asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will arrange that petrol rations for farm-tractors and machinery can be taken up over the season and not month by month as weather conditions in January prevented the petrol allowed being utilised though the land work involved will now have to be caught up in the later months?

The first issue of coupons for this machinery was for the two months January and February. In view of the seasonal nature of the demand, it is desirable to maintain the existing system by which coupons hold good only for a particular period. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that if a farmer has not used the whole of his ration for the present period, this will not in any way prejudice his application for the ensuing period. I may add that applications for the next period can now be made and will be dealt with promptly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, whilst recognising the necessity for extending the pheasant shooting season from 1st February to 1st March, 1940, Members may have an assurance that this is not to be taken as a precedent for altering the laws of the close season for other game or a general alteration of the game laws?

No question of a general alteration of the game laws arises. The effect of the Defence (Close Seasons) Regulations, 1940, which were made under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, was merely to extend the season for shooting pheasants during this year, and no other relaxation of the game laws was involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the quantity of milk passing through the English Milk Marketing Board which was used for manufacture during the six months periods October, 1937, to March, 1938; April, 1938, to September, 1938; October, 1938, to March, 1939, and April, 1939, to September, 1939; and what percentage this constituted of the total

—	October, 1937–March, 1938.	April, 1938–September, 1938.	October 1938–March 1939.	April, 1939–September,1939.
Milk sold under contract for manufacture (gallons).	91,247,224	195,878,554	97,775,956	233,355,921
Percentage of Total Contract Milk during period.	22·9	38·7	23·8	42·7

asked the Postmaster-General what were the six counties in Scotland having the highest densities per 1,000 of the population of wireless-receiving licences as at 31st May, 1939, and what were the respective densities;

Scotland.

England and Wales.

Six Counties with the highest density.

Six counties with the lowest density.

Six Counties with the highest density.

Six counties with the lowest density.

Selkirkshire

…

336

Dumbartonshire

61

Cambridgshire

…

373

Brecon

…

…

48

Morayshire

…

209

Berwickshire

…

72

Hertfordshire

…

308

Anglesey

…

…

61

Midlothian

…

199

Ross and Cromarty

77

Caernarvonshire

…

265

Durham

…

…

92

Angus

…

…

190

Sutherland

…

102

Kent

…

…

261

Merionethshire

…

105

Roxburghshire

…

181

Bute

…

…

113

Warwickshire

…

259

Cardiganshire

…

118

Wigtownshire

…

179

Inverness-shire

…

117

Surrey

…

…

251

Middlesex

…

120

The postal areas, for which the numbers of wireless licences are available, do not coincide exactly with the administrative county areas (including county boroughs) whose populations, estimated on the basis of the 1931 census, have been adopted in making the calculations.

asked the Minister of Supply at what time the principal officers of his Department commence work at the present time; and whether, with a view to expediting business and increasing efficiency, he can arrange for more of the important members of the staff to be on duty by 9 o'clock?

When the normal opening hour for the Ministry of Supply was advanced to 9 o'clock, the principal officers of the Department adjusted their attendance accordingly. I have no reason to amount of milk which was handled by the Board in these periods, and the corresponding figures for the three months October, 1939, to December, 1939?

It is not considered to be in the national interest to publish during the war figures relating to the production and utilisation of milk. The other information for which the hon. Member asks is as follows:what were the six counties with the lowest densities and what were the densities; and what were the corresponding facts relative to England and Wales?

The particulars asked for are furnished below:believe that the number of principal officers on duty at 9 o'clock is inadequate, and I may add that these officers in general work very long hours.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that an organisation is at work in London for the purpose of enabling volunteers to proceed to Finland; and whether, since His Majesty's Government were advised by the law officers of the Crown in 1937 that the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870, makes it illegal for any British subject to take service in the forces of a foreign State engaged in warlike operations with a friendly State, and for any person to induce any British subject so to take service, notwithstanding the absence of a technical state of war, he will cause the persons concerned to be prosecuted?

His Majesty's Government have carefully considered this matter in the light of the resolution passed by the Assembly of the League of Nations on 14th December last on the subject of the provision of assistance to Finland. It would, in their view, be inconsistent with the spirit and with the terms of that resolution that British subjects who wish to volunteer for service in Finland should be hindered by the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act, seeing that that Act contains a power to grant dispensations. Accordingly, a general licence has been granted to British subjects to enlist in the Finnish forces, and a licence has been granted to the recruiting organisation which has been established in London.

asked the Home Secretary how far the Liverpool local authority has progressed in the provision of air-raid shelters in the congested areas of that city?

My right hon. Friend has written to the hon. Member informing him of the progress which is being made in this matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the unanimous judgment of the Court of Appeal in Foster versus Llanelly Steel Company, in which Lord Justice Mackinnon regretted the restrictive terms of the silicosis regulations made by the Home Department; and what action he proposes to take in the matter and when?

I will consider the position further, but I understand that an appeal to the House of Lords is contemplated in the case referred to.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the probable consequences of the decision of the House of Lords in the recent case of Pratt versus Cook, Son and Company (St. Paul's), Limited; and whether, in order to prevent widespread litigation of an unworthy character, the Government propose to introduce legislation to amend the provisions of the Truck Acts, with due regard to the best interests of employers and employed?

I am having the position examined, but I cannot at present express any opinion on the question of legislation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what total sums have been spent on State scholarships in each year from 1930–31 until the present year; whether the Board recognises varying maxima for grants for individual scholars according to the universities they join; and, if so, what the maxima are for the different universities?

The expenditure by the Board on State scholarships in each financial year from 1930–31 was as follows:

	£
1930–31	75,424
1931–32	83,684
1932–33	95,729
1933–34	106,145
1934–35	109,959
1935–36	116,417
1936–37	124,924
1937–38	129,324
1938–39	136,120

The number of scholarships annually available for award was increased in 1930 from 200 to 300, and in 1936 from 300 to 360.At each university there is a maximum for grants, that is, a sum which the Board, in agreement with the university, accepts as representing what a State scholar should receive from all sources to meet the ordinary expenses of living. The State scholarship maintenance grant may not exceed £100 a year, but subject to this the amount awarded is that sum which will bring the scholar's resources up to the maximum, i.e., the approved cost-of-living figure. I am sending my hon. Friend a table showing the maxima for grants at the different universities.

asked the Minister of Labour the areas in which women workers are especially needed; whether male unemployed are first given a preference; and whether it is the intention of his Department to arrange a policy of transfer and, if so, on what lines?

I am not at present in a position to specify any areas in which there are demands for woman labour beyond the supply likely to be available within daily travelling distance. The question of special transfer arrangements will be dealt with when the need arises. My hon. Friend will appreciate that there are many classes of work which are customarily performed by women, but where this is not the case it is the general policy to submit male unemployed workers so far as they are available and suitable for the particular vacancy.

asked the Minister of Food whether a decision has been reached as to the allocation of sugar to the brewers; and what percentage of their last year's supply such allocation represents?

The question of the allocation of sugar to brewers is under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make an announcement.

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 notional 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 Minister of Food whether he is aware that last week an Albrighton butcher sent twice to Shifnal, eight miles away, without securing any meat at all, and in all travelled 40 miles to try and secure meat for his 1,700 customers, who had to go without any meat at all during the week?

Over 6,000 lbs. of meat were allocated to the Albrighton Retailers' Buying Committee for distribution to the butchers of Albrighton and district during the week in question. Responsibility for delivery to the butchers' shops rests with the Ministry, so that there was no necessity for the butcher referred to in my hon. and gallant Friend's Question to travel 40 miles to procure his meat.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will supply the latest figures as to the home production, import, and estimated consumption of cheese in this country; and whether steps will be taken to increase the production of cheese and to keep its price to a level sufficiently low to enable it to be fully taken advantage of by the poorest sections of the population?

The publication of official statistics on agricultural products is governed by considerations of the national interest, and it is not considered advisable to release separate figures on home production and imports of cheese. The consumption of cheese in 1939 is estimated at approximately 185,000 tons or about the normal level. With regard to the second part of the Question, I am fully aware of the importance of cheese in the diet of the population. Steps have already been taken to ensure that prices are kept at a reasonable level and the matter is under constant review.

asked the Minister of Food whether the increase in the bacon ration was made consequent upon greater supplies being imported, or the failure of the consumer to purchase because of prohibitive prices, or both?

The bacon ration was increased because of the improved supply position after a satisfactory reserve had been accumulated.

asked the Minister of Food the cost of the salaries of officials and employés under the Meat Rationing Scheme in Shropshire?

The total annual salary cost of directly appointed officials and employés of the Ministry stationed in Shropshire and employed in connection with the scheme of livestock and meat control is £4,340. In addition there are county and district chairmen of auctioneers and certifying officers who are part-time officials appointed by the Ministry but remunerated through the Livestock Auctioneers' Pool into which fees are paid in respect of actual work performed. There are also livestock graders paid on a fee basis in respect of actual gradings, and a county accountant also remunerated on a fee basis.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what expenditure has been incurred by his Department in the provision of accommodation for the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Balliol College, Oxford; and the nature of the work necessitating such expenditure?

A sum of £320 has been expended on adjustments of electric lighting for office purposes, for blinds, and for office furnishings generally; the amount of the compensation to which the owners of the property are entitled under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, has not yet been determined. All expenditure incurred in respect of that portion of the premises occupied by the Institute will be recovered from that body.

asked the Minister of Information what is the average age and cost of British and German daily newspapers on sale at the present time in Amsterdam, Stockholm, Oslo, Madrid, Rome, and Athens, respectively?

Following is the reply:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what reason officers on the emergency list of the Royal Navy receive less pay when recalled for active service than officers of similar seniority on the retired list; and whether, in view of the fact that the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act apply to both, this anomaly can be rectified?

An officer on the retired list when called up no longer receives the retired pay which he had earned by his previous service. An officer of the emergency list has been permitted by the Admiralty to leave the Navy before he has qualified for retired pay. It cannot, therefore, be claimed that the rules by which officers from the retired list receive a bonus of 25 per cent. on their full pay is unequitable.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the long delays in the payment of wages for overtime worked by temporary members of the Admiralty staff, and that hardship is being caused thereby as they must depend on this money to meet the additional burdens placed on them by evacuation?

I regret that there has been some delay in settling claims for overtime owing to exceptional pressure on the section concerned. I trust that arrangements which are now being made will be successful in preventing such delays in future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any modification of the Donoughmore Constitution, which would adversely affect Indian interests in Ceylon, is contemplated in the revised constitution for that Colony?

I am not yet in a position to contemplate any particular modification of the present constitution. The interests of all communities in Ceylon which are affected by constitutional reforms will be fully considered before any conclusions are reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the numbers of European and African medical officers employed by the following Colonial Administrations: The Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast, and Nigeria, to the latest convenient date?

The numbers of medical officers, including those engaged in administrative and specialist duties, provided in the present establishments of the Governments of the Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast, and Nigeria, are as follow:

	European.	African.
Gambia	5	2
Sierra Leone	19	11
Gold Coast	72	12
Nigeria	116	19

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the numbers of European and African medical officers employed by the following Colonial administrations: Kenya, Tanganyika, and Nyasaland?

The numbers of medical officers (including those engaged in administrative and specialist duties) provided in the respective Estimates for 1940 are:

	European.	Asiatic.	African.
Kenya	53	28	—
Tanganyika	49	55	1
Nyasaland	18	10	—

These figures necessarily do not include the comparatively large numbers of Africans employed as hospital assistants, compounders, dressers, and similar capacities.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will issue an official intimation that, in order to save packing materials, persons shopping should adopt the cash and carry policy and use their own containers wherever possible; and that manufacturers packing goods in metal containers should confine the paper used to what is necessary to indicate the nature and quality of the goods.

Attention wasdrawn to the necessity for economies in the use of paper for packing in the announcement published in the Press on 9th February in explanation of the Control of Paper (No. 8) Order, 1940. The question of making a further appeal to the public on the lines suggested by the hon. Member is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Supply when he proposes to take steps to modify the Timber (No. 1) Order so as to prevent the splitting-up of timber and plywood orders into small delivery lots and so secure the advantage of charging 20 per cent. extra on the controlled price?

A draft of a revised provision of the kind referred to by the hon. Member is under consideration and, it is hoped, will be made effective at an early date.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the quantity of clean home-grown down wool commandeered at 20d. about July last; what was the total sum paid out; how much of this had been released during the three months November, December, and January; what was the gross amount received in payment; how much of the gross profit on these transactions has been paid to the Treasury; and into whose accounts have the deductions been paid?

No wool was requisitioned in July last. The stocks of wool of various kinds in the country have been taken over by the Ministry of Supply since the war began at prices calculated on the bases set out in the Control of Wool (No. 4) Order, the Control of Wool (No. 6) Order, and the Control of Wool (No. 9) Order. The compensation is being paid by the Wool Control of the Ministry of Supply, and the selling prices realised go into the accounts of the Wool Control. What profit, if any, these accounts will eventually show it is too early to judge. It would not be possible without the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of labour to give the particulars asked for as to the payments and receipts in connection with a particular variety of wool.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the fact that molasses are required for the making of good ensilage from grass crops, he will, with a view to improving the supply of livestock fodder in the country, make provision for molasses to be supplied to farmers for this purpose?

Arrangements have already been made which it is hoped will ensure that molasses are made available to farmers for ensilage purposes.

asked the Minister of Supply in connection with the visit of the French scientific delegation, what arrangements have been made for regular liaison between French scientific representatives and the Advisory Council on Scientific Research and Technical Development already set up under his auspices?

Regular liaison between the advisory council referred to and French scientific representatives is effected through the Mission Scientifique Franco-Brittanique which has a permanent secretary resident in London, who will shortly be located in the Ministry of Supply. The mission has contact with the whole of the French war-time scientific organisation. There is, in addition, a direct link between the Ministry of Supply and the French Ministère de l'Armement, which can be used by the advisory council for matters relating to scientific inventions, in the form of a Ministry of Supply officer who has been appointed liaison officer in the French Ministère and will shortly take up his duties in Paris.

asked the Minister of Supply how many meetings have been held to date of the Advisory Council on Scientific Research and Technical Development, set up under the auspices of his Ministry; what sub-committees of the council have been established; and with what membership?

One meeting of the advisory council has been held; further meetings have been arranged at two monthly intervals. Ten committees of the council have been established, but it would not be in the public interest to disclose either the titles or the membership of these committees.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the broadcast appeal of the director of wool supplies to women to knit woollen gloves and other woollen comforts for the Forces, for which there is a shortage of specialised machinery for their mass production, he will make available such woollen yarn as can be spared for this purpose free to recognised organisations of women who are anxious to give their services to help the armed Forces in this way but who cannot afford to purchase wool even at the wholesale prices allowed to the Red Cross?

I understand that a number of voluntary organisations make knitting wool available without payment to those of their members who are willing to produce knitted garments for the Forces.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by knitting parties all over the country in obtaining wool owing to the present system of control and that if wool was made available the output of comforts for the troops could be easily doubled; and whether he will look into this matter?

Large supplies of wool are made available by the Wool Control to spinners for the production of hand knitting yarns to be sold to recognised voluntary organisations engaged in knitting comforts for the Forces. The demand for hand knitting yarns, however, has been very heavy, and I am advised that the output is limited by the capacity of the spinning machinery available for their manufacture.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has considered the claims of Northern Ireland for additional war work in the form of shipbuilding, armaments, and other necessary requisites for the successful prosecution of the war; and whether he will, at the earliest possible moment, have additional provision made by the establishment of added facilities for this kind of work in order that work may be made available for the large number of unemployed who are willing and eager to do their full share in the different forms of war work for the defeat of the enemy?

Considerable orders for armaments and cotton textiles have been placed in Northern Ireland, and every opportunity is given to firms there to tender for supplies of clothing and textiles, thus providing work for those firms whose orders for flax material have largely fallen away. An Area Officer has been appointed for Northern Ireland, and an Area Advisory Committee and an Area Board are both in course of being set up to consider and report upon offers of capacity.Arrangements have also been made to despatch to Northern Ireland a representative sample of war stores of an engineering character in constant use by the Army, for which some of the smaller firms may wish to be considered as potential suppliers. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty that large orders for shipbuilding, armaments, and other naval requisites have been placed in Northern Ireland and that further contracts will follow.

asked the Minister of Transport what compensation is to be allowed by the railway companies to members of the travelling public the value of whose season tickets has been diminished owing to the suspension of railway services since the outbreak of war?

Season tickets are issued on conditions which free the companies from any liability in respect of a reduction in the frequency of services, and I am advised that it would not be feasible to grade the charges for such tickets according to the frequency of the services available.CROSS-CHANNEL TRAFFIC (CONDITIONS).

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the conditions prevailing in the cross-Channel journey between England and France; whether he is aware that on occasions people are left all night on boats with no mattresses, no blankets, or any other comforts; that they are not warned as to the conditions; and will he take steps to remedy the situation?

I am having inquiries made regarding the subject of my hon. and gallant Friend's complaint and will communicate with him as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport the position with regard to the arrangements for the continuance of motor transport, both for long and short distances; and whether he will give an assurance that careful attention will be paid to both the interests of existing transport companies, and the desires and needs of manufacturers?

The extent to which motor transport can be continued under war conditions must depend upon the fuel position. The war has created many new demands for road transport, and this in conjunction with the necessity for economising fuel has inevitably led to the transfer of a certain amount of traffic, and

Name of borough.				Year ended 31st March—
				1935.	1936.	1937.	1938.	1939.
				£	£	£	£	£
Burnley	…	…	…	—	4,000	6,000	7,650	7,000
Bolton	…	…	…	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000	20,000
Blackpool	…	…	…	9,000	9,000	6,000	8,000	11,000
Birkenhead	…	…	…	29,798	34,200	31,600	34,074	38,067
Stockport	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	7,000
Dudley	…	…	…	1,000	3,000	3,000	10,000	8,800
Wolverhampton		…	…	—	5,000	5,000	5,000	10,000
In the boroughs of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme there were no municipal transport undertakings.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the anomalous conditions existing amongst the officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps, in that certain officers of the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers have been appointed to a military hospital in their own district, with field rank, and are continuing their private practices in addition to performing their military duties, while other medical men of some years professional seniority and with higher professional qualifications have particularly of long-distance traffic, to alternative means of transport.As regards the second part of the Question, I can assure the hon. Member that while the primary consideration must be to use the fuel available for the most essential transport needs, the Regional Transport Commissioners do have regard to the desires and needs of manufacturers and, wherever possible, to the interests of existing providers of transport.

asked the Minister of Health the amounts contributed towards the relief of the local rates by the transport departments of the cities of Burnley, Bolton, Blackpool, Birkenhead, Stock-port, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Newcastle-under-Lyme, during the years 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, and 1939, respectively?

The amounts contributed in relief of local rates during certain years by the transport undertakings of the under mentioned boroughs were as shown in the table:been called away from their practices in other districts and appointed to the same hospital from the Territorial Army, or with emergency commissions as full-time junior officers; and what steps does he propose to take to remedy this state of affairs?

The officers referred to in the first half of the Question were selected in peace to fill certain specialist appointments in a war hospital in their own district on mobilisation. The appointments in question carry the rank of major, and the officers were selected by reason of their qualifications. The establishment of the hospital had to be completed by posting officers in lower ranks drawn from various parts of the country who had not been similarly earmarked for specialist duties. Every effort is made wherever possible to employ medical officers on duties in which full use is made of their particular qualifications, but it will be appreciated that they can only be given rank and pay appropriate to the post they are actually filling. All the officers in question are equally liable for full-time service. I will inquire into the question of private practice if my hon. and gallant Friend will let me know the hospital to which he refers.