asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that single men at Blaina, Monmouthshire, had been offered employment at Chepstow through the local Employment Exchange and, upon refusal to accept the offer suffered loss or reduction in their allowances, that they afterwards agreed to go to the place of employment and defrayed the cost of travel themselves, but upon arrivel at Chepstow discovered that no employment was available; that they obtained reimbursement of the money spent on travelling but received no consideration for the loss of their allowance from the day of refusing employment to the time they presented themselves at Chepstow; and whether he will take the necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of this practice?

My inquiries into this case are not yet complete. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make any statement about the payment of unemployment benefit to unemployed men who serve as members of lifeboat crews?

I propose to make a regulation shortly under my war-time powers providing that the mere fact of receiving remuneration for attending a wreck shall not debar lifeboatmen who are otherwise unemployed from receipt of unemployment benefit.

I would like to assure the right hon. Gentleman that we shall be very grateful for that regulation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the anomalous position of ex-soldiers with pre-1914 disability pensions; and whether he is prepared to treat all disabled ex-soldiers on the same basis so far as qualifications for employment benefit are concerned?

Unemployment Insurance legislation has never made special provision for pensioners of wars earlier than that of 1914–18. If the hon. Member has any specific case in mind, I shall be glad to have particulars.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, when a local authority desires to fill vacancies in its air-raid precautions staff, entrants have to undergo a week's preliminary training without pay whilst at the same time they are disqualified for unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance; and whether he will take steps to remove this disqualification in respect of the training period?

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

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the present high rate of unemployment in the ship-painting industry; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with it?

On 1st April the number of ships' painters in Great Britain registered as wholly unemployed was 196. This figure represents a decrease of 240 since the end of January, 1940. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson) on 4th April.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of part-time women employees at present signing at the Maryhill Employment Exchange; and how often they sign per week?

I am having the available figures extracted and will forward them to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether opportunities are provided for men of 50 years of age and upwards to train for industrial jobs; and whether he can state the number of such men already trained, or in training at present?

The normal upper limit of age of recruitment for the Government training centres is 45, but two months ago I decided to admit men over 45 provided they are sufficiently fit and handy to take full advantage of the course. Men over 50 who satisfy this condition can be accepted. No figures are available as to the number of such men already trained or in training.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the varying practice of different tribunals hearing applications for exemption from service in the Armed Forces on conscientious grounds, he will instruct or circularise tribunals on the advisability of taking evidence on oath?

I have no power to issue instructions to the tribunals in this matter, which by regulation is left to the discretion of the chairmen, who are all men of judicial experience.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention had been drawn to the recent granting by the South Wales military service tribunal of unconditional exemption as a conscientious objector to a man who told the tribunal that his objections were political; that he had fought for 21 months in the Republican Army in Spain and that he had killed and would kill again; and whether he has appealed against this decision?

I have seen a Press reference to this case and have called for a report. I will consider the question of an appeal when I have the facts before me.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that according to this man's own statement he clearly did not come within the category of conscientious objectors as laid down in the Act?

I can make no ex parte statement on this matter. I will have all the facts before me and then give my decision.

Is it not a fact that a man who can fight in one war can fight in another?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider the incidence of hardship affecting men in higher age groups with a view to enabling longer periods of exemption being granted in cases where it could be proved that small businesses would be closed down if the owner were called up for military service or where exceptional hardship would be imposed on the family of the man liable to military service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 11th April as regards postponement granted on the ground of business responsibilities and interests. There is no overriding maximum period in cases based on domestic circumstances.

Would it not be possible for an applicant after finishing his period of postponement to make an appeal on the ground of hardship?

That, of course, would depend upon the length of the postponement which had been allowed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is yet in a position to announce the composition of the committee which he proposes to appoint in connection with the revised cost-of-living index?

I have decided that the further action required in connection with the revised cost-of-living index can best be carried out by the existing Advisory Committee, whose previous assistance in connection with the methods to be adopted in the conduct of the inquiry was so valuable. I am accordingly taking steps to invite the committee to undertake this additional task.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that some children, whose schools have been evacuated from a vulnerable to a nearby safe area, are living at home, travelling to and from school each day, whilst others come home for week-ends regularly; and whether he will state the number of such children?

I understand that the conditions to which the hon. Member refers do obtain in a small number of cases, but I am afraid that I could not give the number of children concerned.

How can the right hon. Gentleman suggest that there is only a small number of cases when he does not know the number?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the small percentage of parents who have registered for the evacuation of their children in the event of intensive air raids, the Government have any other plan for the evacuation of children by voluntary or compulsory means if the necessity becomes imperative?

The Government's plans provide for the orderly evacuation of children in school parties. The operation of these plans is not governed by the numbers who have registered since the plans were prepared, but I am reviewing the position in the light of all the information now to hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give an estimate of the expenditure upon camouflage up to the present date; whether he is aware that the application of paint for purposes of war camouflage can be adequately carried out by ordinary workmen if provided with the necessary scientific supervision; and what steps he is taking to secure this, as the artistic representation of one type of object on another, as, for example, of trees upon the walls of a cooling tower or hangar, is of negligible camouflage value?

My Department have approved estimates for civil camouflage work amounting to over £440,000. It is the practice for camouflage painting to be done on contract with ordinary painting firms. I am advised that supervision by scientists is not necessary at that stage if—as is the case with camouflage work carried out under the control of my Department—scientific direction has been applied at an earlier stage in the preparation by experts of a detailed scheme, based where necessary on aerial observation, before the painting work is put out to contract.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, in view of the subject of camouflage having assumed urgent practical importance, the appointment of a special advisory committee on this subject was announced in the beginning of August; that the committee was summoned to meet for the first time in October; that the chairman and the two members of the committee possessing the requisite scientific and practical qualifications have now resigned or expressed their desire to resign; and whether he will make a statement?

As I informed my hon. Friend on 19th October, it is the fact that the committee held its first meeting in October, but this did not occasion any delay in the progress of urgent work. The committee has had 13 meetings, and has given valuable advice to the Department. The chairman has found it necessary to resign owing to the pressure of other public work. I have been examining the question of camouflage in the light of the experience gained since the war, and I propose some reorganisation of this work. The advisory committee is about to be reconstituted with some modification of its functions. It is true that two of the members expressed a wish to resign before the reconstitution of the committee was decided upon, but I hope to be able to make arrangements by which the assistance they are in a position to render may still be available to the Department.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to supply the Falkirk and district area of Stirlingshire with steel shelters and other protection against air-raids; and whether he will now include the district in the protected areas?

The Eastern No. 1 District of Stirlingshire, to which I take it the hon. Member refers, was made a specified area, for the purposes of Part III of the Civil Defence Act, by Order dated 29th January, 1940. An initial allocation of 600 steel shelters has been made to this area.

Can the Minister assure us that this is to be continued until the whole area is properly protected?

I hope to be able to make a further allocation of shelters to that area. But I hope to be making a general reply on the subject of steel shelters later this afternoon.

What does my right hon. Friend propose to do with those shelters which are not yet erected or which have been erected and used for purposes other than those for which they were intended?

That is not a question that I can answer on this occasion.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. J. La Thangue, of 132, Aldborough Road, Seven Kings, a civil defence volunteer, who was injured in the course of air-raid precautions training in Dagenham on the 24th November last, cannot get compensation for the injuries because the accident occurred before the sick pay scheme announced by the air-raid precautions department, Circular No. 313/1939, had come into operation, which scheme was not retrospective; and will he make this scheme retrospective to meet such cases?

Compensation for injuries sustained on duty by civil defence volunteers is governed, not by the Circu- lar mentioned but by the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, 1939, and I am informed that Mr. La Thangue has received and continues at present to receive the payments to which he is entitled under that scheme.

asked the Home Secretary what is the approximate number of persons who would receive grants if the sick pay scheme announced by the air-raid precautions department, Circular No. 313/1939, were made retrospective in operation?

I regret that it is not possible to form an estimate.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make provision for the local education authorities, as such, to be consulted when the revision of grants under the 1937 Act relating to air-raid precautions is taking place, in view of their peculiar position and the dispute which has arisen between these authorities and his Department?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 4th April to a Question by the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. Whiteley).

As the answer was in the negative on that occasion, may I ask the Home Secretary what are the grounds upon which he refuses to give a hearing to these people?

I have not refused to hear anyone, and I have no desire to exclude anyone, but I have been dealing with local bodies responsible for the control of local government finance. I think that is constitutional and right.

Is the Minister not aware that autonomous powers are given to the majority of the large local education authorities, and that the people with whom he is dealing are not familiar with the matter under discussion?

As I have previously explained, the matter under discussion is the burden thrown upon the finances of local authorities by civil defence work.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of this reply, and frequent replies on other occasions, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to set up any committee, such as that set up in 1915, to consider the health of munition workers; and what steps are being taken at the present time to ensure that the output of munition works, and other undertakings engaged in Government contract work, does not suffer through the enforcement of long hours, reduction of holidays and worsening of conditions generally?

The Health of Munition Workers' Committee was succeeded by the Industrial Health Research Board, which is still in active operation; and since the last war there have been considerable developments in the matter of industrial welfare. The Board have just issued a special report, called "Industrial Health in War," containing recommendations as to hours of work and other matters. The Government have prominently in mind the importance of avoiding the mistaken policy of attempting to increase output by excessively long hours and other arrangements which are liable to diminish the workers' speed and efficiency. The question what further steps can advantageously be taken to ensure that this aspect of the problem of production receives full attention by all concerned is one on which I am at the present time in consultation with the Supply Departments and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that in the last war the special departments of the hospitals were flooded with cases of injury sustained in munitions manufacture and that it was found that medical treatment in the early phases of these disorders was very successful in shortening their duration? Will he take thought for the provision of early medical treatment in the present position?

I will take note of what the hon. Member has said.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say if investigations have proved the effect of long hours on the costings staffs in shipyards?

I could not answer that question without notice.

Has the report in question been published?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums he has received since the beginning of the war from the air-raid precautions wardens of the Virginia Water group of the Egham Urban District Council, being refund of their pay as air-raid precautions wardens, voluntarily offered by wardens of this group for expenditure on some other national purpose?

Sums amounting in all to £300 have been received. I am sure the House will share the appreciation which I have already conveyed to the donors of their public-spirited action.

Can the Chancellor of the Exchequer state whether any similar sums have been received from any other groups in the country?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has prepared, or is preparing, large necessary schemes of building, including especially slum-clearance, which will provide considerable employment in the building industry immediately after demobilisation?

As it is not possible, at present, to forecast with any degree of confidence the nature or the extent of the housing problems which will arise during the war, I feel that it would be premature to take such steps as my hon. Friend suggests. I can assure him, however, that, as each such problem arises and is dealt with, I shall consider its possible effect on post-war conditions, as I am anxious that, when the war ends, local authorities shall be able to proceed at once with housing schemes. An immediate start will be possible in the case of those slum clearance and other housing schemes which were begun before the war and which may remain uncompleted when hostilities cease.

asked the Minister of Health the number of tubercular patients in Wales and Monmouthshire now waiting for admission to sanatoria; whether the number on the waiting list is on the increase; and whether steps are being taken to provide a sufficient number of beds fully to meet the needs?

On 1st April last there were 258 patients awaiting admission to sanatoria in Wales and Monmouthshire. The number was 272 at the corresponding period of last year, and 357, 369 and 183 at the three intervening quarters respectively. As the hon. Member is aware, construction of additional hospitals to accommodate nearly 1,000 patients is in hand at Denbigh and Chepstow; the former hospital is approaching completion, and the latter is expected to be completed in September next.

Is the Minister satisfied that in the future there will be ample accommodation for the whole of these cases?

The accommodation should cover the present waiting list itself, although, of course, as the hon. Member knows, accommodation in North Wales is not always usable by patients in other parts of Wales.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, in the case of certain invalids, such as tuberculosis patients, on public assistance and forbidden by medical advice to work, great hardship is sometimes caused by the inadequate nature of relief in districts where the rent level is abnormally high; and whether, therefore, he will take steps to see that public assistance committees pay the rent in such cases, at any rate, when it exceeds a specified amount and where other accommodation is not available?

I have no evidence of any general hardship arising in this way. It is the normal practice of public assistance authorities in granting relief to have regard to the amount of rent paid by the applicant; but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will let me have details, I will have inquiry made into it.

asked the Minister of Health what additional duties are to be placed on the Welsh Board of Health, and from what date are the additional duties to be undertaken?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones) on 15th February. The powers which I then mentioned will be exercised through the Welsh Board of Health on and from 1st May. Details of the new arrangements will be given in a circular shortly to be addressed to Welsh local authorities, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the application for a pension made by Mrs. E. J. Mullins, of 42, Rydal Avenue, Warrington, widow of Mr. Michael Mullins, late driver, Royal Army Service Corps; that Mullins was passed A1 on 4th January, reported at Shrewsbury on 10th January, and died from heart failure, caused by bronchitis, on 19th January; and whether, in view of the probability that death was attributable to the severe weather under Army conditions, Mrs. Mullins' claim for a pension will be reconsidered?

It has not been possible in the time available to obtain the papers regarding this case. I will, however, look into it and write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Do the same conditions apply to other cases similar to this?

Yes, Sir, I have other cases to consider.

May I further ask whether it can be assumed when an individual is passed A.1 by the authorities and afterwards while serving in the Army he contracts a disease from which he dies, that a case can be established for a pension?

It can be assumed that a case can be put to me for consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is an old grievance and that it really should receive very serious attention? If a man dies within a fortnight of joining the Service, is it not a logical conclusion that either there has been something wrong with the medical inspection of that man or else a pension should automatically be granted to his family?

I can assure the hon. Member that all these cases do receive careful consideration by myself personally. I do understand the feeling there is in this matter, in the House and in the country generally.

In view of the feeling which the right hon. Gentleman appreciates, does he not think that the time has now come when some reconsideration might be given to the question whether there should be some opportunity for a third party to assist in these disputed cases instead of leaving the Minister to be the judge, jury and witness in his own case?

That is a question of policy to which I dare not venture to reply.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether he has any further statement to make respecting the present political position in India?

I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which I shall be making this afternoon in moving the Motions which stand in my name.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the many changes in factory life brought about by the emergency, he will issue the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Factories this year, before the end of June?

The Chief Inspector of Factories is anxious to issue this report as early as he can, but I regret that it is not possible to promise that it will be ready before the end of June. Work on the preparation of the report cannot be given precedence over other urgent duties, including duties connected with the war.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that every year there is great difficulty about this report, and that this is about the only report of a Government Department that is not issued in time?

I can assure the hon. Member that we are doing our best to get the report out.

Is it not true that if we ask unnecessary questions about factories, it takes the inspectors off their job, and really defeats the very object we have in mind?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has completed his examination of the position consequent on the recent decision of the House of Lords regarding the operation of the Truck Acts; and whether he is now in a position to make a statement?

I am advised that the effect of the decision of the House of Lords in the recent case of Pratt v. Cook, is that in certain classes of case an employer may not contract to remunerate a workman, for example, with £3 a week, plus meals valued at say 10s., even where he could legally have contracted to pay £3 10s. less 10s. for meals supplied, and that where a contract has been in the form now declared to be illegal, claims can be made for the recovery of the remuneration not paid in cash over a period of 20 years past. The result is that a number of workpeople, in various employments, who have been supplied with food or other things as part of their remuneration, in some cases with specific trade union agreement, can, if the contract happens to have been cast in the form now declared to be illegal, claim to be remunerated twice over. Some claims of this kind have already been launched, and there is reason to believe that others are contemplated.

In future, any contracts must be in a form which complies with the provisions of the Truck Acts, as now interpreted by the House of Lords, and it is not proposed to amend those provisions; but it appears to the Government to be necessary and proper to legislate for the purpose of preventing claims as regards the past which have no merits and would, if pursued, tend to disturb good relations between employers and employed. They accordingly propose to introduce at once a Bill to bar claims, under Section 4 of the Truck Act of 1831,for the payment in cash of remuneration which was, in fact, provided in the form of food or some other thing, in those cases in which it would have been legal to contract to pay a higher nominal money wage but to make deductions from that wage in respect of the food or other thing provided. The Bill will provide for the discharge of proceedings which have already been started, subject to such Order as to costs as the Court may think proper. Judgments given or settlements reached before to-day will not be interfered with.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his statement, might I ask what would be the position as regards any judgments that might be obtained after to-day and before the proposed Bill becomes law?

I am considering this point with my legal advisers. It is not free from technical difficulties, but I should like to make it clear at once that a litigant or prospective litigant would have no legitimate grievance if, when the proposed Bill became law, he found that Parliament had decided to nullify the effect of the present law.

In view of the importance of this declaration, might I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has been in contact with the Trades Union Congress on the matter?

Certain discussions have taken place, but the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the whole matter will be left to the decision of the House when the Bill is introduced, which I hope will be at an early date.

Would it not be fair, in legislating on such a delicate matter, to provide that litigants who have already commenced proceedings, with the law as it stands, should be allowed their full costs?

The hon. Member will find that that point is covered by my answer.

The right hon. Gentleman said that it would be for the courts to decide as to costs. I am asking that it should be decided by this House.

That is a matter for consideration when the Bill comes before the House.

Would it not be wiser to strengthen the present Act, so that all workers should be paid entirely in current coin of the realm, instead of being paid partly in kind?

Has there been consultation between the various parties on this question? Does not this affect national unity? [Interruption.] I understood that there was a system of consultation between the various parties, and I should like to know whether there is unity on this.

I merely indicated that it was proposed to introduce a Bill. It will be discussed at the appropriate time.

Will the Bill which is to be introduced have the effect, in fact, of nullifying the verdict in the successful action that was brought in the House of Lords recently?

Certainly not.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the conference of British diplomatic representatives recently held in London?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Ambassador at Angora and His Majesty's Ministers at Athens, Belgrade, Bucharest, Budapest and Sofia have now left, or are leaving, the United Kingdom to return to their posts after their visit to this country for purposes of consultation. During the nine days or so in which they have been here they have examined, under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the outstanding problems presented by the situation in South Eastern Europe. His Majesty's Ambassadors in Rome and Moscow, who are also in this country, have assisted at these discussions. The Heads of Missions concerned, who have all been received in audience by His Majesty the King, have had the opportunity also of meeting myself, the Minister of Economic Warfare, the Minister of Information, and members of the Cabinet, with whom they have discussed the questions in which these Ministers are specially interested. His Majesty's Representatives also had an opportunity of hearing from Lord Swinton some account of the new United Kingdom Commercial Corporation and of the work which the Corporation intends to carry out in order to develop and place permanently on a broader basis the trade exchanges between this country and South Eastern European States.

These consultations, which have now been concluded, have afforded evidence of the close interest which His Majesty's Government take in the countries concerned. The purpose of the discussions has been, in accordance with the settled policy of His Majesty's Government, the preservation of peace and the promotion of security in the Balkans and Danubian countries. No one of these States, between whom it is the desire of the Allies to see the growth of a mutual understanding, has any cause to fear that the Allies or their forces will ever threaten their independence or integrity.

In the economic field the discussions have been conducted on the basis that it is the policy of His Majesty's Government so to develop their relations with these countries as to ensure, so far as possible, a lasting increase in their commercial exchanges with them.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his reply also means that any threat to the freedom and independence of any of the South Eastern nations will be a matter of grave concern to His Majesty's Government?

I have already expressed the concern which His Majesty's Government feel for the situation in the Balkans and their desire to promote peace and to establish security in that region.

I take it that this country does not want to pinch anybody else's country?

No, we have enough—all that we can handle.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give instructions that in all Government communications the word "German" is used and never the word "Nazi"?

The word "Nazi" is in fact seldom, if ever, used in official communications; no such instructions are therefore necessary.

Would the Prime Minister extend his influence to corporations like the B.B.C., which use nothing but the word "Nazi," and does not he think that the German people are responsible and must take the responsibility for what is coming to them?

I have already stated in a public speech that the German people cannot escape their responsibility for their Government.

May I have an answer about the B.B.C.? Will the Prime Minister use his influence with them?

Is there not a better word, beginning with "B", which might be suitable?

Is the Prime Minister aware that the B.B.C. do not use the word "Nazi," but that they say "Nahzi"?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will introduce legislation to ensure the maximum food production per acre from the land of this country, as distinct from the indiscriminate ploughing-up programme?

To ensure the maximum food production per acre is not primarily a matter of legislation, but of the most efficient use of the available resources of land, labour, equipment and fertilisers. Should further legislation be required, my hon. Friend can rest assured that it will be introduced.

Are we to understand from that answer that no further development in connection with assistance to secure the maximum output is contemplated?

No, Sir.

Is not that a farce, almost a tragedy, and a suggestion nearly akin to tears?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he will be prepared to give the acreage of grassland ploughed out in each county, and the acreage allotted to that county?

I propose to obtain final estimates on 15th May as to the acreage of grassland ploughed out in each county and will then be prepared to publish figures for individual counties.

Will the figures with regard to Scotland be issued by the Scottish section?

That is another question.

What objection can there be to publishing the names of the counties which have exceeded their quota before the end of April?

I would sooner give a full and an exact account of all when the campaign is finished.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an assurance that it will be his policy to ensure for next season that an additional 1,000,000 acres of land in this country shall be brought in under the plough?

I am not in a position to forecast the details of the home food production campaign for 1940–41.

May I know what the programme for 1941 is to be, and whether it is from Bedford Square or Westminster that we are to have direction?

From this House.

That is a very satisfactory answer, and I welcome it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the total number of men now released from the Army on agricultural grounds has yet reached the maximum agreed upon; and whether any more men are now to be released?

A small balance remains of the total number of releases from the Army which can be granted on agricultural grounds, but the number of applications which have already been received and are still outstanding greatly exceeds this balance. Having regard to the needs of the Army, the Government are unable to grant any further releases on agricultural grounds after the present number has been exhausted, though various other ways in which the Army can help agricultural needs are being considered.

Does that really mean that it is no use any farmer in any circumstances making an application to have a man released from the Army?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied with the progress made to date in the provision of additional allotments; and whether it is still his wish that 500,000 fresh allotments should be cultivated this year?

Until the returns which I have asked local authorities to make by 22nd April have been tabulated, I should prefer not to give a definite reply as regards the progress of the wartime allotment campaign, although the information which has so far reached me is distinctly encouraging. It is certainly my wish that 500,000 additional allotments should, if possible, be cultivated this year, and I have recently urged the local authorities, whose active and energetic co-operation I greatly appreciate, to make a final effort before the season is too far advanced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any estimate has been made of the amount of land which might be made available for allotments in gardens of unoccupied houses?

No, Sir. I know of no means whereby such an estimate could be arrived at.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps to ensure an immediate expansion of the hatching programme for poultry-keepers, in view of the present stoppage of supplies of eggs from the Scandinavian countries which necessitates this further expansion; and whether, in this connection, he will confer with the Minister of Food to ensure that adequate supplies of imported wheat and also cut wheat are available for this purpose?

Poultry production in this country must largely depend upon the volume of supplies of feeding-stuffs that can be imported from overseas, having regard to other defence requirements, and it is not possible to give the assurances with regard to future supplies which would have to form the basis of any Government action designed to increase the hatching programme of poultry keepers. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food has recently made arrangements, after consultation with the Agricultural Departments, to make available a supply of cut wheat for chick feeding. The proportion of home-grown wheat that may be used for feeding purposes was also increased by an Order made on 15th March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department is taking steps to provide newly-ploughed land with humus derived from the large supplies of town waste, or whether this method is being encouraged through the efforts of local authorities and private persons?

Yes, Sir. Local authorities which have available waste materials suitable for fertilising purposes have been approached, and I am hoping to issue at an early date an advisory leaflet about the use of such material.

Will the Minister bear in mind that local authorities are now accumulating these materials at the rate of several thousand tons per week, and that up to now neither the local authorities nor the farmers have had the slightest guidance as to whether there is any useful fertilising value in these materials? Can he not take some steps to deal with the enormous stocks of these materials?

That is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the serious damage now being caused by rooks, he will, by order or otherwise, empower county war agricultural committees to insist upon the lessening of the rook population?

Yes, Sir. In accordance with the powers conferred on me by Defence Regulation 63, I have made the Rooks Order, 1940, which empowers county war agricultural executive committees, if they are satisfied that the rooks in any rookery are so numerous that they cause, or are likely to cause, injury to crops, to serve on the occupiers concerned an order requiring the reduction of their numbers within a specified period. Failure to comply with the requirements of an order is a punishable offence and, in the event of non-compliance, committees may, without prejudice to any legal proceedings, enter on the land and take the necessary action themselves.

Does the same apply to rabbits?

Rabbits have already been dealt with in a satisfactory way.

asked the Home Secretary whether refugee tribunals are in the habit of calling the sponsors before the court?

It is open to the regional advisory committees to invite any person to appear before them who, they consider, is in a position to give any useful information about an alien, and it is, of course, important that when the committee's decision is likely to be affected by information given by some person who is acquainted with the alien, the committee should take steps to satisfy themselves as to the reliability of the informant and as to the degree of his personal knowledge of the alien. This point is well appreciated by the chairmen of these committees.

Is it not true that very seldom the sponsors are called in front of these committees, and that these people are passed off-hand without proper inquiry?

No, Sir. These committees have only recently begun their work.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now say when the Workmen's Compensation Bill will be introduced?

Copies of this Bill, which is being introduced to-day, will, I understand, be available this afternoon.

asked the Home Secretary the average and maximum hours of work per week in Government factories, including overtime?

The variation of conditions in different factories and at different times is such that I fear it is not possible to give a picture of the position within the compass of a reply to a Question, but the importance of avoiding excessive hours of work is a matter to which due attention is being given by all Departments responsible for Government factories.

Is it not the case that in some instances hours of work are between 70 and 90, and is the Home Secretary satisfied that production is actually increasing?

That point is dealt with in answer to another Question. I have established contact between the Factories Department and the various Supply Departments.

asked the Home Secretary the arrangements made generally for welfare work in Government factories; what persons or organisations are in charge of it; and whether it is being done through a Government Department or voluntary agency?

Welfare arrangements in a Government factory are primarily a matter for the Department responsible for that particular factory, and the extent to which the staffs of factories are assisted by voluntary welfare organisations varies with the circumstances; but the Home Office as the Department responsible for the administration of the Factories Acts is much interested in these arrangements, and I have been in consultation with the Supply Departments on the best method of ensuring that a forward policy shall be followed by all Government Departments and that full use shall be made of the experience and knowledge which have been acquired on the subject.

Are there no particular voluntary organisations with which the Home Office is co-operating on this matter?

Yes, Sir, there are voluntary organisations co-operating with Supply Departments.

Is it not true that the Home Office knows far more about it than all the voluntary organisations put together?

We are able to offer them valuable assistance.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any information, including statistical returns, respecting the number of juvenile delinquents whose cases have been considered in the courts during the past six months; the approximate number now in remand homes compared with September, 1939; and whether any special consideration is being given to the incidence of increased juvenile delinquency?

As I informed the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 9th April, figures relating to juvenile delinquency since the outbreak of war are not yet available, but they are being collected and tabulated as quickly as the circumstances permit. Information which has reached me from different sources suggests that, while there was a pronounced decrease in juvenile delinquency shortly after the outbreak of war, there has since been an increase. This is not perhaps surprising in view of the disturbance of school and home life caused by evacuation and other conditions arising from the war.

May I ask when we are likely to get some information of a more specific character regarding the reports, heard on every side, about the disturbing increase in juvenile delinquency and whether the right hon. Gentleman will reply to the last sentence in my Question?

The answer to the last part of the Question is that the Home Office is in close touch with the various authorities concerned. With regard to the first part of the Supplementary Question, I think the first detailed information on the subject will become available when the report of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is published. That, I hope, will be in the near future.

Is not the real remedy to get schools open full time, so that education can be restored to normal with as little delay as possible? Will my righthon. Friend make representations, in the light of his knowledge and experience, to the President of the Board of Education?

I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend on this matter.

Will the Minister of Education take note of what is being said?

Is it not true that one of the best ways, to do away with juvenile delinquency is to have more boys' clubs, and could not Members of the House of Commons, who have not to fight, go back to their constituencies to encourage boys and open boys' clubs for them at night?

What about bottle parties?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any negotiations or consultations are proceeding between his Department and the public schools, concerning making these schools more accessible to the public?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Education what decision has been reached about the provision of air-raid shelter for the elementary schools of Worthing?

The Worthing local education authority have under consideration the provision of shelter accommodation at the public elementary schools, but no definite decision has yet been reached. The hon. Member, however, will be aware that the delay in reaching a decision has not affected the opening of the schools.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the long delay that has taken place, urge the authorities to come to a constructive decision in this matter?

There is no educational problem involved. The matter is one for the discretion of the local education authority in consultation with the local A.R.P. authority.

Would it not help if the dispute between the education authorities and the Home Office was resolved?

That is a hypothetical question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the amount of tax remission on gifts to charities that can be obtained by a person with a charity trust who himself pays Surtax on the highest scale;

(2) whether he will state the amount of tax remission on gifts to charities that can be obtained by a person with a charity trust who does not pay Surtax?

I assume the hon. Member has in mind a case where a person undertakes by deed to make an annual payment to charitable trustees for a period exceeding six years. Under the general provisions of the Income Tax Acts, such an annual payment is admissible as a deduction in computing the payer's total income. It is upon the income as so computed that Surtax, if he is liable to Surtax, is chargeable. If the total income is of such an amount that part of the income falls within the highest scale of Surtax, the rate chargeable on that part is 9s. 6d. in the £. So far as Income Tax is concerned, the person making the payment, whether or not he is liable to Surtax, can deduct Income Tax at the time of making the payment, but in so doing he is merely passing on to the recipient of the payment the tax which he himself has already borne by deduction or direct assessment.

Is it not a fact that many of these people in the higher scale are being subsidised to the extent of 17s. 6d. in the £ at the present time and that to induce them to give £1 you are giving them 17s. 6d.?

The position of the law is as I have stated, and I am sure the hon. Gentleman follows it. If you add together the Surtax charge and the full standard rate it is a fact that persons of great wealth are burdened with a tax of 17s. in the £.

Am I not right in assuming that when people in this scale give donations to charities, under trust deeds, they are entitled to receive back 17s. 6d. from every £1 they give, and that the State does, in fact, subsidise them to that extent?

I do not think it can be called subsidising, but it is the fact that with regard to endowments entered into for over six years in the case of persons with larger incomes, they are making a contribution to public funds so much larger than that made by persons in the lower income ranges that the endowments have a correspondingly greater effect on the Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of civil, judicial and hereditary pensions for the years 1936 and 1939, respectively?

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

In view of the task undertaken by this country and the sacrifices now being made by other sections of the community, do the Government contemplate early legislation to try and effect some saving in this respect, particularly in regard to pensions over £1,000?

I can only read the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on a former occasion; that is, that we must have regard to what has been enacted by Acts of Parliament.

Surely at a time when all sections of the community are being asked to make sacrifices the Government should take steps to deal with this particular section of the community?

Has not the House of Commons passed Acts of Parliament to reduce allowances to the unemployed?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how many commercial attachés there are in the Central American countries

There are no commercial diplomatic officers in Central America, but in each of the capital cities of the six Central American Republics there are career Consular officers who are charged with the furtherance of our trade interests. My Department is fully alive to the importance of developing United Kingdom exports to these countries, and consideration is now being given to the appointment of a commercial secretary at Panama, or some other suitable centre, for the purpose of co-ordinating the commercial work of the Consular officers in Central America.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the closing of the day nurseries in Glasgow involves the working mothers of small children in the anxiety and expense of leaving their children with neighbours in tenement property, giving less air-raid protection than the day nurseries; and will he take steps calculated to reopen these premises?

Of the three day nurseries provided by the public health authority, one will shortly be reopened. The other two cannot in present circumstances be reopened, but I propose to discuss with the corporation the possibility of finding alternative premises.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to get alternative premises as quickly as possible?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of full-time agricultural workers employed in Scotland for the years 1937, 1938 and 1939, respectively?

The numbers of regular workers employed on farms and other agricultural holdings in Scotland on 4th June in each year in question were 94,913, 90,968 and 89,670, respectively.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate that the agricultural policy of the Government to plough up extra land will result in an increase of full-time agricultural workers?

Yes, Sir, and the Measure which was introduced yesterday will, I hope, assist.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will indicate what steps are taken, or representations made, by price regulation committees with reference to large war-time price increases with which the committees express themselves powerless to deal?