asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the reasons for the delay in announcing the result of the public inquiry into the City of Sheffield (Bradway) Housing Compulsory Purchase Order, 1952.

:I hope to announce my decision on the Bradway Compulsory Purchase Order very shortly. It is a difficult case and time has been taken to give detailed consideration to objections of owners and occupiers of land and to the importance of agriculture and amenity on the one hand and to the city's large housing need on the other. Decisions which were given in March last have enabled the corporation to go ahead for the next two to three years.

As this matter has now been under consideration for over a year and three months, can my right hon. Friend say how soon "very shortly" will be?

It will be as soon as I can reach agreed decisions on these difficult claims. I have made arrangements for decisions to be taken which will ensure the supply of land for the programme two to three years ahead.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many dwellings were built by the Stoke-on-Trent local authority during 1953; and what was the cost of two-bed-roomed and three-bedroomed houses without the inclusion of services and sites;

I regret that I cannot add to the information published in the Housing Return.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an estimate of the number of houses let under contracts to which Section 2 of the Housing Act, 1936, applies.

No, Sir. I have no information on which to base such an estimate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities, other than rural district councils, have made inspection of their districts under Section 5 of the Housing Act, 1936, in 1951, 1952 and 1953, respectively; and in how many cases in each year he has exercised any of his default powers under Part VII of that Act with regard to the duty imposed by the said Section 5.

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not yet available, but it is clear, from the large number of unfit houses all over the country which have been the subject of action by local authorities, that inspections are proceeding. The answer to the second part of the Question is "None."

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) which are the local authorities that operate schemes for insuring the contents of houses let to tenants and owned by the local authority;

Local authorities do not have to inform me about such schemes, and I know of two authorities only which operate them. I have no authority to interpret the statutes, but I am advised that, unless a local authority have a financial interest in such contents, they have no powers to operate insurance schemes.

:Would my right hon. Friend at this stage say which local authorities of which he has personal knowledge are operating such schemes? Is there any action he can take to ensure that local authorities are not straining the statute by having schemes of this kind?

:The action does not lie with me. I only gave what I thought was the interpretation of the statute. The action would lie with the district auditor.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he is aware that, unless the proposed Exchequer contribution towards the cost of deferred demolition is increased, an intolerable burden will be imposed on local authorities, like Islington, which contain an unusual proportion of houses built nearly 100 years ago; and if he will take steps to remedy this;

:Since all these questions are to be discussed in detail tomorrow, in the Committee on the Financial Resolution, I hope the hon. Member will agree that it will be more convenient to deal with them at that time.

:It would be very convenient if the Minister could, in the meantime, circulate some figures giving an answer to Question No. 15. It would also be convenient if he would bear in mind the very widespread dissatisfaction that is felt among local authorities about the complete inadequacy of his present proposals.

As we shall be discussing this from 3.30 to about 8 o'clock tomorrow, I think it would be better to leave it until then rather than deal with this complicated subject by Question and answer.

Is the Minister aware that the information might indeed aid us a great deal in the discussion we shall have?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will draw up a code of model rules, to be added to as experience accumulates, for the assistance of local authorities in managing their housing departments;

The management of houses and flats under the control of local authorities is, by statute, a matter entirely for the authorities themselves. My predecessors and I have, after seeking the advice of the Central Housing Advisory Committee, from time to time circulated some general guidance as to the principles of allocation, transfers, exchanges, rent and general management problems. I would certainly be ready again to consult the Committee, which is a statutory and representative body, on whether the proposal contained in the hon. Member's Questions could usefully be followed.

I appreciate the terms of the Minister's reply, but is he aware that in connection with the case mentioned in the second Question a very wide range of Press comment was excited, and from the more responsible section of the Press the Minister was urged to give the type of considered guidance for which I have asked?

:That is why I said I would consider asking the Statutory Committee, whose duty it is to advise me on these matters, whether they could usefully give me some guidance, which I could then pass to the local authorities. But I do think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that were I to try to deal from Whitehall with the housing problems of millions of people it would really be an impossible task.

Arising out of Question No. 18, would the Minister consider the possibility of seeking greater co-ordination and co-operation between his Department and the welfare authorities responsible to the Ministry of Health in dealing with the difficult problem of providing temporary accommodation for those families which are being evicted from council-controlled houses?

We do what we can, but we do not want to take away from the responsibility of local authorities, but rather to assist them.

If my right hon. Friend eventually adopts the suggestion, will he include in the guidance the advice that they should not operate questionable schemes of insuring tenants' furniture?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has considered the proposal, details of which have been submitted, to strengthen the powers of local authorities in dealing with slum properties, the actual ownership of which is difficult to establish.

Yes, Sir, but I am not at present inclined to impose a new obligation upon all owners of property in the area of a local authority in the hope—which may well prove illusory—of establishing the identity of a limited number of them.

Is the Minister aware that further action is urgently required to kill the Brady-Waters slum racket which is now operated behind a network of companies by an impudent rogue who calls himself E. W. Leslie of 11, Baker Street, 77, Gloucester Place and other London addresses?

:It is really no use making a law which cannot be enforced. Under Section 168 of the Housing Act, 1936, there are already powers, and I do propose, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman has no doubt observed, in the First Schedule of the Housing Repairs and Rents Bill now before the consideration of the House, to strengthen the powers of action, which is the thing that matters, in the event of not being able to trace a particular owner.

Can the Minister not do anything immediately to stop what really is an intolerable swindle? Is he aware that hundreds of families all over London are living in houses in a shocking state of repair, paying rents for years and getting no repairs done?

If the right hon. Gentleman would look at the First Schedule, to which I have referred, in the Bill which will soon be passed, he will find that, for that very reason, we have taken powers to deal with the owner not able to be traced by the method laid down.

Is the Minister aware that a great number of hon. Members are advising tenants of Brady houses in London and elsewhere not to pay their rent?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will revise the cuts he has imposed on the repair programmes of requisitioned properties, as a result of which Lambeth Borough Council and other metropolitan boroughs have been compelled to dismiss building workers.

No, Sir, not on present information. The limitation was imposed on the recommendation of a working party which included representatives of all the local Authority Associations. They expressed the belief that more was being spent on these programmes than could be justified in present circumstances.

:Is the Minister aware that by forcing local authorities to allow requisitioned properties to fall below an adequate standard of repair he is not only creating unemployment in the building industry but is also placing considerable hardship on the tenants and owners of these requisitioned properties?

:The hon. and gallant Gentleman has made many allegations against me, but I hope he will not feel that in the two years in which I have held office I have done anything to increase unemployment in the building industry?

Can my right hon. Friend say whether a working party is a long name for a committee?

It is a modern name.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reports he has received from his inspectors about the conditions experienced in December over a wide area of North-West Kent, as the result of heavy deposits of dust from cement works; and, in view of previous representations made, and undertakings given, what action he now proposes to take to ensure that the local residents are made reasonably free of this nuisance.

I am advised that there is at present no known method of completely eliminating dust from cement works. The dust arresting plant in use at the Thames-side works, when in full operation, attains a high degree of efficiency, but a small proportion of the dust escapes, and the total escaping from a large number of kilns is enough to give rise to complaints in dry weather. These problems still await solution, but they are receiving constant attention by my inspectors and the cement manufacturers.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recall that in the early months of 1953 he said he believed that when the machinery was in order the matter would be satisfactorily settled, but, since there is now some doubt about dust coming from many other factories, will he not agree to hold a public inquiry for which almost everyone in North-West Kent is asking?

:We are informed that when the machinery is working satisfactorily about 95 per cent. of the dust is properly dealt with, but there is trouble because this machinery is sometimes out of action for purposes of repairs. I really think that the best thing is to press on with the best designers and experts who are working on it to see whether a full solution can be reached. I do not think—although I will consider it—that a public inquiry will do the work which can only be done by expert technicians.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now announce his decision about the use of the Hessary Tor site for a television station for the Plymouth area; and whether he is aware of the concern at the delay since the public inquiry was held in September last.

I expect to announce my decision before the end of the month. I regret the time taken since the public inquiry; but there is here a serious clash of important interests, of national as well as local significance. At the same time difficult technical questions are involved. I have, therefore, given special attention to the whole problem in the hope of arriving at a wise decision.

:But is the Minister aware that in the South-West there is public concern at the delay over this decision, and that if he can give a decision by the end of the month it will considerably speed television coverage to the South-West?

I hope to make a decision during this month.

:Is the Minister aware that this matter also affects Cornwall, which at present has no television service at all, and that the delay in giving the decision is causing further delay in providing a service there?

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what date he granted permission for the building of a telephone exchange on Christchurch Green, Victoria Street, and what were his reasons for so doing rather than directing it should be built on a less delectable site.

I have not granted any permission for the building of a telephone exchange on Christchurch Green, Victoria Street, which is allocated in the County of London Development Plan for public open space. My noble Friend the Postmaster-General has a proposal to erect a telephone exchange on the site of the ruined church and the adjoining vicarage standing behind the Green and fronting Caxton Street. This land is not included in the proposed public open space and is allocated for office use in the Plan.

That is only a difference; but is the Minister aware that this site must be worth at least £200,000 an acre? Is he aware that when I was in office I stopped this sort of depredation on this side of Victoria Street? Does he really think it suitable to build a telephone exchange on a live site like this instead of on one of the many dead sites on the south side?

The question is completely different from that on the Order Paper.

:Will the Minister do me the favour of answering my question? Does he not think it is the responsibility of his Department to stop vandalism of this kind by other Departments?

I have not had the good fortune of holding the position the right hon. Gentleman held. It is not part of my Department's concern. When I read the Question I thought that the right hon. Gentleman was objecting to the use of what ought to be an open space, but I now understand that he does not object to building on a site which ought not to be built on according to the Plan, but is saying that it ought not to be a telephone exchange but something else. That is another question, and I will see that it is passed on to the appropriate Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the total number of planning appeals lodged with his Department against refusal of planning permission by local planning authorities during the year 1953; and the numbers of such appeals allowed, dismissed and withdrawn, respectively.

There were 4,456 appeals lodged with my Department during 1953. During the same period 1,013 were allowed, 1,206 dismissed, and 1,341 withdrawn or otherwise settled.

:I am much obliged for that information. Is it not a fact that these figures show a substantially increased number of appeals, and is that not partly attributable to the failure of local planning authorities to set out in clear terms the reasons for their decisions, as I think was pointed out by the Minister in his Circular No. 61 last year? Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind in this connection the importance of expressing in clear and comprehensible terms decisions from planning appeals issued and made by his own Ministry?

:I will consider that suggestion, but I think the hon. Gentleman, who has great knowledge of this subject, will agree that laying down principles is one thing, while the difficulty arises in their precise application to an enormous number of individual cases. Although the number of appeals is rising, I think that is mainly because we are getting on more rapidly with the planning decisions, and the whole thing is now taking shape as it was meant to do when it was first started.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether his Department will resume the pre-war practice of the Ministry of Health of publishing an annual report on housing and town and country planning, and of the extracts from such report, in the convenient form formerly adopted.

I have decided to resume the practice of publishing annual reports.

Is the Minister aware that that information will be received with a great deal of satisfaction?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will set up a committee, presided over by a prominent Queen's Counsel, at which evidence may be taken on oath, to inquire into the operation of the Catering Wages Act and the difficulties and problems it causes to the hotel and catering industries.

No, Sir. The wages boards established under the Catering Wages Act are, in general, functioning satisfactorily. With regard to the Licensed Residential Establishment and Licensed Restaurant Wages Board, which was reconstituted in the autumn of 1952, as my hon. Friend is aware, at the request of the board I have subsequently appointed four committees under the Act to assist it in respect of the various types of establishment covered. In view of these recent developments, I do not think another inquiry is desirable.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that information from all over the country shows that the operation of this Act is doing great harm to the industry, especially in places where they have a seasonal trade, like seaside resorts, where people have to make their living during three or four months in the year? Is it not a fact that the only satisfactory method is for conditions and wages to be a matter of private arrangement between master and man?

The Catering Wages Commission in 1950 held an exhaustive inquiry into the operation of the Act, and it was found that statutory machinery was essential until such time as it could be replaced by collective bargaining based on mutual understanding and good will. I shall be very glad when that happy time comes.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the policy of his Department as regards the issue of instructions or guidance to the various arbitration tribunals regarding the level of wage increases which they should award.

Yes, Sir. The policy of my Department, and, indeed, of Her Majesty's Government, has been and remains not to issue instructions or guidance of any sort to these bodies. On the contrary, the Government have scrupulously respected their independence.

:I am sure that the House and the community will be very pleased to have that information. May I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman if he is aware that the slightest hint of a suspicion among the workers that arbitration is being tampered with will kill it? I hope that his answer will satisfy them.

There will be no tampering with arbitration as long as I hold my office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that his decision not to inquire further into the problems of mental hospitals in Scotland has given concern to medical and administrative circles in Scotland; and whether he will now make inquiries into the question of deficiencies in staff, overcrowding and the spread of tuberculosis, which were out with the terms of the Russell Committee.

Questions relating to mental health, such as those referred to by the right hon. Gentleman, which were not covered by the terms of reference of the Russell Committee, are kept constantly under review by the Scottish Health Services Council, and I do not regard any additional inquiry as being necessary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the people responsible for this work are distressed by the conditions which exist in these hospitals? Will he, as the Minister responsible for the conduct of these hospitals, cause inquiry to be made to see that they are being run without danger to the health and conditions under which these people have to live?

:I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the aspects to which his Question refers are constantly under review. They are not covered, as a matter of fact, by the terms of reference of the Royal Commission set up in England, but I am quite satisfied that an official inquiry into the matter at the present time would merely cause duplication of work, because we already have the necessary information.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer gives the impression that he is completely satisfied? Is he aware that people who are constantly in touch with this work are not completely satisfied, and will he take steps to find out the cause of the dissatisfaction?

:I have not said that I was completely satisfied as to staffing, and so on, but I am satisfied that we have the necessary information to enable us to do the best we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the town planning authority for Glasgow were consulted prior to the granting of the new licence for a public house situated at 3–5, Avenue End Road, Glasgow, E.1.

I am informed that they were not, but that they granted planning permission thereafter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this public house is situated less than 50 yards from one of Glasgow's largest public parks and recreation grounds—a recreation ground used largely by children and adolescents—and that it will hinder the Glasgow authority in keeping good order here and have a bad effect on the children and adolescents using the recreation ground? Further, can he say if this public house is to be a tied house? If so, will he name the brewery company behind this application?

As to the last part of that supplementary question, I am not aware whether or not it is a tied house: that was not asked in the Question. I am assured that the matter is being handled in a perfectly proper manner. Licensing courts have complete discretion to grant or withhold licensing certificates, and I shall not interfere with them, but if the hon. Member wishes to invite me to visit the public house when it is in full production, I shall consider that invitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of disclosures in the recent trial of Duncan Watt and others, what guidance he has given to police authorities as to methods of obtaining evidence.

None, Sir.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very considerable public concern in Scotland as a result of this trial, and does he realise that what he is telling the House and the people of Scotland amounts to this, that the police will be free to use similar methods in the future as they used in connection with this case?

I am quite satisfied that the police did not use any improper methods. Of course, I have read articles in the Press which give a very inaccurate description of what took place.

Did the Minister say that he approved of these agents provocateurs being used in conspiracy trials? Are the police to understand that they are to be free to use these despicable methods in any similar trial that comes along?

I have already answered similar Questions on 8th and 15th December. There is no case for saying that agents provocateurs were used. [Hon. Members: "Yes."] On the contrary, I have been into the matter and I have satisfied myself that the action of the police was perfectly proper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the work on the proposed extension of Ullapool Pier to commence.

:Tenders obtained by the Pier Trustees for a preliminary investigation of the site of the extension have been approved. The plans for the extension will then be adjusted and, if all goes well, I should expect work on the extension to begin during the summer. An earlier start may be made on the approach bridge and other ancillary works for which tenders have been invited.

Will the Minister please do everything in his power to see that this extension is carried out with the minimum delay, in the interest not only of local but national development?

:I can assure my hon. Friend that I have no desire whatsoever to delay this matter. The tenders and plans were approved on 25th February, 1953, so far as my Department and the Treasury were concerned, and we are not responsible for any delay since then.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has read the notes from companies of the First Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, now serving in Kenya, published in the November issue of the Journal of the Devonshire Regiment, a copy of which is in his possession, and in particular the statement that the commanding officer offered an award of £5 for the first Mau Mau killed and the records of scores kept by the different companies of Mau Mau killed; and if he will make a statement.

:Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has read the sections of this journal and brought them to the attention of the court of inquiry presided over by Lieut.-General Sir Kenneth McLean. He hopes to make a statement on the outcome of that inquiry soon after his return to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the statement made by Major-General West in a television broadcast that one year was long enough for any soldier to stay in Korea represents the policy of his Department; and how many of our troops have been in Korea for a longer period.

This statement is broadly in line with the effects of the existing War Office policy by which no man is held to serve in Korea for more than one winter or for more than 18 months as a maximum. In practice, this policy results in the great bulk of men being relieved after about 12 months, although, in order to stagger reliefs, a small proportion of them are held longer. While the number of these men is not readily available, I can say that not more than one in four serves for more than 12 months and few serve for over 15 months.

Is it not obvious from the hon. Gentleman's reply that War Office policy is in conflict with the statement made by Major-General West in his broadcast? He said that a man should not remain in Korea longer than 12 months, but it is apparent that men are retained there longer than 12 months.

No, it is not in conflict. What Major-General West said was that one year is about enough for anybody to do there, and about one year is what they do.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many cases of cowardice on the part of British troops have occurred in Korea; and whether the statement by Major-General West on such cases in a television broadcast was made with his consent.

:There was only one case in Korea, apart from Fusilier Lydon, in which there was a specific charge of cowardice, but there have been a number of other cases which may have involved an element of cowardice dealt with under other charges. I shall be giving further details in reply to a later Question. Major-General West's appearance in this broadcast was approved by my right hon. Friend; but, since the programme was unscripted, there was, of course, no question of his prior approval of the statements made. My right hon. Friend has, however, already informed the right hon. Member that he does not think anything that Major-General West said on this subject is open to criticism.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the letter I have received from his right hon. Friend is far from satisfactory? This matter will have to be raised as an important issue on a subsequent occasion. Meanwhile, may I ask him whether the script of the broadcast, which is no doubt in his possession, as it is in mine, does not convey the impression that Major-General West specifically asserted that there had been several cases of cowardice in Korea? Would it not be advisable that, if there were such cases, instead of the statement being made in an unscripted broadcast, it should be made by the War Office?

:I am quite sure that if the principle of allowing generals to make unscripted broadcasts is approved—and my right hon. Friend agrees that it is desirable—one cannot control what in fact is going to be said.

:While I express no objection to high ranking military officers indulging in unscripted broadcasts on television or the radio—that is a matter for the War Office and themselves—is it not undesirable for statements to be made which appear either to be in conflict with War Office policy or convey information which, for some reason or other, the War Office does not convey either to the country or to the House?

:The War Office is constantly conveying information to the country in one way or another. I do not think the War Office can anticipate everything that may come out in an unscripted broadcast.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the hon. Gentleman's reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for sending 30 National Service men to Malaya in December, 1953, who had completed all but eight months of their service in the Army; and how long they would be available for active service in that country.

Under present regulations men, whether Regulars or National Service, may accompany their units to Far East Land Forces if they have at least eight months' residual service. It was under these rules that these National Service men accompanied the First Battalion, The Royal Hampshire Regiment, to Malaya. They will be available for service there for some 7½ months if they come back by air, or about a month less if they return by sea

:But as these National Service men—30 of them—were sent to Malaya, not by air but by sea, which probably took about five or six weeks, and as they require to become acclimatised and to undergo some jungle training, is it not obvious that the period of active service will be no more than 4½ months, and is this not thoroughly uneconomical?

We have to balance our commitments with our manpower. The right hon. Gentleman will no doubt have made a calculation for himself as to what the effect upon this problem would be if National Service were reduced to 18 months.

I can discuss that with the hon. Gentleman at any time the Government care to raise a debate on the subject, but may I ask him now whether, in regard to the subject of the availability of manpower, which he raises in reply to my question, he says that it would not have been possible to have secured the services either of 30 Regulars or 30 National Service men with longer than eight months to serve? Does he say that?

I do not say that, but this is not unique, because there are occasions, in carrying out the unit relief system, when sometimes men with the whole eight months out there are not available to us; but on the other hand there are many occasions when we get men with much more. We have to balance all of them together.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers were court-martialled in Korea during the period of hostilities; how many were charged with cowardice, desertion, or mutiny; how many were convicted and what sentences were imposed; and in how many cases war correspondents attended the trials.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on trials for cowardice which have taken place among British troops in Korea.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many courts-martial have taken place in Korea in which the charge was cowardice; and if he will state the details of convictions and sentences.

I am sorry that the full information asked for in the first three parts of Question No. 42 is not readily available. I can, however, say that one man was court-martialled in Korea during hostilities on a charge of cowardice and was found not guilty on that charge but guilty of an alternative and less serious offence. This man is now serving a sentence of four years' imprisonment. There were 26 serious cases of desertion for which men were sentenced to imprisonment for three years or more. Finally, there were 11 convictions for mutiny for which sentences of two years' detention were imposed.

:Can the hon. Gentleman give an absolute assurance in regard to the charges of cowardice that this information is correct and that General West's statement was incorrect? In view of General West's grossly inaccurate statement on a subject of which he is apparently ignorant, what steps have been taken to ask General West to withdraw the statement that there had been several courts-martial for cowardice and that correspondents were not able to attend those trials?

:The hon. Gentleman is confusing a straightforward charge of cowardice with other cases in which an element of cowardice may come. Furthermore, I think we must give General West the credit for having got well over the difficulty of having to deal with a completely unrehearsed broadcast.

:Why does the hon. Gentleman persist in evading this issue? What good does it do to the War Office or to the country to do so? Is it not true to say that from the actual script it appears that General West said in reply to a question—he may have been inaccurate; it may have been an accident, a slip—that several cases of cowardice occurred? Is that true or not?

On the technically legal interpretation of a charge of cowardice it was inaccurate, and I have now given the accurate figures.

Why not say so before?

Are there any charges of cowardice pending?

I should have to have notice of that question, but I believe not.

:If general officers are to be given facilities to make inaccurate and tendentious statements, will the War Office take steps to make sure similar concessions are given to private soldiers?

If it were considered desirable that private soldiers should make unscripted broadcasts I have no doubt permission would be granted. What the War Office says is that it must have knowledge of who is going to make the broadcast; that is all.

Will the hon. Gentleman assure the House that the Press in Korea will be given full information in advance of all courts-martial pending?

:I want to remove any thought in the mind of the House that there was any attempt to side-track or eliminate the Press from any of these courts-martial. In 1950 an agreement was reached between the War Office, the Newspaper Society, the Newspaper Proprietors' Association, and the News Guild requiring prior notification of forthcoming courts-martial. It was then arranged that notice should be given within reasonable time before the assembly of the court by public announcements posted at the headquarters of the convening authority, and outside the building in which the court-martial was to assemble. No further notification by the military authorities is obligatory, but in practice newspaper correspondents in overseas theatres of operations such as Korea receive information through direct liaison with the military authorities, and that works perfectly well.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the report of the military court of inquiry, set up to deal with the wounding of 22624079 Sapper Crangle, Royal Engineers, was available to the unit commander in the Middle East.

On 8th April last year.

:Can the hon. Gentleman say why, if the unit commander was in possession of the information on 8th April, he wrote a letter on 10th April to the parents of this boy completely misleading them as to the cause of his death?

:The hon. Gentleman must not confuse the finding of a court of inquiry with the finding of a postmortem. The court of inquiry was concerned with discovering the reasons for this stabbing affray, which took place out of bounds in the Canal Zone. That did not connect and would not normally connect the unfortunate death of this lad from nephritis with the stabbing affray.

Is the hon. Gentleman now telling us that the lieut.-colonel in charge of this unit, knowing this boy had been stabbed in the right arm and the right side on 27th March and that he died on 7th April, though he actually died from shock brought on by nephritis, did not realise that the stabbing on 27th March had nothing at all to do with the boy's death? Does it not appear that he was deliberately trying to mislead the parents?

:No. There was absolutely no attempt, nor will there be any attempt, to try to mislead the parents. That has always been the policy of my right hon. Friend, and it is a policy we shall pursue. I think the hon. Gentleman in the position of the commanding officer would be very hesitant, not being a medical man, to attribute death to something until medical authorities had stated death was due to a particular cause. I think it was only reasonable to treat the matter in that way.

asked the Prime Minister why he did not recommend the extension of the appointment of the previous chairman of the National Assistance Board.

:There are no grounds, on precedent or principle, for suggesting that the holder of an office should necessarily be re-appointed when his time expires. Nor is it any reflection on the holder of such an office, if he is not asked to serve again. Mr. Buchanan has performed valuable services for which Her Majesty's Government are sincerely obliged to him, and I am glad that he is willing to give the benefit of his experience by remaining a member of the Board.

Whilst accepting that it was perfectly in order to make the change, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to explain, when it is generally accepted that Mr. Buchanan has done a great job of work and when it is said that the Board has been administered with humanity, why he cannot continue to keep this man in this great job—or is it simply a case of political patronage at its worst?

The five years appointment had expired, and—

Why not continue it?

although Mr. Buchanan agreed to continue for a short period while a selection was being made, it is intended that five years should be the normal period for these appointments

asked the Prime Minister why he agreed that the new British rifle should be superseded by the Belgian FN ·300.

:The reason why I agreed was that after prolonged examination and discussion the Belgian rifle is considered by our military and expert authorities to be more suitable. It has proved itself to be equal in performance to the latest British pattern, and the fact that it is simpler in design makes it quicker and easier to make and maintain. Moreover, there is a greater prospect of the Belgian pattern being adopted by a number of N.A.T.O. countries than is the case with the latest British type. Thus we are promoting standardisation. I may also remind the House that a uniform round has been achieved and accepted by all N.A.T.O. countries. Any delay which has occurred has been well worth while especially in the lessening tension which has marked the last two years. I may also say that arrangements will be made, if desired, for Members of Parliament to see the rife.

Is the Prime Minister aware that this announcement will prove a great discouragement to the brilliant British inventors who, over a long period, carefully invented and designed this new British rifle which, as the Prime Minister well knows, is undoubtedly the best that has ever been devised in the world? Is he aware that it is absolute nonsense to say that the Belgian rifle is equal to ours, since the weight of the round alone means that every rifleman will have to carry a greater burden into battle to be able to fire the same number of rounds? Is not this decision entirely due to the weakness of the Prime Minister in not standing up to the Americans for something which he knew was right?

I am quite ready that it should be attributed to me, and whether it is attributed by the hon. Gentleman to weakness or to wisdom I am entirely indifferent.

:But on the question of whether this is a better rifle than the proposed British rifle, is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the discussions which took place in Washington by military experts, and in the presence of representatives of the United Kingdom, Canadian and other Governments, the British military experts declared—and would not give way on this point—that the British rifle was far superior both to the Belgian rifle and to the new American rifle? Is he not aware of this?

I am not aware of the date which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind, but these events are continually moving forward.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now in the position to announce the composition of the Royal Commission to inquire into matters affecting mental deficiency.

It was announced on 18th January that the Queen had approved the appointment of Lord Percy of Newcastle as Chairman of the Royal Commission. The names of the other members of the Commission will be announced shortly.

While thanking the Prime Minister for that information, which no doubt he, as well as myself, read in the Press, may I ask him whether he can explain why it has taken over three months for him to come to some decision as to the composition of the Commission? How long does he think it will be before he will be able to announce the names of the Commission?

:I should not like to hold out any hopes which would be disappointed. Perhaps if the hon. Gentleman puts the Question down next week I shall be able to forecast a date.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the disagreements between the Four-Power representatives in Berlin over deciding in which building the Big Four talks should take place; and what instructions have been given to the British representative as to his attitude to this question.

I have been asked to reply.

:I have, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that people have been gravely disturbed at the great length of time which was taken in dealing with this very trivial matter? Does he recall that some weeks ago in the House he got a very fine reception when he said it was our aim to meet the Russians at any time and any place? Why should our representatives in Berlin not follow that line? Does he not think there is not much hope for the future unless some one acts sensibly in small matters of this sort?

:I disagree with the hon. Member; we are meeting at the time the Russians have chosen and at the place the Russians have chosen, so that they can be satisfied that what I said has been entirely fulfilled. But I have to consider whether the building is a practical one, whether the arrangements can be made and whether it is suitable for all purposes. As for the 40-hour discussions, hon. Members who have had experience of these international gatherings will know that if we have consecutive translations things take a very long time indeed. One thing I want is simultaneous translations, which I cannot have in a series of buildings scattered around Berlin.

What guarantee has the House that the hon. Member who asked the Question really is the hon. Member for Dartford?

asked the Prime Minister what plans the Government have prepared to meet the possible slow-down in buying by the United States of America, with the consequential effects on British trade.

:Our economic plans should certainly be adapted to meet any changes of conditions which can be foreseen but it is not thought that it is desirable to announce in advance specific measures against hypothetical situations.

:Is the Prime Minister not aware that a recession is taking place in America and that, owing to the loss in dollar earnings, unemployment will develop in this country? Can he not elaborate in a little detail what plans the Government propose to deal with that situation?

asked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation which will make strikes illegal until such time as a secret ballot of the workers, under Government auspices, has been taken.

No, Sir. Her Majesty's Government have no intention of departing from the established tradition in this country under which the trade union movement is left to manage its own affairs to the fullest possible extent without Government interference. I am advised that the disadvantages of my hon. Friend's proposal would greatly outweigh any advantages.

Would it not be a good thing if the workers were able to express their opinions without fear of victimisation and dictation by their own trade union leaders?

(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make with regard to the strikes in the electrical contracting industry.

Yes, Sir. The Court of Inquiry which reported on the dispute between the National Federated Electrical Association and the Electrical Trades Union early in October suggested that further negotiations should take place between the parties. This suggestion was followed but no agreement was reached on the union's claim for an increase in wages. The court had recommended that if that contingency arose the matter should be referred to arbitration. This was not however acceptable to the Union, who notified the Association that, unless they heard further from them, their members in various parts of the country and on various sites would be authorised to take official action. Officers of my Department had discussions with the parties but no basis for a settlement could be found. The Association thereupon reported a dispute under the Industrial Disputes Order. I have the report under consideration but, as matters stand at present, I have not thought it desirable to refer the dispute to the Tribunal.

:The House, I am sure, will be grateful to the right hon. and learned Gentleman for the full statement he has made, but in view of the latest development and the possibility of the dispute being extended, will he take the earliest opportunity—although I realise that sometimes one can be so early as to make a mistake—of bringing the parties together to see if he can get an adjustment?

I am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for saying what he did about the dangers of acting too soon. One can often suffer from the itch to do something when one had better not do it. I am only satisfied that, as matters stand at present, there is nothing useful that I can yet do. If the chance comes, I shall not hesitate to take it.