asked the Minister of Labour the purport of the letter No. ILT/MB, dated 2nd November, 1939, sent by the manager of the Swansea Employment Exchange in the case of Frederick Trevor Torr; and what was the nature of the letter to which the foregoing letter was a reply?

I cannot trace any such correspondence of this date with any member of the public. If the hon. Member will let me know more precisely what information he desires, I shall be glad to make further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the serious volume of unemployment in the town of Peterhead; and whether he is taking any steps to deal with this problem?

I have been asked to reply. There was an increase in unemployment at Peterhead during September last as compared with the previous month due to the close of the summer herring fishing and the outbreak of war. Since September, however, there has been a substantial improvement in the position, and the figures for 11th December, 1939, which are the latest available, show that 1,031 men and 384 women workers were unemployed, as compared with 1,579 men and 428 women at the corresponding date in 1938. Every effort is being made to find employment for all persons registered as unemployed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much yeast was imported to the United Kingdom from Holland during the months of November and December, 1938, and January, 1939, and November and December, 1939, and January, 1940, respectively; and how much yeast was exported from Germany to Holland during each of these three-monthly periods, respectively?

:Since the outbreak of war, the publication of particulars of the trade of this country and of Germany with individual countries has been suspended. Such particulars as are available from the Dutch trade returns relating to their imports of yeast from Germany and exports to the United Kingdom are as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that a trade agreement has been reached between France and Spain, and, in view of the close co-operation between the British and French Governments on commercial matters, why a similar agreement has not yet been arrived at between this country and Spain?

The agreement between France and Spain is an agreement of restricted character, providing chiefly for the exchange of certain goods up to a limited quantity and value during 1940. The negotiations for an agreement between Spain and the United Kingdom are comprehensive in scope, including, as they do, far-reaching proposals for the resumption of trade and the liquidation of outstanding debts. The closest contact has been maintained throughout with the French Government. I cannot say when the negotiations will be concluded, but I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give a list of the commodities as to which the Government are now, or propose to become, the sole buyers and controllers?

The following is a list of the commodities of which His Majesty's Government are the controllers and substantially the sole purchasers:Aluminium (virgin).Copper.Lead.Zinc.Wolfram.MolassesPyrites.SulphurPhosphate Rock.Flax.Certain kinds of Hemp.Wool.Timber (unmanufactured).Wood pulp.Esparto.Meat (also home-produced fatstock bought for slaughter).Butter (except farmhouse butter).Bacon (also home-produced pigs bought for slaughter).Sugar.Cereals (imported).Feeding Stuffs (imported).Oilseeds.Tea.Dried Fruits.Cocoa (West African crop only).Imported eggs (from South Africa and Australia only).Whale Oil.Pulse (imported).Imported Animal Oils and Fats (including Lard).Cheese (at present New Zealand, Australian and South African only).

asked the Minister of Labour whether, as the Central Medical War Committee is a Government advisory committee and also deals with the recruitment of doctors for the medical boards through its local emergency committees, all of which are also claimed by the British Medical Association as being its own committees, he will now ascertain how many members of the medical boards for the examination of recruits are members of the British Medical Association?

No, Sir. I am not prepared to inquire whether a medical practitioner is or is not a member of the British Medical Association.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement with regard to the service of the Brazilian loans issued in the United Kingdom?

Negotiations regarding the service of these loans are at present being pursued between the Brazilian Government and the representatives of the bondholders.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the withdrawal of naturalisation from those men of alien origin convicted during the war of offences under the Emergency Powers Act?

Section 7 of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, provides for the revocation of a certificate of naturalisation in any case where the recipient has shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected or disloyal to His Majesty. In any case where a conviction of an offence—whether it be an offence against the Defence Regulations or not—is an indication of disaffection or disloyalty, the question of revoking the certificate is considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has a record of the number and nature of non-traffic street accidents that took place in the London police area during the past three months black-out period?

No, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the consequences to the national food supply of the rapid requisitioning of the boats belonging to members of the Clyde Fishermen's Association, he will consider the desirability of requisitioning first the fishing vessels now laid up before requisitioning those boats actually in use?

The Admiralty, through the local representative officers, always makes every effort to requisition boats that are not fishing in preference to those that are fishing. It will be understood, however, that those boats which are laid up do not always meet the special Naval requirements, and it is then necessary to requisition those that are fishing. We are trying our best to safeguard the fishing industry.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what contracts with the Government are held by the Burmah Oil Company, Limited; whether he is aware that in the month of December, 1939, that company floated some seven subsidiary companies having the same directors as itself; in what way the creation of these companies affected the contracts held by the parent company with the Government; and whether, in scrutinising the costings relating to those contracts, the books of the subsidiary companies are open to inspection by his or other Government accountants?

:I am advised that these companies have been formed simply for the purpose of convenience of administration, and such changes do not affect the Admiralty contract for oil in any way.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has anything to report regarding the naval operations in the region of St. Helena, Ascension, and Tristan Da Cunha, respectively?

No naval operations have taken place in the regions mentioned. His Majesty's ships may, of course, have been in the vicinity of these places from time to time during the course of their normal work of patrolling the seas.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the future weekly statements of merchant shipping losses issued by him, he will continue the method adopted in the statement which he made public on 1st January, and indicate not only the weekly total of losses, but also the weekly total of sea traffic which continues to ply?

:I am in full accord with the point made by my hon. and gallant Friend, and he can rest assured that no opportunity will be lost by the Admiralty of placing our shipping losses in their correct perspective, and in proportion to the growing volume of ships and tonnage reaching or leaving these shores. The method and style of arrangement may be varied from time to time in order not to give unnecessary information to the enemy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what societies are organising the provision of comforts for men serving in the Royal Naval Reserve, with special reference to the men drawn from the West of Scotland?

The R.N. War Comforts Committee co-ordinates the activities of the various organisations providing comforts for men serving in the Royal Navy generally. In this matter, men of the Royal Naval Reserve, from whatever area they may have been drawn, are treated as an integral part of the Royal Navy, and they receive their share of comforts distributed to the ship or establishment in which they are serving. No other organisation would be practicable, as Royal Naval Reservists are serving in all units of the Fleet.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, to systematise the provision of comforts for the Navy, arrangements can be made whereby vessels already adopted can be announced so that women can concentrate on providing for those which are not benefiting?

:While I appreciate that some local organisations may prefer to provide comforts for particular ships, such methods are liable to lead to inequalities in the supplies received by different ships and services. For this reason the Admiralty prefer that such organisations should work on behalf of the Royal Navy as a whole and to this end should consult the Royal Naval War Comforts Committee at the Admiralty. In any case, on grounds of security, it would not be possible to issue lists of His Majesty's ships.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in fairness to men whose homes are in evacuation areas and in view of the importance of children not being brought back into those areas, he will arrange that men proceeding on leave and entitled to free railway warrants shall be enabled to use this warrant for the purpose of visiting both their homes in an evacuation area and their children in a reception area?

Men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are entitled to two free warrants a year to their homes. When, however, a man wishes to proceed to a reception area in which part of his family is resident he can ask for a warrant to such area instead of to his home. A break of journey in such area is also allowed. In addition, a man who wishes to travel from his home to a reception area or vice versacan make use of the special cheap travelling facilities granted by the railway companies to men of the Forces.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what proportion of British merchant ships now being built are capable of using coal for fuel?

Approximately 47 per cent. of British merchant ships now being built are capable of using coal for fuel.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of ships waiting for drydock accommodation at the ports of Swansea, Barry, Cardiff, and Newport for each week during the months of September, October, November, and December of last year, and for each week of this month, and the time each ship has had to wait for accommodation?

In September and October there were no delays in effecting drydocking at the ports referred to by the hon. Member. In November several vessels had to wait for drydocking for periods up to four days, but on all but one repair work proceeded in wet berths.The number of vessels awaiting drydocking in the South Wales area on the following dates in December and January were as follow:

asked the Minister of Health whether he will supply an estimate of the present average weekly cost to householders per child of carrying out their obligations in respect of evacuated children billeted upon them, specifying the amount allocated to each substantial item of expenditure and indicating what allowance, if any, is included in respect of a proportion of rent, rates, taxes, repairs, insurance, water, lighting and heating costs; and whether he will give an assurance that it is not the intention of the Government that any portion of the cost of maintaining evacuated children should be borne by the householders without compensation?

Therates of billeting allowances payable to householders are intended to cover the maintenance of children. The householder is not expected to provide clothing or to pay for medical attendance. It would not be practicable, in view of the varying conditions,to include specific allowances for the items mentioned in my hon. Friend's Question, not all of which would be relevant to the cost of maintenance, or to compensate householders who provide a fuller standard of maintenance than prevails in the majority of households.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as the Central Medical War Committee is his advisory committee and an independent body not exclusively composed of members of the British Medical Association, he has now considered the circular, dated 30th November, 1939, issued by that association with the object of obtaining members, which states that through its Central Medical War Committee and the local medical war committees the association is dealing with the demands of the medical branches of the fighting Forces and of the civil population; and whether he will state the reasons why his Department thus dispossesses itself of its functions and delegates them to a voluntary organisation which then uses them as a means of attracting members?

:As to the circular mentioned in the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the Question which he asked on 23rd January. I should not agree that the position is as stated in the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the action of many rating authorities, following the decision of the High Court in what is known as the Robinson case, materially to raise the assessments on licensed premises; and whether, in view of the dislocation and loss of business suffered by licensees in many parts of the country consequent on the war, he will advise the rating authorities to suspend the higher charges until such time as these economic disturbances have passed?

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I have no authority to intervene in the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that hardship has arisen by reason of the refusal to cancel forthwith the contracts for telephones and telephonic extensions of doctors on their joining the medical services of the armed Forces; and whether he will do so in case of all applications requesting this concession?

I am not aware of this hardship. Special arrangements have been made to cover the case of all subscribers renting a single telephone line, with or without extensions, who join any branch of the fighting Forces. If the service has been rented for the minimum term of a year, the normal month's notice is dispensed with. Where the service is in its first year, only half the rent for the outstanding period up to the full year is charged, subject to a maximum waiver of three months rent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he will give particulars of the work to be performed by the committee of artists appointed under the chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Clarke?

The Artists' Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Information was formed in November with the object of drawing up a list of artists qualified to help in compiling some artistic record of the war, similar to that made of the war of 1914–18 and now preserved in the Imperial War Museum. The committee advises, in co-operation with the Service Departments and where necessary with other Departments, on the selection of artists from this list for specific war purposes and on the arrangements for their employment. It also advises on such questions as copyright, disposal and exhibition of works, and the publication of reproductions.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is satisfied with the quantity of official British publications, whether in the English language or in translation, distributed abroad on the initiative of his Department?

Results so far may, I think, be regarded as fairly satisfactory. Over 75,000 copies of seven official documents have been distributed in English. Six of them have already been translated into 16 languages, some editions selling up to 300,000 copies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the tragic plight of some 2,000 Jewish refugees now marooned in small barges on the Danube is due mainly to the fact that shipowners are threatened with confiscation of their ships and imprisonment of their crews if captured near the Palestine shore; and will he consider raising the ban on further immigrants to Palestine to cover these victims of Nazi racial doctrines?

I understand that reports have reached the Foreign Office that a number of Jews who were on their way to embark at a Rumanian port on a ship chartered for the purpose of carrying illegal immigrants to Palestine were recently stranded on the Danube. It is well known that masters and crews of ships engaged in this illegal traffic are liable to imprisonment and the ships to confiscation.The Government have made provision for Palestine making a considerable contribution towards the solution of the Jewish refugee problem, by means of quotas for legal immigrants. The quota for the first six months of the present immigration year amounted to more than 10,000 persons, and a similar quota for the current six months was only suspended on account of the volume of illegal immigration taking place. The normal objections to illegal immigration are increased in time of war owing to the danger of enemy agents travelling to Palestine by this means. In the circumstances I cannot adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to hold the municipal elections in Mauritius as usual in December this year?

I understand that that is the intention.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that contracts for bricks required in the construction of Government establishments in South Wales have been given to the London Brick Company, when local brickworks are idle; whether he can state the cost of conveying these bricks from the place of production to sites of factories; and whether, in order to save cost, and conserve the use of transport, he will draw the supply from works nearer the sites?

Bricks are purchased for these works by the building contractors. At the establishments in South Wales, for the construction of which my Department is responsible, and to which I think the hon. Member refers, all the bricks at one are of local make: at two others about 20,000,000 bricks in each case, representing 60per cent. of the bricks used up to date, are also of local make. As regards current contracts, it will take some time to collect the information as to the cost of transport which the hon. Member desires, and I will communicate with him as soon as it is available.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the value of all public works and building contracts placed by various depôts in the last 12 months to the latest vailable date; the number of companies that have received direct contracts; and the number of companies invited to tender for same?Mr. Ramsbotham: To furnish this information for the Office of Works alone—and I cannot answer for other Departments—would entail an analysis of the tendering for all the building contracts placed during the period. Over 4,600 sets of tenders were received in my Department during 1939: and I regret that a summary could not be compiled without an expenditure of labour out of all proportion to the value of the information.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce amending legislation to accord protection to the owner of property who does not receive sufficient revenue in war conditions from his tenants to pay in full the ground-rent landlord and the mortgagee?

:The effect of war conditions on persons under liabilities in respect of their interests in premises is being invesigated by the Committee on Civil Liabilities, and a decision as to what steps should be taken as a result of such investigations will be made shortly. Pending this decision, I am unable to inform my hon. Friend what, if any, further legislation will be introduced to give protection to owners of property in respect of the liabilities he mentions, beyond the general protection afforded by the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act.

asked the Attorney-General whether in order to prevent more losses to the public due to defalcations by solicitors, he will take steps again to extend the area of compulsory use of His Majesty's Land Registry, and arrange that in future the Public Trustee shall be joined to all probate and other business in the conduct of which a client's money, or money's worth, is at present entrusted to a solicitor, and that the professional activities of solicitors shall be restricted to matters of law divested of the power of handling the possessions of a client without the protection of the Public Trustee?

:With regard to the suggestion in the first part of the Question, I am not clear how this would assist in dealing with defalcations, but in any event it would not be practicable to make further extensions during the war. So far as the latter part of my hon. Friend's Question is concerned, I would refer him to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford West (Mr. Emery) on 24th January.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now in a position to state the terms of the financial agreement between the Government and the undertakings under the control of the Railway Executive?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is in a position to make a statement concerning the negotiations that have been taking place between the Government and the railway companies?

I would refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the statement I made after Questions to-day.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the heavy penalties under the Defence of the Realm Act which might be imposed on drivers who inadvertently exceed 20 miles an hour in a built-up area during the hours of darkness, he will consider giving instructions for all 30 miles an hour speed limit signs at the entrances to built-up areas to be illuminated as unilluminated lamps and telegraph poles with lamps extinguished are difficult to see in the dark?

:I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to a similar Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Coventry (Captain Strickland) on 31st January.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to seek the necessary powers to impose regulations against overcrowding in railway carriages and thus compel the railway companies to provide more adequate travelling accommodation for passengers?

:I am not satisfied that regulations restricting the number of passengers who may travel in railway carriages would be in the best interests of the travelling public. Within the limits necessarily imposed by war-time conditions, the railway companies are doing their best to provide adequate accommodation for passengers. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind any service on which the accommodation provided is alleged to be inadequate and will let me have particulars I shall be pleased to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will cause inquiries to be made to ascertain to what extent the recent railway delays were due unavoidably to weather conditions; and to what extent such delays could have been lessened by more adequate emergency arrangements made beforehand?

I am satisfied that the exceptionally severe weather conditions were responsible for the delays to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, and that the railway companies took all possible steps to maintain their services in the adverse circumstances.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, before he rations the production of paper from British paper mills, he will take steps to exclude the importation of all paper from foreign sources which could be manufactured in home mills?

It is proposed shortly to bring paper within the scope of the Import Licensing Regulations as part of the general arrangements for the rationing of paper, about which I made a statement yesterday in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Markham), and in licensing imports regard will be had to the availability of home supplies.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in rationing paper, he will allow unlimited supplies for export and give special consideration to new and growing firms who may have either no, or a very small, pre-war standard of consumption?

:Supplies of paper will, so far as possible, be made available for the export trade. As regards the last part of the Question, the rationing scheme will enable consideration to be given to special cases. I fear, however, that circumstances are not such as to encourage growth at present.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that, although the control price of wool is approximately 20 per cent. above pre-war levels, the uncontrolled prices of yarns and cloths are 60 to 100 per cent. above pre-war rates; and will he consider instituting control throughout to ensure the civilian consumers protection?

As at present advised, I am not prepared to extend the area of the control over wool prices exercised by my Department. Any action that it may be found necessary to take with regard to prices of yarns and fabrics would, I think, be more appropriately taken under the Prices of Goods Act.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists among scrap merchants which prevents their putting their full effort into the securing of scrap; how many firms are receiving the 1s. allowance per ton of scrap whether they handle it or not; and what is the amount received by these firms since the arrangement was entered into with the Ministry?

:I assume that the hon. Member is referring to arrangements entered into in 1937 between the British Iron and Steel Corporation, certain steel manufacturers and four firms of scrap merchants for the purpose of organizing and stimulating the supply of scrap for steelworks. The Ministry of Supply is not a party to these arrangements, but I understand that under them there is a levy on certain consumers of steel scrap of 1s. per ton, the proceeds of which are used for various purposes in connection with scrap, including payments to the four firms for services rendered in this connection to the steel industry. I am not aware, however, that the existence of this scheme is causing the degree of dissatisfaction which the hon. Member suggests; or is preventing scrap merchants from putting their full efforts into securing scrap. On the contrary, the steel industry is well satisfied with the working of the agreement, which gives it a substantial measure of control over the destination of scrap both for home consumption and for export. It is stated that the agreement has saved the industry large sums of money.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will produce figures setting out the basis for the present per pound retail prices of bacon and butter; what is the present average margin between c.i.f. prices and the retail maximum prices, respectively; and whether this represents an increase on the average pre-war margin then required by the trade?

The basis for the retail price of bacon is the Ministry's selling price to its agents. The price is now 113s. 6d. per cwt., but until 5th February it was 125s. Margins have been added to these prices to arrive at those to be charged by wholesalers and retailers.The basis for the retail price of butter is the Ministry's selling price of 143s. per cwt., a maximum wholesale price of 150s. per cwt. and a maximum retail price of 1s. 7d. per lb., thus giving a maximum margin of 34s. 4d. per cwt. In each case the margins are provisional and are subject to costings investigation. I have at present no reason to suppose that there has been any disproportionate increase over pre-war levels.

asked the Minister of Food the number of slaughter-houses in Northumberland selected by him; and the number of appointments, and their respective categories, in connection with the meat scheme?

There are 13 selected slaughter-houses in Northumberland. Following is a statement showing the number of appointments in the county of Northumberland in connection with the meat scheme, and their respective categories:

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the communication from the Kent Authorised Potato Merchants Association to the effect that there is no provision for establishing a minimum shopping price plan in the Potato Marketing Scheme; and whether he intends to adopt the proposals to remedy this omission?

:Yes, Sir. As the proposal involves the adoption of compulsory minimum prices, it would not be in the interests of the consumer, and I could not therefore recommend its adoption.

asked the Minister of Food why oatmeal has been increased in price from 2s. 6d. per stone to 4s. 10d. per stone; and when he considers a reduction in price will take place?

Increases in the price of oatmeal have been due to abnormal demand for oats for seed and for animal feeding. I am informed that the Order fixing maximum prices for oats, which came into force on 1st February, has checked the upward movement of oatmeal prices, but it is as yet too early to say whether there will be an actual decline.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that in restaurants butter is being sold to customers at 1d. per pat weighing about one-sixth of an ounce; that this works out at almost 8s. per lb.; and whether he will take steps to stop this method of profiteering?

I am aware that butter is served in various places of refreshment at varying charges. Without knowing the type of service provided and the general circumstances, it is not possible for me to judge whether the charge is excessive.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that imported articles of food, etc., have their retail prices fixed to conform to London, but those fixed prices have to be charged in all other parts of the country; that freight charges from London to many of those provincial areas are so high as to make it impossible to make a profit; and whether, as those prices are controlled by the Government, freight charges will be pooled, so that provincial dealers will not be at a disadvantage as compared with London dealers, and consumers in the provinces will be able to obtain the same class of goods as consumers in London?

:I cannot agree that retail prices of imported articles of food are normally fixed by reference to London prices only. No such practice has been followed by my Department, which, in fixing the price of foodstuffs, takes into consideration all relevant factors, including the cost of transport. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of any special cases which he has in mind, I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered a letter of protest from the Food Control Committee, Blyth, against what they consider the extravagant expenditure upon local services in connection with the Meat and Livestock Scheme, particularly in respect of salaries of the staff and their desire that it should be known they had no responsibility for appointments or salaries; and what he proposes to do in the matter?

I have received the letter to which the hon. Member refers, and I am looking into the matter.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the present administrative expense of the rationing system, he will consider introducing a proportion of voluntary workers into his Department, as is done in the case of air-raid precautions services?

A number of voluntary workers are already giving their services at headquarters of the Ministry of Food and in divisional and local food offices.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether he is prepared to initiate a long-term policy of afforestation upon a larger scale than obtains at present, with a view to lessening in due course our dependence upon imported supplies of timber?

The Forestry Commissioners are keeping this matter continuously under review. It is premature at this stage to attempt to formulate any definite plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, as the Central Medical War Committee is a Government advisory committee, and as the British Medical Association claims that such committee and its local emergency committee are committees of the association, he will now ascertain the number of persons appointed to recruiting medical boards, emergency hospital and first-aid posts in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow, respectively, who are not members of the British Medical Association?

The association or other body which a doctor chooses to join is a personal matter. As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 23rd January, the information asked for in the last part of the Question is not available, and I do not feel justified in instituting inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he is aware that the Department of Agriculture for Scotland recommends that deer forests and grouse moorsshould be freed for the grazing of cattle and sheep; and what area has been scheduled by the war executive committees for this purpose;(2) whether he has considered a communication from the Lochaber Crofters Union protesting against the abandonment of over 3,000,000 acres of arable and pasture land in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to the feeding of deer and grouse, and calling upon the Government to use its statutory powers to acquire land for the purpose of augmenting the nation's food supply in the present national emergency; and what reply has been given?

:I have advised agricultural executive committees in the Highland counties as to the procedure they should adopt in securing suitable land on deer forests and grouse moors for the grazing of cattle and sheep. The matter is engaging the attention of committees, and directions for the use of deer forests as grazings can be issued in cases where an amicable arrangement proves impracticable. So far one application for consent to the issue of such directions has been approved. I do not appear to have received the communication from the Lochaber Crofters' Union to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement on the negotiations at present taking place between His Majesty's Government and the Japanese Government on the recent seizure of German subjects of military age on a Japanese vessel?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the right hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Greenwood) and to the correspondence laid before the House yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement on the arrest of two British journalists in Slovakia by members of the German Gestapo?

My Noble Friend is endeavouring to obtain the most recent information on this subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of his desire that the trend of the agricultural industry towards becoming merely a factory industry producing finished goods from imported raw materials should be stopped, he will reconsider his recent decision to cease the subsidy for heavy horse breeding, thus making British agriculture more than ever dependent upon the use of imported fuel for mechanical transport?

The decision to suspend the making of fresh grants to heavy horse societies during the war was reached only after the fullest consideration, and I regret that I cannot see my way to withdraw the suspension. The satisfactory prices ruling for heavy horses should provide an inducement to farmers to continue breeding operations, but young horses bred in this and subsequent seasons are not likely to have any effect upon supplies of agricultural horses available during the war.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he has taken to make available an adequate supply of seeds, and particularly seed potatoes, for the extended allotment programme, and at prices well within the capacity of the allotment-holders?

The question of ensuring that an adequate supply of seeds, including seed potatoes, will be available for the extended allotment programme is kept constantly under review by the Seeds Advisory Committee which I have set up and the Potato Section of the Ministry of Food, both of which bodies are confident that for most varieties the seed trade will be in a position to meet requirements. In the present circumstances, some increase in the price of seeds, particularly those kinds of vegetable seeds which are normally imported from abroad, is inevitable, but a careful watch is being kept on this aspect of the matter, and I am advised that the evidence so far available does not indicate that prices generally are disproportionately high. An Order will shortly be made by the Minister of Food dealing with growers' prices and merchants' margins for seed potatoes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what measures are now being taken, in the Royal Air Force at home and abroad, for the prevention and treatment of venereal disease?

:Measures are taken for the prevention of this disease in the Royal Air Force by frequent instructional lectures and talks to the personnel and by making available prophylactic facilities, including early treatment centres, at every unit. Treatment of those infected is carried out by specialists on modern lines similar to those used in the best civil clinics. Patients are retained in special wards until free from infection and treatment is continued until complete cure is attained.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the substantial number of horses that have already been acquired by the Army for war purposes, it is possible to make some statement regarding future requirements in order that farmers throughout the country may be informed as to the best way they can assist the Government by holding a reserve available?

I regret that it is not possible to make any forecast of future requirements, but I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a notice on the subject which was issued for publication two months ago.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the grave discontent amongst the medical profession by reason of men being called upon for professional service with the armed Forces although they are married men with families and are in active practice, while younger men without such responsibilities, and who have also volunteered for service, have not been called up; and whether he will take steps to remedy this anomaly?

:I am not aware of any grave discontent. The position is that all volunteers who are suitable and can, in the view of their local medical war committee, be spared, have been, or are being, invited to apply for commissions in the medical service of one or other of the armed Forces.