asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the arrangements which have been made with machinery committees of county war agricultural executives for the distribution of tractors during the current month and the month of November?

Particulars of my Department's plans regarding the organisation of agricultural machinery for the ploughing-up campaign are contained in a circular letter issued to county war agricultural executive committees on 18th September, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. Committees who have notified my Department that they are in a position to use tractors have had an initial consignment delivered to them. Further supplies will be sent during the current month and in November if required.

Is the Minister completely satisfied with the amount of land which is now being ploughed up?

It is going very well.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman taking steps to differentiate between the kinds of land to which these tractors are going; is he aware that in parts of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire farmers are dissatisfied with the tractors they have got; and will he see that they get the right tractors for their types of land?

We are trying to see to that. The House will realise that our choice of home manufacturers was limited when we started to build up these reserves.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the anxiety felt by both farmers and merchants in provincial towns on the prices to be paid for next year's crops; and whether he will allay the uncertainty which prevails and stimulate additional cultivation by a specific undertaking that a minimum price will be operative?

As my hon. Friend is aware the Government will be purchasing the whole of the staple crops grown for next year's harvest and sold off the farm at prices to be fixed in the light of prevailing circumstances. Farmers will therefore have a guaranteed market and prices for their principal products. As I have already announced, all relevant factors including variations in costs of production will be taken into account in fixing prices from time to time.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend take immediate steps to make these facts known to the farmers who do not really seem to understand the situation?

I think that most of them do understand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider introducing a scheme, as a war-time measure, for granting credit facilities to farmers through the big banking organisations, whereby the Government guaranteed the farmers indebtedness to the big banking organisations, which would enable farmers to borrow money at 3 per cent. with a view to assisting them in carrying on and increasing production from the farms throughout the country?

While I fully appreciate the need for adequate credit in connection with the campaign for increasing home food production and have the matter under consideration, I could not see my way to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that production is being curtailed owing to the lack of credit facilities, and that where they are available usurious rates of interest are being charged? Is it not the fact that the whole of this thing would have been cleared up but for certain unenlightened Treasury officials, and is it not an absolute scandal that nothing is being done?

My hon. Friend is probably aware that some such scheme as he has in mind was in operation during the last war, and was not satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the grounds on which Sir Miles E. Mitchell, a colliery agent, was appointed chairman of the war agricultural executive for Lancashire?

In view of the experience which Sir Miles Mitchell has had of local government administration and on the Council of Agriculture for England, of which he has been a member for ten years, I am satisfied that he possesses the qualifications desirable in the chairman of a war agricultural executive committee.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman regard a part-time farmer as being the best farmer in Lancashire for this purpose?

Well, there are many qualifications which have to be taken into account.

Is not this man's special qualification that he is very prominent in housing all over the country?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the shortage of feeding-stuffs and wheat offals for cattle, steps will be taken to curtail the supply of these products to those manufacturers who convert them into small cubes at uneconomic prices, since the Government control does not permit of these uneconomic prices being paid?

I have been asked to reply. As the prices of practically all animal feeding-stuffs are fixed by the Feeding-stuffs (Maximum Prices) Order, 1939, I do not think that action upon the lines suggested by my hon. Friend is called for.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these compound mixtures are normally sold at 50 per cent. above their cost of production, and would it not be far better to let the ingredients of which these cubes are made be sold at an economic price to farmers, in view of the shortage of feeding stuffs? We do not want these compound mixtures.

If, as the hon. Member says, owing to the control it is no longer economic for the manufacturers to produce these compound feeding stuffs, I should think it is not necessary by order to prohibit their manufacture.

Is it not a fact that the milling combines are using a good deal of feeding stuffs for this purpose, and would it not be better to direct them on to the market through the normal channels without their being made into these fantastic cubes?

I think the compounds to which the hon. Member refers are useful, and also that prominent suppliers can be trusted to make the most economical use of the resources at their disposal.

Is the Minister aware that the method of feeding cattle by cubes is looked upon generally as being the most scientific and the most economic?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make an advance of £5 an acre to farmers and smallholders for the utilisation and ploughing-up of their land?

Provision is already made in Part IV of the Agricultural Development Act, 1939, whereby grants of £2 per acre may be paid to farmers who plough up grassland subject to certain conditions. I do not think that the amount of the grant is inadequate for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that in the discussion at the Glamorgan Agricultural Committee's meeting at Cardiff on Wednesday, 4th October, it was reported that the agricultural director for the county requested that regulations should be imposed on girls of the Women's Land Army being trained at Tregoes, to ensure their being in their billets by 9 p.m., because of their association with men in uniform; whether he will see that such a regulation is not enforced; and, as these women who have volunteered for duty on the land are as capable of conducting them selves in a proper manner as women in other branches of National Service, whether he will take steps to discourage restrictions of this nature being imposed?

I have seen Press reports of the meeting in question, but I believe that they are exaggerated and misleading. While members of the Women's Land Army who are placed in official training centres, will of course, be expected to conform to such regulations as are considered necessary by the authority responsible for the centre, no general regulations of the kind suggested in the question are contemplated for members of the Women's Land Army.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend consider that it would be an inducement to recruiting to have a regulation requiring these young women to be in their billets by 9 o'clock, having regard to the regulation at present in force for the A.T.S.; and having regard to the heavy load his Department is carrying at present, does he think it desirable to have these pinpricks by busybodies who are anxious to set themselves up as dictators of people's morals basing themselves solely on envy, rumours and spite?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the perturbation felt by the war ploughing-up sub-committee in the Frome division owing to their inability to get new ploughs for tractors, either by private order, long since given, or by way of the county committees; and whether, in view of the urgency of the question, he will take immediate steps to remedy the shortage?

I am aware that owing to the increased demand from farmers since the outbreak of war the stocks of tractor ploughs in the hands of the trade have been exhausted. Home manufacturers are working to full capacity to meet the farmers' demand, and importers have also arranged to increase their supplies. I have made purchases of ploughs imported from North America for immediate use with Government tractors operated by county war agricultural executive committees. I have supplied 20 tractors and 20 ploughs to the Somerset committee, and I expect that further supplies of ploughs will be available for committees at the end of the present month.

While thanking my right hon. Friend may I ask him to see that some of those ploughs are diverted to the Frome division?

(for Mr. Cocks) asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the district committee of the war agricultural executive has yet examined Manor House Farm, Old Brinsley, Nottinghamshire, and other farms in the same ownership; and, if so, are they satisfied with the condition of the land and the use to which it is put?

I have no information as to whether the Nottinghamshire War Agricultural Executive Committee have yet arranged for an inspection of the property mentioned by the hon. Member, but I am ascertaining, and will communicate with him.

During these investigations will the local committee also ascertain whether the tenant farmer is to be entitled to farm his own land or whether he is obliged to farm under the instructions of the local bank manager?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in order to ensure the fullest possible use of allotments for food production, he will consult with the Ministers concerned to ensure that the value of the produce of such allotments will not be deducted from unemployment allowance and that allotment-holders will be given at least a seasonal security of tenure?

The Unemployment Assistance Board inform me that it is not their practice to make any reduction in allowances in respect of the produce for consumption by their households of allotments cultivated by persons in receipt of allowances. As regards the last part of the question, the Cultivation of Lands (Allotments) Order, 1939, made on 18th September last, provides that no arrangement under the Order for the cultivation of land as allotments shall be terminated, except for a breach of the terms of the arrangement, between 6th April and 29th September in any year unless my consent is previously obtained.

Is the Minister not aware that if a man keeps a few poultry the money they bring him in is taken into account? A chap in my division had 2s. 6d. a week knocked off his allowance because he kept a few pullets and a cockerel.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the considerable difficulties being experienced by the London correspondents of newspapers published in neutral countries, because of the unsatisfactory mail, cable and telephone services; and whether he will take immediate steps to effect an improvement?

asked the Postmaster-General what representations have been made to his Department by Press representatives as to the difficulties in sending telephonic communications to neutral countries; and is anything being done to meet them?

Some delay in the transmission of mails to countries abroad is inevitable owing to restrictions in overseas transport services; but mails are being despatched at every suitable available opportunity. Correspondence for countries abroad is subject to censorship; but I understand that my right hon. and Noble Friend the Minister of Information has recently issued an announcement advising Press correspondents sending matter by post for publication abroad how they can avoid delay from this cause. The change-over from peace-time to wartime conditions in the cable services involved the imposition of censorship and was accompanied by a heavy increase in the volume of traffic. In these circumstances some delay in the transmission of Press messages was unavoidable; but every effort has been made to eliminate such delay; and a more rapid service is now being given. As regards the telephone services, it was necessary on the imposition of censorship to suspend overseas telephone services. It has now been possible to make special arrangements whereby the telephone services to certain countries may be used under suitable safeguards for the transmission of Press messages; and I understand that this facility is much appreciated by the Press.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that what are regarded as the present unsatisfactory arrangements are having a very serious effect indeed upon the dissemination of news of Britain and Britain's efforts in neutral countries, into which Nazi propaganda is literally being poured by every means available? Therefore, will he consider an improvement in this service as being a matter of urgent importance?

We are doing all we can to improve the service, and I quite realise the importance of the point made by the hon. Member.

Will the Minister consider a great extension of the air mail services, if necessary by the use of neutral aircraft?

I will certainly consider that.

asked the Postmaster-General the reason for the delay, in some cases over a fortnight, in the delivery of foreign and especially American newspapers to this country; and whether, in view of the importance of this country being adequately informed of foreign opinion, he will take steps to secure more prompt deliveries in future?

Newspapers from the United States of America and foreign countries generally are being delivered without delay on arrival in this country; but arrangements for the despatch of the mails are made by the Post Office of the country of origin and the time of transmission naturally depends upon the speed and frequency of the ships selected by that country for the conveyance of its mails.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman quite certain that newspapers, after their arrival in this country, are not submitted to any censorship here?

If the hon. Member refers to United States newspapers, there is at present no censorship. It may interest him to know that for 12 days no mails at all, either letters or newspapers, came from the United States. There was a gap of 12 days, for which the British Post Office is not responsible.

The Ministry of Information in this country is not holding them up?

No, this delay of 12 days was due, I understand, to the shipping strike in New York.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in certain cases letters received by the relatives of soldiers now serving overseas have been surcharged; and whether, when he is discussing postal arrangements with the Service Departments, he will ensure that the practice of charging extra postage on soldiers' letters will be discontinued?

Letters from troops in a theatre of war are exempt from postage up to two ounces in weight. The concession of free postage does not extend to other troops abroad. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Secretary for Mines what interruption has taken place in the work of the Miners' Welfare Committee?

It is the intention of the Miners' Welfare Committee to continue welfare work as far as is possible under war conditions. Buildings in course of erection at the outbreak of war are being completed, but there has necessarily been interruption in the placing of new contracts. The normal programme will be resumed so far as circumstances permit.

Does the hon. Gentleman mean in that answer that those pit-head baths and welfare schemes now in the course of construction will be completed?

So far there has been scarcely any gap.

Is the additional halfpenny levy which was added to the miners' welfare levy now being charged?

I must have notice of that question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government have taken over the convalescent homes of the miners who now have nowhere to go?

That is a different question.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for the purchase of commodities which cannot be stopped as contraband but are better kept out of Germany?

The responsibility for purchases of commodities which are controlled by His Majesty's Government rests with the Ministers of Supply and Food and the President of the Board of Trade, according to the nature of the goods. The purchasing Departments are in close touch with the Ministry of Economic Warfare on the question of commodities which it may be desirable to purchase in order to deny them to Germany.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory style in which the Government's statements for distribution in leaflet form by members of the Royal Air Force have been translated into German; and whether he is now arranging for reliable and competent friendly refugees of journalistic experience who are closely familiar with the language and the popular expressions of the German people to scrutinise the drafts of future leaflets and advise the Ministry thereon?

The merits of the style of these leaflets are, of course, a matter of opinion, but I would draw the hon. Member's attention to Field-Marshal Goering's speech on nth September when he said of the leaflets:

"They are written in good German and it can be seen they come from outcast Germans … and not from Britons."

With regard to the second part of the question, this point is receiving sympathetic attention. I can assure the hon. Member that expert advice, including advice from Germans, has been and is being taken in the preparation of the leaflets.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that on Thursday last there was very sharp criticism in the Press of the nature of some of the leaflets that have been distributed?

Yes, Sir, but criticism is inevitable. I am afraid that there never can be agreement on the merits of the leaflets. I think I have answered the point put in the question in relation to the German.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether the plans for the Ministry of Information, for which the present Lord Privy Seal was responsible, were put into operation after the outbreak of war; or whether the Minister of Information modified to any substantial extent these plans before they were put into operation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; and accordingly, the second part does not arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information, how many of the redundant staff of the Ministry have been or will be transferred to other Government Departments, and to what Government Departments they are being transferred?

As the answer involves a number of figures, I am circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will arrange to publish a list of the headquarters staff of the Ministry, other than clerical and messengers, stating the salary of each officer, and a statement of their previous occupations?

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list giving the information asked for in my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many appointments have been made by his Department since the outbreak of war to supplement staffs of existing Government Departments and to staff newly-established Departments; and how many of these appointments were made from persons on the special National Service Register at the Ministry of Labour?

The responsibility for making appointments to supplement staffs of the existing Government Departments and to staff newly established Departments rests with the Departments concerned and not with the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

Has the attention of those responsible been drawn to this matter, as it is very important that greater use be made of it?

Yes, Sir, attention has been drawn to the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that anybody who applies to any of the Departments of State is always referred to the Ministry of Labour and told that the only chance of being appointed is to register, as apparently that is the one channel of communication for anybody who wants to apply for a job in any Department of State?

The object of the Central Register which is maintained at the Ministry of Labour and National Service is to provide suitable additional personnel in Government Departments and elsewhere when requested.

Yes, but are they requested, and when they want people do they go to the Ministry of Labour? Most of the people who apply and are registered never hear any more about it.

My right hon. Friend answered a question on this subject last week in which he said that, up to the end of September, orders for 4,695 vacancies had been received, of which the great majority were made by Government Departments, and for these orders 3,479 names had been submitted to the Department or to the employers concerned.

What percentage does that represent of those who are on the Register?

I was relating the number of names submitted to the number of orders received by the Register.

How many are on the Register?

About 95,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will reconsider his decision to fix the payment of retired postal and other civil servants re-engaged during the emergency, at the salary at the date of their retirement when that figure is below the rate of pay recently settled by the arbitration tribunal?

I am glad to have the opportunity of removing misapprehensions which have arisen on this matter. The existing arrangements do not result in the payment to re-employed officers who retired on age grounds of rates of pay below those now in operation for the grade. If such an officer is re-employed in his old grade he will be paid the equivalent of his retiring salary, but it is provided that if this is less than the current minimum for that grade he will be paid that minimum. These arrangements have the advantage of simplicity, and, in the opinion of the Government, are entirely fair to the officers concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can give any estimate of the number of children of school age now in London; whether the number is increasing due to their return from the areas to which they have been evacuated; and whether he is proposing any form of propaganda both to persuade parents to keep their children in the country and, if still in London, to agree to their evacuation?

I am not yet able to give an estimate of the number of children of school age now in London. I am aware that the number has been increasing owing to the return of evacuated children; on the other hand my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is arranging, as recently announced, for the evacuation of a further contingent of school children from London. The Board have issued a circular, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, emphasising the continued importance of the evacuation scheme and urging authorities, through their teachers and otherwise, to adopt every means in their power to discourage the return of evacuated children to their homes.

Having regard to the national importance of the evacuation of children, could it not be made compulsory that they should remain where they are?

That raises another question.

Is the Minister aware of the great anxiety of the parents whose children are now in London that provision should be made for education?

We have issued a circular suggesting certain lines which can be adopted in the evacuated areas, and I am glad to say that London has already been adopting them.

Can the Minister give any reason why children in London should not be educated?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is still the Government's policy that there shall be no household shelters on sale in highly vulnerable areas until the free distribution is completed in areas which arc in little or no danger?

The distribution of free domestic shelters by the Government is being made to those areas which are regarded as vulnerable and have, accordingly, been specified for shelter purposes under the Civil Defence Act; and my hon. Friend is also under a misapprehension in suggesting that we propose to wait until that distribution is completed before putting shelters on sale. The position as regards the distribution of shelters for purchase was fully set out by my right hon. Friend in answer to questions by the hon. Members for Romford (Mr. Parker) and Lewisham, West (Mr. Brooke) on 1st August and 26th September respectively, to which I would refer my hon. Friend.

The Minister did not see many of these shelters in Yorkshire the other day, did he?

A very considerable number.

Not in our place.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, although the borough of Dagenham is not a scheme-making authority for air-raid precautions general schemes, it carries out the scheme for the borough as the agent of the county council and has full responsibility for fire- precaution schemes and evacuation; that it has set up an emergency committee of three to perform these functions; and whether authority can be given to pay the expenses and loss of wages which membership of this committee entails?

I do not think the circumstances are such as to justify such an enlargement of the statutory provisions governing the payment of expenses and other allowances to members of local authorities as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware the certain Territorials at Greenock have to pay omnibus fares of threepence each four times per day out of a weekly pay of 14s.; and whether he will take steps to have this hardship remedied?

I am making inquiries, and will write to the hon. and learned Member in due course.

Is the weekly pay of Territorials intended to cover an allowance for travelling expenses?

No, Sir, but I will let the hon. and learned Gentleman have all the particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that certain Territorials at Greenock have not yet received payment of this year's camp bounty; and whether he will take steps to have this payment made forthwith?

I am not clear whether the hon. and learned Member is referring to men who have fulfilled the full requirement of camp attendance and drills under the regulations for earning the proficiency grant. If so, I shall be glad to have particulars of any cases within his knowledge, and I will have inquiries made at once. There are cases of men who attended camp but had not performed the number of drills required to qualify for the grant by the time they were embodied. The question of the payment to be made in these cases is under consideration.

Is the Minister aware that in the cases covered by the question the bounty has been earned, but payment is being withheld until the men are at some distance from their homes, and that the intention is to make people pay their travelling expenses to their homes? Is that practice sanctioned by the Department?

I would rather the hon. and learned Gentleman submitted cases to me so that I could go into them with him.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he proposes to take to allow men who have lost their jobs and are without hope of receiving employment, but who are anxious to enter His Majesty's Forces, to enlist in the Army; and what modifications he proposes to make in the system of recruitment?

My right hon. Friend will deal with this matter in the course of his statement on Thursday next.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in order to drive inspectors round the anti-aircraft stations in London cars are hired from a West-End firm at 30s. a day; and whether, in the interests of national economy, he will arrange that either these inspectors drive themselves in their own cars or hire less expensive vehicles of which a large number are now available?

Cars are now being provided by impressment, and these hirings will cease.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions to the censorship Department that the practice of confiscating British newspapers and books in the possession of travellers to France should cease, especially in the case of newspapers which are on sale on French bookstalls?

Newspapers or books can be used as a means of conveying information, and to allow them to be taken out of the country by hand would be to allow an evasion of the censorship.

Surely some means can be found where people can take with them books and papers that they are actually reading? What difference can it make?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will advise me of any particular difficulty I will certainly consider it.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what authority has been appointed for the economic planning of the nation's war efforts, including such aspects as finance, supply of commodities, economic warfare, and stimulus of exports;

(2) whether it is proposed to set up a body to plan the economic war efforts of the Allies?

As the reply to these questions is rather long, I propose, with the permission of the House, to make a statement at the end of questions.

The responsibility for co-ordination of all branches of the nation's war effort in whatever sphere rests of course with the War Cabinet as a whole. In practice the method adopted is to effect the solution of particular problems by means of consultation between the Ministers concerned, and in order that the results may be brought before the War Cabinet, some member of the Cabinet is entrusted with the general direction of these consultations.

In the case of economic and financial policy a Committee has been set up, under the chairmanship of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, composed of the Ministers concerned with the various aspects of the subject. The duty of this Committee is to keep under review and to coordinate the working of Deparements in relation to the economic effort of the country as a whole. This Committee is also responsible for supervising the arrangements which have been made for Anglo-French economic co-operation.

Lord Stamp has been asked to assist this Committee by becoming Adviser on Economic Co-ordination. Assisted by Mr. Henry Clay and Mr. H. D. Henderson, Lord Stamp had for some time prior to the outbreak of war been advising upon the economic war plans of the Government, giving guidance and assistance to the Departments concerned. In association with the Ministerial Committee to which I have just referred, he will continue to review our current economic plans and activities in order to propose to the Minister or Ministers concerned ways of filling any gaps that may be found to exist or remedies for any inconsistencies that may be discovered.

There has also been set up under the Ministerial Committee an inter-Departmental Committee of officials composed of the permanent heads of the Departments concerned. Lord Stamp will be President of this official Committee.

As regards Anglo-French economic cooperation, arrangements already exist for discussion between representatives of the two Governments on many common problems. Further arrangements are under consideration with a view to establishing the requisite degree of consultation, as well as the means for joint action.

In view of the fact that our economic effort obviously needs concerted direction and drive, will Lord Stamp be a whole-time worker, or is there anyone who will be a whole-time director of these activities?

I do not think that Lord Stamp will be a whole-time worker, but he will be able to give a very large part of his time to this work.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that our economic activities may prove to be the most fundamental of all our lines of defence, and that there is essential need for the effective co-ordination of all our economic activities, including finance, supply, mobilisation of labour, of exports and of imports and the like; and would not he reconsider the whole matter, and, instead of appointing a very large number of committees, with voluntary assistance, appoint some member of the War Cabinet who would actively function in all these matters?

No, Sir; I do not think that it would be possible for any single individual to function without consultation with the Ministers who are responsible for the Departments concerned, and it is because we do realise the importance of the whole subject that we have set up this Committee, which we believe will be the most effective way of dealing with them.

While I appreciate the need for consultation and for active liaison between the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Labour and the like, does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that to have someone directly responsible not only to the War Cabinet but to this House and to the country for the co-ordination of all these activities is much better than the establishment of a large number of committees?

I do not know why the hon. Member says "a large number of committees." I mentioned a ministerial committee and an inter-departmental committee, and I do not think that we could do without either of these. As for the general responsibility to the House and to the country, it must rest on the War Cabinet as a whole, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is to act as chairman of this Committee, and he will be the individual Member of the War Cabinet who will be specially responsible.

Would it not be better to have some Minister who could give his whole time to this economic question, and not to have part-time attention given to it by one who, I should have thought, has quite a big enough job already?

It is very difficult for me to meet all these different points of view. One point of view which has been urged upon me—I am not sure that the right hon. Gentleman himself has not taken part in the suggestion—was that the War Cabinet ought to be made smaller than it is at present. I do not see how it could be made smaller if you added more members?

Will Lord Stamp have any staff or will the work be done in his own time?

No, Sir; he will have the secretarial staff of the Cabinet available.

Will any Member of Parliament be allowed to sit on this committee?

Yes, Sir. The members are all Members of Parliament in one House or the other.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making use of some economist, other than those named, particularly those who had very extended experience during the last war, and who, if used in these days, could give the Government the benefit of all the experience they obtained during those four critical years?

Yes, Sir; we are anxious to take advantage of the experience of anybody who can help, and I do not think that the arrangement I have suggested will exclude that.

Do I understand that back benchers who are not in the Government will be called in?

I am obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend. I shall be glad to accept any assistance that can be given.

In view of the statement which has been made by the Prime Minister, we shall take an early opportunity of raising the whole question of the economic direction of the war.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will assist provincial evening newspapers, which have to go to press earlier owing to difficulties of night distribution, by arranging to advance, where possible, the time at which important official statements are made?

Under the new arrangements every effort wil be made to issue material as speedily as possible.

If my right hon. Friend is considering in future the question of earlier sittings of this House, is this one of the factors that he will bear in mind?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the large number of garages throughout the country now rendered idle through petrol rationing and other causes, he proposes to make any use of the man-power and machines now available for service in supplying the needs of the country?

I am aware of the position, and have already received details of a large number of garages with men and machinery available for alternative work. The question of the best use to be made of this capacity is being considered at the moment, and I hope to be able to make an announcement in the near future.

Would my right hon. Friend consider also the use of the great number of large buildings which are now vacant and might be useful?

Yes, Sir. That is quite another question, but I will look at it, of course.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the control of wool prices in Scotland?

Maximum prices for Scottish and other types of wool were fixed in the Control of Wool (Amendment) Order made on 5th September, and dealings in wool may, under the Control of Wool (Amendment) (No. 2) Order, take place under licence. It is hoped to be able to take further steps in regard to wool control in the near future. As stated in an answer to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) on 28th September, further consultation with the Scottish Federation of Wool Brokers and Merchants will take place before such steps are taken.

Does my right hon. Friend realise the great hardship which is being caused at present, as it is impossible to deal with the wool market in Scotland; and will he, so far as he can, expedite the decision in regard to the fixing of prices?

Yes, Sir. The price of wool is a question of the price of only one commodity. The whole question of the prices of commodities is receiving my attention.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of credit furnished by His Majesty's Government to the Polish Government was used by the latter?

The amount of the cash credit of £5,000,000 used by the Polish Government up to the present is £294,250.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation similar to Section 29 of the Finance Act, 1917, whereby the statutory provisions for remission of death duties on the estates of soldiers and sailors killed in war are extended to cover the case of a master or a member of the crew of a ship or fishing boat dying from causes arising out of the operations of the war?

My right hon. friend is ready to agree in principle that legislation on the lines of Section 29 of the Finance Act, 1917, should be introduced to deal with the cases of the Mercantile Marine and fishermen, and he would propose to include provision accordingly in next year's Finance Bill.

Would it not be difficult in next year's Finance Bill to make the legislation retrospective? Would it not be better to bring in a simple one-clause Bill covering the matter now, as there are bound to be cases arising between now and next spring?

I think it would be difficult only if the House did not approve, and I should imagine that it would have universal approval.

In that case, would the Government consider introducing legislation on these lines, which would have universal approval, before the Finance Bill?

I do not think it would be necessary. I dare say that any such cases could be delayed pending a final settlement.

Would it not be possible to deal with this in a one-clause Bill now? Everyone would agree.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation extending the provisions of Section 14 of the Finance Act, 1900, as amended by subsequent Statutes, whereby Death Duties are remitted on the property of persons killed in war, to cover cases of Civil Defence volunteers who lose their lives in the performance of their Civil Defence duties?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot see his way to introduce legislation on the lines proposed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the exemption from rating of buildings used by Territorials is now set aside and such buildings fall into the same category as those in the use of the Regular Army for which ex-gratia contributions are made to local rates?

The exemption from rating of property, in the occupation of Territorial Associations prior to the war, is being maintained as was the case in the last war. On the other hand, where local authorities have lost rates owing to the requisitioning of rateable property for the present emergency the Government are prepared to give consideration to cases as they arise.

Does that mean that buildings hitherto occupied by Territorials will, now that the Territorials have been embodied, be in the same category as those used by the Regular Army?

Perhaps the hon. Member will read the reply. I think it is quite clear.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that many local authorities are suffering great loss of rates in consequence of the requisitioning of important buildings in their areas; and will the Government make equivalent grants to these authorities to compensate them for this loss?

I am aware that the position is as stated in the first part of the question. The Government pro- pose to make appropriate grants to the local authorities concerned in cases where rates have ceased to be payable consequent upon the requisitioning of rateable property during the present emergency. The Treasury Valuer is giving consideration to cases as they arise, and is already in communication with several authorities.

While thanking my right hon. and gallant Friend for his reply, may I ask whether that means that rates will be charged on buildings which have been requisitioned, even though they are not yet used for the purposes for which they were requisitioned?

I would like to see the question on the Paper. Questions about rating are very technical. I have answered the question the hon. Member asked.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what grounds the billeting allowance to Civil Servants is assumed to cover food and lodging, but is only assumed to cover lodgings in the case of school teachers?

The position of the civil servant and that of the school teacher are not comparable, but the matter is being investigated.

When will the investigation be completed, and when will an announcement be made?

I could not say.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, as a result of the abolition of street lighting and the rationing of electricity, a large number of skilled and unskilled men are being dismissed by electricity undertakings; and whether the loss of these key men to the industry is receiving the consideration of his Department, with a view to its mitigation?