asked the Secretary of State for War why his Department will not accept responsibility for the total destruction of a motor car belonging to Mr. Peter Coburn, of 7, Havesbreakes Place, Lancaster, by military personnel using War Department equipment on War Department property.

As the hon. Member has already been informed, the soldiers responsible were not on duty at the time the unlawful act was committed. Consequently, on the grounds that in similar circumstances a private employer would not be responsible in law for the unauthorised acts committed by his servant, I am unable to accept liability. I understand that Mr. Coburn has already received payment for this loss from his insurance company.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, as the leave passes of the soldiers in question had expired, and as they were on War Department property and using War Department equipment, they came under military discipline?

No. My advice is that these men were definitely off duty.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why a civilian car was allowed to enter the camp at such a late hour?

So far as I gather, there is no question of a civilian car entering the camp. Apparently, these men, while off duty and on a frolic of their own, broke into a civilian garage where they discovered the car and stole it.

Is it not a fact that the car was destroyed?

asked the Secretary of State for War what consideration is being given to the maintenance of sufficient Government horses at the Royal Military Academy to enable officer cadets to ride and to learn to ride as a voluntary recreation.

It is not possible for horses to be provided from Army funds for this purpose.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that is a very disappointing reply indeed, and that while it may be necessary to delete horsemanship from the syllabus at Sandhurst, will he not agree that it did a great deal of good in the past? May I appeal to him to reconsider this, for it would cost only a small outlay?

No doubt horsemanship should be encouraged, but I am sorry that I cannot provide the financial facilities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is one very big Government horse, the T.U.C., and that it would be a good thing if someone were taught to control it?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to say if any way has been found of reducing the charges for bringing soldiers' bodies home from different parts of the world.

I am glad to say that the Railway Executive have agreed to reduce by half the sea freight charge for the conveyance of soldiers' bodies from the Hook of Holland to Harwich.

May I express great satisfaction with that answer, and follow it up by asking if my right hon. Friend can now consider with the Minister of Pensions if it is possible for them to make a contribution, so that this burden may be taken off the shoulders of parents in these circumstances?

That would raise very wide issues which I am not prepared to answer at this stage. I think we have gone a long way in the direction that my hon. Friend desires.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it is intended to publish in the divisional and brigade orders of the units concerned an appreciation of the work done in the London Docks by various units of the Army.

An appreciation of the fine work done by the troops at the London Docks is being sent to all the units concerned for publication in orders.

While I am not objecting to that, may I ask my right hon. Friend if he is aware that the best way to show our appreciation is to give the men extended leave for the very fine work they have done? Will he consider that?

No, I am afraid I cannot. These men undertook duties in the national interest, but they were in precisely the same position as many other men who were not similarly occupied but who undertook other duties.

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell the House if it was purely a coincidence that it was not until my Question appeared on the Paper that Ministers began to realise the debt they owed to the troops?

Nonsense.

I can hardly think that we require to invoke my right hon. Friend opposite in order to express appreciation of the services rendered by our men in the Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the employment of Army personnel at the London Docks has interfered with regimental and brigade training for troops stationed in the British Isles.

There has unfortunately been some interference with regimental training as a result of the employment of soldiers at the London Docks, but not on an extensive scale. No brigade training has been arranged for this month.

In view of the difficulty of training the Army at the present time and of the frequency with which troops have been used in the last year or so in this and similar strikes, will the right hon. Gentleman consider in future adopting the alternative method of calling for civilian volunteers, after a clarion call by the Minister of Labour, singing, for example, "The Red Flag"?

As the noble Lord is aware, I am not responsible for the production of civilian labour. As for singing "The Red Flag," I regard it as a very desirable thing to do.

Will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that the men will not be made to suffer for this by an intensified training, which is apt to take place after an event of this kind?

I have made very careful inquiries into this matter. The interference with training is infinitesimal, and it will not interfere with any operations.

asked the Secretary of State for War the circumstances in which T/22201187 Private Fred Hassall, Royal Army Service Corps, received gun-shot wounds, resulting in his death, on 14th July, 1949, at Trieste, particulars of which have already been sent him.

A full investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Private Hassall is being carried out. When this has been completed I will write to the hon. and gallant Member. I should, however, like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with Private Hassall's parents in their distress.

While appreciating what is being done, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the parents in the first instance received a telegram intimating that their son had died, and that a day afterwards they received a very detailed report from a news correspondent? Surely it would be better if War Office officials gave a little bit more information to let parents know the circumstances in which their sons died?

No, I do not agree with the hon. and gallant Gentleman. It would be most improper to convey information to the parents of the deceased soldiers unless we were fully informed of the facts. In this particular instance we have yet to complete inquiries.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect to have the facts so that the parents will know?

We have asked the Command to furnish the informaion with a sense of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for emergency treatment to be given at the Army Dental Centre, at Bushfield Camp, Winchester, to civilian patients who have been refused attention by Winchester dentists.

No. The dental officer at Winchester is fully employed.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Masonic Hall, London Road, Leicester, which has been requisitioned for the last 10 years, has not been vacated in accordance with his undertaking of 6th November, 1947, reference PUS/BM/151/47; and if he will forthwith concentrate the Records Office in the three other buildings now occupied in Leicester, as undertaken by his director of quartering on 1st July.

Unfortunately the proposals for the acquisition of the premises which had been selected in 1947 to house the Record Office had to be dropped, and it has not yet been possible to find suitable premises. I understand that on 1st July the Director of Quartering undertook to investigate the possibility of moving the section of the Record Office at the Masonic Hall to other premises in Leicester, but he did not promise to move it into the other buildings occupied by the Record Office as appeals had also been received for the release of some of these. I am aware of the local feeling on this subject, and every effort will be made to find a satisfactory solution of the problem as early as possible.

But is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that he made a similar promise nearly two years ago, and that in the meantime nothing has been done? Is it not reasonable to ask that he should make a promise that this property shall be derequisitioned before the end of this year, in view of the fact that there are other properties in Leicester that could be used for this purpose? May I have that promise from the right hon. Gentleman?

I am bound to say that I cannot recall any promise that I made under this head nearly two years ago, though the hon. Gentleman may be right. However, we are doing everything possible to release these premises.

Two years ago a similar promise was made to do everything possible, and as yet nothing has been done. Can I have a promise that in six months the right hon. Gentleman's Department will be out of these premises?

Some difficulty may have emerged in the last two years which has made it difficult to release the premises. I do not desire to hold the premises any longer than is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men of the 14th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, now under orders for service in the Far East have had less than six months in England since returning from service in the Far East; and whether it is his policy to allow men to do two successive full terms of duty in the Far East without any intervening break of home service.

One man has been reposted to the Far East after less than six months' stay in this country. He had returned here for parachute training, but had been found to be unsuitable. He has, therefore, been sent back to the Far East to complete his tour of service overseas, which is the normal practice in such cases. Officers and men who return from the Far East after completing their overseas tour are not normally reposted there for at least 18 months after their return to this country. It has, however, been necessary to make exceptions for operational reinforcements. In such cases, subject to operational conditions, the individuals will be given the option of returning to the United Kingdom six months after disembarking in the Far East.

Assuming that the right hon. Gentleman is referring to the one man about whom I have written to him, does he think it right that a young man of 22, after doing three years' service in the Far East, should be allowed only just six months at home before being sent out to do a further tour of duty in the Far East?

It surely depends on the circumstances. In this particular instance the circumstances were exceptional, because the man had been returned here for specialised training, and when he was found unsuitable we naturally reposted him.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the average weekly loss of stores over the last 12 months from the Mackinnon Road depot, Kenya;

(2) the average monthly wastage due to malaria and other tropical diseases in the garrison of Mackinnon Road depot, Kenya;

(3) the quantity of water supplied daily in Mackinnon Road depot, Kenya, per head of the garrison.

I have asked the Command for the information, which is not available here. When it has been obtained I will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now able to announce his decision with regard to the salaries and status of Queen's Army schoolmistresses.

Regulations concerning the new rates of pay and improvements in conditions of service for regular Queen's Army schoolmistresses will be published shortly. It has been decided to accord them a status equivalent to that of junior commissioned officers.

Would my right hon. Friend see that these increases in pay are, when granted, dated back to 1st April, 1948, when the last Burnham award was promulgated?

We had come to that conclusion before it was suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any information to give regarding recent damage done to his Department's property in the grounds of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, particularly regarding the wilful damage done to ropes, as a result of which damage a sergeant fell from a height and was seriously injured; and what action he is taking to deal with this matter.

On account of the commission of wilful damage it has been necessary to exclude the public from the grounds of the Royal Military Academy, except for the use of the road from Camberley to Sandhurst Village, which runs through the grounds. The damage included the cutting and burning of some hemp ropes used for training purposes. The accident to the sergeant instructor was due to the parting of a wire rope which had not been tampered with. The sergeant was bruised but remained on duty.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is satisfied that claims in respect of loss of development rights under the Town and Country Planning Act have now been submitted by the persons affected.

I am satisfied that from June, 1948, onwards everything practicable was done to inform owners of interests in land depreciated in value as the result of the Act of their right to make a claim and of the closing date therefore.

Is the right hon. Gentleman also satisfied that in fact all or most of the people concerned, particularly owners of small plots of land, really are aware of this; and can he assure the House that we shall not have in some years the same sort of situation that has arisen with the War Damage Commission over late claims?

I cannot, of course, answer the question specifically, but my belief is that by far the vast majority of people have made a claim.

Have any claims come in since the beginning of the month; and if so, how many?

I cannot say.

Has the number of claims received come within reach of the number anticipated?

It has over-reached the number estimated.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is now able to give details of his scheme for associating new towns with particular congested areas so far as the provision of housing accommodation is concerned; and what specific proposals he has in view for assisting the Metropolitan Borough of St. Pancras in this connection.

Particulars of the scheme I am proposing for associating the new towns round London with particular congested areas, including all the metropolitan boroughs, will be sent very shortly to all local authorities in the Greater London area, with an invitation for their comments on the proposals. In these circumstances the hon. Member will not expect me to deal specially with one particular case.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in my own borough over 60 per cent. of the families on the housing list have expressed a willingness to work and live in the new towns?

Yes, I was aware of that, and it is of course a factor which will be taken into consideration.

Do I understand that the unfortunate new town in my constituency, which we do not want, is not to be consulted in the matter, but that this is to be the subject of a deal between the right hon. Gentleman and the authorities in London? Surely that is a monstrous suggestion. Why should they not he consulted?

I never indicated that they would not be. In fact, these consultations will be with the development corporation.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he has considered an inquiry held on 14th July by an inspector appointed by him in relation to an appeal by Messrs. Charrington and Company, Limited, against a refusal of the Finchley Borough Council to permit the erection of licensed premises upon a site which had previously been approved by them for this use, and in respect of which a new justice's licence had already been obtained; and if he will consider issuing directions now to his planning authorities, to avoid rendering of no effect the decisions of the authorities appointed by statute to deal with matters relating to the grant of new licences.

The answer to the first part is "Not yet." On the second part, I agree that co-operation between the planning authorities and licensing justices is important, and I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs how we can best secure it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I do not of course ask him to pronounce upon the case referred to in the Question. I am anxious to know generally if he will, as he indicates, take steps as soon as possible to avoid a conflict between the decision of the town planning authority, on the one hand, and the licensing justices, on the other, which may result in wasted expenditure, loss and hardship?

There have been very few cases. I realise the inconvenience of these conflicts and it is for that purpose that I am having discussions with my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what tests have been carried out regarding the suitability of Congleton to be classified as a new town; and if he is now able to give a decision in this matter.

Tests are now being carried out for the purpose of ascertaining how far certain land in the area might be affected by subsidence due to the solution of underground salt deposits. Investigations are also being made into the extent to which the water supply could be increased. Further examinations have still to be made, and I am not yet able to put forward a definite proposal about a new town.

When will the Minister be able to make up his mind on this matter, which has been going on for months and months? There are certain business concerns considering opening in Congleton but they will not do so while he is undecided. Will he make up his mind as soon as possible?

I will do so as soon as I have the necessary data.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether the War Office's proposal to acquire additional land at Trawsfynydd, Merioneth, will be considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Service Land Requirements; or whether a public inquiry will be held forthwith.

I propose to take steps immediately to arrange for a public local inquiry to be held in the matter.

Is the Minister aware that on 19th April he informed me there was no purpose in this scheme appearing before the Inter-Departmental Committee on Service Land Requirements, while his own Department wrote to the local land committee at the end of June saying that this case would go before the committee? How does he explain conflicting statements of that character from his Department?

In view of the criticism of the War Office proposals they were modified. It was hoped that the modifications might commend themselves to the local people. I am now satisfied that no useful purpose will be served by further inter-Departmental discussions, and I therefore propose holding an inquiry.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will now define the area at Mobberley on which development is likely to take place; and whether he will give an assurance that deep borings have been, or will be, carried out before any building commences in that area.

Discussions are still in progress with a view to ensuring that as much of the development as possible shall take place on land which is of the least importance to agriculture. Until these discussions have reached a conclusion, it will not be possible to say what area is likely to be developed or what further geological tests may be necessary. On the latter point, however, I would remind the hon. and gallant Member of the assurance I gave on 28th June in answer to a question by the hon. and learned Member for Wirral (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd).

As the Minister has also referred to me in a letter with regard to the new site at Mobberley on which development is likely to take place, why cannot he define its possible area and so put farmers and other people out of their anxiety? He has already told me that he has practically decided, but why has he not issued a statement?

There is no question as to a portion of the site, but as to the remainder discussions are still going on with the Ministry of Agriculture and the local authority. Until these discussions are concluded it is not possible for me to say exactly what the site will be.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what amount of green belt it is proposed to have between the suggested new site at Mobberley and surrounding towns.

I am of course anxious that the green belt should be as wide as possible, and this is one of the factors to be taken into account in settling the precise area to be developed. This area, however, has not yet been settled.

Does the Minister realise that the indecision on his part is very prejudicial to agriculture in the area, and that farmers are not farming their land properly because they do not know how long they will have the land in their possession?

This alleged indecision is for the very reason that I am anxious to protect the interests of the farmers as much as I possibly can.

Is it not true that the green belt which separates Knutsford from this proposed new town is only some 350 yards in length? Can we have a straight answer to that question?

Until the precise area of Mobberley is settled it is not possible to say what will be the size of that strip, although I admit it is not a very large one. In fact, all the indications I have are that Knutsford and Mobberley should be dealt with as one area.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman's difficulties be overcome if he accepted the advice of the Minister of Agriculture and let the farmers get on with their jobs?

It is not as easy as that.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether any estimate has been made of the total overspill from Manchester which it is necessary to accommodate in the surrounding counties; and what is the approximate allocation to each county.

Several estimates have been made by committees of local authorities in the area. All estimates on such a difficult matter are necessarily tentative, but on present information I think it may ultimately be necessary to provide accommodation in the surrounding counties for as many as 300,000 people from Manchester and the immediately adjoining towns. As far as I can see, about half this number would have to go to Cheshire and half to Lancashire. I hope it will shortly be possible to say something more definite about the scale on which provision should be made in the development plans to be submitted by 1951.

Is it not a fact that the Cheshire County Council has itself produced a plan for accommodating some 300,000 people from Manchester and the near districts with the minimum damage to agriculture? In such circumstances, is it necessary to seek to accommodate some 25,000 people at Mobberley on the best agricultural land in the country? Will not the right hon. Gentleman consider this again? I too should like a straight answer.

The hon. and learned Member always gets a straight answer. I have seen the proposals of Cheshire County Council and have given them very careful consideration. I am not satisfied that they can accommodate anything like 300,000 people. In my view it is about half that number.

Is it not a fact that the proposal put forward in black and white by Cheshire County Council definitely allowed for an overspill population of 300,000 people from Manchester alone? Why does the Minister talk such poppycock?

Is it not also a fact that thousands of people in the Manchester area have for generations been living under scandalous conditions, and will my right hon. Friend give an indication that their needs shall have priority over everything else? Can I have a straight answer to that question?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning in what parishes and over what acreage of the Kettering and Brixworth Rural Districts are ironstone producers being allowed to continue working without any legal obligation under the Planning Acts to restore the land; and when he proposes to impose such an obligation.

About 160 acres a year are being worked in these areas. Much of this is being restored voluntarily. Appropriate conditions requiring after-treatment will be imposed when the applications to continue working have been decided. Except for urgent cases, these applications will not be decided until a general policy has been formulated at the conferences. Such conditions will certainly include restoration of land now being excavated when that is right and practicable.

Is the Minister aware that he has been hatching that egg chronically for some years and acutely for about two years? Is it not about time this policy came out of its shell and was announced?

It is only a relatively short time since mining operations came under planning control. Before that they were quite uncontrolled. We really must satisfy ourselves that the conditions we are imposing are such as will not cripple the industry.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that except in very deep cases, which are rare, there is no reason whatever why the land should not be restored?

That is exactly what we are trying to ascertain in consultation with the industry. There are many cases where restoration will be prohibitive in cost.

Very few.

Is it advisable to take the advice of a debtor when considering whether to collect the debt?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will make a statement as to the meetings and progress of the two standing conferences on ironstone workings in the Midlands; and when he expects a report or advice from either conference.

The producers' conference has met six times and I understand that detailed investigation by sub-committees is well advanced on a number of technical matters such as restoration to agriculture, afforestation and plant and machinery. Progress has also been made on the examination of the iron-stone resources and the question of the reservation of areas to meet future production needs is being considered. In a more limited field the landowners' conference, which has met twice, is giving valuable help on afforestation and similar problems. All these questions are highly technical and require much detailed examination. I cannot yet say when either Conference will be in a position to advise me of their conclusions on particular topics.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that what is happening in Northamptonshire is causing a great deal of anxiety, and that people are getting impatient with these conferences, one of which has been going on since September and which was preceded by the original investigations of its chairman, Mr. Waters?

The damage done is very slight, and I cannot be jockeyed into formulating a policy until I have all the necessary data. Perhaps Members opposite would prefer to make policy without the necessary data.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the atrocious neglect in this direction over the years, and not be jockeyed into a position which does not take into consideration the many circumstances that must be borne in mind in matters of this kind?

Are agriculturists properly represented on the producers' conference, or are the iron ore producers left to do their worst?

They are helped.

Is all this delay and muddle essential?

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that under existing regulations non-employed persons who have given due notice of claims of pension in anticipation of attaining the prescribed age, are thereafter required to give notice of retirement, although they have no occupation from which to retire; and whether he will alter the regulations so as to correct this anomaly.

The National Insurance Act requires everyone, including those classified as non-employed to give formal notice of retirement as a condition of receiving a retirement pension, and I have no power to alter this by regulations. Provision for giving this notice is made in the claim form, and if this is duly completed no separate notice is required.

Is it not the case that preliminary notices are given by non-employed persons that they are about to reach the age of entitlement to pension? After they have done that, what is the point of giving notice that they are about to reach that age of retirement from employment they have not got?

I agree that it is an anomaly, but I think that it can be removed by administration without going to the trouble of amending the Act.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will invite nominations from the British Federation of Old Age Pensioners to sit on the local advisory committees now in the process of being appointed.

As my hon Friend has already been informed, membership of the committees will include persons appointed after consultation with organisations of employers and workers, local authorities and friendly societies. The remainder will be persons with special local knowledge or experience likely to be of value. I am satisfied that the committees as constituted will be fully competent to watch over the interests of old people.

Will my right hon. Friend say precisely whether this organisation, which has the interests of two million people at heart, will be given an opportunity to be represented on these very important committees?

I have given representation to certain permanent organisations I have named, but I do not think I could go beyond that and include any other organisations.

Is not this permanent organisation entitled, in this democratic age, to have representation on committees which will determine the destiny of the people they represent?

I cannot admit the claim of any such organisation to exclusive representation of aged people.

asked the Minister of National Insurance if he will give an estimate of the cost which would be incurred by the National Assistance Board in paying the insurance contributions for those widows between the ages of 50 and 60 years, whose husbands died before 5th July, 1948, and who are in receipt of payments from the Board in supplementation of their 10s. pension.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many widows whose husbands died before 5th July, 1948, and who are between 50 and 60 years of age, are in receipt of payments from the National Assistance Board.

The National Assistance Board inform me that the number of such widows cannot be precisely stated but they estimate that there are about 17,000 widows in receipt of assistance supplementary to a 10s. pension. The cost to the Board of paying national insurance contributions in respect of these widows at the rate for non-employed persons is estimated at about £160,000 a year. The total cost to the Exchequer cannot be precisely estimated.

In view of the comparatively small cost, would my right hon. Friend consider the suggestion in the Question?

That is a matter of policy, which the Assistance Board themselves will have to consider.

Would my right hon. Friend consider paying the contributions of those widows who have no income other than 10s. a week?

I have no power to pay contributions; they must be paid by those from whom they are due. The question whether assistance should include any kind of contribution is a matter of policy for the Board to decide.

As the Minister has power to remit contributions would he not exercise that power?

I have power to credit people with contributions in certain circumstances, but the hon. Member will appreciate that that would have an effect on the contributions to be paid by others.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent E.C.A. funds are at present being allotted for the purchase of Canadian wheat.

E.C.A. funds are not at present being allotted for the purchase of Canadian wheat.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we have to pay in dollars for all the Canadian wheat that we import?

I have answered the Question on the Order Paper. No funds at present are being allotted, and the question now asked is entirely different.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the expert advice he obtained before allowing the purchase of hatching eggs from the United States of America for the poultry project in the Gambia was confirmed by the technical officers of the Ministry of Agriculture; and if arrangements have been made for the future to supply from the United Kingdom replacement stock of suitable strain;

(2) if he will specify the strain of poultry which the Treasury agreed should be purchased from Boston, United States of America, for the Colonial Development Corporation's poultry project in the Gambia.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of eggs and the breeds of fowls, respectively, ordered for Gambia from the United States of America for which his Department authorised the expenditure of 14,000 dollars.

As these Questions deal with the same subject and as the reply is rather long, I will, with the hon. Members' permission, deal with them in a single answer and circulate that answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.