asked the Minister of Health whether any of the proposed evacuation camps are to be sited in Wales; and, if so, will he give particulars?

Two camps are under construction on a site at Colomendy Hall, near Mold, Denbighshire.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the present position with regard to the normal functioning of local authorities; whether the emergency committees report regularly to the full council; and to what extent resolutions have been passed by councils vesting the whole of their powers in special emergency committees?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available. The procedure to be adopted by local authorities for conducting their business under war conditions is a matter primarily for the authorities themselves to determine and in view of the present pressure of urgent work upon them I am unwilling to ask them for a special return on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the resolution of the Holborn Borough Council drawing attention to the exceedingly heavy expenditure on wages for air-raid precautions personnel and expressing their deep concern at the apparent waste of man-power in this branch of the air-raid precautions service; and will he take steps to replace the present organisation by a Civil Defence corps or similar body, utilising more economically, efficiently, and effectually the available man-power?

I am informed that no such resolution was passed by the Borough Council, although representations in the sense suggested were included in a report of the Finance Committee. As regards the last part of the question, I am at present engaged on a review of the position and am investigating what adjustments are desirable and possible for the effective organisation of the Civil Defence services over a prolonged term.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the postponement of the quinquennial valuation next year, it has been brought to his notice that local authorities are refusing to consider applications for derating until this revaluation takes place; and whether, in place of the postponement, he will consider proposing such alterations in the law of rating as will enable both landlord and tenant in such circumstances to apply for derating at any time?

The matter has not been brought to my notice. Existing statutory provisions enable applications for derating to be made during the currency of the present valuation lists, but perhaps my hon. Friend will let me know of any case in which difficulties may have arisen in relation to those provisions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to complete the construction of the "Queen Elizabeth"; and, if so, when it is anticipated she will be ready for trials?

The question of future arrangements in respect of the liner "Queen Elizabeth" is under discussion between the owners, the shipbuilders and the Government Departments interested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade who decided that the statutory committee appointed to advise him on the administration of the Cinematograph Films Act, should suspend its activities?

A meeting of the Cinematograph Films Council which had been arranged for 27th September has been postponed but it is expected that the council will meet in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the chairman of the Cinematograph Films Council is definitely engaged by the Ministry of Information and whether the remuneration received by him for the first-mentioned duties has now been stopped?

The chairmanship of the Cinematograph Films Council has never been regarded as a full-time appointment, and I am informed that the chairman accepted a post in the Ministry of Information on the understanding that this would not prevent him from continuing to carry out his duties as chairman of the council. In these circumstances, the question of ceasing to remunerate him does not at present arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the delays in issuing export licences for goods destined for use in public health and other essential services in British Dominions are causing anxiety and loss to exporters in Greenock and elsewhere; and if he will take immediate steps to have the grievances removed, in view of the fact that such export licences were issued promptly during the last war?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey and Otley (Sir C. G. Gibson). I would add that arrangements have been made to facilitate the grant of licences in respect of applications submitted by the Stores Departments of His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions and India, and that the arrangements are understood to be working satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make a statement as to the Government's intentions as to the future of the Royal Air Force elementary flying training schools now run by private enterprise?

The immediate requirements for war training have been met without altering the general conditions under which these schools have operated hitherto. The position is being kept under review, in order to ensure that all available training facilities are at all times used to the best advantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to pay members of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve their retaining fee or a proportion of it for 1939?

Yes, Sir. Members of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve are being paid retaining fees proportionate to the amount of reserve service they completed prior to mobilisation, provided that during such service requirements as to training were met.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will state the total number of persons employed in the accidents investigation department of the Air Ministry and how many of these have flown modern Service aeroplanes during the last 12 months?

There are seven investigating officers (of whom the Chief Inspector is one) and three clerical personnel in the Accidents Branch. All the investigating officers have wide technical knowledge and experience of various types of aircraft, have themselves been pilots and have flown in, though they may not actually have piloted, different types of modern aeroplanes during the last 12 months. Users' experience of the flying characteristics of different types of Service aircraft is, of course, at all times available to them through the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department is taking any steps to promote the cultivation of rye on soils especially suitable for it; and whether the subsidy in respect of ploughed-up land will also apply to this crop?

I fully recognise that on some types of soil rye is a very suitable crop for sowing on newly-ploughed grassland, and a Press announcement, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend, has been issued by my Department drawing attention to the value of the crop. Where newly-ploughed grassland is otherwise eligible, the Government grant of £2 per acre will be paid if it is sown to rye.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an undertaking to the agricultural industry that the maximum volume of production attained during the war will be assured to the industry for at least 10 years after the war; and that steps will be taken to ensure an economic return to the producer, which harmonises the burden of debts and fixed charges with economic capacity?

I have been asked to reply. No Minister could bind future Governments or Parliaments in the manner suggested. As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend has already announced that in the fixing of prices to be paid for staple agricultural products during war time, regard will be had to all relevant factors in order to ensure a fair return to the producer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to arrange loans at low rates of interest to local authorities to aid them in acquiring suitable land to let for use as gardens during the present emergency and to assist allotment holders by the provision of seeds, implements and garden huts on easy terms?

My right hon. Friend has every hope that the powers conferred upon local authorities in urban areas by the Cultivation of Lands (Allotments) Order, made under the Defence Regulations, to take possession of land and the powers of hiring under the Allotments Acts will prove ample to enable the demand for land for cultivation as allotments to be met. The Allotments Acts already empower allotment authorities to provide seeds, plants, fertilisers or implements at cost price to allotment holders in cases where there are no adequate facilities for purchasing from a society on a co-operative basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the difficulties of inshore fishermen at Ilfra-combe and Combe Martin, who were only given petrol allowances sufficient for a maximum of four days fishing; and if he will endeavour to improve their position?

Yes, Sir, and I can say that the position of these, and other inshore fishermen, will shortly be improved in the matter of petrol allowance.

asked the Minister of Labour when the winter allowances for the unemployed under the Unemployment Assistance Board will commence?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stoke (Mr. E. Smith) on 5th October.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that trains to evacuation areas are so seriously overcrowded during week-ends, despite the withdrawal of excursion tickets and some increase of services, that many husbands are using money set aside for rent to visit their wives; and whether he can consider authorising the issue, through local authorities, of special cheap tickets once monthly to meet this problem?

I am unable to add to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Poplar, South (Mr. D. M. Adams) and other hon. Members on the 4th October. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that answer.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the great inconvenience caused to the travelling public, who are compelled to travel during the hours of black-out, by the present inadequate system of lighting provided on main-line trains by the railway companies concerned; and whether he will arrange for the provision, on a limited scale, of similar lighting facilities to those provided during the last war?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave on the 4th October to similar questions by the hon. Member for Pudsey (Sir C G. Gibson) and others.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the total number of mechanically-propelled road goods-vehicles requisitioned by his officers for Government departmental work, including air-raid precautions services; and what proportion of these were owned or controlled by the railway companies and other road-operators, respectively?

Two thousand five hundred and eight goods vehicles have been requisitioned by my officers. Vehicles owned by the Government, by local government authorities and statutory public utility undertakers (including the railways) may not be requisitioned. I cannot give the figures asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend in the second part of his question, but no distinction has been made for requisitioning purposes between vehicles owned by railway-controlled operators and those owned by other operators.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the rate of payment for the requistioned hire of road goods-vehicles; whether this payment includes any proportion of licence duty and insurance already paid by the operator; and to what date full hire has already been paid?

Hiring charges for requisitioned goods vehicles are governed by Section 4 of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, and are payable by the Department or authority for whom the vehicle is requisitioned. I have no information regarding the payments already made. The cost of insuring the vehicle is borne by the hirer in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 (1) (a) of the Act. As my hon. Friend is aware, licence duty is recoverable by the owner of the vehicle on surrender of the licence.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will endeavour to secure restoration of transport facilities in those cases where it is established that the cessation of previous facilities involves some hardship to invalids and the aged; and whether, in particular, he will restore the service B of the Crosville Motor Company, between Liverpool and Bettwsycoed, via Corwen, and the service between Colwyn Bay railway station and Seafield Road?

I will certainly investigate any case where a reduction of road passenger services necessitated by fuel rationing is found to involve hardship. I am not satisfied on the evidence before me that hardship has in fact been caused by the withdrawal of the two services mentioned by my hon. Friend, but any application from the Company for permission to restore them will receive careful consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, as a result of the censorship, there is a great hold-up of all business correspondence between this country and Cyprus; and whether he can take steps to improve this situation?

Correspondence for Cyprus is being despatched without delay from this country by every suitable opportunity, but there has been some delay in the transmission of the mails owing to modifications and restrictions in overseas transport services; steps are, however, being taken which will, I hope, result in an improvement in the existing service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is considerable discontent at the high rates of postage charged for sending parcels to men serving with the Forces; and whether he will consider introducing special cheap rates for this purpose?

As indicated in my answers to the hon. Members for Burnley (Mr. Burke) and Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. E. Smith) on the 2nd and 3rd October, I am reviewing the whole question of the postage rates charged on parcels for members of His Majesty's Armed Forces serving overseas in consultation with the Service Departments concerned. I hope to be able to make an announcement on the subject shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that local postmasters are refusing to cash postal orders when presented for payment on the ground that as such postal orders constitute legal tender they can be utilised elsewhere for purchasing purposes; what statutory authority exists for such refusal and whether it extends to cases where a postal order is made payable by the sender at a particular office; and whether, in view of the inconvenience caused by such refusals, he will cause the normal procedure to be re-adopted?

British postal orders of all values are now currency under the Currency Defence Act, 1939, except in the Channel Islands. As legal tender they may be used and must be accepted as instruments of payment in the same way as bank notes. The ordinary issue and payment of British postal orders, as such, has therefore ceased at all post offices. The fact that a postal order bears the name of a payee or that of an office of payment or that it is crossed does not affect its status as legal tender in any way. It is not clear how, in the circumstances, inconvenience can be caused by a refusal to exchange it for other kinds of legal tender, such as coin.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether his attention has been called to the reproduction of German broadcasts containing libellous abuse of British public men; whether there is any reason why statements of this kind should be published; and, in view of the fact that such statements could not be made in peacetime, whether he will cause the newspapers to avoid reproducing purely personal attacks of this nature?

Action such as my hon. Friend suggests would involve a degree of interference with the freedom of the Press which would be entirely contrary to the policy of the Ministry. I do not think in any case that the character of British public men is likely to suffer from any abuse which German broadcasters may aim at them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether a decision has been made regarding the fixing of the mid-day broadcast news bulletin at 12.30 p.m.; and whether he has any statement to make?

I am informed by the B.B.C. that the time of the mid-day news bulletin has been changed as from yesterday from noon to 1 o'clock. This change was made in response to many requests from listeners and was supported by a special inquiry made by the B.B.C. as to the time which would be most generally convenient to the public.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will state the names of the lecturers on the list compiled by the Ministry on a non-political basis, amounting to nearly 200; and the amount of payments proposed to be made?

This list is being compiled for the purpose of ascertaining what lecturers may be available in different parts of the country in case of need. Lecturers already upon the list may not be required, and others may be called upon who are not upon it yet. The hon. Gentleman will, I am sure, understand that there are objections to publishing a list which is thus provisional and incomplete.With regard to the second part of the question it is the general intention that the lecturer's fees shall be met by the organisation which arranges the lecture, not by the Ministry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will state the number of naval officers, from the active and retired lists, employed in the Ministry of Information; and give a list for each one of his naval rank, duty, salary from naval funds and other sources, respectively, and special qualifications for the post held?

No such officers are now employed in the Ministry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will arrange for issue to the Press and publication in the OFFICIAL REPORT of all leaflets dropped over Germany concurrently with their release in that country?

No, Sir. It would not be desirable in the public interest to give a general engagement of this kind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information what salary or emoluments the chairman of the British Council is, or has been, drawing from the funds of the Council?

From the date of his appointment in October, 1937, to 30th June, 1939, the Chairman of the British Council received no pay. Since that date he has drawn salary from the funds of the Council at the rate of £3,000 per annum, having given up a position of an equivalent financial value in order to devote his whole time to the Council's work.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many able-bodied ex-service men have joined the National Defence Companies since the outbreak of war at wages of £3 per week, when many of their colleagues who joined the Territorial Army before war broke out are receiving the ordinary Army pay of 14s. per week; and whether he will look into this matter with a view to taking such steps as will prevent dissatisfaction now and in the future?

The pay of those who joined the National Defence Companies is the same as the pay of other Territorial soldiers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many of the men who volunteered for the National Defence Companies and have been sent home to await discharge on medical grounds have not received their allowances during the month they have been on service, and that neither the public assistance committees nor the Unemployment Assistance Board will assist them until they are discharged; and whether he will take steps to ensure the prompt payment of pay and allowances until discharge is completed?

Every endeavour is being made to ensure that payments are made in outstanding cases where pay and allowances had not been issued at the due date. It will assist if any man so placed who has not received pay or allowances due to him would communicate with the Regimental Paymaster, Pay and Record Office, Barnet, giving his full name, present address and regimental particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers called up for service since the outbreak of war in the depot company of the Essex Regiment, at Warley, have had a compulsory stoppage of 9d. from their pay in order to prevent 2,000 copies of the Regimental Gazette, published prior to the outbreak of war, becoming a charge on the funds of the Regimental Association; whether such action had his approval; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this compulsory stoppage is reimbursed forthwith?

I am informed that there was no compulsory stoppage, but that purchase by the men was voluntary and the supply available did not meet the demand. The proceeds of the sale are diverted to charitable purposes for the benefit of serving soldiers and ex-soldiers of the Regiment or their dependants.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that a British warm coat was proved during the Great War to be of such a comfortable and usable form of clothing for general service purposes, all commissioned ranks will be permitted to wear a British warm coat as an alternative to the conventional military greatcoat?

It has been decided, after exhaustive trials, that a long greatcoat is most suitable for all ranks, but officers are permitted to wear a British warm coat when not on parade with troops.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Driver H. Nix, T 4344116, 19th Company, Royal Army Service Corps, late of Catterick Camp, has been sent overseas, in view of the fact that he was born on 8th June, 1921, and that it is the Government's policy that such youths should be retained for home service?

This soldier on enlistment gave the date of his birth as 8th June, 1920. If his birth certificate is produced, and shows that he is not yet 19, he will be sent home.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Burnley may expect a reply to his communication of nth September regarding young men sent overseas?

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on Thursday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the recent order making it unnecessary for officers to wear Sam Browne belts has resulted in the cancellation of large orders placed by military outfitters with manufacturers, thus leaving substantial stocks on their hands; and whether, to avoid the waste of material, labour and money involved in such sudden changes, he will consider whether, in future, some preliminary warning as regards any possible change might be issued to manufacturers?

I appreciate the considerations to which my hon. Friend refers, but the introduction of the change in this case was mainly designed to reduce expense for newly commissioned officers, many of them promoted from the ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he is taking in the case of men who have joined up and whose life insurance policies, covering the future of their wives and children in ordinary circumstances, contain a war clause?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Hitchin (Sir A. Wilson) on Friday, 5th May, last, which was to the effect that, where life policies contain conditions restricting the benefit payable in the event of death caused by war, it will be for the insurance offices to consider in due course, and in the light of the circumstances, their action in relation to the enforcement of such restrictions. The exclusion of war risks in such cases applies equally whether the insured person has joined the armed forces or not. If, however, the insured person has joined the armed forces, his widow and or children will be eligible for pensions from the Ministry of Pensions if he becomes a war casualty.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider granting free passes to soldiers on leave to visit invalid children away from home?

I have already announced to the House that a free warrant will be issued to all ranks serving in France granted leave after certain periods of service there, and troops in this country will also be granted a free warrant for leave prior to embarkation for overseas. For other journeys on leave in this country, troops will be able to use the concession vouchers issued by the railways which provide for a return journey at single fare.If the hon. Member means that, instead of taking a free warrant to go home, the soldier should take it to visit a sick child elsewhere, I have no doubt that this could be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of the staff and the amount of the payroll at the Army Records Office at Foots Cray; in how many cases are members of the same family employed in the same office; and how many of the persons employed are already in receipt of pensions?

The answer to the first part of the question is that on 6th October the staff numbered 1,269, and that the last weekly pay-roll amounted to £4,615, covering 14 hours overtime. These figures take no account of officers, of whom there are 67.The answer to the second part of the question is 97, and to the third 159.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give such instructions to his Department as will prevent the adoption in this country of Catholic Spanish children brought from Bilbao and elsewhere, and who are now orphans, without the consent of the Spanish Government, whose wards they are?

A foreign child cannot be legally adopted under the Adoption of Children Act in the United Kingdom. In one or two cases a Spanish child has, with the parents' written consent, been placed permanently in the care of a British subject.

asked the Home Secretary how many Spanish children are still in this country; why are they still being kept here; and what steps he has taken to ascertain if the Spanish Government is willing to receive them?

There are at present 1,054 Spanish children from Bilbao in this country. In addition to those already repatriated, it is expected that about 500 children will leave for Spain shortly, and negotiations are proceeding with the Basque Children's Committee and the Spanish Government for the repatriation of a further number. Some of the children have not been returned to Spain because their parents no longer live there, and the committee has not so far been able to make the necessary arrangements for the children to rejoin them.

asked the Home Secretary how many German citizens were interned in concentration camps on the outbreak of war, how many of these camps are there; and what arrangements exist for these prisoners to communicate with friends in their country; and will they be able to appeal for release to a tribunal?

As regards the first part of this question I would refer to the reply given to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for the Hitchin Division of Hertfordshire (Sir A. Wilson). Persons interned in these camps are at liberty to communicate with their friends but their letters are subject to censorship. As previously announced,0020it is open to civilians who have been interned to make representations to the Home Secretary, and he has arranged that except in cases where there appear to be no grounds for further inquiry, he will refer such representations to an advisory committee. Some such cases have already been examined by a committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Walter Monckton. In order to expedite the work it has now been arranged that the committee shall be divided into two panels, and my right hon. Friend is glad to be able to announce that Mr. Norman Birkett has agreed to act as chairman of one of the panels.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can state the names and salaries of the North Region food controller and deputy controller; to whom are salaries of £250 or over paid in the North-West Regional Food Control and among local food controllers in the counties of Inverness, Argyll, and Ross and Cromarty; and the names of senior officers in these services who performed their duties without payment?

There is no North-West of Scotland Food Division. The divisional food officer and deputy divisional food officer for the North of Scotland Food Division, and their salaries, are:Divisional Food Officer—Captain R. E. Sawyer, £1,000 per annum.Deputy Divisional Food Officer— Lieut.-Colonel Mitford, £700 per annum.In addition three assistant divisional food officers and one chief clerk and accountant in the North of Scotland Divisional Office, and one chief assistant in the office of the Local Food Control Committee for Inverness County receive salaries exceeding £250 per annum. The appointments of the food executive officer and assistants in the office of the Local Food Control Committee for Argyll County have not yet been made. No officer in the Local Food Office of Ross and Cromarty County is in receipt of a salary exceeding £250 per annum.As regards the last part of the question, the food executive officer for Inverness County and the chief assistant to the Food Executive Office for Ross and Cromarty perform their duties without payment.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to whom are salaries of £250 or more paid in the North-East Regional Food Control, and among local food controllers in the counties of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine; and whether he will state the names of senior officers in the services performing duties unpaid?

The following is a list of officers in receipt of salaries of £250 per annum or more:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now make any statement as to the British convoying of neutral ships carrying food to this country?

This question is under consideration but I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Minister of Labour what fees are paid to the members of the conscientious objectors appeal tribunals in the Aberdeen and North-east of Scotland area and in the North and Western areas of Scotland, respectively?

The fees payable to the chairmen of the Tribunals mentioned by the hon. Member are three guineas a meeting (half-day), subject to a maximum of six guineas a day and twenty-four guineas a week. Subsistence allowances are also payable when away from home. These rates of remuneration do not apply where chairmen are full-time salaried officers of the Crown. As regards other members of the Tribunals, the fees payable are three guineas per day for a meeting of five hours or more, or nine shillings an hour for less than five hours, subject to a maximum of twelve guineas a week. These fees are inclusive of subsistence allowance.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he will give an assurance that no British action in relation to the detention and searching of neutral ships for contraband has been inconsistent with the spirit of the London Conference of 1909; and what complaints have been received from Holland with regard to such action?

His Majesty's Government have at all times done their utmost to conform to the generally accepted principles of International Law regarding the detention and search of neural ships for contraband.As regards the second part of the question certain representations from the Netherlands Government are now under consideration, and I can assure the hon. and learned Member that everything possible will be done to avoid delay and inconvenience to neutrals consistent with the due exercise of belligerent rights.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the fact that the pool petrol now being supplied is running, approximately, three miles to the gallon less than the previous standard grades; and whether he will take this into consideration in the ration allowances, and grant a further allowance on this account?

I am informed by the Petroleum Board that, under comparable conditions, the mileage obtained from pool petrol would not be substantially less than that previously obtained from standard grades.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Pool Board is supplying petrol to the Anglo-American retail depots at a differential price to that charged to other garages and filling stations?

The Petroleum Board undertook for the time being not to increase the price of petrol to commercial users and to maintain a retail price of 1s. 6d. per gallon for pool petrol. It is on this account that commercial users are paying less from a Petroleum Board wholesale depot, such as the service stations referred to—which are confined to the supply of commercial users—than the retail price for pool petrol.