asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that outsize members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force are failing to obtain the regulation issue of corsets and pyjamas; and whether he will make special provision for their needs?

I am advised that the largest stock size of pyjamas is temporarily in short supply. Special arrangements are being made to provide the quantities required. The supply of corsets is, however, adequate.

Will a copy of the pyjamas be put in the Library?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in order to reduce the amount of dangerous low flying in built-up and other areas, members of the. Observer Corps will be invited to cooperate by reporting suit incidents?

Members of the Royal Observer Corps have on occasion been able to assist in detecting cases of unauthorised low flying, and an instruction that they are to continue to do so without detracting from their primary duty of tracking enemy aircraft is being issued.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman also emphasise to the public that when reporting low flying they must try to ascertain the number of the aeroplane; otherwise it will be impossible to trace the offender?

Yes, Sir; I think that is widely known, and I hope that the hon. Member's supplementary will help to make it even more so.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the recent tragedy at a public school, when nine boys were killed owing to unauthorised low flying over the playing fields, specific instructions have now been given to all stations throughout the country emphasising the urgent need of restricting low flying to authorised localities?

As the hon. Member is aware, low flying is strictly prohibited except over specially selected training areas. The standing orders on the subject are 'brought periodically to the notice of the Service, and in accordance with this practice a further instruction emphasising the importance of strict compliance is now about to be issued.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that within a very few days of that disaster, aeroplanes were doing exactly the same thing over exactly the same area? Can special emphasis be laid on these instructions to get that sort of thing stopped?

I am not aware of that particular fact; but if we can get the number of the aircraft—if it is a Royal Air Force aircraft—the pilot will be dealt with with the utmost severity. I would like to make it clear that there is nothing more dangerous to the public, or worse manners, than showing off by young-pilots, by unauthorised low flying.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend's attention been called to the extraordinary discrepancy in the evidence at the inquest where a schoolmaster declared that the aeroplane was flying at 50 feet, and the instructor declared that he had never been below 500 feet?

I have seen only the reports in the Press; not a complete transcript. This was not an R.A.F. aircraft.

What penalty is imposed on pilots who have been convicted of such low flying?

The regulations say:

"There can be but few cases where, in the absence of special circumstances, a sentence of dismissal in the case of an officer, or a sentence of detention in the case of a sergeant pilot would not be justified where the pilot has been tried by court martial and found guilty of a deliberate breach of low-flying regulations."

asked the Secretary of State for Air what alterations in Royal Air Force uniforms are being considered; and whether he will assure the House that pre-war members of the Volunteer Reserve will receive equal treatment with auxiliaries?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to abolish the wearing of the letters "V.R." on the lapels of officers' tunics?

Instructions are about to be issued that the distinguishing V.R. badge will no longer be worn by officers and warrant officers of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. During the war all entries into the Air Force have been in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve so that a distinguishing badge of this kind is no longer appropriate. Nor would it be feasible to make a distinction in this respect between those members of the Volunteer Reserve who joined before the war and those who have joined it since. As for the Auxiliary Air Force, this is comprised solely of pre-war members and the same considerations do not apply and their distinguishing badge will in consequence be retained.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend, at the same time as he is introducing these alterations in R.A.F. uniforms, also take into consideration another means by which great economy could be secured, namely, the abolition of patch and pleated pockets, as has been done in the case of the Army?

That is a different question, but I will take note of it.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend also do something about brass buttons?

There is another Question about that on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has any further statement to make on the defence against tip-and-run raiders?

It would not be in the public interest for me to make any further statement on this subject at the present time.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is no desire adversely to affect arrangements for further air offensives against Germany, but that if further defensive and offensive equipment could be made available to the areas affected by these nuisance raids, the people living in those areas would be very grateful?

I cannot add to what I have said, except to give this assurance: that new methods of countering enemy air attacks of all kinds are constantly being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will forthwith call for volunteers to form the Air forces, or part of them, 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 Royal Air Force personnel who have served abroad either to home establishment or to civilian employment as soon as possible?

As the Secretary of State for War informed my hon. and gallant Friend yesterday, his 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.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that it would be the right thing to give some sort of public assurance to these men, who have been abroad so long, that they will be brought home as soon as possible after the war?

This question, upon which my hon. and gallant Friend has asked my opinion, is a very much wider subject. I am afraid I would not like to go further than I have done in my answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the approximate weight of bombs dropped on Germany and Italy by the Royal Air Force during May?

Aircraft of Bomber Command dropped approximately 12,500 tons of bombs on Germany in May. The total amount of the tonnage of bombs dropped on Italy by aircraft operating from North Africa is not available.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether this supply will increase month by month in future?

We look forward with confidence to being able to increase the supply of bombs delivered to Germany in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can explain the circumstances in which the decision to confer the Victoria Cross upon Wing-Commander G. P. Gibson, D.S.O., D.F.C., was known to the "Daily Telegraph," the "Daily Herald," the "Daily Express" and the "News Chronicle" a day before the official announcement was made?

The official announcement of this award was deferred in order that other awards in connection with the "dam" operations could be published at the same time. Meanwhile a reporter saw Wing-Commander Gibson with the V.C. ribbon, which he was then entitled to wear as the award had been approved, and passed the news to the Press Association.

Is it not the case that the "Daily Worker" was one of the papers that respected the request not to publish this information?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now consider appointing a Royal Air Force officer as an opposite number in the Royal Air Force to the commander-in-chief, Home Forces, in the Army?

The organisation of our striking forces in this country for Continental operations has been under active examination, and my hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that his suggestion and others have been taken fully into account. It would not be in the public interest to say more at this stage.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many ships' libraries are supplied with books at the public expense; and how many of such libraries are kept regularly supplied with bound volumes of Hansard?

Apart from motor torpedo boats, motor launches and certain other small craft, all H.V. ships have libraries which are supplied and maintained at Government expense. For small craft, libraries provided at Government expense are available in the base or shore establishment to which such craft are attached. H.M. ships are also provided with newspapers and magazines at Government expense. The foregoing facilities, particularly so far as small ships are concerned, are supplemented by the organisation known as the Royal Naval War Libraries, which is supported partly by public subscription and partly by Treasury grant. Bound volumes of Hansard are not included in any of the libraries provided for H.M. ships.

Will my right hon. Friend make daily copies available at any rate to libraries at large shore establishments?

I should be glad to consider making these facilities available at any time if it became a general request from the personnel of the Fleet.

Would my right hon. Friend agree to consider the correspondence which I have received from commanding officers of large establishments asking whether it is possible to arrange for Hansard to be supplied for their information?

I will certainly consider any submission that my hon. and gallant Friend makes.

Is it not really an astonishing belittling of Parliamentary debate that neither people in ships nor even His Majesty's Ambassadors abroad are thought to be desirous of reading Parliamentary Debates?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will forthwith call for volunteers to form the naval 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 Royal Navy personnel who have served abroad either to return home or to civilian employment as soon as possible?

I do not think that my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion is practicable at the moment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can make a statement on the repair position affecting merchant vessels; and how far this is affecting the use of tonnage?

I have no public statement to make except that the ravages of war always create a heavy demand on ship repairing facilities, especially in view of the large expansion of the Royal Navy, and that these demands are being dealt with satisfactorily.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are being taken to prevent any information as to the movements of our shipping in Loch Foyle from being communicated to the enemy from neutral Eire?

It would be against the national interest to state what steps are taken to prevent information which would be of value to the enemy from reaching him, but I can assure the hon. Member that the matter receives our most vigilant attention.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make on recent progress in anti-U-boat warfare?

As the answer is very long, I will with your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of my hon. Friend, make a statement at the end of Questions.

Yes, Sir. Early in March I told the House that the shipping losses in December, January and February had been much lower than a year before. For a variety of reasons March was a poor month, though not the worst of the war. Indeed, owing to the high output of new tonnage achieved in the United States, there was a substantial net gain in that month. In April and May losses have been reduced again to the level of, the three months December to February, and even below. In each of the first five months of this year there has been a substantial reduction on the figures of the corresponding period of last year, and a saving of more than one-third of the losses over the whole of the five months. With the American merchant ship programme nearing its peak, this improved level of losses has resulted in large increases to the tonnage available to the United Nations.

This improved situation in the Battle of the Atlantic reflects the growing size of our escort forces—both ships and aircraft—and the growing deadliness of our new weapons and devices. The increased escorts available make possible not only a higher scale of protection but also a higher general standard of training, and this in turn enables our ships and the aircraft of Coastal Command and the United States Air Forces to reap, by the harmony and co-operation in which they work, a higher dividend from their constantly improving tactics. The escort carriers, of which several are now in service, have already proved their worth. By these means the curve of U-boat destruction has been kept steadily rising. During the last 12 months the number of kills exceeds that of the whole of the previous period of the war, and in the last six months the rate of destruction has been 25 per cent. above that of the previous six months. Large numbers have been damaged in addition. In the last two months the number of U-boats in the Atlantic Battle appears to have decreased. This has no doubt been due to more than one cause, but principally to the rising rate of "kills" at sea; From the provisional assessments it looks as if the number of U-boats destroyed, in May will exceed the number which the enemy may probably have brought into service. Certainly May is the best month of the war for kills so far. While the changed situation has thus been primarily due to the increased rate of destruction of U-boats at sea, there can be no doubt that the number of U-boats operating has also been affected by the bombing of the U-boat building yards and of the operational bases in the Bay of Biscay by both American and R.A.F. bombers. As time goes on the bombing of the building yards and component factories should have an ever-increasing effect.

We must no doubt still be prepared to encounter setbacks and periods of heavy loss. The enemy are bound to make great efforts to alter the present situation. Nevertheless, the report I have just made discloses a number of favourable tendencies, and I can give the unqualified assurance that the enemy are quite wrong in asserting, as they have done, that the low rate of sinkings in April was due to the small amount of shipping at sea. In that month our imports were the highest since the beginning of 1942.

The general improvement in spite of the tremendous U-boat efforts against us is in itself a tribute to all concerned, including officers and men of the Royal Navy, the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Merchant Navy; the pilots and crews of the Coastal Command and the Bomber Command of the R.A.F.; and officers and men of the Allied Navies and Air Forces. I would also mention the work of the training establishments, the technicians and the scientists, and the staffs and all sections of workers in the shipyards and aeroplane factories. I feel sure the House can rely upon all concerned to continue the good work Without any relaxation of their efforts in any respect until the U-boat menace is driven from the seas.

I am sure that the House would like to join in congratulating all concerned and thanking the members of the Navy and the Merchant Service for the work done. Might I ask the First Lord whether he feels fairly satisfied that the rate of U-boat destruction exceeds that of construction?

I put it rather carefully in the statement I made to the House. I think I gave an indication that, in the month of May, the curves of the two statistical lines had crossed, but we must be quite sure and not let up in any way or let it get into the other direction again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the approximate acreage of land acquired by the Government of Jamaica for land settlement as recommended by the West Indian Royal Commission since the recommendation was made; and whether it is now the policy in land settlement in Jamaica to concentrate on leasehold tenancies as distinct from freehold ownership?

18,994 acres were purchased in 1940–41 and 2,173 acres in 1941–42, a total of 21,167 acres. No later statistics are available. This land was acquired from loan funds authorised by the Legislative Council in 1938 for purchase by settlers by instalments on a freehold basis. It is hoped to introduce the leasehold system in the case of future settlements financed by the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote, though I am informed that there is some opposition locally to this system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether research has been conducted into the possibility of drying or otherwise preserving the nutritive value of the banana; and whether use could be made of such a process, when shipping becomes available, during the war?

In addition to the known methods of drying bananas, both ripe and unripe, I understand that the newer techniques of the dehydration of foodstuffs have also been applied to bananas with satisfactory results. Whether bananas dried by this or any other means can be placed on the United Kingdom import programme is a matter for determination in the light of the competing claims for shipping space of similar types of foodstuffs, which is the responsibility of my Noble Friend the Minister of Food.

Is it not extremely important from the point of view of the economy of the West Indies and the Colonies generally that my right hon. and gallant Friend should make the arrangement himself with the Minister of Food?

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that at the moment we purchase the banana crop in Jamaica. From the point of view of economy, whether the bananas go into the stomachs of Jamaicans or in dehydrated form into the stomachs of the people in the United Kingdom does not matter.

Is the Minister aware that a great deal of the research which has been done with regard to the preservation and drying of bananas has been challenged and that a great amount of further research is necessary?

Yes, Sir, I think that is true.

asked the Minister of Information whether he has now completed his inquiry into the activities of foreign-language newspapers published in this country hostile to the Soviet Government; and whether he will make a statement?

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that certain Polish newspapers in this country are still quoting German stories about the alleged Smolensk massacres; and whether he will consider stopping the publication of these papers in the interest of unity for the prosecution of the war?

The inquiry into the activities of foreign language newspapers in this country is nearing completion. Meanwhile, the warning I gave last week will, I hope, inculcate a due sense of responsibility in the minds of their editors. If it does not, I think the Ministry of Information will have the approval of the House in taking drastic action against those who abuse the hospitality of this country by attempting to stir up trouble between members of the United Kingdom.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that these attacks are to some extent still going on and that the cases referred to have nothing to do with those of Allied newspapers?

The papers, I am told, have shown a great improvement, but they are produced in so many languages that it is hard to catch up with their contents. I agree that these papers have no connection with the newspapers so admirably managed by Lord Kemsley, who showed admirable foresight in changing the name of his group.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the publication of stories of the kind referred to in Question 42 is calculated to create dissension among the Allies and ought to be strictly prohibited?

That is why we have given the warning and why I repeat that it is an abuse of the hospitality of Great Britain if papers indulge in such language.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that 31 is an excessive number of newspapers for the small number of Poles in this country?

I have said before that every time you find a Pole you find a newspaper.

asked the Minister of Information whether the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics give radio broadcasts in English; and whether there are arrangements to broadcast in the Russian language from this country?

The Soviet radio gives broadcasts in English which can be received by short-wave listeners in this country and in America. The B.B.C. do not broadcast in the Russian language. The hon. Member will appreciate that listening conditions in the U.S.S.R. differ greatly from those in this country; and so the B.B.C. wisely prefer to use their overworked transmitters for broadcasts to enemy and enemy-occupied countries.

Would it not be a good gesture, in view of the fact that the Russians broadcast in English and that some people in Russia will understand English when it is spoken properly from this country?

If spoken by Englishmen, they might understand it, but were we to do this we should expect the Russian Government to build, I should think, from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 new wireless sets. They are busy dealing with the Germans, and they will give the Germans priority over the B.B.C.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will consider appointing to the British Information Service in America at least one representative who is, or has been, an editor of a British national daily paper?

No, Sir. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will take the trouble to understand the elements of the journalistic profession, he will discover that editors have no wish to become civil servants. If I may be regarded as an accurate reader, I may say that one of the principal qualifications for an editor of a British newspaper is zeal to criticise the faithful, but not too popular, Civil Service.

Is not the administration of our Information Service in America a job primarily for first-rate journalists, men of the calibre of Mr. Frank Owen, late editor of the "Evening Standard," who is at present employed by the Government in one of the lower ranks of the Army?

The post has never been offered to him, but I should say he would refuse it out of hand. May I remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the British Information Service in America have to look after that not unimportant thing radio, and that is not a job for a national editor. Some people think that the film is a valuable medium of propaganda. Again a national editor is not the type of man for that.

Is there not a considerable amount of newspaper propaganda as well?

Yes, but they do not want to have hand-outs given them by editors.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he now has any further statement to make as to the effect of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Food (Shell Fish) Order on the supply to retail fishmongers of the classes of shell fish covered by the Order?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (r) whether any lobsters have been caught since his new Order; and, if so, who were the principal ultimate buyers;

(2) whether he is aware that lobsters lose approximately 20 per cent. of their weight when boiled and, as there is no difference between wholesale and retail prices, alive or dead, no fishmonger can afford to sell them and the public cannot buy them; and whether he will take action to remedy this state of affairs?

During last winter and the early part of this year, the price of lobsters, crabs and crawfish became so high as to place these shellfish beyond the reach of the ordinary consumer. The price also tempted the inshore fishermen to neglect fishing for the more useful white fish in favour of fishing for lobsters and crabs. Maximum prices, which gave a fair return to the producer and were reasonable to the consumer, were consequently introduced. These shell fish are normally sold on, commission, and the consignor takes the risk of loss by reason of dead specimens or other casualties in each consignment, as it reaches the market. The extent of this loss varies considerably, and the fixing of a series of maximum prices which would be reasonably fair to the producer and wholesale merchants in all cases was not considered practicable. Only one maximum price for each species was, therefore, prescribed. This, in practice, becomes the maximum price of the boiled shell fish to the consumer. The effect of the Order has been to reduce substantially the price at which shell fish are being sold, but it has also disturbed the normal channels of trade through which these commodities, especially lobsters and larger crabs, passed to the consumer. Consideration is, therefore, being given by my Department to the steps which can be taken to direct a larger proportion of the supplies to fishmongers' shops, but my Noble Friend has no intention of raising the price to the high level reached earlier in the year.

Is it not the case that the Minister of Food has so disturbed supplies that there is no supply at all?

It is important to remember that the wholesale price of lobsters reached a figure of about 600 per cent. of the pre-war price.

Is my hon. Friend aware that fishmongers are refusing to take delivery because shell fish declines in weight when cooked and they have a great deal of trouble in cooking it, with the result that it all goes to restaurants?

I do not think that is wholly true. A great deal of crab is going to fishmongers, though perhaps not many lobsters.

Has the price of shell fish been taken into account in the cost of living?

That question should be, I think, addressed to the Minister of Labour.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the Emergency Powers (Defence) Food (Soft Fruit) Order (Statutory Rule and Order,. 1943, No. 684), dated 7th May, which came into operation on 10th May, was not available to hon. Members in the Vote Office until 15th May; and will he indicate the date on which the Order could be purchased by the public?

Exceptional weather this year delayed the fixing of growers' prices for soft fruits. Accordingly, with fruit coming on to the market early the new prices had to be brought into operation on 10th May before printed copies of the Order could be made available to the public and to hon. Members. The prices, which were fixed after the fullest discussion with the trade, were announced on 6th May, and, following the usual practice of my Department, copies of the Order were available for inspection by any member of the public at any food office from the day of its operation. Printed copies could be purchased by the public on 13th May. I am informed that copies were sent to the Vote Office on the morning of the 14th, but apparently did not arrive until the 15th.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary think it most unsatisfactory if the public are placed in a position where they may commit offences which they do not know are offences because copies of the law are not available?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the soft fruit crop is a ticklish one to deal with, and we have to move very quickly when the crop is coming on to the market.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the Emergency Powers (Defence) Food (Carrots) Order (Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 686), signed on 8th May, which came into operation on 10th May, was not available to hon. Members in the Vote Office till 14th May; and will he indicate the date on which the Order could be purchased at the Stationery Office by the public?

This is a case in which it was desirable to give immediate effect to a decision to remove a restriction before printed copies of the Order could be made available. These copies were on sale to the public on 12th May, and I am informed were available in the Vote Office on 13th May.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that there are no fewer than seven Questions on the Order Paper to-day relating to Orders made by his Department, and does he not think that, together with the Questions asked yesterday and on previous days, they disclose the unsatisfactory position of his Department in regard to the manner in which Orders are brought into operation?

The House will appreciate that the Ministry of Food is dealing in many cases with highly perishable commodities, and action has often to be taken within 24 hours. The alternative is that I should have to explain waste of food in many instances if we did not make these Orders very quickly.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary look into the machinery of his Department that deals with this matter?

In view of the fact that the Order came into operation on the 10th and was available to the public on the 12th, can my hon. Friend explain what would be the position of a person who infringed the Order on the 10th or 11th?

There could not be any infringement, because the Order allows a person to sell carrots which he could not otherwise sell.

Are any steps taken to use the wireless to bring Orders to the notice of the public?

Every effort is made to use the wireless, with, I think, success.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why the Emergency Powers (Defence) Food (Green Vegetables, etc.) General Licence (S.R. & O. No. 691 of 1943), which involves for its interpretation reference to one Order of 1942 and two Orders of 1943, did not contain any explanatory memorandum?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newport (Sir R. Clarry) and the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Etherton) on 26th May, but I may add that in appropriate cases my Department has now adopted the practice 'of adding explanatory notes to its Statutory Rules and Orders in accordance with the undertaking which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department gave to the House on that day.

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that tens of thousands of firms had to search back through two or three years of Orders, with the result that an enormous waste of time was entailed? Will he see that Orders are written and printed so that they may be understood without further research?