asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that a large number of miners is to be thrown out of employment by the Amalgamated Anthracite Combine in the Neath division Gwauncae-Gurwen, Ystalyfera, Glynneath and Resolven areas; what steps he is taking to avoid this happening; will he cause an inquiry to be made; and will he consider calling expert men from the Principality to advise him, in addition to his own staff?

I am aware of the serious situation which is developing in the anthracite area of South Wales in consequence of the loss of a large part of their markets owing to the war and the seasonal cessation of shipments to Canada and I am in consultation with both sides of the industry as to the steps which are probable to alleviate the position. With regard to the last part of the Question I am advised on matters of policy by the Coal Production Council, and by the District Production Committees, including that in South Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average period which elapses between the time a firm makes a claim under the War Risks Insurance Act, 1939, for stock damaged by enemy action and the time when an assessor is appointed by the Board of Trade; and whether he is aware of the dislocation and loss which the present delays cause?

The instructions to the insurance officials acting for the Board of Trade under the Commodities Insurance Scheme provide that they should, on receiving information of damage to commodities from air raids, without waiting for actual claims, instruct an assessor to proceed at once to the scene. Owing to pressure in particular localities there may obviously be occasions when an assessor is not immediately available, even after receipt of the actual claim, but my hon. and gallant Friend can rest assured that every effort is being made to increase the number of assessors and (by transfer of assessors from one area to another and other means) to make the best use of existing expert personnel to minimise delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the physical dimensions of a proportion of the Home Guard are greater than those customary in the Regular Army; and whether he will make arrangements for the production of a proportion of uniforms of larger dimensions?

Arrangements have been made to provide the larger sizes to which my hon. Friend refers. Orders to that effect were given soon after the formation of the Home Guard and a greater proportion of the larger sizes is now being issued.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it will be possible to provide members of the Home Guard with steel helmets?

Steel helmets are being issued to the Home Guard as rapidly as supplies allow, and preference is given to those areas where the military need is greatest. My right hon. Friend fully appreciates the importance of this issue to many units of the Home Guard.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his Department's policy when allowing special leave, in order that soldiers in uniform may attend meetings of the Trades Union Congress, to require them to undertake not to make public attacks on the Army's treatment of men in the Forces?

When special leave is granted to an officer or soldier to attend a meeting of the Trades Union Congress, he will normally wear uniform and he is not debarred from addressing the meeting on the subject of the civil trade which he represents, provided that he does not utilise his position as a soldier to further political ends. For such an officer or soldier to make a public attack on the treatment of men in the Forces is a direct breach of King's Regulations, and any officer or soldier committing such a breach is, of course, rendering himself liable to the appropriate penalty. I am not aware that any undertaking of the kind which my hon. Friend has in mind has been required in the past, but my right hon. Friend is considering whether such an undertaking should be required in future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make provision for exemption from Estate Duty of the estates of civilians killed as a result of enemy action in the same way as at present applies to the case of men serving with His Majesty's Forces?

I regret that I cannot see my way to introduce legislation on the lines proposed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in computing profits liable to Excess Profits Tax, firms will be allowed to deduct money spent on amenities for their staff, such as canteens, especially where such equipment is unlikely to be useful after the war when hands are greatly reduced?

Concerns expending money on canteens and other amenities of a similar character will normally be able to claim the special relief from Excess Profits Tax given under Rule 3 of Part I of the Seventh Schedule to the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1939, in respect of the exceptional depreciation of buildings, plant and machinery due to the war.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Purchase Tax, applied to light castings, grates, ranges, etc., will greatly interfere with the repair of air-raid damage and possibly lead to profiteering; and what action does he propose to take?

There is no provision in the Finance Act which would exempt from Purchase Tax goods purchased for special purposes. I have no reason to believe that the imposition of the tax will have the effects suggested. As regards profiteering, if my hon. Friend has any reason to suppose that advantage is being taken of the levying of the tax to raise prices unduly, I hope that he will send particulars of the matter to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, who will be glad to consider whether any action should be taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Government of the United States of America must inevitably add the British Purchase Tax price to the American duty on all such goods exported to America; whether he has formed any estimate of the loss of exports to America that will result; and whether even now that alteration in the method of collecting the tax can be introduced so as to avoid the loss of American exchange?

I have been asked to reply. The amount of the tax may fall to be added to the dutiable value of those goods of which purchases in this country are chargeable with the tax and which are liable on importation into the United States to ad valorem rates of duty. The answer to the second part is in the negative. In answer to the third part, I am not in a position to add to the reply which the then President of the Board of Trade gave on 21st August to my hon. Friend the Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that traders are being informed by certain wholesale dealers that it will be permissible for them to lump the Purchase Tax in with the cost of goods and to treat the whole as the cost price, marking up on that figure in accordance with the Prices of Goods Act, he will issue a statement on the matter for the guidance of traders?

It would not have been practicable to require retailers in all cases to state separately the price of every article they sold and the amount of Purchase Tax attributable to each. The retailer is not, however, permitted by the Prices of Goods Act to make any profit on that part of the cost price which is represented by the Purchase Tax, and it follows that he must proportionately reduce the percentage mark-up which he was previously entitled to add. A statement on this and other matters relating to the pricing of goods on which Purchase Tax is chargeable has been issued by the Central Price Regulation Committee for the guidance of traders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the recent increase in pay still retains a discrimination in favour of the Navy, who obtain duty-free cigarettes and tobacco; and whether he is prepared to suggest a removal of this anomaly?

The privileges to which my hon. Friend refers and which are enjoyed by naval personnel serving in His Majesty's sea-going ships in commission and to a lesser extent by other naval personnel, are of long standing and apply in peace as well as in war. I am sure it is not my hon. Friend's wish that I should withdraw them for the sake of apparent uniformity in this respect with other members of the Forces, but equally, as I have explained on previous occasions, I cannot see my way to extend these privileges to those other members.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the general conditions under which commissions in the Royal Air Force are granted; to what extent service in the ranks is required; and under what conditions commissions are granted without any such prior service?

With few exceptions commissions for pilot and observer duties are granted only to men who have passed through the ranks. Commissions for other duties are granted both to serving airmen and to direct entrants from civil life who possess the requisite qualifications. A serving airman is eligible for recommendation for a commission at any time irrespective of his age and length of service. Direct entrants from civil life may be granted commissions for ground duties provided that they are above a certain age, normally 32–21 in the case of the technical branch—and have had experience in civil life or previous experience in His Majesty's Forces likely to render them suitable.

asked the Prime Minister whether civilian recipients of the George Cross and the George Medal will be entitled to wear a rosette or narrow ribbon in the buttonhole of their coats?

In Civil Defence, Police, Fire, Nursing Service and other authorised uniforms, a short length of ribbon will be worn on the left side, in the usual manner. As is customary, such ribbons may, on all occasions, be worn in the same way on civilian clothes. I am not sure that it will be generally desired to adopt here the Continental practice of wearing rosettes and narrow ribbons in the buttonhole.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now instruct all the Departments concerned that certain defence areas in less likely regions for invasion can be reopened up, even temporarily, as reception areas for London and similar evacuees, as well as for the return of former inhabitants, so giving more urban facilities to urban-habited people and relieving the congestion in many rural areas which only possess limited amenities as wintering quarters?

Instructions were sent to all Regional Commissioners on 3rd October to the effect that persons wishing to move from bombed areas to live with relatives or friends should not be prevented from doing so on the ground that it would entail entering an area to which holiday or pleasure visits are normally prohibited. This concession does not apply to a limited number of areas where military restrictions make such a relaxation undesirable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why all civil servants with the Armed Forces are having their service pay made up to their civil pay when the service pay is less than civil pay while retaining any difference if the service pay is greater, seeing that the service pay and allowances are considered sufficient for other sections of the community; and are temporary civil servants and medical officers attached to, or on the staff of, Government Departments similarly favoured?

His Majesty's Government on this occasion have followed broadly the arrangements operative during the last war. Their practice in this respect is in keeping with that of various other large employers, and local authorities were empowered by Parliament to grant balance of civil pay to local government staffs, teachers and police. Temporary civil servants are eligible for balance of civil pay only if they were directly and continuously employed by a Government Department for not less than six months immediately before the outbreak of war, otherwise than on a casual or seasonal engagement. Subject to this condition the position of medical officers would depend on the conditions of appointment in the individual cases.

asked the Minister of Labour, when the next calling up may be expected; and whether he is aware of the complaints of men registered months ago and still not called up?

Men are being called up for the Forces regularly each month. The interval between registration and calling up depends upon the Service which a man is to join and the needs of each Service for men of different categories. Consequently the interval between registration and calling up may vary considerably in individual cases, but I am not aware of any recent general complaints on this account. I would again point out that arrangements exist whereby men who express the desire may be called up early out of their normal turn.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the case of parents who lose a son on war service who previously contributed to the household income, with a view to making some ex gratia payment to such parents, although they are not actually able to establish pecuniary need in accordance with the terms of the Royal Warrant?

The provisions of the 1940 Royal Warrant governing the award of pensions to parents follow the recommendations made after prolonged consideration by the Statutory Advisory Committee of the Ministry earlier this year. The requirement of need is broadly interpreted in all cases where the son was contributing to the household support, and the parent who is otherwise eligible but is not in need is informed that he or she may at any time have the case reconsidered should his or her circumstances unfortunately change for the worse. I understand that the improved provision thus made in the opinion of the Government adequately meets the case.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the continuing increase in the cost of living, and having regard to the fact that increases of pay have been granted to serving soldiers, and more recently increased allowances have been granted for their families, and to the unemployed, and to the fact that wages have continued to rise, the Government will increase the pensions of veterans of the Great War and bring into line with them the pensions of men disabled in this war?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on 8th instant to a similar Question by the hon Member for West-houghton (Mr. Rhys Davies), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether the hutment camps built by the Camps Corporation in connection with the original evacuation scheme are being used to their fullest capacity at the present time for the purpose of housing children evacuated from the London area; and, if not, whether he will arrange for these camps to be fully utilised before enforcing further billeting in already congested areas?

The question whether the camps are being used to capacity, having regard to the need for adequate day room as well as dormitory accommodation, is at present being examined by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education. Immediate measures will be taken to fill any camp found to have accommodation still available.

asked the Home Secretary to what extent refugees in internment camps are permitted to write to responsible persons in this country criticising the conditions in the camps; and whether unrestricted correspondence with Members of Parliament is allowed?

If a person detained in an internment camp has grounds of complaint about his treatment, his proper course is to communicate with the Home Secretary who is anxious to remedy genuine grievances: but there is nothing to prevent such a person making criticisms of camp conditions in the letters which he is allowed to write. It is open to such persons to write to Members of Parliament but such letters are not exempt from the general rules as to the number and length of the letters which can be sent out.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that many farmers who would grow crops, such as barley and oats, to feed their pigs, do not do so, because, under present circumstances, they can only feed their pigs at a loss; and whether he can guarantee a remunerative price for pigs in the near future?

The answer to the first part is in the negative. The prices fixed for barley and oats should be remunerative to the farmer of average efficiency, and the grower of barley has the opportunity of selling his crop in the free market for malting purposes at prices above the maximum for barley sold for feeding. Feeding of these crops to other kinds of livestock may also give a better return. The present prices for pigs came into operation only as recently as 30th September, and the Government is not contemplating any modification.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that under present circumstances the fixing of a minimum price for such crops as potatoes does not guarantee the growers a market at that price, and that in many cases offers of such prices as 70s. a ton are received by growers as against the minimum of 115s. for grade A and 95s. for grade B; and what steps he proposes to take to protect growers in such cases?

I have been asked to reply. Under the Potato (1940 Crop) Control Order, 1940, it is illegal for a buyer of ware potatoes to pay the grower less than the prescribed minimum price for the particular variety of potatoes in the district in which they are grown. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of any cases in which a price less than the appropriate minimum has been paid, I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the Postmaster-General what number of parcels for prisoners of war in Germany were actually despatched in the month of August?

The number of parcels for prisoners of war included in mails despatched from this country during August was 62,560. In addition the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John bought 90 tons of food in Switzerland for distribution by the International Red Cross Committee in the camps in Germany.

asked the Postmaster-General what facilities are now available by which relatives and friends can forward food parcels to prisoners of war in Germany?

The scheme under which the next of kin may send each prisoner of war a personal parcel once a quarter has recently been restored. Information on the subject, including a list of articles suitable for inclusion, is contained in a recent leaflet about correspondence with prisoners of war, of which copies are available in the Post Office in the lobby and at head post offices. Food may not be sent in personal parcels but is despatched to prisoners of war in Germany by the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Highland Development League on 4th September, 1940, a copy of which has been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Greenock; whether he has any statement to make thereon; and what steps he proposes to take, in accordance with the resolution, to reconstitute the agricultural committees with a view to the energetic carrying out of the intention of the regulations?

The resolution is at present under consideration and a reply will be sent to the Highland Development League at an early date. I do not consider that there is any case for the reconstitution of the agricultural executive committees who are carrying out their duties energetically.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Scottish Central Medical War Committee was formed, and whether he is aware that the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association or its Scottish equivalent was still functioning on 5th September, 1939?

The Scottish Central Medical War Committee was convened on 5th September, 1939, and the Scottish Central Emergency Committee's functions ceased on that date.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state the position of persons in receipt of old age, widows', and other pensions from the Channel Isles, and who have been evacuated here, but who, by reason of the German occupation, are unable to draw their pensions any longer, since the Post Office authorities seem unable to give any information on the subject?

I have been asked to reply. The law of Guernsey—but not of Jersey—provided for the payment of widows' pensions and old age pensions not exceeding 10s. a week under a contributory insurance scheme. (No arrangements had been made by reciprocity with this country.) All those persons who have been evacuated from the Channel Islands are eligible, if in need, for assistance under the war-time scheme for the prevention and relief of distress.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the poultry special committee of the National Farmers' Union was consulted on the new regulations affecting the sale of eggs; and whether he will investigate the position of the small poultry-keepers under these regulations?

I presume my hon. Friend refers to the Home Produced Eggs (Maximum Prices) (No. 3) Order, of 29th August, 1940. The provisions of this Order were drawn up in consultation with the Home-Produced Egg Trade Advisory Committee of which the Chairman of the Poultry Sub-Committee of the National Farmers' Union is a member. If my hon. Friend will be good enough to give me details of any points which he has in mind in regard to the effect of this Order on small poultry keepers, I shall be happy to look into them.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that a large cement works in Northern Ireland has had to cease operations through lack of storage accommodation which, owing to Government control, is fully occupied; and whether he will give orders that the cement being held up shall be released to customers who need it?

I am informed that the only cement works in Northern Ireland is still in production and that stocks amount to less than one-third of the storage capacity. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the result of the recent meeting of the League of Nations Control Committee for the purpose of examining the administration of the League capital and the setting up of a budget; and whether the proposal to transfer sections of the League to North America has been adopted?

I understand that at its recent meeting the Supervisory Commission of the League of Nations considered current matters affecting the League including the Budget for 1941. My Noble Friend has not yet received the Commission's Report, but it will be circulated in due course. As regards the second part of the Question, a Delegation from the League Secretariat is already working in the United States and personnel of the International Labour Office are working in Canada.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the early withdrawal from Rumania of His Majesty's representatives and subjects?

A large number of British subjects and some members of the staff of His Majesty's Legation have already left Rumania.