asked the Minister of Labour the date on which winter allowances will be made, and the scale allowed, to applicants for assistance from the Unemployment Assistance Board?

The Unemployment Assistance Board inform me that under the Unemployment Assistance (Winter Adjustments) Regulations, 1938, temporary additions to allowances in appropriate cases will begin to be made in respect of payweeks which end during the calendar week commencing 30th October, 1939. The administration will proceed on the same general lines as were followed in making the special adjustments last winter, and the necessary review of cases on this basis is now proceeding. A copy of the Board's instruction to their officers which refers to the addition to be made in normal cases has been placed in the Library.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the proposals of the Committee in view of the present situation, and will he make representations on the lines submitted?

The point here, of course, is that the date has been advanced by a fortnight in view of the special circumstances. The question of the cost of living had better, I think, be judged on its merits when we know the facts, as we shall do in a day or two.

In view of the certainty that some of the commodities for which this allowance was paid will be higher in price this year than last year, will the right hon. Gentleman urge the Unemployment Assistance Board to pay more than 2s. 6d.?

I have already said that I think this matter had better be treated as a separate issue, in view of the abnormal circumstances, but until we know the facts, which will be in a day or two, I prefer to reserve any further answer.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider increasing the winter allowance to unemployed persons in view of the rising cost of living due to war conditions?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will give an assurance that in calculating the needs of a household for unemployment assistance, he will give a direction that increases in wages to meet the increased cost of living received by employed persons in the household of unemployed claimants shall not be taken into account;

I cannot at present add anything to the replies I gave to the hon. Members for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith) and Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on 27th and 28th September last. Hon. Members may rest assured that the matter will be carefully watched.

May I take it that the Minister will consider increasing the allowances?

I have said that I will watch the situation, and I have already said, in answer to a previous question, that I would prefer to await the facts and not make any further statement now.

May we take it that the situation is being carefully watched and that the Unemployment Assistance Board are considering the matter?

I have already pointed out that in their winter allowances they have advanced the date and that I think we had better deal with the question on its merits instead of linking the two questions together, as we did two years ago.

Will the right hon. Gentleman's statement about considering the matter on its merits mean that the Unemployment Assistance Board will not be tied down?

I have already said that I prefer to make no further statement, and I would prefer to stand by that statement at the moment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has onsidered the representations from the London District Committee of the Musicians Union com plaining that West End hotels, restaurants and clubs are reducing the personnel of bands and drastically cutting the wages of musicians; and what action he proposes to take?

I am aware of the general statement which the committee has issued. No request, however, has been made to my Department to intervene in this matter, and I am informed that negotiations between the union and the employers are proceeding in the normal way.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the grave consequences of un employment and commercial loss resulting from the action of His Majesty's Government in requisitioning almost the whole of the Hull fishing fleet; and whether he can state what immediate and comprehensive action he proposes to take in mitigation of the widespread and acute distress following upon the discontinuance of the principal industry in Hull?

As the hon. Member knows, the situation at Hull was recently represented to the Admiralty by a deputation from that city. Certain measures were then proposed and discussed, and these, together with any others that may seen practicable, will be actively pursued.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since this question was put down, and since that deputation, further infringements are being made on the industries in Hull and that more industries are likely to close down; and will he take up this matter with the appropriate Department, so that Hull will not be wiped off as an industrial centre?

The hon. Member was a member of the deputation and put it to the appropriate Department, and I am informed that it has now been decided that 10 trawlers which would otherwise have been requisitioned by the Navy will not now be taken.

My representation is as to what has happened, since the deputation, to other industries apart from this one?

If the hon. Member is referring to other Departments, he had better take it up with the other Departments. If it comes within the range of my Department, I will look into any question that he puts to me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it will come within the range of his responsibility on the question of unemployment, and that I am asking him to deal with that and to take it up with the other Departments as well as myself?

That, of course, is a question of effect, and I think the House will agree with me that the first thing to do is to deal with the cause and not the effect.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed juveniles in the county of Carmarthenshire; and whether he will take steps to re-open the junior instruction centres that have been closed at Llanelly and Ammanford?

The number of unemployed juveniles in the county of Carmarthen at nth September was 731. The question of re-opening junior instruction centres has been left to local education authorities for determination in the light of local circumstances.

Do I gather that if the local education authority think it advisable to open a centre, it will receive the approval of the Ministry?

Certainly, that is what I have said. We have left the question to be judged, in the light of local circumstances, by the local education authority.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will explain why ex-service men who are for a very long period out of employment and drawing monetary help under means test rules are not allowed to offer their services for full-time duty in the Police War Reserve, or with the Royal Marine Special Reserve, because their trade is a reserved occupation; and whether, in these circumstances, he will guarantee such men a job at full trade union rates in the near future and compensate them for present loss of pay owing to their present prohibition on their finding employment in the aforesaid organisations?

The object of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations is to reserve for the needs of industry such workpeople as are considered essential to enable the national war effort to be fully developed. Steps are being taken, however, to enable the restriction imposed by the schedule to be removed in cases when owing to long unemployment or some other reason a person at present treated as belonging to a scheduled occupation cannot properly be regarded as capable of following that occupation. It. would not be consistent with the object of the schedule to go further than this. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Is it not rather a hardship on unemployed people that they should not be allowed to take work when it is offered to them, and is it not also a very great difficulty for them when they are kept on the means test and they want to get off it?

If the hon. Member has a particular class of occupation in mind, I shall be glad if he or any other hon. Member will give me the advantage of their knowledge, because it will help me in any revisions that I may make. As the hon. Member knows, this is done administratively and flexibly, and inside the general framework I shall be glad to do what I can.

Will this revision apply to miners suffering from nystagmus who are not able to follow their employment?

I should prefer to have notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that electricity undertakings are increasingly discharging both fully-skilled and semiskilled men, particularly those engaged on the mains distribution of electrical transmission; whether the loss of these key men from the industry is being taken into consideration; and what does he propose to do about it?

I am not aware of any general tendency of this nature, but I will be very glad to inquire into any instances which the hon. Member may like to bring to my notice. I need hardly add that every effort will be made to find alternative employment for men who are being displaced.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the growing feeling that rationing as applied to electricity will do more harm than good, not only in regard to employment, but in regard to ordinary business?

I am not aware of that; I am only responsible so far as it concerns the unemployment register.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of skilled and unskilled workers now employed in the Kirkcaldy district linoleum industry, showing the number of men, women, youths and girls in the industry?

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increase of unemployment of 18,896 persons in the dressmaking and millinery trades, compared with last August, and the fact that most of this increased unemployment is in London, he will take steps to broadcast the desirability of the women of this country, and particularly of London, continuing to buy clothes, hats, etc., as far as possible, as usual?

The outbreak of war and evacuation of a large part of the civilian population of London have inevitably affected employment in various trades in the Metropolis, including dressmaking and millinery. I should agree with my hon. Friend in deprecating any unnecessary curtailment of the purchases of the articles he mentioned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the great difficulty of these small businesses is that they are unable to obtain the materials required?

I do not think that that is the point of the question. It is the demand that it is in question, and that must be left to the ladies concerned and their discerning male friends.

Is it not desirable to refrain from issuing any regulations that will encourage luxury expenditure, and should not money be given to encourage increased purchases by the poor and the refugees?

I would not agree that all hats and clothes are luxuries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the unemployed woman such an allowance that at least once a year she can buy a new hat?

I am always glad when it is possible to do what we have done several times and increase the allowances.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the soldier's wife will be able to buy many new frocks on her inadequate allowance?

The soldier's wife is a very remarkable woman.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that during this war the role of the woman is simply to be the recreation of the tired warrior?

I do not know whether the hon. Lady would consider this a proper answer, but I would say that one of the greatest strains of the war is to be borne by the soldier's wife.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to set up local panels to decide as to necessary exemptions from military service of men indispensable for important industries?

No, Sir. This matter is dealt with by means of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations in accordance with which men in occupations essential to industry are not accepted in the Defence Services.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now give an official ruling as to the precise age at which young men who are now students or would be taking their examinations in the near future for any of the learned and technical professions will be called up for military service in view of the difficulty of these young men settling down to serious studies if they have no definite idea whether or not they will be able to take their examinations?

Students who on 1st October had reached the age of 20 and had not reached the age of 22 are liable to be called up for service under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act. Those who registered as militiamen last June are likely to be called up during the next six weeks, but it is not anticipated that any of those registering on 21st October next will be called up before the middle of November. The general postponement of training granted under the Military Training Act to full-time students has been cancelled, but individual students can apply to the hardship committees for postponement of their liability to be called up for service, on the ground of exceptional hardship. In any case when application for postponement has been duly made, the man concerned will not be called up while his application is awaiting decision. I should add as regards the age limit that it may be anticipated that it will be raised later on by Proclamation.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of professional and technical persons enrolled on the Central Register; and whether any of these have been found employment in Government Departments?

The total number of persons possessing scientific, technical, professional or higher administrative qualifications at present enrolled on the Central Register is over 95,000. Large numbers of these are not at present available for other employment as they are already engaged on work of national importance. Up to the end of September orders for 4,695 vacancies had been received, of which the great majority were made by Government Departments. For these orders, some of which have been received very recently, 3,479 names have been submitted to the ordering Department or employer. Information is not yet forthcoming as to the numbers engaged.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make arrangements for air-raid directions concerning shelters, ambulance stations, fire stations and casualty stations at present exhibited in the public streets to be illuminated after dark by means of luminous paint, or in any other suitable manner?

Local authorities have already been advised, in a circular issued by my Department on 1st September last, to provide for the illumination of direction signs of this kind. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that all is being done to obscure or diminish light from coke ovens and works of various kinds in the West Riding of Yorkshire?

Yes, Sir. My Department, in consultation with the various industries concerned, is taking active steps to secure the permanent obscuration of glare caused by industrial processes. Where permanent screening cannot be effected immediately, temporary screening measures are being taken, and special arrangements are made to prevent any glare being visible during the period of an air-raid warning.

Have any experiments taken place at coke ovens at collieries to discover how long it would take to damp down or obscure the light in the case of air raids?

I believe that in the case of coke ovens the arrangement made in order to prevent glare during a warning period involves the suspension of operations which, I understand, are technically known as charging and pushing.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a disused tube-railway tunnel in North Southwark is in excellent condition suitable for an air-raid shelter with accommodation for a large number of people; and whether he is now in a position to give an answer to the several communications that have been addressed to him with reference thereto?

Yes, Sir. The existence of this tunnel was brought to my notice by the London Passenger Transport Board, and on my instructions the possibility of its use as an air-raid shelter has been the subject of discussion with the officers of the Southwark Council. I have also been able to obtain the independent opinion of a leading authority on engineering work of this type and, although the project is a complicated one from the engineering and financial point of view, I think it is one which has fruitful possibilities. No time will be lost in pursuing the matter to a decision.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his interesting answer, may I add that we shall be very grateful in North Southwark if the matter can be expedited, as we feel that the place would accommodate 40,000 people?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether the prior consent of the Board has to be obtained to expenditure on airraid precautions for schools incurred by a local education authority if grant is to be claimed on such expenditure; and what is the estimated cost for elementary and secondary schools, respectively, of such precautions sanctioned to date?

His Majesty's inspector is authorised, on behalf of the Board, to give formal approval for the purposes of grant to expenditure proposed to be incurred by local education authorities on air-raid precautions in schools. The estimated cost of such precautions sanctioned up to 30th September, 1939, is £1,552,062 for elementary schools and £193,900 for secondary schools.

What will happen in a case where a local authority proceeds, on the sanction of the President of the Board of Education, to provide a shelter without having first obtained the sanction of His Majesty's inspector?

I do not think that they do proceed on the sanction of the President of the Board. Any question of the provision of A.R.P. shelters is a matter for the local authority.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will set up machinery whereby urgent questions of Civil Defence which, for obvious reasons cannot be placed on the Order Paper, will be answered privately within two days?

I am always anxious that any questions that may appropriately be addressed to me privately on matters of Civil Defence should be answered with all possible expedition, but I cannot undertake that they shall necessarily be answered within two days as suggested. The time required to furnish an answer, or at all events an adequate reply, must clearly depend on the issues involved and the possible need for investigation.

While appreciating the courtesy of my right hon. Friend, may I ask whether he has not misinterpreted or misunderstood my question, which was to ask whether questions which would normally be replied to within two days could be replied to privately behind the scenes?

That question goes a good way beyond my Department.

If when a starred question is put on the Paper the Minister can give an answer in two days, why cannot that be done when it is an unstarred question?

That is not the point of the question. Of course an answer of a sort could be given within two days, but the questions one gets in letters frequently involve a good deal of investigation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman suggesting that the answers given by Ministers to questions put on the Order Paper are inadequate?

The fact must be accepted that priority is given to questions put on the Order Paper, and that their number is subject to certain clearly understood limits.

I was only suggesting a question which might otherwise be put on the Order Paper,

asked the Home Secretary whether volunteer air-raid wardens and other Civil Defence personnel who lose wages through responding to an air-raid warning may be paid from public: funds for the loss of such remunerative time?

In general, part-time volunteers who are in employment arrange to give their services outside their working hours. But I recognise that some of them would wish to take up duty when an air-raid warning is given and to serve during the period of the raid; and I should hope that, as employers have an interest in seeing that the local air-raid precautions services are effective during raids, they would arrange, wherever practicable, to release volunteers on their staff for this period of public duty without deduction from wages, especially where the duty can be performed near the place where they work and the volunteers can return soon after the raid is over.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard this as a charge on the employer and not on the public?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the recent dismissal of three Indian air-raid precautions workers by the Paddington Borough Council, in spite of the fact that 50 air-raid precautions workers at the station signed a protest against these dismissals; and whether he will take immediate steps to see that this position is rectified and does not occur in future?

The enrolment and dismissal of individual members of the public air-raid precautions services is a matter for the local authority concerned, and not one in which I have any jurisdiction to interfere.

Would the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the local authority, especially in view of the desirability that no impression should go abroad that we are distinguishing between white and Indian subjects of the Empire?

I do not think that it is right I should make representations in a matter in which the law gives me no authority to interfere, but I will certainly see that the question and answer are brought to the notice of the local authority concerned.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has now received sufficient evidence to show that there are many persons in paid posts as air-raid wardens continuing their normal business, and thereby drawing two incomes at the same time; and whether he is taking steps to abolish this practice?

I have examined the letters which the hon. Member was good enough to send me. Persons are not ineligible for whole-time paid service in the air-raid precautions service because they arc in receipt of an income from other sources, but they must be in a position to give whole-time service for such hours of duty as are required of them and to take the necessary training for their service. I am having inquiries made in some of the casese which the hon. Member has brought to my notice, in order to make sure that these conditions are being complied with.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in one town the mayor, the town clerk, the surveyor and a large number of town councillors have all been given jobs and they have appointed each other to paid posts; and does he not think that the time is ripe that that scandal should be looked into?

I certainly think that that matter ought to be looked into, but it was not disclosed, as far as I observed, in the letters which the hon. Gentleman sent to me.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to look into that case when I send him the letter relating to it, and will he take note, too, that the council is a Tory council?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the form of mask for head-lights which is about to be made compulsory by the Home Office throws a beam of white light over two feet high and is reflected from walls and plate-glass windows, whereas the Leopard screen has no white beam whatsoever; has the proposed mask been submitted for the approval of the Army, Royal Air Force and motor trade; and whether he will refer the two masks to some independent person or board for their decision as to which is the more desirable from the point of view of efficiency and cost?

Owing to variations in the method of fitting, many of the devices now being used for masking headlamps dazzle oncoming drivers or throw a beam of light upwards. I am therefore prescribing the conditions as to light distribution and intensity with which a headlamp mask must comply. The circular recently issued contains a design of headlamp mask which has been devised by my Department, in consultation with the Ministry of Transport, and complies with those conditions, but other masks which would comply with the conditions may be used. The mask is designed to reduce the intensity of the light, to confine the beam to the ground in front of the vehicle, and to prevent any light being cast above the horizontal. As I informed my hon. Friend in reply to a previous question, the Leopard type of mask was examined by my expert advisers and was found unsuitable for general adoption. The new type of mask proposed has been tried on Army vehicles under observation from the air by the Royal Air Force. I am satisfied that it provides an efficient driving light without dazzle, and I see no reason to submit it to any additional tests. It is, in fact, in production in quantity.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the police have stopped cars carrying the Home Office mask on the ground that they were showing too much light, and is it not a fact that this other mask throws no ray at all? Is it not a great danger to have a dozen lorries going along a country road throwing beams of light in front of them? Would it not be safer for them to be fitted with the other mask, which throws no beam at all?

The Department have not yet been able to discover a mask which gives sufficient light without throwing any beam at all. As regards the police, I think it is true that for a time some members of the force were not fully instructed as to the amount of light that might be shown by a headlamp on a vehicle, but I hope that the information has now become general among them.

Can the Minister say when the new mask will be generally available?

It is already in production, and I hope it will be available in large quantities after the end of this month.

What is the objection to submitting samples of both to an independent board in view of the fact that this other mask has been approved by the Air Force and the police as efficient?

My objection is that the matter is One in which I have a responsibility, which I am fully prepared to take.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many of the Metropolitan borough councils have now reached a position where they are unable to meet their financial obligations without bank overdrafts; that this position is seriously affected by the fall in revenue and the payment for air-raid precautions and Civil Defence services; whether his conversations with local council officers have now taken place; and whether there will be prompt action taken to prevent the serious financial position which is now facing a majority of Metropolitan boroughs?

I am at present considering a communication on this matter which I have recently received from the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee. In view, however, of the suggestion made in the last part of the question, I think it only fair to point out that many of the Metropolitan boroughs have not yet complied with the request made to them by my Department to furnish returns which would enable the Department to pay instalments of Government grant-in-aid of their expenditure.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that seven of the London boroughs are already borrowing money to pay these bills, and that another seven or eight will be borrowing before the month ends, and is it the suggestion that they are borrowing money rather than making their returns?

The facts are as stated in my reply.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement with regard to the effective provision of camping facilities made to date under the Camps Act, 1939?

I would refer the hon. Member to the written statement made on Tuesday in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Bosworth (Sir W. Edge).

Is it proposed to extend the number of camps under this Act now?

Obviously, that will depend on whether the material is available. As at present advised, I do not think the material is available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make arrangements with the Minister of Transport or otherwise, whereby when a doctor certifies that it is advisable for the parent of an evacuated child to visit such child in case of illness, a reduced fare or free rail voucher shall, in necessitous cases, be granted to the parent?

I am anxious, so far as possible, to alleviate the separation of parents from their children, but I think it will be generally recognised that if the children are to settle down in their billets the parents themselves would be well advised not to visit them too frequently. I am prepared, however, to consider whether in special circumstances, such as those mentioned by the hon. Member, special facilities can be arranged to enable the parents to visit their children in cases of illness, and am consulting my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport in the matter.

When does the right hon. Gentleman think that he will be able to make an announcement on this subject?

I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to increase the billeting allowance for evacuated boys of 15 to 18 years of age, as the present allowance of 8s. 6d. is inadequate?

I have had this question under consideration, and am authorised to say that the payment to be made to householders under the Government evacuation scheme in respect of unaccompanied school children who have attained the age of 16 years will be at the rate of 10s. 6d. per week in all cases. Instructions to this effect are being issued today to local authorities.

Is that from the age of 16 or of 15?

All who have attained the age of 16.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that between the ages of 15 and 16 they eat the householders out of house and home?

In view of the answer, will the right hon. Gentleman consult with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to see that the allowances to the unemployed are correspondingly increased?

Will this apply to the whole country?

No doubt it will, but I think that any question in regard to Scotland should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the condition of evacuated children suffering from various diseases, including whooping cough, impetigo, scarlet fever, and verminous heads; and what further action does he propose to take?

Yes, Sir, and I have drawn the attention of local authorities to the matter in a circular which I have recently issued on public health services in the reception areas. Arrangements are being made for the medical inspection in the evacuating areas of the smaller numbers of schoolchildren now being moved under the Government scheme.

Is not the Minister appalled at the inefficiency of some of the medical and welfare services of some of these authorities?

I deplore the conditions under which it has been shown that many of our population live. These conditions have been under active consideration by this House on many occasions, and it is felt that very careful and continuous considerations will need to be given to them in the future.

Is it not the fact that in certain reception areas some of these children have been found to be in such a state of poverty that it would shock the public conscience; and will he bear in mind that there is a great deal of poverty among the population?

There is not only the problem of poverty, but also other problems—. the problem, for instance, of inadequate and unsuitable houses, and in that part of the country from which I come, it has been a very serious matter for a long time past.

asked the Minister of Health whether the usual billeting allowances are being paid in respect of children who were on holiday in reception areas when evacuation began and remained there at his request; and whether he is aware that in certain cases allowances were paid for a few weeks and then ceased?

Local authorities have been authorised to pay the usual billeting allowances in respect of children from evacuated areas who were on holiday in reception areas when evacuation began and who remained there. In this connection I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my Department's circular No. 1876. I am not aware of cases in which allowances have been properly paid and then withdrawn, but I shall be happy to look into any particular case which the hon. Member may care to bring to my notice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that not only did allowances cease, but that in one case a child was ordered to come back to London and proceed to attend school; and can he say whether in that case the Government are prepared to refund the transport fare?

Any case where the child is ordered to return and attend school would not be in an evacuation area, where the schools, I understand, have not resumed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now completed his proposals for the payment of a maintenance allowance by parents of evacuated children; and whether, in view of the need of an increase in the children's allowance, the parent's allowance will be in addition to that paid by the Government?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made after questions yesterday in which I said that circulars giving details of the Government's scheme for the recovery from parents of the cost of billeting unaccompanied schoolchildren under the Government's evacuation arrangements were being sent to local authorities. Copies of the circular may be obtained from the Vote Office. As regards the rate of the allowances, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox).

Is my right hon. Friend aware that householders in the reception areas are having to supplement the children's allowance a great deal; and will he consider the case of the children under 16 as well as that of children over 16?

I am afraid that I cannot undertake to go further than I have gone.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the representations made to him on the question of declaring Wednesbury, Stafford shire, an evacuation area; and has he any statement to make on the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 18th May in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Everton (Mr. Kirby). As indicated in that statement I examined the claims for evacuation of a number of towns in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, of which Wednesbury was one, and after full consideration I came to the conclusion that Wednesbury should not be made an evacuation area. This decision was conveyed to the council on 28th July.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in determining what is a suitable reception area for children in country districts, investigations are made concerning the cleanliness and safety of the ľocal milk supply?

The primary considerations in determining the reception areas had to be those of transport and accommodation, but such consideration as was possible was given to other relevant factors including any abnormal risks of infectious disease from such causes as food and water supplies, as ascertained from public health and other reports.

As the right hon. Gentleman is aware that 4,000 people died last year from surgical tuberculosis, which was in great part milk-borne, does he not think that it is rather a short sighted policy to send children from a town where there is a safe milk supply to a country district where the milk is unsafe, and which, in fact, makes such a district vulnerable to surgical tuberculosis?

I share the professional feelings of the hon. Lady on these matters, but the danger from possible infection of the food supply as compared with the possible danger of heavy air bombardment must be weighed one against the other.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree—I can assure him this is not a frivolous matter—that a daily dose of tuberculosis milk is surely more dangerous to health than the possibility, perhaps, of an air-raid at some future time?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will make a statement respecting the operation of the Education Act, 1936, the number of exemptions already granted and the number of applications for exemptions?

As the hon. Member will now be aware, the Government have introduced a Bill for the postponement of the operation of Sections 1 to 6 of the Education Act, 1936, which make provision for the raising of the school-leaving age. I have no information as to the number of exemptions granted or of applications for exemption made under the Act.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what are the exact duties of the schoolmasters of evacuated children; how many hours teaching do they do each day and on how many days each week; and are they permitted to go on leave from Friday till Sunday night every weekend?

The duty of teachers of evacuated children is to continue, as far as possible, to teach the children and classes for which they are normally responsible. In addition, teachers generally are organising and supervising various activities and occupations for the children on the lines suggested in Circular 1474, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy. In these ways it is to be expected that many teachers are occupied for more than the normal school hours. I have no information of teachers going on leave every week-end.

Would the hon. Member consider circularising all these school teachers in reception areas and explaining to them that their duties are not confined to giving some three hours' instruction per day, but that they must also look after and amuse the children and so relieve the pressure on the householders? Would he consider that the householder would not be able to get any leave during the war?

I think that is a matter that is very much better left to the good will and good sense of the teachers. Any circular on this point would not necessarily achieve the results that my hon. and gallant Friend desires.