asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that employees in excepted employment who, on retirement from such employment after the age of 60, enter the contributory pensions scheme, have no chance of qualifying for an old age pension although they may pay contributions for five years; and whether, in these circumstances, he will refund their contributions.

The hon. Member is, I think, referring to certain provisions of the old contributory pensions Acts. These are no longer operative.

Do I understand that employees in excepted employment who retired after the age of 60 can now qualify for a contributory pension?

No. What I am saying is that the persons to whom the hon. Gentleman appears to refer were covered by the old contributory pensions Acts which have been repealed.

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary will answer my Question, which was: Have these people paid contributions for five years with no hope or expectation of getting a pension; and will not the hon. Gentleman take the honourable course of refunding their contributions?

The hon. Gentleman appears to be referring to men who were 65 before 5th July, 1948, and who therefore did not come within the provisions of the new Act. What he is in fact asking me to do is to make some alteration of Acts of Parliament which have already been repealed.

asked the Minister of National Insurance on what principle redundancy notices have been served on disabled ex-Service men employed as temporary clerks in the Ministry of National Insurance in Edinburgh; and what consideration is given to the claims of such ex-Service men in view of their difficulty in obtaining suitable employment in Edinburgh and district.

The preliminary warnings of probable redundancy have been issued on the basis of agreements reached on the National Whitley Council. These provide that special consideration shall be given to severely disabled persons who have performed six months' satisfactory service.

What I am anxious to know on behalf of my constituents is: On what principle does the Ministry act in discharging disabled ex-Service men, whose chances of employment are extremely difficult, in preference to others?

We act upon the agreement which has been negotiated at a national level.

Am I to understand that the disabled ex-Service men have made an agreement whereby they may be rendered redundant in preference to others who are not so disabled?

The agreement made has been made with all the staff.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree it is high time that that agreement was revised, owing to the fact that all the ex-Service men's organisations were not taken into consultation?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Gentleman last week, there is machinery for any alteration which may be desired, namely, through the Whitley Council.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the figures of the number of persons receiving the sickness and other insurance benefits under the old scheme which are detailed under headings of the payments made in the Annual Abstract of Statistics.

The figures asked for are not available as no statistics were maintained of the number of persons receiving each of the benefits under the old scheme.

Is it not an extraordinary situation that there are full details of the total payments made on sickness benefits but apparently no record of the number of persons to whom they were made?

That was a defect in the returns made under the old system. They returned the total amount of benefits paid but no details about the number of benefits. That will be corrected when we issue our annual reports under the new scheme.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he has yet received the Report of the National Insurance Advisory Committee on the question of benefit conditions for seasonal workers.

Yes, Sir. I have received this Report. It has now been published and copies will be available in the Vote Office after Questions. I am giving it my careful consideration, but I have not yet reached any conclusions as to the action which I shall take on it.

asked the Minister of National Insurance what decisions were reached by regional medical officers in the 202,188 cases referred to them for second medical opinion in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1949, and the 75,189 referred to them in the previous 12 months.

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to get additional labour into the export industries to meet the extra demands arising from devaluation; and if he has discussed the matter with the trades unions concerned.

There are existing arrangements for giving a preference in the supply of labour to industries and firms engaged on dollar earning and dollar saving production. I have initiated discussions with both sides of industry to review and, where necessary, strengthen these arrangements.

Is the Minister satisfied that the exporting trades are to get the extra labour they will require, or is he expecting the same labour to do the extra work to meet the new demands?

No, Sir. The hon. Member asked what steps we are proposing to take. We propose to continue the present steps and, where necessary, to strengthen them in the hope that we shall be able to supply all the industries' requirements.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that everything is being done? Is the comb-out really sufficient? Is he aware that the Dorchester, the Mayfair and other places are simply swarming with useless men and women who ought to be directed into productive employment?

I have informed the House that I have no powers to comb-out. All I can do is to make the best use of the labour that comes to us.

Are no special steps being taken, with reference to the textile industry in Lancashire, to get women to come into Lancashire and work in the cotton industry?

Yes, Sir. Special steps have been taken in Lancashire with successful results, and further supplies of labour are now becoming available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Dorchester and the Mayfair labour would be useless in most textile areas?

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to settle the dispute between the management and workers of C. W. Martin & Co. of Bermondsey.

This dispute, which has resulted in a stoppage of work since 13th October, arises on a question of trade union membership. An officer of my Department has been in close touch with the parties, and further discussions with them are taking place today.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that out of 450 employees 425 are members of this trade union, and that the employees have shown great tolerance for nine months in negotiating with the firm for their ordinary fundamental rights? Is this not a case where the employer is wrong and should be severely dealt with?

I do not know that we have any powers to deal severely with the employer. The fact that he is coming to the Ministry today may mean that he is being severely dealt with.

Is it not possible for the Department to inform this firm that all decent employers for a very long time have recognised trade unionists?

Probably that information will be imparted to them today.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it is very strange that where there is a strike and the employers are wrong no publicity is given in the national Press, but that if the workers are wrong, it is put in the headlines?

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking with reference to existing agreements under which the amount of wages, salaries and other remuneration are affected by variations in the cost of living; what is the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to such agreements; and what steps he is taking to invite the attention of the two sides of industry to that policy.

It is the Government's policy to entrust the settlement of wages and conditions of employment to the joint negotiating machinery in industry, and any questions arising on the agreements to which the hon. Member refers would be a matter for such machinery in the industries concerned. I am satisfied that the two sides of industry are fully aware of the Government's view, expressed in this House by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 27th September, that there must be a strict observance of the terms of the White Paper on personal incomes, prices and profits.

I am not clear whether that answer means that it is the view of the Government that there should be a variation in agreements which, if carried out in their present form, must lead to a proportionate rise in many wage rates when the cost of living rises.

I think the view of the Government was expressed to that extent in the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I know that the industries are considering this, and one has already come to a decision about it.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that unemployment in the shipyards is causing grave anxiety on the Clyde; that fears of further reductions in capital expenditure is adding to that anxiety; and what steps he is taking to ensure alternative employment for all men discharged as redundant from the dockyards of the Clyde;

(2) if he is aware of the anxiety caused by the growing unemployment in the shipyards of the Clyde; and what steps he is taking either in conjunction with other Departments or on his own to attract fresh orders to this area, to investigate alternative schemes of employment or in other ways to secure that these workmen are enabled to use their skill to the advantage of their country.

I am aware that some anxieties are prevalent in various shipyard areas. As regards the Clyde, however, there has been no significant growth recently in the numbers of shipyards workers registered as unemployed. My information is that the present level of employment in the Clyde shipyards can be expected to continue until at least the early summer of next year. There may then be some falling-off as reconversion jobs come to completion. In that event, suitable work is likely to be available for any skilled men who may be displaced, and every effort will be made to place them and others in alternative work as quickly as possible. The outlook is being kept continually under review by the Departments concerned, together with the general problem of unemployment in this area.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the fear is not that by next summer there will be some falling off in employment, but that by next summer there will be a great amount of unemployment on the Clyde on the basis of present orders?

I can assure the House and the Members who have put down these Questions that this question of ship repairs and shipyard work is having frequent and regular consideration. There has been a drop of 2,684 in the shipyard labour force on the Clyde, but the number of unemployed in the area has gone up by 290; so some 2,600 have gone into other jobs.

As there is a considerable falling-off in repairs and re-conversions, and as there is a great increase in tankers as compared with ordinary shipping, will the Minister realise that there is great uneasiness right down the whole length of the Clyde, and will he not discuss with the other members of the Government the desirability of a graving dock in Greenock so that all the ships built on the Clyde could be berthed there?

I hope I have made it clear that there is constant contact between myself and other Ministers concerned. Although the Clyde is in a peculiar position, we have exactly the same problem in other areas, and we must consider the situation as a whole.

Is the Minister aware that there would be more work in the shipyards today if the shipping firms were allowed to dispose of their old ships and thereby acquire funds with which to build new ones?

That is one of the points under consideration.

Can my right hon. Friend see, with the other Ministers, that there is a fair allocation of work between the various ports where unemployment is taking place?

Yes, Sir.

Can the Minister say what quantity of shipping is being repaired in Hamburg?

No, Sir. I can only answer on unemployment. Questions on allocation should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the Minister of Labour the total sum granted by his Department last year for the rehabilitation training of disabled ex-Service men at the British Legion workshops at Preston Hall, near Maidstone; what were the courses for which this grant was made; and what is the number of men at present under training in each course.

The arrangements with Preston Hall for grant-aiding the training of disabled ex-Service men became operative in August, 1948. Training grants from that date until 31st March, 1949, amounted to about £260. The courses involved and the numbers in training at 27th October, 1949, were: Carpentry, 11; Clerical, 6; Electrical maintenance, 3; Motor mechanic, 8; Painting and decorating, 1; Total, 29.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that this training is really being carried out satisfactorily and that the men are not being used as cheap labour to work on the private cars of British Legion officials?

I have no right to intervene in these matters, but nothing has come to our notice to warrant making any comment.

Will not the Minister agree that all of us are thoroughly sick of the childish vendetta of the hon. and gallant Member?

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest figures available of unemployment in Cornwall.

One thousand, nine hundred and one males and 496 females at 10th October.

asked the Minister of Labour how many engineers and engineers' labourers were unemployed in Oldham on 22nd October, 1949.

At 13th September, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of wholly unemployed men registered at the Oldham employment exchange for employment as engineers was 20, and the number classified as engineers' labourers was five.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is much disquiet in the district mentioned in regard to the strong rumours of possible redundancy in the textile manufacturing industry?

I should hope that these rumours would prove to be unfounded, because so great is the demand for textile machinery that I cannot imagine redundancy arising.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons classed as unemployed and disabled have been trained at the Remploy establishment in Gladwick, Oldham; how many are being trained at the present time; and what is the total number who have been found employment to date.

One hundred and twelve severely disabled workers who were previously unemployed have been employed at the Oldham Remploy Factory; such training as is necessary is given during employment and it is not possible, therefore, to state separately the number in training.

Is the Minister aware that there is an expression of opinion amongst people who have been trained that it would have been far better had they not been trained, for it has affected their chances of permanent employment in the future.

They are, in fact, in employment. They go into that place for employment, and when they come in they are trained for the kind of work done in that employment. Out of 112 who have gone in, 77 are still working there and 35 have left for other reasons, maybe because of prolonged illness, which we can expect amongst men of the type for whom we have to provide work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that returning officers in Scotland will be able at the next General Election to issue official poll cards in every constituency in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 16 of the Third Schedule to the Representation of the People Act, 1948.

I have consulted the returning officers on this matter, and while I appreciate the practical difficulties involved, I have at present no reason to doubt that they will be overcome.

Would the failure to issue these cards in any constituency invalidate the election in that constituency?

That is a hypothetical question, but I do not anticipate any failure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is proposed to close down the camp for displaced persons at Balhary, Perthshire; whether he is aware of the resentment and alarm occasioned locally by the behaviour of some of the inmates of this camp; and why appropriate disciplinary powers are not given to the official in charge.

In view of the continuing need of accommodation for the agricultural workers who are hired out to farmers in the district, I cannot give any indication at present as to when it may be possible to close this camp. I have made local inquiry and find no evidence at all of resentment and alarm having been caused locally by the behaviour of the men who live in the camp.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his information is totally incorrect, and that women and girls in that neighbourhood will not go along that road after dark when these people are going back? Will he please look into it, because it is very serious? Does he also realise that the labour itself is thoroughly unsatisfactory?

We have consulted the Provost of Alyth, the police constable, and some of the ministers of the church. Far from making the same complaints as the hon. and gallant Gentleman, they tend to resent the suggestion that these men have behaved improperly and, therefore, the source of information of the hon. and gallant Gentleman must be quite different. If he will let me know the source of that information, I may be able to check it, because the people in the district evidently have not heard of it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, "why appropriate disciplinary powers are not given to the official in charge," because they are nil?

There is no necessity, curiously enough, in the camp for any discipline such as the Question refers to. They naturally have ordinary discipline with regard to work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to prevent the sale of contraceptives from slot machines in Scotland.

It is open to any town or county council in Scotland to make by-laws prohibiting the sale of contraceptives from automatic machines in its area, and the Scottish Home Department will assist any local authority which asks for advice about the most suitable form of such by-laws. The by-laws would be subject to my confirmation, and I will be prepared to confirm any which are properly made in suitable form.

Is the Minister aware that very few people in Scotland know of the existence of these machines? Will he give an undertaking not to circularise local authorities in order to advertise them? Is he also aware that very few people knew of these machines until the protest broadcast by the Archbishop of Canterbury? Will he suggest to the Archbishop that he should not advertise them?

Is it not a fact that as yet, there are none of these machines in Scotland? Would the right hon. Gentleman confirm that?

I am sorry I cannot confirm that. My information, although I have not heard of the machines before, is that they have been in existence there for 20 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will arrange for priority in the supply of spectacles under the National Health Service scheme to persons who have only one eye.

While such cases would not automatically obtain priority this condition would certainly be a factor in assessing the need for priority in any particular case.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is a very good case for introducing priority in cases of this kind?

As the hon. and galland Gentleman knows very well, there are some people who can see more with one eye than other people can with two.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to secure the cleansing of such Scottish rivers as are at present badly polluted.

The administration of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Acts is in the hands of local authorities and I have no power of enforcement. Within the limits of the capital investment programme, however, I am prepared to approve works for the prevention of pollution whether in the form of sewage purification plant or outfall to the sea.

Would the Secretary of State agree that the amount of untreated sewage still discharged into the rivers is sufficient to call for very strong enforcement of the Act?

I have no powers in that direction. I should be very glad to encourage and help any local authority which is so disposed.

In view of the fact that many local authorities are failing in their duty in this respect, would my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of creating one pollution authority so that we may have a uniform approach to this problem?

There is a subcommittee of the Water Advisory Committee at present considering the question of the pollution of rivers, and when their report comes along it may perhaps make some recommendation of a practical nature. In the meantime, if my hon. Friend will give me the particular cases referred to I can consider them.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that what he requires in this connection is more authority to deal with pollution, and if that is so, if he has not the time before then, will he, when he comes back as Secretary of State for Scotland after the next Election, bring in stronger legislation?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the present arrangements for the use of B.C.G. vaccine as a preventive measure against tuberculosis.

Regional Hospital Boards are arranging to offer B.C.G. vaccination to hospital nurses and medical students. All local health authorities have been invited to arrange, on the advice of the appropriate chest physician, for the B.C.G. vaccination of contacts of persons suffering from tuberculosis.

Does my right hon. Friend anticipate any difficulty in obtaining the necessary supplies of this vaccine?

It does not exist in mass form, but my hon. Friend will be interested to know that his own county was the first to make application for this, and arrangements have been made to fly this material from Denmark for use in Stirling on 17th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify the instrument by which he appointed the day from which the Improvement of Live Stock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931, applied in Scotland to pigs as it applied to cattle, stating the date of the instrument and the day appointed; and why he took action with regard to pigs in purported exercise of power under the said Act before the day appointed.

The Instrument by which I appointed the day from which the Improvement of Live Stock (Licensing of Bulls) Act, 1931, applied in Scotland to pigs as it applied to cattle is Statutory Instrument 1949 No. 1911 (S. 131), entitled the Licensing of Boars (Application to Scotland) Order, 1949. This Instrument was made on 12th October, 1949, and fixed 24th October, 1949, as the appointed day. Prior to 24th October, 1949, I took action with regard to the licensing of boars by virtue of the Improvement of Live Stock (Licensing of Boars) (Scotland) Regulations, 1946.

Will the Secretary of State agree that for him to take any such action before the appointed day, which was last week, was ultra vires, and will he now say upon what statutory authority he took action?

If I took action under an Order which existed it was intra vires. The hon. Gentleman is talking about a different Order.

But it was only possible to apply the provisions of the Act to pigs from a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State. That was not until last week.

I must call the hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that we make legislation here; we do not interpret it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the flat rate transport system for fish will be retained when price control is lifted; and at what date will fish become decontrolled.

I regret that I cannot at present add to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 24th October.

Will not the Secretary of State agree that the fishing industry in the north is seriously disturbed at the possible harmful effects of the removal of the flat rate transport system and that an early decision is therefore necessary? Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication when he will be able to give the result of his investigations, as he has had this matter before him for a very long time?

Answer.

I shook my head to indicate that I could not.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the flat rate and price control are not inseparably associated, and that the abolition of the flat rate would ruin the fishing trade in Aberdeen, causing great unemployment and suffering there? Will he give an assurance that the flat rate will not be abandoned?

With regard to the first part of the question the Government are aware of that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how the proposed economy reductions are likely to affect Scotland;

(2) what is his estimate of the economy likely to be effected by the proposed penny increase in meals for schoolchildren;

(3) what is his estimate of the sums that will be saved in Scotland by the proposed reductions in conveyance of schoolchildren.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how the Scottish hydro-electricity schemes will be affected by the economy measures recently announced;

(2) what effect the Government's economic measures recently announced will have on the Scottish housing programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what effects the Government's recently announced economic measures will have in Scotland;

(2) which provisions of the Legal Aid and Solicitors (Scotland) Act will be deferred; and when those remaining will come into operation.

Scotland will, of course, make its contribution to the economy measures and detailed arrangements for doing so are at present being worked out.

In the fields of capital investment for which I am responsible I anticipate an overall reduction in the rate of investment of the order of £6,000,000. So far as housing is concerned I am satisfied that considerable reductions in the price of houses could be achieved and I propose to effect savings by permitting a larger proportion of three-apartment houses in accordance with local needs and desires and by accepting certain proposals for modifications in design. I must also withdraw the relaxations I made recently in regard to the issue of private licences. By this means I hope that there may be no obstacle to the building of the largest possible number of local authority houses.

As regards hydro-electric development the commencement of work on certan new schemes will be postponed for a period but no interference with existing schemes is contemplated.

Economies are also to be effected in the revenue expenditure of my Department; and those for 1950–51 are being adjusted in the formulation of the estimates for that year. As regards school meals the increase of 1d. on the normal charge of 5d. per meal is expected to save £250,000 in a full year, but pending consultation with local authorities I am not in a position to make any estimate of possible savings in the cost of transport of pupils.

As regards legal aid, I am considering, in consultations with my right hon. and learned Friends, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Lord Advocate, which provisions of the Act should be deferred.

Can arrangements be made to have all these revised Estimates considered by the Scottish Grand Committee?

That will occur in due course.

When consideration of the legal aid scheme is likely to be completed, will my right hon. Friend make an announcement about it, because there is considerable interest in it?

I quite agree, but hon. Members will understand that any cuts which there are to be, are being made without injuring any of the vital life of the nation and a delicate operation of that kind cannot be done in a rough-shod manner.

Is my right hon. Friend proposing to circularise the local authorities with regard to the effect which this announcement will have on their next year's building schemes, and will he tell me if he has considered restricting unnecessary building by reducing the financial limits on work to be done without a licence?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in which that point was expressly dealt with.

As it is clearly impossible to consider the implications of these changes on the Scottish economy from the way the right hon. Gentleman has expressed the matter this afternoon, will he produce them in a more detailed form so that we can consider the effect on housing and trade and all the other effects which they will have?

They will all come before the House in detailed form as revised Estimates.

Will my right hon. Friend say if local authorities will be able to raise the penny for the extra cost of meals from the rates instead of from the parents?

I should require notice of that question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a very considerable volume of public opinion in Scotland considers that Scotland has no dollar deficiency but is a valuable exporter? Has he represented these views to his colleagues in the Cabinet?

I am sorry to say that in some of these matters some Scottish opinion is not as well informed as I should like it to be.

Will the right hon. Gentleman put before the House figures showing the export surplus, if any, which Scotland has?

Since a great many of the people who talk about Scottish exports always forget to consider Scottish imports, it is not very easy to satisfy them.

Has the right hon. Gentleman tried to co-ordinate the extent to which the legal aid scheme will be introduced into Scotland with the extent to which it is being introduced into England so that there will be no unfair disparity as between one country and another?

One of the difficulties about these matters is that the criminal and other procedure in Scotland is entirely different from that in England and that any attempt to assimilate them would make confusion worse confounded.

Reverting to the supplementary question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Central Glasgow (Colonel Hutchison), would it be possible for the Secretary of State to lay before the House some sort of paper showing the effects of this because it will be a long time before the Estimates come out? Are we to understand that the 25,000 cut in housing estimated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not to apply in the case of Scotland?

The cut mentioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer was a financial cut. It was for the purpose of convenience converted into what it meant in terms of housing. It does not necessarily mean a reduction in housing but a saving in housing.

Does not that make it all the more necessary that the right hon. Gentleman should lay before the House some more detailed information. The Chancellor of the Exchequer made a most definite statement that a cut, not in money but in housing, of 25,000 houses would be made. Now we are informed by the Government that that may not be so. Again, I press the right hon. Gentleman to say whether he or the Government as a whole can lay before the House some paper indicating what was really meant by the Chancellor's statement.

I believe that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is mistaken in the sense that the Estimates of different Ministers deal with the finance of these matters. The question of how that saving is made must be left to be worked out in regard to each case. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made it quite clear that the saving would mean practically no alteration to local authority housing. He said there would be no specific or no marked decrease in local authority housing. Therefore, the saving must be worked out in such a way as to comply with that condition.

Even so, the Chancellor of the Exchequer did not make the statement in terms of finance but in terms of houses. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] I am asking the right hon. Gentleman whether he can elucidate the statement, because I am sure that the House was certainly left under the impression that it was a reduction in numbers of houses? The Minister of Health and others have said most definitely—

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not your opinion that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is not asking a question but is trying to conduct a cross-examination? Will you call him to Order?

Obviously the House is anxious for further information, and I am asking the Secretary of State whether he or the Prime Minister can clear up the matter by laying before the House some statement in figures which the House can consider, because there is obviously great confusion from the verbal statements which have been made.

I thought that my answer had cleared up any confusion there was in the mind of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister presented a list of savings which would be effected in money terms. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer expanded that in his speech, and in order to convey to hon. Members what £35 million meant on the average price of a house, he gave a figure, but how that saving is to be effected will be worked out in detail. As I have stated, we are hoping that that saving can be effected, in Scotland at least, without interfering with the number of houses which local authorities will build.

Are we to take it that the statements of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were merely metaphors?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the discontent amongst Scottish local government officials at the increasing disparity between their salaries and those paid to officials serving on many Government Boards; and if he will take the necessary action to stop any further increases in the salaries of chief officials on Boards under his jurisdiction.

I am aware that comparisons have been made between the salaries of local government officers and those of the officers of public boards. In the case of nationalised industries, the fixing of staff salaries is a matter for each board. In the case of the regional hospital boards, salaries are regulated by Whitley machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost to his Department of sending a disabled ex-naval man, of whom he has details, from Scotland to the British Legion workshop for tuberculosis cases at Preston Hall, near Maidstone, on 12th September.

The total cost involved in sending this man to Preston Hall amounted to £14 0s. 8d., which was paid by the local health authority responsible for his care and after-care, under Section 27 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947. This expenditure will rank for 50 per cent. grant from the Exchequer.

Why was it necessary to send this non-T.B. case from Ross and Cromarty 400 miles to a private, charitable T.B. rehabilitation workshop in Kent, where he was kept for only one day and then returned home? Is it not possible to rehabilitate Scottish ex-naval men in Scotland?

This place was considered, in the circumstances, to be the best for the man to go to. Whether it is in England or Scotland ex-naval men should, we think, have the best treatment possible.

asked the Lord Advocate if, in the interests of economy, he will take the steps necessary to enable the Court of Session to go on circuit when hearing cases, as does the High Court of Justiciary.

The Royal Commission on the Court of Session concluded that economy would not result from such an arrangement, and with that conclusion I agree. Moreover, the Royal Commission expressed the view that the policy of decentralisation applied to the Court of Session would be a destructive one, and I see no reason to differ from their conclusion.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that a litigant in a Court of Session action has to engage solicitors in his town of residence and solicitors in Edinburgh, and that all expert witnesses have to be taken through to Edinburgh, all of which means that time and money are consumed? Now that the Government are paying for all litigation does not that procedure mean sending up the costs, and can I press him to look at this matter again?

Those were the very facts which the Commission had in view when they came to their conclusion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to make a report of the investigation into cases of single agricultural workers living in Government hostels who have been paying 2s. a week Income Tax instead of the 6s. a week tax paid by men with comparable wages who live at home; and how many cases are involved.

The liability to Income Tax in these cases is governed by the general Income Tax law under which free board and lodging which an employer undertakes to provide for a warge earner is not income for taxation purposes. I regret that I cannot say how many cases are involved.

Could the Financial Secretary tell the House whether any steps are being taken on the remarks made in the Eleventh Report of the Select Committee on Estimates of the agricultural services where it was stated that this matter had been put before the Treasury?

I cannot add anything to what I have said already in reply to the Question.

You do not know.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that His Majesty's Inspectors of Taxes have been asking taxpayers, especially those who have cashed appreciable amounts in the Post Office Savings Bank or sold Defence Bonds, how their capital has been re-invested; and whether these inquiries by the Income Tax officials are in accordance with instructions given by him.

As the hon. Member will appreciate, Inspectors of Taxes have to make such inquiries as are necessary to ensure that liability to tax is correctly determined. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the cases which he has in mind, I will be glad to look into them.

Bearing in mind the need of the Government to encourage the Savings Movement, will the right bon. Gentleman give an undertaking that people who invest in Post Office Savings Bank deposits are not discouraged from so doing by the fact that if they disinvest or decide to change their investment they may be submitted to an inquisition by the Treasury? Will he state what justification there is in the case of Savings Bank deposits for this quite unwarrantable intrusion into people's private affairs?

Answer.

Is it true that the taxpayer is not bound to answer any of these questions?

One answer to that is that neither is the Minister, but the Inland Revenue authorities must do their duty and I can say, I think, without fear of contradiction, that they do it with circumspection. However, if it is necessary, they must be able to follow through with an individual taxpayer an investment which has been changed and which, may have gone wrong.

Gone wrong!

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why an official of the Customs and Excise called on Maxwell Bros., Ltd., an old-established Streatham company of 594, Sreatham High Road, and stated to an employee that it had been discovered that the company had a mortgage on one of its properties and that he had been sent to inquire whether the company was solvent, as any Purchase Tax due would have a prior claim.

Inquiries of this nature have to be made on occasions in order to protect the Revenue, but in this case the inquiry was unnecessary, and I regret that the mistake occurred. I should point out, however, that the only employee with whom the Customs and Excise officer discussed the matter was the company's Secretary.

Arising out of that reply, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this firm have never been liable at any time for Purchase Tax and that each quarter they have made the proper return certifying that that was so; and will he take immediate steps to bring an end to this unwarrantable snooping into the affairs of private firms?

Hear, hear.

We have been looking into this and suitable steps have now been taken to see that mistakes of this kind do not occur in future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider the proposed withdrawal of the 5s tax concession on agricultural tractors which is notified to take place on 30th June, 1950.

I am receiving a deputation on this subject from the National Farmers' Union in the course of the next few days, but I am bound to say that as at present advised my right hon. and learned Friend feels that the withdrawal of the wartime concession is fully justified.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that such a sharp increase from 5s. to £12 is a tax on productive equipment and as such is undesirable, and is a discouragement to the fullest use of mechanisation? Furthermore, is it not likely to fall more hardly on the smaller and less prosperous farmer who, in the course of running his farm, must sometimes haul a load and cannot afford a wide range of mechanical equipment?

This concession was only made during the war because of the general shortage of vehicles and it could not go on for ever. As it is, farmers have an advantage over ordinary commercial users and there is no reason in our view why it should continue indefinitely.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say under what authority this concession is withdrawn, and whether it is a matter which could be discussed by this House?

The concession was withdrawn by a Statutory Rule and Order and I cannot for the moment charge my memory as to whether it is still open to be discussed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this concession has been continuing for something like five years after the end of the war, and has come to be a basis of the costings of production of agriculture and that it will create grave hardship if it is now withdrawn on the excuse that it was merely a wartime provision?

Surely considerations of that kind are taken into account at the annual review of prices.

When the right hon. Gentleman receives the deputation, will he try to distinguish between tractors which may be used to haul some hundreds of tons of sugar beet on the road and those that make only occasional journeys, most of which are in the possession of small farmers?

I think the hon. Gentleman can take it that we shall know exactly what is being discussed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has received to the further representations which he made to the Italian Government to use part of their sterling credit to end their default on the drawn bonds of the Austrian Conversion Loan in British hands.

I am sorry to say that the Italian Government still refuse to acknowledge their liability.

But is it not a fact that Italy acknowledged her liability but said she could not pay yet?

The Italian Government are not willing at present to carry out their liability, and we have made representations to the effect that we think this liability should be carried out.

Have the Government drawn the attention of Italy to the fact that her sterling balances recently totalled as much as £40 million, and have they also reminded her that our treatment of her financially since the war has been exceptionally generous?