asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider such alteration in registration for National Service which will exempt the only son of a widow.

No, Sir. The classes of persons not liable to be called up for service are specified in the National Service Act, 1948, and I have no power to add to them.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this type of provision does exist in many other countries and that the numbers must necessarily be very few? Would he not consider the matter again and see whether he could give this type of exemption?

I can only say that this matter was discussed on the Committee stage of the Bill, in May, 1947, and was rejected by the Committee.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that in certain remote areas of the Highlands, where there are very few communications, such a son is of great value to the widow? Will he look sympathetically into any cases brought to his notice?

Certainly, and I would be glad to draw attention, in any such cases, to the fact that there is provision for assistance where hardship has been caused.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in order to prevent the loss to the building trade of trained men, he will make arrangements for building trade apprentices to have the opportunity of doing their National Service in the Service and in that branch of that Service wherein they are most likely to keep contact with the work for which they are trained.

General arrangements on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend already exist, but the number of building trade workers at present required in the Forces for work in their trade capacity is so limited that many of the men becoming available for call-up must be otherwise employed. I do not, however, accept the suggestion that such men would necessarily be lost to the building industry.

Is it not possible for my right hon. Friend to arrange for a transfer from one service to another if it is found that a man can thereby be kept more closely in contact with work for which he is trained?

Even if that were possible, we could not restrict it to the building trade. We should find ourselves pressed by demands for all kinds of tradesmen to be shifted from one Service to another.

Does not the Minister realise that as we are assured that housing is priority number one in Scotland, this would greatly help to solve our problems?

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women are registered as disabled in Stoke-on-Trent; and of these how many are so disabled and unemployed as a result of pneumoconiosis.

Nine thousand and forty-seven persons (8,300 men and 747 women) were registered as disabled at the four employment exchanges in the Stoke-on-Trent area on 17th April, 1950; and of these 276 men and two women were registered as disabled by pneumoconiosis, including silicosis. Of those disabled by pneumoconiosis, the number unemployed was 30. They were all men, and 23 of them were coalminers.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women are employed in Stoke-on-Trent in Remploy factories, giving the numbers in each case, and the type of disablement the workers suffer from.

One hundred and seventy-one men and 11 women are employed in Remploy factories in the Stoke-on-Trent area. I am sending my hon. Friend the further particulars for which he asks.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask whether he is aware that in the Stoke-on-Trent area the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis is higher than in most places in the country? Would he look with sympathy on the proposition that we require a sheltered industry for those who suffer from this disease?

Yes, such sheltered industry is provided in one or two other places in the country, and I should be glad to look into any cases my hon. Friend sends to me.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to facilitate the employment of persons over 60 years of age.

I have already raised this matter with the representative bodies in industry, who have promised to do all that they can to ensure that the Government's policy of making the fullest possible use of older persons is known and that there is co-operation in carrying it out. The local offices of the Ministry have been instructed to take every opportunity of persuading employers to consider older men on their merits. I hope that by this means a change in outlook on the part of individual employers will be brought about.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say why the Foreign Office are automatically sacking people as soon as they reach the age of 65?

It would have been much more reasonable if the hon. Gentleman had put that question down, instead of a general Question like this, and then I would have tried to answer it.

Is the Minister not aware that his own Department is one of the worst sinners in turning off very large numbers of men of 55 and over?

We are by no means sinners in this respect, since we are carrying out the desires of the House in reducing our staff when there is no longer any need for their services. We have to take all factors into consideration. When there are to be discharges we discharge those in the older groups, when they are pensionable, in preference to others.

Is the Minister aware that his Department are filling a number of jobs in certain towns with young new entrants, whereas some of the older people could quite reasonably well continue to perform them?

It is the same in this business as in any other business. One has to provide for apprenticeship for future employment.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman expect a higher standard from private industry than he sets in his own Department?

I resent that; we do not expect a higher standard. We are doing our best to get outside industries to do as well as we are doing in the Government.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say what progress has been made in this matter since it was debated last November, particularly in the case of those employing men over 40 years of age?

If the hon. and gallant Member will put that question down I will try to give him full information.

asked the Minister of Labour how many underground workers were employed in Cornish tin mines during each of the last five years.

At July, 1948, the latest date for which figures are available, the estimated total number of employees in the tin-mining industry in Cornwall was 820. This figure includes all persons employed by tin-mining firms, and separate figures of underground workers are not available. Precisely comparable figures cannot be given for earlier years but such figures as are available show that there was a slight drop between 1946 and 1948.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether his Department is able, to satisfy the demand for underground workers in the tin mines and, if not, whether he thinks higher wages would be a sufficient inducement to attract young men into the industry?

I am sure that higher wages would be an inducement to attract people anywhere, but I have no knowledge of any complaint from the area that they are unable to obtain labour.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of persons registered as unemployed in the employment exchanges at Pen-maenmawr, Conway and Llandudno at the latest available date.

At 12th June, the numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Penmaenmawr, Conway and Llandudno employment exchanges were 76, 53 and 81 respectively.

On a point of order. In view of the large number of Questions on the Order Paper today, Sir, may I ask could not such Questions as this be put down for written and not oral answer? After all, they are purely statistical.

I am bound to leave that to the judgment of the individual Member. If there are any points other than a local point, he is justified in asking for an oral answer, but, on a purely local question asking for figures, it would save a lot of time if the Question could be put down for non-oral answer.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were unemployed in the boroughs of Hull and Bridlington on 30th April, 1950; what proportion these figures were of the respective insured populations; and how they compare with the unemployment figure throughout the country on that date.

Figures are not available for 30th April, but at 15th May the numbers registered as unemployed at the Hull and Bridlington employment exchanges were 4,965 and 362, respectively, representing about 4 per cent. of the insured population in each case. The corresponding percentage for Great Britain was 1½.

asked the Minister of Labour why vocational training under the Disabled Persons Scheme is refused to those over 40 years of age.

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. There is no upper age limit for vocational training under the Disabled Persons Training Scheme and disabled persons over 40 years of age are accepted for training provided that they are otherwise suitable for training in a trade in which there are vacancies.

Does that apply to persons over 60?

If I send the Minister particulars of a case in which a man of 41 has been refused training, will he give it sympathetic consideration?

Yes, Sir, and I shall be very disappointed if I find that it was for any reason other than that which I set out in my answer.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the communication received from the Guild of Insurance Officials regarding the dismissal of members of the staff of the City of Glasgow Friendly Society; and what answer he has made to it.

Yes, Sir; and I am considering what action I can usefully take in the matter.

Would my right hon. Friend, because of his very kind disposition, make special representation in view of the fact that some members of this management committee are on many Government boards and one was a responsible member of the Cabinet during the war?

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to arrest the decline in the number of young men engaged in Cornish sea fisheries and to stimulate recruitment.

I have no power to prevent young men leaving the Cornish sea fisheries. With regard to recruitment, my local offices will give all possible assistance to owners of fishing boats who notify vacancies.

Can the Minister give publicity to help recruitment in this matter, as I have suggested to him?

I doubt whether it is necessary at the moment because in Cornwall, at the June count, there were 99 unemployed fishermen, 25 at Looe, 36 at St. Austell and 27 at St. Ives. There is, therefore, unemployment among fishermen there at the moment.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that unemployment in the inshore fishing industry can vary almost from day to day? What may have happened on one day last week may not apply this week. Might I further remind my right hon. Friend that in the last census only 53 out of 862 men were under 25 years of age?

I have no information on that point but, directing my answer to the Question, I said that we would give all possible assistance in notifying vacancies. There are, however, unemployed men there awaiting work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now say when the report of the committee appointed to inquire into the qualifications required by physiotherapists employed under the National Health Service will be completed; and whether it is intended to publish this report.

The report of the committee should be available within the next few months. I will consider the question of publication when the report has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an order similar to No. 364, 1950, which only applies to England so that the harmful discharge of fluorine fumes will be prohibited or corrected from factories in Scotland.

I cannot make a comparable Order to the one referred to, but I am considering whether further legislation upon this subject is necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the people of Fort William, and the trees and cattle there, are being sufficiently protected against the fumes of the British Aluminium Company?

I am quite satisfied that the best public health requirements have been met in relation to housing and the emission of these fumes. I should, therefore, presume that the cattle are reasonably all right.

Does the Minister realise that only last week the fumes emitted by this factory were still sufficient to cause withering and damage to trees and plants, so presumably they are still injurious to human beings?

I do not pretend that this situation has not worried me, but I must point out that the public health requirements have been met in relation to housing. That, I think, must be my primary concern.

Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman issue a similar Order?

Because the appropriate Act does not permit me to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make any statement in regard to an increase in the salaries of teachers.

The present salaries regulations are due to expire on 31st March, 1951. Negotiations in the National Joint Council as to the scales to be recommended to me for new regulations are not yet concluded. In these circumstances I cannot make any statement about an increase in teachers' salaries.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think he will be able to make a statement during the Debate which is to take place on Scottish Education Estimates?

I do not know that a date has been fixed for the Debate on education. It is unlikely that I shall be in possession of the report from the committee within the next few weeks.

Is the Minister aware that many married Scottish school-masters are quite unable properly to maintain themselves and their families at present? Does he not realise that he is lowering the status of the profession by not dealing with this as a matter of the greatest urgency?

I am sure that the hon. Member is also aware that until I receive the recommendations of the National Joint Council, it would be verging on the improper for me to comment on the scales at all.

Is the Minister aware that the great concern of all hon. Members should be for the lower paid teachers but, more particularly, for the lower paid miners—those receiving less than £5 a week?

Perhaps it may clear the right hon. Gentleman's mind for this report if I say that he should appreciate that unless he does something to improve the conditions and salaries of teachers our whole educational system is in imminent danger of collapse.

I am sure that the hon. and gallant Member's opinions are very weighty, but I repeat that I prefer to await the recommendations of the National Joint Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that local authorities are likely to be unable to secure completion of their housing contracts because of insufficient supplies of cement; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply given on 19th June by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that while cement is in short supply at 78s. a ton in Glasgow it can be got comparatively easily at £7 14s. 9d. a ton? Will he inquire why firms selling at this price can still get licences to import?

I think, with great respect, that my hon. Friend's statement is not quite accurate. I have been inquiring most closely into this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Glasgow Corporations are loading some more cement from Germany this week, and that because of that, and only because of that, they are able to carry on their building?

I am aware that they are importing this cement, and I am glad they are doing so, but it is quite wrong to say that it is only with that cement that they are proceeding with their building. That is not so. It is a supplementary load, for which we are all very grateful.

Can my right hon. Friend say what is being done for the immediate needs of Berwickshire?

Yes, I am very glad to say that the Minister of Works, in collaboration with me, is arranging that cement should be shipped direct from London to Berwick.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that weekly supplies are in excess of the amount estimated by the Ministry of Works? If there is any shortage at all it is the Government's fault.

I cannot follow that question. I am unaware that any housing scheme has been stopped for lack of cement. Therefore, our cement budgeting cannot have been too wide of the mark.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have the name of a very large firm in Glasgow which could only get cement in the city at the figure I have given? I shall give him the name of that firm privately after Questions.

I shall be delighted at this co-operation, but my recollection of the assertion of my hon. Friend is that he said that cement was easily obtainable at that figure. That is not so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the first phase of the Berwickshire County Water Scheme is likely to be completed; when it is proposed to start the remaining phases; and if, in view of the urgent need for an adequate domestic water supply in the area, he will now agree to the whole scheme being proceeded with immediately.

It is hoped that the first phase of the Berwickshire watch water scheme will be completed by mid-1952, and that thereafter work on the Earnscleugh water scheme and the second phase of the watch water scheme will proceed concurrently,

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this delay is seriously holding up the agricultural and industrial development of that area; and cannot further speedy action be taken to complete the whole scheme quickly?

I understand my hon. Friend's preoccupation, but I should remind him that the authorisation for Berwickshire already represents 6 per cent. of the total water and drainage schemes for all Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest figures of the number of new houses approved but not begun owing to lack of water, for agricultural workers and general needs respectively, since 1945, in the county of Berwick, including the burghs.

No houses for which tenders have been approved are at present being held up for lack of water.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what Highland schemes of water supply have received grants of 85 per cent.

As the list of schemes is necessarily lengthy I propose, with permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that so far as the seven crofter counties are concerned, the longer the list is the better?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is likely that housebuilding will be resumed at Earlston, Berwickshire, to house the 200 families at present requiring accommodation in that area.

Further housing at Earlston depends on the progress of the Earnscleugh water scheme which, under present circumstances, is expected to begin in 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if compensation is to be paid to tenants of Cruden houses in respect of inconvenience caused and damage to furniture resulting from the fire-proofing of these houses.

I cannot usefully add anything to the reply given on 23rd May to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, at any rate in my constituency, people had a complete invasion of workmen lasting over a week? When furniture is damaged is it not the responsibility of his Department to make some compensatory payment?

My Department made the most careful investigations and issued a circular giving the scheme of work which, I think, ought to have prevented any unlooked for damage. It may not be the responsibility of the Department; it may be the responsibility of a contractor.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in regard to the removal of villages in Scotland which his local planning officers may consider advisable; and whether the views of the residents in such villages will be taken into account before any action is taken or publicity given to his intentions.

This is primarily a subject for the county councils concerned, and I should naturally be greatly influenced by their views, although, of course, I must also consider the views of any residents who might be affected by a proposal.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable distress was caused to the people of Monkton in Ayrshire the other day by a premature report of its removal? Will he say something now to relieve that anxiety?

Happily, I am not at all concerned with such publications, premature or otherwise. I must repeat that this is a subject primarily for the county councils, but I think my views are quite well known—that I am not desirous of liquidating lively and distinct communities like villages.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much power from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's schemes has been used for industry in the seven crofter counties.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board at present supply industrial consumers in the seven crofter counties at the rate of 12 million units annually.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the seven crofter counties should have the first call on the power from hydroelectric schemes for industry?

I am quite aware of the statutory provisions in regard to those counties, but I should emphasise that no industrial undertaking is held up or operating short of power.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the scheme for distinguishing between hand-woven and power-woven tweed submitted to him by the Highland and Islands Advisory Panel.

I am re-examining this, question, but I cannot pretend that I am optimistic about the outcome.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Treasury admitted in the last Parliament that it was just through lack of distinction between them that they refused to reduce the Purchase Tax—the lack of distinction in the difference between hand-woven and power-woven tweed? Is he aware that unless that distinction is possible, as suggested by this report, the industry, which is vital to the small producers in the Highlands, will be virtually killed?

I know the doubts and the fears, and the hon. Gentleman knows better than most people that this is a complex subject upon which no one view has been representative.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that if a decision is not reached, and soon, this industry will probably disappear altogether? It is a matter of the gravest urgency.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that apparently it has been found possible to distinguish between utility and non-utility tweeds though made on the same loom and of the same materials? Could not some distinction be made?

I do not think the distinction is nearly so easy.

Is it not the case that for many years an orb mark has been approved and recognised by the Board of Trade, which distinguishes handwoven Harris tweed from any other? Why has not that been found acceptable to the Treasury as well as to the Board of Trade?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Medical Practices' Committee have now supplied him with lists of those areas which are most in need of additional doctors.

Lists were appended to a report of the Scottish Medical Practices Committee when it was published in the medical Press last January. The Comittee have the position under review and I expect to receive a further report in the autumn.

Would my right hon. Friend consider approaching the Committee in order to add to these lists those areas which are over-doctored and those which are not adequately doctored?

I think that would mean listing every area in Scotland, and that that would be an unnecessary work. The areas where we have any over-doctoring, or have more than sufficient numbers of doctors, are already well known, and I do not think that we could add to our information on the subject by following my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made towards reducing the maximum number of patients on a doctor's list, from 4,000 to 3,800.

While the number of doctors with excessive lists is being steadily reduced I do not think I should yet be justified in lowering the prescribed maximum number of patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to improve the bad conditions at the camp at Muir of Ord, in Ross-shire, which is at present occupied by squatters.

I have called for an up-to-date report on the conditions at this camp, and I will later write to the hon. Gentleman.

While thanking the-right hon. Gentleman, may I ask if he is aware that there are far too many of these ex-war camps in a most derelict condition throughout the country, and: that the matter ought to be treated very seriously?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now say when the White Paper on Highlands and Islands development is to be published.

I hope that this White Paper will be in the Vote Office on Friday.

asked the Minister of Pensions when it is proposed to apply the scales of remuneration authorised by the Minister of Health to specialists employed in Ministry of Pensions hospitals.

The question of the remuneration of specialists in the Ministry of Pensions hospitals is being remitted to and independent committee set up in accordance with the recommendations of the Chorley Report, which will review the pay and grading of all medical officers in the Civil Service.

In considering this matter will the Minister bear in mind that many of these specialists, who are doing comparable work, are now being paid less than half what is paid to similar grades in the National Health Service; and that it is so bad that the "British Medical Journal" refuses to advertise for these grades?

I am well aware of the situation; that will all be in front of this committee.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects the committee to report As my hon. Friend has said, there is a serious drain on the Service owing to the difference in the conditions between the two Ministries.

I am not aware of any serious drain. The committee is just commencing its deliberations, and it would really be for my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to answer questions about the date of the report.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the increased duty on petrol, he is now able to say by how much he intends to increase the annual allowance paid to war pensioners to whom he has supplied motor cars.

I have decided to increase to £50 per annum the allowance towards maintenance and running expenses paid to those war pensioners to whom I have supplied motor cars. The increased allowance will take effect from 18th April, 1950.

While accepting this evidence that at any rate a Labour Government keeps faith with the disability pensioner, may I ask my right hon. Friend how many of these grants are in payment, and whether the number is likely to increase?

Yes, Sir, there are approximately 1,400 in payment at the present time. The number will go on increasing, as I shall explain in answer to the next Question on the Order Paper.

Was it not shown in the Debate in the House the other day, when the Chancellor offered this concession, that these people will be at a loss of £10 each, not £5?

People's circumstances vary very greatly, and it is impossible to give a general figure of that kind.

How much will be left out of the £3 million balance on the amount raised on the Petrol Duty after the right hon. Gentleman has given this allowance?

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps he takes to see that a motor car is delivered to a war-disabled man as soon as possible after the approval of his Department has been given to the application.

I undertook to supply 1,500 cars over a period of two years. Up to date, 1,334 have been delivered to pensioners: thus the promise is being completely fulfilled The actual date of supply to individual pensioners has been arranged as fairly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will either remove, or provide guards for, the large quantities of ammunition still dumped in wooded country in north Hampshire.

The two ammunition dumps in north Hampshire are guarded by civilian watchmen, four men being constantly on duty at each dump.

Is the Secretary of State aware that in Harewood Forest children, Communists and criminals can help themselves as they please?

No, Sir. That is contrary to my information.

Do not four make a good bridge party?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I visited the dump in Harewood Forest two months ago, examined the ammunition in the greatest detail possible without causing a by-election, and was not at any time interrupted by any of his guards?

These are no doubt large dumps, but I think there is a fairly generous provision of watchmen. In any case, I think that the dumps are being fairly rapidly cleared.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I pass these dumps every-other day, and that I have never yet seen a watchman?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a large number of schoolboy cadets are prevented from attending annual camp through the inability of their parents to pay for boots; and whether he will now consider making one free issue of boots to members of cadet forces during their period of service.

I am afraid that it is not possible to make a free issue of boots to cadets.

Is the Secretary of State aware of the importance of encouraging recruiting to the cadet forces of this country, and that the lack of a free issue is detrimental to their training?

We should no doubt like to make all sorts of further expenditure on the cadet forces, but we have to limit ourselves in this as in other matters.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the inconvenience being caused to Boys' Brigades and other similar cadet corps by the inability of the Aldershot Command to lend them camp equipment as they have done in previous years; if he realises that it is only in the last few weeks, when no other arrangements could be made, that this decision has been conveyed to them; and what steps he will take to assist them.

I appreciate the difficulties of these organisations. A redistribution of stocks of camp equipment in Southern Command is being effected, which it is hoped will permit substantial help to be given to the organisations concerned.

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain why, only five years after the end of the war, it is apparently difficult to get enough equipment for these camps? What has happened to the immense war stores? If we cannot fulfil a demand like this, what would occur if we had to mobilise?

It is largely a financial question, and I think that the hon. Gentleman will find that we can meet legitimate demands.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Guardsman Peter Youdale was put on a charge for fainting during the Trooping the Colour rehearsal on 29th May, 1950, and received punishment of five days' extra drill; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that fainting on parade ceases to be treated as a punishable offence.

The hon. and gallant Member has been misinformed. While each case of fainting is investigated, no charge is preferred unless the man has fainted as a result of some action or negligence on his part which has rendered him unfit for parade. This guardsman was not guilty of such an act and was not put on a charge.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this guardsman had to suffer five extra drills? If that was not a punishment, what was it?

No, Sir. My information is that after this occurrence this guardsman took part in the drills of his unit, which he had not been doing because of other duties beforehand, but these were in no sense a punishment.

What happens to a mounted officer who is unseated involuntarily from his horse?

There again, no blame is attached to the officer if it is not considered that it was his fault.

Ministers get unseated, too.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the country is prepared to leave this to the justice of commanding officers, and that this Question was really quite unnecessary?

Is it not almost inconceivable that fainting in any circumstances could be a crime under King's Regulations?

No, Sir. King's Regulations do provide that if, in the opinion of the authorities, the fainting has been due to some negligence on the part of the man or the officer, then a crime might be committed, but this did not arise in this case.

What conditions which could be prevented by the individual give rise to fainting?

Three conditions have been given to me, one of which is being out late at night on the eve of the parade.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will issue instructions to ensure that orders to sentries to shoot to kill are limited to theatres of war or very exceptional cases where special security considerations arise.

I should be grateful if my hon. Friend would await a statement on this and other issues raised by the Linsell case, a statement which, with your permission, Sir, and that of the House. I will make tomorrow.

While entirely accepting that, might I ask whether that statement will cover the general issue raised in this Question and not merely the particular case to which my right hon. Friend is referring?

Yes, to the best of my ability.

Without asking my right hon. Friend to anticipate his statement in any way, might I ask him to bear in mind the importance of making it clear that it is not a defence to a charge of crime in this country, and never has been, that the man obeyed superior orders?

Will my right hon. Friend take steps to ensure that sentries and other soldiers are not penalised for obeying orders?

I think hon. Members should wait until tomorrow.

When the right hon. Gentleman makes his statement about the case of Private Linsell, will he inform the House what were, to quote the official document.

"the other aspects which arose in the proceedings which might, in the Commander-in-Chiefs view, have influenced the court's decision and resulted in an injustice to the accused man"?

I think I should avoid making a statement about a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that under existing arrangements many Territorial Army units will not be issued with floorboards for tents at annual camp; and what steps he is taking to see that sufficient floorboards are available.

Floorboards for Territorial Army camps are provided on the same over-all scale as before the war, which in practice has proved sufficient. They are distributed, according to the needs of individual camps, by commands, but if the hon. Member has any particular camp in mind I will look into the position.

In view of the immense number of floorboards in the country, is it not really cheese-paring to withhold floorboards from some camps because they are below a certain ground level? Would it not be better to give all the Territorials floorboards for their camps?

I am informed that at the height of the camping season it is not possible to provide floorboards for camps of all kinds on a complete scale, but I think that we can meet all cases of real need.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are considerable supplies of floorboards in private hands; and will he do his best to borrow them, anyhow for the camping season?

We will look into that.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds he has refused the request for compassionate release from the Army of 22209622 Craftsman Reynolds.

This request has been refused on the grounds that the domestic circumstances on which it was based revealed no evidence of illness. As my hon. Friend has been informed, this soldier is being retained in the United Kingdom for three months on compassionate grounds.

In view of the fact that it appears that some of the evidence supporting this case has been mislaid, would my right hon. Friend have a personal investigation made into the case before the lad is sent abroad?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a unit of the 1st Infantry Division is required to share barracks in North Africa with German ex-prisoners-of-war employed as artisans; and whether he will have these arrangements altered and forbid them in future.

I am making inquiries in this case, and will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that British officers travelling on special troop trains from London to Liverpool, en route for Malaya, are charged excess luggage on the baggage which they have to take; and if he will arrange with British Railways to cease this practice, or to charge any excess to his department's account.

We do pay for an officer's baggage up to at least 5 cwt. for himself, an additional 6 cwt. for his wife and a further 1 cwt. for each child. He has only to get a warrant or consignment note for excess baggage up to this amount.

In view of the fact that many of these young officers are not married and have very little experience of how much they have to take, maybe for one year or two years or perhaps for many years, cannot the Minister allow a reasonable latitude?

I should have thought that 5 cwt. was a reasonable latitude.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that officers proceeding in Government troop trains from London to Liverpool, en route for Malaya, are charged excess luggage rates for kit which they have to take, he will allow such payments for Income Tax relief until such time as they may be abolished.

No, Sir.

If I am able to show that these men have been charged at the wrong rate will he see that suitable action is taken?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has made it quite clear that there are very adequate allowances in these cases.

But the men appear to have been charged at the wrong rate. Cannot something be done about it?

I am afraid that that has nothing to do with me.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the changing nature of potential air-attack, he is satisfied that the proposed development of Headquarters, Anti-Aircraft Command, in its present location is both military sound and financially wise.

Yes, Sir.

Did the right hon. Gentleman arrive at that conclusion by assessing Headquarters Anti-Aircraft Command, as operational or administrative headquarters?

As operational headquarters, but where it is located is entirely bound up with the question of Fighter Command of the Royal Air Force. We should take the advice ultimately of the Chiefs of Staff on this matter.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter again.