asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the release of sufficient building labour to deal with the serious position which has arisen in the maintenance, repair and completion of partially-built houses and to enable further houses to be built in areas where there is grave overcrowding?

I have been in communication with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health with regard to the two uncompleted houses to which my hon. Friend referred in a previous Question and am informed that having regard to the substantial amounts of controlled materials that would be required the Ministry of Health would not be prepared to support an application for a licence to enable the houses to be completed. Consequently the question of supplying labour has not arisen in these cases. , With regard to the position generally, I cannot add to the statements already made by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer to my Question two or three weeks ago, may I ask with regard to this Question whether he does not recognise that there is a grave state of affairs arising in certain areas owing to the impossibility of doing anything even in the gravest cases of emergency housing?

I do not think that arises out of this Question. I have been asked to answer in regard to two particular houses.

There is nothing in my Question about two particular houses. That was the Question a fortnight ago. This is a purely general Question on emergency housing, and I must press for a reply.

The question of supplying labour for houses is dealt with after sanction has been given for the houses to be built, and I do not know that I have refused to supply labour where sanction has been given.

I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment on the earliest possible day.

asked the Minister of Production what immediate steps he proposes to take to provide, in conjunction with other Government Departments, employment for the large numbers of unemployed immobile workers and juveniles in the borough of Merthyr Tydfil?

As I informed the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 2nd June, it is the policy of the Government as far as is practicable to place such new production projects as are required in districts where labour is available. In carrying out this policy, the labour available at Merthyr Tydfil and other parts of Wales will not be overlooked.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are in the borough of Merthyr Tydfil suitable buildings available for installations if the Ministry so desired to utilise the labour of these people who are unemployed?

Yes, Sir, but I think my hon. Friend knows there are other factors besides buildings, and every one of them is considered whenever a new project is available for allocation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that three local doctors have formed a panel, meeting once a week at the Burnley exmployment exchange, before which workers seeking release from employment for health reasons are compelled to appear; that the National Service officer refuses to accept certificates from the workers' panel doctors; that a perfunctory examination is given for which 2s. 6d. is charged; and whether this practice has his approval?

This arrangement has been made on their initiative by the medical practitioners at Burnley for the convenience of all concerned and does not require my approval except that the use of the employment exchange building has been allowed owing to the absence of other suitable premises. My Department does not compel workers to attend-before this panel, nor does it refuse to consider medical certificates from other doctors.

Do I take it that anyone who refuses to attend this panel will not be refused a release if his medical grounds are satisfactory?

That is so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the effects of the judgment of a divisional court in Hodge versus Ultra Electric, Limited?

I am informed that this judgment has been interpreted in some quarters as meaning that an employer who has been directed under the Essential Work Order to reinstate a worker is not legally bound to do more than to restore the worker to his pay-roll at the same rate of wages as hitherto, without putting him back on the same work or even giving him any work at all. I am advised that this is a misinterpretation of the judgment and that the employer in such circumstances is bound, if possible, to restore the worker to the position held before his dismissal where he will do the same work on the same terms and conditions. It is only where the employer can show, that this is not possible that mere restoration of wages is a sufficient compliance with the direction. In such a case, moreover, there would be primafacie ground for supposing that there was a redundancy of workers in the establishment, and the course I would normally adopt would be to arrange for a suitable reduction so that work as well as wages might be found for the worker whose reinstatement had been directed.

In a case such as the one referred to is the employer called upon to pay wages during the period from the dismissal to the reinstatement?

Yes, Sir, that is the order.

Is my right hon. Friend taking steps to implement his opinion as to the real significance of this important judgment?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolutions adopted by many local authorities at the instance of the British Limbless Ex-service Men's Association, of which copies have been sent to him, urging early legislation giving effect to the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Disabled Persons; and whether he is receiving reports from the local authorities and private firms who have undertaken surveys of all work done in their establishments, with a view to the employment of a fair proportion of disabled persons in appropriate jobs?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, and the preparation of legislation is under consideration. In regard to the second part, I have not yet received reports of any surveys of the kind referred to, but I shall be glad to consider any results that are brought to my notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that young men employed on the surface at the Dawdon and Horden pits, in county Durham, are being forced to accept employment underground and that they have expressed a wish to join His Majesty's Forces in preference; and whether he can accede to their request?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Burslem (Mr. MacLaren) on 18th March and the reply which my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power gave to the hon. Member for Hemsworth {Mr. G. Griffiths) on 12th May. The particular cases which my hon. Friend has sent to me are being investigated.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that this matter is creating considerable resentment in the area affected? Is it not possible to expedite a decision so that these men may not be forced underground but may have the opportunity of joining the Services and perhaps making room for other men who are capable of doing this work to be returned from the Forces?

As I have explained before, this matter is really in the hands of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and I act as agent in carrying out the order.

Does my right, hon. Friend understand that I have considerable difficulty with the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and is it not possible for him as Minister of Labour and member of the War Cabinet to bring pressure on the Minister of Fuel and Power to do the right thing?

No one appreciates Ministerial difficulties more than I do.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are now registering at the Burnley employment exchange for light work; how many of these have been registering for over two months; and how many are Service men discharged during the present war as physically unfit?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

Will the Minister bear in mind that many of these men now applying for light work have been discharged from the Army and have no pension? If light work is restricted to women, what outlet is there for ex-Service men?

I am looking into the question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether if priority substitutes, sent to help professional men, are always selected because they possess knowledge of the type of work they are asked to undertake; and whether, in case experience proves this not to be so, he will consider representations on the subject?

Persons submitted by my local offices to fill vacancies for substitutes are selected, as far as practicable, because of their suitability to perform the work which they will be required to do. In particular, women in the older age groups under the Registration for Employment Order who have had experience in professional offices are specially earmarked for submission to substitute vacancies in comparable work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will investigate the circumstances under which an official of his Department announced that adequate labour was now available on the land, especially in view of its serious effect on the recruiting of amateur workers?

The statement made by the official of the Ministry was that there was no suitable agricultural vacancy in the Home Counties for the particular conscientious objector whose case was under consideration and I regret very much that this should have been turned into a statement that there are no agricultural vacancies in those counties, which is of course not the case. I am having the position as regards conscientious objectors in this area investigated.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he is aware that before and during the war there has been much selling of land in plots in the New Forest and elsewhere to buyers without any disclosure of planning proposals which would affect the land; and whether he will make it known to the Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute and the Law Society that, before purchases of land are contemplated for building or otherwise, the local authority or planning officer should be consulted?

I am aware that land is sometimes bought without inquiry regarding planning and other restrictions to which it may be subject, but the Register of Local Land Charges contains entries of such restrictions, and I have ho doubt that auctioneers and the bodies to whom my hon. Friend refers are well aware of the need for search in the Register and any other appropriate inquiries. This answer should serve to give further publicity to the matter.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in spite of what he says this business is going on, and will he himself give an intimation to these bodies that they should be cautionary in this matter?

Machinery exists for the registration of these restrictions, and it really is a case for proper professional vigilance on the part of agents for purchasers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is an active and useful planning committee in the New Forest, and will he consider giving that and other committees throughout the country greater powers?

I will consider that.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he has considered a resolution from the Corporation of Kingston-upon-Hull, complaining of the lack of definite legislation to help areas like Hull to proceed with plans for reconstruction; what replies he has sent and what he proposes to do?

I have received the resolution referred to and am sending the hon. Member a copy of my reply.

asked the Home Secretary whether members of the National Fire Service, stationed away from home, are entitled to the billeting allowance when granted leave apart from their annual holiday?

Lodging allowance is not withheld if a fireman is absent for a week-end or for an equivalent mid-week break, but it has not hitherto been payable in respect of longer periods of absence. I have, however, recently reviewed the application of this rule to the cases of men and women on the 48/24 duty system who are not in a position to take weekend leave but may be given a break of four days every six weeks, and have decided that in the case of the lower ranks, whose allowance is at the minimum rate of 24s. 6d. a week, there will in future be no abatement of the allowance if the man's absence from the area where he is serving does not exceed three nights, and that three nights' allowance will be paid if the absence extends to four nights. The provision to be made for members of the National Fire Service in higher ranks, whose allowances are at higher rates, is still under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state up to the last available date, the number of per sons prosecuted and imprisoned, male and female, respectively, for refusing to carry out orders relating to air-raid precautions, Civil Defence, fire-watching and kindred duties?

The answer which I gave last Thursday to a somewhat similar Question by my hon. Friend applies also to this Question.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that, whereas a policeman who is injured on his way to duty has a claim for compensation, a member of the Police War Reserve injured in precisely similar circumstances has no such claim unless the injury arises from a civil emergency, he will take steps to remove this apparent anomaly?

The distinction to which my hon. Friend refers is due to the fact that the pension conditions of the regular police are governed by the Police Pensions Act, 1921, and those of the Police War Reserve, like the Civil Defence Services, by the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme. Even if it were practicable to assimilate the pension conditions of the Police War Reserve to those of the regular police, to do so would only create new anomalies in this respect as between the Police War Reserve and other war-time services.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that members of the Police War Reserve are told by the inspectors that a policeman has to consider himself on duty from the moment he leaves his lodgings or his house to the moment when he returns to it and that if a member of the Police War Reserve falls off a bicycle and meets with serious injury he gets no compensation, whereas a policeman does? Is my right hon. Friend aware that this difference causes very great resentment?

That is hardly the Question on the Paper. Perhaps my hon. Friend would be good enough to put his Question down.

Is it the policy of my right hon. Friend that justice must not be done in case somebody else might require it?

asked the Home Secretary what thefts there have been of new type identity cards; and under what circumstances have they been stolen?

Such cases are not reported to me in the ordinary course. I am informed that there have been two cases in which theft of these cards on a considerable scale has occurred in London. In one case, proceedings are pending before the court, while the other is still the subject of investigation. In the circumstances, it would not be in the public interest that I should make any statement about them.

Would my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of taking disciplinary action against the people who are responsible for the safe custody of these things, since they are the people at fault?

Certainly, Sir, I will keep that suggestion in mind, but it would be a matter for another Minister.

asked the Home Secretary whether wardens who are injured while undergoing recommended training with the Home Guard are entitled to compensation, either by the Home Guard or Civil Defence?

Part-time members of the Civil Defence Wardens' Service, who enrol also for service in the Home Guard, are covered by the prevailing conditions of Home Guard service, including compensation for personal injury, on all occasions when they are engaged on that service, including Home Guard training.

asked the Home Secretary the number and description of the appropriate authorities whose duties include the inspection of warehouses together with their contents and fire-fighting and prevention appliances?

The appropriate authorities for warehouses and other business premises are set out in Article 14 of the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) (No. 2) Order, 1941, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. In the case of Government premises, the appropriate Department is the Department by which, or for whose purposes, the premises are occupied.

Would the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to have the existing procedure looked at to see whether considerable saving of time and labour is not possible on the part of the inspecting authorities and the people who have to undergo these visits? Can he avoid authorities giving contradictory instructions to the same people?

That matter has been very carefully considered, and while I should be perfectly willing to consider any further information which my hon. Friend may let me have, it is the case, generally speaking, that there is only one inspecting authority for one set of premises. If we tried to centralise the whole of this, work, we should have different Departments inspecting the same premises for different purposes. On balance, I think the present system is more convenient.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is, now in a position to make any further statement in regard to the removal of the restrictions on the use of the Norfolk Broads?

Yes, Sir. I am glad to be able to inform my hon. and gallant Friend that an Order is being made by the Regional Commissioner, after consultation with the appropriate authorities, revoking the restrictions on the mooring, anchoring or keeping of boats on certain waters, rivers or broads which were imposed by his directions in 1941. I should, however, make it clear that the navigation of boats on tidal waters in this areas will be subject to the requirements of the Admiralty Orders which restrict navigation on tidal waters to those vessels in respect of which permits are issued by the naval authority concerned. I should also point out that vessels in this part of the country are still required to be immobilised when left unattended, whether on tidal or other waters.

asked the Home Secretary whether there have been any prosecutions under the Vessels on Inland Waters (Immobilisation) Order, 1940 (A) which is now being revoked in respect of certain areas under Statutory Rules and Orders, 1943, No. 772, of 20th May?

Yes, Sir. There have been a number of successful prosecutions.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many?

No, Sir, I am afraid I cannot. There are no complete statistics on the matter, and the labour of collecting them would be out of proportion in existing circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state either the highest or lowest all-in estimate accepted from any contractor for each type of the 3,000 rural cottages?

asked the Minister of Health how many tenders for rural houses have been submitted to him for approval; how many has he approved; and the amounts of the highest and lowest tenders?

In accordance with the statement of policy made in another place on 4th May the Government have reviewed the arrangements for building houses under this scheme in the light of tenders which have now been submitted by a number of local authorities in different parts of the country. Tenders for 220 houses have been submitted to me, and tenders for 54 houses have been approved. Of those approved, the lowest is £747 and the highest is £937: to these figures is to be added the cost of land, roads, sewers and architects' fees, which in the first case is £100, and in the latter £51. Local authorities have been informed to-day by a circular, copies, of which are being placed in the Library, that if satisfactory tenders for houses of the types already issued to them cannot be obtained, they should for these emergency war-time houses adopt an amended plan for smaller houses in blocks of four which has been drawn up by my noble Friend the Minister of Works, and that if they cannot obtain satisfactory tenders from local builders for the erection of these houses, he will arrange for their erection at an appropriate figure by one of several large builders with experience of war-time building. These plans will be sent to local authorities, and copies will be available in the Library. In those districts where tenders have been or are approved building operations should start at once. It is intended that the alternative arrangements for carrying out the scheme through the agency of selected larger builders will come into operation in those districts in which tenders are not approved by 8th July.

Seeing the great time that has been taken to bring these cottages to this stage, is it not desirable to turn the matter of building all of them over to the Ministry of Works to avoid any further waste of time?

On the contrary, time would be lost now where satisfactory tenders have been or are likely to be Obtained.

Can the Minister state the figure he has in mind for the rent of these houses? Can he give an assurance that not too heavy a burden will fall either on those who will have to occupy them or on the local authorities?

Rents were arranged under the original scheme—8s. 6d. a week for non-parlour houses and 10s. for parlour houses.

Can the Minister say why, after all this time, tenders for only 54 cottages have been approved? Can he give any sound explanation?

The explanation is quite clear. Some of the tenders were very high, and the Government as a whole felt it necessary to review the situation in that light.

If that is so, why did the Minister make the confident assertion a month ago that he was going to commence building in April and hoped that it would be finished by harvest? Why did he not show some prevision in this matter?

The answer is that since that statement was made the cost of building has risen a great deal.

Is the Minister aware that in Wiltshire urgently needed farm cottages which the Office of Works undertook to finish by February are not finished now? As a matter of fact, all that is to be seen on the ground are concrete posts and heaps of bricks. What assurance is there that the Office of Works will do better in the future?

That is not a matter for me.

Is not the delay due to the answer we received yesterday—240 bricks a day?

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built by the rural district councils of England and Wales during the years 1924 to 1939?

One hundred and twenty thousand.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has given special attention to the probability that timber for house-building purposes will be in short supply for a considerable period; whether suitable substitutes will be available; and whether these substitutes will be utilised in the 3,000 rural, cottages about to be constructed?

The, answer to the first two parts of the Question is that attention is being, given to the matter in consultation with other Ministers concerned and that the Inter-Departmental Committee on methods of house construction is examining all alternative forms of construction. As regards the third part of the Question, the extent to which timber is utilisable and the degree to which substitutes are to be adopted are indicated in the notes on materials and design and the specification notes prepared for the guidance of local authorities by the Ministry of Works, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. I am glad to be able to add that it has now been found possible, as a special measure which cannot form a precedent, to make available timber for the staircase, for the covering of the floor in the living room or parlour, and for joist and boarded floors for the bedrooms.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the question of timber for future house construction is a very grave one indeed? In view of the first part of his answer, could hon. Members be told when results are obtained?

I will consider that, in consultation with my colleagues who are concerned in this particular work.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give details of the statutory schemes which, in the case of insurance practitioners absent from their practices by reason of war service, abrogate Clause 11 (7) of the Terms of Service scheduled to the Medical Benefit Regulations, 1936, defining the responsibility of practitioners for all the acts and omissions of any practitioners acting as their deputies or assistants; and in what way that provision has been legally abrogated or modified where there is no statutory scheme applicable to an area and the Protection of Practices Scheme exclusively applies?

I will send my hon. Friend copies of the provisions applicable to statutory and voluntary schemes which place a practitioner attending an absentee practitioner's patients in the position of a principal in respect of those patients for the purposes of the Medical Benefit Regulations and Terms of Service.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that owing to the widespread call-up of younger practitioners the contract between panel doctors and the insurance committees cannot be continued, and in view of that what will be done when the patient cannot get service?

I am not aware of that.

Does the Minister mean to say that the regulations governing panel practice are being carried out just now?

Perhaps the hon. Member will look at the provisions applicable to the scheme which I will send him.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the students of the only post-graduate course in medical radiology at present operating in this country have protested against the way it is conducted; and whether, in view of the present urgent need for radiologists, both in civil practice and the Services, he will consider exercising some measure of control over the British Institute of Radiology who are the responsible body?

The method of conducting this course is a matter for the university authorities and is not within my province. In any case I am informed that the British Institute of Radiology is not responsible for the course, but provides premises and other facilities for lectures arranged on behalf of London University through its Special Advisory Board for the Diploma in Medical Radiology. My officers are discussing with this latter body the arrangements that can be made in the coming academic year to provide post-graduate instruction for suitable students, in order to meet the requirements of civil hospitals and the Services.

Is it not a fact that the Institute is responsible for the granting of a diploma, and that in consequence of the conditions it lays down it is held by technicians attempting to do their work properly that they are being handicapped?

I have said that we are discussing that particular aspect of the question.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will give the names of the committee established by the Medical Research Council in connection with penicillin; and whether this committee is charged with the direction and conduct of clinical trials?

The Committee is known as the Pencillin Clinical Trials Committee; its function is to organise clinical trials with pencillin. With permission I will circulate the names of the ten members in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is there co-operation or consultation between that Committee and the Committee set up by the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Supply?

Yes, Sir. The function of the latter Committee is primarily concerned with production, although it has to take clinical requirements into account. The Committee with which I am concerned has to organise and supervise clinical trials. There is considerable ground of common interest between the two.

Is the right bon. Gentleman satisfied with the attempts now being made to manufacture this invaluable preparation?

Yes, Sir. Very active steps are being taken.

Has penicillin proved its value?

I think that has been established.

asked the Minister of Health (1) on what facts he bases his opinion that the imple- mentation of Assumption B by the introduction of a salaried medical service is now in the discard;

I have repeatedly tried to make it clear that the recently-resumed discussions with the representative committee of medical men and women are to be regarded as only a preliminary and non-committal exchange of ideas, that I hope as the next step to publish the Government's appreciation of the main issues involved, and that this publication will afford everyone—including those in the Forces—a full opportunity of open and public discussion before final decisions are taken.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, why do the British Medical Association quote him as saying that the salaried medical service is in discard?

I am not responsible for what the British Medical Association say.

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that the future health service must deal primarily with the needs of the people, and not with those of the doctors?

The needs of the people are the primary issue, and my hon. Friend understands that there are many other bodies besides doctors to be consulted.

Did not health come before there were any doctors?

Will my right hon. Friend make it quite clear that what he is seeking is not a State medical service, but a comprehensive health service, based on co-operation between the medical profession, the voluntary agencies and the local authorities?

That has already been made clear in more than one Government statement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the medical profession repudiate any idea of becoming full-time civil servants?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the high prices now being paid at sales for pictures and objects d'art; and whether these transactions are subjected to Purchase Tax?

Purchase tax is payable if the goods are specified in the first or second column of the Seventh Schedule to the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1940, and are being sold by a registered to a non-registered person. I cannot say how far this applies to the sales in question.

Will my hon. Friend go into the matter, since if purchases of this character, involving very large sums, are not being taxed they may form means whereby black market and other illicit profits may be tucked away?

I understand that very great complications would attend any attempt to widen the Purchase Tax to cover all the sales that my hon. and gallant Friend has suggested.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can make any further statement about the cashing of Scottish bank notes in England?

Yes, Sir. I am glad to inform the House that the clearing banks have reviewed their practice and have decided to make no charge when they accept Scottish bank notes for encashment at any of their branches in England and Wales.