asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps have been taken to increase the trade of the United Kingdom with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and whether a new trade agreement between these two countries is contemplated?

As was stated by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs yesterday in reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander), the question of adapting Anglo-Soviet trade relations to the conditions of the present war is now under consideration. The hon. Member will doubtless be aware that an Agreement was concluded and signed yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply with the Soviet trade delegation providing for Russian timber to be shipped to this country in exchange for quantities of rubber and tin of an equivalent value.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements have been made to place on sale a cheap and effective cloth to cover windows after dark; and whether he can make a statement with regard to the price and how soon it will be available?

Arrangements are being considered as a matter of urgency by the Cotton Board with a view to putting on sale a cloth of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers. It is hoped that an announcement on this subject will be made at an early date.

asked the President of the. Board of Trade what complaints he has received of profiteering in yarn prices or manufactured woollen goods; and whether there are any proposals to extend control from the raw material to the whole trade?

My right hon. Friend has received a number of complaints about increases in the price of woollen yarns and manufactures. Inquiries are being made of the firms concerned as to the reasons for these increases. The question how far it may be necessary to extend the control of prices must depend upon circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what complaints he has received that the tractors supplied by his Department are not powerful enough to deal with heavy land; and whether in those cases, as heavier tractors on the market are available, he will authorise their purchase or their hire?

Some county war agricultural executive committees have asked for a more powerful tractor than the Fordson for ploughing heavy land. These requests do not, however, appear to be based on actual experience of the latest type of Fordson, which is more powerful than earlier types, and is capable of ploughing the heaviest land, save in exceptional circumstances. As tractors heavier than the Fordson are not manufactured in this country I do not propose to purchase any of them unless experience shows that such purchase is necessary. I hope that on very heavy land where heavier tractors or steam tackle are more suitable than Fordsons, these special requirements can be met by private contractors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can provide that lime-works, agricultural merchants and other owners of motor lorries shall not be deprived by requisitioning of so many lorries as to make it impossible for them to carry out the services they render to agriculture; and whether there is any authority to which such persons can appeal when an unreasonable number of vehicles have been so requisitoined?

The position regarding the requisitioning of vehicles used for the transport of agricultural products is governed by Treasury Circular No. 17 39 dated 15th May, 1939, as amended by Treasury Circular No. 21 39 dated 30th June, 1939. I am sending copies of these documents to the hon. Member. It is provided thereunder that vehicles "normally used wholly or mainly for the conveyance of raw materials for food manufacture, of agricultural products and of livestock, for the bulk or wholesale distribution of foodstuffs and for the essential retail distribution of foods"—may not be reserved or requisitioned by any service. My Department is prepared to take up with the Ministry of Transport any cases in which the reservation, requisitioning, commandeering or impressment by any service of vehicles covered by the above description can be said to have a detrimental effect on food production. The particulars required for this purpose are the registered number of the vehicle, the purpose for which the vehicle is ordinarily used and, if practicable, the name of the requisitioning or impressment officer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any estimate of the number of rabbits in this country has been made; and whether he can take any steps to stimulate consumption in order to rid the country of this pest?

No estimate of the number of rabbits in this country is available. As regards the last part of the question, I will pass on the suggestion to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the largely increased number of allotment workers and others who will need supplies of seed potatoes early next year, he is arranging for adequate reserves to be set aside and controlled by the Ministry in order that all requirements may be met with reliable seed at reasonable prices?

I fully appreciate the need for ensuring adequate supplies of seed potatoes for planting next year and I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with a view to making the necessary arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the date on which a food production Department was set up in his Ministry and the date on which county agricultural committees were first asked to hold a meeting to discuss plans for food production?

No food production Department of the Ministry has been set up, as was the case in the last war, but preparations for food production in war time were made as part of the Ministry's general peace-time duties. An essential part of this preparatory work was the selection of chairman-designate, prospective executive officers and members of the County War Agricultural Executive Committees and informal meetings were held in the early part of the year with a view of considering organisation, etc.On 25th August, 1939, the date on which the Defence Regulations were made under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, each chairman-designate was asked to summon an informal meeting or informal meetings of prospective members and the prospective executive officer for the purpose of considering and overhauling the administrative and executive machinery which would be required to function in the event of war.The Cultivation of Lands Order, delegating to committees certain of the Minister's powers under the Defence Regulations for increasing home food production was made on 1st September, 1939. the committees being formally constituted on the same day, and notification of the making of the Order and the appointment of the committees was issued to committees on 3rd September, the date of the outbreak of war, when the Ministry's headquarters war-time organisation began to function.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the limited supply in this country at the present time of light and heavy draught-horses; and what steps he proposes to take to stimulate horse-breeding in order to ensure that this shortage will not persist?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The increased demand for draught horses at the present time is presumably due mainly to the restrictions on the consumption of petrol, and the present war-time shortage could not be met by special steps to encourage horse-breeding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that feeding-stuffs charged to poultry-keepers are all ex-mill, and that in consequence poultry-keepers have to pay 25s. a ton for transport from Liverpool to Kent; and whether, in view of the increase of cost, he proposes to permit some elasticity in the prices charged for poultry products?

I am not aware of the transport charges to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will send me particulars of any transactions involving such charges, I shall be happy to investigate the matter in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the number of journalists of all grades who have been dismissed or placed on short time; and whether he will consult with this prosperous industry with a view to maintaining staffs as far as possible?

The records of my Department do not show any considerable number of journalists registered as unemployed, but I would call attention to the recent appeal to employers by my right hon. Friend, the Lord Privy Seal, an appeal which I trust will have the full support of all employers in every industry.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the position of merchant seamen at ports who, between sailing engagements, are compelled to seek unemployment benefit; and whether, as these men are in a reserved occupation, which prevents them from accepting other work during their periods of enforced idleness ashore, he will consider the adoption of compensatory measures?

No, Sir. As I have pointed out in reply to a previous question, the Schedule of Reserved Occupations does not restrict employment except as a whole-time member of one of the Defence Services.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the number of coal miners, or mine workers, in South Wales between 45 and 60 years of age, who are unemployed; and what steps are being taken to have them re-employed in the mines or elsewhere?

I regret that those figures are not available. The hon. Member will be aware that unemployment in the coal-mining industry in Wales is at its lowest level for many years. In view of the heavy demand for coal in wartime there is every likelihood that the position will continue to improve and I am confident that this will bring increased opportunity for the employment of the older men.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain newspaper proprietors are cancelling the engagements of young men liable to military service and re-engaging them in a temporary capacity in order to avoid the necessity of reinstating them after the war; and what steps he is taking to put an end to this practice?

I have no information that the action stated is being taken. I may point out that the obligation of reinstatement under Section 14 of the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, applies to temporary as well as to permanent employés.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that university students engaged on dental and medical studies who are enrolled on the military service register and about to be called up under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, have received notice postponing their calling up, but similar students, provisionally registered on the register of conscientious objectors, have not received such notice of postponement; and if he will take the necessary steps to secure equality of treatment between these two classes of students, as was done in the case of students under the Military Training Act, 1939?

Certain dental and medical students are covered by the schedule of reserved occupations and therefore are not for the present being called up, though entered on the military service register. Those who have applied to be placed on the conscientious objectors' register must have their applications determined by the tribunal and until this has been done the question of calling them up does not arise. There is, therefore, so far as I can see, no inequality of treatment except that which arises from the application to be registered as a conscientious objector.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that skilled tractor-drivers are urgently needed by farmers; whether any of these key men have been called up; and, if so, whether some of them at least can be liberated for a few weeks to co-operate in the ploughing up of grassland?

I am aware of the need to which my hon. Friend refers. Agricultural tractor-drivers who were Reservists or members of the Territorial Army were no doubt called up upon mobilisation and the question of the temporary release of such men is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. Agricultural workers registered under the Military Training Act have not yet been called up with the exception of a few cases in which individuals have asked to be called up.

asked the Home Secretary what will be the remuneration of the members of the aliens tribunals?

asked the Home Secretary what payment is made to the appointed members of the Aliens Tribunals, and is this payment an inclusive fee or a salary continuing until the work is finished?

Unless they are already receiving salaries as county court judges, stipendiary magistrates or Metropolitan magistrates, these gentleman will be entitled to fees at the rate of five guineas a day, or two and a half guineas for half-day sittings, subject to a maximum payment of 20 guineas a week.

asked the Home Secretary (1) how many members of the bar have been appointed to deal with appeals by aliens residing in the area comprising Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, Keighley, and other towns; and will these members sit as one tribunal or will they each sit as a separate tribunal;(2) whether, bearing in mind the fact that many of the towns are some considerable distance from Leeds, and the difficulties of transport at the present time, he will give instructions that, for the convenience of those concerned, the aliens tribunals shall sit at Bradford, where there are approximately 200 enemy aliens, and other places in the area, as well as at Leeds?

His Honour Judge Frankland, Mr. J. W. Jardine, K.C., and Mr. A. Morley, K.C., have been appointed to sit as three separate tribunals to examine cases of Germans and Austrians residing in the area comprising Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and certain neighbouring districts of the West Riding. The headquarters of these three tribunals are at present at Leeds. I am, however, most anxious that everything practicable shall be done to avoid the need for long and expensive journeys by those who have to appear before these tribunals; and I have asked all the gentlemen acting in provincial centres to consider whether they can arrange to hold some of their sittings in places other than their headquarters town if there are in their area considerable numbers of enemy aliens who could more conveniently attend at some other centre.

asked the Home Secretary how far he has succeeded in cutting down the expenditure of local authorities on air-raid precautions; and whether he can state how many paid men and women have now been dispensed with or replaced by unpaid voluntary service?

A review of the A.R.P. establishments of local authorities is still in progress and in the meantime I am not in a position to give the particulars desired.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in certain factories the black-out regulations are interfering with ventilation, and are likely to have serious effects on the health of the workers; and whether he will take steps to prevent this development and call the attention of the factory inspectors to these dangers?

I have heard of various cases where arrangements to obscure lights were at first made without sufficient regard to ventilation, but I have reason to believe that conditions have largely improved. I trust that employers who have not already done so will consider whether their obscuration arrangements are such as to cause undue interference with ventilation, and will where necessary adopt alternative methods of obscuration or of improving the ventilation. Factory inspectors have already devoted a good deal of attention to this matter, but they are now being reminded of its importance.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered complaints regarding the injury to the health? of operative bakers caused by blackout regulations which involve the stoppage of ventilation; that artificial lighting is causing strain and injury to the workers' eyes; that night baking entails a waste of light and power; and if, as night baking is admittedly unnecessary, he is prepared to take steps towards its prohibition?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Banfield) on 20th September.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the recall of retired policemen under 56 years of age in all areas during this period of war and national emergency; and that their remuneration should be composed of part pension and part ordinary policemen's pay, so as to ensure that such a sum is not in excess of the ordinary pay which policemen of that rank would normally receive?

There is no legal power to recall a retired policeman to service. In most forces, however, a First Police Reserve has been formed on a voluntary basis, consisting mainly of suitable police pensioners. The conditions of service of the First Police Reserve in most forces provide that its members shall, when called up to do duty, receive the minimum pay of the rank in which they serve.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that when, upon the direction of the then Lord Privy Seal, early in the year certain schools of London University removed their students to provincial centres indicated for their reception it was found that accommodation had been actually provided for only about one-eighth of the number required, and that even this provision is now threatened by the intention of the Government to commandeer for Government Departments the buildings at present occupied by students of London University thus evacuated under the Lord Privy Seal's instruction; and will he see that the present accommodation is amplified rather than diminished?

My hon. Friend is mistaken in supposing that any directions were issued on behalf of the Government to the authorities of London University to remove their students from London in the event of war. Advice was sought by representatives of the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities on the possibilities of continuing University education in various centres under war conditions, and they were given such guidance as could be afforded to them by the Civil Defence Department. My information is that arrangements for the evacuation of students in certain cases were made by the various Universities and University Colleges in consultation with a Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals; and that, while it was to be expected that the execution of these arrangements would give rise to some difficulties, these have been very much less than suggested in my hon. Friend's question. I am not aware that the existing arrangements are liable to be disturbed by any demands for Government accommodation.

asked the Home Secretary why the Exchequer grant for the first police reserve is restricted to 50 per cent., leaving local authorities to bear the other part; and whether he is aware that the first police reserve is largely made up of police pensioners and that the local authorities already bear 50 per cent. of the pensions?

Apart from certain war emergency expenditure, such as the pay of the Police War Reserve, police expenditure generally is borne in equal parts by the Exchequer and the local rates. The cost of the First Police Reserve is shared in accordance with this general rule.

asked the Home Secretary whether, under powers contained in any of the emergency regulations, it is his intention in any case to authorise regional commissioners to supersede the authority of local governing bodies; if so, will he state the regulation, and also whether this power has been extended to all or any of the commissioners; has it in any instance been put into operation; and, if so, where?

No, Sir. There is no such power under the Defence Regulations and the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will now furnish an estimate of the total weekly wage cost of air-raid precautions services in the United Kingdom?

I assume my hon. Friend has in mind the expenditure on the pay of whole-time volunteers. As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. H. Macmillan) on 5th October, local authorities have been asked to furnish returns which will enable an estimate of this expenditure to be framed; but these returns are not yet complete.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that elected members of local government bodies have accepted paid positions under the Air-Raid Precautions Regulations; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to provide that members of local governing bodies desirous of accepting paid posts on air-raid precautions should resign their civic duties?

I would refer the hon. Member to Section 10 of the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939.

asked the Home Secretary by what authority the chief officer in charge of local air-raid precautions wardens is entitled to inform his subordinates that, if they wish to take part in local newspaper correspondence relating to air-raid precautions arrangements they must submit their letters to him for approval, otherwise they will be dismissed from their posts?

I was not aware that any such directions had been issued by officers in charge of air-raid wardens: but if the hon. Member will send me particulars of any such case which may nave come to his notice I will inquire into it.

asked the Home Secretary what is the weekly cost in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme of the various air-raid precautions services; how many men and women, paid and unpaid, are engaged; and what additional rate this will involve on the supposition that no assistance is received from the Treasury?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the additional cost of whole-time volunteers engaged in airraid precautions services. As I have indicated in reply to previous questions the returns of the personnel so engaged by local authorities are not yet complete. Expenditure on the pay of whole-time volunteers within authorised establishment, and additional to regular personnel, is reimbursed by the Exchequer.

asked the Home Secretary whether establishments for the training of boys for the sea services are recognised as part of the organisation for Civil Defence; and whether the skilled personnel available in those institutions are fully utilised for national service?

I am afraid I am not clear exactly what my hon. Friend has in mind; but if he will write to me putting his point more fully I shall be happy to consider it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that large numbers of the public have bought blackout equipment for car headlamps, &c, which are considered by local air-raid precautions authorities to be entirely adequate, but which do not conform to the revised specifications; and, as such firms who have disposed of their entire stocks to the public are anxious that their customers should not be compelled to change to a new pattern whether he will allow the police in country districts discretion in approving equipment already bought if, in their opinion, it is satisfactory?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the nth October to a question by the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Brooke).

asked the Home Secretary what interests are being consulted with regard to shop-closing hours; and whether the special interests of dockyard workers will be taken into account?

I have endeavoured to take into account the interests of every section of the community—large, small and multiple shopkeepers, shop assistants, and the shopping public, including the special interests of various types of workers. Those of dockyard workers were duly taken into account.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the resolution passed on 2nd October, 1939, by the Greenock branch of the National Amalgamated Union of Shop Assistants, requesting that steps be taken to secure the earlier closing of shops compatible with war-time conditions, together with a statutory limitation in the working hours of those employed in shops, a copy of which has been sent him by the hon. Member for Greenock; and whether he has any statement to make thereon?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to-day to questions by the hon. Members for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers) and the Sedgefield Division of Durham (Mr. Leslie).

asked the Minister of Health whether masters' wives engaged in London on the departure of an evacuated party, and in receipt of a billeting allowance, can be dismissed by a local authority on the ground that there are enough local voluntary workers to do the necessary work?

Teachers' wives in respect of whom billeting allowances are payable are billeted in the receiving areas in the capacity of full-time helpers. I have instructed the local authorities in those areas that the helpers should be regarded as under their direction, and that arrangements should be made to allocate and co-ordinate their services in order that they may be as usefully employed as possible. I should hope, in view of the very numerous activities which local authorities are being asked to undertake, that it would be possible to employ all available helpers usefully, but if a local authority is satisfied that there are some who should be dispensed with, it is open to them to notify the evacuating authority that these helpers are no longer required and that they propose to discontinue the billeting allowances.

asked the Minister of Health whether a master who takes a house or flat instead of remaining in billets will be treated as forfeiting his own billeting allowance and that of his wife, if she is an accredited helper, and those of his children?

The billeting allowances are payable to occupiers who have provided accommodation in accordance with a billeting notice and could not, therefore, be issued in the circumstances mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the amounts paid by his Department weekly to hospitals in respect of wards assigned to airraid casualties; whether he is satisfied that the system which entails a heavy outlay on the State is working satisfactorily; and whether this outlay can be reduced since it is far more than the hospitals would receive from civil patients were they able to be accommodated?

Payments in respect of beds reserved for air-raid casualties are at present being made only to voluntary hospitals. They are made fortnightly, and the total payments so far made for the first fortnight have amounted to approximately £170,000. This figure will be subject to considerable adjustment in the light of additional information being received from the hospitals following the payments.In reply to the second part of the question, I am satisfied that this system is enabling us to have many beds ready and staffed for casualties which would not otherwise be available. I do not consider the provision being made againsts air-raid casualties unreasonable. I am, however, reviewing the list of hospitals where beds are reserved for casualties in order to ensure that beds are not being kept empty unnecessarily.In reply to the third part of the question, the payments being made to the hospitals are not related to the payments normally made by civil patients since these do not as a rule meet the whole cost of treatment. Voluntary hospitals are largely dependent on contributions and other charitable sources for the treatment of civil patients, but the Government have undertaken that the cost of treating casualties shall be borne by the ExchequerThe Department are investigating the claims for payment being submitted by hospitals in order to ensure that they properly correspond with the actual additional expenditure in which the hospitals are involved by reason of the Emergency Hospital Scheme.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make every effort to reinstate doctors who gave up salaried posts for air-raid precautions work under the impression they would be paid £550 a year, and who now find they are paid £21 a year?

I am not aware of any case such as the hon. Member describes, but if he will let me have particulars I will certainly investigate the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the number of trained and partially trained refugee nurses, respectively, now residents in Great Britain and the number of those allowed to be employed in nursing work?

There are about 180 trained and 840 partially trained refugee nurses in the United Kingdom. All of them are at present engaged in nursing work.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give an estimate of the total number of refugees, including Czechs and Austrians, who have escaped to this country from Nazi rule?

The figures which are available do not distinguish Austrians from Germans. The total number of German and Austrian refugees is 49,500, including 9,000 children. The number of refugees from Czecho-Slovakia is about 6,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present staff employed in the postal and telegraph censorship; and what is the approximate delay involved in censoring outgoing letters and telegrams, respectively?

The staff in question at present numbers 1,479.The normal delay of letters is nine hours. The delay at peak periods has never exceeded 36 hours. The delay of telegrams varies from a few minutes to one hour at peak periods.Delays will be diminished as the staff increases.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the desirability of the widest circulation abroad of the Blue Book concerning the diplomatic events leading to the outbreak of hostilities, he would consider amending the regulations so that individuals who wish to send this book to neutrals abroad could do so by ordering copies direct for export from the Stationery Office?

There is nothing in the regulations to prevent any individual from sending copies of the Blue Book to neutrals abroad if they are ordered from His Majesty's Stationery Office or any other big publishing or exporting firm which has a permit for export.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the complaints among both officers and men, of delays in receiving their own pay, and allowances for their families; and will he take immediate steps to remove this grievance?

As has been stated in answers to previous questions on this subject, every effort is being made to eliminate delay in payment.

asked the Secretary of State for War why similar pharmaceutical service is not provided in the Army as is provided in the Navy; and what representations on the subject have been made to him by the council of the Guild of Public Pharmacists?

I am advised that the requirements of the Army are adequately met by the existing organisation. In addition to those normally employed in peace time, I am informed that over 100 fully qualified pharmacists have been enlisted as dispensers into the medical services since the outbreak of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on 12th September a parochial incumbent with many years Army service asked the chaplain-general's permission to minister to troops who desired ministration and were without a chaplain, and that his request was refused by telegram; and will he take steps to prevent such occurrences in future?

The reply was sent by telegram because the request was made by telegram. The applicant, who had been an Army chaplain, should have been aware that the matter was one for the headquarters of the Command concerned to deal with. I regret that this was not included in the reply.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what position Sir Herbert Creedy is still employed at the War Office; and what is his salary?

Sir Herbert Creedy is still employed as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War at the salary attaching to that post of £3,000 a year. He retires from the public service on 25th October next.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that certain military units now stationed in Essex are without greatcoats; whether any of the members of these units when on sentry duty have suffered through exposure to the weather; and whether he will give the explanation of such shortages of Army clothing as exist and the steps being taken to remedy them?

The present shortage of clothing is due to the enormous increase in requirements resulting from the expansion of the Army, and to the time necessary to obtain the increased productive capacity for making material and making up the garments. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that the difficulties are being overcome, and already the rate of production of greatcoat cloth a week has practically reached the maximum production in the last war. Pending the provision of a full supply of greatcoats, authority has been given for the local purchase of overcoats where necessary. There is no trace of a report from these units of any suffering through exposure on sentry duty.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that horses transported for war service in Europe will be brought back to this country at the close of hostilities or painlessly destroyed?

The assurance asked for is in accordance with the practice that has for a long time been observed in the disposal of British Army horses on foreign service, and there is no intention of departing from it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. A.J. Cox, of 89, Turnage Road, Dagenham, applied for his Army medical records in writing, in order that he might avail himself of the privileges granted to disabled ex-Service men in obtaining light work for which they are suited; that he was refused these by the War Office on the grounds that Army medical records are confidential and privileged, and that it is contrary to the general practice of the Department to make disclosures there-from; and whether he will take steps to see that this information is made available to men applying for it in the proper manner?

It is essential to maintain the confidential nature of the Army medical records, which are priviledged from disclosure. I regret that an exception cannot be made in this case, but the letter sent to Mr. Cox confirmed the statement as to his medical category shown on the protection certificate issued to him on his discharge, which was not on medical grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue a White Paper giving the scales of payment of allowances to parents or widows whose sons have joined the forces; whether he can state the nature of the tribunals which award allowances; and whether it is intended to so improve these as to bring them into closer contact with those whose incomes have been reduced by their sons service in the forces?

The scales are set out in a Royal Warrant and Schedule published as Army Order 170 of 1939. I will arrange for a White Paper to be circulated giving the details.Awards are made by regimental paymasters in cases which fulfil the conditions prescribed by the regulations. Where application is made for special assistance outside the provisions of the regulations, the cases are considered and decided in the light of recommendations made, after local investigation into the circumstances, to the Service Department concerned by the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee, referred to in the White Paper circulated in June last in connection with allowances for men called up under the Military Training Act and the Reserve and Auxxiliary Forces Act.As regards the last part of the question, in cases of hardship which are not met by the normal scale of allowances, the soldier has access to this committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that officers of the Supplementary Reserve and members of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers are paid monthly in arrear whilst Regular serving officers are paid monthly in advance; and whether, in view of the hardships that ensue, he is prepared to direct that payments to all officers shall be made fortnightly in advance during the present emergency?

The statement in the first part of the question is not quite correct. The privilege of payment in advance is limited by the Pay Warrant to serving Regular officers of combatant arms. Regular serving officers of non-combatant corps and the staff have always been paid monthly in arrear as are officers of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. The concession in the Army is somewhat of an anachronism, but it is a long-standing condition of service of the Regular combatant officer. I see no grounds for extending it to all officers. It is not the practice in any civil calling, so far as I am aware, to pay salaries in advance. Any officer who requires an advance of pay on first joining may, however, obtain a fortnight's advance on application to the Command Paymaster or Army Agent from whom he is to draw his pay.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will consider the recasting of the Meat

I shall be prepared to consider any alteration in the meat control scheme in South Wales which experience of its working may suggest is desirable, and I shall not fail to keep the position under review in consultation with local interests. The following statement shows the sites of slaughter-houses selected to operate at the outset, the areas served by each and the names of the meat executive officers. Rates of salary are not included as these are still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a tabulated statement showing the classification of the personnel engaged under his Department in the county of Glamorgan; the number of persons engaged in each grade or class; and the range of salaries which attach to such grades or classes?

I am having the information collected, and will circulate it as soon as it is available. The conditions of service and salaries for several groups of staff are still under consideration. For clerical and typing staffs, the rates laid down by the Treasury for these classes are being paid.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give consideration to the case of blind men who have the assistance of trained dogs to act as guides for them in getting about from one place to another, in regard to ration cards and extra allowance, as, in many instances, it will be a considerable hardship if the men cannot get the rations to feed the animals on whom to a great extent they depend?

This question of the supply of food for the guide-dogs of blind persons is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the friendly relations between Italy and this country, he will consider the desirability of purchasing as many foodstuffs as possible from that country?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is taking steps to ensure that the provisions contained in Order No. 1019 relating to the constitution of local food committees is being observed, particularly the provision which forbids the appointment of persons engaged in the business of a trader in foodstuffs other than those representing retail trades?

In order to ensure that the provisions of Order No. 1019 relating to the constitution of Food Control Committees are observed, the Clerk of the appointing Authority is required by paragraph 4 of the Order to furnish the Divisional Food Officer with a list of the persons appointed in the form prescribed in the schedule to the Order (of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy). In this list, the profession, business or occupation of each member must be shown. It is the duty of the Divisional Food Officers to examine these returns and to ensure that the appointments conform with the requirements of the Order.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will now state when he expects to make an order fixing maximum prices for fish at the ports, inland wholesale markets, and in respect of the retail trade?

An Order fixing maximum prices of fish will be issued as soon as the schedules of prices have been submitted to the Advisory Committee which is being appointed. I am awaiting nominations to this committee from some of the Associations which have been invited to send representatives.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the unsatisfactory method of estimating the live weight of sheep and pigs, he will consider, when the new marketing regulations come into force, allowing them to be sold on the dead-weight basis, like cattle, or, failing this, to arrange for the use of scales in markets?

When full control comes into operation it is anticipated that sheep will be bought on an estimated dead-weight basis and bacon pigs on ascertained dead-weight. The procedure as regards pork pigs is under consideration. Where weighing facilities are available at collecting centres and their use will not disorganise market arrangements, sheep will be weighed in the presence of the farmer if he so desires.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what regulations exist at the present time which prevent cottagers keeping and feeding pigs for their own household; whether such cottagers, in the case of an individual pig, have the right to use the flesh of the animal as and when they like; and whether, as thousands of pigs could be kept by cottagers, as used to be the case, he will consider facilitating this form of pig-raising?

My Department has imposed no restrictions in regard to the matters referred to in the first and second parts of my hon. and gallant Friend's question. As regards the third part of his question, I would refer to the reply which I gave on the 4th October to the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. J. Morgan).

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that the fixed price of 13s. a score for bacon-pigs is related to a feeding-stuff price of 7s. 6d. a hundred-weight; and whether, in view of the higher range of feeding-stuffs price now fixed, he will reconsider the price per score of bacon-pigs?

I hope to be in a position to issue an amending Order to the Pigs (Provisional Prices) Order within the next day or two.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will consider abolishing married disabilities for such teachers or ex-teachers as have husbands serving in His Majesty's forces?

There is no general bar against the employment of married women teachers. The question of continuing the employment of women teachers on marriage or of appointing married women as teachers is a matter within the discretion of the local education authorities and other bodies with whom the appointments rest.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the estimated number of children of school age in the London County Council area; the estimated number who have been evacuated and remain evacuated; and what steps have been taken to provide education for those still in the London area?

I am not yet in a position to state the estimated number of children now in the London County Council area and the number who have been evacuated and remain evacuated. Certain steps which might be taken to provide education for those still in evacuation areas were suggested in the Board's Circular No. 1479, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. I understand that the London County Council have these suggestions under consideration and have already put some of them into effect in certain parts of their area.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education why he has only appointed one woman to be a member of the National Youth Council?

The size of the National Youth Committee was conditioned by the need for speedy and effective action. But subject to this consideration, special care was taken to include those qualified by experience to speak on behalf of young people. Apart from a direct representative of girls' organisations, both the local education authorities and the national voluntary bodies speak on behalf of girls, no less than boys. My Noble Friend fully appreciates the Noble Lady's point of view, but he would be reluctant to enlarge the committee unduly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the reason for the delay in reimbursing local authorities, or in giving an official assurance that such will be done, in the receiving areas, for the expenditure involved in providing educational facilities for evacuated schoolchildren?

Local education authorities of receiving areas were informed in the Board's Circular 1469 that they would not be put to any additional educational expense by having children billeted in their area.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that in evacuation areas where the shift system is in use in the schools, schoolmasters are only employed in teaching half the normal hours per day, namely, 3J hours, and that as they are in receipt of billeting allowance they are doing less work than before at a greater cost to the taxpayer; and whether he will impress on these teachers that they must occupy the children in and out of school hours in order to relieve the burden on the local householder?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers I gave to his question on 5th October. Though teachers may be employed for only half the day on the school premises, the timetable should, where possible, include educational activities elsewhere, and in such cases the time spent on teaching would be to that extent increased. But no legal responsibility can rest on teachers for the welfare of children out of school hours; it is a matter for the good will of the teachers, who in practice are generally putting in a great deal of work for the children outside their teaching duties.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, how many permanent members of the inspectorate staff of the Board have been loaned to other departments; and how soon will their services be available for the assistance of local education authorities in seeking a solution of the problems arising from evacuation?

Fifty-five members of the Board's Inspectorate have been seconded on loan to other Departments: of these, nine are giving part-time service only to another Department and are consequently available for part of their inspectorial duties. The remaining 46 will not return to their districts so long as their services are required by the other Departments. The hon. Member will appreciate that since a large number of schools are closed, the balance of the Inspectorate is quite adequate to deal with the problems in the reception areas to which evacuation has given rise.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the declared intention of the Government to preserve the essential work of education undisturbed, the commandeering of educational buildings has already seriously interfered with, and is progressively injuring educational work; and whether he will inquire more closely into the activities of his Department in this field and revise precipitate and ill-considered action where this can be demonstrated to have taken place?

I am aware, and much regret, that over-riding require- ments have made it necessary to commandeer a number of educational buildings. This action has only been taken where I am satisfied that there is no alternative, and in many such cases my Department has assisted as far as possible in finding alternative premises for the educational establishments affected. As I explained yesterday in reply to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson), I intend as opportunity offers to provide alternative accommodation in the areas concerned, to replace the buildings so requisitioned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information on whose authority the information departments of the War Office, Admiralty, Air Ministry, Foreign Office, Board of Education, Home Office and Ministry of Agriculture are still housed at the Ministry of Information; how many persons from each of the departments named are employed; and whether, as regards any of these departments, the work is being duplicated?

The decision whether the information departments of any particular Government Department should be housed at the Ministry of Information or not is for that Department. In regard to the second part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I am giving to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Carlisle (Brigadier-General Spears). The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information how many of the 60 persons transferred from the staff of the Ministry of Information to other Government Departments are filling new posts; and how many have returned to posts they were filling before they were employed by the Ministry?

Of the staff of 60 referred to 48 were acting as specialists in the News Division of the Ministry and 12 were clerks or typists. When the News Division of the Ministry was set up, 23 specialists were transferred from the Press Relations Sections of existing Departments to it, but it was necessary to obtain the services of 25 others in order to provide the 24-hour service required in the Ministry. The 23 specialists have been returned to their posts which they were filling before they were employed in the Ministry.Now that the Departments have become responsible for this issue of news, it is for them to decide, with the approval of the Treasury, what staff they will require in their news sections under wartime conditions and I am not therefore in a position to say how the remaining 25 persons will be employed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he can state the aggregate amount of liability incurred in the payment of regional office staff of all grades up to the time of the discontinuance of such offices as originally established?

The aggregate amount of liability incurred in the payment of all grades of temporary staff employed in the regional offices of the Ministry of Information up to the time of the expiry of their notices is estimated at £4,500. The exact figures cannot be furnished since some of the weekly staff may, according to local exigencies, be continued for a short time on a week-to-week basis, but the estimate given takes account of this. This figure does not include the remuneration of established civil servants seconded to the Ministry from other Departments, whose salaries are paid by their original Departments.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will make a statement with reference to the release at 3.40 p.m. on the 9th October of a certain Admiralty item of news, its cancellation at about 3.50 and its subsequent re-release about 4.10; and what steps are being taken to obviate any further occurrence of such circumstances?

On the occasion of the recent visit of His Majesty the King to the Home Fleet a Press report appeared concerning awards made to naval personnel. The Admiralty issued a statement denying the truth of the report but unfortunately owing to a mistake this denial was cancelled. Immediate action was taken to rectify this mistake and to prevent a similar occurrence in the future,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that he will not permit British representatives on the Bank for International Settlements, during the progress of the war, to proceed to meetings of the bank?

The British directors will not during the war attend any meetings of the board without agreement with the Treasury. As I have already stated, they will not in any case during the war meet the German members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed that Income Tax should be charged at the standard rate on the pay of officers on active service, or whether some remission, in accordance with the precedent of the last war, will be accorded?

No, Sir. I do not see my way to propose any special relief from Income Tax in favour of the pay of officers on active service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any reliable figures of the holdings and of the current production of gold in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

No reliable estimate of these figures is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of suspending all duties on imports for the duration of the war in order to keep costs as low as possible and encourage exports; and whether he will convey to the House at an early date his conclusions in this matter?

I am afraid I could not contemplate the loss of revenue that would be entailed if the hon. Member's suggestion were adopted. Moreover, indiscriminate importation at this time is far from being desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to maintain as far as possible the value of the pay of serving soldiers, sailors and airmen, he will consider making arrangements so that tobacco and cigarettes sold at Navy, Army and Air Force Institute canteens may be purchased by serving men at the price appertaining before the introduction of the war Budget?

There is no legislation fixing the price at which Navy, Army and Air Force institute canteens sell tobacco and cigarettes, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that, since drawback of duty is payable on manufactured tobacco and cigarettes which are exported from this country, our forces abroad can enjoy the advantage of purchasing these articles duty free.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware of the increasing unemployment in the building industry and allied trades; the difficulty in obtaining mortgage advances by purchasers who have entered into contracts to purchase; and the apprehension and loss caused both by small and large owners and others associated with real property arising from the delay in the setting up of a real property war risks insurance scheme; and will he undertake to give a prompt decision on receipt of the Weir Report;(2) when the Weir Committee on the War Risks Insurance of Real Property was appointed; on what date did it commence its sittings; on what dates has it continued to sit; what is the reason for the delay in reporting; what steps have been taken to expedite the report; and when may it now be expected to be made public?

Unemployment in the building industry and allied trades is substantially less than it was last year, and I could not accept the implication that the absence of a scheme of insurance against risk of war damage is a main cause of the other conditions referred to. But I agree that it is most desirable to publish the Weir Report and reach a decision upon it as promptly as possible. I had hoped to be able to circulate the report to-day, together with the views of the Government thereon. It will not be possible to complete the White Paper in time for this, but if a question is put to me on Tuesday I expect to be able to announce that it is ready. In the meantime, I must remove any impression of delay. On the contrary, Lord Weir's Committee was constituted on the 27th July; it commenced sitting almost immediately; and when war appeared imminent it willingly undertook, in response to my request, to expedite its work and reach its conclusions with all possible speed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to terminate the use of postal orders as currency; and whether he will state the average weekly loss due to the cessation of the poundage on postal orders?

In reply to the first part of the question, I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) on 26th September. As regards the second part of the question, it is not possible at present to estimate what poundage would have been received on postal orders if they had not been legal tender, but the gross revenue from poundage during the year 1938–39 was £2,237,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in connection with the requisitioning of hotels by the Government, resulting in the billeting of civil servants at the sum of £1 is. per person per week, this sum to include two meals daily, breakfast and one other hot meal, he will take into consideration the increased cost of living since the commencement of the war, and take steps to revise this amount?

I am satisfied that the rate which has been fixed for the billeting of civil servants is fair and reasonable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give an assurance that both men and women temporarily employed in the Civil Service in default of examination will have an opportunity after the war is over of sitting for an examination and, if successful, obtaining permanent status?

I am afraid that it is impossible at this juncture to give any assurance with regard to any postwar arrangements which it might be found desirable to make in the matter of permanent recruitment to the Civil Service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to dependants of men serving with the armed forces having to provide, out of their allowances, for medical service to their families; and whether he will consider making arrangements for the provision by the State of such service to the families of these men during their period of service?

Men who join the armed forces are not in any less favourable position than the civil population in this matter, and I can see no reason for differentiating between them.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in cases where local authorities are willing for the duration of the war, and owing to the shortage of houses, to allow owners of property scheduled for demolition to relet it, he will not compel the enforcement of the provisions of Section 155, Sub-section (3), of the Housing Act of 1936?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply which I gave on the 5th October to a question on the same subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Moss Side (Mr. W. R. Duckworth).

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the number of fully-qualified midwives in England and Wales; and the number now engaged on maternity work?

The number of midwives on the Midwives Roll, who are entitled to practise as midwives in England and Wales, is 63,275. The number of mid-wives returned by local supervising authorities as practising in England and Wales in 1938 was 16,761. Figures are not available of the number practising at the present date.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the total number of women who have surrendered their certificates under paragraph 51 of the Midwives Act, 1936; and the numbers on account of age, inefficiency, and lack of qualifications, respectively?

The number of midwives who have surrendered their certificates under Sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 5 of the Midwives Act, 1936, and whose certificates have been cancelled by the Central Midwives Board, is 2,780. Separate figures are not available of the number of certificates surrendered under Sub-section (2) which relates to compulsory surrender where a midwife is incapable, by reason of age or infirmity of mind or body, of efficiently performing her duties as a midwife.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, as the result of his action in enrolling for full-time service nearly all the medical staffs of the voluntary hospitals in London at salaries which in most cases will hardly defray their house-rent, rates and taxes, he has subjected a large number of the most distinguished members of the medical profession to acute financial stress, inasmuch as they have been suddenly prevented from earning any income from private practice, but are unable to relinquish as suddenly their heavy commitments based on their previous earnings; and if he will consider making some legislative provision such as a moratorium in the payment of rent, rates and taxes in the case of consultants thus called up for National Service?

Recruitment to the Emergency Medical Service is on a voluntary basis. Salaries and conditions for this service were fixed in consultation with representatives of the medical profession. As I have already said, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon, arrangements have been made under which doctors serving in the Emergency Medical Service can either go on indefinite leave, subject to recall if required, or, with certain exceptions, transfer from full-time to part-time service. I think the hon. Member will agree that these arrangements should enable the practitioners to whom he refers to continue private practice. I regret that I am unable to accept the suggestion in the last part of the question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will favourably consider the reinstatement of the is, telephone charge after 7 p.m., in view of the hardship to many in His Majesty's Forces stationed in various parts of Britain who find a minimum charge of 2s. 6d. to be prohibitive?

The decision to withdraw the is night rate was made with reluctance, but it was essential to reduce the volume of traffic to proportions which would allow urgent calls on Defence matters to be put through with the least possible delay. The requirements remain unchanged and I am sorry that reinstatement is not at present practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether officers carry identity discs; whether his attention has been called to the fact that three British pilots buried recently by the German authorities at Osnabrueck were described as unknown; and what arrangements exist to exchange through neutrals evidence of identity?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, a bureau for the exchange of information regarding casualties and prisoners of war has been set up as provided for in the International Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and the first exchange of information is now taking place.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that many stocks of imported hardwoods, notably ash, oak and beech, urgently required for Government contracts and sub-contracts and for agricultural implements are now almost completely exhausted; whether he is aware that the Controller of Timber is refusing any new importations even under licence; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this serious emergency?

I am aware that stocks of imported hardwoods are low. The purchase of all timber abroad has been centralised in the Controller of Timber Supplies and he is taking all possible steps to secure additional supplies.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the boards of railway companies on the running of the railways since they were taken over by the Government; and what action has been taken on such representations?

I have received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in order to relieve anxiety and physical strain in many homes, he will instruct local authorities in receiving areas that elderly people and those certified as physically unfit to cope with evacuees will be excluded from the lists of those called upon to receive women and children?

It has always been made clear to local authorities that special consideration would require to be given to aged or infirm householders, and I have no reason to believe that local authorities have failed to exercise their discretion in favour of such householders where necessary. If the hon. Member has any specific cases in mind, however, perhaps he will send me details.