asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company have issued instructions to their staff that towels are to be placed only in first-class lavatories of troop trains; and whether he will take steps to have this discrimination removed?

The company inform me that there is a general and serious shortage of towels, and that stocks available do not allow of supply in third-class lavatories on troop trains, and only in limited numbers when available in first-class.

Will the railway companies be able to put towels in third-class lavatories when they have this rise in fares again?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the railway companies will be able to overcome the difficulties and supply troops with towels in the lavatories?

No, Sir; I am sorry I cannot. I have no idea.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he desires private motorists to camouflage their motor-cars; and, if so, whether he will give guidance as to how this is to be done to distinguish them from Service vehicles?

An Order was made that from 26th August no vehicle should be camouflaged to resemble a camouflaged Service vehicle. Where this has been done it should be undone. If owners wish to make their cars less conspicuous, glossy surfaces and light colours should be avoided, also Service grey or khaki.

Is the Minister aware that in South Berkshire there are many red lorries carrying petrol and inflammable materials? Does he not think they ought to be camouflaged? All my constituents are anxious about it.

Yes, Sir. I should like to make it clear that I do think such lorries might well be camouflaged. The Order referred to puts a veto only on the camouflage of cars to resemble camouflaged Service cars.

Who is the Minister's adviser to the Ministry on de-camouflaging camouflage?

Will my right hon. Friend make these Orders as Orders-in-Council, so that they can come before Parliament occasionally, because some are irksome and others rather fatuous?

Is the Minister aware that the motoring public have not the slightest idea what they are to do at the present time?

Yes, Sir, I know there is some confusion, and I should like, if I may, to consult with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Information on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport why it was found necessay to cancel a number of special trains with cheap return fares for parents of child evacuees during June and July; and whether he will ensure that adequate cheap-fare facilities are provided for all such parents in the future?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the lack of cheap travel facilities to enable parents to visit children billeted in the various parts of the London reception area is causing parents great anxiety; and, as many of the children have already returned on this account, will he consider an assured service either by rail or coach, say once every three months, which would meet all requirements?

It was necessary to cancel the special cheap rail facilities for parents visiting their children in reception areas partly because of the transport of troops and other movements to put this country in a position of defence and partly because of the numbers of children being moved to new areas. I hope it may be possible to provide some cheap facilities towards the end of this month, but that must depend on the military situation. Details will be announced later.

Is the Minister aware of the great concern of parents who have found it impossible to get the necessary facilities to visit their children, and will he take every step to ensure that nothing is left undone to enable parents to visit their children?

Yes, Sir; I know how much parents wish to visit their children, and facilities will be restored wherever possible as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inadequacy of the train service between Gourock, Greenock and Glasgow and vice versa; and whether he will take the appropriate steps to have the service adequately augmented?

The morning and evening workmen's service on this line is being augmented as from 19th August.

Does my right hon. Friend mean "workmen only" trains?

I mean workmen's special trains. There will be two trains in the morning and two trains at night extra.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the evening Gourock trains arriving at Greenock Central are already full, and that when they get to Bishopston workmen are left on the station and are unable to get to Glasgow?

I think that that matter is taken care of by the fact that there will be two extra trains morning and evening.

Will seamen coming off the ships be regarded as entitled to travel on these workers' trains, and will the Minister consider the fact that there is a tremendous number of seamen travelling from Greenock to Glasgow not normally at the time when workers' trains are running?

I will look into that matter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the continued high rate of deaths on the roads in spite of the reduced number of vehicles; and what further action he proposes taking in the matter?

Under existing conditions a substantial reduction in the number of road accidents can only be secured by the exercise of greater care by all road users. A further road safety publicity campaign will be undertaken in the autumn.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the figures prove that speed alone is not the main factor causing road accidents?

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in connection with the tollgate charges at present imposed by the four main line railway companies and others privately owned or owned partially by syndicates, he will introduce legislation to cancel for the duration of the war any charges which would normally be incurred by officers and men of His Majesty's Forces, whether on foot or on motor vehicles, proceeding in the execution of their duties?

Under the Army Act, 1881, and the Air Force Act, 1917, officers and men proceeding on duty along or over any road or bridge are exempt from payment of tolls levied by virtue of any Act of Parliament. As to any private tolls, I do not propose to introduce legislation requiring exemption, which anyhow would benefit the Exchequer and not the individual officer or man.

Is it not inexcusable that members of His Majesty's Forces should have to pay tolls in the execution of their duty in order to cross private land, and ought not this sort of thing really to be rectified?

Do the Home Guard come under the Act which my right hon. Friend mentioned? If so, is he aware that a few days ago a member of the Home Guard, while travelling on a toll road to Cardiff, was fined 10s., or alternatively seven days' imprisonment, and will he take steps to have this state of affairs remedied?

The Home Guard does come under the Army Act to which I referred. I said that that Act and the corresponding Air Force Act excuse officers and men on duty from any tolls levied by an Act of Parliament. I did not say that such exemption applied to private tolls.

In that case will my right hon. Friend take what steps are necessary to see that it does apply?

Will my right hon. Friend take care that soldiers on duty have a free issue of Evesham plums?

Will the right hon. Gentleman point out to the landowners that these people are protecting them and that there is no reason why they should pay the tolls?

I do not think there is any case where a private toll paid by an officer or man has not been refunded by his headquarters.

The matter is thoroughly unsatisfactory. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Information how many short films to illustrate the national war effort have so far been produced under the auspices of the Ministry; how many of them have been released; and what steps are being taken to shorten the delay between production and release?

The answer to the first part of the Question is 31 and to the second part 17, and a further seven are about to be released. The remaining films are no longer suitable for release owing to changed conditions. Every effort is being made to shorten delay between production and release, and in the case of a recent film, "Men of the Lightship," release in London was effected four days after its completion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman now thoroughly satisfied that no more films will have to be scrapped because of the delay between production and distribution?

I think so.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will consider the advisability of conducting a series of tests of public opinion in selected constituencies through their Members o Parliament, as an alternative or addition to methods at present employed?

I am always grateful for the co-operation of hon. Members, and if any hon. Member is prepared to give the necessary time to work of this kind, I shall be glad if he will communicate with me.

Do I understand from the reply that if a sufficient number of Members send in their names, the right hon. Gentleman will be willing to put into operation a scheme of this kind?

I will gladly go into it with any hon. Member who wishes to co-operate.

What is the need for these tests of public opinion? Why cannot the people be trusted?

Is it not time we came to the conclusion that the people of this country have guts?

asked the Minister of Information why the export permit of a publication called the "Voice of Spain" has been restored?

The licence under which the "Voice of Spain" can be exported was restored on an undertaking by the editor to submit the paper for censorship before publication and not to export the paper to Spain.

Is it not rather unsound at the present time to facilitate the circulation abroad of a journal that consistently attacks the present Government of Spain?

Is it not desirable that the "Voice of Spain" should be heard in Spain?

In view of the shortage of paper, would it not be possible to prevent this publication being sent to people who do not want it?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the "Voice of Spain" is an extremely valuable source of information to those who want to follow the movements of public opinion in Spain?

asked the Minister of Information what are the present, and prospective, duties and functions of the Local Information Committees set up by his Department; whether he is aware that there is apprehension that these committees will in some ways usurp the functions of the local authorities; and will he make a statement on the matter?

Local Information Committees are intentionally without precisely defined functions. They are a valuable and voluntary link between the Ministry of Information and the inhabitants of places where they have been set up, and they assist the Ministry as seems best to them in any and every form of local publicity towards winning the war, namely, in organising anti-waste or anti-rumour campaigns, in arranging public meetings, in the showing of films otherwise than in public cinemas, in helping to entertain distinguished allied visitors, and generally in heartening the cooperative spirit of the people. I have no fear that these committees will usurp the functions of local authorities. In the great majority of instances representatives of local authorities are included among their membership, and in all cases close contact with the local authority is maintained.

Do I gather from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that these committees will not in any circumstances be used to fulfil any of the functions normally fulfilled by elected representatives of the people or local authorities?

Yes, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman make it perfectly clear which bodies are entitled to be represented on these committees, in view of what has taken place in one or two districts?

I should not like to give a list of the bodies without preparation, but all local bodies are entitled to be represented if they make their wishes known.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the bulletins issued by local information bureaus are circulated to Members of Parliament in the areas of the committees?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Minister of Information the reason for the delay in making the public announcement of the sinking of the "Accra," having regard to the fact that the news was widely known in this country many days before the announcement?

It is contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government to announce the loss of individual merchant ships. But in the present case there was no reason for withholding the news of the loss of the "Accra" after news of the loss had been published in the U.S.A.

Having regard to the fact that the loss of this ship was well known in this country for at least eight days before publication of news of the sinking, does he not think that delay would cause considerable anxiety to relatives of those on board?

It may have been well known in this country, but we did not want to publish it to Germany.

asked the Minister of Information whether questions on the adequacy of, and manner of dealing with, applications for supplementary old age pensions have been, or will be included in the investigations of the social survey conducted by his Department?

No, Sir.

In view of the considerable information which is apparently in the possession of Members of Parliament on this subject, and which Members think ought to be brought to the notice of His Majesty's Government, will the right hon. Gentleman put some of these questions to his inquisitors who are now going round to try and find out this information?

This is a matter which concerns another Department of State, and I should not take any steps to interfere with its work.

On what basis are these social surveys carried out? Who sets the questions on which the people go round to find out information?

All that was very fully explained in the statement which was made a fortnight ago, and I cannot go into the whole facts now.

Is it not a fact that the Minister's "snoopers" would not get through one street a day if they were inquiring about old age pensions?

asked the Minister of Information whether he will make arrangements for hon. Members interested to have an opportunity of meeting the investigators in the employ of the Wartime Social Survey?

As I have explained to the House, these investigators are not appointed by the Ministry of Information, but I should be glad to put the hon. Member in touch with the senior officials of the War-time Social Survey.

Is that invitation extended to any Members of the House who may desire to meet them?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Information whether the house-to-house investigations conducted by his Department have yet been completed; whether a report on the findings will be issued; and, if so, when?

War-time Social Survey makes continuous surveys, and the results are, as I have already said, available to Members at the Ministry of Information.

asked the Minister of Information whether, as a result of his recent meeting with representatives of the Press, it is his intention to make any change in the existing arrangements for the handling of news between his Department and the Press?

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration that the morale of the people is magnificent and that they wish to be given the full facts, whether good or bad?

asked the Minister of Information what material or organisational aid is being given by His Majesty's Government to the newspaper "Dziennik Polski," published in London as the official mouthpiece of the Polish Government?

Facilities have been given for the purchase by this newspaper of the necessary newsprint. Otherwise no "material or organisational aid" is being given by His Majesty's Government.

In view of the fact that this newspaper represents a Government that is carrying on war against the Soviet Union, does not the Minister consider it desirable to cut off all connection with it, in view of the claim made by His Majesty's Government that they are trying to develop friendly relations with the Soviet Government?

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware of the ban on the export of a book called "Air Challenge and the Locusts"; and whether he can explain it?

There is at present no ban on the export of "Air Challenge and the Locusts."

asked the Minister of Information whether he has now considered the method of giving publicity to the lists of British prisoners of war emanating from German sources without advertising the German wireless, and with what result?

Immediately after my assurance to the hon. and gallant Member on 31st July, a request which was at once complied with was made to the Press to substitute the phrase "German source" for "German Radio." There has been little time as yet to judge of the result.

asked the Attorney-General under what statutory authorities courts of summary jurisdiction have recently imposed sentences of detention without limit as to the length thereof?

If the hon. Gentleman will send me particulars of the sentences to which he refers, I will look into the matter and communicate with him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether official representatives of the Home Office have been or are to be sent to overseas internment centres to act as liaison officers between British and Dominion Governments in respect of internees; and whether articles and cash left by internees before their departure overseas have now been forwarded to their owners?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The War Office have sent a liaison officer to Canada, who will, it is hoped, be able to some extent to act in this capacity, both as regards prisoners of war and internees, but, having regard to the comparatively small number of internees sent to Australia, I do not think there is any necessity, at present at all events, for a liaison officer there. As regards the last part of the Question, I understand that steps have been and are being taken by the War Office in regard to this.

Is it not highly desirable that the Home Office, as the Department responsible for the internal management of these camps, should have a representative in Canada at least, and possibly in Australia, to try to get the camps there to correspond to the camps in this country?

We have, of course, sent very full instructions for the guidance of the Dominion Governments; and we are sending out full particulars in regard to each internee.

Do they make special inquiries with regard to the cash that these internees have?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that 22 married men internees voluntarily left the Isle of Man camp on 10th July, under a guarantee given to them that their interned wives in Port Erin would accompany them in the same convoy; whether this promise was kept; if not, whether these wives have since been sent overseas to join their husbands; whether he is aware that correspondence sent to internees five weeks ago, before they departed overseas, has not yet been acknowledged; and whether he can say what is the approximate length of time that must elapse between the despatch of correspondence and its delivery to internees in Canada?

I would refer to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Combined English Universities (Mr. Harvey). The married internees to whom the hon. Member refers went to Australia, not Canada, and no guarantee was given that their wives would accompany them in the same convoy. I will make inquiries as regards the points raised in the last part of the Question.

Could the hon. Member say when he is likely to get the information?

Arrangements have been already made for speeding up communication between the internees and their friends outside; but it is exceedingly difficult at present to give any accurate estimate of the time which it will take for a letter to go from this country to Canada, and for an answer to come back.

Is the Minister aware that about 250 of these wives and children, who were brought to London at the request of the Home Office, are still awaiting permission to join their husbands in Australia; and can he hurry the sending of the next convoy to Australia?

I will do all I can in that respect.

asked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken to enforce the bearing of identity cards by all vagrants; and what steps are taken to impose penalties on vagrants not carrying such cards?

Chief officers of police have been advised that, in the existing situation, the police should exercise their powers under Section 6 of the National Registration Act, 1939, to require members of the public to produce their registration cards. My right hon. Friend is in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health on the question whether any special steps need to be taken with regard to vagrants.

Are the Department giving full consideration to the grave public danger arising from the present rather inadequate supervision of vagrancy?

Perhaps I might inform my hon. and gallant Friend that the Security Services do not regard vagrants as being a class of persons in regard to whom special attention is necessary.

Is my hon. Friend aware that at present vagrants can go about the country not necessarily under any control whatever?

Yes, Sir. But vagrants automatically incur the attention of the police and others.

Would it not be the easiest thing for German spies to dress themselves as vagrants?

asked the Home Secretary approximately how many persons, certified by tribunals to be refugees from Nazi oppression, are now in detention by his authority; how many applications by such persons for release remain undetermined; and whether he has appointed a special staff to expedite the release of persons entitled to such release?

Approximately 13,000 persons now interned in this country were classified as refugees. Applications for release of persons coming within the categories of eligibility are dealt with irrespective of whether or not the applicant is a refugee, and separate statistics are not available of applications made by refugees. The staff of the Aliens Department of the Home Office has been augmented in order to deal with applications for release as expeditiously as possible.

Is the hon. Member aware that there are two men in the uniform of the Pioneer Corps who have come back from France, who are still in Huyton Camp? Ought they not to be let out at once?

I think I had better make some inquiries.

Is the hon. Member aware that some internees who have been re leased from Pentonville Prison expected to be sent to camps or to be released, and that they have been sent to Liverpool Prison?

Those are not the type of internees to which this Question refers.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that in the life policies of certain insurance companies there are clauses exempting the companies from liability if death occurs while the insured person is a member of His Majesty's Forces; that such exemption is independent of the question whether the circumstances are such that pensions will be payable by the Government to dependants of the deceased; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

It would be impracticable for the Government to base its Pensions Scheme on the principle of providing a pension in all cases in which an exemption clause contained in the contract between an assured and an assurance company was operative. Apart from the principle involved, it may well be that such clauses take different forms. It is hoped that if any difficulties such as that suggested arise out of war circumstances, insurance companies will deal sympathetically with them. The Board of Trade and the Industrial Assurance Commissioner, whichever is appropriate, are ready to consider such cases if they are brought to their notice and get in touch with the insurance companies concerned.

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman considered how far such a clause is against public policy?

No, Sir, I have not considered that, but prima facie I should think that an insurance company, as a matter of contract, was entitled to exclude, broadly speaking, war risks, and, of course, to take a smaller premium on account of excluding those risks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether His Majesty's Government are taking the fullest advantage of the presence in this country of men with experience of antitank weapons and tactics in the Spanish war by employing them as instructors with the Army and Home Guards in antitank training?

All possible advantage is being taken of every form of experience in previous wars gained by individuals in this country.

May I ask whether the Government are interested in or are taking any active part in the private school which I understand has been set up in a certain spot not far from London to teach ways of immobilising tanks according to the methods which were used in the Spanish war?

Yes, Sir, great interest is being taken in it.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is the considered opinion of a large number of men who fought in France that if the war experience of the Spanish refugees had been taken advantage of to instruct our men in France, they could readily have delayed the German tanks, and why is it that these refugees have instead been kept in concentration camps?

Of course, I cannot answer a question about why these men have been detained, but I think the experience in Spain has been taken very fully into account.

Does the hon. Gentleman say that the Government fully recognise the use of the school in question?

Can the Minister assure us that every effort is being made to make use of the services of men, both British and Spanish, who had experience of the Spanish war?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to give more extensive and intensive training to the Home Guard in the use of hand grenades; and what measures have been taken to ensure that good supplies are available for them under responsible local control?

My right hon. Friend is not prepared to make any public statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the conditions prevailing at the Auxiliary Military Pioneers' camp at Nits-hill, Glasgow?

Yes, Sir. Full inquiries have been made and show that, in spite of initial difficulties, the unit has succeeded in making a very satisfactory camp. No complaints have come to notice; food, health and discipline are good; and, as regards the reference in my hon. Friend's previous Question to insulting censures on the men by a major, whose name he subsequently gave me, no officer of that name has been at the camp, nor can any trace of such an incident be discovered. The Lord Provost of Glasgow has paid a surprise visit to the camp, and is reported to have pronounced it to be one of the best camps in Scotland.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the inquiries extended to the rank and file of the regiment as well as to the officers responsible for the administration?

Of course, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether persons enlisting in Palestinian units will be required to serve outside Palestine and not merely in their own country?

The terms of enlistment in Palestinian companies of units of the British Army have not yet been settled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the abundance of fresh vegetables now available and the lack of marketing facilities for such commodities, he will arrange for supplies to be taken for Army use to the reduction of the use of tinned vegetables; and whether, in the case of growers who have large unmarketable stocks, he can state how they can get in touch with local War Office caterers?

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Cardiff (Sir E. Bennett). With regard to the second part, the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for troops' messing is made through the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, and application should be made to the Surveyor of Supplies, Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, Colquhoun House, 5, Broad-wick Street, W.1. In addition, local competitive contracts are made by commands for supply to hospitals, and, in regard to these, growers should get into touch with the headquarters of commands.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the ingathering of the harvest, any arrangements have been made for farmers to apply for assistance from troops in their vicinity; and whether, as immediate action is necessary, he will give such instructions as may be necessary?

My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that it would be very difficult in present circumstances to release troops from their military duties, but the question is being examined.

Will the Minister give preference to men in the Army whose fathers are farmers and who desire that their sons should go back to the harvest?

The whole question of how military labour is to be made available to farmers is being considered. I do not think I can go further than that.

Will the Minister obtain the use of bank directors for assisting farmers?

asked the Secretary of State for War why Major A. D. Wintle, M.C., Royal Dragoons, was confined to the Tower of London on 22nd June, but no charge was preferred against him until 7th August?

Instructions were sent from the War Office to Western Command on 20th June that Major Wintle was to be placed under close arrest charged under Section 41 of the Army Act with committing a civil offence, that is to say, assault. Major Wintle was arrested on 21st June, and was informed that he was charged under Section 41 of the Army Act with committing a civil offence. He was brought to London and was informed on 23rd June that the civil charge would be one of assault. As the result of investigation, the Department of the Judge Advocate-General advised that certain new charges should be added. These involved the collection of statements from other officers and took a little time. Major Wintle was furnished with the complete charge-sheet and abstract of evidence on 7th August. The court-martial had been provisionally summoned for 12th August. On 9th August it was postponed till 19th August and later till 26th August, at Major Wintle's request. The new charges are of feigning infirmity and of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. I should add that Major Wintle's personal courage has never been in question. The charges relate entirely to grave breaches of discipline.

Is the hon. Gentleman really sure that the charge was presented to Major Wintle, as he seems to have been entirely unaware of it? Further, is he aware that Major Wintle has suffered from a defect of the eye for a long time, and that to say otherwise is not fair to the man?

With regard to the first part of the question, I am quite satisfied that the information was given to him as stated. As to the second part of the question, as the charge is sub judice, I think I had better not deal with it.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in collaboration with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Agriculture, he will convene a meeting of the principal bankers throughout the country with a view to the creation of an agricultural credit bank?

No, Sir. In view of the credit facilities which are already available to farmers, I think such a proposal is unnecessary.

Does my right hon. Friend not realise that this matter cannot be lightly dismissed, indeed that it cannot be dismissed at all? Someone must initiate a beginning, and will not my right hon. Friend "Go to it"?

Has the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that there is not a widespread demand among farmers for credit facilities?

According to my information, there are already sufficient facilities.

Are there not 500,000 borrowers who want these credits? Why not do in the national interest what 500,000 people want?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will state the substances from which the vitamin to be added to flour is obtained?

The vitamin, which is derived from many different substances, is composed mainly of the atoms of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, but the process by which these atoms are linked together so as to be in the same form as that in which they occur in nature is an extremely complicated one.

Is the Minister aware that there are many medical men in this House who are very sceptical about this device?

I am also aware that there are many medical men and scientists in this House and outside it who are warmly in favour of it.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the process to which he referred is all done under the patent of Roche, Limited?

No, Sir, the process to which I refer has been undertaken by various firms in different countries, but I understand that Roche, Limited, are the only firm at present producing in this country.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is not one medical man who does not consider it infinitely better to have wholemeal bread?

The view of the Government is that a large number of people in this country do not care to eat brown bread, and this is really the primary reason for the decision which has been come to.

Are the Government wedded to these vested interests? Is it not true that nothing further is intended?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are being taken to render fit for human consumption undesignated milk now being supplied for food by the Milk Marketing Board; and whether, pending such remedial action, he will prohibit the sale of this product in the interests of public health?

During the past six years the percentage of undesignated milk has fallen from 95 to 52 of the total quantity of milk produced. Every effort is being made by the Milk Marketing Boards, with the financial assistance of the Government, to increase the production of designated milk. In addition, a proportion of undesignated milk is pasteurised before sale for liquid consumption. The proportion varies in different parts of the country. It would not be practicable to prohibit the sale of undesignated milk, since the supply of designated milk is not yet sufficient to meet the requirements of the liquid consumer.

Is the Minister aware that certain authorities are warning people against the use of this undesignated milk? Would it not be better for the Ministry to purify it before putting it on the market?

The best we can do is to take every practicable step to secure the purification of milk.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction prevalent amongst oat growers as a result of the announcement of only a maximum price for oats, whereas wheat prices are fixed; and whether he will take steps to fix a guaranteed price of 14s. 6d. per cwt. for oats of milling quality and so place this crop on a parity with wheat?

The prices prescribed for oats and other cereals of this year's crop were settled after full consideration by the Government. I regret that I can hold out no hope of any variation of these prices.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that there is no guarantee that the grower will secure maximum prices, while, on the other hand, in regard to oatmeal, which is at the moment excluded, there is the certainty that prices will be related to the maximum? Is that a fair position to the grower of the oats and to the consumer of the oatmeal; and will the Parliamentary Secretary use his great weight to eliminate this profiteering?

As my hon. Friend knows, there is a difference between oats and wheat. I do not think that the growers of oats will find themselves very hardly treated under the scheme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of persons to whom food ration books were issued within the area of the London Metropolitan boroughs prior to 1st January, 1940; and also the number at the latest date for which the statistics are available?

The figures desired by my hon. Friend are not available, but I will communicate with him on the matter as soon as possible.