asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the French system of training dogs for war service; and whether his Department is also adopting this policy?

The question of employing dogs for appropriate purposes is being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the extent to which serving military personnel is being transferred into the War Office to undertake civilian duties of a clerical nature previously performed by ex-soldier clerks; whether he is aware that, in many cases, the transferred military personnel is supplanting civilian staffs who are not liable for military service; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the War Office utilises to the full the experience of the ex-soldier clerk grade whose members have completed their military service and who are at present being supplanted in civilian posts by serving military personnel?

Since the beginning of the war, it has been necessary to augment the clerical establishment of the War Office by the employment in certain cases of experienced serving military personnel as well as by the addition of civilian clerical staff, but in no case has this resulted in the services of ex-soldier clerks being dispensed with. The policy of the War Office to utilise to the full the experience of the ex-soldier clerk grade remains unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his officials, in requisitioning vehicles, take into consideration the fact that by taking the one van owned by a firm, the firm is compelled, if it wishes to continue in existence, to hire another similar van; and whether it would be equally feasible for the War Office to hire such an alter- native van which is not in use and thus avoid the taxpayer having to pay for both the requisitioning of the vehicle and the hiring of a substitute?

The vehicles impressed by the War Office have been purchased and not hired, and have been selected as being of suitable type and condition for Army service. There is no question of any additional payment for the hire of a substitute.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what arrangements exist in the provincial legislatures of India for limiting the length of speeches?

The arrangements vary considerably, but speaking generally a time limit of 15 minutes is prescribed for speakers on Motions for the Adjournment and on Resolutions, other than the Mover and the Minister in charge. If the hon. Member so desires I shall be pleased to let him have extracts from the comprehensive information which I have obtained from India on the subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether family allotments made by officers and men from their pay for the benefit of their dependants continue to be paid to them in the event of their being taken prisoners of war?

Yes Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the difficulty of the sick poor in obtaining stimulants at current prices, he will consider the possibility of permitting small supplies of this commodity at a reduced rate on the production of a doctor's certificate?

I regret that my hon. Friend's proposal would be impracticable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he is aware of the strong public feeling for at least one hour's wireless programme each evening for the whole of the British Empire and for English-speaking peoples everywhere in order to show them what the spirit of our people really is, and to include in this programme a short talk by leading public men on the topics of the day, given without censorship, whether favourable or not to our fortunes; and what steps he intends to take in this direction?

I have conveyed the hon. Member's suggestion to the B.B.C., who are responsible for the arrangements of broadcast programmes. I am advised that the great variations of time between different parts of the Empire and the limitation, on grounds of national security, of the B.B.C. Home Service to a. single programme, makes it impracticable to adopt the suggestion; but much already is being done in the B.B.C. Home and Empire Services on the lines which the hon. Member proposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information what is the present approximate monthly revenue from wireless broadcasting licences; and what is the present approximate expenditure on British Broadcasting Corporation programmes under the reduced broadcasting programme?

I am informed by the Postmaster-General that the average monthly gross receipts from wireless receiving licences during 12 months ended the 31st August last amounted to £374,600. While the broadcasting system is being adapted to war-time conditions, a period of change is inevitable; and it is not possible at the present time to furnish a useful statement of the rate of expenditure on programmes. The question on what basis the broadcasting service is to be financed in war-time is to be reviewed shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to ensure that a substantial proportion of the enhanced prices now being obtained on the sale of ships shall revert to the Treasury?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4th October to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne), in which the position with regard to the liability to taxation of profits arising from the sale of ships was stated.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the great inconvenience caused to business and professional men travelling to and from the North of England by the discontinuance of fast evening trains; and whether he will arrange for one such train in each direction to be reinstated as soon as possible?

The amount of freight traffic of urgent national importance renders it necessary for the present to limit passenger services to trains of maximum capacity running at moderate speed and making intermediate connections. The railway companies are, however, fully alive to the importance of continuing to improve passenger train services, and I can assure my hon. Friend that his and other similar suggestions will receive the fullest consideration as and when the situation permits.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the newspaper and periodical publishers in their desire to save paper are imposing severe restrictions on the sale of newspapers; that the method adopted will result in placing the entire burden of no returns restriction upon the retail newsagency trade, the section of the newspapers distributive trade least able to bear the heavy loss which a no returns order will cause; that the Newspaper Proprietors Association has refused to meet representatives of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents in order to discuss this matter of mutual trade concern; and whether he will take steps to get this practice altered?

I welcome any effort to exercise economy in the use of paper. The detailed arrangements in the trade regarding the return of unsold newspapers are not a matter on which I can intervene but I am informed that they are being discussed this week between the National Federation of Retail Newsagents and the associations representing the wholesale newsagents.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will encourage local authorities to surrender as scrap iron the numerous German guns and tanks distributed in 1919, including those since buried?

A circular on the collection of iron and steel scrap has been despatched to local authorities by the Iron and Steel Control, which I have set up. I am sending a copy to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that under the Order-in-Council controlling wool, traders and merchants have to disclose to the controller and assistant-controllers in each section full details of their business; that the controller and assistant-controllers are in many cases trade competitors; and what steps he proposes to take to put the wool control in the hands of men who command the confidence of

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider exempt- the industry, and so remove dissatisfaction?

It is necessary for the effective working of a control of this kind that particulars should be obtained of such matters as the stocks held by particular businesses, the consumption of wool and the public contracts received. Expert knowledge of the industry is essential to effective control, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the Controller and his assistants have ceased from active participation in any business connected with the industry.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men over 60 years of age had been unemployed for one year or more on any convenient date in 1924 and 1939, respectively, in England and Wales, and in South Wales?

The Table below gives statistics in respect of men aged 60 and over registered as unemployed in England and Wales, respectively, at 1st May, 1939; separate figures have not been compiled for South Wales. Corresponding figures are not available in respect of the year 1924. An analysis according to duration of unemployment can be given only in respect of persons applying for benefit or allowances.ing from military service all classes of men, not already called up, at present employed in agriculture until this winter's ploughing-up programme is completed, and alternative labour is trained?

My right hon. Friend is in consultation with the Minister of Agriculture upon this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that journalists aged over 30, whether employed or unemployed, are not allowed to join any of His Majesty's Forces nor are they allowed to undertake paid air-raid precautions work, even though they may be trained; and whether he will consider the question of allowing these men, employed or otherwise, to join His Majesty's Forces if they desire to do so?

Journalists aged 30 or over are reserved by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations from undertaking full-time national service. I am, of course, prepared to consider any representations by representative organisations regarding a modification of any item in the Schedule.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are being made to continue the treatment of consumptives who have been moved from the institutions in which they were receiving treatment; and whether he will ask the local authorities to investigate this?

Any consumptive requiring institutional treatment should receive it and accommodation is available for such treatment. Furthermore I am investigating the question of releasing certain hospitals and sanatoria from the Emergency Scheme altogether.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the maximum price of 1s. 7d. per pound of butter indicates that the sale of the commodity cannot profitably be effected at a lower figure; and whether he can give some idea of the basic price of this commodity?

The butter at present being sold at a retail price not exceeding 1s. 7d. per lb. comes mainly from stocks requisitioned by or imported on behalf of the Ministry, though retailers may also still have some stocks acquired before the Ministry took control. I am satisfied that the maximum retail price of butter could not be lowered below 1s. 7d. without causing loss either to the trade or to the Ministry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the French system of closing shops which grossly profiteer; and whether he will consider adopting similar action in this country?

I will consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what representations he has received to the effect that many pig breeders consider the pig marketing contracts null and void, and that the charge of 1s. 6d. per pig for weighing is unnecessary; and whether he can state the views of his Department on the suggested abolition of this charge?

Under the Pigs (Provisional Prices) Orders which were made by the Board of Trade and the Minister of Food, it is no longer legal to deliver pigs in pursuance of the long contracts made under the Bacon Industry Acts. My hon. and gallant Friend sent me some representations on this subject which I have referred to my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The charge of 1s. 6d. represents the levies payable by registered curers to the Pigs Marketing Board and the Bacon Development Board which the curers are, by virtue of the Orders I have mentioned, entitled to deduct from the prices paid for the pigs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet considered the advisability of extending the subsidy for ploughing-up pasture to the end of March, 1940; and, if so, with what result?

Yes, Sir, but I am not in a position to make a statement on the subject at present.

asked the Home Secretary what Government grants are made to local authorities in payment for the services of the personnel of air-raid precautions, auxiliary fire services and first-aid posts?

I assume the hon. Member refers to the pay of whole-time volunteers. The pay of such volunteers enrolled for these services within the authorised establishment, in so far as they are not members of the regular personnel of local authorities, is reimbursed in full by the Exchequer.