asked the Postmaster-General to give a definite ruling on the question of whether Local Defence Volunteers' headquarters in all parts of the country are entitled to send out their official communications in envelopes carrying the stamp of the unit with the letters O.H.M.S. and without the use of postal revenue stamps?

No, Sir, they are not so entitled. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 19th June by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the War Office to a Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Sir G. Fox).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make any further statement with regard to the recruitment of a horsed section of the Local Defence Volunteers?

Mounted detachments of Local Defence Volunteers are already formed or in process of formation where the conditions are appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a man who won the Victoria Cross in the last war has been excluded from the Local Defence Volunteers on the ground that his parents were not British; and whether he will alter existing regulations in order that ex-service men who can show a record of satisfactory service in the war of 1914–18 may be accepted for service in the Local Defence Volunteers, even though their parents were not British subjects?

I am aware of the case to which my hon. Friend refers, and I will consider the suggestion which he makes.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Mr. J. E. Welsh, a local councillor of Gloucester City and agent of the local Labour Party, having four years' experience in the Territorial Army, was dismissed from the Local Defence Volunteers on the ground of his politics; and whether there is any political or social ban on the membership of this body?

I will make inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will instruct all units of defence in this country to learn to distinguish between the sound of a German aeroplane from that of a British aeroplane; and whether he will insist upon the use by night of dogs, who are the only means of finding strange troops in wooded places?

The ability to distinguish with certainty between the sounds of enemy and friendly aircraft can be attained only by continuous experience of the sounds of actual aircraft, and, in many cases, those now serving at home have had such experience. It is possible, however, that recorded sounds might be of use for instructional purposes, and I will I have this investigated. The question of the use of dogs in home defence has been carefully considered and it has been decided that their value is not sufficient to offset the difficulties which their employment entails. I would not agree that dogs are the only means of finding strange troops in wooded places.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the formation of a Jewish battalion or battalions?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on 23rd May last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has decided to encourage the formation of a Jewish battalion for war service?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on 23rd May last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now consider the question of forming a British foreign legion?

In present circumstances, the question of forming a foreign legion is being re-examined.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Commander-in-Chief for Home Defence has been given the necessary powers over the various authorities, civil and military, who are concerned?

The Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, has full powers of command over all military formations allotted to home defence. He is in close co-operation with civil authorities, and, if any difficulty in meeting military requirements arises, the necessary machinery exists for resolving it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that all requisite steps have been taken to ensure the destruction of road bridges when required; and has he insisted on the immediate co-operation of the Ministry of Transport and the local authorities to this end?

The necessary steps have been taken in consultation with the Ministry of Transport, whose officers are in constant touch with the local authorities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will make a statement as to whether his Department will now accept the principle of buying pigs by liveweight?

My Noble Friend regrets that he is unable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour how many welfare officers he proposes to appoint; for what areas; and on what basis of selection?

As part of the organisation, which includes the factory inspectorate for promoting the welfare of factory workers, it is proposed to appoint a number of special welfare officers to deal more particularly with welfare arrangements outside the factories, and I assume that my hon. Friend refers to these. There would be a divisional welfare officer for each of the 11 divisions of the country, one of which is Scotland, and a number of local welfare officers, probably about 20 in the first instance. They are being selected from persons on the Central Register and others who appear prima facie to have appropriate qualifications rendering them suitable for consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour the name of the official in his Department responsible for the co-ordination of welding instruction in the 16 centres for Government training, together with his welding qualifications for that post?

The number of places devoted to welding in the Government training centres is small in comparison with the number devoted to certain other trades, such as fitting and machine operating, and there is no one officer solely responsible for this training. Welding instruction is given by fully qualified instructors working under the direction of the higher technical staff at the centres. These in turn are under the general supervision of the technical inspectorate attached to the training department at the headquarters of the Ministry. All the officers of this inspectorate are highly qualified engineers and some of them have long experience of welding.

asked the Minister of Supply the usual practice in factories under Government control with regard to the payment of office staff when kept working on Saturday afternoons and Sundays?

In general, employès of clerical, typing and messengerial grades in offices of the Royal Ordnance Factories are eligible for payment on an overtime basis for hours worked on Saturday afternoons and Sundays beyond the normal weekly hours. The rates and conditions of payment, which in most instances are governed by agreements with staff associations or by awards of the Industrial Court, differ as between the various classes of employment.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the suspension of the rationing of coal, gas and electricity, the rationing section of his Department is now closed; and whether local fuel officers have been similarly dealt with?

The staff of the rationing section has been reduced to three. Local fuel overseers have certain other duties to perform for which their services are still necessary.

asked the Minister of Supply whether a decision has now been reached on the compulsory appointment of salvage officers for each local authority area?

My right hon. Friend yesterday issued a direction under the Defence Regulations to local authorities with a population of over 10,000 requiring them to provide or cause to be provided, to his satisfaction, a service for the regular and efficient collection of certain materials most urgently required. The direction does not include any specific provision regarding the appointment of collecting officers, but this is implied in the requirement of an efficient service.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is taking all practical steps to increase the production of antitank guns?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the production of antitank equipments has received particular consideration, and special steps have been and are being taken to increase output.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to the circularisation of all Members of Parliament of a 60-page brochure by the Association of Makers of Esparto Papers drawing attention to the present paper shortage, and urging that more ships should be made available to convey certain paper-making materials to this country; and what action he proposes to take to prevent waste of this kind, having regard to the fact that limitation has already been applied with regard to the size of newspapers and other publications?

My attention has been called to this brochure and I am having the matter looked into. In reply to the second part of the Question, as from the beginning of the present month, no paper-maker is permitted to deliver paper produced by him to any person, or to convert the paper himself, without a licence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether consideration has been given to the advisability of giving financial help by means of a moratorium or otherwise to those whose livelihood has been destroyed by movement of populations from evacuation areas leading to loss of business and employment?

I have been asked to reply. Very careful consideration has been given to the class of case referred to. The statutory provisions designed to give protection are contained in the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939, and a Bill to amend this Act was given a Second Reading and debated yesterday. If the hon. Gentleman has any special suggestions he would like considered I would be very glad to receive them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider issuing to men of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at present in the Orkneys, distinctive envelopes to ensure censorship of the contents in a manner different from that of ordinary correspondence?

All personnel serving, in His Majesty's ships afloat are already entitled to one privilege envelope a week, which is exempted from censorship on board. As soon as administrative arrangements can be made this concession will be extended to men in shore establishments, such as the Orkneys, where unit censorship is in force.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the desirability of fully compensating serving officers of the Royal Navy who lose their uniforms, plain clothes and other effects when their ship is sunk, instead of on the basis of the minimum outfit required on active service?

The principle that officers are compensated for loss of effects on the basis of enabling them to reequip themselves with what is necessary for further service is considered fair and reasonable. The regulations clearly provide that if an officer keeps non-service articles on board it is incumbent upon him to protect himself by insurance. The fact that insurance against war risks can be effected with the War Risks Insurance Office has been brought to the notice of all officers. Directions were given on the outbreak of war that all ceremonial articles of uniform were to be landed. If an officer did not have the opportunity to land such articles compensation was paid.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the adverse effect on the war effort of the nation of the internment or the restriction of the freedom of movement of Class C aliens of technical and scientific knowledge and experience; and what steps is he taking in order to accelerate the return to full freedom of such persons, largely refugees from Nazi persecution, who are proved to be loyal, so that they may be enabled to render the fullest service to the allied cause?

Yes, Sir; and, while such measures of restriction have been, and will continue to be, applied as are necessary in the interests of national security, arrangements have been made to give special consideration to individual cases where it is established that the person concerned is well disposed towards this country and it is represented to me by the Government Department concerned that a relaxation of the restrictions would help to further the national war effort.

asked the Home Secretary whether Messrs. Kurt Huebschmann and Hans Baumann, who have recently been permitted to photograph Cabinet Ministers in Government offices, are British subjects?

Neither of these persons possesses British nationality.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now state any lessons derived from recent enemy air visitation affecting the value of steel shelters, brick shelters and the different forms of protecting windows against blast from bombs?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday to a Question by the hon. Member for Tonbridge (Sir A. Baillie). Experience, so far, is reassuring but there has not yet been a sufficient body of it on which to form judgments. Hon. Members may like to know that, in anticipation of bombing attacks I was able, with the welcome co-operation of the Cement and Concrete Association, to build up a staff for the purpose of investigating the effects of bombing on the spot, and that detailed reports on all recent raids have been within a very brief space of time in the hands of my research department, where they are studied exhaustively.

asked the Home Secretary what steps are being taken to prevent unreliable elements from becoming or remaining members of air-raid precautions bodies and Local Defence Volunteers?

As I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Mr. Silkin) on 30th May, the primary responsibility for satisfying themselves as to the complete reliability of individual members of the Civil Defence services rests with local authorities. I have no reason to doubt that the responsible authorities are fully aware of the importance, more particularly at the present juncture, of satisfying themselves in this matter, but I have already directed their special attention to the desirability of taking steps to remove from the services any person in whose reliability they have not complete confidence. The responsibility for the Local Defence Volunteers rests with the War Office but I understand that arrangements have been made for the careful scrutiny of all applicants for enrolment in that Service.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give immediate instructions to local authorities to place their road departments at the disposal of the military authorities to assist in the preparation of necessary defensive works on roads?

The local authorities are co-operating fully with the miltary authorities in this matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will now take steps to intern all enemy aliens except those whom he is satisfied can be trusted to be of positive service to the country and its defence?

Certain further measures are at present being taken but it would be better that I should defer for the present any statement as to the character and scope of those measures.

asked the Home Secretary whether arrangements have now been made to allow German and Austrian schoolboys who were removed from their schools for internment under general internment regulations to return to school life under suitable conditions; and whether he will state the procedure to be followed in such cases?

I am prepared to consider the release of any German or Austrian schoolboy or schoolgirl who can be accommodated and maintained outside any protected area. I have already authorised the release of a number who can be so accommodated and maintained, but there are still some for whom arrangements have not been made. It would be helpful if any person or school willing to receive a particular boy or girl who is still interned would communicate with the Home Office.

asked the Home Secretary what steps he is taking to see that all public air-raid shelters are opened at all times during the day and night, and not padlocked at night?

It is for the local authorities to ensure that public air-raid shelters are available for occupation when need arises and I have no reason for thinking that they are not in fact so available.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he has studied the activities of the Fifth Column in Norway, Holland, Belgium and France; and, as there is a strong feeling that many people are still at large in this country who ought to be interned, whether he will initiate more vigorous steps to deal with this problem;(2) whether he will order the immediate internment of all members of the British Union and other Fascist and pro-enemy organisations?

I have had full reports of what has taken place in the countries mentioned. I can assure my hon. Friend that active steps have been and are being taken to deal with any persons in this country about whose activities there are grounds for suspicion. Wide powers of search and investigation have been conferred on the police and a large number of persons have already been interned under the Defence Regulation which provides for preventive detention. Full use will continue to be made of these powers.

asked the Home Secretary whether continuous inspections are being made of all empty warehouses and factories along the water-front?

All premises on the river-front are kept under close observation, both from the water by the river patrols of the Metropolitan Police and from the land by constables on special beats.

asked the Home Secretary whether all air-raid precautions centres are now fully equipped with steel helmets, stirrup-pumps, rattles and other means of giving warning?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to wardens' posts. The authorised equipment has been issued for all these posts.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the part-time volunteers attached to the Streatham stretcher parties are not equipped like the full-time men; and what action he intends taking about the matter?

Equipment upon the official scale, which makes no distinction between full-time and part-time volunteers, has been issued to the Borough of Wandsworth for the full war establishment of stretcher parties. I understand, however, that the borough council have themselves decided to purchase 100 additional sets of equipment for part-time volunteers recruited in excess of the authorised establishment.

asked the Minister of Health for what reason women members of the Voluntary Aid Detachments have been asked to join the Civil Nursing Reserve, in lieu of being called upon to serve under the conditions imposed upon them on joining Voluntary Aid Detachments?

With the concurrence of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War arrangements have been made with the Voluntary Aid Detachment Council for the release from their Army obligations of a number of women members of voluntary aid detachments on the ground that they are surplus to Army requirements. These members are, therefore, at liberty to join the Civil Nursing Reserve in which their services can be fully utilised.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that women members of Voluntary Aid Detachments provided themselves with uniforms at an approximate cost of £10 to be repaid out of public funds upon mobilisation, and that upon transfer to the Civil Nursing Reserve, notwithstanding such expenditure, a grant of approximately 10s. only is made towards the cost of such uniforms; and will he take steps to remedy this grievance?

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, that an initial grant of £10 in respect of uniform allowance is admissible for voluntary aid detachment members on joining for duty with the Army. As the members referred to by my hon. Friend have been released from their Army obligations on the ground that they are surplus to requirements, the question of paying this grant no longer arises. Members of the Civil Nursing Reserve are provided, free of cost, with the uniform which they are required to wear when at work, though special arrangements have been made for members of the British Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Brigade to wear their own uniforms if they wish to do so. I may also mention that I am arranging for former members of voluntary aid detachments, who have joined the Civil Nursing Reserve after long experience, to be paid at a higher rate than the normal rate for nursing auxiliaries in the reserve.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to see that the practice whereby in many areas the local war emergency committees are using their positions to persuade members of the Medical Practitioners' Union to become members of another medical organisation to which they have no desire to belong, is put an end to?

I have no knowledge of the practice referred to.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will advise local authorities that medical officers of an age which makes them likely to be called upon for military service, and without practical experience of war wounds, should not he employed as deputy medical officers of health for air-raid precautions purposes or placed in charge of first-aid posts?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question which he asked on 30th November last.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken for the inspection of first-aid posts; and whether his inspectors are required to be acquainted with the lessons to be learned from the results of modern aerial warfare, for example, in Spain?

Additional medical officers, known as assistant hospital officers, have been appointed, with the inspection of first-aid post arrangements as one of their most important duties. These officers are acquainted with the medical and surgical requirements arising from modern aerial warfare.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that in Barcelona a system of aid posts and mobile units similar to that which exists in this country had to be abolished because it proved impossible to prevent the reception of serious cases at these posts, from which they could not be evacuated to hospitals without fatal delay, and to the further fact that the death rate was notably diminished by the abolition of aid posts and mobile units; and whether he is satisfied that such delays as occurred at Barcelona can be avoided in this country?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question which he asked on 16th November last.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the destruction of dwellings by aerial bombardment, the Government will immediately requisition all available property that is unoccupied or not regularly used, such as houses, clubs, schools, institutes and, if necessary, certain theatres and cinemas; and instruct local authorities to provide water supply and sanitation and make preparation to supply food and bedding for families rendered homeless?

County and county borough councils throughout England and Wales have made arrangements for the provision of food and shelter for persons rendered homeless by enemy action, and power is being delegated to them to requisition buildings required for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men of those called up have claimed to be treated as conscientious objectors; what percentage this represents of the total registered; how many of the objectors have appeared before the tribunals; and how many are engaged on work of real national importance?

43,534 men, or 1.4 per cent. of the total registered under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, have made application to be registered as conscientious objectors. Up to 8th June, 17,247 had had their cases dealt with by the local tribunals, who have ordered civilian work in 7,201 cases. In specifying the civilian work which these men must undertake the tribunals have regard to the national interest, but I am not in a position to give the statistics asked for in the last part of the Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what arrangements he is making for communal feeding in order to make the best use of the food resources of the country?

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley (Mr. Joel) on the 20th June, my Noble Friend welcomes the provision of communal meals and has taken steps to facilitate the allocation of supplies for this purpose. The question of more direct action to promote the establishment of communal feeding centres is under urgent consideration in consultation with the other Departments concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that recent broadcasts and speeches on the food situation have been so reassuring that they may encourage unnecessary consumption of food and wasteful use of it; and will he, in future, combine these optimistic reports with reminders of the strain which a long siege is likely to place on our food stocks?

I trust that the recent broadcasts and speeches have not given the impression which my hon. Friend suggests and which was not intended. The Ministry of Food is doing everything in its power to promote care in the use of food, and to avoid waste.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, under the scheme for the Canadian reception of British scholars, British schools can now arrange for the education of their transferred scholars in Canada and for the educational fees of the parents being paid in that country?

The Government scheme does not apply to the evacuation of schools as a whole, and was never intended to do so. It applies only to individual children, whatever kind of school they may be attending. The point raised by my hon. Friend is already receiving separate consideration and I hope to make a further statement at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many persons are now employed by the British Overseas Airways Corporation?

The total number of staff of all grades employed on 31st May last was 5,213, which total includes 300 engineers and supervisory staff wholly employed on work for the Royal Air Force and the Ministry of Aircraft Production.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the names of those licensing districts which at the recent licensing sessions were granted an extension to 10.30 p.m. on week-days, specifying which were for the whole year and which for a lesser period; the names of districts in which last year the permitted terminal hour on week-days was 10.30 p.m. during the summer months but which have this year reverted to 10 p.m. closing; and also a complete list of licensing districts where the justices have extended permitted hours on week-days to 10.30 p.m. either for the whole year or part of the year?

I am sending my hon. Friend the particulars asked for: they are too long for circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered a communication from the Hotels and Restaurants Association advocating the compulsory closing of restaurants in London at midnight and the suppression of bottle parties; and whether he has taken any steps in the matter?

I would refer to my reply to Questions put to me to-day by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for are Burghs (Sir T. Moore) and by my hon. Friend the Member for Central Newcastle-on-Tyne (Mr. Denville).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further statement to make in regard to the special mission to Spain?

Sir Samuel Hoare assumed charge of His Majesty's Embassy at Madrid on 1st June and presented his credentials to General Franco on 8th June. He has been twice received by General Franco and is actively fulfilling his mission at interviews with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and other leading personalities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any protest has been made on behalf of the Chinese Government with regard to the recent Tientsin Agreement between the British and Japanese Governments; and whether the Government of the United States of America was informed of the contents of the agreement before it was signed?

I would remind the hon. Member that, as I stated in the House on 19th June, the Chinese Government have agreed to the arrangements made for the disposal of the silver deposited in the British Concession. No protest has been made by the Chinese Government or on their behalf with regard to the Tientsin Agreement. As regards the second part of the Question, copies of the relevant documents were as a matter of courtesy communicated to the United States Government in advance of publication.

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he will consider replacing at the State expense, instead of as now at individual expense, the uniform, plain clothes and other effects of the merchant navy when their vessels are sunk?

Compensation is already payable out of public funds to members of the Mercantile Marine who sustain loss of, or damage to, effects by enemy action. The compensation scheme is contained in the Statutory Rules and Orders, 1939. No. 1070 and 1940, No. 269.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the names of those taking part in raids on Germany or enemy occupied territory can be omitted from published reports so as to prevent any action being taken against them should they subsequently be taken prisoner?

The names of those taking part in air attacks against the enemy are only published when they receive decorations for their services. I am not aware that any of those whose names have been made public in this way and who have fallen into the enemy's hands have suffered on account of this publicity. I therefore see no reason for varying the present practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the desirability of devising some scheme whereby serving officers in the Royal Air Force whose uniforms are ruined by weather or other conditions over which they have no control may be entitled to have such uniforms replaced at the expense of the State or otherwise receive compensation?

Provision is already made for the compensation of officers for loss of or damage to uniforms and the conditions under which it is payable are set out in para. 2631 et seq. of the King's Regulations for the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of health what mortuary arrangements have been made for use in the event of civilian casualties during enemy action?

In pursuance of their duty to provide mortuary accommodation for war emergencies, local sanitary authorities have, where necessary, made emergency provision by adapting and equipping existing buildings for use as mortuaries and, in a few areas, by constructing new temporary accommodation.

asked the Minister of Health how provision for Belgian and other friendly alien refugees is made when private hospitality is not available; whether the cost of this maintenance is borne wholly by the Exchequer; if payment is made by the Unemployment Assistance Board or public assistance authorities to those who are destitute: what is the weekly rate per head for adults and children placed in houses previously unoccupied and who cater for themselves; and whether this rate is uniform in all areas which have refugees?

These refugees, if they are not in a position to maintain themselves, are either billeted on householders who offer accommodation with or without board, or are accommodated in empty houses. The Government has given to local authorities an undertaking that any additional expenditure falling on them because of the reception of refugees will be met from the Exchequer. Refugees billeted without board and those in empty houses may, if in need, apply for an allowance from the Assistance Board. These applications are dealt with on the basis of the statutory regulations approved by Parliament for unemployment assistance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what duty is charged in the case of a passenger arriving in this country with a motor car purchased abroad;(2) what duty is charged by inland revenue authorities on a motor car shipped from a foreign manufacturer to an individual in this country?

In both cases the duty is 33⅓ per cent. of the value of the car. Under the law a person usually resident abroad and paying a visit to this country may be allowed to import a car for his private use duty-free provided he gives security for its re-export within a limited period, but at present the importation of motor cars is prohibited except under Board of Trade licence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to a circular issued by the Social Credit Party headed "Reminder and Warning; National Bonds on Tap," a copy of which has been sent to him; and what steps he is taking to secure that public confidence in war loans and Government finance is not thereby undermined?

The circular referred to repeats the views of the Social Credit Party. It contains nothing new, and my right hon. Friend does not think that it will undermine the confidence of Members of Parliament to whom it appears to be addressed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the computation for the purposes of Excess Profits Tax of the average capital employed in a trade or business must in every case conform strictly to the provisions of the Seventh Schedule of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1939?

The provisions of the Seventh Schedule of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1939, to which my hon. Friend refers, constitute a statutory rule for the computation of capital employed and have therefore been drawn so as to prescribe a strict standard of measurement. But in actual practice the Revenue authorities would not insist on a meticulous calculation in conformity with the schedule unless it would be in the interest of the taxpayer or the amounts involved were so large that appreciable revenue was at stake. Normally, where capital is employed for part only of an accounting period, the Revenue would be content to accept calculations based on the number of complete months. Moreover, in the case of any element of the capital computation that fluctuates throughout the year, the Revenue would be willing, in cases where such a course gives substantial accuracy, to take the mean capital of the period by reference to the amounts at the beginning and end of the year as measuring the average capital. If any taxpayer finds difficulty in working out figures of average capital, I would suggest that he should communicate with his Inspector of Taxes who will be happy to assist him in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any of the Armed Forces stationed in this country are supplied free with tobacco, cigarettes and postage; and whether he will see to it that the same opportunities are given to all those who are in the Army, Navy and Air Force?

A free issue of tobacco and cigarettes is about to be made to the Forces stationed in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Free postage facilities are already allowed to the personnel of sea-going ships. These arrangements are made owing to special conditions. As regards concessions to the Forces in this country generally, my right hon. Friend feels that in the conditions which obtain to-day, it would be difficult to make a differentiation, having regard to the wide range of other persons now engaged in Defence services, many of whom are not in a dissimilar financial position.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make representations to building societies to discontinue, in the case of members serving in His Majesty's Forces, the peace-time practice of imposing fines for failing to pay at the appointed date instalments due on mortgages; and whether a similar right may be extended to other members where delay in the payments of instalments is due to war-time conditions?

Protection is already given by the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act to mortgagors who are unable immediately to meet their obligations for reasons arising out of the war. In order further to safeguard members serving in the Forces, it is proposed to strengthen the powers of the Courts under the Act. My hon. Friend w ill realise that consistent delays in the payment of instalments would have an appreciable effect on building societies' funds, and my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in proposing arrangements in the case of obligations to building societies different from those which are made in the case of analogous obligations as affected by the war.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to state that the moorlands and wastes of the country will be utilised for the rough grazing of hardy cattle and sheep?

Specific inquiries have been made regarding the moorlands referred to in the Question put to me by the hon. Member on 11th April. These inquiries show that satisfactory arrangements had been made by the Derbyshire War Agricultural Executive Committee whereby all moorlands in that county should be effectively grazed with sheep this year. Officers of the committee will maintain observation during the summer to ensure that this is being done. There is no local demand for cattle grazing, and the local cattle are unsuited for this purpose. Part of one of the moors extending into Cheshire is held by the Manchester Corporation as a water gathering ground, and the pasturing of sheep is allowed. In the West Riding the question has been taken up locally but no report is yet available on the results achieved. Inquiries on the subject will, however, be pursued.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the agricultural scale of wages applies to labourers employed on an agricultural estate in such jobs as fencing, draining, cutting underwood, road repairing and in general maintenance duties of farm and woods, or whether separate contracts can be entered into with those men employed on estate and garden work only?

Broadly speaking, estate employès who are engaged on work directly connected with the use of land for agricultural purposes are, I am advised, employed in agriculture and are entitled to the agricultural minimum rates of wages.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of money now that is left over from the sums collected by the public towards providing for the relatives of those who lost their lives in big mining disasters; and will he try to get these all in one central fund so that they can be utilised more evenly?

The latest information in my possession about colliery accident funds is contained in Command Paper 5167 issued in April, 1936, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. As has been previously stated in this House, there are a number of difficulties which render impracticable the suggestion contained in the second part of the Question.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum what further steps he proposes to take to restrict more severely the large amount of unnecessary private motoring in this country?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies which I gave on 18th June to the hon. Members for Elland (Mr. Levy) and Central Bradford (Mr. Leach), and on 25th June to the hon. Member for Peckham (Mr. Silkin), of which I am sending him copies.