asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to accelerating Colonial development by attracting British capital, he will consider revising the present Income Tax legislation so as to exempt plantation companies registered here, but trading in the Colonies, from United Kingdom tax, except on profits distributed in this country, especially having regard to climatic and other hazards which necessitate larger provision for reserves.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 20th March to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the hardship inflicted on cripples by the cost of surgical equipment; that one pair of boots and one iron cost £14 10s. and boots without irons proportionately; and whether he will grant some rebate in his next Budget.

I am afraid that I cannot entertain my hon. Friend's proposal. Suggestions have been made from time to time in the past for special allowances in respect of expenses arising out of illness and disability. However much sympathy may be felt with such cases it has been necessary to adhere to the principle that the Income Tax cannot be adjusted so as to take into account the varying circumstances of individual taxpayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Excess Profits Tax refunds can be used to defray expenditure incurred prior to the cessation of hostilities in preparation for the post-war trading period.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to Section 37 of the Finance Act, 1942, from which he will see that the E.P.T. post-war credit is payable after the end of the war, subject to such conditions as Parliament may impose relating to distribution for the benefit of share holders. I would also refer to the assurance which I gave during the Budget Debate on 26th April, 1945, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Edgbaston (Sir P. Bennett) that the post-war credit would be regarded as available to cover expenditure on post-war development which firms were already beginning to incur.

asked the Minister of Food if, in grading cattle for slaughter, consideration may be given to allotting some preference to those free from warble, so framed as to give an inducement to farmers to carry out their statutory obligation to dress against the fly.

My right hon. Friend does not see his way to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer him to the reply given to the hon. Member for Holborn (Sir R. Tasker) on 31st May last.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider placing building operatives in rural areas on the same ration basis as agricultural workers.

Building operatives are on the same domestic ration basis as agricultural workers, except that the latter are eligible for the special cheese ration. The special cheese ration is allowed to clearly definable categories of workers permanently employed under conditions which prevent them from taking advantage of canteen or other catering facilities, but I am advised that there is no definable category of men permanently engaged on building operations in rural areas.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to increase the production of smoked sprats and smoked eels; and if the nutritive value of these foods is being made known to the public.

I have recently made an Order increasing the maximum wholesale and retail prices of smoked cooked sprats, which, I hope, will encourage their production during the sprats season next winter. Smoked eels are not subject to price control, and demand should automatically encourage production. The quantities available of both smoked sprats and smoked eels are in any event so small that publicity would probably result in disappointment to the public.

asked the Minister of Food what steps have been taken to modernise and improve the systems of refrigeration in the fishing industry.

I arranged last year for the installation of experimental plants for the quick-freezing of herrings at Aberdeen, and, in association with the Herring Industry Board, these experiments will be extended to Fraserburgh and Great Yarmouth during the 1945 season. I also understand that several firms are now contemplating developing facilities for refrigeration. I shall give all suitable proposals of this kind as much support as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for India why Mr. Urquhart, who was granted a commission in the Royal Indian Navy as an engineer-lieutenant subsequent to his evacuation from Burma in March, 1942, contracted amœbic dysentery, was invalided home in March, 1944, granted a year's sick leave and finally discharged from the service on 6th January, 1945, was not granted 56 days' leave with pay.

Lieutenant Urquhart was placed upon the Temporary Retired List after he had exhausted the maximum period of full pay sick leave which is twelve months. An officer who while on the Temporary Retired List is found to be permanently unfit for service in India, is not granted notice leave pending relinquishment of his commission on account of ill health. This is in accordance with the rules governing the British Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now able to give the House the full facts about the arrival of Hess by aeroplane in Renfrewshire in 1940.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the full statement made on 22nd September, 1943, in reply to Questions by himself and my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth (Sir L. Lyle) by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. This statement covered the point now raised, and I have nothing to add to it, except that Hess arrived in Great Britain in 1941, not 1940.

asked the Minister of National Insurance how many cases of presumed pneumoconiosis and silicosis have been submitted to the medical board at Sheffield, from the county of Nottinghamshire, in each of the last five years; and in how many cases was a certificate granted.

The number of applications for certificates from workmen in Nottinghamshire dealt with by the Silicosis Medical Board under all the Compensation Schemes for Pneumoconiosis (including Silicosis and Asbestosis) is as follows:

Year			Applications dealt with.	Certificates granted.
1940	…	…	3	—
1941	…	…	6	—
1942	…	…	5	—
1943	…	…	29	2
1944	…	…	33	2

asked the Minister of National Insurance what information he has about the prevalence of silicosis and pneumoconiosis in the slate quarries in Caernarvonshire; and whether he will make a scheme in respect of the industry under the Workmen's Compensation Acts.

Workmen employed underground in slate mines have been covered by a Compensation Scheme for silicosis since 1st January, 1940. There appears to be no evidence as to the occurrence of the disease in the open quarry workings, but recently evidence has been obtained of the occurrence of pneumoconiosis, including silicosis, amongst men employed in the splitting and dressing sheds, and my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider an appropriate extension of the Scheme to men employed in these processes.

asked the Minister of National Insurance the number of applications received during the past 12 months from among slate quarrymen and miners of North Wales for certification by the Silicosis Medical Board; what number were granted certificates; and whether any changes are contemplated in the Silicosis Order applicable to the industry.

The number of such applications dealt with by the Silicosis Medical Board during the twelve months ended 31st May, 1945, was 43, of which 37 were granted certificates. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Seaborne Davies) to-day.

asked the Attorney-General if he can give a date when the moratorium in the South-East coast areas will be terminated; and if those who have suffered financial losses from the imposition of the moratorium will be compensated by the Government.

Conditions are not yet normal enough to enable a date to be fixed for the general termination of the moratorium without undue hardship to debtors, but the matter is being kept under review. Meanwhile a creditor can obtain an order from the court which has the effect of terminating the moratorium as respects the liability to him of his particular debtor in a manner which is equitable as between the parties. The financial loss to which the hon. Member refers is one of the many forms of loss arising out of the war, and the Government cannot contemplate the extension of compensation over so wide a field.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the factory situated at Griffiths Crossing, Caernarvon, has been empty for several weeks; is this factory now redundant; and when his Department proposes to release it for industrial purposes.

I hope my hon. and gallant Friend will await the statement on derequisitioning which my right hon. Friend will make on Tuesday next. Inquiries are being made into this particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for War if circumstances now warrant any change in the period of overseas service in the Middle East and Far East theatres of war, which qualifies men for home leave.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave a number of hon. Members on this subject on Tuesday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Reichsbank continues to be responsible for monetary mechanism throughout conquered Germany; and will he issue in the Official Report a copy of the latest return of this bank.

The Reichsbank, in present circumstances, has no independent responsibility for monetary matters in Germany, but in common with other German institutions it carries out such orders as are given to it by the occupying authorities. Appended are the latest figures available to me, from the Reichsbank Return for 28th February, 1945.

	RM millions.
Assets
Gold and Foreign Exchange	77
Bills, cheques and Treasury Bills.	70,699
Advances	307
Securities available as cover	112
Other Securities	61
Rentenbank Notes	402
Coin	5
Other assets	*
Liabilities
Reichsbank Notes in circulation.	55,519
Deposits	16,419
Other liabilities	*
* No information is available as to these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of German soldiers still under arms in Germany; why are they not disarmed; and for what purpose are they allowed to remain under these conditions.

All the German soliders in the part of Germany in British occupation have been disarmed except about 20,000. They are used for guarding food dumps and other such purposes and so relieve British troops. They carry small arms only and a limited amount of ammunition. They have, of course, been submitted to the usual security procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of German soldiers still in Norway; what numbers of them are still armed; and why they are still virtually in control in certain places and able to secure the best food, etc., while the native population are practically starving.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) yesterday. I regret that full particulars are not at present available.

asked the Secretary of State for War if German or Italian prisoners of war can be used to clear Marlborough Common of war-time erections so that it may be returned to the Marlborough Corporation for public use.

The general policy in these matters was outlined in the replies given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Welling borough (Sir A. James) on 27th February and to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Major Gates) on 10th May. Inquiries are being made into the particular case referred to in my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date and where the demonstration of Allied and enemy tanks will take place; and whether any Allied tank with special equipment will also be exhibited with its normal equipment.

A demonstration would have to be held some distance from London, and I doubt whether hon. Members would have time to go there before the House is dissolved. Allied and enemy tanks will, however, be shown stationary to hon. Members in Wellington Barracks, London, on Tuesday next between 10 and 1. Only normal tanks are being shown.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will explain the arrangements made to enable members of the Diplomatic and Consular Services to vote at the General Election.

Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Services who are resident abroad are not eligible for electoral registration. The only persons who can qualify when resident abroad, except in respect of a university constituency, are persons who but for their war service would be resident in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the approximate total number of the electorate at the coming General Election; how many of these are men and how many women; what are the approximate total percentages of those qualified to vote in the R.N., the Army, the R.A.F. and the Merchant Navy who have registered to do so, by proxy and by post, respectively; and approximately how many civilian electors will be unable to vote through absence, caused by war work away from home, return from evacuation, or other circumstances, from the constituencies in which they are registered.

The Service Departments have estimated that some 90 per cent. of the total number of persons eligible in the Services to be registered would appear on the May Register. It is not possible at this stage to supply any of the other estimates required by the hon. Member, but a return of the total electorate for each of the three Registers in respect of every constituency will be laid before Parliament in due course, together with the figures in respect of the appointment of proxies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the approximate tonnage of paper that would be saved if arrangements were made at the forthcoming General Election to enable returning officers to issue one poll card on behalf of all candidates standing in each constituency.

While the tonnage of paper which would be saved if arrangements were made to enable returning officers to send out a single poll card on behalf of all candidates standing in each constituency can only be determined approximately, I am informed that it would be small and is in any case a part of the tonnage allocated to candidates. Apart from the fact that it would require legislation I am satisfied that in existing circumstances the issue of a poll card by returning officers would not be practicable having regard to the very limited staff at their disposal and the very heavy work which will fall on them at this General Election.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in some cases electors belonging to different polling districts and even different constituencies and counties, have been included in the same sheet of the Electoral Register, published on 7th May; and that the paper used is not strong enough for the usage it is likely to receive; and whether he will correct these defects when printing the next register.

I am aware of the facts stated in this Question. They arise because, owing to the limited printing facilities available, it was necessary in some cases to have recourse to newspaper presses for the printing of the register. These objections will, so far as possible, be overcome in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether similar arrangements for placing the names of repatriated civilian prisoners of war on the Electoral Register are being made to those for military prisoners of war; and whether he is satisfied that adequate facilities are now available for repatriated civilians.

The arrangements for the supplementary registration of repatriated prisoners of war, as approved by Parliament, are limited to persons who are members of the Forces, and cannot be extended to repatriated civilians. Amongst the repatriated civilians it is likely that many are persons who were not ordinarily resident here before the war, and they could not as a class be treated in the same way as members of H.M. Forces.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the shortage of motor-cars on the road at present, he will consider allowing unlicensed motor-cars to be used on polling day to convey aged and invalid voters to the poll.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made any provision for the use on polling-day of motor-cars that have been laid up and have not been licensed or insured.

I am afraid that it would not be practicable to ensure that the use of unlicensed motor vehicles was restricted to the purpose suggested by my hon. Friends.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now make a statement as to the determination of the position of industrialists from European countries who, having established diverse industries in Development Areas, are desirous of obtaining British naturalisation.

I regret that I cannot make any statement on this matter at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made for the collection of gas masks; and whether it is possible to make use of the rubber they contain.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I am unable to add anything to the reply given by my predecessor on 2nd May to the hon. Member for Leeds Central (Mr. Denman). The answer to the second part is that good quality reclaimed rubber can be obtained from respirators. I am informed that there is, however, at the moment no shortage of other more easily procurable rubber scrap.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Civil Defence war gratuity is not given to those members of the Civil Defence whose ranks are above depot superintendent or district warden.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 8th March when he explained fully the principles governing the award of Civil Defence gratuity. I assume that the officers to whom my hon. Friend refers are local authority officers such as A.R.P. Officers and Staff Officers who were employed in connection with the Civil Defence Services under local authority conditions of service. They were not employed under civil defence conditions and are therefore not eligible for gratuity under the principles stated by the Prime Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, for the guidance of householders, he can state the intentions of the Government as to the removal or otherwise of Anderson shelters erected in gardens.

More urgent demands on the labour at present available make it impracticable for local authorities to remove Anderson shelters issued free to householders, save in wholly exceptional cases. These shelters may be dismantled by householders themselves, except where connected with the drainage system. The component parts may be purchased by the householders for a nominal charge of £1 and may then be used for any purpose. Otherwise, they remain Government property and those now in possession of them are under an obligation to take proper care of the component parts until conditions allow of their collection. A copy of the Press notice which was issued on 3rd May is being sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it is intended that Herr Hanfstangel should remain in the internment camp in the Isle of Man; what policy will be pursued with regard to this man who was one of the high officials of the Nazi hierarchy for at least three or four years after Hitler's accession to power; and whether he regarded as a war criminal.

He will remain in internment until he can be repatriated. I am informed that he is not on the British list of war criminals nor on the list published by the United Nations' War Crimes Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners, men and women, respectively, were found to be suffering from tuberculosis during 1944; how many of these served sentences of more than one month; and how many of them were, during their sentences, unable to associate at work with any other prisoner because of their disease.

Special statistics of these cases have not been compiled, and an examination of all the medical records for the purpose of extracting the figures could not be undertaken by the present depleted staff; but much attention has been given of recent years to prisoners suffering from tuberculosis. X-ray examinations are made in doubtful cases, and the prison medical officers receive valuable help from the local tuberculosis officers. Care is taken to keep tubercular prisoners whose condition is infectious apart from others. At prisons where there are several such prisoners, special working parties are arranged. Where possible they are employed on light gardening work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men, women and children are in prison at the moment; how many have been imprisoned more than once; and the greatest number of times any one man or woman has been imprisoned.

On 29th May there were in prisons in England and Wales 12,537 persons, of whom 11,241 were males and 1,296 females. In addition to convicted prisoners, these figures include debtors, prisoners on remand, persons awaiting trial, and young prisoners awaiting removal to Borstal Institutions, Approved Schools, etc. A child under 14 cannot be committed to prison unless its detention in prison is directed under Section 53 (2) of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, on conviction of attempt to murder or a similar offence, and it is believed that there is no case of a child so detained at present. The latest available information concerning the previous imprisonment of convicted prisoners relates to the year 1943 and is as follows:

	Males.	Females.
Total numbers received on conviction	26,181	5,290
Number known to have previous sentences of Imprisonment or Penal Servitude	10,875	1,755
Number with over 20 such previous sentences	526	324

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries there have been in the United Kingdom in the past 10 years; and in how many cases the burglar has not been caught.

Figures are not available in quite the form asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend, but the following statement gives the number of burglaries (that is, housebreakings known to have been committed during the night) which became known to the police in England and Wales during each of the ten years 1934 to 1943, together with the number of persons proceeded against in each year.

Burglaries in England and Wales.
Year.		Crimes known to Police during year.	Total Persons Proceeded against.
1934	…	1,541	432
1935	…	1,191	404
1936	…	1,247	405
1937	…	1,565	463
1938	…	1,515	498
1939	…	1,476	427
1940	…	1,032	332
1941	…	1,211	415
1942	…	1,750	478
1943	…	1,984	528
Total	…	14,512	4,382

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a London taxi-cab is distinguished from a private motorcar by certain features in design imposed by the conditions of fitness required by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis; and if, in view of the expense entailed by those conditions, he will either take other means of securing the best type of vehicles for use in London traffic conditions and ensuring the safety of the passengers carried in them, or compensate in some other way for the high cost involved.

Certain modifications in the special constructional requirements to which my hon. Friend refers are under consideration by the Commissioner, in consultation with the manufacturers and the trade. It is impossible to say at present whether and if so what effect this will have on costs, but this point will be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to an organisation entitled "The League of Ex-Servicemen and Women," which is supported by ex-internees under Regulation 18b, which holds meetings regularly in Paddington and elsewhere and puts forward anti-Semitic propaganda; and what steps he proposes to take to avoid resulting breaches of the peace.

Yes, Sir. I am aware that an individual who claims to represent a body of that name is speaking on street corners and similar places in London. He attracts comparatively few hearers, and there does not seem to be much risk of his activities leading to a breach of the peace. It is one of the recognised duties of the police to be ready to prevent any breach of the peace in connection with such meetings, and no special action on my part is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of the Government regarding enemy aliens who have been detained under Regulation 18b; and whether these individuals will be returned to Germany as soon as convenient.

Enemy aliens were not ordinarily detained under Defence Regulation 18b, but were interned under the Royal Prerogative. Of those who were still interned at the end of European hostilities a number have already been repatriated and others will be repatriated as soon as conditions permit.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Ministry were responsible for those sections of the International Sanitary Conventions that make vaccination and inoculation a condition of travel abroad; and whether he will arrange for the inclusion of a section giving objectors to these operations the right to travel without undergoing them and a section undertaking to compensate for illness resulting from such operations, or their relatives in the case of death resulting.

Responsibility for the provisions of the International Sanitary Conventions of 1926, 1938, and 1944, and the International Sanitary Conventions for Aerial Navigation, 1933 and 1944, rests upon the Governments, including His Majesty's Government, which concluded them. The Conventions do not compel travellers to be vaccinated or inoculated. A traveller who has not been vaccinated or inoculated may find, however, on entering the territory of a particular country that restrictions are imposed on him under regulations made by the Government of that country. No Government could be expected to disregard the danger which would be involved in the entry of unprotected persons without restrictions. The general object of the Conventions is to avoid unnecessary quaranitne restrictions by the agreement of limits to the degree of restriction which may be imposed in given circumstances; and they also include provisions designed to help the local health authorities of the countries of entry to determine, in respect of individual travellers, whether any, and if so what, restrictions are necessary. I see no reason, therefore, to seek any such modifications in the terms of the Conventions as the hon. Member proposes.

asked the Minister of Health how many death certificates were received in the year 1944 in which vaccination, vaccinia, post-vaccinal encephalitis, generalised vaccinia or any other symptom connected with vaccination was given as the cause or one of the causes of death.

The deaths of the type indicated in the Question which were registered in England and Wales during 1944 numbered 12, assigned as follows:

Vaccination	2
Vaccinia	2
Post-vaccinal encephalitis	4
Generalised vaccinia	2
Encephalitis myelitis	1

In addition, vaccination was mentioned on the death certificate in the case of one death assigned to Septicaemia.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria occurred during 1944 amongst immunised children under five years of age and between five and 15 years of age.

According to returns received from all but a few local authorities in England and Wales, the number of notifications of diphtheria during 1944 in children under 15 who had completed the course of immunisation was 4,633, as compared with 12,455 cases in non-immunised children. I regret that I cannot give the figures separately for children under five and between 5 and 15 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health how many children under five and between five and 15 years of age were inoculated against diphtheria during the year 1944.

Returns from local authorities in England and Wales, which do not include immunisations by doctors in private practice, show that during the year 1944 approximately 386,240 children under five and 175,080 between the ages of five and 15 were immunised against diphtheria.

asked the Minister of Health how many fatal cases of diphtheria were recorded during the year 1944; and how many cases were finally diagnosed as cases of diphtheria.

23,152 cases finally diagnosed as diphtheria were notified in England and Wales during 1944. The deaths from that disease registered in the same period are provisionally numbered at 934.

asked the Minister of Labour whether boys directed to the mines and later discharged as medically unfit for service therein, are able, on being transferred to the Forces, to count their service in the mines towards the assessment of their class for ultimate demobilisation.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the demobilisation arrangements announced by the Government will apply to the Army Pay Department and the R.A.F. accounts section.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions have been issued having the effect of retaining officers and men of the R.A.P.C. in the Service, beyond the period counting for release, under the demobilisation plan.

In order to send young men into combatant arms these offices have been for some years staffed as far as possible with older men who are now in early release groups. The work of the R.A.P.C., particularly in regimental pay offices at home, will not be reduced as quickly as the work in some other branches of the Army and it is essential that they should continue to function efficiently and carry out the new duties arising from the Release Scheme. The application of this Scheme to these establishments will therefore involve special difficulties particularly in the case of officers. As soon as the war in Europe ended arrangements were put in hand to provide officers in replacement of those due for release. These should be trained and available in the last months of this year. Meanwhile instructions have been issued that officers should be released in their turn if they can be spared and I am hopeful that some releases will be possible in the next few months in spite of the exceptional difficulties to which I have referred.In the case of other ranks the proportion of those in the very early release groups is not so high. Instructions have been issued to release those in the first three groups when they are due, and I do not at present foresee that there will be any appreciable delay with the later groups. This will, however, depend to some, extent on how many married A.T.S. in the R.A.P.C. remain in the Service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many patents have lain idle during the war owing to lack of raw materials and other facilities for their exploitation; and whether arrangements will be made in suitable cases for an extension, of patent rights.

Yes, Sir. Under Section 18 of the Patents and Designs Act, a patentee who has suffered loss by reason of war restrictions may apply to the Court for an extension of the term of his patent. Recommendations for simplifying the prescribed procedure have been made in an Interim Report of a Departmental Committee, which has been published as Cmd. 6618, and is now under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Government-owned factories there are in Wales; how many of these are situated in the six North Wales counties; and in how many instances have final arrangements been made for handing over these factories for post-war industrial purposes.

There are some 60 Government-owned factories in Wales, of which eight are in the six North Wales counties. Ten factories have been allocated to firms for post-war use, and negotiations are now in progress.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will give details of the prices that have been fixed by his Ministry for hides and sheep skins.

For the most part hides and sheepskins are taken over by the Ministry of Supply from the Ministry of Food, which acquires the car case as a whole. The hides are resold to tanners at prices related to the stabilised prices for leather, and the sheepskin pelts after fell mongering at the prices laid down in the Control of Hides and Skins (No. 8) Order, 1940. A limited number of sheepskins with the wool on are sold for dressing at prices based on the value of the wool and the pelt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is to be the future of the Private Chattels Insurance Scheme; and what is its present financial position.

Policies under the Private Chattels Scheme have been extended without premium since 23rd November, 1944, and the issue of policies ceased on 8th May last. The outstanding claims are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible. The total payments and liabilities under the Scheme are estimated to amount to approximately £84,000,000, against which £16,000,000 has been received by way of premium. Since every person was entitled to a certain amount of free cover, the premiums received relate only to supplementary cover desired in excess of that amount. It is estimated that premiums have covered payments for claims made under policies.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether any steps have been taken to prevent the re-enclosure of London squares and their suitable layout for enjoyment by the general public.

The future of the London squares is under consideration and I hope, at an early date, to arrange for a conference between my officers and officers of the London County Council to discuss this matter.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he can announce the Government's proposals on land policy as it affects the use and sale of land for housing purposes.

The Housing Acts arm local authorities with ample powers for securing, at a price fixed for five years by the Town and Country Planning Act, 1944, land required for housing. Sites have already been approved in England and Wales for 327,000 permanent sites, and in Scotland for 104,492, which is in each case more than the first-and second-year programmes. In addition, sites have been approved for 85,000 temporary houses in England and for 19,791 in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to withdraw permission for the use of steel-toothed traps by agricultural war executive committees.

I assume my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the Defence Regulation which enables War Agricultural Executive Committees to authorise the setting of spring traps in the open. I shall be prepared to withdraw the Regulation only when I am satisfied that the general food position justifies that step. Authority to use these traps is, of course, restricted to cases where no other means of rabbit destruction would be effective.

asked the Minister of Agriture what area of land on the south side of the estuary of the River Dovey, central Wales, has been drained or reclaimed; and whether any further area, is in process of reclamation or to be reclaimed.

The reclamation of some 1,200 acres of Borth Bog on the south side of the estuary of the River Dovey is virtually complete and work on a further 1,250 acres is in hand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he proposes to take to replace Italian prisoners of war who are at present working on the land and who are to be repatriated as soon as transport facilities are available.

This matter will receive consideration at the appropriate time in consultation with the other Departments interested.

asked the Minister of Labour when it is proposed to revert to the practice of the National Service Act, 1939, and delay the call-up of boys until the age of 20 in view of the interference with learning a job, which the present practice entails.

It would be impossible to meet the allocations to the Forces if the calling up of young men were delayed until they attain the age of 20.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now in a position to announce the membership of the Standing Advisory Committee on Artificial Limbs.

Yes, Sir. The constitution of the Committee has now been completed and I am glad to say that Sir Charles Darwin has kindly agreed to act as Chairman. The full list of the members is as follows:

• Sir Charles Darwin, K.B.E., M.C., M.A., Sc.D., F.R.S. (Chairman).
• A. W. J. Craft, Esq., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
• Lieut.-Colonel A. L. Eyre-Brook, M.B., Ch.B., M.S., F.R.C.S.
• E. Ramsay Green, Esq., A.C.G.I., M.I., Mech.E., A.M.I.C.E.
• Professor T. P. McMurray, M.B., F.R.C.S. (Edin.).
• L. P. B. Merriam, Esq., M.C.
• George Perkins, Esq., M.C., M.B., M.Ch., F.R.C.S.
• Sir A. Rowland Smith, M.I.Mech.E., M.I.A.E., M.I.P.E.

The Secretary to the Committee will be Mr. K. S. Watt.

asked the Minister of Pensions, if, in view of representations made to him, he now proposes to recommend the award, without needs test, of pensions to parents whose sons made voluntry allotments during their life time.

After full consideration the Government decided against the award of pensions to parents irrespective of their circumstances or of need, and I know of no ground on which to recommend that this decision should be altered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will arrange for submarine U 776 to visit Sunderland while it is on the North-east coast.

The U 776 will be on view for two or three days at Sunderland. The actual dates will be published later.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that trawlers from Scarborough and elsewhere, fishing the Dogger Bank, have to steam about 320 miles instead of 150 miles, because there is no channel through the mine- fields nearer than Cromer or Montrose; and if, in view of this waste of time and coal, he will expedite the making of another channel more convenient for this area.

Sweeping operations are now being carried out with the highest priority to give easier access from East Coast ports to the fishing grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men have been arrested for sodomy and at what expense.

In 1943, the last year for which complete figures are available, 106 males in England and Wales were proceeded against for unnatural offences, 508 for attempts to commit unnatural offences, and 272 for indecency with males, making a total of 886 cases. It is impossible to estimate what fraction of police expenditure should be assigned to the enforcement of this particular provision of the criminal law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on living animals performed under the Act 39 and 40 Viet., Ch. 77, have been reported to his Department for the years 1943 and 1944.

The total number of experiments performed during the year 1943 was 1,170,412, a large number of which were simple inoculations and similar proceedings, performed either on behalf of official bodies with a view to preservation of the public health, or directly for the diagnosis and treatment of disease in man or animals. I am not yet in a position to state the figure for 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Double Summer Time can be continued until the first Sunday in September in view of the fuel shortage.

Account was taken of the fuel position as well as of other considerations when the decision was reached that with a view to mitigating the difficulties of the agricultural community the terminal date should be the 15th July; and my present information is that there are no new considerations to warrant a departure from that date.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the position of hon. Members of this House who, when promoted to Ministerial office, have, under existing rules, to relinquish their salaries as Members of this House; and whether, in view of the financial sacrifices this, involves, he will consider the position so that, to draw the salary attached to the office, it will not involve the termination of their salary as Members.

This might well form an appropriate topic for discussion by a future Parliament.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the difficulty likely to be experienced by local education authorities owing to the shortage of doctors and nurses in carrying out the duties imposed on them by Section 48 (3) of the Education Act, 1944, in regard to medical treatment of schoolchildren; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent authorities from throwing further burdens upon the depleted medical personnel of the country.

I am fully aware of the shortage of doctors, dentists and nurses available for civilian needs and of the strain under which they are working and I am glad to have this opportunity of supplementing the advice given to local education authorities in Circular 29. In that Circular authorities have been asked to extend their arrangements with hospitals so as to secure free hospital treatment for all children attending maintained schools, so far as accommodation and staffing conditions permit. They have also been asked, subject to the same limitation, to develop, so far as they can, those clinic services which have always been recognised as appropriate to the school medical service. I have no doubt that the needs of urban areas generally will be adequately met in this way.

The position in rural areas is more difficult and the Circular suggested that in addition to extended use of hospitals authorities should arrange for the treatment of children where necessary by local general practitioners. I recognise that such arrangements can only be made on a very limited scale in view of the pressure under which doctors are already working, but I hope that here and there doctors will be found who are willing to undertake this work in a part-time capacity under arrangements made by the authorities and approved by my Department.

As hon. Members may recollect, my right hon. Friend gave an assurance last May during the Debate on the Third Reading of the Education Bill that he would so control the development of the school medical service as to ensure that it should not be inconsistent with or duplicate provision to be made by the national health service of the future. The latter service is not yet in being and this, together with the growing medical manpower difficulties, has made it difficult to lay down lines of development for the school medical service for the immediate future. I mean, however, to fulfil the pledge my predecessor gave to the House, and, while encouraging urgent developments in those clinic and hospital services which have always been the main-stay of the school medical treatment service, I shall not, for example, approve any proposals which would lead to the setting up by local education authorities of a general medical practitioner service.

The Act has been passed and its provision must, so far as practicable, be implemented. Hon. Members will realise, however, that the goal cannot be attained in a day and that the service which can be provided in the next year or so must be limited to the extent necessary to comply with the undertaking given about its relationship with the future national health service. The scope of the service must also be restricted owing to the shortage of medical manpower.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any decision has been reached regarding the date of the next British Industries Fair.

Yes, Sir. After full consideration of the practical issues involved, I have, with regret, come to the conclusion that it would be premature to hold a Fair in 1946. I am supported in this decision by the strong majority opinion of the Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of the industries normally exhibiting at the London Sections of the Fair and of representatives of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce who are responsible for the organisation of the section of the Fair held at Castle Bromwich. Plans are proceeding for the holding of a Fair in 1947 and, so as to ensure that the Fair shall be of the utmost assistance to our export trade, emphasis on exports will be made the dominant feature.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the unemployed in the Spennymoor area will deeply resent German prisoners of war being engaged on the preparation of housing sites, in accordance with Ministry of Health Circular 90/45; and will he obtain all the labour required for this work from the local labour exchange.

As indicated in the circular to which the hon. Member refers, it is for the local authority in the first place to decide whether to apply for the use of German prisoners of war, and I think it may safely be assumed that they would not consider it necessary to do so where adequate British labour was available.

asked the Minister of Health why the Sheerness Council has had to seek compulsory powers to acquire land adjoining their boundary beyond the canal cutting for zoning and developing as an open space and playing field; what is the area of the land it is proposed to acquire; what is its present rateable assessment; what price has been offered or demanded; and whether the district valuer has reported on the value or if an arbitration award has been made.

I understand that the Council have approved in principle a proposal to acquire land outside their district for the purpose mentioned but that they have not yet decided which land they desire to acquire and have not therefore reached the stage of proceeding either compulsorily or otherwise. For the same reason the other parts of the Question do not arise.

asked the Minister of Health the result of his inspector's inquiry into the application of the Stockton Corporation for power to buy compulsorily the 128 acres of land between Durham Road and Darlington Lane for housing purposes; what is the present value of the land and, if purchase has now taken place, what price has been paid.

The compulsory purchase order was confirmed on 3rd January, 1945, in respect of 41·495 acres, the remainder of the land being excluded from the order. Purchase of the land covered by the order is not yet completed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Strood, Kent, Rural District Council has arranged to purchase housing sites at Cobham from the War Department and at Cooling and Casiton from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; and what is the area, the purchase price and the previous rateable value in each instance.

No, Sir. I am informed that the Strood (Kent) Rural District Council are negotiating for the acquisition of a site at Cooling in the ownership of the War Department.

asked the Minister of Health what is the price the L.C.C. has paid or has proposed to pay for the following housing sites: 56 acres in Christchurch Road and Upper Tulse Hill, Lambeth and Wandsworth; 5 acres in Barrow Hill Road and Huntsworth Terrace, St. Marylebone; and 3¾ acres adjoining the Council's Barnfield Gardens Housing Estate; and what was the aggregate rateable value of each of these areas in 1939.

No prices have yet been negotiated. It is not possible, without much research, to ascertain the 1939 rateable values, but the present figures for the lands in question are £10,500, £1,275, £920 and £145 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if he has approved the acquisition by Southampton Corporation of about 51 acres for housing purposes at Tanners Brook and Redbridge Hill; whether purchase has been negotiated or effected under compulsory powers and at what price; and if he will state the rateable value at which this land has been assessed.

Yes, Sir. Compulsory purchase confirming orders for the two sites in question were made on 23rd April, 1945, but purchase has not yet been effected. The rateable values, excluding certain derated parcels of land, are £145 and £198, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health if he is in a position to discuss the immediate building and repair of agricultural cottages for East Suffolk where the shortage is creating a danger of overcrowding in the villages.

The local authorities in East Suffolk, in common with those in other areas, have been told that I am willing to consider applications for permission to invite tenders for the erection of houses as and when sites became ready. There is and has been no ban on the carrying out of essential repairs to agricultural cottages where the necessary labour is available.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a statement regarding the purchase of prefabricated timber houses in Sweden and Finland; and whether he can give any estimate of the number of such houses which he expects to be obtained from these sources within the next 12 months and thereafter.

Contracts have been placed in Sweden for the delivery of 5,000 permanent prefabricated timber houses in 1945. Deliveries are expected to start in September. It cannot at present say to what extent it will be possible to obtain further houses of this type. It has not yet been possible to place any con- tracts in Finland, but the possibilities of doing so are still under examination.

asked the Minister of Works how many of the prefabricated houses are ready for delivery to the borough of Willesden; and when are deliveries to be made.

Sites for 143 temporary houses have been or will shortly be handed over by the borough of Willesden. These should be ready for delivery of houses two months from the date of handing over, by which time the necessary parts of houses will be available for erection.

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the Parliamentary Division of Rugby are still without direct water supply, main sewerage and electricity.

According to information supplied by the four rural district councils in the Rugby Parliamentary Division in respect of the 95 rural parishes concerned, the answer to the first part of the Question is 29, and to the second part, 51. For information with regard to electricity supplies, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent local authorities exercise power to establish hostels for elderly people; and what is the attitude of his Ministry to this movement.

Local authorities are increasingly exercising their power to provide for destitute elderly people by way of small homes or hostels, and I have no doubt that such provision can contribute substantially to a solution of the difficulties of the aged.