asked the Minister of Information why foreign language bulletins issued by the British Broadcasting Corporation merely repeat in various translations exactly the same material as in British broadcasts, instead of handling it so as to stress facts more interesting to the respective countries to which the broadcasts are directed?

I am informed by the British Broadcasting Corporation that, while the essential facts of the important news on any day are common to all services, the foreign language bulletins are separately edited to meet the special interests and requirements of the audiences to which they are addressed. The Corporation's normal practice in this matter does not therefore differ from the method which my hon. and gallant Friend recommends.

asked the Minister of Information how many officials of the Ministry whose services were dispensed with when the staff was reduced some time ago, have since been given other posts in the Department; and what are their names, appointments and salaries?

Of the 67 officers to whom notice of termination was given in October last, eight were later re-employed in the same posts and four in other posts the details being as follow:

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that German photographs designed to show the activity and successes of the Germans are being published freely in the United States of America, while none of the activities of the British forces are appearing; to what extent this is due to the British censorship; and whether he will relax the censorship and ensure that this country is not left in the lurch in this important pictorial publicity.

Between the end of hostilities in Poland and the invasion of Norway, the number of Allied photographs appearing in the American Press was, on the average, at least four times as great as the number of German, and by the end of this period was even greater. But when the Germans invaded Scandinavia they had the initial advantage which falls to the aggressor with plans prepared beforehand and were able to secure photographs and send them to America ahead of ours. Whatever Scandinavian photographs of an operational nature are available are transmitted to the United States without delay and none have been stopped by censorship.

asked the Prime Minister what reports he has received indicating that Germany is shooting civilians in Norway?

It appears from the official German broadcasts of 12th, 13th and 19th April that the German command in Oslo have declared that any persons found fighting the German forces will be treated as franc-tireurs and shot, and that some persons have already been shot on this ground. They have also declared that every civilian met carrying arms or committing any act of sabotage will be shot on the spot. They have in addition admitted that they have forced Norwegian civilians to drive German soldiers into the firing line in commandeered cars. Comment on such methods of war is superfluous, but I am glad to have this opportunity of making the facts known.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information concerning the approval given by the Norwegian Government to Herr Christensen on his action in accepting the chairmanship of the committee for the administration of Norwegian territory under German occupation; and will he make a statement?

The position of the administrative council in Oslo under the chairmanship of Mr. Christensen has been made clear by a proclamation issued on 17th April by the King of Norway in Council.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Mr. Joseph Martin, of Brighton, has been caused much suffering and hardship through His Majesty's Government's neglect to put Mr. Martin's personal injury claim forward to the Soviet Government on the 2nd May, 1923, when it could have been satisfactorily settled; and whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Martin suffered imprisonment resulting in blindness and other injuries through his refusal to take part in anti-British propaganda, he will take advantage of the proposed trade negotiations with the Soviet Government to put forward Mr. Martin's case?

I regret that I can add nothing to my reply of 21st February, in answer to the first part of the Question. The first suitable opportunity will be taken of pressing this and other similar claims on the Soviet Government.

asked the Prime Minister how many European diplomatists in London are now entitled to use cipher in their cables?

Twenty-two European Missions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the area or areas in Scotland affected by the Government's present protected area policy; the terms of the regulations affecting the said protected areas in so far as entry thereon is concerned; and the average normal delay between the application for entry being received and disposed of by the appropriate authorities?

As regards the first and second parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Protected Areas Orders (Nos. 1 and 2), of which I am sending him copies. As regards the third part, I would refer him to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 18th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether allowances paid by a trader to his employés to meet the bona fide extra expenses thrown on them by the evacuation of their place of employment are regarded as a charge against the profits of the trader; and whether such allowances are regarded as proper expenses of, or an addition to, the income of the recipients?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The question to what extent expenses allowances paid to employés constitute additional remuneration depends upon the facts of the particular case, but where extra expenses are necessarily incurred by an employéby reason of the evacuation of his place of employment and a specific payment is made to him by the employer in respect of those expenses, which does no more than cover them, the payment would not be regarded as increasing his income for Income Tax purposes.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will now introduce legislation to protect solicitor and client alike against the crimes of a small minority?

I cannot add anything further to what I said on the 10th April, in answer to the hon. Member for West Salford (Mr. Emery).

asked the Attorney-General the names of the members of the advisory committee on the appointment of magistrates for the county of Kent?

The Most Honourable The Marquess Camden, G.C.V.O., Captain The Lord Cornwallis, M.C., Edward Hardy, Esq., The Hon. Mrs. Hardcastle, His Honour Judge Clements, Robert Cobb, Esq., H. V. Phillipps, Esq., C. J. Burgess, Esq., F. P. Hodes, Esq., E. R. Blackman, Esq.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what applications for the approval of land sales to be made by Arab landowners to Jews in the prohibited areas have been received by the High Commissioner up to date?

Four such applications have been submitted and are now under examination. In three of these cases it is claimed that applications for registration had been lodged before the new regulations were published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that men serving with His Majesty's forces in Palestine have to pay a tax of 2s. 6d. upon the purchase of 250 cigarettes; and whether he will consult with the Government of Palestine with a view to mitigating this hardship?

I am in communication with the High Commissioner for Palestine on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has yet received the Medical Research Council's advisory committee's report on food rations in regard to the requirements of invalids and expectant mothers on special diets for supplementary rations?

The advisory committee have considered the need of invalids and expectant mothers on special diets for supplementary rations and have expressed the opinion that under present conditions only in the case of persons suffering from diabetes mellitus is any variation required. In such cases additional meat coupons can be obtained on the surrender of sugar coupons.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the reasons for a shortage in retail shops of edible olive oil; and whether he will consider steps for increasing the quantity of available supplies of this essential and valuable food product?

Edible olive oil has been in short supply for somt months and it has been necessary to reserve all imports to meet medicinal requirements. The position has now improved and supplies are being distributed to grocers. In addition, groundnut oil, which is a suitable substitute for olive oil for culinary purposes, is being allocated to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will have a commission of inquiry appointed to in- vestigate the present industrial strife in the copper belt of Northern Rhodesia, with facilities for evidence to be given by representatives of the Mine Workers' Union?

The answer is in the affirmative. I hope to announce the personnel and terms of reference of the commission in answer to a Question which is on the Order Paper for Thursday, 25th April.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, before the plant, machinery and fittings of a factory are dispersed by public auction, steps are taken to see whether it is possible to use the factory with its contents in the national effort?

Yes, Sir. A close watch is kept on all types of surplus manufacturing capacity through the area organisation. Further, all proposed sales of plant and machine tools are now scrutinised by the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in connection with contracts given by his Department, any conditions are imposed obliging the firms concerned to maintain in respect of their employés their normal standards with regard to hours of work, rest days and annual holidays?

The only condition imposed in the sphere of labour additional to the legal obligations of contractors is, that the contractor shall observe and fulfil the obligations upon contractors and sub-contractors specified in the Resolution (known as the Fair Wages Resolution) passed by the House of Commons on 10th March, 1909. This condition is included in all contracts but it does not preclude the working of overtime (including Sunday work) provided the law is observed and recognised rates are paid.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will, in view of the shortage of paper and its great value as raw material, issue a regulation or instruction that each page of every newspaper contain in prominent type the words "Save this newspaper for re-manufacture"?

I will take an early opportunity of discussing this proposal with the newspaper proprietors.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Government control of materials used in the manufacture of commercial motor vehicles has compelled manufacturers to use metals heavier than the light alloys and softwoods heretofore used, so that a vehicle now constructed to the same design and dimensions as a pre-war vehicle weighing less than 50 hundred weights, weighs more than 50 hundred weights; and whether he will review the speed-limit regulations so as to maintain the speed-limit of such a vehicle at 30 miles per hour, instead of requiring it to be reduced to 20 miles per hour on account of the increase in weight?

I do not think that it would be practicable to have the same speed limit for vehicles of different unladen weights, according to whether or not certain parts had been substituted either in manufacture or in the course of repairs by parts of a heavier material.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he proposes to continue to allow the regular dispatch to Germany of aviation journals with their technical articles, service news and large volume of circumstantial information; whether he is aware that one of these journals recently gave, among other things, the full names and addresses of Air Ministry manufacturers and details of the goods they supplied; and whether any German publication provides for us the same corresponding information?

I am glad that the hon. Member has raised this matter because it is desirable to emphasise that it is not our policy to restrict the despatch abroad of British aviation journals. They are of high repute, and provide a means of making known to the world the excellence of our products. As the hon. Mem- ber is aware, since the war, arrangements have been made to prevent the publication by the Press in general, including these journals of information likely to be of value to the enemy. I am aware that a recent publication contained information on the lines indicated by the hon. Member, but I am advised that there was nothing in it of a secret nature. German publications even in peace time have never furnished information comparable with that contained in British journals.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has seen the letter to parents of artificer apprentices issued by the Engineer Captain of the Mechanical Training Establishment, Devonport, indicating a restriction or curtailment of the evening freedom of the apprentices; why this is now considered necessary; and what the suggested new arrangements are and mean?

The object of the letter referred to by the hon. Member was to explain to parents of apprentices that owing to the new location of the Mechanical Training Establishment, access to the neighbouring city would be more difficult. It pointed out that in the interests of the health of the apprentices it is not intended to increase the length of short leave periods, except occasionally at week-ends, to compensate for the extra time taken to get to town, since to do so would make undesirable inroads into the hours of rest. That these arrangements are regarded as reasonable is shown by the fact that the officer in charge of this establishment has received numerous letters from parents thanking him for the interest he is taking in the well-being of their sons.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the rate or rates of pay laid down for artificer apprentices in mechanical training establishments; whether such pay is given without deductions, or if deductions are made will he say what they are for and the amounts; whether charities are included; and will he take steps to provide that parents are informed of any deductions and the authority on which they are made?

The rates of pay of artificer apprentices are ninepence a day in their first year, rising to two shillings a day in their fourth year. Deductions are made from pay on account of contributions at the rate of 5½d. a week to Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Insurance, laundry charges, averaging 1s. 5d. a week, and small items such as library subscriptions and admission to social entertainments. The amount of these latter deductions varies but is very small. No deductions are made for charities. In addition deductions are made for repairs to clothing and boots and for articles of uniform purchased but each apprentice receives a kit upkeep allowance of £1 13s. a quarter to meet such charges. The commanding officer of the training establishment is always prepared to answer inquiries received from parents about any patricular deduction.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can make a statement on the effectiveness of the blockade of Trondhjem and Bergen?

No, Sir, I do not feel it opportune to make a statement on this subject at the present time.