asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning why Form L.39, issued by the Central Land Board, contained no notice that claimants would be entitled to recover from the Board the same scale of expenses as for the completion of the optional part of Form S.1; and if he will inform persons, upon whom Form L.39 has been served, of their rights.

Because it was not desired to encourage small people to incur expenses which they would not, in the geat majority of cases, be able to recover. I am considering whether it will be useful to issue any further information on the subject.

I would like a definite assurance on this point. Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that each claimant upon whom Form L.39 has been served should be sent express notice of his right to costs?

I have had a conversation with the hon. Baronet about this matter and I will undertake to consider it. The point, as he knows very well, is that in the great majority of these cases expenses would not be likely to be recoverable because the claimants would not be successful, being within the 10 per cent. tolerance. For that reason I am anxious not to encourage people to engage in appeals if expenses are not recoverable. I will undertake to look into the matter to see whether the suggestion which the hon. Baronet has made can usefully be met.

In that case, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would be reasonable, when sending this form, to issue a covering memorandum explaining to the unfortunate recipient of the form what is at the back of it and its objective, and the rights of the people concerned?

I do not want to criticise any of the departmental arrangements made under the Central Land Board, but they believed that by issuing this form they were assisting people who otherwise might not be aware of the possibility of claiming. In the great majority of cases there is no doubt that claimants would not succeed. I have agreed, in reply to the second part of the hon. Baronet's Question, to look into the matter and see what can be done.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the claimants themselves are in a position to estimate whether they are likely to succeed and does he think that this right would be too daring an experiment in freedom?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise in this connection that the information given to the House on this very subject by his Parliamentary Secretary on 25th May and reported in column 2392 of the OFFICIAL REPORT was, to say the least of it, misleading, and in certain cases untrue?

I do not think that is so.

Well, it is.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether his attention has been drawn to the proposed extension by the War Department of the rifle range in the vicinity of Valle Crucis Abbey, Llangollen; and whether he will make representations to that Department with a view to preventing the destruction of the amenities of this district.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War informs me that this requirement has been reconsidered and that Valle Crucis Abbey, Llangollen, and the grounds, will not now fall within the area required.

Is the Minister aware that the destruction of the amenities of this district is not so much due to extension of the land as to extension of user by which there is a constant encroachment?

I shall be very glad to help the planning authority in any way I can to maintain the amenities. The question is whether the War Office are claiming this land. The answer is that they are not claiming it.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning (1) whether he has given consideration to the proposals of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for payment in full of Part VI claims under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, in accordance with a scheme for deferred payment certificates explained in the Memorandum of the Royal Institution; and what decision he has reached;

(2) whether he will now introduce legislation giving power to prescribe by regulation procedure for the settlement by the Lands Tribunal of disputes arising out of the determination of development charges.

Both these proposals, the merits of which are debatable, would require legislation, and this, as I have already stated, is not practicable this Session.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is satisfied that the procedure of Section 17 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, is in all respects appropriate for deciding whether operations and changes of use require a planning permission.

According to my information, this procedure is working reasonably well, but if the hon. Member will send me any evidence to the contrary. I shall be glad to look into it.

Does the Minister appreciate that, generally speaking, questions under Section 17 are those involving interpretation of law? Does he think that the present procedure is best qualified for dealing with these matters?

We often get on more quickly by consulting the local authorities on the matter, because they are the planning authorities, rather than by elaborate legal inquiries. On the whole, the local authorities apply common sense to these problems. I repeat that if the hon. Gentleman can give me any real evidence that the procedure is not working well, I will look into it.

Will the Minister accept as real evidence a case in which his Department has failed to come to a decision on Section 17 more than a year after the argument was heard?

I would like to see that question before me so that I may see whether the facts are as stated.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether the loss, amounting to £11,623,193, at current market value, on the Unemployment Fund holding of 2½ per cent. undated Treasury Stock was written off before this stock was transferred to the National Insurance Fund on 4th July. 1948; and what resources were applied for this purpose.

The position about the investments is explained in the notes to the published accounts of the National Insurance (Reserve) Fund for 1948–49.

Does not the Comptroller and Auditor-General there state that this loss was not recorded anywhere? Was it the hope of the Ministry that this £11 million would not be missed?

The hon. Baronet cannot have read the report very carefully. I think that my Permanent Secretary told the Auditor-General that the matter was explained fully, and if the hon. Gentleman will read page 2 of the acounts he will see the explanation.

Did not the Auditor-General say:

"The loss on revaluation … has … not been recorded either in the accounts of the absorbed funds, etc., or in these accounts"?

The Auditor-General said that it was not in the figures, but he was told that there was an explanatory note. I would ask the hon. Baronet to look at page 2, where he will see the explanatory note.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether, in reviewing the working of the National Insurance Scheme, she will consider the desirability of reintroducing, if necessary in modified form, the former practice of setting off a married woman's earned income allowance against any retirement pension to which she becomes entitled in her own right, so as to ensure that any retirement pension paid to a wife does not result in increased Pay-As-You-Earn contributions being demanded of her husband if he be still in work.

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend's suggestion will be brought to the notice of the new Committee on Income Tax in relation to superannuation to which I referred in my Budget speech.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the widespread shortage of bookbinders and the consequent delay in the publication of books; and what steps he is taking to deal with the matter.

I am aware of this shortage, and courses open to disabled persons have for some considerable time been available under the Vocational Training Scheme. In 1946 an arrangement was made for whole-time training for four years in employers' establishments which has been completed by four persons, and seven are at present in training. Since March, 1947, a course has existed at Queen Elizabeth's College, Leatherhead, which 16 have completed and where six are now in training. In December, 1948, another course was commenced at the Letchworth Government Training Centre which five persons have completed, and five are in training. I recently initiated some discussions which are not yet completed, but which I hope will improve the rate of intake of skilled workers into this important industry.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he will give special consideration to disabled people, injured not only in the Services but injured in industry, and who are suitable?

Yes, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman also ensure that the trade unions concerned will allow disabled men to have the ticket for their unions so that the men can practise the jobs for which they have been trained?

I have not specially inquired into this matter because I had no notice of it, but all the evidence I have is that these men have been admitted to the unions.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of Poles, ex-members of the Polish Resettlement Corps, are still unable to find employment in this country; and how many have been repatriated to Poland since the winding-up of the Corps.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of this Question is not available. Since September, 1949, seven former members of the Corps have been repatriated to Poland.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of building operatives want to work longer hours in order to earn more; and whether, in view of the need to speed the building programme, he will initiate negotiations to ease the ban on such overtime during the summer months.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the wish of a number of building workers to work longer hours; and if he will consider ways and means of allowing such extra efforts to be made provided the general standards of labour in the building industry are not depressed thereby.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the housing shortage, what steps he is taking to ensure that building operatives who volunteer to work additional time are allowed to do so.

I assume the hon. Members are referring to a case of certain workers employed by a firm of builders in Essex where the question of the overtime hours to be worked has been the subject of dispute. This matter has, however, been settled by an award of the National Arbitration Tribunal and I have no authority to intervene.

As regards the general question of working hours in the building industry, this is a matter for the two sides to determine and is dealt with in a series of voluntary agreements, in which provision is made for overtime. The overriding consideration must be that of output and, as the House will be aware, the industry is studying the problem of increasing productivity.

In view of the fact that overtime is being worked both upon the 1951 Exhibition and in Parliament Square on Saturdays and Sundays, could we ask the Minister to encourage this tribunal to reconsider the question of overtime in building houses for the people?

Surely that is quite another question. I have to assume that the question which the hon. Gentleman and others have raised is related to a certain matter, and so far as I am aware no objection is being raised to the working of overtime where the regular conditions relating to overtime are being observed.

Is it not a fact that in the industry there is an inclusive agreement dealing with overtime and is it not also true that the unions and the employers are very ready to grant the necessary overtime and are doing so all over the country?

This matter was examined by the industry's own tribunal. The facts in the particular case under notice were that there were other circumstances relating to working hours which are in dispute.

Has the Minister read the case of Mr. Norman Johnston in Mr. Frank Owen's article in the "Daily Express"? It relates to a man who left the union because he was not allowed to work overtime. Will the Minister stop these selfish practices, not only because of the shortage of houses but because the policy of control by the Socialist Government involves so many human tragedies?

I am not sure that I would accept as absolutely correct the story in the "Daily Express."

When the right hon. Gentleman says that the specific case has been settled, does he mean settled to enable the men to work longer hours?

Yes, and settled to enable the firm itself to obey the rules relating to working conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the captive bolt humane killer is now alone used for the killing of animals for food in Scotland; and what steps he has taken to forbid the use of the electric stunning method.

The captive bolt humane killer is extensively used throughout Scotland, but at some of the larger slaughterhouses and bacon factories pigs are stunned by electricity. I have no power to forbid its use.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that adequate consultations with the board of management for Angus hospitals took place before the numbers of the board were reduced from 23 to 21.

This decision was taken by the Eastern Regional Hospital Board, who in the circumstances were not legally bound to undertake consultations on the point.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Schedule to the Act there is provision for consultation? Why was there no consultation in this case which deprived the Angus Hospital Management Committee of one member of the board?

I think there were consultations in this case. I am asked whether the consultations were adequate but I do not express an opinion as to that. The Schedule, according to my recollection, refers to the filling of vacancies, but here vacancies were not filled.

As this cannot be decided by Question and answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has not shared with the county council the liability for damages arising from the fire at Ballingry, Fife, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Fife, West.

There are no grounds in my judgment upon which I could be expected to share liability in this case.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these houses were built to the specification of the Health Department? Should not the Health Department therefore bear some share of responsibility for what has occurred?

Surely my hon. Friend will agree that the houses were accepted completely at the discretion of the county council?

Can my right hon. Friend tell us what is being done now to prevent a recurrence of fire in that type of house?

Some considerable steps have been taken, particulars of which I shall be delighted to send to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why two senior inspectors chose Sunday, 25th September, to visit Brabsterdorran Mains Farm without prior notice; and why they failed to disclose their presence to the farmer or her grieve in view of the importance of the visit which resulted in the hill cattle subsidy being withdrawn.

I understand that the inspectors in question called on the farm grieve on Saturday, 24th September, when visibility happened to be poor. On Sunday, 25th, when the weather had cleared, they viewed the land. I am sorry if the farmer's susceptibilities have been outraged by these proceedings. Of course, no discourtesy was intended.

Is the right hon. Gentleman wholly satisfied that this visit took place, because the farmer, her family and her staff—and her dogs—were all there and they allege that on this flat Caithness plateau no one could possibly go in there in daylight without being seen? Is he aware that there is a widespread belief in Caithness among the agricultural community that the visit did not take place?

I have interviewed the officer myself and I have already written to the hon. Gentleman. I am, therefore, quite certain that the hon. Gentleman will play his part in disabusing the minds of the Caithness community of this misapprehension.

Is it not a fact that I have had to dig out this information over a long period of time from an apparently reluctant Department, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I share the views of the agricultural community there?

Well, Sir, I am quite certain that the visit took place and I am also quite certain that the land, as I have already explained to the hon. Gentleman, does not qualify, and, of course, that is the real grievance, not the visit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish the consolidated list of rents charged by local authorities for houses provided by them under the various Housing Acts.

A recent return from local authorities is now being analysed and will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now authorise the grant for a new harbour at Stroma, in view of the dangerous conditions which prevail there and as a means of providing employment for some of the unemployed civil engineering labourers and general labourers who are now registered at Wick and Thurso employment exchanges

I am unable to add to the answer which I gave the hon. Member on this subject on 4th April last.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the entire fishing fleet suffered very serious damage in the storm a few weeks ago and is he also aware that the economy of this important island, which is capable of making a great contribution to agriculture, is being destroyed for lack of a harbour? Having regard to the fact that the cost of the whole thing would be about £15,000, why not give it to them?

I am not certain that I should accept that figure, but, at any rate, I agree that communication here needs to be improved and I have taken counsel with the requisite people.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision he has come to on the question of a new harbour for Maidens, Ayrshire.

Proposals relating to Maidens Harbour are at present under discussion with the County Council of Ayr.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now give details of the schemes for encouraging the use of fertilisers for improving grass land and marginal land in Scotland.

As the information required is detailed and lengthy, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Are the announcements which the right hon. Gentleman is making in addition to the existing schemes or do they supplant the existing schemes?

I am asked here about the supplementary schemes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the statement is an agreed statement with the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, and can he assure the House that this has nothing to do with the long-term marginal land production policy referred to in the Gracious Speech?

I am quite certain that systematic consultations have taken place with the N.F.U. in Scotland. I should like to answer the second point more carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the objections of the people of Sutherland to the recommendations of the Scottish Wild Life Conservation Committee to reserve a large part of the county as conservation areas; and if he will withhold approval from this plan which would restrict the mode of life of the people and the important contribution which they are making to increase the nation's food.

The Scottish Committee of the Nature Conservancy with whom responsibility rests have no proposals for reserving land in Sutherland, but should any such proposals be made, I can assure the hon. Member that the county council would be fully consulted.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the wishes of the people of Sutherland must come before all others in any consideration given to this matter?

The hon. Gentleman must not work himself up into a frenzy of indignation about something which has not happened.

Will the Secretary of State realise that we hope to populate the Highlands with people before extending wild life any further?

There is no question here of extending wild life. I should be delighted to have the aid of the hon. Gentleman in exterminating undesirable political life.

Will the Secretary of State give the House an assurance that there is no question of denying the public access to any areas of the Highlands above the 2,500 feet contour mark?

I must assure hon. Gentlemen opposite that this is a piece of hypothesis. The suggestion was made, but the organisations with which responsibility lies, have made no proposals at all.

The right hon. Gentleman referred to the extermination of political vermin or something like that. Are not the people of Sutherland, Caithness and all Scotland capable of exterminating all that they do not want?

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Truro Battalion Home Guard Rifle Club have been prohibited from using the full-bore rifle range at Idless, by Headquarters, Southern Command, although still paying his Department on a per capita basis for the use of ranges; and when this ban on their use of the range will be lifted.

Examination of this range has revealed that to ensure the public safety, firing rights must be acquired over an additional area. All shooting at the range has been suspended pending the conclusion of negotiations for these rights. If the range remains closed for a considerable period, and no other range can be made available, an adjustment in the amount paid by the Truro Battalion Home Guard Rifle Club will be considered.

Does the Minister agree that this rifle club would form a very useful basis for the re-formation of a local defence force in the case of an emergency, and will he see that every possible facility is given for them to continue as a rifle club?

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the case where orders were given to sentries in Germany to shoot to kill in certain circumstances and subsequently Private Gordon Kenneth Linsell of the 1st Battalion the Black Watch was sentenced to death by court-martial for murder; and what action has been taken in respect of the authority issuing such orders.

Yes, Sir. My attention has been drawn to this case. The proceedings of the court-martial which tried Private Linsell have not yet been confirmed and the case must therefore be considered as sub judice. I cannot therefor comment at this stage on the case itself or on any orders which may be connected with it. In this connection I must point out that Private Linsell's legal adviser has intimated that he is instructed to prepare and submit a petition on behalf of Private Linsell for consideration by the Confirming Authority before the latter takes any action in regard to confirmation, and he has stated that he is fully aware that by his so doing some further delay in the confirmation or otherwise of the proceedings may be occasioned. The petition has not yet been received by the Confirming Authority.

I will make a statement on the case when the proceedings have been confirmed or otherwise.

Yes, but in view of the grave anxiety which this matter has caused to relatives of men serving in the Forces everywhere, will the Minister see that orders given to sentries in the future are framed in such a way that men clearly understand them and are not afraid of the consequences of carrying out their duty?

That is another issue and I do not think I could comment on it without commenting on the substance of the case.

Could the Minister tell us at this stage whether or not soldiers are expected to obey their orders?

Certainly, but again I should be going into the merits of the case if I said whether or not in my opinion that question was involved here.

Is the right hon. Member aware how much the public conscience has been stirred, and indeed shocked, by the Private Linsell case, and in order that public anxiety may be allayed, will he give the House an assurance that these proceedings will be reviewed at the earliest possible moment?

I cannot help feeling that the hon. and gallant Member is beginning to express views on the case, which is still sub judice, and it would be a great pity if the House committed itself to a particular view in this matter.

Can my right hon. Friend say, without reference at all to the case cited in the Question, whether he was aware that any military authority in Germany at this time was giving orders that, at a time when there are no active hostilities going on, sentries should be given orders to shoot to kill anybody?

That is an entirely different question.

Will the Secretary of State tell the House why there has been this unusual and long delay in confirming the proceedings of this court martial?

I thought that was stated in my reply—that it is at the wish of the defence, which is putting in a petition and desires, naturally, that the decision on the confirmation or otherwise should not be reached until the confirming authority has considered this petition from the defence.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the expenditure incurred on recruiting by his Department from 1st January to 31st May, 1950; what was the sum spent on publicity; and what was the cost per recruit.

I regret that the figures for the period in question are not available. During the financial year, 1949–50, £187,750 was spent by the War Department on Regular recruiting and publicity services, of which £26,100 was on publicity alone. This worked out at £7 4s. for each Regular recruit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement regarding the proposed extension of the rifle range near Valle Crucis Abbey at Llangollen.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his earlier Question by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Town and Country Planning.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the disturbance and damage to property in Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire, caused by firing practices at Tonfanau, Merioneth; and if he will take steps to discontinue or moderate these practices.

Although allegations of disturbance have been made, no actual damage has been reported. I regret that the requirements of the training programme make it impossible to close down Tonfanau or, during the summer, reduce its use.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, despite repeated protests by the local authority to the unit, these cannonades continue with increasing vigour, with the result that the blast causes not only damage to property but is a danger to the health of the inhabitants in the area?

If the hon. Member can show us evidence of damage to life or property or health, we shall be most willing to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for War what additions and adjustments have been made to Army rations during the past six months; and what further changes he has in mind.

No adjustments have been made to Army rations during the past six months. Improvements in the home service ration scales are under consideration.

Are these improvements under consideration because of changes in the civilian ration and, if that is so, should not the right hon. Gentleman's Department see that there are no improvements in the civilian ration which are not immediately followed by improvements in the home service ration scales?

Yes, in principle I agree, and the home service ration scales are under consideration to bring them into line with the improved food situation.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British officers and other ranks respectively are now serving with Colonial Forces; how many with the Gurkha Brigade; and whether he will make a statement about the period of their service with those Forces.

The period of service with Colonial Forces and the Gurkha Brigade is normally three years, with the option of extending up to five years. In the Royal West African Frontier Force the period is a fixed term of three years three months, with three months intermediate leave in the United Kingdom. The numbers of British officers and other ranks concerned are being ascertained and I will write to the hon. Member.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that he gets all the officers and N.C.Os. he requires and, if he is satisfied about numbers, is he satisfied about quality?

The recruiting of officers for these Forces is a matter which is of much concern to myself and the War Office authorities, and we regard it as of the utmost importance that adequate quality and quantity should be secured.

May I ask the Minister whether this is the Brigade that worships the baton presented by Queen Victoria, and whether the officers are expected to do the same thing?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is discontent among the British officers of the Gurkha Brigade at the conditions which they have been asked to accept in comparison with what they had when they were part of the Indian Army? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this carefully, as it must seriously affect the intake of new officers into the Gurkha Brigade?

We cannot separate the conditions of service in the Gurkha Brigade and the Colonial Forces on the one hand and the British Army on the other. However, it is certainly important to give conditions of service which attract the right quality and quantity of officers.

Would not the Minister agree that in the case of the officers of the Gurkha Brigade they served in the Indian Army before, and therefore they are not on a par with those serving with Colonial troops who have been in the same service right through?

They are not on a par, but they must be kept in line to some extent.

asked the Prime Minister if he will set up a committee of inquiry to assess revenue and Government expenditure in Wales; and to prepare an economic balance sheet for Wales.

No, Sir.

Can the Prime Minister give any reason to the House why different treatment should be meted out to Wales as compared with Scotland? Surely a Question of this character deserves a more considerate answer than the abrupt one which the Prime Minister has just given.

The hon. Member will realise that the Committee set up to consider the matter of the Scottish finances is, first of all, to consider whether it is possible or not to make this division. As I think will be agreed, the question of dividing Welsh and other United Kingdom expenditure is more difficult than that between Scotland and England, and it would be well to await the result in that case before embarking on anything with regard to Wales.

How can the right hon. Gentleman say that the question is more difficult until the Committee have had a look at it?

That matter has been before most of us for a great number of years. I think we all know that.

If my right hon. Friend is considering this subject at all will he consider a very much larger inquiry to cover England, Scotland. Wales and Northern Ireland?

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the desire for the kind of facts and figures which are asked for in my hon. Friend's Question is widespread among men and women of all political persuasions in Wales, and particularly among his own supporters in the Principality?

Yes; therefore we had better see whether it is practicable to get them.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the newly-elected Lord Mayor of Cardiff in his inaugural speech repeated Cardiff's claim to be recognised as the capital of Wales; that the Chairman of the Welsh Advisory Council on the same day endorsed that view in his private capacity: and whether he will now seek the opinion of the Welsh Advisory Council on this matter.

My attention has been drawn to the inaugural speech of the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, and I notice that, while Alderman Williams repeated Cardiff's claim to be recognised as the capital of Wales, he clearly admitted that other cities also put forward this claim. I am not aware of any views which the Chairman of the Welsh Advisory Council may have expressed in his private capacity, nor do I think it right that in a matter of this kind I should be asked to take into account privately expressed views. I do not propose to seek the opinion of the Welsh Advisory Council on this matter for the reasons explained in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) on 18th April.

Will the Prime Minister say on what principle Wales should be a country without a capital?

There is no question of principle. I understand that there is some dissension among the Welsh people as to what should be the capital

In view of the obvious disagreement in various places on this question, would not the Prime Minister allow the Welsh people to settle it themselves by referring it to this Council?

That point, I notice, was made by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff. He thought that it was a domestic matter. He said:

"I think we should take the responsibility ourselves,"

—which is a very good idea.

asked the Prime Minister whether, when statistical information is requested for England and Wales, he will ensure that whenever practicable he will have such figures published both for England and Wales, respectively.

It is already the practice to include in official statistical publications separate information for Wales, whenever practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the recent report of the Anglo-American Council on Productivity on the Drop Forgings Industry; and what steps he proposes to take to implement the recommendations contained therein.

Yes, Sir. I have seen the Report, which is welcomed by the Government. Its implementation is, however, a matter for the industry, which organised the visit to the United States.

Can the Chancellor say whether his attention has been specifically drawn to the contents of section 13 of chapter 3, entitled "Incentives," which condemns the inflationary tendencies in Britain, the penal rates of direct and indirect taxation and the high cost of living as causes for the disparity in the rates of production?

Certainly, I have read this document and all these documents. They are well worth reading by everyone interested in them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that British tourists travelling to the Mediterranean sea-board by rail can purchase their tickets for sterling in London, whereas those travelling by road are obliged to expend a not unsubstantial part of their £50 allowance on petrol; and whether he will remove this unfair discrimination by granting an increase in the basic allowance of £50 to the latter.

I am considering the matter and hope to make an announcement in a few days.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that he has hitherto discriminated rather heavily against the motorist who preferred to cross the Channel rather than the North Sea in view of the fact that the Anglo-French balance of trade is certainly not five times worse than the Anglo-Scandinavian?

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that anyone can buy in sterling hundreds of pounds worth of foreign railway tickets, sleeping berths, and even meal tickets, and is not the limitation of the motorist to £10 a breach of the principle of fair or equal shares for all?

No, Sir, certainly not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there is a shortage in post offices of forms for claiming payment of post war credits; and what steps he will take to remedy this position.