrimination in favour of the farmers in the North of Ireland and put the farmers in the South on the same footing?

That is another question.

Will the deputation be received as being representative of a Dominion or of a foreign country?

It will be representative of Eire.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what are the number of applications still standing on the books for emigration to Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, respectively; and what are the limiting factors which make it impossible to comply with the wishes of families desiring to settle in these Dominions.

So far as I have been able to obtain the information which my hon. Friend desires, it is as follows:

Canada. No central passenger register exists, but I am assured that migrants can now obtain passages without undue delay.

Australia. I am told that the names of 200,000 potential settlers are recorded at Australia House. About 35,000 other prospective passengers are registered with shipping companies in Australia and here.

New Zealand. Fourteen thousand prospective migrants are registered with the High Commissioner in London; 28,000 passengers are registered with shipping companies.

South Africa. Ninety thousand names are registered with shipping companies. This includes returning South Africans, commercial visitors, tourists and others, as well as prospective migrants.

The shortage of shipping and the difficulties of housing accommodation are the main factors which limit the immediate movement of families who desire to settle overseas.

In view of the very large unsatisfied number of people wishing to enter these schemes of migration, can my right hon. Friend say whether the Government are doing anything in regard to transport; and further, whether the Dominions have stated that they cannot house these people?

It is well known that the housing difficulty is one which arises in many of these countries. With regard to shipping, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is doing everything in his power to find ships in which to move these people. As my hon. Friend knows, there is a shortage of shipping and there are other commitments with which he must cope.

Is it not a striking commentary on three years of Socialist misrule that all these people and all those who have gone before, should find it desirable to leave this country because they can find no prospects for themselves or their families in the Motherland?

I am sure that the hon. Member, like many other hon. Members of this House, can well remember the days when hundreds of thousands of people were driven abroad by unemployment, poverty and other hardships. The number wanting to leave this country after this war is much less than those who desired to leave it after the last.

Is it not a fact that if 200,000 of these people went to Australia they would be going to a country with a Socialist Government?

May I ask what proportion of these numbers are old persons and what is being done to safeguard and assimilate their rights under pension schemes?

I think the last part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance. Australia is registering members of families, that is to say, old people as well as others, but, without notice, I cannot give the exact proportion.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many African medical officers are serving in Basutoland; and whether he is satisfied that qualified Africans in Government service in Basutoland receive the same rates of pay, with the exception of expatriation allowances, as Europeans in the same grade.

There is at present no African Government Medical Officer in Basutoland, though provision for such an appointment has been made in the Estimates. European officials in Basutoland do not receive allowances for expatriation. The relation between the salaries of locally domiciled African officers and of Europeans who are recruited from outside the Territory is now under consideration.

In giving this consideration will my right hon. Friend see whether he can induce the present Basuto-born graduates who work outside the territory to enter its service by following the practice of some Colonies of combining expatriation allowances with equal rates for the job?

Yes, Sir. As soon as there are qualified people who can do the jobs we are anxious to work them into the administration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations are in progress with the New Zealand Government and with representatives of trade interests, with the object of obtaining modifications in the import schedules for 1948–49.

No such negotiations are in progress with the New Zealand Government. My Department is always ready to listen to representations from trade interests in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why we do not purchase leather of good quality from France in quantities available to us, since such purchases would not involve us in an expenditure of dollars.

Imports of leather are generally intended to make good any deficiency in the quantities available from home production; we are prepared to consider on their merits applications to import from France, especially when the leather will be used for goods for export.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure a continuance of supplies of short-stapled raw cotton from the Central Provinces, in view of the serious position arising from the embargo on the export of this type of cotton.

I am aware of the embargo referred to by the hon. Member, and am taking the matter up with the Government of India.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a very serious matter for mills which use considerable quantities of Oomra cotton? I hope he will be able to take some action. Can the right hon. Gentleman also say why this did not arise before the closing of the Liverpool Cotton Exchange?

I am well aware of the importance of this, because it is required substantially for the manufacture of meat wrappers and surgical dressings, but it is to deal with major questions of this kind rising at Governmental level that something like the Raw Cotton Commission, rather than the independent activities of independent merchants, is required.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that this would have been handled much better by firms which knew each other than by waiting until political difficulties arising out of Government negotiations come into play?

The hon. Gentleman is living in a prewar world.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to clear the large number of cases of cotton yarn destined for export which has accumulated at many mills; and which is tending to hinder production.

I am not aware of any substantial hold-up in the mills of cotton yarn destined for export. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the cases he has in mind I shall be glad to make inquiries into them.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that several months have elapsed in many cases before these goods have been despatched for export and many complaints have been made? Is he aware that this was a determining factor in the vote against overtime?

I am not prepared to allow cotton yarn to be exported on such a scale as to interfere with the needs of the manufactoring side of the industry. If there is at any time a surplus awaiting export they have only to apply for export licences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give at the latest available date the position of deliveries and receipts in the recent trade agreement with the U.S.S.R.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday on this subject.

May I tell you, Mr. Speaker, that a most amazing thing happened. I got the answer to this Question the day before it was asked. May I ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that these trade agreements with Russia are based on economic and not on political grounds, and is he satisfied that Great Britain is getting a fair deal?

I apologise to the hon. Gentleman that he should get the answer before the Question was asked, but we are always one or two steps ahead of the hon. Gentleman. In relation to the second part of the supplementary question, I would inform him, as he already knows, that this negotiation was based entirely on economic considerations—without any political consideration whatsoever.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now release to the general public, without units, utility furniture manufactured prior to 1947, or other convenient date.

I am afraid my hon. Friend's suggestion is not practicable, as there is no way of identifying the date of manufacture of an article of utility furniture. As I said in the Debate on the Board of Trade Vote on 25th May, I am watching the utility furniture situation closely, and I hope to be able to make a statement on it next week.

Is it not a fact that earlier utility furniture, manufactured in 1944 and 1945, is clearly distinguishable from the later models made now?

No, Sir. It would not be considered practicable to make the distinction suggested and I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement I shall be making next week.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that his Department has given permission for the use of Tate sugar boxes to be manufactured into bedroom suites which are being sold at the present time at 100 per suite?

I would like notice of that question.

It is in the "Manchester Guardian" today.

I saw that, and I would like notice of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to sign the order fixing prices in the new range of utility furniture about to be released.

I signed the Order on 24th May. It will be published tomorrow, and will come into operation on 18th June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of Development Councils established to date and the industries for which they function.

The Development Council for the cotton industry, known as the Cotton Board, 1948, was set up in April. No other Development Councils have yet been set up.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will take every step to set up development councils in the widest range possible?

Yes, Sir. I am now taking and have been taking, these steps. A White Paper outlining my proposals for a Development Council Order for the hosiery and knitwear industry is published today. A considerable number of proposals concerning other industries are at present with both sides of the industries concerned.

Can the Minister give the name of the council for the hosiery industry to which he has just referred?

Of course not. This is a draft Order setting up the scheme in outline for the council. Until that has been put through, after discussion with both sides of the industry, we cannot settle the names of the members of the council

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Danish importers of china clay are unable to obtain import licences for contracts already made which is causing hurt to our china clay industry; and what action does he propose to take.

I understand that the Danish import programme provides for certain quantities of china clay and fireproof clay from the United Kingdom, but the allocation of licences among importers is a matter for the Danish authorities.

Has the Minister received the letter which I sent him, and will he look into that particular case?

I have received the letter. Our trade agreement with Denmark does not establish quotas far particular goods. I was not aware that hon. Gentlemen opposite wanted that degree of bilateral trade planning; but certainly there is provision for traditional imports from this country. In any case, the hon. Gentleman knows that if the Danes do not take this china clay we are only too anxious to have it sent to hard currency areas.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that exporters of china clay in Cornwall are having great difficulty in exporting their goods to France where there is a demand for them in spite of the great shortage of currency? Would he look into the matter because china clay is priority No. 1 on the export list, and there is a demand in spite of the shortage of sterling in France?

I am aware of this difficulty. I would remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman that when we gave various forms of help to that industry last year to build up exports, it was on the assurance of increased exports to dollar areas, of which France is not one.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the announcement made by Mr. Paul Hoffman, the E.C.A. administrator, on 20th April that under the Marshall Aid Plan it was proposed to allot $22,000,000 to Great Britain for newsprint; whether this allocation is to be in the form of loan or of grant and if His Majesty's Government have accepted this offer.

The American Administrator has given for the information of the American people certain tentative and illustrative figures of commodities which might be obtained under Marshall Aid, but they do not in any sense represent an allotment and the matter is still under discussion in the United States. As I stated in the Debate on the Board of Trade Vote on 25th May, the prospective dollar aid under the European Recovery Programme is likely to be considerably less than the drain on our gold and dollar reserves, and the whole question of payments for all Canadian supplies has still to be settled in relation to the development of the European Recovery Programme. I am, of course, anxious to see that so far as our financial resources allow, we buy all the newsprint that we can.

Does it not arise from the statement before the Appropriations Committee that either newsprint or dollars may be given in the form of a grant, and would I be right in assuming that in that case His Majesty's Government would have no hesitation in accepting?

The statement to which the hon. Gentleman has referred has been a matter of some controversy. For one thing, the figures given of the finance available and the quantities available did not tie up with one another. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that, in fact, we have asked for newsprint to be included in the European Recovery Programme allowances for this year.

Will the President of the Board of Trade answer the Question? Is this allocation to be in the form of a grant or a loan, because if it is in the form of a grant, what right have we to refuse it?

I have made it clear that this is not an allocation or an allotment. It was made by the American Administrator as—I am quoting his words—"a tentative and illustrative programmed." There has been no question yet whether, if it was to be allotted or allocated, it would be a grant or a loan.

In view of the willingness shown by Mr. Hoffman to provide that amount of newsprint, would the President of the Board of Trade consider asking whether this is a special grant outside the terms of the loan, because he might have very great success if he did so?

I have already made it plain that we have asked for this within the general arrangement, and I am not aware of any power in the hands of the administrator to make available supplies outside the terms of the loan.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make certain that wherever possible newsprint will be manufactured in this country rather than imported?

As I said in my statement on 25th May, we are doing everything possible to get the raw materials and supplies necessary for production in this country.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why no reply was received from the Regional Petroleum Officer, Bromyard Avenue, to a letter written by Mr. E. Walton, of 22, Kedleston Drive, Petts Wood, Kent, on 19th January until 19th April, 1948; and whether he will reconsider Mr. Walton's application for a petrol allowance, particulars of which have been sent to him.

Mr. Walton's letter of 19th January was an appeal against the original assessment of his application; the appeal was granted and a further allowance issued to him on 5th February. The letter of 19th April was in reply to Mr. Walton's letter of 18th March. I cannot agree to increase the allowance any further.

Is not this delay typical of the inevitable breakdown of Socialism, because under Socialism administration fails?

If the hon. Member reads my answer, he will see that there was no great delay.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the granting of standard petrol allowances, he will instruct regional petroleum officers to discontinue the issue of essential petrol permits for purposes of blood sports.

On the recommendation of the responsible agricultural executive committee regional petroleum officers grant allowance of petrol to masters of hounds for purposes connected with the hunt. I cannot agree that the introduction of the standard ration justifies the complete abolition of these allowances, which will of course be reduced by the amount of the standard ration.

Assuming that my right hon. Friend does not surrender control over his own officials to the Ministry of Agriculture, and that it is still his responsibility to conserve supplies of petrol in this country, can he give a single good reason why people who want to indulge in these orgies should be encouraged to do so by his Department at the cost of foreign currency which could be used for buying food for children?

It is customary when agricultural matters are in question for the Minister of Agriculture to be consulted, and I propose to continue that practice. I cannot agree that the granting of petrol allowances to masters of hounds can be adequately described by the words used by my hon. Friend.

The Minister made specific reference to hounds. Will he say whether his reply also covers the shooting of game?

That is an entirely different question.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will now make it possible for customers to transfer their registration for coal to a different merchant if they so desire within a given period of time.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 11th March to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Shephard), except that I am consulting the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council on this matter.

Does not the Minister think that a step such as is indicated in this Question would encourage coal merchants to pay more attention to the standard of the supplies they receive?

I am most anxious to make a change of this kind as soon as possible, but there are great practical difficulties which we are endeavouring to overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the considerable number of cases where people are killed or seriously injured through the accidental firing of shotguns; and if he is giving consideration to the possibility of introducing regulations or alternatively some widespread form of instruction with a view to lessening the waste of life from this cause.

I have no information to suggest that the number of such accidents is increasing, but I share the hon. Member's anxiety that the dangers shall not be overlooked. I do not think that the risks could be reduced by any code of regulations, but those concerned should make it their invariable practice to handle loaded shotguns with care and to remove ammunition from them when they are not in use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now extend the scheme announced on 13th November last for admission of distressed European persons to the United Kingdom.

The scheme which I announced on 13th November, 1945, set out certain categories of persons who had special claims to join relatives in this country. Experience shows that the persons outside this scheme who have the strongest claims to sympathy do not fall into definable groups, and no addition of fresh categories would be satisfactory. The policy which I have been developing has been to grant applications in respect of relatives outside the existing categories where there are special circumstances and considerations which differentiate their position from that of the thousands of people who would find life less difficult if they were admitted to the United Kingdom. In particular sympathetic consideration is given to isolated individuals in distressed circumstances whose only relatives are in this country.

As cases which I have sent to the Home Office have invariably been met with the reply that they fall outside the scheme announced by the Home Secretary in 1945, will he give consideration to cases where there is an adequate guarantee given by relatives in this country?

It all depends on whether they are the only relatives of the person. If I were to adopt the formula suggested by my hon. Friend, I would have to admit a far larger number of people than could be justified.

Would my right hon. Friend say how long it has been his practice to grant permission in exceptional cases falling outside the category which he has mentioned, because I have had many cases which I have sent to him, as he will no doubt remember, in which everybody agreed, including the Home Office, that the circumstances were exceptional, but in which permission was refused only on the ground that the cases did not fall into this category?

I could not say how long it is, but, for some time, I have been endeavouring to improve the circumstances of these people who have no other relatives than persons resident in this country.

May I submit to my right hon. Friend the cases which I have had in hand recently?

I am quite sure that nothing that I could do would deter my hon. Friend from doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees from Czechoslovakia are now in the British zone of Germany and under the protection of British Consulates in other Territories; how many from the British zone and elsewhere have applied in the last three months for permission to come to this country; and how many such applications have so far been granted.

I am informed that the number of refugees from Czechoslovakia in the British zone of Germany is estimated to be between 200 and 300. Numerous applications for visas to come to this country are being received by Passport Control Officers in the various territories to which refugees have made their way, and these applications are being dealt with in accordance with the policy stated in my answer of the 3rd May to a Question by the right hon. Member for South Kensington (Mr. Law). The number of visas actually granted to such refugees in the last three months is 115.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that these people are given every opportunity to find out just what they have to do in order to get permission to come here?

I think so, and I think the high proportion of visas which have actually been granted indicates that considerable use is being made of this provision.

Has my right hon. Friend any information whether any of these people are now returning to Czechoslovakia, and, if he has, can he say how many there are?

I should require notice of that question, but I have no personal knowledge of any such movements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police have been detailed for duty at the Whitestone Pond, Hampstead Heath, on each of the last eight Sunday evenings in connection with the holding of Fascist meetings.

I am informed that the numbers of police detailed for duty at the meetings in question were as follow: At each meeting on nth and 18th April, 59; at each meeting on 25th April and 2nd May, 48 and at each meeting on 9th, 16th and 30th May, 37. There was no meeting on 23rd May.

In view of the time wasted in this kind of work, would not my right hon. Friend agree that the police would be better employed, and would prefer to be employed, in tracking down the murderers of children rather than in providing an audience for Fascist meetings?

I have no doubt, indeed, I know from conversations which I have had with police officers, that they would prefer any other duty to this. On the other hand, it is my duty to see that breaches of the peace are not committed, and I think the figures show that every effort is Made to reduce the number of police officers on such duties to the proper minimum.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the time has come when the evidence shows that the organisers of such meetings hold them for the deliberate purpose of committing breaches of the peace, and that the time has come when he should prohibit such meetings?

No, Sir. I have no evidence on the statement made in the first part of the supplementary question, and I do not intend to ask permission to prohibit meetings in this country.

Could the right hon. Gentleman discourage his hon. Friends from giving wholly unnecessary advance advertisements to these "orgies"?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women detained in H.M. Prisons gave birth to babies during the past 12 months; and how many of such births took place in the prison premises.

During the twelve months ended 30th April last, 100 women were due to be confined during a sentence of imprisonment or Borstal detention. Of these, 22 were granted early release before the date of the confinement, three were for medical reasons temporarily released to an outside hospital, and 75 gave birth to babies in prison, one of the babies being stillborn.

While I thank my right hon. Friend for the concession which he has made in some of these cases, may I ask him whether, in view of the stigma which might attach to other children, and of the distress caused both to the mothers and the relatives, he will look into the matter further to see if some other concession by his Department can be made?

I have the matter under very active consideration. There are certain circumstances in which the mother asks to remain in prison during her period of confinement. With regard to the stigma, it does not appear on the birth certificate that the child has been born in prison, but, as there might in certain very remote circumstances be a chance that the place of birth might be traced, I am now in communication with the Registrar-General to see if I can devise something which would inflict no possible disability on any party.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the fact that, wherever the child is told it was born, if the mother tells the truth in later years, she will have to say that the child was born in prison, and, therefore, the stigma will still be there, whatever steps the Home Secretary tries to take?

I must have regard to practicability on this question, and I believe that the grievance has been reduced to very small proportions. I am now actively considering with all the authorities concerned how it can be further reduced.

In view of the fact that the address but not the name of the prison appears on the birth certificate, will my right hon. Friend consider either omitting the address altogether or allowing the permanent address to appear?

Those are precisely the kind of details about which I am consulting the Registrar-General, but, if there was a birth certificate which showed no place of birth, that would very quickly disclose the fact that is was one of these children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that unlicensed greyhound race meetings are taking place in fields, permissible under the 1934 Betting and Lotteries Act whereby a licence from a local authority is not necessary, and after eight greyhound race meetings in any one place the promoters move on elsewhere in order not to contravene the provisions of the Act; and if, in view of the fact that children are present at these meetings and there are other undesirable features associated with them, he will take immediate steps to put an end to this abuse.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that since restrictions were imposed last year on mid-week greyhound racing persons in some areas have sought to take advantage of the exemption specially inserted by Parliament in Section 2 (1) (b) of the Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934, for occasional race meetings. Any curtailment of this exemption would require amending legislation, and, having regard to the heavy legislative programme, the Government could not undertake to consider the question of legislation this Session.

Is the Minister aware that the situation has been aggravated since there was a ban on mid-week dog racing? In view of the fact that, on these unlicensed courses which are springing up all over the country, no betting tax has to be paid, and, as a result of new legislation, this abuse is getting far worse now, and since my right hon. Friend advised me last year that he was going to look into the matter, may I now ask him if he will do something about it?

Mid-week racing will be resumed on 1st July this year, and I believe that that will eliminate a good many of these tracks. I only limited my answer to the possibilities of legislation this Session.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons male and female covered by the Control of Engagement Order have been granted permission by the Bolton Employment Exchange to work at Littlewood's Store in Deansgate, Bolton; and if any of these persons now employed by Messrs. Littlewood would be debarred for any reason from work in the cotton mills.

One man, who is medically unfit for industrial work, and six women. Of the six women, four are medically unfit for employment in a cotton mill, one is unsuitable, and one, a married woman, refused it.

asked the Minister of Labour what assistance he is giving to the carrying out of the recommendations of the Wool Textile Joint Factory Advisory Committee.

The committee's recommendations have been referred to representatives in the industry for comments, which are expected shortly. When they have been received, I will certainly consider whether there is any assistance I can properly give.

asked the Minister of Labour what are present prospects of achieving the labour target of 200,000 for the wool textile industry by the end of 1948; to what extent European Voluntary Workers have and will contribute; and from what sources the other recruits will come.

It is too early yet to give any firm estimate of how near we shall get to achieving the increase proposed by the end of the year. Special steps to stimulate recruitment are now being taken as an improvement in the present rate is essential. Over 5,000 European Volunteer Workers are now employed and others should become available from among workers arriving here.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many additional workers have been produced so far this year towards the target?

I think the number for the first three months of this year was 2,200.

Could the Minister give us an up-to-date figure to show how far we have to go before we reach the 200,000?

Not without notice, but, if the hon. Gentleman will put that Question down, I will try to give him an answer.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest figure of unemployed registered agricultural workers in Suffolk.

Figures are not available for any date later than 15th March, when the number of unemployed men registered at employment exchanges in Suffolk for employment as agricultural workers was 90.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if he induced his right hon Friend the Minister of Health, to find more houses for agricultural workers in Suffolk, there would be no unemployment of agricultural workers at all?

The Question asked was what were the latest figures. It has nothing to do with houses.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the recommendation of the E.C.A. Administrator, Mr. Hoffman, made on 14th May, for labour groups in the E.R.P. nations to be moved about interchangeably among those nations; and what proposals are being considered for the transfer of British labour to other countries or for the importation of labour groups to this country; and on what conditions.

I have no information regarding any recommendation on this subject by the Administrator appointed by the American Government. Any such recommendation would be a matter for consideration by the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

Would the right hon. Gentleman like me to send him, since he is not informed, a copy of the official report of the United States Government on the matter?

I have seen a newspaper report.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the official report?

Any recommendation would be made by the Administrator of the Economic Co-operation Administration in the first place. The matter would then be discussed and undoubtedly our views would become known.

As this seems to be an official report, would my right hon. Friend see that the Commonwealth has some say in this matter, because any part of the labour force which could be spared should surely go to the Commonwealth rather than to the European countries where the standard of wages, etc., will probably be lower?

There is no intention—indeed we cannot afford to lose any of our home labour force at all. I hope that is quite clear. If this matter were considered, no doubt the Commonwealth would be taken into the consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to see that goods purchased in the sterling area by countries outside that area, in particular Holland, are not being re-sold to Belgium, with consequent increase in the adverse trade balance.

Machinery exists under the Exchange Control Act to ensure that sterling area exporters selling goods to Belgium receive payment in Belgian francs or in sterling from a Belgian account, even though the goods may have been transhipped via a third country. This machinery cannot, of course, cover goods reaching Belgium from third countries whose merchants have bought for shipment to their own country against payment in the appropriate manner.

What steps is the Minister proposing to take in cases where other countries buy commodities and goods in the sterling area, purported to be for their own use, and then resell them, thereby depriving us of the hard currency?

There are a number of steps. The hon. Member has been good enough to give us particulars of some of those transactions in the past and if he gives us any more we will certainly look into them.