asked the Secretary for Mines how the assistant divisional petroleum officers were appointed; what was their previous experience; and what are their present rates of salary?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to Questions by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) on 14th and 21st November last.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state the number of processes for oil extraction by distillation and low temperature carbonisation, hydrogenisation and by other synthetic methods, which have been brought to the notice of his Department in the last 10 years; the number of plants operating commercially in this country; and the total quantity of crude oil derived from coal by these various methods?

During the last 10 years a very large number of processes for the extraction of oil from coal has been brought to the notice of my Department, but most of them have not been developed to the point at which technical investigation or commercial exploitation has been practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now any statement to make as to when the first valuation will be made for the levy on increases of wealth during the war announced in his Budget speech?

I cannot at present add to the replies previously given to the right hon. Member on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of bulk barrels of beer brewed and the number of proof gallons of spirits distilled during the year ended 30th September, 1939?

The information required is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the quantities of malt, corn, rice, maize, glucose sugar, and hops used in brewing during the year ended 30th September, 1939?

The quantities of materials used in brewing beer in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the year ended 30th September, 1939, were as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of malt and unmalted corn, rice, maize, sugar, and molasses, used for distilling during the year ended 30th September, 1939?

The particulars required are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that members of the Civil Air Guard possessing their "A" pilot's licences who were under 30 years of age and who enlisted into the Royal Air Force for ground duties or for air crews, have not since been given opportunities as pilots; and whether he will inquire into the possibility of providing such opportunities?

Members of the Civil Air Guard under 32 years of age are being invited, under special arrangements, to attest for flying duties. Those who fulfil the necessary educational and medical requirements, and are adjudged in all other respects suitable by the Aviation Candidates Selection Board, are recommended for the type of flying duty for which they are considered most suited. Those recommended for training as pilots will be called up for training as and when vacancies occur. Those not selected for flying duties may enlist for ground duties.Those who have voluntarily enlisted for ground duties otherwise than under these arrangements will be eligible, in common with all serving airmen, for recommendation for training as pilots under conditions of which details will be issued shortly. It will be appreciated that not all holders of an "A" pilot's licence are necessarily suitable as Service pilots.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to the use of orange peel for the manufacture of acetone, the manufacture of insulating material, plastics, and medicines, as well as the conversion of the peel into a poison gas absorbent for gas masks; and whether an investigation of its possibilities in this direction has been made with a view to using them in the prosecution of the war?

Orange peel, like most fermentable materials, could be used in the manufacture of acetone and certain non-essential medicines, and other derivatives from it could be used in the manufacture of insulating materials and plastics. I am advised, however, that it is neither a suitable nor an economic substitute for existing and available raw materials. Orange peel is not regarded as suitable for the production of an absorbent for use in respirators, for which there are more satisfactory raw materials.

asked the Minister of Health by what legal authority has the election of a member of the General Medical Council, which is now due, been postponed; and when will the election take place?

I have been asked to reply. On the application of the General Medical Council an Order in Council has been made under the Chartered and Other Bodies (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1939, extending until the end of the present year the term of office of certain direct representatives who are members of the General Medical Council.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that mortgages made on or after 2nd July, 1920, of houses which were under the Acts immediately prior to the 1939 Act, have been brought under the provisions of the Rent Restrictions Acts?

Houses to which the Rent Restriction Acts applied immediately before the commencement of the 1939 Act were not affected by that Act, and accordingly it would appear that mortgages on such houses created on or after 2nd July, 1920, are not subject to the provisions of the Acts.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that all houses within the specified limits of rateable value, whether they were let on Isl. September, 1939, or not, have been brought under the Rent Restrictions Acts; and that during the period laid down in the 1939 Act, such houses, whether they are let or not, will continue to be restricted and that the mortgage provisions continue to apply as regards both mortgage interest and restrictions on the mortgagee's powers during any time in which such houses are not let?

The Rent Restrictions Acts apply to houses only after they have been let. If a house within the limits of rateable value, but not previously controlled, was not let on 1st September, 1939, it will not become controlled until it is subsequently let. Once the house has become controlled, it will remain controlled in all circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department is cognisant of the independent and unofficial research work into the cause of cancer, claiming the proved immediate cause of cancer to be a certain fungus, and that many cases of cancer have been successfully treated by the use of one or both of two simple remedies which have been found to kill that fungus; and whether he will at once initiate investigation into the value of this work?

I am unable to identify the work to which the hon. Member refers, but if he will let me have the necessary particulars, I will consider whether there is sufficient prima facie evidence to justify an investigation into its value.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire into the circumstances attending the fact that Mr. C. F. Mott, 63, Hatfield Road, Stratford, E.15, Pension Book No. 20437654, has for 24 weeks been without payment of his pension?

As a consequence of Mr. Mott having understated his age to his approved society, disablement benefit was erroneously paid to him for a period subsequent to the date—8th June, 1939— from which his old age pension began to accrue. His old age pension was paid to him in the first instance with effect from 23rd November, 1939, the arrears for the preceding 24 weeks being temporarily withheld pending settlement of the society's claim for recovery from Mr. Mott's pension of the disablement benefit so paid. A remittance for the balance of pension due for this period, after satisfaction of the society's claim, was forwarded to Mr. Mott on 1st December, 1939.

asked the Minister of Health the constitution, functions, and duties of the advisory committee to which he refers matters relating to the emergency medical service; the number of its members; and how and when it was formed?

Particulars of this committee, then described as a special committee, were circulated with my reply to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Spens) on 26th October last. Its functions and duties are to advise me on questions regarding the employment of medical personnel under the Emergency Hospital Scheme.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the dissatisfaction which is known to exist amongst general medical practitioners with regard to the distribution of work, some more satisfactory and impartial method than the procedure adopted for medical treatment of unaccompanied children in reception areas will be decided upon in order to obtain the cordial co-operation of general practitioners under the proposed domiciliary medical service for civilians who sustain war injuries in this country and thus ensure successful service?

As the hon. Member will see from a memorandum shortly to be issued, of which I will send him a copy, the arrangements for the domiciliary treatment of uninsured civilians who sustain war injuries necessarily differ in certain respects from those made for unaccompanied children. I am not, however, aware of any dissatisfaction with regard to the distribution of work in relation to the medical treatment of these children in reception areas: on the contrary, I have received the most cordial co-operation of the medical profession.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many unmarried wives have hitherto received marriage allowances?

It is impossible to give the information desired without reexamining some scores of thousands of claims, a task which would seriously impede the normal work of the pay offices.

asked the Secretary of State for War what allowance is payable to a wife, separated from her husband, who has since enlisted and against whom there is a court order for maintenance?

In such circumstances, the soldier concerned is subject to a compulsory stoppage from his pay in respect of the court order as provided in Section 145 (2) of the Army Act; no allowance from Service funds is payable under the normal regulations, but, where the amount which can be stopped under the foregoing provisions from the pay of a man who has been called up for service in connection with the war falls appreciably short of that which he was previously contributing for the maintenance of his wife, special assistance can be given to her by the Ministry of Pensions if this course is recommended by the War Service Grants Advisory Committee.