asked the Minister of Labour the results of the meeting of representatives of the operators of Reserve Flying Training Schools and the British Air-Line Pilots Association held on 22nd April under his auspices concerning rates of pay for flying instructors employed at these schools.

After the preliminary meeting which was held on 2nd April between the representatives of the operators of Reserve Flying Training Schools and the British Air-Line Pilots Association, the employers held a separate meeting on 30th April and subsequently asked the Department to convene a further joint meeting with the Association. This was held on 30th May and, although progress was made, two points still remain to be decided. These are the subject of further consideration, and the parties have agreed that they shall be submitted to arbitration, if not otherwise settled.

I thank the Minister for his very helpful attitude in this difficult problem, but would he use his good offices with the Air Ministry to persuade them to adopt a less unhelpful attitude, because the whole problem depends entirely on whether the Air Ministry will be prepared to negotiate fresh contracts with these various firms?

I think the discussions are going well. When the hon. Member reads the answer I am perfectly certain that he will be satisfied with the progress which has been made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the men concerned are so dissatisfied that they are taking the dispute to the industrial court?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to the result of his efforts to secure the abolition of fixed age limits in the Civil Service and in the employ of nationalised industries.

I have drawn the attention of the authorities concerned to the Government's policy on this matter, and they are now reviewing their arrangements, where appropriate, through Whitley or other consultative machinery.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate any public statement being made as to the result of these discussions with a view, among other things, to setting a good example to the private sphere of industry?

Yes; certainly. When an official decision is made I certainly intend to make a public statement.

In view of the widespread concern expressed on all sides of the House in a recent debate, will the Minister press forward vigorously in this matter?

indicated assent.

Will my right hon. Friend pay special attention in these negotiations to securing normal promotion arrangements?

The Whitley Councils are judges in this matter. I am perfectly certain that by dealing with the matter through them the proper results will eventually be reached.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to the results of his representations to the nationalised industries on the subject of the making-up of pay of employees of those industries recalled to the Forces.

I have made no such representations. This is a matter for the industries themselves to determine through the appropriate negotiating machinery.

Is it not the duty of His Majesty's Government to indicate their views on a matter of importance to the industries they control, and is it not anomalous that legislation should at present be before the House to enable local authorities to do what His Majesty's Government will not raise a finger to persuade nationalised industries to do?

That, of course, is not a fact. The nationalised industries understand the Government's position on this point and are at present considering their action.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that he is leaving it entirely free for one nationalised industry to move in one direction and another nationalised industry to take quite another decision in the opposite direction?

Certainly. The nationalised industries must be free to deal with these matters through the proper negotiating machinery which has been set up.

Will my right hon. Friend make representations to see that whatever financial obligations are laid upon the nationalised industries will also be laid upon private employers?

Is the House to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's statement that he does not think it is a good thing for the Government to exercise any control over the nationalised industries?

The Government exercise control over the nationalised industries through the appropriate Ministers in charge of them by the authority they have under the Acts to make directions. This is not a matter which requires a direction at this stage. I have said that the nationalised industries are considering it at the moment. In point of fact, the Government themselves have not yet reached a decision on the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he has now considered the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into unofficial stoppages in the London docks; and if he will make a statement;

asked the Minister of Labour what action the Government propose to take arising out of the Dock Labour Report prepared by Sir Frederick Leggett's Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry on unofficial stoppages at the London docks, Command Paper 8236; and if he will make a statement.

The first step is to consult the various bodies concerned. Their views have been requested and discussions arranged. I shall complete these consultations as rapidly as possible to enable decisions to be taken.

May I put two questions to the right hon. Gentleman? First of all, do I take it that His Majesty's Government have accepted the findings of the Leggett Committee? Secondly, is it intended that any action the Minister may take shall apply to Merseyside and other ports, as well as to London?

There will obviously be matters arising from the Leggett Report which will affect other ports besides the London docks. There are many things in the Report which need very careful discussion with the bodies concerned, and those discussions are now taking place.

Has it not become increasingly obvious that the T.U.C., being the paymasters of the Government, are having undue influence on policy? Will the Government either govern or get out? Answer that one!

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, whatever may be the truth as to London, there is a great deal in the Report of this Committee which certainly does not apply to many dock areas outside London, and will he not see that if he intends to do anything affecting those other areas it is necessary to have a committee to inquire into the conditions at the other ports?

What my hon. Friend has said indicates the necessity for very careful consideration of this Report and for adequate discussions with all sides of the industry concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour what deficiencies are expected in skilled labour available for the aircraft industry; and if he will make a statement.

There is a growing scarcity of certain types of skilled labour required for aircraft production. These deficiencies will, to a considerable extent, be met by the transfer of skilled workers from civilian work to defence contracts, but there are not enough skilled workers to meet all demands. The difficulty must therefore be met by the development of schemes of upgrading and training. I am watching the situation closely in consultation with both sides of industry.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that even in the first few months of the expansion programme certain factories are already short of skilled tradesmen and that a long-term programme will not suffice? What does he intend to do in the immediate future, because the defence of this country in the main depends on the aircraft industry?

It is a fact of which everyone should be well aware that there is an over-all shortage of skilled workers in this country. When one imposes a defence programme of this magnitude on the country, that problem becomes accentuated. What we are doing, and what I always propose to do, is to consult both sides of industry to meet a problem of that kind.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the degree of liaison established between his Department and employers for the purpose of avoiding unemployment in Coventry due to shortage of raw materials by the absorption of such personnel elsewhere.

Following discussions with the National Joint Advisory Council, employers at Coventry and elsewhere have been asked through their associations to give my local offices early intimation of prospective redundancies. Similarly, trade unions have been asked to advise workers whose jobs are coming to an end to register at local offices whilst they are still in employment, so that there may be an opportunity to help them to find other work without any interval of unemployment.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there is real appreciation of the work which he is doing in this connection and that in Coventry the trade union movement is giving full co-operation to the employment exchanges in this matter?

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that no major decision about the movement of labour will be taken without prior consultation with the trade unions, both on a national and a local level?

That is, in fact, what I am doing, and the general idea behind the proposals I am carrying out is that if redundancies are notified in good time, then when a man's employment comes to an end on Friday night there will be a job for him somewhere else on the Monday morning.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take on the recommendation of the court of inquiry into the dispute between the Electrical Trades Union and the London Electricity Board, Command Paper No. 8232; and if he will make a statement.

Copies of the report of the court of inquiry were sent on 17th May to each of the parties concerned. I have asked them to give urgent consideration to the conclusions of the court and to inform me of the outcome.

Is the Minister aware that I can only repeat the supplementary question I put on Question No. 8?

asked the Minister of Labour what are his intentions with reference to the continuation in force of Statutory Instrument, 1940, No. 1305.

I am at the moment discussing this question with my National Joint Advisory Council, and I will make an announcement at the earliest opportunity.

In view of the uncertainty which at present exists on this subject, will the Minister do his best to expedite that announcement?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that an early decision will be made, so far as it remains for me to make it.

Will the strike, or cessation of work of the tally clerks at the London docks be covered by No. 1305?

That is another question.

It is the same strike.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will ensure that at the forthcoming meeting of the International Labour Office the British representative votes for the principle of equal pay for work of equal value whether done by men or women.

The International Labour Conference will be discussing proposed international regulations embodying a number of general principles relating to equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value, together with suggested methods of application. I cannot attempt to indicate in advance the attitude of the Government on the various detailed questions which will arise in the course of the conference discussions.

Can the Minister say whether, in general, equal pay for equal work is the policy of His Majesty's Government?

His Majesty's Government have already indicated that they believe in the principle of equal pay for equal work.

Have the representatives of the Government had no instructions whatever?

No, Sir, not yet. I am at the moment busy drafting those instructions.

asked the Secretary for Scotland under what circumstances fishermen are now eligible for grants under the Herring Industry Act, 1944, towards the cost of constructing herring fishing boats.

Grants may be made on the recommendation of the Herring Industry Board in accordance with the arrangements approved by the Treasury. Applications are considered in the light of the individual circumstances, and also of the prevailing conditions in the fishing industry. For some time grants have been given only in exceptional cases.

Have the Government altered their policy here? Are they not giving grants when they would have given grants a few months ago?

That is so, because the prevailing conditions in the industry have changed somewhat between the two periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far, before making the Order forbidding the taking of lobsters in spawn, he consulted fishermen's organisations; and how far other methods of conserving stocks were considered.

Four associations of fishermen in Scotland were consulted before the Order was made. Besides prohibiting the taking of lobsters carrying spawn, the Order increased from 8 in. to 9 in. the minimum length of lobsters which may be landed. Other methods of conserving stocks were considered impracticable.

While appreciating the need for conserving stocks and the rather difficult nature of this problem, will the Minister bear in mind the considerable hardship that these people are likely to suffer under the Order? Can he tell us what evidence he has that stocks are being seriously depleted at this moment?

There is evidence of stocks falling in some of the lobster fisheries. We had recommendations as long ago as 1946 from the Neven-Spence Committee in favour of imposing this restriction. There is no other way of imposing restrictions and saving stocks than the making of this Order.

While certain organisations may have been consulted, is the Minister aware that in the north-west of Scotland and in the Islands, where a large number of lobsters are caught, there was no consultation of any kind? In that area, so far from there being a depletion of stocks, the industry has been almost overwhelmed. Will the Minister reconsider this matter again, because it concerns the livelihood of those people?

We can only discuss these matters with associations. If individual fishermen in particular parts of the country are not members of an association it is impossible for us to consult them.

What steps have been taken to ensure that French fishermen do not come and lift the lobsters around the Cornish coasts?

That is another question.

Are any lobster fishermen members of the association which the Minister's Department has been consulting?

I should imagine that some of the lobster fishermen are. I imagine that a large number of the crofter fishermen are not members.

Is the Minister aware that many fishermen on the west coast tell me that this Order means that they will have to go out of business?

I think they are a little early in deciding that they are going to be put out of business by the operation of the Order.

Does the Minister take no cognisance of individuals? Must they join associations before he will listen to them?

Not at all, but for consultation they must join an association. We cannot consult all the lobster fishermen in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the complaint made to him by the secretaries of the Clyde Fisheries Association concerning the recent rise in the price of sisal from 75s. 3d. to a new peak price of 292s. per cwt., and of the difficulties this has caused to fishermen and to the herring industry.

Prices of ropes are kept under review by the Central Price Regulation Committee but the Government have no control over the price of raw sisal. Special arrangements have been made for the release of 4,000 tons of manila for the fishing industry. Manila ropes should be available to fisherman in July at prices below the current price for similar sisal ropes, and as they have an appreciably longer life the effective cost to the fishermen should be substantially reduced. I am writing to the association more fully in this sense, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of my letter.

Can the Minister not take steps to see that adequate manila rope is allocated to the Scottish inshore fishing fleet?

I will note the representation.

Can the Minister say what the price of the manila rope will be?

I could not, offhand.

Since the amount of manila rope to be made available will be rather small, is it not time, in view of the fact that sisal rope has increased in price five times in the last few years, to consider a subsidy for this essential part of the fishing industry?

We note again this appeal for a subsidy from the other side of the House.

Will the Minister see that the English fishing fleet gets a fair share of manila rope?

Scotland is certainly getting a fair share of Question Time today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision he has come to about the provision of the new harbour for Maidens, Ayrshire.

This case is still under consideration. In recent discussions, representatives of the county council agreed to reconsider their contribution towards the cost.

How long has this matter been under discussion? Is there any prospect of it materialising into something definite?

The discussions have gone on for a long time, and different schemes have been considered from time to time. The present scheme is one that we think should be carried out as soon as possible. It is only a question of adjusting with the county council what contribution they are to make, and then for the Development Commissioners to make up their minds whether they can support it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in fixing national scales for trained nursing staffs in children's homes, in view of the awards which have been made during the past two years to trained nursing staffs in other establishments which had retrospective effect to 1st February, 1949.

The Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council are at present considering a claim for revised salary scales for nursing staff employed in day and residential nurseries and in nurseries attached to institutions. Any scales agreed as a result of these negotiations will no doubt influence the salaries to be paid by the local authorities to trained nurses employed as such in their children's homes.

Is the hon. Lady aware—I suppose she is—of the very considerable dissatisfaction among the staffs of the various children's homes throughout Scotland at the great and substantial differential between their remuneration and that which has been granted by the Whitley Council to the staffs of hospitals for children? Can she use her influence to see that the differentiation is reconciled.

I am aware of the dissatisfaction among this body of workers, but the Secretary of State has no power whatever to prescribe rates or scales for them. We hope that the negotiations that are going on will be settled quickly by the Whitley Council and that the local authorities will follow immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the practicability of granting building licences to tenants of local authority houses who wish to build houses for their personal occupation and so make additional houses available for needy families without any burden on public funds.

My right hon. Friend is prepared to agree to the granting of building licences for new houses to local authority tenants where this will release a house for another family on the waiting list. It is proposed to tell local authorities that for this purpose they may issue licences, provided they keep within the total allocations of houses already made to them.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, may I ask him whether this proposal will mean an expansion of private building or whether it will be done under the present allocation?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend. We have in mind that the licences for these houses may be granted outwith the restriction to one in 10 imposed for the categories announced some time ago.

Does not the Minister find it very satisfactory that, after a little more than a year, the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele) has been converted to Unionist policy?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) to what extent, in his consultations with local authorities on midwifery services, he urges the full implementation of the Scottish (Midwifery) Services Act, 1937, which provides a complete service of doctor, obstetrician, where necessary, and midwife; or if he is satisfied with a substandard midwifery service consisting of midwives and machines only;

The main provisions of the Maternity Service (Scotland) Act, 1937, were superseded by the National Health Service (Scotland) Act, 1947. The services of general practitioners and specialist obstetricians are now provided under arrangements made by executive councils and regional hospital boards, respectively, and the responsibility of local authorities is limited to providing the services of midwives and ancillary aids.

Can the hon. Lady say what proportion of these midwives are equipped and trained to administer analgesia if necessary?

That is another question, and I could not answer it without notice.

Can my hon. Friend give the percentage of cases in Scotland where both doctor and midwife were present, and the percentage where the midwife only was present?

In about 94 per cent. of the cases in 1950 both doctor and midwife were concerned.

What are the ancillary aids to a midwife which the hon. Lady mentioned in her answer?

If the hon. Member had been here last Tuesday he would not have had to put that question. These aids are gas and air machines, trilene and all sorts of things like that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of beds available in Scotland for aged and infirm patients; and the total number of beds which would be necessary to accommodate adequately the above patients.

Five thousand nine hundred and thirty-six beds are available in local authority establishments for the care and attention of aged and infirm persons, and 3,000 additional beds in voluntary and private establishments. Local authorities have estimated future needs as 5,600 additional beds.

I thank my hon. Friend for her answer, but is she aware that it gives rise to another question? For many years there has been a definite shortage of beds for aged and infirm people. Will she arrange some consultations between the local authorities and the regional hospital boards in those areas so that beds may be made available to enable the old people to have the attention they require?

I understand that there is always consultation between those bodies. We are always worried about the numbers of old people who cannot find beds, and I assure my hon. Friend that we are doing all that we can.

Does the hon. Lady realise that this is a matter of great urgency? Frankly, there is not a single hon. Member for Scotland who has not had some very painful cases of old people who are not able to get into hospitals just now, and it is an increasing difficulty.

I can assure the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that this is not something new in Scotland, and that right from the beginning we have considered this as a matter of great urgency.

Can my hon. Friend state how many authorities are meeting the requirements and give the names of the authorities who are not so far facing up to this very serious responsibility?

I could not give those facts without notice. I can say that, besides the accommodation already provided, an additional 30 homes to provide accommodation for another 790 persons are under consideration.

Does not the hon. Lady admit that this is becoming much more serious than it has previously been, and that it is much more serious under the regional hospital boards than it was when it was the responsibility of the local authorities?

I should in no way accept the suggestion made by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman.

Then perhaps the hon. Lady will ask the Medical Officer of Health for Glasgow.

I feel inclined to suggest that Scottish Questions should go to the Scottish Grand Committee.

On a point of order. We have only just reached Scottish Questions. Half an hour was taken for the first 14 Questions. I do not think it can be said that these important Scottish Questions are being unduly prolonged.

I have forgotten how many Scottish Questions we have had, but each one has taken a tremendously long time. After all, Scotland is only part of the United Kingdom.

Further to that point of order. It should be understood in the House that Scotland has only one Minister to answer for seven or eight Departments—[HON. MEMBERS: "Three Ministers."]—whereas every Department in England has its separate representative in the House. I say that we are entitled to protest that we are not getting our full share.

That is not a point of order for me. It is a matter for the Government.

English Nationalism!

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of specialists in the Health Service in Scotland on 31st December, 1949, and 31st December, 1950, respectively.

The numbers on these dates were 928 and 993, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is taking to have hearing aids sent for repair returned to users earlier than is now the practice.

The exact arrangements for the repair of hearing aids vary at different centres, and if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I shall be glad if he will let me know.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many hon. Members on this side of the House have instances of hearing aids taking four or five months to repair? Is my hon. Friend aware that old persons who have had the advantage of a hearing aid feel it very badly, being of an advanced age, when they have to wait for its return? Would it not be most beneficial if something could be done to get repairs carried out quickly?

Most of the clinics carry out their own minor repairs, although a few send them to the regional centre. Where a major repair has to be carried out, the instrument has to be sent back to the manufacturer, and in these cases a new hearing aid is supplied. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any cases in which a repair has taken four or five months I will look into the matter.

As 2,000 hearing aids have already been returned as unsuitable, cannot the hon. Lady say how long it is likely to take before the recipients can get new or repaired aids?

I do not know where the hon. and gallant Gentleman gets his figure of 2,000. It is true that a great many of these do need repairing, but we find that in most clinics the repairs are being carried out very quickly at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the extent of the unsatisfied demand for allotments.

The latest complete information on this question is contained in returns made by local authorities for the year ended on 30th April, 1950. These returns indicated that only in six areas were there outstanding applications for allotments. In four of these areas the outstanding applications totalled 259. In the other two areas no numbers were returned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what sense the interests of good husbandry are served by the re-seeding to permanent pasture of ploughed-up policy parks.

The practice of re-seeding to pasture land which has been through a course of cropping is a recognised method of maintaining fertility and keeping land in good heart. The question whether such pasture should be permanent or temporary can only be decided in relation to the particular circumstances of any specific piece of land.

In view of the decline in the tillage area and in the rotational grass area and the Department's continual insistence on an improvement in the tillage area, does not my hon. Friend consider that it is necessary to make some inroads on the already large permanent grass area?

Yes, indeed, Sir. Considerable inroads have been made upon the permanent grass areas, and policy parks have to make their contribution, but each individual case has to be considered on its merits and in relation to the agricultural land of which it forms a part.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland of how many members the National Committee for the Training of Teachers at present consists; and how many of these are or have been teachers.

There are 45 members, who, by the minute of constitution, must be elected from amongst the members of the education committees of the education authorities. So far as I can ascertain, five of the 45 are or have been teachers.

Does my hon. Friend consider this to be the correct proportion?

The National Committee meets formally only once a year. Its work is really carried out by the Central Executive Committee. All the members of the Central Executive Committee do not come from the National Committee. There are on the Central Executive Committee 21 members, two of whom must be teachers. At the present time I understand that another five members are, or have been teachers, so that one-third of the members of the Committee which really does the work are teachers.

On a point of order. The last three Questions have been asked by a Parliamentary Private Secretary. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Is not that a little undesirable? Why cannot these matters be settled in the office?

I did not hear what the hon. Member said, but I am sure it was not a point of order.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the statement in the recent White Paper on the Annual Review of Farm Prices that there is a surplus of eggs at a certain time of year, he will make it clear that it is not the policy of the Government to reduce egg production in this country.

As is made clear in the recent White Paper on the Annual Review and Fixing of Farm Prices, 1951, the Government still want the high level of egg production already reached to be maintained, and it is hoped by widening the difference in seasonal prices to spread production more evenly throughout the year.

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that this spring, at any rate, there is a large unsatisfied demand for eggs and a falling off, which I think has taken place in egg production, which is very serious?

This, of course, has been a bad spring, but I think the general policy explained in the White Paper is one which is acceptable to hon. Members in all parts of the House.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is already evidence of a very decided tendency to discourage egg production because of the recent price variations announced by the Ministry of Food? Will he say whether the Department were properly consulted before these prices were fixed, because otherwise we shall get few eggs next year?

Of course the Departments were fully consulted. I do not know from where the hon. Member gets his evidence about there being discouragement in egg production at the present time.

May I ask if the hon. Gentleman, before drafting his reply, had consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, or was it only a few minutes ago on the Government Front Bench?

I do not know what is the relevance of that comment. The Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible for the administration of these matters in Scotland, but of course we have discussion with the Minister of Agriculture.

Will my hon. Friend say when there is likely to be a surplus of eggs in Scotland, and will they be sent to Edinburgh, or to the Scottish Grand Committee?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the present shortage and cost of paper and the necessity of staff and regimental officers having time for training themselves and their troops, he will take urgent steps to reduce the number of forms and returns for which his Department is responsible.

This is already in hand. One hundred and fifty returns have already been cancelled.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this problem of forms and returns places a very great burden on the unit and that if he could relieve commanding officers a little in this respect he might lose a certain number of nuts and bolts, but the net gain in economy and efficiency would be tremendous?

I quite agree, and we have just appointed a Controller of Army Statistics.

While realising that it has been a good move to appoint a controller at the War Office and in the commands, which has relieved matters to a certain extent, things are by no means right and a great many people feel that if these forms increase the CO. will no longer be able to train his unit efficiently. Surely the right hon. Gentleman will bear that matter in mind?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that troops on active service in Korea are having to pay from 1½d. to 4½d. per tablet more for washing soap than at home; 7d. to 9½d. per quarter pound more for tea; 6d. more for fruit and cordials; from 4d. to 9d. a tin more for milk and on almost all types of goods purchased for personal use are having to pay at high rates; and, in view of the unrest caused to the troops and their relatives at home, what action he proposes to take with a view to reducing the prices of these commodities.

Prices charged by N.A.A.F.I. in Korea are naturally in line with other Far Eastern prices. In some cases they are higher than prices in the United Kingdom, but in other cases they are lower, for instance cigarettes are 11d. for 20 in Korea as against 3s. 6d. in the United Kingdom, matches 1d. in Korea as against 2d. in the United Kingdom, toothpaste 1s. 4d. in Korea as against 1s. 6d. in the United Kingdom.

Whilst it is nice to hear that some of the prices are lower, does not the Secretary of State feel that all these prices should be at least on the level charged here, or lower? Will he ask N.A.A.F.I. to subsidise the higher prices out of the huge reserves they have accumulated?

I have a table of all the principal items before me, and I should have thought that if a statistician compiled a cost of living index figure it would show that certainly Korean prices were not higher than in the United Kingdom. N.A.A.F.I. only accumulates surpluses which are used either in the units or as N.A.A.F.I.'s contribution centrally to Army charities, and the like. I should have thought it very difficult to ask them to subsidise these prices.

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that N.A.A.F.I. themselves admit that for certain articles their prices are high, but their excuse for that is that they have been instructed in Korea to charge Hong Kong prices and the troops in Korea do not have Hong Kong allowances and this anomaly has continued for some months?

It is not a question of instructions. N.A.A.F.I. are charging Far Eastern prices in relation to their area. There is another Question on local overseas allowance on the Order Paper for later on.

Although my right hon. Friend points out that there is another Question, could he say now what reasons the commander on the spot, when he communicated with him about this matter, gave for his view that these N.A.A.F.I. prices did not justify a local overseas allowance?

I cannot give the commanding officer's answer in detail, of course, but he pointed out for one thing that N.A.A.F.I. prices are only one part and not the principal part of the soldier's expenditure.

What is the rest?

His general expenditure.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if he will publish the full list, to which he has referred, in the OFFICIAL REPORT, so that hon. Members can read it?

That has already been done.

The Secretary of State said that the troops are paying higher prices for some of their goods, does he not think it wrong that the troops in Korea should have to pay any higher price for any goods at all? Is it not about time something was done to see that the troops get all these goods at least at the price their relatives pay here?

It is perfectly true, as my hon. Friend says, that they are paying slightly more for soap, for example, but they are paying very much less for cigarettes, and I should not have thought that that shows any hardship on the troops. It would be possible to bring up the price of cigarettes to the United Kingdom and to bring the price of soap down, but I should not have thought that an advantage.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has considered the representations, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Coventry, South, from soldiers in Korea on the subject of his decision not to issue a local overseas allowance to troops in that theatre; and, in view of these representations and of the strong feeling aroused both in this country and Korea, if he will reconsider that decision.

I have considered these representations, but I must emphasise that local overseas allowance is designed to meet any overall extra expenses of living in an overseas station above similar expenses in the United Kingdom. Careful and sympathetic investigations have revealed that there is no case for such an allowance in Korea.

While assuring my right hon. Friend that both I and the men who have written to me from Korea realise that no one is more anxious than he that justice should be done in this matter—[Laughter.] I have obviously had more letters than Members opposite on this subject. Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the most important thing is that the men in Korea should themselves believe this decision to be fair, and would he therefore consider publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of prices obtaining both in Hong Kong and in Korea so that the men may themselves see on what basis it is not justifiable that an additional allowance should be made to them?

One such list has been published, but we could, I think, publish another.

In view of the number of complaints that we have continually about Korea—the loss of allowances, high prices and so on—would not the right hon. Gentleman start to err on the side of generosity where our troops in action are concerned and make economies in other directions?

The hon. and gallant Member knows that what we have done is to ask the local commander whether he can give us a case for a local overseas allowance, and he says that he cannot do so.

Since my right hon. Friend has agreed to publish in HANSARD the comparative list of N.A.A.F.I. prices, would he also publish a list of what he regards as the other main items of expenditure, outside the N.A.A.F.I., that the troops have in Korea?

rose—

I called attention during Scottish Questions when about five Members were rising to ask supplementaries, but England, I am sorry to say, is just as bad. If we have lots of supplementaries, we have very few Questions and that is what we are having today.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I point out with great respect that Scotland is just as interested as England in Army Questions?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will postpone production of the.280 rifle in view of the shortage of raw materials and the fact that more than adequate stocks of.303 rifles and ammunition exist in stock.

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this is the right time to change over from the.303 rifle, in view of the shortage of manpower, the shortage of materials and the fact that this rifle is a very good one and we have it in very good quantities in this country—about the only thing we have in good quantity?

Yes, Sir, I am satisfied about this rifle. The present one, although a good one, was introduced in 1902, and the time does come when it is necessary to replace obsolescent weapons by more up-to-date weapons.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that the most important consideration here, out of a great many considerations—standardisation and shortages of manpower and materials are two important ones—is for the infantry soldier to have the best weapon available, and will the right hon. Gentleman get on and produce that weapon as quickly as possible?

I have very much more sympathy with that demand than the other.

Will my right hon. Friend take note of the fact that this is the third time the Opposition have attempted to deprive our men of the latest and best weapons and equipment?

Can the Minister say whether the Dominion Governments are adopting this new type of rifle?

It is too early to say that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the fact that the childish and ridiculous suggestion of the hon. and learned Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) has no relation whatever to the facts?

We cannot continue this throwing of bricks from one side of the House to the other.

Will the Secretary of State ensure that both kinds of rifle are not in issue at the same time?

Of course, the new rifle cannot be produced in sufficient quantities to equip the whole Army in one month or anything like it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange to bring Army Form B 271 A up to date, so that soldiers making their attestation may know their full liability for retention in the service.

Yes, Sir. This is being done. In the meantime, instructions are being issued to the recruiting staff to ensure that the additional liabilities imposed by the Prolongation of Service Act are explained to all applicants for Regular engagements.

Does the Minister appreciate that the existing attestation form says that a man may be held to serve an additional 12 months in an emergency, that the man signs that form but now is referred to a 1939 order and is told that he can be held for 18 months or longer? Is not this dishonest? Surely in the last five or six years the form could have been changed?

I think it is right that the attestation form should be changed, and it is being changed.

Does the answer the right hon. Gentleman has just given apply to all three Services? There is some resentment at the misunderstanding which arose in other Services besides the Army.

I was answering on behalf of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Musician Wright, Royal Artillery, was paid a gratuity of £25 and was then subsequently forced to refund the money, details of which case have been forwarded to him.

The hon. and gallant Member will now have received my hon. Friend's reply on this subject.

As a result of my representations, Musician Wright has now got his £25, but does the Minister realise that there are many other men who, having in their patriotism re-enlisted before 1st September, are entitled to this money? Will the Minister see that anyone who enlisted during a similar period gets his £25 gratuity.

I cannot go into this case in detail. Of course, when a bounty is given for re-enlistment over a particular period, it must apply to that period, and there must be hard cases of persons who enlist either immediately before or immediately after that period. It cannot be extended.