asked the Minister of Health whether billeting conditions have been uniformly agreed upon for evacuees and refugees entering receiving areas from London, the Midlands and any other district affected by enemy action?

There are uniform scales of billeting payments for all classes of persons entitled to be billeted either under the Government evacuation scheme or as refugees from enemy action.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in reconsidering the redesignation of different evacuation, reception and neutral areas, he can state which areas have made application for redesignation; and whether he is taking into consideration the views of the local authorities in the districts?

Applications for the whole or part of the district to be designated an evacuable area have been received from a number of local authorities, the names of which I will send to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether when people refuse to take in evacuees billeting officers are instructed to requisition such houses and then allot part of the accommodation to the recalcitrant householders?

Powers have been delegated under Article 22 of the Defence Regulations which enable local authorities to billet compulsorily and to specify if necessary the accommodation required. The householder may, if he wishes, appeal to a tribunal. I am prepared in suitable cases to requisition parts of occupied houses if that appears the best means of meeting a pressing need.

asked the Home Secretary upon what principle the Communist party is being treated more leniently than the British Union of Fascists?

I fully appreciate my hop. and learned Friend's view that in the imposition of punitive measures offenders whose guilt is comparable should be treated with comparable severity; hut in the use of preventive measures of control the sole test is whether action is necessary for security purposes; and one of the main reasons for the preventive measures taken against members of the British Union was that the person in control of that organisation had sympathies with the system of government of a State with which this country is at war.

asked the Home Secretary how many people are now imprisoned or interned under Section 18B of the Home Defence Regulations; and what proportion of the men and women thus detained have so far appeared before an appeal tribunal?

As regards the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a Question by the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 5th December. Approximately two-thirds of these cases have been heard by the several Advisory Committees.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give particulars of the personnel of the nine ad hoc committees appointed for the consideration of cases arising under categories 8 and 20 of the White Paper regarding aliens, and stating the previous occupation of the members thereof?

These committees are not appointed by me but by the following representative bodies or persons invited by my predecessor to form committees who will be able to give advice about the standing in various professions of applicants for release from internment:

The Royal Society.

The British Academy.

The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of Universities and University Colleges in Great Britain.

The Royal Academy of Art.

The Royal Institute of British Architects.

The P.E.N. Club.

Dr. R. Vaughan Williams, O.M.

The Right Hon. Lord Justice Scott.

The personnel of the committees may vary from time to time and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing a list of the persons who may from time to time serve on the several committees.

asked the Home Secretary what is the position of interned aliens or landlords of premises occupied by aliens now interned who, owing to their internment, are unable to fulfil the terms of their leases, being without occupation or pecuniary means?

This is a question which relates to the law of landlord and tenant and it is not within my competence to express an opinion on a question which could only be settled by the courts in the light of all the circumstances of a particular case.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Marcel Kalisch, a former citizen of the-Republic of Poland, who was deprived of his nationality by the Polish Government, who is at present interned at Douglas, Isle of Man, and who was advised, when his wife applied for his release, to approach the present Polish Government with a view to producing evidence that his former nationality has been restored to him; and, owing to the impossibility of adopting such a suggestion, will he order the release of Mr. Kalisch as being a qualified oxy-acetylene welder?

This man claims to be an architect and his case is at present under consideration by the special committee set up by the Royal Institute of British Architects under Category 20 of the White Paper.

asked the Minister of -Labour whether he will allow Spanish refugees now idle who have fought in the Republican army in Spain to be employed as Civil Defence workers for clearing debris and repairing damage, since their previous experience in Spain should prove useful at the present time; and whether he will set up a special branch of a local Employment Exchange to deal without delay with the cases of those Spaniards who apply for this work?

One hundred Spanish refugees have already been found work by my Department in the clearance of debris and the repair of damage caused by air raids in London, and the officers of the Department are working in close contact with the refugee organisations who deal with Spaniards. These organisations have been notified that there are opportunities for the employment on similar work of still further Spanish refugees provided that they are physically suitable. A section of the Westminster Employment Exchange has for some time been made available for the registration of Spanish refugees who are under the care of the International Commission for War Refugees and the British Committee for Refugees from Spain, both of which organisations are believed to be satisfied with the arrangements made and are giving every assistance w my Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether war widows drawing pensions are deprived of the possibility of drawing pensions over and above the war widows' pension under the old age contributory pensions Acts; and, if so, whether the policy will be reviewed since the pensions they draw as widows are really in lieu of the incomes they would have probably have been receiving as a result of their husband's earnings?

A widow who is in receipt of a dependant's war pension in respect of the death of her husband is not entitled to draw also a widow's pension under the Contributory Pensions Acts. The contributions payable under those Acts do not cover the risk of death due to war service. I am not satisfied that there is sufficient case for the remodelling of the contributory pensions scheme to admit of the payment of dual pensions in such cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether the same benefits will apply to blind pensioners as to old age pensioners under the proposed legislation to eliminate the household means test?

The legislation to which the hon. Member refers is now in course of preparation: this aspect is under consideration, but I cannot make any statement at present

asked the Minister of Health whether be has arranged for records to be kept by local authorities of the names and addresses of all persons immunised or inoculated at public expense, and that certificates of such operations should be given to the relatives or persons concerned, with a view to establishing the fact that the operations in question have been duly performed?

I have not issued any special advice in this matter, but local authorities would as a matter of routine keep particulars of persons inoculated under arrangements made by them. I do not think it is necessary to require them to carry out the suggestion made in the second part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state, with the respective figures, the towns in Hampshire which anticipate a deficit in the coming year and those who anticipate a surplus?

Local authorities are not required to make returns to me showing their estimated income and expenditure, and the desired information is not available.

asked the Minister of Supply what standard of fitness is required for clerical work at a Government ordnance factory; and what duties a capable man of 27 years of age, rejected for military service and in grade 4, but certified fit for light work by independent doctors although rejected by the factory doctor as not up to medical standard, can take up during the present national emergency?

The general rule at the Royal Ordnance Factories is that candidates for employment are examined by a medical officer as to their physical fitness for the particular work on which they would, if appointed, be engaged. If my hon. Friend will enable me to identify the case which he has in mind, I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, despite the fact that responsibility for shipbuilding has been transferred to the Admiralty some months ago, our present rate of ship production is in danger of falling behind our losses by enemy action; and whether, in view of the importance of this matter, he will review the suitability of arrangement by which an already overworked Board of Admiralty has been given this additional problem and consider whether better results could he achieved by a separate Department on the lines of the Ministry of Aircraft Production?

I am aware that the current rate of merchant ship losses demands the utmost efforts to make them good. The House will have an opportunity of debating these questions in Secret Session later to-day. The Prime Minister does not think that anything would he gained by a separate Department concerned solely with merchant shipping. This is in the hands of a member of the Board of Admiralty appointed for that purpose, for which he has a special staff. Our output of merchant ships is mainly determined by the total amount of ship-building labour and materials available. Close co-ordination of mercantile and naval requirements is therefore of great importance, and this can best be attained by having one Department responsible for both programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give a list of the units to which women are attached under the control of his Department; the number in each unit: and the rate of pay and allowances, and allowances for dress, for each category in those units?

Women are employed in the following categories under the War Department:

(1) In the Royal Army Medical Corps as medical officers.

(2) In Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and the Territorial Army Nursing Service as nurses.

(3) In Voluntary Aid Detachments for various hospital duties.

(4) In the Auxiliary Territorial Service as clerks, cooks, drivers, orderlies, signals personnel, storewomen, etc.

It would not be desirable to give numbers or units.

Rates of pay and allowances are:

Category (1).—As for single officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps, as set out in Army Estimates, 1939, Appendix III, except ration allowance which is four-fifths of the current rate for officers. The outfit grant is £30.

Category (2).—As set out in Army Estimates, 1939, Appendix III, for Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, except that the uniform allowance is now:—1st year, £24; 2nd year, £6; 3rd year, £12.

Category (3).—According to qualifications, either Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service rates, other than uniform allowance, Category (2), or two-thirds of the pay of the soldier replaced, with accommodation and rations in kind, or appropriate allowances in lieu.

Uniform allowance:—Nursing members—1st year, £10; each subsequent year, £5. Non-nursing members—1st year, £8; each subsequent year, £4.

Category (4).—For officers, rates of pay are as follows:

Allowances for officers are as laid down for single officers in Army Estimates, 1939, Appendix III, except ration allowance which is four-fifths of the current rate of officers. The outfit grant is £30.

For tradeswomen, rates of pay are as set out in the answer given to the hon. Lady the Member for Dartford on 1st February last, with the addition of fourpence a day.

For non-tradeswomen, rates of pay are as follows:

Allowances for members are as stated in the answer given on 1st February, referred to above.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, for the general convenience, he will provide a list of the addresses of those Government Departments which are now situated in the provinces, particularly those which have been disclosed in provincial telephone directories or with regard to which there is no security reason for secrecy?

I regret that I am unable to accept the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Supply the quantities of British uniforms purchased from Spain and Portugal since the beginning of the war?

None, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to move to set up a Select Committee to consider the Standing Order relating to Sittings of the House, with a view to a permanent alteration of the hours of sitting after the war?

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion but I do not think that any useful purpose would be served at the present time by setting up a Select Committee as proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present price charged by the military authorities for swill as compared with the price charged nine months ago; what complaints he has received especially from Northern Ireland, that the price is excessive; and who takes the profits arising from the sale of this swill?

Prices for swill are governed by tenders called for under usual conditions. These conditions are the same now as nine months ago, and prices have the same range. I am not aware of any complaints on this subject either from Northern Ireland, where prices are very low, or elsewhere. Profits from by-products are taken by the producing unit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many soldiers on leave find themselves unexpectedly stranded in remote parts of London, and, as they have no funds, it is impossible to advise them to journey to main line termini where lists of hostels are exhibited; and whether he will arrange that one such list shall be kept at every surface end underground railway station in the London postal area?

I will consider whether the display of lists of hostels can be usefully extended. A soldier who finds himself in doubt can always ask to be directed to movement control staff, advice bureaux, canteens and the like, where he will be able to obtain advice.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the shortage of wireless sets for the entertainment of the troops; and whether he will take steps to remedy it?

Excluding sets which have been given direct to the troops by various charitable organisations and individuals, about 7,500 sets have been provided for the Army, chiefly by the Nuffield Trust. Some 4,000 sets are now being bought and issued, and an order has been placed for the manufacture of 10,000 special sets with spares, delivery of which will begin in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the numbers of persons domiciled, respectively, in Northern Ireland and Eire who are now serving in the Armed Forces of the Crown?

I regret that the required information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for War what, in the case of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks, who are prisoners of war in Germany, is the monthly, or weekly, amount of advances made by the German Government and of the charge deductible from the soldier's account; what is the position regarding allotments made by the soldier to a dependant or other person; whether any further deductions are made, for what purposes, and of what amount; and what is the amount of the monthly balance put to the credit of the soldier's account?

No pay is issued by the German Government to soldiers who are prisoners of war in Germany, unless they are employed on work, when they receive working pay. This is in accordance with the Geneva Convention. No deduction is made from their accounts in this country, except in respect of allotments in issue to families or dependants, unless the soldiers are liable to Income Tax. Family and dependants' allowances continue to be paid, together with allotments from the soldiers' pay, subject to the ordinary conditions. The monthly balance depends on the rate of pay and the amount of any allotment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the most effective use is being made of the tractors available for the ploughing up of grassland; and whether he will make public the facilities available for those who may wish to buy them?

County War Agricultural Executive Committees are responsible for organising the operation of the machinery and implements in their respective areas and they have been instructed to take the necessary steps to ensure that the best use is made of all the available machinery resources. Publicity has already been given on numerous occasions to the fact that committees have been provided by the Ministry with tractors and implements for the purpose of assisting those farmers who are unable to make their own arrangements for ploughing and cultivating their lands.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has modified its view on the harmfulness of grey squirrels and revoked its advice that they should be destroyed?

No, Sir. Under present conditions it is more essential than ever to destroy these pests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as there is always a surplus of fresh vegetables from allotments and gardens in the summer, he will suggest that in all suitable cases preference should be given, at least partially, to the growing of feeding-stuff for poultry?

I should hesitate to make any recommendations to occupiers of allotments and gardens which might result in the limitation of the production of vegetables for human consumption. Where there is a surplus over and above what is required for this purpose it can, with few exceptions and if properly prepared, be utilised for feeding to poultry. I will, however, ask the Domestic Poultry Keepers Council to consider whether advice might not be given as to the types of vegetables which would be most suitable for feeding to poultry if they were not required for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, for the purpose of allotments he has power to requisition land held by the speculative builder; and whether he proposes to exercise it?

Local authorities in urban areas, in the exercise of powers delegated to them under the Cultivation of Lands (Allotments) Order, 1939, can enter on any unoccupied land for the purpose of providing war-time allotments. This power has been freely exercised by local authorities since 18th September, 1939, when the Order was made.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that the export of cotton textiles is being considerably impeded by the many months delay in meeting claims arising out of lost cargoes; and will he see that more prompt payments are made?

No such complaints have been brought to my notice, but I would gladly consider the matter if I could be furnished with particulars.

asked the Home Secretary whether any aliens, now serving in His Majesty's Forces and who were resident in this country for more than five years, can apply for naturalisation; whether, in the case of German or Austrian anti-Nazis, such a naturalisation will be granted during the war; and, if not, will their requests be noted for preferential treatment after the cessation of hostilities?

It has been found necessary to suspend the consideration of applications for naturalisation at the present time, and it is not possible at the present time to make any statement as to what the future policy may be.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that an alien member of His Majesty's Forces is not deemed an alien under Statutory Rules and Orders, 1940, No. 1900 (The Aliens (No. 4) Order, 1940), he will see that British-born women marrying an alien member of His Majesty's Forces do not assume their husband's nationality automatically, but may be allowed to retain their British nationality if they so desire; and whether, in particular, his attention has been called to the case of Private L. E. Kramer, who served in France with the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, and who, for the above reason, cannot marry an English girl as he does not want her to lose her British nationality?

The Order referred to does not affect the provisions of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, relating to the national status of British born women marrying aliens. As regards the case of Private Kramer, if he is the subject of a State at war with His Majesty and the lady whom he wishes to marry is a British subject by birth, it will be open to her on marriage to apply for a certificate of naturalisation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will arrange for the collection of firewood from demolished buildings to be handed over to the local authorities for disposal at a cheap price to poor people, as there is a great shortage of firewood?

Timber taken from damaged buildings which is available for essential constructional purposes should not be used for purposes less important to the war effort. Local authorities have already been authorised under Regulation 50 of the Defence Regulations to dispose, according to directions by the competent authority, of material which appears to be valueless taken from sites on which substantial damage has occurred by reason of war operations. I should be disposed to agree to local authorities handing over for firewood valueless timber obtained in such circumstances.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will abolish the present distinction, as far as liability to military service is concerned, between unpaid rescue party personnel and those who are paid, seeing that they are both performing the same Civil Defence service?

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service on this subject.

asked the Minister of Labour why, having regard to the fact that the registers of conscientious objectors contain a record of each objector's employment, he is unable to supply information as to the number of teachers in State-aided schools who have been registered as objectors?

In order to supply the information referred to, it would be necessary to make a special analysis of these registers. In view of the pressure on the staff I do not consider that I should be justified in expending the time and labour that would be involved.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of appeals against North-western local tribunal decisions on conscientious objectors which will have to be submitted to other appellate tribunals because of the presence of Sir Miles Mitchell on the Northern Appellate Tribunal; and whether he is satisfied that the present composition of the Northern Appellate Tribunal is in the interest of national economy?

The number of appeals to be submitted for the reason stated to divisions of the Appellate Tribunal other than the Northern Division is 282. As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend appreciates the importance of economy in expenditure; but he feels sure that my hon. Friend would not wish this to be made a reason for appointing someone other than the most suitable person on the tribunal. Economy will, in fact, result from the appointment of this additional tribunal, as previously all appeal cases from England and Wales were heard in London.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have registered as conscientious objectors under the Military Training Act in the County Borough of Stockport; and what percentage this represents of the total registrations?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that large sums from customers in the Channel Islands are owed to United Kingdom traders for goods supplied before the abandonment of the Channel Islands; that returns of such debts amounting to £234,706 have already been received by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce from traders in the United Kingdom; and whether, in view of the fact that the abandonment was decided upon by His Majesty's Government, it is proposed to compensate traders for the losses sustained in consequence of the abandonment; and, if not, whether he proposes to take any steps to enable such traders to obtain the amounts due to them?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply. I am afraid it is inevitable that a number of traders who have supplied goods to the Channel Islands should, for the time being, be unable to recover their debts. His Majesty's Government regret that they are unable to accept liability for any resultant losses nor can they usefully take any steps to enable them to be recovered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to implement the terms of the Colonial and Development Act in Africa apart from the cancellation of certain indebtedness of the Colonial Governments?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made on behalf of the Government during the Debate on the Third Reading of the Bill on 11th June last. So large a part of the energies of Colonial Administrations in Africa is now necessarily occupied by work directly related to the prosecution of the war that they have little opportunity to prepare programmes of development. Apart from that, it will be realised that objects of definite war value must now, both here and in Africa, have the first call on the whole of our resources whether in men or material or money. These considerations, which are operative throughout the Colonial Empire, apply with particular force in Africa. We have reluctantly had to accept the conclusion that, while the war lasts, it will not be possible to take advantage of the provision made by the Act in the manner and to the extent that was contemplated in the earlier part of this year. Nevertheless we are anxious that such measures as are possible under war conditions should not be neglected. Grants have already been made under the Act for schemes for the control of rinderpest in Tanganyika and of locusts in Northern Rhodesia and for the improvement of the approaches to a high level bridge in Swaziland; and I hope that other schemes will be approved from time to time as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in order to secure that the British Broadcasting Corporation's news bulletin shall be more concise, he will arrange for them to be limited to reports of outstanding events and important announcements, descriptive talks being relegated to other parts of the programmes?

No, Sir. There is ample evidence that the inclusion in the bulletins of occasional eye-witness reports and other descriptive material is acceptable to the great majority of listeners.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of employed persons in the City and County of Perth, the County of Clackmannan and Kinross and the County of Fife?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, arising out of works on war production and his welfare scheme, steps have been taken anywhere to establish day nurseries for children of women in industry; and what progress is being made in the setting up of sick bays for workers in periods of illness away from their homes?

Fifteen day nurseries have been opened for the children of women engaged in work of national importance and a further eight are in course of establishment. Eleven other proposals for nurseries have been approved by the Ministry of Health. In answer to the second part of the Question my right hon. Friend has arranged with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health for the hospitals of the Emergency Medical Service to be used for industrial workers living in lodgings who are sick and who cannot receive attention there. A leaflet giving particulars of these arrangements is almost ready for issue and will be given a wide distribution.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now satisfied that the local area committees are fully instructed on the urgency of munition production; and that employers and workpeople are fully alive to the gravity of any weakening of war effort in meeting the demands of the Ministry of Supply?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Local Labour Supply Committees. These committees are kept informed of the relative urgency of different types of production, and, in the event of difficulty, the relative Area Board, on which the Supply Departments are represented, is available to give guidance. In reply to the second part of the Question I have no reason to suppose that employers and workpeople are not fully aware of the paramount importance of maintaining and increasing the output of aircraft, ships and munitions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can assure the House that the pledge given that women engaged upon munition work shall be paid the rate for the job is being implemented?

The rate for the job is a matter that is determined by the machinery of negotiation in industry, and payment of that rate is safeguarded by the provisions of the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Order, 1940, and by the Fair Wages Conditions that are attached to all Government contracts.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women who have completed a 12-week training at the Beaufoy Institute, and the number who subsequently obtained employment?

The number of women who have entered training at the Beaufoy Institute is 246, of whom 58 were in training when the course was taken over by my Department last September. The period of the course is now eight weeks. Of the 77 who have completed training, 55 have been placed and 22 are expected to be placed almost immediately. Forty-seven failed to complete the course. The remaining 122 are still in training.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the causes of complaint that induced unemployed men at Fern-dale, Rhondda, to march to the Exchange on Monday, 2nd December, as a protest; and what steps are being taken to remove the cause of complaint?

I am obtaining a report and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the membership and terms of reference of the inter-departmental committee set up by his Department to consider schemes of vocational training for persons injured by enemy action?

This was not a formal committee with defined terms of reference, but rather a conference of representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Pensions, the Department of Health for Scotland and my own Ministry. Its object was to examine the question of the vocational training of war casualties and to report on the possible scope of a training scheme and the machinery required for the purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether he is aware that when he makes an announcement that certain articles of food will be scarcer there is an immediate run on them and the better off people are able to secure a greater supply than others; and will he consider examining the whole question so that every citizen will have the opportunity of getting an equal share of the restricted foods?

My Noble Friend recognises the possibility of some people getting more than their fair share of foods which are in short supply and are not rationed and that the warnings issued from time to time of shortages may lead to additional purchases. It is, however, an offence for any person to acquire more than the normal quantity of food, that is, such quantity as would be required for use and consumption during a period of seven days, and my Noble Friend will not hesitate to take appropriate action if any case of alleged breach of this Regulation is brought to the notice of the Ministry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that one result of depriving the fruiterers of reasonable supplies of fruit may be to accentuate increases in the retail prices of vegetables to enable them to meet fixed overhead expenses; and whether this policy has been considered and approved by the price control committees?

No, Sir. I have no information of the kind suggested in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question. As regards the second part, no representations on this subject have been received from local food price investigation committees.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will requisition all stocks of onions, oranges, lemons, bananas and apples, and arrange for their equitable distribution at fixed prices?

My Noble Friend does not contemplate such measures as are suggested in my hon. Friend's Question. The available supplies of these commodities are not sufficient and vary too greatly from month to month to permit of any exact system of rationing. The requisitioning of home crops would not be practicable, but arrangements have been made to secure as equitable a distribution as possible of the onions, lemons and oranges imported by the Ministry. All these commodities are, or are about to be, controlled by Orders prescribing maximum prices. My Noble Friend does not consider that the enforcement of fixed prices would be in the interests of the consuming public.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that in many parishes charities exist for supplying beef to the poor at Christmas; and whether he proposes to make any arrangements to enable these charities to buy beef for this purpose this year?

It is impracticable to make arrangements to enable charitable organisations to buy beef direct. My Noble Friend therefore suggests that those who desire to make gifts of rationed food during the Christmas season should give either cash or some equivalent form of voucher which will enable the recipients to obtain, on presentation of their official rationing coupons, rationed foods from the retailers with whom they are registered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that a Norwegian steamer which recently left Kobe is being used by the Germans as a prison for British captured merchantmen?

I presume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the Norwegian steamship "Ole Jacob," which recently called at Kobe with a German prize crew to refuel. So far as my Noble Friend is aware, there are no captured British seamen on board this ship.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give directions to the Bank of England to grant permission to Messrs. Mendel and Harry Mendelson, British subjects who had acquired Belgian domicile 30 and 20 years, respectively, before the war, and who had reached this country as transmigrants to the United States of America on 15th March and 23rd June, 1940, respectively, for the retransfer to the United States of America of the sum of 81,684 surrendered dollars and stock-in-trade as diamond merchants valued at £ 15,000, as exit permits have been recommended to admit of the continuance of their journey for business purposes, Mr. Mendel Mendelson reached England from Belgium on the 15th March last and his brother on the following 23rd June?

As these gentlemen are British subjects and have been residing in this country, their dollars were properly surrendered to the Treasury. My right hon. Friend sees no reason for allowing them, any more than any other British subject resident in the United Kingdom, to export capital at the present time. As regards stock-in-trade of diamonds, this is not a matter falling within the scope of the Defence (Finance) Regulations, and any Question thereon should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the profit motive will not, and cannot, solve the large problem of the reconstruction of this country; and what system has the Government approved as an alternative?

The problem of reconstruction after the war cannot be dealt with on the single and simple basis postulated by my hon. Friend. It in fact involves many great issues to which the Government will address itself at the proper time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when His Majesty's Government intend to give effect to the recommendations of the Fourteenth Report from the Select Committee on National Expenditure concerning camouflage?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have to-day given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, to avoid increase of cruelty to animals whose owners will not be able, owing to the Purchase Tax, to renew faulty linings of horse collars, he will, prior to the next Budget, reinvestigate the operation of the tax in this particular case?

As my hon. Friend will see from the reply given on 26th November, the difficulty in this case is that the material used is not distinguishable from cloth used for other purposes, and in these circumstances I can hold out no hope of exempting it from tax generally. I can see no reason why the Purchase Tax should have the effect suggested.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider using for the transport of coal the 150 extra trains he is proposing to put on to deal with Christmas parcels, seeing that many miners are unemployed or on short time and there is a shortage of coal for domestic users in many parts of the country?

Any additional trains which may be needed to carry Christmas parcels traffic will not be at the expense of or alternative to freight traffic.

asked the Minister of. Transport the total number of staff, male and female separately, employed by the undertakings controlled by the Railway Executive Committee at the most recent date for which the figures are available?

I am sending the figures to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport what actual increases in costs in wages and material were experienced by the undertakings controlled by the Railway Executive Committee in the 12 months ended September, 1940, compared with the financial year of 1938?

The figures asked for by my hon. Friend, including a comparison with 1938, could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of time and labour by the controlled undertakings. The figures given in the Estimates published on 24th August were based on the increase in the level of costs ruling at the outbreak of war, and I have no more recent figures.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state, separately, the estimated increased costs of the under takings controlled by the Railway Executive Committee since September, 1939, for wages, allowances to staff serving with His Majesty's Forces, materials, including coal, and other items, together with the proportionate increase in each case?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the figures of increased costs published on 24th August. It is not practicable to express the estimates as proportionate increases.

asked the Minister of Transport whether all necessary steps are being taken to repair as speedily as possible roads which may be damaged by enemy action?

Yes, Sir, within the limits necessarily imposed by the supplies of labour and materials available. My hon. Friend will appreciate that these repairs often necessitate much preliminary work on the restoration of underground mains and services or on the demolition of adjacent buildings rendered dangerous. I am constantly exploring with the responsible authorities any steps which can be taken to speed up repairs.

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he will take legislative steps to secure that, in the case where the master of a ship is lost with his ship, as happened in the case of the "Arandora Star," provision will be made for supply- ing to the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen a list of the lost passengers and for the registration of death in such cases, and so amend the Merchant Shipping Act in this respect?

The problem of dealing with the difficulty referred to by the hon. and learned Member is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether his attention has been called to the fact that French sailors arriving in this country report that uniformed Italians are in control of the ports of Algeria, and that many vessels are carrying cargoes from North African ports to Marseilles for the benefit of Germany or Italy; and whether he will consider dealing more effectively with these vessels which apparently keep within the territorial waters of North Africa, Spain and France as far as is possible?

I understand that there is a number of Italian officers representing the Armistice Commission in French North Africa, but I am not aware that they control the ports. As regards the second part of the Question, I must make it clear that His Majesty's Government have never licensed or approved traffic of this description and that they reserve full freedom to take appropriate action at any time. It would not be in the public interest, however, to announce in advance what measures it is proposed to adopt.