asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that Territorials with 4½ years' service with anti-aircraft units have recently been transferred to infantry regiments; and why was not some choice allowed these men.

Such transfers are avoided if possible and only take place if they are necessary in the interests of the Service. In these circumstances, I regret that the men cannot be given an option not to transfer.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that a Territorial, who for years has voluntarily prepared himself for active service, should, at any rate, be afforded the same privilege as a conscientious objector—that of deciding in which branch he should serve?

I am sorry, but I can only repeat that at the present time the main need for the Army is infantry and that compulsory transfer from other arms must take place as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War if a medical officer in the Army with English qualifications must forgo any leave due to him if he wishes to sit for Scottish medical examinations.

While a medical officer is not given additional leave he is allowed to draw on the next period of privilege leave due to him in order to sit for the examination. I need hardly add that these rules apply to all officers, no matter where they have acquired their present qualifications or where they wish to acquire further qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a number of officers and other ranks have been in India and Burma for over five years; arid does the question of leave consideration for those who have served abroad continuously for over five years apply to them.

Yes, Sir. In general, officers and men who have served continuously overseas for five years will have left India for home in a few weeks' time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, in deciding about those who are to get home, that those who come from warm climates should come home during the summer-time, in order to minimise the strain upon their health?

They will have to come home when shipping is available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now prepared to consider an issue of socks lo the Home Guard.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to my hon. Friend the Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Murray) on 6th April last. I understand that the supply position has not improved since then and it is not possible to consider any additions to the items now issued to members of the Home Guard without coupons.

How does the reply of the President of the Board of Trade meet the situation? After all, the Home Guard have to wear socks whether they are provided by the Army or not.

On the contrary, this is a proposal that they should have additional socks.

Would my right hon. Friend consider wearing a pair of Army boots with civilian socks for one week, and then answering this Question again?

asked the Secretary of State for War when it is proposed that women members of the Home Guard shall be supplied with uniforms, respirators and steel helmets.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it is permissible for women Home Guard units to wear uniforms; is there any standard pattern for such uniforms or is each local unit permitted to wear a pattern of their own choice; is any part of such uniform issued officially; and is any grant made by the Government towards its cost.

No uniform has been supplied or approved by the War Office for women nominated for service with the Home Guard. There is no objection to women who are members of a uniformed voluntary organisation wearing their uniform on duties connected with the Home Guard. The issue of a uniform is not contemplated, but I will look into the matter of helmets and respirators.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that some local units are now wearing uniforms of their own choice and of varying patterns and is it not wrong that we should have a dozen or more different types of uniforms worn by women's units of the Home Guard?

The only prohibition is against wearing uniforms which simulate official uniforms. So long as they do not do that, I honestly think the best course is to turn the blind eye.

The right hon. Gentleman did not answer my question in regard to respirators and steel helmets.

Yes, I think my hon. and gallant friend will find that I did. I said I would look into the matter of helmets and respirators.

Is the right hon. gentleman aware that these women have to perform signalling, intelligence and clerical duties without any protection, the men wearing steel helmets and these women wearing unsuitable putty medals?

I can only repeat that I will look into the matter of helmets and respirators.

asked the Secretary of State for War the comparative amount awarded on mustering to men and women members of the Home Guard as to subsistence, feeding, travelling and compensation for loss of wages.

During their service in the Home Guard, male members are eligible for subsistence allowance of 1s. 6d. for a continuous period of duty of 5–8 hours; 3s. for 8–15 hours; 4s. 6d. for 15–24 hours. If practicable, subsistence in kind is provided in lieu. They are eligible for refund of reasonable travelling expenses incurred in attending authorised duty; and may claim compensation for loss of earnings, in respect of courses of not less than 6 days' duration or in certain other circumstances, up to a maximum rate of £3 18s. 6d. a week or 13s. 1d. a day. Women nominated for employment with the Home Guard are not eligible for these payments.

Is it not time that this miserable differentiation between men and women should cease? Why are these women called upon to give up their money and jobs without getting any compensation?

They are not called up. They offer their services. It is contrary to the intentions of the War Office that they should come from long distances or have their ordinary avocations interfered with.

Are we to understand that women who are trained for this kind of thing, have the option of not coming out in an emergency?

Their services are offered on a purely voluntary basis.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many air-mail letters can be sent home from the Middle East each week by each soldier, sailor and airman; what are the reasons for rationing these letters; and whether there is any rationing of airgraphs.

The number of air mail letters which soldiers in the Middle East may send home is being increased from five to six in each period of four weeks. The limited aircraft capacity available makes this rationing necessary. Airgraphs take up a much smaller space and it is possible to allow soldiers to send as many of these as they like.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take immediate steps to prevent the proposals to take water and erect military works in certain areas, of which he has been informed, in view of the existing shortage of water due to low rainfall and present difficulties in supplying water to villages and for farm stock.

I am aware of the shortage of water to which my hon. Friend refers. A committee representing the Services, the Ministry of Health and the Regional Commissioners is about to study the problem locally with a view to ensuring that the needs of the civil population in the area are safeguarded and detailed instructions have recently been issued to the troops in the area to prevent the waste and contamination of water supplies. Apart from certain measures to prevent damage to roads and the disturbance of cattle sanctuaries, I am not aware of any military works being carried out but investigations are being made into this on the spot. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the proper training of the troops—for which purpose the use of the land is taken in the first place—would be severely handicapped if they could not erect any works necessary for this training and if they could not use the water in the area.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that the troops in question came into the area without notice yesterday, and filled up their water wagons from these resources, which means that people cannot remain in the area and that immediate action is necessary?

Immediate action has been taken. The point about short notice is a new one, and I would like to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the official publication, "The Eighth Army," was approved by the Army Council prior to publication.

The Eighth Army booklet is one of a series issued to give in popular form an account of various features and phases of the war of general interest. The task of preparing these booklets is entrusted to selected writers who are given the necessary facilities for their work, but the booklets are not intended to be official documents of the blue book variety. They are not submitted for formal Army Council approval.

Is there any effective means of preventing newspapers drawing attention to, and making comments on, officers when such officers are unable to make any answer to the accusations?

Are these publications submitted for the approval of the Secretary of State for War?

The answer is, "No, Sir."

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a good deal of perturbation at this novel departure from precedent, which appears to be very unfair to many high ranking officers at present holding positions in other parts of the Empire?

There are only two alternatives in this matter, namely, either to have the booklets produced not on an official basis, and with no attempt to control them closely, or to have them carefully "vetted" and officially issued by the Army Council. I, personally, think that the former is the better of the two alternatives.

Is the Minister aware that the average reader accepts them as official publications? Will he bear that in mind?

I will certainly consider whether it is possible to make clear that they are not.

Can the Minister say whether the three generals referred to were given the opportunity of seeing this version before it was published in the booklet?

I think not.

Will my right hon. Friend consider issuing a preface to the booklet, making these points clear?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether members of the A.T.S. are eligible for awards such as the D.S.O., M.C., D.C.M. and M.M.

Members of the A.T.S. are not eligible for the D.S.O., M.C., or D.C.M. They are eligible for the V.C., G.C., G.M., M.M., for appointment to the appropriate classes of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division), or the award of the British Empire Medal (Military Division), according to rank, for Mentions in Despatches and for Commendations for brave conduct.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that if women are employed operationally in anti-aircraft units there ought to be the same eligibility for D.S.O., M.C., D.C.M. and M.M. as is given to the men serving alongside them?

I think there is an apparent inconsistency in the rules, but in point of actual fact the V.C. and the M.M. are now only awarded for active operations against the enemy in the field. Should conditions ever arise when women are really operationally employed against the enemy, the matter will require further consideration.

Are not operations in the air, really operations in the field? Many of these women are employed in the aircraft service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to introduce legislation to deal with town and country planning and the acquisition of land for the purpose of reconstruction or development.

As already announced by my noble Friend the Minister of Reconstruction the Government's proposals—including proposals for Scotland—will be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after Easter.

Will the 1939 ceiling apply to Scotland as well as to England?

Whatever proposals are put forward will cover Scotland.

Has not my right hon. Friend observed that, when the statement to which he referred was made, one of his colleagues said that "as soon as possible after Easter" might mean shortly before Christmas?

The answer that I have given is as soon as possible after Easter. I said nothing about Christmas.

May we take it that the Minister will be ruthless in acquiring land and will have no consideration for the old gang?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Government propose to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Balfour Committee on the Hill Sheep Industry.

I am presently engaged in discussions with the Scots hill sheep industry upon certain aspects of the recommendations contained in the Report of Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Committee. I expect to have the considered views of all sections of the industry at an early date, and I shall then consider, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture who has before him a report on the industry in England and Wales, the measures which might most suitably be adopted.

Will the right hon. Gentieman afford an opportunity for discussion in the House on that Report?

Prior to the introduction of legislation?

Yes.

That is a question which must be put to the Leader of the House.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a certain amount of valuable Lowland agricultural land is passing to the control of the Forestry Commissioners because the owners do not know what the future of farming is to be?

There have been discussions on all these subjects and that matter would more profitably be raised when a discussion takes place on the hill sheep industry.

Is there any justification for the hon. and gallant Gentleman's supplementary question?

To give my personal opinion, I am afraid that there is.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give any indication of the progress made by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board in the preparation of the various types of scheme provided for in the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act, 1943.

Yes, Sir. The Board's development scheme, listing 102 projects with a potential annual output of 6,274 million units which the Board propose to examine, has now been approved by the Electricity Commissioners and confirmed by me. Copies have been placed in the Library and copies are available for inspection at the Board's offices at 16, Rothesay Terrace, Edinburgh, and at suitable points in the North of Scotland district. The development scheme indicates that the surveying and planning for the first of the construction schemes in Perthshire, Dunbartonshire, Argyllshire and Inverness-shire are already well advanced: and that the surveying and planning of distribution schemes in the North of Scotland area have already begun.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any statement to make on the Order in Council (S.R. & O. No. 326 of 1944) relating to agricultural wages.

This Order made certain changes in the machinery for fixing the wages of agricultural workers in Scotland. I am circulating a statement on the effect of the Order in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the powers of the Scottish Board be the same as those of the English Board?

That is substantially the purpose of this Order. It will operate for the duration of the war.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many miners engaged in the industry at the outbreak of war are still engaged in the mines. Major Lloyd George: I regret this information is not available.

Why is it not possible to get the information?

It would involve examining everyone engaged in industry at the moment.

Could not a figure be given later?

I can give a rough figure.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many miners were employed in the coal industry at the beginning of the war; how many have since been lost, respectively, by death from natural causes, fatal accidents, industrial diseases, transference to other industries, conscription in the armed forces and retirement on account of age.

The number of wage-earners on colliery books on 2nd September, 1939, was 762,400. The number of persons killed at mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, between the 3rd September, 1939, and the 11th March, 1944, was 3,872. I regret that information regarding wastage from other causes, in the detailed form required by my hon. Friend, is not available.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many tons of coal were lost during the last six months, respectively, through stoppages of work and through restriction of output; and what this loss of tonnage represents in terms of the present monthly allowance of house coal for 1,000,000 homes.

The estimated tonnage lost during the 26 weeks ended the 11th March, 1944, owing to disputes in the coal industry was 1,508,000 tons. No information is available on a national basis regarding the tonnage lost owing to restriction of output. It is not possible to say how much of the tonnage lost would otherwise have been distributed as house coal, and it cannot, therefore, be expressed in terms of the present maximum permitted quantities.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the tonnage of British coal sold abroad for each year since the outbreak of War, including, if possible, the first three months of 1944.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a similar Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on 25th January.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree with the statement in the Press the other day that we sold 47,000 tons of coal to Portugal? How can he convince the miners of the necessity to produce coal for the war effort if we are able to sell coal abroad?

I can only assure my hon. Friend that there are things we need from abroad, and, as I said in my answer the other day, we are not exporting any coal which is necessary for our own war effort.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of retail business premises, in the following categories, which have been closed since the outbreak of war: branches of multiple stores, branches of co-operative societies and shops of all other types, respectively.

Up to the 18th March, 11,490 applications had been entered on the register of withdrawing traders. Of these, 2,663 were in respect of branches of multiples; 173 in respect of branches of co-operative societies; and 8,654 in respect of shops of all other types.

Does not the answer emphasise the point that the small private shops are suffering the most?

I do not think that it does, having regard to the proportion to the probable number of multiple shops, of which we have no accurate figures.

Have the co-operative societies had any special privileges in this matter?

No section of the retail trade has had any special privileges.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Cohen Committee investigating company law has completed the taking of evidence; and whether any interim Report is likely to be submitted to him.

No, Sir. The Committee has not yet completed the taking of evidence. I do not anticipate that they will submit an interim report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what basis coupons are allotted for replacement of articles lost through enemy action while in laundries; whether he is aware that in North London, Case No. 59204, only eight coupons were awarded for replacing the loss of two towels, three shirts and six collars; and whether he will take steps to remedy such anomalies.

In the present shortage of supplies, coupons can be issued to replace lost clothing only to the extent that the applicants' remaining stock falls below a minimum essential level. The case referred to by my hon. Friend was dealt with in this way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increasing difficulties being experienced by housewives, he will now consider the issue of a special grant of coupons to enable them to purchase towels for general household purposes.

No, Sir. As my right hon. Friend has explained in answer to previous Questions, I regret that shortage of supplies prevents the granting of extra coupons for this purpose.

In the interests of public health and hygiene, will not my right hon. and gallant Friend reconsider this decision?

I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend will realise the extreme difficulty of any rationing based on households. He will bear in mind also that the coupon value of towels is not a very large one.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that elastic, normally used for children's underwear, four yards of which pre-war sold for 3d., is now in short supply and being offered for sale almost exclusively by pavement hucksters and kerbside pedlars at 9d. and 1s. per yard; and if he will arrange with the manufacturers for any fresh supplies to be sold directly through properly established and recognised shopkeepers and fix a price-control Order.

I am aware of the shortage of elastic, but arrangements have been made for the allocation as from March of increased quantities of braid elastic to the retail trade. Following careful examination by the Central Price Regulation Committee, my right hon. Friend has signed an Order fixing maximum retail prices for a number of haberdashery items which are in short supply, including narrow elastic, the maximum price of which will be from 1d. to 2d. per yard, according to the type. This Order will come into force on 10th April. It is hoped that these measures will discourage the abuses to which my hon. Friend, refers.

I thank the right hon. and gallant Gentleman for the information, but may I ask whether he is aware that the Make-do-and-Mend Scheme, which is very popular with the women folk, is being undermined by various rackets such as are suggested in the Question, and will his officers keep a close watch on the operation of these rascals, who, somehow, seem to overcome every Order made?

I was not aware that the Make-do-and-Mend Scheme had been hampered by this, but I am aware of the practice to which the hon. Member refers, and our officers will do their utmost to put it down.

Why is the application of this Order being delayed until 10th April?

For administrative reasons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the inferior quality as well as the high price of men's braces now on the market; and whether he will take steps to deal with both these matters.

No, Sir. Most of the braces now coming on the market must conform to close specifications and are price controlled. It, however, my hon. Friend will send me samples of the braces he has in mind, I shall be glad to investigate his complaint.

Is the Minister aware that at the present time it costs as much to keep trousers up for six weeks, as it did formerly to keep them up for six years; and that 5s. now buys a pair of braces which is worth only 6d.?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the proportion of Service personnel who are having their Service pay made up to their pre-war rates by the Government, from local government sources or from other sources, respectively.

The number of civil servants serving with the Forces who were in receipt of, or eligible for, balance of civil pay on the 1st January, 1944, was 123,083. This number includes some who receive no balance because their Service pay exceeds their civil pay. I regret that no information is available regarding the numbers of Service personnel who are receiving balance of civil pay from local authorities or from private employers; and it would not be in the public interest to state what proportion of the total strength of the Armed Forces is represented by the Civil Service figure.

In view of the important bearings which this whole question has on the subject of pay and allowances in the Army, will the Chancellor consider taking figures of certain sample units with a view to arriving at the total?

I do not think it has any real relevance to the question of pay in the Army.

Would this procedure on the part of the Government be necessary at all, if the Services were adequately paid?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider giving encouragement to old people, who have returned to industry to help with the war effort, by making post-war credit notes payable on demand at the Post Office to all persons on attaining their 70th birthday.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my predecessor on the 19th January, 1943, to my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Viscount Hinchingbrooke).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether members of the Services who are serving abroad or who are prisoners of war are subject to a deduction from their post-war credit on this account.

No, Sir. The Income Tax post-war credit depends solely upon, and is measured by, the additional tax payable by reason of the cut in the personal allowances and reliefs made by the Finance Act, 1941. Where a member of the Forces, whether by reason of service abroad or by reason of being a prisoner of war, is for Income Tax purposes nonresident, his post-war credit is unaffected if his whole income is liable to tax, for he gets the whole of the personal allowances and reliefs. If, on the other hand, he has income from foreign sources which ceases to be liable to tax because he is non-resident, the law provides in effect that he should be given only a part of his personal allowances and reliefs, proportionate to the amount of his income liable to tax as compared with the total amount of his income, including income not liable to tax, and this involves a corresponding reduction of his post-war credit, as compared with the post-war Credit which would be allowed if his whole income were liable to tax.

Will my right hon. Friend see that all prisoners of war are told what is the position, because the impression is that they are not getting a square deal?

Yes, Sir; I can assure my hon. Friend that special attention will be given to that matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if soldiers, sailors and airmen, serving abroad and prisoners of war are subject to a deduction in their post-war credits; and if they are treated as residents for purposes of taxation and non-residents for post-war credits.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I have just given to my hon. Friend the member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton). As regards the second part, a person who is resident for tax purposes is treated as resident for all those purposes, including post-war credit, and similarly a person who is non-resident for tax purposes is non-resident for the purposes of post-war credit.

Has the prisoner of war to be non-resident for three years before he can claim the advantage of this concession?

No, Sir; I think not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the receipts under the tithe redemption annuities during the last fiscal year and what was the cost of collection.

The receipts and payments of the Redemption Annuities Account are published annually, and the Accounts for the last financial year were published on 29th February (House of Commons Paper 32 of 1944). It will be seen that the instalments of annuities collected in that year amounted to £2,754,190 and that the total administrative expenses incurred under the Tithe Act, 1936, were £296,979. The separation of the costs of collection from the other expenses would involve an amount of labour disproportionate to the value of the result.

Does not the Chancellor consider that the cost of collecting this tax, included in the other figures he has given, is disproportionately high?

I really do not know.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the amounts of tithe redemption annuities outstanding at the end of the last fiscal year and in how many cases has action been taken to recover the same.

The total amount of instalments outstanding on 31st March, 1943, was approximately £384,000, of which £260,000 has so far been recovered. Statistics of the number of applications to the Court in respect of these arrears are not readily available and the labour of extracting them would not be justifiable.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is high time, in the name of commonsense and good agriculture, that this antiquated impost should be removed from the land?

I think that is a matter which was dealt with by Parliament not long ago.

Is the Chancellor satisfied that the 1936 Act does provide machinery to deal with cases of excessive hardship?

That is a separate question. I should like to see it on the Order Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to make a statement as to the exploratory talks taking place between the respective Governments of Great Britain and the U.S.A., with a view to concluding a tax convention for the avoidance of double taxation and fiscal evasion.

I am not in a position to make any statement on this subject at present.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the Government will take every possible steps to secure an accommodation with our American friends?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the recent judgment in the King's Bench Division whereby the £2 per acre grant for ploughing up old grassland was held to be liable for Income Tax; and whether, in view of the continued necessity of increasing the ploughing up of old pasture in order to grow more food, he will take steps to remove this anomaly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the finding in the King's Bench Division by Mr. Justice MacNaughton that the £2 per acre grant paid for ploughing up grassland is subject to Income Tax and not a capital payment exempt from tax; and what measures he proposes to take to ensure that farmers will receive the full benefit of the £2 grant and are, in addition, safeguarded against retrospective taxation as from the date of the grant.