asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he is satisfied as a result of careful scrutiny that all Departments under his direction have been so scrutinised as to ensure that there is no waste of man-power and that nepotism is not exercised in. any Department in the appointment of personnel?

Yes, Sir.

I am not at all satisfied with the answer, and if I send the hon. Gentleman particulars of a Department which is full of bankers and oil magnates masquerading as high military officers, will he have it looked into?

I shall certainly be interested to see any particulars the hon. Member can furnish.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, for what purpose a Swedish delegation is now visiting this country; and how long it is likely to remain here?

This delegation has come to London at the invitation of His Majesty's Government and the United States Government for the purpose of holding discussions with the Ministry of War Transport, the Ministry of Economic Warfare and the Economic Warfare Division of the American Embassy. I am not yet able to say how long these discussions are likely to last.

Does the hon. Gentleman think that any trade discussions can have any tangible results so long as Germany is in virtual control of Sweden?

I think these discussions may serve a very useful purpose.

Is it not a fact that any concessions made to us by the Swedish Government will be offset by similar concessions by Sweden to Germany, and can the hon. Gentleman say whether, as an earnest of good faith, the Swedes have stopped the transport of German troops to and from Norway?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, what steps are taken by his Department to prevent persons suspected of hostility to the Allied cause from travelling in neutral vessels from and to Europe?

In order to prevent such persons travelling in neutral vessels, my Department operates a system of passenger and crew control. Before a ship navicert is granted in respect of any voyage to or from Europe the shipping company or its agent must submit a complete list of both passengers and crew to our consular authorities, who refuse permission in the case of any person whose voyage is considered to be undesirable. Doubtful cases are referred to London.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total sum spent in alter- ing and equipping for War Office purposes the pavilions of the Greenock cricket and tennis clubs, and what these purposes were; what in the last 12 months has been spent on rent and in wages for the maintenance of the premises; how often over the same period have the premises been occupied and by how many people?

These pavilions were converted for use by the War Department at a cost of about £100. At first they were used to accommodate A.T.S. and later officers for whom there was no room in the local transit camp. Rent and wages in the last twelve months have cost £80. Since November the pavilions have been used 14 times to accommodate a total of 590 officers. In the time available I have not been able to obtain earlier figures. Essential accommodation for officers in transit has thus been provided at a cost which I hope my hon. Friend will agree is very reasonable.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the usefulness of the two buildings now seems to have been exhausted?

Not without further examination.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that many members of the Home Guard are elderly and are expected to undergo considerable strain during training and exercises, he will consider instituting some form of medical examination to ascertain their physical fitness for their tasks?

A Home Guard may be discharged if he himself or his commander consider that he is unfit on grounds of health to carry out his duties and if this is confirmed by a medical examination. A man directed into the Home Guard by the Ministry of Labour may appeal against the direction on medical grounds. He too is medically examined before a decision is taken. In view of these arrangements it is, I think, unnecessary for all Home Guards to undergo a medical examination.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of elderly members of the Home Guard have suffered from severe overstrain and some have even died from overstrain, and will he tell the House why recruits to the National Fire Service have to undergo a stringent medical examination before enrolment, while it is presumed that a Home Guard is fit for his duties?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will give me specific cases of Home Guards who have died because of their exposure to very exhausting exercises.

Surely my right hon. Friend has not forgotten the death in Palace Yard of a former Member of this House, Mr. Pat Munro?

Are these Home Guards individually inspected, or are a great number put into one room and medically inspected at one and the same time?

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is, aware that in the Prime Minister's broadcast concerning the work of the Home Guard the Territorial Associations were never mentioned; whether he will therefore take some opportunity of indicating the Government's recognition of the volume and value of the work that has been done by the Territorial Associations administering the Home Guard and the economical low overhead cost of the system adopted?

The Prime Minister's broadcast dealt with the operational role of the Home Guard in the defence of this country, and I am obliged to my hon. Friend for this opportunity to express on behalf of His Majesty's Government their very deep appreciation of the services rendered by the presidents, chairmen, members and employees of Territorial Army Associations throughout the United Kingdom. The work carried out by these Associations has been most willingly done in the face of great difficulties, and their administration has enabled us to save man-power which has been most useful elsewhere. They have contributed in no small measure to that readiness of the Home Guard for battle which was described by the Prime Minister.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to a recent utterance by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security in which she said that when the new fire-watching Regulations came out the Home Guard would get a shake-up, and does he think that conducive to good feeling in the Home Guard?

I confess that I have not seen that particular utterance. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend would give me a more specific reference?

While I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer, would he be good enough to circulate it to all Territorial Associations, who will be gratified to learn that their work is appreciated?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the fact that the Army Billeting Order (Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 727), contains no explanatory memorandum, he can state briefly what changes it involves?

I will gladly circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing how the new billeting rates compare with the old ones.

Why was this Order given without any explanatory memorandum?

I cannot answer that without notice. I imagine it was assumed to be clear on the face of it. If it was not, I will circulate an explanation.

Did not the Home Secretary last Wednesday say that there would be an explanatory memorandum in all necessary cases?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Home Secretary gave a definite pledge to me, and to the House in general, that explanatory memoranda would be attached to these Orders when they were involved?

I think that was subsequent to this Order.

Why should the Government have to explain every trifling matter?

asked the Secretary of State for War what specific instructions were included in orders issued to troops taking part in the Dieppe raid that prisoners when captured were to be tied up; whether these orders have now been cancelled; whether specific instructions were given that a certain number of officers were to take these orders with them; and what disciplinary action has been taken against the person responsible for issuing these instructions having regard to the effect they have had on our own prisoners of war in Germany?

I have nothing to add on this subject to the answer I gave my hon. and ,gallant Friend the Member for the Wirral Division of Chester (Captain A. Graham) on 17th November last and to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 21st April.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will recommend an increase in the basic pay of junior officers to compensate them for the loss of field allowance?

There has been no alteration in the conditions of entitlement to field allowance. When an officer ceases to draw field allowance on 'being provided with furnished accommodation the expenses for which the allowance is given are no longer incurred, and no question of compensation therefore arises.

Is it not a fact that many of these junior officers have looked upon field allowance as extra pay? Now that these officers have been given a coal bucket and coal scuttle it hardly compensates for the loss of their pay.

I do not accept my hon. and gallant Friend's description of the new procedure as an accurate one, and in any case, although officers may have come to regard field allowance as part of their emoluments, it was always a conditional allowance, and there was no warrant for their so regarding it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the incidence of skin diseases, such as dermatitis and, impetigo among the troops; what is the cause; and what steps are being taken to reduce this complaint?

I am aware that war conditions tend to increase the incidence of all skin diseases, including those mentioned by the hon. Member. The steps taken to reduce these diseases include the provision of facilities for ablution and the washing of clothes, the circulation of up-to-date information to all medical officers, medical inspections, and the provision of improved facilities for treatment. This includes, when it is necessary, treatment by specialists.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that officers, generally speaking, do not suffer from these complaints? Is not that sufficient indication that there is something from which the men specially suffer—for instance, dirty blankets—which requires the attention of the medical authorities in the Army?

I think that is extremely unlikely.

Does my right hon. Friend know that officers do not suffer in the same way from these complaints, and can he give any reason for that?

I could not, offhand, give the hon. Member a medical disquisition on this point. What I am denying is that there is something special, and unsuitable, in the conditions of other ranks which makes them particularly liable to this disease in the Army.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that dermatitis is increasing among these men when they are in civilian employment, before they are passed for the Services? Is it possible for him to ask the medical boards to look for these diseases?

I will certainly look into that point. My information—although I am not an expert on the matter—is that dermatitis is becoming increasingly prevalent in civilian life.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether local welfare officers are given facilities to visit detention barracks and camps and are allowed to interview soldiers privately?

The answer to both parts of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

Are these visits impromptu, or are they very carefully stage-managed in advance?

I imagine that notice is given, although not necessarily very long notice. It may happen also that the detainee himself asks the welfare officer to visit him.

Can my right hon. Friend say, from his own knowledge, whether these interviews are frequent?

No, I could not say offhand; but I think they are as frequent as the detainees desire.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, following the representation made to him on 20th April, 1943, he will forthwith call for volunteers to form the military Forces or part of those Forces necessary for the occupation or policing of such areas overseas as may have to be occupied or policed after the war, in order to release Army personnel who have served abroad either to home establishment or to civilian employment as soon as possible?

My hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion has been carefully considered, but I am afraid there are great objections to adopting his suggestion now. It will, no doubt, be considered in the future, in the light of our commitments the world over.

I regard this matter as of such importance, from the point of view of overseas troops, that I would respectfully say that I disagree with the right hon. Gentleman. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order."] Is my right hon. Friend aware, after six weeks' consideration of this matter, that there are numbers of people who desire to volunteer for such service as I have suggested in the Question?

There may be numbers of people who desire to volunteer, but I am quite clear that this is not a solution to this extremely difficult problem, which will have to be tackled, but I think in other ways from that suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

I regret that, as the answer is unsatisfactory, I shall have to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the members of the War Department Constabulary do not receive post-war credit granted to the Armed Forces; and whether post-war credit can be granted to these men?

Members of the War Department Constabulary are civilian employees of the Department. They are paid like other civilian employees of the Department; none of whom receives postwar credit. I see no reason for treating the War Department constables exceptionally in this respect

Is it not true that these constables have to perform certain military duties, and have to be proficient in the use of arms? Would not that bring them into the same category as those soldiers who do get this credit?

No, I am afraid not. They are employed and paid under civilian conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the war of 1914–18, Territorial Army officers were permitted to receive substantive promotion in order to fill vacancies in pre-war establishment?

Substantive promotion in the Territorial Force continued during the last war, but at the same time commissions continued to be granted in that Force. In this war conditions are very different. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, in normal circumstances only emergency commissions have been granted since the outbreak of war.

Is there any reason why Territorial officers should be worse treated in this war than in the last war?

I do not think they are. In the last war there was no war substantive rank, and this involves a great improvement as regards promotion.

Can Territorial officers have a square deal?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, in his recently announced scheme of relief for tuberculosis patients and their dependants, he has excluded from the scheme all patients suffering from tuberculosis other than pulmonary disease?

The purpose of the allowances scheme is to encourage people who are suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis to seek early treatment, not only in their own interest but—since the disease is infectious—in the interests also of their families and of the general community. The scheme does not extend to persons suffering from non-pulmonary tuberculosis, because the disease in this form is not infectious and does not constitute such a danger to the general public health.

Am I to understand that the danger of infection to other people, and not the necessity to treat the sufferer, is the main reason for this scheme of dependants' allowances?

The main reason for this scheme is the report of a Committee set up by the Medical Research Council, at the instigation of the Government, which recommended these allowances for pulmonary tuberculosis cases and made no recommendation so far as non-pulmonary cases are concerned.

As I to understand that the Minister is unable to make up his own mind on this matter, despite the mass of evidence which has been submitted to him in this House?

No, the hon. Member must not asume such a thing.

Does my hon. Friend think that that is the right way to speak to a Parliamentary Private Secretary?

Is not non-pulmonary tuberculosis an incipient form of pulmonary tuberculosis and likely, therefore, to be infectious?

Non-pulmonary tuberculosis is non-infectious, and we have followed the recommendations of the Committee set up to deal with this problem.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for the temporary release of specialised personnel in the National Fire Service in Scotland, who are fully qualified building trade operatives, for urgent building requirements in Scotland; and consult with the Secretary of State for Scotland on this matter?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend, who is responsible for the National Fire Service in Scotland, has recently had under consideration the position of a number of building tradesmen who are serving as whole-time members of that Service. Arrangements already exist for the release of whole-time firemen for limited periods for essential local work. The majority of the men in question are at present employed, so far as operational requirements permit, on constructional work for the National Fire Service, but my right. hon. Friend will be prepared to consider proposals for temporary releases where this is practicable to meet urgent building requirements in any particular district.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, why the Emergency Powers (Defence) Legal Proceedings (Local Fuel Overseers) Order (Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 703), which is the enforcement order for the Emergency Powers (Defence) Coal (Miners) Order (Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 702), was not included with the latter.

These two Orders were made under different Defence Regulations, as they were different in character, object and scope, etc.

Does that not reinforce the argument that explanatory memoranda should be attached to these Orders? Why is the pledge which was given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary not being carried out by the Departments concerned?

If one Order does one thing and the other Order does the other, I do not see what explanation can be offered.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend suggesting that, because there are two objectives, nobody is to understand what the meaning of those two objectives is?

Was not the purpose of one Order to enforce the provisions of the other, and as they are, therefore, closely associated, ought they not to be printed together?

Not exactly. Under one Order 'the restrictions are laid down, and under the other the power is given to fuel overseers to take proceedings. Therefore, the proper way, I think, was to put them in separate Orders.

Surely if we are told that a certain thing must be done and that there is a certain penalty for not doing it, the two things should be printed together?

Under one Order there are Orders given in the Schedule, and the powers of the local fuel overseers to take proceedings for offences under them are laid down. The question is purely whether they should take proceedings on these new restrictions, and that is dealt with by a separate Order adding them to the Schedule.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the purpose of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Motor Fuel (General Licence) Order (Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 704)?

The main purpose is to enable the owners of certain tractors to acquire kerosene for hauling timber, without the complications of a coupon scheme.

May I again ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman whether the obligations involved in these Orders were simply explained? Why it is that we cannot get any explanatory memorandum attached to these Orders, as the pledge was given as far back as January, and it is not being honoured by the various Departments concerned; and will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman take notice of these Questions, which will have to be put down constantly and persistently until satisfactory explanations are given concerning them?

We do, of course, when we get Orders that need explanation, put down an explanatory memorandum, but, looking through this Order, I find that it is extremely difficult to see what further explanation is needed.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has formed an estimate of the amount of coal required for all needs for the next 12 months and the possibilities of producing the coal required; and whether he is satisfied that the coal can be produced with the present man-power?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is difficult to deal with this matter adequately by means of Question and Answer. There are so many unknown factors that any estimate, however carefully made, may need constant revision. I can assure my hon. Friend, however, that the question of production in the light of the known wastage of manpower is very carefully watched.

While appreciating that no specific estimate could be made, the likelihood is that the need for coal both here and abroad will increase during the next 12 months, and is my right hon. and gallant Friend satisfied that the present man-power in the industry can meet that demand?

This is one of the difficulties of trying to deal with the matter by Question and Answer, as my hon. Friend will appreciate. For instance, tremendous economies were made last year without any effect on the war effort at all, and when I say the "unknown factors" it is almost impossible to give a figure for them, but provided we do not get a bad setback in production, I am confident that we shall be able to get the coal we want.

Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman accepted the conclusions of the Select Committee on National Expenditure, and, if so, what action does he propose to take?

As most of the information in that Report came from my own Department, I probably do.

Does the advice of my right hon. and gallant Friend that people should get in as much coal as they can in the summer still hold good?

Yes, Sir, within the limits laid down by my Department from time to time.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in order to obtain extra petrol for their private use owners of motor-cars are getting them licensed as hackney carriages; and will he take steps to stop this practice?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of various forms of this subterfuge, and have taken steps to ensure that the owners gain no advantage by it in the matter of petrol allowances.

I do not know whether the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is referring to the Order just issued with regard to hired cars, and, if so, I would ask him whether he is quite sure that this covers the particular point I have raised, as it seems only to put restrictions upon people who hire cars, whereas I want to catch people who have their own cars licensed for their own pleasure purposes.

I am not sure to which Order my hon. Friend is referring, but under the Order which win come into operation this month the particular subterfuge to which my hon. Friend has referred will not be possible.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is prepared to make any exceptions to his general rule that surface workers cannot be allowed the choice between serving in the Armed Forces or going to work underground?

As far as general policy goes, I have nothing to add to the reply made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service to the hon. Member for Burslem (Mr. MacLaren) on 18th March last. My right hon. Friend is not, however, asked to issue directions to go underground to surface workers who are unwilling to go because they have lost a father or brother in a pit accident.

May I ask the Minister whether this answer will be conveyed to those who have the duty of getting these boys to go underground?

Quite apart from the publicity given by the answer itself, I will take steps to do that.

Will the Minister consider the desirability of going beyond that and provide some other machinery for deciding some very difficult cases of boys who it is known have an objection to going down the pit, and an objection which is quite valid and would be sustained by a doctor's opinion, and in such cases should not the Committee consider on medical evidence the desirability of a boy not being sent underground?

As my hon. Friend knows, there is an appeal tribunal to which a boy can go and produce medical evidence of the nature referred to, and the case can be dealt with at that tribunal.

Is the Minister not aware that one of my constituents, a lad of 19, is serving three months' imprisonment for refusing work underground when he actually wanted to join the Navy?

I cannot answer that question here now, because that is not the only reason.

Yes, it is the only reason.

May I ask the Minister whether he does not think that if a psychological option could be provided it would have the effect he really desires? If men had an option to go down the pit, he would find that nine out of ten would go down to the coal face.

As my hon. Friend will appreciate in this industry, as I have already indicated in answer to a question, the man-power question is a very serious one, and this is one of the few industries which has not had an influx of young people since the war. The whole of the industry is covered by a blanket reservation not applied to any other industry in the country, and if an option was granted to those on the surface, you would have no alternative but to grant it to underground workers as well.

Does the Minister recall that I sent him from my own constituency two weeks ago particulars of two pits that were idle through the men striking in sympathy with the action of men going to prison rather than going down to the coal face?

I can only say that that is quite deplorable at the present juncture. But out of 2,200 surface workers who have gone underground, only 80 have made any real fuss at all, and in the existing circumstances I do not think it is asking too much, when the age of miners has increased very much since the war, that we should ask young men between 18 and 25 to go and do their share down below.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with the case brought against Jacob Cohen, trading as Golders Green Fisheries, who was charged with selling 24 stone of skate, five stone of fillets of lader and 200 boxes of kippers when they were only licensed as retailers; and what steps he is taking to prevent similar offences?

Jacob Cohen was prosecuted by my Department at Hendon Police Court on 24th May and was convicted of selling the fish referred to otherwise than by retail, he not being the holder of a licence to sell by wholesale. He was fined a total of £150 and ordered to pay To guineas costs. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, it is the duty of the Enforcement Division of-my Department to maintain a continuous vigilance in this matter.

Can the Minister tell us what "lader" is?

I think that my hon. Friend who put down the Question has got rather mixed up. "Lader" is not an exotic form of fish; it is the name of the person to whom it was sold.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps were taken to advise all owners of fish boxes of the class prescribed by the Emergency Powers (Defence) Food (Fish) (S.R. & O. No. 695 of 1943) that they were required by 31st May to supply particulars of all the fish-boxes in their possession on 22nd May; and the purpose of the Order?

Forms of return were posted on 13th and 14th May to all licensed wholesale fish merchants, fish salesmen and box pools, who, apart from trawler owners, are the traders mainly concerned. Supplies of forms for the use of traders not reached by this means were sent to local officers of my Department and of the Fisheries Departments at all ports and inland markets. Particulars of these arrangements were given to the trade and general Press for 15th May, on which date the Order was placed on sale. The return is required to assist in securing more effective use of existing boxes and conservation of timber supplies.

asked the Minister of Health whether any action can be taken with regard to the letting of houses at exorbitant rents when such rents are the standard rents under the Rent Restrictions Acts owing to the houses being first let after September, 1939?

My right hon. Friend has already received representations on this point, which is receiving consideration in connection with the general review of housing conditions now being undertaken by the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the new houses for rural workers it is intended to build in Wales; and whether he will give particulars of their distribution between the counties?

328 houses are to be built in Wales and Monmouthshire. As the reply to the second part of the Question involves a list of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In arriving at this figure did the Ministry bear in mind the report made some time ago about rural housing in Wales? Was it considered?

The arrangement whereby the houses are to be built was made in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture through their Central War Executive Committee.