asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to provide more work for disabled persons in the North Staffordshire area.

My local officers take all possible steps to assist disabled persons to secure employment, and I am glad to say that the present number of unemployed disabled persons is now considerably lower than it was a year ago. For the severely disabled who are classified as unlikely to obtain employment except under sheltered conditions, there are three Remploy factories in the area which employ 176 severely disabled persons.

While thanking the Minister for the efforts made by his Department, may I ask whether he is aware that unfortunately there is in North Staffordshire a hard core of disabled persons who have been unable to find suitable employment for many years? Does not his Department think that there is room in North Staffordshire for a new factory, or some such establishment, to provide special employment for these people?

We will certainly look at the position again. Though I agree that the figures are as they are, and I am not trying to minimise them, there is a certain change round. Some people tend to have employment for a time and then go out and others come in, and so it is difficult to ascertain what is the hard core. As to further Remploy factories, as my right hon. and learned Friend has already stated, we cannot make any changes in that direction until Remploy itself and the existing factories are on a sound financial basis.

Are all the Socialist local authorities employing their full quota of disabled persons as laid down by the Act of Parliament?

Yes, I believe so.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled men and women, respectively, in the Whitchurch and Rhiwbina areas of Glamorgan who have been registered as unemployed for more than six months; and what steps he is taking to deal with this problem.

Separate figures are not available for the areas of Whitchurch and Rhiwbina—they are included in the statistical returns of the Cardiff Employment Exchange, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) on 23rd March.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether in future he will try to obtain these figures, because this area abuts on an industrial area and there may be a hard core of these people?

I quite agree. I have figures and I gave them to the House last week. I said then that we would keep the position under review and do what we could to place these men in industry.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled men and women, respectively, who have been registered in Barry as unemployed for more than six months; and what steps he is taking to deal with this problem.

At 7th December, 1953, there were, in Barry, 27 registered disabled men and 11 registered disabled women capable of ordinary employment who had been unemployed for more than six months. My local officers are doing all they can to help these people find suitable work.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he can say how that figure compares with the figure for last year and what progress has been made?

The position is about the same. There is a difference of only two or three. All I can say is that my local officers try very hard to help these disabled persons, and they will continue in that way.

In view of the fact that both the Questions and the supplementary questions are worded in language identical to that of my Question of last week, would it help if in future I wrote all the Questions and answers for the hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower)?

What would help me would be if the hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Barry joined together to try to obtain more opportunities for employment for these disabled persons.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to aid the employment of blind persons in Sunderland.

The main responsibility for placing blind persons in employment rests with the Sunderland local authority, which has made arrangements with the Royal National Institute for the Blind to provide a specialist placement service. My Department financially assists the employment of the blind in the Sunderland workshop, and I am glad to say that a joint marketing scheme in which Sunderland will participate with two other workshops for the blind will start operations very soon.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, and appreciating that the responsibility falls upon others, may I ask if he will continue to use the good offices of his Department to assist those who have real anxiety about finding sufficient employment for blind people in Sunderland and County Durham?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, who have been certified to be, at some time, suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, are employed in Remploy factories in Stoke-on-Trent; and how many in other factories, workshops and offices in the city.

I am informed by Remploy Limited that there are 11 persons suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis employed in the Stoke-on-Trent and Longton Remploy factories. Information about the numbers of ex-tuberculous persons employed elsewhere in Stoke-on-Trent is not available.

Would the Minister bear in mind that suitable employment for people who have suffered from tuberculosis, and whose condition is quiescent, is at least as important as their original treatment? Will he agree that the number he stated is very small, and should not further steps be taken in an area like this, where there is a fair amount of tuberculosis, to see that special facilities are made available?

If the hon. Gentleman has any suggestions about how my local offices can help in this way, I should be glad to receive them.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled men and women are at present on the register of the employment exchanges in Stoke-on-Trent; and how many are working in Remploy factories in the city, and how many in other forms of employment.

On 18th January, 1954, the date of the last count, there were 7,151 men and 786 women on the register of disabled persons in the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent. On 15th February, 1954, the latest date for which figures are available, 506 registered disabled men and 21 registered disabled women were registered as unemployed. On 2nd February, 1954, there were 142 severely disabled persons working in Remploy factories in the city. The number of registered disabled persons in other forms of employment is not known, but at the end of 1953, it was estimated that approximately 3,600 registered disabled persons were in the employment of employers with quota obligations; an unknown number will be working with smaller employers

Is the Minister aware that in this area the hard core is, in the main, composed of people suffering from pneumoconiosis and that about 300 each year are so certified? In view of the fact that the risk in the mines, as well as in the pottery industry, seems to be nearly as bad as in South Wales, would not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that special attention should be given to the area and special factory conditions made available?

Again I shall be glad to look into that matter. Perhaps the hon. Member will have a word with me about it.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will make a statement about the recent strike in the coach department of the Western Scottish Motor Traction Company, Kilmarnock:

(2) what steps his Department took to bring together the parties involved in the industrial dispute in the coach department of the Western Scottish Motor Traction Company, Kilmarnock; which side invited his Department to intervene; and what was the outcome of the intervention.

This strike originated in the dismissal early last November of a shop steward who was allaged to have been handling a football pool coupon during working hours. My industrial relations officer in Scotland was first approached by the National Union of Vehicle Builders in mid-November and, following that, the matter was dealt with by the parties through their established disputes procedure. This did not, however, produce a settlement, and a stoppage of work involving some 90 men began on 16th February, since when my industrial relations officer has been in constant touch with both sides.

Work was resumed on 23rd March, following an informal meeting, arranged by my officer, between the national officials of the union and the chairman of the Scottish Omnibus Group. The basis for settlement was that if the man applied for re-engagement, the group chairman would ask the general manager of the Western Scottish Motor Traction Company at Kilmarnock to consider the application without regard to the circumstances in which the man had been dismissed.

Is the Minister aware that, in my opinion, this strike should never have taken place and that the matter could have been settled in five minutes? Is he aware that the appeals committee dealing with this man's claim for unemployment benefit ruled that this was not an industrial misdemeanour and that he was granted unemployment benefit? Is he further aware that the union has been handicapped throughout by the failure of the employing side to negotiate at all, and that at the informal meeting to which he referred the chairman of the Scottish Omnibus Group said—and this is a shocking position—that nothing could be done until someone came back from America?

It is not my job, nor that of my Ministry, to take sides in industrial disputes. We try to bring the parties together and get a settlement, and that is what we achieved in this case. If I may, I would ask the hon. Member—I think he will understand—not to try to create conditions under which this business may break out all over again.

Mr. Hector Hughes.

I had two Questions on the Order Paper which the Parliamentary Secretary said he would, with agreement, answer together. Surely I am therefore entitled to put a further supplementary question?

The first supplementary question from the hon. Member was very comprehensive.

In view of unsatisfactory nature of the reply and my failure to get an answer to my supplementary question, I beg to give notice that I shall endeavour to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

May I ask how a Question has appeared on the Order Paper which is connected with the day-to-day administrative affairs of an undertaking which is nationalised?

It is the ordinary responsibility of the Minister of Labour to do what he can to settle strikes which have broken out.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that his Department keeps track of all cases where call-up is deferred; and whether he will make a statement indicating how far such men are eventually called up.

Yes, Sir, every case where call-up is deferred is carefully watched, and there are arrangements for the Department to be notified if there is any breach of the conditions on which deferment was granted. As an example, I have analysed the history of all deferments granted to men of the 1930 age class and will circulate the analysis in the OFFICIAL REPORT. This shows that practically the whole number of deferments is adequately accounted for.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that informative and helpful reply, may I ask if he will consider publishing in the returns which appear every six months details of the circumstances in which deferment is granted? Is he aware that there is great dissatisfaction over the fact that a man who is deferred from military service does not have to do any part-time service? Will he consider the possibility of such men doing part-time Civil Defence or military service afterwards?

I will examine those points, but I cannot at this stage undertake to carry out either of the requests made by my hon. Friend.

May I ask how the Parliamentary Secretary reconciles his statement today with the figures which I obtained from him that 61,000 were not accounted for in the last five years? How does the hon. Gentleman reconcile that with the assurance he has now given?

I suggest that the hon. Member looks at the most careful analysis which I shall circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It is of a typical year showing, as I have said, that practically the whole number of deferments are accounted for adequately. If the hon. Member cannot add up his figures correctly and will come to my Ministry, we will add them up for him.

Following is the analysis:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the value of Scottish kippers imported into Canada in 1951 was $43,000, in 1952 was $24,000, and for the first six months of 1953 was $49,000; if he will account for these import changes; and what steps he is taking to maintain the market and increase the volume and value of imports of Scottish kippers into Canada.

According to my information, exports of kippers other than canned kippers from the United Kingdom to Canada have increased in each of the past two years, and I hope this denotes their increased popularity. Expansion of exports is primarily a matter for the trade, but the Herring Industry Board has made loans to assist a co-operative organisation of kipperers to develop the market in Canada and the U.S.A. The services of Her Majesty's Government, including the Trade Commissioner Service in Canada, are available to the herring industry as to others.

May I thank the Minister for his reply?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the growing demand in the United States for Scottish smoked fish; and what steps he is taking to increase and develop this market between Scotland and the United States of America.

I am aware that there is a demand in the United States for high quality smoked fish, and I am sure that the trade are alive to it. For example, a co-operative organisation of kipperers, with the help of the Herring Industry Board, has introduced into the U.S.A. a new quick-frozen kipper fillet specially designed and packed for the American system of distribution.

Does the Minister realise that these smoked fish are among the finest dollar earners that we have, and will he do his best to expand the market as much as possible?

Yes, Sir, certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the special judgment in the case of Chalmers, delivered on 5th March, 1954, by the Scottish Court of Criminal Appeal, in which detailed guidance is given to police officers on the interrogation of suspects and, in view of this, what steps he is taking to publicise and maintain the traditional high standards of conduct practised by the Scottish police.

As I promised in replying to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) on 15th March, I have sent copies of the judgments delivered by the Lord Justice General and the Lord Justice Clerk in this case to all chief constables. The high standards of conduct observed by the Scottish police are, as the hon. and learned Member says, traditional, and I do not think that any further action on my part is called for.

I thank the Minister also for that reply, because, apparently, he realises that this judgment is of the utmost importance for the administration of justice in Scotland.

Is the Secretary of State aware of the considerable disquiet in Scotland at many of the actions of the police in such circumstances? Will the right hon. Gentleman not consider setting up a searching inquiry into the actions of many of the chief constables?

As I have said, I have circulated the judgment to the chief constables to draw their attention to the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take, when meat is once again on the free market, by continuing Government payments for transport or otherwise, to ensure that the livestock breeder in Northern Scotland is not unduly penalised by the cost of freight for meat to southern markets.

Under free market conditions the actual price received by producers at auctions for their fatstock may be expected to reflect, among other things, differences in transport costs to consuming centres. The more distant producers will, however, be helped by the operation of the two-fold guarantee, because both the individual minimum prices and the standard prices are to be uniform throughout the country. As regards freight charges, I would refer my noble Friend to the statement about existing rates and probable developments made in this House by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on 17th March.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that last year, from August until October, the Ministry of Food spent £82,000 in the transport of meat from the North of Scotland to London and that this was at a special flat rate which would have been nearly half as much again had the prices available to the meat trade been charged? Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the cost of freight has to be borne by the breeder and is bound to be reflected in the price that the breeder receives? Will my right hon. Friend consider this matter as urgent and one which must be tackled if the confidence of the breeder is to be maintained and diminishing production avoided?

I referred in my answer to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, in which he said that

"the Commission intends that a higher proportion of its transport costs shall be absorbed at an earlier stage than at present, namely by the really short-distance traffic."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th March, 1954; Vol. 525, c. 558.]

I hope that these proposals will come before us soon.

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind that, unless there is to be a diminution in the breeding of cattle in the Highlands, the farmers will need to know what their position will be some years ahead? Uncertainty is about the worst thing from the point of view of increasing the food supplies.

The farmers do know about the arrangements for the minimum price and the standard price.

I agree entirely with my right hon. Friend, but will he bear in mind the urgency of the need for the Minister of Transport to get out the charges scheme? Will my right hon. Friend press him upon this example?

Yes, Sir.

As the Government, we understand, are to give assistance to some remote parts of Great Britain, will the Secretary of State see whether similar assistance cannot be given to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?

I shall certainly bear that in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that many members of the Glenrothes Corporation staff accepted employment on the understanding that the ultimate population of the town was to be approximately 30,000; and when the corporation was officially notified that the target population was to be 18,000.

As regards the first part of the Question, I understand that all members of the staff of the development corporation accepted appointment on the basis of the conditions of service incorporated in their individual contracts of employment and not on the basis of any understanding of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. As regards the second part of the Question, the announcement that the population of the new town was not likely to exceed 18,000 was first made in July, 1950, by my predecessor in office. The hon. Member will find a reference to this in the report of the corporation for the year ended 31st March, 1951.

Is the Minister aware that some members of the corporation have expressed their concern to me on this question? Can the right hon. Gentleman give any estimate of the minimum period during which there is no fear of redundancy in the staff?

I assure the hon. Member that there need be no fear of redundancy for some years to come.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many blind persons are now registered as such; what increase has taken place during the last five years; and in what age group the increase is most marked.

At 31st March, 1953, the last date for which complete figures are available, there were 9,413 blind persons registered with local authorities in Scotland. The increase over the figure at 31st March, 1948, is 781 and is mainly in the age group 70 years and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he proposes to make to the letter he received recently from the Educational Institute of Scotland about his policy in regard to conditions for the teaching profession.

I have carefully studied the views expressed in this letter, and I do not think that it calls for any reply. The Institute knows that, while I agree with its general propositions about the need for wholehearted co-operation from the teachers and for more recruits of the right quality, I cannot accept its views as to the effect of the measures it criticises, either on the willingness of Scottish teachers to do their best for their pupils, or on the number and quality of future recruits.

Does the Secretary of State not agree that this letter is representative of the views of Scottish teachers and that teaching conditions in Scotland have considerably worsened during the period of the present Government? Is the right hon. Gentleman allowing this state of affairs to continue? Will he not do something to allay the fears of the teachers in this respect?

The points with which the teachers are particularly concerned are the slight relaxations of the conditions for entry into training for primary teachers, which we have discussed before; the proposed increase in the superannuation contributions, which will be discussed fully when the Bill comes forward for Second Reading—[HON. MEMBERS: "When."] I am not the Leader of the House—and the draft salaries regulations. It is not the case that I have treated these representations of the teachers summarily. They have been given the greatest care and full consideration.

Although the Secretary of State says that he is not sending a reply, would he consider making a gesture? Might I suggest that he tenders his resignation?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the working committee to examine the salary structure in further education was appointed; when it first met; and how often it has met since.

The setting up of the working party was agreed at a meeting which my hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State had with representatives of the National Joint Council on 23rd December, when it was also agreed that the working party's first meeting could not be held before April.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the job that this working party has to do is one of great urgency, and will he do all he can to expedite it? Will he reconsider the question of having on the working party, at least as an observer, a highly qualified teacher who is actually engaged in further education?

I do not think that I could alter the constitution of the working party at this stage, but I hope that it will be able to meet very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has now made to teachers' organisations to meet their objections to the Teachers' Superannuation Bill; and what the teachers' response has been.

My noble Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, invited representatives of the Institute to meet him on Friday in order to ascertain whether they would favour a separate superannuation scheme for teachers entering service after the Bill comes into operation. The Institute have informed me that they would regard such a scheme as unacceptable, and that they do not consider that it would meet their objections to the Bill.

In view of that Answer, does the Minister now intend to go on with this Bill, despite the objection of the teachers and despite their frequent assertions that nothing will satisfy them but the complete withdrawal of this odious Measure?

It is the Government's intention to proceed with the Bill, because, as the hon. Gentleman knows, the Actuary's report shows that some action is necessary.

If the teachers do not pay for their pensions, will not the rest of us have to do so?

Is not the Secretary of State aware that this is one of the sources of discontent among the teaching profession, and that he has recently said that he is not aware of any serious discontent existing within the profession?

I did not say that. I admitted that the teachers were opposed to this Bill, but, nevertheless, the Bill is necessary, and it will, no doubt, be taken in this House in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that there have been 12,680 new entrants to the teachers' superannuation fund between 1st April, 1948, and 1st April, 1954; that the net increase in the same period is 3,760; and what effect their contributions will have on the estimated deficit of £11½ million of the fund as contained in the Government Actuary's Report of 1948.

In making his estimate that there would be a deficiency of £26·5 million at 31st March, 1954, as compared with a deficiency of £11·5 million at 31st March, 1948, the Government Actuary took account of the new entrants in the intervening six years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland Whether the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs has now reported to him; and when he expects to publish that Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Royal Commission on administration in Scotland has yet concluded its taking of evidence; and when it is likely to report.

I understand that the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs has completed the hearing of oral evidence, but I am not able to say when its Report is likely to be submitted.

When the Report is submitted, in view of the very wide interest in it, will the Secretary of State consider publishing a condensed and popular version for the Scottish people?

The normal course with a report of a Royal Commission is to publish it in full. Thereafter, it might be possible to publish what the hon. Member calls a popular edition, but I will consider the suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from hospital staffs, or from hospital boards, concerning the status and remuneration of registrars, junior and senior, and senior hospital medical officers; and what action he proposes to prevent these staffs from leaving hospitals for general practice.

I have received no recent representations about the status of these grades. As regards remuneration, I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health on 4th March. I do not propose any action to prevent doctors leaving hospitals for general practice or vice versa.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is an astonishing statement that he does not intend to take any action prevent our hospitals being undermanned and understaffed? Is he aware that the reply referred to was given on 4th March, and that it is now nearly the 4th of April, and will he see his right hon. Friend who is his opposite number for England and get a move on quickly?

I will very gladly see my right hon. Friend, but I must point out that it is equally important to maintain an adequate number of general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the technical experts of Glasgow Corporation, the British Transport Commission and his Department have now prepared their report dealing with dangerous sites on the Forth and Clyde and Monkland canals; and when action can be expected.

Yes, Sir. A report on the Monkland Canal has just been submitted to me and is being considered urgently.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make this report available to hon. Members? May I also draw his attention to the fact that, in my Question, I have also referred to the Forth and Clyde Canal as well as to the Monkland Canal, and will he say what consideration has been given to that matter?

I cannot at the present moment give the hon. Member any information about the Forth and Clyde Canal, but I will consider his point about publication of the report. He may be interested to know that it is suggested as a long-term policy to carry out the gradual removal of the waterway, and it is recommended that high priority might be given to the filling in of certain sections of the canal.

Is the Secretary of State aware that, as my previous Questions of two and four months ago mentioned the Forth and Clyde Canal specifically, it is most disappointing to know that no more action has been taken?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities charge fees in schools which they administer; which schools they are; and whether the fees are charged in the primary or secondary departments.

As the list of schools is a lengthy one, I propose, with permission, to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the information asked for.

Would the Minister agree that it is a bad practice in schools which are administered wholly by public funds for fees to be charged; that this leads to rather foolish snobbishness, and that in the case of the primary depart-

ments charging fees inside senior secondary schools it is used as a backdoor method of entry for these children?

It is permitted, as, no doubt the hon. Member knows, under Section 2 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1946. I did not anticipate a discussion on that on this Question.

Following is the table :

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of organised gangs who have been arrested and convicted of salmon poaching under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Protection) (Scotland) Act, 1951.

Since the passing of the Act in 1951, 85 persons have been convicted under Section 3, which deals with poaching or illegal fishing by two or more persons acting together.

I asked the Minister about organised gangs being arrested. I know he was not responsible for passing this Act, but it was passed because of gang poaching. I have not had my question answered. I asked him how many gangs have been caught?

I will endeavour to answer. The Act does not specify gangs, but it does deal with two or more persons. It does not lay down any definition of a gang, and I have, therefore, answered the Question in the terms of the Act. There have been 85 persons convicted for illegal fishing by two or more persons acting together.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these persons have been in front of the newly-appointed judges in Scotland?

No, Sir.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the figures justify the passing of the Act?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the greater housing output in Scotland in 1953, compared with 1951, is attributable to the building of houses with fewer rooms.

The number of rooms is not a good measure of housing output since kitchen, bathroom and other services are common to all houses. As local authority returns show only the total number of houses completed, it is not possible to make a precise comparison on the basis of rooms. But even if all the houses completed in 1951 averaged four rooms, which is definitely an overstatement, and all the houses completed in 1953 averaged three rooms, which is definitely an under-statement, there would still have been nearly 30 per cent. more rooms provided in 1953 than in 1951.

Can my right hon. Friend say to what he attributes this great increase in the production of houses?

The increased productivity of the industry, the fact that materials are in better supply, and the fact that the present Government decided that it was in the national interest to speed up the production of houses.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at no time since the war in Scotland was the building industry ever restricted from doing its very best to build the maximum number of houses possible?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are taken by local authorities to clear out vermin from tenements and other houses; and if he is satisfied that these are effective.

Most local authorities undertake the eradication of vermin from infested houses. Others advise on methods, and many supply insecticides free of charge. I am satisfied that, thanks to local authorities' activities and to the efficiency of the new insecticides, the steps taken are generally effective.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the local authorities have been pursuing the same methods for years, and yet rats and mice are terrifying women and children in the tenements of Scotland? Is it not possible to deal with these pests at the source; in other words, to prevent them going into the houses, rather than wait until they are inside and then put poison down? Would the right hon. Gentleman, before he resigns, try to do a good deed like this for Scotland?

I should be very glad to see them eradicated, but, of course, in old houses it is very difficult to get rid of rats. With the new houses, everything possible should be done to keep them out.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now received a report on requisitioned properties in use for housing; and what action he proposes to take to close all Service camps and rehouse the occupants.

I expect that most, if not all, of the 548 properties still under requisition for housing purposes will be released to their owners this year and the 596 families in them rehoused. My Department has recently had discussions with the local authorities about the re-housing of the 1,500 families who still occupy Service camps, and I am now considering whether any further steps can be taken to expedite this work.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government has accepted the recommendations of the working party, and, while we are glad to hear that the right hon. Gentleman will expedite this matter, can he now tell me how many camps are involved and how many houses?

There are 1,500 families who are occupying Service camps, but I have not got with me the exact number of camps concerned. As regards requisitioned houses, we did not think it necessary to set up a working party in Scotland, as in England, because we are making satisfactory progress, and the number of families in requisitioned houses has dropped from 3,561 in 1949 to 596 at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that local authorities will be able to carry out the extra duties that will be imposed upon them with additional demands for certificates of disrepair, consequent upon the Housing (Repairs and Rents) (Scotland) Bill reaching the Statute Book; and whether he will take steps to ensure that any delays will not adversely affect the rights of tenants under this Act.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "Yes."

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate what the nature of the delay will be?

There is an Amendment on the Order Paper to Clause 16 of the Bill, under which the tenant will not suffer from any delay, because any certificate granted by a local authority will apply as from the date of the application therefor.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reason for issuing instructions to local authorities that they must conform to a space-saving type of house which also must have a 7 feet 6 inches ceiling.

I have asked local authorities to adopt revised space standards for their houses in view of the continuing need for economy in labour and materials and the importance of reducing housing costs. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the relevant circular.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is more material today for housing than under the previous Government?

Hear, hear.

There was nothing strange in that statement. I repeat that there is more material. There should be no need for space saving in the building of houses. The Minister is very proud of his record of public ownership of houses; will he take steps to end this space saving in houses? Otherwise people are not getting what they are entitled to get for the rent they are paying?

The issue of the circular to local authorities is the latest development of the space-saving proposals, which were first formulated by the previous Government in 1951. We have also to consider costs. There will be a saving of brick, stone and other materials in the nature of £100 or £150 per house.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the savings in raw material and labour by space saving in local authority houses will not be made available to those who are building very large houses for owner-occupation?

I hope that it will enable us to continue to maintain a high rate of building as well as for repairs to houses which are so badly needed.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that under his predecessors there were more spaces than houses?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if he will now reduce the period of National Service to 12 months in view of the relaxation of world tension.

No, Sir.

While not expecting more detail from the hon. Gentleman, may I ask him whether he agrees that in future wars we shall have one man, one bomber and one bomb, and that we shall all leave this mortal coil for the ethereal regions? Does not the Minister think that it is nonsense to keep 850,000 people in the Armed Forces today?

I will, of course, convey the hon. Gentleman's views to the Chiefs of Staff, but I think they are rather sweeping.

I thank the Minister for his promise.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Gold Coast and Nigerian Army cadets are now at Sandhurst taking a full Queen's Commission.

There are two West Africans at Sandhurst, one from the Gold Coast and one from Sierra Leone.

While welcoming the Minister's answer, may I ask whether he will extend this scheme to East and Central Africa?

That does not arise out of this particular Question. We have now 14 vacancies at Sandhurst, and our attempt is to increase the number of suitable candidates so that we can fill all 14 vacancies

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Colonial Forces will have decreased from 78,900 in 1953, to 72,450 in 1955, despite his promise that 19 new battalions were to be raised in the three-year cycle 1952–53 to 1954–55.

With minor exceptions, the new colonial units which have been or are to be raised are paid for by the Colonies themselves and are therefore not shown in Vote A. The lower numbers shown in 1954–55 as chargeable to the United Kingdom were partly due to an over-estimate in 1952–53 for East African troops to replace civilian labour in the Canal Zone and partly to the Central African Federation assuming responsibility for a number of troops previously paid for by the United Kingdom.

If those figures are accurate, as the Minister agrees they are, does he not think this is a sheer flop for a Minister who, when in opposition, was full of glowing speeches in support of Colonial Forces? Can he tell us how many Colonial Forces he has raised in these Territories, including Africa, as distinct from Malaya?

I think the hon. Gentleman had made up the supplementary question before he listened to my answer. I said that the new colonial units to which I was referring were not shown in Vote A because they were paid for by the Colonial Governments themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men un-repatriated as prisoners-of-war from Korea are still registered as missing; and what action he is taking to trace them.

Two officers and eight other ranks are still registered as missing, believed to be prisoners-of-war; and eight other ranks as missing, believed to have died as prisoners-of-war. The reports of United Nations prisoners-of-war who have returned are being carefully studied to see if they can throw any light on the fate of these men.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a very human question and that many parents in my constituency and elsewhere are convinced that their sons are still alive? Will he proceed with his inquiries?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any award available for members of the Home Guard equivalent to the long service medal awarded to members of the Regular Army and the Territorial Efficiency Medal awarded to members of the Territorial Army.

I hope to be able to say more about this shortly.

Are not these men who have come forward after many years of service entitled to some additional recognition?

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps have been taken to inform units of the Army of the introduction of the Regular Army tie and the Territorial Army tie; and what has been the volume of the demand in each case for these ties, respectively.

By an Army Council Instruction and a letter, respectively. I cannot give the exact figures of sales, but I understand that they have been brisk.

Will not this proposal bring the Army into line with the other two Services?

Has the right hon. Gentleman the intention of giving the Regular and the Territorial Armies public school status?

Is it not a fact that every regiment and corps in the Territorial and Regular Armies already has a tie of its own? What on earth do they want another one for?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will agree to meet the hon. Member for West Ham, North, and the parents of certain National Service men in the Tower of London who can produce evidence of irregularities and brutality so far as incidents at the Tower of London are concerned.

No, Sir.

In view of the fact that the Minister knows that I sent him correspondence stating that these National Service men were warned by the N.C.Os. that there was to be an investigation and that if they revealed anything they would be in trouble, and in view of the fact that he knows that there have been grave irregularities, why will he not agree to meet the parents?

These allegations were all very wide, and an investigation lasting a very long time has taken place. If the hon. Gentleman and I were to go together to interview the parents of the National Service men I should not be doing my job, and I do not think that it would be very satisfactory for either of us.

If the Minister will not go to the Tower to investigate, and to see these boys privately, will he agree to meet me with the parents? Is he not white-washing the whole of this affair?

If the hon. Gentleman wishes to come and see me, of course I will see him.

asked the Secretary of State for War the nature of his inquiry into the allegations made in the letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning allegations of irregularities at the Catterick Camp, Yorkshire, and the Tower of London; and whether the National Service men concerned were asked to submit evidence of brutality, so far as the Tower of London incidents are concerned.

Inquiries were carried out by the Commanding Officers and commanders concerned. Both at Catterick and the Tower of London the investigations were extremely thorough. At Catterick over 1,000 soldiers were interviewed in connection with the allegations which have been made. At the Tower of London the soldiers concerned were interviewed and all troops were questioned about irregularities. Every opportunity was given to any soldier to make a complaint.

Is the Secretary of State aware of the fact that one soldier was kicked down the stairs by a N.C.O. and was asked by an officer whether he saw the N.C.O. who kicked him down the stairs? As obviously he did not, because he was facing the wrong way, the N.C.O. being at the back of him, surely this was not a fair and proper investigation? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these boys were told and warned that if they made any complaint, if they said anything at all incriminating a N.C.O. or officer, they would be in trouble?

That is true. Look at the officers opposite.

On the average some 25½ per cent. of the full intake into one of these units against which these allegations are made are offering to re-engage. One would hardly expect that of a unit of which such allegations were true.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman consider appointing a court of inquiry? If there is nothing in the allegations, there is nothing to hide. Again the House feels suspicion—I think unjustified suspicion arising because of the right hon. Gentleman's incompetence—that he has something to hide.

I feel absolutely confident that this matter has been gone into most carefully. A great deal of time has been spent on it. As the hon. Gentleman knows, and as I know from my days at Sandhurst, if someone had asked us then what the N.C.Os. were like we could have told him a lot of things worth publishing.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the one incident that occurred at the Tower of London where disciplinary action was found to be necessary; against whom action was taken; what were the charges made; and what was the punishment meted out to those responsible.

A corporal accepted payments of 2s. 6d. from two National Service men for pressing their battledress at their request. He was charged under Section 4 of the Army Act and was reprimanded.

While I thank the Secretary of State for at least admitting half of the irregularities that have been going on, may I ask if he is aware that these National Service men had to contribute towards the cost of purchasing the iron and were compelled to have their battle-dresses pressed, for which they were charged by the N.C.Os.? Is that fair? Is that proper? Should not something be done to stop it?

It is not true. As I have told the hon. Gentleman, I have been into these cases carefully. There were three cases in all of which this was one. I have sent him full particulars of the other two as well.

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

asked the Secretary of State for War why Mr. J. F. Tomes, who had been absent from work owing to sickness and who had sent a certificate of unfitness to travel in compliance with his National Service call-up was taken from his house by the police on Saturday, 13th March, and locked in a cell for three days; and what is the policy of his Department regarding the validity of certificates issued by general practitioners to patients under their care on the date of call-up.

This is a long and most complicated case, and I am writing a full explanation to the hon. Lady. I would, however, say that I am not entirely satisfied about the way this case was handled and I am making, in addition, a full inquiry.

Can the right hon Gentleman tell me why the letter I wrote on 26th February remains still unanswered, except for a completely misleading interim note?

The reason for that is the complication of the case, and I think that when the hon. Lady gets the letter I am about to write to her she will agree.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will now comply with the repeated request of the Swansea County Borough Council to derequisition Mumbles Hill, or explain what is the difficulty in doing so.

There is valuable equipment on this site and, as soon as certain work has been done, the remaining land will be released from requisition.

Why the inordinate delay in dealing with such a simple problem? The matter has been bandied about for two years and should have been dealt with long ago.

I do not think it is quite as simple as the hon. Gentleman says. I can assure him I am going to press on with it.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what action he intends to take in order to secure the use of the proposed gunsite at Trecastle, Breconshire; whether he is aware that the land is good agricultural land and contains a trunk road; and, in view of the decision of the interested parties, not to conduct negotiations with his Department for the use of this land or for rights to fire over intervening land, whether he will make a statement;

(2) what action he intends taking to secure the use of a strip of land at Llanfihangel-Nant-Bran, Breconshire, for firing purposes; whether he is aware that this is good agricultural land as far as the Sennybridge range; and, in view of the decision of the interested parties not to conduct negotiations with his Department for the use of this land, whether he will make a statement.

I am going into this.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of Regular Army recruits enlisted in the months of January and February, 1954, together with the comparable figures for 1953.

This year 5,814 men, and last year 7,079.

In view of that very serious statement, what is the right hon. Gentleman doing about it?