asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when the business of a redundant firm is taken over by a nucleus firm, the proprietors of the redundant firm will not only retain their trade name and goodwill, but the distinctive character of their branded goods, so that the value of their past enterprise and marketing skill may not be impaired?

A transfer of the right to manufacture branded goods is a matter for negotiation between the parties. The transferor will no doubt have in mind the object to which my hon. Friend refers in coming to terms with the proposed nucleus firm.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many steel helmets were exported from this country during 1940?

As has been stated in reply to previous Questions, the publication of particulars of our trade in individual commodities has been suspended since the outbreak of war.

asked the Home Secretary in what organs of the Press the instructions for fire-fighting were inserted; and whether it was on his instructions that the British Broadcasting Corporation were asked to call special attention to their inclusion in the Sunday newspapers of 2nd March, 1941?

An advertisement setting out instructions for dealing with fire bombs was inserted in all national and provincial Sunday newspapers on 2nd March: and owing to the urgent importance of making the instruction known to as many people as possible, the cooperation of the B.B.C. was sought, through the Ministry of Information, in bringing the announcement to the notice of the public in advance.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make a statement defining the position of voluntary street-party tire-watchers who decline to sign the official form issued by the local authority?

It is assumed that the persons referred to are those who are not prepared to give at least 48 hours a month to fire prevention duties as members of a local authority's Civil Defence Organisation, Such persons are not now eligible for equipment as issued to enrolled members of a local authority's fire prevention parties and do not rank as Civil Defence Volunteers for purposes of compensation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in and around Kensington many large houses are left uninhabited and unprotected; and whether, in view of the danger from incendiary bombs, he will take steps to ensure, for public safety, that all such owners comply with the necessary safety precautions?

Where directions have been given under Defence Regulation 27B, it is the duty of the local authority to make and carry out arrangements for dealing with incendiary bomb attacks on residential premises in their area. As has already been pointed out, from the point of view of effective organisation of fire prevention the obligation must be placed upon the occupier. Where the house is unoccupied, arrangements must be made by the local authority. I have issued advice in regard to the safety precautions which should be taken in the case of empty houses.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that certain local authorities requisitioning property for air shelters have refused to enter into any arrangement for the return at the end of the war of the property thus used; and whether he has authorised such action?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower) on 20th February.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will abolish the Central Medical War Committee and its local medical war committees, having regard to the general dissatisfaction which exists both among the medical profession and public owing to the inefficiency of such committees, and substitute there for a thoroughly independent, impartial and efficient system directly responsible for its work and actions to him?

No, Sir. I am not aware that there is general dissatisfaction with these committees or any grounds for the criticism of them suggested in the Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the ease with which doctors may obtain admission on demand to places of military importance without being required to produce evidence that they are in fact doctors; and whether he will now take steps to see that all doctors are provided, without delay, with identification cards containing their portraits and some authoritative indication that the portraits are those of medical practitioners, in view of the fact that the scheme already proposed for that purpose has failed to operate except in comparatively few instances?

I am informed that the majority of medical practitioners have already taken advantage of the special arrangements announced last October for the issue of authorised certificates of occupation, and that those who have not done so are still at liberty to take advantage of these facilities. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War and I are not satisfied that any need exists for further documents of identification for members of the medical profession and I am, therefore, not prepared to take the steps suggested in the second part of the Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, seeing that it is proposed to reduce the ration of feeding-stuffs by 50 per cent. early in April whether he will divert some of the barley now being used for brewing to feeding the livestock of this country whose flesh and milk is urgently required just now?

My Noble Friend has already taken steps to divert large quantities of barley to animal feeding-stuffs by restricting, under licence, the amount of cereals that may be purchased by brewers and maltsters. He does not consider that further action in this direction is called for at the moment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that in certain areas greengrocers are victimising allotment holders who were former purchasers of greengrocery by withholding the sale of oranges when they are available and reserving them for customers who purchase vegetables; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this unfair practice shall not be continued to the detriment of those who are acting in the national interest by cultivating allotments?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. On the contrary the fruit and vegetable trades have co-operated most helpfully in the development of the "Dig for Victory" campaign. If my hon. Friend has knowledge of any specific cases of the kind suggested in her Question and will supply me particulars I will have inquiries made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that in South-West Lancashire cucumbers are being sold at a retail price of 7s. 6d. each in comparison with a normal seasonal price of about 2s.; and whether, in the interests of purchasers, he will take steps to control the price?

My Noble Friend has no information that prices such as that which my hon. Friend quotes are being charged in Lancashire. Cucumbers are out of season at this time of year and produced in very small quantities, and my Noble Friend does not consider that any form of price control is necessary or desirable for commodities in this category.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is now prepared to make a statement regarding the supplies of sugar for the full utilisation of the forthcoming soft fruit crop in this country, so that those concerned will be able to make the fullest use of the supplies available?

Plans for the allocation of sugar for the purposes stated by my hon. Friend are approaching completion but I am not able to make a statement on the matter at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider, in the interests of the war effort, and of the butchers, the compulsory closing of all retail butchers' shops on three weekdays each week, the remaining days being ample for the sale of present and prospective supplies of meat?

Butchers' shops are already closed on one or more days in the week in a number of districts by voluntary arrangement among the butchers themselves, and I would prefer to leave the arrangements to voluntary local decision in the light of local conditions rather than impose them by compulsory order.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food how many local authorities in evacuation areas are operating national restaurants; and how many authorities have made preparations for such feeding arrangements in case air raids should make common feeding of the homeless a necessity?

Schemes for community kitchens have been approved by the Ministry of Food in 35 towns in evacuation areas, and in 39 towns in reception areas. Of the total of 74, about 20 local authorities have schemes actually in operation, but precise details are not available. In addition, the Ministry have under consideration schemes for approximately 70 local authorities. The London County Council are operating the Londoners Meals Service at 147 centres, and the Ministry of Food have assumed responsibility for community kitchens in 289 reception areas, which hitherto have been operated under the auspices of the Ministry of Health solely for evacuees, but which will now be open to the general public. These figures are exclusive of the rest centres for the homeless and destitute, which are provided by public assistance authorities under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, and are also exclusive of the emergency feeding centres which are being set up by the local authorities in all the larger towns under the auspices of the Ministry of Food.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, as it requires more essential food-stuffs to enable a man to produce iron and steel than is necessary for the typing of letters, he will reconsider the present rationing system with a view to introducing one on the basis of need?

As far as the foods now rationed are concerned, my Noble Friend sees no reason to depart from the existing system. The question of differential rations for different sections of the community is, however, kept constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a canteen established by the Hove battalion of the Home Guard to provide food and refreshment for its personnel has been refused supplies of chocolate by the manufacturers, on the ground that it is not a canteen of the Regular Forces; and, as the Home Guard is a recognised part of the British Army, whether he will give instructions that canteens established for the Home Guard are to be entitled to the same privileges as those established for the Regular Forces?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food on Wednesday last. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the question of providing chocolate for Home Guard canteens is part of the general problem of securing a due balance between special priority needs, including those of the Armed Forces and Civil Defence personnel, and the needs of the general public under present war conditions. It was felt that in general, where a shortage existed, the Home Guard would not wish to secure special privileges at the expense of the ordinary consumer. Priority for the Home Guard may, however, be justified in certain cases, and this aspect of the question is being given further consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that many smallholders in Ayrshire are being driven entirely out of business through the indiscriminate reduction in feeding-stuffs granted for pigs and poultry; that a large proportion of these smallholders are ex-Service men who were encouraged by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland to set up in business; and what steps he is taking to secure that these people should be able to earn a livelihood?

My right hon. Friend is aware that Government smallholders, among others, may suffer severely because of the reductions in feeding-stuffs, but restrictions cannot be avoided, and I am afraid that any discrimination between individuals or categories of individuals is impracticable. As regards the last part of the Question, the needs for national service of many kinds are so great that I should hope that any who are unable to maintain their holdings will have no difficulty in finding other suitable employment on farms or elsewhere.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a request has been made to his Department for the supply of two sacks of fortified white flour for the purposes of a scientific test of the comparative values of the fortified loaf, the national wheat-meal loaf and the whole-wheat loaf; that this request has been refused on the ground that the Ministry has not any such flour at its disposal; and whether, as the decision to fortify white flour was taken eight months ago, he will, in the national interest, afford facilities for a test of this kind to be undertaken?

The answers to the first and second parts of the Question are in the affirmative. The question of utilising to the best advantage the limited quantities of fortified flour which are expected to become available shortly is under consideration but my Noble Friend regrets that he cannot hold out any hope of making advance supplies available for the particular test referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in regard to the suggested intention of his Department to close the present slaughter-house at Llanrwst, in the county of Denbigh, consideration will be given to the recent alterations and improvements carried out to the building by the local authority, to the satisfaction of their sanitary and public health officials and the Welsh Board of Health; and whether, in view of the inconvenience the closing down of the present facilities will incur, without any apparent advantage to the distribution of meat into and from the Conway valley, every facility will be given to the many interests concerned to state their case before the local tribunal?

The Llanrwst District Council has appealed against the decision to which my hon. Friend refers and the matter is now sub judice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the magistrates' decision at Hove, Sussex, on Friday, 14th February last, in connection with the 10 summonses taken out by the Hove food controller; who will pay the costs awarded by the magistrates against the food controller, and what action he intends taking in the matter?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th February, 1941; Col. 164, Vol. 369] supplied the following statement:The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The cost will be borne by the Ministry of Food. Application is being made on fresh informations for the issue of new summonses in respect of the same alleged offences.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the remarks made by the chairman of the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company at their annual general meeting, he will set up a committee consisting of a representative from each of the big railway systems to sit permanently in Whitehall, and instruct all Government Departments to send their traffic requirements to this committee, so that the transport demands of the Government may be co-ordinated and the necessary orders issued by railway experts with governmental authority?

I do not think that complete centralisation of all Government demands on the railways, as my hon. Friend seems to propose, is practicable or desirable and I do not understand that it was so suggested at the meeting referred to. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is aware of the need for co-ordinating the demands on transport, including railways, and steps have already been taken to secure closer co-ordination between the chief importing Departments and the transport authorities at the principal ports. The possibility of strengthening the machinery which already exists at the centre is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport how many motor-vehicles, categoried according to type and horse-power, were licensed as at the end of January and February 1941, respectively; what was the revenue derived from each category; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous year?

Publication of these figures would not be in the public interest, but I am sending them to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether, in view of the crushing to death of a little boy in a rush for an omnibus at Carlisle, he will advise all local authorities to prescribe the introduction of the queue system in connection with all omnibus and tramway services, and to see that its observance is complied with?

I have been asked to reply. A number of local authorities have exercised the powers they possess of regulating this matter by by-laws, and I have no reason to think that other authorities would hesitate to do so in suitable cases. i will, however, consider, in consultation with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Transport, whether it is desirable to bring the matter specially to the notice of such local authorities as are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether officers and men of the Royal Air Force who are wounded or injured daring action or flight against the enemy will be permitted to retain acting sank and pay?

I am glad to say that R.A.F. officers and airmen holding acting rank, who are struck off the strength of their units on account of wounds or injuries received in action or on operational flights against the enemy, will in future be allowed to retain their acting rank for a period up to three months from the date of removal from duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the conditions under which serving airmen of all ranks can become Parliamentary candidates; whether they differ from conditions in the Army; and why permission was refused to 915977 Aircraftman 2nd Class, Charles Deller, X45, No. 1 Wing, No. 2 E and W School, Royal Air Force, when he wished to stand at the recent Doncaster by-election as an Independent candidate?

All R.A.F. personnel who desire to become Parliamentary candidates must first obtain the permission of the Air Council. Army personnel must similarly obtain the permission of the Army Council. I regret that permission to stand at the recent Doncaster by-election was refused to Aircraftman Deller owing to a misinterpretation of the regulations by his commanding officer, who has since been informed of the error. I am considering whether the regulations can with advantage be clarified.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the hardship incurred by teachers from Northern Ireland having to remain in Britain during the holidays, he will arrange to grant travel permits to these teachers to enable them to spend the Easter, Mid-summer and Christmas holidays at home with their friends in Ulster?

The restrictions on travel between this country and Ireland were relaxed last November to enable persons to visit their homes in either country not more than once in any period of six months. My right hon. Friend regrets that he could not justify granting to school teachers special privileges which it is not practicable to grant to other classes of people.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered a report from the chief constable of Chesterfield to the licensing magistrates relating to the attendance at places of entertainment on Sunday afternoons and evenings of adults, soldiers and children, stating that few-soldiers were present, and that Sunday opening was having a bad effect on juveniles; and whether this and similar reports were taken into consideration before consenting to the opening of places of entertainment on Sundays?

The document to which my hon. Friend refers gives certain statistical information about the attendance at cinemas in Chesterfield on three recent Sundays without further comment. I have no information to indicate that the facilities afforded by the Defence Regulation made in December, 1939, are not being fully appreciated by the troops generally or that they are having any adverse effect on the conduct of juveniles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement on the position in the Balkans, with special reference to Jugoslavia, Bulgaria and Greece?

I hope the hon Member will appreciate that in the present situation I have no official statement to make.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are being taken to notify personnel in the event of next-of-kin becoming casualties as the result of enemy action?

The next-of-kin of all naval and marine personnel, mobile members of the W.R.N.S. and civilian employés in His Majesty's Dockyards abroad, have been supplied with official cards which they are instructed to carry inside their National Registration Identity cards. Should the owner be killed or injured the local authorities immediately inform the Admiralty, who in turn pass the information by telegraph to the relative who is serving in the Navy or the Dockyards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, what steps are being taken to keep personnel informed of notified changes of address of their next-of-kin?

The Admiralty learns the address of next-of-kin from the officers and men themselves, who are required to notify the naval authorities of the address of their nearest relative or friend. The Admiralty have no power to require next-of-kin to notify their addresses, and in any case the method would be considerably slower than the present system.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an application for a commission in the Royal Naval Medical Services was made to the then Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association in September, 1939, by a doctor and is still outstanding though the doctor was informed that his name had been placed on a list of applicants for such commissions and would be submitted to the appropriate department as soon as a demand for further medical personnel is received; and whether, since the middle of September, 1939, there has been any demand for further medical personnel by his Department?

The responsibility for selecting candidates for temporary medical commissions in the R.N.V.R. and of recommending them to the Admiralty belongs entirely to the Central Medical War Committee. Several hundred medical officers have been recommended and have entered the R.N.V.R. since September, 1939.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the question of bracken eradication in grazing areas is still under consideration; whether, in view of probable food shortage, a. policy will quickly be settled; and what steps are being taken in the matter now?

Arrangements have now been completed whereby grants will be made available towards the cost of clearing bracken on hill sheep farms and pastoral farms in England and Wales on similar lines to those announced on 12th December, 1940, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Grants will be at the rate of 50 per cent. of the agreed estimated cost of clearing the ground in respect of which any application is made subject to the satisfactory completion of the work. Full details of the scheme will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour is he is aware of the depletion of fishermen on the West Clyde coast and the impossibility of replacing them; and whether he will consider the advisability of making fishing a protected industry with a reserved age of 30 years?

My right hon. Friend does not see his way to alter the Schedule of Reserved Occupations as suggested. It has hitherto been found possible to meet the shortage of fishermen in certain areas by transference from other areas. Inquiries are being made to see whether this is possible in the present instance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the scale of fees recommended by the British Association for injections for immunisation against diphtheria has prevented co-operation between local authorities and general medical practitioners and whether he will arrange for a scale of fees to be drawn up after consultation with medical organisations with more practical experience of general medical practice such as the Medical Practitioners' Union?

The answer to both parts of the Question is "No"