asked the Minister of Economic Warfare what steps are being taken to prevent the passage of goods to France from all overseas destinations; and whether he will give an assurance that there will be no weakening in the blockade as a result of German pressure on the Vichy Government?

Ships carrying unnavi-certed cargo for France are liable to be intercepted by our patrols, and a number of ships entering the Mediterranean with such cargoes have been intercepted. As a result of discussions between the United States Government and the French Government which have been carried on in consultation with His Majesty's Government it has been agreed that the American Red Cross should send two gift cargoes of flour to Unoccupied France. His Majesty's Government have agreed to issue navicerts for these two ships. This flour is intended only for Unoccupied France. Its distribution there will be under effective American control, which will ensure that it is consumed in that area. The French Government for their part have given to the United States Government an undertaking that no similar or equivalent foodstuffs will be exported from the unoccupied to the occupied zone. The agreement of His Majesty's Government to these two shipments of flour does not, of course, imply that under present conditions they would be prepared to issue navicerts for the import into France of other supplies.

Does my right hon. Friend consider that the French Government are in any position to give a guarantee that the food will not be sent to Germany? Is he aware that in three weeks in December-January last, 200,000 tons of merchandise were landed at Marseilles, and can he give an assurance that that sort of thing will not be permitted in the future, as a great part of it is certain to reach Germany?

The guarantee given by the French Government that these particular shipments will not pass to Germany is to be subject to supervision by an American Commission in Unoccupied France. The other matters raised by my hon. Friend arise, I think, in connection with a later Question.

Does not this relieve the Germans of their obligation to feed France?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it can be denied that these two consignments will actually help Germany?

That is a matter for argument.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the weapon of blockade is only useful if it is applied ruthlessly?

Yes, Sir.

In view of the fact that this is a very important matter, may I ask whether it is proposed to confine the decision to this isolated instance, or are there to be further provisions? Does the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that this may have the effect of prolonging the war?

So far, the information I have given to the House is complete. Pending any further consultations or discussions, the agreement of His Majesty's Government is limited to the two particular shipments which I have named in my answer. That is where we stand to-day.

In consequence of the very great shortage of food in some parts of France, does the right hon. Gentleman think that they will be able to send any of that food away themselves?

May I have an answer to my question as to whether this does not relieve Germany of an obligation which is theirs in view of their hold on the country?

I think my hon. Friend understands the facts as well as I do. The conclusions to be drawn from them are a matter for debate.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is satisfied that the imports received by unoccupied France from French North Africa are not used by the enemy; and whether he has any information as to the nature and quantity of such imports?

A proportion of the imports into unoccupied France from French North Africa is undoubtedly made over to the enemy. Complete particulars of Such imports are not available, but they are known to include considerable quantities of foodstuffs.

May I ask my right hon. Friend what steps he has taken to prevent this sort of thing going on, and whether it is not a fact that 200,000 tons of goods, a great part of which went to Germany, were permitted to enter Marseilles, in three weeks in December and January, and is this sort of thing going to be tolerated by the Government?

The figures that my hon. Friend referred to were published, I think, in a paper called "Le Semaphore," and if it is true, as that paper stated, that 289,000 tons of cargo did arrive at Marseilles from all destinations during all that period, my hon. Friend will realise that the phrase "all destinations" includes the North African ports. As long ago as July last, I informed the House, in a Reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson), that since France fell out of the war certain consequences were obvious in the Western basin on the Mediterranean which, while France was our Ally, was looked after by the French naval patrol.

Way I ask whether this leakage in the blockade is designed, or is it unavoidable?

That is a rather general question. The Question I was asked related to the question of the Western basin, with regard to which I think my hon. Friend will have understood the sense of the answer I have given that since France fell out of the war the Western basin has presented peculiar difficulties.

Has the atention of the Government been drawn to the facts he mentioned a few moments ago, namely, as to the food from the French Colonies going to Germany instead of going to France to relieve the situation there?

The Government are well aware and have information to show that a certain proportion of these imports does reach the enemy.

If the Vichy Government have any exportable surplus coming in from Northern Africa, why is there any reason why we should allow other goods to go in from America?

The term "exportable surplus" is strictly to be used in regard to French North Africa—from which these exports come. It is not to be used in respect of unoccupied France as a whole. They have not got an exportable surplus in this same sense in normal times.

Is it not a fact that if the French Government are able to pass on to Germany goods which they export from Northern Africa, there can be no reason why we should allow goods to go into them?

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that British sailors lose their lives only for politicians to break the blockade they have made?

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he has anything further to report in regard to Russian imports through Vladivo-stock for re-export to Germany; and whether these are now diminishing?

Sales to Germany of goods imported by the U.S.S.R. on their own account are very small. Direct transit trade to Germany by the Trans-Siberian Railway remains, however, I regret to say, substantial. Moreover, as I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Rear-Admiral Beamish) on 28th January, there is a constant danger that abnormal Soviet imports, even though not themselves re-exported, may release for export to Germany corresponding quantities of Soviet products.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he is aware that in August, 1940, there was imported into Japan seven times as much ordinary petrol as in August, 1939; that the extraction from this petrol of aviation spirit defeats the United States of America ban on the export to Japan of 87 octane fuel; and whether he has taken any action or made any representations to the United States of America Government on this matter?

No figures for Japanese imports are published by the Japanese Government. Figures published by the United States Government show that exports to Japan of motor and aviation spirit combined were about 13,000 tons in August, 1940, compared with about 2,500 tons in August. 1939. It is, of course, possible for spirit rated below 87 octane to be brought up to aviation grade by the addition of tetra-ethyl of lead. This question has for some time been under discussion between His Majesty's Government and the United States Government.

Is the Minister aware that his facts bear out the suggestion made in the first part of my Question? In view of the enormous amount of ordinary petrol pouring into Japan at the present time and being stored, possibly to our detriment, will he expedite the negotiations with the United States?

My hon. Friend's arithmetic was not quite correct, but I can assure him the matter is very much in our mind.

My right hon. Friend merely quotes the figure of exports from America to Japan, but has he the figures for the exports from the West Indies?

I answered the Question on the Order Paper, but if my hon. and learned Friend wishes to have an answer to another question, I will try and give it to him if he puts it on the Order Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War the result of his promised review of the arrangements for the payment of allowances and allotments to the next-of-kin of men missing from the British Expeditionary Force and North-West Expeditionary Force?

On the death of a soldier, the payment of family and dependants' allowance, and of allotments from his pay, is continued for 13 weeks from the date on which the casualty is notified. When a soldier is missing and his fate remains in doubt, payment is continued for 17 weeks from the date on which he is notified as missing. At the end of these periods the dependants, if eligible, receive a pension or a continuing allowance at pension rates. The most careful consideration has been given to a proposal to extend the period beyond 17 weeks, during which allowances and allotments continue to be paid to the dependants of missing men, and other Departments concerned have been consulted. But it was felt that it would be impossible to make this concession to the families of soldiers who were missing but whose fate remained in doubt, without extending it to the families of soldiers who were known to be dead. For this reason, I regret that I am not prepared to extend the period during which allowances, etc., are continued to the dependants of missing men. The position as regards officers is broadly the same, and the aguments against making a change apply with equal force. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that administrative improvements have recently been made, with a view to preventing any break between the payment of family or dependants' allowance and the payment of a pension or a continuing allowance at pension rates where the dependant is eligible.

May I take it that in future there will be no gap between the termination of the payment of the allowance or allotment and the beginning of the payment of the pension, if the case is eligible for pension?

That is the object of the administration.

asked the Secretary of State for War what rent is being paid per annum by the War Office for the land belonging to the National Rifie Association at Bisley; and the approximate acreage?

The required information is being obtained from the Command, and I will communicate with ray hon. Friend as soon as it is received.

If the information reveals a state of things which justifies him in doing so, will my right hon. and gallant Friend put it before the High Court, so that a Judge may see whether there is a prima facie case of waste and extravagance?

I think I had better get the information first.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that four soldiers and non-commissioned officers were refused service at Gibbons' Café, High Street, Watford, on 7th March, the reason adduced being that only officers could be served there; and whether he will take steps to make known to the proprietor of this establishment and the catering trade generally that discrimination as between officers and other ranks cannot be tolerated.

It appears that some misunderstanding has arisen over the reasons why the soldiers in question were refused admittance to the café to which the hon. Member refers. I am informed that the é is normally open to all ranks, but that on the evening of 7th March it had been reserved for a private party by officers, and was, therefore, closed to the general public. There was no question of discrimination against other ranks as such, and any discrimination of this kind would be directly counter to War Office policy.

Is it not the case that the reason for the refusal to serve these rain-drenched soldiers was that a party of officers was going to use the restaurant? Can the Minister conceive of the restaurant owner refusing to serve four officers if they had come in such conditions?

I do not accept that suggestion at all. I have given the full facts. It is quite clear that if a restaurant owner wishes to allow his premises to be reserved on any occasion by a party, he is entitled to.

Would that restaurant proprietor have refused to serve four officers who were rain-drenched and suffering from cold, as these men were?

Is it not perfectly clear that if a party of soldiers may take a restaurant, officers are equally entitled to do so?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers and men holding acting rank who arc struck off the strength of their units on account of wounds or injuries received in action, will be permitted to retain their acting rank with appropriate pay and allowances during the period they are recovering from their wounds or injuries?

I am about to issue instructions that officers and other ranks who are wounded while holding any higher-paid acting or temporary rank may retain such rank while unfit for up to three months from the date of their removal from duty on account of wounds.

asked the Secretary of State for War the decision he has arrived at with reference to an inquiry into the conditions on board the Motor Ship "Ettrick," when internees were being sent to Canada; or whether he intends to proceed by court-martial?

The majority of the complaints about the conditions on board relate to accommodation and to the discomfort which arose as a result of overcrowding. As it was essential that the ship should be filled to capacity, the accommodation of passengers was necessarily restricted, and some discomfort was, I regret to say, inevitable. No complaint of general ill-treatment, brutality, or indiscipline on the part of the military escort, however, has been received, and, although there may have been some evidence of unsympathetic treatment by individuals, I am satisfied that it is not of such a nature as to warrant trial by court-martial.

Have complaints not been made about lack of consideration and the failure of officers responsible to go down and find out what the conditions were?

There have been such complaints, but they have been looked into. As the hon. Member knows, in another case the War Office were most anxious to get to the bottom of the complaints. I have done the same in this case, and I am satisfied.

Where complaints have been made against individual men and officers, has any punishment been given?

No, Sir, because the complaints have not been substantiated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the issue, either free or at cost price, of a badge of standard pattern for the use of all ranks of the Home Guard when in civilian dress?

The proposal to make available to members of the Home Guard a badge of approved design to be worn with civilian clothes has been carefully considered by my Department in consultation with the Ministry of Supply, but it was reluctantly decided that the manufacture of such a badge could not be justified in present circumstances in view of the need for conserving metal supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is proposing to take steps to set up a medical organisation for the Home Guard?

Yes, Sir. After consultation with the Central Medical War Committee, it has been decided to appoint an officer with the rank of major to each Home Guard battalion to act as medical adviser to the battalion commander. Medical officers will be non-combatant members of the Home Guard. They will, however, be liable to be called upon for duty in the same way as other members of the Home Guard and will be eligible for the same allowances and financial benefits. In order to avoid interference with local medical facilities, candidates for these appointments must obtain the permission of the local medical war committee, and one of their duties after appointment will be to co-ordinate the available local facilities with the needs of Home Guard units. They will also be responsible for the training of stretcher-bearer squads which it is proposed to establish in Home Guard units together with the requisite number of medical orderlies for employment at aid posts. The organisation of these squads, whose members will retain their normal liabilities as combatant members of the Home Guard, will vary according to the requirements of individual units.

Will this organisation be definitely under the local commanders of the Army Medical Service and really be working in with them as well as with the civilians?

This plan was all co-ordinated after consultation with the Central Medical War Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction that exists, particularly among the smaller boroughs in country districts, at the careless interpretation frequently given by the military authorities to the black-out regulations; and whether, with a view to the safety of the civilian population, a stricter enforcement will be imposed?

I am aware of the importance of this matter, and steps have been taken to impress upon all concerned the importance of complying with the regulations. A recent instruction provides for a systematic inspection of all buildings occupied by troops both shortly after the official time for black-out and periodically during the hours of darkness. Disciplinary action is invariably taken against offenders.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that this complaint applies not only to troops in billets, but also to troops in camps in the neighbourhood of these boroughs?

And will the attention of commanding officers be drawn to camp fires that are lit, to see that the embers are stamped out before black-out occurs?

The troops have to obey the black-out regulations exactly the same as civilians.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend try to have some method put into operation in each town and village so that air-raid wardens and civilians can report to a responsible officer when lights are showing, as the difficulty at present is that no one knows to whom to report, and when complaint is made the Army authorities say they have no power to deal with the matter?

In view of the fact that manoeuvres are beginning all over the country, will my right hon. and gallant Friend send out special orders to the troops in regard to this matter?

indicated assent.

Can the Minister say whether inspections are to be made by the military authorities or whether the Civil Defence bodies have any authority in this matter?

No, Sir; it is the military authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause a statement to be circulated to the Forces that the heavy casualty lists due to reckless Army drivers are a disgrace to the Service; and whether he will make it clear that men in the Service are subject to the same regulations as civilians and are liable to prosecution?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 4th February. Strict instructions have been issued on this subject, and it is, I think, sufficiently well known that drivers of War Department vehicles must observe traffic signals and road signs and must comply with the speeds imposed by law in built-up areas and other special areas where a local speed-limit is in force. A driver who breaks the traffic regulations is liable to prosecution by the police, or to military punishment. In addition, War Department vehicles are subject to restrictions upon speed which do not apply to civilian traffic.

Is the Minister aware that these men are frequently given a driving schedule which makes reckless driving inevitable, and will he make inquiries and satisfy himself on that, as I have it on very good authority; and is he also aware that men are given charge of very powerful and heavy vehicles with very inadequate training?.

The last point is a different one altogether. On the first point, I am quite unaware that these drivers are given schedules which make it necessary for them to drive at a speed greater than that allowed by law, and if my hon. Friend has a case in point, I shall be very glad if he will bring it to my notice.

Will the Minister consider issuing a special Army Order calling attention to the necessity of conforming to civilian regulations by all ranks when driving cars and lorries?

I think the appropriate action has been taken.

Is it not the fact that since special orders have been issued, there has been a good deal of improvement in the Army driving?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether the judge appointed to investigate into the prima facie cases arising out of the Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure will be authorised to receive documentary evidence in addition to that which was before the Select Committee?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give the reasons for which he decided to refer the Report of the Select Committee on Army Camps to a judge of the High Court, rather than to the Law Officers of the Crown or the Public Prosecutor?

The Select Committee did not find that there was a prima facie case that any serious offence had been committed. The Government have decided to ask a judge of the High Court to examine the papers to see if there is such a case. It is considered that a judge would be the most suitable person for the task. The question of procedure will be a matter for discussion with him, and ultimately for him, at a later stage.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give a satisfactory reason for the Government's unwillingness to go into these serious matters, as revealed by the Report of the Select Committee, by means of a public inquiry, and is he aware that the public is insistent that an inquiry should be made at once?

I gave the reasons in replying to the hon. Member on a former occasion.

But they were not satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further steps he has been taking, in view of the progressive diminution of grazing lands in Scotland consequent on the ploughing-up campaign, to make available deer-forest land for grazing and other agricultural purposes?

A circular has been sent to the Agricultural Executive Committees for the Highland districts stressing the importance of seeing that the fullest use is made this year of deer-forest grazing and intimating that I am ready to take possession of any deer forest which cannot be put into full productive use by agreement with the owner. No forest for which stock can be found should be left ungrazed during the coming summer.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in fact, he has taken over any deer forests, and can he give any indication as to how many sheep are at present being grazed on these forests?

The answer to the first part of my hon. and learned Friend's supplementary question is in the affirmative. We have already taken over two deer forests, and, if necessary, for the reasons given in my answer, we are ready to take over more.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the names of these deer forests?

There are the Forest of Killilan, in Ross-shire, and the Forest of Benmore, in Sutherland.

In view of the wide interest of this matter to the agricultural community in Scotland, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has in mind any other action in connection with it?

I think I cannot go beyond the answer I have given.

Have the terms been settled by the existing owners, and can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what they are?

I could not do so without notice,

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that teachers in Scotland have been anxious regarding the lack of emergency supplies of foodstuffs, including chocolate, in schools for schoolchildren in the event of the pupils being detained for several hours in school in consequence of air-raid alarms; whether some equivalent to the English circular 1535 on Air-Raid Precautions for Schools has been issued to schools in Scotland; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

I have no evidence of any anxiety among teachers regarding the lack of emergency rations for children during school hours in the event of air raiding. The provision of such rations for children who might be compelled to stay in school owing to prolonged daylight alerts has not hitherto been considered generally necessary in Scotland, but the question will be kept continually under review. As far as air raid precautions in Scottish schools generally are concerned, I am sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of a memorandum which I have issued on the subject.

Can my right hon. Friend say when that memorandum was issued?

On 10th February.

If I send to my right hon. Friend particulars of cases in Scotland where teachers have provided emergency rations at their own expense, will he look into them?

Yes, Sir.

Does that memorandum contain information which might be useful to other Members of Parliament in other constituencies? If so, will my right hon. Friend send them copies also?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will allow me to consider that. I do not know whether the usual practice in sending out copies is to distribute from the Department or from the Vote Office.

Members are usually asked questions by parents of children with regard to the steps that have been taken.

I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many collieries have set up joint committees for the purpose of dealing with safety questions?

The number is approximately 140.

Is my hon. Friend doing his best to encourage the formation of these committees?

Yes, Sir, we are encouraging their formation. The number of committees has been doubled since the Royal Commission reported.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he proposes to take any further action in connection with the Valley field disaster following the decision of the Dunfermline Sheriff Court?

No, Sir. The decision of the Sheriff Court concludes the legal proceedings under the Coal Mines Act.

In view of the report of the Commission and the fact that 35 lives were lost, what steps is my hon. Friend taking with regard to those responsible for this shameful travesty of the law?

The Mines Department made a recommendation on the matter which was submitted to the court. We have no further responsibility.

:But is not my hon. Friend aware that there is deep feeling among miners following the decision of this court?

The hon. Member seems to be now questioning the decision of the court.

It was a shameful decision.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will take such action as will provide heat and refreshment for miners when they are detained for certain reasons from ascending to the surface at the end of their shift?

If the hon. Member refers to delay in winding men occasioned by enemy action, I would suggest that the matter be raised by discussion between the representative bodies which usually deal with such matters in order that they may investigate the possibilities of providing the warm drinks or other form of refreshment which is suggested in the Question. I have not received any communication from the men in any district on this matter.

Will not my hon. Friend take definite steps to meet this requirement?

I have said that I have not received any communication on the subject from the men.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with the shortage of milk bottles, and what action he intends taking about the matter?

:Despite the appeals that have been addressed to them on this matter, many consumers do not return milk bottles regularly and promptly to their milkmen. This has created difficulties in some sections of the distributive trade. An Order is being prepared which will make persons who are negligent in the handling of milk bottles, or who wilfully appropriate them for wrongful purposes, liable to the penalties of the Defence Regulations.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman put himself into communication with the President of the Board of Education with a view to teachers instructing children not to destroy milk bottles?

Yes, Sir.

A great number of bottles can be found in cemeteries.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend consider some penalty being inflicted on people who strew the roadsides for miles with milk bottles, beer bottles and other kinds of bottles?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the annual consumption of potatoes in Great Britain?

During the period covering the Great Britain Potato Crops of 1929–1940, the average annual supply amounted to 4,500,000 tons, of which 3,500,000 tons were utilised for human consumption. Potatoes required for seed purposes and stock feeding, together with normal wastage which occurred during storage and distribution, accounted for the balance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that large areas of sea off the West Coast of Scotland are frequently richly charged with plankton, that small-scale experiments show that this is readily converted into nourishing food, and that important advances in our knowledge of plankton have been made at the marine laboratory at Millport, he will consider appointing a committee, equipped with the necessary biological and engineering qualifications, to investigate the practicability of large-scale collection of plankton by mechanical separators?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his previous Question on this subject on nth March, in which I indicated that it is not economically practicable to obtain food from this source. In reply to the last part of the Question, I would remind my hon. Friend that committees already exist competent to give further examination to this matter if it were considered desirable.

Is not the normal use of plankton to provide food for fish and consequently the immediate supply of food for human consumption is the fish that feed on the plankton?

It is a very difficult thing to catch plankton, and as fish feed on it, it is more economical to catch the fish and thus get both.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what quantitiy of sugar was used for brewing purposes in the year ended September, 1940; and how does the percentage this represents of sugar normally used for brewing compare with the reduction imposed upon the use of sugar for confectionery and other manufactures?

The year ended 30th September, 1940, included a period when sugar was not rationed, a period when sugar was allocated to the brewing industry on the basis of 70 per cent. of pre-war usage and a period when the percentage allocation was 60 per cent. The figures of sugar usage for that year would accordingly be misleading. The brewing industry is now rationed to 60 per cent, of its pre-war sugar usage; this compares with a percentage allocation of 60 per cent. to the chocolate industry and 50 per cent. to the sugar confectionery industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can make a statement as to the financial position of the Equalisation Fund?

The annual accounts of the Exchange Equalisation Account are submitted confidentially to the Public Accounts Committee. This is an old standing arrangement and I cannot go beyond it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether salaries paid to His Majesty's Ambassadors in Foreign countries are subject to British Income Tax?

Yes, Sir, but expenses allowances are not, since they represent provision for the expenses connected with the Ambassadors' duties and are not emoluments.

Are we to understand that the salaries paid to Ambassadors are or are not subject to tax?

I said "Yes, Sir." That means that they are.