asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in order to rid Palestine of Nazi Aryan settlers, whose continued residence there is generally not desired, he will extend to males of military age his proposed scheme for an exchange of internees between Germany and Palestine?

It is contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government to repatriate male enemy nationals of military age. I regret therefore that the right hon. Member's suggestion cannot be entertained.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how this exchange is going on, and whether it is a fair exchange?

I can only limit my answer to the original answer I gave, that is, that it would be contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government to repatriate enemy nationals of military age. To that extent no exchange has taken place.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government have yet reached any decision in regard to assistance to the citrus industry in Palestine?

Approval has now been given to a scheme under which advances will be made by the banks, with the support of the Government of Palestine, to enable citrus groves to be maintained for the year 1941–42. The arrangements concluded between the Government of Palestine and the banks in respect of these advances and of the settlement of the advances made last year for the 1940–41 crop, provide for the assumption by that Government of a maximum additional liability, over the two years, of £517,000. My Noble Friend has informed the High Commissioner for Palestine that, if the resources of Palestine should prove to be insufficient to meet any liability incurred under this guarantee, His Majesty's Government will be ready to afford such financial assistance as may be required. Further advances, up to a maximum of £100,000, will be made by the Government of Palestine direct, in order to encourage the development of other branches of agricultural production in substitution for citrus. Full details are contained in an announcement which is being released for publication in Palestine to-day, the text of which I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

What interest is to be paid on the loans?

In view of the importance of this industry to Palestine, are steps being taken to provide increased facilities for the taking up of the crop?

If my hon. Friend will read the scheme, as outlined in the announcement, he will see what is being done.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that an official from India is now framing an Income Tax ordinance for Palestine, it is intended to exempt from this tax, as in India, owners of land, although by now the land of Palestine must be all zoned and valued?

The question of introducing Income Tax legislation in Palestine is under examination by the Palestine Government with the assistance of an expert adviser, and I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear this point in mind when these considerations are being taken into account, so that the landlords should not escape, as they do in India?

We must await the report.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will encourage the use of films made by his Department by the military authorities for the enlightenment and entertainment of troops?

Yes, Sir. I am glad to say that a number of requests for copies of Ministry films for exhibition to the troops have already been made by the War Office.

Is my right hon. Friend in touch with the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes and the welfare department of the War Office, and can he say whether there is any technical difficulty in multiplying the number of copies of some of these Ministry films which men are very anxious to see in outlying districts?

Yes, I am in touch with the welfare branch of the War Office, and there is no difficulty, so far as I am aware, in securing any number of copies of these films.

Is the extremely interesting and instructive film of the military operation called the "Lofoten Raid" available for military camps and for use?

I think so.

asked the Minister of Information what proportion of the executive staff of the Ministry of Information were previously civil servants in other Government Departments or former members of the legal profession?

I do not know what grades the hon. and gallant Member designates as executive. Of the 50 senior officers of the Ministry, 17 were previously civil servants in other Departments and 3 members of the legal profession.

Would it not be better if a greater proportion of the senior officers at the Ministry of Information consisted of those who have had long and successful training in the art of giving information in the right way, such as expert publicity men and first-class journalists?

A great many of the officials at the Ministry consist of those who have had training such as the hon. and gallant Member has suggested.

asked the Minister Information whether the heads of his Department that deals with photography are people of proved and long experience of publicity?

Yes, Sir

That being so, why is it that a photograph such as I am holding in my hand at the present moment, showing one German airman trying to carry a wounded comrade at a London railway station, has been allowed to be released? Does it not show to the world an apparent lack of humanity on our part, and that we cannot even supply a stretcher for a wounded airman in London; and, further, is it not the kind of propaganda that is calculated to lay our own prisoners of war open to reprisals?

I have not seen the photograph which the hon. and gallant Member holds in his hand, and therefore I cannot give an opinion concerning it, but I have no reason to suppose that it was a photograph which was issued by the Ministry of Information. We have no power to prevent publication of photographs unless they are likely to give information to the enemy.

Is there no censorship?

The hon. and gallant Member has already asked three supplementary Questions in one.

asked the Minister of Information the reason why the pamphlet "The Battle of Britain" is not allowed to be circulated abroad except through the Stationery Office; and whether he will cause the ban to be removed, so that this propaganda may reach a very much larger public through private persons?

My hon. and gallant Friend is mistaken in thinking that this pamphlet is not allowed to be circulated abroad except through the Stationery Office. Every available means is being used to ensure that it receives the widest possible publicity abroad.

Will the Minister take steps to see that there are available a few copies in the Vote Office, as I have been endeavouring to get a copy ever since it was published?

I will endeavour to do so.

Is the Minister aware that it is almost impossible to get a copy of this book on any of the bookstalls, and does he not agree that there should De some means whereby Members of Parliament can get one? If it had not been for his good offices, I should never have got a copy.

I know there has been a shortage, because the demand has proved to be greater than anticipated, but the shortage will soon be met, if it has not been met already, and efforts will be made to see that copies are available on all bookstalls.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that the work done by the Travellers' Censorship Office, in enabling ship's documents and bills of lading to accompany a ship clearing with exports, is essential; whether he can assure the House that this essential work will continue; and whether he has any statement to make regarding the censorship of Icelandic and Faröes mails?

The scrutiny of the ship's documents is a matter for the senior naval officer at the port and not for the censorship. Bills of lading and similar papers not sent by post are a matter for the security officer at the port, who may consult the censorship if he considers it necessary. The importance of the work is fully realised. The reply to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

Are we to understand that there will be speedy censorship of these documents and other letters which are necessary to accompany export consignments?

Everything will be done to make the censorship as speedy as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that recently the Director of Accounts at the Air Ministry requested the payment of funeral expenses from the family of a Royal Air Force officer, killed by enemy action on his own aerodrome in this country, whereas funeral expenses, in the case of officers or men whose death results from aircraft accident at home or abroad, are payable by the State; and whether he will alter this anomaly under paragraph 3394 of the Regulations for the Royal Air Force, 1939 edition, and make redress in the particular case above referred to?

The funeral expenses of officers stationed in this country are admissible as a limited charge against public funds only when death results from an aircraft accident. I understand that in the case referred to by my hon. Friend the cost of the funeral was, in accordance with the Regulations, properly debited in the statement of account which is compiled in respect of the Service estate of a deceased officer. Liabilities on the account, including the cost of the funeral, exceeded the available assets and it was therefore necessary to make a request for payment to the officer's representatives. I am now looking into the question of whether the present rule should be modified, but it is a question which affects other Services, and I am afraid that I cannot to-day anticipate the decision.

Will the modification apply to other ranks?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any copies of Jane's "All the World's Aircraft," just published, have been exported from this country; whether he has any statement to make on the matter contained in this annual publication, more particularly on pages 15A–26A, on offensive references to the United States of America, on the large amount of technical information published, and on the repeated claims that certain information will be of value to readers overseas; that it has been given by courtesy of senior officers of the Air Ministry intelligence department or other departments of the Air Ministry; and whether he is satisfied that the publication referred to contains no material of value to the enemy or detrimental to the public interest?

I understand that before the publishers had decided to stop the issue of further copies of this book and, so far as possible to withdraw copies already issued, some 50 are believed to have left the country, a few of which may have been sent to the United States. I am satisfied that this publication contains no new information which would be of value to the enemy, most of the matter having already been published during the past year. No special facilities were given by any department of the Air Ministry to those responsible for its production. The greater part of the contents was submitted for censorship at the Ministry of Information, but not the offensive caption referred to by my hon. Friend, which has already been reported in the Press. The publication of this book could not have been prohibited on grounds of security. I feel sure that the House will join with me in condemning the irresponsible and outrageous reference in this publication to the welcome and increasing help which we are receiving from the United States of America.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask whether he is aware that the efforts of the publishers to recover possession of this publication have not gone so far as the Library of the House of Commons, at any ráte? Secondly, does he think it right that a writer who has, if I may put it this way, such liberal ideas about the Nazi regime that he was compelled to relinquish the editorship of the "Aeroplane" at the outbreak of the war, should be able to claim special access to high intelligence officers of the Air Ministry and to contribute articles about technical information and air strategy regularly every week to the technical journals and publications in this country?

Questions about a particular book lying in the Library of the House of Commons are a matter for the House rather than for me. As regards the second part of the Question, I did tell my hon. Friend in my main answer that it is untrue to say that officers of my Department gave special facilities or information to the author of this book. I am assured that the passage in the book to which I know my hon. Friend refers is inaccurate and unjustified.

Will the Minister do what I am unable to do in a Supplementary Question—ask hon. Members to look at the publication in the Library, and to say whether they are satisfied that the censorship and intelligence system at the Air Ministry is in proper working order?

I should be very glad if hon. Members did that. I am told that there is no new information in the book. What I regret, and what I think all Members in all parts of the House-regret, are the outrageous opinions expressed in the book. We have no censorship of opinion, and I feel sure that my hon. Friend would agree that such would be undesirable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have myself communicated to the Government an article by this man previously, asking that he should be prevented from getting information and that he should be interned? I really do not know why this has been going on for so long; it is nearly a year now.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what amount is allowed to officers in the Royal Air Force for the purchase of their uniforms?

The outfit allowance to which an officer is entitled on being commissioned in the Royal Air Force or Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve is £40.

Is it not desirable that these officers, when training the youth of the A.T.C. should be given an allowance adequate to maintain their positions in dignity and respect?

The men to whom the hon. Gentleman refers have less kit to buy than officers of the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether there is any control of the number of pairs of homing pigeons which members of the National Pigeon Service are permitted to breed from, and if so, why and what is the maximum annual requirements of grain for the feeding of show and high-flying pigeons; and whether the amount required is actually withdrawn from the 1,400 keepers of fancy pigeons of different breeds in this country?

Control is exercised by the Committee of the National Pigeon Service by the issue of food coupons to members who undertake to provide a definite number of pigeons for Government purposes. The shipping situation has made it necessary to reserve all pigeon food for the use of pigeons required by the Services. The total number of show and high-flying pigeons in this country is not readily ascertainable and I cannot therefore say what the annual requirement in grain would be.

Am I right in assuming that 1,400 people who own show pigeons are being asked to sacrifice their hobby in the interests of homing pigeons required for the Services? Is my right hon. Friend aware of the difference in treatment between this recreation of the working man and that of the wealthy racehorse owners?

I would not put it that these people are being called upon to make special sacrifices; the position rather is that there is only room to import a certain amount of foodstuffs. Therefore, special arrangements are being made in regard to the food for pigeons which are useful to the public service.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the amount of damage done to allotments by thousands of pigeons in London? Can nothing be done to kill them off?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the future of the Observer Corps?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the opinion in some quarters that the importance of the work of the Observer Corps has not been sufficiently recognised; and whether he is able to inform the House of the results of his recent inquiries into general matters affecting the Observer Corps, and of any proposals of improvement it is intended should be made?

I am happy to inform the House that, in recognition of the valuable services rendered by the Observer Corps over a number of years, His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve that the corps shall henceforward be known by the style and description of "The Royal Observer Corps." I have recently had under re- view various questions relating to the status and conditions of service of the corps, and I have arranged to place in the Library, for the convenience of Members, a summary of conclusions on the main points of principle and detail, and of the action that has been taken or is in progress.

When will it be possible to give to the Observer Corps the uniforms for which they have been asking so long?

The question of the uniform is dealt with in the paper to which I referred.

Is it not a fact that most of these men do not want uniforms?

asked the Postmaster- General whether he will consider the advisability of issuing an Anglo-American stamp, in association with the authorities of the United States of America, as a symbol of the unity of the two great Anglo-Saxon nations in the present struggle?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Assistant Postmaster-General to a similar Question asked by the hon. Member for the University of London (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 3rd April, 1941.

Is my right 'hon. Friend in consultation with the United States Government on the subject?

I would like some time to explore the situation. There are many considerations involved.

Will the Minister consider putting on the stamp, if it should be issued, a photograph of Montagu Norman?

asked the Postmaster- General whether he is aware that for many months relatives of prisoners of war in Germany have been sending parcels to them in accordance with the regulations and in many cases at great financial cost, which have never been received; and whether he can take any action to put this matter right?

I am aware that many next-of-kin parcels have been despatched to prisoners of war since last autumn, and that no acknowledgments have yet been received. This does not necessarily mean that none of these parcels have reached the camps: it is known that 32,000 of them had reached Geneva by the beginning of March, and it is therefore probable that many have by now been delivered to the prisoners and that acknowledgments are on their way. I am watching the position closely and am doing all in my power to see that these parcels get through.

Is it not a fact that for many months prisoners have been sending to their relatives letters saying that they have not received parcels, and is it not possible to make it clear that the British Government are doing all that is possible, because people in this country are under the impression that the Government are not doing all they should? Cannot we bring any pressure on enemy countries to get the parcels through?

Part of the difficulty consists in transport, not only through enemy but neutral countries, where the parcels are outside my control. Some time ago I despatched to the spot an experienced officer who is doing all that he can to facilitate the arrangements at these neutral post offices and to make sure that the parcels receive the speediest possible treatment.

In view of the fact that some parcels to prisoners are in arrears in respect of acknowledgment, would the right hon. Gentleman advise people not to send any further parcels until they know that all the parcels which are on the way are getting through?

I do not think that that would be advisable. Thirty-two thousand of these parcels are known to have reached Geneva at the beginning of March, and I do not think that I could accept the suggestion of the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General why there is still no later collection from pillar boxes in London than 5.30 p.m.?

During the period in which the extra hour of summer time will operate, that is, 5th May to 9th August, collections will be made between 6.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. in London head districts, and between 6 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. in the sub-districts.

Would not our efforts to win the war be stimulated and lubricated if the Post Office kept pace with the sun, instead of being two or three hours behind it?

I do not think that in these times it could be suggested that we are not keeping pace with the sun. These arrangements are very complicated. If my hon. Friend would like to look through them in detail with me, I should be happy to give him the opportunity.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has any statement to make with regard to the transmission of mails between the United Kingdom and India; and when he expects the air-mail service to be accelerated and to what extent?

There is a fairly frequent mail service between the United Kingdom and India by surface route; but owing to war conditions the mails are being forwarded via the Cape and take from six to nine weeks in transit. Air mails for and from India are in general conveyed by sea between this country and South Africa and by air between South Africa and India. The service with India and other Empire countries is engaging the attention of the Government and advantage will be taken of every opportunity of improvement.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication in regard to the time of any improvement?

No, Sir, I cannot, except to say that every opportunity that presents itself as the situation changes will be used to increase the speed of transit.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of officials of his Department, as in Wiltshire, who tempt children away from secondary schools by offers of employment as messengers before the completion of their school course in defiance of the under- taking which parents are required by the Board of Education to sign stipulating that the children shall remain at school until the end of the school year following their 16th birthday; and whether he will cause this practice to cease?

Appointments in the messenger service in the Post Office are intended primarily for boys and girls from elementary schools and the maximum age limit for appointment is 14½ for boys and 15 for girls. The Post Office does not seek to attract secondary school pupils to such appointments, but it is not the practice to refuse to consider such candidates if their parents desire them to leave school for the purpose of a career in the Post Office. I understand that in the case which my hon. Friend has in mind the approach was from the child's grand-parents, and that the position in view was that of assistant at a sub-post office.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that if this practice is persisted in, the whole of the secondary school system of this country will be undermined?

I do not think that that follows. As I said, we do not seek to attract pupils from secondary schools, but the career of a boy messenger is by no means a blind-alley occupation, and men have risen from that rank to very high positions in the Post Office. If everybody is agreeable to boys or girls taking up that career, I do not think it would be proper for the Post Office to refuse to consider them as candidates simply because they had been to secondary schools.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether those naval officers on the emergency list who, by reason of their re-employment in time of war, complete the necessary time in order so to qualify, will become eligible to receive pensions on their reversion to the emergency list?

The Regulations expressly provide that the war service of emergency list officers does not qualify for retired pay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that officers who were transferred to the emergency list prior to 25th May, 1927, were so transferred on the explicit understanding that in the case of re-employment in time of war they would receive a bonus of 25 per cent. in addition to the full pay of their rank; why this agreement has been repudiated by the Admiralty; and on what grounds it has now been decided that, although the bonus is to be paid in future, no payment will be allowed for any period prior to the 4th February, 1941?

In order to remove anomalies, revised conditions of pay were made in 1927 for officers on the emergency list when called up in time of war. To have continued to pay the 25 per cent. bonus for service in war would have resulted in placing them in a preferential position over retired officers awarded a gratuity but no retired pay. It was, therefore, decided to terminate this condition of pay. Subsequently it was represented on behalf of officers on the emergency list before 25th May, 1927, that they had not-been specifically informed of the change. It was therefore decided to grant to these officers the bonus of 25 per cent. as from 4th February, 1941. In all the circumstances this was a substantial concession, which I am not prepared to increase.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that as the Admiralty admit that the contention of these officers is perfectly just and correct, there is hardly any reason for paying them the bonus only from 1941, when the Admiralty admit, in the right hon. Gentleman's answer, that they are entitled to be paid from the day of the beginning of the war?

I said that it was represented on their behalf that they had not been specifically notified of the change in 1927, although it was printed in the revised regulations. It was for this reason the Board of Admiralty made the very substantial concession indicated in my answer, and which operated from the date of the Treasury's approval.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the Regulation itself specifically admits that these officers were entitled to receive a 25 per cent bonus when they were recalled for war service, and having been recalled for war service, has he any reason for their being denied what the Regulation says they are entitled to?

I have nothing to add to my answer.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I intend to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why orders were given to turn a ship, of whose name he has been informed, round in dangerous waters which resulted in the loss of the ship; what disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible; and whether arrangements have been made to make certain that such mistakes cannot be made in future?

A full inquiry has been held, and steps have been taken to minimise the risk of recurrence. Fortunately this mishap did not result in the loss of the ship. Disciplinary action is under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the master of the ship concerned protested against carrying out this order when it was given by a superior naval authority, and is he satisfied that the naval authority concerned had the experience necessary to hold a position of that kind in this port?

The officers concerned were very experienced, and this particular accident would not have occurred if the instructions had been closely followed. Steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence.

Is it not true to say that many similar cases have been brought to the notice of the Admiralty by shipowners all over the country, and that no action has been taken?

No, that is not true.

Does not that indicate that the right hon. Gentleman is not fully cognisant of all that is going on in his Department?

I am afraid I cannot accept questions put in that way. It is not true that representations to the Admiralty lead to no action where such action is required to ensure that there is no departure from the carrying out of orders.

Is it made known to the Admiralty what is in these ships when they go down?

The cargoes?

Yes, what kind of cargoes?

Yes, that is known.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the cost of constructing a 5,000-ton merchant ship to-day as compared with the pre-war cost in 1938?

For any merchant ship completing at the present time, the cost is about 20 per cent. higher than in 1938.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the serious condition of many important roads in the country; and whether he will take steps to keep the repairs going, to enable road users to travel to their work without damaging their machines?

I am aware of the heavy strain imposed upon the roads as a result of war conditions, but know of no important routes in the condition my hon. and gallant Friend implies. If he will tell me where they are, I will have them inspected.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report will be published of the special investigation in selected areas of the causes of road accidents, as promised by his predecessor on 23rd January, 1940?

I cannot trace any promise to publish the reports made on this investigation, and publication is not contemplated. No extraordinary or unexpected factors were revealed. The war-time rise of accidents was clearly due to the difficulty which many people experience in adjusting themselves successfully to the special conditions prevailing.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not reconsider publishing that report, so that individuals and organisations may make suggestions for reducing the very large number of road casualties?

I do not think that the publication of the report would be very helpful. I am quite ready to discuss it with my hon. Friend, and to let him read it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that comparative prices for used motor vehicles have voluntarily been published for some years; and whether he will now consider fixing a maximum retail price on each year and model of used motor vehicles?

Owing to the increased difficulty and expense in obtaining repairs to private cars at the present time, a fair price for a vehicle depends to a much greater extent than formerly on its condition, and prices fixed on any other basis than the examination of individual vehicles would be too high for a car in poor condition or too low for one in good condition. Even the pre-war guides, which were, no doubt, based on an average of market conditions, indicated that the figures given required adjustment, according to the condition of the vehicle.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that, in spite of what he has stated, there is a good deal of concern about the unnecessary rise in prices of used motor vehicles? Will he consider some form of control?

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has now completed his further consideration of the use of labour and material that is taken by advertising goods, etc., in newspapers and on hoardings; and is he now in a position to make a statement?

Yes, Sir. Reductions have been made recently in the rations of paper for newspapers and periodicals; and an Order is about to be 'issued which will drastically restrict the use of paper for advertising by posters and circulars.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he has consulted with the Minister of Health as to the number of local authorities that may have refuse destructors, or similar plant, that, by simple adaptation, might be converted for use as concentrators, and thereby intensify the processing of kitchen waste food for agricultural purposes?

About 20 local authorities have refuse disposal plant which could be used for the purpose indicated. This plant is fully occupied in dealing with slaughter house wastes, except in a few instances where the local authorities have been able to spare part of the plant for the treatment of kitchen waste.

Do the right hon. Gentleman's principal advisers share the opinion of salvage enthusiasts that the present collection of kitchen waste by local authorities is almost negligible in the greater part of the country; and is he prepared to face the fact that he cannot supply -half enough concentrators in the next five years to satisfy the needs of local authorities?