asked the Minister of Labour the total number of registered unemployed persons in Glasgow up to the latest available date?

At 16th October, 1939, the total number of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Glasgow was 67,381.

Can the Minister say whether this total is a considerable decrease on the figures of last year?

About 10,000; the figures last year were 77,819.

asked the Minister of Labour whether machinery exists for the purpose of transferring unemployed persons to paid air-raid precautions work; and, if so, how many have been so transferred in Glasgow?

No specific machinery of this nature has been set up, but the Employment Exchanges make every effort to secure paid employment on air-raid precautions for unemployed persons. With regard to the second part, there are no statistics available as to the number of unemployed persons who have secured paid air-raid precautions work in Glasgow, but I am informed that over 5,000 of the 6,688 paid A.R.P. workers in Glasgow were unemployed before being taken on for A.R.P. work.

Does the Minister contemplate the setting up of machinery in local areas for this particular purpose?

I think the figures I have given show that the Employment Exchanges are filling the bill in the usual way.

What about the 67,000?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many architects, surveyors and kindred professional men in business on their own account who are outside all the social in surance schemes are without work or income, owing to the national emergency; and whether he will make some arrangements whereby they may secure employment in Government service?

Any vacancies in Government service for architects, surveyors and kindred professional men in business are notified to the Central Register, from which suitable applicants are selected. The number of such vacancies, however, is limited and, as I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen), on 19th October last, I am considering what further steps can be taken to bring unemployed technical professional workers into touch with other suitable vacancies.

Would it be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to establish a pool of these applicants instead of allowing them to apply to each of the three Defence Services?

We are at the moment engaged in trying to work out a scheme for a register intermediate to the Central Register for higher qualifications than the ordinary exchange system.

Can the Minister say when he is likely to be able to announce a decision?

As quickly as I can.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now say if employment has been found for Mr. James Mclntyre, Greenock, who, at the request of an official of the Ministry of Labour, was released from the London Scottish on 29th August, 1939, who has since been unemployed, and concerning whom the hon. Member for Greenock wrote to him on 14th October, 1939, and again on 3rd November, 1939?

Mr. James Mclntyre has not yet secured employment, but efforts to assist him to do so are continuing. He has been given the opportunity of rejoining the Army, but I understand that he does not wish to do so.

Can the Minister say whether he has been given the right to rejoin the London Scottish, from which men who have no connection with Scotland are being transferred, as the House will remember?

If the hon. and learned Gentleman wants information on that I shall be pleased to make inquiry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether unemployed men cultivating allotments will be allowed to sell any of the produce of allotments after supplying their household needs; and whether he will see that they are permitted to sell their products if they do not exceed the value of 3s. 4d. per day, or £1 3s. 4d. per week?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to unemployment insurance and unemployment allowances. As regards unemployment insurance the statute governing this matter is Section 35 (5) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1939. As regards unemployment assistance, the practice is not to make any deduction from allowances in respect of the proceeds of occasional cash sales. If, however, the allotment holder makes a regular income out of his allotment the case would have to be considered in the light of the individual circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now make a statement on the question of taking part of the allotment made by a man serving in His Majesty's Forces for a dependant into account by the Unemployment Assistance Board in determining the parents' allowance?

I am informed by the Board that the first 7s. of an allotment made by a serving soldier to a parent will be ignored in assessing the parent's allowance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of relieving the allotment altogether irrespective of the amount, as there is no reason why the allotment should be taken into consideration, seeing that it is an allotment out of the man's pay?

I will put that point to the Board.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how he thinks an unemployed man can make a regular income out of an allotment?

It is another kind of allotment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is with his authority that female applicants for clerical and typing duties in the War Office, Ministry of Supply and other Government Departments are being asked to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service?

As was stated in reply to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mrs. Adamson) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on Tuesday last no pressure of any kind is exerted by Employment Exchanges to force women applicants for clerical work to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service. On the other hand, it is right that in present war circumstances the attention of such applicants should be directed to these vacancies, if they exist, along with others.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether vacancies in the administrative posts of the Civil Service will occur in the near future; whether he can state the method of selection; and whether those persons who have been studying for the Civil Service will have a prior opportunity of selection?

Vacancies for administrative staff, arising from expansion or from the calling up for military service of men below the age of reservation, which cannot be supplied by promotion or by loan of personnel from Departments whose work is contracting owing to war conditions, are being and will be filled on a temporary basis from the central register of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. I am afraid that it would be impracticable to adopt the suggestion in the last part of the question.

Can we have an assurance that all cases of selection will be made on the ground of merit alone?

Yes, Sir. The Civil Service does require the best men available.

Can young men who have already passed the examination apply to be entered on the register?

I should like to have notice of that question. If they have passed the examination, I daresay in most cases they would have been taken on, and I do not quite understand the question, therefore.

Can young men from secondary schools have an opportunity of being selected or considered for appointments?

I said that we were filling them up on a temporary basis from the central register of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. I do not know that there is anything to prevent secondary school boys or anybody else from being registered.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that a number of men have sat in examinations for the Civil Service and have passed, and then have had their money refunded to them and told they can go anywhere they like? I ask whether these men, on the basis of having passed that examination, can be put on this central register and have an opportunity of appointment alongside of those who have not passed the examination?

I said that there is nothing to prevent anyone from putting themselves on the register.

Do I not understand that certain educational standards are necessary before you can go on the central register?

No, Sir. For details, the hon. Member must ask the Minister of Labour, but I understand that anyone who is hoping to get one of these appointments can put his name on the register.

How is the register compiled?

I do not compile it. The hon. Member had better ask the Minister of Labour.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, with a view to securing the wholehearted cooperation of India with this country, he will immediately issue a pronouncement that it is the Government's policy to grant responsible self-government to India as soon as may be feasible and that for this purpose representatives of all the leading parties and communities will immediately be invited to attend a conference for the purpose of framing a constitution to embody full and responsible self-government for India?

As regards the first part of his question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Governor-General's statement of 17th October and to subsequent observations on it by the Lord Privy Seal and my Noble Friend the Secretary of State respectively, in both Houses of Parliament. As regards the second part of the question, I can add nothing to the statement made by my Noble Friend on 7th November, the substance of which I repeated in this House.

Does not the Under-Secretary of State for India realise that I am here giving him a glorious opportunity to hand his name down to history as the individual who initiated the idea of giving India self-government, so as not to leave India in the same condition as we have left Ireland at the moment?

I am very much obliged to the hon. Member for the opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why cable messages to the Amritz Bazar Patrika, of Calcutta, on 28th and 29th October, were mutilated, in view of the fact that the censored sentences had appeared in the British Press; whether newspapers with those sentences in their news will be allowed to be sent to India; and whether he is aware that such censorship leaves the impression that news sent from Great Britain to India is not objective and therefore is unreliable?

I have been asked to reply. The hon. Member's question refers to a number of messages, some of them being similar to articles already published in the Press here, which were stopped by the Censor, since they contained unfriendly references to neutral countries, or suggestions as to Allied negotiations and war aims which tended to be misleading. It is true that some of the matter censored, having been published in the Press of this country, will eventually be received in India in the English newspapers; but such belated and restricted publicity would not be calculated to do so much harm as the publication in India of these messages when telegraphed from England as representing the latest news. This aspect of the question is receiving further examination in the light of this particular case.

Do I understand that any of these messages which may be represented in the national Press are quite harmless provided that some time has elapsed?

No, Sir, the matter is not quite as simple as that.

asked the Home Secretary the number of paid air-raid precautions workers in Glasgow who are engaged in other partial or full-time employment?

I am informed that there are about 100 such persons, but I have no details as to the extent to which they are engaged on other work and I am looking into the matter further.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that some paid air-raid precautions workers are dismissed their posts immediately they fall sick and unable to attend to duties; and whether he will take steps to modify this regulation and thereby remove what is regarded as a grievance among these workers?

I have this matter under review at the present time and hope to announce appropriate conditions at a very early date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the anomalous position that an air-raid warden is not allowed to fall sick?

That is not an anomaly.

Is it not the case that a great many more will fall sick under the new regulation of a 12-hour shift?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in some Greater London areas the number of steel helmets and respirators available for airraid wardens is about one-third less than the number of wardens, with the result that these articles of equipment are in common use; and whether, in view of such unhygienic practice as well as the probability that in the case of air attack all the wardens would turn out for duty, he will take immediate steps to ensure that every warden has his own steel helmet and his own respirator?

The issues of steel helmets and civilian duty respirators to all authorities in the London Civil Defence Region are more than sufficient to provide one each for all wardens on the authorised establishment. The Government has never undertaken to provide equipment for reserve personnel in excess of the authorised establishment, and additional equipment for them cannot at present be issued.

If I supply the right hon. Gentleman with a list of such cases will he look into them?

Most certainly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to replace the steel hats by the improved bowler hat type which has recently been announced?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the reports from air-raid precautions wardens in Culross, Buckhaven and North Queens-ferry, all expressing dissatisfaction with the organisation of defence and safety precautions in these areas; and, in view of the general disquiet throughout the area, will he institute an immediate inquiry into the conditions of air-raid precautions in Fifeshire?

A number of points of detail which have recently been brought to my notice have already been investigated, but I am awaiting a further report from my local officers and when this has been received, I hope within the next few days, I will communicate further with the hon. Member.

Is the right hon. Gentleman arranging for his officers to visit this area and talk over the matter with the air-raid wardens?

The hon. Member knows that my officers visited this area a little time ago, and I must leave it to them to judge whether a further visit is necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the number of prosecutions of householders, some successful and others dismissed, in different parts of the country, both in vulnerable and non-vulnerable areas for showing small cracks of light from the sides of windows, he will give some indication to the country generally what amount of light in candle-power, and exposed for what period of time and viewed from what angle, is considered to be an infringement of the regulations; and whether these restrictions apply equally all over the country, including railway goods yards?

The same considerations cannot apply to both internal and external lighting. The Lighting (Restrictions) Order requires complete obscuration of internal lighting. External lighting, on the other hand, cannot be completely obscured; and where outdoor activities must in the national interests be carried on through the hours of darkness—for example, in docks and railway marshalling yards—specific exemptions are made under the Lighting Order allowing lights to be used subject to their being suitably shaded and of a reduced intensity. As regards internal domestic lighting, the Order requires complete obscuration; but the police are exercising a reasonable discretion in enforcing this requirement by proceedings in the courts, and I understand that as a general rule proceedings are taken only in cases where there has been a flagrant breach of the Order or where the offence has been repeated after a warning has been given.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is interpreted differently in different parts of the country? In Oxford there were 40 cases in a week as against only 58 cases in the Metropolitan area for the whole month. Will he make representations to the chief constable of Oxford on this question?

I will see that the effect of my reply is communicated to the Oxford authorities.

Does this regulation apply to Government Departments?

Yes, Sir. On a former occasion I said that appropriate action had been taken to secure compliance with the order by Government Departments?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a woman was prosecuted last week because she inadvertently left the blind up?

I was not aware of that.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that middle-aged men who joined the Metropolitan Police War Reserve before war was declared and have since been called up for full-time duty have, in some cases, been dismissed by their employers and have thus lost not only their civilian employment but also many years' pension rights; and if he will consider extending to this and similar organisations the legislative protection against unfair dismissal now afforded men who join His Majesty's forces?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that out of more than 2,500 members of the Police War Reserve who have returned to civil life, only one has reported any difficulty of this kind. In this one case representations are being made to the employer concerned. Hitherto it has not been felt that there is a case for amending legislation, but the question will be further considered if need for such legislation should arise.

This is the case of a man who is still serving; and if I bring the details to the attention of the right hon. Gentleman will he be good enough to make representations?

I shall be much obliged to the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the urgent need to expedite the re-opening of schools which are now closed because of the absence of air-raid precautions, and the difficulty of local education authorities in meeting the cost involved by adequate precautionary measures, he will be willing to reconsider the proportion of the Government grant-in-aid of air-raid precautions made to local education authorities?

As I have previously stated in the House, the Government have not been able to treat the special rates of grant provided by the Air-Raid Precautions Act as applicable to expenditure on air-raid precautions in schools. But my Noble Friend the President of the Board of Education has decided that the grant payable by the Board to local education authorities in respect of air-raid precautions in schools shall in no case be less than 50 per cent.; and that, where the grant in respect of elementary education generally is at a higher percentage than 50 per cent., the grant in respect of air-raid precautions in elementary schools shall be increased to that higher percentage. Hon. Members will be aware that, where additional expenditure is incurred in reception areas for the protection of evacuated children, such additional expenditure will rank for 100 per cent. evacuation grant.

asked the Minister of Health whether any definite instructions have been given by the Ministry as to the number or proportion of medical officers who should be trans- ferred from evacuation to reception areas; and whether he is, in all cases, satisfied with the medical services now functioning both in evacuation and in reception areas or what further steps he proposes to take to meet the greatly increased strain placed upon the public medical services by evacuation?

On the first part of the question, the hon. Member is no doubt aware that evacuating authorities have been urged to assist the authorities in reception areas by the transfer of staff where the conditions in the reception areas are such as to call for additional staff. In view of the varying circumstances in such areas it would not, I fear, be practicable for me to lay down definite figures such as the hon. Member contemplates. As regards the second part of the question, I believe that, in general, the medical services provided in evacuation areas and reception areas have done and are doing excellent work, bearing in mind the special conditions created by the emergency, but I have the matter under constant review. I shall be very willing to consider any local difficulties or deficiencies which may be brought to my notice.

Is the Minister aware that certain cases have come to my notice of difficulties in obtaining medical assistance?

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is an untidy arrangement that this matter should be left to individual arrangements; and will he now accept responsibility for the mobilisation of the medical assistance which may be needed in the reception areas?

It may be untidy, but there is a danger of over-planning these things and of seeking to do too much by regulation. I think the arrangement which we have at present, if properly worked, will obviate the difficulties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some cases in which county authorities have asked for assistance, they have not been able to get it?

I shall be willing to consider any cases of the kind which the hon. Member may bring to my notice.

asked the Minister of Health how many London hospital beds were evacuated at the commencement of war, and how many of these beds are to-day available for the treatment of civilian sick?

At the commencement of war, about 8,000 hospital beds in the County of London were evacuated by sending patients either to their homes or to other institutions, and in addition there were about 7,500 beds already vacant, making 15,500 in all. At the present time there are in these hospitals about 13,000 vacant beds available not only for casualties but also for the civilian sick, who, as I have made clear on several occasions, are being admitted to the hospitals if they are in need of in-patient treatment. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of a letter recently sent to London hospitals on this subject.

May I further ask my right hon. Friend whether a sufficient number of physicians, surgeons and specialists have now returned to London to enable the hospitals to deal adequately with the civilian population?

I am advised that adequate medical and nursing personnel is available at these hospitals for the cases which are at present coming forward, but as my hon. Friend knows, further proposals were made to me last Friday by a special committee which was representative of all sides of the profession, and those proposals are now under active consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider authorising the immediate re-opening of London hospitals for the treatment of civil sick on a much larger scale than at present?

A special inquiry which I made on Monday showed that the nine big London hospitals—the London, St. Bartholomews, University College, Middlesex, St. Mary's, Westminster, St. Thomas', King's College and Guys Hospitals—all have vacant beds available for the ordinary needs of the population. I am, however, carefully examining in consultation with the governing bodies and their staffs what steps are possible to increase the facilities and beds available at the central hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that 12 motor coaches, with drivers, requisitioned for ambulance work have been standing in the roadway opposite a North London town hall since 1st September; and will he consider whether, in this and similar cases, some less expensive arrangement can be made?

I am keeping the question of the modification of arrangements for dealing with possible air raid casualties under constant review and am at present considering the possibility of releasing a proportion of the motor coaches which have been converted for use as ambulances.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman make some less expensive arrangement than that of having a long line of motor coaches standing by, night and day, with their drivers, in the roadway in some cases within 50 yards of a garage?

If adequate measures are not taken for the London population in the case of air raids, it is I who will be held responsible, and I must keep that always under consideration in connection with the facilities arranged for dealing with London sick or casualties.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the large number of qualified and experienced hospital nurses at present disengaged, he will permit local air-raid precautions committees to engage an additional professional nurse for each first-aid centre?

The establishment of a first-aid post includes one trained nurse. I do not feel in a position to recommend the enlargement of this establishment.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that one trained nurse at a first-aid post cannot be continuously on duty and that therefore there are bound to be long periods during which there is no trained nurse available, and does he appreciate that in certain circumstances it may be necessary to have at least one trained nurse?

The general professional staff is not continuously on duty at first-aid posts. These establishments have been very carefully worked out, and I should certainly be rather dubious at the present time about enlarging them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not look at this question also from this point of view, that there are hundreds, even thousands, of trained hospital nurses at present disengaged and not earning any money at all?

There are many trained personnel of various kinds disengaged, and I do not think we can look at it entirely from that point of view. We must look at it from the point of view of the efficiency of the service.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has now reconsidered the arrangement whereby auxiliary firemen injured in the course of their duties are expected to apply to the Unemployment Assistance Board for relief pending the determination of their claims by the Ministry of Pensions; and whether it is proposed to make any alteration in this system?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The Unemployment Assistance Board does not in these cases provide relief in the usual sense, but acts as my agent for the purpose of administering Part II of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, 1939. Injury allowances under this part of the scheme are provided by the Unemployment Assistance Board in respect of war service injuries at the flat-rate scales laid down in the scheme, without regard to means or need.

Is it not a fact that in some cases questions have been put to applicants for firemen's posts similar to those put to applicants for unemployment assistance?

Such statements have been made in this House, and I have asked hon. Members who have made them to forward to me any specific case, but none up to now have reached me. In any case, if the hon. Member will let me have it, I will inquire into it.

Has the hon. Gentleman overlooked the case that I sent to him and that I mentioned in the Debate here?

No, I have not overlooked that case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that elementary schools in the West Riding of Yorkshire are closed owing to no air-raid shelters being provided; that three schools are now closed in Maltby in the West Riding of Yorkshire; that many children are deprived of their education; that builders and their staffs who could immediately do the necessary work are out of work; and will he take steps to see that the services of these builders are utilised at once to construct the necessary shelters, and enable education to be carried on?

I am aware that some elementary schools in the West Riding are closed pending the provision of air-raid shelters. Of the four elementary schools in Maltby, one is closed, one is open in full session, one is in part-time session, half the children attending in the morning and half in the afternoon, and the other is to open next Monday for the instruction of small groups of children while shelter is being completed. I am informed that delay in the construction of shelters has been due in the main to difficulty in obtaining materials and sites for trenches: the authority do, in fact, I understand, employ local builders where possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what steps are being taken to ensure that officially and unofficially evacuated children now approaching secondary school age shall not have their chances of securing secondary education worsened if they remain in reception areas?

The problem to which the hon. Member refers falls into two parts. Special arrangements will have to be made for conducting the examination of evacuated children for admission to secondary schools. This is a matter primarily for local education authorities and they are already considering, with the assistance of the Board, what methods will be most appropriate to local circumstances. The other part of the problem concerns the grouping of new entrants in reasonable proximity to a secondary school. This will, in some cases, involve rebilleting, and a Circular on this subject, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member, has recently been issued by the Board. The financial adjustment is primarily a matter for the education authorities concerned and I am meeting their representatives, as the hon. Member knows, next week to discuss this whole question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many unofficially evacuated children normally in attendance at schools supported out of the higher education rates are at present not getting that form of education; and will he give the figures for children in Anglesey, Cornwall and Devonshire, respectively?

The question of secondary education in the three counties named is complicated and different in each case. I am making inquiries, which of necessity cannot be complete, in order to obtain a clearer picture of the position of unofficial evacuees, as regards secondary education.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, why the Government have decided that schoolchildren may now leave school on attaining their fourteenth birthday without waiting for the end of the school term?

The Government have given no such decision. Under Section 138 (1) of the Education Act, 1921, a child attending a public elementary school who attains the age of 14 during a school term cannot leave school till the end of the term. The position in that respect remains unchanged; but if the school is not open at the date of the child's fourteenth birthday the Section can have no application.

Has the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary been called to the fact that one newspaper in the country has already made a statement quite contrary to the announcement he has given?

I hope that the question and answer will correct that.

In the case where a child arrives at the school-leaving age, does the child automatically go home to its evacuation area or stay on in the reception area?

It will stay on.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that many children who are reaching the age of 14 years are actually starting work? Can he do something to prevent this?

I should like to know where the children are; and if the hon. Member will give me particulars I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the handicap experienced by young university graduates seeking appointments in teaching from the unwillingness of headmasters to employ men who may be conscripted; and will he take steps to give them some relief?

My attention has not been specially called to the matter. While I should hope that local education authorities and governing bodies would be pre- pared to entertain applicationsfrom young graduates who would be in a position to remain in their teaching posts for a reasonable period, my hon. Friend will realise that they might well find it difficult to appoint persons who are within a few months of being called up. I am not sure what form of relief my hon. Friend has in mind, but if some form of financial assistance is contemplated, there are no funds at the disposal of the Board from which such relief could be given.

Is it not a fact that in some cases it is not a matter of two months, but of two years that is in question?

I should like to know of any such cases.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will explore the possibilities of an agreement being effected relative to the flogging provisions contained in the Criminal Justice Bill, and give facilities for the passage of the Bill?

Sympathetic consideration has been given to this question. In view of the substantial measure of agreement on the main provisions of the Bill and of the time already given to its consideration, the Government would have been glad if some further time could have been found to carry its main provisions through the further stages. But the Bill covers a wide field and examination of its provisions shows that if it were to proceed a very substantial amount of time would have to be given by Ministers and Departmental officials to consideration of some of its Clauses and of many amendments relating to important details. In present circumstances the Government have reluctantly come to the conclusion that time could not be found for this work without prejudice to the effort on which all our energies must now be concentrated.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise the strength of feeling in all parts of the House in favour of passing this Measure into law, and is it not still possible to make some arrangements through the usual channels whereby the difficulties which the Lord Privy Seal has just mentioned may be completely obviated?

I recognise as strongly as anyone in this House—perhaps even more strongly than some—the strength of the support behind this Measure. There is no Bill that I would myself rather see passed into law. The difficulty is not the difficulty of the time of this House; it is the difficulty of the Government draftsmen and the departmental officials. Very reluctantly and much against my will I have been convinced that, in the circumstances, it is impossible to impose this further task on them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give further consideration to this, in view of the general desire that the important reforms contained in the Bill should be passed, and that all that work should not be lost? Would it not be possible to get assistance in drafting from eminent counsel and others, who perhaps have less work to do owing to the war, and to get the Bill through, as it would be extremely unfortunate if all that work should be lost?

I am as sorry as anybody in the House can be about the present position in this matter. I will convey the right hon. Gentleman's observations to the Prime Minister, but, again, I must say that the difficulty is the difficulty of imposing an almost impossible task upon the Government draftsmen and the Departmental officials.

If time cannot be found during this Session, could not provision be made to carry the Bill over to the next Session?

May I ask whether, in addition to the considerations which the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned, and which the House recognises, he has also given consideration to the great propaganda effect of passing through the British Parliament a great humane measure such as this at a time when the world is dominated by brutality and violence?

Certainly, I will take note of that fact. I do not want to get into any controversy with the hon. Gentleman on this subject. Again, I say that the difficulty is the difficulty of the Government draftsmen and the Departments. In reply to the question of the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne), as he knows, Bills cannot be carried over, except private Bills, but I should very much hope—and here I am expressing a personal opinion—that in some early Session a Bill of this kind will be introduced and will without delay be passed on to the Statute Book.

Could not a Resolution be passed through the House in a very short space of time to get the Bill carried over?

In view of the very great amount of time which we spent on this Bill in the Standing Committee, and in view of the expressions of opinion which the right hon. Gentleman has heard given here to-day, is it not possible for the Cabinet to reconsider this decision?

Could not a Clause be inserted in the Bill postponing the action of the Bill until after hostilities?

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that if this Bill were passed into law now, considerable expense would be incurred in putting its provisions into force, and that in the present state of the finances of this country, that would not be desirable?

Could not the right hon. Gentleman follow the precedent that was adopted in connection with the London Passenger Transport Bill, and carry it over?

The hon. Member will remember that that was not a Government Bill, but a Private Bill.