asked the Home Secretary why the dietary in force in the Isle of Man internment camps is so favourable to the internees in respect of meat and cheese, particularly if the internees are working outside the camps on approved schemes of manual work, when compared with the amount of meat and cheese which are obtainable by the British agricultural labourer?

As regards meat, what the internees receive under the dietary scale represents an expenditure per head of less than the present civilian ration of 1s. 2d. a week. In the case of cheese, bulk purchases of local cheese made last summer by the Manx Government have made it possible to maintain for the present the allowance of 2 ozs. a week, with an additional 1 oz. to those working on the land. There is no intention of giving the internees more favourable treatment than the ordinary civilian population, and the question whether the dietary needs revision with a view to the substitution of alternative foods for any of which there is a shortage will be kept in mind.

asked the Home Secretary how many A-case internees there are still here or abroad who have not yet been before a second tribunal?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that air-raid precautions wardens are making arrangements with owners of shops, etc., to keep a watch on their premises during raids for incendiary bombs; and whether the payment for this, which is an addendum to the wardens' pay, is made with official sanction?

Arrangements of this nature with the owners of business premises have no official sanction and are strongly deprecated. I am sure that if made by occupiers, they should not be approved by the appropriate authority under the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that pressure is being brought to bear upon collectors engaged in weekly payment businesses to act as fire watchers of the offices which they attend daily for a few minutes to pay in their collections; and whether he will state how the order is to be interpreted and applied to this point?

I was not aware of the position as stated in the first part of the Question. I appreciate, however, that in cases of the type described there may be grounds for doubt whether particular persons are persons who are working at the premises within the meaning of the Business Premises Order. If the appropriate authority regarded such persons as liable to perform duties under the order and took proceedings accordingly, it would be for the court to be satisfied that there were reasonable grounds for this view.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that residential areas to which the compulsory fire-watching order has not yet been applied, especially those areas contiguous to important industrial districts, are being efficiently guarded against fire bombs by voluntary means; and whether he proposes to apply compulsion to private houses in any area or areas?

:I shall be making a statement later on this and other aspects of fire prevention and perhaps my hon. Friend will await that statement. As regards the last part of the Question there is no provision for the application of compulsion on individual householders to watch their own dwelling-houses but local authorities can be required to make arrangements covering their area as a whole (except for premises to which the business premises order applies) and these arrangements would of course apply to private houses.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) what would be the position of an employé with a company, financially and in respect of employment, should he or she be partially or permanently incapacitated as a result of shock following enemy bombing, and the position if he or she later developed into a chronic neurotic;(2) whether shock following bombing is treated as being within the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, 1940?

:Cases of shock resulting from concussion or blast and involving incapacity for work are ordinarily accepted for compensation under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme. Any question as to the position of an employé in relation to his company with regard to employment is outside my province. I would add, however, that my Department, in common with the Ministry of Health, has been advised by expert neurologists who have been consulted that the primary approach in all cases of shock is by way of treatment, which will include such rehabilitation as may be necessary.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether severe functional nervous disease, known popularly as nervous shock arising from air-raid experiences, such as the proximity to severe incidents, burial amongst débris, sudden unexpected explosions, etc., is a condition which is regarded as warranting entitlement to compensation; and whether simple concussion of the brain without visible injury would be included under the definition of nervous shock, provided always that the victim is medically certified as incapable of work consequent upon enemy action?

Compensation may be paid under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, where, as a result of enemy action, a person sustains concussion of the brain, whether there is visible injury or not, or where a person sustains nervous shock of a commotional character associated with blast, burial among debris or some similar severe incident. In either case the patient must be medically certified as incapable of work.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that in many large towns a large number of general practitioners have been given no opportunity to acquaint themselves with the various phases of air-raid precautions work, or with the persons, the aid posts, etc., with which they would be required to co-operate in case of emergency; and whether he will take further steps in this matter?

Medical officers of health were asked last year to make plans for reinforcing the hospitals and first-aid posts, in case of emergency, by practitioners not officialy attached to those services, and I am informed that they have generally got into touch with the profession in their areas, by calling meetings or otherwise, in order to familiarise them with the services. If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular towns where practitioners are not acquainted with the arrangements I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the arrangements in the town of Cardiff, in which every general practitioner has been provided with adequate equipment for dealing with air-raid casualties at the site of incidents and has been informed as to exactly how the air-raid precautions services are organised and the part which he will have to play in them; and whether he will now take steps to compel the making of similar arrangements in other towns?

I have received a report on the arrangements at Cardiff. While I approve them generally I am asking my medical officers to communicate with the responsible local officers on certain aspects of the scheme which require further consideration. With regard to the second part of the Question, my medical officers are constantly in touch with medical officers of health as to the most suitable arrangements for utilising the services of practitioners in the area, which must necessarily vary in detail according to the local conditions.

asked the Minister of Health whether a private practitioner giving free attendance to one or more Home Guard casualties, and considering that the assistance of a mobile aid-post is essential, will have the authority to summon it and ensure its attendance without delay?

:A practitioner in the circumstances stated should get into touch with the nearest A.R.P. control, stating the nature of the medical assistance required. It will then be for the Controller, as in the case of an air-raid incident, to send a mobile aid-post or whatever other form of assistance his medical adviser considers necessary.

asked the Minister of Health when the special committee to consider the steps necessary to secure a proper allocation of the available medical man-power between civilian and military services was appointed by his predecessor; whether its four members were nominated by any other committee or body, and, if so, which; what the terms of reference were; how many meetings were held; what procedure was adopted and what steps were taken to secure the opinion of medical organisations generally; and why no observations or suggestions have been sought by the committee of any medical organisations, including the Medical Practitioners' Union?

The committee was appointed in December last to consider in relation to the medical needs of the civilian population and His Majesty's Forces the situation which had arisen and was likely in the near future to arise from the recruitment of doctors from civilian employment to the Services and the further recruitment expected by the Service Departments, and to report what steps should be taken to secure a proper allocation of medical man-power as between civilian and military services, having regard to the supply of doctors available. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative. As to the remaining parts of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander).

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the prevalence of influenza and other non-surgical complaints, he will see that physicians are appointed to those emergency medical service hospitals where such cases are at present under the care of surgeons?

The services of a specialist physician are available at every hospital in the emergency hospital scheme, although not necessarily on a resident basis.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will grant the same supplementary allowances to the First Police Reserve as those granted to the Regular Police and Police War Reserve?

No, Sir. The First Police Reserve is largely made up of police pensioners, who receive their pensions while serving, and there would be no justification for increasing their pay.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give further consideration to the proposal that he should issue an order to cut gaps in roadside hedges and blocking them temporarily with hurdles in order to enable civilians, in the event of an invasion, to get out of the roads into the fields?

No, Sir. In the event of invasion civilians should be at work or in their homes.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the general review of Civil Defence personnel; whether the Solihull wardens' establishment has been reconsidered; and whether it will now be increased?

The general review of establishments has not yet been undertaken, but as a result of inquiries which I have made in connection with my hon. Friend's earlier Questions I cannot hold out any prospect of any increase in the Solihull wardens' establishment.

asked the Home Secretary how many magistrates are engaged in how many juvenile courts; how many are women; and into what age group do these justices fall from the age of 40 years upwards in periods of five years?

:The panels of justices appointed to adjudicate in juvenile courts in pursuance of the Juvenile Courts (Constitution) Rules, 1933, came up for re-appointment last November. The names and addresses of the justices so appointed have to be reported to the Home Office, and in a circular from the Home Office reminding courts of this requirement they were asked also to give the ages of the justices. There are 989 juvenile courts in England and Wales and up to the present 792 have sent in their lists which comprise the names of 6,995 justices (5,020 men and 1,975 women). The ages of the justices have been given only in respect of 600 of these panels and a classification of the ages in five-year groups gives the following results:

asked the Minister of Supply the names of those local authorities with a population of over 10,000 which so far have not organised a system for the regular collection of kitchen waste; and what action he proposes to take to ensure this being done?

:According to the records of the Salvage Department of the Ministry of Supply, 680 local authorities with a population of over 10,000, including 316 rural districts, were not, at 31st January last, making collections of kitchen waste. I append a list of these authorities. Some of these authorities may have started collections since that date. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 5th March to the hon. Members for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Price) and for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère).

asked the Minister of Supply what were the actual sales or yield from the collection of kitchen waste food by each of the local authorities in the counties of Middlesex, Surrey and Yorkshire for the month of January last?

The following list gives the tonnages of kitchen waste food sold for the month of January last by those local authorities in the Counties of Middlesex, Surrey and Yorkshire who are making collections:

asked the Home Secretary whether he is in a position to say when the order permitting Sunday entertainments will come into force?

The Defence Regulation to which my hon. Friend refers provides that no Sunday performances may be given by virtue of the Regulation before 20th April, 1941.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied with the number of threshing machines now available?

The threshing tackle in the hands of private contractors and farmers has been supplemented by Government machines placed at the disposal of county war agricultural executive committees and I am satisfied that, generally speaking, the total equipment available has been sufficient to cope with the increased volume of threshing work in the season now closing.

asked the Minister of Health whether, havingregard to the occurrence of cases of trichiniasis recently in certain parts of Great Britain and the identification of pork and pork products as their cause, he will take steps to order the compulsory heating and cooking of all such products, especially those used in the making of sausages?

Investigations are at present in progress with regard to the occurrences in question. Publicity has been given to the matter by wireless and in the Press in which it has been pointed out that provided pig meat is thoroughly cooked, no risk will be run. In the circumstances I do not think that action on the lines suggested is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether steps will now be taken to re-group the boundaries and areas of adjoining local authorities so as to facilitate post-war reconstruction of districts that have suffered war damage?

No, Sir. I do not think this House or the localities concerned would regard the re-grouping of areas as practicable or desirable under present conditions. It is a matter which can only be dealt with in the light of post-war circumstances.

asked the Minister of Shipping whether, in view of the fact that both British officers and men regard the £5 per month war bonus as evidence of common risk and not as connected with rates of pay, he will accord Chinese seamen, generally, equal treatment?

The increase of remuneration given to Chinese seamen which can properly be ascribed to war conditions has taken the form in part of an increase in the basic wage and in part of a bonus. In all the cases the increase exceeds £5 a month.

asked the Minister of Shipping the names of those shipping companies employing Chinese seamen who pay them the full —5 a month war bonus; how many shipping companies pay less; and why all Chinese seamen shipping in British vessels travelling war zones shall not all be paid on the same basis?

:As stated in my reply of 18th February to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Bartlett) I am satisfied that in the case of Chinese seamen employed by all United Kingdom companies beyond Far Eastern coastal limits, their remuneration has been greatly increased and that part of the increase which can properly be ascribed to war conditions, although not called war risk bonus, is more than the figure quoted by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether compensation to those who lost property on the '' Ettrick '' will be considered as well as such compensation to those on the "Dunera"?

My right hon. Friend is looking into the position.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the general arrangement and procedure governing priority telephone calls; and whether the serious losses in time and war effort incurred by certain Government contractors, who are unable to obtain priority and often have to contend with four or five hours' delay in essential trunk calls to Government Departments over widespread areas of the country, could be partly met by allocating them some lower degree of priority to ensure a reasonable service for their work?

Priority in the telephone service is granted to certain individuals in Government Departments, in the Civil Defence Services and in firms engaged on important war work, as well as to Members of Parliament. It is intended for use only on calls of real urgency and importance, and it must be asked for specifically when the call is originated. Government contractors are placed on the telephone priority list when the Departments concerned consider this essential in the interests of the national war effort. Experience has shown that a wide extension of the priority list tends to defeat the very object of the facility and I am satisfied that the introduction of another degree of priority would have the same result. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind in which the refusal of priority facilities to a firm seems to be clearly unjustified, I should be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in cases where individual parcels are being sent to British prisoners of war by friends in neutral countries, arrangements can be made whereby relatives of such prisoners in this country can reimburse to such neutrals the cost of parcels so sent?

:No, Sir, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary of the War Office to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 4th March. If organisations in neutral countries will address their parcels to the camp captains for distribution, the cost can be recovered by such organisations from the war organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John, who would, I feel sure, gratefully accept donations sent for this purpose. It is not possible however to grant special facilities in the way of foreign exchange to prisoners' relatives in this country to pay for parcels sent outside the arrangement described above.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether on his authority, or with his knowledge, the Bank of England has given any undertaking to banking interests in the United States of America regarding the return to the pre-war basis of exchanges on the conclusion of hostilities?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the unfortunate disagreement as between many parents in Llanrwst, Denbighshire, and the county local education authority on the question of the education of their children; that there has been a non-attendance strike on the part of many children; and what communication has passed between his Department and the Denbighshire Education Committee on the matter?

The Board are aware of the dispute between the parents and the Denbighshire local education authority which arises from proposals for reorganising the public elementary schools in the Llanrwst district. The Board have suggested to the authority certain modifications in their proposals designed to bring the dispute to an end.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will investigate the case of a doctor, whose name will be given to him, who volunteered for service in the Royal Naval Medical Service in September, 1939, and later, in anticipation of obtaining a commission, left his practice, which had depreciated by reason of heavy air raids in the district, and obtained temporary professional work in another part of the country, who is still in civil practice, his original practice having been lost because the local emergency committee refused to arrange for the practice to be cared for under the Protection of Practices Scheme, on the ground that he was neither with the Forces nor in national work, notwithstanding his pending application for a commission in the Royal Naval Medical Service?

If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the case he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the difficulties encountered by many day workers in obtaining rationed food and other commodities from shops which now close at an early hour; and whether he will cause the retail trade to extend their hours of opening now that the blackout does not take place till 7 p.m.?

:The information which I have does not suggest that the difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers are widespread, but in any case the earlier closing hours fixed for the winter months by Defence Regulation came to an end on 2nd March, and shopkeepers are now at liberty to fix their closing hours within the limits imposed by the Shops (Hours of Closing) Act, 1928.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the resolution of the Greenock Trades Council regarding the "Daily Worker," a copy of which was sent to him; and whether he can make a statement regarding the taking of legal proceedings in regard to the publication of that organ?

I have received the resolution referred to. I explained fully in the course of the Debate on 28th January why procedure under Defence Regulation 2C with a view to prosecution in this case would have been ineffective and inappropriate and why the alternative procedure was adopted. The House approved my action by an overwhelming majority.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the disappointment caused to some friendly alien refugees who secure employment as technicians through the efforts of his Department only to be told later by their prospective employers that according to instructions from some Government authorities they could not be engaged in that class of work; and will he do something to remedy this?

Certain restrictions must necessarily be applied as regards the classes of work on which persons of foreign nationality may be employed, but there are in general other opportunities for them to give their services. In the case about which my hon. Friend wrote to me recently the person concerned has obtained what appears to be suitable work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is proposed to continue to import oranges; and will he consider whether the importation of orange juice would equally well answer requirements besides economising shipping?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part of the Question, my Noble Friend is advised that the importation of highly concentrated orange juice would economise in shipping space, but there are other considerations involved, into which he is at present inquiring.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider taking steps in conjunction with the other Departments concerned to exempt or release from full-time war service skilled bacon curers whose special knowledge is im- portant from the point of view of maintaining food supplies?

The occupation of bacon-curer is at present reserved at and above the age of 30. I am in constant consultation with my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of Food in regard to the reservation of occupations concerned with the manufacture and processing of food, and reservation is accorded to these occupations to the greatest possible extent, having regard to the general man power position. It is not practicable, however, to increase the present measure of reservation of bacon-curers.

asked the Minister of Health whether medical benefit similar to that under the National Health Insurance Act, but on a non-contributory basis, will be provided for the dependants of those men in the armed Forces, who were themselves compulsorily insured persons?

:This matter has been frequently considered by the responsible Ministers and I cannot add anything to the full statement made by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Midlothian (Lieut.-Colonel Colville) when he was Secretary of State for Scotland, on 23rd April, 1940. I am sending a copy of this statement to my hon. and gallant Friend.