asked the Minister of Health the total number of children who, after medical examination under the new order, have been compulsorily evacuated?

The number of children whom it has so far been necessary to evacuate compulsorily is six. It was, of course, expected that where the evacuation of a child was shown to be desirable on medical grounds the parents would normally agree and recourse to a compulsory Order would be. unnecessary. The total number of children so far evacuated in this way is not yet available but is unlikely to be large since, happily, the health of children in London remains good. I may say, however, that out of 395 children inspected in shelters in Kensington, the examining doctor was prepared to certify 14 for compulsory evacuation; all 14 are being sent away voluntarily.

asked the Minister of Health what powers are vested in marshals of shelters for coping with any undesirable persons who are found in shelters and about whom other users complain?

Shelter wardens have power to exclude a person from a shelter on various grounds, for instance, that he is in such a condition as to Be dangerous or offensive to other persons using the shelter. In addition, the shelter wardens are responsible for enforcing the rules with respect to the management of, and conduct of persons in public shelters which the Regional Commissioner may have made.

asked the Home Secretary what number of local authorities had carried out their duties in constructing and equipping approved air-raid shelters prior to 19th October, 1940; what number had failed to do so; and whether he will state the names of those authorities falling in the later category?

It is not practicable to divide local authorities into categories of the kinds suggested by my hon. Friend. The programme of provision of air-raid shelters is a continuing one which requires constant review and adaptation in the light of changing circumstances. It is no doubt true that for various reasons at any given time one local authority has made more progress than another, but there would be few, if any, local authorities which at the date mentioned did not find it necessary to a greater or smaller extent to embark on new plans.

asked the Home Secretary what would be the cost of reimbursing local authorities who carried out their duties to construct and equip approved air-raid shelters prior to 19th October, 1940, if Circular 262/1940 were made retrospective?

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 Hendon (Sir R. Blair) on 25th February.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he is aware that the land in and around a district of which he has been informed, is so waterlogged that sunken steel shelters, although treated with concrete bases and bitumen within are half filled with water and useless; what alternative arrangements he proposes to make with the urban district council respecting a more efficient type of structure; and what provision will be made to meet the cost connected therewith;(2) what progress has been made in the provision of an efficient type of shelter in an area of which he has been informed; what proportion of the inhabitants have been so supplied; and whether, in future, as the area is waterlogged, the use of Anderson steel shelters, even when treated with concrete bases and bitumen within, will be discontinued except on the high-level ground?

I am aware that difficulties are still being experienced in the district in question owing to the flooding of steel shelters, of which no more are now being delivered. I am informed that remedial measures have been successful in a proportion of cases and will be persevered with in others until the shelters have been made good. The domestic shelter programme of the district is being completed with surface shelters, about half of the necessary constructional work having already been done; nearly a quarter of the eligible population will be provided for by shelter of this type. The cost of such provision is reimbursed by the Exchequer.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the returns made by the clerk to the Corporation of London by city firms of available shelter accommodation on their premises; and to what extent use has been made of the information?

I am aware of the returns referred to. The information obtained, which is being kept up to date, has been of great value and has disclosed a reserve of shelter which can be brought into use as circumstances require.

asked the Home Secretary when a decision regarding the case of Mr. Lomax, now detained at York racecourse, who was originally detained on 3rd June, 1940, and appeared before the Advisory Committee on 26th August, 1940, will be taken; and whether he is aware that no decision had been received by Mr. Lomax up to 7th February, 1941?

I have received the report of the Advisory Committee on this case and, after reviewing all the circumstances, I have come to the decision that detention must be maintained. Mr. Lomax is being informed of the decision.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a foreman demolition worker, who has been sentenced to four years' penal servitude for looting, had 11 convictions in the past; and whether any steps are taken to insist upon some reliability in the case of those who have to salve the effects of people who are bombed out of their homes?

I am unable to identify the particular case in question, and it is possible that the foreman did not belong to one of the Civil Defence organisations. As regards members of the rescue party services who may at times be engaged in demolishing damaged buildings, it has never been the policy that applicants should be subjected to anything in the nature of a character test. Authorities have, however, had impressed upon them their responsibility for satisfying themselves as to the general reliability of individual members of all Civil Defence services, and I have no reason to suppose that they hesitate to make any necessary inquiries which in their judgment may be necessary in a particular case.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that some factories are paying from 5s. to 8s. 6d. a night to their men employed on fire-watching duty; that this causes great dissatisfaction among the employés of firms who cannot afford to pay more than is. a night to cover out-of-pocket expenses; and will he strengthen the provisions of his fire-watching orders to prevent any payment for the work beyond such out-of-pocket expenses, or fix a limit which will be fair to all concerned?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 13th February by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to a Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Stepney (Mr. J. Hall).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that some firms are paying 7s. to 8s. 6d. per night to fire-watchers; and what steps he is taking to prevent the charges reducing the amount of Excess Profits Tax to be paid by such firms who would thus get their fire-watching done at the national expense?

:I would remind the hon. Member that under the provisions of Section 32 of the Finance Act, 1940, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have power to disallow, in computing profits for Excess Profits Tax purposes, any payments that they consider to be unreasonable or unnecessary. What payments may be reasonable or necessary will depend on the circumstances of the particular case, but in this connection I may perhaps refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Home Secretary to Questions addressed to him on this matter on 20th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production whether he is satisfied that the appropriate officials of his Department will take all necessary steps to prevent costs rising in contracts owing to the practice of many factories paying their employés as much as 5s. to 8s. 6d. a night for fire-watching?

Yes, Sir. If excessive wages are paid for fire-watching by firms engaged on contracts for this Ministry, steps will be taken to disallow in overhead costs any such excess payments.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider merging the present separate movement control organisations established by each of the three service Departments and the Ministry of Supply into one co-ordinated Department which should control all movements connected with the country's war effort, thereby effecting considerable savings in rail and road transport and in expenditure?

I do not consider that the merging of the movement control organisation of the three Service Departments and the Ministry of Supply would in present circumstances conduce either to greater economy or increased efficiency in the prosecution of the war.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is any vacant land in any of the trading estates which, not being taken up for factory installation, can be used for agricultural purposes; and whether this policy is being adopted?

There are vacant areas of land on trading estates, but not all these are suitable for cultivation. The use of vacant land for agricultural purposes is a matter for the County War Agricultural Executive Committees, on whose behalf inspections of trading estates have been undertaken. I am advised that the action taken by these committees, coupled with the independent action of the trading estate companies, has resulted in all suitable vacant land being brought into cultivation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the importance of the matter to farmers, he is considering the deferment of the calling-up of knackers as it is impossible to obtain a sufficient number of expert men to slaughter animals, with the result that horseflesh is scarce and being wasted, while owners of animals which would otherwise have been usefully slaughtered are merely burying the carcases?

I cannot add anything to the reply given to my hon. Friend in reply to the Question in similar terms put by him on 18th February.

asked the Minister of Labour how long he contemplates using the official cost-of-living index figures based upon the level of July, 1914, namely, 27 years ago; and, in view of the fact that the average men and women engaged on actual service in this war were not born at that time, will he consider basing the official cost-of-living index figures on a year nearer approximating the adult life of the present generation?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Rom-ford (Mr. Parker) on 6th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in co-operation with the Treasury he will obtain information from the bank liaison officers who have been appointed by the banks to supervise the borrowings of agriculturists in each county, as to the need in the national interest, in order to secure increased production, for the reduction of interest charges to borrowers from 5 per cent. to 3 per cent.?

No. Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken by the Sussex Agricultural Committee to ensure clearances of heath lands and bracken areas around Ashdown Forest, so as to increase grazing for those breeds of sheep which require no imported foods, as well as for beef and milk production?

The East Sussex War Agricultural Executive Committee has not as yet taken any steps in the direction indicated. The Committee have, in my view properly so far, concentrated their main efforts on lands which will yield a return in the form of food crops this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the failure of a Kent farmer owing to the fact that 300 of his sheep were lost, for the most part last year, through disease or the effect of high tides; that in this case the man did not take advice until more than half the sheep had died; and what steps are taken to avoid any repetition of such occurrences in future, in view of the shortage of food at the present time?

No, Sir. Perhaps my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the existing shortage of sports materials including dart boards available for distribution to His Majesty's Army through regimental institutes and canteens; and whether, in the interests of those serving in the Forces and also of civilian workers engaged on Government contracts, he will take steps so to amend the Limitation of Supplies Order, 1940, as to ensure more adequate supplies of such materials?

I have received no such complaints, but if my hon. and learned Friend will let me have particulars of any specific cases I shall be glad to investigate them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he proposes to handle the supply of cheese on the lines of ensuring an increased amount to agricultural and heavy industrial workers?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the shortage of cheese, he will take steps to control its distribution, with a view of giving priority to miners, agricultural labourers and other heavy workers, even if this means further restricting or entirely prohibiting its supply to hotels and restaurants?

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave yesterday to a Question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Sir P. Hurd).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the difference in price of tinned tomatoes now compared with pre-war; and whether this commodity is subject to any form of price control?

So far as my Noble Friend is aware, there are at present no stocks of canned tomatoes now available for sale in this country. The first part of my hon. Friend's Question therefore does not arise. As regards the second part, this commodity is not at present subject to any price control.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the waste and duplication of effort by business executives involved in making certain returns to his Department; and whether he will consider whether such information can in any cases be dispensed with, or be obtained from other Departments?

:If the hon. Member will let me know what returns he has in mind, I shall be pleased to make inquiries.

asked the Home Secretary why it is necessary to restrict permits to children of Northern Ireland residents, who are married and whose domicile is England, and children who work in England, to visit their parents, to one month in every six months?

The restrictions on travel between this country and Ireland were relaxed in November last with a view to removing hardship in certain cases, but as it continued to be necessary for security reasons to restrict travel between the two countries as far as possible the relaxation was limited to the grant of permits to allow persons to visit their homes in either country not more than once in any period of six months. In cases where parents reside in Northern Ireland and their children reside or are employed in this country it is, of course, open to the parents to visit their children once in any period of six months and to the children to make one visit to their parents in Ireland during the same period. The validity of alter et retour permits for temporary visits is normally limited in cases where the applicant informs the Permit Authorities that he desires it to be made valid for a longer period.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to rescind the obligation upon cinemas that a proportion of their Sunday profits must be devoted to a charitable purpose?

No, Sir.

asked the Postmaster-General the method of disposal of parcels which contain perishable articles when delivery to the addressees is not possible and the senders cannot be traced?

Perishable articles contained in parcels which cannot be delivered or returned to the senders are normally sold to dealers in the neighbourhood of the Returned Letter Branch concerned. If however time is short or other considerations render that course advisable they are sold under proper safeguards to the member of the Post Office staff who makes the best offer. Some articles are in such a condition that they have to be destroyed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that among the Greek seamen threatened with deportation there are two men who fought all through the Spanish civil war with the Republican forces; and that, if the deportation order is carried out, they are liable to be put in prison in Greece for their political convictions; and will he order the withdrawal of the deportation order and set the men, already once rescued from the sea after their ship had been torpedoed, at liberty?

In accordance with the policy announced in my reply to the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 30th January I made deportation orders against the men my right hon. Friend has in mind on 3rd February, and they left this country en route for Greece on 6th February. I am satisfied that both men had been engaged in activities prejudicial to the Allied war effort.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his Department is helping to organise the London fashions collection display in South America?

My Department is responsible for the organisation of this display and has received the full support of the Export Council. The export groups, designers and manufacturers concerned with the production of the materials, the designs and the accessories are to be congratulated upon their initiative, and I take this opportunity of publicly acknowledging the sympathetic interest shown by the representatives in London of the Governments of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Expert opinion is satisfied after a pre-view of the collection that it merits a great success.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of officers employed by his Department as transport officers; what are their functions; and whether he is satisfied with the results achieved?

Nine rail transport officers are employed by the Admiralty. Their duty is to arrange the speedy, efficient and economical transport of naval personnel and material, and they have fulfilled this duty to my satisfaction. Owing to the great increase in traffic, a scheme is being discussed for the Admiralty to make use of Army Movements Control organisation for certain purposes.