asked the Minister of Labour whether unemployed persons can take on allotments for growing food in war-time, with the assurance that the amounts from any sales from surplus produce will not be deducted from their insurance benefits; and what will be the position of similar persons receiving payment from the Assistance Board?

As regards unemployment benefit, no deductions would be made, and a claim would not be affected by the fact of the claimant working on his own allotment. As regards unemployment assistance, I am informed that the practice of the Board is to make no deductions on account of produce consumed in the household or of cash sales which are merely occasional. I will send the hon. Member a copy of a poster on the subject which is exhibited in Employment Exchanges.

Does that mean that in effect the unemployed man can take up an allotment at the present time with a good deal of assurance that his position will not be penalised?

If the hon. Member looks at the poster, he will see that he himself has rendered a service by calling attention to this matter.

Would the right hon. Gentleman secure this consideration to those who make regular weekly sales of the produce of their allotments?

I would not like to give a definite ruling on that, but if the hon. Member would like a precise statement— I think that one was made some 2½or three years ago—I would be very glad to make it.

Is it not the fact that a man working on an allotment is entitled to an amount of 3s. 4d. a day?

I would like to know the precise terms.

Will this excellent scheme of land settlement be continued after the war?

That is looking a long way ahead.

In view of that answer, will the right hon. Gentleman realise that whatever the regulations might have been two or three years ago in peace-time, they should not be the same in war-time, when we are urging everybody to produce food?

These things were in mind in peace-time, and if the right hon. Gentleman will look at the arrangements, he will find that it has been found satisfactory and helpful.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men are coming before the rating authorities and before the justices, owing to the defaulters belonging to reserved occupations, such as the building and kindred trades, in which they are unable to obtain employment and yet, owing to this being their normal occupation, they are refused registration for training in the manufacture of munitions; and can he either vary the instructions with regard to their registration or take some steps which will enable them to meet their liabilities?

Men are not accepted for training in the Government's training centres if they belong to occupations which, for the purposes of recruitment to the Defence Services, are reserved on account of their immediate or prospective importance to industry. In the case of the building industry, most skilled occupations are thus reserved at certain ages, but men in the occupations of plasterer, house painter, gas fitter, steel bender and fixer and ironworker for ferro concrete, and foreman roofing felt fixer are permitted to join any Service as volunteers. I have decided that such men may be accepted for training in the Government's training centres.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that carpenters are not mentioned in that number, and that there are cases of carpenters who have never been out of work before, who cannot pay their rates or meet their commitments, and yet are unable to get work in another trade; and can he do something to assist these men?

My hon. Friend will understand that the situation is a difficult one and that the word "prospective" gives a hint of the nature of the problem. It is true that in certain parts of the country, owing mainly to the suspension of house-building, there has been the great difficulty in plasterers and such like people finding work immediately, but that may not be so in a short time if certain things should happen.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last night there were 50 unemployed builders' labourers of military age asking Members of Parliament to do what they could to find work for them?

We are fully alive to this problem, which is the reason that we have made this arrangement since the war, and the hon. Member will understand that this is beyond the original arrangement in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations.

Will not the list of reserved occupations require revising, in view of the fact, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, that substitute building materials are being used instead of wood?

There is no reason why it should not be revised after inter-departmental discussions, and discussion with the Joint Council, whose advice we regularly have.

rose—

There is a large number of Questions on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can increase the age at which persons are now debarred from registration for training in the manufacture of munitions from 45 to 50?

Men over 45 years of age can be accepted for training in the Government training centres, provided they are sufficiently fit and handy to take full advantage of the course.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the scale of fines exacted from trainees at the Ministry's training centres; for what offences they are imposed; how many trainees have been fined since 1st September to the last convenient date; and what is the aggregate sum obtained in fines?

Small deductions from special pocket-money allowances paid to men in training at Government training centres are made in respect of loss of shop tools, persistent lateness and other breaches of centre rules. There is no scale of fines, which, however, in no case exceed the amount of the pocket money allowance which is 5s. I regret that the statistics asked for by the hon. Member are not available.

Is it not a very undesirable practice to have a system of this character at these training centres?

Certainly not. It is a wonderful thing. It is the only sanction the manager has to maintain discipline, and I assume that discipline is necessary, even in the Red Army.

Is it not possible to get what is wanted, not necessarily discipline, but co-operation at training centres without introducing undesirable methods of this kind?

The hon. Member does not understand the operation of the training centres. I know that some of the Communists have recently begun to take an interest in the centres, whose many years' work have been attended by great and increasing success. This has been the only sanction, and it is necessary in order to ensure that co-operation which the hon. Member now says he wants.

The Minister is not suggesting that this is equivalent to serving in the Red Army?

Certainly not.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of discon- tent at the Park Royal training centre owing to the reluctance of the center's officers to grant passes to the trainees for the purpose of visiting the Unemployment Assistance Board's offices when they have applications to make regarding the amount of their allowances; that officials of the centre try to dissuade trainees from making such applications, on the grounds that their claims are hopeless; that such persuasion has on several occasions been brought to bear in the case of men with broken footwear during this year's spells of severe weather; and what steps does he propose to take to put a stop to these practices?

No, Sir. All bona fide applications for leave to interview U.A.B. officials are granted without delay. If, however, the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I will have it investigated.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, following dissatisfaction at the Waddon training centre arising from the infliction of fines, one trainee there recently took action against the accountant of the centre, as a result of which the Department paid the fine and costs into court; and why, in view of the fact that the plaintiff's solicitor stated that the object in bringing the case was to test the legality of deducting fines from unemployment insurance benefit paid to trainees, the Ministry took the above course to prevent the matter being raised in open court?

I am aware of these proceedings. No deduction was made from the unemployment insurance benefit payable to a trainee at this centre, but a deduction of 2s. 3d. was made from his pocket allowance. This was the value of a shop tool which had been lost. In the circumstances, in order to avoid litigation at the present time, it was decided to pay the money into court, but without the admission of any liability.

Is it not the case that they paid the costs in order to keep the matter out of the courts, because a court case would have been a complete exposure of this rotten method?

There is no reason whatever why I should facilitate the propaganda of the Communist party.

Might I ask the Minister—

rose—

On a point of Order. I am making the contention that there is a bad and rotten method—[Interruption.]

No point of Order arises. The hon. Member should ask questions and not make assertions.

I was asking a question, but instead of answering it, the Minister says he does not want to give propaganda to the Communists.

I think we had better get on.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Assistance Board are prepared to extend the period during which winter allowances are paid in view of the exceptional severity of the weather in recent months?

The Board inform me that they do not consider that the circumstances call for any extension of the period during which winter additions are being paid this winter beyond the date which has been communicated to the House and to each applicant concerned.

Do I gather that the circumstances due to the exceptional winter weather in recent months do not call for consideration?

The House will understand that it was announced that payment would be made from 30th October to 30th March, and the Board see no reason to alter that. As the hon. Member knows, I received a deputation yesterday, and I indicated that view to them.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to facilitate the transfer of farm labour from one district to another, in view of the number of farm workers registered as unemployed and the acute shortage of skilled farm workers in many districts?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, take steps, well in advance, to organise an increased number of women workers to deal with sugar-beet production, and to develop cultivation of early vegetables over a wider area, so as to reduce the importation of vegetables?

I am in consultation with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Agriculture on the labour requirements of the agricultural industry for the coming year, and my right hon. and gallant Friend is already engaged in preparing schemes for supplementing the normal labour supply. I can assure my hon. Friends that the local offices of my Department will co-operate to the fullest extent in the recruitment of labour as required in the different areas.

Can my right hon. Friend say what steps he can take to let these young fellows of 18 or so know that they can do useful and interesting work on the land in the interval before they are called up?

I shall do all I can to assist the decisions to which my right hon. and gallant Friend comes, but it is the responsibility of my right hon. and gallant Friend to supplement the labour supply for agriculture.

Will the Minister consult his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health in order to make sure that opportunities for women workers are not diminished by evacuation schemes?

That would not be for my Department, but for my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Agriculture, who is now going into all the circumstances for the supplementation of the labour supply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these people will be welcome in the Highlands of Scotland, where we require a labour force, as women are unable to cope with the amount of work that they have to do already?

It is not only Scotland but the whole country that is making this great effort.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the waste of paper and time by employers having to fill in three forms when an employé leaves their service; and will he arrange for all the required particulars for the Employment Exchange and the Unemployment Assistance Board to be included on one form in future?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the routine inquiry from an employer for the reason why a worker left his employment. Current instructions provide against duplication of inquiries by the Ministry of Labour and National Service and the Unemployment Assistance Board in such cases. I am having investigation made into the circumstances of the case about which my hon. Friend wrote to me.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. C. Maw, 36, Warren Close, Doncaster, a skilled aeroplane worker has been registered at the Doncaster Employment Exchange as an unemployed man since November, 1939; and why it has not been found possible to place such a skilled man in suitable war work by this time?

I am informed that Mr. Maw was last employed for a period of about two years on the doping and varnishing of aeroplane wings and on making tail units for wooden sail-planes. Previously he had been employed on work as a painter, bricklayer's labourer and relief postman. He has been submitted without success for work for which he was considered suitable, and efforts will continue to be made to find him employment commensurate with his skill.

Is the Minister aware that this man carries a high record from his employer for aeroplane work and also that he applied to go into the Army and could not be taken in as he was in an exempted occupation?

We will do our best for him.

The right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that it is necessary for skilled aeroplane workers to be able at the moment—[Interruption].

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured persons, who have had their benefit stopped owing to refusal of work, are now receiving un- employment assistance on as high or higher a scale than benefit?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

Is there not a considerable number of these cases?

I could not say. No such record is kept and could not be obtained without combing the whole of the register.

Is there nothing to prevent a man refusing a job and getting higher U.A.B. assistance without any inquiry as to why he lost the job?

That is a theoretical question, but I have no reason to think that even if it happened, the number of cases would be considerable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can estimate the extent to which the overlap between wages and unemployment benefit or assistance due to the fact that benefit and assistance are supplemented, as wages are not, by family allowances, will be increased by the higher allowances recently given?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the increasing number of cases of severe hardship among owners of small businesses through inability to dispose of their businesses when conscripted or through inadequate periods of postponement; that this will increase, even more seriously, as higher age groups are called up; whether he proposes to take any action to secure more equitable treatment for these men; and whether he has any record of the total number to date of the appeals on business grounds, the number of rejections, and the number and periods granted of those who were allowed postponement?

I am aware that the higher age groups will include a greater number of owners of small businesses who will desire to make applications for postponement, but I consider that the provision made by Regulation 2 (2) of the Armed Forces (Postponement Certificates) Regulations should be adequate to meet such cases. Up to 29thFebruary, out of 8,772 applications made on the ground of business responsibilities and interests, 5,190had been granted for varying periods up to six months and 3,582 rejected. Out of 214 applications for renewals, 125 had been granted and 89 refused.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in fact no rules can extend beyond a maximum period of 12 months, and, in view of the fact that an increasing number of the small business men have sunk their small capital in small concerns and are in danger of losing the lot, could he not reconsider the question?

I am aware of the first part of the hon. Member's Question. I informed the House in a recent Debate of that matter but, as I said in my answer, I am sure the present arrangements are adequate.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of employés in the different works employed in processing milk; and how many will be taken if no exemptions are accorded to key men?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to-day to a Question on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chatham (Captain Plugge).

asked the Home Secretary what action has been taken up to date under Section 33 of the Civil Defence Act, under which he is enabled, after taking professional advice, to make regulations to render new buildings less vulnerable to air raids?

No regulations have yet been made under Section 33 of the Civil Defence Act, though some of the principles which would be incorporated in such regulations are being adopted in the construction of new munition factories and some other buildings. In view of the urgency of other questions of structural protection and the reduction in ordinary building under present conditions, full consideration of this matter has hitherto been postponed, but the proposals of my technical advisers will be discussed in detail with the Building Technical Advisory Committee in the near future.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to ensure that householders in seaside resorts will be freed from their evacuees during the summer season in order that they may be enabled to accept their customary holiday visitors and so pay their rents for the year?

The extent to which it may be possible to carry out the suggestions of my hon. Friend during the summer season must depend on the local circumstances and on the extent to which the billeting authorities may be able to re-arrange the billets in the area. It is largely a question of householders being prepared to co-operate with the billeting authorities by helping one another.

Can my right hon. Friend make some suggestion to local authorities by which these unfortunate people will be able to live?

Yes, Sir. We have made suggestions to them, and they are at present carrying out the compilation of a roll by which, let us hope, it will be possible for some rearrangement to take place.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make any statement respecting particulars of the new evacuation scheme; and how many schoolchildren have now been sent or, approximately, will be sent during the next three months to school camps in connection with evacuation?

The registration by the parents of children in the evacuation areas and the enrolment of householders in the reception areas are proceeding, and the travelling, billeting, medical and educational arrangements are being worked out at conferences between the evacuating and receiving authorities. As regards the second part of the Question, arrangements are being made at the moment for the occupation of 22 camps, each capable of taking parties of 250 to 290 children. Of these camps, four are already in occupation, containing 754 children.

Shall we have an early opportunity of discussing this matter and receiving some report as to the progress of the scheme?

That is not a question for me.

asked the Minister of Health whether any decision has yet been reached concerning extra billeting allowances for evacuated teachers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for English Universities (Mr. E. Harvey) on 12th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, under the prevailing quota system for each county, in some cases valuable pasture up to 100 years old and worth £50 an acre for fattening stock is being ploughed up, whereas in others, seven-and eight-year old worn-out leys, worth £5 to £8 an acre, are being neglected; and how he proposes to remedy this anomaly before too much damage has been done?

The minimum amounts of grassland to be ploughed in each county for this year's harvest were fixed with due regard to the varying conditions of farming in different parts of the country. The ploughing of a certain amount of good grassland was unavoidable, but the actual selection of the land to be broken up rests with the county war agricultural executive committees, which are composed of practical agriculturists acquainted with the local conditions and needs, and I am confident that these committees may be trusted to carry out their task with due discrimination.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that in many counties where arable farming and seed leys preponderate, there has been a quota not sufficiently large to get those leys ploughed up, whereas in other counties valuable pasture worth £50 an acre is being ploughed up compulsorily?

There is no maximum quota, and no reason whatever why these leys should not be ploughed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the dilemma which many farmers find themselves in, as to whether they should plough up grassland towards the end of March, 1940, which cannot secure anything for the 1940 harvest, he will, notwithstanding, advise farmers to do this, since some of it may become productive in 1941?

I would invite the attention of my hon. Friend to the reply given on 15th March to the Question put to me by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Louth (Lieut.-Colonel Heneage) and in particular to the last paragraph of the reply.

Will the Minister let me have a copy of that reply?

If my hon. Friend will look it up, I think he will find it highly satisfactory.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend instruct the county committees to concentrate on giving priority in ploughing to worn-out seed leys before they attempt to plough up valuable permanent pasture?

Will the Minister think de novo on this matter, because I know the answer to which he referred, and I am not satisfied?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the maximum output being obtained from the land, he will consider giving some financial assistance, through the county war agricultural committees, to agriculturists for the purpose of providing tile drainage where mole drainage is ineffective?

The grant-aided scheme for mole drainage was put into force in order to deal expeditiously with the heavy land problem. Having regard to the cost, time and labour involved in tile drainage, it was felt that any scheme of financial assistance could not operate, to any extent, in time for the 1940 harvest.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is much that is left undone and not provided for in the war Agriculture Act, and can he tell us whether he proposes to bring in a comprehensive scheme that will conduce to the maximum output being obtained from the land? Is he aware that what is being done is no good, and that something more must be done?

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's statement that the Act is no good. For instance, the Act gives a grant for mole drainage. The question of tile drainage is a matter for consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the increased shortage of animal manure on many farms owing to the recent slaughtering of livestock through lack of feeding-stuffs, he is taking steps to ensure increased production of chemical manure as an alternative to maintain the fertility of the soil?

I do not accept the implication of the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, but the answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

Surely, my right hon. and gallant Friend must have realised that he cannot annihilate the real truth by not accepting it? Is it not a fact that these animals have been slaughtered, and that adequate livestock is the absolute key to successful agriculture?

I am afraid I cannot always accept my hon. Friend's sweeping statements.

Is it not a fact that the pig population is falling?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the names and qualifications of the persons constituting the Publicity Committee for his Department; the respective salaries paid; whether any of such persons continue to hold paid positions in connection with commercial journalism; and with what papers and in what capacity?

As was announced on 6th September last, I have appointed the following persons to advise me on matters affecting publicity and intelligence in connection with the Government's campaign to increase home food production:

I gather that we may take it that they are entitled to contribute to outside papers, but will the Minister take into account the fact that the correspondents of other papers do not like correspondents of rival papers having the first feed of the news?

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend give us some assurance that there will be no continuation of this hush-hush business?

There is no hush-hush business.

asked the Postmaster-General when the centenary postage stamps will be on sale; and for how long the issue will be available?

The centenary postage stamps will, I hope, be on sale at all post offices throughout the country on and from Monday, 6th May, for about two months.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Post Office will take part in the exhibition which is being held by the Postal History Society, at Bournemouth, from 6th to 11th May, in aid of the Red Cross Fund, as an alternative to the International Exhibition?

My right hon. and gallant Friend has already promised to lend the British Government stamp exhibit for display at the centenary exhibition which is being arranged by the Royal Philatelic Society in aid of the Red Cross Fund and will be opened in London on 6th May, and regrets that the Post Office has no other items of rare philatelic interest which he could see his way to lend for display at the Bournemouth exhibition.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he now has any statement to make on the issue of a Franco-British stamp?

As a result of the discussions I have had with the French Minister of Transmissions, who came to this country for the purpose on Monday last, general agreement has been reached in regard to the issue of a joint Franco-British stamp. It is hoped that the issue may be made in the autumn.

Has any decision been come to as to the design? Is it proposed to make a new design, or to use an existing one, such as was used at the time of the King's visit to Paris?

It is proposed to issue a new design, but as all designs have to be approved by the King, the House will not expect me to say anything more about that.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare what information he has as to the increased traffic in Army oil and other war materials from the United States of America to Russia via Vladivostock; and what steps he is taking to ensure that none of this war material is passed on to Germany?

I understand that Soviet purchases of oil in the United States during the year ended 1st March, although much above 1938 figures, are not in excess of quantities imported in some previous years. There is, however, evidence of large Soviet purchases from the United States of America of other war materials, especially of copper, and this question is receiving the constant attention of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that considerable quantities of feeding-stuffs have been offered in Balkan countries to His Majesty's Government; that when His Majesty's Government refused to buy them they were bought by Germany; that Germany has since sent them to the Scandinavian countries against payment in dollars; and whether, in view of the short sea route and the paramount need of such feeding-stuffs in this country, the question of price was the deciding factor, or whether any effort was made to divert these supplies?

As regards the first part of the Question, some feeding-stuffs have been offered in Balkan countries to His Majesty's Government, but it would be an exaggeration to describe them as considerable. Certain quantities of feeding-stuffs have been bought in these countries, though, of course, I am not in a position to give details. It is the policy of His Majesty's Government to purchase feeding-stuffs in the Balkan countries in so far as opportunity offers, and price is not necessarily the deciding factor. As regards the second part of the Question, I am aware that substantial quantities have been bought by Germany. I have, however, seen no reliable evidence to support the suggestion in the third part of the Question.

Would the Minister mind reading the trade papers on this matter, as they deal with all those points and with the evidence?

In that case the trade papers must be considerably in error, because I have a certain amount of information on this subject on which I can place great reliance.

With regard to Scandinavia?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that the Rumanian petrol company, Foraky Roumaneasca, Limited, has been sold to a German group; and what steps were taken to prevent this and to bring it under British influence?

The purchase of Foraky Roumaneasca, Limited, was carefully considered by His Majesty's Government, but it was decided that the potential value of the property did not justify the purchase price which was being asked. In addition, the small production of which this company is capable would not increase materially the amount of Rumanian oil under German control and would still leave Germany substantially short of the amount which she is entitled to purchase under the German-Rumanian agreement.

Am I to understand that this was one of the occasions when the Treasure refused to grant the request of the Minister of Economic Warfare?

No, Sir. This is not a case in which I wished to approach the Treasury to make any grant.

Because you knew it was useless?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will state briefly the military recommendations which are assumed to make the black-out regulations an essential part of our defences?

The purpose of the black-out is to render air navigation, the location of targets and accurate bomb-aiming more difficult, and practical experience has shown that it does in fact have these effects.

Is it not a fact that in the Sylt raid the fires started by the first bombers guided other bombers to their targets, thus proving the German black-out to be quite useless?

Obviously, I cannot comment on that.

Can the Minister give any place in this country where the black-out has proved effective?

That is another matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the Admiralty's decision to examine naval personnel by X-ray to ascertain whether there are any tubercular tendencies, he will adopt a similar policy for the Air Force personnel?

This question is now under consideration.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, if the Navy find it a good policy, it may also be a good policy for the Air Force?

Yes, I will bear that in mind.