asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a senior woman medical officer to assist in meeting the needs of the large numbers of women employed uncle his Department?

The services of the Royal Air Force medical organisation are available for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and the question of appointing women medical officers at stations where large numbers of Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel are posted is under consideration. It is not at present considered necessary to appoint a senior woman medical officer.

Would it not be advisable, when junior women medical officers have been appointed, that a senior woman medical officer should also be appointed and would not this assist the right hon. Gentleman in deciding what is best from the female point of view?

I will examine the matter when the question of this other personnel is being considered.

Will the Minister assure the House that he will give favourable consideration to this matter, because there are certain diseases from which women suffer and for which it is very important, during war time, that there should be full information, and these women are reluctant to approach a male medical officer? I think it is in the interests of the Royal Air Force that these women doctors should be appointed.

I will, of course, take the question into consideration, but I hope the matter will be met by the appointment of women medical officers at the various stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what stage has now been reached in the negotiations for the acquisition of the site of an aerodrome in North Devon?

Negotiations have been opened with a view to the purchase of the site, and, following a recent meeting with an Air Ministry Valuer, the owners and occupiers are now preparing their claims. A further meeting is being arranged with a view to expediting a settlement.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider consulting the French Government with a view to issuing, in association with that Government, a Franco-British postage stamp, with a design of two figures representing France and Great Britain, as a sign of the unity of the two countries?

Arrangements have been made to issue a special series of stamps in May next to commemorate the centenary of the first adhesive postage stamp, and in the circumstances I am unable to consider the issue of another special stamp at the present time.

Will the Postmaster-General bear in mind the suitability of a stamp similar to that which was issued by the French Government on the occasion of the King's visit to Paris representing the Houses of Parliament and the Arc de Triomphe?

I will bear that in mind.

Will the Minister be prepared to consider representations from representative bodies, both French and British, in this matter?

Certainly; if representations are made I shall be happy to take them into consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General why certain Post Office pensioners in Scotland who have returned to service for the present emergency, in addition to surrendering temporarily their pension, should be deprived of the 5s. 6d. per week increase payable to their grade under the decision of October, 1938; and will he take steps to see that such pensioners are placed on wages conditions not less favourable than the best for their grade?

The conditions of service for Post Office pensioners in Scotland who accept re-employment during the present emergency are those laid down by the Treasury for re-employed Civil Service pensioners generally. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a reply on the same subject given on the 9th October by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the right hon. Member for East Edinburgh (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence).

Is the Postmaster-General aware that these men feel that if they are already doing full-time work with what is equivalent to half wages it is an additional hardship if men working alongside are paid the 5s. 6d. increment which is not given to these older servants of the community?

That is a matter for the Treasury, as it affects the whole Civil Service.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present situation with regard to television broadcasting in this and other countries; and whether he will consider an early resumption of television broadcasting, as an encouragement both to research work and to manufacturers of television sets, enabling them to establish a British product in world markets?

The television service from the Alexandra Palace was suspended, in the national interest, on the outbreak of war; and I am sorry that I can hold out no hope of its early resumption. I understand that television services are being conducted in a few other countries, but I have no information which would suggest that they have yet passed the experimental stage.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the financial arrangements made with Unity Pools, Limited; and what is the cost of the arrangement to the State apart from the cost of collecting letters containing coupons and transmitting them to the 34 regional offices?

No financial arrangements have been made with Unity Pools and no costs are incurred apart from the ordinary costs of handling letters in the post. Letters addressed to Unity Pools at any of the regional offices are prepaid at the letter rate of postage and transmitted and delivered to the Unity Pools agent at the town of address in ordinary course of post.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that Members of this House have been circularised with a copy of a letter which is said to have been sent to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman dated 23rd January? Is it the case that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman accepted a scheme in terms of which certain persons publish their coupons in millions of newspapers at the public expense? Is that statement correct?

I have never heard of any such statement, and it is absolutely incorrect. What we have done is to object to the posting of outward blank coupons because they overwhelm the Post Office staff with work when they have more urgent matters in hand.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been called to the large number of Government contracts in Wales and Monmouthshire which have been given to firms from other areas, while the organisation, equipment, and often the personnel of local contractors are unemployed; and will he see to it that in future in all cases when costs are equal local firms are given the first opportunity of carrying out Government work?

The policy of my Department with regard to the employment of local contractors was explained on Thursday last in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for East Rhondda (Mr. Mainwaring). As regards the last part of the Question, I can give the assurance that, cost and all other considerations being equal, a local firm will always be selected.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether lie is aware that at the present time the construction of Government buildings in the districts of Wolverhampton, South Shropshire and South Staffordshire is carried out by contractors outside this area, whilst local firms have been generally ignored, and that the local building trade, through their association, have declared they possess the necessary facilities for handling all this Government work and therefore claim they should be given opportunities to tender for it; and will he give these firms this opportunity?

I do not think that my hon. Friend's criticisms can apply to contracts let by my Department. Invitations to tender for two substantial contracts only in the area mentioned have been issued since the outbreak of war and seven tenders were received in each case. In one instance, all were from firms in the neighbourhood and one received the contract. In the other case, three were from firms in the same town, three were from firms in towns within a fifty miles radius, and one from a firm established at a greater distance. The last was accepted because the price was lowest.

Who is responsible for these contracts? Is it not the fact that contracts are being fixed with firms enormous distances away from the site of the works? Is anything being done to bring local contractors into play in these cases?

I can only answer for contracts made by my own Department.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Honourable E. L. Chatfield, who was appointed to be a temporary clerk in the Admiralty, registered at a Ministry of Labour Employment Exchange in accordance with the Government's regulations in order to obtain his appointment, and if so, at what Employment Exchange he registered; whether his subsequent promotion to the administrative class within a week or so of his initial appointment was made in accordance with the promotion board procedure in operation in the Admiralty; and what steps he is taking to allay the grave discontent that exists amongst the experienced permanent staff in tile Admiralty who, after many years of service, remain unpromoted and who are now junior to this newly-appointed officer?

In the transition from peace co war it is necessary to make considerable temporary expansions of the Admiralty staff, as indeed of the staffs of ill other Services, and these cannot be filled even mainly from the permanent and pensionable staff. The normal promotion board machinery has been suspended for the period of the war, and in any case is not applicable to tem- porary appointments and promotions. Mr. Chatfield is one among a considerable number of persons brought in to the Admiralty from outside as temporary administrative officers. The only difference I can discern between his case and that of the five other persons similarly appointed is that on the day before the outbreak of war he succeeded in obtaining an appointment as a temporary clerk. He had already served in the Royal Navy as a cadet and midshipman for three years before being invalided. Thereafter he had joined the Territorial Army and was again invalided. He therefore sought to serve in a clerical capacity, that being the only one which the state of his health permitted.

It is regretted that in the stress of the hours preceding the declaration of war the process of registering at an Employment Exchange was omitted. I cannot see that these facts constituted any bar to his being selected with five others for appointment to his present temporary rank. On the contrary the zeal shown by the applicant and the fact that his abilities and his work were found satisfactory in a subordinate grade were elements which justified his appointment to a higher grade with others who had not gone through this trial procedure. The reports about his work in both grades are good. There is no grave discontent among the experienced permanent staff in the Admiralty which it is my duty to allay; and I am sure that the respect in which Mr. Chatfield's name is held in that Department has proved in no way prejudicial to the public interest.

May I ask what were the special qualifications of this man to perform this particular type of work? May I also ask what is the procedure which has been established to deal with this type of appointment, and why in this case the procedure of registration was not utilised? May I ask further why it is that a junior and temporary person is permitted to come into the Admiralty and to assume seniority over long-established and senior persons, and whether this sort of thing does not undermine public confidence?

I took a great deal of pain to give a very full answer to the hon. Gentleman, whose Question raised public issues of importance. I prepared the answer with my own hand, and I do not mind saying that I was very well satisfied with it. If I were to attempt to embellish it at the moment, I should only spoil it.

It is most unsatisfactory.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the prevailing rates of pay and allowances for women officers, including payments for lodging,

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will fuel and light, travelling, subsistence, servants, camp kit, rations, and any other allowance; and what were the previous payments where any change has taken place since the outbreak of the war?

As the answer involves a number of tables of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which the Prime Minister gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart). I hope to continue the practice of making from time to time full statements to the House on the progress of the war at sea.

May I take it from the answer that the right hon. Gentleman will be prepared to meet Members on this side of the House under conditions similar to those under which he meets Members on the other side, and on a similar status?

If I received an invitation, I should have the greatest pleasure in complying with it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether he has considered the adoption of additional floating rafts on naval vessels to safeguard the lives of shipwrecked crews; and whether he has approved of any type of automatic light to be fixed on the rafts so that their position may be observed during the hours of darkness and thereby assist in being rescued;

(2) whether he has given consideration to the adoption on all naval vessels of a lifebelt light which automatically indicates the position of shipwrecked members of the crew; and whether, in view of the risk in the use of searchlights to locate floating bodies, he will institute the use of such a device to assist in the protection of the lives of naval service men during the period of darkness?

The whole process of improving and multiplying life-saving appliances and fittings, including the provision of additional floating rafts and some form of light indicators, is being continually pressed forward as the war unfolds.

In view of the great concern that is felt, will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the matter will be expedited?

Yes, it is constantly under review.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will take steps to improve the lighting in the Central Lobby, when the House is sitting, during the black-out hours?

I regret that, owing to the very large area of the stained glass windows, it would be a matter of considerable difficulty and expense to provide more light while maintaining an effective black-out.

Does not the First Commissioner of Works think that it is worth the cost? Is he aware that it is impossible to recognise anyone in the Central Lobby; that it is undignified that people should have to go there, and very unfair to the officers on duty?

I have had conversations with the Air-Raid Precautions Committees of both Houses, and in view of the difficulty and expense, to which I have referred, it is not possible to come to any other arrangements. If the hon. Member has any suggestion to make I shall be glad to consider it.

Can the First Commissioner say the total amount of cost which is held to offset the enormous advantage which would accrue to hon. Members and their visitors by making the Central Lobby a place where they can conveniently meet?

I cannot give the exact figure but I will go into it and let the hon. Member know.

Cannot the lights be put about 12 feet higher than they are? That would give sufficient light for hon. Members to see who was coming to visit them.

I will have that point examined.

Can the First Commissioner tell us what would be the total cost?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the causes of the labour dispute in Singapore; what steps have been taken to remove the workers' grievances; whether any persons are being victimised or prosecuted for their part in the dispute; and what conciliation machinery exists for dealing with labour difficulties?

As the answer is necessarily long I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it a fact that all strikes in Singapore at the present time are illegal, and under what emergency powers have the Government been acting to break this strike?

My information is that practically all the strikes which have taken place at Singapore have been amicably settled, and therefore, the hon. Member's Questions do not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amounts received by the Palestine Government last year in wharfage dues, storage dues and lighterage licence fees from the Tel-Aviv port; and the amounts received by the Marine Trust, Limited, from the Palestine Government for maintaining the services of the lighter jetty?

I have not the information asked for, but am asking the High Commissioner for the figures and will communicate them to the hon. Member when I hear from him.

When the right hon. Gentleman does communicate with me, will he state on what basis they justify the collecting of these dues, seeing that no payment is made to the Marine Trust for the maintenance of the jetty; and will he state further if these dues and fees are collected whether the Marine Trust makes a loss or not?

I will give what information I can on both those points.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken or proposes to take to mobolise a national transport system, to include all forms of transport, co-ordinated for the purpose of utilising it to the best advantage, and, in the event of a sudden strain or breakdown in any form of transport, is he satisfied that alternative mid adequate transport is available and ready to be used at once?

I think the present system provides a combination of elasticity and control which makes the best use of the different means of transport available. The Regional Transport Commissioners' organisations are largely designed to secure the provision of adequate alternative means of transport in case of sudden strain or breakdown. The whole system is kept under constant scrutiny and I shall not hesitate to introduce any changes which would appear to make for still better co-ordination.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he intends to take to increase the volume of tonnage carried on the canals and waterways, in view of the great potential carrying capacity of the canals?

asked the Minister of Transport whether any definite scheme of co-operation between railways and canals, in dealing with the problem of heavy transport during the war, is in process or is contemplated in the near future; and whether facilities for inland water transport are being fully employed?

I am in close touch with the canal industry and am examining with them what additional contribution inland waterways can make towards the solution of our national transport problems, and what further practical steps the Government can take towards arranging that the traffic which can best be carried by canal is so carried. The Canal (Defence) Advisory Committee, which is having a further meeting this afternoon, includes representatives of the waterways and canal carriers together with representatives of the various Departments concerned in getting traffic moved.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the immense services rendered by canals during the last war, in the transport of heavy materials especially, and will he give sympathetic consideration to the proposals submitted to him this afternoon?

Any proposals submitted this afternoon or at any other time will be most carefully examined.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that at this very time valuable canals are being allowed to fall into disrepair and become useless?

I think there are cases where that happens.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is proposed to issue new regulations in regard to vehicles covered by the Gas and Steam Vehicles (Excise Duties) Bill, and to make any changes in the speed limit, etc., when the vehicle obtains the motive power from a plant carried on a trailer; and can a statement be made on this matter?

I circulated draft regulations to representative organisations on 15th January and asked for their early observations. I hope to receive the outstanding replies in the course of the next few days and shall consider them before finally making the regulations. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the draft regulations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he is aware that under the arrangement for funding and clearing arrears of payments clue to the United Kingdom firms by traders in Turkey, it is proposed to settle these debts subject to discounts varying from 3 to 40 per cent.; whether United Kingdom creditors were consulted before these discounts were agreed to and under what authority His Majesty's Government have deprived United Kingdom creditors of a percentage of the debts due to them; and whether it is the intention of the Government to pursue this policy in the future with respect to debts due to United Kingdom firms from other countries, in view of the effect of such forcible reduction of a debt without consultation with the creditors, on exporters of the country and on our export trade?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. For the rest, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the full explanation I hope to give when the Motion confirming the Order comes up for Debate next week.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him whether it is not possible to say one or two words at this juncture, in order to allay the feeling of consternation among exporters in this country in respect of the publication of the recently-signed Anglo-Turkish Agreement?

This is a very complicated question with a very long history behind it, and I do not think that I could possibly give an adequate explanation within the terms of a Parliamentary answer.

Can we not have an assurance that, in future, persons interested shall be, at any rate, consulted before an agreement of this kind is made?

The hon. Member must not assume that they are not.

Will the Minister bear in mind the fact that these discounts are rendering no advantage either to the exporter or to the purchaser, since they are payable to financial agents and moneylenders and go-betweens?

I do not think I could accept that implication either. Perhaps the hon. Member will develop his views in the Debate next week.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that announcements relating to Statutory Rules and Orders are being issued in the Press before the actual copies of the Orders in print are available; that on 13th January reference was made in the Press to the maximum prices for home-grown oats, but that the official order relating thereto is not yet available; that the new Order relating to lights on motor vehicles which came into operation on 22nd January is not yet available in print; that great inconvenience is caused to the commercial community owing to the delay in obtaining official copies of these Orders; and whether he will arrange that printed copies of all Statutory Rules and Orders shall be available simultaneously with any announcements regarding them appearing in the Press?

I think my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. The Home Grown Oats (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, to which I assume my hon. Friend refers, was made by my right hon. Friend on 27th January last and was sent to the Stationery Office for printing in the afternoon of the same day. Copies of the Order which will come into force on 1st February next were issued for sale on 30th January. As regards the Lighting (Restrictions) Order, 1940, copies of this Order, which came into operation at midday on 22nd January, were on sale at the opening of business on that morning and have been available ever since.

I may add that every effort is made to ensure that copies of Orders should be available to the public as soon as possible after the making of them is announced in the Press, but it is not always possible to arrange that printed copies should be on sale simultaneously with the Press announcement. In the case of the Home Grown Oats Order, however, the Press announcement of 13th January was expressly made as a preliminary notice of an Order which my right hon. Friend intended to make in the near future.

Is it not a fact that the contents of some of these Orders have been published in the Press before they have been available to Members of this House; and if so, why?

I have explained exactly what happened in the cases of the two Orders to which my hon. Friend referred, and from what I have said he will see that they were made available at once. If he has any other cases in mind, perhaps he will let me know of them. I am as anxious as he is that these Orders should be available as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will issue some statements to show to what extent the flour-milling industry is controlled by Order, both as regards the type of flour produced, and the price at which flour and feeding-stuffs made by the industry are to be sold?

As the reply is necessarily rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I ask my hon. Friend whether he would ask the Minister of Food, who is not present to-day, to be good enough to see me personally in this matter, which is very important indeed?

Is the levy subsidy still charged on the flour and paid through the consumers' bread?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is now able to give an assurance that it is not intended to continue for the duration of the war the operating system of the Millers' Mutual Association in connection with holding within certain limits the price of flour in view of the fact that under this system excess of output is penalised and non-attainment of output is subsidised?

I would remind my hon. Friend that the Millers' Mutual Association is not controlled by the Ministry of Food. My information is that the rules of the Association prohibit it from taking any action to fix or regulate the price of flour. The price of straight run flour in the United Kingdom was fixed at 22s. per sack of 280lb. by the Flour (Prices) (No. 1) Order, 1939, made by the Board of Trade at the outbreak of war. I am assured that immediately after the outbreak of war the Association in question suspended the operation of any rules regulating the output of flour by its members.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware of the difficult position created for established pig salesmen who, by reason of the Government's control of the sale of pigs, will be put out of business entirely; and whether he will consider the advisability of employing such firms as the agents of the Government for this work, as is being done in the case of cattle and sheep, or of suitably compensating them?

The scheme for the control of the sale and slaughter of pigs does not necessarily put pig salesmen out of business. They are at liberty to deal in store pigs. The question of employing these firms as agents of the Government in connection with the purchase of fat pigs has been carefully considered and I am satisfied that it is not practicable under existing circumstances. The question of compensation does not arise. The position is not the same as in the case of cattle and sheep because pigs are being bought on the basis of dead weight ascertained at the point of slaughter whereas in the case of cattle and sheep the purchase price is determined by a certifying authority composed of three persons while the live animal is at the collecting centre. There is therefore no opportunity for the employment of these dealers as graders of pigs.

Is the Minister aware that in Wolverhampton alone there are two firms with an annual turnover of £250,000 who have been put out of business as a result of this, and what action does he propose to take to meet such cases?

I am sorry for individuals who are displaced through the inevitable operation of war-time schemes, but we are satisfied that it would be impossible to employ those firms as agents of the Government.

Is the Minister prepared to receive a deputation from the Midlands Pigs Salesmen's Association of persons representing these people?

I am always accessible, but I can hold out no assurance of any alteration in this arrangement.

Is it not the case that this work would be much better done by those who have experience?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether consideration has been given to the advisability of reducing the import duty on saccharine in order to encourage the use of this product as a substitute for sugar?

The duty on saccharine is directly related to the duty on sugar by reference to sweetening power. In view of the revenue considerations involved the suggestion of the hon. Member cannot be adopted.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what right of appeal is granted to a retailer in the event of his licence to trade being withdrawn by a local food committee?

No right of appeal by a retailer against a decision by a food control committee to withdraw his licence is conferred by the Food Control Committees (Local Distribution) Order but every food control committee is required to comply with my right hon. Friend's directions. Where, therefore, a retailer is dissatisfied with the decision of a food control committee, he is entitled to state his case to the divisional food officer. After such local investigation as may be necessary, the matter may be submitted to my right hon. Friend for consideration and decision.

Why is it necessary to have a retail trader's licence at all? What is the purpose of the Order?

In order that, in time of war, foodstuffs should be delivered with the greatest expedition and economy.

Can my hon. Friend explain in what way expedition and economy are effected by giving people a totally unnecessary licence to exist?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will issue instructions that consumers are free to change their registered retailers of rationed foodstuffs, subject to a reasonable but short period of notice?

No, Sir, the distribution of rationed foodstuffs is based upon the allocation of a definite amount of the rationed food proportioned to the number of customers which the retailer has to serve. It is essential to the success of this plan that the number of customers registered with the retailer should not be subject to frequent or material fluctuation.

In practice, why should the individual simply become the slave of the retailer; and having regard to the fact that the allocation is ineffective in any case, since it has been found necessary to double the bacon ration in order to sell the bacon, what is the purpose of the scheme?

The last part of the question raises another matter which will be dealt with later. As regards the first part, it is obvious that if each customer were allowed to change, and if they changed very frequently, then the whole basis of the allocation would be destroyed.

Supposing the consumer has a genuine grievance, what is the remedy?

His remedy is to appeal to the local food committee who, in cases where there is a serious grievance, can grant immediate relief.

What evidence has the hon. Gentleman to show that such a very large number of people would want to change their retailers, that it would destroy the basis of the Government's scheme? It sounds a fantastic assumption.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will issue regulations to require producers of margarine for domestic consumption to indicate its vitamin content in order that diabetic and other invalids forced to purchase margarine as a substitute for butter may know which brands to buy?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the decision that no supplementary allowance of butter is needed for invalids, he will issue instructions that vitaminised margarine should be clearly marked?

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. David Adams) on 25th January. All margarine sold for domestic consumption after 5th February will be vitaminised to the same extent as btter.

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will undertake that the packet will be marked with the percentage of vitamins in the margarine?

I could give no such undertaking, but all margarine will be vitaminised and it will contain Vitamins A and D to the same extent as butter.

May I ask the Minister whether he believes in this process?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that the farmers in the Sodbury Vale, Gloucestershire, are killing off their stocks, including breeding stock, for lack of feeding-stuffs, while 80 tons of feeding-stuffs are stored at the Cow Mills, Chipping Sodbury, which the Government will ant allow to be released; and will he take prompt action?

From inquiries that have been made I understand that the sock of feeding-stuffs referred to consists of home-grown wheat quantity is 80 sacks 9 tons) and not 80 tons represents two-thirds of 120 sacks, one-third of sold for feeding livestock. The remaining two-thirds is precluded by the home Grown Wheat (Control) Order, 1939, from being sold for that purpose if the wheat is of millable quality. The holder of the wheat has submitted a sample to the local wheat committee for a ruling as to whether it is millable wheat within the meaning of the Wheat Acts; if it is decided that a wheat certificate cannot be issued for the wheat, the miller will be able to sell the wheat for feeding livestock.

Can he say whether it is in good order and how long it has been in store?

I have no information to the effect that it is deteriorating.

Can the Minister give an assurance that a decision will be taken before the end of the war?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that farmers in the Sodbury Vale, Gloucestershire, who are killing off stock, have to send them to Bristol to he slaughtered, whence the meat is sent on to London, and that the people of Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, Yate, Little Sodbury and Wickwar are unable to obtain meat as there is no local source of supply; and what steps he is taking to remedy this?

Under the Meat and Livestock control scheme farmers in the Sodbury Vale do not have to send their stock to Bristol for slaughter. These farmers may sell their fatstock at the nearest fatstock market which has been approved as a collecting centre, for instance, at Chipping Sodbury and Yate, unless they have individually elected to use another centre. The fatstock is purchased by the Ministry of Food and transported in bulk from the collecting centre to a selected slaughterhouse. The slaughterhouse or slaughterhouses to which particular stock is consigned is decided in the light of the requirements of the country as a whole for the different classes and qualities of meat.

As regards the allegation of a shortage of meat in the districts enumerated in the Question, on account of the absence of the local source of supply, I wish to assure my hon. Friend that any temporary shortage in home-killed meat that has developed has been fully made good by supplies of imported meat.

Is he aware that the supplies they have had are imported meat, and only at the rate of three-quarters of a pound per person including bone?

I cannot accept that figure. My information is that full supplies of meat have been issued in the present week to the places mentioned.

Perhaps I may send my hon. Friend some particulars.

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why the office of the Cereal Control Board is at Godstone?

The central office of the Cereals Control Board is in London, but the Cereals Import Committee of the board, which is concerned with the technical aspects of buying imported supplies of cereals and their distribution in the United Kingdom, is housed at Godstone. This is a measure of dispersal adopted as an insurance against the possibility of dislocation of an essential service. The accommodation has been placed at the disposal of the board by Mr. James V. Rank who is chairman of the committee.

May I ask whether the home of the chief of the milling combine is the likeliest possible place for the Area Import Board; and will he tell us exactly who constitutes the buying executive, with their names and, exactly in what trades they are involved?

I cannot give all the names in answer to a Supplementary Question, but we are much indebted to the far-sighted work clone by the committee under Mr. Rank's chairmanship. When the history of these transactions becomes known it will be realised what good work this committee has done in the national interest.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the misstatement made by the Minister of Food on the 25th January when he stated that Godstone was a small auxiliary control board? Is it not a fact that it is the hub of the rascally milling combines?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction owing to the fact that sugar refineries at Greenock are allowed to work short-time, while molasses, available for use as raw material in these refineries is diverted for manufacture into non-food producing products; and what steps he intends to take to prevent such diversion, and thus increase both the work available at Greenock, and the sugar available for rationing?

I am aware that there is a possibility that the sugar refineries at Greenock may have to work short time owing to the necessity for rationing sugar. Imported molasses are mostly unsuitable for refining into sugar and are as a general rule required for industrial purposes. I fear that it is impracticable to increase the supply of sugar at the present time.

Will the Minister answer that part of the Question which deals with the diverting of molasses to the manufacture of non-food-producing products.

As I have said, they are being used for industrial purposes. The molasses contain such a low sugar content that they would be of very little use in meeting the hon. Member's need.

What are the industrial processes referred to in the answer?

That is a question for the Minister of Supply.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that a substantial number of persons are known not to be buying their rations of butter, thus leaving substantial quantities in the hands of shopkeepers and wholesalers, and as this is due to the increased price of this food fixed by his Department, what steps he is taking to revise the price?

I am aware that a moderate percentage of the 4 ounces butter ration is not at present being taken up, but there is no evidence to indicate that substantial quantities of butter are left in the hands of shopkeepers and wholesalers. It is not practicable to reduce the present maximum price of butter without incurring a considerable loss. The present retail price has been in operation since September and has not been introduced as a result of rationing.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there were good qualities of butters available a short time ago, in September, at about 1s. and 1s. 2d. per pound? Where have these butters gone? 1s the announcement to vitaminise margarine a preparatory step towards getting certain classes on to margarine, and other classes on to a higher butter ration?

Most certainly not. One hopes that people not hitherto able to buy butter may, for instance, through the improvement of individual wages and other factors, be able to buy butter, but there is no intention on the part of the Ministry of Food to grade margarine and butter according to classes.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what extent the doubling of the bacon ration, recently announced, is an attempt to dispose of the substantial quantities of bacon left in business hands to those customers who can afford to buy bacon at the prices charged; what was the reason for such supplies being accumulated; and what steps is he taking to reduce the price?

The Ministry has for some time past been building up a reserve of bacon to meet possible contingencies. This reserve has now been completed, and in view of current satisfactory arrivals it has been possible to increase the amount of bacon available for general consumption. As regards the last part of the Question, this matter is under constant review in the light of all relevant circumstances.

Is it not a fact that the same thing applies to bacon as to butter, and that certain classes of people have been unable to afford their allotted ration and have had to forego it, while other people who can afford it, are going to get their ration as well?

I would not deny that the price factor enters into its consumption. It is quite clear, however, that in many districts, indeed in most districts, cheaper cuts of bacon are being sold to-day, and that those cuts left on the grocers' hands are very often the more expensive.

Why is the ration being increased when there may be a war starting in a few months time?

What happens to the allocated supplies of bacon and butter which remain unsold?

If there is a danger of the stock going bad he may sell it, if he obtains the leave of the local food control committee.

What has happened to the shilling butters I have asked about?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can now give particulars of the salaries to be paid by the Ministry to officials on the Pigs and Bacon Marketing Boards who are being transferred from those boards to positions in the bacon and ham branch in the Ministry of Food?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to give my right hon. Friend the information he desires but I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in the course of the next few days.

In view of the fact that the Minister was good enough to send me an explanatory letter, I will not press this matter.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, before buying scrap-iron at high prices in New York, he is satisfied that it is impossible to find further supplies in this country?

The efforts to increase the home supplies of iron and steel scrap are yielding satisfactory results, but in view of our high rate of steel production it is still necessary to supplement these supplies by importations from abroad.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to the fact that many industries in the Wolverhampton area are in serious difficulties from the almost complete stoppage of building; and what action does he propose to take?

My right hon. Friend has no direct responsibility for the building industry and he is not aware of the position referred to. If however there has been curtailment of building operations in Wolverhampton, and it has been caused by shortage of building material, and the buildings are needed for work essential to the needs of the nation in war, my right hon. Friend would be glad to be informed of the details in order that they may be placed before the Works and Buildings Sub-Committee of the Ministerial Priority Committee of the Cabinet.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has observed that newspaper proprietors, having reduced the size of their journals to meet the paper shortage, are still using this shortage as a reason for imposing restrictions on newsagents, to the inconvenience of the public; and will he consider issuing a regulation that the usual practice governing sale or return shall operate, failing agreement between newspaper owners and retailers or take other steps to mitigate the inconvenience caused to the travelling public by the present arrangements?

As was stated in the reply to the hon. Member for Clay Cross (Mr. Ridley) on 7th November, the detailed arrangements in the trade regarding the return of unsold newspapers are not matters in which my right hon. Friend can intervene.

Is there no prospect that the Minister will see there is a public grievance here, and take powers to deal with it?

The difficulty of the situation is that we asked the newspaper proprietors to economise in the use of paper, and it is rather difficult, on the other hand, if we ask them to give more spare copies to the wholesalers and retailers throughout the country, because the two requests would be completely inconsistent.

Do you not know about this grievance being an actual fact?

I know about the grievance, but I am afraid it is one of those things which result from the difficulty of getting enough wood pulp in time of war.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that at a royal ordnance factory a number of highly-skilled men have received notice terminating their employment owing to shortage of work; whether this is due to excessive contracts being placed with private firms; and whether steps are being taken to retain the services of these men in Government employment?

No, Sir. No skilled men have recently been discharged by the royal ordnance factory in question on account of shortage of work.

Do I understand from the reply that skilled craftsmen are not being discharged, and has the hon. and gallant Member taken the trouble to inquire at the ordnance factory?

Naturally inquiries are always made from the factory concerned before a reply of this sort is given. No men have been discharged owing to lack of work. It is true that there have been a few discharges of people for being bad time-keepers and reasons of that sort, but none through shortage of work.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that Government contractors often find difficulties under the existing timber control arrangements in obtaining requisite supplies of timber to carry out their contracts owing to the contractor, although holding a permit, being unable to obtain either a quotation or supply from timber merchants which would necessitate reducing their stocks; and whether he will consider giving the timber control department the necessary power to requisition stocks held by merchants whenever necessary?

I am aware that such difficulties have occurred in certain cases. A suitable remedy is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Supply what are the steps, and the results of them, that he is taking to discover alternatives to timber for use as parts of military hutments and for similar armament purposes; and whether the timber now used for hutments is so cut and fitted as to render it afterwards adaptable for purposes other than Army requirements?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that very thorough investigation is in progress with a view to securing every possible economy of timber wherever it is used. In hutments that are now being built and for future hutment contracts the use of timber has been practically eliminated, being confined to doors and windows, except in the case of some Nissen huts. Full use is being made of such substitute materials as brick, coke breeze and concrete slabbing. Such timber as is used will, however, be of little subsequent use for other purposes.

Are these alternatives for timber being brought to the notice of persons charged with the completion of housing schemes?

I believe that is so. There are representatives of all Department s on the sub-committee which deals with these matters, and they are aware of it. For detailed information on that point the hon. Member ought to put a Question down to the Minister of Health or the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Supply how many large firms hold building contracts from the Government; how many of those firms have such contracts in Scotland and, of these firms, how many have their headquarters in Scotland; and whether he will consider, with regard to such building operations in Scotland, the adoption of normal Scottish procedure whereby a Scottish architect is put in charge of the whole job and contracts are placed with individual firms for the various types of work included in the job?

My right hon. Friend is not responsible for Government building contracts generally. The Ministry of Supply has however substantial needs for new factories and 37 large firms at present hold building contracts placed by or on behalf of the Ministry. Twelve of these contracts are for work in Scotland and 10 of this number are held by Scottish firms. With regard to the last part of the Question, tenders for these contracts were called for from firms in Great Britain as a whole, and the procedure adopted had therefore to be that which obtains generally throughout the country.

Will the Minister bring to his right hon. Friend's notice the desirability of making use of the procedure in Scotland which is indicated in the Question, and which works in Scotland advantageously and economically from the point of view of getting the work done?

As I understand the suggestion, it is that a Scottish architect should have power to supervise the work. A large part of our factory building programme is done for us by the Office of Works, who have a very efficient staff. In regard to other cases the designs are done in our own building department. I am afraid that there is no place in that scheme of things where an outside architect can be fitted in.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that his letters, dated 27th November and 9th December, 1939, Reference 279 (Gen.) 40 (SS 1B), were issued in order to secure men, who are below the respective ages of reservation, in occupations essential for the completion of Government contracts as long as possible; is he aware that these men are being called up in spite of the fact that their employers have filled in Form NS 88 as instructed; and what further action does he propose to take?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any cases in which men have been called up in spite of the fact that their employers had filled in Form NS 88 in accordance with the arrangements. If the hon. Member has any specific cases in mind, I shall be glad to be informed of them.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that an officer of his Department introduced, as a reliable financial agent, to the head of a firm requiring finance to carry out urgently needed Government contracts, a man who had been convicted of fraudulent conversion and who had been declared bankrupt on a number of occasions; who recommended the man in question to his Department as a suitable person to obtain the required finance; what inquiries the officers of his Department made regarding the antecedents of this man before undertaking the responsibility of recommending him to the firm in question; and whether he is prepared to have a full inquiry made into all the circumstances of this case?

I am aware of the case to which the hon. Member refers though. I must not be understood as accepting all the implications involved in his Question. Inquiry has already been made into the case and the papers have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who has recently advised that he is not satisfied that there is evidence on which to support criminal proceedings against any of the persons involved. In the circumstances I do not consider any useful purpose would be served by a further inquiry.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has not answered my Question as to who recommended this man to his Ministry as a reliable person, although he was a man with a criminal record? Is he aware also that he has not answered my Question as to what inquiries officials of his Department made as to the antecedents of this man before sending him to the firm in question?

I have endeavoured to tell the hon. Member that full inquiry has been made in the Department as to all the matters brought to our notice by the papers on which the Question is founded. I took a serious view of this matter, and my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary and I have given a great deal of time and thought to it and have discussed the matter with several Members of the House. The antecedents of the man in question were not known to the man making the introduction referred to in the Question. Inquiry has been made in the Department as to whether blame of a criminal character can be attached in the circumstances of the case, and the matter was submitted through the Treasury Solicitor to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The answer is that there is not ground on which, in the opinion of the Director, criminal proceedings would lie. What action, if any, of a disciplinary character has to be taken is a matter for which I, as head of the Department, in so far as the gentleman is a member of my Department, must take the responsibility.

In view of the public interest involved in the facts of this Question, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment to-day?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the peace terms offered by Japan to the Chinese puppet government; and whether the Foreign Office has received any information on the subject from either of the British ambassadors in the Far East?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Ambassador in China has called my Noble Friend's attention to an agreement purporting to have been signed by Mr. Wang Ching-wei and the Japanese authorities on 30th December last. The full text is being forwarded by air mail. As published in the Shanghai Chinese Press the documents bear neither signature nor date, and may therefore be merely preliminary exchanges of views. A spokesman of Mr. Wang has described them as "demands submitted by the Japanese," and has denied that any agreement has been signed with the Japanese.

asked the Prime Minister whether the British Government, in view of the treaty negotiations between Japan and the Chinese puppet government, still adhere to the terms of the Washington Treaty?

In their Note of 14th January, 1939, to the Japanese Government, His Majesty's Government made it clear that they intended to adhere to the principles of the Nine Power Treaty, and this remains their attitude.

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines what action he proposes to take to meet the representations he has received from the Lord Provost of Glasgow asking for immediate supplies of coal to avert severe hardship to families in tenement property and stating that 5,000 tons daily are required?

I received last night a telegram from the Lord Provost of Glasgow asking for immediate supplies to avert hardship to families in tenements. The hon. Member and the House, remembering that Glasgow is surrounded by coal mines, will appreciate how acute the transport difficulty has been in that area. In order to meet anticipated difficulty it was arranged on Saturday and Monday last to bring coal specially from the Fife and Lothian coalfields to Glasgow. Those trains also were delayed, but I am glad to say that some have arrived to-day, and that coal is now reaching Glasgow from neighbouring mines. I attach the highest importance to preventing hardship among smaller consumers and the local officers of my Department have instructions and full powers to take all possible action locally that may be necessary.

Does the Minister appreciate that a telegram received by several hon. Members of this House from the Lord Provost asserts that Glasgow is suffering from a coal famine and that it is within the knowledge of Members representing Glasgow that that shortage began to display itself prior to the weather to which reference has been made?

No, Sir, I do not think it would be accurate to say that these difficulties began to show themselves prior to the weather difficulties, because the weather difficulties with which the railways have been contending have extended over a considerable time, but I should Eke to point out that the telegram from the Lord Provost was received yesterday, and that since that time the situation has improved, because the coal I have mentioned has arrived—I have just got the information.

Is the Minister aware that attention was called to this matter much earlier than yesterday, that cooperative societies have been refusing orders for coal from their customers and that people cannot get coal? Why has it taken all this time to take the action which he says has resulted? Is it not a fact that his attention was called almost to days ago to this grave position in Glasgow?

I am not aware of the information which the hon. Member has just suggested was conveyed to me earlier but I would point out that the action which I have mentioned was taken as early as Saturday last and before the telegram was received from the Lord Provost.