asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that road users can claim no compensation for in juries to themselves, their bicycles or their motor-cars if injured by Government-owned vehicles; and whether, in view of the enormous number of road accidents caused by such vehicles, they will in future be compelled to insure against third-party risks?

I presume that the first part of the Question refers to the exemption of the Crown from liability for the torts of its agents. When a person is injured or killed by the wrongful act of an officer of the Crown in the course of his official duty, he or his dependants have a right of action in the courts against that officer, and it is the invariable practice of the Crown in such cases to pay any damages and costs awarded by the court. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that it is very cumbersome for normal lay persons to have to approach the courts before they can get compensation, and in view of the fact that Army lorries are responsible for no fewer than 300 accidents a day, is it not time that something was done to protect the public?

Is it not a fact that many Services do pay compensation when an accident is reasonably proved against them, without going to court?

I think that is true. There is no actual reason why one should always go to court in every case, although the courts exist for this sort of claim.

Is it a fact that payments made are equivalent to those made in ordinary civil cases?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty of drawing attention of vehicles to waiting free-lift passengers; and will he consider arranging for some sign or signal to be displayed by motorists when they are willing to carry such passengers, so making it better for both parties?

Such labels are already carried by a large number of motorists, but if my hon. Friend has any suggestions for making them more effective I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Information whether the statement contained in a recent memorandum issued by the Ministry as part of the British Empire publicity campaign, under the title of "Talking Points on India," namely, that nepotism is a vice to us, a virtue to Indians, represents the considered opinion of the Ministry?

The statement in question occurs in some condensed notes intended for the use of platform speakers. If read in its context and with this fact in mind, it will be clearly seen not to carry any such derogatory implications as the hon. Member's Question would seem to imply.

Is the Minister not aware that the definite statement that nepotism is a vice in this country and a virtue in India, cannot possibly have anything other than a derogatory sense?

If the hon. Gentleman considers the problem, I think he will see that nepotism, like many other vices, is an exaggeration of a good trait in human nature. We all agree that it is a good thing to be kind to the family, but, like other good things, when it is practised to excess it becomes a vice.

Is not Communism a virtue in Russia and a vice in this country?

It is a menace everywhere.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that letters posted in a town of which he has been informed, for transmission to Iceland and Faroes are censored in that town, and that letters handed in at the censor's office a few hours before the time of sailing are in time to catch the mail; that incoming letters, though distinctively marked on the outside as being written in English are sent to another town to be censored resulting in a delay amounting to weeks; and whether he will take immediate steps to have both outgoing and incoming letters in English, Danish and Norwegian, censored in the first-mentioned town where there are ample means of censoring speedily and efficiently?

The facts stated by the hon. and learned Member in the first part of the Question must refer to exceptional cases, since it is normally necessary for all letters which require censorship to be posted in the usual way. As regards the second part of the Question, the staff of censors qualified to deal with the specialist work involved is too small to enable it to be divided, and as the contents of incoming mail-bags cannot be sorted according to languages before being forwarded for censorship examination, it is not practicable to alter the existing arrangements. I can assure the hon. Member that all practicable steps will be taken to mitigate such delay as these arrangements may involve.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are very grievous loss and delay to the export trade through taking these letters, which are in ink and can easily be censored by anybody who understands English, from the port itself to another place further South?

:It would involve having trained censors at the port as well as at the not far distant town to which they are now taken. The delay ought not to be more than a day or two.

Can the Minister say what is the difference between outgoing letters and incoming letters?

I explained at the beginning of my answer that letters do go to the same place for examination.

Will the Minister look further into the matter?

asked the Postmaster-General the average time of delivery of letters sent by air-mail to the base of our expeditionary force in the Middle East, and whether it is possible to expedite delivery?

The average time of transmission of the air mails from London to the Base Army Post Office in the Middle East has been five-and-a-half weeks. Arrangements have already been made which will I hope, result in some improvement, and I am considering other expedients in collaboration with the Service Departments.

Will the Minister do all he can in view of the importance of the matter to the Middle East?

Yes, Sir. All the Ministers engaged in this matter are fully alive to its importance.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that letters and cables to men serving in the Middle East have not been received by them, whereas their letters to relatives here do arrive?

I do not know that that general statement can be supported, but if my hon. Friend has any instances, I shall be glad to look into them.

Is it not a fact that this long period of five and a half weeks is largely due to the insufficient number of air liners, and would my right hon. Friend therefore see that no more air liners are taken away from British Airways, which is engaged on these services?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the great difficulty experienced in obtaining any. reply to the large number of letters sent through approved agencies to British in occupied France; what steps he is taking to alter the position; whether there is any difficulty in similar letters sent by Germans and Italians to persons in the British Empire being received and answered; and whether he will give an assurance that reciprocal treatment in this matter will be insisted on?

I am aware that replies have not been received to many letters sent through approved agencies to British nationals at large in occupied France. I have no means of ensuring delivery of letters in enemy-occupied territory, and the senders are warned that these are accepted at their own risk; but there is no postal reason why the letters should fail to reach their destination. Most of the letters in the reverse direction, i.e., those from Germany or Italy for persons at large in the United Kingdom appear to be replies to letters originated in this country. I have no reason to think that this position does not obtain in the British Empire generally.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has taken any steps to call the attention of the county

war agricultural committees to the large number of parks and recreation grounds, in public and private ownership, which remain unploughed, and many of which are contributing little, or nothing, to food production?

Land in public parks and recreation grounds that is suitable for agricultural purposes can be cultivated by the local authorities themselves under powers given to them by Defence Regulation 62A. The importance of making the fullest possible use of these powers has been impressed on all local authorities. As regards parkland in private ownership, war agricultural executive committees are fully aware of their power to give directions as to the use of such land for food production, and if necessary to take possession and to cultivate the land, and they can be relied upon to exericse these powers as widely as is desirable with the present resources of labour, fertilisers, machinery, etc., available.

Can the Minister explain why it is that there are thousands of acres of both public and private parks which are not cultivated? Why at this moment is there more uncultivated land in Great Britain than in any Western European country in peace-time?

It is because, as I said clearly in the first part of the answer, action with regard to the wider areas is strictly limited by the amount of labour available, fertilisers, and machinery.

Cannot my hon. Friend take advantage of this unique opportunity, when we have landlords and anti-landlords agreeing on a policy?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there is a very large acreage of common land, especially in the Southern counties, which once grazed stock, but which is now overgrown and useless; and whether he will take powers, by legislation, or Order in Council, to compel lords of the manor, boards of conservators and commoners, to hand over this land to the war agricultural committees for food production?

War agricultural executive committees already have power, with my right hon. Friend's consent, to take possession of common land for the purpose of utilising it for food production. This power has been exercised in a number of instances, but my Noble Friend will appreciate that much common land is of relatively poor quality and that in general the limited resources of labour, machinery and fertilisers can be applied more productively to land of better quality.

May we gather from what the hon. Gentleman has said that steps are being taken to increase the labour supply? Has any application been made to the Ministry of Labour?

Aliens, uninterned and interned, school boys, prisoners, members of the Pioneer Corps, "old Uncle Tom Cobley and all," are all being organised for this purpose.

If local authorities do not carry out the recommendations of the agricultural war committees, can they be dispossessed in the same way as farmers?

I think that most local authorities in the country understand their obligations and fulfil them.

Has the hon. Gentleman considered getting some of the tens of thousands of Italian prisoners, who are quite friendly disposed towards this country, over here in order that they might cultivate some of these vacant lands?

Why not forget these words and deal with realities?

rose—

It happens that I am conservator of6,500 acres in Sussex which have been referred to. Am I not entitled to ask a Supplementary Question?

There are probably others in a similar position elsewhere.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the special hardship of Welsh miners due to the shortage of cheese; and whether, to meet this hardship in part, he will allow pithead canteens to be treated as catering establishments?

:My Noble Friend is aware of the importance of cheese in the diet of miners and he is hopeful, despite the difficulties involved, that a practical scheme will be completed for improving its distribution. In reply to the last part of the Question, my Noble Friend would welcome the development of pithead canteens and local food control committees would without question register any pithead canteens which require rationed food to serve in the form of meals.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman consult with the Secretary for Mines for the purpose of extending these facilities?

Yes, Sir.

Is there any immediate prospect of obtaining the increased supplies of cheese promised in reply to a recent Question of mine?

Yes, every effort is being made.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman explain why large numbers of cafés can supply cheese indiscriminately for sandwich purposes while in industrial areas workers cannot get this staple commodity?

The whole question of cheese is being looked into. I do not accept that it is possible to buy cheese indiscriminately all over the country.

As I have been challenged, I say that I can get it even in Italian cafés in London.

Perhaps the hon. Member will consider the needs of the mining areas.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the North-Eastern Wholesale Meat Supply Association, Limited, are insisting that meat and offal allocations to retail butchers shall be paid for on delivery, although admitting that the present method has worked fairly satisfactorily; and whether this alteration is made on the instructions of his Department?

In accordance with the arrangements between Wholesale Meat Supply Associations and the Ministry, the former take the risk of bad debts and guarantee to the Ministry full payment for the supplies they handle. The North-Eastern Association has found it necessary to ask the Butchers' Buying Committee in their area to pay cash on delivery, or, where this is not convenient, to agree to a form of joint control with the Association over the Buying Committee's reserve funds or to provide some other satisfactory form of guarantee.

Are we to take it that this alteration is made because there have been a number of bad debts in this area?

I could not say without notice.

Why should this wholesale meat association put an extra burden on retail butchers, who have plenty of anxiety already?

The hon. Member will realise that the Association are responsible to the Ministry for all their transactions, and they must safeguard themselves to a certain extent.

Is it peculiar to that part of the country?

No, it is the same system everywhere.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the North-Eastern Wholesale Meat Supply Association, Limited, with a membership of 180, at £10 10s. each had, up to 31st March, 1940, a surplus of £81,961 5s. 1od. after paying all expenses; and whether, in view of the growing feeling in the area that a more economical method of selling meat to retail butchers direct is both possible and desirable he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The surplus shown in the accounts of the North-Eastern Wholesale Meat Supply Association at 31st March, 1940, was £81,961. Up to that date the Association had handled over 45,500 tons of meat. The period of three months from the commencement of control of meat and livestock on the 15th January, 1940, was an experimental period to determine an appropriate basis of remuneration. Under the revised rates which came into operation for subsequent periods the surplus will be materially reduced. The fee of £10 10s. is a nominal entrance fee payable by members, and is in no way related to the distribution of surplus funds, which is based on the recognised pre-war turnover of members.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will arrange for a form to be issued on which people may apply for supplementary rations for special reasons, and in particular for people engaged in heavy manual employment?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on 12th February.

In view of the fact that a form of this kind was issued in the last war which enabled the Ministry of Food to deal with the problem, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman consult with the Minister with the view to having the matter reconsidered?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether he has considered representations from the Stirling and Clackmannan Co-operative Association urging the immediate rationing of cheese, eggs and jam with a view to securing more equitable distribution; and whether he is prepared to take any steps in this direction?

Yes, Sir. Urgent attention is being given to the more equitable distribution of unrationed foodstuffs generally, but I am not at present in a position to state what steps are likely to be taken with a view to improving their distribution.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the great mass of sedentary workers would be quite willing to give way on some essential foods like cheese if they knew it was necessary for heavy workers?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that one of the biggest manufacturers of chocolate in England have last week refused the application of the 14th (Hove) Sussex Battalion Home Guard for chocolate for sale in their canteen on the ground that the Ministry of Food has laid down a new instruction that all chocolate for the Forces must be obtained from the social services recognised by the Army Council, and that the Order does not include the Home Guard as members of the Forces; and will he have this put right, as the Home Guard is a recognised part of the British Army?

The manufacturers in question appear to have interpreted the priority instruction of the Ministry correctly. The personnel of the Home Guard, when in uniform or wearing the authorised armlet, may use garrison and regimental institutes or canteens conducted by voluntary bodies to the same extent as other members of His Majesty's Forces. Apart from this, they purchase food supplies as ordinary civilians.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the authority for this statement is the Prime Minister, and that the battalion applied in writing for this chocolate and has been refused? It is not a question of individuals.

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that, while they are in uniform, or wearing armlets, they are entitled to be treated exactly as members of the Forces. Therefore when they are working with the Regular Army they are treated as such, but for other purposes they are treated as civilians.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food when he proposes to introduce the proposals for the milk trade put forward in the Perry Report?

I am not at present in a position to say when it will be possible to announce the decision reached on the report referred to by my hon Friend.

When is the hon. and gallant Gentleman likely to be able to make a statement on the subject?

I hope, shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why there is so large a supply of red herring on sale at fishmongers when there is a shortage of the more edible fresh herring, kippers, bloaters, etc.?

The supply of red herring to which my hon. Friend refers was originally prepared for foreign markets which are now inaccessible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of a local emergency, the decision whether members of the Home Guard employed in controlled undertakings, where no controller has been appointed, shall be with drawn from their civilian occupations rests with the local military commander or with the head of the undertaking?

As the Home Guard will be required in cases of military emergency only, the responsibility for mustering them belongs to the military authorities and not to the managements of particular undertakings. Instructions have, however, been issued that men employed on work of national importance should not be stopped from working except in cases of urgent operational necessity. I understand that military commanders normally consult the managements of the undertakings concerned as regards the use of their employés in emergency, and I do not anticipate that any difficulty will arise in practice.

Will my hon. Friend see to it that there is a well defined routine whereby heads of controlled undertakings can make their appropriate representations to military commands?

I have stated that the management will be consulted.

Is the Minister aware that in certain of these controlled factories the management are treating the Home Guard as a private army?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make inquiries into the use of the members of the Home Guard in a wage dispute at a factory, the name of which has been sent to him?

I have called for a report and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the advantages to wheeled vehicles arising from troops marching on the roads in column of threes are frequently nullified by senior non-commissioned officers marching outside the ranks; and whether he will take action to reduce the frequency of this practice?

:I am not aware that the practice to which my hon. Friend refers gives rise to serious inconvenience to motor traffic. It is essential that troops on the march should be properly supervised by their leaders, and I am not prepared to issue instructions which would interfere with this supervision.

Will my hon. Friend make further inquiries because in certain areas this is becoming a prolific nuisance?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider introducing two types of rations for the Forces, active and sedentary, and thus obviate the present anomaly of workers in Government Departments and elsewhere doing similar work but receiving different food according to whether they wear uniform or civilian clothes?

:With effect from 15th March, all military personnel in the United Kingdom who are living in lodgings or in their own homes, under conditions similar to those of civilian workers, will have their entitlement to purchase rationed foodstuffs reduced to that of civilians. This will, in general, have the effect of providing the civilian scale for those members of the Forces engaged in sedentary occupations.

While I welcome that statement, will not my hon. Friend consider having the two types of rations, active and sedentary, which would remove any doubt as to the type of ration to which anyone would be entitled?

I think that will be impossible from the point of view of administration.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present method of controlling the issue and supervision of the consumption of petrol in the Army, bearing in mind the necessity for avoiding unnecessary waste?

:I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer given to the late Member for West Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Sir J. Leech) on 12th March, 1940, of which I am sending him a copy. All journeys made by War Department vehicles are entered on work tickets, which show authority for the journeys, details of routes, roads, mileages performed, hours of duty and petrol consumed, etc. Commanding officers are responsible for ensuring that these work tickets are carefully scrutinised, so that any excess of consumption of petrol is immediately detected.

asked the Minister of Supply what was the price per ton of tin in 1936, 1940, in January and February, 1941, respectively; have steps been taken to safeguard the supplies required, and at what price?

The mean average price per ton of cash standard tin on the London Metal Exchange was £204 12s. 8d. in 1936, £256 12s. 3d. in 1940, £256 15s. 10d. in January, 1941, and £265 3s. l1d. in February, 1941. As regards the last part of the Question, the hon. Member can rest assured that the necessary steps have been taken to safeguard the supply position in this country. Purchases on Government account have been made from time to time at varying prices, but it would not be in the national interest to publish the quantity or the cost.

Should not the speculation and gambling which have been taking place in the supply of tin be stopped, and has not the time arrived when the Minister should take steps to control supplies?

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to en courage local authorities in the collection and preparation of edible household waste which may assist in meeting the deficiency in animal feeding-stuffs?

asked the Minister of Supply (1) the number of towns in which plant for processing kitchen waste has been established, and, in view of the long foreseen shortage of feeding-stuffs why there has been so much delay;

(2) whether his experts have tested and approved the Tottenham system of processing kitchen waste for pig and poultry food; and is it his intention to extend this system to all large centres of population?

357 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales are making special collections of edible household waste and are recovering over 9,000 tons a month. In addition, over 1,000 local authorities are reporting private collections. Many local authorities have provided boiling equipment, and seven processing plants are in operation. The Tottenham type of concentrator plant has been officially approved and orders have been placed for a further 30 similar plants for erection in other large centres. In order to encourage local authorities to instal these, a guarantee, subject to certain conditions, has been given against loss on the capital expenditure or the operation of such plants.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is a very large area where nothing has been done at all? Will he see that something is done, in view of the great waste that is going on and the deficiency of feeding-stuffs?

Yes, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I do not attribute the delay to his Department but rather to the apathy of the Minister of Agriculture? Will he galvanise the Minister of Agriculture into taking some action?

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will consider making it compulsory for local authorities to collect waste-food products from houses, sort, and have it treated on the grounds that animal food is vitally needed at the present time?

Yes, Sir; this matter is under review at the present time.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the steps that are at present being taken by local authorities?

No, Sir; I am by no means satisfied, but there is a very big gap between satisfactory voluntary measures and compulsion.

What action is my right hon. Friend taking with the local authorities which are taking no steps at all in this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the committee inquiring into the possible value of phosphorescent, luminous and similar paints and objects has completed its task; and whether the committee's recommendations are favourable and are being carried into effect?

I understand that the Committee's report is in draft and that my right hon. Friend will be receiving it shortly.

Will the report be made available to the House, and will the recommendations be circulated rapidly to all local authorities?

The report will not be published.

Do I understand that Members of the House who are interested will have no opportunity of seeing the report?

That is so.

Cannot some means be found whereby Members can be acquainted with the findings of this important Committee?

Hon. Members must put down Questions on particular points of the recommendations.

asked the Home Secretary (1) to what extent the facilities for expert scrutiny of private shelter designs outlined in the Government's pamphlet "Your Home as an Air-Raid Shelter" have been made use of by the public;

(2) whether the Government are prepared in any way to assist the private householder willing to pay for the erection of his own shelter, giving expert advice on the basis of the Ministry's own experience in shelter building?

As was announced in the pamphlet "Your Home as an Air-Raid Shelter," the professional institutions have organised a panel of consultants who will, for a fee of half-a-guinea, inspect a house and give a written expert report on the best way of providing shelter in it. There are 3,020 members of the panel, and at least 30,000 householders, and probably a considerably larger number, have already benefited by this expert advice. As regards further assistance to the private householder, a pamphlet supplementing "Your Home as an Air-Raid Shelter" is in preparation.

Will local authorities be further told that they may sell salvaged timber to help individuals to reinforce rooms in their homes?

All the arrangements with regard to local authorities have already been dealt with in a circular which has been sent to local authorities.

I understand that there is a difficulty in individuals securing timber from local authorities except a ton or half-a-ton at a time.

Perhaps my hon. Friend will let me have particulars.

Is the Minister prepared to do anything for the large number of people not nominally eligible for shelters?

The Government are prepared to encourage the provision of shelters at cost price to those who are outside the eligible category.

asked the Home Secretary whether samples of indoor shelters which will be made available to the public can be placed on view in the Tea Room of the House?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend, with Mr. Speaker's permission, is arranging to have one of the new indoor "table" shelters placed on view in the Tea Room within the next few days.

May we ask that a small portion of the room be reserved for teas?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Greek seamen involved in an industrial dispute at certain British ports were deported from this country after they had commenced action in the British courts; and, in view of the great disabilities this imposed on them and their legal advisers, whether he will take steps to see that this is rectified and that similar action is avoided in future?

No, Sir; my right hon. Friend was not previously aware that proceedings were pending, and no representations to this effect were made to his Department. I understand that some of the plaintiffs are at present at sea, and the position of those deported does not seem to differ materially from the position of those who are absent from this country in pursuance of their calling. As regards the second part of the Question, if a British court considers that their presence in this country is desirable in the interests of justice, my right hon. Friend will be prepared to grant facilities for their temporary return to this country, and he would, of course always be prepared to postpone deportation in any case where he was satisfied that there were proper grounds.

Will the hon. Member agree that it is most unfortunate that these men should have been deported while legal proceedings had been instituted, and does he not realise that it places the plaintiffs in a peculiar and difficult position?

I cannot agree that it is very unfortunate. As my right hon. Friend has previously stated, these men were engaged in activities which were prejudicial to the Allied war effort, and I cannot accept the view that the mere initiation of legal proceedings in this country, especially in a case where the jurisdiction of our courts was extremely doubtful, is sufficient ground for staying a deportation order.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to encourage the production and use of steam wagons and thus reduce the consumption of petrol, he will amend the taxation and axle-weight restrictions which have legislated these vehicles off the road?

My right hon. Friend is not prepared to anticipate his Budget statement.

:Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in order to avoid a reply such as that, I put this Question down to the Minister of Transport? Will he bear in mind that 14years ago there were 10,000 of these vehicles on the road, and, in view of the petrol position, will he consider taking action, not as a Budget measure, but as a war measure?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the right hon. Member for Kelvingrove (Mr. Elliot) is stated in Command Paper 6255 to hold a paid civil office as Director of Public Relations, in view of the fact that this position was previously announced as a military appointment?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner) yesterday.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether cases of suspected or alleged disloyalty to the national cause in the Civil Service are dealt with by the Department concerned; and how many instances have occurred where the police and the intelligence service investigating such cases have been refused facilities for their inquiries by the Department concerned?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes"; to the second part, so far as I am aware, "None."

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that I have information in my possession which shows that these facilities were refused by a Government Department at the instigation of the officers, and is not that a case of disloyalty?