asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what method the Fighting French Forces pay us for equipment and services; and whether gold from French stocks has been ear-marked or passed to our credit for this purpose?

The Fighting French Forces are financed out of a credit which has been granted by His Majesty's Government. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that a husband shall not be able to claim his wife's war savings in stamps, certificates or bonds even when it can be proved that she used part of the housekeeping money for this purpose?

In the case of Savings Certificates and bonds in respect of which re-payment can be required, application for payment must be made in writing by the registered holder. There is no register of holders of savings stamps, and a signature is not required when they are cashed. As regards the position if a husband disputed his wife's right to receive re-payment in these cases, I would refer to the reply which the hon. Member received from my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General on 12th May.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider discussing the matter with the Attorney-General in order to remove this injustice?

I shall be glad to discuss it at any time.

Would not the suggestion in the Question be conducive to dishonesty among wives and perpetuate a standards of housekeeping and faked figures which would not be good for the husband?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to publish a third White Paper constituting a compromise between the British and American Currency Schemes?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the Debate on 12th May, that the form which further expert consideration should take must largely be settled by convenience and that I shall continue to keep in close touch with Mr. Secretary Morgenthau as the matter proceeds and develops.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that there is no such White Paper in draft and will he tell our American friends that we have no intention of going back to gold at any time under any circumstances whatever?

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement.

Is Mr. Morganthau's assistant, Mr. White, the same Mr. White who has been making speeches to soldiers at Ipswich?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the United States silver to be made available under Lend-Lease facilities will be released to industry through the bullion market?

Yes, Sir, so far as I can at present foresee.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that the price will be fixed by the market or by the Government, and has this the approval of the United States Administration?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that Question down.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the average daily sale of Hansard for the period January to April, 1943, or any other convenient period, and the sales of the Hansard which reported the Beveridge Debate?

The average daily sale of reports issued for the period November, 1942, to February, 1943, including the three Beveridge Debate reports, was 2,438 copies. The average daily sale for the Beveridge Debate was 4,626 copies.

Are not a very large number of copies of the OFFICIAL REPORT put into the scrap basket every day? Does the Treasury get any payment for that salvage?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the latest improve- ments in life-saving apparatus and equipment in lifeboats; and whether these include at least partial protection against exposure to seas and weather?

I have been asked to reply. In the comprehensive answer on the subject of lifeboats which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hertford (Sir M. Sueter) on 16th December last, I explained that protection against sea and weather had been provided by fitting canvas hoods and weather cloths to the boats, and by giving protective suits for crews and passengers. Since I made that answer, the new devices adopted include the following: Luminous compasses, apparatus for converting sea water into drinking water, a fabric rain catcher, modifications in the life-saving waistcoat to render the wearer more conspicuous in the water and to facilitate rescue, lifeboat ladders and lifeboat seat extensions to enable the occupants to lie down. Further improvements are in preparation.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider extending these improvements as soon as possible to the smaller minelaying craft, many of which have no equipment whatever in their lifeboats?

I will look into the point.

Did my hon. Friend some years ago see a demonstration in the river here in connection with a life-saving jacket? Are any of these packets in operation now?

I should like notice of that Question. We have many very recent improvements in life jackets.

Are these improvements to be effected forthwith generally?

Yes, Sir. It is simply a question of perfecting ideas on which we have been working for some time.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether women pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary receive the same rates of pay as men?

It has been decided that from the beginning of next month women pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary who are engaged on full flying duties will receive the same rates of pay, rank for rank, as men similarly employed.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware how gratifying it is that this decision has been arrived at without pressure from the women Members of the House?

I am grateful.

Is it the case that pilots in the Air Transport Auxiliary are paid at a much higher rate than pilots of the Royal Air Force?

That is another question.

From what date will this operate? Will it be retrospective?

From the beginning of next month. It will not be retrospective.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the publication of a report on the foreign policy and relations between the years 1928 and 1942 and to include a copy of the relevant documents; and will he arrange for copies of the United States publication entitled "Peace and War" to he available to the House?

His Majesty's Government have this matter under consideration. I shall be glad to place in the Libraries of the Houses of Parliament the United States publication entitled "Peace and War."

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to add to the membership and funds of the University Grants Committee, in view of the plans for increased teaching in voluntary hospitals?

It is too early to express any view upon this, pending the report of the Committee on Medical Schools which is now sitting under the chairmanship of Sir William Goodenough.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that none of this money will be allowed to go to a bogus university at Boscombe known as the College of Divine Metaphysics, Incorporated, Indianapolis?

My hon. Friend can assume that any money available will be carefully and properly distributed. I noticed that "Janus" has been looking two ways.

(by Private Notice) asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make on the accident which took place on Saturday, 15th May, on the playing fields at Downside School, as a result of which nine boys were killed and 15 wounded, 10 seriously; whether the strictest instructions will be given forbidding low flying over playing fields and buildings in future, and whether in any instructions issued the public will be invited immediately to report any low flying in similar circumstances, whether carried out by the Fleet Air Arm or the R.A.F.?

An official inquiry is being held into this tragic occurrence, and until this has completed its work it would be premature for me to make any detailed statement. I can, however, say at once that standing Admiralty orders prohibit flying below 2,000 feet except in a few specially selected training areas. Some cases of low flying by naval aircraft have previously been reported by members of the public and have been dealt with by the appropriate authorities. It would seem therefore that the public are well aware of their rights and duties in this matter. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the deep sympathy of the Board of Admiralty with the authorities of the school and the relatives of the boys who were killed and injured.

While not wishing to prejudice the issue in view of the inquiry, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is not aware that this was not just an incident and that these planes were flying low over the field for a considerable time, only a few feet above the ground, so that the game had to stop?

I am sure that all the necessary evidence will be given at the inquiry.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, unless questions of security are involved, making the report of the inquiry public?

That is another matter.

Have representations been made before about low flying?

I said so in my answer.