Agriculture National Mark Grading 39. Mr. Hammersley asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will arrange for the employment of women inspectors to replace male inspectors formerly employed in the National Mark grading of agricultural produce, so that the high standard and commercial goodwill attached to the mark through many years work will not be wasted? The Minister of Agriculture (Colonel Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith) No, Sir. I regret that owing to the control to which supplies of various commodities must necessarily be subject in time of war it is not possible to continue the National Mark grading schemes. The schemes have undoubtedly effected a substantial improvement in the marketing of home produce and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have given the National Mark movement their support and encouragement. The advantages of proper grading and packing are now widely recognised and I feel sure that the suspension of the schemes will not mean that the work of the past few years will be wasted. Mr. Hammersley Will not the absence of this National Mark be a great discouragement to those who have been improving the standard of agricultural produce; and could not the scheme be kept alive even in respect to National Mark fruit, in respect of which there has been great improvement due to its introduction? Sir R. Dorman-Smith I very much doubt whether in present circumstances we shall be able to continue the National Mark scheme, but if it should be possible to do so we will try our best to reinstate it. Viscountess Astor Can the Minister of Agriculture assure us that he is going to do more about employing women in agriculture and get them organised than has been done up to now, as his Department has been the slackest of all, while there are thousands of women ready' to take men's places? Sir R. Dorman-Smith The response of women to the appeal for the Land Army has been perfectly magnificent, and we are getting on with the training as quickly as possible. Viscountess Astor But you are a year too late. Mr. George Griffiths Has the noble Lady only just found that out? Tractors 41. Mr. W. Roberts asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement as to the method by which the Government's reserve of tractors is to be made available for the use of farmers? Sir R. Dorman-Smith Tractors from the Government reserve will be assigned to county war agricultural executive committees upon a plan which takes into account the amount of grassland to be ploughed and the estimated numbers of agricultural tractors already located in each county. These tractors, of which a first consignment will be sent to each county within the next few days, will be worked by the county committees who will undertake, on a contract basis comparable with the arrangements made by agricultural contractors, the ploughing up of grassland and any subsequent cultivations that may be necessary, for farmers who have been unable to get their land ploughed by other means. Full particulars of these plans are contained in a circular letter that was issued to county committees on 18th September. I am sending a copy of this letter to the hon. Member. Mr. Roberts While thanking the right hon. and gallant Gentleman for his reply, may I say that I have seen a copy of that circular and I wonder whether he could given an assurance that a point which is not clear in it will be cleared up, namely, that the county committees may use the reserve of tractors especially in those counties which are short of tractors before all the tractors in private hands are already in use so that the county committees may get on with the job? Sir R. Dorman-Smith The committees can get on straight away. Mr. Craven-Ellis Will the drivers be provided for these tractors? Sir R. Dorman-Smith They are now being trained and the county committees will be able to use their own initiative as to the way in which they use the available drivers. Mr. John Morgan Will not the effective use of these tractors be nullified unless they are accompanied with sets of implements with which they can be worked? Sir R. Dorman-Smith That is fully understood. Food Production (County Committees) 42. Mr. W. Roberts asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement showing the extent to which the county committees have now undertaken their work of increasing food production? Sir R. Dorman-Smith Since their formation immediately on the outbreak of war, county war agricultural executive committees have been completing their organisation, including staffing arrangements, and the setting up of sub-committees and district committees, in order to enable them to carry out the duties delegated to them. The executive committees have been advised as to the steps to be taken for increasing home food production, and as to the minimum addition to the tillage area to be secured by each committee by the ploughing up of grassland in their county. I have every hope that the greater part of this addition will be secured by the voluntary efforts of the farmers themselves without recourse to the exercise of compulsory powers by the committees. I am glad to be able to say that there is every indication that the committees are getting down to their task, which is one of assistance as well as direction to agriculturists, with great energy. Commander Locker-Lampson Will my right hon. and gallant Friend do every-think he can to encourage allotments? Sir R. Dorman-Smith Already, circulars have been sent out with regard to that matter, and a campaign is to be launched to try at first to deal with allotments and private gardens. Commander Locker-Lampson Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are a million fewer allotments than two years ago? Sir Joseph Lamb May we have an assurance that the county committees will not be hampered by having to fill up too many forms, and that they will be allowed to get on with their work? Sir R. Dorman-Smith That is what I am trying to do. Mr. J. J. Davidson Does that apply only to England and Wales, or is there a special scheme for Scotland? Sir R. Dorman-Smith I am informed that similar action has been taken in Scotland. Ministry Of Information 43. Mr. Gallacher asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he has considered the protest from the National Union of Journalists concerning failure to provide the public with adequate news of the conduct of the war; and whether he will consider consulting with the union as to the best methods of reorganising the Ministry with a view to providing a more adequate service? The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Sir Edward Grigg) My Noble Friend has received and considered the resolution referred to, which was passed on 8th September. The Press organisations are now, I am sure, satisfied of the Ministry's desire to work in close co-operation with them, and much consultation has already taken place. In this connection the House will welcome the announcement that Lord Camrose has been good enough to give the Ministry the benefit of his great knowledge and long experience. Mr. Gallacher Would it not be desirable to meet the representatives of the National Union of Journalists and to reorganise the whole method of providing information, through the service that they, are able to give? Is the hon. Member aware that everyone is very dissatisfied with the present very undesirable situation? Sir E. Grigg As I have explained to the hon. Member, full consultation is already taking place with organisations representing journalists, and I think he may rest assured that those consultations will go into every point of importance. Mr. Magnay May the House be assured that the practices of Russia will never obtain here? Mr. Aneurin Bevan Would it not have been much better to have appointed a competent working journalist for this job, rather than Lord Camrose? 44. Mr. Gallacher asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information what proportion of the journalists employed in connection with the Ministry of Information are members of the National Union of Journalists; how many members of the union volunteered for such work during the preliminary registration carried out before the war by the National Service Department of the Ministry of Labour; and how many of those who volunteered have since been called upon? Sir E. Grigg There are at present 16 journalists employed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Information. With two or three exceptions, they are all understood to be members of professional organisations of journalists, about one-third being members of the National Union of Journalists. As regards the second and third parts of the question, my Noble Friend is informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that 317 members of the National Union of Journalists have enrolled under the Central Register scheme; they did so mostly before the outbreak of the war. The journalists at present employed in the Ministry of Information were almost entirely selected before the Central Register of Journalists had been compiled. None of them in consequence figures upon that register. No further appointments of that character have so far been required. When any are found necessary, the hon. Gentleman may rest assured that the Central Register will be closely consulted for men with the qulifications essential to such post. Mr. Gallacher Is there not something wrong when such a small proportion of members of the National Union of Journalists is engaged for this work, and is this any encouragement to the voluntary service which the journalists so readily offered in the event of hostilities? Mr. Macquisten Is not the Ministry of Information meant to prevent information leaking out, just as the Ministry of Transport is meant to obstruct transport? Sir E. Grigg The National Union of Journalists is not the only voluntary organisation. I can assure the hon. Member that the National Union of Journalists is fully consulted in these matters, but he will recognise that the choice of individual journalists must rest on their qualifications for their particular duties. 48. Mr. Harold Macmillan asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will give an assurance that in exercising its powers, the Ministry of Information will not attempt to suppress critical examination of any aspect of Government policy, whether military, economic or diplomatic, as long as no actual disclosure of facts unknown to the enemy is involved? Sir E. Grigg My Noble Friend made it clear in his statement last week that the function of the Ministry is to be a Ministry of expression and not of repression, and I can give the fullest assurance that there is no intention on the part of the Ministry so to exercise their powers as to restrict the free expression of opinion, including the critical examination of any aspect of Government policy, save in so far as this might convey information which might be useful to the enemy. Mr. Macquisten Will the hon. Member tell us where the "Bremen" is? Sir E. Grigg The hon. and learned Member had better put that question to the appropriate Department. Mr. Aneurin Bevan Is the Minister aware that the impression is now universal that if the Germans do not manage to bomb us to death the Ministry of Information will bore us to death? Dominions (War Co-Operation) 46. Mr. Ellis Smith asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to form an Imperial War Council; and whether the council will have a representative in the War Cabinet? The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain) :I do not think that the hon. Member's suggestion is immediately practicable. There is already close contact with His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions on all matters connected with the prosecution of the war, and means for the fullest possible co-operation between the Governments are constantly under consideration. Mr. Smith Will the Prime Minister reconsider that reply? In view of the magnificent way in which the whole of the British Commonwealth of Nations have rallied to the needs of the Commonwealth, and in view of the progressive policy that has been pursued by the Colonies and Dominions and the respect that the world has for the Government, may we be assured that we shall follow that policy? The Prime Minister I think, if I may say so, the hon. Member is not looking at this matter from the right aspect. This is not a favour to be offered by this Government to the Governments of His Majesty's Dominions overseas. It is a question of the best possible co-operation between the various Governments concerned, and I can tell the hon. Member that we are in close co-operation with them and we should have their agreement, I have no doubt, in any steps that we may take. Germany (British Leaflets) 47. Mr. Leach asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he is satisfied that the dropping of leaflets on German soil meets with the approval of the nation and of neutral peoples; and if the practice is to be continued? Sir E. Grigg My Noble Friend cannot, of course, speak for individual members of the public, but he is satisfied that the dropping of leaflets has met with approval in many quarters. Reports received from neutral countries make it clear that they have noted with interest the promulgation in Germany of severe penalties against any person found in possession of a British leaflet and also that they share our own opinion that leaflets alone will not defeat the German Armies. As regards the second part of the question, it would not be in the public interest to make any statement as to future action. Mr. Leach Will the hon. Member undertake to ask for the co-operation of prominent Members of this House who have broadcast messages to the country and to foreign nations, such as the right hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden) and the Deputy-Leader of the Opposition in compiling these leaflets? Sir E. Grigg Yes, Sir. We welcome the co-operation of Members of this House in every way.