asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the extremely small supply of soft fruit available in the area comprising the North Midlands, Yorkshire and Lancashire; and will he consider making this a separate area to enable merchants to secure the quickest possible delivery, that is by passenger train, wherever that was the pre-war practice?

The supply of soft fruit which is available for distribution through retailers, that is after pre-emption of supplies for jam manufacture, is so limited that it would not be practicable to make arrangements for wide or equitable distribution throughout the country. I regret that I can give no undertaking that soft fruits will be conveyed by passenger train to the majority of consuming areas during the war period.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his enforcement officers are required, when questioning retailers or others in an endeavour to obtain evidence on which a prosecution can be based, to issue a prefatory warning analogous to that delivered by police officers?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what were the circumstances that led to the appointment of Mr. Farmer as food officer in Belfast; and what were his qualifications for the post?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what were the circumstances which led to the termination of Mr. Farmer's appointment as food officer in Belfast; and where he has been found another post in the Ministry?

The post of food executive officer a t Belfast became vacant in June, 1941, and Mr. Farmer, who was then serving as food executive officer at Southampton was appointed to fill the vacancy on 11th August, 1941. Later, as a result of reports received, the inspector-general of my Department made an investigation which satisfied my Noble Friend that Mr. Farmer's services were not satisfactory. His appointment was accordingly terminated on 30th June, 1943, since which date he has not been employed by my Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the great distress caused to large numbers of people who are compelled to destroy their domestic animals owing to failure to obtain horseflesh; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing a system of rationing horseflesh in order to remedy the situation?

No, Sir, I am advised that present supplies, together with dog biscuits and proprietary foods should suffice, with such unavoidable household waste as should be supplied to unproductive animals, to meet reasonable requirements. The man-power required for the rationing of horseflesh could not be justified h existing circumstances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will allot, before the commencement of the harvest, an additional cheese ration to be made available to farmers and their sons who are fully employed on agricultural work?

The special ration of cheese is restricted to certain categories of employees for whom it is impossible to provide canteen facilities. My Noble Friend regrets that he is not able to open this scheme to other classes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food which Department was responsible for the dupli- cation of national registration and the issue of ration books; and will he take steps to ensure that the experiment will not be repeated?

The responsibility for the arrangements to which the hon. Member a refers is shared by the Ministry of Food and the Registrar General's Departments. I can give no undertaking as to the procedure likely to be adopted if any general re-issue of identity cards again became necessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the distinction drawn by his Department between necessities and luxuries in relation to post-war importation, he will define the nature of the luxuries which that Department has in mind?

No, Sir. Such definition would not be possible at the present time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has yet recommended voluntary zoning of distribution to the brewing industry and suggested any specific method of giving effect to his recommendation?

Considerable saving of transport has already been made by restricting the area of movement of beer. My Department is advised by a committee of members of the industry, and schemes for saving transport are being formulated by divisional food officers with the cooperation of specially formed panels of brewers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider restoring the cut in the sugar ration to bee keepers from 5 lbs. to 10 lbs., in view of the difficulty of keeping bees on the smaller ration and the impossibility of doing so in the colder parts of the country?

For 1943–4 bee keepers will be able to obtain 10 lbs. of sugar per colony of bees for autumn feeding and 5 lbs. per colony for Spring feeding. The latter allowance will be reviewed in the early Spring in the light of seasonal conditions. My Noble Friend took technical advice before deciding on these arrangements and sees no reason to modify them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food when the promised Order cancelling the St. Andrews Retail Deliveries Order is to be presented to the House?

I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that the Retail Deliveries (St. Andrews) Order, 1942, was revoked by the Emergency Powers (Defence) Food (Revocation) Order (Statutory Rules and Orders 1943 No. 954) which came into force on 7th July. Copies of the Order are now available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force are at present employed in the Air Ministry?

Six hundred and twenty-two.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view, of the representations made to him on behalf of the people of Kettering, complaining at low-flying aircraft over the town, he will take such steps as will put an end to this practice?

I have taken note of the representations referred to and an officer of the Air Ministry is in touch with the town clerk about them. I can assure my hon. Friend that all possible steps are taken to prevent unauthorised low flying wherever it is reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the position of Royal Air Force personnel specially enlisted into Class E of the Reserve for a period of five years upon the completion of their appointment; and whether such personnel who are over service age when their engagement expires will be given the opportunity of undertaking civilian work if they so desire?

Under the Military and Air Forces (Prolongation of Service) Act, 1939, the men referred to are liable for service until the end of the present emergency and I regret that it is not practicable to release them meanwhile. Other classes of Service personnel are being similarly retained on completion of the engagements for which they originally enlisted.

asked the Postmaster General whether he is aware of the instruction printed on the receipt given to purchasers of Defence Bonds, that if a bond book is not received within 14 days he should write to the Controller of the Savings Bank, and of a similar instruction printed on bond books with regard to further purchases; whether he still desires investors to write as requested on the receipt and the book; and the approximate time which will elapse before the present delay in sending bond books and the acknowledgments of additional purchases will be remedied?

I am aware that the instructions referred to are printed on the receipt forms and on the majority of bond books issued. The recent delay in despatching the books to purchasers has been due to pressure on the Savings Bank staff resulting from the outstanding success of the "Wings for Victory" campaign. Now that the campaign is finished, an appreciable reduction of the delay may be expected forthwith; but owing to staffing difficulties the despatch of the books within the period of 14 days cannot be ensured, and I should be grateful if purchasers of bonds would allow 21 days to elapse before communicating with the Controller. The receipt form is being amended accordingly on reprint. The acknowledging of additional purchases of bonds was discontinued on and from 9th December last year as a measure of economy of man-power and paper. Publicity was given to the discontinuance in the Press and by broadcast announcement, and thereafter the instruction on the books was cancelled by overstamping as they were issued to purchasers. It does not appear in the latest print of the books.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to give British exporting firms information that will be useful in building up inter-imperial trade after the war?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to him on 29th June. This relates to postwar export trade with the Dominions, India and the Colonies as with other markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade his reasons for imposing a prohibition on the export of cycles manufactured in this country to the French Cameroons, Madagascar, Reunion, and the British and Dutch West Indies; whether a similar prohibition has been imposed by the Government of the United States of America; and whether he is aware that the position is regarded with the gravest misgiving by manufacturers and workpeople engaged in the industry?

Discussions are constantly taking place between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the U.S.A. as to the best source of supply for essential civilian goods to third markets having regard to the most economical use of the combined resources of the two countries. There is at present a surplus of bicycles in the United States despite restricted manufacture, and agreement has been reached that for the time being the needs of certain territories for new bicycles should be met from there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the report submitted to him by the hon. Member for Pudsey and Otley of a case recently heard at the Liverpool Assizes, in which the plaintiff, a resident of Dublin, stated he had purchased from Max Newman, of Manchester, 500,000 pairs of second-hand Army boots; what was the total quantity sold to Newman and the average price per pair at which they were sold; and, if they were repairable for civilian use in Eire, why they were not made available for repair for civilian use in this country, in view of the shortage of leather?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the case that fireguards acting under the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order are under a statutory obligation when they take annual leave or part-annual leave to provide a substitute?

The occupier of premises for which arrangements have been made under the Order is under obligation to secure that at all times there is an adequate number of fire-guards to protect the premises. No special provision is practicable for holiday periods and occupiers have been advised to make the best arrangements possible either through mutual assistance schemes with neighbouring premises, or through staggering holidays, or by asking for volunteers from the workers who are staying in the neighbourhood during the holiday.

asked the Home Secretary whether the new air-raid warning regulations are operating satisfactorily in all respects; and whether he is aware that in recent air-raids the time between the warning and gunfire or bomb-dropping is insufficient in some instances to enable persons to take cover in safety?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Durham (Mr. Ritson) on 8th July. The new system is not yet in operation as the preparatory work is not completed.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will arrange for the publication in the "Radio Times" of the times and wave-lengths of the British Broadcasting Corporation European transmissions to occupied Europe, in view of the intrinsic merit of many of these broadcasts and of the interest they would evoke in this country?

No, Sir. The "Radio Times" is now reduced to less than a quarter of its peace-time size, and I am advised by the B.B.C. that the editor cannot find space for publishing particulars of the B.B.C.'s European broadcasts without prejudicing the value of the paper as a guide to the home services, which is its principal object.

asked the Minister of Information whether any representations were made to the directors of "La Marseillaise" before action was taken to cause it to cease publication?

No, Sir. The Committee of National Liberation were notified of the Government's decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken to draw the attention of mechanics in the Army to existing facilities for up-grading in their own trade so that they will be better equipped both now and when they leave the Service?

A specially prepared poster has been displayed for many months urging all tradesmen who are capable of passing a trade test into a higher class to submit an application to the officer commanding their company immediately. This poster is displayed in the canteens of all units and elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many natives of our East and West African Colonies now hold commissioned rank in His Majesty's Forces?

I am making inquiry from the local commanders and I will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there has been any survey of the increased cost of living since the beginning of the war in Sierra Leone; and what are the steps which have been, or are being, taken to maintain the purchasing power of wages in relation to increased prices?

A survey of the cost of living in Freetown, Sierra Leone, was made in February, 1941, and a further and more comprehensive survey was instituted at the end of last year. The report on this second survey has not yet been received. The chief economic problem of Sierra Leone, as of other British West African Colonies, is that of the large amount of purchasing power in the hands of wage-earners, owing to the large amount of work available on military and other projects, and to the brisk demand for Sierra Leone's export products. Measures are constantly being taken by price control and otherwise to check the resulting inflationary tendency, which is aggravated by the unavoidable shortage of many types of consumer goods on which the wage-earner would normally spend part of his income.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of able-bodied males who had been withdrawn from the native areas in Kenya before the recent introduction of compulsory labour for service outside the reserves?

According to the most recent figures available in the Colonial Office, the number of Africans in civil employment outside the reserves at the end of March was 240,000, of whom 224,000 had been recruited voluntarily and 16,000 had been recruited under the Defence Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officials or ex-ministers of the Government of Malta are now interned; and whether any of them are in receipt of pensions or other official emoluments?

Seven Government officials and one ex-Minister have been detained under Defence Regulations. Three officials are in receipt of pension and the ex-Minister is in receipt of an honorarium as member of the Council of Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to introduce legislation in the Bahamas to extend voting by secret ballot to every part of the islands?

As announced in the statement issued at the time of the publication of the Commission's report on the disturbances, the Governor proposes to send down for introduction into the House of Assembly the necessary legislation for making voting by ballot permanent in New Providence Island and for extending it a s soon as possible to the Out-Islands. It is intended that this legislation should be introduced as soon as possible, but as the Legislature is not at present in session, I regret that I cannot at the moment give the bon. Member a definite date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the recruitment of agricultural workers from Jamaica and the Bahamas for employment in the United States, steps will be taken, either by insurance or otherwise, to provide for compensation or pensions in the event of injury or death of such workers, whether on the high seas or in the United States?

No such obligation is imposed by the international labour conventions regulating recruitment and contracts of employment, but I am referring my hon. Friend's suggestion to the Governors of Jamaica and the Bahamas for their consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what action is being taken following the recent amendment of the Representation of the People Act in Barbados; how the amendment will affect the qualifications of voters and elected members; and whether there is any intention of introducing adult suffrage in Barbados in the near future?

According to my latest information Representation of the People Act is still under discussion in the Barbados legislature. The main changes to be made by the Bill as it stands at present in the qualifications for voters and elected members are as follow:—Women will be eligible for election and will be enfranchised on the same qualifications as men.The qualifications for voters are reduced for the most part by half.I should be happy to send the hon. Member the detailed changes proposed in the Bill now under discussion if he so wishes. With regard to the last part of the Question, I think it will be desirable to see how the new Bill works out when it comes into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the latest available figures of the rise in the cost of living in Tanganyika; and whether wage bonuses have been provided to correspond with the increased cost of living?

As no statistics relating to the cost of living in Tanganyika had been kept, no accurate index of the wartime rise is available. Cost of living bonuses were approved and introduced in May for Government employees of all communities below certain prescribed salary limits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what he proposes to do regarding trade union legislation in Mauritius in order to render Mauritius eligible for assistance under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act as the trade union legislation of this territory does not now comply fully with the requirements of that Act?

I am in communication with the Governor at the present time regarding the amendments to the existing legislation which are necessary for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the reduction in the price of fish and the high cost of gear, bait, and labour incurred, he will consider subsidising this inshore industry in some form to maintain a fair livelihood for the fishermen?

The reduced prices for certain kinds of fish only came into operation on r2th June last and it is somewhat early yet to judge of their effect on the inshore fishermen. I am, however, closely watching the position and will consult with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food if I find that at current prices these fishermen are unable to earn a fair livelihood.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have been directed from small builders to large contractors?

I regret that statistics of this nature are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants whose services are no longer required by their Departments, owing to the reductions of work effected in consequence of the operation of the committee under the chairmanship of the Home Secretary, are still in the employ of the Departments in which they have become redundant; and what steps he proposes to take to facilitate their transfer to more useful spheres of activity as the committee was set up to provide a contribution to the solution of the man-power problem and to assist in the efficient prosecution of the war?

Departments have their organisations under close and continuous review with the object of cutting out work and selecting for release the greatest number of men and women who can be spared; there is an overriding direction that the staff selected should be suitable for transfer to the Forces or to war industry, and releases are effected through the national machinery for placing manpower in those fields, Designated officers who are not suitable for such employment or who possess special qualifications needed in other Departments are dealt with by a central pool and they are placed where their services are most required. These processes are continuous and there is no figure of redundant staff at any one point of time.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to make a statement on the present position and future policy in India with regard to food-stuffs?

The present difficult situation is due to a widespread tendency of cultivators to withhold foodgrains from the market, to larger consumption per head as the result of increased family income, to hoarding by consumers and others, and, in many parts of India, to the fact that the methods by which surplus supplies of foodgrains have in normal times moved from areas of production to areas of consumption have ceased to function or been seriously weakened. The Government of India's policy in meeting this situation and the resulting rise in prices was founded on the division of the country into regions and "food provinces" with a view to the transfer of supplies under Government auspices from surplus areas to those in which there is a deficit. Within the last few weeks it has been necessary to relax restrictions on inter-provincial transfer of supplies within the Eastern region in order to meet the needs of Calcutta, and this was linked with administrative action designed to extract surplus grains from hoard.These measures were not wholly successful and at the beginning of July the Government of India called an All-India Food Conference for the urgent consideration of the short-term problem. This body has already made, and the Government of India has accepted, various recommendations, among which are the early extension of urban rationing, the physical control of stocks and administrative measures to counter hoarding, and the procurement of surpluses by Government controlled agencies. A proposal that unrestricted trade movements of foodgrains between administrative areas should be allowed was considered but rejected. The Government of India have also assembled a Committee representative of all-India to consider longer term problems of Indian food supplies. This Committee is now sitting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the policy that the importation of luxuries will have to wait after the war, it is intended that importation of so-called luxuries by neutral nations possessed of their own shipping will be prohibited or permitted?

Orders for supplies for neutral countries from British and other United Nations sources would doubtless be considered in the light of prevailing supply conditions. Otherwise, it would scarcely seem possible for His Majesty's Government to lay down what goods neutral countries should think fit to import with their own shipping resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the public dissatisfaction over the slowness of the War Damage Commission in deciding whether, in the case of damaged buildings, to make cost of works or value payments, and that no decisions have been yet reached in respect of many claims two to three years old; and whether he can expedite the activities of this body?

I appreciate that owners of damaged properties naturally wish to know as soon as possible what kind of payment they will receive. The War Damage (Amendment) Act, 1943, was designed to facilitate the Commission's work of deciding whether properties were or were not total lossess which generally determines whether a value payment or a cost of works payment is due. They proceeded urgently with a scheme for classifying all properties damaged up to the end of 1942. The size of the task required a pre-arranged plan. Individual properties cannot be taken out of turn except for some urgent reason. Accordingly the Commission do not make an immediate determination unless the owner proposes and is legally able to re- pair or re-develop his property at once. The Commission has made good progress and I cannot accept the suggestion that it has been slow in dealing with a vast task in addition to its primary duty of paying current claims for work done. But if my hon. Friend wishes to gives me particulars of any cases where owners urgently needed a speedy classification and there has been apparent delay in giving it I will have them looked at.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, under the new arrangements to be made with regard to appeal tribunals, he will make it possible for the appellant to have the right to have copies of medical reports and other evidence in the possession of the Ministry so as to prosecute his appeal, or before the elapse of time by which a decision must be made whether to appeal or not, as, in many cases, this evidence might obviate an appeal and, in other cases, provide missing links of evidence vital to the appellant's case?

As I explained in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Thirsk and Mahon (Mr. Turton) on 1st July, any person who exercises the right of appeal to the independent pensions appeal tribunal will be supplied, as in the past, with a statement of the facts relating to his case. The form of the statement is a matter for consideration and may be dealt with by the rules to be made by the Lord Chancellor. I cannot undertake to furnish any such statement before an appeal is lodged.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has any statement to make on the recent disturbance, when the police had to intervene, at Fleetwood, because several hundred passengers failed to secure accommodation on a steamer to the Isle of Man; and whether any tickets were issued in advance for the journey?

I am aware that at recent week-ends it has not been possible to carry all the passengers who desire to travel from Fleetwood to the Isle of Man. I regret that it is not possible to adopt the normal remedy of putting on an extra vessel, since all the suitable ships are engaged on essential war service. There is no authorised machinery for issuing tickets in advance and there would be great administrative difficulties in any system of advance booking. My Noble Friend has the matter under close observation, and will make every endeavour to avoid further incidents of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers. The real remedy, however, lies in the hands of the public themselves.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can give any information in connection with two boys who were killed at a level crossing on 3rd July, in Lincolnshire; why were the crossing gates not closed a few minutes before the train was due; and what action he intends taking to prevent another accident at the same crossing?

I have received a report about this regrettable accident, and the circumstances are being investigated. When these inquiries are complete, T will inform my hon. Friend of the result. I would like to express my deep sympathy with the relatives of the two children who lost their lives.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what further progress has been made with the use of producer-gas transport; how many vehicles are now using this means of propulsion; and whether any plans are being made for its development after the war?

Two thousand units of the Government producer-gas apparatus have been despatched from the factory to the operators of public service vehicles. There has been difficulty in getting labour and materials to convert the vehicles and to build the servicing accommodation which they require, but everything possible has been done to make progress. The tools which we hoped to use for making units for goods vehicles were diverted to the manufacture of high priority appliances required for military operations. In consequence, there has been a regrettable delay, but I am glad to assure my hon. Friend that goods vehicle units are now leaving the assembly lines.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport why in two cases of milk transport which have been laid before him the transport charge was.97d. per gallon for between 11 and 12 miles and 2½d. per gallon for about six miles, respectively, the volume of milk carried being much the same in each case?

The road haulage rates for the collection of milk from producers are arranged with the hauliers by the Milk Marketing Board, and I regret that I have no particulars of the rates in operation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can make a statement on the recent incident when Ministry of Health employees at Blackpool blocked the traffic as a protest by standing and lying on the tram rails?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that the feeding and transport of workers, including evacuated civil servants, in Blackpool is being seriously impeded by the presence of large numbers of holiday-makers; and whether he will arrange that these workers should be issued with priority tickets entitling them to priority for seats in tramcars, restaurants, etc.?

The Regional Transport Commissioner is making a full investigation into the transport situation in Blackpool, and into the difficulties experienced by civil servants in travelling to and from their work. In the meantime, inspectors have been stationed to observe the loadings, and to assist workers to find accommodation in the trams.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that the West Yorkshire Road Car Company, Limited, has not withdrawn contract tickets on routes competitive with other services; and whether, in view of the discrimination thus created among travellers, he will issue instructions for the renewal of contract tickets

The Regional Transport Commissioner has begun discussions on this subject with the competent authorities. The issue of the contract tickets to which my hon. Friend refers is a temporary measure, and I will inform him as soon as possible of the decision which is made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that no down train stops at Ingatestone on Sundays between 9.25 a.m. and 3.11 p.m.; that a train leaves Liverpool Street at 11.50 a.m. stopping at all stations between Romford and Chelmsford except Ingatestone; that an appeal to the London and North Eastern Railway Company that this train should stop at Ingatestone has received no reply other than formal acknowledgment; and whether he will make representations to the company with a view to a better service being afforded?

The London and North Eastern Railway have carefully considered the suggestion that the 11.50 a.m. from Liverpool Street should stop at Ingatestone. They report that there is not sufficient demand to justify the stop and the resulting changes in the time-table which would be required. If the situation should change, the company wilt reconsider the matter before their winter time-table is drawn up.