asked the President of the Board of Trade how many meetings of the Export Council, or of its committees, have been held since the Council was constituted; and how many of those meetings has he attended and how many have been attended by the adviser on economic organisation?

The full Export Council has fortnightly meetings. There have so far been four meetings, at all of which both Lord Stamp and I have been present. The members of the Council who constitute its Executive Committee are devoting their whole time to its work. They are continuously in touch with one another and with me. Meetings of the Executive Committee are held frequently.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will describe the work of the Export Council at home and overseas since 13th February last, beyond the formation of export groups of industries; and whether he has formed any estimate of the increase of export sales of British products and services secured with the assistance of the Export Council which would not have been obtained in the normal course by the firms concerned?

The first task of the Export Council has been the formation of export groups in the different industries. The Executive Members of the Council have been in constant touch with these groups and other industrial and trading organisations and with the Government Departments concerned, with a view to finding solutions to the many problems confronting the export trade at the present time. As regards the second part of the Question, no estimate of this kind can be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as part of Allied economic collaboration, he contemplates making a coal agreement which will extend beyond the war period and avert the serious consequences which fell on the export coal trade, particularly South Wales and Monmouthshire, at the end of the last war?

A number of questions affecting the supply of United Kingdom coal to France are at present under joint consideration by the two Governments. The hon. Member may rest assured that this particular aspect of the question is not being overlooked.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in maintaining normal home industries, arrangements have been made by the steel control to provide an adequate allocation of wire necessary to florists in the preparation of formal floral tributes of all kinds; and what is the total quantity made available and the proportion now allocated to the total pre-war consumption?

I have been asked to reply. It has been necessary to curtail supplies of wire to the less essential home industries. Supplies to florists are at present being allocated on the basis of 33⅓ per cent. of their 1938 consumption.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names and qualifications of members of the North-Eastern Prices Regulation Committee; and on whose recommendation he appointed them individually?

The members of this committee are:

• Mr. Malcolm Hill, Chairman, Solicitor.
• Mr. G. R. Carter, Trade Union Official.
• Mrs. K. Chadwick.
• Mr. D. G. Cowling, Director of Wood & Sons, Wholesale Greengrocers, Leeds.
• Mr. Frank Crowe, Chairman of Crowe & Co., Ltd., Wholesale Merchants, Leeds.
• Mr. E. Ransom Harrison, F.S.A.A., Accountant.
• Mr. A. E. Hobson, Trade Union Official.
• Mr. James Powell, Director of Hammonds, Ltd., Department Stores, Hull.
• Mr. H. Rhodes, J. P., Director of J.& S. Rhodes, Ltd., Woollen Manufacturers, Morley.
• Mrs. D. Saunders.
• Mr. S. Schofield, Director of Schofields, Ltd., Department Stores, Leeds.
• Mr. S. Tiffany, Director of Leeds Co-operative Society.
• Mr. H. Willey, Director of Needham, Veall & Tyzack, Ltd., Cutlers and Silversmiths, Sheffield.
• Mr. P. McC. Wilson. Accountant.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information on the nature of the new trade agreement between the Argentine Government and Japan, and the effect it will have on the export of Lancashire textiles?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Ambassador at Buenos Aires has reported that according to the Argentine Press an agreement was concluded on 15th March between the Argentine and the Japanese Governments by which Japan has undertaken to purchase in 1940 wool, chilled and canned beef and casein to the value of 30,000,000 yen, in consideration of which the Argentine Government for its part has agreed to permit the import of certain siderurgical products, textiles and chemicals in respect of which the necessary facilities will be granted by the Exchange Control authorities. A further and more detailed report is expected shortly from His Majesty's Representative at Buenos Aires, and until this can be studied I cannot say what effect the agreement is likely to have on the export to Argentina of textiles from Lancashire.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that under Section 22 of the Civil Defence Act landlords who erect shelters are not recouped in respect of compensation paid to a tenant who has made his premises available in whole, or in part, for the construction of a shelter, and that they cannot recover interest on the capital sum they have found for such a shelter, he will consider waiving any collection of Income Tax on the air-raid shelter rents to be paid by tenants of commercial buildings, in so far as such rents represent a proportion of the sum paid as compensation?

I could not accept the suggestion underlying my hon. Friend's Question that tax payable under the provisions of the Income Tax Acts should be remitted as a means of supplementing the provisions of Section 22 of the Civil Defence Act for the payment of grants, even if—which I am not to be taken as admitting—the latter provisions required to be supplemented.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methods are adopted in assessing the Income Tax payable by the proprietors of bottle parties in respect of the profits of their establishments; and, in particular, upon the profit or commission made by them in respect of the sale of alcoholic liquor in those establishments?

Any trading or other profits arising to persons carrying on these establishments are chargeable to Income Tax in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Acts, and my hon. Friend may rest assured that all possible steps are taken to secure assessment of the full liability.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider minting a 1½d. coin?

Suggestions for the issue of such a coin have been considered from time to time, but have been rejected. Apart from practical difficulties, it would not appear generally convenient to increase the present number of denomination of coin in use or to substitute the proposed coins for an existing coin.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Brazil, by defaulting, has extinguished £200,000,000 of British savings, lent to the Brazilian Government, states, municipal and public utility authorities, and now enjoyed by Brazil; and, as this has deprived the British Exchequer of Income Tax and Surtax and Death Duties upon that amount, will he now protect the British revenue by retaining the value of our war purchases from Brazil until she respects the contracts by which she obtained British savings?

The figure given by my hon. Friend is substantially in excess of the amount of the Brazilian sterling debt held in the United Kingdom. My hon. Friend will have seen that an interim arrangement has now been offered by the Brazilian Government for the external debt of Brazil and that the offer has been recommended for acceptance by the Council of Foreign Bondholders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the need for investing British savings in foreign countries with which to pay for war-time imports, he will devise a policy for the Government to defend British foreign investments instead of acting through the Council of Foreign Bondholders, so that many hundreds of millions of British savings shall not be maltreated by foreign Governments and rendered valueless as instruments of exchange?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the full statement made on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in reply to a Question on 14th February, 1938, of which I am sending him a copy. As pointed out in that statement, His Majesty's Government regard this subject as one of very great importance, and this is specially the case in present circumstances. My right hon. Friend said that the existing arrangements afford the best and most practical means of safeguarding the interests of this country in the matter, and, after carefully considering the question afresh, I see no reason to depart from this view.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will inform the House regarding the nature of safeguards which he proposes to prevent the sale of sterling on special Swedish or Norwegian accounts to non-Swedish or non-Norwegian importers of British goods?

Arrangements have been made by which the position is effectually safeguarded by the operation of the Defence (Finance) Regulations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will reconsider the suggestion of a supplementary issue of savings certificates, at a lower rate of interest, to holders of the present maximum of 500 certificates?

The issue of 3 per cent. Defence Bonds was designed to meet the point raised by my hon. Friend, and the results appear to show that this form of security is well designed to meet the requirements of the smaller investor.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any attempt is being made, or will be made, to arrange for War Savings Certificates to be on sale in the different British Colonies?

Colonial residents who wish to purchase National Savings Certificates may do so by direct application to the Money Order Department, London. Careful consideration has been given to the possibilities of placing these securities on sale throughout the Colonial Empire, but it has been found that practical difficulties render such a course impracticable. I may add, however, that the Government have received numerous requests for the provision of facilities whereby Colonial residents may purchase locally securities which will enable them to lend their money towards the cost of the United Kingdom's war effort, and that the best means of responding to these requests is under active and sympathetic consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make a statement on the procedure and method adopted in the giving out of contracts for the erection of ordnance factories and other establishments required for war purposes; are any buildings erected on a percentage basis; if so, what is the arrangement made; is there a penalty clause in the contracts; and is there Government supervision or check of material used and on the carrying out of the contracts?

It is not possible to describe all forms of building contract within the limits of a Parliamentary answer. Contracts, which are normally competitive, may be on the basis of a fixed price, with or without a variations clause, or on the basis of prime cost with profit at a fixed sum, or with profit varying with savings achieved in relation to a target. There are several variants of these methods. I am not aware of any cases of contracts where the profit is a percentage of the cost. It is usual for works contracts to provide for liquidated damages to be payable in respect of default or delay. Arrangements are made for the supervision of materials as to quality in all cases and as to quantity in cases where the contract includes the element of prime cost.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the disappointment in the ranks of the Army at the decision not to allow the use of civilian dress when on leave; and whether, as a concession to the desire of the men for a freshening change of dress, he will arrange that soldiers off duty may wear a collar and tie with the open neck of their battle dress?

This question has been fully considered, and it is not thought appropriate that officers and men serving in this country should cease to wear uniform when on leave. I do not think the suggestion made by the hon. Member would be at all desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give further consideration to the case of Lance-Corporal W. H. Kensley, No. 10124, D Company, 7th and 12th Home Defence Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment, a veteran of the Great War, who volunteered for the Home Defence Force at the age of 49, on 25th August, 1939, and who, after a period of illness, commencing on 3rd January, was summarily discharged from the Service while still in a military hospital and the allowance to his wife stopped at the same time?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the medical board representatives at Brighton inform soldiers who appear before them that, despite Ministerial assurances to the contrary, objections to vaccination must be disregarded; and whether he will take steps to remedy this?

I have received no information to the effect suggested, and, in the absence of particulars, I am not in a position to take any action.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether steps will be taken to enable as many units and stations as possible to lay in a reserve stock of coal during the summer months?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he realises how awkward it is for members of the British Expeditionary Force to receive their military pay in a currency with which they are unfamiliar; and whether he will arrange for a convenient exchange table converting francs into sterling to be placed in Army paybooks?

I appreciate that soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force may at first be unfamiliar with French currency. But the official rate of exchange, fixed at 25 francs=2s. 10d., is published in General Routine Orders, and advances of pay are issued to the soldier in multiples of 25 francs. It is easy, therefore, for him to ascertain the sterling equivalent of francs paid to him, and I see no need to insert an exchange table in Army pay books.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in accordance with the practice of the last war, an officer on retirement or being invalided out of the Service, will be allowed to retain and use the highest acting or temporary rank he may have held for a total period of six months with the right to wear uniform on proper occasions, provided his period of service has been satisfactory?

No regulations corresponding to those to which my hon. Friend refers have yet been framed to apply to officers serving during the present war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, on 4th March, a number of soldiers stationed off the coast of Scotland were taken to the mainland by the North of Scotland Steamship Company; that the ship was held up by bad weather for 24 hours, and the troops were charged the following prices for meals: 2s. for breakfast, 3s. for dinner, 2s. for tea, and 1s. for supper; and whether, for the future, arrangements can be made either to supply the men with rations before setting out, or to provide them with meals at a cheaper rate?

I have not been able to verify the prices charged on the occasion referred to, but the arrangement is that soldiers can obtain breakfast, dinner or a meat tea for 1s. 6d. in each case. Normally, only one meal would be required.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total acreage of land taken by the War Office for military purposes, giving separate figures for England, Scotland and Wales?

The figures for the period since 1st January, 1938, for England, Scotland and Wales are 56,780, 6,160 and 35,590 acres respectively.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that large numbers of housing and other contractors with local authorities are in default on their obligations; that various Government Departments, when appealed to, have given guidance of varying effect to local authorities as to the general and legal principles which should be applied; that local authorities at present have no power to make additional payments to such contractors; and whether, in order to obtain recommendations for a fair and uniform procedure in such cases, he will consider setting up a Royal Commission composed of persons having knowledge of local government, of business considerations and of relevant law?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. A uniform procedure for dealing with contracts which had not been finished when the war broke out has been laid down for all Departments. Under this procedure each case is considered on its merits so as to secure a fair and reasonable settlement. I see no reason, therefore, to adopt the suggestion contained in the last part of the Question.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister will answer Questions in this House concerning His Majesty's Office of Works?

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Home Security will answer Questions in this House on behalf of the First Commissioner of Works.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that it is the custom when giving broadcasts for Czecho-Slovakia and Poland to start them with Bow Bells and end them with the National Anthem of the respective countries; that these particular additions to the programme may be heard by other people in the country of reception, and consequently the people listening in would be at once traced, whereas if there were no such accompanying signs they might listen in with greater safety to the special broadcasts intended for them; and whether he will arrange to modify these broadcasts accordingly?

Proper attention has been paid to the hon. Member's points.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons in the age groups 10 and under 14, and 14 and under 17, respectively, who were found guilty of indictable and of non-indictable offences, respectively, during the six months, September, 1939, to March, 1940, together with the number of offenders per 100,000 of the population in those age groups; and whether he will analyse these figures to show the incidence of juvenile delinquency in the large town evacuation areas?

Figures relating to juvenile delinquency since the outbreak of the war are not yet available. The information is being collected and tabulated, but in present circumstances it must inevitably take some time to complete. I will send the hon. Member the particulars he wishes to have as soon as they are available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will have an inquiry made into the cause of the explosion at a works in the North of England, in which one life was lost; and whether he will publish the result of such inquiry?

An examination is being made into this unfortunate accident, and when it has been completed I will consider what further action to take. I understand that one man was killed and that the inquest is to be held on 10th instant.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of pit-heaps on fire in Lancashire; whether satisfactory progress is being made to cope with them; and whether any prosecutions have taken place in Lancashire, or elsewhere, against owners for not carrying out the law in regard to them?

Of the 33 pit-heaps or groups of pit-heaps under observation and treatment in Lancashire, 11 were origin ally classified as burning continuously and 17 as liable to flame from time to time. As a result of treatment there are now none in the first category and only four in the second. Owners generally are co-operating with the Department in remedial measures, and only two cases of prosecution have come to my notice. Neither of these was in Lancashire.

asked the Home Secretary whether the large number of German subjects in this country are permitted to send information to their friends in Germany via agents in Holland and other countries bordering on Germany; whether they are permitted to send small sums of money to those neighbouring neutral States to enable persons therein to forward food and other goods to persons in Germany; what staff is employed controlling such correspondence; and what is its approximate annual cost?

I have been asked to reply. Enemy subjects at large are permitted to correspond with persons in enemy or enemy-occupied territory only through the intermediaries officially appointed, and subject to strict control. A careful watch is kept to ensure that any small remittances sent out of the country are not intended for enemy benefit, and where there is reason to suspect that this is the case, such remittances are stopped. Letters from interned enemy subjects to persons in enemy or enemy-occupied territory are permitted under adequate safeguards. Disclosure of the number of staff engaged in this work or of the cost is not in the national interest.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce legislation to secure that the Common Law should not apply to cases of injury to pedestrians through sand bags on the pavement in the black-out?

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the remedy open to persons who suffer personal injuries by reason of obstructions on the highway in circumstances which may enable them to recover damages at Common Law. I am not satisfied that the experience up to the present has been such as to justify legislation of the nature suggested.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the attention of his Department has been drawn to the D. M. Mowat portable winding-gear, which is capable of bringing miners to the surface almost as quickly as the normal winding-gear; is he aware that many colliery managers are impressed by its performance, which would be of great value if the ventilating system of a colliery was interfered with during an air raid or in the event of an explosion; and whether his Department will, as soon as possible, have it introduced into the Durham coalfield, so as to give a margin of safety to collieries situated on that coast in the event of air raids?

This is one of a number of portable winding equipments which are being provided in the coalfields, largely at the instance of my Department, as part of the general measures of precaution against attacks from the air. As regards mines in Durham, corresponding measures of precaution are being taken by inter-connecting some of the mines underground and the provision of auxiliary winding equipment for use at others.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has considered the copy sent to him of the suggestions made by the Stationery Manufacturers' Association for the salving of cigarette packings, tobacco and food cartons, running into several hundred tons per week; and whether he will consider appealing to retail shops-to undertake to receive from the public and provide for its disposal in the appropriate quarter such material normally thrown away?

The suggestions made by the Stationery Manufacturers' Association for the salvaging of cartons have been under consideration, and the President of the Association has agreed to assist in an appeal on the lines suggested to manufacturers whose products are packed in cartons. With regard to the second part of the Question, the enlistment of the aid of retail shopkeepers in receiving and disposing of empty cartons has not been overlooked, but the collection schemes of the local authorities provide a simpler and more comprehensive method of collection from the householder.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will have a survey made at once in order to ascertain the number of machines available in the engineering and allied industries for the manufacture of war material; the number being used for the production of direct war requirements; and the number on three shifts, on day and on night production, respectively?

It is considered that the labour involved in the compilation of the details entailed by the suggested survey would be out of all proportion to the value of the information obtained. It would necessitate the issue of a questionnaire to many thousands of firms and factories, involving the recording and analysis of returns covering some hundreds of thousands of machine tools, and the great variety in machine tools and the detail variations in each type would render it practically impossible to draw any general conclusions from such analysis. The operation of the various raw material controls makes it very difficult for the bulk of machine tools to be employed on other than war work or essential export work. The whole question of machine tools—both usage and production—is under continuous review, and any information provided as a result of the suggested survey could not add materially to the information already available to my Department as a basis for action.

asked the. Minister of Supply whether all purchases in the United States of America, on behalf of the British Government, are made through the British Supply Board; and whether he will state the reasons for any exceptions; and whether all purchases on behalf of private companies can in future be placed through the one channel provided by the Supply Board?

The British Supply Board is concerned mainly with the purchase of munitions, and, while arrangements are in existence to keep it fully informed as to other purchases on Government account, it is considered unnecessary to extend its operations to other fields of supply where the need is met adequately in other ways. In the case of food supplies, purchases are being made through the machinery of the Ministry of Food, and in the case of other commodities, especially raw materials, ordinary trade channels have been used. To extend the operations of the Supply Board to cover purchases in the United States on behalf of private companies would militate against the usefulness of the Board for the purposes for which it was established.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that when the London County Council school in Stoke Newington, Church Street, was opened on Tuesday last a large number of children of eight to 11 years of age were refused admission on the ground that there was no room for them; that the reason there was no room was owing to the admission of children resident in Hackney; that the Stoke Newington children so refused admission were referred to a school in Hackney; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

I have made inquiries, and I understand that the facts are substantially as stated. Under the arrangements for opening schools in London it is not always possible for a child to be admitted to the school which he previously attended, and certain of the children who applied for admission to the Stoke Newington Church Street School were advised to seek admission at the neighbouring Hackney High Street School, which is only five minutes' walk away. Instructions have, however, been given to the head teachers of both schools to make at once such adjustments as are necessary to enable as many of the children as possible to attend the schools nearest their homes. I would add that other schools in the district are being reopened as rapidly as shelter accommodation can be provided.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he will inform the House of the volume and value of oil and oil-product exported by the United States to Russia, Germany, and various European neutral countries since the beginning of the war, compared with the figures for the corresponding pre-war period?

As the official monthly trade returns of the United States do not show exports of individual commodities except cotton by countries of destination, I regret that I am unable to give the figures desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare the volume and value of rubber and tin exported from the Dutch East Indies to Vladivostock since the beginning of the war, compared with the figures for the corresponding pre-war period?

Before the outbreak of the war Asiatic Russia was not shown as a country of destination for tin or rubber in the trade returns of the Netherlands East Indies, and it would appear that such exports must have been very small. In the first four months of the war 3,387 metric tons of rubber valued at 1,746,000 gulden and 516 tons of tin valued at 903,000 gulden were exported from the Netherlands East Indies to Asiatic Russia. I may add that during the first four months of the war no rubber was exported from the Netherlands East Indies to ports in European Russia, whereas for 1938 exports of rubber to European Russian ports amounted to 4,800 tons. The exports to Asiatic Russia in the first four months of the war may therefore represent, at least in part, orders which have been diverted from European to Far Eastern ports.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he will inform the House about the nature of the safeguards obtained from Norway, Sweden, Belgium and other neutral countries against the re-export to Germany of part of the goods imported by these countries from overseas with His Majesty's Government's consent?

I fear I am unable to reveal the terms of the agreements made with foreign Governments regarding war trade. As I explained in my statement on 27th February, our first objective has been to obtain guarantees against re-export to Germany, and we have satisfied ourselves that the Governments concerned have the necessary machinery to carry out these guarantees.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he discussed, in his recent contacts with the French Government, the exchange of French iron ore, in quantities above that consumed by Belgium, for Belgian coal, in quantities in excess of her own production surplus; and whether he sis satisfied that none of the iron ore is going to Germany, and none of the coal emanates from Germany?

I have nothing to add to the communiquéwhich has been issued in regard to my recent conversations with the French Minister of Blockade. I have no reason to believe either that any French iron ore is reaching Germany or that any German coal is reaching France.

asked the Attorney-General whether His Majesty's Government propose to recognise claims for the bounty of the Crown by British or neutral mortgagees of German ships which have been seized or condemned as prize; and whether it is proposed to set up a committee to deal with such claims for the bounty of the Crown?

His Majesty's Government have decided to deal with equitable claims by mortgagees and others generally on the same lines as were adopted in connection with the war of 1914–18. It is not at present proposed to set up a committee to deal with these claims, but they may be presented to the Procurator-General or other proper officer of the Crown attached to the Court in which the prize proceedings have been taken.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men registered as medical students prior to 3rd September, 1939, in order to be exempt from military service must have passed their first professional examination and completed two years of study in anatomy and physiology; and whether he will now consider exemption from military service of all men registered as medical students prior to 3rd September, 1939, while they are satisfactorily pursuing their studies?

After consultation with my right hon. Friends, the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, and with representatives of the medical teaching bodies, it was decided that medical students who have passed their first professional examination and have completed two terms (not years, as suggested in the Question) of study in anatomy and physiology shall be reserved under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations. This arrangement secures adequate reservation of medical students at the present time, and I see no reason for any change of the kind suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange to have placed in the Library of the House, printed copies of the Umpire's decisions on hardship cases arising from the Armed Forces Act?

Leaflets containing the Umpire's decisions on questions of principle in hardship cases will be issued and placed on sale. The first issue will be ready shortly, and I will have a copy placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish a list of the members of local tribunals appointed under the Military Service Act, giving their ages, active military service in the war 1914–18, and stating whether any of them appeared before similar tribunals in that war and with what result?

A list of the members of the local tribunals was given in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for the English Universities (Mr. Harvey) on 4th April. I am not in a position to give the information asked for in the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many members of the Appellate Tribunal, under the Military Service Act, were of military age between 1914–18; and whether such members saw active military service in the war of 1914–18?

I am not in a position to give this information.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that in certain cases the War Service Grants Committee reduce their allowance by 3s. 6d. when their special allowance is paid to wives of soldiers in the London postal area; whether he is also aware that this nullifies the original intended benefit of the concession to wives in the London postal area and has given rise to considerable discontent, and what steps he proposes to take?

In the cases in question the Committee's grant was based upon the full expenditure of the household, and it clearly could not continue the same measure of assistance when part of that expenditure was met by an additional allowance from the Service Department.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 63,500 on the medical register have volunteered for the Royal Navy, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Air Force, etc., medical services, since the declaration of war; and is he satisfied that an adequate number of medical men are being left in this country to meet the ordinary needs of the civilian population, and to cope with any possible emergency?

Of the 45,000 registered medical practitioners in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 3,001 have voluntarily joined the Forces as medical officers, in addition to those called up by virtue of their obligations as Territorial or Reserve officers. My officers are in consultation with those of the Service Departments with the object of securing a fair distribution of the available doctors between the Forces and the emergency and other civilian services.

asked the Minister of Health, having regard to the recommendation of the Central Medical War Committee for the conscription of all medical practitioners in civilian practice within the age-groups called up for military service, what arrangements are in contemplation to avoid dislocation of the civilian medical services in areas in which, if the recommendation was adopted, there would be dislocation of the civilian medical services or an undue shortage of doctors in the event of an air raid?

Arrangements have been announced to-day under which medical practitioners registered with their age groups under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act will be liable to serve with the Forces as medical officers. Individual practitioners will be selected for the various areas through the machinery of the Central Medical War Committee and its local committees, with the object of avoiding the dislocation or shortage referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health how, and in what way the British Medical Association was asked to supply names of practitioners from whom it was intended to select chairmen of recruiting medical boards; what qualifications and ages were suggested; what care was taken to ensure that the list should contain the names of practitioners who are not members of the association; and whether he is aware that no name was submitted of a practitioner who was not a member of the Association?

Chairmen of medical boards for the examination of recruits were appointed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service from recommendations which I made to him after consideration by my medical officers of the names of all practitioners, over 4,000 in number, offering their services for this work through the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association, as it then was. The considerations governing the selection were age, qualifications, previous experience in similar work, standing in the profession and availability for this work, and I have no knowledge whether any of the medical practitioners concerned were members of any particular association.

asked the Minister of Health the policy of the Central Medical War Committee as regards alien doctors; and whether, as it is apparently contemplated to call up compulsorily medical practitioners for professional services in connection with the armed forces, it is also intended to call up enemy alien medical men who are resident here, whether as refugees or otherwise, and thus preserve the practices of British doctors who are or will be serving in a professional capacity with the armed forces?

The policy of the Committee is governed entirely by the law affecting the right of alien doctors to practise in this country. As regards the second part of the Question, I would remind the hon. Member that the National Service (Armed Forces) Act applies only to British subjects.

asked the Minister of Health when forms of application and particulars will be available in the post offices for supplementary pensions under Part II of the Old Age and Widows' Pensions Act, 1940?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith) on 4th instant.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will take steps to secure that owner-occupiers shall, during war-time, be protected against increases in rates of mortgage interest and the calling-in of mortgages not less effectively than statutory tenants are protected against increases of rent and the recovery of possession by their landlords;

(2) whether he will make a statement of the Government's policy regarding the encouragement of the owner-occupation of small houses; and whether, in view of the relatively unfavourable legal position of owner-occupiers who have purchased their houses with money borrowed on mortgage, and repayable by periodical payments extending over more than 10 years from the date of the creation of the mortgage, he will reconsider the adequacy of recent emergency legislation?

The Government have always welcomed the growth of owner-occupation, and special facilities are available in the statutes to this end. Emergency legislation is already in operation to protect mortgagors who are unable to meet their obligations by reason of circumstances directly or indirectly attributable to the war, and I am not aware of evidence that further protection is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give an estimate of the daily cost of the Home Defence Service, and, in particular, of the Observer Corps; and whether any economies can be effected by a redistribution of posts and a reduction in the number of inspecting officers, in view of the change in the character of the war?

I am not sure what the right hon. Gentleman means by the Home Defence Services. He will appreciate that the Service Departments are all concerned with the various aspects of home defence. Whilst I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that, so far as the Air Ministry is concerned, every effort is made to avoid unnecessary expenditure, it would not be in the public interest to disclose the daily cost of such items as the Observer Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will give figures showing the total acreage of land taken by the Ministry of Air for military purposes, giving separate figures for England, Scotland and Wales?

The Air Ministry owns or occupies for purposes of the Royal Air Force approximately 150,000 acres of land in this Country. It would not be in the public interest to give the distribution of this acreage.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of sub-postmasters who are paid less than £50 per annum, less than £100 per annum, less than £150 per annum and less than £200 per annum, respectively; and give the total number being paid less than £400 per annum?

According to the latest information available the approximate numbers of sub-postmasters in the categories in question are as follow:

• 6,000 are paid less than £50 per annum.
• 13,000 are paid less than £100 per annum.
• 16,000 are paid less than £150 per annum.
• 18,000 are paid less than £200 per annum.
• 22,000 are paid less than £400 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is able to make a statement about the recent constitutional changes in St. Helena?

Yes, Sir. The new Constitution was introduced on 15th February. It has been framed with the object of giving all sections of the community in St. Helena a fuller opportunity than in the past of expressing their views regarding the administration of the Island. With this end in view a new body has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Governor, called the Advisory Council, which is composed entirely of nominated unofficial members and will be fully representative of Island opinion. The former Executive Council, composed of officials together with three unofficial usually drawn from a somewhat limited section of the population, has been replaced by an Executive Council composed only of the former element. It is contemplated that the two Councils should, on occasion, hold joint meetings to consider matters of general policy. It will be realised that the small size of the population makes elaborate machinery inappropriate; but I hope that the new arrangements will afford a useful and practical method of associating islanders more closely with the management of the Island's affairs. I am arranging for copies of the despatch which I addressed to the Governor on this subject and of the constitutional instruments to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in view of the fact that the background talks arranged for the benefit of the Press by his and other Government Departments are greatly appreciated and provide valuable results, he can give an assurance that they will be continued; and whether arrangements can be made to penalise those who do not observe the conditions of discretion or secrecy imposed at such conferences?

I share the opinion of my hon. Friend that the background talks at the Ministry to which he refers are of value, and should be continued in appropriate cases. But it is only possible for them to take place if one can be reasonably sure that confidence will not be abused.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he was consulted by the Port of London Authority before that body put up its dues by 40 per cent., making an increase of 67 per cent. since the outbreak of war; and whether he is satisfied that this increase will not put an additional and unnecessary charge on the cost of imports of food and raw materials?

The Port of London Authority have increased their charges on two occasions since the outbreak of hostilities, in order to meet the financial effects of the war. In both instances the increases have been authorised by Orders made by me under the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, after a full examination of the needs of the Authority and of the representations put forward by interests affected by the increases. The effect of the two Orders is to authorise the Authority to increase their pre-war charges by amounts varying from 7½ to 40 per cent., according to the description of the charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the overcrowding of St. Andrew's House, Edinburgh; what complaints he has received that this is aggravated by the recall of retired civil servants; and what steps are being taken to alleviate the congestion?

I have received no complaints on this subject, and the total numbers of staffs accommodated in St. Andrew's House are not in excess of the numbers contemplated when the building was under construction or of the standard generally applied for headquarter offices. In a few branches, however, owing to recent increases of staff, there appears to be some congestion, and I am having a survey made with a view to adjustments so far as practicable. The number of retired officers who have been re-employed is no more than half-a-dozen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he authorised the appointment of a tractor controller in Scotland; what are the emoluments attached to the post; whether it is a whole-time appointment; how many tractors are under his charge; and what is the total acreage ploughed up to date by such tractors?

The officer referred to was appointed by me for one year in September last. His duties necessitate constant attendance in the office or in the field in order that the ploughing and subsequent farming operations may be overtaken in due season. He is remunerated by the payment of an inclusive sum at the rate of £4,500 a year to cover the cost of 10 assistants, including one travelling officer, office accommodation, and travelling and other expenses. As regards the fourth and last parts of the Question, 212 tractors together with complementary implements and plant are now under his charge and approximately 4,000 acres have been ploughed to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of local authorities in Scotland which have accepted the Government's recommendation regarding the salaries of school teachers serving in the Army; how many are making up the full salary, and how many are making up a percentage; whether he is aware that the Fife County Council has taken a decision against this recommendation; and will he make representations to this council with a view to a change of attitude towards teachers' salaries?

Of the 35 education authorities in Scotland, four are making up the war service pay of teachers serving with His Majesty's Forces to the full amount of their civil salary; 10 are making up to a percentage of the civil salary; and five are making up, in the case of some teachers, to the full extent, and in the case of others, to less than the full extent, of their civil salary. Of the remaining authorities, 12are considering each individual teacher's case; three have not yet made a decision; and I understand that the Fife education authority are exercising their powers to the extent of paying the employé's share of the superannuation contributions. As regards the last part of the Question, the hon. Member will appreciate that this matter lies within the discretion of education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the curtailment and, in some cases, extinction of dental services in connection with National Health Insurance benefits; and what steps he is taking to see that there is no deterioration in the standards of dental services for the people?

The total amount allocated to the provision of dental benefit by approved societies and branches in Scotland for the current year is only slightly less than the amount allocated in respect of recent years. Owing to their fifth valuations having revealed smaller disposable surpluses, approved societies and branches in Scotland with a total membership equal to about 12 per cent. of the insured persons entitled to dental benefit have reduced the scale of their grants under that benefit, and societies and branches covering a further 6 per cent. have ceased to provide the benefit. Under the National Health Insurance Act dental benefit is available only to the extent to which it is provided by approved societies by way of additional benefit out of disposable surplus revealed at a valuation. I have no power to secure the provision of the benefit otherwise than in terms of the Act.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many cases have been brought to his notice of miners of advanced age being dismissed from the mines while men of military age are being taken on at the same pits?

No cases of this kind have been brought to my notice.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of years that benzole has been produced in this country, and why a committee was appointed to report on it?

Benzole has been recovered as a by-product of the high temperature carbonisation industries for many years past on a steadily increasing scale, and the difficulties of further increasing the quantity recovered are becoming progressively greater. As the maximum production is required in the national interest at the present time, an inquiry into the means of overcoming these difficulties was desirable. I would add that the committee in question is not dealing solely with benzole recovery, but with the important and wider subject of all the liquid products of high temperature carbonisation, including the most advantageous ways of utilising such products in war-time.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give an estimate of the cost of the six committees he set up last November to report on well-known processes of treatment of coal?

I am afraid that I cannot give an estimate, but the cost will be quite small, thanks to the public spirit of the members, who have voluntarily given their time to this work. In general, the only special cost involved in setting up these committees is that incurred in paying the expenses, on the usual scales, necessarily incurred by members and assessors in the discharge of their duties.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state, separately, the amount of oil extracted from coal by the hydrogenation process and also by low temperature carbonisation plants for the years 1937, 1938 and 1939; and why a committee was appointed to report on them?

The figures for 1937 and 1938 are given below; figures for 1939 are not available. No committee has been appointed to report on the hydrogenation process. As regards the low temperature processes, the fact that little progress had been made in developing them in peace-time in spite of the heavy preferential

Production of oil from coal.
—				Motor Spirit.		Creosote and heavy oils.
				1937.	1938.	1937.	1938.
				Tons.	Tons.	Tons.	Tons.
By Hydrogenation	…	…	…	116,800	140,900	—	—
By Low temperature Carbonisation			…	3,300	4,300	7,800*	10,300*
* A considerable part of these quantities was hydrogenated to obtain some of the motor spirit shown as being produced by hydrogenation.

asked the Secretary for Mines when the requirements of coal and coke needed in the Wickford district of Essex will be available?

Owing to the serious depletion of stocks earlier this year, the demand for coal in the Wickford district still exceeds supply. I fully expect, however, that supplies will very shortly be equal to current requirements.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the price of best house coal in the Isle of Wight at the present time is 3s. 7½d. per cwt. in quantities of less than 5 cwts.; and whether he will take steps to effect some reduction in this high level?

I am aware of the position referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. Increases over the pre-war level of coal prices are allowed only when they are justified by increased costs. Some 85 per cent. of the increase which has taken place in retail prices in the Isle of Wight since the war is due to additional freight charges, including war risk insurance on ship and cargo.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has drawn the attention of all Government Departments to the advisability of laying in a stock of coal during the summer months?

Yes, Sir, they have been asked to do so as soon as the supply position permits.