asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour the number of dock labourers under 30 years of age who have been exempted from military service; and of these, can he say the number who have received tallies since the beginning of the war?

Dock workers of and over the age of 25 are covered by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations. I am not in a position to give information as to the number so covered or as to the number who have received tallies under port registration schemes since the beginning of the war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour whether men registered for military service in Grade III are accepted under the new scheme for training men for engineering work or whether they are to be called up for military service; and is he aware that men in this category who have been unemployed for a long period are being informed at Employment Exchanges that no instructions are available?

Men placed in medical grade III are eligible to be admitted for civilian training if otherwise suitable. Men who have been placed in medical grade III on account of defective vision and would otherwise have been placed in Grade I or Grade II (a) are, under existing arrangements, being called up for military service subject to the Schedule of Reserved Occupations; such men, however, are not called up while undergoing a course of training. The local offices of the Ministry have received the necessary instructions on the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour whether he will take steps to ensure that every doctor in the country shall now be called upon to make a full return of all information about his ability and previous experience, in order that the best possible use shall be made of those available for both civilian and military duties?

I see no reason as at present advised to depart from the existing arrangements under which the Central Medical War Committee keeps a register showing the qualifications and experience of practically all members of the profession, and advises the Government, through the Minister of Health and the Department of Health for Scotland, on the best use of the available personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether free travelling facilities were granted to all men in His Majesty's Forces to whom short leave was granted on their return from the recent operations in Flanders; and, if not, whether it is proposed to refund to such men the cost of travelling to and from their homes?

Instructions have been issued that a free travelling warrant shall be granted for the leave given to men who were evacuated from ports North of the Somme on or after 11th May. Travelling expenses incurred by such men before receipt of the instructions will be refunded.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether adequate arrangements were made by his Department to enable men evacuated to this country as a result of the recent operations in Flanders to obtain immediately, on arrival at the stations to which such men were posted, pay owing to them, or, alternatively, advances of pay for the purpose of purchasing necessaries?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, during the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from the Continent, precautions were taken to prevent the entry into the United Kingdom of enemy agents disguised as Allied personnel; were nominal rolls prepared at embarkation points, and was a check carried out at the ports of disembarkation, or elsewhere; and how many enemy agents have been caught up-to-date?

Every possible precaution was taken, but I do not think it would be desirable to disclose further information.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total cost to date and the cost per man of the T.A.B. inoculations?

I regret that it is not practicable to give an estimate of cost for these inoculations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that men are unable to perform their duties for 48 hours, and sometimes much longer, after each T.A.B. inoculation, he will consider suspending this practice during the present conditions of emergency?

The proportion of men unfit for duty within 48 hours of inoculation is not great and my advisers do not recommend any change in the present practice.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is a large quantity of tubular scaffolding available most suitable for the purpose of erecting street barriers, watch-towers, &c, and that it can be further used to advantage in many types of construction; and what action he proposes to take?

Instructions regarding the purposes for which tubular scaffolding can appropriately be used have already been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the wording of Question Number 8 of the questions to be put on enrolment of Local Defence Volunteers is intended to imply that no compensation will be payable in the event of temporary disability attributable to service as a Local Defence Volunteer; whether he is aware that the apprehension that the right to compensation is so limited is causing considerable anxiety, and that cases have already occurred of individuals receiving injuries temporarily incapacitating them from continuing their paid employment, and thereby involving them in substantial financial loss; and whether he will make such further regulations and provisions as may be necessary to ensure a Local Defence Volunteer against financial loss due to temporary injury as a result of his service?

No, Sir. Compensation will be payable in the event of temporary disability attributable to service as a Local Defence Volunteer, as well as in the case of permanent disablement or death. Regulations stating the exact conditions under which such compensation will be payable and at what rates will be promulgated shortly; these regulations will provide broadly for compensation on the following lines:

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he considers the present examination of mails for contraband and for enemy export control is satisfactory; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy any deficiencies there may be?

No examination of mails can be considered entirely satisfactory unless all mails are examined. Extensive re-organisation of the Censorship Department has recently taken place and is already producing greatly improved results. All practicable steps are being taken to render the examination as complete as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a convoy recently arrived which had averaged a speed of 7 knots, included a vessel carrying important munitions which is capable of doing 16 knots; and whether he can give an assurance that better arrangements can be made in future?

The vessel to which the hon. Member refers belong to one of our Allies and was included in the convoy at their especial request.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour the number of persons unemployed in the administrative county of Durham, and the county boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields?

The numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges situated in the administrative county of Durham and in the county boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields at 20th May, 1940, were as follow:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour the number of miners now unemployed in the county of Durham?

On 20th May, 1940, there were 5,717 insured men, aged 18–64, classified as belonging to the coalmining industry, recorded as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in the county of Durham.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since the importation of luxury goods or goods of which we have sufficient supply at home must be restricted he will, for the information of the public, now define what these luxury goods are?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a Notice to Importers (No. 76) explaining the Order under which the importation of all goods (except live quadruped animals) is prohibited save under licence. I am also sending him a pamphlet explaining the Orders made on 6th June restricting deliveries for home consumption of a number of commodities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate increase in the price of drugs and medicines since the beginning of the war; and whether he is satisfied that effective measures have been taken to prevent undue and unnecessary increases in the price of these articles?

I am informed that the extent to which the prices of various drugs and medicines have increased since the outbreak of war varies very considerably. As from yesterday drugs and medicines, other than dispensed medicines, have been brought under the Prices of Goods Act.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any formal request has been made to the Government of the United States of America to reconsider the terms of the Immigration Quota Acts in order that refugees now in this country may be afforded the opportunity of settling in the United States, in view of the special circumstances now obtaining in this country?

In the view of His Majesty's Government the form of any action to be taken to relieve the plight of these unfortunate people, either here or in France, must be left to the United States Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons had been granted permits by the Government of the United States of America, in August, 1939, to migrate from the United Kingdom to settle in America; the number regulated by the United States Immigration Quota Acts; and how many of these persons did in fact leave this country for the United States?

I regret that the information desired is not available. Official statistics relating to the grant of immigration visas for the fiscal year ended 30th June are published annually by the Department of State, Washington. These, however, are presented on a yearly, not a monthly, basis. The most recent statement was dated 21st February, 1940, and related to the period ending 30th June, 1939.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information the British Ambassador in China has forwarded as to a Fifth Column plot to seize control of the International Settlement, and whether he can give details?

My Noble Friend is informed that rumours of Nazi and other activities at Shanghai have little foundation and may have been issued to cause alarm and nervousness. The position is being watched.

asked the Minister of Supply with regard to No. 792 of 1940 Statutory Rules Emergency Powers (Defence) Raw Materials (Control of Paper) (No. 16) Order, dated 25th May, 1940, whether this Order is intended to prevent the use of paper posters which are already partially printed and the use of inserted wrappings, etc., which have already been printed and are being held in stock by traders or printers?

Permission to use posters and advertising matter in the circumstances indicated in the Question is being given by the Control of Paper (No. 16) Order, Direction No. 2, which will be published in a few days.

asked the Minister of Supply what action he proposes to take with reference to the paper-making industry in the Gravesend district?

Steps have been taken to obtain substantial quantities of wood pulp from North America, and supplies of home-produced materials are being developed to the fullest possible extent. I regret that a substantial reduction in the production and consumption of paper in this country is unavoidable in present circumstances. So far as shipping and exchange considerations permit, supplies of paper-making materials are being obtained. In addition, the collection of waste paper is being organised, and in some cases the use of other home-produced material is being developed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has considered the offer from the Cheltenham Town Council to put the Winter Garden at the disposal of the Government for the duration of the war, and whether he is accepting the offer?

The offer of this building has been considered, and it will continue to be borne in mind: but the requirements of the Government have not up to date made it desirable to take advantage of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the fund for medical attention to evacuees is to be administered by the British Medical Association from their headquarters in London; and why the whole arrangements, including the administration of finance, are not carried out by his Department or by local authorities?

The fund in question in relation to Scotland is administered from Edinburgh by the Scottish Central Medical War Committee. I have no reason to think that this arrangement is not working satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps were taken to consult the Scottish medical profession with regard to payment of the sum of 10s. for domiciliary medical attendance upon each unaccompanied evacuated child; what services have to be rendered by medical practitioners for such amount; for what period of time; and does the fee include mileage expenses?

The payment in question of 10s. per child per annum was agreed with the Scottish Branch of the British Medical Association and is intended to cover such medical attention as is ordinarily given by general medical practitioners, including the supply of such medicines and dressings as are usually provided under the National Health Insurance Act. This sum was fixed as an appropriate overall rate of payment, but the British Medical Association have recently been informed, in reply to representations made by them, that I shall be prepared to consider making an additional payment in respect of mileage in particular areas if it can be shown that in a substantial proportion of cases a large amount of travelling is necessarily involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is laid down that no society, association or body of persons, other than a registered friendly society, can invest their money in National Savings Certificates; that money so invested in response to the appeal is to be returned; and whether genuine bodies, such as local political associations, will now be allowed to invest their funds in National Savings Certificates up to the usual limit?

National Savings Certificates are specially designed to encourage saving on the part of the smaller investor, and for this purpose they carry exceptional concessions, of which the most important is freedom from Income Tax. These concessions make it necessary to limit very strictly both the amount of Savings Certificates which any individual can hold, and the category of investors qualified to purchase them. In practice, therefore, the only corporate bodies permitted to hold Savings Certificates are those which for revenue purposes are regarded as strictly charitable and on that account are exempt from Income Tax. I regret that I am unable to extend the privilege of holding Savings Certificates to such bodies as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests, but I would remind him that an alternative form of lending money to the State exists in the present issue of 3 per cent. Defence Bonds.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make arrangements enabling members of His Majesty's Forces stationed in Great Britain to participate in the free postage of letters to their homes at present restricted to members serving overseas?

I regret that I have nothing to add to the answer given to a Question on this subject on 23rd May to the hon. Member for Deritend (Sir Smedley Crooke) by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will cause it to be widely known that indiscreet conversations among passengers on trains should be reported to the guards of the trains for investigation by the police authorities?

I fully agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that everything possible should be done to bring to book individuals who are guilty of indiscreet talk in trains and other places. Warning notices are widely displayed in trains, and I find after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport that there would be objections to adopting the specific suggestion made in my hon. Friend's Question. It is, however, desirable in my view that anyone who can give evidence which would enable offenders to be identified and prosecuted should immediately communicate with the police.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the case of certain friendly aliens, such as Chinese students at the universities, he will modify the duty of daily registration with the police in the interests of their studies to the extent of placing alternatively in keepers of boarding and apartment houses where students live, the responsibility of reporting at once to the police whether any of them change their address?

The requirement that aliens in the neighbourhood of the East or South Coast should report daily to the police was repealed on 28th May. The Aliens (Movement Restriction) Order, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend, gives effect to my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Home Secretary which parts of the County of Dumbartonshire have not as yet received Anderson air-raid shelters for erection?

The Government policy has been, as far as possible, to deliver standard steel shelters to areas specified under Part III of the Civil Defence Act. There are four such areas in Dunbartonshire, namely, the burghs of Dumbarton and Clydebank, the district of Old Kilpatrick, and the Vale of Leven and Renton special drainage district. Supply to these areas, in accordance with their requirements, has been virtually completed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the village of Cardross, Dumbartonshire, has as yet received no Anderson air-raid shelters; and what steps he intends taking to meet the situation?

This village does not lie in an area specified under Part III of the Civil Defence Act, and I am not aware of any special reason for thinking that it should have received, or should receive, supplies of the standard steel shelter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now give instructions that the red crosses displayed by most of our hospitals advertising their presence to airmen should be obliterated?

Civil hospitals are not ordinarily entitled to display the red cross. The conditions under which it can be displayed have already been made public in a Press announcement by the Home Office, a copy of which I will send to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to see that ordinary members of the public are informed as to what cases should be taken to first-aid posts and what to hospitals?

Posters displayed by local authorities generally inform the public that lightly injured casualties will be dealt with by first-aid posts and the more seriously injured by hospitals. I am advised that it is not practicable to give the public more detailed advice, but first-aid parties are suitably instructed in this matter, as explained in a reply given to the hon. Member on 23rd January.

asked the Minister of Health whether there are, in the hospitals of the emergency medical services, special officers appointed to supervise and classify admission in order that they may, without delay, receive the type of treatment needed?

The normal practice in hospitals under the emergency scheme is that the medical staffs organise reception units, with special officers to supervise and classify admissions.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is now proposed to transfer London air raid casualties to places in Kent and East Anglia; and, if not, whether the hospitals concerned may be informed as soon as possible so that they may make arrangements for devoting all their accommodation to local cases?

The emergency hospital scheme is so framed as to enable patients to be moved according to the situation at the time, and all hospitals are aware that casualties may have to be moved in directions other than those originally planned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will expedite inquiries into the application for old age pension of Mrs. Maria Kidd, 37, Manley Street, Stratford, E.15?

I am glad to be able to say that Mrs. Kidd has now been awarded a pension.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour whether immediate steps are boding taken to provide physio-therapeutical treatment to workers engaged upon war-time industrial work?

I have been asked to reply. I am discussing this subject with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 4,246 deaths classified as being due to non-respiratory tuberculosis in 1938 were attributed to bovine tuberculosis?

I am afraid I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Willesden (Mr. Viant) on 23rd May last.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the transfer of men to districts away from their homes, vaccination officers will be instructed to accept statutory declarations under the Vaccination Act, 1907, from either parent?

Where, owing to the absence of the father or other cause, the mother has the custody of the child and is responsible for its vaccination, it is open to her to make the statutory declaration. Vaccination officers are aware of this, and I do not think that the issue of general advice on the subject is necessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour whether he will consider immediate action to economise labour by preventing overlapping deliveries of milk, bread and other commodities?

I have been asked to reply. A substantial economy of labour has already been achieved by the distributive trades in the delivery of milk, bread and other foodstuffs, but my Noble Friend hopes to secure still further economy as a result of consultations which are taking place with the trades concerned.