asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is yet possible to extend to troops stationed in Palestine and other places the privilege of duty-free import of cigarettes and other tobacco sent by friends and relatives from this country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox) on 12th December last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether arrangements can be made for parcels to be sent duty free to all men in the forces overseas, in the same way as to members serving in the British Expeditionary Force in France?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox) on 12th December last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to bring the fact that, where troops occupy huts, special arrangements can be made with the local postmaster for a single wireless licence to cover all wireless sets, to the notice of serving officers and soldiers?

I am in communication with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Postmaster-General with a view to the issue of a suitable notification on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all Army pay offices are now fully equipped with typewriters, copying and filing systems to enable their work to be carried out efficiently?

Army pay offices are being equipped as quickly as possible with the additional typewriters and copying systems needed to meet the rapid expansion, but the very large demands for these articles for various services have created difficulties of supply. It is hoped that full requirements will be met in the near future. There is no difficulty in regard to filing.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what complaints he has received in connection with the waste of materials and other factors on Government building contracts; and whether, in order to limit this waste, he will institute a closer examination and estimate of cost factors in determining future contracts?

I am not aware of any complaints of this kind in connection with building contracts made by my Department, but, if the hon. Member will bring to my notice any specific instances in which waste is alleged, I will investigate them.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, on what grounds, in requisitioning sets of offices and dispossessing the occupying tenants, he offers to pay a rent based only on hypothetical considerations at the outbreak of war, and much lower than the rent which the tenants themselves have, under the law, to pay to their superior landlords; and whether he is aware of the resentment among tenants at what they consider is exploitation?

As I pointed out in my reply to a Question put by my hon. Friend on 25th January, the method of assessing compensation in these cases is laid down by Statute. Such compensation is not necessarily less than the rent.reserved in the lease. I do not accept the suggestion that, because the Statute does not require the State to pay the tenant whatever rent he may have agreed to pay his landlord, a case of exploitation can fairly be supported.

asked the Minister of Supply (1) why home-grown down wool, quoted at 20d. clean last July, was only released at 31d. for the rationing period commencing 1st November; and who has made the 50 per cent. profit;(2) why colonial wools are only to be released at the next rationing period at a price 35 per cent. higher than the first 50 per cent. increase; and into what accounts the large resulting profits will find their way?

The issue price operating from 1st March has been calculated upon the basis of the replacement cost of Australian and other wools from abroad, which have been bought at a substantially higher price level than that ruling last season, with higher costs of importation. This issue price is not out of line with those at which supplies will be available to other countries. As a temporary measure, wool from stocks in this country, which were requisitioned generally at about 10 per cent. above pre-war prices, is until March being issued for home consumption at an intermediate price about 20 per cent. above pre-war. Any profit will accrue to the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the arbitrary price increases of 50per cent. and now a further 35 per cent. on wool will cripple the Scottish mills which cater mostly for export trade; and whether this matter has received the attention and approval of the Government?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I have given to-day to his other Questions on the same subject.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will now reconsider the decision to withhold supplies of timber originally arranged for the completion of the roof of the parish church of Newton-grange, Midlothian?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland proposes to get into touch with the Church of Scotland to consider their requirements, and to determine whether some proportion of these requirements can be met from available supplies, which are extremely limited.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been drawn to the correspondence between British Galenicals, Limited, and Aluminium Supply; whether he is aware that the firm's request for a supply of aluminium to be used in the manufacture of tubes and containers was met with the reply that if arrangements were made for the British Chemical Manufacturers Association, or other such organisation, to submit the case, it would be reconsidered by the civil uses committee of Aluminium Supply; what was the reason for expecting a business firm to have its case submitted by some other organisation; whether he is aware that in this case there is no satisfactory economic substitute for aluminium; and whether, in view of the importance of maintaining the home and export trades, he will have the matter further considered?

My right hon. Friend's attention has been called to the correspondence to which the hon. Member refers. The hon. Member will appreciate that aluminium is a vital raw material, supplies of which must be strictly conserved for essential purposes. At the time when this application was first made it might have been possible to release a small quantity of aluminium for dentifrice tubes for which it could be shown that a satisfactory substitute could not be found, and the applicant was accordingly advised to seek the support of an authoritative body on this point. Since then there has been an increase in the demand of the Service Departments, and it is now not possible to licence the use of aluminium for tubes and containers. I understand that this firm have now found it possible to use tin containers.

asked the Minister of Supply why local contractors in the building trades at Neath and Pontardawe are not asked to tender for work, and why London and other firms are given preference; and will he give the number of building operatives thrown out of employment in these areas during the last six months, giving each month separately?

Building contracts on behalf of the Ministry of Supply in the area in question were placed by His Majesty's Office of Works acting as agents for the Ministry. I am advised that there are no firms in Neath or Pontardawe capable of handling the erection of factories of the size and type required. As regards the last part of the Question, the Ministry of Labour have no figures showing the number of building operatives thrown out of employment in Neath and Pontardawe during the last six months. They can, however, state the numbers of insured males in the building industry recorded as unemployed at the Neath and Pontardawe Employment Exchanges at one date in each month from July to December last, and these figures follow:

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has considered an application from the South Wales Federation of Building Employers and Employees to give them an opportunity of tendering for all Government contracts in South Wales; will he give the number of contracts that have been given in South Wales; the names of firms who received the contract for the last two years; and why local contractors are not asked to tender?

My right hon. Friend has no knowledge of the application from the South Wales Federation of Building Employers and Employés referred to, nor is he responsible for Government building contracts generally. As concerns buildings required by the Ministry of Supply, two factories have been, or are being, erected for the Ministry in South Wales under agency arrangements, and the contracts for construction were in both instances placed locally. Of the contracts for the construction of three Royal Ordnance factories recently built in South Wales and Monmouthshire, one was given to a local contractor, but the contracts for the other two were considered to be beyond the capacity of local contractors, regard being had to the contracts on which they were already engaged.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will see that as large a supply as possible of "flat" maize will be made available to sheep-farmers in readiness for the coming lambing season?

The supply of maize for January, February and March is not likely to be less than 66 per cent. of normal, and a considerable proportion of this will be "flat" maize. Every effort will be made to secure equitable distribution.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether he is aware of the complaints with regard to the operation of the new order permitting the sale of cooked ham free of ration coupons; whether retailers are still finding it difficult to carry on in view of the necessity of applying for supplementary licences; and whether he will consider freeing the cuts of ham and gammon from all control?

I am not aware of the complaints to which my hon. Friend refers. Cooked ham and gammon are obtainable without the submission of a coupon. If my hon. Friend will supply me with further details, I will willingly investigate any difficulty which may exist.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that as a result of the control of prices, the cost to local authorities controlling hospitals for the supply of meat has almost doubled; and whether, in view of this causing an increased call upon the ratepayers, lower prices for such meat supplies can be arranged?

I am certainly not aware that the cost of meat to local authorities controlling hospitals has almost doubled as a result of control. The present maximum retail prices and the prescribed wholesale prices for home-killed meat are at approximately the same level as those ruling prior to the introduction of control on 15th January. Prices for imported meat which have been controlled since shortly after the outbreak of war were raised on 15th January to bring them into harmony with home-killed prices.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to enable motorists, whose headlamps must not show a light above lamp-level, to observe readily on dark nights the roadside indicators of a restricted speed entry and exit?

I am not aware that any special difficulty has arisen by reason of the circumstances to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. Generally the built-up areas to which the speed restrictions apply can be recognised without difficulty apart from the roadside indicators. I shall, however, keep the matter under observation in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Home Security in order to meet, so far as possible, any difficulties that may occur at particular places.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider amending the law so that persons knocked down in the black-out or on the roads through no fault of their own shall receive compensation even if the driver of the vehicle is not insured, since the surplus from the Road Fund caused by the heavy extra taxation could well cover this?

When war broke out legislation was being prepared to implement the report of the Committee on Compulsory Insurance. One of the recommendations of that committee was the establishment of a fund, by contributions from insurers, to meet the exceptional cases where the victim of a road accident could not recover compensation owing to a driver's non-compliance with the law as to third-party insurance. I regret that under existing conditions I am unable to say when it may be possible to proceed with this legislation, which presents considerable difficulties, but I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that it is a matter which will be borne in mind. As the proceeds of motor taxation no longer accrue to the Road Fund, there is no surplus in the fund which could be used in the manner suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that efforts are being made by the district transport offices of Wolverhampton compulsorily to divert goods from road haulage to the railways; that this threatens to deprive a number of men of their jobs, and what action does he propose to take, in view of the apprehension felt by manufacturers in that area, of the effect on their foreign trade if rail transport is compulsorily substituted for road transport?

The limitation in the available supplies of liquid fuel for road transport makes it necessary that before supplementary fuel rations are issued for road haulage, it should be established that there is no suitable alternative form of transport. Only in this way can the available supplies of fuel be preserved to meet the needs of essential road haulage. These restrictions, imposed by war conditions, will inevitably have led to a certain reduction of employment among drivers, and I regret that this should be so. Every effort, however, is made to restrict such diversion of traffic to what is essential in the national interest. I shall be glad to consider any case which is brought to my notice where it is alleged that restrictions on fuel supply have had a detrimental effect on the export trade.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that, in cases where tenants of hotel premises let on long leases at high rentals before the war have been unable to pay their rent by reason of the war and against whom the landlords have taken proceedings for forfeiture of the leases, the protection provided for under the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939, has been given only on condition that, in future, the full rent will be paid plus the arrears by instalments; that such conditions defeat the protection intended to be given; and whether he will forthwith institute legislative measures that will secure adequate protection to such tenants during the period of war emergency?

My attention was drawn to an Order which imposed as a condition of non-forfeiture the payment of the rent in future. An appeal was taken to the judge, who struck out that part of the Order as outside the conditions imposable by the Act, as well as making certain other alterations. I have no knowledge of any other Order in this form, but the question whether the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act requires any amendment is receiving consideration, and a decision on the subject will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that A.C.I William Thomas Smith, No. 654171, was informed at Glasgow, on 18th December, that he was discharged on medical grounds; that on 11th January he was given a rail warrant to his home at 21, Devonshire Hill Lane, Tottenham; and, in view of the fact that Mr. Smith is unable to accept employment until he can produce his discharge paper and insurance cards, will he see that these are sent to him without further delay?

This airman was examined on 14th December by a medical board, which recommended that he should be discharged on medical grounds. The proceedings of the board were confirmed, and on 11th January he was sent on 28 days' leave with pay, pending discharge on 8th February. He was provided with advice on the action he should take in the matter of employment and health insurance cards, and also with a temporary certificate of discharge. The final certificate was posted to him on 25th January, and he will receive his employment and health insurance cards before the date on which he is actually discharged from the Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to the recently declared dividend of the Hawker Siddeley Aircraft Company, Limited, which, after its subsidiaries have provided for contingencies and reserves, has received over £750,000 from them; and whether, in view of the dividends paid by this company during recent years, he will make a special investigation to see that the prices paid by the Government to this company are fair and reasonable?

The companies comprising this group are not exclusively engaged on contracts for the Air Ministry, and the total profits are not solely derived from such contracts. The prices paid under Air Ministry contracts are the subject of continuous and detailed investigation, to ensure that they are at all times fair and reasonable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether, in order to counteract opinions recently expressed in the South African Parliament favourable to Hitler-ism, official information on German atrocities in Poland and Czecho-Slovakia can be included in Africander broadcasts?

Yes, Sir. This is already being done, and the point will continue to be watched.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a newly-entered paymaster sub-lieutenant Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve becomes the superior officer of a commissioned writer, Royal Navy, with perhaps 3o years' experience and unblemished record; and will he ensure that these reserve officers are not put in authority over commissioned writers?

There may be cases of this kind in every Service at the present time, but they arise out of the exceptional expansions of war, and are rare.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the increasing value to foremen in the dockyard of having the assistance of skilled and experienced writers who can carry out such duties as circulating, docketing, and keeping in safe custody all documents and drawings which may pass through their offices; and whether, in these circumstances, he will make arrangements for these men to be retained in that occupation and be given advancement in it rather than to oblige them to seek advancement through other channels?

These employés form part of the general body of mechanics in the dockyards. They are not intended to be employed permanently in office appointments, and I am not satisfied that it would be in the interests either of the Service or the men themselves to be retained indefinitely on office work. A claim which has recently been made on their behalf for increased pay whilst they are employed on writing duties is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of officers in the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Reserve, and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, respectively, who are at present serving in a rank inferior to that in which they were employed between the years 1914–19; and was the decision, in such cases, made by the Board of Admiralty or the admiral commanding reserves?

So far as I am aware, there are no cases of officers of the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Reserve, and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who have been called up for service, serving in a rank inferior to that in which they were employed in the last war. There are, however, some cases in which officers have come forward voluntarily and accepted lower rank than that which they formerly held, appointments for officers of their own rank not being available. I regret that information concerning the number of such cases is not available. The responsibility for all appointments of officers rests with the Board of Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the cause of the delay in the promised introduction of promotion to sub-lieutenant rank for men in the Accountant Branch of the Navy?

It is hoped that the scheme for promotion in the Accountant Branch will be issued within the next two or three weeks. It has not been issued previously for the reasons my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member in reply to a Question on 24th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the price per cwt. of cocoa to West African producers; and the market price in Britain on 1st August, 1939, and 1st January, 1940, or the nearest convenient dates?

On 1st August, 1939, the price of cocoa delivered at port in the Gold Coast was approximately 12s. a cwt. The cocoa then being bought is sold in foreign markets, mainly in the United States of America, and there is no regular market in this country. The prices on 2nd January, 1940, were approximately 16s. and 31s. 6d. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the case of crops requisitioned in East Africa, the Government fixes the purchasing price beforehand or not; and whether there is any system in existence under which producers obliged to reserve at least a part of their crop for Great Britain and France are compensated if the products are not eventually taken over?

So far as I am aware, no crops have been requisitioned in East Africa. As regards the second part of the Question, two commodities only are concerned. In order to suit the convenience of all parties, the producers of sisal are being informed from time to time of the requirements of the United Kingdom and France over the next few months and are making arrangements to have the necessary supplies available. Similarly in the case of tea, the Ministry of Food have concluded contracts with the East African producers for a fixed quantity of tea to be delivered during 1940. There is no reason to suppose that in either case the produce set aside for the United Kingdom and France will be left on the producers' hands.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the deplorable position of those engaged in the motor garage industry due to heavy motor taxation and restricted sale of petrol, he can make any statement as to the increased use by appropriate Departments of State of the highly-skilled and technical services of these craftsmen and of the widely-distributed petrol-storage capacity available on their premises?

Arrangements were made at the outbreak of war for certain garages to be placed at the disposal of A.R.P. and other Civil Defence services. The question of extending these arrangements to other services is a matter in the first instance for the Departments concerned, and I will bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to their notice. The normal storage facilities available for civil purposes are at present adequate without having recourse to this suggestion.