asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the £2 per acre subsidy for ploughing is being paid for many fields whose drains are silted up beyond the power of tenants to repair; and whether in these circumstances he will compel landlords to carry out their obligations and repair the drains, or, in default, carry out the work himself at the landlord's expense?

Payment of the ploughing subsidy is made on certificates furnished by the Agricultural Executive Committee concerned, and it is a condition of payment that the land ploughed must be capable of producing satisfactory arable crops or of being improved by reseeding to grass. As regards the second part of the Question, the responsibility for keeping field drainage in good repair is usually that of the tenant, and Government grants are available for this purpose. Agricultural Executive Committees have power under the Defence Regulations to give directions to landlords or tenants for the repair of drains where they deem such repairs necessary for the purpose of increasing or maintaining food production.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the committee which is examining the question of stabilising rents has yet reported, and, if not, will he ask the committee to expedite its deliberations in view of the fact that demands for increased rents are already being made?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to farm rents. A preliminary exchange of views is at present taking place between the interests concerned with a view to facilitating discussion in conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that 50 per cent. of Scotland's population live in evacuation areas, 30 per cent. in reception areas, and 20 per cent. in neutral areas; that 10 per cent. of the accommodation in reception areas is unsuitable or impossible for billeting, and that private billeting alone will lead to chaos; and whether he is prepared to take steps for the immediate development of residential schools and educational camps, the reclassification of areas, and the vesting of the responsibility for evacuation arrangements with directors of education, education committees and teachers' unions?

The distribution of the population in Scotland is 37 per cent. in sending areas, 37 per cent. in receiving areas and 26 per cent. in neutral areas. According to the survey made in 1939, there was accommodation in the receiving areas for more than three times the number of children for which the new plans provide, including the children who are now evacuated. The accommodation available in private houses is being supplemented by the use of camps and hostels, and the classification of areas is kept under constant review. At every stage of the preparation and execution of the evacuation plans there has been close consultation with education authorities, directors of education and representatives of teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared forthwith to regard Scottish housing requirements as having a priority claim on all timber supplies released for the home front; to lift the restriction on borrowing powers in order that authorities can continue building, plan ahead and develop alternative constructional methods requiring less timber; and provide State assistance for the artificial seasoning of native timber provided it be used either for house-building or for purposes which will release other timber for housing?

With regard to the first and second parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Tradeston (Mr. T. Henderson) on 23rd April and the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers) on 16th April, respectively. With regard to the suggestion made in the last part of the Question, I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that even when imports are supplemented by the maximum possible production of native timber it will still be necessary to restrict the utilisation of timber to essential war requirements. The last part of the Question, therefore, does not at present arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that certain foreign diplomatists of long standing in this country have, on their return home, adopted an anti-Ally attitude; and whether extreme caution is shown in conversations with representatives of non-Allied Powers?

The hon. and gallant Member may have confidence in the discretion of all those whose duty and responsibility it may be to conduct such conversations.

asked the Postmaster-General why disabled ex-service men are not considered, when suitable, for vacancies as sorters?

Sorters' posts are a recognised outlet by limited competition for officers already in the Post Office service. A disabled ex-service man is eligible to be considered for appointment as postman, and if he becomes a postman, he will have the same opportunities as other Post Office servants to enter for the sorters' competitions when they are resumed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is now in a position to make an announcement as to the amount of sugar that householders will be allowed to buy for the purpose of making jam during the coming summer?

My Noble Friend has decided to provide additional sugar outside the domestic ration for householders who make jam either from their own fruit or from purchased fruit. The total quantity of sugar which is likely to be available for this purpose will be rather less than is used for domestic jam-making in normal times, but should be sufficient to ensure the preservation of the home fruit crop. I appreciate the public anxiety in this matter, and as soon as possible a statement will be made as to the exact quantity that will be available. I would, however, urge householders who are in a position to do so to economise in their consumption of sugar so that a portion of their rations may be devoted to this purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider making arrangements for jam and preserving sugar to be rationed on the same coupons from May to September, each coupon being valid for whatever amount of jam or preserving sugar the ration is fixed at, in the proportion of half a pound of sugar to one pound of jam?

I have taken note of the suggestion made by my hon. Friend, and I will communicate with him in due course.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the difficulties experienced in obtaining assurances as to there being a sufficient quantity of preserving sugar available for jam-making on a large scale this summer, he will encourage an increased acreage of sugar beet being cultivated and make arrangements with the factories for the production of the necessary quantity of sugar of the type best suited to jam-making?

The price paid for sugar beet already offers substantial inducements to producers, and, in any case, additional production of beet could not increase supplies of sugar in the coming summer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that certain local food control officers have classified school-feeding centres as common catering establishments, and issued permits for only 60 per cent. of meat with corresponding reductions in bread, cheese, sugar, etc., necessitating a serious reduction in the number and quality of meals supplied; and whether he will take steps to have full ration allowances restored forthwith?

School-feeding centres requiring to obtain supplies of rationed foods are enabled to do so by registering under the rationing regulations as catering establishments. As such they are, for the time being, permitted to serve meat meals free of the coupon, but in relation to these establishments, the rationing of meat takes the form of a restriction of supplies to 60 per cent. of their normal requirements. Sugar is rationed in catering establishments by reference to the number of meals and hot beverages served. There is at present no restriction on the supply of bread or cheese.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish a list of all goods and commodities which are subject to the Prices of Goods Act to date; and what steps have been, and are being, taken to bring the matter to the notice of the public?

The present list of goods to which the Prices of Goods Act has been applied is contained in the Price Regulated Goods Order of 18th December last, which came into force on 1st January. It is now proposed, however, to apply the Act to a much more comprehensive range, both of manufactured goods and of the materials from which they are made. It is hoped to make the Order this week, and it will come into force on3rd June. The public should be fully aware of their rights under the Act and of the fact that they can take their complaints to the Price Regulation Committees, and it is my desire that with the assistance of the Press the new list of goods to which the Act is being applied should be brought prominently to their notice by every practicable means.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a strong demand from canal companies for the import of low-compression slow-running heavy-weight engines for canal work; and whether he will reconsider his refusal to allow their import?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. Four applications have been received for licences to import semi-diesel engines of the type to which the hon. Member refers for use in canal barges; two of these have been granted and two refused. Several types of diesel engine of British make are available for the propulsion of canal barges, a large number are actually in use, and according to my information they are suitable for the purpose. My right hon. Friend is not, therefore, prepared to authorise the importation of foreign engines for this purpose except in special circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as a result of the recent conversations with the American Government, arrangements have been made to import into this country more tobacco and fruit?

No, Sir. The question of maintenance of French and British purchases of agricultural products in the United States was raised by the United States authorities during the visit of an Anglo-French Mission to Washington, and His Majesty's Government will carefully consider their report on this subject when they return.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, as no censorship of any kind is imposed on the publication of milk prices, there is objection on the part of the Milk Marketing Board to supplying, in confidence, monthly statistics to the Central Milk Distributive Committee and the National Association of Creamery Proprietors and Wholesale Dairymen who are looking after the interests of the trade generally?

Under the provisions of the Milk Marketing Scheme the prescriptive resolutions of the Board are open to public inspection. These resolutions include the prices at, below, or above which milk may be sold. So far as I am aware, however, there is no connection between these arrangements, which are necessary for the purposes of the scheme, and the question of furnishing statistics of milk production to the organisations referred to. As I have already explained to my hon. Friend, this is a matter which is entirely within the discretion of the Milk Marketing Board, who, I understand, do not feel called upon to supply the information.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a case in which a man was charged at the Nottingham city police court, on 23rd April, 1940, for failing to obscure a light in his bathroom, when the court dismissed the summons on payment of 7s. 6d. costs, and the subsequent observations on that decision by the chief air-raid precautions officer for Nottingham; and what steps he proposes to take in view of the undesirability of any such criticism of the court by a party to a case which has been adjudicated upon?

I understand that when dealing with an offence against the Lighting Restrictions Order a magistrate made some general comment which seemed capable of creating the impression that it is excusable to put on the light for a minute or so during the blackout period for the purpose of pulling down the blinds. It was in order to prevent any such erroneous impression getting abroad that the chief constable made a public statement on the point.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the experiences of Clacton and the possibility of extensive bombing, arrangements are being made to salvage property of which ownership is doubtful or the owners in-capacitated?

The police and civil defence authorities are responsible for the control of conditions at the scene of damage due to an air raid, and must be left to make the most suitable arrangements in the actual circumstances for salvaging property of which the owner or his agent is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the difficulty in appreciating the signs of the curtailed traffic lights during the summer months in daytime, and the dangers that arise from this fact; and whether he will take some action to ensure more visibility of the lights throughout the country at this time?

I am aware that the visibility of traffic light signals varies in different situations and that this has been accentuated by the necessary war-time modifications. An investigation with the object of devising a system which will be satisfactory both by day and night has disclosed certain technical difficulties, but I hope shortly to be able to make a further statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of firms capable of making aeroplanes, either wholly or in part, by direct or sub-contract, who are still without orders for production?

No firm which possesses the organisation, floor space, equipment, labour and experience necessary for the speedy production of complete aircraft is without orders. With regard to the making of aeroplane parts, my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that this covers the production of one or more of a multitude of items ranging from small bolts, nuts, washers, etc., to complete wings and other major components. While it cannot be said that every firm capable of making any of these very numerous items has an order, I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that use is being made of some thousands of such firms as sub-contractors to the main contractors, and that the capacity of suitable additional firms is being absorbed as rapidly as the balanced development of the production programme permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to whom is delegated the responsibility of corroborating statements as to illness of relatives when such illness forms the basis of an application from a serving airman for compassionate leave?

There is no delegation of responsibility in these matters. If the name and address of the medical practitioner in attendance, or the name of the hospital concerned, is made available to my Department, direct inquiries are made as to the state of health of the relative concerned. If this information is not available, it is the practice of the Air Ministry to invite the assistance of the local police in obtaining and transmitting the opinion of the medical practitioner in attendance or of the hospital authorities as the case may be. If there is no medical attendant, the police express no opinion as to the state of health of the person concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the case of Aircraftman Holden; whether he is aware that this man was refused compassionate leave on the illness of his wife because the Birmingham police stated she was not seriously ill; whether he is aware that the woman subsequently died; and what steps he has taken to ensure the supply of correct information in similar cases in future?

I am aware of the facts of this case. Aircraftman Holden applied for compassionate leave on the ground of his wife's illness on 5th December last, but it was decided in the light of the medical report, which was transmitted through the police, that his request could not be granted. Towards the end of December he made further representations to his commanding officer stating that his domestic affairs urgently required his presence at home. His privilege leave, to which he would have been entitled six weeks later, was accordingly advanced, and he proceeded home on 26th December. His leave was due to expire on 2nd January, but on 29th December he approached the local police with a view to getting his leave extended because of the serious condition of his wife. His leave was extended, and he did not in fact return to duty until 24th April. Mrs. Holden died on 11th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a large number of pilots in training in the Royal Air Force in Great Britain are now being given courses in elementary flying-training schools on elementary-type aircraft, notwithstanding that they have already undergone such courses or have previously flown more advanced or Service-type aircraft; and, as a repetition of the same elementary training with non-Service machines constitutes a waste of both time and public money and discourages the personnel involved, he will alter these methods?

I am aware that some pilots have undergone a repetition of elementary training. Difficulties have been met in adjusting whole-time war training to the individual qualifications of those of the large number of pupil entrants who had varying degrees of flying experience acquired in the course of peace-time training. These difficulties are rapidly disappearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why it was possible for a Nazi airplane to fly over a town for a considerable time during which it was machine-gunning certain places without any protection being offered from the defences?

I assume the hon. Member refers to the night of 1st May, when a hostile aircraft was in the vicinity of Blyth Harbour at approximately 23 hours 20 minutes for a period of about 15 minutes. Anti-aircraft guns went into action. The aircraft was illuminated by searchlights, and these searchlights were thereupon machine-gunned by the enemy, but no casualties were caused.

asked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been drawn to posters advertising broadcasts from a station calling itself the New British Broadcasting Station; and whether, in view of the terms of those posters, he will make it clear that these posters are unauthorised by His Majesty's Government?

Yes, Sir, the posters advertising this enemy station are, of course, themselves of enemy origin, and this will be made clear in repetitions of the warnings already issued to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increased cost of cigarettes and tobacco to serving soldiers, he will consider making, in consultation with the Treasury, a weekly free allocation of cigarettes or tobacco to soldiers serving in this country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Debate on Wednesday last, in which he pointed out the difficulties which would arise from any concession of this character.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider calling up at an expedited rate the outstanding men under 30 years of age, and of utilising to train them the services of officers who served with distinction in the last war but who are themselves too old for active service?

The calling up of men is necessarily regulated by such considerations as the availability of training facilities and equipment. A large number of officers of the type mentioned have already been employed, but, owing to the developments that have taken place since their former service, they themselves require re-training before they can be used as instructors.