asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there are a number of unemployed men between the ages of 20 and 21 years who are anxious to join the Militia immediately; and whether he will instruct the Employment Exchanges to accept all unemployed men between the ages of 20 and 21 years for service immediately irrespective of their alphabetical rotation?

Yes, Sir; arrangements have already been made for this to be done in the case of unemployed men who ask to be called up early.

asked the Minister of Labour what instructions have been issued to the medical boards charged with examining militiamen as to the standard of health required for service?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in order to dispel any suggestion that the standard of militiamen's medical examination was lower than that of entrants of the Regular and Territorial Army, he will publish the instructions, whether verbal or in writing, which were given to the doctors who conducted the examinations?

asked the Minister of Labour whether any instructions have been issued to the medical boards appointed under the Military Training Act and, if so, will he issue a statement setting out such instructions?

I am having a copy of the instructions placed in the Library.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that men are being passed as fit for service who are regarded as chronic invalids?

I am not aware of that. Perhaps the hon. Lady will read the copy of the instructions which have been issued, and if she then desires to pursue the matter either in the House or with the Department, or with me personally, I shall be very glad to deal with it.

Has it been brought to the right hon. Gentleman's notice that men with glass eyes are being passed as fit for service?

I answered a question dealing with that point only last week, I believe.

Will it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to give more publicity to these instructions than will be given by placing them in the Library?

I cannot add anything to what I have said at the moment. The instructions are long and elaborate, and have been drawn up with great care in consultation with a number of experts. Perhaps when hon. Members have seen them they will consider whether they desire to raise the matter further.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the medical personnel examining militiamen is the same as in the case of those joining the Regular Forces; if not, how this personnel has been chosen and what are their qualifications for their posts; and will he state the percentages of medical rejects in the case of militiamen and the Regular Army, respectively?

The medical boards set up under the Military Training Act are composed of civilian doctors selected by the Ministry of Health from lists supplied by the British Medical Association. The percentage of men found unfit for any form of military service up to 20th June was 2.6 in the case of the examinations under the Military Training Act. As regards the results of the examinations for the Regular Army the hon. Member should address his question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to tell the House that he does not realise the difference between the two, and will he tell me whether the qualifications of the doctors who are examining under the Military Training Act are the same as those of the doctors who examine for the Regular Army?

Their qualifications are of the highest kind.

That is not what I asked. They may have qualifications of the highest kind, but have they the qualifications which would set the same standard of examination in the two cases?

That is another point, and that is why I have referred the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend.

Can the Minister assure the House that there is adequate provision for testing the eyes of the militiamen, because great doubt is being expressed on that point in view of the fact that men are being passed who have never been able to see without glasses?

That does not tally with the information which I had received from hon. Members.

I am making not a general statement, but a specific statement.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a militiaman who has an unsatisfactory medical history and who is dissatisfied with the decision of the examining doctor is given the right to appeal for a second opinion from a specialist?

The decisions of the medical boards are final, but arrangements are made for men to be referred to consultants for report when the boards are in doubt.

Would the right hon. Gentleman agree that if a man has certificates over a long period of years certifying him as suffering from some complaint, which may be obscure to a new doctor who is examining him, that he should have the right to appeal to a specialist in his complaint?

I should not like to give a definite answer upon a particular case without consulting the specialist concerned, but I shall be glad to discuss the matter with the hon. Lady.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many Members on this side of the House have cases sent to them day after day of men who have been certified as suffering from a certain complaint but are now passed fit for service?

I hope hon. Members will send them on to me. The thing that has struck me for the last fortnight is the very small number of letters I have had on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will set up in Liverpool a local tribunal in connection with the Military Training Act, 1939?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, having in mind the very large population in Liverpool and on Merseyside generally, he will consider setting up in Liverpool a local tribunal, before which Merseyside conscientious objectors could appear, thus saving expense to the public as against such objectors appearing before the tribunal in Manchester?

I am setting up a local tribunal to cover Lancashire, Cheshire and the Glossop and New Mills district of Derbyshire. The number of applications from conscientious objectors in Liverpool and on the Merseyside is not sufficient to justify an additional local tribunal for that area.

Is the Minister not aware that in the late War we had such a tribunal and that the expense of travelling to Manchester was then met?

This, of course, is a different situation. We are dealing here with one section and not with the whole range. As the hon. Member knows, of the 88 who originally registered, only 75 have applied for final exemption, so he will understand that this is not a problem of great magnitude. The tribunal is normally sitting in Manchester, but it would be possible to sit in Liverpool.

Will the expenses be paid to them?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the case of a one-man business where the owner is called up for service, a grant will be made to provide wages for a competent substitute to carry on the business and thereby enable the house hold to get the income from the business and at the same time save the business for the conscript?

I have been asked to reply. The Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee is being set up to consider applications for monetary assistance to meet serious hardship in the case of those who are unable, by reason of undergoing a course of training, or being called out for service, to meet their financial obligations.

Is the Minister prepared to say that this committee has the power and the finance to meet such a case as I have supposed in the question; and is the Minister aware that otherwise a very large number of young lads will be stranded after serving six months and will suffer very grave injustice?

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the White Paper he will see it stated there:

"Assistance may be granted to those who are unable by reason of their service to meet their financial obligations, whereby serious hardship is caused."

It will be for them to establish the hardship.

Does that mean that a strict means test is to apply in all these cases, and, if so, does the Minister not appreciate that there will be very keen resentment on this matter in many parts of the country?

No, Sir. I do not think that is the case. It is a question of establishing hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the nature of the instructions issued by him to the appropriate authorities upon the acceptance of recruits for the police force before such recruits have completed their Militia training?

The appointment of recruits to the police forces is a matter for the individual police authorities or chief officers of police, as the case may be. As regards future applicants it is anticipated that as a rule they will perform their military training before joining the police, but as regards applicants who have already been accepted the attention of chief constables has been drawn to the provisions of Section 7 of the Military Training Act, 1939, and it has been pointed out that they should not alter any arrangements made with intending recruits by reason of their military obligations.

Do I understand that the police authorities have been, or have not been given instructions by my right hon. Friend as to the acceptance or refusal of recruits before they have completed their military training?

We certainly have not given any instructions upon this point. It is a matter for the local police authorities, but we do anticipate that in the future the general practice will be for applicants for the police force to do their training before joining that force.

Does my hon. Friend realise that if private employers adopted this attitude very few young men between the ages of 19 and 20 would be able to get a job at all, and will he therefore instruct the police authorities that the passing of the Military Training Act should make no difference to the acceptance of recruits?

No, Sir; I think that my hon. Friend is under a misunderstanding. There is no fixed age for joining the police force. Men are accepted at very many varying ages. As far as the younger applicants are concerned, they can apply under Section 1 of the Military Training Act for permission to undergo their training at an earlier age than 20.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Commissioner for Special Areas has made any decision with respect to the clearance and preparation of sites suitable for the establishment of new industries in Rhondda?

The Commissioner for the Special Areas has decided to acquire a small site at Forth to be cleared in order to improve amenities. As regards the acquisition of sites for industrial development, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 25th May.

Is the Minister aware that up to now not one site in that area has been cleared or prepared by the Special Commissioner?

I do not think the answer which I have given bears out that statement.

Will the Minister accept it from me that not one site in that area has yet been cleared by the Commissioner?

Factories have been provided and new industrial undertakings are now in operation.

But sites were not cleared by the Commissioner.

Provided by him.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour the present average rate of interest charged on the loans or overdraft of the Unemployment Insurance Fund?

Interest at the rate of 3⅛ per cent. is payable on the debt of the Unemployment Fund.

Is the right hon. Gentleman thinking of bringing in legislation to reduce it?

No, it is fixed by Section 60 (2) of the Act of 1935.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is the generally accepted policy of the Unemployment Assistance Board that wages obtained by applicants in their last week of work should meet all normal family needs for two weeks before the Board provide assistance?

No, Sir. If the hon. Member has any individual case in mind and will let me have particulars I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the fact that numbers of unemployed local men applied at the Harrogate Employment Exchange for work at the military camp there and were told there was no work for them because the contractors, had shipped over from Ireland a large number of men to do the work, who are difficult to organise into a trade union and are not paid trade union rate of wages; whether this is in accordance with the Fair Wages Clause of the Government; and what action does he propose to take?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Would the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my question and say whether the contractors who are doing Government work are paying trade union wages? I think that his Department ought to insist upon that.

The rates that I have had from rural districts and districts of that kind are rather the other way, and show that labourers are being brought from ordinary labour at excessive rates of wages.

In view of the dissatisfaction that exists in regard to the work on this camp, will the right hon. Gentleman have a thorough inquiry made, in order to see whether there is not more suitable local labour?

I have the matter under review. The fact is that the total number affected comprises 234 carpenters and joiners and 646 labourers, of whom 156 carpenters and joiners and 575 labourers were accepted from that exchange.

How does it come about that 20 men were engaged on this work for one day only?

The hon. Member did put a question to me about that matter and I explained it at the time.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the action of the officials of the Montrose Employment Exchange in asking for a police report on an applicant, Mr. James McIntosh; under what regulation was this action taken and what steps he proposes to take to protect applicants from such treatment?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

If such a report has been sought or obtained will the right hon. Gentleman take action against the manager, as I have received, as the result of this question, a report from another district about one of these managers and this practice of asking for reports?

I cannot accept ex parte statements, although I shall pay all respect to any facts given to me by any hon. Member of this House.

If the Minister finds that this is right, will he take action to remove that manager?

That is a hypothetical question.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken to obtain premises or a suitable site for premises for the projected Unemployment Assistance Board offices to serve the Romford Parliamentary Division and surrounding districts?

I am informed by the Unemployment Assistance Board that His Majesty's Office of Works are at the present time in negotiation for a tenancy of suitable premises for the purpose of an office at Romford.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in Durham County there are 26,000 persons who have been unemployed for more than a year; and what schemes the Government have apart from the trading estates to provide these people with employment?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27th June.

As there are 6,000 people in Durham who have been unemployed for a year, and in that number between 6,000 and 7,000 have had no work for three, five or 10 years, does it not suggest that the method adopted by the Govern- ment for meeting the problem of long-term unemployment has failed?

That is another question.

asked the Minister of Labour the average increase in the rent of houses which were decontrolled in consequence of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restriction) Act?

On the basis of such information as is available to my Department, it is estimated that the rents (inclusive of rates and water charges) of working-class dwellings which have become decontrolled under the provisions of the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Acts are about 20 per cent. higher on average, than the rents of similar dwellings which are still subject to rent control under those Acts.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this increase of rents is responsible for the dissatisfaction which has expressed itself in different parts of the country; and could not something be done to prevent that dissatisfaction being created?

I am not responsible for that. I am responsible for providing the figure of the cost-of-living index.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to make a representation to the Minister of Health?

I am not sure about that. I might find a number of other houses rented too low.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the hardships endured by many people, he will introduce legislation to prevent the letting of decontrolled houses at exorbitant rents by companies specialising in such type of business?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 15th June.

Is the Minister aware that the Unemployment Assistance Board, in their report, have called attention to the exorbitant rents of working-class houses in London? Cannot something be done to bring this intolerable state of affairs to an end?

Parliament came to a decision on this matter last year.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the decision in the case of Lord versus Welch heard at the Bradford county court on 14th June, 1939, relating to back-to-back houses and decontrol; whether he is aware that a considerable number of other houses may be affected by the decision; and what action he proposes to take to safeguard the interests of the tenants concerned?

I have seen a Press report of the county court decision referred to. This related only to the particular property before it, and does not affect any other premises. I do not consider that any action on my part is called for.

Is there not a need for protection of a tenant who is in occupation of part of a back-to-back house when that house is transformed into a through house by the landlord?

In this case the tenant agreed to these alterations.

No.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been directed to the serious concern of the urban distrtict council of Ince-in-Makerfield at the extensive damage, caused by mining operations, to a number of comparatively new houses situate in Holt Street, near Rose Bridge Colliery, Ince, and acquired by the occupiers by means of loans; and whether he is prepared to facilitate legislation to remedy this state of affairs.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the question of legislation is one primarily for the Mines Department.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the advice he has received that tenement houses in Glasgow offer protection to citzens during air-raids if suitably strengthened, he can state what proposals have been made to strengthen them?

I am advised that, where the conditions are not suitable for the provision out-of-doors of shelters of the standard brick or concrete types, the strutting of closes offers the most satisfactory solution. My technical advisers are always ready to help with practical suggestions, and one of my principal technical officers is in Glasgow this week for the express purpose of conferring on this subject with the authorities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the shelters are entirely inadequate to accommodate the population of the tenements which they are intended to serve; and will he take into consideration that those tenements are closely congested and require special attention directed to them?

I shall be in a better position to judge when I have the report of my technical office.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has considered the position of many sub-tenants desiring air raid shelters residing in houses where the householder refuses to have such shelters; and what he proposes to do to meet such circumstances?

I hope that, with the growing realisation of the importance of providing air-raid shelter in the vulnerable areas, there will not be many cases of the kind contemplated in the question, in which people living in the same building are unable to reach a reasonable accommodation with one another in this matter. But, as I indicated in the course of the Debate on the Report stage of the Civil Defence Bill, cases where agreement cannot be reached will, in the last resort, have to be met by the provision of public shelter, in regard to which the local authorities already have adequate powers.

Do I understand the Minister to say that if an owner refused a shelter to a sub-tenant the sub-tenant cannot have one, and that the local authority have no power?

I have said that the local authorities have adequate power to deal with the matter by way of the provision of public shelters.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether occupiers of factories and owners of commercial buildings in non-vulnerable areas are required by the provisions of the Civil Defence Bill to provide air-raid shelter for the persons employed in their premises and, if so, will he state what are the legal obligations resting on such occupiers and owners; and whether the provisions of the Bill in regard to training workpeople in any premises where more than 30 persons are employed and the provisions dealing with the obscuration of light in factories apply to employers in non-vulnerable areas?

In areas to which Part III of the Civil Defence Bill is not applied, the occupiers of factory premises and mines, and the owners of commercial buildings, will be under no statutory obligation to provide air-raid shelter, unless the provisions of Part III are specifically applied to their premises by a special order made under the proviso to Clause 12 of the Bill. But all persons employing more than 30 persons in any factory premises, mine or commercial building will be required, wherever the premises are situated, to provide training in air raid precautions routine and to train and equip a suitable proportion of the employés for first-aid, anti-gas and fire-fighting. The provisions of Clause 42 of the Bill, which deal with the obscuration of light, will also apply to all factory premises, as defined in the Bill, throughout the country.

May I take it that my right hon. Friend's answer refers entirely to statutory obligations, and that employers and others are not relieved of any moral obligation that there may be to provide suitable shelter for their people?

Yes, that is the case.

If a factory is closed down, or if an assurance is given that it will be closed down, in war-time, will it be necessary to provide for the obscuration of light in such a factory?

That matter was dealt with in the course of the discussion on the Bill, when I made it clear that, in enforcing the obligations imposed by the Bill, it is necessary to proceed on a basis of fact, and not on the basis of what someone thinks might happen in the event of war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what is the policy of his Department in regard to air-raid shelters for grant-aided schools; in what way this policy differs in respect of schools in evacuation areas, neutral areas, and reception areas, respectively; and what financial assistance has been given where air-raid shelters are being provided for such schools?

I have been asked to reply. The policy of the Government in regard to air-raid shelters in schools is fully set out in the Board's Circular 1467, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. In areas which are to be evacuated, all schools will be closed for the whole period during which the children remain evacuated, and no air-raid protection at those schools will be required. In neutral areas, and generally speaking in the more populous urban parts of reception areas, protection, which will normally take the form of trenches, is expected to be provided by the local education authority for the children in the schools. Schools in the rural parts of reception areas will not, as a rule, need any special shelter protection. Approved expenditure by local education authorities on protective measures for school children ranks for grant from the Board at the rate of 50 per cent.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been called to the report of the Lichfield Rural Head Wardens Association which alleges lack of information, organisation, and equipment to a serious degree; and what action is he proposing to take in the matter?

I have received this report, and I have asked my regional officer to make inquiries on the spot into the various matters to which it refers.

If the allegations contained in the report are substantiated on inquiry, will the Minister agree that it reveals a very serious state of affairs which is very discouraging to the voluntary workers concerned and calls for immediate attention by his Department? Is he also aware that this is not the only district in Staffordshire in which that state of affairs exists?

I know that there have been representations in several rural parts of Staffordshire in regard to these matters, and that is why I am sending my regional officer to inquire on the spot.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will include in any scheme for the compensation for death or injury sustained by members of Civil Defence Organisations or their dependants a provision whereby disputes arising under such scheme between the Crown and the subject should be submitted to the judgment of a third party?

No, Sir. The course suggested by my hon. Friend has never been contemplated. But there will be nothing in the scheme to prevent any person aggrieved by a decision of the Treasury from seeking a remedy in the courts.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that it has been established by scientific re- search that sandbags, if treated with a preservative, are strengthened, have a much longer life, and are protected against bacterial mildew or insect attack and the liability to be gnawed by rodents; and whether he will consider the withdrawal of the circular he issued on the 18th May to local authorities, prohibiting them submitting the sandbags in their possession to a process of rot-proofing?

I am aware that sandbags which have been rot-proofed would remain serviceable in use for longer periods, but I am advised that the substantial cost of rot-proofing would be justified only if it were intended that the bags should be stored ready-filled. It is not intended that any of the bags issued to local authorities should be stored ready-filled; and local authorities were therefore advised, in the circular to which my hon. and learned Friend refers, that sand-bags issued to them by my Department should not be rot-proofed, and that the cost of rot-proofing any other sandbags in their possession would not be allowed to rank for grant under the Air-Raid Precautions Act. I see no reason to withdraw that circular.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that even when the bags are not filled, but are stored unfilled, they are liable to very rapid deterioration, particularly if they are stored in a damp place; and that, if this proofing is allowed, it will save a great deal of waste of money?

The question of expense was taken fully into account in coming to the decision referred to. As regards the first part of the supplementary question, the specification for these sandbags provides especially that the material shall be dehydrated, and, if the bags are stored by local authorities according to the instructions given, I am advised that they will keep without deterioration for a very long period. As regards the second part of the supplementary question, the decision given was arrived at after very careful consideration on the basis of expert advice from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the elimination of moisture in the manufacture of the bags confers no rot-proof qualities whatever; and, if I send him data on the subject, will he kindly give the matter reconsideration?

I shall certainly be glad to look into any information that my hon. and learned Friend can supply, but the advice I have had is not in accordance with what he says.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the cost of rot-proofing?

It is ¾d., as against 3d. for each bag.

That is not the figure submitted to me.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he has made to compensate owners of houses in reception areas for damage done to their property by refugees?

Consideration is being given to this matter in connection with the wider question of compensation for war damage, as to which my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that a statement was made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20th June.

When is my right hon. Friend likely to come to a decision in regard to this matter?

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of persons to be sent to Devonshire in time of emergency; and what preparations have been made for their reception?

The present timetables provide for the transport to Devon in the initial evacuation of 17,600 persons only, but there is a considerable balance of accommodation which will be kept available for the purposes of the Government's scheme, which, as my right hon. Friend is aware, is being extended to cover a number of additional towns. Arrangements for reception of evacuated persons are being made by the county district authorities, with the assistance of the county council. I am sending my right hon. Friend copies of the documents that have been issued by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education and myself for the guidance of these authorities in this work.

Would my right hon. Friend consider diverting some of the amounts now devoted to A.R.P. to the accommodation of these people, considering that Devonshire is so remote?

That remoteness is a reason why we have greatly reduced the numbers.

May I also have a copy of the documents?

Yes, certainly, if my hon. Friend wants it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take into consideration scheduling the North-East portion of Blaydon as an evacuation area owing to the density of the population?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18th May to the hon. Member for Everton (Mr. Kirby). I have considered the position of Blaydon, but I regret that I cannot undertake to extend further the list of evacuable areas.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to prepare schemes in rural and industrial areas in Wales, in view of the report on tuberculosis in Wales, to improve housing, water supplies, sewerage, and clinics; and whether he is considering special assistance to distressed areas to carry out the necessary schemes for public health purposes?

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the nature of the report upon the extent of tuberculosis in Wales, and the bearing housing conditions have upon this disease, he is prepared to include in his plans for dealing with unemployment problems that greater expenditure be embarked upon in demolition of old and construction of new houses, and that without incurring additional rate charges upon depressed areas?

I gave details of the action I am taking on the report, in reply to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 8th June, and to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Cardiff, South (Colonel A. Evans) on nth May. So far as housing is concerned, a special survey is being made by my housing inspectors. They have, up to now, visited 22 districts, and I have received 10 reports. Subject to the conditions laid down by the Commissioner for the Special Areas, schemes, which are urgently necessary, submitted by local authorities in those areas for the improvement of public health services, are still eligible for consideration for assistance from the Special Areas Fund.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a considerable amount of ice cream is made without cream or milk; and whether he will bring in legislation to compel ice cream makers to state the quantity and quality of milk used in ice creams they sell to the public?

I am aware that some frozen mixtures sold as ices or ice cream may contain little or no cream or milk. The Food and Drugs Act, 1938, which comes into operation on the 1st October next, will give me increased powers for making regulations governing the composition of food and kindred matters, and I am considering the question of making regulations as to ice cream.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the time has come when a statutory standard should apply to all ice cream that is sold; and will he make regulations to that effect?

I will take these points into consideration.

Have not the local authorities power to make by-laws to regulate the sale of ice cream?

I am not sure how far their powers go, but the new Act will certainly give greater powers to the central Department

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a statutory declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination made by the wife of a labourer in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, on behalf of her child, was recently refused by the vaccination officer of the Metropolitan borough of Woolwich on the ground that only the declaration of the father of the child could be accepted, he having its legal custody; that in this case the father was prevented from making a declaration owing to his hours of work being from 8.20 a.m. to 6 p.m., and that in many other cases the father may be prevented by illness, mental disability, or temporary absence from home; and whether he will consider making such a change in the regulations as will enable the mother to make the declaration?

My attention has not previously been drawn to this case. The statutory declaration may be made before either a commissioner for oaths or a justice of the peace at any time. I cannot, therefore, accept the contention that the father concerned was prevented from making such a declaration because of his hours of work. I do not consider it necessary to propose the amendment of the law which the hon. Member suggests.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this refusal to acknowledge the statutory declaration of the mother is not only practically inconvenient in many cases but is an insult to the mother, and is quite inconsistent with the spirit of the declaration and of the Custody of Children Act; and will not the Government consider taking action, if necessary in the way of legislation, to give equal rights to the father and mother in this matter?

That was not the point that the hon. Lady put to me in the question.

What is the value of the statutory declaration? Should it not be sufficient if the form is filled in?

I have to have regard to the Act of Parliament, the same as anybody else.

asked the Minister of Health, (1) whether he will set up a committee of investigation to inquire into the present state of efficiency of X-ray plant in hospitals and to report on the relative efficiency of British and foreign X-ray plant, and on the provision of spare parts of foreign X-ray plant in case of war;

(2) whether he is aware of the high standard of efficiency of British-made X-ray plant and that the London County Council insist on using British X-ray plant only; and whether he will now advise the appointment of a highly-qualified engineer to assist the Cancer Commission to bring British-made X-ray plant to the favourable notice of all hospitals?

I am aware that British-made X-ray apparatus has been found to be efficient, and that the apparatus used in London County Council hospitals is almost entirely of British make. The Council, in accordance with a recommendation made by my Department, generally adopt a policy of making use to the utmost extent practicable of goods and materials of home production. I do not think it desirable to adopt the suggestions made in the last part of the second question.

Would the Minister answer the first part of Question 63?

I think that is not necessary.

Is the Minister aware that in many provincial towns in this country there is no X-ray apparatus at all, and that, as a result, many patients have to come to London' for diagnosis? Would he consider remedying that state of affairs? That is what is expressed in Question 63?

I am afraid my reading of Question 63 is not the same as the hon. Lady's.

It asks the Minister to investigate.

I understood that I was asked to investigate the efficiency.

Or the inefficiency.