asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increasing unemployment in West Wales, he will take steps to ascertain the possibilities of using the unused tinplate works and other workshops in the area in war production and thus absorb these unemployed in their own areas and prevent these communities becoming derelict?

As regards the possibility of using tinplate and other works for war production, I would refer to the reply given on 4th instant by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. Where employment is not available locally, the Employment Exchanges will endeavour to place unemployed workers in employment in other areas if necessary, after preliminary training.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that some of these communities lose the whole source of their income by this transfer of workers, and that it would be very much better if he could retain them in the locality?

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the Ministry of Supply. I have done all that I can to get the industrial capacity used in preference to removing the population.

While we welcome the reply of the Minister, could he see to it that persons who are unemployed can obtain green cards when applying for Government work?

Yes, Sir, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the green card can be given only when vacancies are notified. There is an assumption on the part of a good many men that when somebody says that there is a job going, they can automatically get the green card. I must have the notification of the vacancy, and I have given instructions that when that happens inquiries will be made as to whether there is a vacancy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will remove the ban on the miners in Northumberland and Durham by which they are forbidden to change their occupation, or, as an alternative, first provide them with work in their own district, or else increase their allowances from State funds?

There is no ban such as my hon. Friend suggests. The instructions to the officers of my Department, which have been in force for some months, are that, if coal-mining employment is not immediately available, an unemployed coal miner can be considered for other work of national importance, or, failing that, any other work for which he is suitable.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the instruction is not operated generally in South Wales?

If there are particular cases in which it is alleged that the instructions of my Department are not carried out, I can deal with it only if I have the actual particulars.

I can cite hundreds of cases.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he has considered the recommendation of the Select Committee on National Expenditure that the priority organisation together with the raw materials department and the salvage organisation should be formed into a separate department with overriding powers in the field of priority; and whether he can make a statement on the present position of the arrangements for allocating priorities?

Careful consideration has been given to the recommendations, but I am not in a position to announce a final decision. Under the present arrangements the Production Council is responsible for giving general directions as to priority of production in accordance with the policy laid down by the War Cabinet.

Can the Minister say when he hopes to be in a position to make a decision, in view of the importance of the priority question?

If my hon. Friend will consult me a little later, I will inform him.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of asking employers to pay wages on Thursdays in order to help housewives and relieve shop assistants of excessive week-end strain?

I think this suggestion deserves consideration, and I am taking steps to bring it before the Joint Consultative Committee representing the British Employers' Confederation and the Trades Union Congress for their advice.

On a point of Order. Is it desirable that Question Time should he used for what looks like a personal attack upon some individual?

The Question is in Order.

Is it not the case, Mr. Speaker, that you have advised hon. Members that they must be responsible for the facts that they put down in their Questions? Here, definite insinuations are made, detrimental to the personal honour of a member of the public who has not the opportunity of reply here. Is that not abusing the Privileges of this House?

Is it in Order for hon. Members to put down Questions asking why specific individuals have not been called on for military service? If it is, many hon. Members will have such Questions to ask.

It would be a practice without any ending if it were once to begin.

The calling-up of Mr. Cudlipp was deferred on the application of his employers, supported by the Ministry of Information. I understand that this deferment was against the strong desire of Mr. Cudlipp himself, and that, as a result, his employers later withdrew the request for deferment. Arrangements are according being made to post Mr. Cudlipp to the Armed Forces.

Will my right hon. Friend exercise his usual caution in matters of this kind? If steps are to be taken against the editor of a newspaper because he occasionally ventures to criticise the Government, will not other newspaper people also be considered in that regard?

The hon. Gentleman is now debating the matter.

On a point of Order. Are we to understand, if a Question of this kind is permissible and may be placed on the Paper, that hon. Members may ask Questions as to whether other hon. Members who come within the purview of the Military Service Act are rendering military service?

I should want to see such Questions on the Paper.

On a point of Order. I put a point of Order to you, Sir, to which you have given no reply. Have you any method of restraining a definite abuse of the Privileges of this House which, if allowed to proceed with Questions of this character, would endanger the reputation of this House and our many Privileges?

I am always trying to do that.

Is it not possible that this Question was put down in the interests of Mr. Cudlipp himself?

Was that the intention of the hon. Member?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any information in connection with the special tribunal on the wage dispute with the shipbuilding industry which has been agreed upon by the trade unions and employers in the shipbuilding industry?

I understand that a further meeting is to take place between the unions and the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation on this subject. I propose to await the proposals of the parties.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will arrange to have forms M.P.C. 59 and M.P.C. 60 available at local post offices and at rest and feeding centres in London, so as to short-circuit the present procedure whereby a family whose bread-winner has been killed by enemy action has first to visit the local post office to obtain the address of the regional officer of the Ministry, prior to applying to the office in Great Smith Street, S.W.1, for the forms; and, whether he will expedite the payment of these pensions after the application forms have been completed?

I would refer the hon. Member to a reply given to a somewhat similar Question by the hon. Member for the Romford Division of Essex (Mr. Parker) on 19th November last, of which I am sending him a copy. With regard to the second part of the Question, I can assure the hon. Member that everything possible is done to ensure that there shall be no avoidable delay in the payment of pensions

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to state the decision of the Government with regard to the recommendation in the Fourteenth Report from the Select Committee on National Expenditure proposing the co-ordination of all activities covering the question of camouflage?

This important matter is under active consideration, but I am sorry not to be able to give a reply yet.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is being done in his own Department in the matter?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate that this matter is not the sole concern of the Ministry of Home Security and that other Departments are involved. In so far as the Ministry of Home Security is concerned, it is of the greatest importance that no changes are made that interfere with the work that is going on. There are problems of accommodation, location and personnel involved. I can assure him that the whole matter is receiving very active consideration at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary the number of British subjects at present detained under the Defence of the Realm Regulations; the number of cases which have been considered by the Advisory Committee; and the number who have been in prison for more than three months without their cases being so considered?

The approximate numbers are 1,250, 1,000 and 300, respectively. Rapid progress is being made in the review of these cases.

Is it not really rather scandalous that 300 people should have been kept like this for more than three months without any opportunity for presenting their cases? Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that this state of affairs will not be allowed to continue any longer?

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made a very full statement last Thursday, and explained in detail his arrangements for expediting the hearing of these cases.

What can be done between the report of the committee and the release of these people? How long does it take?

I am afraid that I cannot give any average figure, but my right hon. Friend said last Thursday that he himself had deliberately delayed some of these cases in order that he might get a broad picture of the type of case with which he had to deal.

How many cases are there of men who were detained and who were afterwards found to be innocent?

I cannot say, because the mere fact that a man was subsequently released does not show that there was no good reason for detaining him in the first place.

asked the Home Secretary how many British subjects who have been interned are Communists and how many Fascists in their political opinions?

About 70o persons have been detained under Defence Regulation 18B on account of their activities in connection with the British Union of Fascists. Amongst the persons detained because of activities prejudicial to the defence of the realm there may be some who are Communists, but no order of detention under this Regulation has been made against anyone merely because he is a Communist.

Will the hon. Gentleman state when this close season for Communists is going to end?

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many Fascists escaped this detention by a sudden conversion?

asked the Home Secretary how many sailors of Allied nationality have been interned or imprisoned; how many are willing and anxious to go to sea; and what steps are being taken to make available, for the furtherance of the national effort, the services of such sailors of Allied nationality as are willing to render their services?

It is not possible to give the hon. Member a precise figure of the number of Allied seamen who are in detention at any particular time, as the number varies from day to day, and some are not detained for more than a few days. The cases of all Allied seamen who are detained for longer periods are kept constantly under review, and if a man expresses willingness to undertake sea service in the Allied interest and is believed to be reliable, he would be released. I am arranging that a number of cases in which there is an element of doubt shall be referred to the Lindley Committee for its consideration.

Has the Minister considered the particulars of the case, with regard to which I sent him a letter, concerning an Allied seaman who is anxious to get on with his work afloat?

I will certainly look into that case and communicate with the hon. and learned Member.

Does that reply mean that an Allied seaman from one of the Allied navies, who does not desire to serve in the Navy, can be accepted for the Merchant Service?

We are doing our best to make use of all seamen, of whatever nationality, who are reliable, and who are ready to serve in our Merchant Service.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will explain the delay in dealing with the case of Mr. Darby Sabini, of Hove, who was detained on 6th July last under Defence Regulation 18B, as no charge has been made against him and people who have been detained subsequent to him have been released; why has his appeal, lodged in August, not been dealt with; and, as the competent authority has failed after four months to expedite the production of the evidence, will he consider releasing this man or trying him on the evidence on which he was arrested?

As stated by my right hon. Friend last Thursday, there were over 1,200 persons detained in June and July, and owing to this large and sudden increase in the numbers and owing to other causes including delays caused by damage to the committee's premises, it has not been possible for all the cases to be heard shortly after the applications have been received. My right hon. Friend in the same statement explained the steps which had been taken to accelerate the procedure; and I understand that the Advisory Committee hope to hear the case of Mr. Sabini at an early date.

This man has been in detention for five months. Why has he been kept in detention all this time? Is it not possible to use the evidence upon which he was arrested in the first place?

My right hon. Friend quite appreciates the need for expedition in this matter, and he did explain last Thursday the practical steps which he was taking.

There must have been some evidence on which this man was originally arrested. Surely the competent authorities, if they cannot get any evidence together themselves, could use the existing evidence on which the man was arrested? There is no justice in it. Could the man not have his case adjourned and be released on bail?

This man's case will be heard in the course of a very few days.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give an assurance that the instructions contained in Command Paper 6162, dealing with the conditions under which people detained under Defence of the Realm Regulation 18B are treated, are being strictly complied with?

I have no reason to doubt that the instructions referred to are being complied with. As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, all but a few of the men are now accommodated in camps, where it is possible to provide better facilities than in prisons.

Is my hon. Friend aware that those detained under this Order are not allowed to have a watch or a pair of nail scissors or even a blotting pad; and will he review these restrictions in the light of Command Paper 6162?

I might inform my hon. and gallant Friend that all but a handful of these people are now accommodated in camps. There are canteens in the camps, where all sorts of articles can be obtained. If my hon. and gallant Friend has a specific complaint about a particular case, I will inquire into it.

Is the hon. Member aware that conditions in these camps and the way in which these people are being treated are really more appropriate to convicts awaiting sentence?

I have inspected these camps, and I am not aware that the hon. Member has. On the whole, I am very well satisfied with them.

Has the hon. Member spent a day there under the conditions of those people who are being detained?

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received as to the inadequacy of the billeting allowances for evacuated children; that this inadequacy presses hard on households that have no income except unemployment pay; and whether he will reconsider the scale of allowances?

Substantial increases to the billeting allowances for the older unaccompanied children were made in May last, and I have no reason to suppose that the present scale of allowances are inadequate. Apart from a few complaints from individuals, I have not received any representations on the subject. In these circumstances, I see no reason to reconsider the existing scale.

Will reconsideration be given, because this is a serious matter?

Naturally that is a question that needs consideration. Up to the present I have not received any representations to lead me to suppose that the allowances are insufficient.

Is the Minister not aware that in those reception areas where communal centres have been established evacuees cannot attend on Wednesdays and Thursdays because they have not the means to pay for the meals?

If the hon. Member has information about that, I will look into it; but it is really another question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that women and young children evacuated from London under official schemes to places such as Cornwall have found on arrival that no billets are available and have been required to find these for themselves, and, being unsuccessful, have, after undergoing great hardship for several days, returned to London at their own expense; and, as such experiences will deter others from registering for evacuation, will he take steps to ensure that in future no person is officially evacuated to any area unless accommodation is available in that area?

I have asked the hon. Member to let me have particulars which will enable me to identify the cases to which he refers, and as soon as I receive them I will make inquiries. With regard to the latter part of the Question, this has always been our policy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that some people have come back to London for the fourth time, and that there is great feeling in the West Country that they do not mind taking people if they will stay, but that they are getting tired of having these people constantly coming back?

Are small minority?

A very tiresome minority.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that fares are paid for families evacuating under any of the official schemes, arrangements can be made whereby fares may be refunded to those families who have been able to find billets themselves without coming under any official evacuation scheme?

The travel vouchers which can be obtained by members of the priority classes under the Government evacuation scheme are intended to enable those who could not otherwise do so to leave the evacuable areas. I am afraid that I should not feel justified in refunding from Exchequer funds travelling expenses incurred by persons who had been able to leave without assistance.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that some people would be able to go to friends in the country and therefore avoid trouble to the evacuation authorities if they could borrow money in order to pay their travelling expenses; and is it not only fair that these travelling expenses should be paid by the State in the same way as they are paid to those who come under the official evacuation scheme?

Under the Government scheme it is possible for people who can arrange to go to relatives or friends in the country and cannot pay their fares to get vouchers for that purpose from the Government.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for free travelling facilities for parents and guardians to enable them to visit their evacuated children during the Christmas season?

Certain travel facilities at reduced fares are already available for visits to evacuated children. The granting of free facilities at Christmas would be likely to place an additional load on the railways which could only be carried at the expense of other traffic more urgent to the war effort. Moreover, the influx of additional visitors would place an unfair burden upon those who are caring for the children in the reception areas. I regret, therefore, that I cannot adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

Is the Minister aware that I refer to the Christmas season, which is very extensive; and in that case would it not be possible to give some of these travelling facilities after Christmas, at some time in January?

I think that the normal facilities are adequate for that purpose.

asked the Minister of Health when the committee, headed by the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, on conditions in the reception areas will deliver its report; and whether its findings will be published or otherwise made available to Members?

The Committee have arranged to visit the four Regions in which conditions in the reception areas can best be studied. Their visits to three of these Regions have been completed and the fourth visit is to begin on Monday week. The Committee are now preparing a draft report which will be completed and published as soon as the last visit has been paid.

Will the report also include a description of the conditions in the schools in the reception areas, and of educational arrangements as well as reception pure and simple?

I cannot anticipate what will be in the report, but no doubt anything which is relevant to the proper care of evacuees in reception areas in order to make them happy so that they will stay there will be touched upon.

Will the Minister say in what way the Dominions Office is interested in this question?

asked the Minister of Health whether the expenditure by those local authorities who have decided to give an extra 1s. at Christmas to all their evacuated children will rank for Government grant?

I am unable to adopt this suggestion; but reasonable expenditure out of the rates will be sanctioned, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular recently issued to local authorities on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in taking over large unoccupied houses and converting them into hostels for the accommodation of evacuees; how many such houses have been taken over; and how many evacuees have been so accommodated?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there are houses in reception areas still available for sale or letting; and whether no use can be made of these by his Department for evacuation of mothers or children or old people?

I have urged local authorities and my regional officers to make the widest use of houses which are suitable as hostels. The exact figures of the number of houses being used as hostels, and of the families accommodated in them are not available, but already some hundreds of houses are being so used. The local authorities and my regional staff have full authority to acquire whatever additional houses may be available and necessary, and I understand that advertisements of houses for sale or letting are examined for this purpose.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the real difficulty in this matter is to get people who will look after children in these large houses and who have adequate knowledge to do so?

That is one of the difficulties. We are getting a great amount of assistance from voluntary or paid workers, who are doing invaluable work in this direction, but the supply of such people is limited.

Will my right hon. Friend make a special appeal with the object of getting more people to help in this way and assist those who are already doing first-class work in this respect?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if he will apply to some of the organisations which register capable women of that sort, he will find, not a shortage, but an abundance, of labour?

May I bring to my right hon. Friend's attention the fact that I know of dozens of women qualified and willing to help in this scheme of the evacuation of children?

We have, of course, been in touch with these organisations, and such people as they have provided us with we have taken. I have recently more than doubled my own welfare staff in the regions, and in addition I have urged local authorities, county councils and borough councils to add to their welfare officers, but I must say that even after consultation we are finding it difficult to get these people.

Is it right to assume that all houses which are advertised daily in certain newspapers are immediately seen by my right hon. Friend's Department as to whether they are suitable?

I do not say the houses themselves are seen, but the advertisements are examined, and any cases which appear to be suitable and properly placed are then examined. Some of the houses which we see, however, are entirely unsuitable or in the wrong place.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has reached a decision in the case of Mrs. D. A. Zerbino, about which the hon. Member for Abertillery wrote him on 6th August; and whether he will release her husband, or allow his wife to return to Bristol where she could probably obtain employment of national importance which would enable her to pay the rent that has accumulated since she received notice to leave the city, or whether he will permit her to take naturalisation papers to regain her nationality?

As my right hon. Friend explained in reply to Questions by my hon. Friend on 17th October, Bristol is in an aliens protected area, but I shall ask the Chief Constable to consider the question whether Mrs. Zerbino can be allowed to return there in the light of the statement which I made during the Debate on Tuesday last. The question whether the husband can be released from internment is being referred to the committee which is reviewing Italian cases. Until the committee has reported on the husband, it is not possible to say whether an application from the wife for readmission to British nationality could be considered.

There seems to be a category of cases very like the one on the Order Paper, and is it possible for the Minister to reconsider that type of case, where mothers are taken from their children, and so on?

I made a short statement on this matter in the Debate on Tuesday. There is some alteration proposed in the administration of the protected areas policy, and new instructions to chief constables will very shortly be issued.

asked the Home Secretary the number of internees of German, Australian, Italian and other nationality, respectively; how many of each class have been recommended for release; and how many have been released, respectively?

Approximately 15,600 Germans and Austrians, and 3,800 Italians are interned in this country or overseas. Two hundred and twenty-five Germans and Austrians and 66 Italians have been recommended for release by committees or tribunals appointed under Categories 8, 19, 20, 21 and 22. According to the latest available statistics, the release of 7,278 Germans and Austrians, and 583 Italians has been authorised.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the sentence of three months imposed on Mrs. Doreen Jones for receiving coal valued is., and a similar sentence imposed on Mrs. Florence Pedder for stealing coal to the value of 2S., particulars of which have been sent to him; and whether, in view of the severity of these sentences on women with large families, he will take steps to effect an immediate reduction?

Both the women concerned have appealed against their sentences and have been released on bail. It would not be proper for me to make any further statement in the matter until the appeals have been disposed of.

On the general issue arising from this Question, has the hon. Gentleman taken note of the fact that most severe sentences have been imposed on persons who have been found guilty of looting trifling articles and sums, and does he not think that many of these sentences are too severe?

I think the hon. Gentleman must appreciate that it would be quite wrong for the Home Secretary to express any opinion on a matter which is still under appeal.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the people in these areas who have been looted feel violently on the subject?

Is it not a fact that the Noble Lady who asked the question and her family have constantly looted the public?

What did your family do?

On a point of Order. Was not the statement made from the opposite Front Bench most improper, and should it not be withdrawn?

That observation was most improper, and I must ask the hon. Member to withdraw it.

Naturally, if that is your desire, Sir, and if you think that I have paid any disrespect to the Chair, it is the last thing I want to do, and I withdraw the statement.

As these ladies are in my constituency, I would like to ask whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that they were imprisoned 10 days before the appeal was lodged?

No, Sir, I was not aware of that fact, but both these women are now on bail.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the question of rates of pay for members of the Civil Defence Services holding positions of special responsibility was stated on 15th October to be under examination; and how soon does he expect that examination to be completed and a decision to be reached?

The conditions of service of Civil Defence personnel, including the question of special rates of pay for members holding supervisory positions, have recently been under review and, as my hon. Friend will have noted, certain concessions as regards the provision of waterproof clothing and improved treatment in the event of war injury have already been announced. Consultation is still proceeding with other Departments and the Regional Commissioners on the various issues involved, but my right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement before long.

May we expect the decision before Christmas?

This is a matter which cannot be considered in isolation from the many other issues involved. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the matter is under consideration. There are many difficulties; for instance, you have paid and unpaid volunteers side by side.

You are also getting ambulance drivers and others receiving £2 or a little more a week, and it is not enough.

All the drivers who are paid full-time volunteers are getting the standard rates of pay.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements have been made for the provision of meals by public assistance committees to air-raid victims; and whether any restrictions have been placed upon their liberty to supply such foods as seems desirable.

The public assistance authorities provide meals at the rest centres for air-raid victims who cannot make their own arrangements for accommodation. There are no restrictions on their liberty to supply, within reason, such food as seems desirable, and they have been urged to provide at least one hot meal every day.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in certain areas public assistance committees are under the impression that they can supply only bread and margarine for breakfast and tea, and is that correct?

If any such impression has been placed upon the matter by public assistance committees, I will see that the impression is corrected.

asked the Minister of Health whether persons normally dependent on public assistance who are forced to stay at rest centres owing to air raids can be granted financial assistance as well as assistance in kind?

Yes Sir; the public assistance authorities are empowered to give relief in cash where necessary. Any person whose income is within certain limits whether or not he is normally dependent on public assistance is entitled to an advance of compensation for essential articles which are lost under the scheme administered by the Assistance Board.

Is the Minister aware that in some cases at least there have been these unfortunate people in shelters with no money at all for any purpose whatever and that all that they have been granted is food either by means of tickets or from some centre?

There is no restriction to the provision of assistance in that form.

Is that quite well understood by local authorities?

If it is not understood, it will be, if they read this answer.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain of the sewers, in a district of which he has been informed, have been badly damaged by enemy action; that the smell, especially in a certain neighbourhood which has been indicated to him, is offensive; and will he consult with the local authorities with a view to either pressing on with the repair of the sewers or else evacuating the population still remaining in the locality?

I have arranged for an immediate inspection and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this damage took place more than five weeks ago and that there is great danger of sewage draining back into the houses? So far as one can see, the local authorities are dealing with the matter in a most casual and desultory way.

It has only just been brought to my notice, and I am asking that it shall be given immediate attention.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the growing importance of Lord Horder's recommendations on shelter hygiene and of the fact that this is a matter in which the public are vitally concerned, he will reconsider the advisability of publishing the report on which some of the recommendations were based?

No, Sir, I have nothing to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Lindsay) on 20th November last.

What is the mystery about this report? Is it too candid to publish?

There is no mystery about it at all. If my hon. and gallant Friend will study the answer, he will see that the reason is perfectly clearly stated and is a very proper reason.

Would it not be a good idea to get the people who are willing to give thousands of pounds for the evacuation of children to help with these shelters?

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet come to a decision about the suggestion referring to hotel guests made by the hon. Member for Hendon on 24th October?

The matter is under consideration, but I regret I am not yet in a position to make any statement on this subject.

What is the Minister's difficulty in coming to a decision in this very simple matter?

On the one hand the proposal would not have any very material advantages from the security point of view, and, on the other hand, there are indications that it would cause a certain amount of inconvenience and also some resentment among ordinary British subjects.

Then what is the purpose of having civilian identity cards at all?

That is not a question for the Home Office.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give an answer to the Newcastle Air-Raid Precautions Emergency Committee about the proposal to convert Benwell Drift into a deep air-raid precautions shelter for 3,000 people; and, in view of the immediate urgency, whether he will grant them sufficient funds to enable them to proceed?

This scheme has been approved in principle and will now be submitted for expert examination.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will establish standards of at least 30 inches vertical space between bunks installed in public shelters, together with frequent spaces between each range of shelter; whether the distribution of medicinal tablets or pastilles is now general; and what steps have been taken respecting the heating of shelters?

It would be impracticable to attempt to increase the vertical spacing of the three-tier bunks ordered and now being delivered; and the dimensions of shelters would in fact prevent it in many cases. Lateral spacing of at least two feet is prescribed. The issue of medicines and tablets as part of the scheduled equipment of medical aid posts in large public air-raid shelters in London is well in hand. In large shelters which are well filled, heating has been found by experience not to be necessary, but measures are in hand for providing the necessary amount of heating in the brick surface shelters and in trench shelters.

Is the hon. Lady aware that there are some bunks with only 20-inch spaces, which leads to a good deal of trouble and ill-health and which is contrary to the standards laid down by Lord Horder? Could she not lay down principles to be observed by the local authorities in this respect?

The bunks to which I referred are of the standard type which were planned and ordered by the Ministry of Home Security. In some cases local authorities ordered their own bunks to their own pattern. Where these are found to be unsatisfactory, they will later be replaced by the standard bunks, but in the meantime they do fill the need until deliveries of standard bunks are available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will empower local authorities to engage as many additional cleaners and supervisors for shelters of all kinds as are necessary for keeping the shelters absolutely hygienic?

Instructions in this matter were issued to the local authorities in the London Region in September last. The attention of the regions has also been called to this urgent matter in the areas where dormitory conditions have developed or are likely to develop.

Instead of expending a great deal of money on millions of leaflets, posters and films, does not the hon. Lady think it would be better to spend it on additional cleaners and supervisors for the shelters?

I think the hon. Lady has not got up-to-date information. The fact is that we have authorised the local authorities in the London Region to employ extra cleaners for lavatory purposes only at the Government expense, and we have in addition asked them to provide sanitary inspectors for this work only at Government expense.

Is that in addition to the one per 500 people?

The figure of one for 500 persons is the schedule laid down for this particular work.

Have local authorities sufficient power to prevent those using shelters from making unnecessary litter and mess?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the simplest way to fix bunks in shelters is right against the wall, but that when this is done against walls that get wet in damp weather the bunks will become unusable and be wasted because it will be impossible to keep the bedding dry; and has he issued, or will he issue, a specific warning on this subject to authorities responsible for the fixing of bunks?

In bunking public shelters special attention is being given to dampness, and very damp shelters are not to be bunked at all. Proposals which are now being circulated will, if put into operation by the local authorities, do much to reduce dampness in shelters.

Are steps being taken to extend the roofs of shelters to ensure that the latter do not get so damp?

Unfortunately, owing to the economy campaign in which the hon. Gentleman figured, it was not possible to use a design which would have reduced the dampness of shelters. We are now having to spend money in undoing the unfortunate results of that difficult time.

Is there any warrant for the statement that the design of surface shelters was in the faintest degree influenced by anything said in the House of Commons? Surely it was a decision taken by the Ministry of Home Security against all advice.

Unfortunately, the advice of certain Members of the House of Commons, in wanting every kind of economy, did lead to a certain number of unfortunate happenings.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the British Red Cross Society have been killed? and how many of the St. John Ambulance Corps have been killed by enemy action?

I understand that 32 members of detachments of the British Red Cross Society and 17 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, together with 10 members of the Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve who were also members of the Brigade, have been killed by enemy action since the outbreak of war.

asked the Home Secretary what progress has been made in utilising unemployed miners in the work of constructing deep shelters and tunnels, dealing with air-raid damage and in rescue work; and whether he can give an estimate of the number of miners so employed?

My right hon. Friend is examining with the Minister of Labour the question of securing unemployed miners as members of rescue parties for some areas. There has been no central recruiting for this or the ether classes of work mentioned, and I am not in a position to give any estimate of what has been arranged locally. As regards the use of miners for tunnelling in connection with the London Tube shelters, this has been discussed with the authorities of the L.P.T.B., who are acting closely with the Government in this matter.

Is the hon. Lady aware that miners are specially trained for rescue work, and can special attention be paid to the question of utilising their skill?

We are fully aware of their special skill and also of the long tradition they have of magnificent work done in this matter. That has been fully before us when making the arrangements.

In view of the fact that the Minister of Mines made a personal appeal to ex-miners when calling for recruits for this service some time ago, and in view of the fact that this matter has been under consideration for some months, could the hon. Lady indicate to the House when a decision is likely to be reached?

There is really no question of a decision to be reached. We want to have the miners, and the only question is that of getting the number required.

Will the hon. Lady consider very carefully recruiting miners who are available for work on the provision of tunnel shelters in provincial towns?

That is one of the matters that have been considered.

Is it intended that provincial towns where there are coal mines should put forward schemes to use unemployed miners on shelter work?

Yes, but those schemes would not come to the Ministry of Home Security; they would be sent to the Ministry of Labour, because all our labour requirements are not dealt with by us directly but through the Ministry of Labour, which is fully conversant with this side of the question.

Who is responsible for bringing miners to London, and has any miner arrived yet?

The whole responsibility for bringing labour to London rests upon the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the proposal has now been before the different authorities concerned for some considerable time, he can state the decision on the suggested lifting of the ban on visitors to Bournemouth?

I have communicated with my hon. Friend about this matter.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the considerable number of residential properties destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by enemy action in the Loudon area, what steps he is taking to deal with the serious housing shortage which will arise in the near future?

The number of houses destroyed or damaged beyond repair in London is small in proportion to the total number of damaged houses. Hitherto, however, the period in which a particular local housing authority has been able to carry out repairs has varied widely, according to the magnitude of the problem in that area and to the resources of the authority. I am sure that the arrangement announced recently by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War for the release from the Army of 3,000 building operatives will speed up considerably the work of repair in those areas which have suffered most and in which the local authority requires help. As the hon. Member knows, special steps have been taken to accommodate families whilst their homes are being repaired.

Is the right hon. Gentleman keeping this question under review? A large number of houses have been entirely destroyed in some areas, and very great difficulties are bound to arise.

This matter is under daily review. My officers are in constant personal touch with the officers of the local authorities concerned.

Under whose authority are the 3,000 building operatives now at work?

The 3,000 building operatives are not now at work, but arrangements have been made for their release from the Army. As they are released, they will come under the control of my Noble Friend the Minister of Works and Buildings.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to take over all substantial houses in reception areas, to be staffed and equipped as distribution centres, central canteens, or as communal living places?

I am sending the hon. Member copies of two recent circulars issued by my Department and by the Board of Education, giving guidance to local authorities on the subject of the services to which he refers. I am continuing to take all possible steps to acquire suitable accommodation which is essential for these services.

The Minister will know that at the present moment in certain re- ception areas there are large houses unoccupied or partly occupied, while evacuees are overcrowded.

Houses which are unoccupied are all being taken over, where they are suitable and are required. In regard to houses partly occupied, I have under consideration at the moment the question of taking further powers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of Metropolitan borough councils are dilatory in providing suitable billets for families rendered homeless by enemy action, with the result that these families remain much longer in the rest and feeding centres than necessary, causing additional public expense and over-taxing available accommodation; and whether he will take prompt and appropriate action in such cases?

I am aware that Metropolitan borough councils have not all been equally successful in their difficult task of rehousing those rendered homeless by air raids, and that a proportion of those in the rest centres have been there longer than is desirable. Some councils have been slower than others to appreciate the need of an enlarged and experienced staff for the purpose. I should like, at the same time, to take the opportunity of saying that much excellent work has been done by these councils in billeting large numbers of homeless people. The councils have been asked by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for North Croydon (Mr. Willink) to provide themselves with an adequate staff for this work, and an organisation has been established to supervise and co-ordinate the work. I shall certainly take such action as may be required in cases in which I am satisfied that any unnecessary delay is occurring.

As there are such vast differences between the methods of the different borough councils in London, are the Government considering taking temporary powers to bring them all up to scratch?

My hon. and learned Friend the Member for North Croydon is exercising powers which he already has. I think the existing powers are adequate.