asked the Secretary of State for War whether there are any cinemas showing British films which are available to officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force in the various base towns of the British area in France; and whether these cinemas are open on Sunday as in London and certain English provincial towns?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The local cinemas are not as a rule open to the troops on Sundays because of the needs of the civil population, but, where there are mobile cinemas, Sunday performances are given. It is proposed to arrange at a later date for cinemas to be rented at base towns for the sole use of the British Expeditionary Force, as is being done in the forward areas, and these cinemas will then be open to the troops on Sundays.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can provide a list of the films which have been supplied for the entertainment of the British Expeditionary Force in France since the despatch of that Force, indicating in each case the date on which that film was generally released in England and Wales?

I am sending my hon. Friend the list, which is a long one.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in light of the admitted need for agricultural labour, he is prepared to take steps immediately for the return to the land of all skilled agricultural workers who are presently engaged on military service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Malcolm MacMillan) on 20th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that when many Territorial regiments were embodied at the outbreak of war they had to produce certain articles of small kit, such as vest, shirt, etc., for which they received a small monetary payment; and that, although these can be replaced when they wear out, they only possess one set compared with two issued to the Regulars; and whether they can be put in the same position?

Men of the Territorial Army who, on embodiment, provided their own necessaries received a payment of 10s. The scale of clothing is the same for the Territorial and the Regular Army, and any additional issues required should have been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the recent two-thirds increase in horse-power tax coupled with the general reduction of permitted mileage to one-quarter, has multiplied the tax on motoring nearly seven times, and that the tax on very old motor cars is sometimes as much as the value of the motor car itself; and, in view of the fact that the garage industry throughout the country is suffering from the most severe depression in the history of this industry, will he consider a reduction of the horse-power tax on motor cars, and, in particular, in regard to secondhand motor cars, three years old and over?

I am afraid that my right hon. Friend cannot anticipate his Budget Statement.

asked the Secretary for Mines the world output of oil for 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939, respectively, giving the production for each country, separately, where known?

The figures for 1936, 1937 and 1938 are as follow:

asked the Secretary for Mines what progress has been made in the development of transport by means of producer gas?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Sir S. Reed) on 4th April.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received a report on the inquiry into the Valleyfield disaster; and what steps he proposes to take arising out of such report?

I have not yet received the Commissioner's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of native African workers on strike in the Northern Rhodesian copper mines; at what mines they are employed; whether these mines are under British management; what are the rates of wages paid for the various grades of workers; and what are the hours worked?

I understand that the number of African workers who have recently been on strike in the Northern Rhodesia copper mines is approximately 15,000 and that nearly all these workers were employed at the Nkana (including the Mindolo section) and Mufulira mines. The companies which own these mines, namely, the Rhokana Corporation, Limited, and the Mufulira Copper Mines, Limited, are British and are controlled from London.The wages of the African mine employés at the Nkana mine are as follow: Wages of underground workers start at 22s. 6d. per ticket of 30 days with an increment of 2s. 6d. after every six tickets until 37s. 6d. is reached. After nine tickets at 37s. 6d., the pay is increased to 40s.; thereafter by increments of 2s. 6d. after every nine tickets to 45s.; and thereafter by increments of 2s. 6d. every 12 tickets up to a maximum of 50s.Wages of surface workers start at 12s. 6d. and proceed by increments of 2s. 6d. after every six tickets until 20s. is reached, this being the limit for unskilled labour. Wages for skilled labour proceed to 25s. by increments of 2s. 6d. after every six tickets; then by increments of 2s. 6d. after every nine tickets to 32s. 6d.; and thereafter by increments of 2s. 6d. after every 12 tickets up to 40s. Holders of blasting licences earn 2s. 6d. extra.The wages of African mine employésat the Mufulira mine are as follow: Underground workers start at 22s. 6d. per monthly ticket and earn increments of 2s. 6d. after every four tickets until 50s. is reached. The average pay of underground workers is 27s. 6d. per month. Skilled underground workers receive 55s. plus a bonus of 10s., and all underground workers receive a 5s. clothing bonus. Half of all increments is added as an efficiency bonus, Drill workers receive a bonus of 1d. per 5 foot over a 60-foot drill. After 18 months' service a holiday and travelling allowance is provided at the rate of 18s. with a further 1s. per month. The wages of surface workers start at 12s. 6d. per monthly ticket with increases of 1s. 3d. after every three months to a maximum of 30s. The average rate of pay is 22s. 4d. plus 7s. 6d. bonus. The highest rate is 30s. Holiday and travelling allowances are the same as for underground workers.The above rates have recently been increased by the grant of a cost-of-living bonus of 2s. 6d. a month. Workers also receive rations which at the Mufulira mine are at the following weekly rates: 14 lb. of meal, 28 oz. of beans, 12 oz. of nuts, 1 lb. of fruit, 1 lb. of vegetables, 1 lb. of rice, 4 lb. of meat, ¼ lb. of dripping, ¼ lb. of salt, 7 pints of cocoa, 42 oz. of bread. These rations are for underground workers. The rations for surface workers are the same except for cocoa and bread. Both surface and underground workers receive free hospital treatment for themselves and families and free water and housing. The compound has bathrooms and water-borne sewerage. Their families are given free mealies and salt.As regards the last part of the Question, a 48-hour week is normally worked at the mines, but workers on smelter, power houses and essential services underground (and at Nkana Refinery) work a 56-hour week with 32 hours off every third week. In addition, overtime at Nkana varied for the 3½ months ended 16th March from ·44 to ·62 hours per man per shift. At Mufulira overtime during the last three months has averaged ·25 hours per man per shift and in addition about 2,000 workers have been employed on alternative Sundays.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many native African workers are employed in the Northern Rhodesian copper mines; whether they are employed on a contract basis and for how long, and from what parts of Africa these workers are recruited?

The number of African workers employed in the Northern Rhodesian copper mines in January, 1940, was 26,203. These workers are not employed on a written contract, but on monthly verbal contracts as is common throughout East Africa. The great majority, 23,570, of the workers employed are Northern Rhodesians. The remaining workers came from Nyasaland, Tanganyika, Portuguese West Africa, Portuguese East Africa and the Belgian Congo.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the representations made in a memorandum from West Africans in this country respecting the low price levels fixed for the African growers of cocoa; and whether he will sympathetically consider arranging such an adjustment in the price level as will enable African cocoa farmers to enjoy an income commensurate with their increased, and increasing, liabilities?

I have received the memorandum; and a full reply is in preparation. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 22nd February. It is important to remember that only about one quarter of the crop is consumed within the Empire.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the price fixed for wool is below the price ruling at auction sales in Wales last July; and whether, in view of the hardship this entails on the hill farming industry in Wales, he will review the matter?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The prices paid for Welsh wool of the 1939 clip are based upon the maximum prices for Welsh wool established by the Control of Wool (No. 9) Order, 1939. These show an increase of about 10 per cent. over representative prices paid nett to the farmers for good clean washed or light greasy clips at auctions and private buying, mid-June and July, 1939.

asked the Attorney-General what is the present position of the "Titanic" Fund; whether all survivors and their dependants are being cared for, if necessary; and what are the arrangements for claiming grants?

In reply to the first part of the Question, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the latest annual report of the Executive Committee of the Mansion House published in June last. Four survivors are in receipt of assistance from the fund. Dependants of survivors are not eligible for assistance. Applications for grants should be made to the nearest local area committee, a list of which is given on page 2 of the report, or to the Secretary of the Executive Committee at the office of the Public Trustee, Kingsway, W.C.2.

asked the Postmaster-General why, in engaging temporary postmen to fill vacancies during the present emergency, the age limit for engagement has been fixed at 50 years; whether he is aware that many men now unemployed who have been temporarily employed by the Post Office during successive Christmas seasons are available and fit for temporary duty although over the age of 50 years, and will he make exceptions in suitable cases now to employ men Who are available and fit for temporary duty?

No upper age limit has been laid down for the recruitment of temporary postmen during the war. The standing rules of the Department provide that in recruiting Christmas staff preference should be given to men under 50, as the younger men are more likely to adapt themselves to Post Office work, and it may be that in areas where there is no shortage of applicants, a similar course has been followed during the present emergency. I can assure my hon. Friend, however, that there is no bar at the present time to the employment of suitable men over 50 years of age.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the age limit at which postmen normally retire on pension, and whether any extensions of the age limit are being sanctioned in special cases during the present emergency?

The normal retiring age is 60 or shortly thereafter, but extensions are being freely allowed during the war.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any increase in salary has been made in the salaries of persons holding the position of sub-postmaster to meet the increased cost of living; and, if not, whether he will consider such an increase without delay?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolution of the Greenock Trades Council regarding increases in payments to the unemployed and their dependants forwarded to him by the secretary; and whether he has any statement to make on the matter?

I have considered this resolution, but have nothing to add to what was said on behalf of the Government in the course of the Debate on the Draft Unemployment Insurance (Increase of Benefit in respect of Dependent Children) Order, 1940, on 4th April last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolution of the Greenock Trades Council and Labour Party urging the continuance of the payment of the 2s. winter relief to Unemployment Assistance Board recipients, a copy of which was forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Greenock; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21st March to the Question regarding winter allowances put to me by the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths).

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many of the 1,131premises requisitioned by his Department for Government purposes are hotels; what is the total annual rateable value of these hotel premises; how many hotels requisitioned by his Department have been handed back; and in how many such cases claims have been made for compensation and the total amount of such claims?

I have been asked to reply. Of the 1,131 buildings requisitioned by the Office of Works, 204 are hotels. The total annual rateable value of these hotels is about £121,500. Apart from these 204 hotels now held by the Department, 23 hotels were previously requisitioned but have since been handed back. In 15 of the latter cases claims have been made for compensation. The total amount so far claimed is by way of rental compensation £32,790 a year, and sums amounting to £11,420 on other grounds.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that meat is rationed to very small quantities per head, he will take steps to ensure that all offal and non-rationed meat is made available for purchase by the public and not stored?

I can assure my hon. Friend that all offal and non-rationed meat, with the exception of canned corned beef, is made available to the public. Canned corned beef is at present being put to reserve so as to meet the requirements of the Fighting Services and other emergency needs.

asked the Minister of Transport as at the last convenient date, the average annual income in canal dues for the Crinan Canal, in the county of Argyll, since the year 1930; the number of staff engaged in the supervision and control of the canal; the number of lock-keepers permanently stationed there, giving information as to the number thereof who are married and the average number of units in the household; the weekly wage paid in money and the emoluments other than in money pertaining to the said lock-keepers; and the number of the said lock-keepers who are entitled to participate in any pensions fund on retirement?

The average annual income from dues for the Crinan Canal for the years 1930 to 1939 was approximately £6,100. The number of staff engaged in the supervision and control of the canal is four. The number of lock-keepers permanently employed is 12. Information as to the number of these who are married and the average number of units in the household is not available, and could only be obtained by inquiry from the individuals concerned. One lock-keeper receives 47s. a week, one 43s., two 42s. 6d., and eight 41s. As a result of recent negotiations with the appropriate staff association, this remuneration is being temporarily increased by 4s. a week. Each occupies a house free of rent and rates and has waterproof clothing issued to him; two receive, in addition, free gas. Seven of the lock-keepers are on the pensionable staff.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that omnibuses are permitted to run from Leeds, Hartlepool and other distant towns to Whitby on holiday trips, whilst haulage contractors, engaged in hauling coal, are deprived of their requisite supplies of petrol by the Pool Board; and whether he is now prepared to ban all pleasure travel by road until legitimate traders are adequately supplied with petrol for their essential business?

Liquid fuel is made available for all essential road movements of goods. In consultation with my hon.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that there is a charge of 3d. for platform tickets at the London and Northern Eastern Railway stations at Queen Street, Glasgow, and Waverley Station, Edinburgh, and that this charge entails the sale of tickets at the ordinary booking-office windows, involving delay, irritation, and sometimes loss of train to passengers; and whether he will arrange for automatic machines as at other stations to provide platform tickets at 1d.?

I am informed by the Railway Executive Committee that the accommodation on the platforms at these stations is such that increased use by persons who are not travelling by train would seriously hamper station working. For this reason, particularly in present circumstances, the railway company consider it desirable, in the interests of bona fide passengers, that no reduction should be made in the charge of 3d. which it has been the custom to make for a platform ticket at these stations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the congestion at Edinburgh and Glasgow London and North Eastern Railway stations, where there is difficulty in passengers reaching their train owing to the difficulties of ticket-checking for large numbers of passengers and friends; and whether he will arrange for a separate and easy entrance to the platform for passengers?

At Waverley Station, Edinburgh, difficulties have arisen in connection with certain trains which carry large numbers of Service men returning from leave. A new platform gate is being erected, which, it is hoped, will relieve the congestion. At Queen Street Station, Glasgow, the arrangements are generally satisfactory, although on a recent occasion there was some congestion owing to exceptional and unexpected conditions. A separate entrance to the platform would not be practicable here owing to restricted space.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, before the Government agree to any increase in railway rates, he will consider the effect of such increase on the cost of living; and, alternatively, should such increased rates be proved to be essential will it be met by a Government subsidy?

Under the financial arrangements in connection with the control of railways, the Government have agreed with the four amalgamated railway companies and the London Passenger Transport Board that rates, fares and charges will be adjusted to meet variations in working costs and certain other conditions arising from the war. This undertaking is set out in paragraph 10 of the White Paper (Cmd. 6168) which was discussed in the House on 13th February, 1940. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that C-licence holders who obtain a defence permit and who are not compelled to pay the rate of wages imposed on A-contract licences are able to compete under unfair conditions; and what steps he proposes to take to end this anomaly?

Where C operators compete unfairly in carrying goods for hire or reward the Regional Transport Commissioner may issue a restrictive permit preventing them from undertaking such work. In so far as it may be necessary in the national interest to allow C operators to carry for hire or reward, the wages position is covered by the Road Haulage (Emergency Provision) (Miscellaneous) Regulations, 1940, made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on 19th March last.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the differences between the charges for electricity in urban areas and in country and other areas outside the low-rated areas; and whether, in order to eliminate the hardship and difficulty facing those using electricity under the latter conditions, and in order to encourage a greater use of the service available, he will take steps to make electricity a national service, and to make the charges uniform throughout the whole of Britain?

I am aware that, owing to such factors as the lower density of population and the smaller number of consumers in relation to the capital expenditure involved, the charges for electricity in rural areas are in a number of cases higher than in adjoining urban areas. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that officers appointed to the Royal Air Force Code and Cypher School have, in many cases, received no pay since joining up and are being sent abroad without knowledge of what their pay and allowances will be; when these allowances will be paid; and how they are enabed to provide for their families in the absence of this information?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will inquire into them. I should add that the pay and allowances of officers joining the Royal Air Force Code and Cypher School are issued in the normal way; that is, the first payment is made at the end of the calendar month in which an officer joins for duty and subsequent payments are made at the end of each month thereafter. Officers on joining the Service have ample opportunity of ascertaining what their pay and allowances will be.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the salvage of the wreck of the Dutch motor ship "Gerco," given up as hopeless by experts; and whether he will provide facilities for the repair of the salvaged vessel so that those concerned with the work will not lose the value of the vessel recovered at considerable cost and risk?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that this vessel was salved after the underwriters had paid a total loss. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, the owners of the vessel should make arrangements for repairs with a local firm of ship-repairers and apply to the Principal Surveyor of the Ministry of Shipping at Newcastle-on-Tyne for the necessary licence, which they will have no difficulty in obtaining.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a fully equipped shipyard exists at Alloa, capable of repairing and building ships up to 4,000 tons capacity; that though there is sufficient labour available at the moment for repair work and the possibility of recovering from other industries enough labour for building, no use has yet been made of this capacity; and whether he will take immediate steps to have the matter investigated?

The potentialities of this shipyard have been fully investigated. The yard, which is being run by its owners as a repair establishment for small ships, has not the facilities for repair work on a larger scale or for building ships, and I can find no evidence of there being the skilled labour available in the district as would be required to expand the yard's present activities.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how long it will be before the ex-petty officers, stokers branch, of the Royal Yacht will be given back their rank as petty officers, since they have reverted to the rank of stokers, and consequently feel the situation very much?

Orders have been issued that, where it is to their advantage, active service ratings formerly in the Royal Yacht who reverted to general ser- vice on mobilisation may, if they are recommended, be reinstated as from 9th April, in the rating they held in the Yacht service, in an acting capacity.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that large numbers of clerical workers in shipbuilding dry-dock and ship-repairing yards are, through the national emergency, called upon regularly to work long hours of overtime without additional payment or any share of the wage increases or overtime payments granted to other classes of shipyard workers; and whether he will have the position of these clerical workers examined, with a view to the grant of appropriate wage increases with rights as to overtime remuneration?

The adjustment of the wages, hours and other working conditions of the clerical workers in question is a matter for examination and arrangement between the employers and workers concerned in accordance with the ordinary methods and procedure.

asked the Home Secretary the names of the persons, including women, who constitute the Aliens Advisory Committees in the Northern and North-Eastern areas; the fees paid to the chairmen and members; and the places of meeting?

I give below the names of the members of each of the 12 Regional Advisory Committees. Additional members may be appointed from time to time as occasion may require. No fees are payable to the members of these committees, but a fee of five guineas will be payable to a chairman for a full day's work, subject to a maximum of 20 guineas a week. In addition, both chairmen and members will be able to recover any necessary expenses incurred by them. The Headquarters of the Regional Advisory Committees will be at the Headquarters of the Civil Defence Regions, but it will be open to the committees to sit at other places in the Region in which any considerable number of aliens may be resident.

asked the Minister of Information what organisation exists to supervise or check the possibility of letters and information leaving this country by being handed to captains or members of crews of neutral ships?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that adequate steps are taken to prevent leakage of information in the way described.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware of the serious discontent expressed by Scottish journalists at the obstacles placed in the way of reporting service activities in Scotland and that the Scottish branches of the National Union of Journalists regard the character of the restrictions placed upon their work as unreasonable; and whether any steps have been taken to remedy concrete grievances brought before him by the union?

Yes, Sir. Measures designed to remedy the grievances of the Scottish journalists are under active consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any statement to make as to Government assistance towards the work initiated by the Pilgrim Trust for the encouragement of music and the arts?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed to supplement the sum made available by the Pilgrim Trust for this purpose, and any sums similarly forthcoming from other voluntary sources, by an equal contribution from the Exchequer up to a maximum of £50,000. I am glad to say that the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust has expressed its interest in the scheme, and I hope that the Trustees will agree to find, if not the whole, at least a very substantial part of the sum of £25,000 which is to be raised from voluntary sources if the full Treasury grant is to be secured, thus enabling us to see our way to a total fund of £100,000, of which some £20,000 contributed by the Pilgrim Trust has already been expended. The Carnegie Trustees will not be meeting for some weeks, but their Chairman has informed me that, after consultation with the individual members of his Executive Committee, he feels justified in putting forward a proposal on these lines for their most sympathetic consideration.I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my warmest appreciation to both bodies of Trustees of their ready and generous interest. In consultation with the two bodies, I am setting up a small Council, under the chairmanship of Lord Macmillan, to supervise the administration of the fund. Dr. Thomas Jones, Secretary of the Pilgrim Trust, will act as Vice-Chairman, and the following have consented to serve as members:Sir Kenneth Barnes.The hon. Member for East Islington (Miss Cazalet).Earl of Crawford and Balcarres.Sir Walford Davies.Miss Margery Fry.Mr. J. Wilkie.The Carnegie Trustees would be represented by a trustee with Mr. Wilkie their Secretary; two senior officers of the Board of Education will assist the Council as assessors. It is contemplated that the Council will have the services of panels of experts to deal with various aspects of their work.