asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has any information respecting the present number of airmen recommended for commissions; and how many of these received elementary, secondary and public school education, respectively?

Approximately 1,250 airmen to date have been recommended for commissions. I regret that I am unable to furnish the information asked for in the second part of the Question, which is not available and cannot be obtained without an undue expenditure of time and labour.

Is the Under-Secretary not aware that one of his colleagues is in fact trying to find information regarding the origin of these commissions? Can he not in the course of time endeavour to get this information?

I have no knowledge of any of my colleagues trying to obtain this information. I should be glad to receive information.

Is not the main object to ensure that the best men are chosen for commissions and not that they should come from any particular class of school?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that discontent has been caused by the exclusion of Dagenham, Barking and other parts of East London from the extra allowances granted to airmen's dependants living in the London postal area; and whether he will consider giving these to all those living in the London transport area, in view of the high rents, fares, etc., which have to be met by residents in outer London?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 21st February by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, which is also applicable to dependants of airmen.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that there is a great deal of feeling in the East London district, that the Government do not realise that London has grown since the last war, and that many parts of it are outside the postal area?

I am not aware of any great feeling, but in cases where, owing to exceptional circumstances, there is serious hardship for wives or other dependants because of the calling-up of soldiers or airmen, which cannot be met by normal allowances, applications for special assistance can be considered by the War Services Grants Advisory Committee.

Is the Under-Secretary not aware that there are many such anomalies, due to the fact, as my hon. Friend has stated, that London has grown in the last 20 years? Would he not reconsider the matter with a view to extending the area in which these extra allowances will be made?

The matter has been considered, but wherever you draw a line, there will always be someone who does not come within it.

Why not extend the area to the Metropolitan Police area?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether there is any age limit with respect to youths sent out on reconnaissance flights over Germany; and whether a youth now aged 18½, who joined the Force a year ago is held liable for this duty?

Aircraft crews are drawn from personnel who have elected to serve on air duties, and provided they have reached the age of 18 and are fully qualified, they are liable to be employed on duty in the air in any part of the world.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information in connection with the Royal Air Force plane crash at Wallington, Surrey, on Saturday; how many people were killed; and whether any compensation is to be paid?

I regret that at the present time I am not able to add anything to what has already been reported in the Press concerning this accident, which resulted in the death of a woman, her child and one officer. The accident will be the subject of an official investigation and the question of compensation will receive full consideration. I feel sure I am voicing the feelings of the House in expressing our sympathy with the relatives of those killed.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend give an assurance that compensation will not be withheld on the ground that this is the class of case in which it was contemplated that compensation should not take place until the conclusion of the war?

I have said that it is intended to investigate the cause of the accident and that the question of compensation will receive full consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that performances are being organised on a Sunday with artistes on behalf of branches of the Royal Air Force, in districts where there are already ample entertainments provided; and whether, in view of the serious effect which this form of competition is having on local enter prises, he will consider putting an end to this practice?

My hon. Friend has sent me particulars, which only reached me yesterday, of the performance forming the subject of his Question. I will make inquiries into the circumstances and communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the artistes who take part in these performances are not paid for their services, but that money is taken at the door and that artistes are out of work who could well do with the salaries that ought to be paid?

I have said that I will inquire into the circumstances of this particular performance, but it is difficult to say that those who are willing to give the benefit of their skill and experience for nothing should be denied the opportunity of doing so or that troops should be denied the opportunity of hearing them.

The artistes to whom I am referring are working six days a week, and then they give their services on Sundays, while artistes in the same towns are out of work all the week.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will issue orders to all concerned who are in charge of confidential documents not to leave these in unattended motor-cars, as nearly a dozen cases of theft of these valuable secret documents have been reported since the beginning of the war?

Instructions on this matter have already been issued. So far as I am aware, there has been no case since the outbreak of war in which the staff of my Department have been involved.

asked the Minister of Food what are the duties of Mr. W. A. Harley, as sub-area chairman at Inverness; what is his total remuneration, including staff and office accommodation; what salary he earned prior to his appointment; whether he is still acting in and receiving salary for his former employment; and whether he is acting for his former employers?

As the answer is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister state to the House the actual salary paid to this individual to-day and the salary he received prior to his appointment?

As the question is rather involved, I will ask the hon. Member to look at the original answer, and then he can ask me a further question if he so desires.

asked the Minister of Food the names of those engaged in the administration of his Department, including the livestock and meat rationing scheme in the West Riding of York; their salaries; and the duties assigned to them?

As the reply consists of a tabular statement, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister state whether the West Riding is a separate administrative area?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the assistant head of the Butter and Cheese Trade Division, to whom a salary of £500 per annum is being paid, was appointed at the age of 71; and whether, since this officer is not dependent upon his Civil Service salary, he will consider appointing to the post a qualified but younger officer who has no alternative income?

The officer in question is not the assistant head of the Butter and Cheese Trade Division, but holds a responsible post.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the names of the members of the Civil Aviation Development Committee and the number of meetings that this committee has held since the outbreak of hostilities?

On account of the altered circumstances due to the outbreak of hostilities my right hon. Friend did not proceed with the appointment of this committee.

Was this committee not unanimously proposed by the Harold Brown Committee set up by the Secretary of State for Air? Is this not a long-term planning committee, and is it not essential that all the work in connection with civil aircraft development should be planned?

The setting-up of that committee was for our peace-time programme. If my hon. Friend will look at the terms of reference contained in the White Paper for that committee, he will see that it does not provide for war-time developments. The Secretary of State for Air, however, intends to deal with this matter and other civil aviation matters in his speech on the Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the percentage to completion of the three "G"-class civil flying boats; whether their construction is actively proceeding; and by what date each boat will be completed?

The flying boats referred to by my hon. Friend have been completed. One was slightly damaged recently and is being repaired, and another has been returned to the makers for modifications to the crew's quarters. Certificate of airworthiness trials are to be commenced immediately on the third boat and will, given reasonable weather conditions, take some three to four weeks. Extensive flying trials will, however, be necessary before the boats can be put into service.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether it is his firm hope that these boats may be used on Transatlantic services this year?

It is our hope, if present Transatlantic plans materialise, that all three boats may be used for Transatlantic services, but, of course, that depends on technical problems and also on the development of the war and war needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number and gross weight of British civil aircraft, excluding those upon Dominion register, operating on oversea air routs during August, 1939, and at the present date?

On 31st August last the number of aircraft registered in the United Kingdom so employed was 63, with a total gross weight of 742 tons. The corresponding figures on 27th February were 45 aircraft, with a total gross weight of 603 tons.

Is there a firm intention to increase the number and tonnage at an early date, in view of the importance of civil aviation, equally with the Mercantile Marine, in time of war?

We have every hope of being able to continue and where possible to develop our civil aviation services, but this reduction is in part due not to war causes, but to the cessation of the summer Transatlantic service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider abolishing the maximum age limit of 45 included in the Admiralty appeal for fishermen to volunteer for mine-sweeping, naval patrol work, etc., in view of the fact that many fishermen above 45 years of age are thoroughly fit and anxious to volunteer?

Personnel in sea-going fishing vessels are accepted up to the age of 55 for any branch of the Royal Naval Patrol Service for the period of the war. When, however, a volunteer is particularly suitable, he may be accepted up to the age of 60.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to see that the restrictions against shipbuilding in the Palmer Yard, Jarrow, imposed by National Shipbuilders' Security, Limited, are removed; facilitate the grant of a lease or sale of the site from the Commissioner for the Special Areas (England and Wales) or his successor, or other the owner at present; place this yard on the approved list for the construction of naval and/or merchant vessels; and give equal treatment in the supply of finance, labour and materials, in the matter of reconstruction, adaptation, extension and the building of ships to the Palmer Yard, as to other shipbuilding yards on the approved list?

Discussions, with which the Admiralty are associated, are now taking place between the Minister of Labour, the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation and the trade unions on the capacity and labour required to carry out the Government's shipbuilding programme. Until these discussions are completed and until a decision on policy has been reached, it is impossible to make any further statement. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 14th February, which states the Admiralty's policy in broad terms.

I am aware of the answer given on 14th February. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that since then inquiries have been made in Jarrow, from which it appears that finance can be provided if the conditions laid down in the Question are provided by the Admiralty, and that that is why the question is now brought forward in view of the serious conditions that still obtain in this town? Will the hon. Gentleman give the matter his special consideration?

I am anxious not to be specific in regard to any particular shipyard, because it would be wrong to raise any hopes. The hon. Lady must be patient a little longer, because the matter is shortly to be decided by the authorities.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that on this site and others in the district the piling and preparation of the yard, which take years to complete, have already been done, and that in order to accelerate the shipbuilding programme it is necessary to make use of existing yards?

My right hon. Friend answered last week as to the policy and said it would be wrong to assume that yards which had been totally dismantled could soon come into production.

Is it not essential that the first step should be taken now by removing the restrictions imposed by National Shipbuilders' Security, Limited?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that discontent has been caused by the exclusion of Dagenham, Barking and other parts of East London from the extra allowances granted to sailors' dependants living in the London postal area; and whether he will consider giving these to all those living in the London transport area, in view of the high rents, fares, etc., which have to be met by residents in outer London?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War gave him on a similar Question about the dependants of soldiers on 21st February.

Would the hon. Gentleman like to see some of the letters from sailors' wives, who want to know why they cannot get the 3s. 6d. extra which wives next door are getting?

Certainly.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider extending the area in which these grants are paid from the London postal area to the London transport area?

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is discontent also in Portsmouth and other towns in which the rents, rates, and cost of living are high, at sailors' wives being excluded from the allowance granted to those living in London?

I understand it has always been the trade union practice that if special rates of pay are payable, they are paid to those living in the London area. We have to choose some area, and I think that the area which has been chosen is the correct one.

Is not the postal area an arbitrary one as an area covering London, and is there not a larger number of people living outside the area than inside?

I do not think the claim has ever been made by the trade unions for extra scales in respect of the area to which the hon. Member refers.

As the hon. Gentleman has mentioned trade union agreements, will be examine the areas covered by London trade union agreements, and if he finds that some of the representative areas are beyond the areas he has taken, will he give favourable consideration to the request made by my hon. Friend?

I will certainly look into that matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that there is a great loss of effective tonnage owing to slow convoys; and will he endeavour to minimise this by arranging that, so far as is practicable, ships capable of a faster speed are not hampered by the presence in the convoy of less quickly moving vessels?

Yes, Sir. The Admiralty is well aware of this, which is an inherent disadvantage of any convoy system. To lessen the loss so far as possible, additional fast convoys were instituted at an early stage wherever practicable, and this policy will be continued.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information in connection with the wireless operator, Mr. P. G. Winsor, who was on the "Sultan Star" that was torpedoed?

From the account sent by the master of steamship "Sultan Star," it is clear that the wireless operator, Mr. P. G. Winsor, behaved with great bravery after the ship had been torpedoed. He refused to leave the vessel until he had obtained an answer to his signals, and consequently he went down with the ship. By great good fortune he was able to swim clear, and he was picked up after about 20 minutes. He received immediate medical attention on board one of our warships, and although he was extremely exhausted, I am glad to say that he survived.

Will there be any recognition of this very gallant action?

There is an authority which deals with exhibitions of gallantry like this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to clean up the slums and create better drainage in Lagos; and whether he will take energetic action and see that the necessary money is forth coming so that a big programme of housing, slum-clearance and sanitary improvement is immediately and energetically embarked on?

Slum clearance in Lagos is being carried out by the Lagos Development Board established in 1929, when a sum of £200,000 was placed at its disposal. By the end of 1938 one-third of the slum areas had been dealt with, and in that year a further grant of £50,000 spread over four years was approved to enable the work to be continued. I am asking the Governor of Nigeria to consider what steps can usefully be taken to accelerate work on the matters raised in the hon. Member's Question, and he will no doubt bear in mind the possibility of applying for assistance towards it in due course under the policy which was announced last week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the amount of unsound food, particularly of the tinned variety, imported into Trinidad; and whether he will take the necessary steps to secure legislation that will give the necessary powers to the authorities in Trinidad to deal with this danger to public health?

I am informed by the Governor that instances of unsound food arriving at Trinidad have been infrequent. Consignments are examined by the Customs authorities and held for inspection by the medical officer of health if there is any doubt as to their condition. The public health authorities are already empowered and do take action to prevent the sale of food unfit for human consumption, but in view of a recent case in which a consignment of tinned milk deteriorated after arrival, the Governor has under consideration the making of additional regulations under the Public Health Ordinance to provide for the examination and seizure of imported food which may constitute a danger to health.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what numbers of refugees are now domiciled in British Guiana; and when it is expected that settlement may become available there for large numbers of refugees?

My latest information is that up to 30th September last about 40 persons who might be classified as refugees had obtained admission to the Colony. With regard to the second part of the Question, as I indicated in replies to questions on this subject on 20th September and 25th October last, owing to the war the refugee organisations have been obliged to suspend action in regard to the experimental scheme which was suggested by the Commission which visited the Colony in the early part of last year.

Is the Minister aware that six months have elapsed since that experiment began, and that the refugee problem ought to be dealt with more energetically if it is to be solved?

The difficulty is that the voluntary organisations which were concerned find it impossible in the present circumstances to raise their part of the money for the scheme.

Are the Government providing a motor road to the highlands, which is absolutely essential if this scheme is to succeed?

No, Sir. The Government did express their willingness to finance the making of that road, but only if that initial experiment in settlement indicated that settlement would be a success and the road of practical use.

May we first have some decent roads in the Scottish Highlands?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, when he supplies the promised Return from the Governor of the Gold Coast relative to the profits of the gold companies and the amount spent upon welfare of their workers, he will exclude those sums expended upon compound houses, compensation for disablement and medical attention, etc., which are obligations of contract and cannot properly be designated as native welfare schemes?

I have asked the Governor whether it is possible to furnish this information in the form desired by the hon. Member.

Will the Minister note that some of the gold companies are now announcing the acceptance of certain elementary responsibilities as though these were new welfare works?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the proximity of the independent protected State of Sarawak to British possessions in the East and its strategic importance, he will inform the House regarding the recent deposition of the Rajah muda, and the resignation, some months earlier, of five senior members of the Civil Service, including the chief secretary, the financial secretary, the chief justice and the principal medical officer?

The relations of His Majesty's Government with the State of Sarawak are governed by the Agreement of 1888, under which Sarawak was recognised to be an independent sovereign State, in the internal affairs of which His Majesty's Government had no authority to interfere, except for the limited purposes mentioned in the Agreement. In these circumstances I think it would be improper for me to make any comments on the facts referred to in my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will have placed in the Library for the use of Members a duplicated copy of the report of the Royal Commission on the West Indies, or, if this is not possible, a fair summary or abridgement of the report?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can see his way to placing a manuscript copy of the report of the Royal Commission on the West Indies in the Library so that interested Members may have an opportunity of reading it?

I regret that I cannot meet the hon. Members' request. With regard to the second part of the Question by the hon. Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen), I do not consider that the report could be satisfactorily summarised or abridged except in the form of the statement of recommendations prepared by the commissioners themselves, which was published last week.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the evidence upon which the report is based is already published, and, further, does he appreciate how difficult it is to consider the recommendations of a Commission when we are not fully aware of the material upon which they are based?

Both those facts were taken into consideration when the Government were considering the matter.

Then will the right hon. Gentleman not assist Members to discuss the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in considering the appointment of a comptroller and an inspector-general of agriculture in connection with development work in the West Indies, he will bear in mind the importance of securing, if possible, highly qualified men with a wide experience of West Indian social and economic conditions; and will he bear in mind the desirability, in making the appointments for the comptroller's department, of drawing no distinction between white and coloured candidates where qualifications are equally satisfactory?

The hon. Member may be assured that the considerations which he mentions will be taken into account in making selections for these posts.

May I ask whether the representative council of the West Indies will be consulted, or will information be sought from them, in regard to the appointment of a comptroller and an inspector-general before an appointment is made, and, further, whether coloured as well as white people will be eligible for these positions?

The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the first part, I do not think there will be any formal consultation, though I would not rule out the possibility of informal consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to inform the House what actions, prejudicial to the safety of the public, Mr. Wallace Johnson was, at the time of his internment, suspected of intending to commit; and whether he has yet received information as to the standard of living in the camp where Mr. Johnson is interned; and whether he is allowed to receive books and papers?

As regards the first part of the Question, I am not in a position to add anything to the answers which I gave to Questions by the hon. Member on 8th November last. As regards the second and third parts of the Question, the scale of diet in the internment camp is the same as that laid down for British troops in West Africa, and on the information before me I have no reason to think that in other respects the conditions of the camp are not satisfactory. During his detention in the camp, Mr. Johnson was accorded the same treatment as the other persons there interned and was allowed to receive letters, parcels and papers, and presumably books as well.

In cases like this, where people are detained, is there any intention of reviewing the circumstances of the case, or is it intended to keep them there until the end of the war—particularly in cases like this, where they were detained on such trivial accusations?

I cannot accept the last part of the hon. Member's comment, but certainly these cases will be reviewed from time to time.

But is there any machinery for reviewing them? Does the machinery operate? If not, how are these people to have an opportunity of securing a review?

It is a matter for the discretion of the Governor and the Secretary of State, and I can assure the hon. Member that both of us do intend to review cases like this—there are very few of them—from time to time.

When Wallace Johnson is released from prison—he is not in a camp at the present time—is it the intention to transfer him from prison to a detention camp?

I cannot anticipate what the decision will be. One will have to consider the whole case when the time arrives. At present, as the hon. Member says, he is serving a term of imprisonment after conviction on another charge altogether.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much the Government spend in Kenya per head on educating European children; and will he give the comparable amount for African children?

On the basis of the figures for 1938, which are the latest available, the amounts in question are: European children, approximately £17 12s. per head; African children, approximately 12s. 3d. per head. In neither case are contributions from the funds of local authorities taken into account.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the amount spent upon the education of African children, and in view of the fact that it is the declared policy of the Government to prepare the natives of these regions to take their part in government, will he not consider doing more in the matter?

On more than one occasion I have stated that the Government are not satisfied with the rate of progress in these African Colonies. It was partly for that reason that, in the statement of policy which was issued last week, we announced that in future it would be possible to finance education services out of the funds made available by the British Exchequer.

Is this 12s. per head reckoned on the number of African children actually in school or on the whole of the children who are old enough to go to school?

On the number of those actually in school.

May I ask how much per head it is estimated will be spent under the new arrangement?

I could not possibly say that. We have not even got the legislation through Parliament yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the principle of fair conditions of labour can be applied to all contracts for public works made by the Government in Palestine?

It is the declared policy of the Government of Palestine to ensure fair conditions of labour on Government works, and various safeguards have been provided by means of legislation. I doubt whether any useful purpose would be served by the adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion, but if he has any specific difficulty in mind I will gladly ask the High Commissioner to investigate the matter.

Do the public works now being carried out by the War Department come under the jurisdiction of the right hon. Gentleman, and, if not, will he make representations to his right hon. Friend that stipulations regarding conditions of employment should be included in the contracts?

I will look into that point.

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "fair conditions"?

I was not aware what the hon. Member meant by it. It is a very general term. In our legislation we provide for conditions of a specific kind but it would take me too long in answer to this Question to outline the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make regarding the issue of regulations controlling the transfer of land in Palestine?

Yes, Sir. The High Commissioner for Palestine has been authorised to issue regulations controlling the transfer of land from Arabs to non-Arabs in certain areas. These regulations are being published in the "Palestine Gazette" this afternoon, and will be deemed to have come into force on 18th May, 1939, when the last Statement of Policy was issued. As, for reasons connected with the international situation, the Council of the League of Nations has not yet been able to discuss the last report of the Permanent Mandates Commission, His Majesty's Government have furnished the Council with a copy of the regulations, accompanied by explanatory memoranda, in case any of its members should wish to ask that the Council should be convened to discuss this matter. The letter to the Secretary-General of the League, with copies of the regulations and explanatory memoranda, are being laid before the House in the form of a White Paper, copies of which will be in the Vote Office at 4 o'clock.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the action of the Government, in making themselves the judge in their own case, in taking action contrary to the Permanent Mandates Commission's decision, and in disregarding the Council of the League of Nations, will cause very wide mistrust of the Government, and a very wide feeling that, instead of acting up to their obligations under the Mandate, they are flouting the authority of the League and international law?

We are not disregarding the Council of the League of Nations. We recognise fully the position which the League Council occupies in relation to the administration of the Mandate for Palestine, and it is for that very reason that, as I have already announced, we have communicated to-day a copy of these regulations to the Council, and have indicated that we are fully prepared to attend a meeting of the Council, to discuss the matter, if the Council so desires.

Why is action taken now, and the League Council presented with a fait accompli? Why have the regulations not been held up until it can be determined by the League of Nations whether they are in accord with the Mandate or not?

Two courses were open to His Majesty's Government. The first would have been to publish these regulations in draft and to suspend their coming into operation for an indefinite period, until the Council had had time to consider them. If I may be very frank with the House, for many reasons the Government would have preferred to follow that course; but we are faced with a delicate situation in Palestine, and there were certain practical objections to that course, which made it extremely undesirable to follow it. The second alternative was to publish these regulations and let them come into operation at once, but to inform the League Council of them immediately, and, as I say, to express our readiness, if the Council so desired, to attend a meeting to discuss them; and if there were such a meeting, and if the Council expressed any view upon them, we should be bound to give most serious attention to that view, whatever it was. As between those two alternatives, we have adopted the one which we thought right in all the circumstances, which is certainly not one which ignores the Council in any way.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that misgivings on this subject are not confined to one side of the House? If he is anxious about the creation of a delicate situation, does he not think that he is going to create an even more delicate situation by his action now, and a yet more delicate situation if the League should afterwards decide that his action is not in accord with the terms of the Mandate?

I fully recognise, and the Government do, that this is a matter upon which all parties in the House are divided; and the Government do not in any way underestimate the very sincere feeling, held in all parts of the House, on both sides of this very difficult question. I think the House will recognise that whatever course we might follow would be attended by certain disadvantages. We have had to weigh up those disadvantages, one against the other, and we have taken the line which we think is the least disadvantageous, and which does recognise all our obligations to the League Council and other bodies concerned.

Seeing that it is nearly 10 months since the White Paper was published, and that since then the only impartial authority to which it has been referred has expressed the opinion that it is contrary to any reasonable interpretation of the Mandate, would it not have been better, rather than to have faced the League with a fait accompli, as the Government are now doing, to have postponed for one month, or perhaps two months, the bringing of these land regulations into operation, so that the League Council could have considered them without being faced by this action on the part of the Government?

We took those considerations into account, and I have told the House very frankly that, for many reasons, we should have preferred to follow that course; but in our judgment, and in view of the situation in Palestine, we felt that, in the present circumstances, the course that we have adopted was the wiser and better one.

Why has the right hon. Gentleman chosen this particular moment, after six months of war, and six months of peace in Palestine, for the first time for the last six years, when all sections of the community are working loyally with the Government in that country, to introduce a measure which will exacerbate Jewish opinion, not only in Palestine, but throughout the whole world?

I think the whole House recognises the way in which both communities in Palestine have co-operated with the Government, and with each other, in these six months of war, and the whole House would wish to pay a tribute to the people in Palestine for the way in which they have assisted us during these six months. If I may answer my hon. and gallant Friend in one sentence, I would say that it is because the failure to introduce measures of control of land transference in Palestine any longer might have prejudiced that peace, that we have decided upon this course.

In view of the gravity of the action taken by the Government, and owing to the entirely unsatisfactory explanation by the Secretary of State, I beg to give notice that we shall put a Motion on the subject on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken by him to increase the production of wagons; and whether the wagon-building industry is being used to its full capacity at present?

This matter is constantly under consideration by my Department in conjunction with that of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. The production of railway wagons has to be viewed in relation to other demands upon materials and the productive capacity of the country, but I understand that at present the wagon-building industry is fully employed.

If I submit to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman evidence that there are complaints in Doncaster that the wagons are not being employed, will he look into the matter?

Probably the hon. Gentleman is talking about wagon repairing, which is slightly different, but I shall be glad to look into any specific complaints.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations have been made to his Department concerning the inadequate supply of omnibuses for the conveyance of workers to and from naval establishments in Fife; and, as considerable loss and inconvenience are being caused, will he take the matter up with the appropriate authorities?

Consultations between the authorities in question and the operators of public service vehicles have been taking place and are still proceeding, and a good deal has already been done to meet the demand for additional services.

The Regional Transport Commissioner is actively concerning himself in this matter, and I hope that a satisfactory solution of the remaining difficulties may soon be found. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, and will send me details, I will see that it is brought to the Regional Transport Commissioner's notice.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman look into this matter, which has been the subject of public comment for months past, and hurry up the negotiations which are going on and so prevent this serious loss of work in Government establishments?

There are particular difficulties in the situation. The bus companies are not always told when people are to work overtime, and new men come into the widely scattered villages; while an occasional exodus of workers coincides with men coming on duty. The matter is being handled expeditiously on the spot.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is his custom, when considering tenders for road materials, to have regard not only to the tendered prices but to the efficiency and the durability of materials and their suitability for the purpose in view; and does he also have regard to the technical qualifications and financial standing of the contractors, as is the practice of the Ministry of Health?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Select Committee to inquire into and report on the under standings reached and the undertakings given, in the negotiations between local authorities and the Home Office with regard to the payment of grants in respect of air-raid precautions work for schools; by what authority and to what extent these have been varied; and to report on the position generally?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Doncaster Education Committee on 19th February last asking for a Parliamentary Committee to be set up to examine certain relations entered into between the Home Department and local authorities concerning air-raid precautions; and whether he will move to appoint such a committee?

No, Sir. I see no reason to set up a Select Committee such as is suggested by the hon. Members. The position in this matter has been clearly stated by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in reply to Questions which have been addressed to him.

Is the Prime Minister aware that there is a good deal of feeling on this subject throughout the country, among local authorities, and could the right hon. Gentleman do something to make them feel that they have been justly treated?

I do not think that there is any foundation for the suggestion in the hon. Member's question.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that local authorities swear and declare that the Government have broken the agreement of 1937?

Perhaps the hon. Member is not aware that the Government swear and declare the opposite.

If the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to facilitate the arrangement, could he spend a little time in seeing a deputation?

I have not been asked to see a deputation.

If the right hon. Gentleman receives representations of the kind indicated in the Question, will he look a little further into the matter, because of the growing dissatisfaction everywhere?

Representations have not been made to me; but they have probably been made to the Home Secretary.

asked the Prime Minister whether he considers it necessary for all our representatives to meetings of the Allied Supreme War Council, at Paris or elsewhere abroad, to cross the Channel in the same vessel at the same time; and will he, in the national interest, henceforth so arrange that when making a sea journey to attend such meetings the principal officers of State shall do so in different vessels?

My hon. Friend can rest assured that the considerations which he has in mind are not overlooked.

Is the House to be denied any opportunity of a bit of work?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish a complete list of Members of Parliament serving with any of His Majesty's Forces, showing in each case the rank and the nature of the duties performed?

I would remind my hon. Friend that this information has recently been given in answer to Parliamentary Questions. I am sending him copies of the replies. As regards the last part of the Question, it would not be desirable to give precise details as to the nature of the duties performed.

Would it be possible to investigate the numbers of combatant and non-combatant officers?

Has the attention of my right hon. Friend been called to the disabilities under which many constituents are suffering through the absence of their Members of Parliament?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will assist the military authorities in their endeavour to discover the reasons for the waste of food in military camps?

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make investigations, taking power, if necessary, to discover whether wastage of food of any description in all military and Air Force establishments is caused by the food being of inferior quality, badly cooked and/or badly served; and then advise whether more supervisory help given to messing officers would remedy these defects?

I have been in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for War and for Air, who are fully alive to the necessity for preventing waste of food and are closely watching the matter. I am assured that care is being taken to ensure that a high standard of cooking and meals is maintained and that there is no ground for supposing that food of inferior quality is being issued.

Would my right hon. Friend consider what we did in the last war to prevent this position arising? We had a very good system.

Yes, Sir, that is being considered.

Five months late.

asked the Minister of Food whether, when meat is rationed and all slaughtering is carried out in Government slaughter-houses, the trimmings from joints will be issued to butchers to be passed on by them to their customers as food for dogs?

Very little trimming of carcases takes place at the selected slaughter-houses, but certain by-products not suitable for human consumption, which are mainly used in the production of livestock feeding-stuffs, including dog foods, are available to manufacturers. In addition, supplies of offals unsuitable for human consumption are obtainable by butchers from the wholesale distribution depots.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that these offals are very difficult to obtain in country districts? What arrangement does he propose for feeding pet dogs, or is he really condemning them to death?

I do not think that any dogs are being condemned to death.

:asked the Minister of Food whether he proposes to announce the Government's price policy for milk for next summer and winter in the near future, in order that farmers may make stocking plans?

I am at the present time engaged in discussions with representatives of producers and distributors in Great Britain. As soon as possible an announcement of price policy will be made. The period to be covered is one of the questions now under consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the increased cost of feeding-stuffs?

Yes, Sir. We are bearing in mind all those factors.

asked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken by the Government to build up adequate storage during the summer months to ensure that farmers have the necessary supply of oilcakes in order that milk production may be maintained next winter?

I appreciate the importance of accumulating reserves of all suitable foodstuffs, and this will be done, so far as the shipping position permits.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can give any assurance that conditions such as those which led to a serious shortage of milk, involving the temporary abandonment of the supply of milk in schools at Market Harborough, will not recur?