asked the Minister of Health how many houses, partly completed, there were in England and Wales at the last available date; on how many of these had work been stopped; and in the case of how many was the stoppage due to want of timber; what suggestions he has made to local authorities to complete houses with substitute materials instead of timber; and what has been the success attending his suggestions?

I have no complete information giving the number of partly completed houses in the country, but so far as houses being erected by local authorities are concerned, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the replies, copies of which I am sending him, given on 24th and 25th January, respectively, to Questions on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Sir P. Hurd) and the hon. Member for Wolver hampton, East (Mr. Mander).

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the report made to him of the statement by the billeting officer of St. Ives (Hunts) Rural District Council that he would refuse to attempt to billet women and children in his district and that if compulsory powers were used, half the people would prefer to go to gaol; and what action he proposes to take?

The opportunities for further evacuation which have been afforded since September have been limited to unaccompanied school children, and no action would, therefore, appear to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many children under five years of age, originally evacuated with their mothers, are now remaining in the reception areas unaccompanied?

I do not have the information asked for, and I am afraid that to obtain it would cause a disproportionate amount of labour for the local authorities. I understand that the number would in any case be very small.

asked the Minister of Health how many children were evacuated from each of the 29 county borough evacuation authorities on the outbreak of war; and how many have since returned to their homes?

As near as can be estimated, the numbers of unaccompanied schoolchildren originally evacuated from each of the 29 evacuating county boroughs and the numbers who have since returned are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour whether his inquiries into the dismissal by employers of an employé while serving in the Auxiliary Fire Service, coupled with an intimation of refusal to re-employ the employéat the end of the war, as communicated to him by the hon. Member for Greenock on 12th December, 1939, are now completed; and what action he has taken or proposes to take in view of the employers' intimation?

I have given careful consideration to the papers which have been submitted to me in this matter and have not found in them any evidence that this employer has exceeded his legal rights either as regards terminating the engagement of the employéin question or as regards declining to give a promise of reinstatement. There is, therefore, no action that I can take.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the shortage of gas masks for the four- and five-year-old children in the Bedlington district in Northumberland; and what steps he proposes to take to remove the shortage?

I have written to the hon. Member on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary the amount in each case needed to cover the existing air-raid precautions services in the administrative counties and large boroughs in Wales, including Monmouth shire?

On the basis of expenditure in December, 1939, the estimated expenditure for a full year on the pay of whole-time volunteers for the Air-Raid Precautions Services, including the Auxiliary Fire Service, in the administrative counties and county boroughs in Wales and Monmouth shire is as shown in column 2 of the following table. This expenditure is reimbursed by the Exchequer. As regards expenditure on Air-Raid Precautions Services, including the Auxiliary Fire Service, which is met partly by the Exchequer and partly by the local authorities, particulars are not yet available of the estimated expenditure of all the local authorities concerned for the full financial year 1939–40, but column 3 of the table shows, on the basis of the returns received from those authorities, the expenditure, actual or estimated, in the first half of the year.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the special difficulties in connection with the area known as the Elephant and Castle area in the Borough of Southwark, he will reconsider his decision with reference to the proposed underground air-raid shelter at Roy Place?

I am not aware of any considerations peculiar to this area which would call for the construction of a shelter of the type which the local authority put forward for my consideration. It is clear, however, that additional public shelter is needed in this area, and I trust that the local authority will consider further a plan on alternative and more economical lines which has already been communicated to them informally by my technical advisers.

asked the Home Secretary how many proposals for heavily protected air-raid shelters he has received from Scottish local authorities; how many of these were for deep shelters; how the proposals have been dealt with; and what was the regional distribution of the local authorities concerned?

I am advised that there have been proposals from five local authorities, namely Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Greenock, and North Queens-ferry. All involved the utilisation of some existing natural feature. In the case of Glasgow and of Greenock, the projects have not taken more than a very tentative form, while in the case of Edinburgh, certain objections were conveyed to, and apparently accepted by, the City authorities. The North Queensferry proposals, were rejected on the ground that the shelters would have been too remote to be reasonably accessible to those for whose protection they were designed. The Dundee proposal was approved by my Department, but I understand that other considerations have led the local authority not to pursue the matter further.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the application of Mr. R. G. Gower-Quiroga, a civil servant, who served as a lieutenant in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers during the last war and is now only 42 years of age, and is anxious to serve in the Officers Emergency Reserve, has been refused on the ground that he is in a reserved occupation; and whether he will consider making exceptions in this and similar cases of men who are suitable for training recruits, and releasing them from their posts?

Civil servants are reserved at the age of 25 and, as with other classes appearing in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations, enlistment, save in exceptional circumstances, is not allowed in the case of persons of or above the age of reservation. Machinery exists, however, whereby special consideration can be given to persons of or above the age of reservation, who possess qualifications or experience of special value to the Armed Forces and of whose services those Forces have particular need. Enrolment in the Officers Emergency Reserve is, I understand, suspended for the time being and no immediate question of the exceptional release of Mr. Gower-Quiroga therefore arises.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that under the present arrangements the question of the release of skilled men from the Fighting Services for employment in any particular factory is one for consideration by the Service Department in the light of representations that may be made to them by the Department which is interested in the products of the firm making the application; and what Department is responsible for making representations about the release and retention of key workers in the main export industries of the country which are not mainly concerned with Government contracts?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of the arrangements outlined in the first part of the Question. With regard to the second part, in order to ensure that full consideration is given to the question of the release and retention of key workers in export industries, it has now been arranged that the Department of Overseas Trade should be responsible for making representations to the Service Department concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether directors and curators of provincial museums under municipal control and under society control, respectively, are treated as in reserved occupations for the purposes of the Military Service Acts;(2) whether librarians and curators in charge of institutions under municipal control are treated as in reserved occupations for the purposes of the Military Service Acts?

Directors and curators of museums, and librarians, as such, are not specifically reserved under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations. If, however, they are members of the "executive and clerical grades" of a local authority, they are reserved at the age of 25.

asked the Minister of Labour what suggestions he has received for amending the list of reserved occupations in the mining industry; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the present position?

The entries in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations relating to occupations in the mining industry were reviewed in December last, when substantial changes were made, with the result that there is now a high degree of reservation in mining occupations. In consultation with my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines, I have under consideration at the present time further suggestions for the amendment of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations in respect of a few other occupations in this industry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can inform the House of the number of complaints he has had about young men who have been called up for attestation for military service and have been dismissed from their employment while waiting for the calling-up notice; how many prosecutions he has made against employers for unjust dismissal of these young men; how many convictions have been obtained; and will he consider issuing a list of such employers?

Since the beginning of the war 252 complaints have been made to me alleging that men have been discharged from their employment owing to their liability, or prospective liability, to be called up for military service. The inquiries in 189 cases have revealed insufficient grounds for prosecution under the National Service (Armed Forces) (Prevention of Evasion) Regulations. The remaining 63 cases are under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will urge the Kent County Council to institute immediately in Bexley and adjoining areas under their jurisdiction a tutorial system of education for all children between the ages of five to seven years?

I understand that a tutorial system of education covering the majority of children between the ages of five and seven is already in operation in the districts referred to, and that this system is being extended. The Kent Local Education Authority are actively engaged in completing the necessary protection against air raids to enable the schools to reopen for formal instruction. A circular, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, was sent to local education authorities yesterday urging that further efforts should be made to secure that all children in evacuation and neutral areas should be enabled to return to school at the earliest possible date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the present position of the trade relations between Great Britain and Jugoslavia; and whether he is satisfied that everything possible is being done to maintain and expand the trade of Great Britain and the Dominions and Colonies with near-Eastern countries?

I understand that United Kingdom exporters have recently experienced difficulty in obtaining licences for the importation of their goods into Yugoslavia to the extent provided for in the Anglo-Yugoslav Payments Agreement of 1936, and the question is receiving active consideration. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the arrangements which have been made for the development of Anglo-Turkish trade; and what organisation now operates in Turkey to promote the sale of British products in Asia Minor and at the same time encourage the preparation of Turkish produce for the British market?

A new Anglo-Turkish Trade and Payments Agreement was signed on 3rd February and will shortly be laid before the House. It consolidates the several Agreements regulating Anglo-Turkish trade which were previously in force. It is hoped that there will be a considerable development of trade between the two countries. As regards the latter part of the Question, I understand that the Turkish Government are doing everything in their power to promote Anglo-Turkish trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give some information about the nature of the arrangement reached with the tobacco companies regarding the purchase of Balkan tobacco?

A mission is now in Turkey for the purpose of negotiating purchases of tobacco for the season just opening. Before its departure the mission was in close touch with the tobacco manufacturing companies in this country in order to ensure that the tobacco bought might be of the types best suited to their needs. To assist in the business of purchasing, treating and storing the tobacco in Turkey prior to shipment, the services of the British American Tobacco Company which already has a buying organisation in the Near East have been obtained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Treasury Order dealing with claims under the Czechoslovakia (Financial Claims and Refugees) Act, will be submitted to the House?

I hope that the Order will be presented to the House next week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now give a list of non-essentials which the public are asked to avoid purchasing in order to release shipping?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on Tuesday to the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. White).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury Finance Regulations impose any obstacle upon British insurance companies in the carrying on of their overseas business, and, in particular, in meeting admitted claims payable in foreign currencies?

The fullest arrangements have been made to enable British insurance companies to carry on their overseas business without impediment, and to meet claims by Allied, neutral or British claimants under any policy in accordance with the terms of the policy, whether it be expresed in sterling or in foreign currency.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the adoption of the system of the 1s. trunk call after the hour of 7 p.m. proved a financial success; and, if so, can he state to what extent?

The adoption of the system of the 1s.trunk call after 7 p.m. led to a substantial increase in trunk traffic at night, but the level of such traffic was still well below the level of the day traffic. Trunk lines and exchange equipment are provided to carry the peak loads in the day time and consequently their cost need not be charged against the 1s. call. I am satisfied that on this differential basis the cheap night call is not unprofitable, though I am not in a position to quote exact figures.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the declarations of the Government regarding the recognition of trade unions, and that during the war there is to be the greatest possible measure of consultation and cooperation in regard to conditions, he will state the alternatives that have been considered by his Department in respect of the reintroduction of the 1s. call to those of compelling the female telephonists to work until 10 or 10.30 p.m.; and is he satisfied that there is such a public demand for this service as to justify the enforcement of such late hours, especially in view of the increased tension arising from war conditions?

The normal procedure of consulting the staff associations was and is being followed in regard to the general staffing aspects of the re-introduction of the 1s. call: and the details have been open for discussion by the local staff representatives. About 1,200 male night telephonists have joined the Forces, and the engagement and training of men to replace them is proceeding as rapidly as possible. In the meantime there is no reasonable alternative to employing a small proportion of the female telephonist staff after 8 p.m. Time schedules will be altered so that staff so employed will normally come on duty later, and the hours of the working week will remain as before. There are 19,500 female telephonists in the Post Office, and of these less than 1,000 will be required on any day after 8 p.m., to deal with the 1s. calls. In London, where the pressure is greatest, they will not be required to take more than about one week's late duty in four. I am satisfied that the widespread public demand for the restoration of this facility justifies me in calling upon the female staff to take their share of the late duties so long as sufficient men are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that parcels sent to members of the Forces, who have been removed from their units to hospitals and other places, are charged additional postage for delivery; and whether he will have this matter rectified?

No additional postage should be charged on parcels addressed to members of His Majesty's Forces in the United Kingdom who have been removed from their units to hospitals and other places. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any case in which a charge has been made, I shall be pleased to consider making a refund.

asked the Minister of Labour whether persons following occupations such as watchman, timekeeper, storekeeper, collector, being such work as calls for approximately the expenditure of an equal amount of physical energy are included amongst those insurable for health and unemployment purposes; and whether, in the event of a watchman, timekeeper, etc., becoming unemployed and registered with a capacity only within this range of occupation and it being deemed unlikely that his services will be required in such capacity locally, the employment committee and Unemployment Assistance Board regard him as falling outside their jurisdiction and compel him to seek assistance from the public assistance committee?

Apart from certain special part-time employment specified in the Subsidiary Employments Orders, workers of the classes mentioned in the Question would ordinarily be insurable under the Unemployment Insurance Scheme if they are employed under contract of service. They fall within the scope of Unemployment Assistance if their normal occupation is employment in respect of which contributions are payable under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, 1925 to 1932. Questions with regard to health insurance should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the maintenance of the able-bodied unemployed in the County of Durham is costing the county for the year ending March, 1940, over £21,000; and whether any arrangements can be made, with a view to making the maintenance of these people a national instead of a local charge?

There is nothing I can add to the replies I gave to similar Questions by the hon. Member on 26th April, 1938, and 11th May, 1939.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Unemployment Assistance Board officers have been threatening applicants in receipt of war distress allowances that these will be withdrawn if they do not accept any job offered them, irrespective of past trade or occupation; and whether he will see that such applicants are allowed to exercise their legal right to refuse unsuitable employment?

I am informed that those applying under the scheme for the prevention and relief of distress are almost invariably persons who have no normal occupation by way of insurable employment, and while the question of suitable employment for a person who has hitherto worked on his own account may occasionally give rise to difficulty, I am not aware of any general complaint on this matter. I would point out that any person aggrieved by a decision of the Board's officer can appeal to the Appeal Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in many eases Unemployment Assistance Board fail to use their full powers to grant war distress allowances in the case of men whose private businesses, or opportunities of self-employment have been ruined by the war, and that, particularly, such persons have been refused as being out of scope after doing a few weeks' temporary work following the outbreak of war; and whether he will impress upon the Board their duty to give the most favourable consideration to all bona fide claims of war distress?

My information is that the Board endeavour to apply the scope qualification of the Prevention and Relief of Distress Scheme as liberally as possible. Difficulties do, however, sometimes arise in deciding whether the failure of a business or other cause of distress is directly attributable to the war or to some other circumstance, and if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will let me have particulars, I will ask the Board to have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in order to allay public uncertainty and enable people to make their holiday plans in advance, he will state whether the holiday resorts at present housing troops and evacuated persons will be placed out of bounds by him to workers on holiday?

I regret that anxiety on this subject should have been caused by a wholly unfounded statement in a newspaper. There is no proposal to place any holiday resort out of bounds to holiday makers.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give an undertaking that ex-service men employed as temporary civilian clerks in Air Ministry outstations prior to the outbreak of war will not be discharged during war time in order that their places may be filled by members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force?

It is not the policy of the Air Ministry to displace by members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force clerks employed at Air Ministry outstations in posts established for civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the present position with regard to the appointment of welfare officers, what appointments have already been made, covering what areas; and whether it is proposed that any further appointments will be made?

An organisation for the welfare of Royal Air Force personnel has been set up at the Air Ministry, and a senior Royal Air Force officer has been appointed to take charge. No other appointments have yet been made, but the organisation will provide for a physical training expert at each command headquarters and a welfare officer at each command, group, and station.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, having regard to the nearing prospect of mass air attack, at least on our shipping and ports, and to the prospective demands on our fighter aircraft in other spheres, he can make any explicit statement on the rate of growth of effective front-line strength in squadrons of this type; and, in particular, whether the Nuffield factory has reached the stage of a regular weekly output?

As regards the first part of the Question, I can certainly assure the hon. Member that a considerable increase has been made in the effective strength of fighter squadrons since the outbreak of war. It would not be in the public interest to give a reply to the second half of the Question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that considerable inconvenience is being caused by the laxity in payments by Government Departments for war work completed by firms contracting for their work; and will he inquire into the cause of these delays, whereby contracting firms are obliged to seek bank overdrafts with consequential unnecessary expenditure in bank charges and their added inability to pay current expenses and Income Tax while the Government are withholding money due to them?

Yes, Sir, I am aware that there have been complaints. Arrangements have recently been made for accelerating both progress and final payments on Government contracts, and I hope, therefore, that the cause of these complaints will disappear.

asked the Minister of Supply the number and value of contracts for supplies given to the firm of M, and A. Mutkin, Limited, of Leytonstone, in the last 12 months?

It would be contrary to established practice to disclose information regarding contracts made with particular firms.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether inspectors of taxes will facilitate a revision of assessments as property to Schedule A Income Tax in cases where war conditions have caused a substantial change in annual values?

It is not to be assumed that temporary disturbances of values due to war conditions necessarily involve the revision of assessments for the purposes of Income Tax Schedule A, but applications for relief in individual cases would be duly considered on their merits by reference to the particular circumstances of each case. I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of a reply on a cognate matter which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Croydon, North (Colonel Mason).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the age limit of 55 years denies the opportunity of employment to many men capable of work at various ordnance factories and, as these establishments provide the only opportunity for employment to these men in many areas, will he take steps to remove this limitation?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply to a similar Question on 7th December last.

asked the Minister of Transport when the through service between London Bridge and the Bank on the Morden-Edgware line will be available to the public, who have now to alight at London Bridge and proceed by special omnibus to Moorgate Station to continue their journey north?

The line is at present closed in order to enable certain necessary protective works to be carried out. It is hoped that the works will be completed about the middle of May, and the service will be resumed immediately afterwards.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now prepared to ensure that farmers shall be granted relief from tithe redemption for the duration of the war?

No, Sir. I know of no adequate ground for this relief.

asked the Home Secretary how many complaints regarding cock-fighting were notified to the police during the year 1939; how many cases of alleged cock-fighting were investigated; how many prosecutions were taken, and how many convictions were obtained; and whether he has any statement to make regarding measures to suppress cock-fighting in this country?

As the hon. Member has previously been informed, the police do their best to prevent infractions of the law on this subject and have a duty to take proceedings in any case where evidence can be obtained to support a prosecution. Having regard to the burden of the special duties falling on the police at the present time, I should not feel justified in calling upon every chief constable to make a special report giving the particulars mentioned in the Question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will arrange for an early resumption of British nationality by the Reverend Morgan Griffith, working in the London diocese, all papers having been with the Home Office since August last?

This application was made on 15th September last. As I explained on 23rd November, in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Cambridge shire (Captain Briscoe) a great many applications for naturalisation were outstanding at the outbreak of war, and, in order to avoid unfairness, these are being dealt with in rotation. There appear to be no grounds on which I could properly give Mr. Griffith's application priority over other applications.

asked the Minister of Shipping the number of merchant seamen and officers who have lost their lives and the number injured since the outbreak of war?

The number of deaths of members of the Merchant Navy due to enemy action returned to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen up to 31st January was 431 and the number injured 235.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total grassland acreage in the parish of Sheepy, Leicestershire?

I have been asked to reply. The area of grassland in the parish of Sheepy, Leicestershire, on 4th June, 1939, was returned as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Poultry Advisory Council is still in existence; and, if so, what are its present activities?

The Poultry Advisory Committee established in 1927 has not been called together since 1937, although the committee has not been formally dissolved. To advise the Ministry on matters of interest to the poultry industry during the war, my right hon. and gallant Friend has set up a smaller Advisory Committee, which has so far met on four occasions, and considered various questions of interest to the welfare of poultry keepers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will prolong the pheasant shooting season till 1st March in order to reduce the abnormal number of cock pheasants which may otherwise do considerable damage to crops?

An Order-in-Council under Section 1 of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act entitled The Defence (Close Seasons) Regulations, 1940, was made on 6th February, extending the season for shooting pheasants during this year up to the last day of February.

asked the Minister of Food the prices of poultry food for each of the months of July, August, September, October, November and December, 1939; and the price of eggs for the same periods?

I am having this information extracted and will communicate it to my hon. and gallant Friendas soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Food (1) whether he is aware that the main supplies of meat last week-end for Exeter and district consisted of sheep carcases from Uruguay; that complete carcases only weighed from 13 lb. to 17 lb., and were nothing but skin and bone; that butchers were compelled to ask 9d. per lb. for this food, which equalled nearly 5s. per lb. for the actual meat sold; and whether he will take urgent steps to prevent a recurrence of this scandal;(2), who was responsible for the purchase of the emaciated sheep carcases from Uruguay, distributed through Devon shire last week; who was responsible for inspecting them before purchase and shipment; who was responsible for the waste of ship-room in bringing forward such food; and will he see that these people are replaced immediately by others who understand the business?

Before the war there was, mainly in industrial areas in the United Kingdom, a demand for the lightweight joints of Uruguayan mutton and lamb. The arrangements made by the Ministry of Food for the purchase of meat from Uruguay provided for the purchase of meat of pre-war qualities. The meat was inspected by the quality surveyors appointed by the Ministry of Food and was passed as of the qualities normally shipped before the war. The situation to which my hon. Friend refers arose from the distribution of the carcases to areas not accustomed to receive them, and was due primarily to the temporary difficulties and dislocation caused by the recent exceptional weather conditions over the country as a whole.

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to relieve the shortage of butcher meat in Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire; and whether he will institute steps to assure an effective and equitable distribution of meat for all the areas of Scotland to prevent the breakdown of the scheme?

The recent temporary shortage of meat in Stirlingshire and Clackmannan which was due to the difficulty of moving livestock during the severe weather was made good immediately it was brought to the notice of the Ministry's local officers. Distribution will be improved as the registration of consumers with retail butchers is completed.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the present arrangements have resulted in very inadequate supplies of meat being delivered at Bridgnorth, thus causing great inconvenience to the inhabitants and unemployment among those engaged in the meat trade there; and what steps he proposes to take in order to remedy this state of affairs?

The present arrangements for distributing meat in Bridgnorth have not resulted in inadequate supplies being available. Owing to extremely bad weather conditions some delay was experienced in forwarding supplies of imported meat to the district during the early part of last week but additional slaughterings of home produced fatstock were immediately undertaken and Bridgnorth butchers were able to obtain a full allocation of meat by the end of the week.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that, since 15th January, 1940, when his Department assumed control of meat and the purchase of fat stock, no inspection of animals or meat is being carried out at certain centres, while at others much sound meat is being needlessly condemned; and, since the public health is on the one hand endangered, and a gross waste of human food and public money is occurring on the other, will he say what measures to correct these irregularities he proposes to institute?

So far as I am aware, there has been no change in the inspection of animals prior to slaughter. As regards the inspection of meat, a joint circular has been issued to all local authorities in England and Wales by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Food, emphasising my desire to have the benefit of the statutory meat inspection services already provided by local authorities. It is hoped shortly to issue a similar circular to local authorities in Scotland. As regards the latter part of the Question, I have by the helpful co-operation of the Corporation of the City of London, appointed Mr. L. B. A. Grace, M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M., Chief Veterinary Officer of the Corporation, to be Technical Adviser to the Ministry on the Health Inspection of Meat.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the amount of the commission agreed to between the Ministry of Food and the wholesale meat supply associations to meet expenses and remuneration during the provisional first three months period?

Commission will be paid to wholesale meat supply associations at a percentage of their turnover based on a national figure of £70 per ton of meat handled. The total amount to be paid cannot, therefore, be stated until the end of the period. For the initial period the rate of commission has been fixed provisionally at 4 per cent. in the case of the provincial associations; that for London has not yet been finally fixed.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the estimated meat consumption of the population of Great Britain upon the basis of the present proposed rationed quantities?

If every consumer were to purchase rationed meat to the full amount of the ration which is to come into operation on 11th March, the total quantity of meat, including officials and manufactured meat products, which would be sold would amount to about 37,000 tons, per week. It is, however, certain that this maximum quantity will in practice not be purchased.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the protests from Midlands traders against the increase of 5s. per ton of potatoes to the growers without any increase in prices to the retailers; and whether he proposes to take remedial action?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to Questions on this subject on 1st February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that growers in Lincolnshire have been advised by the local branch of the National Fanners' Union to hold back and reduce deliveries of potatoes in order to secure the advantage of the new increased prices which they state will be announced probably before the end of this month; and what steps he intends to take to remedy the existing shortage which is considered by many members of the trade to be attributable rather to the action of growers in withholding supplies, than to exceptional weather conditions?

I am aware of the particular local instance mentioned, but I understand there has been no general encouragement of a withholding of supplies. The real cause of the temporary shortage which occurred in some districts was the abnormal weather conditions rendering it difficult, if not impossible, for farmers to open their potato clamps without risk of injury to the potatoes owing to the frost.

asked the Minister of Food whether all branches of the trades interested, as well as the consumers, have been consulted prior to the compilation of the new schedule of potato prices shortly to be issued; and whether this step will, even at this stage, be taken if necessary to avoid the difficulties which have arisen already, in connection with the controlled prices of other products?

The new schedule of potato prices has been discussed with representatives of growers and all the trade interests concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total consumption of bacon and butter under the rationing scheme and how such consumption compares with that of last winter; and whether he is satisfied that the high prices of these commodities is not defeating the purpose of rationing, namely, the equitable distribution of essential foods?

The amount of bacon issued for consumption by the civil population during the month of January, 1940, was, so far as figures are at present available, 606,390 cwts. as against an amount of 855,542 cwts. during January, 1939. The corresponding figures in the case of butter are 554,500 cwts. and 770,660 cwts. respectively. The purpose of rationing is to make available for all members of the community an equal share from the common stock, and I am satisfied that by rationing bacon and butter this purpose has been achieved.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider the establishment of a scheme by which the Government would purchase eggs when there is a surplus on the market, store them, and release them when supplies are short, with a view to ensuring to poultry farmers a reasonable level of prices throughout the year?

The matters referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend have already been brought to my notice and are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the frequent transfer of units and the moving of sick soldiers from one hospital to another, he will consider the desirability of making one officer or man in each unit responsible for the re-addressing of correspondence and parcels?

An instruction will be issued on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War the names and rank of Members of Parliament now serving in the Army with the British Expeditionary Force in France and those serving with the Army at home respectively?

pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd January, 1940; col. 343), supplied the following statement:

asked the Attorney-General whether he has considered the question of amending the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939, to meet the case of tenants of hotel premises who are unable to pay their rates owing to circumstances arising from the war emergency; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

As I had occasion to tell the House recently, the question of amending the Act to which my hon. and learned Friend refers has been under consideration, and I expect to be able to make a further statement shortly. The Act is being considered in relation to all the obligations to which it applies, and these include rates.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can now make any statement respecting the political position in India?

As has already been announced in an agreed communiqué issued in India on Monday, a copy of which follows, the conversation between the Governor-General and Mr. Gandhi on that day ended in a decision by mutual consent to defer further discussions for the present.On the following day the Viceroy saw Mr. Jinnah, the leader of the Moslem League, who urged upon His Excellency the great importance attached by the Moslem and other minorities to safeguarding their position in any settlement or discussion that might take place. An agreed statement on this interview follows:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state, having regard to the low-flying attacks of enemy aircraft on British ships and trawlers, by what date every British vessel in the narrow home seas will be equipped with effective defence against low-flying attack?

The hon. Member can rest assured that arrangements for the protection of these vessels against this form of attack is being pressed on as expeditiously as possible.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Commission is carrying out a planting and felling programme in its woods this winter; and what is its scope?

The planting programme of the Forestry Commissioners as planned for the current season is 25,000 acres. The rate of felling State woods is being accelerated, but it is undesirable to publish details.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what steps they are taking to ensure the re-planting of all private woods felled during the war?

While it is desirable that woodlands exploited during the war should be re-planted and the Forestry Commissioners have the matter under review, it is premature at this stage to decide upon definite schemes.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of light and heavy oil, respectively, produced from British coal during 1939; and how these amounts were divided among the various processes?

I regret that it is not in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in his proposals regarding old age pensions for persons between the ages of 65 to 70 years, he will include crofters in Scotland in that age group, keeping in view the denuding of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland of the younger members of their population and the consequent increase in the hardships and distress to which the crofters are exposed; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

The new Pensions Bill provides for the lowering of the age at which insured women and the wives of insured men who have attained 65 may become entitled to old age pensions and for supplementary pensions in cases of need to old age pensioners over the age of 65 and widow pensioners over the age of 60. Crofters between the ages of 65 and 70 who have the necessary insurance qualifications, and their wives, will benefit under the new provisions, but the ages at which men as a class may qualify for pensions under the Contributory Pensions and Old Age Pensions Acts will remain unaffected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, owing to the presence of evacuees and civil servants in many summer and seaside resorts, he will take steps to abrogate, for the time being, the overcrowding provision of the Housing Act of 1935?

Where those provisions of the Act of 1935 under which overcrowding is a statutory offence are operative, they may be temporarily relaxed in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the local authority. Accordingly the necessity for the action suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend would not appear to arise.