asked the President of the Board of Education the total expenditure of local authorities, giving the figures for elementary schools and other educational institutions separately, on air-raid pre-

—					Loan.	Revenue.	Total.
					£	£	£
Elementary Schools	…	…	…	…	4,716,613	416,486	5,133,099
Special Schools	…	…	…	…	22,353	9,889	32,242
Secondary Schools	…	…	…	…	483,430	84,482	567,912
Technical Schools	…	…	…	…	77,030	28,338	105,368
Training Colleges	…	…	…	…	4,171	4,148	8,319
Total			…	…	5,303,597	543,343	5,846,940

In the case of secondary and technical schools and other institutions of higher education, grant from the Boardis payable at the rate of 50 per cent. In the case of elementary and special schools the rate of grant is 50 per cent. or the rate payable on the authority's elementary education expenditure as a whole under the current Elementary Education Grant Regulations, whichever is the higher. In the case of expenditure met from loan, these rates of grant are paid upon the loan charges.

asked the President of the Board of Education what progress has been made in the past three months in the releasing of school buildings from civil and military authorities for school purposes; what steps are being taken in reception areas to provide supplementary accommodation, and what new building is in progress; and whether building schemes in neutral and other areas are still suspended?

A large number of school buildings has been released, either wholly or partially, in the last three months. In reception areas supplementary school accommodation has been provided by the hiring of halls and other suitable buildings, and, according to the Board's records, the building of 94 new schools and 66 extensions and alterations of school premises is in progress. Building schemes in other areas are allowed to proceed where good cause can be shown,

The total expenditure by local education authorities on air-raid precautions for schools and educational institutions approved by the Board up to 31st March, 1940, was as follows:and 83 new schools and 113 extensions and alterations are in progress.

asked the Minister of Health the rates of pay and allowances of the subordinate staffs of Rampton and Moss Side mental institutions; are the promotions of the two institutions interchangeable; and what Superannuation Act applies to them?

The rates of pay of the subordinate staffs of Rampton and Moss Side State institutions are as follow:

Charge attendants and officers of corresponding rank:

67s. 6d.–2s.–79s. 6d. a week.

Attendants and officers of corresponding rank:

51s.–1s. 6d.–66s. a week.

Charge nurses and officers of corresponding rank:

54s. 6d.–2s.–64s. 6d. a week.

Nurses and officers of corresponding rank:

40s.–1s. 6d.–53s. a week.

Domestic staff:

40s.–1s. 6d.–44s. 6d. a week.

Plus, in each case, lodging, washing and uniform. A revision of the rates of the attendant and nursing staff is at present under consideration. In addition, allowances are paid to officers who hold the certificate of the Royal Medico-Psychological Association or who perform supervisory or other special duties. The staffs of the State institutions have not hitherto been treated as interchangeable for promotion, except in special cases, but this question is now under review. The established subordinate staffs of the State institutions are superannuable under the Superannuation Acts, 1834–1935, as read with Section 1 of the Superannuation (Prison Officers) Act, 1919.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain doctors of the Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton, feel aggrieved that they have received nothing for their services while they were employed in the Emergency Medical Service, having enrolled at the request of the Ministry of Health in September, 1939; and what action does he propose to take?

I would refer to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary gave yesterday to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, West (Sir R. Bird), on the same subject. I would add that I can find no evidence that my regional officer promised payment to the doctors concerned. The only undertaking given was to receive claims for consideration.

asked the Minister of Health why the Medical Practitioners Union have no representative on the Central Medical War Committee; and will he consider allocating them representation on same?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) on this subject on 15th February.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the memorandum of the Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors, setting forth the present difficulties of the professions of architecture and surveying, and suggesting lines upon which the Government could best assist these professions and the building industry as a whole, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what steps he proposes to implement the three suggestions contained in that memorandum?

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I can assure the hon. Member that I share the desire of the association that the building schemes of local authorities should proceed as soon as circumstances permit and that I am keeping the position under constant review.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in order to save the time of magistrates, court officials and witnesses, he will consider the institution of a system of standard fines to be collected at the time, for small technical offences?

Proposals of this sort have frequently been considered, and examination of them suggests that the disadvantages would outweigh any advantages in the way of saving time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to set up a register of claims by British nationals arising out of debts due by firms in Germany, and in the countries occupied by Germany, liquidation of British property, &c., as was done in the case of the last war; and, if so, when the register is likely to commence operations?

It has been decided to set up a register of debts due to persons in this country from enemies as soon as the necessary details can be settled.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken to ensure that conscientious objectors who are exempted from military service on condition that they remain in certain specified occupations do, in fact, remain in those occupations?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Etherton) on 11th March, 1940.

asked the Minister of Labour how and by whom the members of recruiting medical boards are appointed; what inquiries are made to ensure suitability and experience; and what steps were taken to ensure that some at least of the many thousands of practitioners who are not members of the British Medical Association should be appointed?

These boards were originally appointed by me under the Military Training Act. Their members were drawn from practitioners whose names were selected by the medical officers of the Ministry of Health from lists of practitioners offering their services through the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association. On the outbreak of war the boards were re-appointed under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, and in addition to examining recruits under that Act they undertook, by arrangement with the Service Departments, the examination of voluntary recruits. After the outbreak of war the lists compiled by the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association were transferred to and maintained by the Central Medical War Committee and subsequent appointments have been made from these lists. The considerations governing the selection are age, qualifications, previous experience in work of a similar capacity and availability for the work. Inquiries are not made into the question whether a practitioner is a member of any particular association.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether all the practitioners whose names were supplied to him by the medical officers of the Ministry of Health, out of the list supplied by the British Medical Association, have been appointed as chairmen of medical boards; and whether, knowing that the names came through a voluntary organisation desirous of extending its membership, any investigation was made to ensure impartiality by verifying that practitioners not members of the association were included in the list, and were, in fact, appointed;(2) what was the test applied to ascertain the standing of the practitioners who were deemed eligible for appointment as chairmen of recruiting medical boards; and whether it was a test prescribed by his or any other Government Department;(3) what procedure was adopted by his medical officers on receipt of the names of practitioners supplied to them by the British Medical Association for the purpose of selecting chairmen of recruiting medical boards; in particular, was any investigation made to ensure that practitioners who are not members of the British Medical Association were included in the list of names; what is the total number of names supplied; and how many were not members of the association?

Chairmen of medical boards to the numbers required have been appointed on recommendations made to me by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, to whose reply on this subject on 9th April I would refer the hon. Member. As regards membership of the British Medical Association, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 7th February last.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of appeals made under the Armed Forces Act for postponement of military service, and the number of such appeals allowed, for the exchange areas of Bargoed, Cardiff, and Caerphilly?

These statistics are not maintained separately for Employment Exchange areas, and I can only give the information for wider areas. In the area comprising Cardiff, Barry, Bridgend, Bute Docks, Caerphilly and Maesteg, 54 applications for postponement were granted without reference to a hardship committee up to 30th March. A corresponding figure for Bargoed is not available, as for this purpose it is grouped with 11 other local offices. The hardship committee covering Cardiff, Barry and Bute Docks granted 55 applications and refused 119, and the hardship committee covering Bargoed and Caerphilly granted 44 applications and refused 21 up to that date.

asked the Minister of Labour how far hardship tribunals under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act are bound by umpire's decisions and whether such tribunals hold themselves entitled, if they consider the special circumstances justify it, to deal with individual applications for postponement of service in a manner which conflicts with an umpire's decision?

Umpire's decisions on appeals from Military Service (Hardship) Committees are decided on the facts of the individual cases. Where the umpire lays down general principles it is for the committee to decide how far these principles are applicable to the circumstances of particular cases which come before them, and if they consider that the special circumstances of any particular case render a particular decision of the umpire not applicable, they are at liberty to decide accordingly. It is, however, my duty to make an appeal to the umpire in any case where it seems to me that the committee's decision, having regard to the circumstances of the particular case, is at variance with the principles laid down by the umpire.

asked the Minister of Health whether the death from pneumonia of Verna Grace Dawkins, Knight on Road, Itchen, a child suffering from chronic vaccinal encephalitis, will be classified as a death from vaccinia; and whether the child was vaccinated with Government lymph?

The death referred to will be classified to vaccinia. I am making inquiries as to the lymph used and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is satisfied that unnecessary long distance railway transport of coal is being reduced to a minimum; and whether he can state the extent to which North Country coal is being transported by railway to the South of England?

Coal amounting to approximately 63,000 tons a week is being railed from Northumberland and Durham to London and the South of England on account of exceptional conditions. I am fully aware of the desirability of reducing rail hauls as much as possible, but I am satisfied that it would not be desirable to reduce this traffic at the present time.

asked the Secretary for Mines why the staffs of fuel overseers' offices of his Department are employed by local authorities, whereas the staffs of local food offices are employed by the Ministry of Food and not by local autho- rities; and whether, with a view to greater administrative efficiency and to the well-being of the staffs, he will make the staffs of fuel overseers'offices servants of the Crown?

Fuel control was administered by the local authorities in 1918, 1921 and 1926, and I am satisfied that the present arrangement is the most efficient way of dealing with the problem. The administration of food control raises quite different issues from those connected with fuel control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, for purposes of Income Tax and Estate Duty, the sterling value of United States of America dollars, held in America, is assessed on the basis of the Bank of England's official rate of exchange or the rate quoted in New York?

The official rate of exchange is adopted for the purposes mentioned.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury at what figure the cost-of-living index stood when the billeting allowance for civil servants billeted on private individuals in the provinces was fixed at £1 1s.; what is the cost-of-living index at the present time; and whether it is proposed to consider a revision of the rate in due course, having regard to the rise in the cost of living during recent months?

With regard to the first and second parts of the Question, the respective figures are 55 and 79. With regard to the last part, I do not consider that any revision of the rate is, as yet, called for.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury for what reason it was recently decided to grant an increase in the bonus paid to industrial civil servants employed in His Majesty's dockyards and other similar places; and whether he is prepared to consider making a similar proportionate increase in the wages of all civil servants.

Increases in the wages of industrial employés in His Majesty's dockyards and other Government establishments have been granted in pursuance of the Government's undertaking to observe in the regulation of such wages the principles of the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons. As regards the latter part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. Friend the Member for the Rusholme Division of Manchester (Mr. Radford) on 2nd April.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps have been taken to investigate the Dycker Hoff Sailles process for the manufacture of aluminium; and what advantages are claimed for this process over the Bezer process?

It is assumed that the hon. Member refers to the Seailles and the Bayer processes for the production of aluminium oxide. I understand that the former process has already been investigated by the aluminium industry in various countries, but that they do not regard it as possessing any advantage over the Bayer process normally used. It will be appreciated that these processes relate to the production of alumina—and not to the method of producing aluminium, the raw metal from alumina.

asked the Minister of Supply what local authorities in Scotland supply to householders bags for the collection of waste paper or other, and, if so, what, useful raw material in connection with the salvage campaign?

My Department has no information as to the local authorities in Scotland which supply to householders bags for the collection of waste paper or other salvage material. It was not considered necessary to include a request for such information in the already somewhat extensive Return forms which local authorities are asked to render monthly. I am aware that Edinburgh has adopted this practice for paper, and it may have been adopted by other Councils in Scotland, but there would be difficulty in extending it owing to the shortage of bags.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any figures showing the changes in juvenile crime since the outbreak of the war?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 9th April to a Question by the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker).

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Messrs. W. H. Smith & Sons, Limited, distribute on sale or return, through railway bookstalls, copies of "Peace News," including advice for objectors; and whether he will consider, in communication with the Minister of Transport, the issue of Defence Regulations which will enable Messrs. W. H. Smith & Sons, and other newsagents, to exercise in the public interest, notwithstanding the terms of their contracts with railway companies, discretion as to the printed matter which they distribute as agents?

So far as I am aware, the usual licence granted by a railway company to a newsagent does not limit the discretion of the newsagent to refuse to supply any particular publication, but in any event I could not regard a regulation on this subject as necessary for the purpose of the Defence of the Realm.

asked the Home Secretary whether Mr. H. R. Askew, employed as a Class III regional officer at the London Regional headquarters, is in receipt of a salary for this post; and whether he is continuing to carry on his practice as a barrister-at-law?

This officer is in receipt of a salary: he has given up his practice at the Bar.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now make any statement as to the intentions of his Department with respect to the suggested grant of extra petrol to motor-coach owners to enable them to frame their summer programmes?

I am glad to be able to inform my hon. and learned Friend that, provided the present fuel position remains unchanged, additional liquid fuel will be made available to operators of public service vehicles during the summer months to enable them to operate a reasonable proportion of their normal seasonal traffic. The associations representing the operators have already been informed of my detailed proposals in this matter.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what will be the approximate stock of seedlings in the Commission's nurseries at the end of the present planting year; whether it is anticipated that they will have any stock surplus to requirements in the near future and whether it is intended to destroy any large proportion of these?

The approximate stock in the Forestry Commission's nurseries at the end of the present planting season will be 80,000,000 seedlings and 156,000,000 transplants. It is anticipated that the Commission will have 11,000,000 seedlings and 25,000,000 transplants surplus to requirements in the near future. Re-adjustment of the planting programme may possibly entail the destruction of 3,000,000 seedlings and 4,000,000 transplants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of acres contracted for growing sugar-beet for this season; and the number contracted for at the equivalent date last year?

Contracts offered to the British Sugar Corporation up to 6th April cover approximately 326,000 acres, compared with 344,000 acres at the corresponding time last year. Contracting is still proceeding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what number of men and women are being trained to deal with war-time supply for agricultural work in each of the counties of Wales, giving each county separately; and what action he is taking to increase the supply?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Government war-time training schemes for supplying agricultural labour, and not to the normal education facilities, which are being continued throughout England and Wales. So far, direct action on the part of my Department has been limited to the training of Women's Land Army volunteers. This training scheme was slowed down during the winter months owing to the lack of demand for such labour on the part of farmers. The total number of Women's Land Army volunteers from Wales who will have been trained by the end of this month is 280. I append a table showing how this number is allocated among counties. Consideration is now being given to a scheme for the training in agriculture of a certain number of boys from towns.

County.	Number of Women's Land Army Volunteers trained.
Anglesey	12
Brecon and Radnor	8
Caernarvon	34
Cardigan	5
Carmarthen	11
Denbigh	38
Flint	16
Glamorgan	125
Merioneth	8
Montgomery	16
Pembroke	7
Total	280

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that 70 or more years ago, probably more than 50,000 head of sheep, young cattle and hardy Highland cattle, were regularly grazed and pastured on the Peak district and adjacent moorlands, and of the subsequent reduction of this form of grazing to not more than one-tenth of that customary 70 years ago; and, in view of the urgent necessity to utilise all the nation's agricultural resources, will he take the requisite steps at the earliest possible moment to ensure that these 215 square miles of moorlands, and all other wastelands and moorlands of Great Britain are stocked with as many sheep and hardy cattle as they can sustain?

I understand that some of the moorlands referred to are grazed with sheep, provided they are kept under proper supervision at certain times in the year. I will consider, in consultation with the war agricultural executive committees for the counties where these moorlands are situated, what steps can reasonably be taken to ensure that they are utilised to the fullest possible extent for the purpose indicated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an assurance that the Livestock Improvement Scheme will be continued, as in the last war, especially in Wales, where its discontinuance will have a deleterious effect on this important cattle-breeding branch of agriculture?

The decision to suspend the making of fresh grants under the Livestock Improvement Scheme was reached only after the fullest consideration, and I regret that I cannot see my way to withdraw the suspension.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of local authorities unable to collect rates from members of the Forces; whether, in respect to grants made by the Advisory Committee on War Service Grants to men in the Forces on the grounds of hardship and who have commitments in respect to rates, he will arrange that grants are conditional on men meeting such specific liabilities as rates?

A few local authorities have made representations about this matter. It is the practice, in notifying an award, to intimate that it has been made after taking into account the stated financial obligations, and that failure to discharge the obligations may lead to the reduction or cancellation of the grant.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the price of butter is at present less than the cost of production; that the low price is seriously affecting the hill farmers in Wales; and what steps he proposes to take to secure a better return to these farmers?

As was stated in answer to a Question on the subject by my right hon. Friend the Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) on 24th January, it is not practicable to allow farmhouse butter to be sold in excess of the prescribed retail price of 1s.7d. per lb. without prejudicing the operation of the Control Scheme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is now satisfied that the importation of non-essential articles of food has been reduced to the desired minimum; and whether he can state the directions in which improvement is still essential?

An Order was made on 19th March prohibiting as from 28th March the import, except under licence, of foodstuffs not covered by previous Orders. Licences to import foodstuffs are granted on the recommendation of the Ministry of Food, so that all such imports can be limited as required by the interests of the country as a whole, particularly in accordance with the need for economy in shipping and foreign exchange. The permitted level of food imports is kept under constant review.