asked the Secretary for Mines how many thousand wagons laden with coal, originally intended for export, are standing idle on railway sidings; and whether steps can be taken to empty these trucks so that they may be used to transport coal from the pitheads?

I am informed that approximately 3,000 wagons of coal originally intended for export, but for which no foreign market is now available, are standing at docks in South Wales. I have no information of a similar accumulation in any other area. An officer of my Department was recently sent to South Wales and has already made arrangements for the disposal of over 2,000 of these wagons; active steps are being taken to arrange for the disposal of the remainder.

Will my hon. Friend tell us whether the statement that 20,000 trucks have been held up is a wild exaggeration?

It is a very wild exaggeration.

Seeing that the Minister has more coal than he knows what to do with, will he consider the advisability of seeing that the poor folk who cannot afford to buy coal are supplied with it?

Arrangements have been made long ago for the supply of coal to poor people, and I hope they will not suffer.

Is there any truth in the statement that 25,000 tons of coal are on the railway sidings?

There will be much more than 25,000 tons on the various coal sidings. There are hundreds of thousands of tons on the sidings, but it does not mean that transport is available.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make a statement on the present position of the co-operative arrangements which have been made for the retail distribution of coal?

Merchants engaged in the retail distribution of house coal throughout the country are preparing local arrangements to meet shortages of labour and transport and to facilitate the equitable distribution of available supplies of house coal to consumers. In the areas where difficulties are most acute, namely, the London, Southern, South-Eastern and South-Western Divisions, these arrangements are well in hand. In the remaining divisions substantial progress has been made, and arrangements should be completed at an early date.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give permission to local authorities to act as agents for the Government and buy coal for stocking purposes?

Local authorities are already giving valuable assistance to the Mines Department in regard to coal stocking on Government account by the provision of sites and, in some Cases, by assuming responsibility for handling the coal consigned to them. Actual purchases are being made through trade channels, and I do not think there would be any advantage in the interposition of local authorities as agents.

Did my hon. Friend himself take steps to ask the local authorities to act as agents and to stock coal?

Not to buy coal, but to provide sites and help in the disposal of the coal.

Will not my hon. Friend give the local authorities power to buy coal?

The Department itself has been given authority to purchases 5,000,000 tons of coal on Government account, and there is no need to duplicate the buying agencies.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give an assurance that the position of coal storage in the city of Lincoln is satisfactory?

I have no reason to think that the stocks of coal in Lincoln are other than satisfactory.

That is not the point. What steps has the Minister taken to see that there is not a repetition of last year's experience?

We have taken steps to induce people to buy coal in advance. They have bought very generously in Lincoln, and there are large stocks in that city. That is the best preparation for any emergency that might happen.

So the hon. Gentleman can give an assurance that we shall not have the same difficulties as last winter?

I cannot give any promise that things will not happen. I am under an obligation, and I have tried to meet that obligation by making all preparations against all that might happen.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied by inspection that stocks are available for various places? I put a similar question and got the same sort of reply.

I have taken the trouble to find out what is the position in the hon. and learned Gentleman's city, and it is not too bad.

Why should it be bad at all?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the plight of shopkeepers throughout London whose businesses have in many cases been ruined, due to the evacuation from London of a large proportion of the community, and whose trade is further hampered by the many drastic restrictions rendered necessary by the war; and what steps the Government propose to take to assist them?

I realise that the restrictions of home sales must add to the many difficulties with which London shopkeepers are faced as a result of the war. These traders are, however, only one of many classes of the public who have suffered hardship and financial loss from the war, and frankly I do not at present see any way in which special Government assistance can be extended to them.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend appreciate that the Limitation of Supplies Order will further hit the small trader and that the supplies which are guaranteed to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes are to the detriment of the small trader, who finds his living in many cases taken away by the Institutes?

That is another question, but I realise that the limitation of supplies may inflict great hardship on the retailer.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend see that the same limitation of supply as applies to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is applied to the small trader?

asked the Minister of Shipping what progress has been made in negotiations with the Government of the United States of America with respect to a programme of building merchant ships there to be supplied to this country; whether, in view of the fact that the American Government has about 50 cargo vessels laid up, proposals will be made that these should be released for sale to this country as required; and whether the United States Maritime Commission will be asked to encourage American shipowners to sell obsolete but serviceable tonnage to this country?

As regards the first part of the Question, my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty has already placed a first order with shipbuilders in the United States for the construction of 60 cargo ships. For the rest, old but serviceable United States vessels, including vessels belonging to the Maritime Commission, have been and will continue to be purchased for the British flag as opportunity offers.

I take it that every step is being taken to expedite the arrangements which the right hon. Gentleman has indicated are to be carried out?

I can assure my hon. Friend that everything possible is being done to get ships with the greatest facility.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is satisfied that the recent heavy exports of gold from Lisbon to the United States of America do not include any bullion seized by Germany from the countries she has occupied?

A strict watch is being kept on all shipments of gold from Lisbon. If we had reason to believe that any consignment was German property, I should not hesitate to take the necessary action. If my hon. Friend has any information in respect of any shipment, perhaps he will be good enough to communicate it to me.

I have, of course, no personal information except that the gold shipments from Lisbon have, I understand, been particularly heavy. Has my right hon. Friend facilities for discovering whether this is German gold?

We have more than one line of communication on this subject, and we are keeping close watch on it, although it is difficult to distinguish one bit of gold from another.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the maximum number of vaccination and inoculation operations a soldier may be called on to undergo, giving in each case the purpose; and will he say whether any further ones are contemplated?

In the interest of the preservation of his health and that of the Army in general, the soldier can elect to be vaccinated and to be inoculated against typhoid and tetanus. The first procedure is for protection against smallpox which may be rife in the country in which he has to serve. The inoculation against typhoid is to protect him against typhoid. The inoculation against tetanus is to prevent this very fatal infection which is a not uncommon complication of war wounds. No further inoculations are at present contemplated.

When the soldier is called upon to undergo these various operations, what length of time intervenes between one and the other? Is there no danger of mixing the result, like mixing one's drinks?

In the case of anti-typhoid vaccine the interval is 10 to 14 days, and in the case of tetanus about six weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will furnish particulars of the duties of the new Department which he has set up to deal with claims against his Department arising out of road accidents; whether the staff of the new Department includes any and, if so, which, of those officers previously engaged on this work; and what additional personnel has been engaged for this work and what was their previous engagement?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Army Order notifying the constitution of the Claims Commission. The President of the Commission, Major-General H. C. Cole, is the Senior Vice-President of the Chartered Surveyors' Institution, and was until recently Comptroller of Lands at the War Office. He was also President of the Claims Commission of the British Expeditionary Force. The organisation includes most of the officers who served under Major-General Cole in France, and were in civilian life solicitors, surveyors or assessors engaged in the settlement of claims for insurance companies. It also includes officers and others who have been dealing with traffic accidents, and new appointments are being made from solicitors and assessors.

Can my hon. Friend tell me whether any of the senior officers of this Department have had any practical experience in settling claims?

Yes, I think they have, as my reply has made clear.

Was the War Office Business Advisory Gouncil consulted when this Department was set up?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War who in his Department, other than medical men and women, have the right to overrule the medical opinion of civilian doctors employed in examining recruits both for the Army and the Auxiliary Territorial Service without reference to the medical men or women responsible for the original examination or to other qualified medical consultants?

The Army Medical Department is the only Department which can overrule the medical opinion of the civilian doctors employed in examining recruits for the Army or Auxiliary Territorial Service, and specialist advice is obtained whenever considered necessary.

If I supply my hon. Friend with information of cases where medical opinion has been over-ruled, will he look into them and see that action is taken?

I will certainly have any such cases looked into, but I should imagine that where medical opinion has been overruled it has been by other medical opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the deplorable condition of the services canteen at Carlisle Station organised by voluntary workers and which caters for 15,000 troops per week; and whether he will take immediate steps to provide better facilities for refreshment and comfort of troops passing through this important railway junction?

I am aware that the present arrangements are unsatisfactory, and negotiations have been proceeding with the purpose of effecting an improvement. There is to be a meeting to-morrow between representatives of the Mayor of Carlisle, the railway company, the Ministry of Transport and the War Office, at which I hope a satisfactory settlement of the problem will be reached.

Will the hon. Gentleman endeavour to expedite things, in view of the approaching Christmas rush, and the number of troops who will be going on leave, and the additional work which that will entail upon this band of voluntary workers?

Yes, Sir.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that the position is improved at other junctions besides Carlisle? Troops arrive late at night and find that there are no refreshments at all available.

More than 50 main-line stations have already been dealt with in a way which I think would satisfy my hon. Friend, and other places are being dealt with as soon as possible.

I am not satisfied with the position at Eastleigh, which is a big junction. The conditions there are deplorable so far as supplies are concerned.

Could my hon. Friend point out to other towns what the citizens of Plymouth are doing in this direction by voluntary effort? We have no complaints, and people are delighted. Will he point out what other towns could do if they showed the same co-operative spirit?

I will leave it to the Noble Lady to do that.

Coming back to the original Question, is the hon. Gentleman aware that Carlisle is more important from some aspects than almost any other junction, because people arrive there after very long journeys, and therefore there is greater hardship? Will he take steps to expedite improvements at Carlisle?

Yes, Sir. I have already said that steps are being taken to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the report of the inquiry into the allegations of ill-treatment of conscientious objectors attached to the non-combatant corps has now been received and considered; and whether he has taken any decisions in consequence?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to announce the findings of the special inquiry into the allegation of ill-treatment to conscientious objectors near Liverpool; and whether the report will be available?

The report is under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement in regard to it.

Can my hon. Friend say when he will be in a position to make the statement, seeing that the report was completed more than a month ago?

I do not think my hon. Friend is correct in that statement. We received the report only last week, and it is an extremely bulky document, and my right hon. Friend must be given time to make a careful study of this very important matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements will be made for an increased number .of officers and men to have leave during Christmas and New Year holidays?

The present percentage of leave, which is on as generous a scale as operational needs will allow, will be continued over Christmas. It is unfortunately impossible, because of the undesirability of throwing upon the railway companies a sudden peak-load of traffic, as well as for operational reasons, to increase this percentage. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the industrial population is making sacrifices in this respect. I am sure that the Army will not wish to do less.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that the Home Guard has not and will not be used in connection with industrial disputes?

The duty of the Home Guard in factories is to protect the factory against enemy action, which may take the form of sabotage or of direct .attack. The Home Guard has no duties whatever in connection with factory disputes. These are a matter for managers and workers in which the Home Guard, as members of the Armed Forces of the Crown, are in no way concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the recent decision of the Minister of Labour to pay dependants' allowances to women trainees, thus establishing the principle of the right of women to claim allowances for dependants, he will now consider granting dependants' allowances to women serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service?

This matter is already under consideration, but I am not at present in a position to announce any decision.

Is the matter under favourable consideration; and if I put a Question down in a fortnight, can I expect a reply, in view of the urgency of recruiting for the A.T.S. and the perpetual appeals for recruiting?

I am afraid that I cannot extend "consideration" into "favourable consideration." I can only recommend that my hon. Friend have patience to await the reply.

In order to help on that favourable consideration, Mr. Speaker, may I give notice that, owing to the unfavourable reply, I will raise the matter at an early opportunity?

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that it takes a woman to look after these matters?

asked the Secretary of State for War what the intentions of his Department are with regard to a privately-run enterprise operating in Lisbon at present engaged in forwarding parcels to prisoners of war in Germany?

When my right hon. Friend asked my hon. and gallant Friend to postpone his Question last week, he was expecting a report from the representative of the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John who is now in Lisbon. I regret to say that he has not yet received the report. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will allow me to send him a reply by letter, which I will do as soon as possible.

Will my hon. Friend see that my right hon. Friend does not close down this committee just because the Red Cross wish to get the whole thing into their own hands? It has been doing remarkable and excellent work.

Does my hon. Friend know that I hold in my hand a letter from a prisoner in Oflag VII Camp, dated 29th October, saying no Red Cross parcels of any kind had come to that camp, and is it not about time we knew what the position is? Are parcels coming in now?

If this thing were perfect, there would not have been all this outcry.

I do not think my right hon. Friend or the British Red Cross have ever claimed that the organisation is perfect. That is too much to expect in the conditions in which it is operating, but the organisation has done a very difficult task very well indeed, and the position is improving daily.

Will the hon. Member remember that this private organisation in Lisbon has succeeded in getting parcels through for a long time when the Red Cross has failed? Will he bear that in mind?

According to the statement I have just received, no Red Cross parcels had arrived by 29th October.

May I ask whether the whole of the reports depend upon one secretary in a huge organisation like the Red Cross, and whether it is necessary to hold up an answer to a Question until someone returns from Lisbon? Surely there ought to be more than one to get a report.

I do not think that is surprising. The representative in Lisbon is endeavouring to undertake certain negotiations, and those negotiations are better conducted by one person.

Surely the head of the Red Cross is in a position to present a report on an important matter of this kind.

Have we got a man in Lisbon or only a girl?

asked the Secretary of State for War what clothing and bedding is issued to German prisoners of war in Britain; and what articles are issued by the German; Government to British prisoners of war in Germany?

I will circulate in the Official Report a list of what is supplied to Ger- man prisoners of war in this country. It has not so far been possible to ascertain the scale of clothing and bedding issued to British prisoners of war in Germany. It is known that other ranks sent to working camps have been supplied with Polish Army clothing, but the general situation in this respect is not satisfactory and the Protecting Power has recently again been asked to make strong representations to the German authorities. There have been very few complaints regarding housing conditions and there is reason to believe that bedding supplied is similar to that supplied to German troops.

Will the hon. Gentleman make inquiry through the Protecting Power to find out what prisoners of war in Germany are allowed to get, and to secure reciprocity in their treatment?

Why has there been this tremendous delay in ascertaining what the conditions are? Months have passed. Surely the American Ambassador or someone else could ascertain what clothing is supplied by the Germans to our prisoners of war, who have been shut up for months.

I think that the Protecting Power has been of enormous assistance to this country in this matter of prisoners of war, and I do not think it is desirable to criticise. Everything is being done by the Protecting Power that can be done, and I am sure they will give every assistance in their power.

When letters are received by the relatives of British officers who are prisoners of war in Germany describing the deplorable state of their clothing can .one not imagine what a fearful state the men are in?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the intense anxiety on this subject which has been created throughout the country, and is he satisfied that the persons in control of the organisation here are exactly of the right type?

Yes, Sir, I am indeed fully aware of the anxiety which must be caused in this country among the relatives of prisoners of war, but I do not think that that anxiety is likely to be abated if by criticism it is implied that conditions are much worse than, in fact, they are. My right hon. Friend has gone into this question very carefully, as the House knows, and very great improvements have been made and will continue to be made.

Following is the list:

Scale of Clothing and Necessaries supplied to German Prisoners of War in this Country.

asked the Secretary of State for War on which account the monthly deductions for messing are made from the pay of officers who are prisoners of war in Germany?

asked the Secretary of State for War what, in the case of British subalterns who are prisoners of war in Germany, is the monthly amount of advances made by the German Government and of the charge for messing deductible from the subaltern's account; whether any further deductions are made, and, if so, for what purposes and of what amount; and what is the amount of the monthly balance put to the credit of the subaltern's account?

The German Government issues to British subalterns, if a second-lieutenant, Reichsmarks 72 a month, and, if a lieutenant, Reichsmarks 81 a month. Apart from deductions for Income Tax, the only recoveries effected from the officer's pay in this country are in respect of the above advances of pay and three shillings a day for messing (a provisional figure). After such deductions, a subaltern has (for a 30-day month) a balance to his credit (apart from Income Tax) of: — Second-lieutenant, £6 10s.; lieutenant with less than six years' service, £8 10.; lieutenant with six years' service, £10 15s. If married, the officer is also credited with the appropriate family lodging allowance. As regards the deduction for messing, an officer is liable, under the terms of the Geneva Convention of 1929, to procure his food from the pay paid to him by the detaining power. By a reciprocal arrangement with the German Government, food is being supplied to officer prisoners of war free, and the cost is, therefore, being deducted from their accounts in this country.

Is that 3s. a day for messing to be handed over to the German Government for the stuff they give our people?

No, Sir, that 3s. a day is paid for the food which is supplied under the Convention.

In actual fact, is it not the case that the officer pays 3s. a day for the food which he receives from the Germans?

The officer pays, 3s. a day for the food which he gets in Germany.

Does not an officer on active service receive free rations? After all, when he is a prisoner of war he is on active service.

The figure is provisional. It depends upon an agreement which has to be come to in regard to the rate of exchange. I hope that when that agreement is reached it will be possible to make some improvement.

Will my hon. Friend look into the position?

Yes, Sir.

Are any other expenses taken out of the pay of these officers?

I should like notice of that Question.

Will my hon. Friend look into this matter? If an officer receives free rations when on active service, is there any reason why he should not receive free food when he is a prisoner of war?

I will certainly have that point looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of parcels delivered to prisoners of war camps to date?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of continued complaints and the serious plight of our prisoners of war in Germany, he will make more adequate arrangements with the Red Cross for sending parcels of food, clothing and comforts to them, as the present method has failed to meet the pressing needs of these brave men faced with the rigours of winter?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the next-of-kin of prisoners of war in Germany are only allowed to send personal parcels limited in weight to 10 lbs. once every three months; and whether he will make arrangements whereby relations may send parcels more frequently?

My right hon. Friend explained, in answer to Questions last Tuesday, the transport difficulties that we have had to meet in sending parcels to prisoners of war, and that real progress is being made in efforts to overcome them. My right hon. Friend stated then that more than 18,000 British parcels .addressed to British prisoners of war had been transmitted through the International Red Cross alone. It has since been announced that over 340,000 parcels have been despatched from all sources, of which 86,000 have been individually acknowledged by the prisoners, and many more will by now have reached their destination. As my right hon. Friend said, our aim is to ensure for each prisoner adequate clothing and a weekly delivery of food. I regret that the transport facilities at present available do not permit of the despatch of personal parcels more often than once in three months, without interference with the transmission of bulk food and clothing supplies. My right hon. Friend will be glad to reconsider this point if it becomes practicable to do so.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Germans raise no object- tion to any number of parcels being sent? Surely something more frequent than three months is desirable, in view of the tact that the other parcels are not arriving. Is he aware that relatives have been sending things like flannel trousers, which are legal, but which add to the weight making up the 10 lb. and prevents the sending of kit which is urgently needed?

Did I understand my hon. Friend to say that 18,000 parcels had been sent to 4,000 prisoners?

No, Sir. My Noble Friend misunderstood me. About 340,000 parcels were sent, not 18,000. In reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison), I would say that he has put his finger upon the whole point. Until we get the bulk parcels in there in satisfactory quantities, we do not want to complicate the problem of transport by increasing the number of individual parcels. When we get the main problem dealt with, we shall be able to consider the other questions.

Do the Germans send any parcels to prisoners of war in this country?

They are at liberty to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the memorandum issued to local authorities in England by the Minister of Health, dated 28th September, 1940, intimating that married householder members of hospital staffs, serving away from home, shall receive free billets or, alternatively, a cash allowance of £1 1s. weeky; whether he is aware that hospital staffs in Scotland, similarly employed, are compelled to pay 19s. 3d. weekly for billeting, less 7s. in lieu of home rent; and what steps he is prepared to take to ensure that Scottish hospital staffs receive not less favourable treatment than their English colleagues?

The application to Scotland of the terms of the circular referred to is at present under consideration, and I will inform my hon. Friend as soon as a decision has been reached.

Does the right hon. Gentleman expect that Scotland will be put upon the same basis as England is, in this matter?

My hon. Friend is rather under a misapprehension. This circular applies to evacuated hospital staffs and not yet to evacuated asylum staffs. As a matter of fact, there are no evacuated asylum staffs in England and Wales, but there are four in Scotland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these institutions are now called mental hospitals in Scotland and not asylums?

It is the same thing.

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for reminding me.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the loss of time and inconvenience caused in many London areas by the necessity of bombed-out people having to apply to the town halls to obtain form V.O.W.1, for the claiming of compensation for loss of furniture, he will arrange with the local authorities that these forms should be available at all rest and feeding centres in the locality?

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is arranging this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the officer who was responsible for the wholesale despatch of alien refugees of all categories to Canada and Australia in the summer still holds the same rank and, if not, what rank he now holds?

It has already been stated in this House on previous occasions, one of which was a reply by the Lord Privy Seal to the hon. Member, that the decision to transfer interned enemy aliens, including refugees, overseas was taken by the Government, in order to reduce the general danger which might arise, in the event of an invasion, from having large numbers of enemy aliens in internment here. I do not, therefore, understand my hon. Friend's suggestion that the responsibility rests with some individual officer.

In view of the fact that it is admitted that there was gross incompetence in carrying out this work, is my hon. Friend aware that the particular officer responsible has been promoted from major to colonel recently?

Perhaps my hon. Friend had better communicate the name of the officer he has in mind.

Has no disciplinary action been taken against anybody, a Minister or otherwise, for the grave incompetence which was shown?

The question concerns the "wholesale despatch" of aliens overseas. For that, the Government take full responsibility.

Does my hon. Friend recall that some considerable time ago the Secretary of State for War promised that an inquiry would be instituted into the "Arandora Star" case, and can he say when the report of that committee of inquiry will be made available to the House?

That question had better be put to my-right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Home Secretary whether there are now any German, Austrian or Czech doctors, qualified to practice in Great Britain, holding B or C certificates, who are still interned; and, if so, how many?

I am making inquiries on the point and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Fascist prisoners interned on the Isle of Man are in wireless communication with Italy; and what steps are being taken to stop the same?

No, Sir. The inquiries that have been made into this statement do not suggest any ground for believing it, but I am ready to investigate any information on the subject that the hon. Member can obtain.

Has my hon. Friend not seen the information I sent to him, on which this Question was based, namely, a letter published in the Press?

I have certainly seen the statement sent by my hon. Friend which is a cutting from a paper called, if I remember rightly, the "Ethopia News." That statement has been investigated, and we cannot find any substance in the allegations contained therein.

What steps does my hon. Friend take when statements like that are published in the Press?

I obviously cannot inform my hon. Friend of the steps which have been taken in a matter of this kind, which involves considerations of national security.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the successful use of Hessian canvas in a hospital of which particulars have been sent to him, he will recommend the removal and storage of glass wherever practicable, and the substitution of Hessian canvas as a protection against damage from blast wherever other substitutes for glass are unobtainable or too dear?

I am having further inquiries made about the experiment of which my hon. Friend has sent particulars, and for which I thank him. I will communicate with him later.

asked the Home Secretary how many rescue workers have been killed in the Metropolitan Police area; how many injured; the number of rescue workers; and the number of depots from which they operate?

Since the outbreak of war 41 members of the Rescue Party Service have been killed and 500 injured in the London Region, which corresponds very closely with the Metropolitan Police district. It would not be in the national interest to make public the information asked for in the last two parts of the Question, but I am communicating the particulars to my hon. Friend privately.

Do those figures include members of the Auxiliary Fire Service?

No, Sir, they include members of the rescue parties.

asked the Home Secretary how the scales of compensation paid to Civil Defence workers wholly or partly disabled in the course of their duties, and to dependants in the event of their death, compare with the scales of compensation payable to members of the Services in similar eventualities?

I have been asked to reply. Pensions payable under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme in respect of the disablement or death of a member of a Civil Defence organisation as denned therein are on the same scale as for a private soldier.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will accelerate the procedure under the Government scheme of compensation for war damage to property?

I have been asked to reply. I have already introduced certain simplifications in the scheme for immediate advances in respect of essential furniture and clothing to persons of limited means which will expedite payments, but if my hon. Friend knows of any case where there is undue delay, I shall be pleased to examine it.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that quite a number of people whose homes have been destroyed and who sent in their application forms over two months ago have still not even had an acknowledgement, and may I give him particulars of a member of the staff of this House who is in that case?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary the reconstituted membership of the committee appointed last September, with Sir Francis Lindley as chairman, to advise him on cases of non-enemy aliens detained under Article 12 (5A) of the Aliens Order; and whether, in view of the fact that several hundreds of these aliens have already been from three to six months in prison without being given any indication why they are detained or receiving any acknowledgement of their letters and appeals, he will make the committee considerable, allow it to sit in sections, and speed up its operations in every possible way?

The terms of reference and the constitution of this committee were announced in the Press last week. As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend fully appreciates the desirability of expediting the hearing of all these cases, especially of persons who have been detained for a prolonged period, and he will not hesitate to increase the membership of the committee and to ask it to sit in panels if experience shows such a course to be necessary.

Were the names of the committee given last week?

Yes, Sir, they were published in the Press last week.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these same people who for months have been without any opportunity of self-defence have now been forbidden to write to Members of Parliament or to make an appeal to the Home Secretary, and will he consider withdrawing that rule?

That statement is quite without any foundation whatsoever.

May I ask—

rose.

On a point of Order. I have been told that I have made a statement that is without any foundation. May I not ask whether the hon. Gentleman, in correspondence with me, has admitted that it was so?

The hon. Member has three Questions on the Paper. She will not get any of them answered if we spend all the time on one of them.

My veracity is called into question. Does the hon. Gentleman say that detenus have not been forbidden to write to Members of Parliament or to other people of importance; and does he remember the correspondence that I have had with him on the subject, in the course of which he admitted that it was so?

The ban placed on these detenus writing to Members of Parliament was withdrawn some weeks ago.

May I ask whether these people know that, because I have had letters during the last few days saying that they were forbidden to write? [ Interruption. ] The letters were from their friends and relations.

On a point of Order. When an hon. Member, on behalf of the Government, declares that a statement is-without foundation, and a moment or two afterwards admits that only a few weeks ago such a rule was in operation, is there not suspicion of evasion on his part?

My statement, I think, was perfectly accurate. The hon. Lady asked whether it was not a fact that these persons were forbidden to write. For some weeks past they have been permitted to write to Members of Parliament if and when they please.

On a point of Order. Was not the Minister's statement given in order to mislead the House?

The hon. Member has no business to say that. Will he kindly withdraw?

But the Minister has not business to say what he did, either.

The hon. Member's statement must be withdrawn.

I asked, Was not the statement made by the hon. Gentleman, intended to mislead the House?

The hon. Member will please withdraw that statement.

But why should I withdraw it? I respectfully submit that I made no statement of any sort. I asked a question, and the hon. Member can say "No" if he wishes.

Ministers must be protected against insinuations of that kind.

Are not private Members entitled to protection from the Chair? The hon. Member made not only an insinuation, but a gross accusation.

Ministers have equal rights to protection. The hon. Member will withdraw that statement.

I have not made a statement.

The hon. Member asked whether it was not a fact that the Minister had intended to mislead the House.

On my respectful submission, it could not be called a statement. I cannot withdraw what was in question. Indeed, in my respectful submission, it is the practice of this House to put supplementary points in the form of Questions. It is the only way in which they can be put.

It is not the practice of the House for Members to ask whether it is a fact that a Minister has made a statement in order to mislead the House.

I will withdraw my question, in deference to you, Sir; but I respectfully submit that you ought to ask the hon. Member also to withdraw.

I think the House will realise that I certainly had no intention of casting any imputation upon the hon. Lady. If she thinks I have cast any imputation upon her, I will gladly withdraw the word "whatsoever."

I informed the Minister some weeks ago about this rule. I told him that it was so discreditable that I was unwilling to give it publicity in the House, and I begged him to consider whether he would not withdraw it. I have heard nothing from him since then. I wrote to him some days ago, reminding him of the point, and I have heard nothing from him. Does he not think that he might have informed me? How could I know that the order with withdrawn?

In view of the fact that there is a war outside, may we not have an armistice inside the House?

This incident must now close.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the growing extent of the return of children to coastal evacuated areas and of the anxiety caused to the school managers and parents at the effect .on the children of the complete shutting down of their schools; and whether he is prepared to modify the situation by partial resumption of educational facilities and by daily transportation of children to schools which are now open and quite near their homes?

My right hon. Friend fully appreciates the situation referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend and he has the matter under constant review, in consultation with the other Departments concerned. It was recently found possible to authorise the partial reopening of schools in certain of the areas in question, and the possibility of extending such reopening to other places in the coastal evacuation areas, so far as may be possible, will not be overlooked.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to increase safety on the roads, he will, either by regulation or propaganda, cause road-using pedestrians to face the traffic?

Paragraph 89 of the Highway Code reads as follows:

"Never walk along the carriageway where there is a pavement or suitable footpath. If there is no footpath it is generally better to walk on the right of the carriageway, so as to face oncoming traffic."

I do not think this advice is capable of being turned into a regulation, but I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that, under Section 45 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, failure on the part of any person to observe any provision of the Code may be taken into account in any proceedings whether civil or criminal. I will consider whether the point should be emphasised in the road safety campaign already announced.

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind the particular point which is at the back of this Question, namely, country roads, where pathways do not exist; and also the point that the military authorities are doing what they can to cause their troops to march on that side of the road which faces oncoming traffic?

I quite appreciate the point.

Would it not be better to have some rule like this: "Never stop at a public house when driving in the black-out"?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any plans to effect a reduction of casualties on the roads, especially those due to rapid and careless driving?

In the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Profumo) on 20th November last he explained the present proposals regarding road safety propaganda. The modified campaign will be addressed to drivers of road vehicles as well as to pedestrians and will, I hope, be effective in reducing the numbers of accidents. Success must, however, depend on the determination of all classes of road users themselves to exercise the greatest care and consideration for others.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether his right hon. Friend has any authority or control over Service drivers who are also offenders in this matter?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the behaviour of drivers of Army lorries is indeed disgraceful? I saw dozens of incidents this week-end, and something ought to be done about it.

I can only say that I will look into the matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider a report which the right hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) had of the effect of alcohol on road accidents? Will he seriously look into it, as there is a great feeling in the country?