asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the urgency and necessity of providing third-class sleeping accommodation on the boat trains to and from Stranraer; and whether he will have such accommodation made available at the earliest possible moment in the interests of travellers, both military and civilian, who desire such travelling facilities?

I am advised that there is insufficient demand for third-class sleeping accommodation to justify the attachment of a third-class sleeping car, more especially as its inclusion would often make it necessary to divide the train. A car was provided during the Christmas holidays, but on only one night was it anything like fully occupied.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will communicate with traffic commissioners asking them to take full account of the black-out conditions and the operation of the 20-mile per hour speed limit, when reviewing public service vehicle schedules?

The Regional Transport Commissioners already have this matter under review.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that older boys who have been evacuated cost more to their hosts than younger children; and whether he will, therefore, make an increased allowance for these cases?

Billeting allowances in respect of school children of 16 years and upwards were increased to 10s. 6d. per week last October, and as was stated in the reply to the right hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Greenwood) on 15th February, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy, the billeting allowances in respect of school children who have attained the age of 14 will also be increased to 10s. 6d. per week from the 2nd March.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the small canvas bag provided with the civilian duty respirator is the best means of protecting the respirator from accidental injury and especially damage from damp; and whether, as opportunity offers, he will replace it by a sturdier and more convenient container?

Yes, Sir. I am satisfied that the haversack provided is suitable for this respirator, which is not easily damaged and will not be affected by a moderate amount of damp. I could not justify the expense of replacing the present haversacks before they wear out.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in some districts the local authorities have not yet made satisfactory arrangements for the decontamination of civilian clothing; and whether he is taking steps to ensure that such facilities are provided in all districts at an early date?

Adequate provision for the decontamination of ordinary clothing has in fact been made in a number of districts, but I am aware that some difficulties have been experienced by local authorities in making arrangements for the purpose, in conjunction with laundries, on the basis of the scheme recommended by my Department in August last, and I am looking into the matter further.

asked the Prime Minister whether any of the nations who passed the resolution on Finland at the League of Nations Assembly in December have, apart from France and Great Britain, given practical assistance to Finland with war material; and, if so, whether he can give details?

I understand that war material from Sweden has been sent to Finland; but no details of this are at my disposal.

asked the Postmaster-General why, when the February telephone directories were being distributed in the London area, the old volumes were not collected at the same time; whether he has any estimate of the value of these volumes as waste paper; and whether, in view of the urgent need to eliminate waste, he will see that in future greater care is taken in this respect by his Department?

All reasonable steps are taken, both in the London area and elsewhere, to collect as many old telephone directories as possible when the new directories are delivered; and special attention has been given to this matter during the war. Some 85 per cent. of the old copies were recovered when the November issue of the London directory was made, representing about 1,125 tons of paper. Steps are being taken to secure an even greater number of returns. The record of the number of old copies recovered in February is, however, not yet complete.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how much it would cost, both by way of initial subscription and by expense in maintenance, to participate in the World's Fair in New York in 1940?

Precise plans for participation by His Majesty's Government in the New York World's Fair, 1940, have not yet been finally determined, but I anticipate that the total cost, including maintenance, will be between £50,000 and £60,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount paid out to farmers who have ploughed up their land under the bonus scheme of £2 per acre, and the amount still outstanding?

The amount paid to date in respect of land ploughed up is approximately £486,000. A number of cases under examination represents another £50,000. It is not possible to estimate the amount of land already ploughed in respect of which certificates have not yet been received from county executive committees, and on which, therefore, payment has not yet been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the delay in the payment in certain cases of the subsidy due to farmers who have ploughed up their land after having been encouraged to do so by the Government, and of the hardship caused especially to small farmers; and whether he will make a statement as to how long a farmer is likely in future to have to wait before receiving payment?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 22nd February to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether life-saving appliances are now available to all persons serving in the ships of the Royal Navy?

Life-saving appliances are now available to all persons serving in ships of the Royal Navy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the experiments with the flotanet life-saving appliance have now been completed; and whether he can state the conclusions reached?

Trials of the flotanet life-saving appliance have been carried out at sea, but further trials under more severe weather conditions are considered necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider extending to dependants in the home county districts where the cost of living is equally high, the 6d. a day extra allowance given to Naval and Marinedependants living in the London postal area?

I would refer by hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War gave to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 21st February. I am sending him a copy of the reply.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether naval pensioners called up for war service and serving in His Majesty's ships, who have qualified professionally and passed educationally for ratings higher than that which they held on being discharged to pension, are eligible for advancement in rating although serving as pensioners?

Yes, Sir. Naval pensioners called up for war service are eligible for advancement to higher rating for the period of hostilities.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, since the Government have fixed the compensation of the railways at the average net revenue for the three years 1935, 1936 and 1937, the same principle will now be adopted for the same three years in calculating compensation for requisitioned hotels?

The two cases cannot be regarded as comparable, and the answer is accordingly in the negative.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can give any information about the compound mash for poultry being offered by the big milling combines; of what it is composed; and what is its price?

My information is that there is no standard poultry mash offered by all the large millers. In the circumstances perhaps my hon. Friend will let me have further particulars of what he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Food (1) whether he is aware of the com- position of the Monmouth Borough Food Control Committee; whether any of the members or their wives are registered as food retailers or catering establishments; and whether there is any working-class, trade union or Labour movement representation on the committee;(2) whether he is aware of the composition of the Monmouth Rural District Council Food Control Committee; whether any of the members or their wives are registered as food retailers or catering establishments; and whether there is any working-class, trade union or Labour movement representation on the committee?

The answer to the first part of both Questions is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I am not aware that any member of these committees (other than the trade members) is carrying on, or actively engaged in, the business of a trader, in food or foodstuffs. If the hon. Member has any information to the contrary and will send me particulars, I will make inquiries.With regard to the last part of the Questions, the membership of food control committees as laid down in Article 2 of the Food Control Committees (Constitution) Order, 1939, is intended to provide for the representation of all classes of persons within the area of each committee. I am now considering the working of this system in the light of experience, including the point to which the hon. Member refers.