asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the present position with regard to the Royal Irish Constabulary Force Fund; and whether the balance could now be distributed to the few remaining beneficiaries and the fund wound up.

This Fund still has liabilities outstanding. Surviving beneficiaries have, of course, no claim to the balance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if conducted tours to Switzerland have any priority for currency over individual applications.

No. Separate allocations of Swiss currency are made for travellers who make inclusive bookings with travel agencies and for those who make their own arrangements. In either case individual applications have to be made to the Authorisation Office for Travel to Switzerland either direct or through the intermediary of a travel agency. No part of the allocation of the 45 per cent. reserved for independent travellers is used for persons taking conducted tours.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if to supplement his policy of paying Post-war Credits at pensionable age he will now make these payments to blind people at the age of 40.

No. I regret that this is not possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the crosses have been removed from the graves of German soldiers and airmen buried at St. Brelades Bay, Jersey; and whether it is proposed to replace them.

I understand that the crosses were removed to permit the levelling and resowing of the graves—a measure necessary for maintenance—and will be replaced as soon as this can be done without damage to the new turf.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the amount of principal benefits, in English equivalents, a British worker will receive in France under the Anglo-French agreement establishing social security rights between the two countries.

Under the recent agreement on social security between the United Kingdom and France, British subjects insured under the British scheme and resident in France will qualify in France for benefits under the French scheme for sickness, invalidity, maternity, retirement, death and industrial injuries. In accordance with the provisions of the French scheme, these benefits are not at flat rates but are related to the insured person's wage at the time of his claim or to his average wage over a number of years before the claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many of those offered extension of service under A.M. Letter A.19119, of December, 1947, elected to stay on in the Service not having a basic trade in that service.

Eighty-eight.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will now consider granting the full gratuities for three years' service to that group of airmen who elected to serve under the extended service engagement in accordance with A.M.O. A.963/46, but who were discharged before termination of the above service in accordance with Air Ministry letter A.19119, of December, 1947, in view of the fact that this letter materially altered the terms of service as originally offered under the former engagement order.

No. As I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Donner) on 24th March, the grant of proportionate gratuity to those who have opted for discharge under the Air Ministry letter referred to, is in accordance with the terms of their engagement as laid down in paragraphs 10 and 11 of A.M.O. A.963/46.

asked the Minister of Health what local authorities in Gloucestershire have provided cooking stoves or baths or community centres in squatters' camps under their control.

The following local authorities have provided both cooking-stoves and baths: Tewkesbury Borough Council, Cirencester Rural District Council, Gloucester Rural District Council, Stroud Rural District Council, West Dean Rural District Council.The following local authorities have provided cooking-stoves: Cheltenham Rural District Council, Lydney Rural District Council, North Cotswold Rural District Council, Sodbury Rural District Council, Thornbury Rural District Council, Warmley Rural District Council.A community centre has been provided by Cheltenham Rural District Council.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for immediate action to be taken to control the excessive trade effluent which is being discharged into the River Gipping in the Stowmarket Urban District, Suffolk, and is causing pollution of the river and creating a danger to public health.

I have recently given approval to the first stage of measures proposed by the Stowmarket Urban District Council for the improvement of their sewage disposal arrangements. This first stage provides for the reception and treatment of trade effluents in the district and the improvement of the existing works, and should lead to some improvement of the existing conditions pending the preparation of plans for new sewage disposal works.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who was responsible for organising the course entitled, "Freedom under Planning," begun in the Technical University in Berlin on 12th April, 1948; who were the four lecturers from England conducting the course; and what were the main subjects taught.

The course was organised by the Control Commission at the request of the Adult Education Department of the Berlin Magistrat. The lectures were by Professor A. J. Allaway, M.A., Director of the Department of Adult Education, University College, Leicester, Mr. C. A. R. Crossland, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Dr. W. I. Lucas, M.A., Ph.D., Lecturer in German, University College, Southampton, and Mr. M. Hookham, B.Sc. (Econ.), Lecturer in Public Administration, University College, Leicester. The course consisted mainly of lectures and discussions on the practical economic, industrial, social and political problems that arise from the combination of a planned economy with a democratic society, illustrated by accounts of developments in this country.

asked the Postmaster-General why food parcels sent from Australia to Germany are subject to long delays in London for customs examination.

I am not aware that food parcels from Australia to Germany are delayed in London for Customs examination. If my hon. Friend will furnish details of any specific cases in mind I will investigate them and let him know the result.