asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy for manning of essential industries.

asked the Minister of Labour what proposals he has to retain existing labour in the essential industries and obtain the labour force for the re-armament programme.

I would ask the hon. Members to await the statement of the Government's proposals to deal with the economic situation which will be made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Labour what numbers of persons he estimates will be required to change their occupations in order to provide sufficient labour for the re-armament programme.

I regret that it is not practicable to make such an estimate.

In view of the fact that the Minister has made a number of statements in speeches in the country giving estimates of the numbers required to change their occupations, would he state from what industries he proposes to draw these respective munition workers?

The difficulty about making an estimate of those who will have to change their occupation is that some people will be doing precisely the same job with the same employer in the same works, but it will be a defence job; some will be under the same employer still doing the same thing in another part of the factory, and some will move altogether from that employment to another employment that will still be in the same occupation. That is the difficulty about the estimate.

Is the Minister really saying that he has no idea how many will be required?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour what means he proposes to employ to retain in mining employment those foreign workers who are recruited for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

I presume the hon. Member is referring to those Italian workers who have been brought to this country under the official coalmining recruitment scheme. One of the conditions on which these workers are allowed to stay in this country is that they do not leave coalmining employment without the consent of my Department.

Will the Minister take steps to repudiate statements which have been made to the effect that these men are undesirable?

They are certainly not undesirable, and I sincerely hope more of them will be able to go into the mines.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women were registered as unemployed in the textile trades at the last convenient date; and what is being done to find suitable alternative employment for those concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the increasing unemployment in the textile and clothing industry; and what steps he proposes to take.

The latest date for which figures are available is 10th December. At that date 7,379 males and 17,667 females were registered as unemployed in the textile trades, and there were 6,294 males and 17,006 females unemployed in the clothing trades. The majority of these workers were temporarily stopped and hoped to return shortly to their previous employment. The employment exchange service is available to help those seeking alternative employment.

Does the Minister think that this is a temporary phase of recession in the textile industry, or is he of the opinion that those who have lost their work would be well advised to look for employment in some other channel?

My reference to the temporary phase was due to the fact that in early December a number were temporarily stopped in their employment in relation to the extended Christmas holiday arrangements. There has since been a considerable resumption of work so far as those people are concerned. I would not like to venture a prophecy as to how far the textile industry is going to prosper or fail. On that matter I do not want to anticipate what will be said this afternoon by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that in some parts of the country like Macclesfield unemployment is worse since December, and is he further aware that this position commenced last June? Will he try and persuade his right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply to divert new factories, particularly those connected with the arms industry, into these areas?

I am well aware that unemployment has gone up at different periods to a different extent in different parts of the country. I cannot give a general answer as to recession and I do not want to enter a general debate on the matter in anticipation of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor.

Mr. Brockway.

On a point of order, Sir. The right hon. and learned Gentleman begged leave of the House to answer Questions Nos. 5 and 9 together. I did not protest though Question No. 5 refers to textile trades and Question No. 9 to the textile and clothing industry. I have been rising each time and have not been successful in asking a supplementary question on my own Question.

I am sorry I did not see the hon. Member when he rose. I was looking for him in his usual place.

May I therefore, Sir, ask if I might be permitted to put a supplementary question affecting my division? The reason why I am not in my usual place is that somebody had pinched it before I got here.

I am very sorry. It is my fault that I did not observe the hon. Member, but I am afraid we have passed the Question now and that by the Rules of Order we cannot go back.

With respect, Sir, there are many precedents for the Chair being good enough in such circumstances to permit an important supplementary question being put.

I am sorry but I cannot. I have gone past that Question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the assessment of young peoples' capacities and suitability for various grades of employment made by the officials of Youth Employment committees are available to parents on request.

There is no formal assessment of this kind which could be made available to parents, but Youth Employment officers are always ready to discuss with parents the capacity and suitability of a young person for various kinds of employment.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that there is a certain amount of indignation among parents who appear to think their rights and interests in these matters are being ignored by some of his officials? Will he give instructions to his officials to take cognisance of that fact?

I do not think it would be a good thing to compel Youth Employment officers to keep more than notes of their interviews. They do not make a formal assessment. As long as they are prepared to deal with parents and tell them the results those notes display I should have thought that would be enough.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is prepared to consider the establishment of a separate wages board for the Scottish hotel industry in view of the recommendations of the Tourist Board.

I cannot vary the wages board machinery except upon a recommendation under the Act by the Catering Wages Commission. The Commission have been considering the question of a separate board for Scotland, but it has now emerged that legally the Commission are unable to recommend the establishment of a new wages board if the workers concerned are already included in the scope of existing boards. I am considering the situation thus disclosed.

May we take it from that reply that my right hon. and learned Friend does not definitely close the door to some progress in this direction?

I do not intend to close any doors in connection with this matter. I have been in close touch with both sides of this industry, and I am encouraged to hope that we shall be able to produce something constructive. I do not want to say more about it.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman keeping in mind that the problem is not so much one between Scotland and England as one between isolated hotels and city hotels?

I have what the right hon. Gentleman mentions very much in my mind.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, are now unemployed in the city of Aberdeen and in what trades; and what were the respective figures for the corresponding periods in each of the last six years.

I am having the available information extracted and will write to the hon. and learned Member.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is increasing unemployment in the shipbuilding and engineering trades in the North-East of Scotland? What is he doing to maintain full employment in these trades, both of which are essential in peace as well as in war?

I am well aware that there is unemployment there. I am anxious to get materials and when I get them I will see what special steps if any ought to be taken.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is a very great deal of unemployment in Oldham and in Lancashire and that there is very great concern about the situation in Lancashire, especially in the textile industry? Is he aware that that concern is aggravated by the possibility of the Chinese market being closed to the textile industry, and that it is made worse by the fact that in the armament industry there are 90 per cent. of people in some factories being paid wages for doing no work?

I will bear in mind what the hon. Member said when I reconsider the earlier Question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many building trade workers were called up for military service in 1951; what is his estimate of the number of building workers in the Forces; and the number now employed on work for the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

I regret that the information is not immediately available, but I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

When the right hon. and learned Gentleman is making his inquiries, will he also consider the question of keeping the building workers on jobs so that they will be able to get on with the programme of 300,000 houses?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the call-up of skilled aircraft apprentices is retarding the production of aircraft for the re-armament programme; and if he will exempt these skilled workers, in view of the delays caused to production.

This suggestion is already under examination.

Does the Minister fully appreciate that these apprentices are being called up just as they are becoming of real value to the firms by whom they are employed, and that this must have a detrimental effect on the output of aircraft in the re-armament programme?

I am aware of that, Sir.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the representative organisations in industry are very concerned about this, and will he bear in mind that if exemption is to be granted in one section of industry it should be applied to others?

The hon. Gentleman is putting one of the points which are to be examined.

asked the Minister of Labour the increase in wages since 1st January, 1948, giving details of the industries mainly affected; what was the total rise; and to what extent does this rise compare with the rise in the cost of living.

Between 31st December, 1947, and 31st December, 1951, the index number measuring the movement in weekly full-time rates of wages of wage-earners rose from 103 to 126. Between 16th December, 1947, and 11th December, 1951, the interim index of retail prices rose from 104 to 130. The remaining information asked for, so far as it is available, will take some time to extract, and I will send it to my hon. Friend when it is ready.

In view of the fact that so many of our people are financially and economically uninstructed will my right hon. and learned Friend issue an authoritative statement to the effect that an increase in wages without increased production does no good to the recipient or to the country, and in those conditions the recipients are only being paid in pieces of paper which one cannot eat or wear and which are going down and down in purchasing value every day?

I shall do my best to increase productivity wherever I can.

Tell them the truth.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in finding a suitable rabbit trap to replace the gin trap; and how far experiments carried out with the Miller Killmore trap show that it may be suitable for his approval under Section 50 (2) of the Agriculture (Scotland) Act, 1948.

Since August, 1948, 15 new model rabbit traps have been submitted by eight inventors for consideration as alternatives to the gin trap but, unfortunately, none has proved suitable for statutory approval under the provisions of the 1948 Act. Field tests of the Miller Killmore trap have shown that it is a humane killer, although it lacks the degree of efficiency of the gin trap. The trap has real possibilities, however, and further tests will be carried out as soon as an improved model on which I understand the inventor is at present working becomes available.

Does not the Sawyer trap fulfil all the requirements of efficiency and humanity?

The Sawyer trap is the other trap which definitely has possibilities, and it is also being examined further.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grant was paid from the Public Education Accounts for the financial year 1950–51; and what allowance or grant is proposed, or has been paid, for 1951–52 to the funds of the Scottish Country Dancing Association, whose headquarters are at Edinburgh; and for what purpose.

No grant has been made by my Department, nor has any education authority asked me to approve a proposal that they should make a grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now close the Moray Firth, the Minch, the Firth of Clyde and other coastal waters against all foreign fishing craft.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take for the exclusion of foreign trawlers from the Moray Firth or other areas.

His Majesty's Government are at present considering what effect the judgment of the International Court of Justice in the Anglo-Norwegian fisheries case may have upon British practice in relation to British exclusive fishery limits, and I regret that I am not at present able to make a statement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that at this moment there is a very large foreign fleet fishing in the Moray Firth on grounds which are seriously depleted and which are barely yielding a livelihood to the British fishermen who use them in spite of the high prices that prevail, and will he please consider the heavy penalties which Scottish fishermen have borne for so long because of the inability of previous Governments to protect these grounds?

Is this not an opportunity for the Government to press again for some general international agreement on fishing rights in the North Sea with a view to the preservation of stocks?

I agree with the hon. Member. I would welcome that. With regard to the general question, it does affect international conventions such as the North Sea Fisheries Convention, 1882, and it affects Departments other than the Scottish Office alone. We shall do our best to get on with the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is most important from the point of view of British fishing interests generally not to lend any colour to the suggestion that the Norwegian decision ought necessarily to be applicable to other fishing areas?

No, Sir. I did not wish to give that impression. I am sorry if I did.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce legislation for the protection of Scottish rare birds.

Wild birds are at present protected during certain periods of the year by general legislation, and local authorities have power to apply for orders protecting birds in their area during periods of the year when no general protection is provided. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I are considering proposals submitted by the English and Scottish Wild Birds Advisory Committees to clarify and strengthen the law on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to introduce legislation to amend the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947.

The Government are considering whether the Town and Country Planning Acts should be amended, but the subject is a complicated one which presents no quick solution. Legislation is unlikely this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the urgent need, caused by recent storms, of many Scottish fishermen for grants and loans to buy and repair their boats and fishing gear; and if he will take steps to make adequate provision for them.

My inquiries show that fortunately the fishing fleet has suffered little damage. Special measures are not considered necessary.

Does the Minister not consider that some measures are necessary to repair the damage, even though it may be small—I submit it is not small—which has occurred, and that if it is not repaired it will cause not only unemployment in the industry but loss of fish to the consumers who badly need it?

Damage to boats is normally covered by insurance. It is not so in the case of nets unless there is total loss of a boat; but if there are special cases they can, of course, be considered for loan or grant, and I would be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has made for the reduction of expenditure on education in Scotland; and how this is likely to affect education in Ayrshire.

No proposals have been made to education authorities or to the managers of other educational establishments for economies in education.

Can the Minister assure us that in Scotland he is not going to pursue the reactionary policy that is being indicated for England, and will he give an assurance that there are to be no cuts in education in Scotland?

I am afraid I cannot now add to what I have just said, but I suggest to the hon. Gentleman that he should await further proceedings.

Would the right hon. Gentleman be more forthcoming about these prospective educational cuts than his counterpart in England?

I am not in a position at present to add to the reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to announce any reduction of freight charges in the Highlands and Islands.

As I indicated in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Boothby), on 20th November, I understand that the British Transport Commission are now preparing for submission to the Transport Tribunal a draft scheme of freight charges and have undertaken to keep in mind the recommendations of the Committee on Highland Transport Costs which was appointed by the Scottish Council, the Scottish Board for Industry and the Advisory Panel on the Highlands and Islands.

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind that this problem becomes more and more urgent? The Highlands and Islands are capable of making a considerably greater contribution to our food supply, from land and sea, which is badly needed. They have considerable pockets of unemployment. It is quite impossible to make full use of their resources so long as freight rates remain so high.

I do not think I can add usefully to my reply at present. All these points will be considered.

Is the Minister aware that unless some consideration is given to these people living in remote areas, they will not be able to remain in these remote areas?

I can assure my hon. Friend that I am interested in the subject for reasons of which he is aware.

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has decided that the costs of relief, rebuilding, repairs, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, fodder and other hurricane losses in Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland, are to depend on charity supported by a State contribution of £20,000, and if, having regard to the magnitude of the disaster, to the suffering of the people, and to the civil emergency which prevails, he will make a grant in cash and materials equal to £500,000 for distribution by the local authorities who will be responsible for its use.

I welcome this opportunity of expressing the sympathy of His Majesty's Government, and, I am sure, of the whole House, with the people of Orkney and other northern areas who suffered in the recent storms.

Precise estimates of the damage are not yet available, but I have no reason at present to think that the proceeds of the appeals which have been made by the Lord Lieutenant of Orkney and by the Lords Provost of the five cities, to which His Majesty's Government have made a contribution of £20,000, will be insufficient to alleviate the hardship which has undoubtedly been caused. I was greatly impressed on my visit to Orkney by the spirit of independence and self-help which was everywhere evident, and all necessary steps have been taken to assist the work of restoration by making supplies available and by relaxing normal restrictions.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the reports in the Press that the damage from this hurricane has reached over £1 million, and, of course, if that is so, a gift of £20,000 does seem a little niggardly; and is he aware that this is not a charity to the Orkneys because it will be an actual investment? The Orkneys have been one of the best food producing parts of this country and have developed their agriculture in a way quite unprecented, and this unforeseen act of God, as it may be described, has brought such distress that it would be an investment to restore these food producing qualities as soon as possible.

I fully agree as to the importance of restoring the food producing abilities of the whole area, not only the Orkneys; but the right hon. Gentleman must bear in mind that insurance, of course, covers a certain amount of the damage which has been done, and I might add that it will be a little time yet before we can get a more or less accurate estimate of the full damage.

Since the late Government gave no less than £4,850,000 in respect of the disaster in Jamaica, this £20,000 looks almost derisory; and is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied—and this is the important point—that this very small amount is not likely to result in a much reduced output during this year?

Undoubtedly there will be a reduced output of eggs and poultry—eggs in particular—but as regards livestock there was no loss to any appreciable extent. Feedingstuffs have been sent up, and I do not think that we need anticipate, apart from the poultry, any appreciable loss in output. As to the amount, there are precedents for such action on the part of His Majesty's Government and the position will, of course, be watched very carefully. I can assure the House that I have received letters from a number of persons in responsible positions in the North expressing their satisfaction at what has been done.

Will the Secretary of State confirm that this grant was in the nature of immediate assistance, and that when the detailed estimates have been compiled of the actual damage done and of the relief that may be raised, he will look at this matter again? I think that the insurance will cover very little of it, and we do not know exactly what damage has been done.

I agree that we do not yet know the exact amount of the damage. I am afraid that I cannot say more at the present moment because I do not think that I have any authority from the Government to say more on that point, apart from the fact that we shall, of course, watch the position very carefully.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's last reply mean that the Government are still prepared to reconsider the size of the grant to this area? Is that what he meant by his answer?

The reply meant what it said. I am afraid that I cannot say more at this stage.

May we take it that my right hon. Friend, in his further examination of this subject, will consider that Scotland as a whole—and I am sure the whole House—would wish the subject to be considered with sympathy, not merely from the point of view of production, but in regard to the disaster which has fallen on these people?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average length of time taken to build a traditional type house in the Caithness County Council area since 1945; and how this time compares with the average time in other Scottish counties excluding burgh areas.

I regret that the information cannot be provided in the form desired. Houses completed by Caithness County Council during December, 1951, took on average 91 weeks to build compared with 77 weeks for traditional houses completed by other county councils in the same month.

May I ask my right hon. Friend to make an inquiry into the housing situation in this county because they are going backwards and production is impaired? Will he also consider whether the insistence by his Department on the cheapest tender being accepted is not one of the causes for the hold-up, inasmuch as some contractors are getting far more than they can do?

I am doing everything possible to speed up the completion, and if my hon. Friend has any particular points to put to me, I shall be very glad to hear them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent housing in Scotland is being delayed by the shortage of pipes needed for water supplies.

I am not aware of any appreciable delay in housing on account of the shortage of water pipes. If the hon. Member will, however, let me have particulars of any such delays I shall be happy to look into them.

Is the Minister not aware that the Minister of Works recently made a speech in which he said that water pipes were one of the greatest bottlenecks, and that this was giving him a considerable headache? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that local authorities in Ayrshire are greatly disturbed when they are told that water pipes have been delayed because of the re-armament programme?

I did not mean to say that there was an abundance, but I am not aware of delay in getting on with schemes. Where there have been definite shortages reported I am glad to say that the Departmet have been able to arrange for assistance from other authorities who happen to have supplies available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from trade unions protesting against the decision of the Glasgow Town Council to sell 600 Corporation-owned houses; whether he is aware that many key-workers in the railway industry are applicants for the tenancy of Corporation houses; that if the decision to sell is authorised, railway applicants will be put far back in the list; and what action he proposes to take in this matter.

I have seen representatives of the General Council of the Scottish Trade Union Congress on this matter.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there are many hundreds of key railwaymen and transport workers in Glasgow living in deplorable housing conditions who will now be put well back in the list? Is he aware that this may well result in many of the key transport jobs in and around Glasgow not being filled, because men will not accept them because the prospects of their getting houses is very remote?

I hope that when the hon. Gentleman studies the conditions which I have just announced he will realise that these points have been taken very carefully into consideration. I hope that the very dangers to which he refers will be avoided.

Will the Minister tell us what means he has of enforcing the decision which he has made and these conditions which he has imposed upon Glasgow?

The right hon. Gentleman knows that the actual allocation is a matter for the local authorities, but it rests with me to state the conditions under which the sale of houses will be approved. I do not wish to interfere unduly with housing authorities. One naturally has some respect for their duties and responsibilities as properly elected bodies.

May I ask for a little further enlightenment on condition (c)? Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether, if a person who is qualified for a house this year cannot afford to buy that house, he will lose his right altogether to a rented house?

No, Sir. This is a small percentage of the total number of houses built by Glasgow Corporation. The whole object of the conditions which I have outlined is to ensure that people who would normally be offered a house will be offered a house. Those who wish to buy and are able to buy will have the opportunity of doing so.

The right hon. Gentleman indicated that a certain number would be allocated to those people in the T.B. class. Has he any evidence from the records of the Glasgow Corporation of the incomes of people on the T.B. list? Can he give an indication of the number of persons in that category who will be permitted to purchase houses?

No, Sir. I do not know the number, but if they are unable to purchase, then they will be offered houses to rent.

Is the Secretary of State aware that with every house which now becomes vacant in Glasgow being offered for sale, and with these 622 houses being taken completely out of the pool, there will be comparatively few houses let to people with limited means? Is he also aware that a very small percentage indeed of the applicants for Corporation houses can afford to pay £3 or £4 a week for those houses? Will he not reconsider this scandalous decision about these houses?

No, Sir. I cannot accept that this is a scandalous decision. I have taken great trouble to safeguard the position. It is not the case that every house which becomes vacant will be offered for sale. At the present time the Glasgow Corporation are dealing only with the Merrylee block. I hope that when hon. Members have considered this matter they will realise that the position will be safeguarded by the conditions I have announced.

rose—

On a point of order. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of this reply I shall take the earliest possible moment to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now make a further statement about the ill-treatment of Signalman Walter Jones at Catterick Camp last November.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the inquiry into the allegations of brutal conduct against Signalman Walter Jones at Catterick Camp has been finished; what conclusions he has reached; and what disciplinary action has been taken against any individuals, whose action has been shown to be blameworthy.

I have not been fully satisfied with the conditions at Catterick Camp and I therefore called for a special report. I hope and believe that the steps which have recently been taken will prevent a recurrence of incidents of this kind. I will, however, undertake to keep this particular problem under close attention.

As regards the ill-treatment of this man, following an inquiry one non-commissioned officer and six signalmen were convicted by district court-martial on 11th January. The non-commissioned officer was found guilty on two charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and of ill-treating a soldier, and is now serving a sentence of six months' detention. The six signalmen were found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm and are each serving sentences of 42 days' detention.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will exempt men who have done active service in Korea from Z Reserve call-up.

No Reservist who was called up from civilian life for service in Korea will be recalled for training this year. It may be necessary, however, to recall a few Regular Reservists with Korean service who have recently completed their Colour service.

May I thank the Secretary of State for his answer?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will, in future, ensure that Z Reservists serve their training with the nearest possible Territorial unit to their homes, which should encourage them to undertake Territorial service afterwards.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he has taken to ensure that men are not called up under the Z Reserve scheme with Territorial Army units from an unreasonable distance of the headquarters of those un its.

I have arranged for a resort, with the object of selecting men for units near their homes, to be made of all reservists who are to be called up for training with Territorial Army units this year. This has been done. I would, however, remind my hon. Friends that, owing to the increasing specialisation of the Army, the need to get the right man in the right job often conflicts with the attempt to post men to units near their homes. As a result, the extent to which geographical posting is possible inevitably varies in different arms and units.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that, even with the qualifications he has given, this news will be a source of satisfaction to Territorial officers who are keen on recruiting, and who regret that something of the same sort has not been done before?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will revise the composition of the Army Council in order to include the Director of the Territorial Army.

No, Sir. Since the war the status of the Territorial Army has been changed. It is no longer a self-contained voluntary reserve army, but forms part of the integrated national army. Each Army Councillor deals with Territorial Army affairs in the same way as he deals with Regular Army matters of his responsibility.

Does the Secretary of State not feel that, in view of the fact that the Director of the Territorial Army is now also responsible for the Home Guard, the civil problems that arise are of great importance, and that, therefore, they should be dealt with at that level?

No, Sir, I think that the implications of National Service have been more and more to fuse the Regular Army with the Territorial Army, which is, in effect, the reserve army; and I am sure that, with the present Army organisation that would be an unwise step.

asked the Secretary of State for War what financial arrangements are made for British troops attached to American units in the Korean theatre of war.

British troops attached to United States' units in Korea may obtain advances of pay in dollar scrip converted at the official rate of exchange. In view of the imperative need to limit dollar expenditure to essentials, the amounts that may be drawn are restricted. The limits for an officer vary between the dollar equivalents of £27 and £15 a month; for other ranks between some £16 and £8. I have made special inquiries and find that there have been locally no complaints of the inadequacy of these amounts.

What is the present rate of exchange?

I should not like to answer that question, which is outside the scope of my responsibility, without notice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a system of barter whereby British manufactured spirits are exchanged for American heating stoves, and things of that kind?

No arrangement made by this House or anywhere else will, I think, prevent the British soldier from engaging in barter when he feels like it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement on the equipment of the British troops in Korea; and the conditions under which they are serving.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the latest position with regard to supplies of winter clothing and equipment for our troops in Korea

asked the Secretary of State for War if all British troops in Korea have now been issued with adequate protective clothing for winter conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that although winter started in Korea on 1st November members of British units in the Commonwealth Brigade were still without proper winter kit on 14th January; and if he will explain the reason for this delay in leaving men of our Forces without adequate protection against the winter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all British troops serving in Korea are adequately equipped with winter clothing.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the British troops on the Korean war front are short of warm winter clothing and that very cold weather is being experienced there at this time; and whether he will make a statement as to the responsibility for this state of affairs; and what steps are being taken to remedy the position.

asked the Secretary of State for War why proper and timely arrangements were not made for the provision for winter clothing for troops in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the equipment of the British troops in Korea with special reference to winter clothing.

I apologise to the House for the length of this answer, but I think it would wish me to give a full reply.

Shortly after taking office I inquired into the position about winter clothing; and on 13th November, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton), I stated that there was, at that time, sufficient winter clothing in Korea of the type provided in the winter 1950–51 for the equipment of the whole Force in 1951–52. This clothing was, by all reports, found to be generally satisfactory and, as stated, sufficient was available for every man.

I also said:

"A new range of winter clothing has been produced in the light of last winter's experience. Of this, sufficient quantities are now in Korea to clothe all fighting troops, and it is hoped that by January there will be enough for every man."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 13th November, 1951; Vol. 493, c. 793.]

This new type winter clothing has been under development since 1946. After trials and various improvements the War Office decided in March, 1951, to issue it for large scale user trials in Korea. It was known that sufficient new type clothing could only be made available in the early part of this winter in Korea for fighting troops, and I understand that the decision to issue only part of the force with the new type, instead of waiting till the whole force could be equipped simultaneously, was only taken after careful consideration of the implications.

It was hoped to complete the whole force by January. In fact, the quantities then forecast have been exceeded, and the Ministry of Supply, the manufacturers, and those responsible for despatch, deserve much credit for the speed with which deliveries were made.

At the beginning of this winter (November, 1951), every man was completely equipped with the old type clothing. Subsequently, as they began to issue the new type clothing, part of the Commonwealth Division were clothed in old type, part in new type. The latter proved itself much superior, and I have no doubt that complaints and dissatisfaction arose among those men who were not issued with the new type. As a result, every available new type suit in the theatre was issued, a course which was bound to produce difficulties over sizes because, as I have already said, the necessary reserves, which confer some latitude in sizing, could not be in the theatre before January. It may be that this difficulty was aggravated because, although this kit was originally designed to be worn complete and alone, additional garments, such as battledress, were worn underneath the parka, the outer coat lined with fleece.

The position at the present moment is as follows:

In all items of boots and clothing there is now a considerable surplus to the numbers of men in Korea. The number of parkas exceeds our original forecast, and there are sufficient in the theatre for issue to all men. My latest information is that there are more than sufficient boots for the whole force excepting an outstanding requirement for some 13 pairs of boots of the very largest size.

I would remind the House that this new type winter clothing is still experimental and under user trials. First reports indicate an unexpected rate of wear in trousers. The normal wastage rate may, therefore, be considerably exceeded, and urgent steps are being taken to ensure that additional replacements can be made available.

I expect and desire criticism in this most important matter, and the Press have quite properly taken a most active interest. At the same time I hope that the report which I have given to the House will be made known. I express this hope, not to vindicate myself or my Department, but because, after careful inquiry in the War Office, the receipt of a direct report from the Division Commander, and after seeing several individuals recently returned from Korea, I am of the opinion that some Press reports may have caused undue anxiety among relatives of men now fighting in Korea. That is something which I am sure neither this House, the Press nor the men in Korea would wish.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the fullness of his reply, which I am sure will have done much to allay anxiety in the country, might I ask him whether in the future he will do all he can to ensure that, when some new piece of equipment or clothing is discovered, issues are made on as broad a basis as possible, in co-ordination with the other troops with whom our own men will be fighting?

I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. and gallant Friend says.

asked the Secretary of State for War what further steps his Department are taking to improve conditions of service for British soldiers in Korea.

I am not quite certain to what my hon. and gallant Friend is referring. In general, policy regarding conditions and terms of service is framed for the Army as a whole. I am not, therefore, carrying out any special examination in relation to British troops in Korea. The general terms of service are, however, now being reviewed and I intend to announce certain changes when I introduce the Army Estimates.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer and for his previous reply, which covered a good many of the points I had in mind, might I ask whether he has been able to do anything to improve postal facilities and facilities for men who wish to send presents home from Korea?

The latter of those matters is being considered at the present moment. On the former matter, there is a Question on the Order Paper, which I shall be answering later.