asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production whether, in view of the recent increase of the Excess Profits Tax to 100 per cent., he intends to continue the special branch known as the Technical Costs Department?

Yes, Sir. The raising of the rate of Excess Profits Tax to 100 per cent. makes it the more necessary to check uneconomical and inefficient production. The work of the Technical Costs Branch, which serves both the Admiralty and the Ministry of Aircraft Production, has been adapted to that end, and its work will be continued.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production whether his Department have revised their estimates of the country's requirements of aluminium in the light of new conditions; whether the recent appeal for the collection of aluminium utensils from private sources indicates a serious shortage of the metal; and what steps have been taken to meet the situation?

The answer to the first part of the Question is, Yes, Sir; in regard to the second part, I hope that no one in this country or elsewhere will consider that the recent appeal for the collection of aluminium utensils in any way indicates that we are not a position to carry out our full aircraft programme. The appeal provides an opportunity for the public to surrender voluntarily any aluminium articles they can spare, and I should like to pay my tribute to the generous way in which they have responded.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman represent to his right hon. Friend that in future appeals of this kind it might be better if some consultation were to take place with local authorities?

Are steps being taken to requisition aluminium goods which are for sale in the shops, the anomaly being obvious that when people surrender these things someone else can go and buy?

I know there has been some criticism that this was not worked through the salvage organisation. It was really apart from salvage. This was material which we were asking the women of Great Britain to surrender from their homes, and we thought the procedure best calculated to appeal to them was to deal with the Women's Voluntary Services organisation, to which we are thankful for helping us in our task. With regard to the Question of the hon. and learned Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons), my noble Friend is quite prepared to requisition stocks in retail shops and in any wholesale establishments as soon as that is necessary. The House, I think, should realise that there has been practically no aluminium for the manufacture of domestic utensils since the early days of the war; therefore, there is not a great quantity in the shops, but if it becomes necessary to requisition it, my noble Friend will certainly take that step.

Is there any truth in the report that this appeal is due to the fact that those in control of aluminium supplies were holding it up in some way?

No, Sir, none.

Is not the psychological effect bad when you ask householders to give up utensils? When they see every shop in every street stocked, how can you expect them to appreciate that there is a shortage?

The psychological effect has been extremely good, judging by the amount of aluminium which has come into our keeping in the last few days. I hope that nothing will be said in this House to deter people from responding to the appeal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production, whether there was any consultation with the Ministry of Supply prior to the appeal for aluminium salvage, to be organised and collected by the Women's Voluntary Services; whether he is aware that this method overlaps with the duties and responsibility for salvage collection now imposed on local authorities; and whether he will take steps to put an end to the confusion thus created?

As announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply by agreement with him and with the approval of the Production Council, responsibility for the control and maintenance of aluminium is being transferred from the Ministry of Supply to the Ministry of Aircraft Production. The answer to the first part of the Question is, therefore, in the negative. As regards the second part of the Question, the appeal was mainly directed towards obtaining articles that would not, in the normal course of events, have found their way to the salvage authorities for some time. In these circumstances, separate arrangements for the collection of the articles were considered desirable, and we are very much obliged to the Women's Voluntary Service for undertaking the task for us. I am not aware that any confusion has been created but if the hon. Member has any specific instances I will soon see that they are put right.

Has any date now been reached for the determination of this appeal, or is it proposed that the appeal shall be continued?

No, Sir, there is no date fixed.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that no intimation was given to local salvage authorities regarding this appeal, and that in many districts arrangements were not made to receive the aluminium when it was tendered?

It was generally set out that the people who were undertaking this scheme were working in the voluntary services. I know that my hon. Friend is interested in this matter, and I would point out that there is a lady in Croydon, Mrs. Bessie Roberts, who should know all about it. No doubt if they had communicated with her, they would have found out.

Is not the Minister aware that the lady is in charge of all the municipal salvage depots and had no information of the arrangements made by my hon. and gallant Friend's chief?

Women's Voluntary Services certainly informed us that they had notified the people in all the areas.

Will the person who is controller at the Ministry transfer his activities to the Department of Aircraft Production, for aluminium?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are some post offices still without a supply of supplementary pension forms, and will he have arrangements made for the distribution of forms to all post offices?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the complaints that application forms for supplementary old age pensions are unobtainable at many post offices; and whether steps will be taken to remedy this matter?

Supplementary pension forms were made available on 10th June at all post offices, and, although an unexpectedly large initial demand temporarily exhausted some local stocks, supplies of the forms to meet all requirements are available and any shortage which may occur at a particular post office can be immediately made good.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as a further measure of precaution, he will order the erasure of location signs and lists of place-charges in telephone kiosks; and whether he will arrange for the deletion of all local and area maps in telephone directories which are available for public reference at the present time?

I have already arranged for the exchange name and charge lists to be removed from every telephone kiosk in rural areas or on the outskirts of towns; and for the maps to he removed from telephone directories in every telephone kiosk throughout the country.

Will my right hon. Friend take the same step with regard to local and area maps in public offices when the public have access to and can consult those maps, the presence of which would stultify the other arrangements that have been made?

I will consider my hon. and learned Friend's suggestion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have recently been taken in Kenya to prevent and remedy soil erosion; whether effective collaboration in soil and water conservation has been secured between the East African territories; and whether the services concerned with this work have been able to continue their work in spite of the emergency?

A Soil Conservation Division of the Department of Agriculture has been set up in Kenya for the prevention of soil erosion in the Colony. Anti-erosion work is in progress in most districts; in the Machakos Reserve a project on a considerable scale is in progress assisted by a Brant from the Colonial Development Fund. Some progress in the prevention of erosion is visible, but advance is necessarily slow, since it is difficult to make African tribes understand the need for anti-erosion measures. As regards the second part of the Question, steps have been taken to secure collaboration in anti-erosion work by all East African Dependencies; and annual reports on the progress made are received by my Noble Friend and reviewed in detail by the Colonial Advisory Council of Agriculture and Animal Health. Anti-erosion services in Kenya have been continued despite the present emergency, but their efficiency has, of necessity, been to some extent impaired owing to a number of officers being called up for military duty.

Will my hon. Friend try to safeguard the very limited staff engaged on this work because of the gravity of the problem in Kenya?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what recent steps have been taken in Fiji to safeguard the ownership of lands for the Fijians in this Colony?

The Native Lands Trust Ordinance which was enacted in February of this year ests the control of all native land in Fiji in a Board of Trustees, which includes one Fijian member and is presided over by the Governor. All native land is to be administered by the Board for the benefit of the native owners. The Board has power to set aside and proclaim native reserves (that is, areas set aside for the use of the Fijians), and steps will be taken to delimit such areas. The Board also has power to grant to non-Fijians, under certain conditions, leases or licences of native lands not included in native reserves.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the recent Ordinance concerned with the employment of women and children incorporates the Conventions of the International Labour Office; and whether steps will be taken to extend the limits of employment of children under 14 years of age beyond industrial occupations?

I understand that my hon. Friend is referring to the Tanganyika Employment of Women and Young Persons Ordinance, 1940, which was enacted last March. The Ordinance gives effect to the main provisions of six of the International Labour Conventions regulating the employment of women in industry and the employment of young persons and children in industry and at sea, which have been ratified by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Governor considers that it would be neither practicable nor desirable to prohibit entirely the employment of children below a certain minimum age in other occupations in the territory, and he is satisfied that the further safeguards provided in the Ordinance will amply ensure that children are not employed in occupations unsuitable to their age. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Ordinance.

Will my hon. Friend give his special attention to the position of children under 14 years of age who are employed on plantations away from their homes?

The Ordinance which has recently been adopted was based on the Convention, but all questions dealing with children under 14 years of age are constantly receiving the attention of the Colonial Office.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the number of commercial vehicles converted from petrol to gas operation since 30th September, 1939, to date, or between the nearest convenient dates; and the increase in number of electrical battery operated vehicles or vans between the same dates?

A total of 605 goods and public service vehicles were converted from petrol to gas operation between 30th September, 1939, and 30th June, 1940. The increase in licensed electric battery goods vehicles between 31st August, 1939, and 31st May, 1940, is 578.

asked the Minister of Transport what have been the difficulties at the Sheffield railway stations which have prevented canteens from being in operation for the Forces; what voluntary offers there have been for fully manning canteens; whether the difficulties are now removed; and when the canteens will be in use?

I do not know of special difficulties. Arrangements were completed on 1st July between the L.M.S. and the Y.M.C.A. for the erection of a substantial building, including a dormitory and canteen, on the station platform. At the L.N.E.R. station the Y.M.C.A. have been offered immediate possession of premises but have not yet taken them over.

Is it not a fact that the real difficulty has been that the railway companies were not prepared to allow anyone to sell food and refreshments to the Services at lower prices than they were charging in the refreshment room, and that for months a large voluntary organisation has been willing to take on this, and it has only just been arranged?

I am sorry for any delay which there has been. It does not look as if there is going to be any more.

Will my right hon. Friend consult the welfare officers of the three Services in connection with these difficulties at the London stations, with a view to collective representations being made to the railway companies?

Will my right hon. Friend consider taking power to requisition some of the hotels which are standing half empty, or more than half empty, at the various railway termini?

I am quite prepared to consider or arrange for collective representations if it be necessary. With regard to the other question, my information—and in this I think my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War will confirm me—is that whatever delay there may have been, the arrangements now are satisfactory, and there is not likely to be more delay.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make arrangements with the London Passenger Transport Board to permit wounded soldiers, sailors and airmen to travel free of charge on their system?

While appreciating the motive of my hon. Friend's suggestion, I am sorry it is not one which I feel I could require the London Passenger Transport Board to adopt.

Will my right hon. Friend explain to me how these wounded men are able to pay the increased fares over the many short distances which their disabilities compel them to travel? Will he reconsider his decision?

Was not this the custom in most Dominions and also in this country during the last war, when wounded soldiers and sailors travelled free on trams, buses and railways?

No, Sir. I am informed that in the last war no free travel was given.

Will the Government consider the possibility of providing special free passes for these men?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider following the example of the Corporation of Glasgow, where a standard fare of one penny covers the whole of the system?

I think the Supplementary Question of the hon. Member for Gorbals (Mr. Buchanan) raises another point, as the Question relates to free facilities. With regard to my right hon. Friend's Question, I am prepared to ask the appropriate authority to consider that, but I do not think it is a matter for the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport the composition and duties of the Railway Executive Committee?

The Railway Executive Committee consists of Sir Ralph Wedgwood (Chairman), the general managers of the London and North Eastern, Great Western and Southern Railway Companies, the Vice-President of the Executive, London Midland and Scottish Railway, and the Chairman of the London Passenger Transport Board, with Mr. G. Cole Deacon as Secretary. The Minister of Transport appointed the Committee to be his agents for the purpose of giving directions under the Railway Control Order for the carrying on of the controlled undertakings and the disposition of their property, as provided in Regulation 69 of the Defence Regulations.

Have the boards of directors of the railway companies any functions to perform at the present time, and do they draw any fees?

Why does not the Minister consider putting a responsible official connected with the railway services on this Executive? Why should not the right hon. Gentleman infuse a little fresh blood into it?

I will consider infusing new blood if it is required, but with regard to the Railway Executive, I do not think it is.

Do the Railway Boards really function at all to-day?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has approved the costly poster display of the railway companies, in view of the urgent necessity of conserving the national paper resources?

The posters now displayed were all printed before the Control of Paper Order of 25th May. The alternatives were to display them or to pulp them. They are now being displayed, but there will be no waste, as all railway posters are eventually scraped off, pulped and re-used for paper making.

Who actually pays for this poster campaign; and does it reduce in any way the amount of money which becomes payable to shareholders?

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in consultation with the military and police authorities, he can devise some form of warning sign, easily removed, which will enable motorists and other users of the road to have some previous notice of a road block often unseen beyond a distance of a few yards?

I agree with my hon. Friend's proposal. There are already warning signs in some places, and steps are being taken to provide them as quickly as possible wherever required.

Has my right hon. Friend ensured that local authorities use the same form of warning sign?

I am sorry that I cannot answer that point, but I quite realise the relevance of the suggestion, and I will have it considered.

asked the Minister of Information whether any tests are made as to the effects on the public mind of propaganda made over the radio by persons employed to do so by his Department; and, if so, with what results?

The B.B.C. conducts a continuous day-to-day survey of the audience for all broadcasts and, in addition, receive regular reports from listeners of all classes. These reports cover broadcasts of a political character, which are arranged by the B.B.C. subject to the advice and control of my Department. Few broadcasts can appeal equally to all sections of opinion, and criticism received is carefully studied. But in general, the information collected suggests that the talks broadcast by the B.B.C. are heard by very large audiences and are widely approved.

Has the Minister found any tendency in these tests among the people to discount Government propaganda because it is propaganda?

No, Sir. I do not think I have found any tendency in that direction. Naturally, it is known when a Minister speaks that he is giving the views of the Government, and giving advice and guidance. I do not know whether the hon. Member means propaganda by that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the effect upon the public mind of the lugubrious person who speaks every day at 7.55 a.m. is deplorable?

Has not the right hon. Gentleman found any resentment in regard to the continual reiteration on the wireless that the people of this country are "jitterbugs"? The people are not "jitterbugs," and this should be stopped.

So far as I am aware, there has been no such reiteration on the wireless.

Has the Minister ascertained the effect on the public mind of his own broadcasts?

I do receive criticisms—as all Members do in regard to public utterances—some of which are favourable and some unfavourable.

asked the Minister of Information what arrangements are being made for relaying Ministerial broadcasts for the Empire, as well as to North America?

Ministerial broadcasts are often transmitted to the Empire simultaneously with the broadcast in the Home Service, and are also recorded for subsequent reproduction at times convenient for listening in other parts of the Empire. Empire broadcasting organisations make extensive use of their right to re-broadcast news or speeches which they receive from the B.B.C. transmissions. I may add that many broadcasts by Ministers have been arranged specially for the Overseas Service of the B.B.C.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that there is a growing feeling among listeners that the continual use of the same Ministers for broadcast talks is likely to reduce their effectiveness; and will he consider inviting ex-Ministers and others to make broadcast speeches in support of the war effort for the sake of variety and to emphasise the scope of national unity?

I am not aware of the feeling to which my hon. Friend refers, nor can I agree that broadcasting by Ministers has been confined to a small circle. In the last two months, there have been 50 of such broadcasts in all, given by as many as 19 Ministers and nine Parliamentary Secretaries. One ex-Cabinet Minister and several private Members have broadcast during the same period, and I shall be glad to consider the further extension of invitations.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that variety is the spice of democracy, and cannot we have more variety and less Macaulay?

Will the Minister see to it that when some of his colleagues are broadcasting they use less "I" and "My"?

asked the Minister of Information whether it is his established policy to give the British Broadcasting Corporation priority over the newspapers in the dissemination of official announcements?

No, Sir. Official announcements are issued to the Press and the B.B.C. simultaneously through the News Division of the Ministry.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the fact that in the case of the "Arandora Star" a full account was in the hands of the Press at 1 p.m. on the day, and, although it was laid before the censor, the decision to allow the Press to publish it was delayed until it was too late, and the B.B.C. announcement at 9 p.m. was the first intimation the public had?

I will look into that particular case.

asked the Minister of Information why Canadian, Australian, South African, New Zealand, and American correspondents were prevented by the censor from cabling the official announcement issued by the Colonial Office of the appointment of His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor to be Governor of the Bahamas until after the British Broadcasting Corporation had broadcast the communiqué?

The official announcement was released to the Press and to the B.B.C. at 8.50 p.m. on 9th July, and was included by the B.L.C. in their 9 o'clock news bulletin. Owing to a misunderstanding the Censorship did not withdraw their ban on the cabling of this news to the Empire and foreign countries until 9.35 p.m.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the B.B.C. is subject to censorship in the same way as the compulsory censorship is applied to the overseas news services, and, if not, why not? Does he intend to make the B.B.C. so subject to censorship?

That is a very big question, which I can hardly deal with in answer to a Supplementary Question. The B.B.C. is not subject to the same censorship as the Press at the present time, partly because the B.B.C. receive their news very often at the last moment while the announcer is reading the news, and it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to apply the ordinary censorship to such news. Over 90 per cent. of the B.B.C. news is actually censored because it comes from news agencies and official communiqués.

Are not the Press far more efficient than the B.B.C.?

asked the Minister of Information why the first public intimation regarding the action against the French naval forces at Oran was in the short wave broadcast of the British Broadcasting Corporation and in certain American newspapers, whereas correspondents of Dominion and other American newspapers were prevented by the censor from releasing this news until later?

The first public intimation regarding the action against the French naval forces at Oran was given in an official communiqué which was issued simultaneously to the Press and the B.B.C. at 3.30 a.m. on 4th July, No correspondents were prevented by the Censor from cabling the news contained in this communiqué, which was reproduced in many newspapers and given out by the B.B.C. in a short wave news bulletin at 3.45 a.m. and in subsequent bulletins.

Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that no special consideration was given to certain of the United States newspapers to the detriment of other United States newspapers?

Before it was decided that only the official communiqué should go out, one American Press correspondent telegraphed to his newspaper a fuller account of the battle than was afterwards allowed to go out.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is very unsatisfactory that that should be so, and does he not think that the B.B.C. are having a much better deal from the Ministry of Information than are the Press?

I do not think that in this case the B.B.C. had any advantage.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in order to counter German attempts to make a real breach in Anglo-French feelings at the present time, he will afford the maximum publicity to the letter headed "Our attitude to France," which appeared in the correspondence column of the "Daily Telegraph" of 10th July?

I entirely approve of the sentiments expressed in the letter referred to, and I will do my best to promote the publication of such views.

Has anything been done in the way of dropping leaflets over France as we did over Germany, so that the French people may know the true facts about their fleet, and so on?

That hardly arises out of the answer.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the proposal?

asked the Minister of Information whether there is any man on the directing body of the Ministry who has had first-hand experience of the lives of working people?

There is a number of men—and women—on the directing staff of the Ministry who have had first-hand experience of the lives of working people.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the hon. Member who asked this question has had a first-hand experience of the lives of working people?

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us who these people are?

I think the previous Supplementary Question shows that it would be rather invidious to mention names, because it is difficult to say who has or who has not had such first-hand experience, but there are several former members of the Labour party, some future candidates of the Labour party and some Labour party organisers who were employed on the "Daily Herald."

Is it wrong for those who have not had this experience to desire that those who have had such experience should be added to the directing body of the Ministry?

asked the Minister of Information whether he will make available to Members of this House copies of any one day's reports on the state of public opinion received by his Ministry, other than those reports which could give away military information to the enemy?

No, Sir. Any one day's report read without knowledge of those that had gone before might produce an entirely false impression, and as these reports frequently do contain information of military value, it would obviously be undesirable to give them a wide circulation.

asked the Minister of Information whether the references of Anne Mary Diana Hayward, employed in the General Post Office Censor's Department, who was convicted recently in the City for stealing moneys from letters and who admitted a previous conviction for fraud, have been inquired into, in view of the importance of obtaining people of integrity for this work?

No, Sir. Mrs. Hayward was detected stealing money from letters by the Censorship authorities and was immediately dismissed. Since I became responsible for the Postal and Telegraph Censorship Department the references of all recruits have been inquired into.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in view of the suggestions for some form of Government Press control, he will indicate to representatives of the Press with whom he is discussing the matter that the Government appreciate the restraint and regard for national security with which the great body of the British Press reports and discusses war matters and suggest that, in order to check the careless few, the profession should follow the precedents set by the legal, medical, architectural and other professions and create its own representative council of advice and discipline with statutory powers?

I agree with the views expressed in the question as to the manner in which the Press have performed their duties, and I have conveyed my appreciation to those members of the Press with whom I have been in contact. In answer to the second part of the Question, I think that proposals of the kind which the hon. Member advocates could only hope to succeed if they commanded the support of the Press as a whole and should therefore emanate from the Press. If representatives of the Press desire to put forward any suggestions for the establishment of a representative council, I shall, of course, receive them with sympathetic attention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the deputy Minister of Health for Ontario has informed Ontario doctors that all children arriving from Britain under the evacuation scheme will be detained for 10 days for medical inspection, vaccination, tuberculin testing and one injection of toxoid; and whether, as these operations are not compulsory for Canadian children, he will make representations to the Canadian Government requesting that none of these operations shall be performed without the consent of the parents of the children?

I am making inquiries of the Canadian Government and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Do the parents who are involved in this scheme know what they are in for in this respect?

We must assume, until we know what the real facts are, that there has been a misunderstanding.

Would not the difficulty be solved if this defeatist scheme were abandoned?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken on the recommendation of April last by the North Midland Regional Price Regulation Committee to the effect that all goods and commodities, including foodstuffs, should be subject to price regulation and investigation; and what arrangements have been made between his Department and the Ministry of Food to effectuate the proposal?

The Prices of Goods Act has been applied to a very wide range of goods since 10th June last. As regards foodstuffs, perhaps my hon. and learned Friend will await the answer to the Question on this subject which he has addressed to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food.

Can my hon. Friend say now whether it is a fact that some arrangement to bring about this desire has been made?

My hon. and learned Friend will have to wait only a very short time before he knows for certain.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what arrangements have now been made with the Board of Trade whereby the existing machinery of price regulation and inquiry may be applied to all articles and foodstuffs, so as to prevent future exploitation in relation to the purchasing of commodities not hitherto so subject?

Arrangements have been made for the use of the existing machinery of inquiry through the Price Regulation Committees set up under the Prices of Goods Act in respect of those foods of which the prices are not controlled by the Minister of Food. My Noble Friend is not concerned with articles other than food.

Will full publicity be given to this great step forward in the public interest in the cinema, on the radio and in the Press, so that an end can be put to the exploitation which has been tolerated since the outbreak of the war?

I will take steps to see that the maximum publicity is given.

asked the Minister of Health whether in order to reduce the danger of air raids in overcrowded houses, he will give local authorities general powers to requisition empty houses for rehousing when this appears desirable?

In a circular of yesterday to local authorities, of which my right hon. Friend is sending the hon. Member a copy, he pointed out that where there was a shortage of accommodation due to destruction by air raids, one of the appropriate remedies might be to requisition empty property not already available for letting, and accordingly the power to requisition in such circumstances was conferred on them. If air raids result in the loss of an appreciable amount of accommodation, there must necessarily be a greater use of existing occupied houses, and all available accommodation will be required. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not think it necessary to take special steps such as the hon. Member contemplates to move persons already housed.

Will this requisitioning be without payment of rent?

It will come under the same procedure as the requisitioning that is being done at present.

Will the power of requisitioning be used to relieve cases where villages are overcrowded with evacuees?

There is power with the billeting authority to requisition where necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether officers of the three Fighting Services who are discharged on account of wounds, physical disability, or medical grounds, will be allowed to retain the highest temporary rank held, provided they held such rank for a period exceeding three months, and that their service has been satisfactory?

The matter to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is under consideration, and it is hoped to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will give an assurance that the effect of the Control (No. 2) Order, 1940, will not be to establish a monopoly for the large milling combines at the expense of the smaller corn dealers and feeding-stuffs mixers throughout the country?

I am unable to see any justification for the suggestion made by my hon. Friend, and I can certainly give an assurance that the powers given in the Order will not be used for the purpose indicated.

Does not my hon. Friend realise that it is about time this great pretence came to an end? Is he aware that there are many thousands of small corn dealers and merchants who have been ruined as a result of the milling combines? Will he really go into this matter thoroughly and give his assurance that he will go into it again and again until it is put right?

I have already given my hon. Friend that assurance. With regard to this matter, there is no fear whatever that his apprehensions are justified.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in connection with the manufacture of national compounds and mixtures, the manufacturing operation is to be exclusively carried out by the milling combines?

No, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his Question on 11th July, in which I stated that the provisions of the Compound and Mixed Feeding-Stuffs (Control) (No. 2) Order applies to all sections of the trade alike.

Can some statement or pamphlet be issued by the Minister of Food himself showing exactly who are entitled to carry out this work as distinct from the milling combines; and is my hon. Friend not aware that there is no safeguard that the small man will be allowed to do it?

I am not aware of the suggestion in the latter part of the hon. Member's question, but I will consider the case.

My hon. Friend very soon will be aware of it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food on what date it is expected that the distribution of milk, free or at a reduced price, promised under the scheme recently propounded will actually commence?

The distribution of permits for the supply of milk under the National Milk Scheme, either free or at the reduced price of 2d. per pint, has commenced, and the first deliveries of milk on these permits will be made on Sunday next, 21st instant. With the exception of certain areas in the more remote parts of Scotland, where special arrangements are being made, the organisation of the scheme is complete and in readiness to deal with applications for the supply of liquid milk.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the prewar price scheme of the Milk Marketing Board tends to discourage milk production in the lower-priced regions such as Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset; and whether, now that there is a national minimum wage and a general stabilisation of charges, he will remove a differentiation in milk prices to the farmer which is no longer justified on the ground of lower costs of production in these regions?

I understand that milk producers, through their marketing scheme, have accepted the principle of differential regional prices to which my hon. Friend refers. No information has been furnished to me to support the suggestion that this principle has discouraged milk production in areas where the regional price is lower than the average.

Has the hon. Member forgotten the fact that we have now a national wage and the whole business on a national basis, and, in view of this fact, could not the Minister reconsider the matter, so as not to drive farmers out of milk production in those areas?

I am not aware of any great dissatisfaction at the present time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can furnish an estimate of the amount of sugar which wilt be saved per annum by prohibiting the icing of cakes?

The answer is in the negative.

Is the object to reduce everyone to the same slimness as that of the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Food.

The hon. Member must speak for himself.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the germ is removed from wheat in the process of milling white flour; to whom the germ is sold by the millers; and for what purpose?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I am informed that a number of millers separate a part of the wheat germ and sell it to other millers for incorporation with brown flour and other proprietary flours, or to feeding-stuff manufacturers for incorporation in certain animal feeding-stuffs; and some is used for pharmaceutical purposes. The residue of the germ remains in the wheat offal, which is mostly sold as a feeding-stuff for livestock.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that much of the germ goes to what is known as "health bread," and is not that in itself evidence that it ought to be left in the flour from which the ordinary loaf is made?

I shall be making a statement on that subject to-morrow, and perhaps my hon. Friend will wait till then.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it would be practicable to make bread containing the germ available to people who prefer it at a price not greater than that charged for the loaf made from ordinary white flour?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will await the statement which I shall make to-morrow.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food when the report of the Scientific Committee on Nutrition, appointed by his Department, will be published; and, if the whole report is not yet completed, whether he will make immediately available to Members of this House that section of it which deals with bread?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the Scientific Food Committee which was appointed by the Lord Privy Seal, as Chairman of the Food Policy Committee of the War Cabinet. The Scientific Food Committee's function is to advise the Food Policy Committee, and it is not intended to publish the reports which may be submitted from time to time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that 470 one pound whole-wheat loaves can be made from a sack of 280 pounds of whole-wheat meal, compared with only 385 one pound loaves from white flour; and what steps he proposes to take to encourage the consumption of such bread, especially in view of its higher nutritive value?

Whole-meal flour of the usual type produces about the same number of loaves per sack of 280 lbs. as white flour. I am aware, however, that claims have been made, that in the dough-making process, certain very dry types of whole-wheat meal can be made to absorb as much as 250 lbs. of water to each 280 lbs. of flour, and that in consequence more loaves of bread per sack can be made than with ordinary white flour. The addition of water to flour does not add to its nutritive value. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, wide publicity is being given to the value of whole-meal bread as a protective food.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. S. F. Florey; and whether, in view of the action of the military authorities in this case, he will give an undertaking that in the event of any courts-martial on civilians under the provisions of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Bill, a barrister of at least seven years standing shall be a member of the court?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in the course of the Debate yesterday on the Emergency Powers (Defence) Bill.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he proposes to take over the iron railings round the gardens in the squares of London and other towns and cities and use them for scrap-iron?

I have arranged for a survey of such railings to be made, with a view to their release wherever practicable for steel making. I am glad to say that the flow of railings for scrap is increasing.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also look at estates in the country, say in Devonshire, and have the iron railings removed from those as well?

asked the Minister of Supply whether control of supply and distribution of aluminium is still one of the functions of his Department?

Arrangements are being made for the responsibility for the control of the supply and distribution of aluminium to be transferred from the Minister of Supply to the Minister of Aircraft Production. It is expected that the transfer will take place very shortly.

asked the Minister of Supply whether be is aware that dangerous delaying methods persist in his Department, and whether he will take action to remove any official whose methods obstruct the making of speedy decisions?

I am not prepared to accept the general accuracy of the allegation in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question. I have impressed upon my Department the importance of making speedy decisions. Specific allegations as to any such delays have received and will continue to receive my energetic attention.

Can the Minister say how much energy he has devoted to the cases which I have already brought to his attention and which are still pending?

If my hon. Friend has drawn my attention to matters, they are having my attention.

Is the Minister aware, with regard to one matter which I brought to his attention some considerable time ago, that after months had elapsed I was told by the Department that they did not know anything about it and that they asked for some further information, which I gave them?

If my hon. Friend wishes to ask a question about that, it had better be put down. I cannot on the spur of the moment identify every letter that I get from Members of Parliament.

I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Supply what further representations he has received from the parties concerned in favour of utilising flock-stuffing materials for bedding produced in this country instead of imported coir fibre; and will he again give favourable consideration to the request, in view of the disastrous position of local industries and consequent unemployment?

Sympathetic consideration has been given to the further representations which have been received from the trade in regard to this matter, but while there are ample supplies of coir fibre available, I feel bound to continue to use this material, having regard to the considered opinion of the War Office medical authorities that it is the most hygienic and suitable for the purpose under Service conditions. If, however, the supply of coir fibre should cease to be available, there would be no objection to the use of flock filling.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that unemployment is not being reduced by the policy which he is adopting?

I think my hon. Friend will see that the matter is primarily one for the War Office, who use this material. Their medical advisers have given definite advice, and I do not see how I can very well go over their heads as long as the supply is available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into a count the fact that other Government Departments have accepted this matal?

That may be so, but the problem for me remains as I have stated.