asked the Minister of Supply whether he will indicate the results of salvage work for each Metropolitan borough, and for the large cities outside London, respectively, for the month of June, 1940, showing in each case the last recorded population?

The following table shows, for each of the Metropolitan boroughs and the larger cities outside London, the value of the sales of salvaged material for the month of June, 1940. These figures do not include material collected by merchants or voluntary organisations.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to make the fullest possible use of the Cumberland iron-ore deposits?

A number of special surveys and borings have been made since the outbreak of war, as a result of which steps are being taken to open up certain new or disused workings as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to examine the effects on output and on cost of production of the suspension of holidays, and of overtime in excess of that being worked to Whitsuntide?

There was a marked increase in production, partly to be ascribed to the measures referred to, and partly to increased effort. I do not think it would be practicable to distinguish between these factors. It is too early yet to assess their effect on costs of production.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will requisition all stocks of jewellery at present in the possession of wholesalers and retailers in the country in return for war loans or other Government stock and deposit such jewellery in the United States of America to be realised or held as security for payment for munitions, etc.?

Apart from other considerations the difficulty of realising such jewellery in the United States, or using it as security for payments, would be very great, and I do not feel able to adopt the proposal.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has he any information as to whether Sir Lancelot Oliphant, British Ambassador to Belgium, who is now in German custody, is to be held indefinitely; and what steps are being taken to secure his release?

Negotiations are in progress for the release of Sir Lancelot Oliphant, but I regret I am not able to say how long these are likely to continue.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been received from the Swedish Government to the British protest against the permitted passage of German troops across Sweden to Norway?

No formal reply has yet been received from the Swedish Government.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in the case of the award of honours to the rank and file for gallantry in France, he is selecting from the lists all recipients suitable for the granting of commissions?

Recommendations have been called for from all arms which served with the British Expeditionary Force or the North-Western Expeditionary Force of those men who proved themselves to be cool and competent leaders and to be otherwise suitable for commissions.

asked the Minister of Information how many films of a propaganda or semi-propaganda nature have been made under the auspices of his Department since the commencement of the war, and actually shown to the public; and whether he will give the titles of these films?

Fourteen films made under the auspices of my Department have been shown to the public in this country. The list is as follows:Films shown in this country:

asked the Minister of Information whether recent comparisons of the news given out by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the news in English given out on foreign stations show that the British Broadcasting Corporation news is more up to date or otherwise; and whether, before imposing any restrictions on the British Broadcasting Corporation, he will have regard to the importance of the competitive element in this matter and to the desirability of obtaining as large an audience as possible throughout the world for the news put out by British broadcasts as opposed to foreign broadcasts?

I know of no recent instances of foreign stations broadcasting important items of news before they could be heard from British stations. The practice of my Department is to release news at the earliest moment consistent with national security. I have constantly in mind the importance of maintaining the prestige of the B.B.C.'s world service of news.

asked the Minister of Information whether he has any statement to make concerning the progress made in the formation of local information committees; and the extent to which such committees are now functioning?

The number of information committees has risen from 44 on 1st June to 237. The extent to which these committees are functioning varies from case to case, largely in accordance with local need, but many are very active. A number of further committees are projected.

asked the Minister of Information whether plans are being prepared, in co-operation with the Postmaster-General, to utilise the services of motor-cycling telegraph messengers for the dissemination of information during an emergency?

There are difficulties in the way of the method suggested by the hon. Member, but other machinery is being prepared with a view to ensuring the dissemination of information in an emergency.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what representations he has received recently from the Cocoanut Planters' Union of Fiji concerning copra prices; and what was his reply?

Representations with regard to the marketing of Fiji copra were received in May through the officer administering the government and in reply attention was drawn to the overriding war-time difficulties which have rendered it impossible for His Majesty's Government to draw any substantial portion of their requirements of copra from the Western Pacific. I should like to add that the whole position of the copra trade of the Colonial Empire, which is only a part of the grave and very widespread problem of disposal of surplus supplies, is being urgently considered with a view of devising such measures of amelioration as may be possible

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the services of women are being made use of as factory inspectors at the present time; and whether women with suitable technical qualifications will be appointed in respect of factories where women are employed?

Between a quarter and a third of the factory inspectors are women. Since the amalgamation of the men's and women's inspectorate about 20 years ago the women inspectors have not been appointed to deal particularly with factories where women are employed.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider granting nee postage facilities to enable evacuated children to send, under supervision of their school teachers, one letter weekly to their parents?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the reduction of postage rates for evacuated children and their parents; and whether such concessions as were granted to the British Expeditionary Force while in France can be extended to parents and children who find the normal postage rates a bar to adequate inter-communication?

I would refer my hon. Friends to the answer given on 16th July to a Question on this subject asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith).

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now take powers to prohibit sending through the post in unsealed envelopes, literature or leaflets dealing with or advertising sexual matters, which are open to strong doubt and criticism, and which should not be permitted to fall into the hands of children; and whether he is aware of the strong religious feeling on the subject and of the anxiety caused to parents by this method of distribution?

The question of placing legal restrictions on the publication and distribution of the class of literature or leaflets to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is primarily one for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, whose Department has, I understand, given the subject close attention. The subject is a highly controversial one which would have to be dealt with as a matter of general legislation and I am not prepared to initiate restrictive legislation which would apply to distribution by post only.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, taking the counties of England and Wales individually, whether any action has been taken against farmers who are not developing their land in accordance with good husbandry; and whether he proposes to expedite decisions in all these cases?

Yes, Sir. With my right hon. Friend's consent, county war agricultural executive committees may take possession of land, and they may also terminate the tenancy of a holding which the tenant is not cultivating according to the rules of good husbandry. These powers have been freely exercised in a large number of cases, and all applications for my right hon. Friend's consent to their exercise are dealt with promptly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, how many rooms in the Foreign Office are being placed at the disposal of the Secretary of State; how many bathrooms are being constructed; how many workmen have been employed converting these rooms into a residence; what amount of the cost will be met by the Secretary of State; what amount will be charged for the accommodation; how will the staff displaced be provided for; and what will be the cost of this provision?

As the Prime Minister informed the hon. Member for Maryhill (Mr. J. J. Davidson) on 18th July, certain Ministers, whose duties are intimately connected with the conduct of the war, have been asked to sleep in their offices. The Prime Minister stated on that occasion that these Ministers should not be obliged to incur expense. The rooms in the Foreign Office which are being placed at the disposal of my Noble Friend as an official residence comprise five rooms for his personal use, one room for the use, if necessary, of the permanent Under-Secretary of State, and one room for the private secretary. There will, in addition, be the usual domestic offices with bathrooms for himself and his staff. The staff displaced as a result of these arrangements are being provided for without extra expense in space recently vacated in the India Office. As regards the other parts of the Question, I would remind the hon. Member that the details of all arrangements made will be subject to examination by the Public Accounts Committee in due course.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will arrange for his local food officers to be supplied with envelopes stamped official paid for enclosure when those officers send to private individuals forms which have to be filled in and returned to the local food office?

Food executive officers are being supplied with franked labels which they can send out when necessary with any form which has to be returned by post.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the number and names of the economists working with Lord Stamp, and to give an outline of their duties?

This staff consists of 16 persons of whom two are civil servants, the remainder being economists and statisticians temporarily employed in the public service. As explained by my right hon. Friend, the Lord Privy Seal, in his statement on 4th June, this staff is not only available to assist Lord Stamp's Survey but also is at the disposal of the five Ministerial Committees dealing with economic subjects and of the Co-ordinating Committee presided over by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council; as regards the last part of the Question, I would invite the attention of the hon. Member to the particulars given in the last paragraph of the statement referred to above.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the firm of Duncans, Limited, who own several shops in South Shields, announced by handbills, posters and by messages to their customers the exact particulars of the rationing of tea several hours before the Minister's public statement of his intentions; has the source of this leakage of confidential information been traced; what action has been taken against the person perpetrating this breach of confidence; and what steps have been taken to prevent a repetition?

I am informed that the firm referred to announced certain details of tea rationing in advance of my Noble Friend's broadcast. Inquiries as to the source of the leakage have not yet been completed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that in localities where extensive home-baking is carried on, the present ration per head of cooking-fats is insufficient; and if he can see his way to increase it?

I must ask the public to accept the present ration of cooking fats, in the interest of building up reserves, even though it may entail some inconvenience in special cases, such as that mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether, as every Palestinian subject is at the disposal of His Majesty for the prosecution of the war, he will relieve Palestinian citizens from any restrictions imposed on aliens in this country and allow them free movement and occupation for the duration of the war?

I am prepared in special cases on the recommendation of the chief constable of the district in which a Palestinian subject is residing to consider an application for exemption from certain provisions of the Aliens Order.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether a German-born woman of German-born parents who, prior to the 31st December, 1932, married a British-born subject has to register with the police;(2) whether a British-born woman of British-born parents, who married a German subject and then divorced him, and re-naturalised as a British subject in the year 1934, and subsequently married a British-born subject of British-born parents, has to register with the police?

The question whether a woman who formerly possessed German nationality was affected by the Registration (Former Aliens) Order, 1940 (which required certain persons to register with the police on or before 8th July), depends on whether she acquired British nationality before or after 31st December, 1932. Accordingly, the answer to the first Question is in the negative and to the second in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary whether there is any system under which a numerical scale of wardens is fixed for different places with varying populations; whether equipment is distributed to districts on the basis of a fixed number of wardens; whether he is aware that many districts are appointing wardens for whom there is no equipment; and whether he can make a statement as to the policy which should govern the air-raid precautions arrangements in this respect for all districts?

The establishment of wardens was fixed for each area having regard to the population and conditions in the area. Equipment has been supplied on the basis of this authorised establishment and the only case in which equipment is not immediately available for wardens newly appointed is where the authorised establishment is exceeded. The position is being kept under close review.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will instruct medical officers of health to confer with the general practitioners in their areas and with the authorities of emergency service hospitals in order to ensure that the fullest possible use shall be made of the medical manpower of their districts, without the danger that two or more authorities will call for the services of an individual practitioner whilst the services of other practitioners are not employed?

Instructions were issued some weeks ago to my regional officers with the object of securing the result desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Sevenoaks rural district covers an area of 100-square miles, and contains only two aid-posts, one hospital and one mobile unit; and whether he is satisfied that the arrangements are such as to prevent the isolation of individual villages in this area, so that injuries sustained in these villages would have to be treated otherwise than through the machinery of the official air-raid precautions scheme?

In accordance with the established principles of mutual assistance, the rural district can count on receiving help from four mobile units stationed just outside its borders and in the town of Sevenoaks, and I am satisfied that reasonable provision has been made for the needs of the area.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the possibility that rural communities may be isolated by intensive enemy action, he will encourage the making in such communities of arrangements for the setting up of temporary emergency hospitals for injured persons who cannot immediately be removed to distant aid-posts and hospitals?

A situation such as that envisaged by the hon. Member is intended to be met by mobile units which would make use of buildings noted in advance as suitable for the temporary accommodation of patients. In addition, my officers are earmarking large buildings in various parts of the country for use as hospitals in the event of the main hospitals needing to be supplemented or replaced in an emergency.

asked the Minister of Health, with reference to a certain hospital the name of which has been communicated to the Minister, what is the total accommodation for patients, military or civilian; how many persons are employed on the staff; what air-raid protection of what kind is provided for the patients and staff and for how many of them; and, in particular, what protection of what kind is provided for children's orthopaedic cases numbering over 100?

the maximum accommodation at the hospital referred to is for 957 patients including 200 orthopaedic cases. The total staff at present is 478 most of whom are non-resident. I am informed by the authorities of the hospital that cover points have been selected in internal corridors and basements to afford protection for ambulant patients and for staff not required to remain on duty in the wards. Meanwhile, my technical advisers are in touch with the hospital in order to decide whether specially constructed shelters should be provided in addition. All windows in the hospital have been protected to reduce danger from flying glass; and the protection of the glass-fronted wards used for the children's orthopaedic cases is under discussion between the hospital's architect and my technical advisers. It is expected that a satisfactory scheme will be devised.

asked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken recently to increase the efficiency of the Auxiliary Fire Service in rural areas; and whether any special steps have been taken to make the Auxiliary Fire Service capable of dealing effectively with any incendiary action by the enemy against haystacks, standing crops, farm buildings, or stores generally?

Although not under a statutory obligation to frame and submit air-raid fire precautions schemes a large majority of rural district councils have in fact done so, and in pursuance of these schemes large and light trailer pumps have been issued and training of the crews has progressively intensified in recent months. In reply to the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, special action has been taken to provide against incendiary action of the character indicated.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give an assurance that adequate steps are being taken to ensure reasonable protection for inland villages against daylight raids and low-diving aeroplanes?

I take it that my hon. and learned Friend has in view the provision of air-raid shelters. Every householder, whether he lives in a town or a village, should do what he can to improvise a shelter in his house or in its vicinity, and advice has been given as to the best means of improvising such shelter; but it is essential that for the present all the resources at the disposal of local authorities should be devoted to meeting the needs of the more populous areas.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider proceeding with the consideration of an application for naturalisation in the case of a British-born man of British-born parents who became a citizen of the United States of America in March, 1914, but returned to this country in October, 1914, and joined the British Army and has not since returned to the United States of America but set up in business in this country?

I am not able to identify the case, but for a considerable period the difficulty has been to find time for the necessary inquiries, and it is now only possible to deal with applications which it is in the national interest to consider. On the facts stated, the application to which the hon. Member refers could have been made many years ago.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider authorising the local authorities to increase the allowance to the unemployable blind to meet the increased cost of living?

The amount of financial assistance, if any, to be granted to a blind person is a matter for the decision of the county or county borough council concerned. The council are empowered, therefore, to vary their rates of allowance to meet alterations in the cost of living without any authority from my right hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will issue instructions of such a nature as to prevent the evacuation overseas of their children by all persons occupying responsible positions in this country, in view of the fact that such action would at once cause depression at home and encouragement to the enemy, and so prejudice the war effort?

This is not a matter which can be dealt with under my powers relating to exit permits which are not required by children under the age of 16. The general question was dealt with in the statements of the Lord Privy Seal and the Prime Minister on the 16th and 18th July.