asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are being taken to protect the personnel of the Navy from gun and bomb deafness?

Ear defenders are already supplied to men exposed to gun blast, and a standardised defender will shortly be issued to all personnel. Advice has also been given in Admiralty Orders on various methods of protecting the ears against blast.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what X-ray treatment is provided in naval hospitals; and is he satisfied therewith?

All Royal Naval hospitals are fitted with X-ray apparatus and portable sets are carried in all cruisers and larger vessels. These naval facilities are used for diagnosis. Satisfactory and adequate provision is made for the few cases requiring treatment by sending them to civil hospitals.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received the Electricity Commissioners' report of their review of the Notting Hill Electric Lighting Company's charges for 1940; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

Yes, Sir. The position has been reviewed on the basis of the consumption of current to the end of June. The figures confirm the estimates made by the company and accordingly afford no grounds on which I could intervene at this stage. I have, however, asked the Electricity Commissioners to review the position again at the end of September.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the similarity of the sound of certain motor omnibuses while on a low gear, in the Metropolitan area, and the commencement of an air-raid warning; and whether he will take steps to diminish this unnecessary disturbance and consider, particularly during daylight, reducing the time given for warning signals?

There is a certain similarity between the sound of some motor vehicles in low gear and the begin- ning of the air-raid warning signal; but, as I have stated on previous occasions, misapprehension arising from this cause cannot be more than momentary. As regards the second part of the Question, the duration of the warning signal has already been halved.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the case of the owner of a commercial building who has incurred expenses in providing an air-aid shelter for the persons working or living in the said building and who, under the provisions of Section 19 of the Civil Defence Act, 1939, has increased the rentals payable by his tenants to the extent specified in that Section, any grant paid to him under Section 22, Subsection (1) of the said Act is on condition that he must give credit to his tenants in calculating such increase of rent for the amount of any such grant, or whether such landlord is entitled to retain such grant for his own exclusive benefit?

No such condition is attached to the payment of grant. The owner of a commercial building who receives a grant under Section 22 of the Civil Defence Act is not required to bring the sum so received into account in computing under Section 19 of the Act the expense incurred in providing shelter by reference to which rents are increased.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the disturbing effect of public chiming clocks during the night; and whether he will consider their prohibition for the period of the war?

I am not aware of any widespread demand for the general prohibition of the chiming of public clocks.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to what extent people deprived of their homes, furniture and goods as the result of air raids, and having no financial means of replacing them, are assisted out of public funds?

Immediate cash advances are made in respect of essential furniture and personal clothing to people of limited means under the scheme announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 5th September. As regards damage to dwelling-houses, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply (of which I am sending him a copy) given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend. (Sir I. Albery).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the 3,219 houses, completed in large burghs in Scotland between 1st August, 1930, and 30th June, 1940, were distributed between the large burghs concerned?

The following table shows the distribution of the houses referred to:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why Sir George Paish was allowed to take more than the minimum sum allowed to ordinary passengers on their obtaining exit permits; and whether he can state the sums which have from the time of his exit been allowed to be sent to Sir George Paish, and whether the Government gave any recognition to his mission?

Sir George Paish applied last June for an advance to cover travelling and other expenses incidental to a lecture tour in America. His earnings in the course of that tour, which would of course be surrenderable to the Treasury, were expected considerably to exceed the sum applied for and his request was accordingly granted on that basis, that is to say, it was dealt with purely as a normal business visit, and no question of official recognition arose in connection therewith. No further sums have been applied for or sent to Sir George Paish since he left the country.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the difference in political status between British subjects who have acquired domicile abroad and the subjects of other countries; and whether His Majesty's Government will give directions as to granting permits with the least possible delay to British subjects domiciled abroad for many years prior to the outbreak of the present war and who have come to this country as transmigrants, to permit of their continuing their journey abroad, together with their financial holdings in money and goods?

Subject to their liability for military service, special consideration in the matter of exit permits is given to British subjects who have long residence abroad. If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular case in which there has been delay or difficulty in granting an exit permit I shall be glad to consider it. Any question relating to the transfer of currency or other valuables abroad should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the inevitable delays in the air mail and other mail services have a hampering effect on export and that exporting companies are forced to make increasing use of cable communications; and will he take steps to provide a special rate for commercial telegrams lower than the commercial letter telegram rates in order to encourage export?

The overseas telegraph services are mainly operated by Cable and Wireless Limited and this company has done much to place cheap telegraph facilities at the disposal of the public. The question of still further cheapening telegraph communication is constantly in mind, but the company regret that in present circumstances it is not practicable to introduce a special reduced rate for commercial letter telegrams.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production what was the cost of moving the Aluminium Control from Shrewsbury to Banbury; how many new members of the staff it was necessary to recruit as a result of the move; and why it was thought advisable to make this move?

To the first part of the Question the answer is £350 approximately, to the second 20 members of the local staff at Shrewsbury resigned and to replace them 13 new staff have been recruited at the new location, and to the third the move was ordered so that the Control should be at a point both nearer to headquarters and nearer to the Light Alloy and Magnesium Control.

asked the Minister of Information whether there has been any change in the policy of the Ministry with regard to its influencing public morale, and if this applies to the circulation of literature, circular letters and films as issued under the authority of his Department?

Public morale has not needed influencing in any material fashion. It has been good in itself. The Ministry of Information still supplies information partly by film, partly by printed matter, partly by circular letter as hitherto.

asked the Minister of Information how many advisory or consultative committees are now functioning in his Department; how they are appointed; whether they comprise representatives of organisations or corporate bodies; and whether they act in a voluntary capacity or otherwise?

There are several advisory and consultative committees associated with the Ministry. Steps are being taken to ascertain their usefulness with a view to some revision of both their number and constitution. A more precise answer is not possible at this time.

asked the Minister of Information whether the reorganisation plans, now being operated in the work of the Ministry, affect the functions of the planning and policy committees; and to what extent their duties are being transferred to other advisory or administrative committees?

For the co-ordination of the work of the Ministry the following committees of officers of the Ministry under the chairmanship of the Director General meet weekly:The Planning Committee which correlates all activities of the Ministry at Home, considers and approves all proposals for publicity, films, pamphlets and related subjects; reviews and checks the expenditure incurred. Those officers attend who are concerned with the business arising.The Overseas Committee which will carry out similar duties for all overseas activities and be similarly constituted of the officers affected by the business arising.The Principles Committee, consisting of the chief officers of the department only, to agree and recommend the basis upon which the work of the Ministry is to be conducted.The Policy Committee under the chairmanship of the Minister meets twice a week to confirm any action proposed by the previous committees and to deal with the larger issues arising out of the work of the Ministry.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction in several parts of the country caused by the way in which a very large number of applications from parents have been turned down merely because the applications which were sent in first were accepted; and whether, in view of the desirability of arranging this limited evacuation on the fairest possible basis, he will, when the scheme is revived, arrange for all applications to be considered and allocated by a balloting system of the most deserving cases on a proportionate county basis?

I regret any disappointment felt by parents who did not make application in respect of their children before 5th July. In view of the large number of applications received before that date when compared with the possible amount of convoyed shipping space available, it would have raised false hopes to have kept the lists open. Selection for a particular ship involves many considerations, such as age, balance of sexes, the wishes of the Dominion Governments and whether the children are proceeding to nominated homes. Every possible care is taken to arrange selection on an equitable basis, but I should point out to my hon. Friend that preference is given to children living in the more dangerous areas. For these reasons it is not possible to adopt the balloting system suggested in the second part of the Question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will state the present situation with regard to the work of the Children's Overseas Reception Board; and the number of children who have been sent to each of the Dominions and to the United States of America under the scheme up to date?

Up to 2nd September inclusive the parents or guardians of 24,130 children were notified that their applications had been approved by the Board. Replies from parents who have completed the necessary formalities cover 13,852 children. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 20th August to my hon. Friend the Member for Farnworth (Mr. Tomlinson). According to present information, 1,469 children sent to Canada under the scheme have safely arrived. There have been no arrivals under the scheme in Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa. The scheme is not yet in operation as regards the United States of America.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it is now the intention of the Government to nationalise the milk industry?

The milk industry, both in regard to production and distribution, operates in very close association with the Ministry of Food. No proposals for nationalisation of the industry are at present under consideration, but the Government naturally holds itself free to take any steps of control which may be necessary in the light of war-time conditions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Leon Pandeli Argenti was permitted by the Exchange Control to export capital?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I have to-day given to Questions on this subject standing in the names of my hon. Friends the Members for Colne Valley (Mr. Glenvil Hall) and Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. E. Smith).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make inquiries into the arrest by the Portuguese authorities of Mr. G. Vesey Brown, a British subject, member of the Royal Institute of Civil Engineers, who has lived in Portugal for 20 years; and whether any charge has been made against him?

Mr. G. Vesey Brown was arrested by the Portuguese authorities on 17th August. His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon has been informed that Mr. Brown is accused of having written a tendentious article for the Press and of having subsequently failed to comply with a summons to appear in court in connection with his alleged statement that he had done so.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the twelfth report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure, Parliamentary Paper 158, on the Auxiliary Territorial Service; whether the War Office intend to take any action in the matter; and, if so, in what way do they intend to implement the recommendations of the Select Committee?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement I made

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the aircraft obstructions erected in many districts in East Sussex are having a serious effect on arable cultivation and other farming in consequence of the hasty design and placing of these obstructions; and what steps he is taking to readjust these obstructions in the interests of vital food production?

Clear instructions have been issued regarding obstructions of aircraft, directing that County War Agricultural Executive Committees must in all cases be consulted before work is undertaken on agricultural land. If my hon. and gallant Friend will bring any specific cases to my notice, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers of the British Expeditionary Force claimed compensation for the loss of kit and equipment as a result of the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force from in answer to a Question by the hon. Lady the Member for Dartford (Mrs. Adamson).

asked the Secretary of State for War how many cases of enteric fever and deaths from that disease, typhoid and paratyphoid, were recorded in 1938 and 1939 in the British Army at home stations and in India, respectively?

The number of cases and deaths from the enteric fever group of diseases recorded in 1938 at home stations and in India, and in 1939 at home stations, are as follow:France; how many letters of complaint the War Office has received from these officers regarding the amount of compensation received; and whether he will review all cases of complaint with a view to increasing the amount of compensation?

The number of claims was about 18,000. I am unable to say how many letters of complaint have been received, but, whether or not complaint was made, as I informed my Noble Friend the Member for Peterborough (Lord Burghley) and my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North (Mr. Erskine Hill) on 20th August, all cases are being reviewed on the revised basis of assessment which has been adopted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the proposed sales tax is a bad and unpopular tax, he will consider the advisability of substituting a 25 per cent. stamp duty on retail sales, as such a tax, to be named the victory tax, would apply to approximately £1,000,000,000 value of stock at present held by retailers, which stock, under the sales tax, would not be taxed, thus missing the opportunity of raising practically immediately and with no expense £250,000,000?

I am not prepared to accept the assumption made by my hon. Friend. As I stated in my Budget speech, I satisfied that a retail sales tax would be impracticable in view, amongst other reasons, of the innumerable daily transactions that would be involved and of the large number of retailers who keep no accounts; and the matter has already been determined by Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the financial arrangements made for airmen from the United States of America and any other foreign country who offer their services to his Department?

The pay and allowances of persons offering their services to the R.A.F. from foreign countries are in general the same as those applying to British subjects entered in the United Kingdom. Provision is made for meeting from public funds the cost of conveyance of suitable candidates to this country.