asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the fact that binoculars conforming to service requirements are being offered for sale; and whether he proposes now to take steps to acquire these instruments compulsorily rather than to extend the time of invitation by advertisement?

In view of the success of the recent appeal for binoculars and of the supplies now coming forward from manufacturers, it is not proposed to launch any further advertisement scheme or to take steps for compulsory general acquisition. If, however, my hon. and learned Friend will let me know of any particular cases in which binoculars suitable for service use are being offered for sale, I shall be pleased to take action. Compulsory powers have already been used in certain instances to requisition binoculars from trade sources.

asked the Minister of Supply the number of motor-cars acquired by purchase on a basis of 10 per cent. per annum off cost in pursuance of recent advertisements by or on behalf of the director of mechanisation of his Department; whether this basis of purchase is still in operation; and, if not, for how long it obtained, and what was the cost of the advertisements?

:Approximately 500 cars have been selected for inspection out of 5,000 offered. Inspection is now proceeding. With regard to the last part of the Question, no advertising expense was incurred.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the want of foresight by which the transport of supplies has suffered is not due to mere departmental method but to faulty organisation; and whether he will now take over the responsibility in order to make it plain that State requirements in efficiency are as high as the standard of successful private enterprise?

I am not able to gather from my hon. and learned Friend's Question in what respect he finds that the organisation of the transport of supplies is at fault, but if he will furnish me with particulars I shall be happy to consider them in conjunction with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, in January last, the police in Kingston, Jamaica, British West Indies, entered the house of a lawyer, Mr. Manley, and seized the books of his library; whether this action was taken on the instructions, and with the consent, of the Governor of the Colony, and with what object and for what purpose; and whether these books have yet been returned to the owner?

No, Sir. I am informed by the Governor of Jamaica that on no occasion has Mr. Manley's house been entered by the police, nor have any of his books been seized.

asked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to easing the dollar exchange, providing extra employment in the British shipbuilding industry when the war is over, and assisting the United States of America to increase her naval effectives immediately after the war, he has considered the possibility of inducing the United States of America to purchase at once a certain number of warships now in commission or in process of building, or their counterparts if lost or damaged in action, for delivery after the war, subject to whatever final adjustments of price may be necessary after delivery?

No, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether the issue of protective helmets for free issue to street fire-fighting parties has commenced within the Metropolitan area?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health the number of committees, advisory or other, whose functions purport to include advising his and other Government Departments on matters relating to the emergency and other medical services, and on which of such committees members have not directly or indirectly been nominated or appointed by the Central Medical War Committee?

Apart from its own subcommittees, the Central Medical War Committee has not nominated or appointed members to any of the 10 committees which advise my Department on emergency or other medical services. For similar information as to other Departments I would refer my hon. Friend to the Ministers concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he proposes to take to increase the strength of the Auxiliary Territorial Service?

Steps have recently been taken to make the conditions of service in the Auxiliary Territorial Service more attractive, and, in particular, a system of dependants' allowances has been introduced. It is hoped that these changes will result in an increased flow of recruits. Further measures to increase the strength of the service are under active consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to assess the usefulness of Army Test F.H.3 in the light of practical experience; and whether he will avail himself of the observation of officers commanding units, as well as of officers of the Army Educational Corps, before coming to any conclusions?

Arrangements are being made for the use of Army (Intelligence) Test F.H.3 to be reviewed in the light of experience. Command education officers will be associated with this review, and commanding officers and others concerned with the application of the tests will have an opportunity of expressing their views.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statistics available indicating the average interval of time between arrest and trial in cases tried by courts-martial since the outbreak of war, and between a finding of guilty and promulgation of sentence?

I regret that the information required is not readily available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of labour.

asked the Minister of Labour what attempts were made by representatives of his Ministry during the three months ended 15th February, 1941, to get in touch with able-bodied men in casual wards within the South Midland area with a view to their being placed in war work; what action has been taken since that date; and whether he is now able to make a statement as to his review, in consultation with the Minister of Health, of the arrangements for putting inmates of casual wards into work of national importance and for the exercise of compulsory powers when necessary?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available; with regard to the second part of the Question the position is as indicated in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 19th February. As regards future action, the review of the present procedure, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, is not yet completed and I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the inadequate use now being made of the Supplementary Register, he will give further publicity to the scope of this register, and will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the addresses of the various branches of the register and the number of applicants and vacancies registered, and of vacancies filled through the register, distinguishing between male and female applicants in fillings?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th March, Columns 991 and 992, Volume 369] supplied the following statement:—The offices at which the Supplementary Register is kept are—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has inquired into the allegation of Mr. J. C. Hoar, of 15, Central Road, Crombie, near Dun-fermline, particulars of which have been sent him by the hon. Member for West Fife, concerning alleged breaches of agreement arising from his transference from the War Department's service to that of the Naval Ordnance Department; and whether any steps will be taken to remove Mr. Hoar's cause of complaint?

My right hon. Friend has sent the hon. Member a full exposition of this case, and there is nothing I can add. My right hon. Friend does not consider that Mr. Hoar has any legitimate ground for complaint.

asked the Minister of Information, whether the fortnightly periodical is issued from every regional office in the country and what is the cost?

No, Sir. Two regions only have had fortnightly periodicals; one other has had a weekly, and one has issued a regional bulletin at irregular intervals. The average cost per issue is £7. They are now being discontinued.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that an organisation calling itself the British Association for International Understanding is offering its bulletin on Poland at special rates for distribution to units of His Majesty's Forces, schools, etc.; that this survey consists of attacks on a neutral country, the Union of Soviet and Socialist Republics; and whether the material contained therein has been submitted to the Ministry in view of its possible effect on international relations?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The Association is under no obligation to submit its publications to the Ministry of Information so long as it observes the rules of the Censorship.

asked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the memorandum on the air-raid defences of Great Britain now being distributed to members of Ministry of information committees contains matter which has been the subject of controversy from time to time in the House of Commons; and whether he will take steps to cease the circulation at public expense of documents which, in part, are a political defence of a Minister?

I do not understand my hon. Friend's objection to this document, which has been distributed to members of the Ministry of Information's committees to assist them in answering questions on the subject of air raids. I can find nothing in it which can possibly be described as political defence of a Minister.

asked the Minister of Information, what is the approximate total cost of the production, publication and circularising of the various Press summaries issued in the different regions of the country under the supervision of his Department?

It has not been possible, in the short time available since this Question was put down, to complete the inquiries necessary to answer it in full, but I will communicate to my hon. Friend the information asked for as soon as it is received.

asked the Minister of Information why it has not yet been possible to grant permission for the German monthly, "Die Wahrheit," to make its appearance?

In view of the prevailing paper shortage there are insufficient grounds to justify the publication here of a periodical in German in addition to the daily newspaper in German—"Die Zeitung"—which, as the right hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware, has been appearing since 12th March.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the report of the special officer deputed to inquire into the working of the inland waterways of Britain will be laid before the House and will be open to discussion?

Mr. Pick has been appointed to conduct an investigation and report to me. I do not think that it would be appropriate for his report to be laid before the House.