asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the child welfare centre at Up Minster has been closed; that this causes great inconvenience to mothers in the neighbourhood; and whether steps will be taken to reopen it.

I understand that the centre re-opened on 16th May and is housed temporarily in a local school. The lease of the previous accommodation could not be extended and every effort is being made to secure suitable permanent premises.

asked the Minister of Health whether steps can now be taken to deal with the large number of tuberculosis patients in Middlesex whose treatment is being delayed owing to insufficient hospital accommodation.

The problem to which my hon. Friend refers is not confined to Middlesex and is receiving my constant and anxious attention. I am taking all possible steps, in close collaboration with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, to ease the situation, but great difficulties are caused by the present demands on building labour and material and the dearth of nursing and domestic staff.

Are we to understand that there will be some rapid amelioration of the situation?

I hope the amelioration will be progressive, but I cannot promise that it will be rapid.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are several evacuated American military hospitals which have been turned over to the military and which would make excellent sanatoria?

I shall be glad to look into that.

asked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to continue war-time nurseries, as a peace-time service with Government grant, to meet the needs of mothers whose husbands were killed or seriously injured in the war or by industrial accidents and have themselves to go to work, of mothers too ill to give full attention to their children, and of those whose housing accommodation make it impossible to provide proper play-time conditions for young children, free from the danger of the streets.

Welfare authorities are already empowered, by the Public Health Act, 1936, to make provision, subject to my general approval, for the care of children who have not attained the age of five years and are not being educated in schools recognised by the Minister of Education. I should be prepared to approve the establishment of a nursery under these powers provided that it does not prejudice or interfere with the provision of nursery schools or classes.

Is the right hon and learned Gentleman prepared to sanction the use of existing war nurseries which have been specially provided for the purpose?

The conditions with regard to existing war nurseries may, of course, change in peace-time.

asked the Minister of Health when it is contemplated that the main water supply will be brought to the village of Flecknoe, in the Rugby Division.

I am informed by the Rugby rural district council, which is the responsible local authority, that they will have regard to the needs of this village when framing their proposals for extensions of piped supplies in their district.

When will this situation be liquidated?

"Liquidation" is no doubt the appropriate word. I have given very great attention to the question of rural water supply, as has indeed this House, when and since the Act was framed. As the hon. Member no doubt knows, there are facilities for ratepayers to represent that authorities are failing in their duty.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the neglect of Lady Russell's son in a cottage hospital under his control; and will he give the name of the hospital and cause an inquiry to be made.

I have seen statements in the medical and lay press on the matter referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, but I have no clue to the cottage hospital involved.

Since I am not allowed at Question Time to convey information but only to seek it, may I see the right hon. and learned Gentleman afterwards and tell him?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman would let me know the name of the cottage hospital, without an interview.

asked the Minister of Health the number of medical men and women who have been enlisted into the medical services of the Navy, Army and Air Force, respectively, from the beginning of the war in 1939 to the latest convenient date.

The numbers of medical men and women recruited from Great Britain and Northern Ireland into the medical branches of the Services up to 24th May last are 2,405 in the Royal Navy, 12,200 in the Army and 2,564 in the Royal Air Force, making a total of 17,169. The figure for the Army includes a number recruited for work with the Indian Medical Service.

What proportion do the doctors recruited into the Fighting Services bear to the total number of active medical practitioners on the register?

:Perhaps it would be helpful to give the answer under two categories. The proportion of the total number recruited to the total on the register is 27·5 per cent. The proportion or the number recruited to the total number of active practitioners is 31·3 per cent. The proportion of general practitioners in the Services is 21.4 per cent.

Is the Minister able to give separate figures for Northern Ireland?

No, Sir, not without notice.

asked the Minister of Health the number of medical men and women who are expected to be demobilised in the first six months after 18th June; and whether this number of doctors will be enough to provide for the needs of the civil population.

:I am not yet able to give the number asked for by the hon. Member. It depends on various factors, including the decision of the Service Departments as to whether an officer's retention is necessary on military grounds.

:Has the Ministry of Health specially asked for the demobilisation of medical officers by special process?

I could not answer that question adequately without notice.

:Is it the fact that general duty medical officers, that is, apart from specialists, are to be demobilised according to the formula age-length of service and do the Class B releases apply only to specialists and special categories?

:I feel that my hon. Friend is rather going outside his Question. Perhaps he will give me notice of that point.

Are any civilian doctors to be called up?

I should not like to give a reply on that point but it may very well be that it will be right and just that those who have not been out should take their turn.

Is it not the case that many of these hospitals are understaffed?

That is another point.

asked the Minister of Health the composition of the Medical Personnel (Priority) Committee; and whether the work of this committee is to be continued.

The Medical Personnel (Priority) Committee consists of the hon. Baronet the Member for Norwich (Sir G. Shakespeare), as Chairman, and twelve medical men representing the several branches of the profession and the Service Departments. With permission I will circulate the names in the Official Report. The Committee and its chairman have done most valuable work and there is no intention of bringing it to an end so long as general questions affecting the release and continued recruitment of doctors are still likely to arise for their consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the conditions of nurses in tuberculosis sanatoria; what is the minimum age for such nurses; how it compares with that for other nursing; if he has particulars respecting the number of nurses who catch this disease; and what precautions are urged on all hospitals to safeguard nurses, especially young nurses.

Yes, Sir. In co-operation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, I have had under consideration the conditions in a number of sanatoria. Many are satisfactory; others have defects that could be remedied only by building that cannot at present be undertaken; others are in isolated situations, so that the provision of certain amenities is difficult. Such steps as are practicable in present circumstances are being taken to remedy these defects. There is no prescribed minimum age either for tuberculosis nursing or for other types of nursing. It is preferable that girls undertaking nursing should not be under 18, and the Athlone Committee, which reported in 1938, considered that 17 should be the minimum age. Statistics as to the incidence of tuberculosis among sanatorium nurses are not available, but the general opinion of experts is that the sanatorium nurse is at no greater risk than other nurses. An inquiry is in progress, under the auspices of the Joint Tuberculosis Council. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a Circular that I issued in March of last year, on the subject of the last part of the Question.

:Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that quite a number of medical experts, including medical officers of health, declare that some of the younger nurses are more prone to catch this disease than the older ones? Will he give an assurance that he will pay particular care to the incidence of this disease among nurses, particularly among young girls, and will he ensure that no girls under 18 are employed as nurses in sanatoria?

On the first point, I am sure that the inquiry will take into account the considerations mentioned by the hon. Member. On the second point, he will understand that I must have notice on a question of that kind.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that his inspectors who visited the Bowling Institution, Bradford, passed strictures upon its administration; if he has considered the report of the special committee set up by the Bradford Corporation; and if he has accepted that report.

Yes, Sir. I have already told the council that as the services of the Master terminate at the end of the present quarter in the ordinary way, I am not prepared to concur in their recommendation that he should foe removed from his post. I am communicating further with the council in regard to the remaining recommendations, with which I am in general agreement.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will defer the proceedings of the Committee on London Government, presided over by Lord Reading, until after the General Election.

I understand that the Committee have arranged not to meet until after the General Election.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability; as a recognition of service and suffering, of issuing a distinguishing badge to be worn by repatriated British prisoners of war.

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now arrange for an inspection by Members of this House of German King Tiger, Tiger and Panther tanks, together with the American Sherman and British types A22, A27 Comet and any other types he deems interesting.

Yes, Sir.

May I do rather an unusual thing, and thank the Prime Minister for his answer? May I also ask him when this exhibition will take place?

The exhibition will be ready in 10 days or a fortnight. The Tiger and the Panther could be shown. There is only one Royal Tiger at present in the country and it has been damaged. In various respects it is not complete. It is doubtful whether it can be made a showpiece. The following British and American tanks could be shown: Sherman; Sherman 17-pounder; Churchill A.22; Cromwell A.27; Comte; A Centurion A.41 could also be shown. It is on the secret list, but it is not likely to be used in the immediate future. I have asked the War Office to make special efforts to exhibit the Royal Tiger.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will endeavour to establish an Allied Committee composed of Ministers of Cabinet rank empowered to co-ordinate the activities of the various organisations, national and international, concerned with relief measures in Europe.

The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration is already charged, under the terms of the Agreement signed at Washington on 9th November, 1943, by all the United Nations, with the duty of co-ordinating relief measures, though its power to do so is of course subject to the consent of the member Governments concerned. The Council which controls the policy of this international body consists of representatives of the United Nations, most of whom are of rank corresponding to that of Cabinet Ministers. It is the Committee of the Council for Europe which meets in London which is specially concerned with relief measures in Europe. The administration maintains close touch with the Allied military authorities and endeavours to combine its relief measures with theirs. No useful purpose would appear to be served by attempting to set up another Allied Committee for the same purpose.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that something more cannot, in fact, be done to prevent some of the overlapping which is taking place (between U.N.R.R.A. relief teams, the Red Cross and other organisations working with the Allied military commands?

I am doubtful whether prevention of the overlapping would be facilitated by the construction of such a committee as my hon. and gallant Friend has suggested.

Is this committee taking charge of the hundreds of Polish women who are now suffering untold hardships in Germany, and are really in a very parlous condition?

What does the Noble Lady mean by "this committee"? I read out the names of several committees which are already exerting themselves, and there is also the one proposed by my hon. and gallant Friend, which I have advised should not be set up. I cannot conceive any reason why they should exclude the task of aiding the victims of misfortune such as the Noble Lady has mentioned from the purview of their activities, but I am quite willing to find out whether they have neglected it, and if so, why.

asked the Prime Minister what British Departments are concerned in different aspects of European relief and reconstruction; what are the arrangements for co-ordinating their action; what are the combined organisations, including representatives of His Majesty's Government and other governments, similarly concerned; and what are the arrangements for ensuring co-ordination between them.

The principal responsibility in these matters lies with the Foreign Office, the War Office and the Ministry of Production. Their action and that of other Departments concerned is co-ordinated in the normal way, by means of Cabinet Committees and otherwise. The combined organisations include the Combined Boards, the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, the Provisional Executive for European Inland Transport, the United Nations Maritime Authority, the European Coal Organisation and the Emergency Economic Committee for Europe. The Emergency Economic Committee for Europe, which held its first meeting on 28th May, will also, where appropriate, concert the action of specialist organisations in the European field.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that hitherto we have had answers from five different Ministers, including those of Transport and Food? Could we now put all Questions down to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster?

I cannot answer that on the spur of the moment, but it is obvious that when you are dealing with the affairs of a Continent, there will be various aspects under which these affairs must be treated.

In view of the fact that these very important matters are being more and more co-ordinated, will my right hon. Friend give favourable consideration to the suggestion that we should be able to address Questions on matters of principle to one Minister?

I will certainly consider that.

:Arising out of the Prime Minister's last two answers, may I ask whether the Chancellor of the Duchy will be in charge of matters affecting U.N.R.R.A.?

He will not be in charge of them, but he will be concerned with them.

Will the Prime Minister draw the attention of the Chancellor of the Duchy to the great importance of supporting the work of U.N.R.R.A. in respect of displaced persons?

Yes, Sir. I think this interchange in the House will probably have the desired effect.

In view of the interest taken by hon. Members on all sides, would the Prime Minister consider issuing a White Paper to explain, when they are sufficiently clear, the number of bodies which are dealing with different aspects of this problem in Europe?

Yes, Sir. I see no reason why that should not be done, but I would rather not name an exact date when it will be done.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will define the duties to be entrusted to the Minister of State and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Yes, Sir. Both my right hon. Friends will assist the Foreign Secretary. The Minister of State will assist him in the general conduct of foreign policy and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on matters affecting European reconstruction, especially on the economic side. In particular the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be the United Kingdom representative on, and for the time being Chairman of, the Emergency Economic Committee for Europe.

asked the Prime Minister the number of officers and men killed in Europe in the three Services, respectively, since the invasion of Europe was decided on at the first Quebec Conference; and the number killed or presumed killed in Bomber Command during the same period.

Perhaps my hon. Friend would be good enough to postpone his Question until next week when I hope to be in a position to give him an answer. I trust, however, that my hon. Friend is aware of the labour involved for hardworking Departments in making these special analyses.