asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the difficulty being created in the West Midlands in the supply of coal to works and individuals by reason of the calling up of the staff of coal merchants; that this staff cannot be replaced by women; and whether he will take steps to prevent the resulting interruptions to the supply of this essential commodity?

Coal carmen are already reserved under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations at the age of 25 or 30, according to the type of vehicle. In addition, a temporary arrangement is in force under which coal merchants may, on application through the local fuel overseer, secure that other essential employés in the coal distributive trade will not be called up for the present.

Would it not be an advantage if we had a more efficient method of distributing coal?

I think that is more a question for the Minister of Mines.

asked the Minister of Labour how far action has been secured to limit hours of labour to the optimum for efficiency, as recommended in his circular of July last, respectively, in factories carrying out Government contracts and in private factories?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on this subject which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for the Consett Division (Mr. David Adams) on 20th February.

As a certain period has elapsed since then, can my hon. Friend say how far this pressure has proceeded and had any effect?

I can assure my hon. Friend that progress is being made all the time.

Is that so in private factories, as well as in Government-controlled factories?

The same steps are taken in each case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will ensure that workers who have been permanently employed on market gardening for three years or more prior to the outbreak of war, are not called up for service until every source of supply from non-essential industries has been exhausted, in view of the fact that the majority of these men are engaged in maintaining the supply of vegetables for the large cities throughout the country?

In connection with the revision of the Schedule of Reserved Occupations which is proceeding, my right hon. Friend has been in close consultation with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, with a view to affording agricultural and horticultural occupations the greatest measure of reservation which can be allowed in the light of the general man-power position.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Evesham feeds large cities in the North as well as in Scotland and that the Vale of Evesham cannot continue to do this if its labour is to be taken away from it? It is work of vital national importance.

My right hon. Friend is fully aware of the vital importance of this subject.

I do not think he is quite fully aware enough.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in considering the calling-up of women to serve the State in war work, he will give priority to women of leisure who do not have to do their own housework?

It will be my right hon. Friend's object to tap new supplies of labour such as that to which my hon. Friend refers. In settling any questions of priority, it will be necessary to safeguard the interests of those who normally depend on industrial employment.

When will this much heralded and publicised scheme be brought into operation?

I cannot name the date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in fixing the age for persons in a reserved occupation, he will have regard to the number of ex-Servicemen available for the particular occupation and qualified to do the work under consideration though above the age for military service?

In fixing the age of reservation for an occupation, regard is had for all relevant factors, including the number of persons suitable and available for necessary work.

Is the Minister aware that there is a widespread feeling among ex-Service men that, although they have qualifications, their availability is not being recognised, and that men of military age are being reserved unduly?

Perhaps when the new Schedule of Reserved Occupations is issued, the hon. and learned Member will be more than satisfied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the position of men engaged on essential war work with long hours of overtime with respect to fire-watching?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood) on 26th February.

What is the position of men working seven days a week and overtime? Are they still expected to do 48 hours' fire-watching?

The point is covered in the answer which was given to my hon. Friend. I informed him that the local authorities have to exempt from fire-watching duties persons who are engaged in vital national work.

Who would be the appropriate authority?

It depends upon whom the man works for.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to a report on the "Arandora Star" victims, written by a former internee in Seaton Camp; and whether, in view of the fact that this man claims that most of them were wrongly put in Category A, he will order a re-examination of classification of the cases of the "Arandora Star" survivors, who number some 20, in this country?

A general review of the classification of internees in Category A will be undertaken in due course, but in the meantime I am always ready to re-examine the classification of any individual internee who submits to me reasonable grounds for thinking that his or her classification in Category A was due to a mistake.

The right hon. Gentleman is, of course, aware that many of these people on the "Arandora Star" were recent importations into this country, and have not had an opportunity of going before any tribunal?

They would not have had the same opportunity, of course, as other people, but I should not feel justified in putting them into a privileged position.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the grant of a seven days' leave to internees who arc released on joining the Pioneer Corps?

Yes, Sir. Arrangements have now been made, and are already in operation, which will enable internees enlisted in the Pioneer Corps to spend seven days at their homes, if they so desire, before joining their units.

Is the Home Secretary aware that in a number of cases, men who have been accepted for the Pioneer Corps are still being retained for a very long period, and will he try to speed up the release of these men?

If the hon. Member will let: me have particulars of any such cases, I shall be glad to look into them. I am naturally anxious that any form of relief shall be carried through with all expedition.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that refugees who were sent to Canada in the motor ship "Ettrick" and have now returned to this country, have been warned by certain lower grade officials that if they make any complaint about the conditions of internment they may be reinterned; and whether he will take steps to reasure these people?

No, Sir. I know of no foundation whatever for the suggestion, and I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any information on which he bases an allegation of conduct so repugnant to the traditions and spirit which animate, I hope, all grades of the public service. That there is in this country the fullest liberty to make complaints is, I believe, well known to aliens, as to other classes of the community.

I shall be glad to supply the information. Will my right hon. Friend, in the meantime, give the widest publicity among internees to the statement he has just made?

I think it is far better that when allegations of this kind are made, particulars should accompany them. I cannot undertake any action until I get the particulars.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say, without notice, how many of these people are still interned?

No, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can extend his assurance concerning the freedom from Fascist influence to the whole of the Metropolitan Police?

I am surprised that by right hon. Friend should think it necessary to ask this Question since he knows, as we all do, that the Metropolitan Police have earned and established a reputation for impartiality, and this Question casts an unmerited slur on them.

Is it not more important to be perfectly certain that the police are free from Fascist influence than that such is the case in any other part of the public services? The right hon. Gentleman has already made a statement about Scotland Yard and about key-men in other Departments; why cannot he make a similar statement about the Metropolitan Police?

If I may say so, with respect to my right hon. Friend, I think that his statement does imply that there may be Fascist influences in the Metropolitan Police. I do not think that there is any basis for that. The people of London have a very high regard for the impartiality and fairness of the Metropolitan Police Force.

asked the Home Secretary to state the number of men, women and children who have lost one or both arms or legs, respectively, and the number who have been blinded in one or both eyes, by enemy bombs since 3rd September, 1939?

Precise particulars in the form asked for are not available, but between 1st July, 1940, and 31st January, 1941, the total number of amputations due to injury by enemy action was 776. The number of recorded cases of eye injury of a kind necessitating removal since the outbreak of war is 191.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will arrange that files of the "Daily Worker" and the "Week" for a period of three months before the suppression of these journals shall be placed in the Library for the information of Members?

The general character of the contents of these journals is, I think, fairly well known to hon. Members, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by my hon. Friend's proposal. I understand that the "Daily Worker" was, until its suppression, available to Members in the newspaper room of the House.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us are getting letters from bodies in our constituencies protesting against the suppression, and that it would be a great help to us to be able to see these journals? It would help us to answer those communications in a proper way. What possible objection can there be to our having the right to see these journals?

There is no objection at all. Far from there being any objection, the paper was included among those in the newspaper room.

No.

Yes. We provided copies for Members of Parliament as long as the paper existed, but the number of files available is limited, and we want them for our own purposes. If my hon. Friend wants any advice on how to answer his constituents, we shall be glad to help him.

The Home Secretary told the House that it was not a case of one issue but of the general trend of these publications. We want to see the thing for ourselves.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that female non-enemy aliens at Holloway Prison have no communal dining or meeting room, no adequate provision for useful employment, recreation, or exercise and receive dietary prescribed for convicted prisoners, instead of the superior diet provided in internment camps and for prisoners of war, he will expedite the removal of these detainees to an internment camp and, meanwhile, will direct Sir Francis Lindley's advisory committee to give priority of hearing to these women over men in internment camps?

I regret that it has not been found possible so far to provide alternative accommodation for the women in question. As regards the last part of the Question, I am most anxious to expedite the hearing of these cases, and I will consider this suggestion in consultation with the Advisory Committee.

Would my right hon. Friend consider whether, if all of the Holloway detainees cannot be removed, the 18B. ones might be removed? That would make it possible to provide fairly decent accommodation for the rest. The facilities are far too poor to provide decent accommodation for them all.

I cannot, I fear, add to the answer given. We are faced with difficulties, but we are doing our best.

asked the Home Secretary whether arrangements are made for constantly damping down dumps of damaged timber from bombed houses in order to minimise the danger from incendiaries, and the consequent risk of bombing of houses in the neighbourhood?

No, Sir, but instructions have been issued by my Department as to the precautions to be taken with regard to stacks of salvaged timber and as to the methods of stacking which should be carried out.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that wood salvaged from air raids is being burnt by the authorities in large quantities; and whether, in view of the shortage of wood both for construction and for home consumpton, he will give instructions that the larger pieces shall be saved and that the smaller pieces shall be given to the poor people in the district concerned?

I am not aware that timber which is of value is being dealt with in the manner suggested. Local authorities have already been authorised to make arrangements whereby small quantities of broken timber which is valueless may be collected personally free of charge by local householders for their own private use.

Will the Minister allow me to give him examples of such instances?

Yes, Sir; if the hon. and gallant Member will let me have them, I will look into them.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that other hon. Members also have had this sort of thing brought to their attention?

Perhaps they also will let: me have particulars.

asked the Home Secretary whether provision has been made for occupation by means of work or in other ways in the case of all persons now detained in prison or interned under Regulation 18b; and whether special facilities in this respect have been provided for those who are undergoing separate confinement?

Arrangements have been made for a number of the camp inmates to be employed on forestry and gardening in addition to those employed on the camp services. I am anxious to develop further schemes of employment, but, as my hon. Friend knows, there are difficulties in organising suitable industries in a camp or, unless the camp happens to be favourably situated, in finding suitable work in the immediate neighbourhood. All who are responsible for these institutions recognise the importance of providing opportunities of occupation for the inmates. As regards persons who are detained in prison, they have opportunities for associated work in the workshops, and work is also available for them during the periods when they are in their cells.

Are scientists who are interned under this Regulation made use of in any way?

I cannot say; I am not even sure whether scientists are interned under this Regulation.

If I give the right hon. Gentleman the name of a very eminent scientist who is interned, will he look into the case?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary where, and how, the Nazi German girl, Sophie Speilman, who came to this country in 1938 posing as a Czech refugee, having been sent from Berlin to Prague for three months especially to qualify as such, and who was registered as an enemy alien at Heswall, Cheshire, on reaching her 16th birthday, has been employed since that date up to the present time?

A girl of this name, now aged 17½ years, came to this country in June, 1939, under the auspices of the British Committee for Refugees: but I know of no grounds for the suggestion that she posed as a Czech. In fact she was originally classified as a German, and when she came before the Tribunal which examined Germans she was placed in Category C. Subsequently it was ascertained that she had a Czech passport, and she was therefore reregistered as being of Czech nationality. Since her arrival in this country she: has been employed as a domestic servant. I should be glad if my hon. Friend would send me some particulars showing what are the grounds for her allegations.

Is it not true that at present she is engaged as a domestic servant in an officer's billet, and also that she was engaged to a Nazi officer and that she has expressed her deep desire to engage on espionage work for the Nazi Government; and is her employment therefore suitable?

I really think, if the hon. Lady had that information in her possession, she should have given it to me privately. It is the duty of citizens, let alone Members of this House, to convey such information to the Home Office. I will take note of the hon. Lady's allegations, but it would be much more useful, if Members have information against people, if they would convey it privately instead of blowing the whole thing up in public.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make arrangements for individuals in reception areas who plead ill-health as a reason for not receiving evacuees to have a medical examination by an independent doctor without local association?

I appreciate the suggestion in my hon. Friend's Question, but I think we must continue to rely on the scrupulousness of the medical profession in providing medical certificates and on the good sense of chief billeting officers and billeting tribunals in attaching due weight to pleas of ill health. The Defence (Billeting Tribunals) Rules, 1939, enable the tribunals to hear such evidence and make such investigations as they may think fit.

Is the Minister aware that many healthy people in reception areas ask doctors to give them medical certificates to free them from their obligations, and that if an arrangement of this kind were introduced, the difficulty would be overcome?

I should be glad to receive any evidence as to that.

Has the Department of the right hon. Gentleman made it perfectly clear what penalty would accrue to any medical man giving a certificate that was not justified?

I think that my original answer can very well stand in the light of that supplementary question.

Is it not a reflection upon the medical profession; and is it not the fact that a qualified medical attendant of any person is better qualified than any stranger to judge?

Again, I would refer my hon. Friend to my original answer, which, I think, contains all that is necessary.

Would it not be desirable to press the doctors referred to, to raise their fees?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the question of giving pensions to the unmarried wives of men killed by enemy action?

This point was fully considered in framing the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, but the circumstances did not, in the Government's view, justify the suggested extension of the benefits of the Personal Injuries Scheme.

Is the Minister aware that I have had three cases put before me of seamen who were lost in a convoy—one married 10 years, with a pension; one married 15 years, with a pension, and the other, with an unmarried wife 25 years, and no pension; and does he not think that it would be advisable to apply the same regulation as was applied to the Armed Forces in the last war, and consider the question of some grant?

Is there any other step that the hon. Member would like to be taken to encourage polygamy among males in this country?

Is it in order to insinuate that an hon. Member desires polygamy?

Is it not the case with regard to military pensions that an unmarried wife or widow is sometimes given a pension or allowance where there has been a long connection and where there are dependent children?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now prepared to make the funeral grant of £7 10s. and temporary allowance of £2 10s. for 10 weeks, at present payable only to dependants of air-raid casualties which took place after 24th December, retrospective to the beginning of the war?

I regret that at the moment I am unable to add anything to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 13th February.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Minister of Pensions what weekly allowance is to be made to the widow of an ex-service man disabled in the last war and killed in October during an air raid, for the maintenance of her son, aged 15, who is a student at a technical college?

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 6th February, the question whether allowances in respect of children could be extended beyond the present limit of 15 years where the child is still at school is under consideration. If the extension is given, the rate would continue as at present, namely, 8s. 6d. for one child.

Can my right hon. Friend say when he will come to a decision. This woman has only 22s. 6d. a week on which to maintain herself and her son.

Very many other questions have to be dealt with in the civilians scheme. These matters are being thoroughly examined, but I cannot come to the House with an amended scheme just to deal with one subject.

Will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that whatever decision is arrived at it will be made retrospective?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the resentment felt by Indians and others in this country and in India at the prejudice and misleading information officially circulated in this country as notes to speakers; and whether he has taken or proposes to take any action in the matter in view of the need of not adding unnecessarily to misunderstanding between the peoples of this country and India?

The attention of my office has only recently been drawn to the notes in question. While I cannot accept the hon. Member's description of them as conveying a correct impression of either the substance or the tone of these notes, they contain some points of detail which may be open to criticism. I understand that they are now undergoing revision.

Would the right hon. Gentleman indicate what points are open to criticism? Is he aware that not merely those of a certain political persuasion but others, including the Princes of India, have been offended by some of the tendentious statements made in these notes?

I have said that some points might be open to criticism.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that communications respecting conversations with Indian political leaders have not reached their addressees in this country, although cabled references to these conversations have been received; whether he can give the reason for these communications being held up by authorities in India; what political proposals Mr. Jinnah has forwarded within the last three months to His Majesty's Government; and why information respecting Indian political life and movement is being withheld or suspended from publication in this country?

I am not aware on what grounds the hon. Member makes the assumptions involved in the first and last parts of his Question. It is, of course, the fact that under present conditions letters take much longer to arrive from India than normally. Members of the Government have recently received from Mr. Jinnah documents setting out the claims of the Moslem League and urging His Majesty's Government to reject the demands of the Indian National Congress.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that correspondence dealing precisely with Mr. Jinnah's proposals was sent to this country, that a cable arrived, but that a letter did not arrive?

There was a very long interval between the arrival of the cable and the letter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have seen a cable; saying that correspondence was being sent and later another cable saying that the correspondence was stopped in the post?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in the case of disagreement between a farmer and his agricultural executive committee with regard to the suitability for ploughing of land in the occupation of the farmer, there is any right of appeal from the decision of the committee; and if so, to whom?

No, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend re-consider his answer, in view of the fact that there are often cases of serious disagreement between farmers and the agricultural executive committees concerning the suitability of land for ploughing up?

The committees are composed of practical men who have firsthand knowledge of the areas for which they are responsible. It is obvious that in many cases the individual farmer is reluctant to plough up land, but the committees, being aware not only of the position of the individual farmer but of the necessities of the nation, must have power to decide.

Is the Minister aware that many people think that the agricultural executive committees are judging this matter in a rather partial manner? Would it not be better to have an impartial tribunal or a judge to arbitrate if a case arises between a farmer and the committee?

No, Sir. That would mean in practice setting up a new series of executive committees. All these things must be decided by the men who have local knowledge not only of the land but of the farmer himself. The hon. Member's suggestion would mean duplicating the whole machinery and would involve delays.

Is it not the case that besides practical farmers, there are also theoretical experts on the committees, and do not the theoretical experts very often desire to try experiments which would be very expensive for the farmers concerned?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the restriction of rationed feeding-stuffs for cows and heifers in calf to 1— lbs., whilst 3— lbs. is allowed to cows in milk, is producing considerable difficulties among farmers and is likely adversely to affect the home-produced food supply of the nation; and whether he will consider an adjustment of this rationing?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension regarding the basic rate of rationed feeding-stuffs allowed to cows in calf under the rationing scheme. This rate is 3¾lb. per day and is the same as that allowed to cows in milk. Heifers in calf with first calf are allowed 1½lb. per day. The allowances of feeding-stuffs to the dairy herd should be considered on the aggregate, and farmers should be prepared to adjust them to the requirements of the individual stock. I am advised that no serious consequences to food production are likely to result from the scale of rations provided.

Has this been made clear to the farming community, since in some parts of Essex there is some misunderstanding on the point?

I have said before—and I said in a speech in Essex last week— that this is a frightfully complicated scheme, but if farmers are in doubt they should consult the feeding-stuffs officer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will endeavour to obtain for members of the Women's Land Army such privileges as are granted to other women's war organisations, such as half price tickets for cinemas and admittance to Army canteens?

Members of the women's branches of the Fighting Forces obtain a number of advantages such as those mentioned in the Question, which are specially provided to meet the needs of Service personnel both men and women. It is not generally practicable to extend these to include members of the Women's Land Army who, although they are performing most valuable national service, are civilian and not service personnel. The special needs of members of the Women's Land Army are, however, being given constant attention and they receive privileges such as free holiday travel in certain circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what percentage decrease in the milk yield he anticipates from April to October, 1941, as compared with April to October, 1940?

I do not anticipate that the yield of milk this summer will fall appreciably below that of last summer provided weather and other conditions are not abnormal.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the clock is put forward two hours this summer, the cows will have to be milked at two hours by the sun, in the heat of the day, when the milk yield is not as abundant or as high in quality, and when it does not possess the keeping qualities of milk produced later in the day?

That may or may not be so, but it does not arise out of the Question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the secretary to the Surrey war agricultural executive committee has informed a local authority in its area that local authorities generally are being discouraged from running municipal piggeries; and whether this communication represents the policy of the Ministry?

I understand that the Surrey war agricultural executive committee have given advice in this sense. I have instructed war agricultural executive committees that urban food waste should, wherever practicable, be made available to existing pig and poultry keepers to enable them to supplement their reduced supplies of normal feeding-stuffs, and am informed by the Surrey war agricultural executive committee that there is evidence in their county of a demand from farmers for further supplies of food waste or swill. In present circumstances it is not considered desirable that new municipal piggeries should be established where available swill can be disposed of to existing stock keepers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the shortage of meat, it is still regarded as essential to slaughter not merely all animals affected by foot-and-mouth disease, but also those which have come into contact with such affected animals?

Yes, Sir, but I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that it is only the carcases of animals affected with the disease which are destroyed. The remainder are salvaged for human consumption.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a substantial divergence of opinion in this country regarding the whole idea of this policy and in foreign countries as regards the practice of the policy? In view of the shortage of food, docs not my right hon. Friend think that even in the carcases that are destroyed there may be some parts useful for food?

The overriding balance of informed opinion in this country is in favour of the policy as carried out.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that in the North-East in general, and Newcastle in particular, there is a great shortage of peas, especially Carlins; and what steps he is taking to remedy the situation?

There is a shortage of dried peas in all parts of the country, owing to the fact that our principal sources of imported supplies in peace time are now in enemy hands. I appreciate the importance of the particular variety referred to by my hon. Friend, but I regret that I am unable to anticipate the recurrence of arrivals such as have been experienced in the past. Pulses other than dried peas are more readily available, but I can hold out no hope of a general improvement until the home crop of threshed peas is harvested next summer. The acreage under peas is being considerably extended.

Is the Minister aware that the shortage of Carlins will stop an old Thanksgiving custom of great sentimental value to people of Tyneside? Is he also aware that this custom was observed during the last war?

The hon. Member will appreciate that a vast proportion of dried peas are imported, and that the sources of supply were cut off very suddenly last May with the result that home supplies were quickly exhausted. In regard to the custom to which the hon. Member referred, I could not possibly guarantee that my Noble Friend will be able to repeat it.

Does the Minister know that the answer he has given will give great dissatisfaction?

I am very sorry about that, but the hon. Member will appreciate that in the North of England practically all peas were imported. Surely he can convey to his part of the country the fact that the sources of supply have now been cut off?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are large quantities of peas in certain parts of the country, while there is a shortage in other parts?

I cannot accept that, because I happen to know there is a shortage of peas in the country generally.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, on Sunday, 23rd February, the Great Western Railway trains travelling between Plymouth and London were serving for dinner thick soup, chicken and vegetables, fruit tart and cheese and biscuits; and whether, in view of the serious shortage of cheese and its high nutritive value, he will, for the present, reserve it for agricultural workers, coalminers and quarrymen, who normally take lunch out with them and whose heavy manual labour entitles them to it?

My Noble Friend has just issued an Order which will have the effect of preventing the service or consumption of meat, fish or poultry, and cheese at the same meal. The question of making improved arrangements for the distribution of cheese is being urgently considered.

While there is a shortage of cheese, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider reserving cheese for those engaged on heavy manual labour who normally take it for their lunch?

On more than one occasion I have stated that the question is now being actively considered. One of the difficulties is that this particular commodity is in exceptionally short supply, but we are doing the best we possibly can.