asked the Home Secretary who are the chief officials in the county controller's department in the West Riding of York; what are their duties and the separate salaries paid to them; the total number of officials in this department and the cost to the State and to the local authortiy?

There is no separate controller's department in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The controller's organisation is part of the office of the clerk of the county council. The controller is a solicitor in that office and the chief officers of the county council and their staffs undertake Civil Defence work in addition to their ordinary duties. None of these officers receives any special or additional remuneration for Civil Defence purposes. At county headquarters, however, there are 14 persons of subordinate grade specially engaged or seconded for air-raid precautions whose total salaries amount to £2,377 a year on which the Exchequer pays grant at the rate laid down in the Civil Defence Acts. In addition to headquarters staff there is a paid organiser for each of the 16 sub-areas into which the West Riding has been divided for Civil Defence purposes, at a salary varying from £300–£500 a year, each with a small office staff. The salaries of these officers and their staffs also attracts Exchequer grant. The county control itself is manned continuously by members of the county council's staff, all of whom give their services voluntarily and who concurrently perform their normal duties.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there are any orders or regulations issued to prohibit officers travelling in public vehicles, petrol and trolley omnibuses, or tramcars in the Essex area; and whether any extra allowance is made to officers for the use of taximeter-cabs?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative, and the second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the inquiry into the question of service dependants' allowances is completed; and whether he will state the nature of the matters considered by the committee of inquiry, and the probable date of a report?

I would ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of Army Estimates, when my right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make a statement on the subjec.

asked the Secretary of tate for War the reasons for insisting on the signature of a complete surname to a cable or telegram sent abroad; whether he is aware that the additional expense is considerable and that the existence of a signature is no guarantee of the authenticity of the cable or telegram; and will he modify this regulation?

It is necessary, for censorship purposes, that the name of the sender should appear, and I regret that it is not practicable to alter the regulation.

asked the Secretary of State for War what quantities of rationed foods are allocated daily or weekly to prisoners of war and interned enemy aliens, and how these quantities compare with those permitted to the general population of the country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) on 30th January and to my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox) on Monday last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that no departmental age-bar will prevent use being made of the services of any man or woman whose qualifications may be of service to the nation's war effort?

I do not know of any general departmental rule fixing an age limit for temporary appointments. My hon. Friend will, however, appreciate that for certain posts the interests of efficiency may require an age limit; and that, as between candidates of otherwise equal qualifications the younger may be chosen as being better able physically to endure the strain of present exacting conditions.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the divisional food officer for the southern division receives the salary of £1,000 per annum, is in receipt of a pension of £633 per annum from the India Office, and whether he will consider appointing to this post a qualified person not in receipt of an alternative income?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part I see no reason to reconsider this appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that, while intimation of the Royal visit to Greenock was made to representatives of English newspapers, the "Greenock Telegraph" received no notification; that this failure to be notified caused great inconvenience to that newspaper; whether he will ascertain the cause of this remissness; and what steps he intends to take to ensure the adequate recording by local newspapers of local events of importance during the war emergency?

I understand that permits to allow representatives to be present during the Royal visits in Greenock on 27th February were sent to the "Greenock Telegraph" on Monday, 26th February. Particulars of the visits were communicated to them on the same date. I regret any inconvenience suffered by the Press; but the hon. and learned Member will appreciate that arrangements for the visits in question had to be made under conditions of great secrecy; and that the degree of advance notice usual under ordinary circumstances was impossible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give an assurance that the leper found amongst the prisoners taken from the "Altmark" has been properly segregated; and that no expense will be spared to secure proper treatment?

I am informed that this patient was taken at once to hospital and properly isolated. The opinion of the experts who carried out a clinical examination and the standard tests is that he is suffering not from leprosy but from dermatitis. He is receiving all necessary treatment in hospital.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is prepared to postpone the rationing of meat from 11th March?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that large numbers of ill-conditioned sheep are being sent to the markets because of a shortage of feeding-stuffs; and if such sheep are being accepted for human consumption by the graders?

I am aware that certain numbers of unfinished sheep are being marketed by farmers owing to shortage of fodder. Provided that the certifying authority at the collecting centre is satisfied that the local fodder situation is such that the sheep could not be kept on for further feeding they are purchased for slaughter. The animals, though lean, are nevertheless quite suitable for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the prohibition against the sale of Scottish ware potatoes in England and the likelihood of a large surplus of such potatoes this year, he will take steps to provide small potato-drying factories at Perth, Dundee and Cupar, the centres of the chief potato-growing areas in Scotland, where also the largest demands for cattle food exist?

No prohibition exists against the sale of Scottish ware potatoes in England and I have under consideration the amendment of the price schedules in the Potatoes (1939 Crop) (Control) Order, 1940, so as to encourage a freer flow of potatoes from Scotland to England. I will certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion in the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that fish supplies from the Ayrshire and Argyllshire fishing fleet have to be transported to South Shields and centres further South, for canning purposes; that there is an excellent factory in the town of Maybole that could be easily converted to such a purpose; and will he have the matter investigated with a view to conserving these valuable food supplies?

I am aware of the facts as stated in the first part of the Question, but have no reason to think that any herring landed by this fishing fleet are being wasted for want of nearer canning facilities. In regard to the latter part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which were given to Questions on this subject by the hon. and learned Member for Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson) on 12th December and 24thJanuary last.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that sheep's head now costs 8d., and that it is sold without the tongue in many instances, and as this is a frequent form of diet in many households, whether he will go into the question with a view to reduction in the cost?

I am aware that the maximum retail price for sheep's head is at present 8d. each. It was the intention that the sheep's head should be sold with the tongue and this is the usual practice. An early opportunity will be taken of removing any ambiguity on the point in the maximum price schedules.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can make any statement on the proposed cold storage of eggs in the spring so as to be prepared to counteract to some extent the high prices in the autumn and winter?

This question is being actively considered, but I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory condition of much of the meat which is at present offered to butchers from the slaughtering centres operating under his auspices; and whether he can take steps to enforce more rigorous inspection of the meat before it is issued?

I am not aware of the conditions referred to in the first part of the Question. Every effort is being made to ensure that the meat offered to butchers from the selected slaughterhouses shall be in a satisfactory condition. The inspection at the slaughterhouses is being continued as in peace-time by the officers of the local authorities. If my hon. Friend has information of any cases of the kind he mentions and will send me particulars I will have them investigated.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that although examined by the inspector of the Ministry on the morning of Tuesday, 16th January, 34 pigs owned by Mr. Raymond Pick, and consigned on instructions to the slaughter-house of the Peterborough Co-operative Society, were condemned, although no condemnation note had been sent, and that 47 were classified as rejects, and only paid for at 3d. per pound although prior to control by the Ministry they would have made a better price; and what steps he is taking to see that producers receive satisfactory prices for their produce?

I am aware of the circumstances of this case. I understand that the need to dispose of these pigs without giving the usual 12 days' notice arose on account of a suspected outbreak of swine fever. In such circumstances arrangements are made for the pigs to be consigned direct to a slaughter-house and payment is made on a dead-weight basis for such carcases as are found to be fit for human consumption. The condemnation note in respect of the 34 pigs condemned was signed by the meat and food inspector of Peterborough. Of the pigs which were not condemned the car-cases of 47 weighed only about 25–35 lbs. each and were fit only for use for manufacturing purposes, and the price paid for these carcases was in accordance with their value for that purpose. I cannot agree that the prices paid for pigs by my Department are unremunerative to producers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a medical practitioner, a telephone subscriber, who has volunteered for National Service, is unable to cancel his contract with the Post Office, whereas, in the case of a subscriber who has been conscripted for service the rental due for the unexpired portion of the agreement is remited; and whether this anomaly may be rectified?

As indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) on 7th February, the concession in regard to premature termination of telephone agreements is available to all subscribers renting a single telephone line, who join any branch of the fighting Forces. No discrimination is made between volunteers and those who have been conscripted.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in respect of the Government's proposed broadcasting relay service by telephone; when such service will be available to the public; and whether he is now in a position to give particulars of the proposed charges to be made to telephone subscribers for the instalation and maintenance of the necessary additional apparatus?

On 16th June, 1939, I gave the House some details of a scheme for the distribution of broadcast programmes over telephone lines; and I expressed the hope that my Department would be able to take the first step by introducing such a service about the end of the year in Central London and in Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester. As the House is aware, the outbreak of war resulted in heavy demands being made on the telephone service for defence purposes, while at the same time many members of the engineering staff were withdrawn for service with the Forces. The preparations for the new wire broadcasting service were necessarily delayed, and the question arose whether it would be desirable to proceed with the scheme or to postpone it. After full consideration of this question in all its aspects, the Government has reached the conclusion that the advantages likely to be derived from the introduction and development of the service under present conditions would not be sufficient to justify the diversion of capital and skilled labour from other war-time activities. It has been decided, therefore, to postpone the introduction of the service until the end of the war.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the present number of widows and orphans receiving pensions on account of lives lost in the sinking of mercantile vessels?

Pensions are in payment to 247 widows of men who have lost their lives in the sinking of mercantile vessels. In addition 364 allowances are in payment in respect of the children of these widows and eight pensions in respect of total orphans.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the kinds of liabilities taken into consideration by his War Service Grants Advisory Committee in determining amounts of hardship grants to families of service men whose normal allowances are deemed inadequate; and whether any specific sum is allowed for the maintenance of a wife, child or other dependant, after the liabilities have been met, and in cases where the maximum grants are not in issue?

The liabilities taken into account may include rent, rates, mortgage charges, educational expenses, insurance and hire purchase. Awards are made for the purpose of removing "serious hardship" as evidenced by marked discrepancy between the sum available for maintenance per head during service, after the standing commitments have been met, and that available before service. No specific sum is assigned for the maintenance of a wife, child or other dependant.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the house of Mr. E. F. Gilson, Doone, Chelmsford Road, Essex, was damaged by a barrage-balloon on 25th November, 1939; that Mr. Gilson wrote to the Air Ministry on the subject on 1st December, 1939; that he received an acknowledgment, Reference F.3·9., but since then he has received no compensation; and whether he will expedite the payment due to Mr. Gilson for the repairs to his house?

The repairs to this house have been completed and authority has been given for the payment of the bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is able to make a statement as to the awards of decorations for gallantly to members of the Royal Air Force?

A preliminary examination of this matter has been made and it is now proposed to seek the advice of the co-ordinating Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals in time of War.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he considered the petition from the Federation of Citizens Associations in Kingston, Jamaica, sent him last summer; and whether he was able to recommend any kind of political change to meet the views of the petitioners?

Consideration of the petition was postponed until the recommendations of the West India Royal Commission were available. As the hon. Member is aware, certain pf the recommendations of the Royal Commission are concerned with constitutional development in the West Indian Colonies, and the desirability of making any change in the political constitution of Jamaica will now be further examined in the light of those recommendations and other relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make inquiries concerning the imprisonment at Acre for investigation of Eri Jabotinsky, a Palestinian citizen, especially as to how long the investigation will take; and whether he will assure the House that this investigation will not result in indefinite internment without charge or trial?

Eri Jabotinsky is at present detained, on grounds of public security, under Regulation 15B of the Palestine Defence Regulations. If the necessary evidence is forthcoming, he will be prosecuted; I cannot give any indication as to how long the High Commissioner may think it necessary to prolong his detention.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider commemorating one of our country's greatest admirals by naming one of the new battleships the "Blake"?

I can assure the hon. Member that the possibility of naming one of His Majesty's ships after this great sea captain will be, borne in mind when names for new ships are being considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has now made plans for the utilisation of the Caird shipyard, Greenock?

I regret that I can hold out no hope of the re-opening of yards which like the yard to which the hon. Member refers have been almost totally dismantled.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the recent increase in demurrage charges for railway wagons amounts in Warrington and district to approximately 500 per cent. as compared with the corresponding period last year; what is the reason for such increase; and whether, in view of the hard ship involved on coal distributors and purchasers in such area, he will take steps to reduce the amount of such demurrage charge?

My attention had not previously been drawn to the effect which my hon. and learned Friend alleges has been produced by the operation of the demurrage regulations in Warrington and district. I may remind him that I have already given an assurance that these regulations will be administered with due regard to any genuine difficulties which traders may have in giving strict compliance, provided they can show that they have taken all reasonable steps to adjust themselves to the needs of the situation. I should add that the Railway Executive Committee are, at my request, considering whether some relief can be given to traders whose liability for demurrage charges arose during the recent exceptional weather conditions and may have been due to such conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in consultation with the Home Office, arrangements can be made whereby chief constables of various counties shall be instructed that a uniform system of lighting level crossing gates should be instituted throughout the country, and that variations of this type of warning light should not be left to the discretion of the local police?

The responsibility for the lighting of public road level crossing gates rests primarily with the railway companies. The usual type of warning light is a red lamp fixed on the gates, and the companies have been requested to maintain, or adopt, such lamps, suitably dimmed to comply with the lighting restrictions. In addition, the companies maintain crossing gates in as conspicuous condition as is practicable, and reflectors are added in many cases.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can make a statement on the working of the special coal transport scheme in view of the fact that large numbers of householders are still unable to obtain supplies?

The scheme which I outlined in my statement on 21st February is working to schedule. Up to last night 150 special trains had been despatched from the collieries. With the improvement in the weather there has been a very large increase in the number of wagons of coal cleared from colliery sidings, and, so far as the railways are concerned, the coal situation is generally normal, except for some congestion at the exchange points for the Southern Railway.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any safety classes for adults employed in coal mines are held in County Durham; and, if not, whether he will take active steps to see that they are commenced?

No adult safety classes are at present held in County Durham, but I understand that the county education committee would be very ready to consider the provision of classes if there was a sufficient demand for them.

asked the Prime Minister whether his undertaking to press the Japanese Government to, get on with the work of establishing order in China indicates any change of the policy of His Majesty's Government towards the Sino-Japanese war and an approval of Japanese aggression?

No Sir. The undertaking in question referred to the suppression of gambling houses and similar establishments in the western area of Shanghai.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government, in favouring pressure on Japan to re-establish order in China, took into consideration the fact that order in China was primarily disturbed by the Japanese; and whether such a recommendation on his part to Japan implies a departure from the attitude of the British Government hitherto on the war in China?

If the hon. Member will refer to the reply made to-day to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on the same subject, he will observe that the purport of the statement made on 28th February referred solely to the maintenance of law and order in the districts adjoining the International Settlement at Shanghai. There has been no change in the policy of His Majesty's Government, which remains as stated in the House on 24th and 31st January in answer to Questions put by the hon. Members for Forest of Dean (Mr. Price) and Stourbridge respectively.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information about an offer by Germany to Rumania to guarantee their Rumanian frontiers in return for increased oil sales to Germany and partial demobilisation of the Rumanian army?

No, Sir.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many hotels requisitioned by his Department in Cheltenham are still unoccupied; and whether it is his intention to release all or any of them in the near future?

Three hotels requisitioned by my Department in Cheltenham are unoccupied. They are still required for the purpose for which they were acquired and I regret that I see no prospect of being able to release them in the near future.