asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, in towns and villages in South Yorkshire, there is an acute shortage of cigarettes, whilst soldiers and airmen in the same area can usually obtain generous supplies from their canteens; and, in view of the information already sent to him, will he arrange for a more equitable distribution of supplies in favour of the civil population?

I am aware that the demand for tobacco and cigarettes exceeds the available supplies. I am not satisfied that the present distribution is the best that can be arranged, and I am taking special measures to try to ensure that each part of the country gets its fair share. I am satisfied, however, that the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers are not due to disproportionate supplies being allowed to Service canteens.

Is the Minister aware that it is the other way round—that civilians can get cigarettes and the Services cannot?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give consideration to a scheme of registration and rationing of the general public, which retailers themselves have had to introduce, and would he not also consider transferring some of the surplus stocks from the London area to the Midlands and industrial North, particularly Yorkshire?

No, Sir. I am not prepared to consider a scheme of rationing until I am satisfied that other measures are unfruitful.

May I take it that my right hon. Friend does not propose to limit the supply of cigarettes to His Majesty's Forces serving overseas or to sailors serving in His Majesty's ships?

That is quite another question. I am dealing only with supplies in this country.

Is the Minister aware that in certain parts of Yorkshire one can occasionally get higher-priced cigarettes and tobacco, but that there is a great scarcity of the cheaper varieties?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when a letter is submitted to the Trading with the Enemy Branch of the Treasury and Board of Trade for approval, with a view to transmission abroad, and such approval is not given, the reasons for non-approval will be given if requested?

Approval is withheld only if transmission appears to be contrary to the public interest. I can give no assurance that the specific reasons for non-approval will in every case be given.

Is not the Minister aware that if senders of such letters are not informed of where their fault lies they cannot remedy same nor prevent its recurrence?

Is it not generally the custom to give reasons for non-approval?

It is customary, and normally it is so, but not always.

asked the President of the Board of Trade under what Section of the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939, or Regulations thereunder, does an insurance policy taken out in England by a British national on property situated in enemy territory become compulsorily frustrated, since insurers are claiming that such frustration relieves them from refunding to the insuree any proportion of the annual premium paid corresponding to the period from the frustration of the termination of the policy; and does he intend to permit such action to continue?

I do not know whether or not the Question deals with a policy in favour of a British subject resident in enemy territory. In any event the matter would be one of the application of the law to private contracts, with which I cannot deal. I would refer my hon. Friend to the report of the Lord Chancellor's Law Revision Committee (Cmd. 6009) in which the effect of the doctrine of frustration of a contract in English law is examined.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he has any information as to the number of ships arriving and leaving, and the tonnage of goods imported and exported from the port of Marseilles in December, 1940, and January, 1941, according to official French sources; and what proportion of the imports he estimates were requisitioned for German or Italian use?

Figures purporting to be official show that, taking the two months of December and January together, about 450 vessels with a cargo of about 500,000 tons entered, and about 400 vessels with a cargo of about 136,000 tons left, Marseilles. Many of these vessels are small coastal craft and lighters, the average ton- nage of each ship being only 1,200. A large number of reports from a variety of sources leave no doubt that the Germans take their pick of all incoming cargoes which interest them, while the Italians are permitted to take smaller pickings. Nearly all these reports indicate that more than half of such imports are taken by the Axis. Many reports put the proportion as high as 80 percent.

What are the principal commodities that enter enemy countries through this channel?

The principal commodities reported are ground nuts, grain, fruit, early vegetables, fish, eggs, salted casings and skins, and minor quantities of copra, sugar, coffee, cocoa, wool, wine and spirits, mazout oil and pig lead.

Is my hon. Friend taking appropriate steps to stop this sort of thing, even at the risk of annoying Admiral Darlan?

I am constantly in touch with my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty in the matter, and he is being very helpful.

Has any explanation been given by Admiral Darlan or the Vichy authorities of the fact that they are transferring food supplies through Marseilles or elsewhere to Germany when they are begging for supplies of food to be sent by us?

No, Sir. Admiral Darlan has made a large number of statements. They all speak for themselves.

Is it not the case that French ships coming from the French Empire overseas are now allowed to pass unmolested through the Straits of Gibraltar, and is it not about time this was stopped?

I informed the House the other day that a number of interceptions have in fact taken place of ships seeking to enter the Straits, and, as the House is aware, a certain incident connected with such operations was reported yesterday. It is not the case that ships are allowed to pass freely through the Straits. Some interceptions have been made in recent weeks and months.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether, in view of the fact that it has now been disclosed that the alleged gift of wheat by Germany to the Vichy Government was part of a barter arrangement, and that some of the goods which the Vichy Government are to supply to Germany under it are to be imported through Marseilles, he will reconsider his decision to permit two food-ships to pass our blockade to unoccupied France and give no such permission in future?

The omission of the Vichy Government to disclose the facts about this barter deal, when complaining of our blockade, will not, I think, redound to their credit. His Majesty's Government are in communication with the United States Government regarding this affair. They do not feel able to withdraw the pledge given to the United States Government that the two ships already navicerted will be allowed safe passage, but, as I informed my hon. Friend on Tuesday last, 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.

Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to impress upon the United States Government the very strong feeling in this House against any direct feeding of the enemy?

I think that in a democracy it is very healthy that the representatives of the people should speak so clearly.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he has any information as to the figures for the purchase in the United States of America by the Soviet Government in 1938 and 1940 of, respectively, copper, cotton, petroleum and machine tools; and what steps he is taking with regard to these purchases in view of the probable re-export of the commodities to Germany?

According to the United States Government's official statistics, such exports from the U.S.A. to the U.S.S.R. were, in round figures:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue an order that all potatoes served to the troops should be cooked not peeled, thus avoiding waste and preserving the most nutritious part?

I am afraid that my hon. Friend's proposal would mean depriving the troops of an important element of variety in their menu. Steps are already taken, however, to avoid unnecessary waste in the peeling of potatoes. Potato machines which scrape without paring are installed in all large cookhouses, and instruction in scraping by hand is given at all Army schools of cookery and cookery training centres. The subject is also included in the curricula of all the messing officers' training centres.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend see that these things are done as widely as possible?

Does this mean that there will be no potato peels for the feeding of pigs?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements have yet been concluded to safeguard the superannuation rights of nurses serving in the Armed Forces of the Crown?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that voluntary hospital nurses who are called up for duty in His Majesty's nursing services have either to lose a substantial part of their pension benefits by reducing their contributions to the superannuation scheme or to cease the contributions and convert their policy into a paid-up assurance, or to pay contributions usually paid by their hospital as well as their own contributions; and whether, in view of the hardships imposed at present on nurses, he will arrange for the payment by the War Office of the employers' contributions?

I have given careful consideration to the position under the Federated Superannuation Scheme of nurses from voluntary hospitals called up as members of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve or the Territorial Army Nursing Service but I am afraid that it would not be practicable for the War Office to pay the employers' contribution towards superannuation benefits, which had previously been paid by the hospital. I am, however, reviewing the conditions of service in the nursing service, and I hope to be in a position to announce very shortly certain increases in pay which will help to meet the difficulty which my hon. Friends have in mind.

In view of the fact that these negotiations have been going on for over 18 months, can my right hon. and gallant Friend say when he will be in a position to give decisions on the review?

I think the matter is coming to a head now.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make with regard to new arrangements for strengthening the health and welfare of sick members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service?

The facilities for the treatment of sick members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are comparable in all respects to those provided for soldiers, and I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate a detailed statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I asked my right hon. and gallant Friend whether there were any new developments in regard to the health services. Can he say whether, as a Result of the appointment, there are any new proposals?

If my hon. Friend will be good enough to study the report which is to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, she will see what has been done.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that no action which will be financially or materially prejudicial to the present status of the Auxiliary Territorial Service will be countenanced; and that no action will be taken against civilians reporting on conditions in the service through Parliamentary channels?

As regards the first part of the Question, I do not know whether my hon. Friend has any particular proposal in mind, but she may be assured that the interests of the Auxiliary Territorial Service will continue to engage my Department's close and sympathetic attention. With regard to the second part of the Question, I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a misunderstanding which arose out of a long-standing decision to replace civilians by Royal Army Medical Corps women doctors, where available, on the panels formed to examine Auxiliary Territorial Service recruits. As my hon. Friend has since been informed, notice of the termination of their appointments was sent simultaneously to all the civilian members concerned, and there was therefore no question of discrimination against an individual.

What were the difficulties with regard to the payment of civilian doctors referred to in the Under-Secretary's reply to my letter?

The decision to replace civilians by Royal Army Medical Corps personnel was taken partly because the method of payment of civilian doctors was unsatisfactory, and partly for the purpose of economising in medical personnel.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend tell me why the payment of civilian women doctors is unsatisfactory compared with the payment of male civilian doctors?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that Question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among the troops at the unsatisfactory character of Army libraries, particularly at the way in which the best books are retained for the officers' libraries; whether any steps are projected for improving the provision of books for the troops in quality and quantity; and whether the services of trained librarians at present serving in the Army will be utilised for organising these libraries on the best possible lines?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. All units have recently been circularised with a view to ascertaining the types of books for which there is most demand, and there is no reason to suppose that the supply is not satisfactory either in quantity or quality. As regards the reference to officers' libraries, the hon. Member will appreciate that both officers and men have access to the unit library, and the same books are therefore available to all. Officers' mess libraries, where maintained at public expense, do not contain recreational books, but official publications and books of an instructional nature. As regards the last part of the Question, I have no doubt that commanding officers will be glad to avail themselves of offers of assistance in the organisation of unit libraries from trained librarians serving in their units.

Is the Minister aware that complaints in regard to the inadequacy of the libraries provided for the troops are being made not only by serving soldiers? Is it not very desirable that a public request should be made to all librarians to come forward and help?

No complaints of this nature have reached me.

May I ask whether the "best books" referred to include Sir Walter Citrine's report on Soviet Russia?

Is the Minister aware that soldiers have very little access to books which state the nature of the cause for which we are fighting and the horrors of Nazi rule? Will he see to it that the libraries are ever stocked with books of that kind to keep up the morale of the troops?

asked the Secretary of State for War under what conditions officers of the Regular Army are granted honorary rank of a higher grade to their substantive rank on being placed on retired pay; and whether such conditions also apply on retirement to officers of the Regular or Territorial Army Reserve and those who have held emergency commissions provided they have held acting or temporary rank for an inclusive period exceeding six months as in the last war?

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the outcome of discussions which are at present proceeding with the other two Service Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for War how long Mr. Hugh Slater will remain a private in the Army before he is allowed to resume the duties for which his special abilities suit him as lecturer in the War Office school for the Home Guard?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that at this early stage in his training it is not possible to forecast Mr. Slater's future career in the Army.

Is it not a fact that the minimum time required before a man can become an officer is five months, and, as this man has been employed full-time by the War Office as a lecturer to officers of the Home Guard, is it not a waste of his great abilities to allow him to go through the normal process when he could be doing so much better work?

I do not think that any of that necessarily follows. His commanding officer has had his attention drawn to the qualifications of Mr. Slater, and, if he proves otherwise worthy of it, he will no doubt have an opportunity for training.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that that kind of answer will not do at all?

I called the hon. Member because I thought he was going to ask a Supplementary Question.

Would it not be better, where a man is already doing responsible work for the War Office, that he should not become a private just because his military age has been reached, if his work was of real military value beforehand?

The Home Guard is not a reserved occupation, but it is always possible at a later stage to send Mr. Slater back to carry on his duties in the Home Guard.

In view of this man's qualifications, it is absurd—[Interruption.]

Is the Minister not aware that there are large numbers of experienced officers of the International Brigade who are serving as privates in the Army?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has again considered the position of the wives of members of the Armed Forces of the Crown from the standpoint of granting an immediate advance in the Government allowance of 18s. per week to a sum of 25s. per week to a wife, with corresponding advances to other dependants, so as to allow them a better standard of living than that enjoyed by them at the moment?

I am afraid that I am unable to add anything to the answer given to my hon. Friend on 21st January.

In view of the fact that the proficient soldier of to-day must be a skilled man, and that he has no trade union to state his case, and is not able to use economic power to give effect to his demands, and in view of the increased cost of living and general difficulties of their families to meet the needs of life, will the Minister request the Government again to review the case?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether facilities in addition to those which already exist can be offered for the recruitment of Jews abroad for active service in the British Army?

Consideration has been given to the possibility of offering further facilites for the recruitment of Jews abroad for active service in the British Army, but, in view of the present pressure on our resources, especially in the matter of equipment, it is likely to be some time before effect could be given to any such scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men invalided out of the Army on medical grounds arising otherwise than from service within one year of their enlistment for any convenient period?

I am afraid that it would not be in the national interest to disclose this information, since it might be of some value to the enemy.

As the matter is important and there is some dissatisfaction as to medical examinations, perhaps the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me the information in confidence?

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware of the hardship caused by men being invalided out of the Army, sometimes when still in hospital, and hence having their pay stopped before a decision on entitlement to pension has been given, leaving them without resources; and whether he will arrange for pay and allowances to continue in issue until such a decision is given, when, if it be unfavourable, the soldier will usually be entitled to sickness benefit under National Health Insurance?

:Under the arrangements governing the invaliding of soldiers in war-time, the discharge of an invalid now takes effect 28 days after the date of receipt of the approved medical board proceedings by the officer in charge of records concerned, who is responsible for confirming the discharge. The period of 28 days has been fixed, after consultation with the Ministry of Pensions, as giving the Ministry sufficient time to decide whether a non-effective award to the invalid is admissible, and, if it is, to put it into issue immediately after the date of the man's discharge. In the case of a man who is ineligible for a Ministry of Pensions award, the discharge machinery ensures the commencement of any National Health Insurance benefits to which he is entitled from the date following discharge. Should a decision regarding Ministry of Pensions award not have been reached by the date of discharge, owing to some abnormal circumstance, National Health Insurance benefits are issuable from the date following discharge, the Ministry of Pensions award for the period of such issue being abated accordingly when put into effect. There should thus be no gap between the cessation of pay and allowances and the commencement of Ministry of Pensions award or National Health Insurance benefit as the case may be.

On what date was that Regulation brought into force? If it was brought into force recently, is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that complaint still exists and that men are discharged while still in hospital and without resources? Is it not very unsatisfactory to fix a period of 28 days when circumstances vary so much?

I think the arrangement which has been made now will ensure that there is no gap between the cessation of pay and allowances and the beginning of pensions.

Is the decision to be retrospective, in view of cases of hardship which have arisen?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that military vehicles were involved in 526 out of 4,575 road accidents occurring in the West Riding since the outbreak of war up to a recent date; that there are serious complaints as to the driving of such vehicles in the area; and whether he will consider as an alternative to present methods the grant of certificates or other awards to drivers who are accident-free over a period as has been done under the aegis of the Safety First Council for civilian drivers with beneficial results?

As I have indicated on previous occasions, I have been giving serious consideration to the question of reducing the number of traffic accidents in which Army vehicles are involved. Strict instructions emphasising the responsibilities of War Department drivers and the penalties to which offenders are liable have recently been issued, and I would therefore prefer to see if these warnings result in any improvement before pursuing the adoption of a system of awards of certificates to accident-free drivers. But I will certainly bear my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any statement to make regarding the progress of canteens and communal feeding in industrial works and in industrial areas, respectively, in Scotland?

:I have been asked to reply. The number of works canteens is being substantially increased, and firms have been urged to increase facilities at existing canteens. The Chief Inspector of Factories recently discussed in Glasgow the provision of further canteens for shipbuilding yards and steps are being taken to secure them where required. As regards facilities for obtaining meals outside the works, my Department bring to the notice of the Ministry of Food, where necessary, particular industrial areas in which additional facilities appear to be called for.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in certain Government industrial premises which are fitted and equipped with canteens, the canteens are not being used? Has that been brought to his notice?

No, it has not been brought to my notice, but I will certainly look into any case the hon. Member can send me.

In view of the recent experiences on Clydebank, will the hon. Gentleman speed up the provision of communal centres, especially in the industrial areas?

That is a matter for the Ministry of Food.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in certain quarters employers in industrial premises are refusing to do anything in connection with canteens except in so far as they are compelled by Regulations? Will he do his best to bring together employers and trade-union officials for the purpose of having these canteens equipped and brought into operation voluntarily, apart from Regulations?

The information that we have from factory inspectors does not bear out the hon. and learned Member's suggestion.

If I send the hon. Gentleman particulars, will he make inquiries?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some time ago his Chief came to Glasgow and promised speedy action in the matter, but that there is great complaint, particularly among working people, that little if any progress has been made in the provision of this much needed reform?

We appreciate the need, and the progress has been substantial.

Is 'it the responsibility of the Ministry of Food or the Ministry of Labour?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheep were carried by the deer forests of Scot land at the last available date before the war; and what is the corresponding figure for the last available date?

The numbers of sheep returned as grazing on deer forests in Scotland at 4th June, 1939, and 4th June, 1940, were 50,426 and 74,778, respectively.

Is any arrangement being made whereby the number of sheep grazed in deer forests will be enumerated more than once a year?

Yes; additional returns are now being taken as at 4th March, 4th September and 4th December, commencing with the return made on 4th December. That return was made after the summering stocks had been taken off and shows only the permanent stock in the forests. While there are no comparable figures for previous years the December, 1941, figures will enable this year's increase in permanent stock to be assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made with muirburning on the graz- ing portions of the deer forests in Scotland; whether special steps are proposed to be taken; and, if so, by what date?

No information is available as to the extent to which muirburning has been carried out on deer forests in Scotland this year. Proprietors have the right to make muirburn on their lands up to 30th April, or in the case of deer forests more than 1,500 feet above sea level up to 15th May. Tenants have the right under Defence Regulation to burn within the same periods subject to certain conditions. In addition, agricultural executive committees may issue compulsory directions in respect of muirburning when they think it necessary or expedient for the purpose of increasing or maintaining food production.

In view of the fact that deer forests are now the main reservoir for the grazing of additional sheep, will my hon. Friend see to it that arrangements are made to push forward muirburning as quickly as possible during the remaining available weeks of the spring, and so make the earliest possible provision for the growth of young heather on which the sheep feed?

I have no doubt that the agricultural executive committees are keeping a close watch on that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider making an Order for the duration of the lambing season, causing all persons out with dogs on lands where sheep graze, or on adjacent unfenced roads or lands, to hold their dogs securely on a lead, so that vital food production will not be impaired?

My right hon. Friend has no power at present to make an Order of the kind suggested, and while he is not without sympathy for the object sought to be attained by my hon. Friend, the matter is not free from difficulty. My right hon. Friend will, however, consider my hon. Friend's suggestion in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that thousands of tons of turnips have gone to waste in Dumfriesshire because the sheep that they were intended to feed have been immaturely slaughtered; and what does he propose to prevent a recurrence of this happening?

If the hon. Member will be good enough to give my right hon. Friend more precise particulars of the locality in which the waste referred to in the Question is said to have occurred, he will have immediate inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the indiscriminate slaughter of cattle in Scotland at a time when new grass is appearing and that as a consequence farmers are left with grass and no cattle to consume it; and will he undertake to consult Scottish farmers with a view to eliminate this waste?

My right hon. Friend has received no evidence whatever of indiscriminate slaughtering of cattle in Scotland, but if the hon. Member has any specific instance in mind, my right hon. Friend will be glad if he would supply me with particulars.

Does my hon. Friend know anything at all about the agricultural interests in Scotland, since he seems to be seeking all the information from me?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can now indicate the result of the meeting in Glasgow, on 19th March, of the coalowners and the National Union of Scottish Mineworkers, for the adoption of a policy of 100 percent. organisation in Scotland?

After discussing at length with the representatives of the Scottish colliery owners and of the National Union of Scottish Mine Workers the question of 100 percent. unionism in Scottish collieries, I have recommended to the parties the following solution, which they undertook to submit to their constituents:

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the manager of Shettleston Co-operative Society, Limited, telephoned Mr. Alexander, of the Mines Department at Glasgow, complaining of the failure of his society to secure their proper supply of coal, informing him that the society had approached the hon. Member for the Shettleston division on the subject; that Mr. Alexander informed him that he could now depend upon the hon. Member for Shettleston for the coal supply, and refused to discuss the matter further; and whether he will inquire into Mr. Alexander's conduct with a view to his removal from this position?

I have made inquiries into this matter, without, however, any very satisfactory result, except to show conclusively that Mr. Alexander was not personally concerned, being away at a committee meeting on 18th March at the time that the telephone call is said to have been made. Such information as I have been able to obtain does not correspond with the account of the incident given by the hon. Member, and I see no need for further action over what at the worst was only a little telephone argument by an officer working under great strain to maintain coal supplies in difficult circumstances.

May I ask whether there is still the right in this country for traders to approach Members of Parliament to try and get a redress of their grievances; has anybody in the Department in Glasgow the right to resent an application being made to a Member of Parliament, and should the Department not extend courtesy instead of resentment?

It is certainly my wish that Members of Parliament should make representations about any difficulties brought to their notice, and I do not think any official statement has been made on behalf of the Department in Glasgow that shows resentment at the part played by the hon. Member or anybody else.

Will the hon. Gentleman draw attention to the fact that this complaint has been made, and will he also inquire into whether the society can have their proper share of coal?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that urban district councils which purchase electricity in bulk from large electricity undertakings are seriously concerned at the increasing price of coal to these bodies; and whether he can explain the reasons for the maximum price of coal rising from 17s. 10d. per ton in 1936 to 26s. 11d. in 1941, as the average cost of coal on which the Lancashire Electric Power Company base the price of its bulk supplies to the urban district councils in its area?

The price of coal to electricity undertakings has not been increased since the war to any greater extent than to other consumers. About half the increase in price referred to by my hon. Friend took place between 1936 and the outbreak of war. Increases since then have only taken place under the authority of my Department, and have been due to such causes as increases in miners' wages and in transport and other costs. The cost of coal to Lancashire electricity undertakings has also been increased to some extent by the necessity of obtaining additional supplies of coal from Northumberland. In any case the figures mentioned by my hon. Friend are, as he states, maximum prices and are somewhat higher than the corresponding averages.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman do something to secure that the local authorities get their coal from collieries nearer to them where the men are not fully employed?

That is a difficult matter to arrange. Everybody wants to have coal from the nearest colliery, but having regard to questions of quality and supply it is not quite as simple as that. Coal must be sent into Lancashire, which consumes more than half the coal it produces, and more than half its coal consumption must be taken from outside coalfields.

Is the increased price comparable to the increased price to retail consumers?

There are prices fixed, and they are fixed with the knowledge of all parties.

Does not my hon. Friend think that 17s. 10d. for coal in 1936 was far too low?

That is another side to the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the letter, dated 19th March, from the general secretary, Fire Brigades Union, regarding inadequate compensation for injuries to auxiliary firemen C. E. J. Palmer and W. H. Garrett, of the London Fire Service, and to other firemen in similar circumstances; and whether he has any statement to make?

Apart from a small sum which I understand was by inadvertence not paid in one of these cases but will now be paid, these two men received pay for the maximum period to which they were entitled under the improved injury pay conditions introduced last November. It would not, I regret, be possible to give retrospective effect to those conditions, as the Fire Brigades Union suggest in their letter, so as to cover all cases of incapacity arising from"war service injury" since the beginning of the war.

In view of the considerable feeling that has been aroused among firemen about these cases, has any further attempt been made to meet the representations of the men to see whether an improvement can be effected?

I think that the hon. Gentleman will agree that the concessions were valuable ones, and that when improvements in conditions are made almost invariably anomalies and hardships arise. A date had to be determined and a date was determined, and I am afraid there can be no variation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now satisfied that the rescue and demolition squads in Glasgow should be restored to their former strength?

My right hon. Friend would require further evidence that an increase of the number of whole-time men at present authorised and maintained is needed. The city authorities have been urged over a period of several months to take steps to recruit part-time volunteers whose services would be available to supplement the whole-time men in case of need. As yet, however, no effective measures have been taken to this end.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that such steps were taken and that the feeling is widespread in Glasgow that many of the 640 people who lost their lives there might have been rescued had it not been for the reduction of the service by 500 of the personnel originally set up?

I am not aware that any steps were taken to recruit part-time rescue parties. What can be done is to train first-aid parties in rescue work, which goes far to solve the difficulty.

Will the Minister accept my assurance as a member of the local authority that steps were taken? If the steps failed, that is no answer. I want to ascertain whether the Minister is prepared to restore the strength authorised by the Home Department with paid full-time personnel in Glasgow.

It is difficult to believe that Glasgow cannot recruit any part-time rescue party workers, in view of the results that have been achieved in many other parts of the country.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the reason for the absence of mobile canteens when the Clvdeside air-raids took place on 13th and 14th March; is he aware that the military had to be appealed to in order to secure such canteens as they could spare; and will he take steps in order to provide such equipment for future use?

I have been asked to reply. The inquiries I have made do not indicate that there was any shortage of mobile canteens and the appeal for Military assistance, was, I understand, primarily for field kitchens to provide cooking facilities.

If statements are made by people on the spot that there was a complete absence of mobile canteens and that they had to appeal to the military, who generously gave them assistance, does the hon. and gallant Member say that those statements are completely untrue?

Oh no, but there is a difference between a mobile canteen and a field kitchen, and I think the hon. Member is not unnaturally confused between field kitchens and the mobile canteens which were in the area the day after the first raid. I think there were 17 on the first day and that the number rose to 40. Those were mobile canteens.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say where those mobile canteens came from, if they were on the spot or had to come from outside?

If we keep mobile canteens on the spot and an area is badly bombed they tend to become immobile. Those canteens came from, I think, Edinburgh, Dundee and other places outside the Clydeside area.

asked the Home Secretary his reason for issuing a statement on the Clydeside air-raids of 13th and 14th March in which the figure of 500 persons were stated to have been killed; and will he now give the latest figures of killed and injured, respectively, giving men, women and children separately, and number of houses destroyed or uninhabitable?

The Ministry of Home Security issue each month particulars of air-raid casualties during the preceding month. It is often difficult after a severe raid to ascertain the casualties with accuracy, and for this reason monthly casualty figures are given which have been carefully checked by reference to the reports from Civil Defence sources, hospital returns, etc. These figures are as accurate and reliable as it is possible to make them. In view of the nature of the attacks in the Clyde area on the nights of 13th and 14th March, it was impossible in the early stages to obtain definite figures of the casualties incurred; and the first reports received indicated, as stated in the communiqu é s issued immediately afterwards, that though the attacks had been heavy the casualties, though serious, were not expected to be numerous. As soon as it appeared that the casualties were heavier than had at first been anticipated, a communiqu é was issued on 18th March giving the latest figures, as reported by the Scottish authorities.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the part of the Question which asks for the numbers of men, women and children respectively?

No, Sir, I do not think we have that information in any case, and if we had, I should have to consider whether it is desirable to give it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the announcement of 500 as the number killed caused great resentment in the Clydeside area, many people knowing there were many more killed; and does he not think it better, if a figure is to be stated, that it should be nearer the facts, and so prevent the spreading of statements which put the number of killed at 5,000 or 6,000? Surely it is better to have no figure or the real figure.

I do not think that the hon. Member can be familiar with what conditions are in our Civil Defence organisation in the middle of a "Blitz" itself. There are very great difficulties to meet, and really more important things to be done at that moment. I am only concerned with the figures. We gave them fairly on the information which was supplied to us by the local authorities, and I want to assure the House that we act genuinely in these matters, and should strongly resent any suggestion that there was any bad faith on our part.

Why give a figure at all?

Is the Minister aware that there would have been no resentment and no feeling if no figure had been issued till a later date? Can he tell us who is responsible locally for collecting these figures and for making such a statement?

As to the statement, the responsibility is mine. The collection of the figures is a responsibility of the local authorities, passing up to the Minister of Home Security. If there have been statements giving figures by municipal representatives locally, they have done wrong. They have no right to give any figures whatever. The only reason why figures have been given in this exceptional cast-is that the original figure was misleading by indicating that the casualties were lighter than they were. That was resented on Clydeside, and I thought it only fair that some further figures should be given; but this is entirely an exceptional case and I hope that it will not be regarded as a precedent.