asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that voluntary organisations, such as the Women's Volunteer Service, collecting waste paper outside borough boundaries, are only paid one-half of what local authorities receive for the same class of paper; what is the reason for this; and will he take steps to alter this, in view of the fact that such paper is collected by voluntary workers, who have given up much time to such work with a view to handing over the proceeds to such organisations as the Red Cross and soldiers' comforts funds?

Maximum prices for waste paper are prescribed in the Control of Paper (No. 15) Order, which does not differentiate between prices payable to voluntary organisations and local authorities, except that the latter may be paid somewhat higher allowances for certain types of waste paper where they are graded ready for re-manufacture and delivered in press packed bales in minimum lots of four tons eah.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider setting up panels of production experts to which manufacturers can submit suggestions and which, in cases where production appears to be restricted by over-elaboration in specifications, will have the power of calling on the officials responsible to justify their requirements?

Close contact is maintained with manufacturers and their suggestions for modification and simplification of specifications are welcomed, and any recommendations they make which would increase production are adopted whenever service conditions permit. For clothing and general stores, advisory panels consisting of both trade and labour representatives already exist. For other supplies, service requirements are mainly of a special nature and it is not considered that formal panels would be satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will take steps to manufacture on an extensive scale small hand-grenades for use against invaders from the air, and also heavy hand-grenades with 1½ to 2½ second fuses for use against tanks?

This matter is already in hand.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the provision for free medical treatment for wives and children of prison officers, which is available in cases where the officer is living in quarters, is in effect denied where the officer is unable to be provided with quarters and has to live some way from the prison in which he is employed; and whether he is prepared to authorise arrangements for the provision of free medical attention in such cases?

Prison officers and their families living at such a distance from a prison that the prison medical officer is unable to attend them are allowed to make arrangements with medical practitioners of their own choice for medical attendance for which payment is made at panel rates by the Prison Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can arrange that organisers of the Local Defence Volunteers shall be entitled to use franked envelopes in connection with their work, and be able to obtain petrol coupons in connection with their activities?

It would not be desirable to extend the use of franked envelopes for this purpose, but an allowance to cover postage and clerical work has been authorised. Petrol coupons will be supplied through Territorial Army Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the resolution passed at a meeting of ex-service men of the last war, in the Odd-fellows Hall, Edinburgh, on 5th June, 1940, a copy of which has been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Greenock, urging that immediate steps be taken to call up all ex-service men of the last war who are not now engaged directly in war work and are not in reserved occupations; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

I fully appreciate the desire of ex-service men, as expressed in the resolution which my hon. and learned Friend has sent me, to give their services once more to the defence of this country, and I would refer to the answer which I gave on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) on Tuesday last, of which I am sending my hon. and learned Friend a copy.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider allowing men of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, at present stationed in the Orkneys, green envelopes for use in their correspondence, as is at present allowed to the British Expeditionary Force?

The issue to these men of a distinctive envelope to ensure censorship of the contents in a manner different from that of ordinary correspondence is a matter for the naval authorities concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the apprehension that exists at the omission to control prices of certain foodstuffs in common use which have had high increase in price, he will consider taking powers to apply the provisions of the Prices of Goods Act to those foodstuffs about which price complaint is made?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which was given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food on 29th May.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the qualifications of the present chairman of the Malayan delegation on the International Tin Control; and whether he has any practical experience of the tin industry?

The senior member of the Malayan delegation on the International Tin Committee, Sir John Campbell, has had very long experience of administration in India and of international affairs; and, in the opinion of my Noble Friend, his knowledge and experience, including his experience in the working of the very similar International Rubber Regulation Scheme, make him admirably suited for this post.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why no inquiries are made as to the original nationality and family connections of the wives of appointees in the intelligence section of his Department; and whether he will consult the other service departments, with a view to systematising procedure in this matter?

Serving officers and permanent civil servants are selected for appointment to the Directorate of Intelligence of my Department with special care and I can assure my hon. Friend that there is no ground for questioning their integrity and discretion. I have, however, arranged for consultations to take place between my Department and the other service departments on the question of a common security practice and I will communicate in due course with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that several pilot officers, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who were promoted to higher-paid acting rank, have had to revert to pilot officer on being posted to another unit; and what steps he proposes to take to amend A.M.O.A., 490/39, so as to obviate such reversion?

The Air Ministry Order in question has recently been amended and provides that, subject to the rules regarding the relinquishment of acting rank generally, such rank need not be relinquished when an officer is posted to any appointment of rank equivalent to, or higher than, the rank of that which he vacated. This includes a super- numerary posting with a view to filling such an appointment in a newly-formed unit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the large issues of pennies by the Mint in recent years; what is the estimated amount now in circulation in the United Kingdom; and whether he has considered the advisability of restricting further issues?

Yes, Sir. Since the beginning of 1935 the Royal Mint has issued £2,093,235 in pence including some small issues to the Colonies. The total amount of pence now in circulation in the United Kingdom is estimated to exceed £7,500,000, and having regard to the large issues of recent years and to the urgent need for economy in the consumption of metal and labour it has been decided that the Mint will not normally accept further requisitions for the issue of new pennies for the time being. As compared with the average amount of metal used for the coinage of pence since 1935 the effect of this decision will be a saving of 823 tons per annum in the amount of imported copper used by the Royal Mint. I should add that all reasonable requisitions for farthings, halfpence and threepences will continue to be met. The new nickel bronze threepences which are still in short supply are more economical coins to produce and their continued issue will permit their more general use by the public where amounts of more than 2¾d. are required.