asked the Home Secretary whether he has ensured that there is a sufficient supply of firearms easily accessible so that all police and special police can, in emergency, be adequately armed?

It is not intended to arm all members of the police forces, but steps have been taken to supply the police with adequate numbers of firearms for their own protection and to enable them to carry out any police duties for which arms may be required.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in estimating the sufficiency of the establishment of wardens for Solihull, he has had regard to any population figures more recent than those for 1934; and whether the present establishment of wardens allows for the large increase in population that has taken place since that date?

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Board of Trade is the only important Department which has no representative in the Civil Defence regions; that, in the case of heavy bombing involving the destruction of business buildings on a large scale, the need of a representative from his Department is great; and whether he can take steps to settle this difficulty?

Each of the Area Board which cover the country includes a representative of the Board of Trade. These gentlemen are available for advice and consultation. Officers of the Board of Trade have visited towns which have been heavily bombed to deal with problems arising from enemy air attack, and when it has seemed appropriate they have got into touch with the Civil Defence authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether, under the Government scheme for billeting in the neighbourhood people whose homes have been rendered uninhabitable by enemy action, the provisions apply to tenants only or include owners of houses if they were normally resident there?

Yes, Sir, the scheme covers owners occupying their houses.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether parents and guardians of children evacuated abroad are still contributing towards the maintenance of the children; what is the amount contributed; and how are the moneys being disbursed?

The parents and guardians of children evacuated overseas under the Children's Overseas Reception Scheme are making weekly contributions according to their means. The standard amount of contribution varies from 6s. to £1 a week. As previously explained, no money is paid overseas for the maintenance of our children as Dominion Governments were anxious that hospitality extended to them there should be free. The sums collected, therefore, go to the general expenses of the scheme as a whole. These include the cost of transport, the provision of doctors, nurses, escorts, hostel accommodation in this country and special medical supplies. I am sure the House would wish me to take this opportunity of re-affirming our gratitude to all those in the Dominions who are providing safe sanctuary for our children and continuously devoting themselves to their welfare.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to have tested all gas-masks which have been in issue for some time to ensure they are efficient and up-to-date?

Local authorities were instructed some time ago to institute a system of inspection at regular intervals. In addition, as a further check, exhaustive tests are carried out from time to time on representative samples already in issue.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether steps have been taken, or will be taken, through the Dominions Office, or otherwise, to obtain such evidence as is available from Australia as to the conditions under which the internees sent to Australia on the steamship "Dunera" made the voyage and as to their condition on arrival there, so that this evidence may be examined at the inquiry which has been promised?

Preliminary investigations are now in progress into the matters for which the War Office is responsible, and until these have been completed I cannot say what further evidence will he required. The military personnel concerned have not vet all returned to this country.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will grant a seven-days' leave to internees who are released on joining the Pioneer Corps?

This is a matter primarily for the War Office, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary how many non-enemy aliens have appeared before the advisory committee of which Sir Francis Lindley is chairman; and how many remain to be dealt with through that committee or to be considered for release by himself without the necessity of such appearance?

Up to 28th January 142 cases have been considered by this committee who have made recommendations in 108 cases. Some 450 cases remain for consideration.

asked the Home Secretary the numbers and categories of authorised releases of aliens of enemy origin from internment camps, distinguishing between releases of those in the United Kingdom and those interned in Canada and Australia, up to the latest available date?

The numbers of releases authorised under each category of the White Paper or as special cases up to the 18th January were giver by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary on the 22nd January in an answer to the junior Member for the Combined English Universities. These figures include internees sent to Canada and Australia as well as those detained in this country. The available statistics do not enable me to say how many of the releases authorised under each category relate to aliens who had been sent to Canada and Australia, but the total number of internees whose release has been authorised is now 10,465, including 241 in Canada and 170 in Australia.

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements are being made to facilitate the enlistment of internees in Australia for the Pioneer Corps; whether, in particular, his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Willy Otto, who came to this country in 1933 as a political refugee and who repeatedly offered his services for any kind of national service; and will he see that his case is reexamined with that end in view?

Arrangements have been made, in consultation with the Australian authorities, for notices to be exhibited in internment camps inviting applications for enlistment in the Pioneer Corps and giving particulars of the conditions of service. Completed forms of application by internees will be sent to this country by air mail and the names of candidates accepted for enlistment will be cabled to Australia. These men will then be medically examined and those who pass this examination will be sent at the cost of the British Government to join the Pioneer Corps of the British Army either in Great Britain or wherever their services may be required. It will be open to Mr. Willy Otto to avail himself of this opportunity of offering his services. His case has been re-examined but does not appear to fall within any other category of the White Paper.

asked the Home Secretary whether increased steps are being taken to strengthen and use the basements of houses in various districts of London for shelter and sleep at night?

This is one of the ways in which increased shelter is being provided in the London region, but its possibilities are limited.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among the local residents arising from the decision to discontinue the use of the Redbridge tube station air-raid shelter; and whether he will cause investigation to be made?

The Regional Commissioners have advised me fully of the circumstances in which they found it necessary to assent to the use of this station for other purposes. The station was not closed as a shelter until alternative shelters had been constructed and equipped.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the Emergency Committee of the city of Glasgow has informed tenants in the city that, where sand has been distributed and disappeared it will not be replaced, and that tenants must now find their own equipment; and will he take this matter up with the city authorities in view of the responsibility for dealing with incendiary bombs in the event of the tenants failing to find this equipment?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware that the Emergency Committee in Glasgow decided recently not to replace a certain number of sand bags in a particular locality, the contents of which had been scattered by persons unknown. The Committee have, however, arrangements in hand for the adequate distribution of sand under proper supervision which should prevent a repetition of the incident.

asked the Secretary of State for War what changes have recently been made in the articles that may be sent to German military prisoners of war in this country?

There have been no recent changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) to what extent periods of training in air gunnery lead to dead ends owing to sufficiency of such gunners; and whether he will investigate complaints that ex-pilots often have to undergo months of general duties before starting on another course?(2) To what extent the facilities for training observers on advanced courses are adequate; and in what percentage of cases indefinite leave has to be given owing to inability to absorb such men?

Advanced training facilities for all categories of aircrews are planned so that the flow keeps pace with requirements. Temporary surpluses in particular categories are, however, unavoidable at times. In the case of air gunners the flow is at the moment greater than required. Ex-pilots remustered as observers or wireless-operator/air gunners are normally required to wait only a short time before training; I shall, of course, be glad to investigate any cases of delay which my hon. and gallant Friend may bring to my notice. The requirement for advanced training of observers is related to that of aircrew training as a whole and is, therefore, subject to fluctuation, but facilities for this work are expanding as the expansion of the rest of the training organisation proceeds. An average of eight days' leave has been granted in recent months to observers before proceeding to advanced training and no indefinite leave has been given.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether pilots with many months of training who fail in a navigation examination are allowed to retake this subject?

Yes, Sir, provided they are satisfactory in other respects.

asked the Minister of Supply whether having regard to the improved market for Blackface wool in the United States of America, he will make a bonus distribution of 1d. per lb. to all suppliers of the 1940 clip?

Sales of black-face wool for export have improved in recent months, but there is no profit to the Government on sales from which a bonus could be paid.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men are employed by the International Red Cross as inspectors of prisoners-of-war camps in Germany; and whether inspection of these camps is undertaken by the United States Mission?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has investigated the objection of certain farmers to the proposal to move the clock forward two hours during the spring, summer and autumn months in order to help office and factory work; and whether he will inquire to what extent it would be possible for such farmers to overcome any difficulties which may be involved by altering the nominal clock hours for their various activities, thus continuing to commence and finish their work under the same conditions of daylight as normally?

The Government will take all relevant facts into consideration but I may say that farmers' difficulties would not be overcome by the simple process of adjustment which my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture which Welsh counties have allotted their maximum ploughing acreage this winter?

If, as I assume to be the case, my hon. Friend has in mind the minimum ploughing tasks which I have asked the County War Agricultural Executive Committees in Wales to set before themselves, I can only refer him to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Price) on 12th December.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps are being taken or will be taken to provide for the insurance of commodities in the Colonial Empire against the risk of damage by enemy action?

Yes, Sir. Compulsory schemes following generally the lines of the commodity insurance scheme established under the War Risks Insurance Act, 1939, are under consideration in those parts of the Colonial Empire which are more or less liable to attack, and in Kenya and Uganda such a scheme is actually in operation now. The schemes will be administered by the Dependencies themselves; it is evident, however, that in most cases a Dependency would not be in a position to meet from its own resources an unlimited liability to make up a deficit on such a scheme and it is proposed in the near future to introduce legislation to empower the Treasury to guarantee any schemes in the Colonial Empire, on such conditions as may be approved by the Treasury and subject to the approval of details by the Board of Trade. If that legislation is passed, the Kenya and Uganda scheme will be guaranteed under it.

asked the Minister of Labour what facilities have been offered the technical colleges and technical schools in Wales to train men for industry; what number trained in the last 12 months and where; and whether he has made a survey of the needs of the area and with what result?

The information requested is not immediately available but I will send it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to regulate or control the lodging costs for those women workers who are being transferred from Leicester industry to national work in other places?

The recent appeal for women workers in Leicester has largely related to a local demand. As regards the regulation of lodging costs for women asked to undertake work away from home, I have had this question frequently under review and should be glad to have from my hon. Friend any evidence of undue charges which are being made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware hat a considerable proportion of registered conscientious objectors are of somewhat puny physique; that they regularly refuse farm work or other employment on the land and that employers dislike being troubled with them; and whether any alternative plan has been devised for securing proper service from them?

I have been asked to reply. There are no data for a general comparison between the physique of conscientious objectors and that of other men registered under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act. With regard to the remainder of the Question I would say that up to 30th December last 86 per cent. of the conscientious objectors registered for work on the land were reported as having obtained it.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of trainees in the 32 Government training centres for war work; and which districts record the greatest shortage?

It would not be in the national interest to state the numbers of trainees in the training centres. I can say however that I am anxious to see larger numbers coming forward for training. This applies particularly to the Eastern, North Eastern, Midlands and Southern areas.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that relatives of persons killed by enemy action are charged 2s. 7d. for a certificate; and whether he will consider a free issue?

The fee mentioned is that fixed by statute for a death certificate, apart from any search fee which may be payable, unless the certificate is required for one of the purposes to which the special cheap rate of 1/- is applicable. If, however, as seems likely, my hon. Friend has it in mind that the relatives of a person killed by enemy action may be obliged to produce a death certificate in support of a claim to the Ministry of Pensions, I can assure him that this is not the case. If the claimant does not already possess a death certificate, the death registration is verified by the Registrar General without charge under departmental arrangements.

asked the Minister of Health how many fatal cases of diphtheria have occurred in inoculated children at Liverpool since the system of diphtheria inoculation started in that city?

I am informed that out of 53,467 children inoculated in the years 1925–39 inclusive, the number of deaths from diphtheria was 10. Statistics of inoculations during 1940 are not yet available, but I understand that there were no further deaths among the inoculated children.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the death of Christine Thorpe, aged seven months, of 17, Garden Road, Hemingfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, of inflammation of the brain, nine clays after vaccination; whether the development in this case was similar to many of the cases of post-vaccinal encephalitis investigated by the Andrewes and Rolleston Committees on Vaccination; and why was any association between vaccination and the child's death denied?

I am not yet in possession of details of the case referred to, but I will communicate with the hon. Member when my inquiries are complete.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there are thousands of pounds of material lying waste at the Church Village Hospital, Glamorgan; that the essential timber for roofing is not supplied; that priority claim promises, which have been made at intervals since January, 1940, are not fulfilled; will he take immediate steps to remove the obstacles so that the materials on the site may be used, as skilled workers are leaving regularly and the hospital is urgently needed for military and local purposes; and will he arrange for a special visit of inspection to be made to Glamorgan to see this and other hospitals' needs?

One of my senior technical officers visited the site at the end of November and has recently conferred with the architect responsible for the work. A high priority has been given to the scheme and arrangements made which should result in rapid progress. As regards the last part of the Question perhaps the hon. Member would be good enough to let me know what he has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health the number of summonses for rates issued in each of the self-governed towns in the protected areas during the last six months?

I regret that the desired information is not available. The matter is not one in which I have any jurisdiction and no returns are therefore made to me.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with the object of saving the livelihood of both professional men and tradesmen in the protected areas, he will suggest to the local authorities the appropriateness of borrowing rather than pressing such ratepayers for the payment of gas and electricity supplied by the said authorities?

As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the services to which he refers are not in all cases administered by local authorities. The general financial policy to be adopted by the statutory undertakers, including questions as to the recovery of charges, subject to any provision for a moratorium which may be applicable in certain areas, is a matter primarily for the undertakers themselves to determine, and I do not think that I could properly advise in the sense suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will order an immediate issue to Home Guard units for rifle practice of ·303 small arms ammunition which has been rejected at the factory as imperfect for use in automatic weapons?

·303 small arms ammunition rejected on inspection but suitable for practice purposes is being purchased by the War Office for distribution to the Home Guard through the National Rifle Association, and possible sources of further supplies of such ammunition are being investigated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of enemy planes destroyed by merchant ships since the beginning of the war?

The number of aircraft destroyed by defensively equipped merchant ships from the beginning of the war until the 4th February, 1941, is 26; the number probably destroyed 15; and the number damaged 70.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make a further statement on the outbreak of ruffianism in the International Settlement at Shanghai?

While my right hon. Friend has some preliminary information on the attempt at arson at the Shanghai Race Club, and the bombing of the special district court, he is not yet in a position to give a detailed official account of these incidents.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether instructions have been issued or permission given to Assistance Board officials to give compensation for war damage at rates varying according to the social class of the applicant; whether officials are authorised to take savings of the applicant into account when assessing compensation; what is the average amount of compensation paid to individuals applying to the Assistance Board for compensation for total loss of furniture and clothing; how many people have been awarded compensation under the scheme, and in how many cases 100 per cent. compensation has been paid; what is the average length of time taken to pay compensation partially, or in full, respectively; in how many cases appeal has been made to the Compensation Board because of dissatisfaction with the district valuer's estimate of damage; and what the result of the appeals has been?

The total amount of the compensation to be paid to any applicant depends on the assessment by the district valuer of the Inland Revenue Department of the value of the damage. Payments by the Assistance Board are limited to immediate advances towards essential clothing and household furniture and in making their advances the Assistance Board's officers take into account the factors which will guide them in estimating the value of the damage and also the extent of the person's immediate requirements. The amounts advanced by the Board are reviewed on receipt of the valuation by the district valuer. The system now in force does not provide for any inquiries into the applicant's savings, and the Board's officers do not ordinarily make such inquiries. The applicants to the Board who have suffered the total loss of furniture and clothing form only a proportion of the total, and separate information is not available as to the average amount of compensation paid to them. All applicants who have been in need of immediate help have received at the time of application a grant sufficient to meet their immediate requirements. The subsequent treatment of each case depends in part on the availability of new accommodation as the Board do not pay compensation in respect of furniture until there is a home to furnish. I cannot say what the average time has been for the settlement of claims but I can assure the hon. Member that they are dealt with as quickly as may be. As regards the last part of the Question, objection has been taken by claimants, in a number of cases, to the district valuer's assessment but no appeals have come before the Compensation Board. The hon. Member will appreciate that the whole position will be affected by the War Damage Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the hardships imposed upon victims of enemy action who, when they are compelled to purchase new furniture or other articles for domestic use, are subject to the Purchase Tax; and whether he will consider the exemption from such tax of these already badly hit people?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a similar Question put by the hon. Member for Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss) on 21st January.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether, in view of the need for increasing the production of vegetables from private gardens, he will make some increase in the allowance of petrol to representatives of seed merchants?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his previous Question on 13th November.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the feeling that local coal controllers should be neutral and not, as is often the case now, themselves coal merchants; and whether he will endeavour to make appointments on the lines suggested?

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring not to the local fuel overseers, who exercise certain powers under the Fuel and Lighting Order and the Retail Coal Prices Order and are appointed from persons having no connection with the coal distributive trade, but to the various officers appointed in connection with the House Coal Distribution (Emergency) Scheme. These include depot managers and district house coal officers appointed by the distributive trade to organise co-operation among the merchants in each area on a voluntary basis, acting in close association with house coal officers which I have added to the divisional staff of my Department in the several Civil. Defence regions. Any compulsory powers which it may be necessary in this connection to invoke in the national interest will be exercised only through officers of the Department. I am satisfied that in this manner we shall be making the best possible use of the great experience and extensive machinery of the distributive trade to solve the difficult problems of domestic coal distribution arising out of the war. While much still remains to be done, I am glad to have this opportunity of testifying to the very considerable progress which has already been made in the development of a scheme of such far-reaching importance both to the trade and to the general public, and I am certain that we shall secure full and ready collaboration from all sections of the trade in facing their responsibilities to the nation under the present trying conditions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Ministry of Food, why the Controller of canned salmon and his advisory committee have resigned; and is he aware that the policy of his Ministry has given general satisfaction?

My Noble Friend understands that Mr. Tobey has contemplated resigning his position in the Ministry since last July. No doubt he was actuated by a variety of reasons. The Canned Fish Advisory Committee have not resigned and have assured my Noble Friend of their continued support.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade as representing the Ministry of Food, at what date the Starch (Farinaceous) Control was established; and what was the price of farina pre-war, at one month before control was instituted, and one month after, respectively?

The Farina (Control and Provisional Prices) Order, 1940 (S.R. & O. No. 706) came into force on the 10th May, 1940.The price of Farina ex wharf was:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Ministry of Food, how the rations it is proposed to allocate to horses under the new rationing scheme, compare with the rationing scale of the Army Remount Department for horses of a similar size?

The supply of hay and chaff is not rationed. The maximum scale of rations of oats, beans and bran which are being allocated to urban horses under the new rationing scheme makes allowance for the size of the horse and also for the nature of the work performed. It is as follows:

	Units per month	Equivalent at present time to daily rate of lbs.
Heavy draught horses
15 hands 3" or more	5	18⅔
Light draught horses, town horses, etc., used mainly in harness
15 hands or more	3½	13
Less than 15 hands but over 13 hands 2"	2½	9⅓
13 hands 2" or less	1	3¾
Riding horses
Hunters cobs, ponies, etc. used mainly for riding over 13 hands 2"	¾	2·8
13 hands 2" or less	½	1·87

At present the unit is one cwt. In issuing coupons to large establishments whose average usage is less than the full ration, an adjustment is being made.Under the rationing scheme the normal allowance of cereals for medium and heavy horses engaged on agricultural work is 9 lbs. per day; this ration may on appeal be increased up to a maximum of 15½ lbs. per day for heavy horses on hard and continuous work. These allowances are calculated on the basis that there are certain non-rationed feeding-stuffs available on the normal farm.The scale of allowances of oats for army horses is as follows:

	Rations in Stables Oats lbs.	Rations in Camps Oats lbs.
Heavy draught horses	15	15
Horses of the Household Cavalry and horses of 16 hands and over in any unit with a strength of less than 20 horses	12	12
Officers Chargers, all riding horses and cavalry pack horses of 15 hands 1½ and upwards and light draught horses	10	12
Riding horses (other than officers chargers) under 15 hands 1½, and pack horses (other than above)	9	10

In addition to the above, an addition of 2 lbs. of oats to the ration may be authorised its cases where animals will be standing in the open during the winter or where units are undergoing intensive training.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many men, women and children, not serving in His Majesty's Forces, have suffered injuries to their eyes as a result of enemy action which will bring them within the accepted definition of blind persons; what arrangement he has made to ensure that local authorities exercise their responsibilities towards all such persons under the Blind Persons Acts; and what machinery has been established to ensure that notification is given to the responsible local authority in each case by the hospital in which any such person is a patient?(2) whether the payment he arranged to make to St. Dunstan's for the preliminary rehabilitation of civilian blinded persons while under hospital treatment at St. Dunstan's, will be payable to other voluntary organisations undertaking the preliminary rehabilitation of patients in other hospitals; and whether such payments could be extended to the whole period required for rehabilitation and retraining for occupations which can be pursued by blind persons?

Up to date 28 civilians (19 men and 9 women) have been reported to me as being in hospital with injuries resulting or likely to result in blindness. I regret that the records in the Ministry do not show whether any of these are under 16 years of age. Eleven of these 28 are already at St. Dunstan's. At present, the names of all such casualties who are not transferred to St. Dunstan's are being reported to the National Institute for the Blind, who are making provisional arrangements for their rehabilitation and for notification to local authorities; and arrangements to deal with larger numbers, if necessary, are under consideration in consultation with the appropriate agencies. The question of vocational training for a fresh occupation is the concern of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, with whom I am in communication on the matter. Payment is made to any hospital in which a civilian blinded as a result of enemy action receives hospital treatment.