asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for grants have been received under the Hill Farming Act, 1946; what is the extent of the area involved; and what is the total estimated cost.

Proposals have been submitted for 667 hill farming land improvement schemes in Scotland. Of these 84 have been withdrawn or rejected as ineligible. The remaining 583 proposed schemes cover an area of 1,685,000 acres and the total estimated cost of the works is £1,785,000.

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that there is considerable criticism in Scotland regarding the delay in the approval of these schemes, and will he look into this question of reviewing the machinery in order to get quicker results and so encourage the people who are putting forward these schemes?

I will look at that point, but I should tell the hon. Gentleman that a considerable amount of work under these schemes is now in progress—indeed work worth in all, perhaps, £300,000.

Can the Minister tell us the actual acreage which is likely to be improved from an agricultural point of view through drainage, liming, etc?

I should think the acreage I have just stated, which is 1,685,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the acreage now being farmed by the area executive committees in Scotland; and what were the comparative figures in respect of the years 1947, 1946 and 1945.

Agricultural executive committees in the years 1945, 1946, and 1947 farmed acreages of 7,333, 7,295, and 4,550 respectively. Since 1st December, 1947, the responsibility has been taken over by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the acreage at the present date has been reduced to 1,308.

Will the Under-Secretary of State undertake to publish the accounts regarding the operations of these committees up to the latest available date?

I shall have to think that over.

Will the hon. Gentleman say what acreage is hill farming land?

No, I cannot give that figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of using the sewage of Scotland for fertilising the soil, taking into consideration the cost of artificial fertilising material, and the shortage of natural manure.

I regret that no figures of cost of the kind desired by the hon. and gallant Gentleman are available.

Why not? Surely the hon. Gentleman must be aware that after the initial capital cost this process would do more to stimulate the productivity of our soil than any other method, without any drain on our dollar reserves and without any outside assistance?

The possibilities of land improvement by the utilisation of sewage sludge are not at all certain. The Agricultural Research Council which has been undertaking a review of sewage sludge compost has been doing a good deal of work on this question, but it is impossible to give the information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why in appointing a committee to review the whole field of local government in Scotland, he has only appointed two political representatives on a committee consisting of 14 members; and why no one, other than a prominent local government official, has been appointed from any part of the West of Scotland or North-East Scotland.

The task of the committee is the technical one of consolidating local government law. Apart from the chairman and departmental members, the committee consists of two members of this House and one from another place, and six representatives, including three from the West of Scotland, nominated by the associations of local authorities. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the committee is adequate and fully qualified to carry out the task which has been allotted to it.

As this Committee has been appointed with a view to facilitating consolidation and securing simplicity, uniformity and conciseness in regard to to the laws of Scotland, is my hon. Friend satisfied that the legal profession is the best profession to simplify enactments associated with the local government of Scotland? If so, why were two lay Members from the City of Edinburgh appointed to the committee and the rest of Scotland ignored?

I should have thought that my right hon. Friend would be obliged to appoint a committee of persons who would be likely to undertake the task allotted to them to the satisfaction of everyone concerned. It may be true that he has appointed to the committee two Members of this House who come from the East of Scotland, but I do not think they should suffer any disability on that account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of new houses provided in rural areas in Scotland, from public funds and by private persons respectively, for the accommodation of those in the agricultural industry in the years 1946–47 and in 1948 to the nearest date.

As the answer involves figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this question of the provision of rural houses plays a very considerable part, according to the Health Department reports, in the fight against tuberculosis?

I agree. It would also play a considerable part in the fight against tuberculosis in the urban areas—perhaps a more important part than in the rural areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children have become liable for additional education through the raising of the school-leaving age; and what steps have been taken to provide the additional teachers in schools to meet the demands.

The number liable for additional education is 73,300. With allowance for those who would have remained at school voluntarily, the total increase to be provided for will be about 60,000. The additional teachers required, to the number of fully 4,000, have been recruited under the Emergency Scheme.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what prospect there is in the near future that these children will receive the education that was envisaged in the 1944 Act?

I think the prospects are fairly good.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is intended to continue the programme of nontraditional house building in Scotland.

It is intended that nontraditional houses should still be available. The arrangement under which the Department of Health for Scotland approved programmes of non-traditional house building in Scotland ceased at 31st December, 1947, when the additional subsidy for this type of house became no longer available. In future, local authorities will, however, be free to select non-traditional houses where the price is comparable with traditional building.

Is my hon. Friend aware that unless he gives some definite indication of the policy to be pursued, in terms of numbers of houses to be built of a specific kind, there will be quite a large amount of unemployment in the firms at present engaged in this work?

I could hardly accept that. The Act of 1946 provided that until the end of 1947 an additional subsidy should be given in respect of non-traditional type houses, because it was generally appreciated then that the cost of building up the work on and production of those houses would be considerable. But now, if the claims made for the non-traditional type house are to be justified, surely they can only be justified in their being able to compete on an equal basis with the traditional type house. I should have thought that local authorities should be free to select traditional or non-traditional type houses, having regard to the cost.

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that it would be better if the Government returned to their traditional policy now?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the progress of the Army Cadet organisation; what assistance is being provided for officers' uniforms and equipment; whether working relations are being established with local Territorial commands; and if encouragement is being extended to Army Cadet recruitment in public and secondary schools.

I will, with permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman giving all the encouragement possible in our secondary schools to persuade boys to join the Cadet organisation?

Yes, certainly. I think the hon. Gentleman will find from the very long answer which I propose to circulate that we are extending all possible encouragement.

In circulating this answer, will the right hon. Gentleman divide it in order to show the position in Scotland, in view of the most honourable part that Scotland has played in this movement?

This is not the sort of statement that we break down nationally.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the best encouragement to these boys is if the subsequent experience of others who have joined the Armed Forces on call-up convinces them that their Army Cadet service is of real use and advantage to them when they are called up?

I am not unaware of that.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the discouraging attendance at weekend camps resulting from the effect of War Office letter 30/Misc/3399 of 23rd August, 1947; and whether he will arrange that men will not be expected to pay for their rations out of their training expenses allowance when periods of training exceed 24 hours.

The arrangements for attendance at weekend camps are at present under examination.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the training expenses allowance which a man receives at a camp of less than 48 hours is less than Army rates of pay, and that when he is receiving this allowance he is expected to provide his own rations? Will he also remember that normally it is impossible for a man to bring rations from home for a period of 36 hours and that, in consequence, men do not go to camp?

I am aware of the alleged defects in the present system, and that is precisely why it is under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for War why copies of the document, giving particulars of conditions of release by purchase, have not been made available to units in M.E.L.F.

The War Office memorandum on discharge by purchase was sent to M.E.L.F. at the same time as to other Commands. Owing, however, to the wide area covered by this Command there would necessarily be some delay before the instructions reached all units.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that by now the instructions should have reached all units, and, if I send him the name of a unit which has not yet received the instructions, will he take steps to see that they get there?

I should be glad to have the information. My information is that by now the instructions should have reached all units.

asked the Secretary of State for War why he has refused to make available to hon. Members copies of the leaflet setting out conditions of release from the Army by purchase.

Pending the issue of complete instructions, copies of the War Office memorandum giving administrative details about discharge by purchase were placed in the Library of this House. When complete instructions, which are now in preparation, are promulgated, copies will be placed in the Library.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the document, a copy of which is now in the Library, cannot also be made available to hon. Members who desire it for the purpose of advising their constituents?

By all means. A number of hon. Members have already asked for, and been provided with, copies. If the hon. Member wishes to have a copy, I will let him have one.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last week his office twice refused to let me have copies of this document and, in view of what he has said, will he be good enough to reverse this instruction?

Now that the hon. Member has asked me for a copy, I will see that he gets one.

asked the Secretary of State for War when regulations will be issued to enable men on supplementary service engagements to obtain discharge by purchase.

I hope that an announcement will be made on this matter shortly.

Can my right hon. Friend say why it is necessary, even in the first instance, to differentiate between men on Regular service engagements and men on supplementary service engagement, many of whom have long periods of service on Regular engagements?

The reason for the differentiation is that there happens to be a difference.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances other ranks are permitted, or required, to wear civilian clothes while driving motor cars on duty; from what source such clothes have been supplied; and at whose expense.

In special circumstances, when it is considered desirable, non-commissioned officers and other ranks can be required to wear civilian clothes at duty. In these cases the clothes are provided at public expense either from ordnance stocks or if necessary by purchase.

Who provides the coupons for this extravagance? Will the right hon. Gentleman say what are the special circumstances to which he refers, and who are driven about by these soldiers?

If the hon. Member wants an example, one is the special investigation branch of the Corps of Royal Military Police.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether that is the only instance? Is not he himself driven about in this way?

If the hon. Member is getting at me, that is a different matter. If he asks whether the driver who drives the car which I use is in mufti, the answer is "Yes," because unless I am engaged on strictly military duties—visiting a Command or a military depot, or some official ceremony—I prefer that he should be dressed in mufti.

Is not the King's uniform good enough for the driver of the car of the Secretary of State for War?

I have as high a regard for the King's uniform as the hon. Member.

The right hon. Gentleman has never worn it.

asked the Minister of National Insurance on what date he will lay the National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations, 1948, before this House.

These regulations were made in provisional form on 10th June and were laid before the House on 15th June. The provisional regulations are identical in terms with a draft of permanent regulations which is now being examined by the National Insurance Advisory Committee in accordance with the provisions of the National Insurance Act.

Is it not a fact that only the permanent regulations, and not the provisional ones, can properly be laid, and can the hon. Gentleman say when he will move them?

In the time remaining before the appointed day, the Committee could not complete an examination of all the regulations, so we used this power to bring in provisional regulations because we had to have something ready for 5th July. The Committee is, at the moment, examining the permanent regulations, and they will be laid, with the Committee's report, before the House.

Are we to understand that only the permanent regulations will be effective?

The regulations which are made at the moment are effective as from 5th July, and they will remain effective, and can remain effective, up to three months after the National Insurance Advisory Committee has reported. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, the Committee is examining these permanent regulations at the moment, and we are anxious to put them before the House as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of National Insurance, in view of the fact that a householder can insure his housekeeper against common law and statutory liability for accident for 6s. per annum with an insurance office, why is he compelled to pay £9 2s. a year to the National Insurance Scheme for that risk, particulars of which have been sent him; and if he will make regulations varying these payments.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The contribution payable under the Industrial Injuries Act in respect of a woman over 18 is 6d. a week. The figure of £9 2s. quoted by the hon. Member is presumably obtained by adding the sum of 3s. weekly which is payable as the employer's contribution under the National Insurance Act, and has no connection with industrial injuries.

Can the Minister explain why, under private enterprise, one could insure these risks for about 6d. a week, and, under National Insurance, it is about £9 a year?

asked the Minister of National Insurance what is the required establishment of personnel and buildings for commencing operations on 5th July; and what is the present position.

The estimated number of staff required to commence operations on 5th July, 1948, is 32,380. On 1st June, 1948, the number of staff was 28,852. The balance of about 3,500 will be in post by 5th July, 1948. As regards buildings, the central office at Newcastle is complete; and head offices have also been opened in each region in England and in Edinburgh and Cardiff. About 1,000 local offices were projected. Not quite all of these have yet been obtained or opened and owing to difficulties in obtaining premises, some of the offices have had to be sub-divided. The actual total of separate local offices open on 5th July will be 992. Not all these offices will be complete or in the most convenient places, but rectification will proceed as suitable premises become available. In addition, especially to cover certain rural areas, some 200 offices will be open on one or more days a week, according to need. In the relatively small number of places where the Ministry are temporarily unable to secure local offices the business will be transacted from the nearest convenient centre.

Is the Minister aware, that, in accordance with my speech on 2nd November, 1944, National Insurance will come into operation on 5th July, and with it, national chaos?

I am happy in this respect that the hon. Gentleman is increasing his score of errors.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many widows will be unable to qualify for pension as a statutory right under the new scheme on 5th July, 1948; and whether any provision is made for these women apart from national assistance.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I regret that information is not available in the form asked for by my hon. Friend. In reply to the second part, there are various schemes outside National Insurance; for example, the war pensions scheme and occupational pensions schemes such as that for the police, which make provision for widows. It would, of course, be open to any widow to apply for national assistance if she is in need after 5th July, whether or not other provision has been made for her either under the National Insurance Scheme or otherwise.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many of these widows object very strongly to applying for national assistance, and will he not consider whether provision cannot be made for them under the National Insurance Scheme?

Of course, the position under the National Insurance Scheme, so far as widows are concerned, is set out in the special leaflet dealing with them, but we are hoping that, with the abolition of the old Poor Law, there will be a new approach to this question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a decision has yet been reached on the future of the hostel at Brinsford Lodge, Featherstone, in the county of Stafford; and whether he will give an assurance that when this hostel is taken over by his Department no attempt will be made either to abolish the wet canteen or the married quarters.

The position is being reconsidered. At the moment I cannot say more than that we shall do our best to cause as little inconvenience as possible to existing residents.

asked the Minister of Labour how long the official strike at Motor Panels, Ltd., Coventry, has lasted; and what steps he has taken to bring about a settlement.

I understand that II welders ceased work on 29th January. Four of these were subsequently discharged by the firm as redundant, and a further 180 workers ceased work in sympathy but resumed work on 23rd February. Efforts by this Department to assist in resolving the difficulty were unfortunately unsuccessful, and the dispute was referred to the National Arbitration Tribunal. The award of the Tribunal has not yet been issued.

In view of the damage done to all concerned in this protracted strike, which has gone on for nearly six months, will my right hon. Friend do something to speed up the machinery of conciliation?

The National Arbitration Tribunal is an independent body. It has been set up with powers passed by this House, not during the period of this Government but previously; it is a completely independent body, and it is not supposed to be interfered with by the Government or anyone else. That is the difficulty, but I have had inquiries made about this to see if we can help.

Am I to understand that the Minister objects to the fact that the Tribunal is an independent body?

No, Sir. All I said was that this House would object to any interference by anyone in the work of that Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been sent from the Liverpool employment exchanges, during the last twelve months, to the firm of Rylands Bros. Ltd., wire manufacturers, and the Whitecross Co. Ltd., wire rope manufacturers, both of Warrington.

Figures for the last twelve months are not available. Since 1st December, 1947, 263 men from the Liverpool employment exchanges have been submitted to Ryland Bros., Limited, of whom 169 were engaged. During the same period, 67 men were submitted to Whitecross Company Limited, of whom 37 were engaged.

Will the Minister reconsider the question of sending unemployed persons to these firms in Warrington? The wages paid to these men when they get there are £3 plus 28s.—£4 8s. 0d. a week—and out of that they have expenses. Will the Minister discontinue sending anyone from Liverpool to that employment until they are properly paid for the job?

I cannot accept that they are improperly paid for the job. They are paid the rates which have been agreed by both sides in the industry. With regard to the excessive train fares from Liverpool to those works, I understand the employers pay any excess over 5s. a week.

Will the Minister inquire whether the figure of £4 8s. which I have given him is all they get and that expenses have to be taken from it? No married man can afford to go to Warrington on those conditions.

I am quite prepared to look sympathetically into the particular case which my hon. Friend has brought up. We do not wish to impose hardship, particularly on married men, and I shall welcome receiving the details from him.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that employment as football pool clerks is being offered at employment exchanges to rehabilitation trainees; whether those who refuse this kind of employment will be penalised; approximately how many have been placed in these posts; and for how long they will continue.

It would be quite wrong for the exchanges to refrain from bringing these vacancies to the notice of disabled persons for whom other more essential work is not available. I have no statistics showing the numbers who have availed themselves of these opportunities, nor can I forecast how long the jobs will last. I have heard no suggestion of penalisation, but, if the hon. Member will let me know more precisely what he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

Are we to take it that the principle is accepted that a man can refuse this kind of employment on ethical grounds and will not be penalised for it?

The matter of penalties is one not really for the Ministry of Labour but for the Ministry of National Insurance, but it has been stated that in no circumstances will a man be compelled to take any job against which he has a conscientious objection.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider, in an effort to back up the cotton recruitment drive, asking employers in other trades to release women who are willing to enter the cotton industry.

Yes, Sir; this is already being done and many non-textile employers are exhibiting recruiting posters on their premises.

Can the Minister give any report of progress, and will he give the number so far recruited?

This campaign started two months ago and I hope that in the course of a month we shall be able to report to the House what success it has had.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of unemployed persons registered at the Lewisham employment exchange on the last available date.

802 at 14th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cars have been brought into this country on condition that they are re-exported, and, in fact, not so taken out again but sold in the United Kingdom during the last 12 months.

It is not yet known how many of these cars have been sold, but since 1st March last some 115 cars imported under the touring regulations have been reported as overdue for re-exportation.

In view of the relatively small number, will the Chancellor of the Exchequer state why three members of the Government, during a Debate on this subject, refused to give the figure, implied that it was substantial, and thereby grossly misled the House?

I regard that figure as very substantial.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what demands, in excess of contributions, will be made by the sterling area upon the dollar pool during the present year.

It would not be wise for me to try to forecast what the balance for the year will eventually be. But I am well satisfied, from the course of day-to-day consultations with the sterling area Governments, that they are all, like ourselves, doing their utmost to help ease the strain on the central reserves.

Are we to understand from the Chancellor's reply that the Government are satisfied that there will be no leakage from the sterling area during this year and that they have not committed themselves to any repayment of balances which will have the effect of causing a drain upon our dollar resources?

I could never be satisfied that there will be no leakages, because that is an almost impossibly optimistic view, but I think we have very largely reduced the chances of leakages, and there will be no releases of sterling that will affect the dollar balances beyond those agreed sums which the House knows about already in the agreements which have been arrived at.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net position in respect of national savings to the nearest date for the new savings year, including adjustments in respect of release benefit accounts.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

As the answer is probably long and may be disappointing can the Chancellor say what reason he adduces for the lamentable fall in national savings at the present time?

I think it is part of the conditions in the country—the desire to spend more money than some people have available in their wages.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount, to date, of uncollected Surtax.

I cannot give a current figure, but the hon. Member will find information for the year to 30th June, 1947, in the Inland Revenue Appropriation Accounts for 1946–47. Information for the year to 30th June, 1948, will appear in the Appropriation Accounts early next year.

Does not the Chancellor realise that it is very convenient not give the figure? Does he not also realise that if he breaks the law "Thou shalt not steal," that law will break him?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effect of the recent action of the Argentine Government regarding the peso-sterling cross rate on financial agreements concluded between the two countries.

The recent action by the Argentine Government does not contravene the terms of our Trade and Payments Agreement with Argentina. The possible effects on our balance of payments with Argentina are at present under examination.

In view of the very far-reaching effect it must have, not only on the purchase of food and the export drive, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman or the Minister of Food or the President of the Board of Trade make some statement to this House soon on this unilateral action?

As I have said, the matter is now under examination.

As this institutes a free cross rate, can the Chancellor also give an assurance that the examination will include its effects on the triangular trade between ourselves, the sterling area and Argentine?

It is under examination in all the effects it has.

When the right hon. and learned Gentleman has concluded this examination, will it be possible for him to take any steps, in view of the fact that, although this causes grave injury, he says it is within the letter of the agreement?

I must wait until I see the results of the examination before I can take any step to put it right.

It is not a question of examining so much the effect as whether this is within the terms of the treaty or not, and if it is within the terms of the treaty, is it not a mistake to have treaties which allow things to be done by the other party which certainly are not contemplated in the negotiations?

I have stated already that it does not contravene the terms of the treaty. A great many things may happen which are not dealt with in treaties and one then has to examine them to see what their effect is before deciding whether action is to be taken, or what action is to be taken.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman make a statement when he has examined this matter?

If the hon. Member puts down a Question in a week or two's time, I will see.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the financial help given by Canada to this country during the war and in the immediate post-war period, what action is being taken by His Majesty's Government to help Canada in her present difficulties to balance her system of payments.

His Majesty's Government are fully conscious of the help given by Canada in meeting the Canadian dollar deficiency with the United Kingdom, and are taking every opportunity of increasing exports of United Kingdom goods to Canada.

If the Government are so well aware of what Canada has done for us, why are they keeping frozen the 300 million Canadian dollars which were promised to Canada for redevelopment in that country and have come to us principally by way of Estate Duty?

I am not aware of what the hon. and gallant Gentleman has stated, I am afraid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state, to the latest convenient date, the total of sums accruing to the Soviet Government under the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement; and to what extent such sums have been expended by the Soviet Government on the purchase of capital goods and raw materials, respectively.

I regret that I cannot give this information, which would involve the disclosure of movements into and out of the accounts of foreign clients of London banks.

Is it not a fact that the Russian Government are busily buying raw materials from the proceeds of this trade agreement, and that, therefore, no sterling will be available to pay for capital goods under that agreement, unless we advance further loans to them?

Not so far as I know.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount in 1947, and from 1st January, 1948, to the latest convenient date, respectively, of moneys released from sterling balances under agreements made by His Majesty's Government which have been utilised to purchase goods or settle debts in the United Kingdom and the sterling area, respectively.