asked the Secretary of State for Air how many airmen are without documents and have been so for one month, three months, six months and 12 months, respectively?

No airman is without documents. A record of every man's service is maintained by the R.A.F. Record Office throughout his career in the Royal Air Force. As for the administration of those documents which are required to be held by a man's unit, I have been aware of difficulties arising from the complexities of posting, particularly overseas, the loss of documents by enemy action and the dilution of experienced staff. For some time past strenuous efforts have been made to overcome these difficulties and improvement in procedure has resulted; but I am not satisfied with the present position, and further measures are being taken.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether these documents include medical history sheets?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on what grounds he has decided not to consider representations by Members of Parliament in respect of their constituents serving in the Royal Air Force unless those representations are supported by a magistrate or a minister of religion personally acquainted with the airman concerned?

Presumably my hon. Friend has in mind a recent case in which one of his constituents serving in the Royal Air Force applied to him for a statement to support an official application made on compassionate grounds, for posting to a Station near his home. Application of this kind must in the first place be submitted by an airman to his commanding officer, supported by a corroborative statement from a person of standing, such as a Member of Parliament, a minister of religion or a justice of the peace. Representations made direct to my Department by an hon. Member on behalf of an airmail for whom he cannot himself provide a corroborative statement of this kind would, of course, be carefully considered in conjunction with an application from the airman concerned submitted through the recognised official channels.

Do I understand from that answer that, when a Member of Parliament writes to the Department of the right hon. Gentleman, the Department does not take action without further representation?

No, Sir. We answer the Member's letter and suggest to him the way to take action.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the War Office at once bring the machinery they have into action and make replies at once instead of imposing, as in this case, 10 days of unnecessary delay?

Really the quickest way is for a man to apply to his commanding officer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this imposes a severe limitation upon men who do not know a justice of the peace and, in many cases, do not know intimately a minister of religion who could vouch for them? Will he take steps, if this has to be done, to see that the basis is made much broader, say, to include the secretary of a friendly society or a good neighbour who might be able to speak for the man?

I will gladly look into that point and will consider very carefully whether the list could be extended.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that Members of Parliament are protected by the usual channels being used, otherwise an avalanche will descend upon them?

I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend.

Cannot these representations be made through the welfare officer of the R.A.F?

It would be very much quicker to do that through the commanding officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the use of the term "commission," as applied to the personnel of the Royal Air Force Educational Service, is rather misleading, as these officers have to serve under civilian conditions, and do not enjoy the status and privileges of other officers; and whether he will consider extending such privileges to the members of this service?

The Royal Air Force Educational Service was, before the war, a civilian organisation. Its members now serve as unmobilised officers of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve which enables them to wear uniform. It is convenient, for reasons of discipline, that they should do so. Their duties are, however, substantially of the same nature as in peacetime and they therefore continue to receive pay on the provincial Burnham Scale for secondary school teachers together with a special allowance to meet extra expenditure which they may incur owing to their service with the Royal Air Force. No change in these arrangements is contemplated.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether this is in accordance with the letters of invitation sent to the men before they joined, or has there been an alteration since?

No, Sir; I understand that pay conditions ate entirely in accordance with the conditions of service before the war and many have joined since the war on these conditions. So far from there being discontent with present conditions I understand there is no difficulty at all in filling vacancies.

Is it not a new status in the history of the world that in wartime a man should be invited or compelled to be an officer and yet not be a mobilised officer; and are not these officers, officers for the purpose of receiving orders and officers for no purpose of giving orders?

I do not think that that is true. This arrangement is working very well. The educational service is working well and there is no difficulty in obtaining candidates for vacancies.

Is it not an entirely new status?

Is it not the fact——

We must get on with Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the reason why officers in the Special Duties Branch or in the Auxiliary and Special Duties Branch, who are masters of the Air-Sea Rescue launches and pinnaces which patrol the English Channel and elsewhere and pick up casualties and who are permanently employed in Air-Sea Rescue Service, are not entitled to wear the distinguishing badge supplied to the crews of the launches and pinnaces?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his Question on 17th March.

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that these people really are operational and not temporary as indicated in the previous reply?

They are operational. I did not say that they are not operational but they may be transferred from one unit of the Service to another. The hon. Member suggests in his Question that they are permanently employed; they are not permanently employed in Air-Sea Rescue but may at any time be transferred.

Does the right hon. Gentleman then deny that these so-called temporary people have been occupied for years doing this work?

Some, certainly, but there is no permanence in the arrangement.

Is there permanence in any arrangement?

They are general duties officers in the R.A.F.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the stores branch of the Royal Air Force have bought any ready-to-wear greatcoats to sell to officers under the Priority A Scheme which was introduced in May, 1941; and what is the approximate difference in price as compared with the Priority A prices in the Board of Trade Order No. 2556?

Some factory-made greatcoats have been purchased by my Department for sale to officers serving in certain Commands overseas where other sources of supply are not available. Their wholesale price is approximately 55 per cent. of the maximum price for greatcoats made of priority A cloth fixed by the Board of Trade Order No. 2556. This Order is, however, concerned with retail prices for bespoke tailoring.

While I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, can he say why these young officers in this country should not have supplies of greatcoats made available to them without having to go to a middleman and pay about 40 or 50 per cent. more than the greatcoats actually cost from the wholesaler? Why cannot they get them from the quartermaster's stores?

That is a question which, as I conveyed in the concluding sentence of my answer, is under consideration; but my hon. Friend will understand that it affects all three Service Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has been informed of the conviction of a tailor for selling to a Royal Air Force officer a ready-to-wear uniform bought from a wholesaler at £5 12s. 6d., plus Purchase Tax of 19s. 5d., for £10 12s. 6d. and failing to charge separately for the cost of certain alterations making a total of £12 1s. 6d.; and whether he will consider allowing Royal Air Force stores to buy in bulk from wholesalers uniforms which can be sold direct to officers at net cost plus a small percentage for administrative charges?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." The suggestion in the second part is already under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the declaration of Mr. Curtin and General MacArthur calling for a greater supply of military aircraft for the South-West Pacific theatre of war, he has a statement to make on this matter?

No, Sir. It would not be in the public interest to make a statement on this matter at the present time.

In view of the recent statements in the U.S.A. and this country about record aircraft production, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that a holding war requires aircraft reinforcements and that we have some responsibility?

I cannot add to the answer I have given.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the possibility of poison gas being used against this country by the enemy, he can give an assurance that all branches of the Royal Air Force have fully-trained anti-gas personnel; and whether he has confidence in their ability to carry out anti-gas measures efficiently in the event of such attacks?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any decision has been reached regarding the allowances paid to officers required to live in mess for operational purposes?

As the question of officers' allowances is a complicated one, the reply must necessarily be somewhat lengthy, and I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Information whether it is the practice of his Ministry to confirm or veto invitations to broadcast issued by the British Broadcasting Corporation to Ministers or other Members of Parliament?

proceeded to read the answer to a subsequent Question.

That is the wrong answer.

On a point of Order. I did say "No. 21." I will postpone Question No. 21 if the right hon. Gentleman has not the answer with him.

I have the answer, but there has been a muddle. If the House will allow me, I will answer Questions 22 and 23 together if the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) will postpone Question No. 21.

I will postpone Question 21, but I do not think Questions 22 and 23 can be answered together.

Very well.

asked the Minister of Information the policy of the British Broadcasting Corporation with reference to the employment of members of the Government as participants in such entertainment and educational features as the Brains Trust?

Use of the broadcast for Ministerial utterances is arranged between the Prime Minister and his colleagues. In practice the Prime Minister is consulted in all cases of political importance. Entertainment features stand in a different category, but it is unlikely that Ministerial participation in the Brains Trust discussions will be resumed.

While I appreciate the valuable contributions made by those Ministers who have done this work, is the Minister aware that there is a strong body of opinion which feels that it is inconsistent with the position of Ministers to participate in engagements of this kind? Will he give consideration to the question of dropping the practice?

I have said it is unlikely that Ministerial participation in the Brains Trust discussions will be resumed.

asked the Minister of Information whether he has considered the Fourth Report from the Select Committee on National Expenditure on Public Relations Branches of Service Departments; and whether it is proposed to give effect to any of the Committee's recommendations, in particular, those numbered 1, 2 and 9 in the summary?

Yes, Sir. I have read this Report. The public relations officers of the Service Departments are appointed by and responsible to their own Ministers, and I do not control their activities. With regard to recommendation (9) of the Select Committee's Report, I am in favour of this proposal and will discuss it with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education.

Whatever streamlining of these services may be considered desirable, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that some of the best news stories of this war have been produced by ordinary civilian journalists who have been given facilities by the Service Departments? Will he impress upon his colleagues the necessity of spreading these facilities as widely as possible?

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman's remarks about the work of civilian journalists, and I do not think any of my colleagues doubt the validity of the point he has just put to me.

asked the Minister of Information whether there are available to officials a regular analysis and synopsis of the Continental Press; and, if so, whether they can be made regularly and easily available to Members and to journalists?

Digests of the Continental Press are made available to newspapers so far as economy permits. I will gladly arrange for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will arrange with the British Broadcasting Corporation for a weekly broadcast on the Home Service designed to keep our public informed about movements of public opinion in the Continental Press?

Quotations from the Continental Press are from time to time included in B.B.C. bulletins, but I doubt whether a special weekly feature could be justified. There are already a great many calls on the time at the B.B.C.'s disposal, and the Corporation has not the staff necessary to undertake the vast additional task of summarising the Continental Press.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will issue as a White Paper extracts from the most striking and characteristic articles in the Swedish and Turkish Press of the last four months?

I regret I cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. There are 130 daily papers in Sweden and 113 papers in Turkey. Therefore, even if one considered Press extracts to be suitable material for a White Paper, I should hestitate to have such a bulky document compiled as my hon. and gallant Friend desires.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will endeavour to facilitate the following by Members of the main lines of our overseas broadcasts by regularly placing in the Library samples, synopses and directives?

During every month the B.B.C. transmit thousands of overseas broadcasts. If they were to attempt the labour of selecting samples or making synopses of these broadcasts they would have to make considerable additions to their staff. May I remind my hon. and gallant Friend that Members of this House have often suggested to me that the staff of the B.B.C. should be reduced? And so if I were to attempt to make the increase suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend I doubt if I should obtain the approval of the House.

asked the Minister of Information whether, before authorising the repeated exposition of the Beveridge Report on overseas broadcast programmes, he considered the risk of giving the impression of excessive preoccupation with our own standards of comfort and also the disadvantage to our cause of any risk we should be thought more interested in social reform than in questions of strategy and frontiers?

Yes, Sir. But as continual publicity was given at the same time to the strategic results of the Allied landings in North Africa and to General Montgomery's triumphal progress along the shores of Libya, the hypothetical risks which my hon. Friend has in mind did not arise.

Is the questioner in favour of discussing the second front instead of the Beveridge Report?

Is it not misleading to suggest that a minimum standard of subsistence is equivalent to a standard of comfort?

It is not for me to umpire between two hon. Gentlemen.

asked the Minister of Information the total number of the personnel of the British Information Service in America?

The total staff of the British Information Services in America numbers 357, of which 91 are administrative or technical officers. The remaining staff is made up of Press clippers, junior assistants, clerks, typists, messengers, office boys, etc.

asked the Minister of Information how many of the personnel of the British Information Service in America have been editors of national daily papers?

I assume that when the hon. and gallant Gentleman mentions national daily papers he means papers which circulate in every part of a country on the same day. As there are no such newspapers in the United States, the British Information Services do not stand in need of what he calls editors of national daily papers, and possess none.

I thought it would be quite obvious that I was referring to national papers in this country.

I did not gather that from the Question, but in any case I do not think it matters very much to the answer. It still stands.

asked the Minister of Information why the British Information Service in the United States of America did not have the text of the Home Secretary's speech of 3rd April on post-war planning until several days after that speech had been made?

The hon. and gallant Member may recall that the Home Secretary made three important speeches on post-war affairs. He supplied the M.O.I. with advance copies of these speeches which were transmitted to the United States. My right hon. Friend did not supply the Ministry with a copy of the speech which he made in Yorkshire and which dealt with the future of the Labour Party. Doubtless the Home Secretary felt that a speech dealing with a matter of party politics should not be transmitted abroad at the expense of the taxpayers.

Is the Minister aware that the criticism in my Question was made by Mr. Raymond Gram Swing in a cabled article to the "Sunday Express" last Sunday, entitled "Tell America more about the British," and does he adhere to his recent statement that Mr. Raymond Gram Swing considers our information services to be "just right"?

Will the Minister use his good offices to ensure that in future any speech by any Minister, including a Labour Minister, on the future of the Labour Party will be submitted to the Labour Party?

It would be regarded as a great act of impudence if I interfered in the domestic affairs of the Labour Party.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind what I have said the next time he makes one of his restrained, statesmanlike speeches?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the contradictory statements made in this country and the United States of America on the progress of anti-U-boat warfare, he will take steps to see that the statements are co-ordinated in the future?

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) on 10th February, we keep in touch with the American authorities with regard to policy in relation to statements about anti-U-boat warfare. There are, however, obvious difficulties of a practical nature in the way of complete uniformity from day to day.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that on 25th March the Prime Minister made in the House a reassuring statement on the subject of the sinkings in March, whereas only a few days later Colonel Knox, in America, said that March was much worse than February, and that the position was very serious? How does my right hon. Friend reconcile those two statements?

There was no real difference between the statement of the Prime Minister and that of Colonel Knox.

Well, you do not know the meaning of words.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that pack drill is not allowed in the Navy, he will make it known to all commanding officers of shore establishments and ships at present using this form of punishment that it must cease?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that naval ratings undergoing No. 11 punishment are compelled to drill at the double for long periods with a rifle and a pack containing 60 pounds of sand; and will he take steps to abolish this method of dealing with men who, in most cases, have committed a minor offence?

I am grateful to my hon. Friends for raising this matter. The answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Whitechapel (Mr. Edwards) on Wednesday, 7th April, was correct according to what we believed was the universal practice under the regulations. It has since come to notice that in a few cases drill in full marching order has been carried out and that there have been occasions on which sand has been substituted for Service equipment in the knapsack. In the opinion of the Board of Admiralty this is thoroughly undesirable, and when we learnt of it orders were immediately given that it should cease forthwith. In future any drill of this kind will only be carried out in drill order which, for Naval ratings, is web belt, side arms, gaiters and rifle.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great satisfaction his reply will give to the men in the Navy; and will he look into the position of the officers who have been concerned in the matter of this unnecessary punishment with a view to having them transferred to other posts?

Of course, full inquiries have been made in each case. I would not like to give an undertaking of the sort which my hon. Friend desires, but I can say that there may be cases where there has been a genuine misinterpretation of the Regulation, and I hope that any misunderstanding will now be completely removed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether officers of lieutenant-commander rank and above have received any increase in their basic rate of pay since the commencement of the war; and, if not, the date on which their pay was fixed at the present level?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. For lieutenant-commanders, commanders and captains, the present rates of pay were fixed in 1938, when additional increments at nine and twelve years' seniority for lieutenant-commanders and at twelve years' seniority for commanders were introduced. For higher ranks the rates were fixed in 1934.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that since the pay of these officers was stabilised there has been a very large increase in the cost of living, and does he not consider that the time has come when the whole situation should be reviewed?

There have been certain adjustments; for example, in the case of the marriage allowance; but the question of dealing with officers of this rank and upwards is one that is not confined to the Navy, but one which would have to be dealt with in common with the other Services.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the method by which the marriage allowance was introduced did in fact cause a 2s. a day reduction in the pay of the officers in question?

The marriage allowance is not subject to taxation and that, of course, in these days of high taxation, means some advantage to the officers.

Will my right hon. Friend undertake to discuss this matter with the other Services?

I will consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the terms of reference of the Commission which has been set up to inquire into the causes which have led to serious food shortage in Kenya; and whether special attention will be paid to the situation in native areas?

The terms of reference of the Commission are:—

"To inquire into the present food shortage with a view to ascertaining and reporting on the causes thereof, and to make recommendations to prevent recurrence.

"To inquire into the system of control of maize, which has been in operation since 1st July, 1942, and to report whether it has been administered efficiently and in the best interests of the country."

Will the Commission take evidence on the spot?

I presume so. The hon. Gentleman will realise that the Commission was set up by the Governor of Kenya.

May we assume that meanwhile energetic action is being taken to meet the grave food shortage that exists?

Most energetic action has been taken, and I would like to express thanks to my colleagues the Minister of Food and the Minister of War Transport for all they have done in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether further consideration has been given to the question of African representation in the legislative bodies of Kenya?

A recent departure in the policy of associating Africans more closely with the central Government in Kenya has been the establishment of a Standing Advisory Committee on Local Native Councils on which Africans are in the majority. The two European members of the Legislative Council who represent African interests are members of this Committee; and in order that they may be in close touch with local Native Councils in the Provinces, are also invited to attend the half-yearly meetings of delegates from Local Native Councils, which are now a regular feature in the Nyanza and Central Provinces.

Cannot something be done to give greater African representation, direct or indirect, on the legislative bodies themselves?

This is an advance, and I should like to see how it works first.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider it highly desirable that the Africans themselves should be appointed or elected to represent native interests on the Legislative Councils, and is he taking steps to have Africans so elected?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the unconditional release of the four detained trade unionists in Jamaica, he will now consider removing restrictions as to political activities which have been placed on certain other members of the People's National Party?

The Governor of Jamaica has reported that he revoked the restriction orders against these men on 22nd March.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give a hint in that direction that this interference with the legal political activities of these people should cease?

No, Sir, most certainly not. I said to the House that I thought the Governor's action was justified at the time. The circumstances have now changed, and rightly he has decided to take off these restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the acute shortage of kerosene for domestic lighting in Jamaica; that kerosene is the only means of artificial lighting for great sections of the people in Jamaica; that in many of the poorer districts the people have been without any kerosene for many months; and can be make a statement as to the supply, distribution and price of kerosene in the rural areas of Jamaica?

I am aware of the hardships which have been caused by the reduction of supplies of kerosene to Jamaica. A similar reduction has been imposed upon all the Caribbean territories on account of shipping difficulties. I have no information as to the supply, distribution and price of kerosene in the rural areas of Jamaica, but I am asking the Governor to furnish me with a report.

Have the local Government taken any steps to ration the supply of kerosene?

I know that they have been taking steps, and it is that I am trying to find out from them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long the strike of banana and coconut estate workers in the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica, which began towards the end of January, continued; and whether the demands of the workers for an increase in wages, based on the cost of living index, have been granted?

The Governor has reported that the strike on banana and coconut plantations in St. Thomas was settled after a seven weeks' stoppage by a Government board of inquiry which succeeded in securing an agreement between the Farmers' Association and the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union resulting in most cases in wages increases.

In view of the fact that the sugar workers have received an advance, could not these people have had the same?

They have in most cases got increases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Colonial Empire has made financial contributions towards the prosecution of the war; and whether these sums have been subscribed with the willing assent of the peoples concerned?

Apart from the contributions made by some Colonial Governments towards the cost of their local military forces, the contributions from the Colonial Empire towards the prosecution of the war now total over £23,000,000. In addition loans have been made to His Majesty's Government free of interest by Colonial Governments and private individuals totalling nearly £8,000,000. Colonial Governments are also paying interest on further loans raised locally by public subscriptions, the proceeds of which have also been lent to His Majesty's Government free of interest. In all cases the sums have been subscribed with the willing assent of the peoples concerned.

Will those sums be taken into consideration when any funds are allocated to the Colonies under the Colonial Welfare Development Act?

I do not quite see what the hon. Member means.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can inform the House as to the approximate number of volunteers to the British Armed Forces which have been provided by the Colonial Empire; and in what theatres of war they are serving?

The hon. and gallant Member will of course appreciate that for security reasons it is not possible to give figures, but I can assure him that the total is a most impressive one. Personnel from the Colonial Empire are serving on every front.

Do not these two replies show the loyalty and affection of Colonial people as a whole for the British people?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has anything to report concerning the progress made in transporting the 4,000 children and 500 accompanying adults from Bulgaria, for whom admission to Palestine was promised on 3rd February?

Progress has been impeded by formidable obstacles in the way of the provision of the necessary transport. I am glad to say, however, that there is now some prospect of an early solution of certain of these difficulties.

Seeing that it is three months since the transfer of these children was promised, cannot the matter be speeded up, as the situation in Bulgaria is deteriorating? Have any of these children actually started?

Certainly none have arrived. The hon. Lady will appreciate the difficulties. We realise the necessity for great urgency, but the House will realise that a great part of these matters lies entirely outside the control of the Government and depends on difficult negotiations with other parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received an answer from the Palestine Government regarding the proposal to repair the Crusader castle of Athlit with labour from the neighbouring internment camps?

I have received a reply from the Palestine Government regarding my hon. Friend's suggestion. I understand that there are at present no internees in Athlit Camp. Moreover, even if internee labour were available, repairs to the castle at Athlit would be a highly technical operation which could only be undertaken under the personal supervision of an architect with special experience of the restoration of ancient monuments. No such expert is available in Palestine. Consideration will, however, be given to the employment on some other suitable work of any person who may, in future, be detained in the camp.

Is it a fact that the French Government in Syria and the British Government in Cyprus, and even the Italians at Rome, have done wonderful work in restoring Crusader castles? Is it not a reflection on the Palestine Government that every Crusader castle in our territory has been left entirely derelict?

I should like to see all the work done that is possible, but I think my hon. Friend will agree that it would be a bad thing to intern people in order that they should work on these castles.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the success with which his Department has controlled the distribution of imported poultry and rabbits and of the marked economy in man-power and transport thereby effected, he will now reconsider his decision not to introduce a scheme for the controlled distribution of home-produced supplies?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the control of imported supplies of poultry and rabbits is a much simpler matter than the control of home-produced supplies which reach the market from a great number of individual producers. Nevertheless this matter has received most careful consideration. My Noble Friend has however reached the conclusion that, in view of the small total quantity of food involved and the limited man-power now available for new schemes of this kind, he would not be justified in proceeding along the lines of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that his Department has set up a most elaborate and efficient organisation to collect eggs? Cannot the same machine collect trapped rabbits and newly killed poultry and distribute them in the same way that they distribute the eggs? Is there any difficulty?

We examined that and came to the conclusion that an organisation to perform those functions would be most costly and could not be linked up with the egg scheme.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the egg collecting scheme is very inefficient?

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that the absence of any control or organisation is leading to a gigantic black market?

I would not say that, in so far as improper sales are made, they are connected with this aspect of the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, while small allocations of rationed foodstuffs are made for weddings, none is made for funerals, and that this pressed very hardly upon the people of a certain South-Eastern town which was recently heavily bombed, where relatives came from a distance to attend funerals and no provision whatever could be made for them; and if he will reconsider the matter?

No, Sir, my Noble Friend does not feel he would be justified in undertaking to provide special issues of rationed foods in the circumstances suggested by my hon. Friend.

Is it not possible for the Minister of Food to take a rather more human point of view in the matter? When you get badly blitzed towns and many people coming to attend funerals can no provision be made for them? Are they not quite as important as weddings?