asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the prospect of the war continuing for years, his Department will immediately consider the taking over of large houses and other suitable premises presently unoccupied, and equipping and staffing them as institutions for housing and educating children thereby relieving householders from bearing their present burdens for any prolonged period?

I have already indicated to local authorities in receiving areas that I shall be glad to consider any proposals which they may make for housing evacuated persons in large empty houses or other suitable premises. I would, however, remind my hon. and gallant Friend that it would not be possible to provide accommodation for more than a relatively small proportion of the evacuated persons in this way, both on account of the limited number of large houses available and on account of the difficulty of securing adequate numbers of suitable persons to staff large boarding establishments for children.

Will the right hon. Gentleman especially consider making houses available, not for children but for adults, and especially for mothers evacuated in the countryside?

Yes, Sir. We are taking that matter into account. The question refers to Scotland, and I can deal in my answer only with that area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement of Government policy regarding the Scottish Special Areas; and whether he can announce the appointment of a new Commissioner?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, seeing that the Commissioner for the Special Areas in Scotland has taken up active duties in the Royal Air Force, what provision has been made for the carrying on of the work of that office?

The Government's policy regarding the Special Areas was stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 21st September. In the absence of the Commissioner of the Scottish Special Areas on military service, the work of the office is being carried on meantime by the Assistant Commissioner. The question of a new appointment is under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Labour declined to reply to points relating to Scotland? May I refer to that answer now and ask whether the work in the Special Areas is to go on, as far as it may, in present conditions?

The answer which the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Labour gave referred to the Special Areas in the whole country. He could not answer specific points about the Commissioner for the Special Areas in Scotland, but if the hon. Member will read the answer I think he will see that it covers the question which he has raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that to enable prosecutions to be instituted for breaches of the no-treating regulation in the last war, it was the practice of the police to spend their Saturday afternoons in plain clothes in licensed premises to order beer and claim the cost thereof from the chief constable, who was advised of the practice, thereby committing breaches of the no-treating regulations; that this practice and all prosecutions ceased on public exposure in the court and Press; and will he see that no resurrection of any such regulation takes place now?

I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that if further restrictions on the sale or consumption of alcoholic liquor become necessary the experience gained in the course of the last war will be borne in mind.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that this is a very grave matter; that two constables visited 44 licensed premises and bought 44 half-pints of beer; that in Leith the following week there were 15 visitations; that most of the witnesses were busily engaged in aircraft instruction and were very indignant at having their time wasted upon a trivial matter of this kind, and that they were asking whether the Government were mad?

asked the Secretary of Staete for Scotland whether he is aware of the indignation that has arisen in Perth in consequence of so many married women whose husbands are fully employed being employed in Government offices since the outbreak of the war; that the Employment Exchange has on its lists unmarried women suitable for these positions; and will he take steps to replace these married women by unmarried women who are meantime drawing unemployment benefit and so reduce unemployment?

I have been asked to reply. This matter has not previously been brought to my notice. Immediately the local office at Perth became aware that women were being engaged by the Royal Army Pay Corps at Perth for employment in that office, arrangements were made for female applicants on the register to be considered for any vacancies arising. Since then 20 single women and five married women have been engaged, the married women being in receipt of unemployment benefit. No opportunity will be lost of securing the submission of the remaining female applicants on the register, so far as they are suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the strong feeling amongst Glasgow's houseless population at his instruction to Glasgow Corporation to suspend all preparations for new housing schemes until further notice and that no further commitments should be entered into for the building of houses; and as large numbers have no houses, as families of eight and nine persons per room are living in Glasgow and 60,000 names are registered for houses, will he cancel his instruction?

I am fully aware of the need for further housing accommodation in Glasgow to replace unfit houses and to end overcrowding. I regret, however, that I am not in a position meantime to relax the recommendations made to local authorities in the recent housing circular which I sent out. I sympathise with the natural disappointment which this circular must have caused to many people in Glasgow and in other areas, and I can assure the hon. Member I shall keep the whole position under constant review.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the tremendous number of people's claims which are unsatisfied as a result of the last war, and does he tell this House that he is satisfied to set aside the building regulations in Glasgow when there are 60,000 names down for houses? Are we to have another five or seven years' suspension of building, during which these people will have no houses at all?

I can only say that the decision was arrived at after very careful consideration of the present situation. The hon. Gentleman will bear in mind the shortage of materials, which is a matter of great difficulty.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not reconsider this matter? In view of the fact that there is a certain amount of unemployment in the building trade and that certain materials are now available, could not discretion be given to the local authorities to build when they can?

I said that I would keep the matter under constant review, but I might tell the hon. Member that a deputation from the town council recently waited on my Department on the question of materials, which has been a real difficulty already.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply and the grave consequences of this decision, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter in this House as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered a resolution from a meeting of headmasters in Edinburgh asking that the schools be reopened; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Yes, Sir. These and other representations on the subject have received careful consideration. It has been decided that in evacuation areas, subject to certain safeguards which have been communicated to the school authorities, the secondary departments of schools providing five-year secondary courses may be reopened for all purposes. As regards primary schools and other schools not included in the previous category reopening may at present take place only for the purpose of providing medical inspection and treatment for small groups of children and in order to prepare a roll of the children remaining in the area.

Does the opening of those schools depend on the amount of air-raid protection provided for the children?

That is a factor to be taken into account. When I mentioned safeguards I had that in mind.

Is it the main factor to be taken into account by the local authorities?

That and the location of the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in view of the fact that many factories in Edinburgh and other places are arranging, during the winter months, to start work at 9 a.m., he will introduce legislation to amend the time in the morning for the issue of workmen's tickets in Scotland?

I have been asked to reply. Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland nor I have any knowledge of the arrangements to which the right hon. Member refers, and, so far as I am aware, no difficulty has arisen regarding the regulations governing the issue of workmen's tickets in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the Government's reserve of tractors have been, or will be, available to Scottish farmers?

On the basis of present estimates of the requirements of agricultural executive committees, it has been arranged that 300 tractors will be made-available to committees to assist in the work of increased food production in Scotland. About half this number are already available, and the remainder will be ready for use when the exact requirements of the committees are known.

Have they been taken up with enthusiasm by Scottish farmers?

Will they be accompanied in each case by a set of agricultural implements?

I believe so.

Are any attempts being made to clear parts of Scotland which are being used for agricultural purposes from the bracken that is there?

That is another matter, but I should be glad to discuss it with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many county committees have been formed in Scotland for the purpose of increasing food production; and whether he can make a statement with regard to progress made?

In Scotland 40 agricultural executive committees were appointed on 4th September, the day after the outbreak of war. All these committees are at work, and up to the present have been mainly concerned with matters of organisation and with making plans for the performance of their duties during this autumn and the coming winter.

Do the powers of those county committees include power to take over land which was not cultivated previously but is capable of being cultivated?

Wide powers rest with the Secretary of State, who may use the committees in connection with the exercise of these powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how, in view of the large sums spent on health services in the cities of Scotland and the repeated assurances that these services were adequate and efficient, he accounts for the serious bodily condition of so many of the persons recently evacuated; and whether, in order to allay public concern and safeguard public health, he will order an immediate inquiry into the health services of the cities of Scotland, and take urgent measures to act upon the findings of such inquiry?

I have been making inquiries, and, while I think there has been a tendency to exaggerate the position, it is the case that a proportion of evacuated children were suffering from skin diseases or were in a verminous condition. I do not, however, consider that an inquiry such as the hon. Member suggests would serve a useful purpose in present circumstances, but I have arranged that the local authorities of sending areas will make a thorough medical inspection and give whatever treatment is necessary before any further children are evacuated. I should add that the evacuation took place in conditions of urgency, at a time when the possibilities of supervision of the children were necessarily curtailed because of the school holidays.

Does my right hon. Friend, then, seek to ignore the fact that this unsatisfactory condition reflected by the evacuation is a must serious reflection on the social services of Scotland?

I do not ignore the fact; also I do not ignore the difficulties. I do not think that an inquiry of the type suggested would, under war-time conditions, serve a useful purpose.

Is Scotland the only place where these allegations have been made?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his decision to-day to stop building houses in Glasgow will make this much worse than it is already?