asked the Secretary of State for War why 7590880 Staff-Sergeant H. Davis was placed in medical category A 1, although he had lost one eye?

Mr. Davis applied to enlist in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in August, 1938. Owing to his visual defect, his application had to come to the War Office. It was there given special approval, and he was classed "fit for service in any part of the world." He had lost his left eye through an injury, not disease; the sight of his other eye was good, and he was otherwise fit. This classification was therefore correct. In November, 1940, a new system of medical categories was introduced, and Davis' original classification was translated as A 1, when it should have been B 3. I very much regret this error, the cause of which cannot now be traced. Even in category B 3, however, Staff-Sergeant Davis would have been fit for service as a tradesman with his corps in any part of the world.

Does my right hon. Friend know whether or not this soldier was classified as a tradesman at the time when he was reported missing?

I cannot say without notice, but I will look into that point and will let the hon. Member know.

Was Nelson A 1?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the issue of Army Council Instructions in two parts, so that instructions affecting the welfare of the troops and not requiring security precautions may be freely available to hon. Members?

No, Sir. The separation of Army Council Instructions into two series would present considerable administrative difficulties. The more important instructions of a permanent sort, affecting the Army as a whole, already appear in Army Orders, which are published. And matter issued through Army Council Instructions, which calls for publicity outside the Service, is published in special leaflets or pamphlets.

In view of that answer, would not administrative difficulties be saved if my suggestion were adopted; and can my right hon. Friend say whether there is any reason other than strict adherence to tradition which prevents this suggestion being adopted?

Yes, Sir, the very admirable reason not to multiply the use of paper, which on all hands is regarded as the prime sin of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War why official sanction has been given for the use of contraceptives in the Army; and will he reconsider his attitude in this matter?

In the British Army, as in other armies, facilities are provided whereby soldiers who wish to do so may obtain preventives against venereal disease. I do not propose to withdraw these facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now made arrangements for the transfer into paratroops of Gunner Pragnell, No. 1732067, the details of whose case he has already received?

Gunner Pragnell has been interviewed with a view to posting to a Parachute Battalion, but, I regret to say, was not found suitable.

In view of the keenness of this young man, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he could reply earlier to the inquiries of hon. Members, and thus avoid Questions on these private matters having to be placed on the Order Paper?

I will try to answer them as quickly as I can.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also see that he takes the requisite time to go into these matters before replies are made?

I imagine that the delay in replying in this case was due to the fact that the man was sent for an interview, and that the result of that interview was awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the concern felt at the proposal to enrol all mobile Voluntary Aid Detachments into the Auxiliary Territorial Service and the strong opposition to such a step, he will say what action the Government propose to take in the matter?

No decision has been taken in this matter. The British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John are considering certain proposals, designed to make the best use of woman-power, and nothing more will be done until their views have been made known to the Army Council.

Can my right hon. Friend give any reasons why a change of this kind should be contemplated at all, in view of the feeling among V.A.Ds. that it is most undesirable?

I could not give all the reasons in answer to a question. It would take too long. As far as I can make out, all solutions of this problem are open to objection, and this one has been put forward as the least bad.

Will the House be given an opportunity of discussing the matter before a decision is arrived at?

I will consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for War the details of the conditions whereby the King's commission will be granted in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers to officers of the Army Cadet Force?

As the answer is rather long, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War the qualifications of Major Talbot Rice for his post in charge of the Turkish section of intelligence at the War Office; what military experience he has; and whether he can speak Turkish?

Major Talbot Rice is able to speak Turkish and was chosen for his present appointment because of his ability and knowledge of the various countries with which his section deals. He was a member of the Army Officers' Emergency Reserve and was called up in the summer of 1939.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many civilians have been granted commissions since the outbreak of war, for intelligence and propaganda work connected with the Near and Middle East?

No records are kept of civilians granted commissions for any particular theatre of war, and I regret therefore that I cannot give this information.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the services of Regular officers who had already been trained and made suitable for this work have been adequately employed?

That point arises, I think, on the hon. Member's next Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers, serving and retired, have, during the last 10 years, qualified for an extra grant for the study of Middle East languages, on the lines of the War Office pamphlet, Regulations relating to the Study of Foreign Languages; and how many of such officers are in employment in which these qualifications can be made adequate use of?

Between 1930 and 1939, 17 officers qualified as first class and 14 as second class interpreters in one or other of the Middle East languages. Of the former, 9 are now serving in the Middle East, and of the latter 5 are serving in the Middle East, 2 have become casualties and one has retired. My hon. Friend will, of course, realise that it may easily happen that officers who have language qualifications may have qualifications in other fields which are even more valuable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is to be a reversion to the chit system in respect of the purchase of Army clothing?

No, Sir. There is no intention of reverting to this system beyond the limited form in which it still obtains.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will direct that communications concerning training shall, when publicity is considered necessary, be made to Parliament or to the Press in the usual way, and not, in the first instance, to persons or institutions not responsible for training?

The original communication to which I think my hon. Friend refers was in fact addressed to Army Commanders. As a general rule I agree that if publicity is to be given to such communication's it should be given in the way suggested by my hon. Friend.

Whatever may have been the merits of that communication, did not the fact of the communication being made to the General Assembly create the impression that our training policy is subject to external influences?

I should be very sorry if it created that impression, because in fact it is not true.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in a camp now being prepared for troops in the home counties, it is proposed to discharge the sewage effluent direct by three boreholes in the chalk from which the water supply for the area is derived; why this proposal, which is opposed to modern sanitary engineering practice, has been proposed by officers in the Service; and whether he will ensure that no such proposals are contemplated under his authority in future?

In the case of which my hon. Friend has sent me details the chief engineer of the Command discussed the proposal with the local authorities. They at first agreed to it, but on reconsideration objected, and the proposal was therefore abandoned. Existing instructions on this subject enjoin special care where borings are made in chalk and lay down that, in cases of doubt, officers concerned should work in liaison with local health officers and municipal engineers.

Is it not advisable that this agreement should be come to not only with the local authorities, but with the water company; and should this proposal have entered the mind of any engineer possessed of modern sanitary experience?

I will consider the point.

asked the Secretary for Mines when the Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Henley is likely to make its report on substitute fuels; and whether this report will be made public?

I would remind the hon. Member that, in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 24th March, I stated that the report of Lord Henley's Committee had then just been completed. I regret that it has been decided not to make the report public.

Can the Minister tell the House why this report will not be made public?

It is deemed not to be entirely necessary and not in the public interest.

Having regard to the present coal situation, does not the Minister think there is a good deal of scope for the use of substitute fuels?

That possibility has been very fully discussed. I do not think there is any lack of information on that wide subject.

Can the Minister say whether substitute fuels can be used for house fires?

The Question refers to producer gas for road transport.

Are the oil interests likely to be opposing publication?

There is no question of oil interests being involved in this matter so far as I know. I have never heard that suggested.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has now any further statement to make relative to the question of the employment of youths in coalmining, particularly with regard to a scheme of apprenticeship to that industry?

The problem of ensuring a sufficient number of boys and youths for mining employment, including the question of apprenticeship, is now under consideration by an independent committee under the chairmanship of Sir John Forster. I am unable to make any further statement pending the report of the committee.

Does not the Minister agree that, in view of the fuel situation, this matter is very urgent?

It is receiving urgent consideration now. There are daily meetings on the subject.

When is the committee likely to report?

I cannot say, but it will be soon.

Is the Minister considering making a recruiting appeal to the public schools and universities of this country?

I have not considered it.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, seeing that council houses provide space for the storage of coal, he will allow stocks to be accumulated, where possible, during the summer months, thus relieving pressure on transport during the winter?

The Department has always encouraged householders to stock coal in summer, and will make provision for stocking to be resumed this summer as soon as the supply of coal permits.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many unofficial strikes have taken place in the coal industry during the last month; what was their duration; and how many men were involved?

During the three weeks ended 23rd May there were 86 strikes, involving loss of time by approximately 58,000 wage earners. The duration of the dispute varied, but, in all, 141,688 man-shifts were lost in the period. Information for the week ended 30th May is not yet available.

What steps have been taken, if any, to bring home to the miners the seriousness of the situation created by unofficial strikes?

Everything possible has been done to bring home to the minds of the men who have abstained from work the great loss and injury inflicted upon the nation by their action. I am glad to say that almost all the men are back at work to-day.

Are not these strikes illegal?

They are not strictly illegal.

asked the Secretary for Mines what action has been taken as a result of an infringement of the Fuel and Lighting Order, 1939, which was reported to the Walthamstow Borough Council on 27th March, 1942, and in respect of which the town clerk of Walthamstow was instructed to communicate with his Department?

I regret that the evidence available in this case was not sufficient to warrant proceedings.

Was the name of the person concerned communicated to the Minister?

Yes, Sir. I have read all the papers in the case, and I do not think there is sufficient ground to warrant proceedings.

asked the Lord President of the Council what action the Government propose to take following upon the report of the Medical Research Council upon chronic pulmonary disease in the South Wales coalfield?

I have been asked to reply. The recommendations in the report, which affect the Mines Department, as well as the Home Office, are under active consideration, in consultation with my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines. It is not yet possible to make any statement as to the action to be taken, but the urgency of the matter is fully appreciated and it will be dealt with with the least possible delay.

Would the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this investigation took well over four years and that it is really desirable that urgent action should be taken? Secondly, in framing any new Order, would the Department bear in mind the desirability of ante-dating its operation; otherwise large numbers of men who would be qualified under the report will be disqualified?

With regard to the second point, we will certainly take that into consideration. As to the hon. Member's first point, although this inquiry has taken a long time, the report was only published on 16th May, and there have been other matters affecting the coal industry which have been the concern of the Mines Department since that date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ensure by Order or otherwise, that it shall be an offence for anyone to waste coal, electricity, or gas?

I am afraid that it would be impossible to enforce an Order in such general terms as my hon. Friend suggests.

Will the Minister introduce a similar Order in more specific terms? As throwing away a piece of paper is an offence, should it not be an offence also when there is a very grave waste of fuel?

Certain Orders have been made which I have mentioned to the House. There is the Order on advertisement lighting restriction. Perhaps, in the course of the Debate which we may have in the near future, further aspects of this matter will be considered.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman say about a fortnight ago that he was considering the whole question of the unnecessary use of lighting in clubs, hotels, restaurants and railway stations? Is he yet in a position to make a statement on the subject?

No, Sir, not yet, but I shall be upon an early occasion, I daresay.

Will the Minister consider encouraging a wider use of wood fires in this country, especially in some areas?

That is part of a rather larger question, and I do not think I will go into it at this moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, to save labour, he will arrange for gas and electricity meters in any building to be read by the same man whether supplies be rationed or not?

I agree with my hon. Friend that this would be a most sensible and practical economy, and I am in consultation with the representative organisations of the gas and electricity supply industries on this matter. I am glad to know that the Gas, Light & Coke Co, and the County of London Electric Supply Co. have already made such arrangements in certain areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that his prohibition for over a year of any increase in the price of gas caused heavy loss to municipal and commercial gas suppliers; and whether he proposes to grant a subsidy to meet this loss?

No, Sir. Since the Board of Trade Order was made on 26th May, 1941, prohibiting increases in the price of gas except under licence, less than 10 per cent. of gas undertakings have applied for licences to raise their prices to the public. Most of these applications have been granted in whole or in part. I do not think it can be maintained that gas undertakers are being treated unfairly in comparison with other industries which have suffered as a result of the war and I am not prepared to recommend my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to grant a subsidy from public funds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the allocation of clothing coupons for overalls, etc., to flour confectioners so as to bring them in line with the allocation for bread bakers, in view of the fact that all bakehouse work involves heavy wear and tear on clothing?

Trade unions representing the workers referred to by my hon. Friend should submit their case for supplementary coupons for the present rationing period to the Board of Trade, through the Trades Union Congress, when I shall be very glad to consider it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this matter has been submitted to the Trades Union Congress and that no satisfaction has been obtained? Does he realise that these overalls are necessary in the work of preparing food?

I shall be very glad to look at any argument which my hon. Friend or the trade unions representing these men put up.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the claim of the Clyde Boilermakers Shop Stewards' Association for an increase of extra clothing coupons; and has he any statement to make?

I shall be glad to give full consideration to any claim that trade unions representing shipbuilding workers may put to me through the Trades Union Congress for the present rationing period.

Am I to take it that the right hon. Gentleman recommends the representatives of the men to make applications through their various trade unions, and that such applications will receive his fullest consideration?

Yes, Sir. We are always very glad to give full consideration to any application so submitted; we are now just starting a new rationing period, in which supplementary coupons may be adjusted.

Have any representations been made in the past by the unions representing these men?

Yes, certainly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of certain advertisements which have appeared in trade and other papers whereby an endeavour is being made to acquire small shops as going concerns at realisation prices; and, since the practice of profiting by distressed circumstances created by the war is undesirable, whether he will take steps to investigate these matters and find an alternative solution to the difficulties of those traders and small businesses which are adversely affected by reason of their personnel being called to the services?

I am aware of the practice to which my hon. Friend refers, and I am considering an amendment of the provisions of the Location of Retail Businesses Order accordingly.

While appreciating what my right hon. Friend has said, may I ask whether he will take immediate steps to see that small businesses are not absorbed by larger concerns? Any delay must inevitably lead to their being ruined and never being able to get into business again.

Yes, Sir. I hope very shortly that the amendment to which I refer may be able to be put into effect.

Will the Minister give consideration to the issue of licences to small businesses which are closed down in consequence of the war, so that they may have priority in re-establishing themselves after the war?

That is a separate point, but perhaps the hon. Member will put it on the Paper.

It is a very good suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will give a list of the nucleus firms in the toy trade in this country;

It would be contrary to the interests of public security to publish the names of nucleus and closed firms in any industry. The names are, however, given on request, and in confidence, to representative trade associations. I am sending to my hon. Friend, for his confidential information, a list of nucleus toy firms.

Is there any reason why individual traders, who will be very badly affected by these closing Orders, might not have the information, assuming, for example, that they are not members of any trading associations?

It is important, for the reason that I have suggested, to keep this information within as narrow a circle as possible. I am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate that the enemy would like to know the details about our concentration of industry.

Is it seriously suggested that the toy industry is of strategic importance?

No, Sir, but the reason why we are carrying out concentration in this and other industries is in order to put to a strategical purpose premises, machinery and labour, previously used for non-strategical purposes, for war production and the storage of war material. It is not desirable to tell the enemy about those matters.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is grave anxiety among people whose small businesses have been closed? Surely there is no reason why a list should not be given in confidence to such individual firms of firms which have been closed, or even made nucleus firms, so that they can get into touch with each other?

There is no difficulty about getting into touch with other firms for the purpose of combining.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure that more adequate supplies of pottery will be made available to the public at reasonable prices?

An Order has been made under which the manufacture of domestic pottery is subject to licence and, by directions issued yesterday under the Order, production for the home market is restricted to certain simple types of plain white, light ivory and brown pottery. Exports have been reduced by 20 per cent. since 1st May, and a further cut of 20 per cent. will be imposed as from 1st August. By these means, supplies for the home market will be substantially increased. On the recommendation of the Central Price Regulation Committee, I made an Order yesterday regulating the distributors' margins for all domestic pottery and fixing maximum retail prices for certain essential articles which will be marked in three qualities according to their grade. Manufacturers' maximum prices have also been fixed.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken steps to ensure that labour will be left in the Potteries to comply with the Orders?

I hope so, but there is great competition for labour at present.

When will a supply of these utility articles be available to the public, and what steps have been taken to control prices until they are available?

Prices are controlled as from now on. A schedule of prices is attached to the Order which I signed yesterday. So far as production is concerned, we are pushing forward as fast as we can.

Will the Order fixing the prices be made public?

Certainly.

Is it necessary to restrict the export of pottery in order to ensure sufficient for the home market?

Yes, Sir. I said that the home market must take precedence over the export market for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the selection of the personnel of the Central Committee of Export Groups, he has had consultation with local chambers of commerce and other representative trade organisations; whether Birmingham and the Midland area, with its exporting activity in normal times and its capacity for the production of competitive goods after the war, is represented on this committee; and whether he proposes to publish the terms of reference of the Board of Trade to the Central Committee of Export Groups?

The members of the Central Committee of Export Groups have been selected for their personal ability and their wide experience of industry and export trade, and not as representatives of particular industries. There was, therefore, no question of consulting trade organisations. The terms of reference of the Committee were stated in the reply which I gave on 19th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Govan (Mr. Neil Maclean).

Does not my right hon. Friend think that a large industrial area like the Midlands and Birmingham, where alone there are 1,200 separate industries, should have some representation?

If we considered one area, we should have to consider many others, and it was felt to be convenient in this case that the appropriate export groups should be the channel of communication. The Birmingham trades, like any others, will be able to make their views known through their industrial channels.

Have we not suffered enough in the past from Birmingham's opinion on these things?

Are the merchants represented on this export group?

I gave the list the other clay; perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will look it up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, and to what extent, Civil Defence personnel are being used in useful work of national importance, when their services can be spared from their ordinary Civil Defence work?

The policy to be followed in the matter was set out in a circular issued to local authorities on 14th April. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of this circular. Transfers from the Civil Defence services to industry are being made in increasing numbers by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. Further, other Civil Defence personnel are being employed without change of status on work of national importance not hitherto regarded as Civil Defence duties, but my right hon. Friend has not, as yet, asked the authorities to inform him of the arrangements made or the numbers involved.

While I thank my hon. Friend for his reply, and for what has been done, will he realise that there is still an enormous amount of labour being lost, and will he take every step he can to see that it is utilised and not wasted?

Certainly, Sir.

Will the hon. Member realise that the circular talks about snow and coal, of which there is not much about? Will he suggest some other work of local importance?

It does not talk about snow and coal as providing the only possible employment for Civil Defence personnel.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the great difficulty of preventing looting during and immediately after air raids and of the reluctance of the judiciary to utilise the death penalty for the offence, he will, to protect the public, now authorise such offenders being dealt with by military courts with plenary powers?

From time to time representations have been made to my right hon. Friend both that particular sentences are too heavy and that sentences in general are too light, but the information available as to the penalties imposed by the courts up and down the country does not support the suggestion that there has been any general reluctance to pass adequate sentences. The suggestion that the time and attention of military officers should be diverted to the business of trying civilian offenders would, I am sure, be unwelcome both to the military authorities and to Parliament.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the great satisfaction which was felt in a town recently bombed when it was rumoured that the military had been given orders to shoot first and to inquire afterwards?

I am not aware of those circumstances, but my hon. and gallant Friend may be pleased to hear that 60 sentences of penal servitude have been imposed for looting.

Would the hon. Member make it quite clear that it is not the intention of the Government to establish military courts with plenary powers to deal with special offences, apart from any local circumstances which might make that course necessary?

Yes, Sir; that is quite so.

Are the Government prepared to establish the death penalty for commercial and economic looting, which, quite apart from the offences which have been referred to, takes place in normal times?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the ownership of coal royalties passes to the Government what will be the estimated annual income; what will be the amount of compensation to be paid to the coalowners; and in what way will compensation be paid?

The estimates of royalties on which compensation was based were just over £5,000,000 gross, and just under £4,250,000 net, both figures being before deduction of Income Tax. It is impossible at present to make any reliable estimate of the future income of the Coal Commission. At the vesting date it is likely to be rather below those figures. The compensation, excluding subsidiary coal hereditaments, is fixed at £66,450,000, and will be paid in cash.

Are they going to invest it in War Loan?