asked the Secretary of State for War what is the position with regard to call up in the Army of ex-personnel of the Indian Army.

British officers and men with the Indian Army consisted of two categories, those attached and those who actually formed part of the Indian Army. Those attached were released under British Release Regulations and are liable to recall in the event of an emergency. Those who belonged to the Indian Army are not liable to recall in the event of an emergency.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider appointing a publicity expert as Director of Public Relations in his Department to deal particularly with a recruiting campaign for the Territorial Army.

My Department already has a very competent Director of Public Relations, who has been intimately concerned with the Territorial Army recruiting campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the circumstances of the death in Egypt recently of 14189866 Private A. J. Arstall, A.C.C.

This soldier died from injuries received in a traffic accident. A statement of the circumstances has been sent to his father. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with the parents.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to make a grant to the Army Cadet Force to maintain the non-military side of their activities such as training in citizenship, sport and club amenities and general welfare, the cost of which is at present falling, by means of voluntary contributions, largely upon the boys and their parents.

The responsibility for ensuring that suitable recreational, social and physical training facilities are available to the youth of the country, including members of the Army Cadet Force, rests by statute upon the local education authority under the Ministry of Education. Army assistance must, therefore, be confined to that necessary for efficient pre-service training.

asked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the total number of soldiers believed to be entitled to medals for the late war have so far sent in their claims.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to all who have served in the Army during the late war, whether or not they are still serving. Available statistics do not show how many of these officers and other ranks are entitled to medals and campaign stars. The greatest number of male officers and men serving in the Army at any one time during the war was approximately 2,931,000, and of women officers and other ranks 223,000, making a total of 3,154,000. Applications for medals and campaign stars have been received from or on behalf of approximately 1,200,000 officers and other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many troops are stationed on the Gold Coast; and what recent increase has been made in the garrison.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. and learned Member for North Hammersmith (Mr. Pritt).

asked the Secretary of State for War when he proposes to set up a Whitley Council at the headquarters of the Imperial War Graves Commission at Woburn, Buckinghamshire.

The staff of the Imperial War Graves Commission are not civil servants and are not within the Civil Service Whitley system of negotiation. A joint staff committee has existed for some years at the Commission's head office. About 18 months and nine months ago, respectively, branches of the Civil Service Clerical Association and of the Society of Civil Servants were formed among the Commission's staff and the formation of a joint council is at present under discussion between the Commission and the associations.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that although the Lord Chancellor, during the Debate on the Town and Country Planning Bill, 1944, promised publication from time to time of the lists of buildings of special architectural or historical interest compiled under Section 42 of that Act, none of the lists has yet been published, not even those issued over a year ago; and whether he will make a statement on this matter.

I am considering what can be done about publication and hope to make a statement shortly. I am advised that the statutory lists giving only the addresses of the buildings and the names of the owner and occupier would not be of great value to the general public, and that the publication of lists giving more information about the buildings would be a heavy task whose preparation might seriously delay the completion of the lists themselves.In the meantime, provisional lists of the fuller type I have in mind are supplied to interested societies. The number of these provisional lists available is 184, and another 248 are being finally checked. I am arranging also to make statutory lists available to the local Press at the same time as they are deposited with the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, before giving his decision on the appeal of Messrs. John Barker against the refusal of the L.C.C. to permit them to construct an unloading dock in the gardens of 42–45, Kensington Square, and 16, Young Street, he will consult the Minister of Transport on the question whether such a dock is the best means of meeting the needs of traffic in the area.

If, after I have examined the Inspector's report on the Inquiry held on 11 th January, I consider that it is necessary to consult the Minister of Transport I will certainly do so, as I did in a previous appeal by Messrs. Barker.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the case of incorrect Income Tax deductions in Service pay, he will consider whether the onus of making up this deficit could be borne by the Exchequer instead of solely by the Service men involved.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will instruct the Exchange Control Advisory Committee which deals with applications for exchange for purposes of medical treatment abroad to withdraw their printed statement to the effect that they are unable to enter into correspondence with regard to applications received, so that, in future, such applications can be determined by the fullest medical evidence that is available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in what circumstances the Exchange Control Authorities intimate to applicants that they will not enter into correspondence in regard to applications for foreign exchange facilities.

The Exchange Control Medical Advisory Committee have never in fact refused to consider additional medical evidence when submitted on behalf of an applicant. The sentence to which the hon. Member for Howdenshire (Mr. Odey) refers no longer appears in the printed forms as now issued by the Committee. I am not aware of any other such intimation having been given by the Exchange Control Authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the names of the Exchange Control Advisory Committee who deal with applications for foreign exchange for the purpose of medical treatment abroad; how frequently they meet; and what was the date of their last meeting.

The members of the Committee are all distinguished medical specialists, but I do not think that it would be advisable to disclose their names. The Committee meets every two or three months for consideration of matters of policy and points of principle. The last full meeting was held on 29th October, 1948. Individual applications are considered by two or more members of the Committee. If they are in agreement their decision is accepted. In the event of disagreement, or in cases of doubt, further members of the Committee are consulted and if necessary the opinions of outside specialists are obtained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now, give instructions that, in Government Departments and associated organisations, the scale of salary increments of women officers should be assimilated with those applicable to men, as a token and earnest of the Government's intention to institute a system of equal pay and as a small step in that direction.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the foreign purchasing with sterling of wool, subsequently sold at a loss for dollars, has now ceased.

I cannot say that such transactions have definitely ceased but we are taking all possible steps to prevent them and with the increasing strength of sterling the incentive to them should diminish.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will make a further statement of policy with regard to the future status and eligibility for promotion of the members of the Incorporated Association of Rating and Valuation Officers when the work of the present valuation offices comes to be taken over by the Board of Inland Revenue, particularly after the first two years have elapsed.

The Association has been given assurances by, both the Board of Inland Revenue and myself that individuals who hold its qualification at the date of the transfer of the work of rating valuation to the Inland Revenue Valuation Office, or who obtain that qualification within two years from that date, will be regarded as qualifying for advancement in the new rating service on equal terms with those holding other qualifications.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the delay in the payment of post-war credits to persons who have reached the age of 65; and if he will take steps to arrange for all such applications to be dealt with as speedily as possible.

If the hon. Member will send me particulars of any case which he has in mind, I will look into it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the approximate number of shillings and sixpences, respectively, now in circulation; and what steps he proposes to take to alleviate the shortage of shillings which exists in some areas.

The numbers of shillings and sixpences in circulation are approximately 550 million and 635 million. Supplies of each denomination are adequate, and any local shortages should be quickly made good by the banks.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the special circumstances which lead to the exercise by the War Damage Commission of the power given to them under Section 31 of the War Damage Act, 1945, to extend the time limit for notifying war damage in particular cases.

In exercising this power, the Commission have regard to the facts of each particular case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the approximate revenue obtained from Purchase Tax on medicines and drugs at the rate of 33⅓ per cent. from November, 1947, to 5th April, 1948; and what was the revenue from April, 1947, to November, 1947, at the rate of 16⅔ per cent.

It is estimated that about £5½ million of Purchase Tax was paid, at the rate of 33⅓ per cent., in respect of drugs and medicines delivered by registered manufacturers and wholesalers during the period 13th November, 1947, to 31st March, 1948 (the nearest date to 5th April, 1948, for which the information is available); the receipts at the rate of 16i per cent. for the period 1st April, 1947, to 12th November, 1947, were approximately £5 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement as to the treatment of initial and annual allowances for plant and machinery in cases where the reducing-balance method of computation is adopted

Under the simple "reducing balance" method, the annual wear and tear allowance is computed by applying the appropriate percentage rate to the "written down value," which is the original cost less the allowances given in the past. For some years before the Income Tax Act, 1945, became effective, however, the position was that ordinary annual wear and tear allowances were deducted in arriving at written down value but the "additional allowances" equal to one-fifth of the wear and tear allowances were not deducted. This differential treatment of ordinary and additional allowances led to complications in record-keeping that were a nuisance to officials, taxpayers and their advisers. Following consultation with representatives of Industry, Commerce and the Accountancy profession, the 1945 Act abolished the "additional allowances" of one-fifth and increased the annual wear and tear allowances by a quarter with the intention that both the increased annual allowance and the new initial allowance should be deducted in computing written down value. The practice has since conformed to that intention but it has now been challenged on the argument that in law only the basic wear and tear allowance should be deducted in arriving at written down value, and that the initial allowance and the increase of one-quarter in the annual allowance should not be deducted. This contention does not accord with the intention of the 1945 Act, and if successful would give rise to considerable practical difficulties both for officials and accountants. I do not therefore think the matter should be left to be decided by litigation. Consequently I propose to bring forward in the 1949 Finance Bill legislation to make it clear that where the "reducing balance" method is adopted, computations for all the years governed by the Income Tax Act, 1945, are to be made on the basis that both the initial allowance and the full annual allowance shall be deducted in computing written down value.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories in Central London have been allowed to extend their premises; and what coordination there is between his Department and that of the Minister of Town and Country Planning in relation to such extensions, so as to secure the implementation of the Abercrombie Report.

Between the end of the war and 30th November, 1948 (which is the last date for which full statistics are available) approval has been given for 45 factory extensions of 5,000 sq. ft. and over in the London County Council area. All applications for factory extensions in the London area are discussed with the Ministry of Town and Country Planning before a decision is reached.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an analysis of the countries concerned in respect of the imports during 1948 of barley, oats and maize, respectively, from the group given in the Trade and Navigation Accounts as "Other Foreign Countries"; and if he will also furnish similar information in respect of the export of refined sugar to "Other British Countries" and "Other Foreign Countries."

As the reply contains a number of tables I will, with the hon. Member's permission, send him a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the outcome of the talks with the Joint Export-Import Agency regarding British trade with the Bizone of Germany; and whether a bilateral trading agreement has yet been concluded.

Discussions are now proceeding with the Joint Export-Import Agency.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in consultation with the industry, he will endeavour to arrange for shipments of artificial manures and slag to be delivered at ports nearest to the places where they are required and thus save the expense of distribution.

I can assure the hon. Member that we already endeavour to do so. but if he has any particular case in mind and would care to send me details,I will be glad to make inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now state when the Report of the recent Engineering Mission to Canada will be published.

The Report has been received and is now being printed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the outcome of the visit of the Tibetan Trade Delegation to this country.

We were able to arrange useful contacts between the Tibetan Trade Delegation and business interests in this country likely to be interested in the development of trade between the two countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department have prevented the export of 70,000 tons of Royal Kidney potatoes to Spain and have permitted agricultural machinery to be exported in their place, despite the potatoes being a crop customarily sent to Spain each year, and despite the home demands for machinery still being very great.

It is not the case that the Board of Trade prevented the export of 70,000 tons of potatoes of any variety to Spain. Whilst the second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise, I should like to make it clear that I attach importance to developing our exports of agricultural machinery, with due regard, of course, to the needs of our own farmers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether those responsible for the allocation of new factories to applicants in the South Wales area have in mind the possibilities of fulfilling their requirements as to gas, etc., without injury to other industrial and domestic consumers.

Yes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek the co-operation of the Government of Eire to rediscuss the recent 33⅓ per cent. tariff imposed by Eire, on the imports of artificial silk goods from this country; and if he will seek a solution of the question of the disparity of raw material prices for this particular trade that at the present time exists.

No. The new duty applies only to a limited range of woven rayon piece goods, and I am not satisfied that there is a case on which to approach the Government of Eire. As regards the second part of the Question, export prices of rayon yarn are determined by supply and demand in a world market and our export prices compare very well with those of other countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of Turkish, Greek or other non-dollar tobacco is used in the blending of the tobacco now consumed.

The percentage of different kinds of tobacco used in different brands varies from brand to brand, and I cannot say what percentage of non-dollar tobacco is used in any particular brand. In total. however, about 30 per cent. of the tobacco consumed in this country at present comes from non-dollar sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many sheets now have holes in them; and whether he will reduce the number of coupons required for sheets. so that housewives can get them without taking their husbands' clothing coupons.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement on clothes rationing which my right hon. Friend will shortly be making.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportions of newsprint are being obtained from dollar and non-dollar sources in 1949; and whether any further increase in supplies can be envisaged.

In 1949, as at present planned, approximately 70 per cent. of our newsprint should he obtained from home production; of the balance nearly two-thirds will be drawn from dollar sources. It is hoped that there may be some further improvement in our total supplies during the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a full statement as to the conditions under which paper licences are now issued to football pool firms; what changes he proposes to make in the present procedure; and the number of such firms whose allocation has been reduced in the last four months.

The weight of coupons and other matter which may be distributed by football pools is restricted by licence. The amounts authorised are at present fixed in the case of the major pool promoters at levels which were agreed with them in October, 1947; other promoters are allowed a quantity which is assessed in relation to the number of active clients at November. 1947, or in the 1947–48 season, whichever is the lower. This has resulted in a reduction this season in the licensed quantity in the case of 10 of the smaller firms. The general question of the basis of allocation for future seasons is at present under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the prospects of United Kingdom trade with China.

In present circumstances it is not possible to make a realistic assessment of the prospects of United Kingdom trade with China, but we shall continue to maintain and to develop our commercial interest in that country whenever circumstances permit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the reduction in felling of home-grown timber.

Yes. The Government have decided that in order to conserve our rapidly diminishing raw material resources there must be a substantial reduction in the present rate at which standing timber is being felled in this country. Accordingly as soon as practicable the felling of hardwood is to be reduced by 25 per cent. and that of softwood by 50 per cent., and after 1949 it will be continued at rates to be determined in the light of the timber supply position. The precise method for bringing about the reduction is being worked out by the Board of Trade with the Woodland Owners and the Timber Trade, but during the four-week period 24th January to 22nd February, the issue of felling licences will be virtually suspended though applications to fell may continue to be submitted.The Forestry Commission will be more directly concerned with licensing than they have been in the past and, as a first step, applications for felling licences in excess of 10,000 cubic feet (instead of 25,000 cubic feet as at present) will be referred to them for approval on forestry grounds.An Advisory Committee, consisting of representatives of the Board of Trade, the Forestry Commission (representing the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries), the Woodland Owners and the Trade, is being set up to advise on prices of standing timber.Production of thinnings is to be encouraged by means of a payment scheme, so as to enable the total production of homegrown pitwood to be maintained while the clear felling of conifer pitwood plantations is kept at a minimum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in considering the means to meet as large a part as possible of the country's pitwood needs from home woodlands.

1 would refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing West (Mr. J. Hudson). We are anxious to maintain the total production of homegrown pitwood at its present high level, while keeping to a minimum the clear felling of conifer pitwood plantations, and I hope that this can be achieved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the case in which the Official Receiver was informed that deposits amounting to £22,000 which had been paid by a number of people in anticipation of cars to be supplied, had been used in the business of the company concerned; if he is aware that such deposits are the condition of supply by many agencies and companies which refuse to guarantee that the money will be returned in case of non-delivery; and as this system is open to abuse, if he will consider introducing legislation to make all deposits by intending purchasers of any goods a first charge on the seller if delivery of the goods does not take place.

I am aware of the facts mentioned in the first and second parts of the Question. The exact position in a liquidation of persons who have made deposits depends on the nature of the contract, and I hardly think that the matter is one which can suitably be dealt with by special legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that makers of shirts, overalls and pyjamas report that a great shortage of utility and non-utility cloths has developed within the past few weeks; and whether he will take steps to see that further supplies of suitable cloths, particularly among those which have been reserved for export but have remained unsold, are released in order that short-time working, unemployment, and a famine in essential garments may be avoided.

I am aware that home supplies of most kinds of cotton cloth are short but the needs of the export drive must take precedence over the home market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what trades and to what proportions are exports to the U.S.A. expected to increase from 195 million dollars in 1947 to 340 million dollars in 1952–53, and in Canada from 180 million dollars to 365 million dollars as forecast in Command Paper No. 7275 paragraph 205.

1 do not think it would be desirable to publish detailed estimates of our future commercial exports to individual countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in developing the production in Britain of film base so to lessen the dependence of the British film industry on U.S. and Belgian imports.

It is hoped that the film base factory now under construction will reach the production stage in the course of the next few months. The promoters have intimated that they have decided to defer for the time being the other project referred to in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 1st June last.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will give an estimate of the cost of abolishing all forms of means test on all old age pensions payable to people of 70 years of age and upwards.

The additional cost to the Exchequer of abolishing the test of need in relation to these pensions payable to people of 70 years and over would be about £40 million a year.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware of the growing concern at the disincentives to continued work by elderly people involved in the new insurance regulations; and whether he will give the matter re-consideration.

The special incentives to the elderly to remain at work which are a feature of the new scheme of retirement pensions have only been in force for six months, and it is too soon to judge what effect they are having.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he intends to repay deductions made since 5th July last from War Pensions in respect of sickness benefits received under the National Insurance Scheme.

No such deductions have been made from war pensions. But if my hon. Friend has in mind the restrictions on the personal rate of sickness benefit payable to certain war pensioners which were removed as from 23rd December by the National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations, 1948, I have no power to make the alteration retrospective.

asked the Minister of National Insurance, if he is aware that where an insured person has exhausted his right to sickness benefit under the old National Health Insurance Acts, and has not qualified for disablement benefit, he is not entitled to sickness benefit under the new Act until he has paid 13 qualifying contributions in respect of weeks of employment since his title to sickness benefit under the old Act ended; that this regulation creates hardship in the case of young persons who have just entered adult insurance; and whether he will take steps to end the anomaly.

This condition, which is laid down by Section 12 (3) of the National Insurance Act, 1946, is applicable to all cases where the right to sickness benefit has been exhausted, whether under the old Act or the new. I am not aware that any anomaly arises from its application to cases in which the right to benefit was exhausted under the earlier scheme. The condition is, in fact, substantially easier than that which obtained under the old scheme.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether the National Insurance Advisory Committee has yet reported on Part III of the National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Provisional Regulations, 1948; and if he is aware that the operation of these regulations in reducing the retirement pensions of in-patients of hospitals is creating hardship.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he is now in a position to report any progress made on the question of an alteration in the National Insurance (Overlapping Benefit) Provisional Regulations, 1948, S.I., No. 1244, 1948, especially in relation to old age pensioners who have to seek treatment as in-patients of a National Health Service Hospital.

l'he matter is still being considered by the Advisory Committee who, I understand, have yet to receive a substantial body of evidence from interested parties.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he can now say what steps he proposes to take regarding the Report of the Departmental Committee on Industrial Diseases.

Yes. I have now considered the Report of the Departmental Committee further in the light of the advice I have received from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on certain questions I referred to them. I do not think any immediate alterations in the regulations are called for, but in my administration of Part IV of the Act which deals with the extension of insurance to diseases I shall be guided by the principles laid down in the Report.As regards the Committee's proposal that a special committee should be set up to deal with the various matters set out in paragraph 37 of the Report, the Council point out that in view of their Statutory functions, they are the appropriate body to advise me on these matters. I accept this view and am accordingly arranging that any necessary examination of such questions should be undertaken by a sub-committee of the Council which would have power to call for such expert assistance as they might require.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of applicants for the competition for appointment as factory inspectors held by the Civil Service Commission.

A series of competitions is being held with a view to filling vacancies for permanent appointments to the Factory Inspectorate which have accumulated during and since the war. I understand that the total number of applicants in the competitions for appointment to the General Inspectorate, as distinct from competitions for some specialist posts, has so far been 940, of whom 369 were applicants in the latest competition in the series.

asked the Minister of Labour what welfare arrangements have been made to assist the satisfactory settlement of European voluntary workers in this country; and whether he will instruct his local officers to invite the co-operation of voluntary social organisations and the churches in localities where these workers are living, in order to ensure that the maximum of help and good will is organised to enable them to settle satisfactorily in their new environment.

Since the beginning of the scheme for recruiting foreign workers for employment in this country, arrangements on the lines suggested by the hon. Member have been in operation. I am writing to him to give details of these arrangements.

asked the Minister of Labour how many foreign workers entered each of the coalmining, textile and agricultural industries during 1948.

The numbers recruited from the Polish Resettlement Corps and from European Volunteer Workers in 1948 were: coalmining 10,118, textiles 9,287, and agriculture 22,948. In addition, about 11,500 German ex-prisoners of war with civilian status are now employed in agriculture.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to remove the agricultural industry from the operation of the Control of Engagement Order.

Agricultural workers are already specially provided for under the Order. They are free to take any employment in agriculture. If they want to take work outside the industry they are subject, in general, to the same controls as any other workers.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the respective costs of training an adult student for a period of six months and a younger student for a period of nine months under the training scheme operated by the National Institute of Houseworkers.

The average cost of training an adult student for six months in the training centres operated by the National Institute of Houseworkers is approximately £160. The cost of a nine months' course for a younger student is approximately £210. These figures include the cost of allowances paid to the students and, in the great majority of cases, their board and lodging.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the total cost of the National Institute of Houseworkers during the past year; and what has been the cost of the headquarters of the institute during the same period.

The total cost of the National Institute of Houseworkers during the year 1948 was approximately £105,000. This includes an expenditure of approximately £41,000 on capital assets mainly in the form of premises suitable for carrying out the Institute's training programme. The running cost of the Institute's headquarters. included in the total, was £31,000.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of persons registered as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment)

Act, on 31st December, 1948; what was the number and percentage of such persons unemployed; and the number of those classified as severely disabled and in need of sheltered employment.

Nine hundred and seven thousand, eight hundred and ninety-nine on 18th October, 1948; the number of registered disabled unemployed on 20th December, 1948, was 70,320 representing 7.7 per cent. of the Register total; of this number 11,180 were classified as severely disabled and in need of sheltered employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of Remploy factories completed, under construction and approved in the Northern Region on 31st December, 1948; and what was the location, the number of men and women employed and the type of work provided at each completed factory.

Following is the answer:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now raise from 3 per cent. the percentage of disabled persons which employers are obliged to engage under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

No. On the advice of the National Advisory Council, who considered this matter exhaustively a few months ago, I came to the conclusion that this would not he the best way to help the disabled. The point will, however, be kept under constant review. The difficulty is that unemployment of the disabled is not evenly spread. Over most of the country 3 per cent. is adequate. In areas where this does not solve the problem the need is for more opportunities of employment rather than for an increased percentage for the disabled.

asked the Minister of Labour whether German ex-prisoners of war may return to this country for agricultural employment, if applied for by their previous employers.

Applications from farmers for permission to employ repatriated German ex-prisoners of war would not be granted unless the labour required could not be obtained in this country. In present circumstances, I do not anticipate difficulty in making suitable submissions for any vacancies notified to my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the results to date of the arrangement made by him with the leading football pool promoters under which officials of his Department were given the opportunity of interviewing prospective employees of football pool firms with a view to persuading them to enter more useful employment; and give figures of the number of such interviews that have taken place and the number of persons accepting other employment as a consequence.

The special arrangements to which my hon. Friend refers were discontinued on 6th October, 1947, when the Control of Engagement Order, 1947, came into force. I have not available the results of the special arrangements up to that date.

asked the Minister ot Labour if he will give, separately, the number of men and women registered as unemployed in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay at the latest convenient date.

The numbers ot unemployed persons registered at employment exchanges and youth employment bureaux in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay at 10th January, 1948, were as follows:—

asked the Minister of Labour how many bricklayers are unemployed in Scotland.

The number of bricklayers registered as unemployed in Scotland at 6th December was 288.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the re-grouping of Resettlement Advice Offices in the London area, in view of the falling-off in the number of inquiries during recent months.

My Department has had continuously under review, since the number of resettlement inquiries began decreasing considerably, the need for the retention of separate Resettlement Advice Offices. Four have recently been closed in the London area, the remaining work being transferred to the nearest employment exchange. It is my intention to continue this policy of closure whenever it is clear that the volume of resettlement inquiries does not justify the retention of a separate office.

asked the Minister of Labour how many members of the Polish Resettlement Corps are awaiting emigration facilities; how many are severely disabled; and if he will provide an age-group analysis of those remaining in the Polish Resettlement Corps.

Two thousand and eighty-seven members of the Polish Resettlement Corps are awaiting emigration facilities. About 800 officers and men who are still in the Corps are badly disabled. Of the 14,000 or so present members of the Corps, about 50 per cent. of both officers and men are over 40 years of age, and 21 per cent. of the officers and 13 per cent. of the men are over 50 years of age.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many cases have members of the Polish Resettlement Corps been deprived of military pay because of refusal to accept suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken to deal with members of the Polish Resettlement Corps who refuse offers of reasonable employment.

Members of the Polish Resettlement Corps who persistently refuse offers of employment are reported to a tribunal. If the tribunal is satisfied that the refusal was not reasonable, the Pole concerned is compulsorily discharged from the Corps unless at that stage he agrees to take a job within a specified period. This procedure has greatly improved the position. Most men dealt with by the tribunals withdraw their objections, and in only four cases has it so far been necessary to discharge them.

asked the Minister of Labour when the Polish Resettlement Corps was set up; how many have been enrolled in it; how many have been placed in civil employment; and how many remain to be placed in employment.

The Polish Resettlement Corps was formed in September, 1946, and 114,000 Poles joined it. About 78,000 have been placed in civilian employment to date, and at the end of 1948 aproximately 14,600 remained to be resettled in civil life. The balance is made up by about 20,000 who have emigrated or been repatriated.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has given attention to the difficult position of members of the Armed Forces offered places in universities and training colleges in September or October. 1949, in consequence of the extension of the period of their military service beyond those months; if he has consulted the Minister of Education and college authorities on this matter; and whether special arrangements will be made to prevent the professional education of conscripts being delayed a further whole year.

As I told the House on 18th January, in reply to the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd), intending students who were called up before the end of July, 1948, and who, but for the general slow-down in releases would have been released in time to start their studies this Autumn, will be allowed early release if applied for by universities, technical colleges, or teachers' training colleges. Details will be communicated to the universities and colleges as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision has been reached on the rate of the hill sheep breeding-ewe subsidy for the current year; and on what basis it is to be paid.

I shall lay before the House shortly a Statutory Instrument fixing a rate of 10s. per breeding ewe. In terms of the Hill Sheep (Scotland) No. 2 Scheme, payment will be calculated on the number of eligible sheep in the flock at 4th December, 1948, or, subject to certain conditions and if the applicant so elects, on the number of sheep in respect of which subsidy was paid in relation to 4th December, 1946. The 10s. rate will apply to England and Wales as the standard rate and also to Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the name of the officer appointed to be Commandant of the Central Police Training College in Scotland; what are his qualifications; what experience he has had of police work; and what salary he will receive.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the post of Commandant of the Central Police Training College for Scotland was not given to a police officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he has considered a protest from the Scottish Police Federation on the appointment of Air Vice-Marshal Graham as Commandant of the Scottish Police Training College; and what reply he has made;(2) whether the recently appointed Commandant of the Scottish Police Training College has any experience of Scottish police work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the appointment of Commandant of the Scottish Police Training College has been given to a man without any experience in the police forces.

Air Vice-Marshal Graham was appointed as Commandant Designate of the Scottish Police College at a salary of £1,000 rising to £1,200 on the recommendation of a Selection Board consisting of a Chairman, appointed by the Civil Service Commission, a County Convener, a Chief Constable, H.M. Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland and an officer of the Scottish Home Department.The post was advertised and Air Vice-Marshal Graham was selected from 72 applicants from home and overseas of whom only seven (the highest rank represented being Chief Inspector) were from police forces in Scotland.I do not regard long and distinguished service in the Forces as in itself a reason for appointing a man to a post like the one in question; but equally I do not consider it to be a disqualification. Air Vice-Marshal Graham had a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force, in the course of which he served as Assistant Commandant and Commandant of the R.A.F. Staff College and on the directing staff of the Imperial Defence College. The Selection Board came to the conclusion, which I accepted, that he was the best candidate for the post and that his wide experience of similar work in the organisation of training and his qualities of leadership out-weighed any absence of long police experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which hospitals have been added to the list of teaching hospitals since June, 1946.

The bulk of medical teaching in Scotland is catried on in a few large general hospitals in the four centres, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the main teaching hospitals remain as in June, 1946. There is, however, an increasing use of other hospitals for teaching purposes both in the four centres and outside and, in the interests of the hospital service as well as teaching, I am anxious to encourage this extension. Medical Education Committees to advise the Regional Hospital Boards on this and other aspects of the provision of facilities for clinical teaching are about to begin work in each region.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that patients ordering spectacles under the National Health Scheme from opticians in Aberdeen are having to wait four months for delivery, whereas in London patients are able to obtain new spectacles in less than two months; and whether he has made representations to this effect to the Ophthalmic Optical Production Committee.

There is no evidence to suggest that the average waiting period for glasses is longer in Aberdeen than in London; the period varies in both places according to the different type of lenses required. The shortage of glasses is nation-wide and the Ophthalmic Optical Production Committee is actively considering all possible ways of increasing production.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the seven dwelling houses, Nos. 1 to 7, Lorne Terrace, Lochgilphead, belonging to Lochgilphead Town Council, are dwelling houses in respect of which the council are required by the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1935, to keep a Housing Revenue Account.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many area welfare officers have already been appointed; and whether he will inform Members of Parliament of the name and address of any welfare officer appointed to an area which includes their constituency.

There are 80 welfare officers in my Ministry's local offices and hospitals. I shall be happy to inform Members of this House of the name and address of the Ministry's welfare officer for the area covering their constituencies and I am sending a notification to each Member.

asked the Minister of Education how many young persons between the ages of 15 and 18 years are now released for part-time training and education; how many of these are in the engineering industry; how many of the total released attend vocational classes; and how many attend schools with a mixed curriculum.

As statistics for 194748 are not yet available, the answer to the first part of the Question is as given in my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 16th June last. In reply to the

second part, out of the total number of 167,000 students of all ages released by their employers, 61,600 were from the engineering industry. The number studying various subjects is given in Table 39 of the Ministry's Annual Report. It is not possible without undue expenditure of labour to say how many of these were under 18 years of age.

asked the Minister of Education how many secondary pupils were receiving education at technical schools in 1946, 1947 and 1948 to the latest convenient date.

The numbers of pupils on the registers of secondary technical schools in January, 1946, 1947 and 1948 were 60,000, 66,000 and 72,000.

asked the Minister of Education the total number of classes with over 50 pupils, over 40 pupils and over 30 pupils, respectively, in primary and secondary schools, respectively; and what proportion this constitutes in each case of the total number of classes in these two categories of schools.

asked the Minister of Education (1) how many primary classes contained more than 40 children and how many more than 50 children at the latest convenient date;(2) how many secondary classes contained over 30 children and how many contained over 40 children at the latest convenient date.

Following ate provisional figures for maintained and assisted primary and secondary schools (other than nursery or special schools) in England and Wales in January, 1948:

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will reconsider the provision in the new release regulations which deprives men conscripted on or after 1st January, 1947, of an issue of civilian clothing, seeing that after two years' service many of them will be unable to wear the clothing they had when called up and will have no means of purchasing new clothes.

As I have previously informed the House, men called up in 1947 and 1948 will, on release, receive a supplementary allowance of 60 clothing coupons. They are also allowed to retain certain articles of Service clothing and, if necessary, to purchase cheaply a suit of battledress and a Service greatcoat.The issue of civilian clothing was designed as part of the Age and Service release scheme for men who had served for long periods during the war: there is no similar justification for continuing it for men called up for fixed, and in general much shorter, periods in peacetime. The issue of civilian clothing to National Service men imposes a heavy cost and heavy administrative commitment on the Services. 1 regret therefore that I cannot vary the decision taken and announced in January, 1947, to discontinue the issue of clothing on release to men called up in 1947 and subsequently.

asked the Minister of Health the present total estimated demand for the Medresco hearing aid; how many such aids have so far been supplied; when the total present demand will be satisfied; and to what extent the hospital distribution centres are dissuading applicants from meeting their immediate needs by purchasing commercial products.

The estimated total need is 150,000, and so far upwards of 9,000 have been supplied since 5th July. Production will shortly increase but I cannot say how long it will take to meet all needs. Hospitals have not been asked to dissuade patients from buying commercial aids.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the position in relation to gas supplies in South Wales retards the present industrial effort, and is the cause of widespread discomfort and irritation to the public; and what steps are being taken to remedy this situation.

Yes. l am aware that there is a shortage of gas supplies in certain parts of South Wales. A senior officer in my Department is at present in South Wales and I am taking all possible steps to assist the undertakings to provide additional gas supplies.

asked the Attorney-General whether the committee inquiring into the question of Leasehold Enfranchisement have now completed their work; and when he expects that the report will be published.

The Leasehold Committee have not yet completed their work and I am unable to say when they will be in a position to publish their report.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that bananas, reserved for young children, are often diverted to adults; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this practice.

I am not aware of any widespread diversion of bananas to people not entitled to them. If, however, my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any such cases I will gladly look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a statement on the restitution of property in the British zone of Germany, which was taken away from German nationals by the former Nazi Government.

I am still unable to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 20th September. Further revision of the draft Restitution Ordinance has proved necessary, but I hope that it will be possible to approve it in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of His Majesty's Government's responsibility in the Western zone of Germany, he will publish the details of the four-year plan relating to Western Germany, as submitted to the 0.E.E.C. in Paris, in the form of a White Paper.

No. The programme is already available to the public in full in the Interim Report submitted by the O.E.E.C. to the United States European Co-operation Administration, copies of which are on sale at His Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many people were killed and injured by the police shooting at them during the elections in the Sudan in November, 1948; and whether he will make a statement concerning the police action.

Six rioters were killed when, on 15th November, the police opened fire in self-defence against a crowd attacking them with stones and swords. Full investigations into the circumstances of this incident were made immediately by a magistrate. These investigations showed that the police acted correctly and with restraint, and that their prompt action prevented almost certain loss of innocent lives and serious damage to property.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many people were arrested during the elections in the Sudan in November, 1948; what were the charges against them; and how have they been sentenced.

One hundred and sixty-eight persons were arrested as a result of the demonstrations which occurred during the elections in the Sudan; of these 15 were released without trial. Of the remainder, 62 were charged with affray, 44 with being members of an unlawful assembly, and 47 with rioting. Forty-two of those charged were acquitted and the remaining 111 were given sentences ranging from fines of 150 piastres to six months' imprisonment. Although three persons were sentenced to 18, 15 and nine months' imprisonment, respectively, these sentences were subsequently reduced to six months' imprisonment on appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent is His Majesty's Government still financing, supplying and equipping the Government of Greece.

Under the provisions of the Intra-European Payments Agreement His Majesty's Government are making available to Greece for the financial year 1948–49 sterling drawing rights to the extent of two and a half million pounds. No supplies or equipment are at present being made available to Greece except against payment.

asked the Minister of Transport why driver motor car licences are the only ones about which no reminder is sent; and if he will now agree to have these sent out by local taxation authorities.

Licensing authorities have already been asked to restore the system of driving licence reminders which was discontinued during the war. I will advise authorities that if they have not yet made the necessary arrangements, it is desirable that they should do so as soon as possible.