asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the organisation of staffs of His Majesty's trade commissioners in the Dominions and trade representatives in the Colonies will be continued on their present basis; and if their special attention has been called to the new opportunities for the expansion of inter-Empire trade?

The answer to both parts of the question is "Yes." I may add that officers who had been due to take extended leave are arranging to return to their posts at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the importance of the maintenance of British export trade during the progress of the war, special instructions are being given to the commercial secretariats at embassies and legations in neutral countries to intensify their activities in the expansion of markets for British goods?

Subject to the overriding importance of preventing supplies from reaching the enemy, maintenance of the export trade of this country is, as my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade recently announced, clearly of vital importance. Instructions have, therefore, been sent to our Commercial Diplomatic Officers, impressing upon them the necessity, now more urgent than ever, of continuing to report on the introduction of any measures in the country in which they are resident imposing any form of control over imports or exports or exchange which may be expected to affect the United Kingdom's trade with that country. In addition they have been instructed to furnish, as soon as it is possible to do so, information regarding the conditions in the markets in question. Such information, together with any reports which may be received regarding openings in those markets for specific commodities, will naturally be communicated to the United Kingdom trade interests concerned.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any changes are contemplated in the personnel of the commercial staffs attached to Embassies and Legations in neutral countries, and if vacancies which occur consequent upon officers joining His Majesty's Defence Forces will be filled as quickly as possible?

Arrangements are being made to augment Commercial Diplomatic staffs at certain posts overseas. Such vacancies as may occur in the Commercial Diplomatic Service will be filled as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the export credits system is to be continued; and if credits already approved by Parliament are in any way affected by the outbreak of war?

Yes, Sir. The facilities provided by the Export Credits Guarantee Department have proved themselves an indispensable part of our export mechanism. The Export Guarantees Advisory Council have, therefore, recommended, and I agree with them, that the Department's guarantees should be continued and I hope used to the utmost possible extent. Accordingly no general increase is, for the present, being made in the Department's rates of premium, though revision may be found necessary later.With regard to the second part of the question, the Credit Agreements already signed remain in force, though it is possible that the delivery of certain classes of goods under some of these agreements may be affected by war considerations.

asked the Minister of Pensions what steps he is taking to deal with new claims for pensions?

All necessary instruments for the various new classes of pensions which Parliament has entrusted to my Department have been issued, or are on the point of issue, and their prompt administration is provided for by an organisation which is being expanded as required. All claims as they come in are dealt with as rapidly as possible. Indeed, I may say that the first pension in respect of the new war was awarded within five days of its outbreak to the widow of a merchant seaman.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the advisability of reminding the public by broadcasting and through individual members of the police force that, in the interests of safety, they should walk on the right-hand side of the road facing the oncoming traffic when there is no foot-path, and on the left-hand side of the footpath when there is one?

I have already broadcast advice to this effect, and I hope that the public will realise the great importance of observing these rules, in the interests of their own safety.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the great hardship caused by the abolition of cheaper fares on the London and North Eastern Railway Company's suburban line; whether he will approach the Railway Rates Tribunal with a view to securing an early restoration of the cheaper fares; and whether he will also arrange that unused first class carriages during rush hours are available for all passengers?

I understand that the hon. Member has in mind the withdrawal of certain day tickets at reduced rates made available in peace time in order to encourage traffic. Owing to the need for reducing passenger services in order to cope with urgent national requirements these special facilities have been suspended. The question of their re-introduction when conditions allow is being kept under review. In regard to the use of first class carriages, I would refer to the answer to a question addressed to me to-day by the hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. W. H. Green).

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that substantially increased prices are being charged for materials necessary for the black-out of houses; and whether he will take steps to prevent profiteering in these materials?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15th September in reply to questions by the hon. and gallant Member for Chatham (Captain Plugge) and the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander). I shall be glad to consider the cases to which the hon. Member refers, if he will let me have details.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the numerous accidents due to the total black-out, he will consider altering the present system to that in vogue during the last Great War?

Comparisons based on the conditions of the last war are not valid in view of the altered strategic conditions of to-day; and, for the reasons given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 13th September, I could not support any radical alteration of the present policy. While it must be recognised that black-out conditions call for the exercise of great care by pedestrians and drivers of vehicles, the more extended provision of aids to movement and the instructions recently issued regarding the use of headlights and hand torches will, I trust, progressively reduce the dangers to persons who have to use the roads after dark.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that various unpaid voluntary workers engaged on gas decontamination have, if they wish to serve, to buy their own outfit because there is none supplied to them; and whether, to ensure efficiency, he can see that they receive proper equipment?

My hon. and gallant Friend must, I think, have been misinformed. Members of public decontamination squads are eligible to receive free of charge equipment which is provided by the Government to local authorities, and this equipment has been issued to local authorities so far as supplies are available. In no case is a volunteer in any of the public air-raid precautions services required to buy any part of his equipment.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the severe hardship now being experienced by night-bakers owing to the absence of ventilation due to the black-out, he will consider prohibiting night-baking between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.?

I have had special inquiries made, from which it appears that while conditions as regards temperature and ventilation were in some cases adversely affected at first by black-out arrangements, they are now being improved. As the hon. Member knows, much consideration has been given to this subject; and, on the information before me, I do not think that such new factors have arisen as would justify the prohibition of night-baking at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary whether the production of Anderson shelters is at a rate sufficient to meet all the demands; and whether all the available plant for the production of these shelters is now operating?

The rate of supply of householders' steel shelters has from the outset been governed primarily by the productive capacity of the galvanized corrugated steel sheet industry and by the demands made by other consumers of this material. Available plant was augmented in several respects in order to obtain the maximum output of which the industry is capable. Arrangements were also made to import sheet bars from Australia and the Continent to keep the rolling mills fully occupied. Recently the output has been affected—I hope only temporarily—by more urgent demands upon the raw material, by the demand for galvanized sheets for the obscuration of light in industrial premises and by transport difficulties; but every effort is being made to maintain production at the highest possible level.

asked the Home Secretary why it is that on the northern borders of London, and in particular in the boroughs of St. Pancras and Hornsey, applications from those entitled to the free issue of steel shelters have in many cases not yet been satisfied?

Of a total number of nearly 14,000 applications for shelters for the boroughs of St. Pancras and Hornsey, less than 1,000 are outstanding; and most if not all of these are applications which have been made during the last three weeks. Applications from all vulnerable areas have been exceedingly numerous since the beginning of the emergency, and they are being dealt with as expeditiously as manufacturing output permits.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the growing practice of leaving motor cars parked by the roadside all night unattended and unlighted; and whether, in view of the danger caused thereby to passing traffic, he will take steps to put a stop to this practice?

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that in the first few days of the black-out a number of cars were left standing without lights, probably because their owners had not reduced their lighting as required by the Lighting (Restrictions) Order. The Commissioner issued special instructions, however, warning the police to see that the obligatory lights were displayed on all standing vehicles and as a result the position has now improved. I have no doubt that the police in other parts of the country are giving similar attention to this point.

asked the Home Secretary whether air-raid shelters are kept open all night or whether this arrangement can now be made?

Public air-raid shelters are, I understand, generally kept open to access night and day; but, as the hon. and gallant Member will appreciate, there are areas with a large day-time population and corresponding shelter requirements which are almost deserted by night and it would therefore be unwise to attempt to prescribe any universal practice in this matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that adequate steps have now been taken to prevent air-raid alarms being sounded without authority?

The organisation on which the warning system depends is necessarily elaborate, and the possibility of occasional personal error or mechanical defect can never, I fear, be entirely excluded. I can assure the hon. Member, however, that the failures that have already occurred have been subjected to minute investigation with a view to preventing any recurrence and every effort will continue to be made to ensure smooth and regular working.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what communications have passed between the British Government and the Dominions with regard to the postponement and future meeting of the Assembly and Council of the League of Nations?

Correspondence is now proceeding with the Dominion Governments on the question to which the hon. Member refers. I am not yet in a position to make any detailed statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of a Government Bill introduced in the Jamaica Legislative Council to compel midwifery candidates to undergo a preliminary three-years nursing training; whether he is aware that this extra training will seriously limit the number of available midwives; and whether, in view of the danger of compelling Jamaican women to accept the assistance of un- trained midwives, he will take steps to allow midwives to practise who may only possess a midwifery training?

I am aware that a law has recently been passed in Jamaica under which no person who is not a certificated nurse with three years training will be eligible for registration as a midwife after the 1st of July, 1940. I am advised that the Government of Jamaica are satisfied that an adequate supply of midwives will be maintained under the new regulations, but that should there be any signs of a shortage, steps would be taken to increase the facilities for training.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will issue a statement on the condition under which ex-postmen are being requested to undertake temporary duties during the war period?

Pensioned postmen, like other pensioned civil servants, are being invited to undertake temporary duty during the war. The conditions of employment are those laid down by the Treasury for re-employed pensioners generally. Pensions will be temporarily suspended or abated in accordance with the Superannuation Acts, but the men will be allowed the wages they were receiving at the date of retirement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet been able to come to a decision as to the extension of summer-time?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet prepared to decide as to the extension of summer-time at least till the end of October?

The Government propose that summer-time should this year be extended until the night of the 18th –19th November.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to make it known to Englishmen and Englishwomen who, being still British subjects in enemy countries, agree to be employed as announcers of anti-British propaganda in English from enemy broadcasting stations, that they thereby render themselves liable to prosecution in this country for treason?

Any British subject who undertakes work of the kind described must be well aware that his conduct may lead to his having to meet charges of the gravest character hereafter.

asked the Home Secretary how it is proposed to constitute the tribunals which are to deal with the status of aliens?

I have, in consultation with the Lord Chancellor, been able to secure the assistance of nearly a hundred men with legal experience to review all cases of Germans and Austrians who are in this country. Each of these gentlemen will sit as a tribunal to review all cases in the area assigned to him. In London there will be several tribunals for areas in which there are large numbers of Germans and Austrians. No tribunal will have more than about 500 cases to examine, and it will therefore be possible to complete the review rapidly.The police will make arrangements for seeing that particulars of each case are brought before the tribunal. The Voluntary Committees which have been befriending refugees will assist the tribunals by giving the information which they have about individual aliens, and it has been arranged with the Refugee Joint Consultative Committee that they will send to each tribunal an accredited representative to act as a liaison officer who will obtain and present this information.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state who gave instructions to the police to enter certain newspaper offices on Monday, nth September, and remove copies of newspapers already printed?

The circumstances leading to the action taken by the police on this occasion were explained to the House by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on the 13th September. When the police were informed after midnight that in the interests of national security newspapers containing certain information must not be allowed to reach the public, it was clear that if effective action were to be taken it must be taken immediately. Delay of even a few minutes for the purpose of seeking my authority might have made it impossible to prevent the spread of the information. Accordingly the police felt, and I think rightly, that they would be failing in their duty to safeguard vital interests of national defence unless they took action at once. It is, of course, realised by all concerned that such action without the express authority of the Home Secretary can only be justified in an emergency of so rare and exceptional a character that it is to be hoped it will not occur again.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether there will be any control, and, if so, of what nature, over the prices of fish charged to the public?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to-day to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hulme (Sir J.Nall).

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the evacuation of children and nursing and expectant mothers, steps have been taken to ensure that adequate supplies of cod liver oil are available in the evacuation centres?

There are ample supplies of cod liver oil to meet all requirements and I understand that the reception areas are obtaining the full quantities they need through the usual channels.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he proposes to make illegal the practice of refusing to serve a customer with the commodity desired unless a further purchase is made simultaneously of some commodity which is not desired; and whether any cases of this nature have as yet been brought to his notice?

By the Food (Conditions of Sale) Order, made under the Defence Regulations on the 6th September, it is an offence for any person in connection with the sale of any article of food to impose or attempt to impose any condition relating to the purchase of any other article. As regards the second part of the question, I have received a certain number of complaints and am making inquiries into them.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, as representing the Minister of Information, whether his attention has been called to reports from Helsinki of the inadequacy of British propaganda in Finland; and whether he will take steps to see that the objects for which Britain is fighting are more widely understood in that country and generally to counteract the influence of German propaganda among the Finns?

My Noble Friend has seen the reports in the Press to which my hon. Friend no doubt refers, and is aware of the extent of German propaganda in Finland. Whilst he has no reason to think that the objects for which Britain is fighting are not already widely understood in that country, steps are being taken to facilitate the rapid supply of fuller information about British aims and policy to those who desire it.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, as representing the Minister of Information, whether he has any information concerning the condition of Herr Schuschnigg; and whether, in any statement of our war aims, the liberation of that statesman and the punishment of his oppressors will be included?

My Noble Friend has no recent information regarding the condition of Dr. Schuschnigg. As regards the second part of the question, the preservation of liberty, and the freedom from persecution both of individuals and peoples, are among the main principles for which His Majesty's Government are contending.

asked the Lord Privy-Seal as representing the Minister of Information, whether he will explain the jurisdiction and functions of the Ministry of Information, Scottish Regional Office, 1, Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh; how far newspaper men in Scotland are to be responsible to that office instead of to the office of the Ministry in London; and whether he will give an assurance that the setting up of this office in Edinburgh will not place Scottish newspaper correspondents at a disadvantage relative to their English brethren in the matter of celerity in obtaining sanction to publish news matter submitted to them?

The office to which the hon. Member refers is that of the Chief Regional Information Officer of the Ministry of Information for Scotland. Similar offices have been established in each of the Home Security Regions to deal with matters of regional interest and to facilitate the rapid and effective regional distribution of the services provided by the Ministry of Information. The Ministry's Regional Offices are not at present exercising, either in Scotland or elsewhere, powers of censorship, though, in the event of such a breakdown of communications as would necessitate the autonomous functioning of the several Home Security Regions, they would have to do so. The hon. Member may rest assured that the establishment of this office in Scotland neither implies nor involves any sort of discrimination against Scottish, as compared with any other, newspaper correspondents.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, as representing the Minister of Information, under what conditions Alexander Korda productions are now making a film in co-operation with the Ministry of Information; what is the amount of subsidy to be given to this company for that purpose; whether all British film production units will have an opportunity of tendering for such film production; and what arrangements are being made for further films to be made?

This film is to be produced at the company's expense without any subsidy, under terms which give the Government very full control over its production and distribution. The statement of cost will be subject to Government audit and, thereafter, the Government will have the option to purchase all rights in the film at an agreed figure, or to share equally in any profits without liability for losses, or to disclaim all financial concern in the film.The hon. Member will no doubt agree that these terms represent a particularly generous expression on the part of the company of their willingness to co-operate with the Ministry in the national interest at the present juncture. Arrangements are in contemplation for the pro- duction of other films, including documentary films. The details of the terms in each case must, of course, vary with the nature of the particular production concerned, but my Noble Friend will be only too happy to consider offers from other companies to produce films on terms similar to those which I have described.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make it clear to the responsible officers that vaccination of soldiers is not compulsory?

A man is not enlisted into the Regular Army on a normal engagement unless he consents to be vaccinated. Vaccination will not be compulsory in the case of other soldiers, and instructions have been issued to this effect.