asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any approach has been or will be made to the Indian Congress respecting the position of India in the present war?

The Viceroy has had personal interviews with Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Jinnah and other political leaders: and the Governors of the Provinces, including those in which Congress ministries are in office, have been in close touch with their ministers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what provision the Indian Government have made for Indian seamen who have been or may be killed or injured through submarine attack and the incidence of war; and how many Indian seamen have been killed and injured already?

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are arranging for compensation to lascars employed on British ships registered in the United Kingdom in respect of death or disablement due to war injuries. The scheme will be issued as soon as possible. It is understood that the Government of India have under consideration the introduction of a similar scheme for lascars employed on ships registered in India. According to the latest information available, the total number of casualties to Indian seamen since the outbreak of war is nine killed, two missing and 15 injured.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he proposes to issue an official communiqué at regular intervals giving details of actions in which units of the Royal Navy have been engaged, together with details of losses of enemy ships?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which was given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of London (Sir G. Broadbridge), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that hundreds of British people are stranded in Norway unable to get home; and can he arrange for their transport from Bergen?

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir; but I am glad to say that the majority of those who were stranded have now reached this country and that arrangements have been made whereby the remainder will be brought over within, I hope, the next few days.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to control the felling and thinning of home-grown timber during the war, with a view to utilising our resources to the national advantage?

The felling and thinning of home-grown timber is being controlled through the Timber Control of the Ministry of Supply. A licensing system has been established and maximum prices fixed by the Control of Growing Trees (No. 2) Order, and steps are being taken to stimulate production on suitable lines.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Andrew Buchanan, 76, Altyre Street, Tollcross, Glasgow, who was a member of the Glasgow Highlanders, 9th Battalion, and stationed at Kinross Camp, was discharged during July on examination by two doctors as suffering from a skin disease; that two days after his return two police constables called at his home and collected his kit and on Sunday morning, 1oth September, at 4.30 a.m., he was taken from his home and placed in a cell at Tobago Street police station until 12.30 p.m. of the same day when he was transferred as a prisoner to Johnstone guard room and kept there until 11 a.m. on Monday, nth September, when he was again examined by a doctor and again discharged as unfit; that this young man lost two days wages and suffered humiliation both to himself and family; and whether he is prepared to compensate him for his loss and suffering?

Private Buchanan was not, in fact, discharged in July, but was recommended for discharge on medical grounds. As the discharge had not been effected when mobilization was ordered, a calling-up notice was sent to him in accordance with the usual practice for men still effective, and, as he did not report for embodiment within seven days, the normal procedure was adopted and the local police informed of his absence. When he was again found unfit for service, he was returned to his home, and he will be discharged on medical grounds.It appears that Private Buchanan was under a misapprehension as to his position, and I regret very much that it should have resulted in such inconvenience and distress; but, as he had not actually been discharged from his engagement, he should have obeyed the instructions that were sent to him.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the unrest and anxiety which any fear of enforced vaccination causes amongst soldiers in the British Army, he will take steps to remove all cause for this by issuing a circular to all commanding officers asking them to note that while compulsory service is in force, no soldier is to be forced to be vaccinated or inoculated?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on the subject of vaccination. Inoculation is not compulsory, and the instructions that have been issued make this clear.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that married Army officers under the age of 30 years do not draw allowances at married rates; that this is resulting in great hardship to many officers under that age who, as members of the Territorial Army contracted marriage whilst in civil occupation; and whether he will take steps to remove this hardship and to make them retrospective?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to grant family allowances to married officers under 30 years of age?

As has already been announced in the Press, the married officer below 30 years of age who is not in receipt of a consolidated rate of pay is to receive, during the continuance of the emergency, an allowance in aid of the cost of lodgings for his family (if they are not accommodated at public expense) varying from 3s. a day for a wife only, to 5s. 6d. a day for a wife and two or more children. The allowance becomes payable with effect from nth September, 1939.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to operate the machinery for granting commissions to suitable militiamen simultaneously with the machinery operating for the granting of emergency commissions?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the censorship of the mail to India is similar to that respecting the Dominions; if, and under what circumstances, censorship of the outgoing Indian mail operates in Great Britain; whether the sender is informed when the mail is censored and in the case of telegrams not delivered whether payments are refunded; and whether extracts from the British Press to India are liable to be censored?

As has been announced in the Press, correspondence to and from the British Dominions and Colonies will not, in general, be affected by the censorship, and this applies equally to India. Extracts from the British Press sent to India are, however, like other correspondence, liable to be censored. Senders will not be informed when the mail is censored, nor will payments be refunded when telegrams are not delivered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information Why broadcasting in this country is now restricted to two wave-lengths; on how many wave-lengths do German stations operate; whether they have recently reduced or increased them; and whether he is aware that the reduction in this country has given great advantage to German stations by clearing the ether for them in effect?

It would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in the first part of the question. As regards the other parts of the question the German authorities appear to be using their normal wave-lengths with the recent addition of these of certain Polish stations in territory occupied by the German forces. It would not appear that any substantial advantage has accrued to the German stations on the score suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend, but the situation is, of course, being watched.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that a first charge of£ is being made on a kit of fish, 10 stone, in Hull; and, as this charge is excessive and adds to the difficulties of trawler owners, he will consider reducing it?

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the distributive margin of 2s. per stone under the scheme of control for fish which was introduced on the outbreak of war. As I explained m the House yesterday, the present fish control scheme is being ended on Friday.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware of the serious hardship that is being inflicted upon the fish and dock workers in the port of Hull owing to the closing of St. Andrew's Dock; and whether he proposes to take any action to ease the existing difficulties?

The conditions which have existed in the port of Hull are not due to any action by the Ministry of Food. In so far as St. Andrew's Dock has ceased to be used it is due to the fact that a large number of the Hull trawlers are on war service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as the subsidy granted in aid of barley-growing is intended for the increase of the production of food and provender, anything is contemplated in the regulations of his Department to prevent the diversion of the increased barley grown to the use of the brewers?

The subsidy payable from the Exchequer in certain circumstances under the Agricultural Development Act, 1939, for the assistance of barley growers, is intended to cover that part of the crop used for feeding to livestock. A substantial part of the expected increase in the production of barley will probably be achieved by farmers who will grow the crop for feeding to their own stock. The hon. Member will, no doubt, appreciate that after malting, the barley residue, known as "brewer's grains," is commonly used as. a feeding stuff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many wholesale merchants are adding various percentages, generally from 2 to 6 per cent., to invoice prices on account of expenditure incurred on compulsory insurance of stocks; and whether, with a view to prevent profiteering on this pretext, he will lay down any standards of charges to be added to various commodities?

I am aware of the practice referred to in the first pare of the question, but I would emphasise that the additional charges mentioned cannot be justified in regard to current sales by reference to the cost of compulsory insurance. Obviously the addition which a trader might reasonably make to the price of an article on account of the cost of insuring it against war risks varies according to the frequency with which the article is turned over, and I doubt whether it would be practicable to lay down standard rates for different commodities. I think it is fair to say, however, that for the great majority of goods which are now being sold the addition warranted by the facts of the case should be substantially less than even the lower figure of 2 per cent. mentioned in the first part of the question. I would add that some traders have informed me that they do not intend for the present to add anything to their sale prices in respect of this expense.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the importance of inducing Turkey to trade with this country rather than with Germany, he will consider what steps can be taken to increase the import of Turkish agricultural products into this country?

Yes, Sir. Discussions are at present taking place in London with a Turkish Delegation, and I have every reason to hope that they will facilitate the sale of Turkish agricultural and other products in this country. In the meantime, certain provisional measures have been introduced so as to take advantage of the opening of the main Turkish exporting season. The possibility of Turkish goods being purchased by the appropriate Departments of His Majesty's Government is also being actively examined.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the large number of children under five years of age now likely to be permanently resident in reception areas, any steps have been taken to provide emergency courses for trained assistants in nursery schools?

The question of providing for children under five years of age in the reception areas is being actively considered by the Departments concerned. The needs of the present moment are, however, too urgent to wait for the establishment of nursery schools of the ordinary type, and must be met by more makeshift measures. While arrangements for training helpers may have to be made, such training would necessarily be different from that given in ordinary circumstances to trained assistants in nursery schools.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has examined the financial decrees issued by the French Government designed to ensure that no section of the community, including weekly wage-earners, shall profiteer during the war; and whether he will consider the imposition of special taxation upon all un-mobilised males of military age?

I am aware of the provisions of the French Government's decrees, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. In reply to the second part of his question, proposals for the imposition of additional taxation will fall within the scope of the emergency Budget.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider imposing a 20-mile speed limit within 1oo yards of the approach of all cross-road traffic lights?

I do not think that my hon. Friend's proposal would serve a useful purpose. Drivers are already fully aware of the importance of the strict observance of traffic signals, and that failure to obey them is a punishable offence.