asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of acres ploughed up by tractors in Scotland in the last six months; and whether he is convinced that all such tractors have been fully and regularly used?

I regret that no information is available as to the number of acres ploughed up by all tractors in Scotland during the last six months, but it is estimated that some 6,000 acres have been ploughed up by tractors owned by the Government, which, of course, represent only a small percentage of the total number of tractors in Scotland. With regard to the second part of the Question the prolonged spell of severe weather during the winter made ploughing impracticable for many weeks in all parts of the country. Since then, I have reason to believe, all available tractor outfits have been in use to the fullest possible extent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of children under five years of age who have died as a result of small-pox for the past 15 years, and, for the corresponding period, the number of children at such age who have died as a result of vaccination?

No deaths of children under five years of age have been registered in Scotland as due to small-pox during the period 1924 to 1938. During the same period 10 deaths of children under five years of age have been registered in Scotland as due to the effects of vaccination.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that single women with knitting machines in their own homes are unable to secure wool; and whether he will take steps to assist them to continue to earn their livelihood?

Under the rationing arrangements at present in force in the woollen industry, supplies of yarn are available to home machine-knitters out of the ration issued by the Wool Control to the suppliers of the machines.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state for 1937–38 and 1938–39 the average gazette price of home-grown wheat, the average quota payment per sack of flour of 280 lb., and the aggregate acreage and estimated pro-

Year (1st September to 31st August).			Gazette Average Price per cwt.		Quota Payment per sack of Flour of 280 lb.		Acreage in United Kingdom.*	Estimated Production in United Kingdom.*
			s.	d.	s.	d.	000 acres.	000 tons.
1937–38	…	…	8	1	1	2·37†‡	1,836	1,509
1938–39	…	…	4	6	5	5·88‡	1,928	1,965
*The acreage and production refer to the crops harvested in 1937 and 1938 respectively.
† Year ended 31st July.
‡ Quota payments were suspended between 1st August, 1937 and 19th September, 1937.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average cost of labour per acre of raising wheat; and the average cost per acre for rent of land used for raising wheat?

The cost per acre of wheat growing varies widely from farm to farm and I am unable to give any figures of the kind requested. From information in my possession, however, it would appear that the proportion of the cost of production of wheat in a normal year attributable to direct or indirect labour costs is, on an average, about 30 per cent. As regards the second part of the Question, I have no information about the rent of land used for growing particular crops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the highest and lowest rents charged for agricultural land in England and Wales, also the average; and the highest and lowest wages paid to agricultural labourers, giving the districts in each case?

With regard to the first part of the Question, rents for agricultural land vary from a few shillings to several pounds per acre. Complete statistics are not available, but a study by my Department in 1937 of agricultural rents on a considerable area of land throughout the country showed an average contract rent of 21s. per acre. As duction in the United Kingdom for those two years?

The gazette average price of home-produced wheat, the average quota payment per sack of flour of 280 lb. and the acreage and estimated production of wheat in the United Kingdom in the two years 1937–38 and 1938–39 are shown in the following table:regards the latter part of the Question, the present minimum weekly rates of wages fixed for ordinary adult male workers by agricultural wages committees under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, range between 43s. in Lancashire (other than in the southern part of the county) and 34s. in the counties of Anglesey, Caernarvon, Merioneth and Montgomery. No comprehensive statistics of actual weekly earnings are available, but in many cases, especially those of workers such as cowmen, carters, etc., they frequently exceed the statutory minima by some few shillings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what quantity of the milk sold through the English Milk Marketing Board in 1938–39 was devoted to manufacturing purposes; what percentage this constituted of the total milk which was handled by the Board; what quantities were devoted to butter, cheese, condensed milk, milk powder, tinned and bottled cream, fresh cream and other items; and what were the realisation prices in each case?

The quantity of milk sold under the Milk Marketing Scheme for manufacturing purposes during the contract year October, 1938, to September, 1939, was 331 million gallons or 34·6 per cent. of the total quantity of milk sold under the scheme. The following table shows the quantities used for the various products and the realisation prices.

Utilisation of Manufacturing Milk.
Contract Year, 1938–39.
Commodity.	Quantities (gallons).	Realisation Price (pence per gallon).
Butter	88,784,543	5·50
Butter, Cornish	12,532,409	6·03
Hard Cheese, Cheddar	20,299,707	5·11
Hard Cheese, Other than Cheddar.	41,805,047	5·58
Stilton Cheese	4,208,213	6·42
Soft Cheese	1,041,127	8·50
Condensed Milk (Home).	73,046,065	7·51
Condensed Milk (Export).	7,848,920	6·03
Milk Powder	17,218,198	7·00
Fresh Cream	48,998,621	8·34
Ice Cream	890,365	8·70
Tinned Cream	10,498,444	7·50
Bottled Cream	517,233	8·50
Other Goods	3,422,985	10·20
	331,111,877	6·60

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an approximate estimate of the revenue lost to the Exchequer during the past financial year through the exemption of charitable institutions from taxation?

In the annual reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, figures are given showing the total amount of income exempted as owned by charities, colleges, hospitals, friendly societies, etc., but these figures relate only to income which has been brought into the gross assessment and are therefore not comprehensive of all incomes of charities. They cannot be subdivided so as to show separately the figures relating to charitable institutions only.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet received a further report from the committee appointed under the chairmanship of Mr. Andrewes Uthwatt to consider the principles of assessment of war damage to property for the purpose of the Government's compensation scheme; if so, when the report will be published; and whether he has any statement to make?

Yes, Sir. Mr. Uthwatt's committee have made their final report which is published to-day, copies of the report being available in the Vote Office. I am glad to take this opportunity to state that the Government accept the principles enunciated in that report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in Scotland there is a feeling of resentment that the new Balkan trade organisation is called the English Commercial Corporation, Limited; and whether, as the corporation is supported by national and not only English funds, he will see that the title of the corporation is changed from English to British Commercial Corporation, Limited?

The title "British Commercial Corporation" was naturally considered first but was not available. His Majesty's Government have considered the representations made to them since my right hon. Friend announced the Government's intention to form this company that the title of the company should have a wider territorial significance than the word "English" might suggest. In order to meet these representations His Majesty's Government have re-considered the name and, after consultation with the company, it has been decided to register the company under the title "United Kingdom Commercial Corporation, Limited."

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in the case of those Departments which during war-time employ temporary and permanent civil servants regularly on Saturday afternoons and Sundays in view of war-time exigencies, what arrangements are made to provide alternative days off during the remainder of the week; and whether such rule necessitates the provision of one or one-and-a-half alternative days off?

During the war it is necessary in various Departments to have staff available on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, but every endeavour is made to ensure that individual officers do not have to attend on more than six days of the week, and thus secure one complete day's rest in every seven.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many male adult full-time manipulative employés of the Post Office receive less than £2 a week, between £2 and £2 10s., between £2 10s. and £3, between £3 and £3 10s., between £3 10s. and £4, and over £4 a week;(2) how many female adult full-time manipulative employés of the Post Office receive less than £2 a week, between £2 and £2 10s., between £2 10s. and £3, between £3 and £3 10s., and over £3 10s. a week?

These two Questions can conveniently be answered together. The estimated numbers of adult full-time manipulative employés of the Post Office whose pay fell within the specified ranges as at the 1st April, 1939, are stated below. These are the latest figures available and the collection of up-to-date information would occupy considerable time and entail a large amount of labour as well as expense, which would not be warranted in present circumstances. There is no reason to suppose however that a further investigation would produce results differing materially from those now given, apart from those arising from the withdrawal of large numbers of men for service with the Forces and the engagement of temporary staff in their place.

Wage ranges.	Men.	Women.
Under 40s. a week	1,200	150
40s. and under 50s. a week	4,200	5,400
50s. and under 60s. a week	20,600	7,900
60s. and under 70s. a week	44,600	7,000
70s. and under 80s. a week	17,700	1,700
80s. and over	17,200	500

The vast majority of these officers are on scales of pay and rise by annual increments to prescribed maxima. Most of those included in the first two categories above (under 40s. and from 40s. to 50s.) are persons who by reason of short service or relatively low age have not yet earned a sufficient number of increments to bring their pay above 40s. or 50s. a week as the case may be.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider the wages position of postal workers in receipt of less than £5 per week, and, in particular, those with £3 a week, who, in 1938, received an increase of 5s. per week which has been more than wiped out by a rise in the cost of living of 3s. per week and an increase in deduction for Income Tax from 1s. 5d. per week to 4s. per week as from 1st April, 1940?

This Question is one that affects the Civil Service as a whole and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a Question on the subject of Civil Service pay by my hon. Friend the Member for Rusholme (Mr. Radford) on 2nd April, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what concessions have been granted by the Government of India to Imperial Chemical Industries (India) in the Punjab or other parts of India; and for how long, and under what conditions?

I understand that certain concessions were granted to Imperial Chemical Industries (India), Limited, to assist them in establishing an alkali factory near Khewra in the Punjab. These related to the use of waste salt, salty material, marl and brine at Khewra and in a neighbouring area. The period of the concessions is 50 years. So far as the Central Government is concerned I am not aware of anything else.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that certain local authorities still provide free meals for paid air-raid precautions workers; and whether, in fixing the remuneration at £3 and £2 a week, respectively, for men and women, this added factor was taken into consideration?

Local authorities are authorised to provide a free meal for certain A.R.P. personnel in cases where the proper organisation of duty shifts necessitates their remaining on continuous duty for not less than 12 hours. This authority was given after the rates of pay were fixed and had regard to the special circumstances connected with such hours of duty.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the conferences envisaged in paragraph 45 (5) of the Memo. Ev. 8 have taken place; to what extent their work has been affected by the low proportion of persons registering their children for evacuation; and whether he will consider introducing new machinery for re-evacuation in the event of air raids?

The conferences referred to were held about a month ago. Their primary purpose was to enable the billeting and education authorities to discuss the proposed arrangements for road transport from detraining stations for the children concerned. For these children railway time-tables have already been worked out. Present plans provide for larger numbers of children than have actually been registered and can be put into operation when the Government decide that circumstances call for it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he considers that the 36 hours' notice promised to the reception authorities before putting the new evacuation scheme into practice will certainly be possible in the event of serious air raids; and whether he will develop alternative plans for use in an emergency more serious than that suggested by the terms of Memo. Ev. 8?

The Government's plans provide for the orderly evacuation of children in school parties. The period of 36 hours represents the minimum notice required to enable the orderly combination of evacuation, transport and reception to be carried out. If circumstances were such as to make such a period of notice impossible, alternative plans would come into operation, and these have already been worked out, although of course not in great detail, as the conditions would clearly be impossible to lay down with great accuracy in advance.

asked the Minister of Health (1) when the original scheme for the disbursement of public funds by local medical war committees was changed so as to withdraw such responsibility from such committees by its transfer to the co-ordinating committee; and when the change was approved by him;(2) why the fund for the remuneration of practitioners for the treatment of unaccompanied evacuated children has been taken out of the hands of emergency committees elected at meetings of practitioners and placed in the hands of branch co-ordinating committees which are not so elected?

I presume that the hon. Member has in mind the arrangement made in the county of Kent. The seven local medical war committees in that county agreed in October last to form one pool for the remuneration of practitioners for the treatment of evacuated children, the pool to be administered by a co-ordinating committee. Such an arrangement has obvious advantages, and as it does not involve any change in principle in the arrangements made for the remuneration of practitioners it does not require my specific approval.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as the secretary and deputy secretary of the Central Medical War Committee are holding similar posts under the British Medical Association, he will consider terminating their appointment, with a view to an independent, impartial and whole-time secretary being appointed in their stead?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered representations from the Solihull Urban District Council with regard to the substitution of mobile units for first-aid posts in Warwickshire; and whether he will make a statement on this subject?

I have considered these representations, which refer to the county council's proposal to substitute a mobile first-aid unit for one of three fixed first-aid posts at Solihull. I am satisfied that a mobile unit is more suited to the area in question than a fixed post, and I have approved the proposal, as effecting an improvement in the local first-aid services.

asked the Home Secretary whether the same liberty of criticism is allowed to newspapers printed in the vernacular in Wales as is given to the English Press?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary who now acts as censor for periodicals printed in Welsh, and what are his qualifications; and whether he has any connection with any Welsh newspaper?

The censor who is employed, and has from an early date in the war been employed, to censor any matter submitted by newspapers printed in Welsh reads and speaks Welsh fluently and is well qualified for the post by education and experience. He has no connection with any Welsh newspaper.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the County Brook Mill Company, who have been granted permission to work overtime by the factory inspector for the district whilst engaged on Government orders, have not conformed to the general agreement in the trade, and are not paying the agreed rates for overtime being worked; and in these circumstances will he revoke the order?

In view of the pressure of Government work at this firm's mill at Foulridge, I have felt it right to make an Order under the Factories Act permitting 51½ hours a week to be worked there by women and young persons over 16. The question of wage rates is not dealt with under the Factories Act, and the considerations of which I have to take account in the administration of that Act would not justify me in revoking the Order.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that all officers of the Royal Armoured Corps have to purchase canvas overalls and wear them over their uniform in armoured fighting vehicles, thus rendering themselves indistinguishable from other ranks, he is prepared to make the purchase and wearing of battle dress by these officers optional?

Overalls are worn only on occasions when it is necessary to protect clothing. Officers require battle dress for other occasions when overalls are not necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that all commanding officers are aware of the existence of Form 21, in reference to hardship grants made to dependants of members of the armed Forces; are such forms in the custody of the commanding officers or the paymaster, or both; and will he consult with the Post Office authorities to ensure that at post offices where dependants of the members of the armed Forces draw their allowances, the staff are in a position to advise these applicants where such form may be obtained, and that notices are posted giving such information?

As regards the first part of the Question, instructions are in force which should ensure this. As regards the second part, stocks are held by all regimental paymasters and by the Command Paymaster in France, and commanding officers have been told to obtain such supplies as they require from these officers. As regards the third part, I understand that my hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions is in communication with my right hon Friend the Postmaster-General on the subject. Information as to the method of obtaining these forms is included in the pamphlet of Notes for Guidance of Applicants for Dependants' Allowances which is obtainable at any post office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make an announcement on the subjects of leave and warrant facilities for Members of Parliament serving with the British Expeditionary Force; and whether he proposes to amend G.R.D. 223 accordingly?

Hon. Members serving with the British Expeditionary Force who obtain special leave to attend the House will be required to defray, at their own expense, the cost of the return journey to the port of disembarkation in the United Kingdom. For the journey from that point to London and back to the port of embarkation, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has arranged that free transport facilities will be provided on application to the Fees Office. I will ask the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force to issue an amplification of General Routine Order 223 to make this clear.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether territorials or supplementary reservists serving with the Royal Army Pay Corps are eligible for commissions in other units; and, if so, how many have been granted?

The personnel referred to are eligible to be considered for commissions in other units, but none of them has yet been granted a commission.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many commissions in the Royal Army Pay Corps have, since the outbreak of war, been granted to soldiers serving in the ranks; and how many to persons who have not previously served in the ranks?

The numbers are 30 and 626, respectively. In the case of the latter, those commissioned were members of the Army Officers' Emergency Reserve and the great majority had previous commissioned service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there have been many cases recently where young men with good experience of different branches of engineering have been drafted to infantry regiments although they have expressed a preference for other branches of the Service in which their skill would be of more use; and whether, as this practice appears to be wasteful both from the point of view of the Army and of the men concerned, he will take steps to remedy it?

I am not aware of the cases to which my hon. Friend refers. In the case of men serving in the Army, the most active steps have been and are being taken to secure that all engineering tradesmen are placed where their services can be most usefully employed. In the case of men registered under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, the Schedule of Reserved Occupations provides for the retention in civil life of all men in certain skilled occupations who are over specified ages, and, in the case of the engineering trades among others, men below those ages are, as a general rule, called up only for employment in the Service trades corresponding to their civil occupations.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what increase in wages has been granted this year to the men employed by the Forestry Commission; what is the total now paid per week to these men; how this compares with the wages of the lumbermen brought to this country from overseas; and will he consider making some further increase in wages, in view of the discontent at the low rate paid and the increase in the cost of living?

The standard time work rate for the Commission's adult workmen has been increased this year from 38s. to 42s. per week in England and Wales, and in Scotland, where the wages paid had been somewhat higher, a standard time work rate of 43s. per week has been fixed. The increased rates, which have been carefully considered by the Commissioners, have only recently been given effect and no further increases are contemplated at the present time. As regards the lumbermen brought to this country from overseas, special arrangements were necessary owing to the acute shortage of skilled forestry workers in this country to meet the heavy demands for timber arising out of the war, and a force of men was recruited in Newfoundland under the Newfoundland Forestry Unit Act, 1939. In the special circumstances no useful wages comparison can be made between this overseas unit and the home forestry workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he can state in regard to the exports for the two months ended February, 1940, the principal items accounting for the increase in the case of beverages or cocoa preparations as compared with the corresponding period in 1939;(2) whether he can state, in regard to the exports of imported merchandise for the two months ended February, 1940, the principal items accounting for the increase in the case of beverages and cocoa preparations as compared with the corresponding period in 1940?

As was stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on 20th February, publication of particulars of our trade in individual commodities has been suspended since the outbreak of war.

asked the Minister of Shipping the total number of British ships sunk by enemy submarines to the latest convenient date; and the numbers which were coal-fired and oil-fired, respectively?

The total number of British merchant vessels sunk by enemy submarines up to the 10th April was 81, including 17 miscellaneous vessels (e.g., trawlers) mainly under 500 gross tons. The remaining 64 vessels comprised 41 coal-fired, 15 oil-fired (including motor vessels) and eight which were dual-fired.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken to obtain a new Employment Exchange at Redhill, and when the new exchange is likely to be opened?

A scheme for the rehousing of this exchange in other premises has been agreed upon between the Office of Works and my Department. It is, however, too early at present to specify the date by which the necessary adaptations can be completed.

asked the Minister of Health the total funds issued to approved societies for the first quarter in each of the last four years and the current year, respectively?

The amounts issued to approved societies in respect of members resident in England and Wales during the period from 1st January to the 31st March, 1940, and for the same period in each of the previous four years are as follow:—

	£
1936	5,612,000
1937	6,680,000
1938	5,851,000
1939	6,108,000
1940	7,626,000

asked the Minister of Health, with reference to the schemes to protect medical practices, when and how did insurance committees apply to him to vary the statement of the terms of service under Regulations 3 and 23 of the National Health Insurance (Medical Benefit) Regulations, 1936?

A number of insurance committees have individually applied at various times in recent months for my approval of amendments of the terms of service for insurance practitioners in their areas (including the provisions applicable under distribution schemes) for the purpose of local schemes for the protection of insurance practices. The applications were made in compliance with the procedure prescribed in the regulations to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of discontent amongst medical men at the reduced notification fee for measles and whooping cough, offered by his Department; and what steps he is taking to secure that medical men do not refuse to notify these diseases as a protest against the reduced fee?

I have no reason to apprehend any failure on the part of practitioners to fulfil their duties under these regulations. The regulations are, however, enforceable by local authorities and a penalty is provided for failure to comply.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the local fuel overseer in Hornchurch recently submitted his resignation to the council, which was refused; what were the reasons for the fuel overseer's action; and whether he is satisfied that the present retail price of coal in Hornchurch is reasonable?

I have received a letter from the local fuel overseer at Hornchurch intimating that he has tendered his resignation to his council and that they have accepted it. The letter does not state the reasons for the local fuel overseer's action. The retail price of coal is controlled by the Retail Coal Prices Order, 1939, and I am satisfied that in Hornchurch the requirements of that order have been properly carried out.

asked the Secretary for Mines the date on which the Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Company applied for sanction to erect a pithead bath at Tirbach Colliery, Ystalyfera; the date on which sanction was given; what was the amount; the date on which the same engineers of the company reported that the colliery was to be abandoned; and the number employed?

The workmen at Tirbach Colliery were amongst the earliest to apply for pithead baths, and in February, 1936, the Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries, Limited, accepted an offer of the Miners' Welfare Commission to provide them. Two months later, the colliery having stopped temporarily, the commission suspended action until renewed assurances as to the future of the colliery were received from the company in October. In July, 1937,the company gave warning of a possible change of policy and the commission therefore again suspended its preparation for building. I am informed that in May, 1939, the company informed the commission that it would then be safe to proceed with the baths, but in December, before tenders had been accepted, the company advised that the contract should be deferred. The pit has not been worked since the end of January this year. The baths were designed to accommodate 600 men and would have cost about £18,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Customs Duty is still being charged on small parcels to and from soldiers serving in Palestine; and whether any consultations with the Government of Palestine are in progress?

I understand that Customs Duty is being charged on parcels sent to soldiers serving in Palestine or by them to persons in this country. I am in communication with the High Commissioner as to the possibility of the Government of Palestine granting some concession on parcels sent to members of His Majesty's Forces serving in Palestine. The question of a concession on parcels sent to this country is one for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.