asked the Under secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government is satisfied with the draft Workmen's Compensation Ordinance in Nigeria and when is it proposed to enact it; and whether, on enactment, immediate steps will be taken to bring the Ordinance into operation?

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second, the Governor of Nigeria informed my Noble Friend last month that the Bill was presented to the Legislature in January and was referred to a Select Committee, and that he had every hope that it would be possible to enact this legislation at the next meeting of the Legislative Council. Further inquiry regarding the position is being made. With regard to the concluding part of the Question, assuming that the Bill is enacted at the time mentioned by the Governor, it is anticipated that it should be possible to bring the Ordinance into operation early next year.

:In view of the very long time that this Ordinance has been before the Nigerian Government, will every effort be made to speed up the enactment of the Bill, and also to see that when the Ordinance is put upon the Statute Book it is operated, because there is considerable discussion about delaying tactics?

Every effort will be made to see that the Ordinance is carried out.

asked the Under secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of African dissatisfaction with the appointment of British inspectors of police in Nigeria, it is proposed in future to afford Africans the opportunity of appointment as inspectors?

In general the opportunities for replacing British by African staff have recently increased. I am not fully informed of the position as regards the superior posts in the Nigerian Police; but I am asking the Governor for a report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient motor transport to clear the docks at Glasgow, so that ships are not delayed in the discharge of their cargoes?

I am satisfied that there is at present no shortage of road vehicles for this purpose.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether there is a shortage of road vehicles at Liverpool?

That is entirely a different question.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent lack of warehouse accommodation in the Glasgow area is retarding the clearance of docks and delaying the turn round of ships?

Lack of storage accommodation in the Glasgow area is not at present retarding quay clearance or delaying the turn-round of ships; but the present reserve is insufficient to meet possible demands, and further suitable accommodation is being sought. An officer was recently appointed in South-West Scotland to see that the best use was made of suitable premises.

In view of the fact that there is no shortage of motor vehicles, warehouses or storage accommodation and that Glasgow dockers are putting in a hard day's work, clearing as quickly as possible, can the Minister say what is holding up the turn-round of ships?

A lot of "things besides unloading and loading come into the holding-up of ships. I am responsible only for that side of the picture.

Will the Minister investigate the statements which have been made that private railway agreements with the docks are very heavily retarding the unloading and return of ships?

I can answer that straight away. That is not so.

Can the Minister say to what extent the Customs authorities are holding things up?

I do not think that is for me to answer.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend make further inquiries, as his answers do not tally with what shipowners say about that area?

Certainly, Sir.

When the Minister says it is not for him to answer questions of this kind, and when we are informed by other Ministers that it is not for them to answer, can we be told who is to answer?

If the hon. Member raises a Question about the Customs, no doubt the Chancellor of the Exchequer would reply.

But when there is delay in clearing docks, and when everybody knows there is serious congestion at the principal docks, why do Ministers constantly "pass the buck" from one to another? Cannot we get some clear explanation of the position? Who is responsible? Is it the Government?

Is it more important for the Minister to protect the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Customs Department than it is to inform the House of an important reason why the turn-round of ships is delayed?

Is not the Minister aware that the position in Glasgow is well known to any ordinary observer? Will he not take some interest in this matter himself and put it right?

The position in Glasgow is not at all bad. It is probably as good as in any other of the Western ports. I refuse to be responsible for answering for the whole policy of the Government. I am in charge of my Department only, and if hon. Members want to question the whole position of the docks in a general sense, they must address a Question to the Prime Minister.

Will the Minister deny categorically that there is a private agreement between the L.M.S. and the L.N.E.R. at the Shieldhall Docks?

Is the Minister aware that it is alleged that we are working on an entirely peace-time basis?

Is it deliberate that we should be eternally deceived?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that potato growers in England are in dire need of seed from Scotland, and that they are prevented from getting that seed, for land already prepared, by the refusal of railway companies in Scotland to accept consignments of such seed potatoes from Scotland; and whether he will take the matter up with the railway companies?

I am informed that in view of the large tonnage of seed potatoes to be transported from Scotland to England this year and the pressure on the railway facilities, arrangements were made in agreement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food for seed potatoes consigned to certain counties in England and Wales to be sent by coastal shipping. Consequently an embargo was placed upon the forwarding by rail from Scotland of seed potatoes for these destinations.

Is the Minister aware that there is some doubt as to the amount of coastwise shipping available? Will he make inquiries to ascertain whether there is any shipping and into the fact that at least two great companies are quite willing to extend consignments of seed potatoes but that other railways have refused?

I will make further inquiries, but I understand from my right hon. Friend who is in charge of shipping that there is no trouble about taking seed potatoes. On the rail side, we are carrying over 2,000 tons a night.

Will the Minister make further inquiries into the west coast shipping?

Certainly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the London Midland and Scottish and London and North Eastern Railway companies in Scotland have been instructed to refuse consignments of seed potatoes for certain counties in England; and under what circumstances, and by what authority, this has been done?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on a similar Question on this subject which has been given to-day by my right --hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the Minister of Information whether, when the German broadcasts quote the words of British subjects and name them in those broadcasts, he will send a transcript of the broadcast to the persons named?

Yes, Sir. I am arranging that the suggestion contained in my hon. Friend's Question shall be adopted so far as it is practicable.

the Minister of Information whether he is aware of the injury to our united war effort arising out of the propagation on the British Broadcasting Corporation, in war-time, of highly controversial political doctrines which many men and women are unwilling to receive; whether he is aware of the growing misuse for this purpose of the religious talks, preceding the 8 a.m. news, by anonymous speakers claiming the support of high authority in the churches for their views; and whether he will take power to control this abuse of public confidence?

It is the policy of the B.B.C. to permit a fair balance in the free expression of all opinions except those which are opposed to the national war effort. Steps have recently been taken to ensure that religious talks receive the same general scrutiny as is applied to other broadcasts.

Will the Minister, in the interest of fixing responsibility, take powers to prevent anonymity in broadcasts?

That is another question. On certain occasions it might be desirable that a speaker should be known, and in others it might be desirable that he should not be known, but I will look into the matter.

Will the Minister say what are the qualifications of the gentlemen who go over the religious broadcasts?

The people looking over them have hitherto been looking over other broadcasts. It is not considered desirable that politics should enter into religious broadcasts, and the point of the supervision is to ensure that they should not.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that two of these broadcasts have advocated two political schemes which have been condemned by annual meetings of the British Labour party?

Will the Minister assure the House that the B.B.C. will do nothing to frustrate the general desire in this country that the world after the war shall not return to the parlous state that it was in before?

asked the Minister of Information what steps he proposes to take to reconstitute the British Broad casting Corporation Board of Governors?

:I am not yet in a position to make any statement on this matter, which is under immediate consideration, and I hope to be able to make a statement next week.

asked the Minister of Information whether, after Press material it is proposed to publish has been submitted to a Service censor for voluntary censorship, and a request made that such matter should not be published on the ground of its potential value to the enemy, the Government have taken power compulsorily to prevent publication?

No, Sir

Will the Minister consider the desirability of taking these powers if information available to the enemy has been published, in view of the present great difficulty of obtaining sufficient facts and evidence for a conviction in the courts?

I have already given very careful consideration in this matter, and I have found how great the difficulties would be in enforcing any compulsory system. I think that far less good will would be obtained from the Press under a compulsory system. On the whole, it has been decided to maintain the present voluntary system, which has worked very well.

asked the Minister of Information why dances are permitted every Saturday in the building of the Ministry of Information?

Because it is the policy of the public service to give reasonable facilities for recreation on official premises for those who under present conditions must remain on the premises over a long period such as a week-end, provided the facilities do not interfere with hours of duty or involve a charge on public funds.

I am all for dances occasionally to help forget the war, but would it not be possible for these dances to be held outside the building? In view of the fact that there are men and women supposed to be working day and night at the Ministry of Information, is it very conducive to good work and concentration that a dance, where there is liquor, should be in progress in the same building?

I do not think that the suggestion of the hon. and gallant Member that dances should be held outside the building is very useful. The only reason for the dances being held in the building is that people are compelled to remain in the building.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these dances cost nothing at all to the State, that in anvcase the lights are on, that the orchestra is provided by a gramophone, and that the questioner is either ill-informed or very mean?

Can the Minister state whether pacifists are allowed to dance?

asked the Minister of Information whether facilities will be afforded for a five-minute broadcast, with full responsibility as to authorship, of the script submitted to the British Broadcasting Corporation, on Tuesday, 25th March, 1941, a copy of which has been forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Hastings?

It is for the B.B.C. to decide whom they will invite to broadcast, but I shall be happy to use my good offices with the Corporation on behalf of my hon. Friend

(By Private Notice) asked the Minister of Information whether, in order to keep the Yugoslav people informed of developments and to encourage their resistance to their Government's policy of surrender, the B.B.C. will temporarily cut down other European broadcasts and devote several hours a day to broadcasts in Serbo-Croatian?

The B.B.C. have already increased their Serbo-Croat time period from 45 to 70 minutes, and a further 10 minutes are about to be added. This will provide six regular periods of news and talk, which is the same amount as is given in the Home Service. The number of available Serbo-Croat experts in England is limited, and it is more a question of lack of staff than of available time; it must, however, also be remembered that any alteration of the European schedule, for however short a time, inevitably leads to a loss of regular listeners in other countries. I am inquiring whether it may be possible to extend still further the time devoted to broadcasts to Jugoslavia.

Is it not a fact that in all these other countries the assurance that for the time being, in the hope of saving one more country from coming under Hitler, we have cut down the time normally devoted to them will be readily accepted, and that there is a considerable number of Serbo-Croats in this country who have put in for jobs at the B.B.C. in the past and who could be got at this moment?

The suggestion will be borne in mind. We are doing all we can to find the necessary number of people who can speak the language. The Secretary of State for India, who includes a knowledge of this language among his many attainments, is broadcasting to the Serbo-Croat people to-night.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the transmissions to which he has referred are on short waves only and that short-wave receivers in Serbia are practically non-existent; and that owing to the failure of the Government to establish medium-wave stations in Cyprus, Malta and Gibraltar, no medium-wave transmissions from this country ever reach that part of the world? We have, therefore, left an open field to Germany to enforce the Axis views on the whole of the Balkans. Is it impossible for the Government to establish stations in Cyprus such as I recommended eight months ago in a speech in this House?

The hon. and gallant Member is aware that we are steadily doing all in our power to increase the number of transmitters, both in this country and in other parts of the Empire, but it is not always desirable to say where they are and from what wavelength they are going to work. I am satisfied that while the number of short-wave receiving sets in Serbia is limited, the broadcasts we have delivered are widely listened to and are still being listened to by the Serbo-Croat people.

Is it not a fact that under present conditions the whole policy of broadcasting facilities in this country is virtually in the hands of the engineering department of the B.B.C. and that when my right hon. Friend makes good suggestions for expansion they are turned down by the engineering department of the B.B.C. as impossible and that he is obliged to take their decision as final? Has he not some other body to which he can refer for an independent opinion on such a vital subject, and is it fair that the policy of expansion of such an important war weapon as broadcasting should be left in the hands of a B.B.C. department and not really in the hands of my right hon. Friend?

I do not think that the hon. and gallant Member's question arises out of the Question put by special leave of Mr. Deputy-Speaker as one of immediate and urgent interest. If I were to answer it at any length, the House would be compelled to take part in a Debate on broadcasting.

In view of the difficulty that may exist with regard to receiving sets in Serbia, will my right hon. Friend urge the Greeks and also Ankara to broadcast in Serbo-Croat in order that the news from those countries could be heard in Yugoslavia and in order that the great effect which news from those countries would have would penetrate to the people of that country?

:Those countries can broadcast to Yugoslavia, and we are able also to broadcast to Yugoslavia from Cairo and other places.

As a considerable number of people in Yugoslavia speak Albanian, will the right hon. Gentleman consider increasing the Albanian transmissions in the next few days?

With regard to the last reply of my right hon. Friend about the difficulties of obtaining transmitters, after my visit to America eight months ago I informed him that it would have been possible to establish two high-power medium-wave stations immediately in Cyprus, which would have covered the Balkans.

We cannot debate this matter on a Private Notice Question.

asked the Postmaster- General whether he will consider the sale of post-cards to the public at a cheap rate, similar to the field post-cards used by men in the Forces, by which people in bombed areas may be able to communicate quickly with friends and relatives, thus avoiding the present blocking of telegraph and telephone facilities in these areas?

Cards like field post-cards bearing alternative printed phrases would be admissible at 1d. printed paper rate of postage and it is open to private enterprise to provide such cards. The question of providing such cards already stamped for sale at post offices has previously been considered. I understand that there are various difficulties and objections, but I will again look into the question and write to my honourable Friend.

asked the Attorney- General whether his attention has been drawn to a recent county court decision which held that a man conscripted into an industry could not receive the same protection respecting the occupation of a house as a conscripted Service man; and whether, in view of this anomaly, he will take steps to secure that whether a man serves in the Armed Forces or is transferred from his normal work to work of national importance he will receive the same protection respecting house occupation?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that the case to which my hon. Friend refers related to an occupier who was not a tenant in the legal sense and that the court did not decide that such an occupier would, if he had been a person conscripted into the Armed Forces, have enjoyed a protection which is not available to persons conscripted into industry. I am not aware of any legislation now in force which makes such a discrimination.

Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider whether anomalies of this character do not exist, and, if they do, will he consider removing them?

I am not aware of any discrimination existing in the law to-day between the two sets of cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the extreme urgency of the need to increase the benefits payable under the National Health Insurance, in particular, sickness, maternity and disablement benefits; by what amounts it is intended to increase the benefits; and can he make a statement on the matter in view of the urgency?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley (Mr. Collindridge) yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health in what way grants are made to the local authorities because of the high rates; and what amount has been granted?

:Local authorities to whom financial assistance is afforded to enable them to maintain essential services receive, as and when required, monthly advances based on estimates of cash receipts and payments. Except in special circumstances 75 per cent. of each advance is treated as grant, and the remaining 25 per cent. as an interest-free advance, in respect of which the Government retains the right to call for repayment after the war in the light of the financial circumstances then obtaining. The amount advanced to date is £3,859,720.

Would there be any difficulty in publishing in the Official Report the names of the local authorities which receive the money?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary for Mines to what extent canteens, either mobile or stationary, have been provided at the collieries throughout Great Britain; and whether the use made of such canteens is satisfactory?

:Canteen buildings for the service of light refreshments have been provided by the Miners' Welfare Fund at about 220 out of about 1,000 collieries employing more than 50 workers. These are the only colliery canteens of which I have particulars. With very few exceptions they are in satisfactory use. I may add that I am at present in consultation with the Minister of Food regarding special supplies of food to miners which may involve the use of some form of canteen at the other collieries.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government to make a further attempt to bring about a fuller and more complete co-operation between the various important sections of opinion in India in order to increase the war effort in that country?

:The Government, I need hardly say, are most anxious to see such co-operation and have constantly in view the desirability of furthering it, so far as any action on their part can contribute to that end.

In view of the statements of leading statesmen in India, and in view of the fact that as the war nears the East the problem becomes more vital, does the right hon. Gentleman intend to leave the matter where it is at present?

No, Sir; I hope not.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any recent information with regard to a change of view on the part of the Moslem League?

I have no information except a paragraph I have seen in the Press.

Is it not true that all Indians whose co-operation is really of value are already co-operating in the war effort?

Is it not true that there are imprisoned in India many men whose services would be of great value to the war effort?

I hope to have the support of all Indians.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider releasing those Indians who are in prison?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the negotiations which have been proceeding between the War Office and the insurance companies in regard to the premiums payable on life insurance policies by members of the Home Guard; and whether he can say what is the policy of the insurance companies in the matter of premiums payable by policy-holders who are members of the Naval, Military and Air Forces generally?

As the answer is somewhat lengthy, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 10 officers have been removed from Oflag VII. C/H and sent to a Stalag camp in Posen 21/10; and whether he knows of any reason for this transfer to an inferior camp?

Inquiries are being made to ascertain the reason for this transfer.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the continued good treatment of German prisoners in this country depends upon reciprocity?