asked the Secretary of State for Air how many road motor vehicles have been impressed and requisitioned, respectively, by his Department; and how many of these were the property of railway companies?

No road motor vehicles have been requisitioned by the Air Ministry, but 971 have been purchased by impressment. None of these was the property of railway companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on how many occasions enemy aircraft have been sighted over Glasgow since the start of the war?

Is the Minister aware that the Lord Provost of Glasgow at a public meeting recently made a statement that enemy aircraft had been seen over Glasgow? Why can Glasgow's Lord Provost make those statements when the Air Minister cannot?

The Lord Provost of Glasgow sees more than other people.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any change of programme is contemplated with regard to Abbotsinch aerodrome?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton) on 25th October last.

Is the Minister aware that since that reply rumours have gone around that the area in which that aerodrome is to be situated is to be greatly changed? Can he say whether that is true or not?

My answer still remains.

Does the Minister know that he caused a tremendous upset to a large number of people in that area?

I regret that any announcement of mine caused any upset in that area, but, as the hon. Member will appreciate, I stated that part of the work would be carried out, and I explained what was happening.

But is the Minister aware that he went ahead and turned up ground and made excavations and all the rest, at great public expense, and that it has proved completely useless?

The hon. Member will recollect that I said that, as arrangements had been made elsewhere which would expedite the provision of the facilities required, the steps which I indicated were taken.

But did they not discover that the site was quite unsuitable?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any change has taken place, or is contemplated, with regard to the No. 1 Contract Rolls-Royce factory, Hillington, undertaken by the firm of Lindsay, Parkinson and Company?

No, Sir, apart from the sub-letting of certain specialised work on foundations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the wife of Private Johnson, 93rd Unit of the Royal Air Force, of 29, Priory Road, Grundwood, Barnsley, is only receiving 31s. plus 7s. from her husband's pay as allowance to keep herself and seven children; that Mrs. Johnson has illness in her family due to inadequate food, clothing and footwear; that her application for help to the Unemployment Assistance Board has been refused; that the Barnsley public assistance committee are now having to make payments of 12s. a week and to provide footwear for her children; when will he see to it that these allowances are superseded by more generous ones; and whether he will reimburse the Barnsley public assistance committee the payments they have made out of local rates?

The allowance issued tothis airman is the regulated family allowance for a wife and seven children, but I am having the case referred, at once, to the Military Service (Special Allowances) Advisory Committee with a view to the grant of additional assistance. As regards the remainder of the hon. Member's question, the whole matter is under active consideration, and a statement will be made at an early date.

Can the Minister guarantee that this special committee will give any more consideration than the Unemployment Assistance Board has done? The continuance of the disgraceful allowances is about the best propaganda that the enemy can have.

I cannot comment on the latter part of what the hon. Member has said; but I have no doubt that the committee will give this matter sympathetic consideration.

But will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the war has been going on for more than two months, and that many of these families are suffering hardships? Will he urge the committee to endeavour to reach a finding without further delay?

I am most anxious that that should be done, but it is a matter for the committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when this matter was debated in the House the Minister of Pensions said that definite arrangements had been made for the cases to be met by the Unemployment Assistance Board? Why was that refused in this case?

I do not think that that is the fact.

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what address comforts and gifts for the Royal Air Force at home and abroad should be sent?

All gifts, whether in money or kind, should be sent to the Royal Air Force Comforts Committee, Berkeley Square House, London, W.I.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether he can now make a statement relating to the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Royal Oak";

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make a further statement to the House regarding the loss of His Majesty's Ship "Royal Oak"?

I would ask my right hon. Friend and my hon. and gallant Friend to await the statement which my right hon. Friend the First Lord is making later to-day.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a midshipman of 18 years of age was called upon to assist in the identification of those killed in the sinking of the "Royal Oak"; and whether he can say why one so young was selected for this duty?

I am not aware that any midshipman was called upon to assist in the identification of those killed in His Majesty's Ship"Royal Oak,"but in any case the hon. Member will appreciate that it may be necessary to call upon any survivor to perform a similar duty.

In view of the fact that the midshipman concerned was not at that time on the "Royal Oak," and if I give the hon. Gentleman the particulars, will he make further inquiries and give us an assurance that in no circumstances will one so young be called upon to perform this work if anyone else is available?

I will certainly make inquiries if the hon. Gentleman will give me the information, but I cannot give that undertaking. I can well conceive that in certain circumstances the midshipman may be the only person who can do this work.

While willing to concede that point to the Parliamentary Secretary, does he not realise the serious effect this will have upon the boy in subsequent life and, where there are other people older who can perform this work, will he relieve young men of this somewhat harassing duty?

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the last war thousands of young officers of this age were always leading their men and were always asked to give such evidence on such occasions without any ill effect, and that they would resent the hon. Member's suggestion?

That is why we lost so many men?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many road motor goods-vehicles have been impressed and requisitioned, respectively, for use by the Admiralty; and how many of these were the property of railway companies?

Three hundred and eighteen road motor goods-vehicles have been requisitioned for Admiralty use; none of these was the property of railway companies.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason for departing from the decision arrived at by the Admiralty and Treasury in 1909 that all officers liable to be called upon to go into the air should receive flying pay?

The decision to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, had in view personnel who are under a continuous obligation to go up in aeroplanes. This decision has not been departed from.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the desirability of ensuring equal distribution of gifts of all kinds made by people of this country to the men in all Services, it is the intention of the Service Departments to introduce a properly coordinated scheme which would be recom mended for support to everyone who is anxious to make a contribution?

A Joint Services Committee has been set up representing the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, to ensure the equitable distribution of gifts which are not specifically designated for any one of the Services. Gifts which the donors desire to go to one particular Service are dealt with by the various organisations set up by each of the Service Departments. Details of these have been published in the Press.

Is my hon. Friend going to recommend to the various Commands that a co-ordination committee be appointed in every Command by the three Services, so that proper publicity may be given to the matter and that people shall not be anxious about what appears to be dis-co-ordination?

I am satisfied that this is the most practicable means of coordinating the distribution.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Departmental Committee which is considering separation and children's allowances, are also considering widows', orphans' and dependants' allowances; and when their report is likely to be available?

I have been asked to reply. The informal Inter-Departmental Committee was set up to examine only the question of the allowances payable in respect of the families of men serving with the Forces. My right hon. Friend hopes that it will be possible to make a statement on this matter at an early date.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the Government do not think it equally important to review dependants' allowances as to review the separation allowances for women and children, and is he not aware that in many cases throughout the country dependants are virtually receiving nothing under the regulations?

That is quite another question. I think the Chancellor of the Exchequer answered it yesterday.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the dependants' allowances as such which vary so vitally from the dependants' allowances in the last war ought to be increased?

When the decision has been arrived at for an increase of allowances, can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether that decision will be retrospective?

I cannot make any statement about that.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange for an organised clearing centre in all large cities and industrial centres in order that road traffic can be organised to secure the best results and arrange for return loads to be carried wherever possible?

I understand that efforts are being made by associations representative of the road transport industry to work out a satisfactory scheme for clearing centres. It would in my view be preferable for the industry itself to evolve a sound clearing organisation rather than for me to impose upon it a scheme of my own.

In view of the fact that the organisation has been endeavouring to do this now for at least the past four years, does not the Minister think it is time that he himself came in and endeavoured to co-ordinate the activities of road users?

No, Sir; I said in the answer that in my opinion it is much better that they should do it themselves.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how long it will be, if the industry does not carry out this organisation, before the Minister changes his mind and does it himself?

That will depend upon what appears to be in the best interests of the industry, but the present position will act as a considerable stimulus to re-organisation within the industry.

Do not the State and the present situation come before any interest of the road users?

I am thinking of the interests of the industry as a whole—not only operators but consumers and employes.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Derwent Valley light railway is a normal gauge line and forms an integral part of the main line system; and whether he is prepared to take over control of this, as if it were to cease to function it would have a serious effect on the various industries in the East Riding of Yorkshire?

The position of this light railway has been repeatedly considered and as at present advised I am not satisfied that it constitutes a sufficiently important part of the railway system of the country to justify my taking control of it under emergency powers. In view, however, of my hon. and gallant Friend's representations I propose to have the question re-examined.

Having regard to the fact that this attempt at socialisation comes from a Conservative quarter, in order to get the railway out of a tight corner, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman look on the suggestion with a good deal of suspicion?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he has taken over light railways in Kent and Shropshire and that this light railway is run by the London and North Eastern railway engines, and will he reconsider the matter?

I took over these particular railways because I was satisfied that they were a sufficiently important part of the transport system. I shall treat this on the same lines.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will issue instructions that whenever a road motor-transport vehicle has been requisitioned for national service, and application is made for the licensing of a vehicle of similar carrying capacity, the licence shall be issued for the same period of time and of the same class as that of the requisitioned vehicle?

Regional transport commissioners are at present issuing defence permit certificates under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Road Vehicles and Drivers Order, 1939, in lieu of licences under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933. The owner of a requisitioned vehicle who applies for the substitution, on his licence or permit, of a vehicle of the same or of a less weight unladen is always granted a defence permit for the period covered by the instalment of the licence fee already paid. No charge is made for the issue of a defence permit in these circumstances and the permit enables the vehicle to be used for any of the purposes for which the original vehicle could have been used.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now say what financial arrangements have been made between the Government and the undertakings under the control of the Railway Executive?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 4th October.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say what difficulties are standing in the way of a settlement of this case, and how much longer this uncertainty is likely to exist?

This question is extremely far-reaching and extraordinarily difficult and complicated. It is under discussion between my Department and the railway representatives, and the hon. Member may rest assured that every effort is being made to reach a satisfactory settlement with the least possible delay. I am as anxious as the hon. Member that this matter should be settled.

Shall we get an answer in the spring?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he is aware that it will be impossible to find space to exhibit more than a small number of the notices contained in a packet, computed to weigh half a hundredweight, received from his Department last week by a Black Country engineering firm; and will he take steps to be more economical with paper?

I am not aware of the circumstances referred to in my hon. Friend's question. No firm such as he describes should have received from the Ministry any package weighing anything approaching half a hundredweight; but if he will supply me with details I will gladly look into the matter. With regard to the last part of his question, the need for economy of paper is being most carefully observed.

I shall be delighted to send my hon. Friend details.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of In formation whether he is aware of the disappointment felt by the Highlands of Scotland and Gaelic-speaking Scots in the Forces at the absence of regular news broadcasts in their language; and whether he will arrange with the British Broad casting Corporation for daily or periodical broadcasts of news in Gaelic?

I am glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that the B.B.C. has arranged to broadcast a brief weekly summary of news in Gaelic in the near future.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary make certain that in the programme there will be no playing of "There will always be an England"?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether arrangements are being made by the British Broadcasting Corporation for broadcasts in Portuguese to Brazil with the object of controverting the false statements made by the German propaganda agencies to the injury of British trade with that country?

The B.B.C, has broadcast in Portuguese for Brazil regularly since March, 1938. At the outbreak of war special arrangements were made to facilitate the reception in Brazil of bulletins broadcast in both the Latin-American and the European services of the B.B.C, and there are at present three news bulletins a day in Portuguese. There are also at least two special talks a week in Portguese for Brazil. One of the main objects of this service is that suggested by my hon. Friend.

Is my hon. Friend now satisfied that everything possible is being done to keep the war aims of this country before the people of Brazil?

Yes, Sir, we are doing all that we can in the time available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether continuous effort is being maintained in presenting the war aims of Great Britain and France to the Spanish people and to make clear to in dustrial and commercial interests in Spain the anxious desire of the people of this country to promote Anglo-Spanish trade and to encourage by every assist ance which Britain can render the economic development of that country?

Yes, Sir; I can assure my hon. Friend that the considerations he mentions are constantly borne in mind.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information what steps were taken to contradict the account emanating from the German propaganda agency of the crippling of the British fleet by German action, which appeared in Danish and other foreign journals on 16th October; and what means are used to keep journalists in neutral countries promptly informed about developments in the British war effort?

Authoritative information, including specific refutations of false statements emanating from German sources, is telegraphed daily to the Press attaches to His Majesty's Missions abroad for communication to the local Press. Further, where important misstatements appear in newspapers of neutral countries, the attention of the London correspondents of these papers is drawn to them. If the hon. Member has in mind an article which appeared in the Danish newspaper "Berlingske Tidende" on 15th October, he will no doubt have seen the explanation by the editor of that paper published in the "Times" of 1st November.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider the advisability of arranging, through the chambers of commerce in association with representatives of the trade unions in various districts throughout the country, for a survey to be made of the quantity of goods of various types that could be made during the next 6 or 12 months in small as well as large factories?

Information regarding manufacturing capacity likely to be useful for meeting Service requirements in war is to a very large extent already available. In finding the additional capacity needed to meet expanding requirements, my Department and the Admiralty and Air Ministry are already in close touch with Chambers of Commerce and other representative trade organisations. For these reasons I do not think that at this stage it would serve any useful purpose to undertake a general survey of the kind to which the hon. Member refers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is very great dissatisfaction in different parts of the country, especially in the Midlands, at the policy of the Ministry in doing nothing to make use of the resources of many firms, particularly small firms, who could manufacture armaments and have supplied full particulars of their resources, and yet nothing whatever is done?

I am aware that there is a great deal of misunderstanding. A number of these small firms when called upon to make a list of requirements have asked in turn that they should be supplied first with machine tools. It is because of that difficulty of balancing equipment that expansion on a large scale cannot at once take place, but orders on a substantial scale have already been placed with many small firms.

Is it not of primary importance that the Government should conduct some kind of survey into the country's capacity?

Yes, Sir, and the supply boards have been doing that for three years.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the sample rooms which he has introduced in different parts of the country have been of very great assistance to manufacturers, and will he consider extending such sample rooms to small towns?

Yes, Sir, that is under consideration, and it is proposed very considerably to extend the centres in which the sample rolls are to be made available.

It is not the case that the experience of the Department in the last war showed that the idea of getting small firms to make munitions of war was a gigantic failure, and it will always be so, as the Minister has said, because of the lack of precision tools?

asked the Minister of Supply how many men of military age are employed in the wool control; and what percentage of the total is so comprised?

Thirty-six, or 20 per cent. of the male staff, are between 18 and 41 years of age; of this number only 4, or 2 per cent. of the male staff, are under 35 years of age. This relates to the headquarters of the control; there are in addition a number of small offices in different parts of the country for which the information is not immediately available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the head office to which he refers is a sort of hide-out in a little Wharfdale village 15 miles away from the nearest wool centre, and that it cannot do its business properly and is an inconvenience to everybody?

If an air raid was anticipated it was thought that it would be a good idea to have the control dispersed a little.

What about the people whose jobs are concerned?

Is the right hon. Gentleman quite sure that 36 is only 20 per cent.? Does that mean that only 180 people are employed in this control?

I have given figures for which I was asked, the percentage of the male staff between 18 and 41 years of age. I am satisfied that my figures are correct.

Does that mean that 180 are employed in the central board?

asked the Minister of Supply whether any attempt has been made to fill wool-control posts with competent persons displaced from the textile trade in consequence of control?

Yes, Sir, and a number of such persons have in fact been engaged by the control.

Does not the Minister know that great dissatisfaction exists in the trade by reason of the fact that the services of the most competent leaders of the industry have almost always been declined?

I am extremely sorry if any such opinion prevails, and I should like to have an opportunity of looking into it.

asked the Minister of Supply whether forms E.C. 3720 10.39 and E.C. 3721 10.39 Wool Control, to be signed by a chartered or incorporated accountant, may likewise be signed by any properly qualified accountant not a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants or the Society of Accountants and Auditors?

Yes, Sir. The signature of a member of any of the recognised organisations of accountants will be accepted.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will inquire the reason for the scheduled prices for home-grown pitwood in the North of England being increased by 300 per cent., as the increased price goes to the landowner, and as such increase must enter into the cost of producing coal?

I am afraid that I cannot add to what I stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 1st November, namely, that I am not aware that in any instance the price of home-grown pitwood has been increased to the extent stated. The maximum prices for pit prop trees which the landowners are permitted to charge under the appropriate Order (the Control of Growing Trees (No. 2) Order, 1939) are 7d.per cubic foot for larch under seven inches quarter girth, and 7dper cubic foot for other conifers under eight inches quarter girth.

If I give the right hon. Gentleman an instance of this actual increase, will he take steps to see that it does not mean a considerable increase in the price of coal?

I am always willing to investigate any case the hon. Member brings to my notice.

If it can be shown that there has been this increase, will the Minister take the necessary steps to see that the maximum price is not charged?

After due review of the whole of the facts the maximum price has been fixed and I am satisfied that it is nothing like an increase of 300 per cent. I would like to investigate the specific instance given by the hon. Member, but I cannot promise an early review of the maximum price, which has been fixed after due regard to all the then known facts.

With regard to the maximum price, can the Minister say what the percentage increase is over pre-war prices?

I am satisfied that the pre-war prices in many cases were higher.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has any statement to make as to the establishment of area committees; and whether, as a result, there has yet been allocation of work to the new factory accommodation, or when is this likely to ensue?

I will make a statement on this matter as early as possible, but the detailed arrangements are not yet settled. In the meantime, any offers of factory capacity are being examined, and in a number of these cases orders have already been placed or are being negotiated.

Does the Minister expect to get a specific statement on this important subject?

An important conference with the trade unions took place yesterday on this matter, and I have great hopes that it will be possible to make an early announcement.

Will these area committees have authority to place orders as they did in the last war?

That matter has not yet been determined, but I imagine that they will not, and that their duties will be advisory.

asked the Minister of Supply whether in view of the urgent need for a larger acreage of flax next year, he is aware of the dissatisfaction expressed by the flax committee of the Ulster Farmers' Union at the price fixed for the 1939 flax crop; and whether, owing to the increased cost of production, he will consider fixing a more generous guaranteed price, and affording a readier market for the flax crop of 1940, as otherwise the farmers will grow food-crops instead of flax?

I am satisfied that the price at which I am acquiring this year's flax crop is fair to the producer, though I appreciate that he would have preferred a higher price. The question of guaranteeing a price for the 1940 crop is at present under consideration, and I will give full attention to the considerations to which my hon. Friend refers.

In fixing the price of flax has account been taken of the greatly increased cost of production, between 300 and 400 per cent. within my own knowledge, and also of the difficulty of getting workers to handle the flax crop, which is one of the most risky and costly crops grown in Ireland?

The average price per ton before the war was £70 to £80. The price I am paying this year is, on an average £110, and I think that has taken into account the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers.

Does that mean that it has increased since before the war of 1914 by 200 per cent.?

asked the Minister of Supply what steps have been taken to implement the trade barter agreement with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and, in particular, with regard to the timber to be brought to this country?

Steps have already been taken to charter steamers to convey timber to this country. Six cargoes of timber under the Agreement have already arrived. Rubber and tin equivalent to the amount so far due has been provided for the Soviet authorities.

Will the Minister make sure that all ships leave the White Sea before the port becomes ice-bound?

The fact that the White Sea becomes ice-bound after a particular date in November was very present in my mind during the whole of these negotiations. I have signed charters for some 29 vessels.

Can the Minister tell us to what country these vessels belong?

I cannot say without notice, but a number of them are British.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any differentiation is to be made between boys and girls in the adolescent ration card?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what will be the supplementary ration of butter and bacon to heavy workers?

As the hon. Members will be aware the Government consider it necessary to ration at present only two articles of food, bacon and butter, and no special provision for adolescents, whether boys or girls, is considered necessary in respect of these two foods. No question of differentiation, therefore, arises.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of us have seen the original ration cards in which a differentiation was made between boys and girls; and may I take it that the Govern ment have at last seen the light and intend to treat men and women on a more equal footing?