asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that while the new order regarding special promotion of warrant engineers under 36 years of age to lieutenant (E) is an appreciated concession, will he say why tried and efficient commissioned engineers, say up to 42 years of age, have been passed over for such promotion seeing some special promotions were granted to men over 36 years of age in the last war?

The special promotion of commissioned engineers during the last war was made under a scheme which applied to all warrant officers promoted "for long and zealous service." Commissioned engineers over 36 may still be promoted under this scheme. Warrant and commissioned engineers under 36 are promoted to lieutenant (E) under a scheme which is unsuitable for older officers, because the retiring age for those not promoted to commander (E) is 45. The retiring age in the original scheme is 50.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that certain deductions are made from the pay of engine-room artificer apprentices; that they and their parents are subject to the same rises in the cost of living as other members of His Majesty's Navy; that these apprentices have not received the recent increase in pay of 6d. a day, with the result that a feeling of discontent has been created; and will he explain why the increase to the lower ranks of all the Services was not given to them?

As regards the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to the information I have already given to my hon. Friend on 24th April last. With regard to the second part of the Question, I made a full statement on the position in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Central Portsmouth (Mr. R. Beaumont) on 16th October.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in the interests of both countries, he will take steps to put an end to the propaganda now circulating in this country against Eire, particularly that relating to the refuelling of submarines off the West Coast of Ireland from Free State sources?

Though I have seen one or two reports in the Press relating to the alleged refuelling of submarines off the West Coast of Ireland, I have no knowledge of any propaganda circulating in this country such as is referred to in the hon. Member's Question. So far as I am aware there is no foundation for these allegations and any publicity in this country which tends to impair relations betwen Eire and the United Kingdom is to be strongly deprecated.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that airmen serving in Great Britain but whose home, wife and children are in Northern Ireland, cannot send a present for birthdays and other anniversaries made up as a parcel without a permit from the censor of parcels; and will he consider obviating this difficulty for those in the Service by some form of permission, or even censorship, from an officer deputed by the commanding officer for this purpose and thus prevent domestic misunderstandings on the one hand and disappointment to Service men's children on the other hand?

I am aware of the difficulty to which the hon. Member refers in the first part of the Question; the Censorship Department is in consultation with the Air Ministry in connection with the suggestion about censorship being carried out by or on behalf of the commanding officer, and I am hopeful that a satisfactory solution may shortly be found.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether instructions have yet been issued by his Department that no agricultural land shall be interfered with for military purposes without previous notice being served on the owner?

Instructions have been issued that, except in cases of extreme urgency, notices shall be served on occupiers before work is undertaken on any land by the military authorities. Where land is used for training purposes, notices are to be displayed in every district concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in consequence of the increased cost of living since the 1st July, 1930, when a reduction of 7 per cent. was made, and the consideration already given to other pensioners, he will consider the granting of an appropriate increase to the retired pay of officers as provided in Army Order 324 of 1919?

Rates of Army retired pay were stabilised in 1935 in accordance with the Government decision relating to the pay and pensions of the Defence Services and the Civil Service, and the rates are not now variable with the cost of living?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that certain isolated small units of His Majesty's Forces are living in huts inadequately lighted; and will he give an assurance that suitable lamps shall be provided during the next few days where electricity or gas cannot be installed?

Considerable quantities of the necessary lamps are on order, all possible action has been taken to accelerate production, and large quantities of suitable lamps should be available in the near future. Meanwhile, ordnance officers in each Command have been instructed to meet urgent local needs as far as possible by purchase from retailers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that, in Scotland, long delays amounting to several weeks occur before permits are granted for the cement, amounting to one or two tons, required for necessary repairs to agricultural buildings and steadings; and whether he will take steps to have such delays eliminated?

I am aware that in some instances delays have occurred in the release of cement and as far as priority arrangements permit, every endeavour will be made to minimise them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that the Milk Marketing Board is composed of only 17 members, of whom 15 are elected by producers, he will state what steps are to be taken by him to ensure proper regard for the interests of consumers and distributors of milk in connection with the new powers which he has recently conferred upon that Board?

Proper regard for the interests of consumers and distributors of milk in connection with the powers which have recently been conferred upon the Milk Marketing Board will be ensured by reason of the fact that the powers will be exercised under the general supervision of my Noble Friend, and subject to his specific directions where necessary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will take steps to fix the price of all essential articles of food and impose penalties for any breaches owing to the substantial increases which have taken place since the outbreak of war; and if he is aware of the discontent among persons of low incomes such as old age pensioners, and men and women with large families, due to the high prices and varying prices in different areas?

Price control has already been instituted over a wide range of essential foodstuffs, and further commodities will be controlled as and when desirable. It is the constant concern of my Noble Friend to endeavour to provide adequate supplies of essential foodstuffs to the public at reasonable prices, and in some cases subsidies are paid for that purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that the power of inquiry which is now the function of food investigation committees gives no check on profiteering, he will invest these committees with powers to prosecute where facts in the opinion of the committees so justify?

My Noble Friend is unable to accept the suggestion of my hon. and learned Friend that the procedure of the local food price investigation committees offers no check upon profiteering. On the contrary, he is satisfied that the appointment of the committees with adequate powers to investigate prices, provides an effective deterrent in most cases to the imposition of unreasonable charges for uncontrolled foodstuffs, and as at present advised he sees no reason to add to their powers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that considerable resentment is felt by large importers of Canadian canned foodstuffs in Scotland and elsewhere at the embargo which has been placed on such imports from Canada; and whether anything can be done to ease the position in which such firms find themselves and at the same time satisfy the demands of Canadian canning companies who appear to have lost a very important trade with this country by the action of the Government?

The restrictions on the importation of Canadian canned foodstuffs are due to the necessity of conserving dollar currency and freight space. I regret that at present I can hold out no hope of any relaxation of the conditions governing the importation of these goods. The position has been fully explained to all the interests concerned and, in the main, has been accepted by them without complaint.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been drawn to the agreement which was made by the British Iron and Steel Federation with the four big iron- and steel-scrap merchanting firms which are paid 1s. a ton on all scrap delivered to the British steel industry whether they have handled the scrap or not; and whether, since the point of this agreement was to prevent in peace-time the export of scrap to potential enemies, the agreement will now be terminated, in view of the powers which the Government obtained preventing scrap being exported?

The main purpose of the agreement to which my hon. Friend refers was not, as he suggests, to prevent the export of scrap, but to organise the supply of scrap to steelworks in this country on a fair and equitable basis. The steel industry is satisfied that the services which the agency firms have rendered and are rendering under the agreement result in the saving of large sums of money and I see no reason to disturb the arrangement.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will give the names of the members of the advisory committee of production experts which were announced to the deputation he received on the 17th September?

I have been asked to reply. The deputation referred to was not received by the Minister of Supply, but by myself as chairman of the Industrial Capacity Committee of the Production Council. One of the recommendations of the deputation was that a panel of production experts should be set up to advise on methods of manu- facture after the design had passed out of the experimental stage. I informed the deputation that the practice so far as the Ministry of Supply was concerned was that designs are constructively criticised by panels representative of the firms undertaking their production, and that these panels were in contact with the chief superintendent of design. I have conveyed to the other Ministries the offer of the Institution of Production Engineers to set up voluntary panels.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will finance the telegraphing from Geneva to London of the names of British prisoners of war?

His Majesty's Government made a contribution of £4,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross on the 2nd August towards the expenses of the Central Prisoners of War Agency. These expenses include the cost of telegraphing lists of British prisoners of war.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the ruling with regard to railwaymen in different categories taking shelter during air raids?

The following instructions have been issued to railway staffs:

"During air raids it is essential that both passenger and freight trains should continue to run as required. Trainmen and signalmen should remain at their posts. All other staff should continue at work during air raids until danger is imminent in the immediate vicinity of the places at which they are working. The staffs should resume work as soon as the immediate danger is past."

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange to provide steel helmets for the staffs of restaurant cars on trains?

Railwaymen who are required to perform essential duties in the open during air raids are being equipped with steel helmets as rapidly as possible, but it is not possible at present to provide them for the staffs of restaurant cars.

asked the Minister of Transport whether provision can be made for the more general distribution of information to passengers on the London railways by the use of megaphones or by increase of personnel when local dislocation necessitates a change of route or the closing of stations, with a view to avoiding the confusion and inconvenience now experienced by the travelling public, especially in the case of soldiers on leave?

The London Passenger Transport Board and the main line railways are constantly examining the possibility of improving upon the arrangements already made to distribute information and, when practicable, measures such as those suggested by my hon. Friend, including loudspeakers, are being adopted. He will, however, be aware that the position changes so rapidly that it is often very difficult for the railways to keep all their many stations furnished with up-to-the-minute information.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to speed up traffic, he will make extensive use of the one-way street system, especially where traffic has to be diverted into narrow secondary streets?

I am prepared to authorise one-way working where the police or the local authorities desire it and I am satisfied that it is in the general interests of traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that weekly traffics are no longer published, he will consider traffics being published at monthly intervals, so that shareholders should not be entirely deprived of information?

Figures are published half-yearly giving the approximate results of working the pool referred to in Command Paper 6168, but the prompt publication of figures of railway traffics at monthly intervals would not be in the national interest.

asked the President of the Board of Education the names of those areas in which the schools have been closed?

Owing to the fall in the numbers of children attending, the schools have been closed for the time being by the local education authorities in a number of boroughs in the Metropolitan area, and the closure of schools has also been ordered in certain other areas. For reasons which my hon. Friend will appreciate I am communicating the names of these areas to him privately.

asked the President of the Board of Education the 1111111- her of children of school age who are at present in the following areas: Urban District of Clacton, County Borough of Ipswich, County Borough of Canterbury, County Borough of Southend, County Borough of Great Yarmouth, County Borough of Hastings, County Borough of Eastbourne, County Borough of Bexhill, County Borough of Brighton, Borough of Deal, Borough of Folkestone, Borough of Hythe, Borough of Sandwich, Borough of Dover, Borough of Margate, Borough of Ramsgate, Borough of Lowestoft, and Borough of Worthing?

I regret that the information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Home Secretary what steps are being taken for the regular disinfection of air-raid shelters in order to prevent the spread of disease?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given on 17th October to a Question by the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen). I am not yet in a position to add anything to that answer.

asked the Home Secretary how many public shelters are already provided with heating; and when all public shelters will be so provided?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given on 17th October to a Question by the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).

asked the Home Secretary whether, in order to make his assurance that refugee-internees should never be handed over to Germany cover those B and C aliens who have been deported to Canada and Australia, he will call the attention of the Governments of Canada and Australia to the fact that these refugees are there classed as, and interned with, prisoners of war?

I would refer the right hon. and gallant Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen). There are no prisoners of war in Australia and it is not the case that refugees are interned with prisoners of war in Canada.

asked the Home Secretary how many cases of aliens who have applied for release under category 19 are now awaiting investigation?

All applications for release under category 19, unless obviously ineligible, are referred to the tribunal appointed to consider them. According to the latest available information, 135 cases have been so referred: of these, 17 have been fully considered, 53 partly considered, and 65 were awaiting investigation.

asked the Home Secretary when it is anticipated that the tribunal considering the cases of aliens who are asking for release under category 19 will have completed its labours?

I regret that it is impossible to make any forecast at this stage.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the repugnance felt by the public at the display of battered furniture, much of which could be salvaged, in damaged houses, he will consider means of removing these belongings for possible reconditioning, especially in view of the fact that they have already been in position for weeks, and that the rains to which they are subjected will soon deprive them of any value they now possess?

I have been asked to reply. I hope that owners of furniture will whenever possible themselves take such action as is practicable to remove it from exposure to weather without waiting for outside help. Many local authorities are giving assistance in this matter to the limit of their resources and the question of how far and in what ways assistance can be extended is being urgently examined.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will extend the Defence Regulations to enable the appropriate authorities to take action against any form of demanding payment from owners of property by individuals concerned with clearance and demolition work?

Members of rescue parties and demolition squads may not receive payments in any form from the public whom they serve. While I should be most reluctant to believe that this instruction is not generally observed, local authorities have it in their power to discharge those who break the rule.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the reasons why the Easington, County Durham, branch of the Women's Voluntary Services has been closed; on whose instructions this action was taken; and Whether his consent was obtained?

I understand that the Easington Centre of Women's Voluntary Services was closed on account of difficulties which had arisen in the relations between the local organiser and the W.V.S. regional and county representatives. The centre was closed on the instructions of the chairman of the national organisation. My Department was informed that it was proposed to take this action, but my right hon. Friend's consent is not required in a matter of this kind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to issue instructions that, as is the practice in unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance and supplementary pensions, billet- ing payments shall be ignored in calculating public assistance payments; and if he is aware of the apprehension in reception areas on this matter?

I am in sympathy with the view implied in the hon. Member's Question, but I am not aware that the existing practice of public assistance authorities makes any special instructions necessary. If the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind and will let me know, I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient stocking of coal in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, in view of the approach of winter; and, if not, what steps are being taken to have ample storage of coal to meet any emergency?

I have no reason to think the coal stocking position in Stoke is unsatisfactory. In view of the more urgent claims of places at a distance from any producing area, it is not intended to have Government stocks in this town, which is close to the collieries.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the authorities in Manchester take a serious view about the shortage of coal and of the local fuel overseer's concern that there are no stocks except those held by the merchants; and in view of the approach of winter, will he take steps to see that ample stocks of coal are made at once in Manchester?

Although deliveries of house coal in Manchester this summer have been substantially in excess of those last year, the stocks held by merchants in the city are at present not far short of the maximum held last year. In addition, sites have been acquired in Man- chester for stocking coal on Government account but, although a start has been made, transport difficulties have delayed the accumulation of these stocks. I share the concern of the local authority regarding the position and I shall continue to keep it under careful review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of his insistence on the maximum of cereal production in this country, he will take simultaneous action to ensure the maintenance of sufficient livestock for the purpose of supplying an adequate quantity of natural manures?

The number of livestock that can be maintained is governed by the available supply of feeding-stuffs of all kinds, both home grown and imported, including grazing. In carrying out the food production campaign farmers are being encouraged not only to grow more cereals and other crops for direct human consumption, but to grow more feeding-stuffs, including cereals, for their own stock. As a result of this policy it has been possible to keep our livestock population other than pigs and poultry at a high level. The numbers of cattle have in fact increased during the first year of the war.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the present prospects of better conditions for those farmers who are principally concerned with the raising and maintenance of livestock, and whose farms are not so situated that they can provide any substantial part of the necessary winter feeding-stuffs for such livestock?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 16th October to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Howdenshire (Colonel Carver).