asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the difficulty being experienced owing to the shortage of bricklayers labourers for working in conjunction with bricklayers and that no provision is made for them in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations; and what steps are being taken to remedy this position in view of the fact that building trade workers are being released from military service for urgent work?

An arrangement has been in force for some time under which building trades workers, including bricklayers labourers, employed on work of great importance, including the first-aid repair of houses damaged by air raids, have been granted deferment of their calling up for military service. Certain other proposals in this connection are at present being considered.

Can my right hon. Friend say when he will be in a position to make a statement about the other proposals?

The matter is not entirely in my hands. I have to deal with the Industry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his circular of last July, recommending an immediate reduction of the hours of labour of adult males to 55 or 56 hours per week as soon as the necessary labour force had been acquired, is being fully observed?

The circular to which the hon. Member refers did not recommend an immediate reduction, but contemplated that hours would be reduced progressively as the necessary labour became available. Progress is being made along these lines, and the position is under continuous review by my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to a court case in which a magistrate dismissed a charge, brought against a firm, of working boys during longer hours than is permitted by law; whether other such cases have been brought to his notice; and whether he is taking steps to ensure, in the interests of sustained production, that the law relating to the hours of work of juveniles shall be fully enforced?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I am not aware of other similar cases. I am advised by the Factory Department that, generally speaking, the hours of juveniles are now being effectively controlled through the Factory Acts and the Emergency Order procedure for regulating war-time hours.

Will the Minister agree that this is a matter of very great importance, so far as juvenile labour is concerned?

I quite agree.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total increase in wages and war-time allowances granted to railway workers since the beginning of the war; whether such increases are comparable to those granted in other industries; and whether the Government have now given further consideration to the question of fixing a standard wage which can be paid in all industries concerned with the national war effort?

Apart from certain increases in the wage rates of lower-paid workers which, though operative from the end of October, 1939, were awarded in respect of claims made before the outbreak of war, the wage increases granted to railway workers since the outbreak of war amount to 7s. per week, in the case of conciliation grades, 8s. in the case of shopmen and £18 per annum in the case of salaried staff. There have been corresponding increases for women and juveniles. In addition the lower-paid workers received, shortly after the outbreak of war, increases varying from 6d. to 5s. per week as the result of an increase in the weekly minimum rates of men and women in the conciliation grades. The average increase in rates of wages varies widely in different industries. In all the industries combined, excluding agriculture, it is estimated that the average is about 14 to 15 per cent. As regards the last part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the statement made in the course of my speech in the House on 21st January.

Do not the Government consider it desirable that increases of wages, which are mainly due to the increase in the cost of living, should be generally comparable in all industries, and that it is undesirable that smaller industries which are not as highly organised as the railways and other big industries should have the same advantages as those which are highly organised?

:The Government are averse to a political settlement of wages. We believe that if it were introduced, it would have the same effect as it did in the end of the last war, when it led to rapid and disastrous inflation. The second point made by my hon. Friend is surely unjustified, because powerful unions like those of the railwaymen and engineers have refrained from using their power, and have referred their cases to arbitration. Surely it is not suggested that arbitration courts would be influenced in their decision as to whether a trade was or was not well organised. They have to decide cases on the facts, and without interference

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in considering manpower problems in future, he will bear in mind the necessity of the proper staffing of shops and warehouses by skilled and experienced persons handling foodstuffs, especially in view of the increasing difficulties encountered by those employed in those establishments?

In connection with the revision of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations, which is now approaching completion, I have arranged, in consultation with my right hon. and Noble Friend the Minister of Food, to continue the reservation of man-power for the food distributive trades to the greatest extent possible, in the light of the general man-power position.

Is the right hen. Gentleman aware that very important branches of the distribution of food are already completely denuded of experienced men shop assistants? Will he keep that fact in mind?

Yes, Sir, I will, and I will take the opportunity of saying to my hon. Friend that people in the distributive and other trades must recognise that the training of other people must go on, and that we must not leave their problem until the actual call-up takes place, because the man-power problem is getting very difficult.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in other occupations which are not more important than that of food distribution, a. less number is called up, proportionately, than in food distribution?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has given attention to the whole problem of rehabilitation of men injured in industry or by enemy action or discharged as unfit from the services; what policy the Government intends to pursue in respect to the matter; and what progress has already been made?

This subject is being considered as a whole. No decision has yet been reached.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that able-bodied unemployed on the register are refusing offers of well-paid posts for fire watching; and what action he is taking in the matter?

I am not aware of any such cases. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars, I will make inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a certain number of fire watchers are receiving as much as £8 to £10 a week; and whether he will enforce a standard rate of pay equal to that received by the air-raid precautions and Auxiliary Fire Service?

My attention has been drawn to some cases where fire watchers have been engaged at high rates of wages, but I should prefer to see the effect of the recent Orders concerning fire prevention before considering whether any further action could with advantage be taken.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it is a grave scandal that these men should receive more than twice the wages of A.F.S. and A.R.P. men, and does he not think it would be advisable to set up a special department to enrol these men at A.F.S. rates of pay?

:I have considerable sympathy with the point of view of my hon. Friend, and he may be sure that I will keep the point in mind in consultation with the Departments concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in my experience in the City of London men who were engaged at wages of £3 or £4 a week have given notice, with the result that buildings are left unprotected unless these high wages are paid?

:asked the Home Secretary whether, in order to assure that the burden is shared by all members of the community, he will at once use compulsory powers to enlist an adequate supply of fire watchers in areas where there is an insufficient number of volunteers?

:Two separate Orders concerning lire-prevention duties have been made. The Business Premises Order imposes compulsory obligations on the occupiers of business premises to make adequate fire-prevention arrangements for their premises. It also imposes an obligation which can be enforced on all male British subjects of the prescribed age who work at the premises to take turns of duty there, unless satisfactory voluntary or other suitable arrangements have been made. The Compulsory Enrolment Order will be put into operation where under Regulation 27B a local authority is directed to make fire-prevention arrangements in its area, elsewhere than at business premises, and the number of volunteers for that purpose is insufficient.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the request of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham to receive a deputation from the air-raid precautions committee of the Birmingham City Council to submit an appeal for increased labour supply for reparation work of devastated property and restoration of public utility services; whether a reply has been sent to the Lord Mayor; and whether he will act promptly to relieve the serious situation in Birmingham, due to the delay in reparation of damaged property?

Yes, Sir, I am arranging for the deputation to be received.

Thank you very much.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he has considered representations from the Metropolitan borough of Deptford calling attention to the difficulty experienced in getting local contractors to give prior attention to orders placed with them for urgent first-aid repairs to damaged property; and whether he will consider exercising powers to ensure that such repairs are at least dealt with in the order in which they are received and not given second place to the execution of private orders for which a larger margin of profit may be possible;

(2), whether he has considered a communication from the council of the Metropolitan borough of Deptford calling attention to the lack of skilled labour of the type necessary to carry out work of first-aid repairs to damaged house property, which shortage is aggravated by such men being called up for service; and whether he proposes to take any action on these representations;

(3), whether he has considered representations from the Metropolitan borough of Deptford pointing out the difficulties caused by calling up for service members of the council staff who have trained technical experience needed to supervise necessary first-aid repairs to damaged property; and, as it is difficult to replace such men, whether he will consider taking the necessary steps to remove this difficulty?

:I have received a letter from the Deptford Borough Council. Prior to its receipt, arrangements had been made for one of my regional architects to pay a special visit to the borough. He reports that substantial progress has been made with first-aid repairs, but I am arranging for my officers to confer urgently with representatives of the council to see what further steps can be taken. The points referred to by my hon. Friend will be discussed at this conference and with the other Departments concerned.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the difficulty which local authorities are experiencing in regard to private contractors giving preference to private work on which there is a substantial increase in profit as against council work?

:That is one of the points which will come up at the conference. It is because of my understanding of the urgency of the matter that I have called the conference.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many Scottish buildings firms are idle, while London firms are working in Scotland? Why not bring the London firms back to their own area?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether the function of providing supplementary labour for the reparation of damaged private property and the restoration of public utility services has been transferred from the Ministry of Labour to his Department; and whether he is taking active steps to meet the request submitted by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham for additional workpeople to deal with the grave situation which now confronts thousands of Birmingham citizens?

There has been no transfer of the Ministry of Labour's responsibilities in this matter: but my Noble Friend has endeavoured to afford, in addition, such assistance as he can.

Is a survey being made by the Ministry of the devastation which has taken place, in view of the desolate state of affairs which prevails in Coventry and Birmingham, or are active steps being taken to deal with the situation?

:I can answer that, although that does not arise out of this Question, my Noble Friend has made arrangements for as extensive a survey as is possible to be made in the towns that have been subject to the."Blitz"

Thank you.

:May I ask who has the responsibility?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that conditions under which elderly evacuees are living at Marda House, Oswestry, are unsatisfactory, and that, in particular, the treatment of those evacuees who need medical treatment leaves a great deal to be desired; and, if he is unable to arrange for these evacuees to receive better treatment at this institution, whether he will endeavour to make arrangements for their transfer to more comfortable quarters elsewhere?

:Marda House, Oswestry, is an institution and an emergency hospital under the control of the Shropshire County Council. I am not aware that the conditions are unsatisfactory, but I am arranging for an investigation to be made, with particular reference to the circumstances of those persons who were taken to this hospital from the London shelters. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I have a report.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of claims received by his Department for pensions and allowances from civilians injured by enemy action and the number of persons covered by such claims?

Up to 1st February, 1941, 42,319 claims for injury allowances had been recorded from Civil Defence volunteers and other civilians. By the same date 5,483 claims for pensions had been received, the bulk of which were preferred by widows. The number of dependants, beside the actual claimants covered by these figures, cannot be stated.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state how many of those claims have been rejected?

:No, Sir, because many of them are still under consideration, but the vast majority have been accepted and payments have been made.

asked the Home Secretary whether he intends to issue a new circular on the training of first-aid personnel, in view of the experience gained in raids upon this country and, as in many unraided parts of the country first-aid exercises are still being carried out on a pre-war basis, thus failing to take advantage of practical experience?

:Circulars on the lessons learned from experience in air raids are sent out from time to time, and those already issued have included a number of points affecting the training of first-aid personnel. Every endeavour is made to keep training up to date and in accordance with the lessons learned from experience. If my hon. Friend has any particular area in mind in which training is considered to be unsatisfactory, perhaps he would let me know.

:I will send my right hon. Friend particulars.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in order to prevent profiteering, he will take over all available supplies of stirrup pumps for distribution at a standard price?

:Under an Order made by the Board of Trade stirrup pumps are already price-regulated goods under the Prices of Goods Act. I am informed that the number available for sale outside the Government scheme is inconsiderable, and in the circumstances I do not think that there would be sufficient justification for the course proposed by my hon. Friend.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in one town at least that I know of over 50 people have put down their names at the local town hall for stirrup pumps at 21s., while just round the corner a shop is selling them at 30s., and ought not that to be stopped?

That may be so, but it would be a negligible contribution to the problem, and would present administrative and financial problems out of proportion to the result that would be obtained.

:Can my right hon. Friend say what is the standard price?

Not without notice.

asked the Home Secretary what warnings on what dates, and to what newspapers, have been officially issued under Defence Regulation 2C?

:No warnings have been issued under the provisions of Defence Regulation 2C.

Then all the warnings issued up to date have been unofficial ones?

I have answered the Question on the Paper.

asked the Home Secretary why no representative of any refugee organisation has been appointed to the tribunal dealing with applications from Italians for release from internment; whether he will appoint a representative similar to the one acting on the tribunal for German and Austrian applications; and whether he is aware that anti-Fascist Italians are still interned although some prominent Italian Fascists in London are free?

:I think that my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. My object in appointing members of the various Advisory Committees is to select persons of balanced judgment and experience in affairs, and not to appoint persons to represent special interests. As regards the last part of the Question, it is open to any Italian to apply for release if he comes within one of the categories of eligibility set out in the White Paper. I have no information to suggest that prominent Italian Fascists in London are free, but I should be glad to consider any information in the possession of my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Divisional Controller, Ministry of Labour wrote, on 26th October, confirming that the application of Jacob Wolloch had already been sent to the North Western Area Board; and what is the reason for this five months delay in getting this key man back to his job?

As I informed my right hon. Friend on nth February, in reply to a previous Question about Mr. Jacob Wolloch, I am looking into the case and will communicate with him as soon as possible. The suggestion that the certificate required for the purpose of category 6 of the White Paper was furnished to the Home Office in October last is mistaken.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the request came from the Divisional Controller of the Ministry of Labour?

No, Sir; the Home Office, as my right hon. Friend will appreciate, can take into consideration such requests only if they come from a State Department, and my right hon. Friend, I think, is wrong in stating that, according to his information, the original move came from the local Divisional Controller of the Ministry of Labour. But it would have to go higher up before it reached the Home Office.

asked the Home Secretary whether notes of the questions asked and the answers given during interrogations by the Advisory Committees of persons detained under Regulation 18B are supplied on request to the interested parties?

A shorthand note of the proceedings before the Committee is taken for purposes of record, and for the assistance of the Committee, if required, in considering their report. It is not supplied to the person detained or his advisers.

Would it not be possible for the questions and answers to be sent to the appellant?

No, Sir; I think it would lead to delay in the functioning of this organisation, which I am anxious should move with all possible speed.

Is the decision of the Advisory Committee communicated to the applicant? I understand that the Committee's decision is not communicated.

No, Sir, it is not communicated; and nobody has any right to say what the decision is. The decision is communicated to the Home Secretary, and the responsibility is the Home Secretary's.

Would the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the Home Secretary's decision is communicated, because we get many complaints that it is not communicated to the appellant?

I doubt whether there are many cases of that kind. Great improvements have been made in procedure; and between the Home Secretary's decision and the actual release there is very little delay. It is a little unfair to make suggestions that there is generally delay of weeks and weeks between the Home Secretary's decision and the release.

asked the Home Secretary in how many cases dealt with by the Advisory Committees under Regulation 18B adjournments were recommended for further inquiries to be made; how many adjourned cases remain to be finally decided; and in how many of these cases was the decision of the Advisory Committee reversed?

Information as to the number of cases in which the decisions given by me on cases which have been investigated by the Advisory Committees do not accord with the committees recommendations is given in the monthly report presented to Parliament. In many of these cases, points arise during the hearing of the objector's representations on which a committee may think it right to make further inquiries, and these inquiries may or may not lead to an adjourned hearing; but it would be a laborious business to examine all the records of the procedure of the committees, and I do not understand what purpose would be served by this expenditure of time and labour.

Can my right hon. Friend say how many adjourned cases are now under consideration?

:Not without notice. I would point out that our desire to get these matters dealt with expeditiously will be hampered by insistence on statistics which are not really material.

asked the Home Secretary the reasons for the detention of John Mason under Defence Regulation 18B?

I decided that this man's detention must be maintained because I was satisfied that he was involved in attempts to slow down war production. As my hon. Friend knows, if the Home Secretary has reasonable cause to believe that a person has been recently concerned in acts prejudicial to the public safety or the defence of the realm, or in the preparation or instigation of such acts, the Regulation places on him the responsibility for the detention of such person, and it would not be right for me in such cases to give particulars of the information in my possession, which must frequently be of a confidential character.

:Has this man's trade union made representations to my right hon. Friend on the subject; and, if so, with what result?

:Yes, Sir; an approach was made to the Home Office by the executive council of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, and they were seen by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State. Subsequently, the following statement appeared in the "Amalgamated Engineering Union Journal" of November, 1940:

"Following questions and answers from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Home Office the executive council were satisfied that the member's internment had not arisen out of his trade union activities, but was solely connected with his activities on behalf of a political party of which it was alleged he was a member. In view of the evidence available after examination of the answers given to the Executive Council by the Parliamentary Secretary, it was deemed inadvisable to pursue the question of the member's release from detention"

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that this man has had every facility for his case being examined by the tribunal?

Yes, Sir, and I personally examined all the relevant papers before I decided that it was right that detention should be continued.

Is it not the fact that there is no specific action that can be charged against this shop steward, and that the actual cause of his arrest was his activity as a member of the Communist party?

I have already stated that I have maintained the detention because I was satisfied that he was involved in attempts to slow down war production. I cannot add to that.

(for Mr. Loftus)asked the Home Secretary whether in the case of a serving sailor, soldier or airman interned under Regulation 18Bthe commanding officer of his unit is consulted before he is arrested or invited to appear and give evidence before or furnish the Advisory Committee with his opinion?

Before any person is detained under Regulation 18B—whether he is or is not a member of His Majesty's Forces—the Home Secretary must be satisfied that the conditions laid down in the Regulation are fulfilled, and for this purpose he must have adequate information on all relevant matters; but it would not be right for me to fetter my discretion by making an announcement that in certain classes of cases information will always be obtained from certain specified sources. The responsibility rests on me to obtain such information as is necessary and proper for the purpose of the particular case. Similarly, when objections are made to the Advisory Committee discretion must be left to the committee to decide what evidence they will hear. All I can say is that in all these cases account is taken not only of adverse information but of any information that may be favourable to the suspect.

Is not a member of His Majesty's Forces subject to court-martial or military trial?

In this matter, if he is dealt with under Regulation 18B, he is dealt with subject to my jurisdiction.

asked the Home Secretary whether, with reference to Fascists in key positions in the various Ministries, he has, amongst the necessary steps to guard against such risks, provided each Department of State with the list of names and addresses of Fascists; and how many of those on the 1939 list are now employed by his Department or in the Metropolitan Police?

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the nature of the steps taken to guard against the risk which my right hon. Friend has in mind. I can, however, assure him that there is no one employed either at the Home Office or at New Scotland Yard who is known to have been actively engaged in furthering the objects of the British Union.

:Are the heads of the other Departments of State supplied with this list which the right hon. Gentleman has at the Home Office, or can they have it if they apply for it?

:I can assure my right hon. Friend that sufficient information is always available to the Departments concerned.

:Does my right hon. Friend's answer also cover the Communist party?

The House may take it that my answer covers everybody who may be a danger to the security of the State. We are quite impartial; we keep an eye on all people.

(for Captain Strickland)asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the present system of dealing with vagrancy does not constitute a danger to public security; and whether he will consider the issue of regulations compelling able-bodied vagrants to be registered for employment and those not so employed or unfit for employment to remain in public institutions?

I have no reason to think that existing powers are inadequate to deal with any danger to public security from vagrants. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to a Question by the hon. Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) on 18th February.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men in Government Departments have been reserved below the ages in industry employed in comparable occupations; and whether it is the intention of the Minister, in reviewing the Schedule of Reserved Occupations, to apply to Civil servants the same principle as is applied to industry?

:In the light of the changes now being made, the whole matter is being reviewed by the Treasury, in conjunction with my Department.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the widespread feeling that there is unfair discrimination given to municipal and Civil servants, many of whom could be adequately replaced by women?

:I do not think there is anything unfair between the treatment of Civil servants and what is meted out to similar occupations in industry. In view of the fact that the whole of the reserved-occupation procedure is being reviewed for industry, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I thought that it was essential to have an investigation into the Civil Service, so that the changes outside and in should run concurrently.

asked the Minister of Labour the age of reservation for British Broad casting Company employés; and how many men below that ago have been given exemption?

Members of the administrative and executive staff of the British Broadcasting Corporation are reserved at and above the age of 30. The remainder of the staff are not reserved unless they are employed in some skilled occupation shown separately in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations. Temporary deferment has been granted to 95 members of the staff under the age of 30, and applications for deferment in respect of a further 40 are at present under consideration.

Can my right hon. Friend state whether men registered for military service are taken by the B.B.C. and then given exemption?

I am not aware of that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what reports ho has received from local committees as to the granting of permits to enter land to kill deer, hares and rabbits; and to what extent the animals have been available as food to the public?

I have no precise information.

In order to add to the food supply, would it not be a good idea to give a free hand to poachers?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, with a view to stimulating the allotment movement, and the encouragement of good cultivators, he will consider giving holders security of tenure after the war, either in the form of permanent tenure, or agreed terms of not less than seven years?

:I am afraid that it would not be practicable to give effect to my hon. Friend's suggestion at the present time.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that allotment holders are deterred from giving more attention to their allotments because of the insecurity which at present exists?

I know of no evidence to that effect.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will instruct war agricultural executive committees not to order farmers or smallholders to grow any crops which are now being largely produced on allotments and/or where there is an adequate supply?

:The only vegetable crop which war agricultural executive committees have been asked to order farmers and smallholders to grow is potatoes, and the greatly extended acreage to be obtained by these means is a vital part of the Government's food production policy. Substantially increased acreages of other vegetable crops, such as onions and carrots, are also to be secured from farmers and others as part of the same policy, but it has not so far been considered desirable to issue orders to grow these crops. The contribution to the nation's food supply of vegetable crops grown in allotments and private gardens, although appreciable and of vital importance, is by no means sufficient for our needs, and certainly not of such a volume as to exclude the production on commercial holdings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the committee which is rationing animal foodstuffs in the Petworth area of Sussex has issued to farmers a document, not indicating its source of origin, enclosing coupons to purchase feeding-stuffs but giving no guarantee that food will be available in exchange for them, and warning the farmers that unless they plough additional grassland and make their farms self-supporting, they may well have to slaughter their cattle next winter; and whether this action has been taken with his approval?

Coupons entitling the recipient to purchase certain kinds of feeding-stuffs have been distributed by county war agricultural executive committees, and the coupons were accompanied by a letter of explanation. I am not aware that this explanatory letter, as sent out by the West Sussex committee, was of the kind suggested by my lion. Friend. Perhaps he will be good enough to send me a copy.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is not a letter, but a printed card, finishing up with the words, "You have been warned"?

I see nothing inherently-wrong in that. If my hon. Friend will send me a copy of the document, I will look at it.

:Is it not desirable that communications of this kind should bear an indication of their origin, with an address and signature?

That depends on whether it was sent out by the committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider making an arrangement so that he shall take over all profits made by companies over 3 per cent. after having made allowances for allocations on the basis of the financial year of 1939?

My hon. Friend will not expect my right hon. Friend to anticipate his Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will appoint a committee to inquire into banking, finance and credit, with a view to reporting as soon as possible on how credit can be best utilised for the benefit of the nation, the establishment of a national central financial authority, the stabilising of prices and a long-term policy for a planned economy?

:No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not think such an inquiry is either necessary or desirable at the present time.

In view of the fact that industry is now being mobilised in the war effort, does not my right hon. and gallant Friend consider that finance and credit should also be harnessed to the nation's needs, and, if so, are not the suggestions made in the Question essential steps to take with that object in view?