1. Have steps been taken by the Canadian army overseas to establish a separate corps, similar to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (R.E.M.E.), responsible for all mechanical and electrical maintenance in the field?

2. If so, what steps have been taken in this regard?

3. Upon whose advice?

4. Have similar steps been taken with respect to the Canadian army in Canada?

5. Have the armies of the other British dominions and India formed a separate corps to undertake this engineering and maintenance work?

Questions

1. A corps of electrical and mechanical engineers has not as yet been formed in the Canadian army. The organization of repair and maintenance services now in effect in the British army consequent upon the formation of the R.E.M.E. has been adopted by the Canadian army. Consideration of the forma,-tion of such a separate army unit will await the observations of responsible officers of the Canadian overseas army after experience gained regarding its operation in the British organization. In the meantime, the personnel concerned remain with the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps.

2. Answered by No. 1.

3. Answered by No. 1.

4. See answer to No. 1.

5. Information available here not sufficiently definite.

Mr. COTE:

What steps, if any, have been taken to bring about the transfer from the R.A.F. into the RC.A.F. of F/O George Beurling, D.S.O., PFC, D.F.M., and Bar, a native son and the pride of the city of Verdun, Quebec?

Mr. MACMILLAN:

This officer has made application for transfer from R.A.F. to R.C.A.F. Air Ministry have agreed that he may relinquish his commission in the R.A.F.V.R. on appointment to a commission in the R.C.AJF. Effective action to this end is now in process.

1. Has the government been advised of a serious water shortage and bad sanitary conditions in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory?

2. Has the government been informed of proposals made by the United States government for the installation of a water and sewage system in the town of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory? .

3. If so, has an agreement been reached m the matter?

1. Yes. The matter of water supply and sewage disposal for Whitehorse local community is primarily a responsibility of the Yukon territorial council, but in view of defence activities in the area the Dominion government is interested. It is very difficult to determine the future needs of the community on the basis of present emergency conditions, but in the meantime necessary precautions have been taken by the territorial government.

2. Yes. The United States engineers are constructing a water supply and sewage system for their camp. The lines pass through Whitehorse. Provision is being made for connections which the local community may require on the understanding that no extra expense will be borne by United States for this community service.

3. See answers to questions 1 and 2.

1. What has been the amount collected by the unemployment insurance branch in the province of New Brunswick from its inception to date?

2. What has been paid out for relief in said province for the same period?

3. What is the administrative cost per week?

4. What is the number of employees in the New Brunswick branch of the unemployment insurance commission?

1. $2,242,864.40.

2. The amount of unemployment insurance benefit paid in New Brunswick totals $48,498.27. No federal relief. Provincial relief paid, if any, unknown.

3. The total administrative expense per week, incurred in the operation of the employment service, including the administration of the national selective service regulations and unemployment insurance in the province of New Brunswick, was $4,849.57 during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1943. Unemployment insurance operations are integrated with those of national selective service and it is impossible to give a separate figure for unemployment insurance cost.

4. 177, of whom 113 in the local offices of the employment service and unemployment insurance branch located in New Brunswick, and 64 in the regional office of the unemployment insurance commission at Moncton for the whole of the maritimes.

For the reasons given in No. 3, it is impossible to state accurately to what extent those employees are engaged in national selective service work.

1. Has the government reached any understanding with regard to the provision of asylum for some European political refugees?

2. Has the government made any arrangements regarding the procuring of facilities for the distribution of relief to refugees in Spain, and North Africa?

Ontario Election

3. Has the government made representations to the French committee of liberation regarding the release of Spanish republicans and members of the anti-fascist international brigade now interned in North Africa?

4. Has the government made any representations regarding the release of Spanish republicans and members of the anti-fascist international brigade now interned in Spain?