asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take with regard to widows and orphans of retired Palestine officials who are now in financial difficulties owing to the winding up of the Palestine Widows and Orphans Pension Fund by an Order in Council, 29th April, 1948.

Pensions already awarded to widows and orphans of deceased Palestine officers in return for contributions to the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund are continuing and will continue to be paid. These beneficiaries remain in exactly the same position as if the Mandate had not been terminated.The position of Palestine officers who had begun to make provision for their dependants by contributing to the Fund is probably in the hon. Member's mind. The Fund had been in existence only since 1944 and had not therefore built up any reserve of capital. In the absence of any continuing authority which could receive contributions and pay benefits, and in the absence also of any possibility of the fund attracting new contributors, there was clearly no alternative but to wind it up. Officers who have retired will receive a payment equal to the amount of the contributions which they and the Palestine Government have made to the Fund on their behalf, with compound interest. In the case of those officers who are continuing in the Colonial Service elsewhere, the Colonial Governments to which they are being transferred have been invited to enact legislation to permit them to make lump sum contributions to the Fund or Scheme of the new Colony equal to the amount they had previously contributed to the Palestine Fund, and most of the Governments have agreed.

asked the Attorney-General whether he now has any statement to make as to the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions on matters referred to him arising from evidence heard by the tribunal over which Mr. Justice Lynskey presided.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the three cases mentioned in paragraph 17 of the report of the Tribunal. In one case involving a minor official of the Board of Trade, inquiries are now completed and I have given my consent to a prosecution for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1906. In the second case involving a temporary Civil Servant, there is insufficient evidence of corruption to justify proceedings. In the third case involving what has been described as "a contact man," inquiries are still proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers attended hospitals in British-Occupied Germany in 1948 for investigation as to whether or not they were suffering from venereal disease; and how many received treatment.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not readily available. The number of male officers and other ranks in B.A.O.R. who received treatment for venereal disease during 1948 represented approximately 8.8 per 100 strength.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the adverse criticism of the traffic "Jimp" made at the recent meeting of the North-East Accident Prevention Federation; and whether he will take steps to remove this unsatisfactory form of propaganda from the North-East.

No. I am aware however, that there has been some criticism of the traffic "Jimp" mainly on the ground of the effect it might have on children's behaviour. This will be borne in mind in preparing material for the next phase of the road safety propaganda campaign. I see no need to withdraw current advertisements or posters.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will name the railway electrification schemes undertaken since V.J. Day; and give in each case the

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many vacancies exist in the Administrative Class of the home Civil Service; and what average percentage of candidates are turned down by the Civil Service Selection Board.

At the end of January, 1949, there were 67 unfilled vacancies in the assistant principal grade of the Administrative Class out of a total of 650 to be filled from the reconstruction competitions; there were also 14 vacancies unfilled from the first of the resumed normal competitions held in 1948. About 50 vacancies in the principal grade are to be filled from a current competition the result of which will be announced shortly. Approximately one in six of

No new schemes have been put in hand since V.J. Day; the works described below refer to schemes which were started before the war and which were resumed after V.J. Day.the eligible candidates examined in the competitions for recruitment of assistant principals were declared successful.