asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the various services and other Departments of the Crown who are requiring supplies of timber are making full use of the supplies available in the United Kingdom?

Supplies of homegrown timber could no doubt be increased for the purposes mentioned by the hon. Member. On the other hand the Forestry Commissioners consider that it would not be prudent in the present circumstances to encourage heavier fellings of standing timber.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any information respecting the total amount of loans granted by British banks to Germany and Italy, respectively, during the past five years; and how much of this has been arranged or granted during the past six months?

I am not in a position to give detailed figures, but I am satisfied that there is no foundation for any suggestion that the amount of credit granted by British banks to the countries named in the question has increased either during the past five years or during the past six months. Indeed, it is common knowledge that the trend of these credits has been downwards.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of his expressed desire that British producers and manufacturers of tinned foodstuffs should benefit from the proposal that householders should, wherever possible, increase their stores of foodstuffs, he will make some statement as to what tinned British foods are available and usable for this purpose?

The list of foods suitable for household storage, prepared by the Food (Defence Plans) Department, includes meat and fish in cans or glass jars, and canned or dried milk. I have no precise information as to the quantities of the various kinds of these foods on the market which are of British manufacture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make on the subject of foreign competition in the British coasting trade; whether he is aware that the Carriers Shipping Company had recently to lay up two steamers because of such competition; and how many more such steamers in the United Kingdom have been laid up for the same reason in the last 12 months?

The question of foreign competition in the coasting trade was dealt with in the reports submitted to me by the Joint Shipping Policy Committee of the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom and Liverpool Steam Ship Owners' Association, and was taken into consideration by the Government in reaching the decisions announced in my right hon. Friend's statement on shipping policy on 28th March.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether those engaged in air-raid precautions work are to be remunerated when they are compelled to give up their own work in time of crisis; and if he will give the scales of such remuneration?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 16th February to a question by the

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the report of His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Colonel Hallam, in regard to the shortage of training centres for the

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the establishments and the numbers enrolled in the air-raid warden service, in the auxiliary fire services, and in the other air-raid precautions services, respectively, in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, respectively?

The establishments and numbers enrolled are as follow:preliminary training of police recruits; and will he consider favourably the suggestion for grouping and wider co-operation among police forces to secure a more efficient and expeditious system of training?

I am in entire agreement with the principle of concentrating the preliminary training of police recruits in a limited number of training establishments; facilities for this purpose are already provided by a number of the larger forces, and are extensively used. The position generally is being kept under review, and I have every hope that the existing arrangements will be further developed.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are taken by his Department to limit the profits made by proprietors of large blocks of flats on the operation of telephones by tenants in such flats; whether he is aware that in the case of many such blocks of flats the reductions in telephone charges made during recent years have not in fact been passed on to the tenants; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this is done?

The question of charges made by owners of blocks of flats to their tenants for telephone service has been examined from time to time and the conclusion reached that, in general, they were not unreasonable in relation to the services performed. If, however, my hon. Friend has any special case in mind and will furnish me with particulars, I shall be glad to investigate it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make a general statement on the policy of his Department on the subject of grant- ing commissions in the Territorial Army to those schoolboys who have been trained in the various Officers' Training Corps?

Ex-cadets of the Officers Training Corps (Junior Division) are eligible for appointment to commissions in the Territorial Army, special regard being given to those who, in the absence of vacancies for commissions, have already joined the ranks. Preference will, as a rule, be given to those in possession of Certificates "A" or "B," or Officers' Qualification Certificates.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider, as part of his publicity campaign for the increase of the Territorial Army, the local publication, either as an advertisement or otherwise of leading local firms of employers who offer satisfactory terms to their employés who join the Territorial Army?

Publication of the nature suggested does take place from time to time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the request from the Birmingham and District Tenants Association to receive a small deputation from that body, and whether he is prepared to agree to the request?

I have communicated with the hon. Member and explained that as the matter is entirely within the discretion of the Birmingham Town Council and I have no jurisdiction in connection with it, I do not feel that I can properly intervene by receiving the desired deputation.