Written Answers of 7 May 1946

  MINE BALLOTEES (CALL-UP)
  Mr. King
  asked the Minister of Labour whether boys directed to work in mines whose work is unsatisfactory will now be directed into the Armed Forces; and upon what conditions they can volunteer for the Armed Forces.

  Mr. Ness Edwards:
  Young men, fit for military service, whose services are no longer of value to the coalmining industry, are called up. Men employed in coalmining are not accepted as volunteers unless in any individual case there are special circumstances making it desirable in the national interest.

EMPLOYMENT

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Warbey
  asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that there were 51,816 registered disabled persons unemployed on 18th March last, he will now make a substantial increase in the standard percentage of persons required to be employed under the quota scheme of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944.

  Mr. Ness Edwards:
  It is the intention before long to raise the standard percentage from the present figure of two and my right hon. Friend is in consultation with the National Advisory Council for the Employment of the Disabled on this matter.

  Mr. Watkins
  asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who have registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the Crickhowell employment exchange, Brecon-shire; how many of these are now unemployed; and the number who have been offered training facilities.

  Mr. Ness Edwards:
  The number of persons registered as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, at the Crickhowell employment exchange is 25, of whom 10 are unemployed. Four of these are awaiting allocation to courses of training; the remaining six are not considered suitable for training.

  Macclesfield and Congleton
  Air-Commodore Harvey
  asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest returns of unemployed males and females in Macclesfield and Congleton.

  Mr. Ness Edwards:
  At 8th April the numbers of unemployed insured persons, suitable for ordinary employment, on the registers of Macclesfield employment exchange were 87 males and one female; at Congleton employment exchange the numbers were 126 males and 17 females.

DEMOBILISATION

  Agricultural Students
  Mr. Hollis
  asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to announce the conditions for release from service of agricultural students.

  Mr. Ness Edwards:
  I would refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made at the end of Questions on Tuesday, 30th April, which applies to Agricultural students as well as to other students. My right hon. Friend has arranged for copies of an explanatory note to be available for hon. Members at the Vote Office towards the end of this week.

  Mine Ballotees (University Students)
  Mr. D. J. Williams
  asked the Minister of Labour if universities may apply for the release in Class B of ballotees who will have worked three years in the mines by 1st September, 1946; and what steps he is taking to notify these students of the procedure to be followed.

  Mr. Ness Edwards:
  Application for the release of students who have completed three years' employment in the mines by 1st September, 1946, may be made by their universities if they fulfil the conditions laid down in the statement my right hon. Friend made at the end of Questions on Tuesday, 30th April. The students concerned will be advised when the time comes to apply to the National Service Officer for permission to leave their employment.

  INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ANNUAL BUDGET)
  Major Lloyd
  asked the Minister of Labour what are the annual expenses of the I.L.O.; and what proportion of these are paid by Great Britain.

  Mr. Ness Edwards:
  The Budget of the International Labour Organisation fc 1946, on which contributions from States Members of the organisation are based amounts to 11,621,510 Swiss francs of which Great Britain is due to contribute the equivalent of 1,997,308 Swiss francs (approximately 17.2 per cent.). In addition, an amount of 100,000 Swiss francs is payable towards the Staff Pensions Fund, thus making Great Britain's total contribution 2,097,308 Swiss francs (approximately £121,230).

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Price Control and Subsidies
  Sir W. Smithers
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increase in farm workers' wages, he will, by stages, allow the gap between production costs and retail prices to be reduced and thus ease the burden to tl taxpayer involved in the food subsidy and bring home to the consumer the realities of the food shortage.

  Mr. Dalton:
  I have nothing to add to what I said on this subject in my Budget Speech.

  Inflation (Preventive Measures)
  Sir W. Smithers
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to prevent the inflationary process now in operation from getting out of hand.

  Mr. Dalton:
  Stimulating production and savings and maintaining rationing, price control and cost of living subsidies.

  Income Tax (Bookmakers)
  Mr. Daines
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that his powers are adequate properly assess for Income Tax bookmakers who operate on dog and horse tracks and have no registered place of business.
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  Mr. Dalton:
  Yes, Sir. I think that the powers are adequate, though there may sometimes be difficulties in applying them.

  Football Pools (Profits)
  Mr. Daines
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider an inquiry into the profits of football pools, with a view to special taxation.

  Mr. Dalton:
  No, Sir. Persons carrying on football pools are subject to the existing taxes on business profits, and the Death Duties at the finish, and I see no particular reason for picking them out for special taxation.

  Betting Duty
  Captain Bullock
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider legalising betting with a view to the introduction of a betting tax; and if he can give an estimate as to how much such a tax would produce.

  Mr. Dalton:
  I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oxford University (Sir A. Herbert) on 6th March.

  Museums and Art Galleries (National Collections)
  Mr. E. P. Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer today's approximate capital value of the buildings and contents comprised by all museums, art galleries and other collections owned or administered by the State.

  Mr. Dalton:
  The contents of the national collections cannot be valued; some of them are priceless.

  National Trust (Properties)
  Mr. E. P. Smith
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer today's approximate capital value of all properties transferred to the National Trust.

  Mr. Dalton:
  I do not know of any State properties hitherto transferred to the National Trust, and of private properties so transferred I have no official knowledge.

  Purchase Tax
  Mr. Bossom
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether meat safes are now released from Purchase Tax under Order 78E, April, 1946, as there is ambiguity on this point, causing uncertainty in the minds of manufacturers.
  69
  Mr. Dalton:
  Yes, if of the cupboard type. A Press notice has been issued for the information of the trade.

  Mr. G. Thomas
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the extreme difficulty caused to manufacturers by the fact that impending changes in Purchase Tax with regard to domestic articles, though announced, have not been defined; and whether he will now declare the changes he proposes to make.

  Mr. Dalton:
  The changes already announced will be clearly defined in the Finance Bill.

  Transferred Military Equipment (France)
  Mr. Vane
  asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the value of British military equipment transferred or sold to the French Government since VE-Day and now under negotiation for transfer or sale to the French Government respectively; and whether he will give an assurance that no financial or exchange difficulties have prevented us from meeting French requests in full.

  Mr. Glenvil Hall:
  The value of British military equipment transferred or sold to the French Government since VE-Day is about £26 million. The value of equipment now under negotiation for sale is about £13 million. French requests have been met in full in so far as the equipment has been available for transfer.

  Income Tax Receipt Forms
  Major Legge-Bourke
  asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the receipt forms now being issued by Income Tax collectors have been increased in size by 33⅓ per cent.

  Mr. Glenvil Hall:
  I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 28th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

  LISTS OF MINISTERS AND MEMBERS
  Mr. Ernest Davies
  asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make available to hon. Members,
  70
  lists of Ministers of the Crown and Members of the House of Commons, at present printed for the use of the Committee of Selection.

  Mr. Glenvil Hall:
  The matter is one for consideration by Mr. Speaker to whom the Question will be referred.

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS

  Evacuated Staffs, Blackpool (Return)
  Brigadier Low
  asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has any statement to make about the return to London of the staffs of Government Departments who were evacuated to Blackpool during the war.

  Mr. Glenvil Hall:
  No, Sir, I am sorry to say there is still a great shortage of accommodation in the London area.

  Appointments (Servicemen's Applications)
  Major J. Morrison>
  asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in order to give men serving overseas and shortly to be demobilised an equal chance with applicants in this country, he will arrange that all Government appointments advertised through the Press shall have at least three clear weeks allowed for replying for application for such posts, instead of seven days, as sometimes occurs at present.

  Mr. Glenvil Hall:
  Normal practice is to allow ample time for applications, both from men serving at home and men serving overseas, and if the hon. and gallant Member would care to send me particulars of any cases where adequate notice was not given, I shall be glad to took into them.

  Travel, Central London (Staggered Hours)
  Mr. Sparks
  asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in view of the recent Government announcement regarding the systematic staggering of hours to avoid travel congestions in London, which Government Departments in London have taken steps to cooperate in the direction desired.

  Mr. Glenvil Hall:
  All Government Departments in Central London have been

  71
  consistently urged to stagger, as far as possible, the hours of arrival and departure of their staff, and steps have been taken to draw Departments' attention to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of War Transport to the hon Member's Question on 25th March.

BRITISH ARMY

  Italian Women (Marriage)
  Major Ramsay
  asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to ensure that soldiers serving in Italy who wish to marry Italian girls may be given permission to do so without any delay directly the statutory period of 61 days has passed.

  Mr. Lawson:
  I am not aware of any statutory period of 61 days. It is, however, the practice in certain commands abroad to impose a waiting period, which may be of two months, in cases where there appears after investigation to be no objection to the marriage. Instructions are already in force to the effect that at the end of this waiting period permission should generally be granted without delay as a matter of course.

  M.E.F. (Deferments)
  Major Ramsay
  asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will review the establishments held in the M.E.F. and the number of deferments there in certain demobilisation groups, in view of complaints received from that area that-many men are redundant.

  Mr. Lawson:
  All establishments are continually being reviewed with a view to preventing any redundancy. Compulsory deferment of release in individual cases is only resorted to if the Commander-in-Chief is personally satisfied that the Arm of the Service concerned has reduced it commitments to the minimum and is carrying out those commitments with the minimum number of personnel. He must also be satisfied that no suitable replacement can be found

  Defence Works (Compensation)
  Colonel Gomme-Duncan
  asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the anomalies arising in connection with payment of compensation to farmers
  72
  in Perthshire on whose land anti-tank defences were constructed; and whether he will ensure that equitable payment is made in all such cases.

  Mr. Lawson:
  I am not aware of any anomalies, but if the hon. and gallant Member will send me particulars of the specific cases he has in mind I will gladly investigate them.

  Personal Cases
  Lieut.-Colonel Byers
  asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 14396814 Lance-Corporal R. J. Garmham, 404 D.T.N., Maintenance Section, attached No. 2 Company, Madras Signals, Fort St. George, Madras, India Command, accepted Class B release on 9th January, 1946, since when he has been given no indication as to the date upon which he is to be released; and what steps are being taken to ensure that delays of this nature are reduced to a minimum.

  Mr. Lawson:
  I am making inquiries about this case and as soon as they are completed I will write to the hon. and gallant Member. Instructions have already been issued to all commands that Class B releases are to be dealt with as rapidly as possible.

  Mr. M. Lindsay
  asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Solihull will receive a reply to his letter of 8th April, relating to a compassionate release for 14844387 Private R. H. Lyons.

  Mr. Lawson:
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member's letter on 3rd May.

  Emergency Officers (Pensions)
  Mr. Champion
  asked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to amend the Royal Warrant so as to provide for pensions payable to officers commissioned from the ranks to be assessed at officers' rates in respect of that portion of their service rendered as officers.

  Mr. Lawson:
  I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind other rank pensioners who were re-employed as emergency commissioned officers. Under the scheme for the reassessment of pensions in respect of war service announced on 15th April these men will receive a special rank element which takes account of their officer service in addition to the normal service element.
  73
  These additions were decided upon after careful consideration of the circumstances and are considered to provide a reasonable benefit to the pensioners concerned.

  Officers' Pay
  Mr. M. Lindsay
  asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Solihull will receive a reply to his letter of 27th March, in relation to officers' pay.

  Mr. Lawson:
  A reply to the hon. Member's letter was sent yesterday.

  Ex-Mine Ballotees (Demobilisation)
  Captain Crowder
  asked the Secretary of State for War if he will arrange to have published in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the official instruction issued by his Department explaining how ballotees, subsequently called to the Forces, can claim their period of employment in coal-mining for demobilisation in Class A.

  Mr. Lawson:
  An Army Council Instruction was issued in February, 1946, regarding the reckoning of Service in the coal mines of personnel directed to the coal mines before joining the Forces. The A.C.I. provides that coalmining ballotees who were discharged from coalmining and who were called up for His Majesty's Forces will count the period of training and of employment in coalmining as reckonable service for Age and Service grouping, but not for any financial benefits. This concession does not extend to personnel who entered the coal mines either as optants or volunteers. Individuals claiming such service are instructed to submit their applications in the required form in triplicate to their commanding officers. When the reckonable service as a coalmining ballotee has been assessed, changes of Age and Service groups are required to be notified in Part II/III Orders.

  Huts, Huntly
  Mr. Spence
  asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Huntly-Market Muir camp and the Meadow Bank camp are not situated it the Gladstone Road, Huntly; if he will now state the cost of building the Army huts and services in that road; the date of commencement and completion of the
  74
  work; and the numbers by which they are now occupied.

  Mr. Lawson:
  I understand that the huts in Gladstone Road were in fact constructed as an overflow to the two camps referred to, and I regret that I did not make this point clear in my previous answer. The cost of building these particular huts was £960. Part of the work was done in November and December, 1942, and the rest between November, 1945, and February, 1946. The garrison engineer and his staff of about nine persons recently moved into some of the huts in order to release the Old Police Station, Huntly. The remainder are used for housing engineer stores.

  Ammunition Dump, Duchray Aqueducts
  Mr. John Henderson
  asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that there is a dump of explosive shells within a distance of 40 yards from two main aqueduct lines at Duchray carrying 70 and 40 million gallons of water, respectively, per day from Loch Katrine to Glasgow; and if he will give instructions to have these munitions removed from such close proximity to the Glasgow water supply.

  Mr. Lawson:
  In order to allay any anxiety about the Glasgow water supply, 12 shelters containing ammunition have already been removed from sites near the aqueduct lines and the question of removing six more is being investigated locally in conjunction with the Glasgow Corporation.

  Occupying Forces
  Sir T. Moore
  asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of British troops employed as an occupying force in Germany, Italy, Austria and Hungary

  Mr. Lawson:
  It is not the practice to make public figures of the strength of our forces in particular overseas theatres.

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING

  Bath
  Mr. McAllister
  asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he has any statement to make regarding the plan

  75
  for the city of Bath; and when this plan is to be made available to the public.

  Mr. Silkin:
  A plan for Bath has been prepared by Sir Patrick Abercrombie and officials of the city council and the Bath and District Joint Planning Committee. An exhibition based on the plan was opened by my predecessor in February, 1945; and in that sense the plan was then made public. In March of this year, I had the opportunity of discussing certain aspects of the proposals with members of the city's Planning and Reconstruction Committee, and following this, the council is, I understand, being recommended by its Surveying Committee to make application to me for three declaratory orders under Section 1 of the 1944 Act. The question as to the publication of the plan in book form is one for the city council itself.

  New Town, Stevenage
  Mr. Walker-Smith
  asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will suspend action in regard to the proposed new town at Stevenage until the New Towns Bill has been debated in Parliament.

  Mr. Silkin:
  No, Sir. The development of a new town at Stevenage is a first step in the implementation of the Government's policy of a planned decentralisation from the congested areas of London, which was the subject of a statement to the House on 5th March last. While for the maximum development of the town the powers proposed in the New Towns Bill will be required, I see no justification for delaying to take the preparatory steps which are possible under existing legislation.

  Opencast Working, Wentworth Woodhouse
  Mr. W. S. Morrison
  asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether, in view of the consultations between himself and the Minister of Fuel and Power regarding the working of opencast coal on the Wentworth Woodhouse Estate beyond that agreed upon by their respective predecessors, he is satisfied that no permanent damage to the beauty of the park and gardens is likely to result from the workings now being undertaken there.
  76
  Mr. Silkin:
  Yes, Sir. The decision of the late Government to permit opencast working on this estate related to a more limited area than is now to be worked; but in view of the increasing gravity of the coal situation, I agreed with the Minister of Fuel and Power to extend the area. In fixing the limits of this extended working, however, we drew a clear distinction between areas in which the damage would be temporary and could be remedied without serious impairment within five years, and those in which the damage would be permanent, or could only be remedied after a long period; and working will be confined to the former areas alone. While there will undoubtedly be great temporary disfigurement, I am satisfied that when within a period of five years the working is over and restoration is completed, as it will be, the general character and beauty of the park and gardens will be substantially unaffected.

MINISTRY OF WORKS

  Building Materials Shortage
  Major J. Morrison
  asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that essential house construction and repair is being held up in the South-west of England owing to the shortage of cast iron and asbestos soil pipes, eave gutters and rain -water pipes; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.

  Mr. Tomlinson:
  It is because of the shortage of certain building materials, including those referred to in the Question, that I have recently introduced the Priority Distribution Scheme in order to ensure that the available supplies are used for house construction and other services of national importance. In the meantime my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and I are taking all possible steps to increase supplies.

  Sir C. Edwards
  asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the shortage of slates and other materials required for house repairs in the Risca, Monmouthshire, area, and that many properties are deteriorating because of this shortage; and if he will see that, in addition to providing materials for new houses, he will allow sufficient of what is necessary to keep the present ones habitable.
  77
  Mr. Tomlinson:
  There is a general shortage of slates and of certain other materials required for house repairs, but special steps have already been taken to make supplies of slates and rainwater goods available in the Risca area. The need to provide some materials for repairs has not been overlooked and, in fact, most of the output of slates is being used for this purpose.

  Requisitioned Hotels, Stratford-on-Avon
  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Minister of Works if he has any statement to make about the release of hotels in Stratford-on-Avon.

  Mr. Tomlinson:
  The Government requisitioned altogether 12 hotels in Stratford-on-Avon. Five have been derequisitioned and the remaining seven are in process of being derequisitioned. Three of the seven have already been re-occupied by the owners and in the remaining cases facilities for re-occupation are being offered to the owners. In two instances derequisitioning was proposed in August, 1945, but the owners were not anxious for early release.

  Distempering Licence, Edmonton
  Mr. A. Lewis
  asked the Minister of Works the reason for refusing the application for a licence to carry out distempering at the British Oxygen Works, trimming shop, Angel Lane, Edmonton: and whether he is aware that the filthy conditions obtaining in this shop are contrary to the Factory Acts.

  Mr. Tomlinson:
  The application for a licence to carry out distempering at the British Oxygen Works has not been refused. My regional licensing officer has asked the firm to supply further information on receipt of which the application will be given immediate attention.

  Requisitioned Premises, Liverpool
  Mrs. Braddock
  asked the Minister of Works why Pulford's Buildings, White chapel, Liverpool, formerly occupied by the American Red Cross, but now vacated and empty, has not been derequisitioned

  Mr. Tomlinson:
  Pulford's Buildings, Liverpool, are urgently required for a blood transfusion centre serving all the
  78
  Merseyside hospitals, and will shortly be adapted for that purpose. My hon. Friend is doubtless aware that the present owners acquired the premises while they were under requisition.

  Wire Netting
  Sir W. Smithers
  asked the Minister of Works if he will arrange for the issue of wire netting to protect thatched roofs from the depredations of birds.

  Mr. Tomlinson:
  Yes, Sir; where there is difficulty otherwise in obtaining wire netting necessary for the protection of thatched roofs, my regional licensing officers are prepared to issue special certificates for the purpose.

FUEL AND POWER

  Petrol Rationing (Staff)
  Mr. Touche
  asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of persons now employed in the administration of petrol rationing.

  Mr. Shinwell:
  The number of staff employed on petrol rationing as at 1st May, 1946, is as follows: Headquarters, 31; regional petroleum officers in England, Scotland and Wales, 1,752: total, 1,783.

  Domestic Coal Supplies
  Commander Pursey
  asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether local coal merchants in Hull, small as well as large, may now be informed weekly, or monthly, of the tonnage of household coal actually supplied to the city, to enable merchants to know whether they are receiving their proper share, to check unfair distribution among both retailers and customers and restore confidence in the trade and the public that distribution will be equitable.

  Mr. Shinwell:
  Merchants should have no difficulty in finding out whether they are receiving their proper share of the available supplies. The weekly depot receipts are displayed at the depot manager's office, to which all merchants and dealers operating from the depot have access.

  Mr. De la Bère
  asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will reconsider the decision of rationing coal to the domestic consumer and, where the

  79
  domestic consumers have space available, permit them to replenish and maintain their stocks of coal during the coming summer.

  Mr. Shinwell:
  The maximum quantities permitted under the restrictions are not rations, but the maximum recently fixed for summer deliveries has been placed high enough to allow for the disposal of all the coal likely to be available for stocking at consumers' premises. Supplies received apart from what is necessary for cooking should be stored for winter use. It is essential that substantial reserve stocks should be set aside by merchants for winter supply to those who have no stocking facilities.

  Supplementary Petrol Allowances
  Mr. Warbey
  asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now increase the scale of supplementary petrol allowances for business purposes where journeys by public transport involve considerable loss of time.

  Mr. Shinwell:
  Regional petroleum officers are authorised to grant supplementary petrol allowances where these are required for strictly business purposes and where the use of public transport would involve considerable loss of time.

  Private Hire Cars, Manchester
  Mr. Shepherd
  asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the extent to which private motorcar owners are conducting unauthorised hire business in the Manchester district to the detriment of licensed men, including ex-Servicemen; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this

  Mr. Shinwell:
  No, Sir. Provided that the owner of a vehicle has the appropriate Excise Licence and insurance, he needs no additional authorisation for the operation of a private hire car on the basic petrol ration only and it would not be practicable to regulate the use of this ration in such a case. If, however, the hon. Member has evidence that owners of such cars are obtaining supplies of petrol in contravention of the Control of Motor Fuel Order, I shall be glad to have particulars.

GERMANY

  The Ruhr (Inter-Allied Policy)
  Sir P. Hannon
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a statement on inter-allied policy on the future administration of the Ruhr; and if any concerted plan is being put into operation to increase the rehabilitation of industrial life in the Ruhr area.

  Mr. McNeil:
  In view of the discussions now taking place in Paris on this question, my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make any statement.

  Coal Production (The Ruhr)
  Sir P. Hannon
  asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will state, as at the latest convenient time, the production of coal in the Ruhr area; how far production has declined as compared with January this year; and if any change has taken place in the allocation of coal for the needs of civilian economy and German needs in the British zone.

  Mr. J. Hynd:
  The pithead production of cleaned coal in the Ruhr area amounted to 3,550,000 tons in April. This was some 30 per cent. less than the January production of 5,027,000 tons. More shifts were, however, worked in January than in April and it is more accurate to compare the average daily production in the two months. This was 161,000 tons in April, but some 10 per cent. below the January figure of 170,000 tons. Coal used for the requirements of the British zone, including transport requirements and the needs of the occupation forces, averaged 428,000 tons a week in April or some 5 per cent. less than the 452,000 tons a week in January.

  LEAGUE OF NATIONS STAFF
  Sir P. Hannon
  asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will indicate the policy of His Majesty's Government in the provision of continued employment or appropriate compensation for British nationals in the employment of the League of Nations before its dissolution; and if he will give the numbers of the British personnel employed by the

  81
  League who were eligible for employment by U.N.O.

  Mr. McNeil:
  The great majority of the officials of the League of Nations Secretariat retired or were suspended on or soon after the outbreak of war and received compensation in addition to sums due to them from the Staff Pensions Fund. They included approximately 100 British subjects, who at once found employment, many of them with Government Departments, or the Armed Forces. A skeleton staff was maintained during the war, the British component numbering 12 on 1st January, 1946, and there was some increase on the occasion of the recent final Assembly of the League. All this staff is eligible for employment by the United Nations Organisation, and is at present being interviewed for that purpose. In the circumstances, no special measures, as contemplated by the hon. Member, appear to be called for, but I can assure him, that if any individual case is brought to my knowledge, it will receive immediate and sympathetic attention.

  SURPLUS TRACTORS, BLAIR ATHOLL
  Mr. Snadden
  asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to make available to agriculturists, tractors and other equipment previously used for forestry operations and now standing idle in a dump at Blair Atholl.

  Mr. Belcher:
  About half the vehicles have been or are being sent to the Control Commission for timber production in Germany. Those not so required are being reconditioned for disposal to agriculturists and other users.

  TELEPHONE EXCHANGE, WAR OFFICE
  Mr. Lipson
  asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware of the fact that there is a long delay before the exchange at the War Office answers a telephone call; and if he will take steps to remedy this.

  Mr. Burke:
  Service at this private branch exchange is provided by Post Office telephonists. As in the case of the public exchanges, the difficulties which arise are due mainly to the shortage of
  82
  experienced operating staff; but everything possible is being done, by recruiting and training, to secure a more efficient and satisfactory service.

  NEW CARS (PRIORITY)
  Major Ramsay
  asked the Minister of Transport why priority for obtaining motor cars for district nurses and doctors has been stopped; and whether he will consider reinstating this essential priority.

  Mr. G. R. Strauss:
  I assume the hon. and gallant Member refers to the system of control of sales of new cars, which was removed at the end of last year in view of the prospects of increased production. I would refer to my answer to the hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby) on this subject on 18th March.

  NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, IRISH SEA
  Sir W. Smiles
  asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, after the stranding of the "George Town Victory," he will now arrange for the buoys between Donaghadee and the Copeland Island to be replaced.

  Mr. Dugdale:
  Since the revocation of Defence Regulation No. 44, the Admiralty has ceased to be responsible for the establishment of navigational aids. The responsible authorities in the area concerned are the Irish Lights Commissioners. I understand that the buoys will be replaced shortly. The s.s. "George Town Victory" grounded while on a northerly course in a position some 20 miles south of that occupied by these buoys before the war. She could not, therefore, have made use of them had they been in place.

  HOUSING FILM
  Mr. Driberg
  asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will draw the attention of local authorities to the housing film, Land of Promise, and urge them to arrange local showings of it wherever possible;

  (2) if he will arrange a showing of the housing film, Land of Promise, for hon. Members.
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  Mr. Bevan:
  This film has been produced by an independent company and is available for commercial distribution to local cinemas. It could be shown to hon. Members by arrangement with the producers and I am informing my hon. Friend of the address of the firm.

  BREAD SUBSIDY
  Mr. Callaghan
  asked the Minister of Food the annual amount paid to bakers and confectioners in respect of a bread subsidy since the inception of the scheme; for what purpose it is paid; and what is the need for continued payment.

  Sir B. Smith:
  The annual amount paid to the bakers in respect of bread subsidy since the inception of the scheme is as follows:

  12 months to

  £

  31st

  December,

  1941

  2,200,000

  do.

  do.

  1942

  11,180,000

  do.

  do.

  1943

  6,400,000

  do.

  do.

  1944

  6,180,000

  do.

  do.

  1945

  9,075,000

  £35,035,000

  The bread subsidy was introduced as part of the Government policy to stabilise the cost of living and the price of bread, and is being continued for the same reasons.

SCOTLAND

  Department of Health (Staff)
  Major N. Macpherson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many men and women are employed in the Department of Health; how many of these employees are temporary; and how many possess medical degrees.

  Mr. Westwood:
  The number of men and women employed in the Department of Health for Scotland at 1st April, 1946, was 749 (363 male and 386 female) of whom 353 were temporary employees. Those possessing medical degrees numbered 23. The foregoing figures do not include staff employed in the Department's emergency hospitals and stores.

  Housing
  Sir W. Darling
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that at Crossridge, Lanarkshire, there is a vacant
  84
  house of three rooms, kitchen and bathroom, built two years ago by Lanarkshire County Council; why this house is not made available for tenancy; and how many such new houses there are in Scotland, built from public funds, awaiting occupation.

  Mr. Buchanan:
  The house in question was provided by the county council under the Housing (Agricultural Population) (Scotland) Act, 1938, as part of a wartime scheme of houses in selected areas specially authorised in the interests of agricultural production. It has remained unoccupied because of a breakdown in the water supply arrangements originally contemplated. The county council have been asked to consider the provision of a proper supply. As the matter is somewhat complicated I am writing to the hon. Member fully on it. The circumstances in this case are quite exceptional and I am not aware that a similar difficulty has arisen elsewhere.

  ANIMAL FEEDING STUFFS
  Mr. Hurd
  asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any statement to make about the position of pig and poultry keepers; and if the Government will compensate those who are driven out of business by the further cut in feeding-stuff rations.

  Mr. T. Williams:
  Some immediate changes in the arrangements for feeding-stuff rations in Great Britain during the summer period have been made necessary by the reduction in the supply of animal feeding stuffs which will result from the flour conservation measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food on 2nd May. Basic rations for farm pigs and poultry will have to be reduced in July, August and September, to quantities sufficient for one-twelfth of prewar numbers. Other classes of stock will also be affected.

  I am asking farmers, in making their plans for livestock production, not to proceed on the assumption that the increased rate of extraction and the consequent reduction in the output of millers' offals will be maintained indefinitely. I hope they will make every effort to maintain livestock production in this difficult period, both by increasing their own self-sufficiency in feeding stuffs to the maximum extent through such measures as

  85
  silage making, and also by making the greatest possible use of unrationed feeding stuffs.

  These reductions have been dictated by the world shortage of cereals and not by
  86
  any change in Government policy. I could not accept the view that a case for specific compensation exists or that any pig or poultry keepers will be driven out of business.

  SWEDISH TIMBER HOUSES.
  SWEDISH TIMBER HOUSES.
  EMPLOYMENT ON NAVAL WORKS AT ALMONDBANK.
  EMPLOYMENT ON NAVAL WORKS AT ALMONDBANK.
  PERTHSHIRE EXPLOSION: COMPENSATION QUESTION.
  PERTHSHIRE EXPLOSION: COMPENSATION QUESTION.