asked the Home Secretary when a decision will be arrived at in the case of Councillor John Sperni, J.P., who was detained under Regulation 18b on 1st August, 1940, and came before the Advisory Committee on 15th October, 1940, and on 31st December, 1940, and who, at 7th March, 1941, was still without a decision?

The investigation of this case has involved a number of inquiries, but I hope to be in a position to give a decision at an early date.

asked the Home Secretary when a decision regarding the case of John Gissane, detained under Regulation 18b, who appeared before the advisory committee on 20th January, will be arrived at?

I have decided to revoke the order of detention in this case and this decision was communicated to Mr. Gissane on 13th March.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in the county borough of West Ham in many premises affected by enemy action no efforts are yet being made for clearance; and, as the local council has not available labour to effect the clearance, will he endeavour to arrange for the services of the military in such cases?

A good deal of work has already been done, but I am aware that it has not yet been possible to deal with all the damaged premises. Military parties are among those engaged in the work.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to exclude reception areas from the scope of the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order, 1941?

No, Sir. There is no justification for assuming that there are no aggregations of houses or buildings in reception areas which are a likely target for incendiary attack.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inquire into the case of a schoolboy named Klaus Munter, son of Dr. A. H. Munter, demonstrator of anatomy at King's College University, of London, who was interned on 4th May, last seen by his parents on 26th June in London, evacuated to Canada on 4th July without any intimation being given to his parents, although his release from internment had been authorised on 29th May, who has now been sent back to England, and immediately again interned at Huyton, again without informing his parents; and whether he will take steps to rectify this mistake and immediately release this boy?

The release of this young man has now been authorised and he will return to his parents at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Home Secretary (1), whether he is aware that the churches of Wales are united in their opposition to any interference with their rights and liberties in maintaining its Sunday observance; and will he consider excluding Wales from any orders which provide for the opening of cinemas, & on the Sabbath Day, in view of the fact that almost every Welsh man and woman is against his suggestion;(2) will he take steps to ascertain the views of Wales on the opening of cinemas and places of amusement on Sunday; and will he receive a deputation of Welsh representatives before any action is taken?

I am aware of the views of the churches in Wales on this matter, representations having been made to me on their behalf before the Defence Regulation in question was made and account was taken of these representations in framing the regulation. It would not have been right to deny to local authorities in Wales the rights and liberties which the regulation confers on any locality where special considerations arise owing to war conditions. Under the regulation no cinema, theatre or music hall can be opened on Sunday in any area unless the local authority has decided expressly to apply to Parliament for its sanction for the purpose. The basic principle of the regulation being local option, I do not think it necessary to receive a deputation of Welsh representatives on the subject.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, what instructions have been issued to medical officers by his Department in regard to the carrying out of vaccinations; whether intracutaneous, subcutaneous or scarification methods are used; how many marks are produced; and how soon after a previous vaccination is re-vaccination considered to be necessary.

The required information is contained in the following extracts from Admiralty Fleet Orders and King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions. The method used is that advocated in the Vaccination Order, 1929.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the medical record of soldiers is filed; and if not what means exist for ascertaining the medical history of any particular man?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative: the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he has considered the correspondence conducted by the Corporation of Greenock relative to the dependant's allowance for the mother of an unmarried official of the corporation now serving in the Seaforth Highlanders, a copy of which was sent to him; and, as his Department's regulations regarding the issue of such allowance render nugatory the corporation's scheme for supplementation of such official's war service pay under the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1937, what steps he proposes to take to revise his regulations so as not to interfere with the provisions of the Act;(2) whether he has completed his consideration of the anomalous position created whereby, when the civil employers begin to make a payment of 5s. per week to or in respect of an employé serving in the Army, the dependant's allowance of 17s. a week till then being paid is stopped; and what steps he proposes to take to remove the anomaly?

I have considered the correspondence with the Corporation of Greenock to which my hon. and learned Friend refers, and I am unable to accept the suggestion that the regulations regarding the issue of dependants' allowance are inconsistent with the provisions of the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939. The essential condition for the issue of dependants' allowance is that the soldier must before his enlistment have been contributing towards the maintenance of a dependant, other than a wife or child, an amount greater than he can contribute from his resources whilst in the Army, and that in consequence of his inability to continue this contribution the dependant is left in circumstances of hardship. Where a local authority makes up a soldier's Army emoluments to their previous civilian level or to such a level as to avoid hardship to the dependant, this basic condition is clearly not fulfilled and dependants' allowance is therefore not issuable. I am aware that when the issue of the balance of civil pay brings a man's income above the level at which dependants' allowance is issuable, the consequential withdrawal of dependants' allowance may result in a net reduction of income. But occasional cases of this kind are inevitable in any system of allowances based on flat rate awards.

asked the Secretary of State for War why serving officers and other ranks are not permitted to apply for vacancies for which their civilian knowledge is required; and whether, as this procedure puts volunteers in an unfair position as compared with those who await call-up, he will issue instructions to prevent positions with commissioned rank being readily available to those not serving when the same suitable experience is available from those already serving in the Army who, in addition, have some military record?

Wherever possible, appointments requiring special knowledge are filled from within the Army, and suitably qualified officers or other ranks are invited to submit particulars of their qualifications for this purpose. If suitable candidates for special appointments are not forthcoming from those already serving, civilians with the necessary qualifications may be commissioned through the Army Officers' Emergency Reserve. Entry into the Army through this channel is strictly limited, and I do not think it necessary to issue further instructions on the lines indicated by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will raise the age limit, at present 30 years of age, for candidates for commissions in India through officer cadet training units, so that those over that age have an equal chance of training to become officers when they are called up with those under that age?

The upper age limit for candidates going from this country to officer cadet training units in India was fixed at 30 as it was felt that men over that age would find it difficult to adapt themselves to the very different conditions of service in India, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India is in consultation with the Government of India on the question whether the limit should be raised.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions have been issued to Army medical officers by his Department in regard to the carrying out of vaccinations; whether intracutaneous, subcutaneous, or scarification methods are used; how many marks are produced; and how soon after a previous vaccination is re-vaccination considered to be necessary?

The more important points in the instructions which have been issued with regard to vaccination may be summarised as follows:

(1) The individual must be in good health.

(2) The skin over and around the site for vaccination should be cleansed.

(3) The cleansed area must be allowed to dry thoroughly.

(4) The vaccine lymph should be applied to this area before scarification is carried out.

(5) Scarification should be made with a sharp-pointed scalpel, and should consist of a single linear incision one-quarter inch in length passing through the lymph. The incision should not be deep enough to draw blood.

(6) Further scarification or energetic rubbing of the lymph into the incision should be avoided as this tends to aggravate local reactions.

(7) The dressing recommended is elastoplast which should be applied after the lymph has been allowed to dry completely.

Vaccination is carried out by scarification, and one mark is produced. Re-vaccination is carried out at intervals of two, five or seven years following successful vaccination according to local conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the admission of the Home Guard of nationals by birth of an Allied or neutral State includes Polish nationals of Jewish race or Austrian nationals of Jewish race, if such are duly vouched for by the chief constables?

A Polish national who is vouched for by a chief constable is eligible for enrolment in the Home Guard in the same way as the national of any other Allied State. Aliens of enemy nationality, including Austrians, are not eligible for enrolment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the report of the Select Committee on Expenditure, he will consider re-hearing the charges against Major Reid-Kellett and withdraw the ban that this officer should not be re-employed on work upon which it was stated he had made unsubstantiated allegations?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the report of the Select Committee on the Construction of Militia Camps, he will now consider the advisability of reinstating Major Reid-Kellett, whose allegations respecting militia camp construction have been fully justified?

I would refer my hon. Friends to the answer given to-day by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Sir W. Smithers).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of clerical officers in the Inland Revenue Department whose marking in their last annual report forms was an A marking, implying fit for early promotion; in what circumstances the Inland Revenue are now maintaining that they can only find three promotable clerical officers; and in what circumstances officers of that Department have been asked to nominate sons and daughters for appointment to temporary executive posts?

I am not prepared to order an examination of the A markings referred to in the Question. There is no ground for attributing to the Inland Revenue a statement that they can find only three clerical officers who are promotable. On the contrary, there is a continuous flow of promotion of clerical officers to both the higher clerical and the executive grades. Nearly 30 promotions of clerical officers to the higher clerical officer grade and nearly 50 to the executive grade have been made since 31st March, 1940. The number of clerical officers who are considered fit for promotion to the grade of executive officer is, however, now insufficient to fill all the vacancies in that grade arising from absences on military service, retirements and other causes. Accordingly, a number of temporary women executive officers with suitable educational and other qualifications are being appointed. For the purpose of recruitment the machinery of the supplementary register of the Ministry of Labour is being used. Officers of the Department have not been asked to nominate their sons and daughters, though the latter are, of course, free to apply for appointment in the ordinary course and their educational and other qualifications are considered along with those of other applicants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the figures in the aggregate relating to the borrowing by the agricultural community from the clearing banks for the years 1934–39, prior to the outbreak of hostilities?

The following figures show the total amount of the advances to agriculturists by the clearing banks at the 31st December of each of the years named:

	£
1934	52,156,069
1935	50,608,017
1936	51,170,606
1937	52,760,634
1938	55,073,427

No figure is available for the 31st December, 1939, but my reply to my hon. Friend on 2nd July, 1940, stated that the amount at the middle of February, 1940, was about £53,000,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider remission of tax in the case of policemen who are assessed on allowances paid in lieu of free quarters in police houses or barracks?

I am afraid that I cannot see my way to accept my hon. Friend's suggestion. The cash allowance in question forms part of the emoluments, and the Income Tax law does not allow any remission of tax by reason of the fact that a part of a taxpayer's emoluments may be referable to the necessity of the taxpayer to provide himself with a residence.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, during the last war, it was the practice to pay to Members accepting Government employment, whether in civil or armed service, the salary appropriate either to their Parliamentary duties or to their Government work and not both; and whether that is still the practice?

As regards hon. Members serving in His Majesty's Forces. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hallam (Mr. Jennings) on 5th March, 1940, of which I am sending him a copy. As regards civil employment during the present war similar considerations apply. During the last war, so far as I am aware, no question regarding such employment arose; no enactment corresponding to the House of Commons Disqualification (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1941, was in force. I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind civil employment other than in a Ministerial post.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of persons employed by the Government in the administration and collection of the Purchase Tax; and also the number of registered business concerns where Purchase Tax is charged?

There is a small number of officers at headquarters and at a few important centres wholly engaged on the administration and collection of Purchase Tax, but generally this work is being done by the staff of the Customs and Excise Department as part of their ordinary duties. The answer to the last part of the question is 39,070.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state his estimate of the amount payable by persons with annual incomes of £5,000, £10,000, £20,000 and £50,000, respectively, in Income Tax, Surtax and insurance to cover Estate Duty, based on the calculation made by the Colwyn Committee on National Debt and Taxation, if the taxpayer derives all his income from investments and if the taxpayer derives half his income from investments and half from earnings, respectively, in the years 1913, 1923 and 1941?

The following table shows, for the years 1913–14, 1923–24, and 1940–41, the Income Tax and Surtax (or Super Tax) payable on certain annual incomes, together with the net annual payment required to meet the Estate Duty on death. The figures are computed on the basis adopted in the Report of the Colwyn Committee on National Debt and Taxation, 1927, investment income being capitalised on a 5 per cent. basis and the taxpayer being assumed to be a married man, aged 45, with three children.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will make it clear to all employers of labour that every obstacle should be taken out of the way of their employ? és so that all may be free to meet for prayer on Sunday next as appointed?

While the necessity for certain work is inevitable, I am sure that all employers will desire to give their employés facilities for sharing in the services held on the National Day of Prayer next Sunday.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what progress has been made in increasing the importation into this country of boned or compressed meat in place of whole carcases; and whether, in view of the great saving in shipping space which would result he will press ahead with this reform with all urgency?

My Noble Friend has made arrangements with the shippers in the South American meat supplying countries, who are the largest exporters of beef to the United Kingdom, to bone out 50 per cent. of all butchers' beef and 100 per cent. of all manufacturing beef and pork exported to this country. In addition, large purchases of canned beef have been made by His Majesty's Government. The boning out of 50 per cent. of the butchers' beef and of the beef for the preparation of the canned beef purchases utilises the maximum present boning out capacity of the plants. Supplies of beef from the Dominions are also boned out up to the capacity of the plants for this work. In the case of mutton and lamb, boning out is not practicable, but the carcases have been telescoped since the early days of the war to save shipping space.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will give particulars of the scheme of his Department to ensure the even distribution for the supply to children of sugar, or foodstuffs with a sugar content, which are so important from the point of view of nourishment?

The even distribution of sugar to children is already secured by the domestic ration. My Noble Friend has recently decided to take steps to secure the more equitable distribution of jam, marmalade, syrup and treacle.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered there solution of the Greenock and West Renfrewshire Cage Bird Club protesting against the Government's decision not to import any more canary or budgerigar seed to this country, a copy of which has been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Greenock; and what answer he has returned?

Yes, Sir, owing to the reduction in shipping space available for the importation of foodstuffs and animal feeding-stuffs, it is not possible to provide for the importation of bird seed at the present time. I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of a Press Notice, that was issued on this subject on the 19th February, which contains some additional information.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make inquiry regarding the contracts for huts which were given out to Messrs. Robert H. Hall & Company, Limited, of Paddock Wood, and the Ringmer Building Society, Limited; and as other firms in the locality with equal facilities have not been given any orders, will he consider extending the field of operations?

Contracts for the supply of huts by the two firms mentioned were allotted on the basis of competitive tendering. Other firms, with equal facilities, were given the opportunity of tendering. Four of these firms, one of which represents a group of 13 manufacturers, have been successful in securing hutting contracts. The range of tender in the Kent area has covered some 43 manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Supply what quantity of used tramcar and omnibus tickets have been recovered for war-time raw materials during each of the last two available periods, weeks or months, respectively, by the London Passenger Transport Board, Glasgow Corporation, Edinburgh Corporation, Greenock Motor Services and the total of such services in the United Kingdom, respectively; and whether he has any statement to make on the efficiency of such collections?

According to the information available, the quantities of used tramcar and omnibus tickets recovered by the under-mentioned bodies and sold for war-time raw materials during the last two available periods were as follow: —

London Passenger Transport Board.
—	3 months ended 30th Nov., 1940.	3 months ended 28th Feb., 1941.
From trams and buses:
Clean (from receptacles).	17 tons	14 tons
Dirty (from sweepings).	14 tons	None sold during period
From tube trains— clean.	45 tons	44 tons

Glasgow Corporation.
—	3 months ended 30th Nov., 1940.	3 months ended 28th Feb., 1941.
From receptacles in trams and buses.	15 tons	15 tons
(These figures do not include tickets recovered among other waste paper in litter bins, etc.)

Edinburgh Corporation.
—	Year ended 28th Feb., 1941.	3 months ended 28th Feb. 1941.
From receptacles in trams and buses.	17 tons	3¾ tons
(These figures do not include tickets recovered among other waste paper in litter bins, etc.)

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consult with the London Passenger Transport Board with a view to granting cheaper travelling facilities to service men who are wearing hospital blue?

I appreciate the motive of my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I am sorry that it is not one I could press the Board to adopt.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that inconvenience and hardship arises during the rush hours by the failure of would-be passengers to queue up properly at the recognised omnibus stops of the London Passenger Transport Board; and will he arrange for some special supervision.

My information is that in general the queue system is well observed by intending passengers. Signs asking the public to form queues are exhibited at the great majority of stopping places where they are most required, and the fitting of additional signs is proceeding as fast as war conditions permit. Supervision of queues is exercised by the Board so far as practicable with the limited staff at their disposal. In present circumstances I cannot see my way to ask the Board to arrange for any greater measure of supervision, but I should be ready to discuss with them any particular case which my hon. Friend may have in mind.