asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that political prisoners transferred from Brixton to the military camp at Latchmere House, Ham Common, have in some cases been subjested to solitary confinement for more than one month before questioning; and whether he will give immediate instructions that these methods are to cease forthwith?

Latchmere House is used for the temporary accommodation of civilians of various nationalities who have been detained, and in whose cases special inquiries are necessary. In these circumstances it is not possible to permit unlimited association, but the allegation that persons have been kept in solitary confinement for periods exceeding one month is without foundation. The importance of keeping the period of detention at Latchmere House as short as is compatible with the necessary inquiries is fully appreciated.

asked the Minister of Health whether arrangements will be made to evacuate invalids, aged persons and women from the London boroughs which are being subjected to enemy bombing every night?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of recent experiences of air warfare on our civil population, he has any statement to make as to the policy of re-dispersal of all those not essential to our war effort from the most vulnerable areas and especially London?

The Government have had the question under careful review. Facilities for the evacuation of schoolchildren have been continuously available and the Government have consistently urged upon parents the importance of taking advantage of these facilities for their children. Since air attacks on London developed the rate of response has increased and approximately 30,000 schoolchildren have been evacuated since 6th September. In the light of these attacks it was decided to make similar facilities available for the evacuation of mothers with their children whether of school age or under. These facilities were offered first to those rendered homeless by air attack, then to the London boroughs in which shelter conditions were more difficult, and they have now been extended to the whole of the Metropolitan boroughs as well as to the county boroughs of East Ham and West Ham. Under these arrangements about 20,000 mothers and children have been evacuated since 22nd September. Evacuation takes place within two or three days of registration and I hope that mothers will take this opportunity of moving themselves and their children to the country in the interests of safety and health, and will in this way assist the problems of civil defence and shelter for those who mast remain. As regards aged and infirm persons, steps have already been taken to remove persons in this category from emergency rest centres and to transfer them temporarily to hospitals and subsequently to homes on the outskirts of London. I am arranging for similar action to be taken in relation to aged and infirm persons who are habitually making use of air-raid shelters in the whole of the Metropolitan boroughs as well as in East and West Ham.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the occupants of at least 12 houses in Doyle Gardens, Willesden, whose homes were wrecked during the early hours of 16th September, are still without accommodation, and no attempts have yet been made by the county authorities to house them; and will he review the machinery with a view to speeding up such assistance, especially in view of the presence of empty property in the neighbourhood?

I am informed that the occupants of the houses referred to made their own arrangements for other accommodation without approaching the town council for assistance. If the hon. Member has any other information, I should be glad to examine it. As regards the second part of the Question, rest centres have been provided by the county council in the borough for the immediate assistance of homeless persons, and use has been made of the centres by a considerable number of persons. Accommodation in billets or empty houses requisitioned for the purpose has been found by the town council for any persons who, on leaving the centres, are unable to find accommodation for themselves?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the arrangements made by the Leicester City Council for the entry to other premises of persons who may be made homeless in the event of air-raid damage; and whether he is satisfied that reasonable provision has been made throughout the country to give immediate dwelling-space, and to operate a system of communal feeding, to all who may be dispossessed in such circumstances during the present hostilities?

Yes, Sir. The arrangements both for the immediate care in food and rest centres of people rendered homeless, and for their subsequent resettlement in houses are now generally working well.

asked the Minister of Health whether provision has been made for the keeping of a central register of persons who have been dishoused by air raid or as a precaution and billeted or rehoused elsewhere so that anxious relatives may know where to make inquiries as to the whereabouts of such persons?

The London Council of Social Service has established a central register of people made homeless by air raids and billeted or otherwise rehoused by local authorities in the London Civil Defence Region. The Council will supply the new addresses to the town halls and citizens advice bureaux in the areas in which the people formerly lived. Similar arrangements are being made to cover the rest of the country.

asked the Minister of Health whether sufficient supplies of glass are held in reserve for the repairs to windows of houses and shops damaged by enemy action?

I am not aware that any particular shortage of glass for repair work has yet been experienced in any locality, but the position is being closely watched. Local authorities have been told by circular to exercise economy in the use of glass in repairing windows in houses and the practice has been commended of reglazing only a portion of a damaged window, replacing the remainder with some other weatherproof material.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that bad profiteering is taking place on the part of furniture removers; that, as a result, many of those rendered homeless and / or wishing to leave danger areas cannot afford to move their furniture which is left spoiling in the open; that the Unemployment Assistance Board can make grants for this purpose but have no authority to requisition vehicles or control charges; and whether he will take steps to give power to the Unemployment Assistance Board or local authorities to move furniture in such circumstances?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security asked local authorities in a circular of 3rd August to assist in removing and protecting furniture recovered from damaged houses. The Assistance Board are prepared in suitable cases to give allowances towards the cost of removing essential furniture to the new homes of its owners. The questions whether vehicles should be requisitioned or any form of control ought to be exercised on the charges made by furniture removers is not within the province of my Department but I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on this point.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that those rendered homeless by air raids are suffering many hardships through the large number of authorities they need to contact, amounting frequently to as many as eight, and whether some co-ordination will be made so that one officer can deal with all difficulties on behalf of a homeless family?

An Information Officer is being provided in every food and rest centre who can give complete information to the homeless on the forms of help for which they are qualified. In addition my hon. and learned Friend the Member for North Croydon (Mr. Willink) and I are endeavouring to secure that there should be one address in each borough or county borough to which the homeless can be guided, and in which they will be able to meet officers of all the bodies concerned and receive all the help to which they are entitled. Such an organisation already exists in some boroughs, and a circular letter has gone from my London Regional Office to all local authorities in the London Region advising them to make arrangements of the kind.

asked the Minister of Health whether all owners or agents of empty properties will now be compelled, under statutory penalty, to report immediately full details of such property to the local authority of the area in which it is situated, so that it may be requisitioned, if necessary, for billets; and to reveal saturation point of an area for the use of refugees?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that the information already possessed by local authorities is insufficient for the purposes which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Home Secretary whether Auxiliary Fire Service men can now be given the same conditions of service and of compensation in the event of injuries on duty as regular firemen, as they are doing similar work?

The pay and conditions of service of auxiliary firemen are fixed in close relation to those of Civil Defence personnel generally, and there are a good many respects in which the conditions of service of permanent fire brigade personnel would be inapplicable to volunteers for emergency service.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider making compulsory the daily deodorisation of public and institutional air-raid shelters?

I am advised that this object can be best attained by thorough cleansing daily and I have already made it clear to local authorities that this is an important part of their duties.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider asking all firms who employ night watchmen to throw open their air-raid shelters during the nights, even though the premises are closed for business, for the accommodation of shelterless people?

A new Defence Regulation has been made which confers upon local authorities general powers to issue directions as to the admission of the public to suitable premises for shelter purposes. These powers, which are primarily designed for use in areas where the public are resorting to shelters throughout the night, are to be used in consultation with Regional Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to accept the recommendation of the Select Committee on National Expenditure in favour of the inquiry by a War Office committee into the feeding of the Army at home and overseas?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mandel).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that no amendment was published in the Army Orders of July which would allow Territorial Army quartermasters to be promoted to captains in six years; and whether he will expedite the promised publication of this Order?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the amendment, which he will see was notified in Army Orders for July, 1940, and took effect from 1st July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is possible for him to state without detriment to the national interest how many skilled tradesmen have been released to industry from the Army under A.C.I. 626?

Up to 5th October last, the numbers of soldiers for whom orders for release to industry under Army Council Instruction 626 have been issued is 2,895.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Woking Home Guard, whilst being allowed to keep their rifles, have had their ammunition taken from them; and whether he will give instructions to reverse this decision?

I am informed that the statement in the first part of the Question is without foundation. The second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the firm of Pauly Brothers, 49, Praed Street, Paddington, by advertisement obtained motor cars for use by the War Department; that no payment has been made to the owners, and that correspondence remains unanswered; whether payments due for hire of motor cars have been made to this firm; and what steps were taken to see that only firms of proved reliability were entrusted with this work?

I have ascertained that a number of vehicles were hired by the military authorities in the London area from a firm who had in turn obtained vehicles from Messrs. Pauly Brothers. The latter firm had advertised for vehicles, but the War Department had no dealings with this firm. Payment has been made by the Department to the firm from which it hired vehicles, and the Department is not responsible for any transactions with Messrs. Pauly Brothers. The policy of the War Office is to hire vehicles only from owners and licensed operators, and instructions to this effect are in force.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute is refusing to supply Somerset cider to Somerset men quartered in Somerset and is offering them the Hereford variety; and whether he will take steps to remedy this grievance?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." I am informed that, in view of local demands, the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes have arranged to supply Somerset cider wherever there is a request for it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether consideration has been given to the advisability of sending all captured German airmen to be held in custody in Canada or some other Dominion; and, if so, whether arrangements could be made for such prisoners to travel in ships taking evacuated children to similar destinations?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, my hon. Friend will, no doubt, now have seen the announcement that no more children are to be sent to the Dominions at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the technical and other aviation journals are still allowed to be exported to Germany?

The position remains as stated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 24th April. No useful purpose would be served by restricting the export of British aviation journals. They are much esteemed abroad and they help to make known the high standard of British products.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that the technical and other aviation journals, before export to Germany, are censored by persons competent to assess the value to the enemy of the military information contained in them?

Yes, Sir. Before the export of such journals is permitted they are carefully examined by air advisers attached to the Postal Censorship.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement as to the negotiations for the payment of compensation to Palestinian civilians for death or injuries resulting from enemy action?

My Noble Friend has been in communication with the High Commissioner on the subject of a scheme of compensation for victims of air attack in Palestine, and details are now being worked out locally.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what action has been taken in regard to the indiscriminate bombing of Tel Aviv; what was the military objective in this town; and whether he will make a statement on the whole subject?

The High Commissioner is in consultation with the military authorities with regard to the strengthening of the defences of Palestine against air attack. There are no military objectives in Tel Aviv. Messages of sympathy from the Prime Minister and my Noble Friend have been conveyed to the victims of this brutal attack, and I am sure that the House will wish to associate itself with those messages.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that officers of the Assistance Board dealing with supplementary pensions are not providing for accumulated need in cases in which delay has occurred in determining the right to contributory old age pensions; and whether he will take the necessary steps to avert this hardship?

Until a man's claim to his old age pension has been decided and he becomes entitled to receive his weekly payments he is not eligible for a supplementary pension. If before this stage is reached he is in need of help he can apply to the public assistance authority who can grant relief subject to a right to reimbursement from the Board of relief granted after the date on which the pension began to accrue. Moreover, if delay occurs the determination of a right to an old age pension, the pensioner receives retrospective payments and these would go a long way to meet what the hon. Member has in mind. In the circumstances no question of accumulated needs should arise but I will gladly have inquiries made into any case the hon. Member may have in mind if he will let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Health why T. G. Jones, 2, Cardiff Road, Nantganv, an ex-soldier who was emigrated under a Government scheme and was compelled to return on account of ill-health has been refused an old age pension, because he carried out the request to emigrate?

Mr. Jones' claim to a non-contributory pension was disallowed solely upon the ground that he did not fulfil the statutory condition as to residence in the United Kingdom. This condition requires that a claimant who is a natural-born British subject shall have resided in the United Kingdom for an aggregate period of not less than 12 years since attaining the age of 50. When his claim was determined by my predecessor, in January, 1937, Mr. Jones had been so resident for rather less than eight years, but it will be open to him to submit a fresh claim at any time not more than four months before the date on which he will prima facie be entitled to receive a pension. I am not aware of the exact dates involved, but it would appear from these facts that Mr. Jones should submit such a claim in the near future.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that some public assistance committees are taking into account the benefits of the recent Workmen's Compensation Act thereby leaving the recipient in the same position as before the passing of the Act and whether he will empower public assistance committees either to disregard this additional compensation or treat it in the same way as the Unemployment Assistance Board deals with partial compensation?

On assessing the needs of an applicant for relief, public assistance authorities are already empowered to treat weekly payments under the Workmen's Compensation Acts as if they were reduced by half.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the results of an investigation upon. Tyneside by Dr. D. M. Goodfellow, revealing in detail the confused and unsatisfactory nature of the social services, and of local government in that area; and whether, in view of pressing social problems resulting from the present war, he is considering a comprehensive policy of municipal reconstruction for immediate application?

I have seen a copy of Dr. Goodfellow's report and it is being examined in my Department. I do not think that the House or the localities concerned would agree with the hon. Member's suggestion that there should be a comprehensive municipal reconstruction now. This is a matter which will have to be taken up when we can see what post-war conditions are likely to be.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the proposal of the Altrincham Corporation to evolve a new town planning scheme during the war; and whether he will consider recommending the postponement in all cases of any such action on the grounds that, in his circular No. 1872, dated 19th October, 1939, he indicated that there would be a postponement of town planning schemes, that the result of damage by air-raids may necessitate a revision of the scheme as at present planned, and, that in view of the absence from the district of many owners of property and others interested on war service, an opportunity is not afforded them to consider carefully any such proposals?

I am informed that the Altrincham Town Council have a planning scheme in preparation, but it has not yet been submitted to me for approval. If a scheme were submitted I could not contemplate in existing circumstances holding a local inquiry or taking any other formal action with a view to its approval. As regards the last part of the Question the considerations to which my hon. Friend refers are being borne in mind in the administration of town and country planning at the present time. I am drawing the attention of the town council to this Question and answer.

asked the Minister of Health what authority the officers of his Department attached to the Central Medical War Committee as observers have; how many of such observers attend each meeting of the Central Medical War Committee; and what action is taken if the advice of these observers is not adopted by the committee?

The officers in question have authority to assist the committee with their advice and generally to keep in touch with the proceedings on my behalf. Normally two such observers attend each meeting. If the situation indicated in the last part of the Question were to arise, the action taken would depend upon the nature of the issue involved.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that parcels and letters are being returned which are addressed to His Majesty's Forces in Egypt; that cheap cablegrams may not be despatched; and can he hold out any hopes of improvement?

Mails for His Majesty's Forces in Egypt are being despatched as opportunity offers, and I am not aware of any reason for the return of letters and parcels for those Forces, if properly addressed. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any case in which a postal packet has been returned, I shall be glad to have inquiry-made. The Service Departments in co-operation with my Department have recently made arrangements under which a limited number of telegrams of an urgent personal nature may be sent to members of the Forces serving in Egypt at the inland rate of a penny a word by their nominated next-of-kin. Cable and Wireless, Limited, are considering the question of extending to Egypt the special cheap-rate service whereby telegrams may be sent with free addresses to members of the Forces serving in the British Empire or in British mandated territories.

asked the Minister of Health on what grounds has a widow's pension been refused to Mrs. A. E. Smith, of Milton House, Burns Street, Bentley. Doncaster, Claims No. R.O.A. 66220?

Mrs. Smith's claim to a widow's pension was rejected because the statutory condition which requires that her husband should have been an insured person at the date of his death was not fulfilled. Mrs. Smith exercised her right of appeal against the decision, but the referees appointed under the Acts dismissed the appeal, and their decision is final and conclusive by law in the absence of new material facts.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that some 2,000 summonses for the non-payment of rates have recently been served in Bournemouth; and whether he is yet in a position to indicate what assistance can be given to local authorities and ratepayers to remedy such situations as this in resorts in restricted areas?

I have seen Press reports on the matter referred to in the first part of the Question. As regards the position of local authorities, I would refer my hon. Friend to the pledge given on behalf of the Government that the Government would be prepared to come to the assistance of local government if they were unable to finance essential services from the normal sources and to the more detailed announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 5th September last with regard to the evacuation areas under the Defence (Evacuated Areas) Regulations, 1940. As regards the position of individual ratepayers, I would remind my hon. Friend that there is a moratorium in force in these special evacuation areas in respect of rates and of certain other kinds of debts, and in addition the provisions of the Courts (Emergency Powers) Acts, 1939 and 1940, apply to all areas. Further, local authorities have, under the ordinary law, a wide discretion to remit rates on the ground of poverty and under special war legislation the Scheme for the Prevention and Relief of Distress administered by the Assistance Board is available for persons who are in need as a result of the war.