asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of cases of miners' nystagmus receiving compensation, respectively, in 1933, 1938 and the last year recorded?

In 1933 the number of miners in receipt of compensation for nystagmus was 9,603, including 1,535 new cases and 8,068. cases continued from previous years. In 1938 the new cases numbered 1,019 and the continued cases 4,183, making a total of 5,202. I am informed that figures for the war years are not available.

Can the Minister assure me that the work of research is going on steadily, and that the results are being put into practice?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether his attention has been called to the conditions which are contained in many contracts between suppliers and consumers of electricity which insists that the consumer must take a minimum amount of electricity per annum; and whether, in view of the vital necessity of reducing consumption, he will take steps to arrange for such contracts to be modified during the war period?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to cases in which the supply undertaking, in view of the capital expenditure involved in providing a supply of electricity, have asked the consumer to guarantee to take or pay for a minimum number of units per annum for a period of years in order to ensure to the supply authority a minimum revenue to meet the capital and other charges involved. If, as a result of economies in consumption owing to present conditions, a consumer does not consume the guaranteed amount, he should get in touch with the supply authority and ask them to consider some revision of the contract. I am informed that the supply authorities are ready to consider particular cases sympathetically on their merits.

Will the Minister lend his influence where that sympathetic consideration is not given?

I should be very happy to look into it.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make an early announcement as to whether remaining supplies of basic petrol can be used up during July if still available?

I hope it may be possible to make a statement on this subject on the next Sitting Day or the day after.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the latest increase in the price of petrol was given as a result of an estimated increase in the costs of the Petroleum Board; and whether, in reaching the estimate, any account was taken of losses incurred by the oil companies in Rumania, the Dutch East Indies or other enemy or enemy-occupied territories?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes," and to the second part "No."

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the petrol allowances for church-going and shopping after 30th June will be limited to one journey a week; and whether further steps will be taken to prevent the use of private motorcars for journeys between home and businesses when public transport could reasonably be used?

The petrol allowance for church-going will be limited to one journey a week except in the case of ministers of religion and others whose duties require more frequent attendance. For shopping the limit will be two journeys a week. Allowances for travel between home and place of business are kept under constant review in order to eliminate the use of petrol where public transport facilities are available.

Do we understand from the reply that, in the opinion of the Minister, shopping is quite as important as church-going?

No, Sir, because as a rule there is only one day a week for the latter purpose.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider, when the basic ration of petrol terminates at the end of June, giving a special basic ration for the motor-cars of members of the Fighting Forces and merchant sailors on leave, including men of the searchlight stations and anti-aircraft batteries?

If by a basic ration the hon. Member means an automatic issue to be used at the holder's discretion, the answer is "No." There is already provision for certain controlled allowances to Service personnel and members of the Merchant Marine, and I propose to discuss with the Departments concerned what modifications, if any, are desirable in the changed circumstances.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman when he is considering this matter see that the allowance is given for operational pilots as well as for those in the Army?

All those in the Services are included, whether they be operational pilots, or in the Army, or in the Merchant Service, and there are existing arrangements between the Services which have been in operation for some time.

But when the basic ration was withdrawn no provision was made for further supplies supplementing the ration for the Services.

But provision is already made which has nothing to do with the basic ration, I understand. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that in the consultations the position of the Service he has mentioned will be kept in mind. At the moment provision is made for those he has in mind.

I am not thinking of the moment, but of the time when the basic ration is withdrawn. What is the position of a man on leave who has not got his car licensed now?

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power for what climatic reasons it is proposed under the Fuel Rationing Scheme to give a higher rationing in Scotland and the North of England than in the Midlands, and a higher ration in the Midlands than in London and the South, having regard to the fact in the winter the isotherms in Great Britain run North and South so that the climate is colder in the East than in the central districts, and colder in the central districts than in the West?

Taking the evidence afforded by the isotherms alone, it is true that the coldest parts of Great Britain in winter are along the East coast. But the ordinary dry bulb thermometer is not an adequate measure of temperature as it affects human beings. The rawness of the air in the North, the humidity in the West, must also be taken into account. Moreover, in summer the temperature does fall steadily from South to North. As a result of all these factors, the consumption of fuel has always increased steadily as one goes Northwards.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that in the rationing system introduced in the last war special provision was made in the case of certain parts of the country which, owing to their height or for other reasons, are colder than other parts; and is he also aware that most of the coal is consumed in the winter and not in the summer, and therefore the fall in the temperature in the summer is hardly relevant?

The point about isolated places is one which I will look into, but with regard to consumption, it is a fact that, taking a number of cases—admittedly as yet not a very large number—it is an extraordinary thing that as one goes northwards the consumption increases steadily.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that before the war, when coal was plentiful, business men argued before the Royal Commission on the distribution of population that light industries would not go North on account of the climate, and can they grumble now if, as a result of their own policy, they are penalised for coal?

Are not these questions hypothetical? Do the Government really intend to put into operation this fuel rationing system?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is very cold down in the East and that we cannot get coal? Is he aware that the hon. Member for Plaistow has not been able to get any coal for the last three months?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of claims for silicosis certificates made by South Wales coal-miners to the Medical (Silicosis) Board; and what number of such claims were rejected for each of the years 1939 to 1941?

The number of applications for disablement certificates in 1939 was 658, of which 271 were refused; in 1940, 825, of which 396 were refused, and in 1941, 1,136, of which 662 were refused.