asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will take steps to secure that when printing contracts are given out by His Majesty's Stationery Office, special consideration shall be given to tenders received from firms situated in those districts where unemployment is greatest?

I understand that the unemployment in the printing trade is widely distributed over the country and is highest in the London area. Over 1,000 firms have been added to the Stationery Office list in all parts of the country, and all firms on the list are invited to tender for suitable work within their capacity.

asked the Minister of Labour how many architects in private practice in Scotland have received work from Government Departments; what in general is the character of this work: and what, approximately, is its total value?

I regret that that are no statistics of this kind in my possession.

asked the Minister of Labour how many professional and technical persons on the Central Register have obtained posts in Government Departments?

I assume that the hon. Member desires information relating to all classes included in the Central Register. The position on 27th January was that of the total number of persons whose particulars had been submitted to Departments since the outbreak of war, 3,163 had been notified to the Register as having been offered appointments. At least an equal number are at present under consideration by Departments for vacancies not yet filled.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether it is the Government's intention, under the Price Regulated Goods (No. 1) Order, 1939, to consult local authorities as to the membership of local price regulation committees; and whether arrangements are being made for members of local authorities to serve on such committees?

The membership of the Local Price Regulation Committees for England and Wales was announced in the Press recently. It is hoped shortly to publish a second list containing the names of sonic additional members of these committees and also the membership of the committees for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Generally speaking, each Local Price Regulation Committee covers an area of several counties, and it would not have been practicable to consult local authorities as to their constitution. I am satisfied that there was full and proper consultation with local opinion in the selection of the members of these committees; many of them are, in fact, also members of local authorities in their districts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade the names of the committee functioning under the Prices of Goods Act, 1939, for the city of Leicester, showing whether any, and what, arrangement for payment has been made or whether the whole service is voluntary; who is the secretary of that committee; whether this a salaried office; arid, if so, on what terms?

The city of Leicester falls within the North Midland region; the Local Price Regulation Committee has its headquarters at Nottingham. Following is a statement giving the information which my hon. and learned Friend desires:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he will publish a list of all persons appointed in connection with the Prices of Goods Act, 1939, other than clerical staff, in London and the country, respectively; the various rates of salaries in paid positions; their previous occupations, indicating which of these are full-time appointments; and how many paid appointments were made through the central register of the Ministry of Labour?

A list giving the information which my hon. and learned Friend desires follows. I should add that the appointment of further members to some of the local price regulation committees is under consideration, and their names will be announced as soon as possible. The membership of the Scottish committees and that for Northern Ireland is not yet complete but will be announced shortly.No paid appointment was made through the Central Register of the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make inquiries into the view widely held among serving soldiers, especially in the British Expeditionary Force, that, while the food is good, the cooking for the rank and file is often bad; and whether he will consider substituting good women cooks in appropriate cases for London chefs loaned to the Army?

Soldiers in cook-houses at home are being replaced by trained cooks of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, as these become available. But this cannot be extended to Field Army units which may be engaged in operations or in areas where women cannot be employed, and the training of soldier cooks to meet the greatly expanded requirements is proceeding as rapidly as possible. There are no London chefs loaned to the Army, but I have no doubt that some of them are serving in it.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the rates of pay and allowances of the various ranks of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Services employed on clerical and allied duties; and w hat are the proportions of these ranks employed on such duties?

The daily rates of pay authorised for members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service who have passed the appropriate trade tests and are employed on clerical and allied duties are as follow:—

		General Service personnel.		Local Service personnel.
		s.	d.	s.	d.
Senior Leader	…	7	2	6	2
Section Leader	…	5	6	4	10
Sub-leader	…	3	10	3	4
Volunteer Class I	…	2	6	2	2
Volunteer Class II	…	2	2	1	10

In addition, members are eligible for accommodation and rations in kind, or appropriate allowances in lieu; together with free medical and dental treatment, travelling, uniform, etc., under similar conditions to those applicable to serving soldiers. The approximate value of accommodation and ration allowances is 3s. 11d. a day for all ranks except senior leader, for whom the figure is 4s. a day.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in some cases men are confined to barracks as a penalty for not cleaning their windows, when, in fact, no material is provided for the purpose; and will he take steps to remove this anomaly?

I am not aware of any such case. If the hon. Member will send me particulars, I will have them investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there exists a section of the Royal Army Medical Corps with properly trained chiropodists to look after the foot troubles of the troops; whether the medical director-general has conferred with the Joint Council of Chiropodists to ascertain their considered view on the best way to attend to the foot troubles of the troops; and whether he will consider forming an organised body to utilise existing establishments in towns in this country where chiropodial manipulative and massage treatment could be applied to members of His Majesty's Forces who require such relief, as such a scheme would employ hundreds of men and women who are experienced in such work, and considerably lighten the work of any section of the Royal Army Medical Corps, where such type of treatment is applied and necessary?

No chiropody section of the Royal Army Medical Corps exists. The treatment of foot defects in the Army is the responsibility of the regimental medical officer, and under his direction are the regimental chiropodist and the instructor in physical training. The former is trained normally by the medical officer, and the latter is trained in remedial treatment of foot defects at the Army School of Physical Training. Training of regimental chiropodists is at present being carried out in certain military hospitals in each Command, and further practical instruction is given under tire direction of unit medical officers. The Director-General Army Medical Services is discussing the whole question to-day with a deputation from the British Association of Chiropodists.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions that the use of the expression "unmarried wife" shall not be used in future in official documents and correspondence relating to grants and allowances to dependants of serving soldiers; and whether he will substitute words more appropriate to a woman who lives, or who has lived, with a soldier as his companion or housekeeper?

The expression referred to has been in common use for many years; its meaning is well understood, and, although I am aware of the objections which have been raised to the term and appreciate the reason for them, so far no alternative term which is not open to other objections has been found. I shall be happy to consider any suggestion which my hon. Friend may care to make.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will take steps to expedite the payments for wool throughout the country; and, in particular, whether the central area of the wool control, British wool section, of the Ministry, will consider the case of Mr. W. A. Ewins, of Wheelbarrow Castle, Radford, Inkberrow, Worcester?

United Kingdom wool is taken over and paid for as speedily as it can be valued. It would assist the Wool Control if farmers owning wool would forward as soon as possible the particulars which they have been asked to supply. I am informed that the payment due to Mr. W. A. Ewins has been made.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the observations of the county court judge for Hull, made on 15th January, on the administration of the Workmen's Compensation Act, and in favour of an amendment of the law; and will he state the number of cases referred by the Hull County Court to the medical referee, and the decisions resulting?

I have seen a newspaper cutting from which the judge would appear to have expressed sympathy with the view that medical questions should be more generally settled by the judge rather than by the medical referee. Judge Stewart's recent Committee on Workmen's Compensation expressed the contrary view; and the matter will now be considered further by the Royal Commission. I am informed that in 1939 there were 114 references to medical referees from the Hull County Court. On many of these the referee's decision is in the form of a report on the condition of the workman, and it would be difficult to say, even after a detailed scrutiny of each case, precisely how far they were in favour of one side or the other; but I understand that, roughly speaking, 60 per cent. may be regarded as having been in favour of the workman.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied with the adequacy of the penalties for attempts at sabotage in munition factories, etc., as a deterrent, having regard to the heavy loss of life and serious damage to property which may result in the event of any such attempts being successful?

Special attention was given to this point, and the provisions of the ordinary law were supplemented by a Defence Regulation on the subject. Any person who makes an attempt at sabotage is liable to very heavy penalties.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give still further consideration to modifying the rigour of the blackout according to the possible or probable danger of air-raids in the different districts of the country, especially in reference to its interference with the business of the shopkeeper?

As regards the blackout generally, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in the course of the Debate on 23rd January. So far as the black-out affects shopkeepers, my hon. Friend will be aware of the relaxations recently permitted in respect of the lighting of shop windows and shop signs; and I cannot hold out any hope of further concessions directly related to the interests of shopkeepers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has made any recent estimate of the average cost to householders per child of carrying out their obligations in respect of evacuated children billeted upon them; whether he will draw a comparison between such estimate and previous estimates; is he satisfied that the allowances payable to householders are sufficient to cover their obligatory expenditure on account of billeted children; and whether he intends to propose any change in the rates of such allowances?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. I am satisfied that the allowances are in general sufficient for the purpose mentioned in the third part of the Question, and I would not, therefore, feel justified in proposing that they should be generally increased.

asked the Minister of Health how many unaccompanied children were evacuated, and how many had returned up to 8th January, from each of the following towns: Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle-on-Tyne and Sheffield?

The return of 8th January was obtained from the receiving areas and does not distinguish individual evacuating areas. The estimated numbers for these seven towns are, however, as follow:

Evacuation Area.	Number of unaccompanied children.
	Evacuated	Returned to evacuation area.
Birmingham	25,241	11,000
Liverpool	60,795	23,000
Leeds	18,935	8,500
London	241,500	79,500
Manchester	66,300	41,000
Newcastle on Tyne	28,300	14,000
Sheffield	5,338	3,500

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the numbers of those employed whole-time as police reserve, war police, ambulance workers, male and female; and whether these are in addition to the 291,000 paid whole-time volunteers in the air-raid precautions and Auxiliary Fire Services; and how many of these are paid £2 a week and upwards?

As regards the police services, the latest available figures are as follows:

First Police Reserve (men)	7,832
Police War Reserve (men)	26,739
Women's Auxiliary Police Corps	125

These are all paid £2 a week or more. These figures were not included in the figure of 291,000 given in reply to a Question by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman on 14th December. As regards the ambulance service, the total (which was included in that figure of 201,000) is 29,230 whole-time volunteers, who are paid £2 a week or more. It is not possible to state the exact proportion of men and women included in this total.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will describe the control at present applied to the manufacture and sale of margarine?

The Ministry of Food at present exercises control over the raw materials required for the manufacture of margarine. Under arrangements made with the manufacturers for the supply of the raw materials, the manufacturers have undertaken to produce a minimum quantity of cheap margarine to meet the requirements of the poorer consumers, not to increase the price of margarine without the consent of the Ministry of Food, and to print or brand on the wrappers of pre-packed margarine or on the boxes of bulk margarine supplied for domestic consumption, the price at which the margarine is to be sold to the consumer. The manufacturers have also recently undertaken that all margarine produced for domestic consumption shall on and from 5th February be vitaminised to the same extent as butter. No other control is exercised by the Ministry of Food over the sale and distribution of margarine.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is satisfied that the authorised allowance of three pounds of sugar and one pound of oranges for each registered customer in a household is an adequate amount for making a year's supply of marmalade for a household which may at times include other than registered customers, namely, schoolchildren on holiday or soldiers on leave; and whether he will make regulations on a more adequate scale for householders who propose to increase the home production of food by converting surplus home-grown fruit into jam?

I do not consider that it is practicable, in view of the present sugar supply position, to provide supplies of sugar for the purpose of making domestic marmalade on a scale in excess of that already laid down. As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Jackson) on 24th January, I am not yet in a position to state what sugar will be available for the preservation of the home fruit crop during the coming season.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his attention has been called to the allegations of cruelty in the numbering of pigs under Government control at Wickford Market, Essex, owing to the use of pincers which are applied to the ears of the animals; and whether he has any statement to make?

My attention has been called to the matter, and I am having inquiries made. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that Mrs. Wilkins, of London Road, South Benfleet, has for 18 years been a conveyor and distributor of meat to butchers in and around the South Essex area, but is not at present recognised on the list of the Wholesale Meat and Provisions Transport Association; and whether he will make inquiries to ensure that recognition is obtained and so avoid discharge of men?

I am looking into the matter to which the hon. Member refers, and I will communicate with him as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has considered the advisability of restricting the use of starch, having regard to the foodstuffs from which it is manufactured?

I presume my hon. Friend refers to the use of starch in the textile, foundry, and other industries. I am advised that its use could not be restricted without harm to the export trade and to the industries concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in view of the increased cost and lower feeding value of the pig-meals available to-day for farmers, he will increase the basic price of pigs to a level to ensure a selling price in excess of the cost of production?

The prices which my Department is at present paying for pigs already reflect the increase in the prices of feeding-stuffs which have occurred since the outbreak of war and include those permitted by the Feeding-Stuffs (Maximum Prices) Order of 6th January last. The prices also take account of the difficulties experienced by farmers in feeding pigs under war conditions. As I have already announced, these prices will be subject to revision in the event of any material change in circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will take steps to stabilise the price of home-produced eggs for the next three or four months at a higher level and on a minimum basis, seeing that there has been a substantial percentage increase in poultry feeding-stuffs?

As the demand for eggs is elastic, the fixing of minimum prices at an artificially high level would reduce the demand for eggs. The question whether steps can be taken to prevent prices from falling to unduly low levels in the spring is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, since the price of poultry feeding-stuffs, such as chick starter, has increased by 3s. 4d. per hundredweight, standard growing mash, intensive growing mash, winter laying mash and battery laying mash by 3s. 5d. per hundredweight, he will confer with the Minister of Food, with a view to obtaining a corresponding increase in the price of new laid eggs produced in this country?

I am aware that there has been an increase in the prices of poultry feeding-stuffs, although I am unable to identify the particular increases to which my hon. Friend refers. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food and I are in close touch with the price and supply situation of home-produced eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the "Dig for Victory" campaign is designed to encourage the small private grower to cater for his own household requirements or whether he is to be encouraged to produce a surplus; and, in the latter case, how is he to dispose of it?

The campaign is designed to encourage the small private grower to cater for his own household requirements. It is recognised, however, that the question of securing the effective use of surplus produce must be examined, and I am arranging, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, for this to be done.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that among the abnormal increases in price of agricultural products, potatoes have recently risen to £9 6s. 8d. per ton, which some farmers assert will be increased; and what steps he intends to take to protect consumers?

The maximum growers' price f.o.r., or on buyer's lorry, under the latest Prices Order in no case exceeds £6 per ton. If the hon. Member will furnish me with any particular instances, I shall be glad to make further inquiry.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, taking the latest official statistics, he can give the annual normal consumption in pounds of sugar per head of the population; and how this figure compares with the present weekly ration aggregated over a year?

The annual pre-war consumption of sugar for domestic purposes, and in the form of manufactured articles, such as jams, biscuits, confectionery, condensed milk, was approximately 100 lbs. refined value, per head of the population. The rationing of sugar to domestic users and to manufacturers will at the current rate reduce this consumption to about 75 lbs. per head annually.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to enforce the Maximum Prices Order for cattle feeding-stuffs, in view of the known instances of many infringements which have been taking place?

All complaints of breaches of the Feeding-Stuffs (Maximum Prices) Order are investigated by my Department. Out of over 100 complaints examined, only five cases have presented prima facie evidence of a breach of the Order. Investigation is still proceeding in these cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether, in order to protect farmers from excessive charges for compound cakes and mixed meals, he will provide that provender merchants must, on request, inform a customer of the actual ingredients of such compounds and mixtures?

Article 14 (2) of the Feeding Stuffs (Maximum Prices) Order, 1940, provides that every seller of a mixture shall, on demand being made of him in writing by the buyer, furnish written particulars specifying the composition of the mixture, the price of each of the ingredients and any additional charges permitted by the Order or shall, in lieu of furnishing such particulars, furnish to the buyer an auditor's certificate certifying that the price charged for the mixture is in accordance with the Order. This provision does not apply to compound cakes as it is not considered that it would be justifiable that manufacturers should be required to disclose the composition of their products, many of which are proprietary articles. The Order, however, prescribes the maximum charge that may be added by the manufacturer to the cost of the ingredients of compound cakes. Any cases of complaint will be investigated by my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as part of plans to provide demobilisation employment immediately after the cessation of hostilities, he will begin now to examine individual local schemes for abolishing railway level crossings and substituting depressed roadways or fly-over bridges, and thus avoid action having to be considered in a hurry and at the last moment?

I am satisfied that, if it should be decided to put road schemes in hand at the close of hostilities in order to provide employment, a sufficient number will be immediately available on which work can be started without delay.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the political grounds, as opposed to religious grounds, on which men of military age are excused from military service as being a violation of conscience?

I have no authority to give definitions such as are desired by my hon. Friend. The procedure laid down by the Act is that particular cases should be determined by local tribunals, with the right of appeal to an Appellate Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the representations made to him by the Council of the Law Society, regarding the pro- hibition of applicants to hardship committees being legally represented; and whether, in view of the important constitutional principle involved, he will consider amending the regulations in this respect?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Doncaster (Mr. J. Morgan) on 18th January, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that up to the outbreak of war many articles of a scientific character were still imported from Germany, and that arrangements have now to be made by the British industries concerned to make up as rapidly as possible for the consequent shortage of supplies; and whether, in view of the necessity of releasing a certain number of men from the Forces for this purpose, he will, in consultation with the three Defence Departments and the Ministry of Supply, take steps to ensure this?

This matter is under constant review by all the Departments concerned, and arrangements are made so far as possible to adjust to the best advantage the several demands for the services of the men concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Schedule of Reserved Occupations for the printing, publishing, and bookbinding industry includes, and applies to, the newspaper industry; is the term "warehouse" held to cover the staffs in the publishing and despatch departments of newspaper firms; whether the occupation of electrotyper and stereotyper is held to be included and covered by the words "All other workers"; and whether any such workers are covered if employed in a firm that specialises in stereotyping and electrotyping but is not engaged in printing?

The reservation applicable to workers following the occupations listed in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations under the heading "Printing, Publishing and Bookbinding" applies to workers in these occupations who are employed in the newspaper industry. Regarding the second part of the Question, warehousemen, who are responsible for the receipt and despatch of the publications of newspaper firms and for the maintenance of records, are reserved under the heading "Warehouseman" on page 41 of the schedule. Packers, etc., employed by newspaper firms are not reserved under the schedule. As regards the third and fourth parts of the Question, the occupations of electrotyper and stereotyper are covered by the heading "All other workers," whether or not the employers of the workpeople concerned are actually engaged in printing; for the sake of greater clarity, it is intended to include these occupations specifically in any further print of the schedule.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government have yet arrived at any detailed plans for providing post-war work for demobilised men so that a reconstruction policy may not have to be, as in 1919, prepared at the last moment; and will he, in the meantime, arrange for this part of the demobilisation problem to be put before the House at an early date?

As the hon. Member will appreciate, this is a matter of general policy which concerns many Government Departments, but until it is possible to envisage more precisely what will be the nature of post-war problems, it would be premature to lay any specific proposals before the House.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered with his Department as being available for clerical and typing duties in Government Departments; and the number of persons registered as being unemployed who have clerical and typing experience?

As regards the first part of the Question, I regret that the information desired is not readily available and could not be obtained without undue expense and labour. As regards the second part, the number of persons registered as wholly unemployed in Great Britain with clerical experience is 41,391 and with typing experience 7,741.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now permit the whole of the committees connected with the Employment Exchanges to resume their normal procedure as prior to September, 1939?

The existing arrangement is that the committees are to meet if some special business arises or if in the chairman's opinion an appreciable number of members desire a meeting. This is, I think, as near an approach to normality as present circumstances would justify.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men normally employed in shipbuilding and ship repairing were registered as unemployed at the South Shields Employment Exchange on the day on which statistics were taken in each month of 1939?

The following table shows the numbers of insured men, aged 18–64, recorded as unemployed in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry classification at the South Shields Employment Exchange at one date in each month of 1939:

Date.				Number.
1939—
16th January	…	…	…	1,624
13th February	…	…	…	1,541
13th March	…	…	…	1,852
17th April	…	…	…	1,553
15th May	…	…	…	1,633
12th June	…	…	…	1,540
10th July	…	…	…	1,278
14th August	…	…	…	822
11th September	…	…	…	578
16th October	…	…	…	588
13th November	…	…	…	721
11th December	…	…	…	703

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indicate the course of employment in the borough of Gillingham, Kent, by numbers, industries and percentages, for the months of October, November, and December, 1939, respectively?

There is no separate Employment Exchange at Gillingham, and I regret, therefore, that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the area and what was the price paid for the land bought by the Scarborough Corporation for cemetery purposes at Row Farm, Stepney Road; when the acquisition took place and what was the previous rateable value of the land; how much of the sum of £26,320 which the corporation proposes to borrow for the development of 60¼ acres of land as a new cemetery is in respect of land Purchase; and what acreage of land is involved?

The area of the land to which the hon. Member refers is 63,586 acres. It was purchased in June, 1938, for £4,400 and being agricultural land was derated. No part of the cost of development is in respect of land purchase.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that blood donors are urgently wanted in Kent; and whether he will take steps to stimulate the response on the part of the public?

Apart from voluntary organisations, the main blood transfusion organisation in Kent is the Medical Research Council's depot at Maidstone. One of the functions of this depot is to stimulate public interest with a view to ensuring an adequate supply of donors. I understand that a publicity campaign has recently been launched and that the position is now satisfactory.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will obtain full particulars of the recent legislation in Finland to provide for a complete scheme of war risks insurance and have a copy of these particulars printed and circulated to all Members of this House, in order that they may have an opportunity of studying carefully the Finnish proposals for solving those problems of war risk insurance which have either been as yet only partly solved in this country, or the solution of which has been regarded as entirely impracticable?

My Noble Friend is asking His Majesty's Minister at Helsingfors for a report.

asked the Prime Minister why His Majesty's Ambassador in Berlin was not instructed to demand just compensation for Mr. Wiener, a British-born subject, whose German assets were forcibly seized by the German Government before the war?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement circulated in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander) on 30th June, 1938.

asked the Prime Minister the names of the States, members of the League of Nations, which have decided to render assistance to Finland in accordance with the Resolution recently passed by the Council of the League of Nations as a result of Russian aggression; and whether he is able to indicate the nature of the assistance which is being offered, whether military, technical, or humanitarian?

I understand that the Governments of the following States have specifically informed the Secretary-General of the League of Nations of their readiness to act in accordance with the Assembly Resolution of 14th December: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Hayti, India, Liberia, Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay. All States, however, which voted for the Resolution thereby undertook to act in accordance with it.As regards the second part of the Question, the Secretary-General of the League has been informed that the Government of the Union of South Africa are releasing certain aircraft for Finland; and that the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia have given 10,000 Australian pounds to the Finnish Government for Red Cross purposes. As has already been stated, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are giving very substantial assistance by facilitating the export of war material from this country. Further substantial assistance is, it is understood, also being given by the French Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present war lessons and its military value, he will consider proposing to the French Government the joint construction of a Channel tunnel?

His Majesty's Government see no reason, in the light of the experience of the present war, to modify the general attitude adopted in relation to the Channel Tunnel in the White Paper issued in June, 1930. In these circumstances no useful purpose would be served in discussing the matter with the French Government.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will allow the promised extension of hours for shopkeepers to begin before Easter, particularly in areas where customers are working till 7 p.m. or later?

I am disposed to think that the most suitable date would be a few days before Easter, so as to facilitate Easter shopping.

asked the Home Secretary why Germans with opinions hostile to the Nazi Government are being advised by the tribunals not to address public or private meetings in this country?

I am not aware that any such advice has been, or is being, given by the tribunals: but there is a general understanding that refugees while in this country shall refrain from political activities.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the delay in allowing Dr. Rudolf Schulhof, chemical engineer, to start work in a business in which he has invested £1,000 to help textile exports to markets he used to supply from Czecho-Slovakia; what is the reason for the delay, and will permission soon be granted for him to start work?

I am very sorry for the delay which has occurred in this case, but I am causing immediate inquiries to be made, and I hope to be in a position to communicate my decision to the right hon. Member in the course of a few days.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will introduce legislation to extend the operation of the Disabled Men (Facilities for Employment) Act, 1919, to cover disabilities incurred during the present war?

The Act in question was passed to assist in removing an apprehended obstacle to the employment of disabled ex-service men due to fears expressed by some employers that their liabilities in respect of industrial accidents would be increased by such employment. The experience of the operation of that Act suggests that there is little, if any, ground for apprehending an increase in the accident risk as a result of employing disabled men, and it is questionable whether similar legislation will be necessary or appropriate in the present war. The point will not, however, be overlooked.

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements were made, with the approval of the Treasury, under the Disabled Men (Facilities for Employment Act, 1919, to relieve or indemnify employers against the whole, or any part of, any increase in expenditure arising out of employers liability to pay compensation or damages in respect of accidents or industrial disease, where such increase was attributable to the employment of such men; what number of cases were covered; and what expenditure fell upon His Majesty's Treasury?

Specific arrangements were made with insurance companies for disabled ex-service men in receipt of pensions on account of their disablement to be covered at the ordinary insurance rates without discrimination; and special agreements were also entered into with a few mutual indemnity associations and large uninsured firms. The arrangements did not relate to any specified number of men. The expenditure falling on the Treasury by way of indemnity under these arrangements was about £8,000.

asked the Home Secretary whether any permission has been given for young persons between the ages of 16 and 18 to be engaged in night work; and, if so, in what types of manufacture are they employed and what are the numbers affected?

Emergency Orders have been made authorising the employment of male young persons over 16 at night in the case of 30 factories, of which 11 are engaged in the manufacture of aircraft or aircraft components, four in making wire ropes or cables and 15 in more miscellaneous processes in the manufacture of armaments. In addition, Orders have been made for 12 factories in the iron and steel and glass industries modifying or extending the circumstances in which night work for male young persons was already permissible under the Factories Act in those industries. Information as to the number of young persons affected by these Orders is not available. No Orders have been made authorising the employment of female young persons at night.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make a statement on the financial position of the voluntary organisations which are caring for refugees?

As the House knows, most of the refugees were admitted to the United Kingdom with a view to their ultimate emigration overseas and on the understanding that during their stay in this country they would not be allowed to take employment to the detriment of our own people and that those who had no resources of their own, or were not being maintained by relatives, would be maintained by voluntary funds. With a view to promoting overseas settlement the Prime Minister announced on 19th July last that His Majesty's Government were prepared, if the Governments of other countries would agree, to propose a scheme for a Government contribution towards the expenses of emigration with a view to encouraging private subscription.The outbreak of war altered the position. Although emigration has not been discontinued (since 1st September, 1,200 refugees have been emigrated, and arrangements are being made to send further parties in the next three months), yet large-scale plans for new settlements have had to be put on one side for the time being. Moreover, it is desirable that during the period of the war use should be made of the services of those many refugees who are able and willing to assist in the war effort of this country. Many have volunteered for military service, and suitable applicants are being accepted. Others have special technical experience or skill which can be usefully employed in connection with our production programme, and as already announced arrangements have been made to enable aliens to take employment for the period of the war provided their services are directed into channels where there is a shortage of labour and the Ministry of Labour is satisfied that their employment will not displace British workers.As the demand for workers increases, it is expected that more of the refugees will be absorbed into suitable occupations. Meanwhile there is still a substantial number of men and women who have to be maintained, and the voluntary organisations which have been bearing the financial responsibility have found themselves unable, under war conditions, to meet the whole charge. It is estimated that since 1933 about £5,000,000 has been spent by these organisations in addition to sums provided by friends and relatives in individual cases, which are estimated to amount to another £3,000,000, and in addition to the help in kind which has been provided by numerous persons who have given refugees hospitality in their homes. In these circumstances, the Government have decided that in this country, as in some other European countries which have given asylum to refugees from Germany, Government assistance should be provided to supplement the voluntary effort. The voluntary organisations are willing to continue their efforts to raise funds from charitable sources, and the Government are most anxious that any arrangements for a contribution from public funds shall not be regarded as diminishing the need for charitable contributions or transferring the responsibility from the voluntary organisations. The several voluntary organisations have agreed to appoint a representative committee of experienced persons who will exercise a general oversight over the use by the organisations of the grants made to them, with a view to seeing that the money is spent economically and efficiently; and the Government have agreed to pay to that committee a contribution equal to half the expenditure incurred by the voluntary organisations, provided that such expenditure is approved by the said committee, that the total Government grant does not exceed on the average £27,000 per month and that the voluntary organisations will do their utmost to ensure that the refugees shall not become a charge on public assistance.The committee will include some independent members not connected with the voluntary organisations who have had experience of the administration of the social services. This scheme will operate for six months from 1st January, 1940, but the maximum of £27,000 will be subject to review after the expiration of three months in the light of the numbers then being maintained. The Government have also agreed to pay to the refugee organisations a retrospective contribution of £100,000, as a contribution towards the expenditure they have incurred during the four months since the beginning of the war. The intention of the Government is that the assistance which it is giving shall be a stimulus to the continuation of the voluntary aid in money, kind and hospitality and not least in service. This assistance will be in the form of a Grant-in-Aid and, accordingly, a Supplementary Estimate will be necessary and will be presented in the near future. In the meantime a suitable advance is being made from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in connection with the flooding on the Avon above Tewkesbury, which is avoidable, what action he proposes to take, having regard to the ex- pensive and elaborate models which have been made by the Ministry in this connection?

I have no power to undertake land drainage work, and no models have been made by my Department in connection with work on the River Avon. The River Severn Catchment Board, who are the drainage authority responsible for the stretch of river to which my hon. Friend refers, are engaged in carrying out, with the aid of a grant from my Department, a scheme of work which includes the dredging of part of the Avon and the erection of a new sluice at Tewkesbury to increase the discharge capacity of the river.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that notice was served, on 18th January, by the town council of Kirkcaldy on the dependants of men now serving overseas unable to pay arrears of rent out of the allowances granted, that the tenancy of their houses would terminate at noon on Monday, 22nd January, and requiring them to remove from their houses on or before that date; whether he can state the number of tenants affected by this notice, and whether any action will be taken for their future protection?

I am making inquiry into the matter and will communicate with the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to cases in Scotland in connection with the special grants to soldiers' dependants where local authorities have withdrawn all rent rebates and have claimed the full amount of the grant for rent; and what is being done to prevent the whole amount of the grant being appropriated for rent in this way?

I am not aware of any such cases, but if the right hon. Gentleman will let me have a note of any cases which he has in mind, I shall consider them in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions whom the matter would also appear to concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the position of magistrates who are members of the Special Constabulary, and who may be called upon to sit in judgment on cases in which the Special Constabulary are involved; and whether he has advised that magistrates should refrain from service in the Special Constabulary?

My attention has been called to cases of this kind. I have expressed the opinion that while I appreciate the readiness of the magistrates to undertake work in connection with Civil Defence, I consider that service in the Special Constabulary may give rise to difficulties which would not occur if the service were given in other spheres of Civil Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of elementary schools in Glasgow where the children are receiving education for more than eight hours a week and the number of children concerned; the number of children attending two hours per week or less; and the number of children not receiving any education at all; how many schools have been taken over for military purposes; and whether he will take steps to have such schools returned to the local authority for educational purposes as soon its possible?

I am in communication with the Glasgow Education Authority about the information asked for in the first and second parts of the Question and will inform the hon. Member of the results. There are approximately 60,000 elementary school children in Glasgow not receiving education at present, of whom half are infants; additional children are being admitted to schools as protection becomes available for them. Only a small number of schools in Glasgow are presently occupied wholly or partially for military purposes, but it would not be in the national interest to give particulars. I am, however, in discussion with the appropriate authorities as to whether the release of some of these schools for education purposes can be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that adequate arrangements have now been made to ensure that wherever possible, university students are enabled to take their appropriate examinations before being called up for military service?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that the Umpire, who is the final authority in this matter, has decided that a postponement certificate may be granted to a full-time university student if he has been studying for not less than a year for a critical examination which is due to be held within nine months of the date on which he was registered under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act. A critical examination is one which marks a critical point or determines a definite stage in a student's career.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the grants made last year to universities for extra-mural studies and to voluntary bodies for adult education, showing in each case the expenditure per student in tutorial classes, university extension courses and terminal courses, respectively?

The information desired is being compiled, but as it involves a long and complicated table, with a view to economy in printing my hon. Friend proposes to send it direct to the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is satisfied with the extent to which the local authorities concerned have responded to the Board's Circular 1486, 27th November, 1939; and whether he contemplates taking any further steps in connection with the matter?

Local education authorities were asked in Circular 1486 to submit their schemes for setting up local Youth Committees by 1st March next. Already over 70 of the 146 local education authorities for higher education have submitted or are known to be considering such schemes. My Noble Friend is satisfied that authorities generally are responding to the lead given in the circular, and he sees no reason for further action in the matter at the present moment.

asked the Parliamenary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of children of school age in evacuated areas who are now receiving no form of education?

According to the returns made to the Board by local education authorities early in January, the number of school children in evacuation areas receiving no form of education was about 409,000. The hon. Member will understand that the position in this respect is improving daily as more school premises become available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, when evacuated children attending nursery schools attain the age of five years, the regulation requiring them to attend an elementary school will be waived for the time being in appropriate cases and the nursery school curriculum extended, in order to avoid a child having to return home, or change its situation and billet, leaving its friends and the teachers to whom it is attached?

Yes, Sir. In any case these children would not be removed from their nursery school party unless suitable billets had been found and the parents consulted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education in how many of the neutral areas full-time education is now provided for all children of school age, and where this has not been done, for what proportion of the children is it provided?

Of the local education authorities for elementary education in neutral areas, 43 were providing, at the beginning of January, full-time education for all children of school age, and the remaining 57 authorities were in the aggregate providing such education for 62 per cent. of the children. Of the local education authorities for higher education, 37 were providing full-time education for all secondary school pupils in their areas and the remaining seven authorities were providing in the aggregate full-time education for 71 per cent. of the pupils.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the possibility of an increase in juvenile delinquency in evacuated towns unless more adequate educational facilities are provided for the thousands of evacuated children who have returned; and whether he will make an inquiry into the extent of this danger and the means of meeting it?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. and gallant Friend has no doubt in mind the large increase in juvenile delinquency which occurred in the Great War, 1914–18. From such inquiries as I have been able to make, I am glad to say that so far there is no reason for serious anxiety on this score, in spite of conditions arising out of the war which might encourage youthful misbehaviour, including evacuation and the consequent disturbance of school life. Close touch is being maintained between the Home Office and the Board of Education on this matter, and the position will continue to be carefully watched.