asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the approximate increase in the number and proportion of agricultural workers in work since the outbreak of war?

I regret that figures are not available which would enable me to give my hon. and gallant Friend the information for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent arrangements have been made by County War Agricultural Committees to provide essential supplies for farmers in their areas on a co-operative basis with a view to reducing costs?

The functions of the County War Agricultural Committees are mainly to supervise and direct locally the carrying out of the food production campaign, and I do not think it would be desirable for them to engage in business in competition with existing traders and the numerous farmers' co-operative societies already in existence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the desirability of rapidly increasing the fertility of the land at the present time, he will consider an extension of the scheme for supplying cheap fertilisers to agriculture; whether his attention has been drawn to recent increases in the cost of fertilising material; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure their adequate use in the national interest?

I have every reason to believe that fertilisers will be used to the full extent of the available supplies and I am employing all available methods of publicity to ensure that this is done. I am aware that some increases, resulting from higher freights and other causes due to the war, have taken place in the cost of fertilisers but I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend of the Government's assurance that prices will be fixed to ensure to farmers a reasonable return on their crops having regard to costs of production. In these circumstances I do not as at present advised consider it necessary to extend the scope of the Land Fertility Scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as the requisition price of raw home-grown wool is approximately 10d. a pound, including packing and delivery, he is satisfied that the price of 9s. 4d. a pound of coloured knitting wool to the public is justified?

Knitting yarn of the qualities most commonly used, is a price regulated article under the Prices of Goods Act and if my hon. Friend has in mind any particular cases in which the price of knitting yarn appears to have been raised unduly since the war began, I would ask him to report them to the proper price regulation committee who will investigate them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the position with regard to the Smallbrook Spinning Company of Shaw; and whether it is proposed to break up this mill, in view of the need for increased cotton exports?

I understand that this mill was sold by the Spindles Board a week ago, but that, before selling it, the board took steps to satisfy themselves that there was no reasonable prospect of its being used again as a cotton spinning mill and had offered to firms in the industry all the machinery likely to be of further use.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that all temporary posts in Government Departments are open to members of both sexes equally except where adequate and publicly-announced reasons exist to the contrary, as was agreed by the joint committee on women's questions in 1934?

The procedure for formal reservation of posts to one sex or the other recommended by the committee referred to is not in my opinion appropriate to the diverse temporary appointments often of an urgent character which have to be made in war time. I can, however, give an assurance that the accepted policy of a "fair field and no favour" as between the sexes covers temporary as well as permanent posts, and is operated in the spirit of the committee's recommendations.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that alarm exists amongst civil servants in the Ministry at the dismissal of officers on unspecified grounds without charges against them being made; whether he can assure the House that this will not be repeated, and that Army officers loaned to the service of his Department will enjoy the same rights as civil servants in the matter of adverse reports, of disciplinary action?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As to the second part, I would remind my hon. Friend that the same conditions are not applicable to both civil servants and Army officers.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he has taken to give a share of Government contracts to the Gilbertson works at Pontardawe and district, in the tin and sheet mills, also steel works, where a large number of skilled workers have been idle for a considerable time; and will he take immediate action to restart these works?

The productive capacity of Messrs. Richard Thomas and Company, who own the Gilbertson works at Pontardawe and other extensive plant elsewhere is well known to the Ministry of Supply, and I can assure the hon. Member that their services are being utilised to the fullest possible extent for Government orders.

asked the Minister of Supply what number of Government contracts in Glamorgan has been advertised since the beginning of 1939, to date; whether all tenders have been open to local contractors and, if not, why; will he state why building and general contractors in the Neath and Swansea Valley areas are not given an opportunity to make use of their skilled workmen who are now idle; and will he take steps to give equal treatment to areas which are badly hit by unemployment?

It is not the practice of the Ministry of Supply to advertise for tenders but to invite quotations by tender from firms noted on the lists maintained by the Department for that purpose. Contractors in Glamorgan who are noted on the Department's lists are accorded the same opportunities as firms in other areas to quote for supplies as occasions arise. The position with regard to building contracts in South Wales was dealt with in the answer given to a Question by the hon. Member on 31st January last.

asked the Minister of Supply what progress is being made with the aluminium works at Resolven; when they are likely to start producing; and whether he is taking steps for the extension of these works in order to meet the present demands of the country?

I am informed that progress is being made with the plant and that it is hoped to commence production towards the end of the year. Consideration is being given to further proposals for additional production in South Wales.

asked (1) the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. J. Murphy, of 66, Lime Grove, W.12, who was sent by the Fulham Employment Exchange to the London Passenger Transport Board to seek employment, on 1st March, 1940, was refused engagement, although otherwise acceptable, on the ground that he was Irish, his green card being marked by the board, "not suitable being Irish"; and what steps he will take to prevent discrimination of this kind being practised against men lawfully resident in this country and liable to military service in its defence;(2) the Minister of Transport, whether he is aware that Mr. J. Murphy, of 66, Lime Grove, W.12, who applied to the London Passenger Transport Board for employment on 1st March, 1940, was refused engagement, although otherwise acceptable, on the-ground that he was Irish; and whether he will consult with the board with a view to preventing future discrimination against Irishmen lawfully resident in this country?

I have been asked to reply. The Board must obviously, in present circumstances, examine very closely the credentials of all applicants for employment. The applicant in question was not refused employment because he is Irish and the board regret that the marking of his card should have given the impression that they are discriminating against Irishmen, for such is not the case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many elementary schools in Great Britain are now being used for emergency purposes, and are therefore not available in whole, or in part, for educational purposes?

According to the returns received from local education authorities in January the number of school buildings in evacuation and neutral areas in England and Wales which were wholly or partly in use for other services at the beginning of the current school term was as follows. Since that date a large number of the schools have been returned to educational use.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that many school buildings have been structurally altered to secure decontamination centres and other air-raid precautions services; and whether, in view of the reopening of the schools for educational purposes, he will encourage local authorities, whenever possible, to transfer these decontamination and air-raid precautions centres to other suitable sites, unless able to serve all needs of the school?

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the affirmative. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Board's circular of 7th February and of a circular issued by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security which deal fully with this matter.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that there is an acute shortage of house coal for sale in Portsmouth; and what steps he is taking to relieve this situation?

I am aware that there have been shortages in certain parts of the town, but local arrangements are being made to meet the immediate situation, and I understand that further supplies have been arranged for.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to provide free travelling facilities for members of His Majesty's forces stationed in this country when proceeding home on leave?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given to the hon. Members for Rotherham (Mr. Dobbie) and Rothwell (Mr. Lunn) on 14th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what competent military authority approved sleeping quarters for the Auxiliary Territorial Service girls billeted at Aldermaston, Berkshire; is he aware that each volunteer was provided with only a bed-board, palliasse, bolster and blankets and only outside washing and lavatory accommodation; whether conditions have now been improved in the sick room and adequate attention and nursing provided for those who are ill; and whether he will see that women welfare officers are appointed in each command to inspect the social conditions at isolated Auxiliary Territorial Service detachments and to report to their county welfare committees outside the purview of War Office regulations?

At Aldermaston, members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service sleep on hospital beds with mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets. There is washing and lavatory accommodation indoors, as well as hutted baths which have lately been erected. Special sick quarters have been provided and there is a resident medical officer and five Voluntary Aid Detachment members. Women welfare officers have been appointed in the Southern Command.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any further statement to make respecting prospective increases in allowances to soldiers' dependants; and whether he will consider extending the special allowance of 6d. per day now granted, as in the last war, because of the incidence of war to soldiers' wives living in the London postal area also to soldiers' wives living in areas where rent is approximately as high as in London?

As regards the first part of the Question, my right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement on the subject of dependants' allowances in introducing Army Estimates to-morrow. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 21st February last.

asked the Minister of Health the number of disabled ex-service men who are known to be voluntary contributors to the National Health and Pensions Schemes; the numbers of disabled ex-service men who have lapsed from benefit under the scheme and are availing themselves of the privilege of free medical benefit under the Navy, Army and Air Force Insurance Fund; and the numbers admitted to title to the benefit during 1938 and 1939?

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. As regards the second and third parts, the number of disabled ex-service men in receipt of free medical benefit is 11,204, or whom 1,061 were admitted to benefit in 1938 and 867 in 1939.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the serious increase during the last few weeks in the number of claims for sickness benefits on approved societies, it is proposed to restore the services of regional medical officers?

Yes, Sir. A partial service is being provided from to-day and all approved societies are being informed accordingly.

asked the Minister of Health the medical benefit regulations under which approval has been given by him to schemes submitted to him and purporting to protect practices?

The regulations in question are regulations 3 and 23 of the National Health Insurance (Medical Benefit) Regulations, 1936, and regulation 15 of the same regulations as amended by the National Health Insurance (Medical Benefit) Amendment Regulations (No. 4), 1939.

asked the Minister of Health who has arranged for four or five war emergency committees based on the British Medical Association divisions in the county of Kent, whether he is aware that these committees are controlled by a committee hitherto unknown, and now called the branch co-ordinating committee; what are the functions of this branch co-ordinating committee; is it this co-ordinating committee, or the War Emergency Committee which disburses the Government funds for the treatment of unaccompanied evacuated children; and is it proposed to make any change?

I understand that in a number of areas, including the county of Kent, the Central Medical War Committee have arranged for the appointment of co-ordinating committees for the purpose of co-ordinating the war services of the local medical war committees, and that the fund for the remuneration of practitioners for the treatment of unaccompanied evacuated children is administered through the co-ordinating committee so appointed in Kent. I see no reason for suggesting any modification of the arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health why, on the outbreak of war, the fee allowed to medical practitioners for the notification of infectious diseases was reduced to less than half; and whether any similar reductions were made in other branches of the health services?

I think my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. No alteration has been made in the fee payable in respect of any infectious disease made notifiable by the Public Health Acts. When at the outbreak of war new regulations were made requiring the notification of measles and whooping cough the fee for the notification of these diseases was fixed at one shilling, which appeared to me to be adequate having regard to the number of notifications likely to be given. No similar question has arisen in regard to other health services.

asked the Minister of Health who is the acting secretary of the Central Medical War Committee; whether he is engaged whole-time in connection with the committee's work; and what he receives, and has so far received by way of remuneration, emoluments, or expenses for his services?

Dr. G. C. Anderson, secretary of the British Medical Association, acts as secretary to the Central Medical War Committee. He is not engaged whole-time on the committee's work and is not in receipt of any remuneration from public funds for his services.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in view of the continued issue of inaccurate claims by Germany as to the naval and military losses of herself and the Allies since the war began and the confusion which this causes in some neutral countries, he can arrange for the issue of a monthly White Paper containing an accurate and concise list of Allied losses to a specific date, together with German losses, so far as they have been established during the same period?

A short statement is issued weekly by the Admiralty giving losses of British, Allied and neutral merchant ships. Other losses are dealt with in periodical statements by the Ministers concerned.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that 82 pigs consigned under the scheme of control, on 17th January, to Messrs. Speechley and Winston Smith's slaughter-houses, Cambridge, and 19 sows consigned to Mr. A. C. Lemon, of Ely, on 16th January, all the property of Mr. Raymond Pick, of Deeping St. Nicholas, Spalding, have not yet been paid for by the Ministry; and whether similar delays in payment are general?

I am informed that payment in respect of the pigs referred to in the Question was made on 28th February. I regret the delay in the making of payment for these pigs which was attributable to the inevitable difficulties experienced in introducing so far-reaching a scheme of control, which were enhanced by delays in the transmission of documents owing to the bad weather. Similar delays are not general.

asked the Minister of Food what representations he has received from butchers relative to the date of the commencement of rationing; and whether, as a result of such representations, he is contemplating any alterations of the date?

No representations were received from the national organisations of butchers about the date for meat rationing since the announcement of that date. I know of no reason why the date should have been postponed.

asked the Minister of Food why, during last week-end, it was impossible to buy imported beef in many parts of the country?

The supply of imported beef available for civilian consumption in this country is dependent to a large extent on the requirements of the fighting services and the front-line troops of the French Army, which requirements consist almost entirely of imported beef. The supplies now available for the civilian population, therefore, include a much smaller proportion of imported beef than before the war. This accounted for the shortage of imported beef at the end of the week in question.

asked the Minister of Food which organisation in the list of organisations consulted in connection with future milk price policy, represents those who use milk for manufacturing purposes?

In the consultations which are taking place on the subject of the future policy in connection with milk prices, the interests of users of milk for manufacturing purposes are represented by the distributors' organisations of which a list was given in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend's Question of 5th March. I would add that the Central Milk Distributive Committee's representatives at the consultations included members of the National Association of Creamery Proprietors.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the request made to him by the industrial section of the Greenock Trades Council and Labour Party for representation on the local food committees; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

Yes, Sir, the representations of the industrial section of the Greenock Trades Council and Labour Party, together with other similar representations, have received consideration. I have decided to amend the Food Control Committees (Constitution) Order, 1939, so as to provide that each committee shall include one representative of organised labour to be appointed after consultation with the appropriate local trades union organisation and that in cases where no such provision is made in the present composition of the committee it shall be made on the occasion of the next vacancy among the members other than trade members.