asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what restrictions have been recently imposed on the issue of permits for the reconstruction of rural cottages.

Because of restrictions on capital investment, local authorities have been asked to limit the licensing of work for the repair, conversion or improvement of existing dwellings in general to about 80 per cent. of the amount licensed in 1949. No special restriction has been placed on the reconstruction of rural cottages.

Is it not a fact that the allocation to the county councils is 80 per cent. for housing and reconditioning? Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter, in view of the urgent necessity for reconditioned houses if he wants to carry out the agricultural expansion programme?

This 80 per cent. does not refer to new housing as such. It refers only to housing improvements, repairs, reconstruction and so on.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the licensing authorities find, as a result of their experience, that the imposition of a strict financial limit beyond which they are unable to issue licences operates to restrict the work of reconstruction, even where labour and materials are available? Will he be good enough to look into the matter and, if he finds the complaint to be well-founded, will he take remedial action?

In special cases we have already done so.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in some counties, like the county of Angus, the effect of this will be materially to reduce the amount of reconstruction of rural cottages, which will have a deleterious effect on the agricultural expansion programme of his own Government?

This is the policy which was pursued last year, and I am not aware that there is very great resistance to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the provision of beds in Swiss sanatoria for Scottish tuberculosis patients.

Exploratory discussions are now proceeding with the authorities of certain Swiss sanatoria as to the charges they would make for the treatment of patients from this country. These discussions will be concluded shortly and I hope it will then be possible for the Government to reach a final decision.

May we understand that the 300 beds available in Switzerland will still be made available for Scottish tuberculosis patients?

At this point I could not give a definite answer to that question.

Has the hon. Lady seen the strong recommendation in favour of this course by the medical officer of health for Glasgow?

The very fact that the Department and the Secretary of State have been carrying out these exploratory steps shows very clearly that we are fully aware of the use to which these beds might be put.

I understand that the hon. Lady has been vigorously exploring these things, but surely it would be as well now to come to some decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Summarised Accounts of Regional Hospital Boards, etc., H.C. No. 54, for the year ended 31st March, 1950, presented to Parliament on 13th December, contents of which have already been made available to the Press, is not yet available to hon. Members of this House.

The summarised accounts of the regional hospital boards are presented to Parliament by the Comptroller and Auditor-General in accordance with the Statute and will, I understand, be published to morrow. The recent Press publicity related to a memorandum issued by my Department to regional hospital boards for administrative purposes.

Is it desirable and in accordance with precedent to issue a précis of the contents of these reports before they are at any rate on the point of being published? Has there not been an extraordinarily long delay?

The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong when he says that this memorandum was a précis of the report, which will be before Parliament tomorrow. It is true that certain of the facts were contained in what was issued, but it certainly was not a précis of tomorrow's publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 1,887 houses built in the Highlands in 1950, were burghal; how many landward; and how many were in connection with land settlement.

The latest information shows that 1,894 houses were built in the Highlands in 1950. Of these 809 were in burghs and 1,085 in landward areas. Three of the landward houses were in connection with land settlement.

Has there been any attempt to implement the recommendations of the Land Settlement Report made at the end of the late war, and does the Minister intend to take any further steps in this matter?

We have not yet decided to launch any large-scale land settlement scheme. We have rather been playing it down, for reasons which are well known to the noble Lord, since the end of the war.

What percentage of the total demand in the Highlands area do these 1,894 houses represent?

I could not say offhand, but the demand has been more adequately met since the war than it was before.

May we have a translation of the terms "burghal" and "landward," for the benefit of the English Members?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy with regard to the retention of air-raid shelters in thickly-populated areas, especially those in back courts.

The policy of His Majesty's Government is that existing shelters should be retained for the time being.

Is the Minister aware that in Govan, at least, the shelters are dirty, damaged and insanitary and are used for purposes other than that for which they were intended? Can she please take steps to ensure that if these shelters have to be retained, they should be closed to public entry?

Glasgow Corporation have already had authority, in the first place, to brick up these shelters, which were a danger to public health. Since then they have been given full authority to brick up every shelter in Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what quantities of potatoes and sugar beet were lost in Scotland last year through lack of labour.

According to my information, none, Sir.

Is the Minister aware of the statements made by one of the convenors of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland that large quantities of potatoes have been lost through lack of labour?

I am aware of the statement but I am not aware of the foundations for it.

Can the Minister give any indication whether the potato acreage for this year is to be kept up?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to obtain a share of re-armament work for the Highland area and particularly for Shetland, where unemployment remains high.

My right hon. Friend is in close touch with his colleagues in the Defence and Production Departments regarding the placing of re-armament work in Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands.

Would the Minister bear in mind two points; first, that possibly some sub-contracting might be done in the area and secondly, that certain raw materials, such as iron ore, might be economically worked in the present situation?

I can assure the hon. Member that all these points are very much in the mind of my right hon. Friend.

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind the importance of the maximum distribution of industry, particularly at this time, as it will show people that the Highlands are playing their full part in the country's defence programme?

It is not only at this time that this Government have known of the importance of those matters.

Have the Government not been long enough in office to make a contribution of their own?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to allow a greater distribution of poultry feedingstuffs and, in particular, to relax the restrictions on the supply of feedingstuffs for those wishing to set up poultry farms.

No, Sir. Until the feedingstuffs supply position is more assured. I am afraid that no improvement in ration issues is possible; nor can any modification be made of the terms under which newcomers to the industry may receive rations.

Does not the Minister think, now that the currency position is better, that we could make a bigger distribution?

I am afraid that is a matter which goes beyond this Question.

Is it not more desirable to send feedingstuffs to Orkney and Shetland than to Gambia?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Committee presently investigating the financial relationship between England and Scotland is likely to complete its report.

The Committee on Scottish Financial and Trade Statistics has been meeting regularly and I understand that it is making good progress. I am not yet able to say when its report will be ready.

Is there any hope that we may have the report before the Budget may I ask?

None at all.

Has there been any change in the personnel of this committee, since other appointments have more recently been made?

That is another question.

Can the hon. Lady assure the House that the committee will leave no stone unturned?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time that elapses between the date of an application for a licence for felling timber and the actual issue of the licence by the Forestry Commission.

It would be impossible to state the average time taken without re-examining over 8,600 licences issued in the last year. However, where an inspection is unnecessary the licence is normally issued in about one week. Where an inspection is necessary, and no complications arise, the time taken is normally about four weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in His Majesty's Stationery Office pamphlet, Pay in the Regular Army, under the title, Marriage Allowance, the reference to an additional 5s. children's allowance is misleading, as this allowance is not, in fact, additional to the normal statutory allowance; and if he will make this clear in future editions.

I am obliged to the hon. and gallant Member for calling my attention to this point. The wording of the pamphlet will he changed in future editions.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances the Royal Army Service Corps' general service launch "Cassandra" was lost in the Bristol Channel on 30th January, 1951, while in tow of the Royal Army Service Corps' vessel "Sir W. Campbell"; whether a crew were on board the "Cassandra" at the time of the mishap; and what was the financial loss incurred.

The "Cassandra" was being towed by the Royal Army Service Corps' vessel "Sir W. Campbell" from Falmouth to Menai Bridge. The weather deteriorated and the master of the towing vessel attempted to make for sheltered waters. Unfortunately, the "Cassandra" sank before these could be reached. There was no crew on board at the time of the mishap. The estimated financial loss is some £400.

Does not the Secretary of State agree that this vessel had been in Falmouth for a considerable time? If it could not have been repaired locally, could it not have been taken under tow at a more favourable time of the year than the middle of January?

I suppose that the authorities miscalculated the weather conditions. That might happen.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what uniform, other than outer clothing, will be issued to officers called up under Class Z Reserve who have no uniform; and at whose expense;

(2) whether he will publish a list of outer clothing which will be issued to Class Z officers on recall.

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of articles which will be issued free on loan to officers who are recalled for training and do not provide their own uniform.

asked the Secretary of State for War what additional demands on land for training areas during the coming training season will be made as a result of the intended call-up of Class Z reservists.

It is not envisaged that the call-up of Z reservists will necessitate the use of any large areas of land not now used for training, except as provided in Command Paper 7278, but some acceleration in the use of land provided for in that Paper may be necessary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the interests of agriculture, so that anyone whose land is to be used for training will have the maximum possible notice? In his reply the right hon. Gentleman spoke of large areas. I did not ask about large areas but about additional areas.

I do not think that it will be a large problem. The Class Z reservists who are concerned are going to Territorial camps, and it will only be a larger number of men who will be training in those same camps.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the forms of application for marriage allowance now being sent to Class Z reservist officers about to be called up have to be countersigned by the officer's commanding officer; that this may mean that the marriage allowance may not be paid while the officer is in service; and whether he will accept the countersignature of other responsible persons so that the application form can be sent in well before the officer is called for service.

The "notice to join" which will be issued to recalled officers about two months before they are required to report for duty will make it clear that despite the wording of the marriage allowance application forms, no countersignature will be required.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will so amend King's Regulations that the wife of a soldier who marries after the age of 21 and is commissioned before the age of 25 will be eligible to travel with her husband at public expense in the event of his being posted overseas.

No financial inducement is given to an officer to marry under the age of 25. If he does so, he receives the rate of marriage allowance appropriate to a warrant officer, but no other married benefits. If a married soldier is appointed to a commission below the age of 25, I think it is equitable that he should be required to conform to the rules which apply to officers generally in the circumstances which the hon. Member has in mind.

Will not the loss of that privilege act as a disincentive to a keen soldier obtaining commissioned rank?

That is a wider question—whether the inducements to marriage, if we can call them so, should apply to officers under 25. That has been very carefully considered and the age limit of 25 has been chosen.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the inaccuracy of some Press reports of general courts-martial, he will, in the public interest, as soon as judgment has been pronounced, publish either the summing-up of the Judge Advocate or a statement of the charges and a summary of the evidence.

The proceedings of all courts-martial, including the summing-up of the Judge Advocate, take place normally in open court and are therefore available to the public and the Press who attend the hearing.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the effect on discipline, on recruiting and on public opinion when misleading Press statements are made, as in the recent Linsell case, which suggested that the accused fired the fatal shot while on duty on ordinary sentry-go? Is the right hon. Gentleman going to do anything to counteract that tendency?

I have great sympathy with the hon. Member's intention, but I rather doubt whether the publication of the necessarily lengthy proceedings of courts-martial—they are very difficult to summarise, and it may be unfair to do so —would serve that purpose. What I am sure matters is that the Press should publish full and balanced accounts. I am, sure they try to do so.

Is it not a fact that many erroneous reports which appear in the Press are brought about by insufficient information being handed out by public relations officers? Will he ensure that those officers are instructed to give to the Press the fullest information about courts-martial?

I do not think that we can hand out our views of a case, even after it has taken place. All we can do is to see that the Press have access to report the case.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's statement that a court-martial is an open court, surely there cannot be any objection to publishing at least a summary of the charges, possibly the summing-up of the Judge Advocate and perhaps a summary of the evidence so that it would be available to the public and there would be no excuse for any newspaper omitting or concentrating upon any part of it?

Again, I strongly sympathise with the hon. and gallant Gentleman's intention, but all these things are public in the sense that they take place in open court and are fully accessible to the Press.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that similar inaccuracies arise in the course of the reports of ordinary legal proceedings and that it is a very dangerous step indeed to try to give to the Press information which they can perfectly well collect for themselves?

asked the Secretary of State for War why material, plant and equipment capable of being used in the present defence expansion programme for the equipment of camps and the training of troops is being offered for sale by public auction on 21st February at the Command Engineers Depot, Canterbury.

The majority of these stores were unserviceable. The remainder were of obsolete pattern and were no longer of use.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that included in the sale were 1,300 gallons of wood preservative, 9,000 lb. of paint, 35 gallons of varnish. 800 quires of target paper and 230 targets? Does he not think that it is a waste of the taxpayers' money to sell things which are serviceable and useful?

In the judgment of the competent authorities, they were not serviceable and useful.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Regular commissions were granted in 1950 and how many in 1949; what number of new Regular officers each year was necessary for the size of the Army contemplated in 1949; and what number is necessary to the size of the Army now contemplated.

In the calendar year 1949, 1,057 Regular commissions were granted. The comparable figure for 1950, taking into account alterations in the terms at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, was 792. To maintain the present establishment of Regular officers, an intake of 714 is required. The total Regular officer establishment, which is not necessarily proportionate to the size of the active Army, is now under examination. These figures do not include officers for such corps as the Royal Army Medical Corps, who are recruited from special sources.

As the right hon. Gentleman is considering this matter personally, will he tell the House if he has yet reached any conclusion about the present rates of pay for officers?

That is another question, but of course, the rates of pay for officers have just been increased.

Will the Secretary of State say whether the present intake of officers into the Royal Military Academy covers the increased numbers which will be leaving when the 18 months' retention expires at the end of the year?

That question is linked with that of whether or not it is right to revise the Regular establishment for officers, and that is under examination. I do not want to anticipate the conclusion of that examination, but it is probable that we shall want an increased intake of Regular officers.

When he is reviewing the matter, will the right hon. Gentleman take into account that, when they join up, a large number of people with academic qualifications are either made into clerks or sent to the Army Educational Corps? Would it not be better if a higher proportion went to the fighting units in order to provide officers?

When the right hon. Gentleman says that it is another question, will he bear in mind that in his own memorandum he has expressly linked the two things together in the paragraph about the point that pay especially affects the matter?

Of course, pay affects the number of Regular recruits, officers or men.

asked the Secretary of State for War what approaches he has made to headmasters of grammar schools and public schools in view of the comparative dearth of candidates of high quality for Regular commissions; and what advice he has had from them.

A personal letter is sent from the War Office to headmasters of all public schools and grammar schools three or four times a year. Headmasters are reminded of the advent of the Army entrance examination and are invited to see the selection procedure at a War Office Selection Board or the Regular Commissions Board at first hand. They are also asked whether they would like an officer to talk on the Army to the senior boys at the school. A representative cross-section of the schools is being circularised in order to obtain the views of parents, boys and schoolmasters about the Army as a career.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make a statement to the House when he has the result of the circular?

Yes, Sir.

Is the Minister aware that some weeks ago a very high military authority went into a high school in Birmingham to speak and stipulated that neither governors nor women should be present? Will he discourage that sort of attempt to introduce propaganda into schools?

The purpose of the visit was to draw the attention of both boys and masters to the Army as a career. I do not think that could be described as propaganda.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for Ladywood (Mr. Yates) was the sole dissenter and that the remainder of the persons consulted were overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal?

What evidence has my right hon. Friend that candidates of high quality are found exclusively in grammar schools and public schools? Might not a more fertile ground be Dartmoor?

May I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker? On Question 26, I put a supplementary question to the Secretary of State for War in regard to the visit of a high military authority to a school in Birmingham to speak to the boys on Service conditions. The hon. Member for Kidderminister (Mr. Nabarro) made what appeared to me to be a personal reflection upon me by stating that I was the sole dissenting governor of the school. I want to say that that is quite untrue. In my presence, the hon. Member made a statement that I tried to keep Lord Montgomery out. I say that that is quite untrue, and an unfair reflection upon me. I say it is quite untrue that I objected to a Ministry official being present, because I was anxious to be there myself to hear him. Therefore, I think it is quite unfair that a statement like that should be made. I think the hon. Member ought in fairness to withdraw that accusation.

The hon. Member has made his explanation. We cannot have these personalities flung across the Floor of the House, and I think we had better leave it at that for the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for War what general stores have been sold by his Department or with his Department's authority during the current financial year; and what general stores he has estimated in Vote 7 Z (2) will be so sold during the next financial year.

It is estimated that the value of general stores sold by my Department in the current financial year will be £1,075,000 and in the following year £950,000. The value of stores declared surplus by the War Department which have been sold by other Government Departments during these years is not readily available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman justified in selling the vast amount of stores represented by the £1 million at a time when he must really want everything on which he can lay his hands?

I have confidence in the Quartermaster-General and his Department to retain all the stores for which they have good use.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to look into this very seriously? We are getting disturbing reports about the amount of stuff which is being sold, including some which is not surplus to establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much money was spent on building up the military base at Mackinnon Road, Kenya, which has now been abandoned.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) on 22nd November, 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for War what information he has about the existence, location and condition of the 61 British prisoners of war taken in Korea.

The belief that seven British officers and 83 other ranks are prisoners of war in enemy hands is based on information disclosed by five British soldiers who were recently released by the enemy. I am awaiting further details from the same source regarding the location and condition of these prisoners of war.

Has the right hon. Gentleman got the names, and can he explain how the number has risen from 61, which was the figure given last week by the Minister of Defence, to 90?

These are simply reports from the five men who have come back. We are investigating them very carefully and shall, of course, publish them and let the next-of-kin know as soon as we are sure of our information, but we have to make very careful inquiries before making any statement.

What about the increase in number from last week?

We now believe, again from the same source, that these additional numbers have been seen in enemy hands.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any news of the additional men who are missing but who are not officially reported as prisoners of war?

No, Sir.

Has the right hon. Gentleman still received no information whatsoever from the enemy side?

No, Sir. Efforts are continuing on the part of the International Red Cross, who are unremitting in their efforts, but I cannot claim that they have made any real progress.

Is this country making efforts on its own, or must all efforts on behalf of the prisoners be made through the United Nations or the Unified Command?

They have been done by the International Red Cross, which I think has much the best chance of getting in touch.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will visit the British troops in Korea.

This suggestion will be considered; but all three Services are involved in Korea. The matter will be kept under review in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Does the Secretary of State agree that a visit from him would be more valuable and that his vote here would be no more indispensable than the vote of the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg)?

In view of the intense interest shown by hon. Members on all sides of the House in the welfare of our troops in Korea, would the right hon. Gentleman consider drawing a number of hon. Members from both sides of the House to accompany him when he goes there?

This Question deals only with the Secretary of State.

Can I ask the hon. Gentleman who raised the Question whether he is prepared to go with the Minister when the occasion arises?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange for a party of journalists and trade unionists out of industry to visit the 29th Brigade in Korea to ask the men questions and meet them away from any official sources, and issue a report on their visit.

Experienced journalists accredited to the national newspapers are with our troops in Korea and, as the House knows, they send reports which are published in this country not only of the fighting, but also of the conditions faced by our troops. Unquestionably, these conditions have been exceedingly severe during the past winter and it would be to do less than justice to our men to seek to minimise in any way the hardships which they have inevitably undergone.

Nevertheless, all reports indicate that our troops are in good heart, that their morale is high and that their fighting reputation is outstanding. I make repeated and searching inquiries as to the availability of supplies of protective winter clothing, medical stores and other necessaries. I am completely satisfied that there are ample supplies in Korea but I can quite understand that in the rapid war of movement which is taking place it is most difficult to keep all units supplied with every one of the very large number of articles which they need at all times. I have called for a report on the distribution of winter clothing in Korea.

In these circumstances, I do not think that my hon. Friend's suggestion would serve a useful purpose.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is not an answer supposed to have some relation to the question?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Members of this House, and particularly relatives of the men out there, are receiving letters which are causing a great deal of uneasiness? Would it not be better if a delegation of this character were sent out in order that they could interrogate the men and report?

In reply to that supple-mentary question, for the reasons I have given I do not think so. If I may say so, these seem to me to be precisely the reasons why the suggestion of my hon. Friend, which otherwise might have been a good one, would not serve a useful purpose at this time.

Whilst appreciating the fact that journalists might play a useful part in this matter, would the right hon. Gentleman say what on earth this has to do with trade unionists?

I should have thought it concerned trade unionists very closely. Many of the men serving in Korea are trade unionists—[HON. MEMBERS: "Non-sense."] Certainly; and certainly this very much concerns their fellow trade unionists.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the trade unionists of this country have proved their loyalty and worth to the country as well as any other section of the community and that thousands of them are now serving out there; and in view of that, does he not think that a constructive suggestion of this kind would tend to allay the public anxiety with regard to these men?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers in the Middlesex Regiment are still experiencing considerable delays in the receipt of their mail on the Korean front; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.

Air and surface mail for the Middlesex Regiment is being des-patched by every available means. In active operations it may not always be possible to avoid some delay in delivery but all practicable steps are taken to keep transmission times to a minimum. If the hon. Member cares to let me have details of any particular case which he thinks calls for inquiry, I shall be pleased to look into the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that rather complacent reply is not an answer? These complaints continue although he gave an assurance on 12th December that the establishment of an A.P.O. would probably improve matters. Before the right hon. Gentleman considers paying a visit, will he do something to clear up the matter?

It is useless to pretend that we can always eliminate delays in the delivery of mails in Korea, especially when a war of movement is going on, as it is today. We will certainly do our best to minimise these difficulties.

In view of the fact that some of these men are known to be members of the Co-operative Society, could not some members of that Society go out to Korea?

asked the Secretary of State for War when boots of Finnish pattern designed for use in snow reached the 1st Battalion of the Middle-sex Regiment serving in Korea.

I have called for this information and will write to the hon. Member.

Is not the Secretary of State aware that it is his personal responsibility to know the details of these matters, and to see that the winter clothing concerned actually reaches the troops on the ground? Is he also aware that, according to my information, soldiers in this regiment have suffered very heavy casualties owing to frostbite and pneumonia because of the non-arrival of winter clothing?

I very much resent the suggestion of the hon. Member, which is completely unfounded. The responsibility of the War Office is to see that these supplies are in Korea, and that responsibility is being fulfilled. The authorities on the spot have the very difficult task of seeing to the distribution of the supplies within Korea. I have every reason to suppose they are fulfilling those functions properly.

Could the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House why the supplies of winter clothing for the 27th Brigade, and for this battalion in particular, which arrived on 3rd and 8th November, as he informed the House, contained no boots of Finnish pattern for cold weather clothing?

That is entirely contrary to the facts. The boots which arrived on those dates included the Finnish ski boots in question. As a matter of fact it was reported in the newspapers. The correspondent of the "Daily Express" with the 27th Brigade, writing on 20th November said:

"The boots they have issued are the best in Korea; they are ski-ing boots."

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the most unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Regular Army reservists volunteered for service in Korea; and how many of these are now serving in that country.

I regret that this information is not readily available. I can say, however, that 1,125 ex-soldiers, of whom 1,054 are still serving, enlisted on a special engagement for service in Korea. These may include some Regular reservists.

Are not these figures very disappointing, and would the right hon. Gentleman consider making another appeal for volunteers, to be put across with a great deal more imagination and drive than on the last occasion, so as to reduce the need for using very young National Service men?

The 29th Brigade which was raised for Korea does not contain National Service men.

asked the Secretary of State for War how the prices for necessities sold by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to our troops in Korea compare with prices for similar articles in this country.

The price policy in Korea is similar to that throughout the Far East. Korea prices generally are the same or lower than those prevailing in Hong Kong. I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the prices of a representative list of commodities in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Korea.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a cake of soap which costs 5d. in this country is being sold for 9d. in the N.A.A.F.I. in Korea, and does he think that this is a reasonable surcharge?

It is not a surcharge. Certainly prices in both Hong Kong and Korea are inevitably more expensive than in this country. That is not true in all cases, but it is true in some.

Is the Minister aware that the cheapest handkerchief obtainable by troops in Korea costs 1s. 8d., and will he bear in mind the amount of pay of troops in Korea and see that N.A.A.F.I. bring down their prices so that they are more in line with the soldiers' pay?

The hon. Member will see the price list in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I think it would be wrong to force N.A.A.F.I., who already are operating at anything but a profit in Korea, to sell at prices which are below a sane and reasonable level, considering the very much greater expenses and costs of selling the items in Korea.

If the Minister admits that prices in Korea are high, why does he not give active service pay to compensate the men?

There is no such thing as active service pay. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member is thinking of local overseas allowance. If prices in Korea are shown to be high, or higher than in Hong Kong, then a case for that would arise.

Can the Minister assure the House that the prices in question do not include, either to other ranks or to officers, any element of Purchase Tax?

That is another question.

Is it really such a tragedy if the N.A.A.F.I. make a loss in one theatre of operations when we know that they make such enormous profits elsewhere?

That is precisely what is done.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Salford, East, is likely to receive a reply to his letter of 15th January, with reference to the refusal to give compassionate leave to 22377484 Private G. Ravenscroft, Ayrshire Barracks, British Army of the Rhine, to visit his father in hospital who has since died.

A reply has now been sent to my hon. Friend.

May I ask the Minister why it has taken such a long time as from 15th January to reply, and also what disciplinary action has been taken against the officer who refused permission? Would this have happened if it had been an officer who made an application to see his dying father? Would he have been treated in the manner in which this man has been treated by the unit in which he is serving?

As my hon. Friend knows from the letter I have sent him, it took some time to investigate this case. I thought it better to investigate it clearly before writing to him. I have explained the circumstances fully to him. I have explained that I think the procedure of the unit was to blame, but I certainly would not accept the implications of the latter part of his supplementary question.

But what disciplinary action has been taken?

asked the Secretary of State for War why ex-miners who are serving as National Service men will not be released under the scheme recently announced.

Underground workers in the mines are not normally called up for National Service in the Forces. The few who are serving either left the mines voluntarily before call-up or were not reserved. There would be little advantage in giving these men the opportunity of returning to the mines.

In view of the fact that any ex-miners who are serving as National Service men are obviously volunteers, is it not a pity to spoil the concession recently announced by making this small exception?

The concession was announced quite clearly as applying to members of the Regular Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions he has given to commanding officers in Germany about the reply they are to give to soldiers who have been miners and wish to make application to return to work in the mining industry.

Instructions have now been issued to all commands to ensure that all other ranks on normal Regular and certain short service engagements who have had at least six months' experience of underground work in the mines, and who are below the rank of acting sergeant, shall be offered release, provided they are prepared to work underground and they fulfil certain other conditions.