asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the free use of Canton is still not permitted to British shipping and that repeated attempts since the spring of 1939 to re-open the waterway have been frustrated by Janaese obstruction on various pretexts; that British ships can only be run at a loss owing to the high pilotage tariff fixed by the Japanese; and whether he will discuss with the Board of Trade the possibility of imposing retaliatory measures on Japanese shipping in British ports?

The shipping situation at Canton is governed by an agreement with the Japanese which permits weekly visits by British ships subject to certain conditions. Various offers for the re-opening of the river by stages have been made by the Japanese, but the conditions attached to them have rendered them valueless to the British interests concerned. Negotiations have been in progress for some time but without result, and representations have been made to the Japanese Government. His Majesty's Government have under constant review such measures as it may be possible to take to remedy the existing situation, and a report on the latest position has been called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will call for a report from our Consular officers on conditions under which trade is done at Shanghai, with special reference to the allegations of a widespread system of illicit commissions and bribery exacted by Japanese officials as the price of permitting goods to pass?

His Majesty's Government have been kept fully informed about trade conditions in Shanghai. The position was explained in the reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Wirral (Captain Graham) on 29th January. As regards the allegation of a widespread system of illicit commissions and bribery, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on the same subject on 26th February.

Is not the whole position in Shanghai extremely unsatisfactory?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a seven-point programme prepared by the Peking Anti-British Association operating in the four provinces of Northern China; of what this programme consists; and whether the association has been started by, or supported and encouraged by, the Japanese authorities in the occupied area, either directly or indirectly?

Yes, Sir. There has recently been some revival of agitation by the Anti-British Committee in Peking. The programme of the committee includes such activities as warning Chinese landlords to give notice to British tenants, investigating British goods and trade, bringing pressure to bear on those in British employment to leave and an intensification of anti-British propaganda generally. There is no proof that the movement receives the direct support of the Japanese authorities, but anti-British speeches have been made over the Peking central broadcasting station, which is Japanese-controlled. The movement does not appear to have assumed any degree of importance, but further developments will, of course, be closely watched.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any progress is being made in the exchange of internees in Germany and Palestine; and, in particular, whether he will consider enlisting the good offices of the United States of America Government in the matter?

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given yesterday on this subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman send me a copy?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now make a statement regarding the Palestine citrus industry?

His Majesty's Government recognise the need of the Palestine citrus industry for assistance in the situation caused by the loss of its normal export markets during the present season and have approved in principle proposals designed both to maintain employment and to preserve in being a reasonable proportion of the matured and fully efficient groves. At the same time encouragement is being given to other lines of agricultural production, particularly the local production of foodstuffs. Details are being worked out with the High Commissioner for Palestine and when these are completed an announcement will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider reducing the number of commissions given to sergeant-pilots when first completing their training, and increase the percentage at present made available for promoting sergeants already on active service?

Under the present system all suitable sergeant-pilots who are recommended for commissioning after joining operational squadrons do in fact receive commissions. I do not think, therefore, that the arrangements can be varied with advantage. They already ensure that conduct and efficiency on active service are taken fully into account.

Am I to understand that only a certain percentage of sergeant-pilots can be recommended for commissions?

Yes, but my answer conveys a more accurate impression of the situation than the suggestion that the hon. Gentleman has just made.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider that there is a considerable number of sergeant-pilots with long service and pre-war experience who are not receiving promotion, while other new officers with much less experience are put over their heads?

Whether or not a sergeant is suitable for promotion is a matter which we must leave to the judgment of the commanding officer. There is ample room for promotion for sergeants who have the necessary qualifications.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the appeal to housewives of the country to finish with transport by 4 o'clock in order to leave omnibuses, tramcars and trains free for war workers has proved successful or whether further steps will be required?

It is too early yet to judge the full effect of the appeal, but I understand that it has already had a good response.

Is the Minister aware that there are bitter complaints by workers in munition factories on Tyneside about the facilities for going to and from their work between five and six?

I am not aware of that, but the response may differ in various parts of the country. We have had many reports from our representative to the other effect.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make further inquiry into the series of accidents to persons following the prescribed route to platforms 14 and 15 at Euston Station during periods of blackout, including one or more seamen proceeding to join their ships on the Clyde, a distinguished professor of the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, and a high Civil Service official; and, as these accidents show the inadequacy of whitening the edge of the platform as a safeguard at this particular danger-spot, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

Following an inspection of the conditions at the places in question on platforms 13, 14 and 15 at Euston Station, it has been decided to place movable barriers there. I hope that these will prove effective in preventing any more accidents at these points.

Will ray hon. Friend keep in mind that this danger is acute where the platform is under a roof?

Many Members know the difficulty of the change-over at Euston Station, and we hope that this measure will prevent accidents in future.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the exorbitant prices for new and second-hand motor-cars now being demanded by dealers, many of whom are speculating in these goods because of the high profit now possible; and, as most of the purchasers are people who require motor-cars for occupational purposes, and cannot afford the high prices demanded, will he consider instituting price control of motor vehicles?

I am aware that in some cases excessive prices have been charged by dealers both for new and second-hand motor-cars, although some new cars have been sold at manufacturers' list prices. Control of the prices of the few new cars available would have little practical effect, while control of prices of second-hand cars present serious difficulties—both on account of widely differing conditions of car-worthiness and on administrative grounds. My right hon. Friend is therefore not satisfied that price control is justified, but he will always be ready to look into any established instances in which excessive prices are demanded and to take such action as is possible and appears to be warranted.

Will my hon. Friend go further into this matter and, if he discovers that profiteering is wholesale and almost universal, take some measures to deal with it?

Certainly, Sir.

Cannot a pre-war standard of prices be established for second-hand cars?

That is a difficulty which I pointed out in my answer—the difference in the conditions of the cars when sold. We will look into the question very closely.

Is it not true that the motor trade has had a standard of prices for second-hand cars for years?

asked the Minister of Information whether he will set up a committee to inquire into the policy adopted by the British Broadcasting Corporation of refusing to allow persons having pacifist views to broadcast?

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the growing anxiety among a large number of people in this country at the exclusion of people from the microphone—that on account of their pacifist views they are not allowed to broadcast music and literature? Is he aware that there is this growing anxiety among people, many of whom support this war and think it is a great contradiction that we should be pretending to fight for liberty and at the same time adopting Nazi methods at the B.B.C.?

I am replying later to a Question by the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker) on the whole subject, and perhaps the hon. Member will wait for that Question to be reached.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that 90 per cent. of our people do not want to listen to pacifists?

asked the Minister of Information whether he has come to a decision as to the policy to be followed in future by the British Broadcasting Corporation in connection with the non-employment of artistes holding certain political or religious opinions?

It has been the policy of the B.B.C. not to invite to the microphone persons who have taken part in public agitation against the national war effort. I see no reason why the Governors should be asked to revise this policy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider again whether this principle ought to apply to artistes who are not expressing opinions in any way whatever, and if he does not feel able to ask the B.B.C. to reconsider the principle, will he at least ask them to reconsider the cases connected with the People's Convention, where their decision served no useful purpose and simply gave advertisement to a current of opinion which commands no national support or even respect?

Yes, Sir. I think some confusion arose over the People's Convention Many of those who attended it did so without any reprehensible motive. I have asked the Governors of the B.B.C. to reconsider those cases, and they have consented to do so. On the general question, I would say that in my opinion it is not the business of the B.B.C. to ascertain what are the private opinions of artistes, but when artistes, apart from their artistic activities, take an active part in public agitations, then they must expect not to be given the great privilege, for it is a privilege and not a right, of being employed by the B.B.C.

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that there is no discrimination so far as religious opinions are concerned?

That is so.

Have we not a right to expect from the B.B.C, a publicly-owned corporation, the same kind of freedom for its employés as is granted by a privately-owned newspaper?

That is an entirely different matter.

I hope so.

Does the right hon. Gentleman confirm the view expressed by the Lord Privy Seal yesterday that there should be no discrimination and the statement that that was the attitude of the Government?

My right hon. Friend was speaking about the right of free speech. Certainly there should be no discrimination against people expressing views which may not be popular. Everybody has the right of free speech, but not everybody has a right to expect the privilege of exercising free speech through the B.B.C.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in order to assure that the British Broadcasting Corporation should benefit from the advice of a thoroughly representative Board of Governors, he will consider reinstating the five Governors who were dismissed on the outbreak of the war?

asked the Minister of Information how many full-time Governors are now attached to the British Broadcasting Corporation; and whether, in view of the importance of preserving its representative character even in war-time, he will revert to the practice advised by its charter and re-appoint two or three additional men and women of wide public experience to strengthen the present composition of the governing body?

There are at present two Governors of the B.B.C. The appointment has never been a full-time one. The reasons for reducing the number on the outbreak of war were stated by the late Prime Minister on 22nd September, 1939, and re-affirmed by the Lord Privy Seal on 28th May, 1940. There appears to be no reason for a departure from this policy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this "rump" Board of Governors does, in fact, wield considerable influence upon the policy of the B.B.C, and could he not see either that the Board of Governors is abolished altogether or so reorganised that it does represent public opinion?

I am quite prepared to consider the possibility of reorganising or increasing the Board of Governors. The reasons given by the Lord Privy Seal in May last were, I think, the same as those given by the late Prime Minister, primarily that in order to expedite the despatch of business it was thought better to have a small rather than a large number on the Board; and the hon. Member will recollect that members of the Board of Governors of their own volition resigned; but, as I have said, I am prepared to consider the question.

Is it not a fact that the reasons given.previously have now ceased to hold good, while there are the strongest reasons of public policy why the Board of Governors should be more fully representative?

Is it not true that one of the main reasons for reducing the numbers was the difficulty of the Board meeting, but meetings are now being held all over the country, and is it not important to fortify the Board of Governors, in view of the many important decisions which will have to be made in the coming year?

I have already informed my hon. Friend that I am looking into this matter.

Will my right hon. Friend also bear in mind that advisory committees on which this House was represented have also ceased to function?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that foreign countries find great difficulty in differentiating between the responsibility of the B.B.C. and the responsibility of the Government, and will he reconsider his decision not to take over responsibility himself?

I think the hon. and gallant Member is aware that the Government have recently appointed two official advisers to the B.B.C, one for home and one for foreign affairs, which will, no doubt, increase the control exercised by the Government. The Government's policy has been to maintain the independence of the B.B.C, and I think that decision has general approval.

asked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been drawn to delays in the transmission of letters by air mail between the United States of America and this country; and how far the delays are due to the censorship of those letters in Bermuda?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of the delays in the transmission of letters by air mail between the United States of America and this country. These delays are due to the irregular working of the air service operated by the Pan-American Airways between Lisbon and New York, which in turn is due to adverse weather conditions. No part of the delay is due to censorship of letters in Bermuda. The censorship authorities in Bermuda do not remove, or deal with, any mail between this country and the United States. That mail is entirely censored in London, and the delay due to this cause rarely exceeds 24 hours.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that omnibus companies are refusing to supply to compilers of periodical publications of information of local interest particulars regarding times of omnibus services; and whether he will take steps to ensure that these particulars arc made available speedily and without restriction in the public interest?

My attention had not previously been drawn to this matter. If the hon, and learned Member will kindly give me detailed information, I will gladly make investigations with the other Departments concerned.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's Department not got information with regard to a particular case in my own constituency?

No, Sir. I should be glad to receive it and will then look into it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has examined into the reason for the delay of a letter posted in Belfast on 30th January and delivered in London on 3rd March, the envelope of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife; and whether he will take steps to ensure that censorship operations shall not hold up correspondence for such a length of time?

I have been asked to reply. I have not yet been able to establish the reasons for the delay, but I can assure the hon. Member that all steps are being taken to avoid such delays in future.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has taken any action respecting the inaccurate statement in Post Office advertisements that the noon post will get letters delivered first thing next morning in England and Wales?

I am not aware that the statements referred to are substantially inaccurate, although in prevailing circumstances and in view of the great number of letters handled there will always be individual cases of failure to secure due course connections. If the hon. Member will let me have the covers of any letters which have been posted in London before noon and have failed to secure delivery in England or Wales first thing next morning, I will have inquiry made.

While I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, is he not aware that one advertisement of the Post Office states quite definitely that letters posted before noon will get to any part of England or Wales the next morning, and that that is not always the case? Would it not be better to be a little more strict in the wording of the advertisement?

I think the public generally recognise that in the prevailing circumstances there are occasions when there is interruption of transport. The statement itself is substantially accurate, and my answer is founded on a careful check.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give permission for the postmen of Brighton and Hove, when delivering letters, to distribute, over a period of two or three days, a joint pamphlet from the Mayors of Brighton and Hove urging the inhabitants to support the war weapons week, in view of the fact that the postmen are anxious to co-operate, without any extra cost to the State, and thus contribute to the successful results of the campaign?

Much as I sympathise with the object of this appeal and appreciate the public spirit of the local postmen at Brighton and Hove, I regret that I am prevented by Statute from meeting the hon. Member's request. I am not empowered to accord free postage to anyone.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether it is not a fact that any legislation can be got through in this country within 24 hours? [HON. MEMBERS: "No"] After all, we want the money.

I feel that the House is in general agreed that we ought to confine legislation to essential matters, in present circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in gratitude for the magnificent achievements of the troops in the Middle East, he will arrange further concessions for the sending of cables and parcels; whether, in this connection, he will consider granting free postage on parcels, as in the last war, and cheaper air mail; and whether, as the spasmodic delivery of mails and lack of news of their families, due to bad communications, are causing unnecessary worry to the men, he will investigate the whole circumstances to see whether something can be done to expedite and improve delivery?

The possibility of improving communications with the troops in the Middle East and, in particular, of introducing a cheaper air mail service, is being actively considered by my own Department and the other Departments concerned, and I hope to be able to make a statement shortly. My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension in supposing that in the last war parcels for the troops were accepted free of postage. The rates for parcels are, in fact, lower in this war than in the last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the long periods of time spent at sea by various naval ranks and grades, he is satisfied that proper arrangements exist for interchange with depot and other shore personnel in suitable cases?

Yes, Sir. There is an adequate organisation for ensuring that all ratings are given a fair share of sea and shore service, so far as the needs of the Service permit. It will be realised that many men are, by age or disability, employable on shore service only.

Will the hon. Baronet keep in mind that some hon. Members representing maritime constituencies have received complaints that this organisation is not working effectively, and will he do what he can to ensure that there is more effective organisation?

Yes, Sir. I shall be glad to look into the matter.

Is the Minister investigating the complaints which I sent to his Department, referring particularly to the position of old men who joined up at the beginning of the war?

Yes, Sir, although that is rather a different question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, as anti-Nazi women aliens of German-Jewish origin are now being admitted on like terms with British to the ranks of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and the air-raid precautions Services, he will now permit approved cases to enter the Women's Royal Naval Service?

So long as there continues to be a satisfactory number of British recruits for the W.R.N.S. my right hon. Friend feels bound to give preference to women of British nationality. The Admiralty, however, in specific cases, would not debar women with specially suitable qualifications on account of nationality. This question is being kept tinder review in the light of the recruiting position.

Am I to understand from the Minister's answer that there is a bar against these women in the Navy which does not exist in the other Forces of the Crown, and, if so, why?

No, Sir. I have said that there is no definite bar against them, providing they have special qualifications, but in view of the fact that we have no difficulty whatever in obtaining recruits for this Service, my right hon. Friend thinks that it is better to give preference to British women.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is taking to enable a greater number of small firms to take part in war production as recommended by the Select Committee on National Expenditure; and whether he will make arrangements to enable them to obtain the necessary credit facilities from the banks?

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that small engineering shops in Scotland that were busily engaged on munitions during the last war have not yet been given an opportunity of contributing by their work to the present war effort; and whether, with a view to spreading such engineering work, he will take steps to promote a policy of decentralisation in respect of such work?

The Ministry's area officers are constantly helping to arrange sub-contracts of all kinds for the smaller firms, and group schemes are employed in suitable cases. Arrangements have been made in co-operation with the banks whereby manufacturers can, where necessary, obtain from their banks the necessary resources to carry out their contracts. The Ministry of Supply provide additional plant in suitable eases.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman take some further steps than those which are dependent upon the action of banks, in order to bring into production the engineering shops in Scotland and give a greater impetus to the war effort such as was given in the last war?

I did not say it was dependent upon the action of banks, but upon the action of our own Ministry of Supply area officers.

asked the Minister of Supply the total value of the contracts awarded to a company manufacturing barbed wire, of which he has been informed, together with the contract price per coil; whether this company sub-let the contract to another company of wire manufacturers; and whether the sub-contractors demanded, and obtained, from his Department a guarantee that payment would be forthcoming?

It would be contrary to established practice to disclose the information asked for in the first part of the Question. As regards the second and third parts of the Question, no portion of the contract let to the firm which the hon. Member has in mind has been sublet. The firm purchases the wire required, and the Department, at the request of the suppliers, has given an assurance as to payment for wire supplied for the purpose of the contract.

Can the Minister say whether this was a very large contract; if so, why was not the contract given direct to the producing firm, and also is an inquiry taking place with regard to this contract by his Department?

I am afraid I cannot add to the answer.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that men with good scientific qualifications urgently needed for certain special work, whose names have been sent to him, have been rejected solely on the ground that, although British-born, they are not of British descent and whether, in view of the serious shortage of such men, he will arrange that in making appointments loyalty and ability should be considered rather than ancestry?

It was recently decided to relax the general rule previously applied in the Ministry of Supply that candidates for employment should be British-born and born of British-born parents. I may add that numerous exceptions had already been made in the application of the general rule.