asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider placing the control of all hostels for war workers under one organisation?

When the National Service Hostels Corporation, Limited, was set up by me a year ago to manage hostels provided at Government expense for transferred war workers, it was agreed that for reasons of practical convenience the Corporation should not be asked to manage hostels at Royal Ordnance Factories, which would continue to be managed under arrangements made by the Ministry of Supply, or hostels for agricultural workers and others housed in small and scattered units. No change in that policy is at present contemplated.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that it would make for greater economy if they were amalgamated?

It may at a later date, but when we are building up a new machine operating nearly 100,000 beds under the National Hostels Corporation I do not want to take steps that would overload it until it gets into working order.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has come to any decision as to the post-war use of the Royal Ordnance factories and other hostels established in connection with the war effort?

This is a matter of general Government policy. No decision has yet been reached.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that these hostels will be retained for social and educational purposes by the Government after the war?

If I may express a personal opinion, without stating Government policy, it is that they ought to be retained, and the Government are considering the matter from that aspect.

asked the Minister of Labour what complaints he has had with regard to the operations of tribunals dealing with the mobile class of young women and their failure to give adequate consideration to domestic circumstances; and whether he is prepared to amend present instructions and provide facilities for all complaining parties to appeal against the decisions of the tribunals?

I am inquiring into the three cases forwarded to the Ministry by my hon. Friend and will communicate with him about them as soon as possible. I would, however, point out that in two of the cases the reference is to the procedure before the hardship committees. This procedure is statutory, with certain rights of appeal to the umpire, and I have no power to alter it. In the other case it is stated that the woman concerned was unable for reasons of health to continue in a job to which she had been directed, but it is not stated whether her case went before a tribunal or with what result.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in each of the cases that appeared before the hardship committee it was specifically laid down that no right of appeal existed? If, therefore, when he is investigating the cases he finds that the suggestion of hardship and under-estimation of tragic domestic circumstances is supported, will he take steps to see that a right of appeal exists?

The right of appeal is clearly statutory; it does exist.

The form upon which the decision of the hardship committee is communicated to the individual states that no right of appeal is allowed.

I will look into that.

In view of the unsatisfactory replies made by the Minister in regard to this matter, I beg to give notice that I shall raise it on the Adjournment at a convenient date.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women and girls who have been placed in industry, since 1939, in the administrative county of Durham; and the number that have been transferred out of this county to other areas for industrial purposes during the same period?

I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons now registered as unemployed are partially disabled by industrial accident and disease; and whether he is taking steps to provide facilities for rehabilitation and retaining of these workers?

I have no statistics showing how many persons registered as unemployed are partially disabled by industrial accident or disease. Certain facilities for the training of such persons for new occupations are available under the interim scheme instituted last year. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the leaflet on this scheme.

Is it the intention of the Minister at any stage to take steps to discover how many such men are in the country, in view of the fact that it may be necessary to use their labour?

I think that the best way would be, if hon. Members know these ceses and think that they are capable of being brought back to useful employment by rehabilitation, that they should, instead of asking me to get a lot of statistics, forward cases to me, and I will look into them very quickly. I think that that is the quickest way of dealing with them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the amount of time lost by sickness is on the increase among industrial workers; and whether he can indicate the main steps taken to deal with the problem?

Statistics on the point are not available. The main special steps taken by my Department under war conditions are to help in securing, in co-operation with the appropriate authorities, the satisfactory housing of transferred workers in particular, adequate feeding facilities, and good transport conditions, coupled with improved arrangements for medical and nursing attention for those who are sick and some extension of medical supervision in the factories themselves, so far as the available supply of doctors permits. Improved welfare supervision also has a bearing on the problem.

Would it be possible for my right hon. Friend to get some information from the Minister of Health on this subject based on the National Health Insurance returns?

It would be possible, but in view of the necessity of keeping down Government staffs as low as possible we do not want too much collection of statistics.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered amending the Essential Work (Coal Mining Industry) Order in such a way as would enable legal proceedings to be taken against the employers in the same way as is taken against the workmen for loss of output?

The provisions affecting workers in the Essential Work Order, and in particular those relating to absenteeism apply to all grades of employees, including the managers, and among those who may report cases of alleged absenteeism to the National Service Officer is the pit production committee. It does not appear, therefore, that there is anything more I could do by way of amendment of the Order in this respect. Efficiency of management is a matter that cannot be brought within the scope of the Order and must be dealt with in another way.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that under this Order £645,000 has been paid out to provide a guaranteed wage and that this represents a loss of from 250,000 to 300,000 shifts, which means a considerable loss of output? Cannot something be done to amend the Order so as to deal with owners who are responsible?

I have explained that you cannot very well deal with the management under this Order. I appreciate he point that my hon. Friend makes, but steps have to be taken in another direction to overcome it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is a strong feeling that he is prosecuting the workmen for absenteeism but is not prosecuting the managements?

My hon. Friend is wrong. Managers have been prosecuted for violations of the Order.

But none have been sent to prison like the workmen.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now see his way to revise the Order extending the hours of juveniles in the cotton industry?

This matter is under constant review, but the situation in the cotton spinning mills at the moment is such that I cannot hold out any hope of an early cancellation of this Order. Care will be taken, however, to limit the actual operation of the Order to cases where this is essential for war requirements.

This question has been under review for some time. Does my right hon. Friend think that the employment of these juveniles for longer hours is really vital to the war effort?

I should not have agreed to it if it were not. I hated doing it.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any medical reports as to the health of these juveniles, and will he keep in view medical reports about their health?

I keep constantly in touch with the authorities, and I have had no adverse report up to now. I am watching the matter carefully.

I started work at seven, and look at my health.

asked the Minister of Labour the average wage of boys in Government and other munition factories, ages 14 to 16 and 16 to 18, respectively?

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of women of registration age who have children under 14 years of age living with them are now in full-time employment?

I have no statistics enabling me to give this information. In the classes recently registered of women born in 1904–8 inclusive approximately 15 per cent. of married women with children were in full-time paid employment at the time of registration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether has attention has been drawn to the inconvenience felt by workers from the scarcity of hairdressers still in business; and can he arrange for some relief?

I have withdrawn women from hairdressing only in accordance with the terms agreed with the Central Advisory Panel, on which hairdressing is represented. Male hairdressers who are liable under the National Service Acts may have their calling up deferred on application to the district man-power boards in appropriate cases.

Who are the more important, hairdressers or sweeps? Sweeps have been called up.

Has my right hon. Friend considered the recent report of a committee on the risk of infestation among those in the Services? Is he bearing that in mind?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that pre-service training units recruit at different ages and cover much common ground between the ages of 14 and 16, he will take the initiative in giving central guidance, in order to preserve the balance of continued education, technical instruction and pre-service training?

In the advice given to local education authorities in Circular 1577 particular attention was drawn in paragraph 14 to the needs of the age group 14–16 to which my hon. Friend refers. I am keeping this question under review.

Is it the policy of the Government to have pre-service training for the whole of those between 14 and 18 years of age, because at the present time, as he knows, there are some half million young people in those units and there is a shortage of places and would it not be better to concentrate on the years 16 to 18?

The age differs according to the unit into which the boy or girl goes. As my hon. Friend knows, in the case of the cadets the age is slightly younger than in the case of the A.T.C.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has now secured further information regarding the circumstances and legality of a Sussex education committee assembling certain scholars during school-time in a church to be addressed by local ministers or clergy; and whether any other education committee has adopted a similar practice?

Yes, Sir: I am informed that the children of the Mountfield Road Council School, Lewes, attend a religious service in church on one morning per week, but no decision to introduce a similar practice at the other council school in the town has yet been taken. The service is undenominational in character and has been arranged in co-operation with the Church of England and the Free Church bodies of the area. Parents were circularised beforehand by the local education authority and their consent invited; the parents of only two children have dissented and their children attend at school instead of the church. The services are conducted by the clergyman and minister and the attendance of teachers is voluntary. Registers are marked at the school at 9.45 a.m. I am advised that there is nothing in the Education Acts to preclude undenominational religious' instruction or observance for council school children being conducted elsewhere than on the school premises. As regards the last part of the Question, I am not aware that any other local education authority has adopted this arrangement.

Whilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that this matter involves a question of national and general educational importance going beyond the local area, and has he taken steps to consult with any prominent national educational bodies on the principle involved? Further, is he aware that I have raised this matter particularly from that standpoint and not because of any local interest in the town?

I am sure the hon. Member would be animated by the motives he has mentioned in raising the matter. I am watching it, because it is an exceptional practice, and I shall continue to do so.

May not the great capital of noble Sussex, the cradle of this House, be permitted to manage her own affairs?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider the advisability of including representatives of headmasters and headmistresses on the committee appointed to inquire into the recruitment and training of teachers and youth leaders?

I considered, when appointing the committee, the question of making it representative of all the interests concerned, and I decided that it would be better to have a small committee which would receive evidence from, and freely consult, headmasters, headmistresses and others who are engaged directly or indirectly in the training of teachers.

In view of the great importance of including teachers of this grade, who have a strong desire to be represented, will the right hon. Gentleman not give this matter close consideration?

No, Sir, because I deliberately took the step of not appointing the committee upon a representative basis It is a committee composed of people exceptionally well qualified for the task, and I can assure my hon. Friend that they will pay attention to any representations made to them by any headmasters or head mistresses.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulties at present being experienced by district nursing associations owing to the shortage of Queen's Nurses and the need for securing the utmost possible degree of co-ordination between the various types of nursing services, he will allow Civil Defence nurses, who are at present not fully employed, to supplement the work of the district nursing associations?

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, arrangements are being made for the release for service elsewhere of approximately one-third of the whole-time nursing personnel at first-aid posts. I will consider the suggestion of my hon. Friend in connection with these releases.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of cases of tuberculosis reported for the first four months of this year as compared with the corresponding period of 1939; whether he will give separate figures for Wales, and what steps are being taken to prevent an increase?

Provisional figures show that during the first 16 weeks of this year the number of cases notified as tuberculosis (but not all necessarily confirmed as such) was 15,525 in England and 1,193 in Wales. The corresponding figures for the first 16 weeks of 1939 were 15,120 and 1,244 respectively. In answer to the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his similar Question on 12th February last. I understand that an interim report on the investigation by the Medical Research Council to which I then alluded may be expected in the near future.

What steps are being taken to deal with the growing list of people waiting for admission to sanatoria in various parts of the country?

We have released more beds, and we are taking urgent steps to deal with the shortage of staff in certain areas, which is really the key of the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Civil Defence Cadet Corps are now in existence; and what steps he is taking actively to promote them?

I am aware of six bodies of this kind. Two of these were given official encouragement, but, since then, arrangements have been concluded with the Admiralty, the War Office and the Air Ministry whereby members of the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force and Junior Training Corps, and the Air Training Corps, are encouraged to undertake part-time Civil Defence duty, and this is felt to be preferable to the formation of further bodies which might compete with those organisations in the matter of recruitment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is all wrong, that there are at least 40 per cent. of these young people in no organisation, that there is no competition with the other three bodies and that here is an opportunity for a first-class organisation growing up all over the country? Will he reconsider his answer?

No, Sir, I do not think that would be wise. The circumstances of Civil Defence are very different from those of the Service Departments, which have been very co-operative. It would involve needless overlapping and competition if I were to start a fourth Cadet Corps. I think the arrangements we have made are the best way of handling the problem.

Is the Minister aware that he is damming up the enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of young people, who are readily forming themselves into these corps and are drilling and carrying on practical Civil Defence work? There is no competition. We want, not one youth organisation in this country, but half-a-dozen. What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by his answer?

I have said what I mean, and I cannot say more than that.

Is the Minister not aware that a great number of lads in London have been helping Civil Defence units and that they feel rather disheartened at having to divert their energies to other organisations?

I have not said that my Department will not allow lads to go into Civil Defence. On the contrary, these lads come in. The question is whether we should run a national drive to set up a national organisation for a limited purpose. Most of the work of National Defence must be done by adult persons, and we have not the carry-over which the Service Departments have in their organisations. I am not refusing to accept the services of young people, but I do not think it will be wise to set up a further organisation competitive with the Service Departments.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter again at an early opportunity.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give an assurance that friendly Austrians in this country are, at least, as well treated as friendly neutrals in respect of exemption from curfew, duty to notify any change of address, possession of bicycles, motor vehicles and similar matters?

As I have previously explained to my hon. Friend, exemption from the special restrictions applicable to aliens of enemy nationality is granted to Austrians who satisfy me that they are wholeheartedly sympathetic with the Allied cause and willing to assist in our war effort. Such exemption places them in the same position as friendly neutrals in respect of the matters mentioned in the Question.

Is the Minister aware that it does not always work out in practice on those lines? Will he be good enough to give the widest publicity to the statement which he has just made?

I will do my best. If there are any individual cases I shall be happy to look into them.

Will the Minister extend this also to friendly Germans who are known to be equally reliable?

I think so, Sir. They are in the same category.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give an assurance that, in sending National Fire Service representatives to India and elsewhere for training and administrative purposes, the greatest care for their selection for such responsible tasks will be taken; and whether he has, or will, issue instructions accordingly?

Yes, Sir; the utmost care is and will continue to be exercised in making such selections.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer, may I ask whether he is aware that, out of four successful candidates in one area, two were officers who had been demoted, one twice, and one had failed to qualify? Will he make these facts the basis of inquiry in order that there should not be in the N.F.S. the Army practice of getting rid in this way of undesirable and inefficient personnel?

The last point put by the hon. and gallant Member is unfair and untrue in its implication. If there are any cases of the selection of inefficient personnel, I shall be glad to look into them. Naturally, we have to take a number of factors into account.

Will the Minister give consideration, in regard to Indians, to the fact that the best is only just good enough, because these men are subject to very strict scrutiny, and their reputation depends very much upon whether they do their duty or not?

I am keeping that point in mind. I am naturally anxious to give what help I can to India, but I must consider the needs of this country too.

If I give names to the right hon. Gentleman, will he make inquiry?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the hard case of refugees from the Channel Islands, who have escaped to this country, leaving all their possessions behind them and have to equip themselves and their new homes at the greatly increased prices now prevailing; and whether he will consider allowing these British subjects to have the benefit of the compensation provided under the War Damage Act for loss of property by enemy action?

The War Damage Act does not extend to the Channel Islands, nor are losses of the kind referred to in the Question within the definition of war damage as laid down in the Act; and my right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot contemplate its extension in the manner suggested.

Have the Government considered whether anything can be done to alleviate the sufferings of these citizens of ours, many of whom are penniless and, through no fault of their own, are refugees in this country? Can something not be done to make them entitled to compensation for the loss of their property which they have had to leave behind them in the Channel Islands?

Compensation for property is another question. It is, of course, true that persons evacuated from the Channel Islands to this country are eligible for assistance under the war-time scheme for the prevention and relief of distress, just as are inhabitants of this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any announcement to make with regard to the marketing of securities?

Yes, Sir. Cases have arisen which show that it is desirable to supplement the existing control over the capital market by requiring the consent of the Treasury to the public marketing of new securities and of existing securities for which permission to deal has not already been given. The Committee of the London Stock Exchange and the Council of Associated Stock Exchanges have agreed that no quotation or permission to deal will be given by the Exchanges in respect of any securities for which permission to deal has not already been granted, except with the consent of the Treasury, and subject to any conditions which the Treasury may attach to such consent. All applications should continue to be addressed to the Stock Exchanges in the first instance, and the Exchanges will refer them as necessary to the Treasury for decision.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the present position, it is necessary to continue the demolition of railings and carry on the other special drives for scrap?

Yes, Sir. The weekly tonnages required for maintaining the output of steel are very large, and it is only by the most intensive collection by the Ministry of Works and Buildings of all the available material for scrap that this production can be maintained.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he can give any information as to the steps he is taking to increase the production of home-produced phosphatic manures?

The production of ground basic slag has been substantially increased during the war, and it is proposed to instal additional grinding plant to treat the total quantity of suitable slag available. Steps have been taken in collaboration with the Ministry of Food to secure the maximum collection of bones, which are used for fertilizers and feeding-stuffs. In addition, the practicability in present conditions of working certain low grade phosphate deposits in the country is under investigation.

Are steps being taken to work the natural deposits of phosphates in this country?

Yes, Sir; we are considering that, and we are on the point of coming to a decision. In fact the day before yesterday we had a meeting with Professor Hawkins, of Reading University, and I hope to be able to announce what the decision is in the course of a few days.

asked the Minister of Supply why the Mid-Sussex Lumber Company has been permitted to establish itself on productive land at a place of which he has been notified; what are the names of the directors; and whether any, or all, of the long-established timber firms within a few miles have been given the opportunity of buying and processing the raw material concerned?

I am informed that the Directors of the Company referred to are Mr. A. L. Rye and Mr. A. F. Chapman. I assume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the site for the sawmill. No permission from the Ministry of Supply is required for the acquisition or use of this land, which was presumably acquired under private agreement with any necessary permission from the local or other authority. As regards the last part of the Question, the standing timber in question was privately owned and I am not aware whether other merchants negotiated for its purchase. If any established firm should find it difficult to obtain supplies, the Home Timber Production Department would be glad to give it all possible assistance in finding them.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will issue to those persons who hand in their tyres in response to the request made by his Ministry some form of receipt which will enable them to have priority in purchasing other tyres at a later date?

I am afraid this would not be practicable. I am grateful for the contribution to the national effort made by those who hand in their tyres for further use; but priority in the purchase of tyres at a later date will no doubt have to depend upon the degree of essentiality of the transport, and I cannot mortgage the future.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think that those who have voluntarily given up their tyres to the national effort should have some amount of preference when the war is over? Further, can he tell the House when it is proposed to introduce the compulsory taking-up of tyres?

It is extremely difficult to give any preference to those who voluntarily give up their tyres, because any promise we might make in that direction might be very hard to fulfil in the future. With regard to the steps which my right hon. Friend may be taking to requisition tyres on laid-up cars, I cannot make a statement on that matter at the moment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the granting of travel facilities to members of the Women's Land Army upon terms not less favourable than those announced by the Minister of Labour for workers who have been transferred to war work by his Department since 1st June, 1940?

I am glad to assure the hon. Member that such facilities are already provided.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that landowners in many parts of the country are demanding big increases in rents from farmers, which may lead to increased prices for produce; and what steps does the Government contemplate taking to prevent landowners demanding increases in rent?

Farm rents under existing tenancy contracts are not subject to revision except by agreement between the parties, or as the result of arbitration under Section 12 of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1923. In the case of a fresh contract the rent to be paid is a matter for arrangement between the parties. I have heard of some isolated cases of increased rents, but I have no general information on the point.

May I ask the Minister whether he has not seen the reports in the Press of these cases, and surely it is an illustration of where the landlords—

rose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that much disquiet has been caused among smallholders in Lincolnshire by the order drastically to reduce acreage under bulbs for export; that such a change would destroy the capital of many ex-Servicemen; and whether holders of less than 50 acres can be excluded from the proposal?

The reductions which have been made since the outbreak of war in the acreage allowed for bulb growing are essential in the interests of food production. I regret that I cannot make exceptions in favour of any particular class of growers.

Cannot some compensation be given to the smaller people, who have lost a large amount of their capital?

They were warned as long ago as September, 1939, of what was likely to happen, and they have done pretty well in the intervening years.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the acreage occupied by many of these smallholders is so restricted that in the absence of permission to grow these crops it will be very difficult for them to secure a living from their holdings?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any experiments have been undertaken in this country in growing rubber-bearing plants; and whether he has full information of the rubber crop now being cultivated in various regions of Russia?

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the harm likely to be caused to the livestock Indus- try of this country by the improper or indiscriminate use of artificial insemination, he will take the necessary steps to ensure that this practice is properly controlled?

Yes, Sir. The Agricultural Improvement Council, which, as my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, recently appointed a Committee for the purpose of supervising the initiation and conduct of two large-scale field trials in artificial insemination at Cambridge and Reading, have expressed the view that in order to avoid jeopardising the successful establishment of this practice, steps should be taken to prevent its indiscriminate commercial exploitation. I accordingly propose to ask Parliament at the first convenient opportunity for powers enabling me, in the interests of the livestock industry, to control the practice of artificial insemination by specifying the conditions under which it may be employed and by restricting its use to properly authorised persons in all cases, except where the animals to be inseminated are in the same ownership as the animal providing the semen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the employment of young people on threshing machines, he will take steps, through the county war agricultural committees, to draw the attention of those employing them to the danger of accidents which can be guarded against; and, regarding some implements which are dilapidated and rotten, especially in connection with the platforms and safety-boards to the feeders, take adequate steps to ensure that these implements are in a sound condition in view of the number of accidents which took place last season?

I will certainly draw attention to the importance of guarding against accidents with threshing machines, and see what more can be done to impress on owners the necessity for safeguards.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that this Question was inspired by the large number of accidents which took place in my constituency, and will he be good enough specially to draw attention to it there?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will allow the coupons issued to serving officers to be used for the purchase of essential sports kit?

Sports kit may already be supplied without coupons to units of His Majesty's Forces for their communal use. The Board of Trade are discussing with the Service Departments the possibility of allowing officers to use their coupons for the purchase of civilian clothing, including sports kit.

Would the hon. and gallant Gentleman say how an officer can communally use a pair of football boots?

It means that they are used first by one officer, then by another officer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the many complaints coming from colliery surface-workers engaged on work where damage to clothes is inevitable; that they are unable to replace same owing to shortage of coupons; and whether, in the interest of production, consideration to their claim will be considered?

After consultations with the miners' representatives, additional coupons have already been awarded to many categories of colliery surface workers. I regret that it is not possible to supplement these awards for the present rationing year, which ends on 31st May.

May I hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will keep this matter constantly in mind, as it is causing a little irritation at some pits where the work is difficult?

We are in touch with representatives of the men.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange that the two-part tariff system and minimum charges are modified so as to encourage, rather than penalise, economy in the consumption of gas and electricity?

The question of minimum charges for electricity and fixed charges under two-part tariffs for electricity and gas is one of the matters now being examined in consultation with the industries from the point of vew of economy of fuel and the effect which any rationing scheme may have on electricity and gas charges and tariffs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase in personnel and salary there has been in the Public Relations and Press Departments of his Ministry as compared with the position before the war?

The Press work of the Board of Trade before the war occupied part of the time of officers of a branch also concerned with other work. No close estimate of the cost of the Press work as such can therefore be made, but the annual cost of the salaries of the two officers mostly concerned was approximately £800. War conditions have necessitated grave interference with trade and industry, and in order to keep the public informed of the changes involved it was thought desirable to set up a Public Relations and Press Office. Details of the present personnel and the cost were given in the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Epsom (Sir A. Southby) on 29th April, a copy of which I am sending to him.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman think that Public Relations are the duties of Ministers and not the duties of civil servants because they involve matters of controversy?

I think it is a duty both of Ministers and civil servants. It is necessary and desirable that Departments should have civil servants whose task it is to keep the public informed of the many changes that have taken place necessitated by the war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings approximately how many of the 13,510 members of staff of his Ministry, performing duties of a technical nature, are below the call-up age limit; and whether he will release these to join the Forces and replace them by experienced technicians above Service age?

There are approximately 800 of the professional and technical staff who were below the age of reservation when they registered for military service; of this number 126 are to be released, 48 are medically unfit for service, 130 are still under consideration for release and application for deferment of call-up has been made for the remainder, approximately 500. Efforts have been and will continue to be made to obtain suitable substitutes for this number, which includes architectural staff, engineers and estate agents.

In view of the great difficulty from which middle-aged architects and engineers are suffering at the present time, could the Parliamentary Secretary state whether it is the policy of his Ministry to do the same with experienced and established architects and drive them out of business in the same way as the medium-sized experienced builders have been driven out of business?