asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there are no shelters of any kind for a large number of persons in an area of which he has been informed; that representations have frequently been made by the local committee without any satisfactory result; and whether he can say where tenants are to go for shelter in this area in the event of an air-raid, as strutted closes have proved to be death traps for a large number of persons?

I am informed by the regional authorities that in the area in question accommodation has been provided in various forms of shelter for 47,927 out of a total population of this area of 49,500, that is 96.7 per cent. of the total. In view of recent experiences we cannot accept the suggestion that strutted closes have proved to be death-traps.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that certain proprietors of tenement property in Scottish towns are refusing to supply ladders and other equipment necessary for the fighting of fire; and whether, under the War Damage Act, failure to do their duty in these respects will be penalised by reducing, or nullifying, their rights to the statutory compensation?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that there have been certain difficulties. There is, however, no obligation upon proprietors of tenement property to supply equipment for fire prevention purposes. It is the duty of local authorities, who have been directed under the Defence Regulations, to make fire prevention arrangements in the residential parts of their areas and it is clearly in the interests of owners of property that they should cooperate in these arrangements to the fullest possible extent.

asked the Home Secretary whether a decision has yet been reached in the case of Humbert Figueras, at present in Brixton prison; and, in view of the fact that this man appeared before the Advisory Committee on 2nd January,, and is still ignorant of the cause of his detention, and has not been informed of the decision of the Home Secretary, whether anything will be done to expedite the matter?

My right hon. Friend has decided, after considering all the circumstances and the report of the Advisory Committee, to authorise this man's release from detention, and instructions have been given accordingly.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the number of children killed and injured respectively since 1st January last, in the different districts of Manchester, from which they could have been evacuated?

Since 1st January last 11 children under 16 years of age have been killed, five have been seriously injured and 19 slightly injured by enemy action in those parts of Manchester which have been declared evacuation areas for the purposes of the Government evacuation scheme.

asked the Home Secretary whether records are kept of deaths and injuries by enemy action in shelters apart from London tunnels and houses, respectively; and what are the proportions?

A record is kept by my Department of the numbers of casualties reported as having occurred in certain types of shelter. Publication of the particulars would not, however, be in the public interest.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, in certain cases, wholesalers are being charged Purchase Tax on the total charges to the retailer, including postage; and on what authority this is done?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) on 21st January last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the aggregate number of persons employed in all Government Departments other than the Post Office, and other than the productive employés in Government factories, on the latest date for which the figures are available, and on the last pre-war date for which they are available?

The last dates for which precise figures are available are 1st January, 1941, and 1st April, 1939. The total number of non-industrial civil servants, excluding the Post Office, employed at those dates were respectively 334,809 (328,374 whole-time and 6,435 part-time) and 192,977 (189,363 whole-time and 3,614 part-time). As regards industrial employés I regret that the figures do not distinguish between those engaged on productive work in factories and others.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst the members of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes at Edinburgh, regarding inability to obtain leave; that many of them have not obtained the leave promised when they returned from Dunkirk; that many of them are survivors from the "Lancastria" and have not yet obtained the leave promised; and, in view of the fact that the men have to apply to Imperial Court, Kennington, and can get no redress locally, will he undertake to have the matter investigated?

I am aware that representations regarding leave have been received from certain Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes personnel in Scotland, some 20 in number, for whom it has hitherto not been possible to provide reliefs. Arrangements were completed last week, however, which will enable all the men concerned to proceed on leave before Easter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes have power to requisition buildings; and in whom is the power to sign requisitions vested?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." Power to requisition is delegated by me to officers in charge of administration in commands, and these are the only officers empowered to authorise requisitioning. The actual form of requisition may, however, be signed by the officer serving the form, who is authorised to do so by the officer in charge of administration.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what liaison there is between the War Office and the film department of the Ministry of Information regarding the showing of Ministry films to Army units; and if there is no adequate liaison, will he appoint an officer or officers to secure this;(2)how many Ministry of Information films have been shown at cinema shows to the troops in mobile cinema units, or otherwise, during the last six months;whether he is aware of the strong desire on the part of the troops both officers and men, to see Ministry of Information films; and what steps he is taking to meet the demand?

Both the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes and the appropriate branch of the War Office are constantly in touch with the Ministry of Information on the question of showing films produced by the Ministry to Army units. I am afraid that the number of Ministry of In- formation films shown to troops in the last six months cannot be readily ascertained, but my hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that everything possible will be done to meet the wishes of the troops in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the great dissatisfaction existing in many Army units who, whilst ordered to draw up and send in daily returns, often of considerable number and length, are not provided with a typewriter; whether he will have machines supplied or have the returns made fewer or done away with altogether; and will he reconsider the cases of officers who have supplied their own typewriters, which have been destroyed owng to enemy action, but who have been refused any compensation or replacement?

It is the policy of my Department to provide typewriters for units wherever the work is known to justify their use. I am aware, however, that the delivery of authorised issues has been delayed in some cases as a result of a shortage of supply, which it is hoped will be eased in the near future. As regards the possibility of reducing the number of returns required from units, this aspect of the problem is at present being systematically examined by my Department. In cases where officers have supplied their own typewriters in place of official machines because the latter are not available, I am prepared to consider the payment of compensation for losses due to the exigencies of military service, and if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to say what arrangements are to be made by the War Office to amend the regulations concerning the dependants' allowance scheme in order to bring it into line with the provisions contained in the Determination of Needs Act?

As my hon. Friend will now be aware, a White Paper (Cmd. 6260) was published yesterday giving details of the amendments that have been made to the regulations governing the issue of dependants' allowance to the dependants of members of the Fighting Services in the light of the principles underlying the Determination of Needs Act.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the owner of a house and land seized by the military authorities, in July 1940, has received no compensation, and that the War Department valuers claim that no compensation whatever is payable because the land was in a prohibited area, and that land in a prohibited area has no value; and what steps he is taking to put an end to this injustice?

It is not the case that in assessing the value of property under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, War Department valuers claim that no value attaches to property within a prohibited area, although such property has, of course, substantially less value than in normal times. As regards the particular case to which I understand my hon. Friend refers, instructions have been issued that a payment on account should be made forthwith, if a very early settlement cannot be negotiated.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to expedite business in this House, he will, during the coming months, arrange for more Bills to be dealt with, in the first instance, in the other House, especially those of a non-contentious character?

This is often done, but of course for financial and other reasons many Bills must originate here.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that British subjects in Ichang, on the Yangtze, have means of subsistence, in view of the fact that they have had great difficulty in obtaining supplies owing to an attempted boycott, and are not allowed to buy foodstuffs from Japanese shops?

From information received from His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, it appears that a complaint about the difficulty of obtaining supplies at Ichang was made last July, but that the situation subsequently eased again. One further complaint was received this February and the matter has been taken up with the Japanese authorities, who had on the previous occasion offered to facilitate the hiring of a truck to carry supplies. His Majesty's Consul-General is taking steps to ascertain the present position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken to protect British interests, in view of the attitude of the Japanese military authorities, as a result of which nearly all British and foreign shipping on the Yangtze has remained idle during the past year; and whether he has considered refusing port facilities to Japanese shipping in British ports, including those in the Dominions and Colonies?

In December, 1939, the Japanese declared their intention to reopen the lower Yangtze shortly. No steps have yet been taken however to implement that declaration, and the river continues to be closed to British and other third Power shipping. This question cannot be separated from that of the general policy of Japan towards British and other foreign interests in China, on which I made a statement in the House on 2nd April. To that statement I have at present nothing to add.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the burden entailed on small pawnbrokers endeavouring to insure their stock under the War Damage Act, he will consider introducing a Bill, supplementary to the Pawnbrokers Acts of 1872 and 1922, whereby a pawnbroker may be permitted to make a further additional charge to his customers on a percentage basis in consequence of his having been compelled by Parliament to pay the insurance premium in question?

A Board of Trade Order, which has been laid before Parliament, will remove pawnbrokers' pledges from the field of compulsory insurance unless the pawnbroker has undertaken to replace them in the event of war damage. I see no necessity to introduce legislation as suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the extent of the German occupation of military bases in France and Belgium; and the attitude of the Governments of France and Belgium to that occupation?

The whole of Belgium is under enemy occupation. The Belgian Government is established in London and is collaborating with His Majesty's Government as a belligerent ally. More than half of France, including the Channel and Atlantic coasts, is under enemy occupation under the terms of the armistice accepted by the French Government. The latter is now established in unoccupied territory.

asked the Minister of Health whether in approved cases he allows local authorities to subscribe to a poor man's lawyer association under the provisions of Section 27 of the Poor Law Act, 1930; and whether he is aware that, following injury or damage by enemy action, many poor persons are in need of advice which a poor man's lawyer association is best fitted to give?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not regard Section 67 of the Poor Law Act, 1930 (to which, he assumes, my hon. Friend refers) as being available for this purpose. Information centres have been established by local authorities to provide an immediate answer to the problems of those who have suffered loss from enemy action. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind my right hon. Friend will be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange for the temporary release of all permanently employed roadmen in the countryside, with a view to their employment in the agricultural war effort during the coming season?

I have recently issued a circular letter to highway authorities in which I have urged the release of roadmen for agricultural work to the maximum extent consistent with the adequate upkeep of roads.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in what respect, and to what extent, if any, are credit banking facilities to farmers greater than before the war; and whether he is aware that many farmers, particularly smaller farmers most in need of these facilities, have no knowledge of them?

The banks have expressed their willingness to do all they can to provide farmers with ample credit facilities. To assist in meeting the war-time needs of farmers the banks have appointed some 300 liaison officers in England and Wales for the purpose of consultation with the County War Agricultural Executive Committees. These agreements are, in general, working well, and, in view of the publicity they have received, my right lion. Friend hardly thinks that there can be a large number of farmers who are not aware of them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulty of the farm manager at South Ockenden Farm, Essex, owned by the West Ham Corporation, the produce of which supplies eight council hospitals and 16 feeding centres; that to maintain these supplies the monthly supplies of foodstuffs should be at least 3½tons of poultry meal and 1½ ton of corn; and whether he will instruct the Essex Agricultural Committee to supply coupons for that amount?

I understand that the coupons issued to this farm have been on the same basis as those issued to other farms. These provide adequate rations for the horses and cows on the farm, but involve a substantial reduction on the prewar quantities of feeding-stuffs allowed for the poultry. My right hon. Friend does not consider that it would be justifiable to give preferential treatment to corporation farms which could only be achieved by means of still further reductions in the supplies allowed to commercial poultry keepers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any information in connection with the revised list of prices payable to growers of sugar-beet, and in what way it will affect the workmen?

A supplementary payment will be made to sugar-beet growers in England and Wales of 2s. 6d. a ton in respect of all beet of the 1940 crop delivered under contract to the sugar-beet factories during the past winter. This payment, and an interim payment of 3s. 9.d. a ton made last June, implement the assurance given by the Government when the terms of the contract were originally settled that the prices would be reviewed if the actual costs of production proved to be higher than those allowed for in the contract. The payments are intended to cover, among other items, the additional labour costs incurred by growers as a result of the wage increases granted last summer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has been able to make any arrangements for the more rapid transit of correspondence between prisoners of war in Germany and their relations in Britain?

:Yes, Sir: as already announced I have arranged, by agreement with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air, that this correspondence shall be brought from Lisbon to this country by air. This will greatly increase the speed of transit. Similarly, I am endeavouring to arrange for the conveyance of these mails by air between Lisbon and Germany.

asked the Postmaster-General the method adopted by his Department for following up failures to renew wireless licences when no response is given to the annual reminder sent out by the district office; and what check there is on the district office efforts to ensure against continual evasion of payment?

If the renewal notice, which is despatched to the licensee near the end of the month in which the licence expires, does not result in a renewal of the licence or notification that the wireless apparatus has been dismantled, reminders are sent, followed if necessary by personal inquiry. Continued failure of payment results in the prosecution of the offender. This work, like the other work done in head post offices, is checked by systematic inspection of the records and arrangements.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that two pits at Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Mardy and East pits, have been idle for months and, as they produce excellent anthracite coal, will he take action to have them restarted; and what control his Department has over the Amalgamated Anthracite Combine?

I am aware that these two pits have been closed. The question of their re-opening is one for the decision of the company, having regard to the possibility of disposing of the additional output under the present difficulties of transport. Failing such disposal facilities there would be no advantage in my Department pressing the company to reopen these pits.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the danger of rats in wet collieries and that some underground workers have died from the results of rats transmitting Weil's disease to them, and that their dependants are not entitled to compensation; and will he cause inquiries to be made and have the disease scheduled at the earliest opportunity?

I am aware of the danger referred to and on the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Compensation for Industrial Diseases an Order was made on the 1st February, 1940, extending the provisions of Section 43 of the Workmen's Compensation Act 1925 to "Infection by Leptospira ictero-hæmorrhagiœ." I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, who is the director of the colour and design centre of the Cotton Board; what was his profession before appointment as director, and what are the terms of his appointment?

I am informed by the chairman of the Cotton Board that the Director of the Colour, Style and Design Centre established by that Board is Mr. J. Cleveland Belle. Mr. Belle was formerly a fashion expert and buyer in the retail trade, and he was appointed to a position on the staff of the Board under the same conditions as are applicable to all other members of the staff. The Schedule to the Cotton Industry Act, 1940, provides that appointments to the staff of the Cotton Board, and the remuneration to be paid, are matters for the Cotton Board to determine.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that recently search parties have been instituted in the East End of London and elsewhere for the purpose of collecting Chinese seamen protesting against the non-payment of bonus, and that these men are being taken to ports for shipment to China; and whether steps will at once be taken to terminate this?

I have no knowledge of any such search parties, but recently a number of Chinese seamen who had been convicted for being absent without leave or for refusing to obey orders, and whose places on the ships had been filled, were repatriated. Prior to their repatriation some of these men were serving sentences of imprisonment; others, who had been bound over, had been directed by the immigration officer, acting in pursuance of his powers under the Aliens Order, 1920, to remain at a designated hostel. When the time came for their repatriation they were all collected by the police and taken under police escort to the port of embarkation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a British subject who has been temporarily resident in enemy territory and leaves such territory is, or is not, treated as an enemy under the Trading with the Enemy Act, 1939, immediately on leaving such territory on entering a neutral country in transit to England?

A British subject is not necessarily divested of the status required by residence in enemy territory as soon as he removes from that territory, but if he quits it in (transit for England he enjoys, while in transit, permission to draw upon his resources in this country for necessary maintenance, and recovers full power over those resources when he reaches England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether restoring premises damaged by enemy action refers to structural integrity or includes decorations as well?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to "decorations" in the sense in which that term is commonly employed in relation to buildings, i.e. such matters as the painting of the fabric of the building externally or internally. The proper cost of such work necessarily carried out in reinstating a building which has suffered war damage could, I am advised, properly be included in a claim to the War Damage Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether persons sustaining injuries to their houses from enemy air attack who carry out emergency repairs to damaged roofs and doors and windows themselves in cases where the local authority is unable to do so, are thereby disqualified from receiving any compensation or payment towards the cost of such repairs?

No, Sir. Persons who themselves carry out the necessary first-aid repairs to their houses will be entitled to make their claims to the War Damage Commission for payment of the reasonable cost of the repairs.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings, whether he will publish the complete list of the names of people appointed to control the various articles used in the building trade; whether each is a full-time employment; and, if remuneration is paid, will he state the amounts?

Under the Controller of Building Materials, Mr. Hugh Beaver, the following Directors have been appointed:

• Director of Cement—Lord Wolmer.
• Director of Bricks—Mr. T. P. Bennett.
• Director of Roofing Materials—Mr. R. G. Cromwell.

Each is in full-time employment and is giving his services without remuneration. Steel and timber are controlled by the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of extending the scope of the King's National Roll to include disabled ex-Service men, injured Civil Defence workers, and all men and women disabled by enemy action during the present war?

The position of the King's National Roll scheme in relation to the general plans for the re-instatement of disabled men is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total sum paid to date to medical members of recruiting medical boards, the number of doctors who participated and the largest amount received by any one doctor, and the smallest amount received by any one doctor?

The total sum paid in fees to members of recruiting medical boards in the 21 months up to 28th February, 1941, is about £1,199,350. I cannot state, without making a detailed inquiry, the maximum and minimum amounts paid to individual doctors or the total number of doctors who at some time during the period participated in the work. The number of doctors at present on the panels of medical boards is 3,724.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider setting up a tribunal empowered to scale down charges under leases and mortgages upon proof of seriously reduced trading owing to war conditions?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of the Liabilities (War-Time Adjustment) Bill which is now receiving consideration in another place. Under this Measure certain powers are to be conferred on the county court to reduce rent and mortgage interest in. the class of case to which the Question refers, and where it is shown that the financial position of the tenant or mortgagor has been so seriously affected by war circumstances as to render an adjustment of his affairs desirable.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present position with regard to financial assistance for local authorities unable to balance their budgets as a result of loss suffered since being defined as within protected areas; which local authorities have actually received grants-in-aid and to what extent; and which have applied for assistance without success?

A total of £4,651,820 has been advanced to date to local authorities who are in financial difficulties owing to the war. I think it would not be in the national interest for me to publish the names of the local authorities concerned, but I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend for his private information a statement showing the names of the authorities and the total amount so far advanced in each case.

asked the Minister of Health how many deaths from smallpox were registered in 1939, and how many in 1940; and how many cases of that disease were registered in those two years, with the ages of each case.

There were no deaths from smallpox in the years 1939 and 1940. The number of cases notified was one in each year. I understand that the case notified in 1939 was that of a man aged 29, and the other case that of a woman of about 35.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of post-vaccinal encephalitis came to the notice of the Ministry during the years 1939 and 1940; and how many of them were amongst soldiers?

Six such cases came to the notice of my Department during 1939, of whom three were soldiers. I am not at present in a position to give corresponding information for 1940, but I will send it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health how many death certificates were received during the year 1940, on which death was attributed to vaccination or vaccinia or on which these diseases were mentioned, and the ages in each case?

The numbers of deaths certificates received during the year 1940 where vaccinia or vaccination was mentioned or the death was attributed to vaccinia or vaccination, and the ages in each case, were as follow:

2 at 2 months.	1 at 14 months.
1 at 5 months.	1 at 20 years.
2 at 6 months.	1 at 24 years.
1 at 7 months.	1 at 26 years.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that some local medical war committees are still announcing themselves to the medical profession as being sub-committees of the British Medical Association; whether he has seen the notice of the Swansea division of the association convening a meeting of the division at which matters relating to both the local medical war committee and the British Medical Association are to be dealt with; and whether he will, in accordance with the assurances given to this House, take the necessary action to ensure that such announcements cease and that local medical war committees are in fact independent bodies and that their officers are made fully to realize this?

The answer to the first two parts of the Question is in the negative. As regards the third part I have no reason to believe that the position is not generally well understood by local medical war committees and their officers, but if my hon. Friend will send me any evidence to the contrary, including a copy of the notice of meeting to which he refers, I will consider whether any action on my part is called for.

asked the Minister of Health whether further consideration has been given to the question of increasing the capitation fee payable to insurance practitioners, or granting them a per capita war bonus, having regard to the increased cost of living and the increased practice expenses, as well as to the fact that the fee was fixed on an insurance basis which has entirely changed by reason of so many of the healthiest insured persons being withdrawn from civil life and serving with the armed forces?

Yes, Sir. This Question has received full consideration. I have come to the conclusion that under present conditions I should not be justified in proposing an increase in the capitation fee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities and values of the chief commodities exported to and imported from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, respectively, for each of the last two accounting periods; what were the total imports and exports, respectively; and what steps are being taken to increase this trade?

As has already been stated in answer to previous Questions, publication of particulars of our trade with individual countries has been suspended since the outbreak of war. As regards the last part of the Question, His Majesty's Government have made it known to the Soviet Government that they are willing at any time to consider proposals for increasing trade between the two countries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider the possibility of smallholders being allowed to share in the extra cheese ration allotted to ordinary agricultural workers, since many smallholders do as much, or more work, than workers on the farms, and work longer hours?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave on Wednesday, 2nd April, to several Questions on this subject by the hon. Members for Devizes (Sir P. Hurd), Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones), and Forest of Dean (Mr. Price).

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the omnibus service from Stratford to Silver-town now ceases at 8 p.m., causing hundreds of workers to have to walk one to four miles to obtain traffic facilities to get home; and whether he will consider restoring the full service at the earliest possible date?

Steps are being taken to reinstate it as soon as possible.