Ministry Of Supply Factories (Welfare Work) 67. Mr. De la B¸re asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider appointing a medical officer to supervise and be in charge of all medical decisions regarding workers engaged in factories carrying out work for the Ministry of Supply throughout the country? The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Colonel Llewellin) As indicated in the reply given on the 25th April to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) appropriate local arrangements for medical services have been made at all Royal Ordnance Factories, and these include the appointment, as and when necessary, of departmental medical officers who work in close contact with the officers of the Home Office. As at present advised, my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that it is necessary to superimpose a central medical organisation at the Ministry of Supply, if that is what my hon. Friend has in mind. Wood-Pulp And Paper Production 68. Dr. Little asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking, in view of the cessation of supplies from Scandinavia of wood-pulp for paper production, to tap every available source of supply, especially Canada and Newfoundland, in order to provide an adequate supply of this necessary commodity? 72. Mr. Naylor asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the increasing shortage of paper-making material, and the effect of such shortage on production and employment in the printing, newspaper and paper-making trades, he will take steps to secure a long-term agreement for the maximum amount of supplies of wood-pulp and logs from Canada and Newfoundland to prevent those stocks being absorbed by purchasers from other countries? Colonel Llewellin Steps have already been taken to secure alternative supplies and these will be continued to the fullest extent practicable in the circumstances. The possibilities are, of course, limited by shipping amongst other considerations. Mr. Henderson Stewart Will my hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind the possibilities of British Guiana in this respect? Colonel Llewellin Certainly, Sir, but I think that there it is mainly hard wood and not soft wood suitable for wood-pulp. Sir I. Albery Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that several paper mills are already on short-time, and is he consulting with the directors and managers of these mills to ascertain what British raw material can be brought in? Colonel Llewellin The managers of local mills are all being taken into consultation with the Ministry of Supply on the question of the distribution of what raw material is available, and how to get it. Mr. McCorquodale Has my hon. and gallant Friend considered the possibility of getting pulp from Newfoundland via the Northern port of Petsamo? Colonel Llewellin That is another matter, and it is not put down in the Question, but certainly we got some pulp in that way earlier in the war, and there may be no reason why we should not get it again. Dr. Little Is the Minister of Supply aware that there is a large quantity of very suitable timber in Newfoundland awaiting shipment? Waste Refuse (Salvage) 70. Mr. R. C. Morrison asked the Minister of Supply whether any representations have yet been made to local authorities whose refuse collection is carried out by private contractors; and what steps are being taken to induce these contractors to take part in the national salvage campaign? Colonel Llewellin As has been explained in previous answers, representations urging the organisation of salvage work have been made to all local authorities throughout the country, including those whose refuse collection is carried out by private contractors. I am informed that in a number of these cases, including the five Metropolitan Boroughs who have collection contracts, the local authorities have arranged with the contractor to salvage the more important materials and to report the figures to the Ministry of Supply. Where this is done they are included in the total salvage returns. Mr. Morrison Is the Minister aware that there are still many thousands of tons worth of saleable refuse being deliberately dumped or burnt and that many people who have taken an interest in this matter are not satisfied with the progress which is being made? Colonel Llewellin I am not at all sure that I am entirely satisfied myself, but we are doing our best to urge on local authorities and we are getting week by week more collections by that means. Every effort is tried to persuade local authorities to co-operate. Mr. Morrison Is not the difficulty that some contractors get a matter of 7s. a ton for taking refuse away and merely dumping it and that it is, therefore, of no interest to them to recover anything? Colonel Llewellin I appreciate that. Hours Of Work 73. Mr. Tinker asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that, at some of the Government works in Lancashire, excessively long hours are being worked by women on night shifts; that this is having effect on their health; and will he have inquiries made to see if this can be avoided? Colonel Llewellin The hours worked are those agreed between the Department and officials of the trades unions representing the workpeople concerned. The health of the employés is being constantly watched, and there is no evidence that the hours at present being worked in Royal Ordnance Factories are having any effect detrimental to their health. The question of the best hours to be worked, regard being had both to the essential needs of production and to the welfare of the workpeople, is one which is under continual review. Dr. Summerskill Is the Minister being guided in this matter by the recommenda- tions of the Industrial Health Research Board? Colonel Llewellin I would like the hon. Lady to put that Question down. I know that we are in consultation with a large number of people, but I am not quite certain whether that body is one of them. Dr. Summerskill Does not the Minister know that this body was set up by the Medical Research Council to investigate matters of this kind? Colonel Llewellin Perhaps the hon. Lady will put that Question down. Property-Sale, Greenock (Payment) 74. Mr. R. Gibson asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why sanction has not yet been given for the payment of the sum due to Mrs. Helen McDonald, Greenock, in respect of the compulsory sale by her to the corporation of Greenock of her property at 6, Sir Michael Street, Greenock, for which arrangements were completed in May, 1939; and whether, as Mrs. McDonald is suffering hardship through the non-payment of the sum due to her, amounting to £345, and is being called on to pay interest on a bond on the property, he will sanction forthwith the payment of the sum due to Mrs. McDonald? The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Colville) The item in question was included in a comprehensive application for borrowing sanction submitted by the local authority covering capital expenditure amounting to approximately £300,000. While that application is still under consideration I have arranged for special consent to be given in respect of the item referred to. Mr. Gibson I am very much obliged.