asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has reached a decision about the issue of ration cards to meet the requirements of Members of Parliament in their constituencies, actors on tour, and commercial travellers in the course of their business, etc.?

Persons who are continually changing their place of residence were advised to place the word "travelling" against their occupation when completing the National Registration Schedule and a special "Traveller's" Ration Book will be issued to them automatically. Those who did not insert the word "travelling" on the schedule should apply to their local food office for the issue of a traveller's in lieu of the ordinary ration book.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can give an assurance that none of the executive officers of any of the food control boards are still retained by any trading body, corporation or cooperative society in competition with those producing, manufacturing or distributing the articles or commodities controlled?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give a list of all the controllers appointed by the Ministry of Food, and, in such cases as these gentlemen were not previously Government officials, their business interests prior to their assuming their present duties; and to what extent these interests continue?

Following is a statement giving the names of the heads of the commodity organisations of the Ministry and their principal business interests or positions previously held.It is a condition of appointment to these and subordinate posts that holders of them should not exercise executive control of any business connected with food importation, manufacture or distribution. Whilst it is recognised that occasional contact with their business interests may be necessary, the overriding principles which have been laid down are:

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make inquiry into the difficulties now ex- perienced by fried-fish merchants in all parts of the country to obtain the supplies of filleted fish that they require in view of the importance of this food in many rural areas, especially now, when the normal population is increased by evacuated children from cities; and will he consult with the Secretary for Mines in order that a sufficient ration of petrol may be provided for bona fide fish merchants to get round the villages in their customary manner?

I am aware that difficulties, both of supply and distribution, exist, and arrangements have been made for representatives of the trade to discuss these difficulties with the Department early next week.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that a large quantity of butter and bacon, consigned to North Staffordshire, was rendered unfit for consumption due to delay of delivery by rail; and whether he can make a statement on the matter?

I would refer to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Stone (Sir J. Lamb) on 26th October.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in connection with feeding stuffs for cattle, he is aware that some manufacturers of balanced rations are contemplating selling these rations undeclared on the ground that the outside sources, which were available before the war for the balanced rations, are not now available; and, since these rations cannot now be described as balanced, whether he will take steps to prevent these compound mixtures being sold in view of the shortage of feeding stuffs for cattle?

No cases have been brought to my notice of manufacturers selling mixtures without the statutory statements required under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act. It is possible, however, that manufacturers may have supplied certain mixed feeds with a notice that to produce a balanced ration a cereal addition, for example, barley meal, is required. This is not unusual even in peace-time, and it is not considered that any action on the part of the Ministry of Food is necessary.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that, although information with regard to manufacturing facilities in Wolverhampton and neighbourhood is now in the possession of the Director of Industrial Progress, no action has been taken; that there is urgent need of samples and drawings at Wolverhampton; and whether he will consider the advisability of setting up an advisory committee representative of employers and employed in the district, through which action could be taken for the distribution of, and the rapid increase in, orders for urgent Government requirements?

I cannot agree that no action has been taken on the information which has been made available to the Ministry with regard to manufacturing facilities in Wolverhampton and neighbourhood, since orders have been placed by the Ministry with a large number of firms in this district.With regard to the second part of the question, arrangements are being made for samples for this district to be available at Birmingham, and as regards the last part, arrangements on the lines indicated are now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps have been taken to augment home-production of such raw materials as coal, iron-ore, oil and oleum?

Plans are already in operation to increase the home-production of iron-ore and output is rapidly expanding. Oleum capacity is estimated to be ample for present requirements. Further capacity is being erected to keep in step with expanding requirements. Coal and oil come within the province of my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines, and I understand from him that all necessary steps are in progress to increase the home-production of these materials.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will give a. list of all the controllers appointed by him, and, in such cases as these gentlemen were not previously Government officials, their business interests prior to their assuming their present duties; and to what extent these interests continue?

I have had a list prepared giving the desired information and will send a copy to my hon. Friend. As regards the continuance of interests in business with which controllers were previously connected, it was a de clear to controllers on appointment that they must cease from any active participation in business enterprises in any way connected with the commodities under their control. I am satisfied that this rule is being observed in the letter and in the spirit.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the price of home-grown pit wood has been increased by 300 per cent.; that there is no justification for this increase since it is longstanding timber in many cases in the immediate vicinity of the coal areas needing it; and, as this increase is taken almost wholly by the landowners who have incurred no increased expenditure and will add considerably to the cost of producing coal which will again increase the price of that commodity, what steps he proposes to deal with this matter?

I am not aware that in any instance the price of home-grown pit-wood has been increased to the extent stated. As stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Linlithgow on the 18th October, scheduled prices of homegrown pit wood represent, in the view of my expert advisers, a fair return to producers under present conditions.

asked the Minister of Supply how many of the 9,000 companies whose plants have been surveyed are now working on Government contracts?

The large majority of these firms now have direct contracts or are working as sub-contractors for Government work. To give the detailed figures would involve a very large amount of labour, which I do not think would be justified.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, with a view to a more speedy and economical production by having the whole of the supply services under one Department instead of three, he is prepared to initiate a proposal to take over the supply services of the Air Ministry and Admiralty?

No, Sir. I see no ground in present circumstances for initiating such a proposal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that uncertainty exists among keepers of pigs and poultry as to what head of stock they should-keep, in view of the shortage of supplies of certain important feeding-stuffs; and whether he will give an indication at an early date as to what supplies are likely to be available?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is aware of the uncertainty to which the hon. Member refers, but there is nothing which my right hon. Friend can add to the statement he made on 19th October.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what contacts are maintained between his Department and the Institute of Agricultural Engineers; and how-many associates of this body are advising on the campaign for growing more food?

The Institution of British Agricultural Engineers has offered its co-operation and assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture and this offer has been discussed with the hon. Secretary of the institution. I understand that the institution has decided to appoint a liaison committee which will be available for consultation if required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many liaison officers have been appointed to act between agricultural war executives and his Department; and what other bodies are consulted in connection with the campaign to produce more food apart from the National Farmers' Union and the trade union representatives?

The number of liaison officers appointed to act between county war agricultural executive committees and the Ministry is at present three. In addition, the secretary of the Welsh Department of the Ministry is acting as liaison officer with the Welsh county committees, and the Horticultural Commissioner of the Ministry is acting as liaison officer on horticultural matters. The Ministry's Land Commissioners also act as liaison officers between the Ministry and the county committees within their districts. My right hon. Friend is not in regular consultation with any bodies other than the National Farmers' Union and the agricultural workers' organisations on matters arising out of the food production campaign, but he has appointed a number of expert advisory committees to assist him in the consideration of particular problems, and in cases where special interests are concerned my right hon. Friend is in contact, whenever necessary, with the responsible organisations.

asked the Attorney-General how many solicitors have, since January, 1932, been convicted in the criminal courts for defrauding their clients; and how many of them were sole partners of their respective firms at the time of their defalcations or bankruptcy?

I regret I have not been able to obtain the figures for this year, but for the six years ending 31st December, 1938, 57 solicitors were convicted of misappropriating clients' moneys or of similar offences. Of these, 50 were practising alone at the time of their conviction, and the remaining seven were members of firms.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is now in a position to make a statement of Government policy to meet the position of insurance policy-holders who are unable, owing to war conditions, to continue payment of premiums falling due?

I regret I am not yet in a position to make a statement, as consultations with the Life Insurance and Industrial Insurance Companies are still proceeding.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that soldiers who have been called up for service who have goods on the hire-purchase system and are unable to make their payments in consequence of their decreased income due to their service are being asked to agree to additional charges for extended credit; and what steps he intends to take to prevent such additional charges being imposed?

I have no knowledge of demands of the kind referred to. If the hon. Gentleman will send me any information in his possession I will consider it.

asked the Minister of Labour why steam-waggon drivers are not classified into the three grades which appertain to other road-haulage employes, whilst the cost-of-living scale applies similarly to both forms of transport?

I assume that the question relates to the proposals of which public notice was given on 6th October by the Road Haulage Central Wages Board. The board, which is a statutory body, has not yet submitted the proposals to my right hon. Friend. As I understand the proposals, however, no distinction is made between drivers of steam wagons and drivers of other kinds of goods vehicles in the matter of grading them for the purpose of wage fixing according to the localities in which they work.

asked the Attorney-General whether he can now inform the House as to the result of the investigation which he stated some weeks ago was being made by the Government as to the serious difficulties and often distress of boarding-house keepers, hotel keepers, letters of flats, retail traders, and others similarly affected owing to the war, and, in particular, by the evacuation schemes of the Government whereby they have lost their tenants and customers; and what action is proposed to be taken in this matter?

The investigation to which I referred on the 18th October is still continuing. Among the persons who have been interviewed are representatives of the Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Residential Hotels Association, the London Emergency Apartment-House-Keepers Society, the Motor Trade Association and associations representing property owners. Bodies representing retail traders in general are also being afforded an opportunity of presenting their views. My hon. Friend will realise, therefore, that a thorough investigation is being made, but these bodies have to be given time to collect and prepare their information, and it would be unreasonable to expect the investigation to have been completed in the time which has elapsed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the lower ranks of Royal Air Force, when on leave, are frequently involved in expenses in order to visit their wives and families who have been evacuated; and whether, in view of the special circumstances, he will enable all such airmen to secure a free warrant whether on leave from centres in this country or overseas?

Personnel are allowed one free warrant on embarkation leave in this country and one after each six months service in France. The question of free warrants for personnel serving in this country is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why marriage allowances are not granted to officers in the Royal Air Force as they are in the Army and Navy; and how the payments which are made, presumably on compensatory lines, compare with the financial advantages in the other two services?

Allowances to married officers in the Royal Air Force and in the Army are paid under the same conditions and at the same rates. Allowances in the Navy differ slightly to accord with naval conditions of service.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many tons of cement are required for the work at the Bishopton ordnance factory weekly, and how many tons are being supplied weekly?

I regret that, in the public interest, it is not desirable to disclose this information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what decision has been reached on the question of holding special examinations in training colleges for students who are called up before completing their approved courses of study?

The Board have decided to request the various joint boards which are responsible for examining students in training colleges to hold a modified examination in the fifth term of the two year (that is, six term) course for those students who cannot continue their studies beyond the fifth term owing to their having been called up under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939. Such students will be eligible for recognition as certificated teachers in the same way as those who complete the full course.The Board do not propose to ask the joint boards to conduct any special examination for those students who complete four terms or less of the course. The question whether such students will be required to undergo a further period of training before being regarded as eligible for recognition as certificated teachers, and if so the extent of the further training in each case, will be decided in the light of the circumstances which prevail when the student is released from military service. In any case, as I informed the hon. Member in my answer to his question of the 19th October, students will not be required after the war to repeat a period of study which they had completed before they were called up.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the names of the secondary schools which have been allowed to return. after evacuation, to their original premises in evacuation areas?

The following is the list of secondary schools to the reopening of which the Board have assented subject to sufficient air-raid protection being provided and attendance being voluntary:

• Birkenhead School.
• Derby School.
• Derby, Parkfields Cedars Secondary School.
• West Hartlepool, St. Joseph's Convent School.
• Thurrock, Grays, Palmer's Endowed School for Boys.
• Manchester Grammar School.
• Hampstead, University College School.
• Nottingham, The Manning School.
• Merton and Morden, Rutlish School.
• Wimbledon County School for Girls.
• Croydon, Whitgift School.
• Coventry, Bablake School.
• Coventry, Barr's Hill Secondary School.
• Coventry, Stoke Park Secondary School.
• Bradford Girls' Grammar School.
• Bradford, St. Bede's Grammar School.
• Bradford, St. Joseph's College.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the decision of the York Education Authority, which is in a neutral area, to cut down all evening classes by 50 per cent.; whether this decision is in conformity with the policy of the Board; and whether there have been any communications on the subject between the Board and the local education authority?

The Board have not had any communication with the York local education authority on this subject, but I understand that it has been decided to open three of the six Junior Evening Institutes and that students have now been enrolled for the Senior Evening Classes. The declared policy of the Board is to encourage the provision of evening classes wherever possible, and I trust that the demand for evening instruction at York will be found to justify the reopening of the other three Institutes in the near future.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that, under the group scheme for commercial vehicles, while owners can buy in bulk from petrol companies if they can produce coupons to the amount of 200 gallons, no such arrangement operates in the case of motor-cars; and whether he will consider the advisability of extending it to include motor-cars in order to assist business firms?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, Bilston (Mr. Hannah), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary for Mines, whether he is aware that Messrs. Hipperson and Son, 6, Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2, who are engaged on important contracts on searchlight camps, are allowed only nine gallons per week more than the general ration and have had their application for an additional allowance refused; and that the equipment of searchlight camps is being impeded by the consequent shortage of petrol, and what steps he is taking?

I have been asked to reply. I think my hon. Friend must be under some misapprehension. Messrs. Hipperson have stated that they have no complaints.

asked the Secretary for Mines what steps he is taking to ensure that all individuals and companies engaged on contracts of urgent importance for Government Departments shall have as much petrol as is reasonably necessary for the prompt and efficient carrying out of their contracts?

If my hon. Friend has in mind private cars used by business concerns the instructions already issued to the Divisional Petroleum Officers make provision for additional allowances in cases such as those to which he refers. If commercial vehicles are involved my hon. Friend should address a question to my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the difficulties being experienced by doctors in some areas as regards obtaining necessary supplies of petrol; and why his Department has refused to investigate individual complaints which obviously indicate that the rationing scheme is not working satisfactorily in the areas from which the complaints originate?

Special arrangements were recently made for dealing with applications from doctors for supplementary allowances of petrol and cases of difficulty which arise are being dealt with by the Divisional Petroleum Officers in consultation with the liaison officers appointed by the British Medical Association.

asked the Secretary for Mines under what authority the Petroleum Board was established; what are its functions; and to whom is it responsible?

The Petroleum Board was set up by and is representative of all branches of the petroleum industry in this country. Its object was to secure such economies in the use of existing facilities as would enable the industry to meet the greatly increased war demands of the Fighting Services and industry.I am glad to have this opportunity of expressing appreciation of the action of the industry which was taken with the approval of the Government and was accorded recognition in the Petroleum Order No. 2, dated 13th October, 1939.With regard to the second part of the question, I shall be prepared to answer questions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the succession to the vacant stool of the State of Manya Krobo in the eastern province of the Gold Coast is in dispute; and whether he will recommend that the question of the election of the paramount chief shall be referred to the Manya Krobo State Council for inquiry and ultimate adjudication in accordance with the terms of Section 7 (1) of the Native Administration Ordinance of the Gold Coast?

The recent election and installation of a successor to the late Konor of the State of Manya Krobo have been the subject of a petition to me from members of one branch of the Stool family. I have been in communication with the Governor, who, after careful investigation, is satisfied that the proceedings were conducted in accordance with native customary law, and that the election has the approval of a large majority of the chiefs and people; and I see no reason to question his decision not to exercise the discretionary power vested in him by Section 7 of the Native Administration Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at least one member of a French court-martial is of the same rank as the accused; and whether he will introduce a similar arrangement in the British Army?

I see no reason to make the change suggested. The existing system has stood the test of experience for many years both in peace and war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers temporarily displaced in the reorganisation of the Auxiliary Territorial Service will still receive pay and allowances while they are waiting to be reabsorbed, especially since many of them had to relinquish their civil employment and in other cases to break up their homes?

This question has not yet arisen. Certain readjustments are in contemplation which may render a number of officers surplus to their present posts. It is hoped, however, that it will be possible to utilise the services of any such officers in other ways without intermission. The exact method of dealing with the question will be considered when the numbers and ranks affected are known.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware of the delay in delivery of business letters to and from France, at present six or seven days, which is having a damaging effect on trade; and will he take steps to expedite the necessary censorship of letters;

There is no censorship of letters to and from France. The delay in the delivery of letters to and from France is not caused in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps manufacturers should adopt in order to be placed on the list of contractors to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes?

I am advised that the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes does not maintain a list of contractors as such, but conducts all its purchases in the open market, and that any manufacturer is at liberty to approach the Surveyor of Supplies of the Corporation at the latter's headquarters in London.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the policy that all commissions will now be granted to men from the ranks, the amount now allocated in the Army Estimates as the cost of training of the Officers Training Corps will now be available for other purposes?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Sir A. Somerville).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to revert the Officers Training Corps contingents to the Army, late Territorial, Cadet Force, from which they were created; and seeing that, in view of the War Cabinet's decision to work on a war basis of three years, it is essential that the Army Cadet Force should be encouraged to the fullest extent and be reorganised into a training force for young men, will he consider raising the minimum age to 16 years and the upper age to that of the lowest group called up under the Compulsory Service Act, and train these recruits upon the lines of the Territorial Army in peace time?

There is no proposal to revert the Officers Training Corps to the Cadet Force, nor is the present time considered appropriate for changes such as those suggested in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether payments of allowances are made to the illegitimate children of wives of serving soldiers in England; and why such allowances are not made to the wives of soldiers in Scotland?

The Regulations make no distinction between England and Scotland in this respect. Children's allowance is not admissible in either case for an illegitimate child unless legitimated or statutorily adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will alter the rule that no man with a disability pension can enlist in order to allow men with partial disability pensions to enlist in home defence units if they are physically grade 2?

This question is under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will have inquiries made from the Regimental Paymaster, Royal Army Service Corps, Ore Place, Hastings, regarding the case of T.50700, Driver B. M. Phillips, in his application for an allowance for his child, who reached the age of 14 years prior to 1st September, 1939?

I am not clear what the particular point is in this case, but I am having inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that officers drawn from the reserve of officers who have been employed for nearly two months are still without their pay or any portion of it; and if he will clear up all the delays which are causing much criticism of certain activities of his Department?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Peebles and Southern (Captain Ramsay).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst serving officers in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and particularly amongst those called emergency officers who are over 40 years of age and who had experience in the last war, at remaining as junior officers while comparatively recently-qualified men are appointed as senior officers; and whether this anomaly will be investigated with a view to its being corrected?

Consideration is being given to cases of medical officers with military experience in the last war whose age, military and professional experience justify a higher rank, with a view to meeting such claims wherever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many applications for permission to send printed matter out of the country are still held up at Liverpool awaiting approval; to whom such permission is, on principle, refused; and for what reason London correspondents of the overseas Press are obliged to obtain such permits before they can send printed matter and publications to their newspapers, seeing that all matter published in this country is already subject to the Press censorship and that a special department of the latter censorship exists to deal with outgoing postal packets for overseas newspapers?

Some 2,000 applications for permits to send printed matter abroad are now being dealt with at Liverpool. In many cases, delay is caused because the application forms are wrongly completed. It would not be desirable to state the reasons for which permission is, in principle, refused.Correspondents of the overseas Press are naturally subject to the same restrictions as other persons regarding the export of printed matter to countries subject to censorship. There is no compulsory censorship of matter published in this country.

asked the Prime Minister whether any protest was lodged by His Majesty's Government against the manner in which our military mission was retained in Moscow under the guise of promoting a pact when in fact a pact had already been signed with Germany some weeks beforehand?

The position was not exactly as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend. The British and French military missions left Moscow immediately after the conclusion of the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact which was not signed till 23rd August. The Soviet-German Commercial Agreement which preceded it was signed on 19th August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an approximate figure for the loss to the revenue on account of the unnecessary dislocation of business by the emergency regulations?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he is aware that the condition regarding insurance of goods against King's enemy risks only applies in the case of coasting vessels, provided the ships keep within territorial waters; that this condition is impossible of fulfilment with due safety to the ship and its cargo, and, as a result of the present conditions, the coasting trade is penalised and goods are diverted to rail transport, already, in some cases, overburdened; and whether he will take action to have these conditions reconsidered, in view of the fact that few, if any losses by enemy action have been recorded in the case of coasting vessels since the outbreak of war?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to a question by the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. D. Adams).

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to state the proper way for fixing the new headlamp masks on motor-cars; and whether, to avoid accidents, he will announce a definite decision as to whether these masks should be fixed on the offside or the nearside lamp?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; in reply to the second part, my right hon. Friend, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, has decided that these masks may be fitted on either headlamp, according to individual choice.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the estimated cost for the current financial year of maintaining the headquarters, regional offices and staffs of the Women's Voluntary Service for Civil Defence; on what date and under what conditions that body was empowered to undertake the organisation of day nurseries and nursery schools; and whether such work is being undertaken with the concurrence and cooperation of the established voluntary societies engaged in this form of social service?

The estimated expenditure for the current financial year falling on the Vote of my Department in respect of the headquarters and regional staff, including travelling, of the Women's Voluntary Services is £74,325. This sum does not include the cost of office accommodation, printing and stationery, which falls on the Votes of other Departments. I am not aware that this body has organised day nurseries and nursery schools, although it is giving valuable assistance in finding householders willing to put accommodation at the disposal of the Government and the local authorities for the reception of evacuated children under five. In this matter the organisa- tion has been working in close co-operation with representatives of a number of voluntary societies interested in this form of social service, including the National Society of Day Nurseries and the Nursery Schools Association.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received from the local authorities any serviceable indication as to the attitude of parents in filling in the statutory forms stating what they are prepared to contribute to the cost of billeting their children; and whether he can make a statement on the whole subject?

I hope to give a few figures by way of examples during the course of the Debate on Thursday, but I am afraid that it is too early to make any general statement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in what way it is intended to fill vacancies in the lists of customs and excise officers, in view of the fact that no appointments are to be made from candidates who sat for the examination commencing on 25th July, 1939; and what prospects has he to offer the candidates who have devoted time, energy and expense to fit themselves for this service?

It is not at present necessary to make further appointments to the grade of Officer of Customs and Excise and I cannot give any undertaking as to the method that may be adopted to provide for any future shortage.With regard to the second part of the question, I cannot add anything to the replies which I gave to the hon. and learned Member on the 24th October and to the right hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence) on the 3rd October.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants have been transferred to other Departments since the outbreak of war who are in receipt of higher rates of pay than if they had followed their normal occupation?

In general the large number of civil servants who have been transferred to other Departments have been transferred in their existing grade and at their existing rate of pay. In a few cases transfer has been to a superior post, in which event the officer concerned receives an acting promotion with the pay appropriate to the new post. I regret that detailed information is not available as to the number of cases falling into the second category.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the value of short-wave therapy in the relief of pain, the healing of infective wounds, and the rapid restoration of function to maimed and injured limbs, as well as in the treatment of lung affections, especially those following gas attacks; how many of the machines required for this treatment are now available in the military hospitals; and what provision has been made of skilled personnel to use them?

I am aware of the value of this form of treatment for the types of cases mentioned by the hon. Member. I cannot, without special inquiry, give the number of machines or of skilled personnel concerned with their use, but full use would be made of the plant available which is widely distributed through the general hospitals designated for the treatment of casualties. In allocating personnel to these hospitals due provision has been made for radiological and radiographic staff. Any question referring to the position in military hospitals should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the powers of the Railway Executive Committee, and what is the extent of the control exercised by that body over the operations and services of the London Passenger Transport Board?

When I took control of the undertakings of the railway com- panies and the London Passenger Transport Board on 1st September I appointed the Railway Executive Committee to be my agents for the purpose of such control. The day-to-day operation of the undertakings is carried on by the respective managements in accordance with the instructions of the committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered representations in regard to the condition of the dock at Burry Port; what steps he is taking to deal with the matter; and whether, having regard to the increased traffic now handled in the area, he will take steps to secure that full use is made of the facilities at this and other ports in the area?

I have caused inquiry to be made into the conditions at Burry Port and the Great Western Railway Company, the owners of the dock, inform me that an inspection of the dock has been made. Apart from a slight subsidence of the wall in the corner of the dock on the right at the entrance, which is out of the way and does not interfere with shipping, there are no signs of decay or neglect at the dock. At one or two places on the stone pitching facing the outer harbour there are some loose stones which the company say are in no way detrimental to shipping using the harbour. The company inform me that they propose to carry out patching work as and when it is considered necessary.In reply to the last part of the question, the South Wales ports, as the hon. Member will be aware, are now being used extensively and I can assure him that the facilities at Burry Port are fully appreciated although the limitations of that port involve a corresponding limitation of user.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether the salary to be paid to Lord Perth has yet been fixed and at what rate and from what date; and whether this is in addition to any and what retired pay or pension from any other and what source?

Lord Perth was paid by the Foreign Office as from the 1st June last, a salary of £1,100 per annum as Head of the Foreign Publicity Department of the Foreign Office and Director-General designate of the Ministry of Information in the planning stages. This was in addition to his pension of £1,900 per annum from the Paymaster-General. His pay as Chief Adviser on Foreign Publicity has not yet been fixed.

asked the Postmaster-General when he intends to re-introduce cheap night telephone trunk calls?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my predecessor gave on the 12th October to the hon. Member for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn). I regret that it is not possible at present to say when conditions will permit of the re-introduction of cheap night telephone trunk calls.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can assure the House that none of the children of the men lost on the "Courageous" are dependent on charity?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall) on the 26th October. The arrangements there described should, I think, ensure that there is no need for recourse to charity pending the settlement of pension claims.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any decision has been reached as to the reopening of schools in evacuation areas?

Yes, Sir. Permission has already been given for the reopening, subject to certain conditions, of the secondary schools and secondary departments of schools in evacuation areas in Scotland. The Government have now decided that the primary schools and departments in those areas which can be made available for educational purposes shall be reopened for the education of the children of parents who desire them to attend. It is not expected that all the schools in these areas will be available. Some of them may be found unsuitable on account of their location or construction, and others are being used for national defence services. Moreover, in schools which are available the necessary protective measures will probably reduce the normal school accommodation. For these reasons, it may be necessary in many cases to have recourse to the double shift system, under which one set of children will attend in the morning and another in the afternoon.Before the schools can be opened it will be necessary to provide some reasonable protection against air raids, but if serious air raids occur over these areas, which must continue to be regarded as vulnerable, the schools will be closed.Arrangements are being made with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security to institute at once a survey of the school premises which may be made available in order to decide which of them are suitable and on the form of protection most appropriate in each case.I have already been in consultation with the education authorities concerned, who are preparing plans in relation to their areas as a whole, having regard to the protected accommodation that will be available and the number of school children to be accommodated. I am sure that the authorities will make every effort to open schools as early as possible, but the arrangements will necessarily occupy some time.I would emphasise that the provision of a measure of educational facilities in the evacuation areas should not induce parent's to remove their children from the reception areas to which they were evacuated in the interests of their safety.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken with the object of assuring the continuity of clay supplies for the future; and whether any new sources of supply are being opened for the purpose?

My right hon. Friend has not received any representations calling for action in the sense indicated, but if my hon. Friend has any particular difficulty in mind, I should be pleased to consider it.