asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that a few firms of quantity surveyors are engaged upon an enormous amount of war work; and whether, as there are thousands of fully qualified quantity surveyors and assistants unemployed, he will take steps, in the public interest, to remedy this state of affairs?

His Majesty's Office of Works are doing much of the large factory construction required by the Ministry of Supply, and I am advised that their practice is to distribute the quantity surveying work among as many firms as possible. Quantity surveying requirements for the smaller factories are recruited as required through the Central Register at the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Supply whether the establishment of the Area Organisation is now complete?

pursuant to the reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th May, 1940; cols. 1230–1, Vol. 360], supplied the following informationThe following Area Boards have been appointed:Title and Address.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury at what cost separate departmental telephone directories are printed monthly for the principal Departments of State; and will he consider whether cyclostyled directories could be made available less periodically as an economy measure?

Only one Department has a printed telephone directory issued monthly, the cost being approximately £115 an issue. To duplicate this directory by cyclostyle process would increase the paper consumption. It is proposed, however, to economise by the use of smaller type, and the possibility of a smaller or less frequent issue will also be investigated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed new tax on purchases will apply to tools of trade, such as fishing tackle and agricultural implements?

This is one of the matters under consideration in connection with the proposed tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has prepared any figures to indicate the probable diminution of income assessable to Surtax as a result of the provisions of the Limitation of Dividends Bill, when enacted; and whether he will make a statement?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 9th May, 1940, by my predecessor to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South-West St. Pancras (Sir G. Mitcheson).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the possibility of utilising the pro-Allied sympathy of the people of the United States of America by means of a "Buy British" campaign in the United States in order to increase our exports to that country?

Exporters in this country fully appreciate the importance of sales to the United States of America, and they will, I feel sure, take full advantage of the opportunity which our renewed participation in the New York World's Fair offers for the promotion of increased trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, under the Trading with the Enemy Act, the custodian of enemy property is recording the financial claims of British traders for goods supplied to enemy subjects; whether it is proposed that such claims shall be paid in due course out of the funds collected from British subjects who owe similar debts to enemy subjects; whether it is intended to record the claims of

—		Present charges.		Proposed.
		Inland.	To Eire.	Inland.	Eire.
Ordinary telegram		6d. for 9 words: 1d. for every word beyond nine.	1s. 6d. for 12 words: 1d. for every word beyond twelve.	9d. for nine words: 1d. for every word beyond nine.	No change.
Night telegraph letters.		1s. for 36 words: 1d. for every 3 additional words or part thereof.	1s. 6d. for 36 words: 1d. for every three additional words or part thereof.	1s. 3d. for 36 words: 1d. for every three additional words or part thereof.	No change.
		Inland and to Eire.		Inland and to Eire.
Press telegrams	…	1s. for every 60 words by day and 80 words by night.		1s. 3d. for every 60 words by day and 80 words by night.
Legislation is necessary and is being introduced to cover the increase in the inland Press telegram charges, and all the above proposed changes will be introduced as soon as possible after the necessary legislation has been passed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in certain

A register of debts due to persons in this country from enemies is being set up by the Board of Trade. This register will include debts arising from the supply of goods to the countries named by my hon. Friend, but I am not able to make any statement as to what will be the ultimate arrangements for the liquidation of such indebtedness.

asked the Postmaster-General whether there is to be any change in the charges for telegrams to Eire as part of the general Budget increases in telegraph charges?

There will be no change in the charges for ordinary telegrams and night telegraph letters to Eire, and I regret that the position in regard to night telegraph letters was incorrectly shown in the Financial Statement. In both cases the charges are already higher than the corresponding new charges in the inland telegraph service. The charge per page of Press telegram to Eire is at present the same as that for an inland Press telegram. Both will be increased by 3d. Full particulars of these charges are shown in the following table:districts the operation of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, is delaying the erection of buildings for supervisors and foremen considered necessary by landowners and occupiers for the successful prosecution of the present intensive agricultural production plan; and whether, in view of the fact that Government hutments are being erected without reference to the terms of this Statute, he will take steps to suspend the Town and Country Planning Act for the duration of the war?

My hon. and gallant Friend has brought to my notice a case where a planning authority have refused permission under an interim development order for the erection of a particular building, and I have pointed out to him the right of the applicant to appeal to me against that decision. I have no reason whatever to suppose that the operations of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1932, are any hindrance in the campaign to grow more food, especially as there is specific exemption in that Act for buildings occupied together with agricultural land. With reference to the last part of the Question, as my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, although Government buildings are not subject to planning control they are being erected with due regard to planning interests so far as possible, and I cannot see that the fact that the Act does not bind the Crown is any argument for suspending its general operation during the war.

asked the Minister of Information what censorship is exercised over letters and cables received in this country from the Dominions?

With regard to the censorship of letters, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on Wednesday, 24th April. With regard to cables, all telegrams received here from the Dominions are censored in this country in addition to censorship in the Dominions.

asked the Secretary of State for War what useful purposes are served by officers commanding units being required to purchase from local authorities driving licences in some circumstances for soldiers driving motor cars and motor cycles in the course of their duties; and whether he will give a rough estimate of the cost of these licences to the Exchequer?

I have been asked to reply. Under peace conditions, Section 121 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, places Service drivers in the same position as other persons in regard to obtaining a driving licence. The fees paid are credited to the Exchequer. Under present conditions, by virtue of powers under Defence Regulations, the military authorities may issue special emergency permits enabling soldiers who hold no driving licences to drive vehicles on military service. For these there is no fee.

asked the Secretary of State for War what inoculation caused the death of Private Alfred Carlisle, aged 33, of the Leicestershire Regiment, on whom an inquest was held at the Grand Hotel, South Wigston, on 6th May?

Private Carlisle received his second inoculation against enteric fever on 19th April. He was taken ill and died the same day. Post-mortem examination revealed the fact that he was suffering from a variety of medical conditions, more particularly disease of the main blood vessels of the heart. The cause of death was "acute dilation of the heart," to which the inoculation was a contributory factor. It was found at the inquest that Private Carlisle's unsatisfactory state of health could not be determined by external medical examination, and, as he made no complaint, would not be suspected. It was added that no blame can be attached to the military authorities and that everything possible was done by the medical officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will relate the need of increasing allowances for soldiers' children to specific rises in the cost of living in official figures; whether he will now consider making every five or 10 points rise a basis for that increase in allowances; and whether he will consider making a special rent allowance for all rents over approximately 10s. per week?

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. Dobbie) on 7th May last. With regard to the last part, I would refer him to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Kennedy) on 14th March last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will indicate the average amount stopped from the soldiers' weekly pay; the particular items this stoppage covers; and whether he has considered the desirability of reducing or abolishing these stoppages?

The average deduction on account of compulsory stoppages is 7d. a week, made up as follows:

• Statutory contribution in respect of Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Pensions Insurance, 5½d.
• Barrack damages, 1½d.

From 1st July next, the insurance contribution will be raised to 6½d., making the total 8d. a week. In addition, there are voluntary subscriptions to sports clubs, regimental and old comrades associations, regimental journals and the like. These are now limited to 2s. a month, and commanding officers have been enjoined to review all such expenses periodically, with a view to eliminating any unnecessary expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has considered granting an efficiency medal to auxiliary airmen after 12 years' service in an auxiliary squadron?

The question of instituting such an award has been under consideration, and I hope to be in a position to announce a decision at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the dissatisfaction among farmers with the grading and weight assessment of the cattle they send to market, he will consider the introduction of some means of appeal in cases where there is great difference of opinion?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to-day to a Question on the same subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chatham (Captain Plugge).