asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, under recent directional orders, full-time women agricultural workers on the land have been directed to do part-time work with the National Fire Service and other bodies, in some cases three or four miles from the farm on which they work; and whether, in view of the importance of the fullest possible hours of labour being made use of on the farms, he will make some concession in these cases, so that the programme of farm work will not be unduly disturbed?

No complaints have been brought to my notice, but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any cases in which he considers that hardship has been caused through directions issued by my officers, I will have them investigated.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that food is an all-important munition of war, and will he issue some comprehensive instructions so that girls on outlying farms having to walk four or five miles should not be made to waste time which could be used for the production of food? It will be worse when the harvest is here.

I am afraid that I cannot do this job under comprehensive instructions. Man-power has got so tight that I have to deal with almost individual cases.

Does not my right hon. Friend realise that that is the reason I am rubbing it in?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, before he decided on the latest call-up of persons employed in the distributive trades, he consulted with the Ministry of Food, employers and trade unions concerned, and satisfied himself and them that there would be a sufficient staff left in food shops to conduct the distribution of rationed and other commodities efficiently; and how many food shops he estimates will close as the result?

By agreement with my Noble Friend the Minister of Food and after consultation with representatives of the employers and workers concerned, arrangements have been made to regulate the withdrawal of men and women from the food distributive trades in such a way as not to impair an efficient service to the public or to cause the closing down of any business which is necessary for the proper distribution of food.

If I send the right hon. Gentleman one or two cases where employees and employers are feeling very desperate about this business, will he look into them?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he received any report regarding police interference at a workers' meeting of those employed at a certain ordnance factory; will he say from whom the report came, the nature of the meeting and the reasons of police activity; and whether the demand for an inquiry will be granted?

No, Sir. No report of this nature has been addressed to me.

Did the right hon. Gentleman see the telegram I sent him about this matter?

Yes, Sir. The hon. Gentleman asked me whether I had received a report of the circumstances, but all I have received up to now is his telegram.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are being trained for industrial work and how many for the professions, respectively, under the Tomlinson Scheme?

The scheme recommended in the Tomlinson Committee Report is designed for the post-war problem, but interim measures are in operation to meet current needs. Under these measures approximately 1,250 disabled persons are now receiving training for industrial and commercial occupations, while about 25 persons are receiving training for the professions or are taking courses of higher education in accordance with a statement which is being circulated to-day.

Will my right hon. Friend see that the greatest publicity is given to this valuable Report?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Industrial Health Research Board is specifically represented on the newly formed Industrial Health Advisory Committee; how liaison will be maintained between these two bodies; whether the new committee is to be concerned with the industrial health research; and whether he is satisfied there will be no duplication of the functions of the two bodies and that there will be no need to alter again the recently revised terms of reference of the Industrial Health Research Board which include the carrying out of research into health and disease of industrial workers?

The Industrial Health Research Board is not specifically represented on my Committee. A number of members are common to both bodies and effective contact will be maintained through these members and through official channels. Duplication of functions will be avoided; the Board is a research body whereas my Committee will not conduct research and will advise me on technical and scientific problems arising out of the current administration of my Department. The terms of reference of my Committee were settled with due regard to the revised terms of reference of the Board and will not therefore occasion any alteration in the latter.

Would it not be useful to have a representative of each body on the other body so that the results of research of one committee are applied in the other?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the organisation is so arranged that immediately it ceases to be a thing that can be dealt with currently and needs long research it will be passed on. I think that is the better way of dealing with it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the dissatisfaction in the Women's World that women's representation is inadequate on his new Industrial Health Advisory Committee, he will take steps to balance his committee, particularly on the industrial, nursing, nutrition and canteen sides?

This is a Committee to advise me on technical and scientific matters and not to represent particular bodies or interests. It is, therefore, a question of personal qualifications and not of balancing the sexes. I am, however, considering the addition of one or two people with suitable qualifications who are women.

Does the answer imply that there are no technical women suitable to be put on the Committee?

No, not at all.

Has my right hon. Friend elucidated the meaning of the words "Women's World" in the Question? Is it a new paper or a new hemisphere?

I think it is a place where they invite men to.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is any shortage of male labour in the munition and other war production factories in the Metropolitan area?

In the Metropolitan area, as in other parts of the county, there is a shortage of male labour of certain types required for munitions production, including skilled workers and men capable of heavy manual work.

Will my right hon. Friend approach the Home Secretary with a view to getting some of the police on traffic duty into some of these factories, or is that a reserved occupation?

That is a Question for the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make arrangements by which a childless married woman, whose husband lives at home, who has no domestic help but who has voluntarily taken on full-time work and finds later that she is unable to run her home and do her job, can appeal to the women's panel for redirection to part-time work?

No new arrangements are required. If such a woman works in an undertaking scheduled under the Essential Work Order she may apply to the National Service Officer for her release, and if dissatisfied with his decision she has a right of appeal to a local appeal board. In other cases she should consult the local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service and ask for her position to be reviewed. In the event of disagreement her case would be referred for advice to a women's panel.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, since the Control of Employment Order offers, as an alternative to application to a labour exchange, recourse to an employment agency approved by his Ministry, Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is such an approved agency: whether it recruits only for its own needs; and how many employment agencies in all have been approved by his Department under the said Order?

My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt referring to the approval of agencies for the purposes of the Employment of Women (Control of Engagement) Order. The answer to the first two parts of the Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part of the Question, 28 agencies have so far been approved.

Is not the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes a concern whose primary duty is to cater for the wants of the Services, and how does that fit in with its use as an employment agency?

I would like to have notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Labour why the Essential Work Order is applied to British Restaurants and not to essential works canteens?

As I have explained in reply to previous Questions, the proposal to schedule works canteens separately from the factory which they serve gives rise to difficulties which are at present under consideration. These difficulties do not apply to British Restaurants.

The right hon. Gentleman says that these difficulties have been under consideration for some time, and may I ask how much longer they are to be under consideration? Already a long time has elapsed.

That is quite true. On the other hand, we cannot amend the whole of our factory procedure in a moment, and I am averse to treating a canteen as if it were another part of a factory.

In view of the fact that it is the policy of the right hon. Gentleman's Department generally to accept a decision which has been come to by both employers and employed, as is the case here, may I ask why he does not accept the decision in this instance?

I can assure my hon. Friend that that is not the issue involved. It is a different issue entirely. The question is whether we should remove all obligations of the principal employer for the persons in the canteen. Up to now I have taken the view that the canteen is a part of the factory, and I have to look at the Canteen Order to see what changes must be made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that some British Restaurants, in addition to employing voluntary labour, are paying lower wages to their paid staff than the rates paid by industrial caterers to canteen workers at essential works under a National Joint Industrial Council agreement; and whether he will apply the terms of such an agreement to British Restaurants?

According to my information the rates of wages recommended for British Restaurants by the Joint Industrial Council for local authorities non-trading services (manual workers) are in general higher than those provided for in the agreement with industrial catering contractors, to which I assume my hon. Friend refers. I have no authority to impose this latter agreement on local authorities in respect of British Restaurants.

asked the Minister of Labour under what authority factory inspectors enter works canteens, criticise the cooking and service, and express opinions on the desirability, or otherwise, of factory occupiers engaging industrial caterers under contract; and whether he will see that the factory inspectors called on to perform these duties have experience in catering?

I have wide powers under the Factories Act as well as under Defence Regulations to impose requirements on occupiers of particular factories for the welfare of the persons employed, including arrangements with regard to meals at canteens, and I am advised that factory inspectors have full powers to investigate such arrangements. It is not within their authority to advise that industrial caterers should, or should not, be employed. A fair judgment as to whether meals are well or badly cooked or served can be formed without experience of catering, but the inspectors are assisted by expert canteen advisers, who also give advice or make suggestions to factory occupiers and catering staffs.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the replies on all these three Questions, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on a subsequent occasion.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the world-wide importance of the service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, he will cease calling up men or women working at the British Broadcasting Corporation and call up all men and women working on the land who can be replaced by prisoners of war?

No. Sir. Adequate arrangements exist for the retention of essential staff by the British Broadcasting Corporation, and workers who can be spared from agriculture are called up.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether the time has not come to call up a few more farmers to fight for England?

Is it not essential to leave on the land as many skilled agricultural workers as possible?

Could the right hon. Gentleman not replace them by Italian prisoners?

Does the right hon. Gentleman think the B.B.C. can really live by eating their own words?

I have no doubt that my hon. Friend is experimenting.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will return to the British Broadcasting Corporation Mr. Bruce Belfrage and Mr. Alvar Liddell, in view of the importance to the national war effort of their radio services?

Both these men are in the Forces, and my hon. and gallant Friend should address his request in the first instance to the Service Ministers concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a man who has appealed against his discharge from his employment is frequently unemployed for some time owing to the delay in the hearing of his appeal and, in view of the waste of man-power involved, will he fix a maximum period of not more than seven days within which an appeal against discharge must be decided?

A man who appeals against his discharge need not necessarily remain unemployed pending the hearing of his appeal, and it is the policy of my Department to place him, wherever possible, in temporary employment meanwhile. The Department aims at securing a recommendation from a local appeal board within seven days, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that it is not always practicable to keep within rigid time-limits.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether a man who is directed to temporary employment must necessarily go outside his own area if he is appealing?

It all depends. If he goes outside the area, he is brought back when his appeal is heard. What I have to do is to place him where work can be done.

If a man is directed to temporary employment outside his area and appeals, when his appeal is heard are his expenses met?

That is another question.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether, in view of the desirability of a more widespread knowledge of finance, he will ensure the inclusion in the curriculum of the schools throughout the country of some instruction on this subject?

While the younger children learn something about pounds, shillings and pence, my hon. Friend will no doubt appreciate that a study of advanced finance is appropriate only for older children. Some such instruction is already given in secondary, central and junior commercial schools as well as in part-time evening classes. The question of its proper place in the curriculum of secondary schools in the future is under consideration by the Norwood Committee.

Will my right hon. Friend see that it is not made impossible to ensure that really comprehensive instruction in finance is carried out in secondary schools in the near future, and will he include the methods by which bankers make their profits, and also the banking system and Treasury deposit receipts?

asked the President of the Board of Education when he contemplates being able to bring in the promised new Education Bill?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is proposed to introduce an Education Bill this Session?

I cannot at present add to previous replies, particularly that which I gave to the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 28th January.

While I realise that my right hon. Friend wishes to bring in a really comprehensive Bill, can he say whether it is contemplated that it will be brought in this Session? Discussions have been going on now for nearly three years.

As my hon. Friend will realise, to recast our educational system is a big task, and therefore I can give no undertaking, but while my answer may appear negative I do not want the hon. Member's hopes to be dashed or any fears to be aroused, because I hope to make steady progress.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot give us an assurance about this Session, can he hold out a reasonable prospect of our getting the Bill this year?

I certainly desire that progress should be made as rapidly as possible.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's original answer mean that the Bill when introduced will be a really comprehensive Bill?

I trust that it will be found to be so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain exactly what is holding up this Bill?

While there is nothing holding up the preparation except that there is much hard work to be done, I think it would be wrong if I allowed the Bill to be rushed and there was bad work in consequence.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is his intention in the proposed new Education Act that parents shall continue to have the statutory right of their children being educated in accordance with their religious faith?

I think that when the hon. Member sees my proposals as a whole he will be satisfied on this point.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has formed any estimate of the number of elementary and secondary men and women teachers, respectively, who will be available during the next three years; the total number required; and how many are likely to be received into training colleges and have finished their training during the next three years if hostilities have not ended?

As the answer is necessarily somewhat long, and contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that an adequate supply of teachers will be available in the next three or four years?

The answer goes into that question in considerable detail and shows that that will be the case, but that does not mean that I underestimate the difficulties or the wisdom of the hon. Member in putting this Question.

Is it possible for the Board to take any steps to bring back to the schools some of those teachers of very low medical category who are now in the Forces? Surely they could be much better employed in the schools than upon some of the jobs they are now doing?

I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service about the call-up and about the question of demobilisation of teachers at the end of the war.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in certain South Wales hospitals as a result of the Welsh Board of Health refusing to allow boards of management to pay the same rates of wages to members of the Civil Nursing Reserve as are now to be paid to the normal staff; and, as all these nurses are performing similar duties, will he reconsider the attitude of his Department to this problem?

The recommendations of the Nurses' Salaries Committee cannot be automatically applied to members of the Civil Nursing Reserve, whose conditions of service are in some respects different from those of normal hospital staff. I am now reviewing the rates of pay of the Civil Nursing Reserve, in the light of the recommendations of the Nurses' Salaries Committee, but new rates cannot be paid until the review is completed. Any changes will operate, retrospectively if necessary, from the same date as the scales proposed by the Nurses' Salaries Committee for the ordinary staff of hospitals.

Can my right hon. Friend give an indication of when he is expecting a decision?

Very shortly.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the payment of allowances to the Civil Nursing Reserve without deduction of Income Tax?

asked the Minister of Health whether any action has been taken hitherto to give effect to Regulation 33B in relation to contact cases?

I am not at present able to say to what extent the compulsory powers conferred by the Regulations have as yet been exercised, but I hope shortly to receive reports which local authorities were asked, early in January, to submit quarterly.

asked the Minister of Health (1) why the Burnley Corporation tender of £1,832 8s. 8d. for a war-time nursery at Rosehill School, being the only tender submitted, has been refused by his Department and the local authority instructed to incur further expense and delay by re-advertising;

(2) why the Burnley Corporation Works Department tender for a war-time nursery at St. Mary's School of £575 9s. 6d., being the lowest tender received, has been rejected by his Department in favour of a higher figure from a private firm, there being no question as to the quality of the work of the local authority's works department;

(3) why the Government have a different form for assessing expenditure on works carried out by local authorities from that used for private contractors with the result that, although equal in quality and cheaper in price, the tenders of local authorities are frequently refused; and whether he will take steps to alter this system?

The Burnley Corporation has in hand proposals for the provision of two nursery classes, and I am prepared to repay to the Corporation the approved cost of their construction. The question at issue is whether the basis of repayment shall be the actual cost of the work to the Council or an estimate of the cost made in advance, and the Council are not prepared to proceed with the work unless the second basis is adopted. Where a tender from an outside contractor is accepted, the estimate contained in that tender is the actual cost to the Council and therefore a proper basis of repayment. An estimate by the works department is not necessarily the actual cost and is therefore not a proper basis of repayment. No special form is prescribed by my Department for assessing expenditure on works carried out by local authorities.

Is it not a fact that because the allowance made for superannuation purposes to local authorities is restricted to a definite amount, they cannot meet that charge, because their labour costing is different; nevertheless, they can make that up by other means, and supply, without exceeding the limits, at a cheaper rate than the other people, but because of that particular formula, they are in difficulties?

I think we had better see whether we can resolve this matter by local discussion.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the strong demand for a nursery school at Elm Park to enable married women to take part in war work; and whether he will take steps to hasten its opening?

My attention has been drawn to the demand for a war-time nursery at Elm Park, and my regional officer has agreed to the use of certain premises for the purpose. Subject to labour and materials being available for the necessary adaptation, every effort will be made to get the nursery opened at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in adopting the medical recommendations of the Beveridge Report, he will safeguard the position of doctors who have planned to make provision for their retirement by selling their practices with or without houses and surgeries?

My hon. Friend may be sure that this factor will be fully appreciated in considering the new arrangements.

Is not that answer most satisfactory?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the conflicting policies which still obtain in regard to the pasteurisation of milk supplies in Great Britain, he will institute a comprehensive inquiry to establish a final settlement of the issues at stake in the light of all available scientific and economic evidence?

No Sir. I am advised that the facts are well known, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the course suggested.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that pasteurisation will not be made compulsory?

I can give no undertaking of that kind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will hold an inquiry into the provision made for the dental treatment of patients at the Moss Side State Institution for Mental Defectives, in view of the fact that a patient, with only one tooth with which she was able to bite, was not considered to need partial artificial dentures and these were recommended by the dental surgeon at another institution immediately she was transferred there?

I am looking into the case referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the acute difficulties with which nursing homes, catering for maternity cases, have to deal in respect of shortage of midwives and domestic staff; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I am aware of the difficulty experienced by maternity homes, owing to the general shortage of midwives, nurses, and domestic staff. Measures for improving recruitment and distribution of midwives and nurses are now being considered by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service in consultation with me and with the assistance of the National Advisory Council which he has recently set up. As regards domestic staff, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on 18th March.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that no specific representative or specialist of psychological medicine sits on the Representative Medical Committee; and whether he will take steps to remedy this?

I do not think I should be justified in enlarging the Medical Advisory Committee at this stage, but it has always been contemplated that the Committee's membership should be periodically renewed, and I will bear this suggestion in mind.

Will the Minister meanwhile consult the accredited organisation of those engaged in psychological medicine with a view to an appointment when a vacancy occurs?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent his Department concerns itself with the bona fides of the many products which are advertised as containing large proportions of vitamin C.

My Department is not directly responsible for this matter, but local food and drugs authorities have power to take proceedings against any person who publishes, or is a party to the publication of, an advertisement which falsely describes any food or drug or is otherwise calculated to mislead as to its nature, substance or quality.

Is the Minister really satisfied that there is such a thing as vitamin C?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the desirability of encouraging the building of houses of chalk in certain suitable districts, in view of the availability of material on the spot and small amount of skilled labour required?

The possibilities of building houses in chalk will doubtless be considered, along with other methods, by the inter-Departmental Committee on building materials and construction methods, whose appointment I announced in my reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for South Battersea (Mr. Selley) on 19th November last, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

If I send my right hon. Friend some of the correspondence I have received on this subject, will he have the matter further looked into?

I shall be most happy to do so.

Why has there been this delay, in view of the fact that thousands of houses in my constituency and through the South of England have been built of chalk in the past? In view of the great lack of working-class houses, why is this matter still under consideration, after three and a half years?

Because we want to be sure that we are taking a modern view of people's desires, as to type and design of cottages.

Will the Minister consider the preparation of model by-laws as to design, for local authorities, so that the best type of houses will be built?

We shall have to consider all those things when we get the report of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department is permitting local authorities to acquire land now for their post-war housing schemes at prices in excess of the value of such land on 31st March, 1939?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular I have recently issued to local authorities on the subject, from which he will see that I have made it clear that the proposed purchase price should not be in excess of the 1939 value.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that men who are serving in the Forces and have let their houses on an annual tenancy or for a short term of years are unable to regain possession after the expiration of the period on the ground that the houses are controlled under the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act; and will he consider introducing legislation so that the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act does not apply in such cases?

No, Sir. I would, however point out that under Section 3 of the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions (Amendment) Act, 1933, and Section 3 of the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act, 1939, an owner can obtain from the court an order for possession of his house for occupation as a residence for himself without proof of alternative accommodation, unless the court is satisfied that greater hardship would be caused by granting the order than by refusing to grant it. If my hon. Friend has any cases of special difficulty in mind, perhaps he would send me particulars.

Does the Minister consider that those men who have been serving overseas, and have often gone voluntarily to serve, are at a disadvantage compared with the men who stayed at home, and would he not give first consideration to them?

I should be very glad to do anything for their advantage, but I do not see that any special difficulty arises under the present law. If my hon. Friend has any information on the point, I should be glad to have it.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether the pre-war regulations as to the number of houses to the acre will continue to apply in post-war housing development schemes?

There were no statutory regulations before the war governing the number of houses to the acre. The provisions to be made by a planning scheme must depend on the circumstances and requirements of the particular locality.

Could my right hon. Friend look into this and make recommendations so that the recommendations and suggestions of the Ministry of Health can be scientifically considered? It is not quite satisfactory at the present time.

Is it not true that large numbers of local authorities did establish a rule that not more than so many houses to the acre could be built?

There were provisions to that effect in town-planning schemes, and they will be continued.

Would not this problem solve itself if the Minister had the good sense to introduce a thorough-going tax on site values?

That is another matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give the figures, to date, of the farmers and livestock owners who have entered the veterinary inspection scheme for the control of the diseases of dairy cattle?

The owners of 5,525 dairy herds comprising 150,000 cows and 80,000 heifers are now participating in the scheme.

Can the Minister say whether any improvement in the health of dairy herds has been observed?

I do not think there has been time yet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reports on the work of the Italian prisoners as agricultural labourers have been received; and whether he will allow more Italian labourers to be made available for the coming harvest in England?

Reports received by my Department show that on the whole the work of Italian prisoners employed in agriculture is satisfactory. Arrangements have been made to bring further Italian prisoners to this country for agricultural work this year, and I hope that by harvest time there will be a total of between 30,000 and 40,000 available.

Is the Minister aware that in the last war we had 500,000 prisoners working for us on the land, so that we were able to release a comparable number of our agricultural population?

No, I do not know.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that some milk producer/retailers are employing Land Army girls to distribute milk from door to door, and that the rate of wages in their case is 48s. per week as against the trade board rate of 55s. paid by other milk retailers; and whether he will take steps to remove this anomaly?

Women's Land Army labour is only supplied for employment with milk producer/retailers where minimum agricultural wage rates apply—that is, where only part of the worker's time is spent on the round and she does not therefore come under the trade board rate.

The point I am trying to get at is that the lower rate of wages paid to these land girls for doing exactly the same work as retail milk distributors means that they are blacklegging the trade board rates of wages.

No, Sir; because they are not doing exactly the same work.

Is the Minister aware that certain co-operative societies are using no fewer than seven or eight of these land girls in large towns to distribute the milk, and is this not a sad misuse of labour needed on the land?

A case: of that description in Wiltshire has come to my notice, and I am having investigations made. If it is found that my hon. Friend is accurate, then arrangements will be made for the girls to be correctly employed or to be found other work on the land.

Is the Minister satisfied that a considerable part of their time is occupied on agricultural duties other than milk distribution?

If they are mainly or almost wholly employed in milk distribution, it is not at all what I want. I want these mobile women to be employed on the land, producing milk. If the hon. Member can give me any cases, I shall be only too delighted to look into them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the growing rat pest, he will investigate the possibility of encouraging the raising of a strain of cats specially suited for dealing with rats on the lines of a similar strain formerly cultivated at Le Havre in France for use in connection with ships?

No, Sir. The most efficient methods of dealing with rats are poisoning, gassing and trapping.

Has the Minister tried pasteurised milk?

Will the Minister consider feeding rats on unpasteurised milk in order to reduce their number?

Will the Minister consider employing some of the cats in this House?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can make an up-to-date statement regarding the duty of the public to carry, or not to carry, gas-masks?

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made to the House on 30th July last, when I indicated that if and when there was any reason for a change of policy I would advise the public without delay.

Is it not a fact that the principal officer of the A.R.P. Department of the Ministry of Home Security has stated that in his opinion Hitler will use gas, and that Lord Halifax has said the same thing? Is it not undesirable that the British public should receive contradictory advice?

I do not recall that advice having been given. Everybody is entitled to his opinion. The British Government have expressed their opinion at the moment, though that opinion may have to be changed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory nature of the sleeping accommodation for women members of the National Fire Service who have to be adjacent to the control rooms to enable them to be available for duty, inasmuch as there is a lack of proper ventilation and general amenities; what steps he is taking to have these matters rectified; and whether he will give an assurance that until such steps have been taken women will not be called upon to sleep under these conditions?

Improvements in the sleeping accommodation for women in the National Fire Service are being made, as part of the programme for improving National Fire Service accommodation generally, as rapidly as the restricted supply of labour and materials allows. Instructions have been given that the 48/24 hour system of duty is not to be applied except when accommodation is reasonably satisfactory. I have written to my hon. Friend in regard to the particular station to which he has drawn my attention, where the accommodation for women appears to be adequate.

Does my right hon. Friend say that the accommodation is adequate?

I said:

"where the accommodation for women appears to be adequate."