asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the false air-raid alarm at Norwood Green Police Station, Southall, Middlesex, Southend and Northampton?

The air-raid warning sounded at Southend on the 14th September was due to a technical defect in the apparatus, which has now been corrected. The warning sounded at Norwood Green Station, Southall, Middlesex, on the 18th September was due to a misinterpretation of a telephone message received there. I have no information regarding any air-raid alarm at Northampton.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that many engineering works, such as Amos Barber, Limited, of Downham Market, Norfolk, have manufactured head-lamp hoods and other car black-out equipment in conformity with the original specifications, and that the alteration of these specifications means that they have large stocks on their hands which cannot be sold; and whether they will be allowed to enter any claim for compensation?

As my hon. Friend is aware, it was found desirable to relax the restrictions originally applied to headlamps, in order to permit traffic, to move with greater safety. In these circumstances, it is, I am afraid, inevitable that firms who had undertaken as a commercial enterprise the manufacture of the head-lamp mask originally recommended should find themselves with some stocks on hand of which they cannot dispose; but I am not aware of any circumstances which would justify the treatment of any resulting loss as other than an ordinary commercial hazard.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of accidents on the streets during black-outs, the police are authorised to inquire from users of motor cars if they are used for pleasure: purposes or are on official duty only; whether he is aware that in other countries the use of motor cars for pleasure purposes during black-outs has been prohibited; and will he consider making similar regulations for this country?

The police have no such authority. It is not an offence to use a car for pleasure purposes, either by day or night, and I would not propose to alter this position. The public have been asked to avoid using their cars unnecessarily, and I have no reason to believe that they will disregard this request.

asked the Minister of Health what action he intends to take to secure an effective co-ordination of the various local authorities affected by the evacuation of children and mothers; and whether he intends to secure additional powers for county councils in order to assist the smaller authorities in this matter?

My right hon. Friend has already indicated in various communications to local authorities that the provision of certain services for evacuated persons, notably medical and welfare services, should be co-ordinated by the county local authorities. My right hon. Friend is not aware that additional powers are required by county councils.

asked the Minister of Health what action he intends to take to secure the erection of huts and the requisitioning of largely-unused houses and buildings for the purpose of providing more suitable accommodation for evacuated mothers and schoolchildren; and whether he will require that county councils, in co-operation with other local authorities, shall provide means of transport for the purpose of mothers visiting their children and for children to be conveyed to their schools?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular 1871 which was issued by my Department on the 12th September and which gives local authorities guidance on the question, amongst others, of the use of empty houses as hostels for evacuated mothers and for certain classes of schoolchildren. My right hon. Friend does not think that it is necessary at present to provide transport as suggested to enable mothers to visit their children. Local education authorities already have power to provide for the conveyance of schoolchildren to their schools. They have been informed that where difficulty is anticipated the matter should be brought to the notice of the appropriate chairman of Traffic Commissioners.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the acute suffering and hardship caused by the removal of certain patients from hospitals to their homes by the refusal of beds to patients needing special treatment and by the relative scarcity of medical services in reception areas, and also of the number of doctors, nurses and other medical staff on duty but performing no immediate service in hospitals allocated to deal with air-raid victims; and whether he will devise a scheme to enable a portion of such medical staff to be temporarily available for work among evacuees and for beds also to be put into temporary use?

My right hon. Friend is aware that difficulties and hardships have inevitably arisen from the far-reaching steps which were of necessity taken to deal with the possibility of large numbers of casualties from air raids.Numerous steps have been taken to enable the best possible use to be made of the hospital accommodation and medical and nursing personnel at present available, and, in particular, arrangements have been made to release for part-time service in private practice a number of doctors at present employed in the Emergency medical service. In addition, all possible publicity has been given to several announcements that patients whose condition requires hospital treatment, whether in-patient or oat-patient, should certainly receive it. My right hon. Friend is continuing to keep the situation closely under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that notwithstanding the repeated written representations of the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner), and the frequent complaints of the police, the War Office continues to infringe the law by non-compliance with the lighting regulations; who is responsible for such non-compliance; and whether he will take immediate disciplinary and other methods to ensure there is no repetition of this public danger?

Stringent instructions on the subject have been issued, and appropriate action will be taken in the case of breach.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Income Tax payers may claim rebates in respect of children quartered on them for whose maintenance they are themselves paying substantial sums, particularly in respect of abnormal wear and tear; and whether Income Tax payers whose children arc being kept partly or wholly at the cost of others will be allowed the usual rebate in respect of them?

Under existing law it is the parent who is entitled to the child allowance, and accordingly, so far as Income Tax law is concerned, the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will instruct the Board of Inland Revenue to exclude from any calculation of income any sum receivable for the maintenance of persons from evacuated areas, and to notify the fact as soon as possible in view of the large numbers of persons whose nominal gross income will be increased and real net income reduced in present conditions?

My hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that the allowances to which he refers are not regarded by the Inland Revenue authorities as in fact constituting a source of profit to the recipients.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the minima fixed for dealing in Government securities prevents the liquidation of overdrafts at a higher rate of interest and thereby hampers trade and industry; and will he consider taking steps to obviate this difficulty?

The fixing by the Stock Exchange of minimum prices for Government securities was done with the knowledge and approval of the Government as a temporary measure to prevent undue depreciation owing to the disorganisation of markets caused by the outbreak of war. The position is under constant consideration with a view to the restoration as soon as possible of normal facilities for the purchase and sale of Government securities.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the large amount of short-time and unemployment in the engineering and kindred industries in London; and whether he will see that a greater share of Government contracts are placed in London?

My information does not confirm that there is any large amount of short-time and unemployment in the engineering and kindred industries in London, but, if the hon. Member is aware of any facilities which are not being used, I shall always be glad to hear of them. The hon. Member will, however, appreciate that it is not possible to turn over from normal industry to this work at short notice and that in general it has not been the policy in the past to create new capacity of this type in congested areas.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied that the fullest possible use is being made of subcontractors in this country; and whether the policy of his Department hitherto has been to work through contractors who subcontract mainly to firms on their own specific lists?

Very substantial extension of the use of sub-contractors has already taken place and the fullest possible use of sub-contractors will be made in connection with war production. Sub-contractors are not on restricted lists and we have in fact added large numbers and are continually bringing main contractors into touch with new sub-contractors. It is hoped, through the Area Organisation, to make touch with still more sub-contractors.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps it is desired should be taken by those responsible for munition works to ensure that essential workmen are not withdrawn for service elsewhere?

The arrangements which have been made do not require any initiative on the part of employers to prevent essential workpeople from being accepted as members of the National Defence Services. The Schedule of Reserved Occupations has been drawn up and is being operated with this object.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the anticipated shortage of doctors, he will take measures to extend to medical students who joined the Territorial Army before the war the same possibilities of exemption as are extended to men who were conscripted?

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for War and the Minister of Health upon my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any agreement has been reached between the Northumberland coal owners and the Northumberland Miners' Federation on the subject of granting free rent and coals to those men serving in any of the Defence Services who are at present entitled to such allowances?

I understand that while there; is no formal agreement in the matter it is intended to continue the arrangements at present in force, at any rate for September and the two following months.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take action necessary to suspend or postpone the 1940 quinquennial assessment?

Yes, Sir. The Government propose to take steps to secure postponement of the date of operation of the new valuation lists due to come into force in April, 1941, in London and the provinces.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the difficulty some people are likely to experience in filling up correctly the National Register forms, he will consider the practicability of attaching to each blank form a further form correctly filled in, giving details of an imaginary individual to which all persons can refer when filling in their own forms?

It is not thought likely that any difficulty will be experienced in filling up the National Registration return. Full instructions are provided on the back of the schedule, together with examples of the right kind of entry, respecting the only inquiry which might otherwise have presented any difficulty, namely, occupation. The enumerator will be available to advise upon any points of doubt.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that some county councils, acting in accordance with a recommendation issued by the County Councils' Association on 29th June, 1939, have decided not to make up the service pay and allowances to the civil pay in the case of employés called up for compulsory service in His Majesty's Forces and who did not volunteer for service prior to the outbreak of hostilities; and whether, in view of the inequality of treatment to local government servants arising there-from, he will endeavour to secure that such county councils shall use the powers granted to them under the provisions of the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act?

I have been asked to reply. It is within the discretion of a council whether they exercise the powers conferred on them by Section 1 of the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939, and I have no authority in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether Royal Air Force personnel killed in the United Kingdom may still be buried under arrangements made by the relatives; and whether he will in future refrain from debiting the dead man's estate with the undertaker's charges but leave the undertaker to deal in this matter direct with the relatives?

Yes, Sir. The arrangements referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend remain in operation and may be followed whenever practicable. In regard to the second part of the question, relatives may deal direct with the undertaker if they wish to do so. Where settlement is not effected in this way, it is a statutory obligation under the Regimental Debts Act, 1893, to treat funeral expenses as a first charge against the estate.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information in connection with a number of balloons burnt by lightning; why the other balloons were not withdrawn for 30 minutes after these balloons had been burnt?

Certain balloons of an old type were destroyed by lightning during a recent storm; steps have been taken to reduce the risk of this occurring again. As regards the second part of the question, it would not be in the public interest to explain the tactical handling of balloons.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information in connection with bullets fired with the object of bringing down a balloon that had escaped from its moorings but which hit a house in Ewell, Surrey?

It is essential that balloons which have broken away should be brought to ground as soon as possible and every endeavour is made to bring them down in open country. I regret that in the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member some expended bullets fell upon a house at Ewell.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a number of manufacturers have increased the price of their products by the whole of the 6 per cent, war risks insurance premium without regard to their turnover; and can he take steps to prevent the increase in price from exceeding that proportion of the insurance premium applicable to the particular article?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 21st September to the hon. Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Loftus). With regard to the second part, I can only refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) on 21st September about the action being taken and the legislative measures under consideration for preventing excessive price increases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will state the number of horses exported from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Germany during the last four years; and the number exported to other foreign countries during the same period;(2) whether he will state the number of horses exported from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Eire during the last four years; and the number exported to other Dominions during the same period?

The following statement shows the number of horses exported from the United Kingdom during each of the years 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938, distinguishing those registered as consigned to the countries specified. Re-exports arc not included:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, owing to the abolition of cheap day return tickets on the London Passenger Transport Board suburban system, the cost of a journey in mid-week on the Aylesbury line has increased by nearly 100 per cent.; and whether he will take action to re-introduce modified facilities for travel at the former rates in the interest of the travelling public?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen) on the 20th September, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in connection with the special trains which are to be run to and from Scotland to assist Members of Parliament to attend sittings of this House, it will be possible to make certain provision for the general travelling public, and so reduce the inconvenience caused by the necessary curtailment of railway services?

Where special trains are run for the convenience of Members of Parliament, any unused accommodation on such trains is placed at the disposal of the general public.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the estimated amount to be spent on major road works and by-passes during the current year; what proportion of this amount can now be saved by cancelling and postponing non-urgent schemes; and which of the schemes in particular already arranged are to be cancelled or postponed?

The amount estimated to be spent on major road works and bypasses during the current year was about £ 14,000,000. No road works will now be carried out unless they can be shown to be essential to meet national needs in existing circumstances. A review of the whole programme is at present being undertaken in order to ascertain this information, and, while I am not yet in a position to give actual figures, it can confidently be anticipated that the expenditure on road works for the remainder of this year will be very substantially less than that which would have been incurred under normal circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in the interests of the safety of road users, he proposes to instruct the London Passenger Transport Board and Traffic Commissioners to extend the time schedules of public service vehicles during the hours of darkness, so that speeds may be reduced to the level which is essential under the present lighting restrictions?

The hon. Member may rest assured that the operators of public passenger transport have a full sense of their responsibilities for public safety. The London Passenger Transport Board are not now maintaining normal time schedules at night in their area, but they are not yet in a position to issue new schedules until they have had more experience of conditions during the hours of darkness. As regards other areas, I have no doubt that similar steps are being taken and I am seeking confirmation on the point from the Traffic Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of Army horses sold by auction during the last four years and the average price paid for each?

During the period 1st April, 1935, to 31st August, 1939, 3,619 Army horses were sold by public auction at an average price of £ 22 each.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for the abolition of the age limit for the payment of marriage allowance to serving officers of His Majesty's forces?

This has been done, and allowances are paid in accordance with the terms of Army Order No. 171 of 1939.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, under the scale of separation allowances, the wife of a soldier with five children receives only 36s. per week, the allowance in respect of each of the two youngest children being is. per week; and whether the scale can be reviewed and the allowances for children, at any rate, brought more into line with the allowances in respect of evacuated children?

The allowance which is given to assist a soldier to maintain his family is not analogous to the allowance given to a householder for the reception of evacuated children. The families of Regular soldiers on normal attestations also obtain certain other advantages, such as medical attention in certain cases, travelling expenses, and certain issues of rations at stations abroad. Soldiers serving for the war also have access to the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the practice in the last war of granting free railway passes to soldiers on official leave is to be followed during the present war; and whether authority for this will be made to units forthwith?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of supplying soldiers with a free military warrant to travel to their homes, particularly in cases where they are having their final leave prior to embarking for France, as this would remove the hardship experienced by many soldiers who find the fares which they have to pay to visit their homes absorbs a large proportion of the week's pay received by them prior to their embarkation?

I am glad to announce that a free warrant will be issued to all ranks serving in France granted leave after certain periods of service there, and troops in this country will also be granted a free warrant for leave prior to embarkation for overseas. For other journeys on leave in this country, troops will be able to use the concession vouchers issued by the railways which provide for a return journey at single fare. It will, of course, be understood that the grant of leave will be subject to the exigencies of the service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Driver J. L. Cluse, who was called up for Militia training on 15th July, was sent to France on 13th September; and is he satisfied that this is sufficient training for overseas warfare?

The answer to both parts of the question is "Yes." The driver in question is driving a vehicle.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether it is proposed to restart the television service, on the ground that it would be particularly appropriate during black-outs, as the light used would not be seen outside the house; why it was stopped; and whether, if cost is the difficulty, the licence fee could be increased in the case of television sets?

My Noble Friend appreciates the considerations referred to, but he regrets that he cannot hold out hope of an early resumption of this service. The service was suspended in the national interest on the outbreak of war and the question of cost was not the sole, or the principal ground upon which suspension was considered necessary.