asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the cut made in the personnel of the U.S.A. Military Government in Germany; what is the number of persons employed by the British Military Government there at the present time; and what reduction is contemplated during 1949.

The United States Element of the Control Commission for Germany is being reduced in size as is the British Element, but I have no information about any specific cut. On 1st January, 1949, the British Element employed 12,226 British staff in the control of Germany and a further 1,728 on other functions such as dealing with Displaced Persons and disposing of British stores. This total of 13,954 compares with 18,593 a year previously and further reductions on the same scale are planned to take place during 1949. These should diminish the present figure by about a quarter by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the recent discoveries made by Scotland Yard about jewellery stolen from a castle in Germany owned by the Mecklenburg family, he has any further statement to make regarding these jewels and valuable tapestries which were removed at or about the same time.

If my hon. Friend is referring to Press articles which appeared on 8th December reporting the discovery by the police of some valuable stolen jewellery, I understand that this jewellery was in no way connected with Glucksburg Castle. Careful and thorough investigations into the disappearance of the jewellery from Glucksburg Castle have been completed by the police, but I understand that in view of the inconclusive nature of the evidence obtained, they do not propose to take proceedings. Proceedings under the Army Act against officers and men who were serving in the Army at the material time and who may have been implicated are in most cases precluded by the provisions of Section 161 of the Army Act, since the events took place more than three years ago. I am, however, considering whether there are grounds for taking disciplinary action against any British Army personnel implicated who are still serving.

asked the Minister of Works if he will now make a further statement on the derequisitioning of the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

Terms for a lease of alternative premises have not been finally agreed, but it is hoped that the negotiations will soon be completed. Meanwhile, the repair of war damage to the building is going ahead.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the personnel of the Valuation Department of the Inland Revenue since January, 1946.

The total number of staff employed in the Valuation Office on 1st January, 1946, was 1,792. On 1st January, 1949, it was 3,071.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that cheques for Surtax and Capital Levy, payable to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, sent from Whitby on 3rd January, had not been acknowledged or cashed by 17th January; and if he will take steps to expedite the work of this Department.

I regret that there has recently been some delay in issuing acknowledgments, mainly because of the large number of payments of Special Contribution remitted on or about the 1st January, for which sufficient trained staff could not be provided. It is hoped to overtake the arrear during the next two or three weeks. Payments will, of course, be treated, for the purposes of computing interest, as having been made when they were remitted.