asked the Secretary for Mines the output of coal per shift of all persons employed in the Midland amalgamated district for the years ended 30th June, 1938, 1939 and 1940?

The output of coal per manshift worked in the Midland (Amalgamated) District for each of the years ended the 30th June, 1938 and 1939, was 26.81 cwts. It is not in the public interest to publish statistics relating to the coal mining industry during wartime.

asked the Secretary for Mines the percentage of absenteeism among miners in the Midland amalgamated district for the years ended 30th June, 1938, 1939 and 1940?

The percentage of absenteeism among miners in the Midland (Amalgamated) District was 7.63 per cent, during the year ended 30th June, 1938, and 7.24 per cent, during the year ended 30th June, 1939. It is not in the public interest to publish statistics relating to the coal mining industry during war time.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total earnings of miners, including boys, .employed in the Midland amalgamated district for the years ended 30th June, 1938, 1939 and 1940, the number of shifts worked each year, and the average earnings each shift?

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the acute shortage of gas and household coal in the city of Oxford and by what date he anticipates that the situation will be eased?

I am aware that the supply of coal for Oxford has recently fallen short of the demand. Considerable reserves are still held by the gas company but it has been necessary to impose restrictions on the delivery of house coal in order to ensure equitable distribution. Every effort is being "made in co-operation with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Transport to improve the position as rapidly as possible.

asked the Secretary for Mines the present position of coal stocks in Bournemouth?

Stocks in Bournemouth cannot be considered to (be entirely satisfactory and every effort is being made to improve supply.

asked the Secretary of State for War on what date the 6d. increase in soldiers' allowances became due; how much delay occurred before the increase was paid and the cause of the delay?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the recent increase of 6d. in pay. This was issuable from 31st August last. Instructions were issued that payment by units should begin on the next pay day, that is, 6th September. So far as I am aware, there was no delay in payment except in the case of some isolated units which did not receive the instructions in time. Steps have been taken to obviate any similar delay in the receipt of such instructions in future. In all oases, the amount is payable from 31st August.

asked the Secretary of State for War on whet authority S.R.O., 1939, No. 1304 and 1940, No. 1015, about the employment of aliens in British regiments, have been abrogated?

The Orders to which my hon. Friend refers have not been abrogated. But Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Dutch and Belgian nationals can serve in the forces of their own country, and are not being accepted in the British Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that workers engaged on vital war production, working long hours who are members of the Home Guard, are required to do normal periods of duties and battalion headquarters guard; and whether he will arrange for such workers to be excused these duties, other than the guarding of industrial plants, etc., on which they are employed?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." If my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any cases he has in mind, I will have them investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in investigating the question of increased insurance premiums for members of the Home Guard, he is aware that some insurance companies require additional premiums amounting to £21 per annum to cover increased risks; and whether he will state the names of the companies who are charging these high rates?

I have no exact information as to the additional premiums which have been quoted by the companies concerned. These would no doubt depend on the sum assured. As to the general position, negotiations with the companies are progressing, and I hope will shortly reach a satisfactory conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements for physiotherapy have been made by the Army Medical Service; and whether advantage has been taken of the services of persons in civil life, with expert experience of the subject?

There are physio-therapy departments in all the more important military hospitals and convalescent depots, to which suitable equipment is supplied in the case of all establishments requiring such equipment. In addition, such departments exist in certain of the emergency medical service hospitals of toe Ministry of Health, which are available for the accommodation of military patients who are in need of such treatment. A consultant in physical medicine to the Army and specialists in Army Commands have been appointed. Their duties are to advise and supervise the treatment of patients in military hospitals and convalescent depots, and to train Army Physical Training Corps instructors in medical measures. The consultant and specialists were selected on account of their experience in physical medicine in civil life.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the outfit allowance to newly-commissioned officers being insufficient to cover the amount of the Purchase Tax on necessary articles of uniform, he proposes to increase the allowance?

This question is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make inquiries to ascertain if an officer, whose name and regiment have been communicated to him by the non. Member for Greenock, is detained as a prisoner of war in Oflag IX A, or, as his father has been informed by the Red Cross, is recuperating with eight other young officers at Lillehammer?

The report that the officer referred to is at Oflag IX A was made in a letter from the Casualty Branch of the War Office which the officer's father received on 27th November. This report is based on telegraphic information received from the International Red Cross at Geneva that a postcard had been received by them from this officer at Oflag IX A. This information is later than the information that the officer was at Lillehammer in Norway. The presumption is that this officer had been moved from Lillehammer to Oflag IX A some time shortly before he sent the postcard referred to. The date on which the postcard was sent is not stated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether greatcoats have been despatched to all prisoners of war in Germany; and whether he can now give the scale of clothing issued by the German Government to our officers and men in Germany and state how that scale compares with the issue made in Britain to German prisoners?

As my hon. and gallant Friend was told on Tuesday last, it has not so far been possible to ascertain the scale of clothing Issued to British prisoners of war in Germany. My hon. and gallant Friend is aware that, by the terms of the Geneva Convention of 1929, the detaining Power is obliged to provide clothing for prisoners of war. As soon as it became apparent that this obligation was not being fulfilled, clothing was sent from this country. Thirty thousand greatcoats have been despatched, with an equal quantity of battle-dress and large supplies of underclothing. Further consignments are being forwarded, and every prisoner of war will have a new greatcoat and battle-dress.

asked the Home Secretary on what date the design of surface shelters was altered so as to eliminate the precautions against leakage of water through the roof?

No alterations have been recommended which would have the effect of making the roofs of shelters less resistant to the penetration of water but in January last it was indicated that certain features including the extension of roofs beyond walls should ' omitted. In the changed circumstances under which shelters are being used for sleeping purposes fresh designs are being issued.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will call for a report on the extent to which street surface-shelters are used either by day or night, especially in those districts where basements abound?

A special survey was recently made of the extent to which various types of shelter were used by night in the Metropolitan boroughs. The results of the survey are being carefully studied.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the unused station of Central London Railway in Holborn; and will he consider the desirability of fitting the platforms up as a deep air-raid shelter, and allocating this shelter for the exclusive use of residents in the borough of Holborn?

Yes, Sir, work has already been put in hand for the adaptation of this station for shelter use. The issue of tickets for places In the shelter will be in the hands of the local authority, but no undertaking can be given that the use of this shelter will be restricted to residents of the borough of Holborn.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has reconsidered the matter of banning the use of private motor cars during the black-out, except for urgent business reasons, in view of the fact that the headlights allowed to be used on these motor cars guide the German bombers to large industrial cities and thus lead them to their targets?

My right hon. Friend has given further consideration to this matter, but he sees no reason to modify the view which he expressed in reply to my hon. Friend's previous (Question on the 7th November.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a medical practitioner who lost his home, surgery and equipment through enemy action, and was therefore unable to continue his prac- tice, secured alternative accommodation with difficulty near to his previous surgery, but has been threatened by the landlord with legal action to prevent his use of the premises, including the shop, as a surgery or consulting room; and whether he will take steps to safeguard and assist all such medical practitioners in this respect and thus enable them to pursue their practice?

My hon. Friend has no information about the particular case to which the hon. Member refers beyond that furnished by the hon. Member himself, but he is having inquiries made and will communicate with him.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has had any communication with the Dominion of Canada on the fact that a camp for refugees from Nazi oppression in Canada has been further subdivided, segregating Gentiles and Jews into camp A and camp N, respectively?

I have had no such communication with the Canadian Government, nor, I understand, has my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. I am, however, making inquiries and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Home Secretary whether, a decision has been reached as to the release of Mr. Ulrich Schurman, who, prior to internment, had established a successful export business in this country, and whom the Board of Trade recommended for release on 4th October?

Inquiries in this case are not yet complete but I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children, Brighton, and the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, have appointed dental surgeons as anaesthetists for casualties although medical men are available; whether he will investigate the matter and take steps to terminate the present appointments and appoint only anaesthetists holding medical qualifications?

No, Sir. I am informed that both these hospitals have arranged for a number of local dental surgeons to receive a special course of training in anaesthetics with a view to acting as anaesthetists in an emergency, if medical men were not available, and I may add that several of these gentlemen gave valuable service as anaesthetists at the Royal Sussex County Hospital during the heavy pressure of work on service casualties immediately following the evacuation from Dunkirk. Such arrangements are within the discretion of the hospitals concerned. As the employment of dental surgeons without medical qualifications to act as anaesthetists at both these hospitals is limited to the circumstances indicated, I am not prepared to take any action on the lines suggested in the last part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will give the House details of the instructions issued to local information committees on the subjects to be presented for discussion at meetings held under the auspices of his Ministry?

No detailed instructions have been issued to local information committees on the matter to which the hon. Member refers, although suggestions are frequently made both by the Ministry and its regional information officers as to those subjects which, at a particular moment, are more important from the point of view of the national war effort.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will give instructions that all speakers and organisers conducting educational work' under the direction of his Ministry will devote their efforts to the winning of this war, and the issues involved, rather than upon speculative suggestions on the problems which follow the conclusion of hostilities?

The Ministry is not engaged on educational work in the strict sense. Speakers and lecturers are aware that their duty is to deal in all its many aspects with our national war effort.

asked the Minister of Information whether he has considered the memorandum suggesting improvement in the programme of educational activities of the Ministry in the West Biding of Yorkshire; and whether be contemplates action in the direction indicated by the proposals which this memorandum embodies?

The hon. Member is, I presume, referring to a pamphlet issued by the Regional Information Officer in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The proposals of this officer are under consideration by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings, how many hotels and other occupied premises requisitioned by his Department early in the war are still unutilised?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 26th November to the hon. Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Grower).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in some instances, where companies have incurred expenditure for account of Government Departments and have been reimbursed by the Departments, the Inland Revenue authorities have insisted on treating the expenditure as capital and the reimbursement as income; and whether he will give an assurance that, when a Government Department agrees to make a payment on capital account, the Revenue shall be bound by the agreement?

I am not clear what kind of case my hon. Friend has in mind but shall be glad to look into the matter if he will let me have further particulars.

asked the Minister of Transport the percentage of passenger trains now run on the main lines and the London underground lines, respectively, as compared with the corresponding figures for 1939, pre-war?

I am obtaining the information for which my hon. Friend asks and will send it to him.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Barry School of Evangelism has been refused permission to send £100, or more, to Mr. H. E. Alexander, of Geneva, for the printing of the Scriptures in French and other languages for distribution among French and other refugees, interned soldiers of several nationalities, allied prisoners of war in Germany and the Swiss Army; and whether, in view of the urgency of such a distribution of the Bible, he will arrange for this money to be forwarded to Geneva?

I fear that the decision reached after careful consideration in this case must be maintained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to allow a discount to Surtax payers who make payment before the due date of payment, as is done in the case of Income Tax payers?

No, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 10th October by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to a Question by the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total cost to the State of organising and maintaining the Women's Land Army?

I have been asked to reply. During the 14 months from the outbreak of war to the end of October, 1940, the charge on public funds in respect of the Women's Land Army in England and Wales amounted to approximately £217,000. The cost of training volunteers for farm work and of equipping them with working uniform accounts for the bulk of this expenditure.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to assist solicitors in proving titles to real and personal property in cases of their complete destruction by enemy action?

I do not think that any legislation such as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests is necessary. If, however, my hon. and gallant Friend has any practical proposals in mind I would be glad to consider them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the serious complaints continually being made as to the delay in the delivery of letters to and from Northern Ireland, in some cases five or six days in transit, he will look carefully into this whole matter with the object of having the delivery of these letters greatly expedited?

Letters passing between Great Britain and Northern Ireland should take three days in transit, excluding Sundays, but there are sometimes delays due to causes external to the Post Office. I shall be glad to make inquiry if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of specific cases in which there has been delay.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the last postal collection in the London area is at 4.30 p.m., he will arrange to have the last delivery made just before this time and not just afterwards?

The last postal collection from London suburban pillar boxes is made at 4.30 p.m., from the Inner district boxes at 5.30 p.m., and about half an hour later at Head District Offices. Until this week the last delivery began at 4 p.m. and ended at about 6 p.m. It now begins at 3.30 p.m. and finishes at about 5 p.m., and it would not be possible to make it earlier without excluding important mails.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a large number of people are shocked by the unnecessary cruelty to pigs, sanctioned by his Department; whether he is aware that the mutilation of the animals is done, or has been done, in a public cattle market; and as cows and sheep are sold without such markings, he will endeavour to find a more humane method of dealing with pigs if they cannot be sold as cows and sheep are, by live-weight?

My hon. Friend presumably refers to the practice of earmarking pigs foe identification purposes. I would refer him to the answer given to my hon. Friend- the Member for Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 14th March, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that no ration cards have been printed in the Welsh language with the result that staffs of food officers in rural Wales cannot cope with wrongly-filled application forms; and whether he will give this matter his attention?

I am aware that no ration books have been printed in the Welsh language but it does not appear that the percentage of wrongly completed reference leaves is higher in Welsh than in English-speaking areas. I have no evidence that the work of food offices in rural Wales is being made more difficult through the lack of instructions in the Welsh language.

asked the Minister of Supply if any effort is being made to collect scrap metal from farms?

Yes, Sir. Steps have been taken, in consultation with the National Farmers' Union, to collect iron and steel scrap from farms in nine counties specially selected for the purpose and the scheme is being extended to others. My right hon. Friend is considering further measures for increasing the How of scrap from the farming community.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has made a survey in West Glamorgan and West Wales, of the available works which can produce for national emergency purposes; is he aware that some works are totally idle and others partially idle; that there are foundries and fitting shops in and around Neath partially working their skilled men while men are being absorbed in other areas; and will he cause immediate inquiries to be made with a view to assisting local industries and local employment?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 4th December. I explained then that an investigation into the best means of using the accommodation in unused factories in West Wales was being conducted by a committee of the Area Board, but that many of the factories would require extensive alterations before they were in a condition for production. If it should be found possible to use these works, local labour would, of course, be employed as far as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether a panel patient whose doctor has been called up for service may forthwith transfer to any remaining doctor whom he may choose or only to the lists of those who have joined the protection of practices scheme?

Where the protection of practices scheme concerned is on a voluntary basis, the right to transfer after giving due notice is not affected, but immediate transfer can only be made to the list of a participating practitioner. Where, however, the arrangements have been made by amendment of the Insurance Committee's Allocation and Distribution Schemes, immediate transfer can be made to the list of any practitioner who is willing to accept the insured person seeking transfer.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases to date in which town clerks have exercised their powers of requisitioning furniture from houses temporarily vacated by their owners or from furniture repositories?

I am informed that the powers referred to have been exercised on eight occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any information as to the number of Germans and Italians at present resident in the neutral Dominion of Eire; and as to how many of these are attached, respectively, to the German and Italian Legations in Dublin?

I understand the number of Germans in Eire is 306, of whom 141 are refugees and 30 are members of religious orders. The number of Italians in Eire is 149. My information is that the official staff of the German Legation in Dublin consists of six persons and three typists, and that the Italian Legation consists of five persons and one typist.