asked the Home Secretary how many aliens now hold public-house licences in this country; and whether such licences will be transferred to British subjects?

I regret that information is not available as to the number of aliens holding public-house licences. Aliens, as such, are not disqualified from holding such licences, but a number of alien licensees have already been prevented by internment from carrying on their business, and in those cases it is open to the new tenant or occupier of the licensed premises to apply to the licensing justices for transfer of the licence.

asked the Home Secretary how many registered clubs in this country are held by enemy aliens and when such clubs will be closed?

I have no information as to the number of registered clubs owned or managed by enemy aliens, but a close watch is being kept on the activities of all enemy aliens and, in addition to the powers which the police have under the ordinary licensing laws to secure that undesirable clubs are struck off the register, there are special powers under the Aliens Order, 1920, enabling me to authorise the police in certain circumstances to close any place used as a club which is, or has recently been, frequented by aliens.

asked the Home Secretary whether the police inform Press representatives of raids or investigations under the Defence of the Realm Act; and whether they secure equal publicity for the exoneration of suspected persons who are found to have been wrongfully exposed to annoyance and indignity?

No, Sir. It would be most improper for the police to give to the Press any information of any kind relating to such inquiries conducted by them.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the necessity of having as many trained policemen on duty as possible in all parts of the country, he will arrange with the Secretary of State for War to release reservists who are trained policemen and have been called to the Colours, to let them return to their civil duties?

This is a matter in which I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the result of any testing of Anderson steel shelters in connection with recent air raids?

I should not wish to build too much upon the limited but favourable experience which we have had as yet; it is certainly the case that nothing has occurred to shake the confidence which I place in properly erected and covered steel shelters.

asked the Home Secretary whether a person who enters into occupation of a dwelling in a vulnerable area which is not provided with household shelter accommodation is entitled to have such shelter accommodation provided free by the local authority, if he is within the categories of persons originally entitled to free provision of Anderson steel shelters?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider issuing an order to cut gaps in hedges bordering on highroads and covering them with temporary hurdles in order to enable civilians who are being attacked from the air to get out of the roads into the fields?

I have considered my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I do not think it would be practicable to give effect to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of loans free of interest to the Government, he will permit a condition attached by the lender that, in the event of his death before the end of the war, the loan should be repaid at the request of his personal representatives?

In the event of the death of the lender during the currency of an interest-free loan to the Government, I should be prepared to authorise repayment to his personal representatives whenever that course is desired. It is not necessary therefore for a lender to make a specific condition to that effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Air in view of the not unexpected entry of Italy into the war and the consequent suspension of the Empire air mails to Africa and the Far East, why no steps were taken in advance to prepare a similar service on an alternative route in each case?

Arrangements were made in advance to provide a service by an alternative route to meet the eventuality referred to by my hon. Friend. Recent events have, however, necessitated modification of these plans. As soon as it is practicable the carriage of Empire air mails will be resumed as part of the load carried on this route.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the procedure contemplated with regard to the closing down of agricultural institutes; what use it is proposed to make of the teaching staff; and what arrangements are to be made to maintain to some degree an adequate scheme for the instruction of agricultural students?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 28th June to the Question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley (Mr. Joel).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the age of reservation for shepherds remains at 21; and whether he will consider, with the Minister of Labour, the reduction of the age to 18, as in the case of some other classes of farm, workers, in view of the urgent importance of retaining shepherds on hill farms?

Although the importance of shepherds on hill farms is fully recognised, the Government do not consider that from the point of view of the country as a whole a reduction in the age of reservation for shepherds would be justified. Application can be made for deferment of calling-up where necessary.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give an assurance that civil servants, who are conscientious objectors and are granted exemption from military service on condition that they work on the land, will not receive from public funds any addition to their agricultural wages?

It has been provided that, in the circumstances referred to, civil servants should receive no balance of civil pay.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has now considered the state of affairs at Wolverton, London Midland and Scottish Railway, carriage works; and whether he can make a statement on the subject?

Urgent steps are being taken, in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Labour, to secure the most effective possible use of capacity in Wolverton and other railway workshops which is surplus to essential railway requirements. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement shortly on the matter.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will give an assurance that the service of pensioned ex-Service men with the Local Defence Volunteers which may affect their physical condition will not be in any way regarded as prejudicing the pensions they already receive?

I can assure my hon. Friend that disablement pensions of ex-Service men will be in no way affected by service in the Local Defence Volunteers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether subscribers who, by the provisions of the Post Office and Telegraph Act, 1940, have the right to cancel telephone contracts entered into for a period of years will, in the mutual interest of such subscribers and of the Post Office, be afforded an opportunity of continuing in possession of the same telephone facilities at the revised tariff, subject to short notice of cancellation on either side?

My hon. Friend's proposal is tantamount to conceding to every subscriber the right of varying the period of notice under his contract as an alternative to cancelling it. Such an option is not given by the Act and I regret that I cannot agree to adopt the suggestion.

asked the Minister of Supply how much tin was purchased by the Nonferrous Metal Control during the four months ended 31st December, 1939; and at what average price per ton?

No purchases of tin have been made by the Non-ferrous Metals Control either in the period referred to or at any subsequent date.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to identify merchant seamen who have lost their identity cards owing to enemy action; and whether he is prepared to cause new identity cards to be issued free of charge upon satisfactory proof of their identity?

Authority has been given for the waiving of the fee for the replacement of identity cards of merchant seamen in all cases where the local National Registration Officer reports that the loss has been shown to his satisfaction to be due to wreck or enemy action The procedure of replacement itself provides adequate safeguards for testing the identity of the applicant.

asked the Minister of Health whether the responsibility is, placed on local authorities of advising householders whose windows have been broken as a result of enemy action, how most quickly and advantageously to obtain glass wherewith to repair the damage; and whether any arrangements have been made for supplies of this glass to be kept in different districts?

Under the Housing (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939, local authorities are responsible for seeing that first aid repairs are carried out to houses damaged by war action, and most of them have stocks of materials, including glass and window substitutes, for this purpose. In addition substantial reserves of materials for such repairs have been accumulated in stores distributed over the country. Owners carrying out their own repairs who experience difficulty in obtaining necessary materials should consult their local authority.