asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will make a special allowance of petrol for schemes such as that inaugurated by the Middlesbrough Rotary Club for giving servicemen lifts where and when transport facilities are not available?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16th April to a Question by the hon. Member for Yardley (Mr. Salt).

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that small petrol retailers cannot get delivery of less than 200 gallons at a time, and owing to the lessened demand this results in some of their coupons being invalidated as out of date and being refused by the district petroleum office, though valid at the time of sale; and as this regulation, if continued, will mean hardship to both retailers and consumers, especially in rural areas, whether he will issue new instructions in the matter?

I am aware that the minimum bulk delivery of motor spirit by the Petroleum Board is 200 gallons. In order to regulate the supply and distribution of motor spirit, it is essential to impose a period within which coupons must be surrendered for the supply of petrol. The Petroleum Board have, however, been authorised to accept from dealers coupons expiring at the end of a rationing period against any delivery made up to and including the 14th day of the month following this period or against the first delivery made thereafter should that be later.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the heavy increase in numbers of personnel of His Majesty's Forces using the stations at Portsmouth, and, in view of the fact that the number of cabs has not increased, he will increase the petrol ration allowed, since many persons with luggage, including men returning from leave, are left without any means of transport?

I am informed that while there has been a decided increase in the number of service men and their families travelling to and from Portsmouth by rail since the outbreak of war, there has also been a counteracting decrease in the number of civilian passengers, with the result that the position in regard to cabs is now about the same as it was previously. Further, it appears that the difficulty in obtaining a cab, which arises chiefly at the town station on the arrival of fast trains from London, is due not to the effect of the present rationing restrictions, but to lack of accommodation for cabs in the yards and approaches of the stations. In the circumstances, there does not seem to be any action which I can usefully take in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, with a view to assisting esprit de corps, the War Office will allot corps colours to the Military Pioneer Corps, so as to enable officers and other ranks of the corps to wear coloured forage caps as worn by other arms of the service at home and in the British Expeditionary Force?

An instruction will be issued in due course permitting a coloured field service cap to be worn by all ranks (including personnel of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps) with undress, service dress and battle dress when not on duty. The use of these caps will be optional, and they will not be provided at the public expense. Patterns are decided regimentally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any alteration has recently been or is to be made in the Exchequer grant to the trustees of the British Museum; and whether he is satisfied that this body has sufficient funds with which adequately to carry on its work?

I would refer the hon. Member to Class IV of the Civil Estimates for 1940, where the Estimate for the British Museum is set out in full. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the fact that, while the National Allotments Society is promoting a vigorous "dig for victory" campaign, ordinary flowers are being set out in the London parks; and will he see that these parks are used at least in part for growing food?

As stated on 21st February in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for North Norfolk (Sir T. Cook), extensive arrangements have already been made for growing food in the Royal Parks in London. Sixty-three acres have been set aside for allotments and 80 acres are under cultivation for oats and root crops. In addition, a proportion of the greenhouse space is being used for cultivating tomatoes, lettuce and French beans, and potatoes and other vegetables are to be grown in some of the flower beds. Having regard to what has been done in this direction and to the pleasure and recreation which the parks afford to multitudes of users, my Noble Friend feels that the balance of advantage lies in not making too drastic a sacrifice of the flowers.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has yet reached any, and what, decision with reference to the issue of standard suits?

This proposal is still under consideration; no decision has yet been reached.

asked the Minister of Supply whether it is the policy of his Department, when inviting tenders, to avoid the use of brand names whenever general specifications can be used, so as to avoid restricting the possibility of tender to any particular manufacturers or their customers?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he can see his way to the organisation of more far-reaching methods of collecting waste paper?

In reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Cary) on 21st March, my right hon. Friend set out fully the steps taken to extend the collection of waste paper, etc., through local authorities and trade channels. Since then further publicity has been given in the Press and by broadcast to the need of waste paper and other salvage materials; in view of the additional need for waste paper arising from the extension of the war to Scandinavian countries an urgent circular was issued on 11th April to every local authority in England, Scotland and Wales. Plans are being made for further appeals to the public in the Press and by broadcast. I am glad that my hon. Friend's Question gives me this opportunity of stressing the urgency of this matter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that important Midland foundries are handicapped by the prospect of having to receive sand for moulding and other purposes by rail transport, which will be much slower and more expensive than road haulage, which is by Diesel engine, not using petrol; and will he take steps to enable sand to be carried by road?

I have made inquiries into this case and am satisfied that in order to save fuel this traffic should go by rail, which should entail little inconvenience or expense to the foundries. I would remind my hon. Friend that Diesel oil as well as petrol is an imported and rationed fuel.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total estimated cost of road-works to be carried out by the Ministry or eligible for grants from the Road Fund which have been suspended owing to the war?

The total estimated cost of the road works which will not now be carried out owing to the war cannot yet be stated. The actual expenditure on schemes in hand at the outbreak of war will depend on the point at which work can be stopped, while preliminary expenditure will have been incurred on other schemes which will not now proceed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) what are the grounds for fixing 20th April as the date by which applications for sugar for jam-making for home-grown small fruit are asked for, seeing that growers can form no real estimate by that date of the quantity of suitable fruits likely to be available this coming season;(2) whether he has formed any estimate of the surplus of small fruits such as gooseberry, black, red and white currants, raspberry and strawberry likely to be available from private gardens and small holdings this coming season, or if he is reckoning on being supplied with such information on or before 20th April?

Fruit growers have been asked to furnish an estimate of the surplus of small fruits likely to be available from private gardens and small holdings in the coming season. The information is required not later than 20th April so that steps may be taken, by fixing the sugar allowance, issuing permits and distributing supplies to retailers, to make sugar available to growers early in June.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is satisfied, in view of the different systems of providing food for visitors at holiday and seaside resorts, that the legitimate requirements of the different caterers have been adequately met by the regulations already issued?

I am satisfied that the needs of the visitors at the various holiday resorts can be adequately provided for under the existing regulations by the different establishments catering for those needs. If, however, my hon. and gallant Friend knows of any case where the regulations produce inequality or hardship I shall be happy to consider it if he will give me particulars.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the retained supply of flour, home-milled and imported, during the cereal years 1936–37, 1937–38 and 1938–39?

The retained supply of flour home milled and imported amounted to 4,147,000 tons during the cereal year 1936–37, 4,117,000 tons during 1937–38 and 4,206,000 tons during 1938–39.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the amount of pectin used in the past year; and the cost price and selling price for same?

Imports and estimated home production of pectin in the year ended 30th June, 1939, amounted to approximately 8,000 tons of which rather more than one-half was imported. In view of the different types of pectin these figures have been calculated in terms of standard strength liquid pectin. No details of the cost of production of pectin are available and the cost price varies considerably according to variety. The average selling price to manufacturers of standard strength non-decolourised liquid pectin was approximately £16 10s. per ton.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of apprehension existing in parts of East Africa, that financial assistance to the Colonies will be largely governed by the financial burdens which to-day are attached to particular Colonies; and whether, in the forthcoming legislation it will be made clear that no Colony will be prejudiced in application for assistance for works of development, because in the past it has so managed its finances as to be relatively free from debt?

I am not aware of the existence in East Africa of the apprehension to which the hon. Member refers or of any grounds for it. The point raised in the second part of the Question will not be overlooked.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the memorial of the mayor, aldermen and citizens of Port of Spain, Trinidad, dated 30th January; and whether he will cause a full inquiry to be made into the subject of the memorial?

I have not yet received the memorial but I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member when they have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what immediate steps are being taken in the light of recent industrial disputes in the copper belt in Northern Rhodesia to remove the grievances of the African mineworkers; and to improve wages and employment conditions?

The companies have recently given the African employés on the copper mines an increase in pay of 2s. 6d. per monthly ticket. As regards conditions generally, considerable progress has been made in recent times in the promotion of native health, education and welfare, and this progress is still going on. Such specific grievances as the African employés may wish now to bring forward will no doubt be considered by the Commission of Inquiry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that representations have recently been made to his North-Western divisional officer by the South-East Lancashire Association for Mental Welfare submitting several cases of men conscripted into His Majesty's Forces of doubtful mental stability who might prove dangerous to their comrades, and asking that persons with proper qualifications for testing this type of case should sit on medical boards; and what action he proposes to take in this matter?

I am aware of these representations and have received a communication from the association to which I am giving consideration. The association have not, however, provided identifying particulars of men of doubtful mental stability who have been enlisted. I have recently drawn the attention of medical boards to the importance of the examination of mental and nervous stability, and their instructions provide that in cases of doubt a specialist's opinion should be obtained. I am advised that it would be impracticable to include doctors with special qualifications of the kind indicated on every medical board. The association can best help by giving advance information before the men concerned are due to be medically examined, and I understand that this will be done for the future.