asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the amount of rump steak allocated to the firm of J. P. Londen, 34, Spoutmouth, Glasgow, as a Group 1 manufacturer, for the production of boiled beef ham during the months of January and February, 1941; and who issued the instruction that such an allocation be made and the amount of such steak issued to the firm of John Gardner, Limited, Partick, Glasgow, during the same period?

No rump steak has been allocated to the firm in question for any period for any purpose, but the following quantities of imported boneless meat have been supplied to The firm, as a Group 1 manufacturer, for the produc- tion of boiled beef ham during the months of January and February: January 237½ cwts., February 170½ cwts. These allocations, except in so far as they comprise offsets against their deliveries in the preceding months, represent the same percentage of 1938 usage of the firm as is supplied in the case of beef or other Group 1 manufacturers throughout the country and these allocations were made on the instructions of the Ministry of Food. Allocations, of imported boneless beef for the production of boiled beef ham have now ceased in view of the meat supply position. No similar allocations have been made to the firm of John-Gardner, Limited, Partick, Glasgow, as that firm has not applied for allocations of meat as Group 1 manufacturers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minstry of Food whether he is aware that Messrs. Lewis Stores, in Glasgow, sold six tons of beef ham at their Glasgow store during the months of January and February, 1941, as against eight cwts. over the period November, December and January, 1938–39, and that keen resentment is felt by other traders in Glasgow who cannot get supplies; and will he take steps to reassure the public that no preference is being shown?

I am aware of the quantities of beef ham sold by Messrs. Lewis's Stores at their Glasgow store during the months in question, and attention has been drawn to the resentment felt by other traders in the city who cannot get supplies of this manufacturing meat product. The increase in the sales in question is not the result of any preference shown by the Ministry since the firm obtains its supplies not from the Ministry but from a manufacturer whose allocations of meat are strictly in accordance with the instructions laid down for allocations to manufacturers generally.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that wholesale distributors of eggs in Glasgow refuse to sell eggs to retailers at a price other than the retail price, and that they further refuse to deliver eggs purchased at such a price unless retailers are prepared to pay 7s. 6d. per case over the invoice rendered, such payment being made without receipt being given; and will he take the necessary steps to protect the retailers from this practice?

I was not aware of the practice referred to in the Question but if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of any such case I will consider what action can be taken in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has had any report on the condition of water power corn-grinding mills in Breconshire and Radnorshire; and if it is the intention of the Ministry to bring them into use?

No, Sir, but the county war agricultural executive committees have been asked to report on any deficiencies in corn grinding capacity in their counties. No report has yet been received from the counties mentioned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to what groups or classes his Department makes a priority allocation of 20 per cent. to 25 per cent. of the present reduced output of block chocolate; into what priority category he places the children of the working people of the country; and whether, in fixing any control price for the block chocolate, the current standard by which the ¼1b. block is sold for 4½d. will be maintained?

Priority is given to supplies for the Armed Forces, military canteens, the British Red Cross for prisoners of war, hospitals, local authorities for Civil Defence services and to certain canteens serving industrial undertakings engaged on essential work. These supplies are carefully controlled with a view to securing a reasonable balance between the priority needs and the recognised needs of the general population, including children. I have noted the suggestion made by my hon. Friend in the last part of his Question. I would, however, remind him that the cost of the ingredients of block chocolate has more than doubled.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether steps will be taken to secure that men engaged on timber felling and hauling will be able to get extra cheese rations in the same way as agricultural labourers?

The special ration will be limited to those who hold agricultural unemployment cards. In so far as forestry workers come within that definition they will be eligible but not otherwise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has examined the potential cheese-making capacity of milk from ewes after lambs have been weaned; whether he is aware that as much as 40 lbs. of cheese from each ewe has been produced in certain European countries without extra feeding; and whether he can take measures to enlarge the national food supply in this way?

Yes, Sir. But in this country lambs are weaned at a later age than in some Continental countries; the ewes are weaned after they are practically dry and need time to recuperate before going to service again in the autumn.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what percentage of the public are buying the Ministry's wholemeal loaf of 85 per cent. extraction flour?

I regret that the information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the phytic acid in wholemeal uses up all the calcium contained in it; and whether he will therefore consider the addition of calcium to the Ministry's wholemeal loaf in order to protect consumers against rickets?

Without accepting everything in my hon. Friend's Question I can assure him that this suggestion is under active consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the serious waste involved in the prevailing erratic return of milk bottles by consumers and the urgent need for bottles which will arise on the introduction of the milk rationing scheme, he will consider the advisability of initiating a publicity campaign by wireless talks and in other directions to impress the public with the need for the regular return of bottles and so render unnecessary the making of any charge for the use of such bottles?

My Noble Friend is not at -present contemplating the rationing of milk; he is arranging, with effect from the 13th April, for the curtailment of non-priority domestic consumption by one seventh. This should not entail an increased demand for milk bottles. Nevertheless, he agrees that any wastage in the use of bottles should be strictly avoided, and he will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion for an appeal to the public. I would, in this connection, refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) on the 25th March.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered a resolution from the Methil Co-operative Society, protesting in the name of its members against the proposal to allocate sugar for jam making to communal centres and demanding, however small the quantity, that it should be distributed according to the ration book, through the ordinary trade channels, and thereby allow the consumers to make their own jams according to their own desires; and what steps does he propose to take to meet the demands of the resolution?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question on this subject to the hon. Member for Wansbeck (Mr. Scott) on 2nd April.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the chief of the internees' camp at Bromley, Kent, who was charged with stealing money and other property that belonged to the internees; what was the value of the property stolen; whether other charges were made against him from other parts of England; what position he holds in the Army and what action it is intended taking about the matter?

This case is still sub judice and is at present before the justices at Bromley petty sessions. I am therefore unable to make any statement about it beyond pointing out that my hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that there is or has been an internment camp at Bromley.

asked the Home Secretary what plans he has in prospect to unify and co-ordinate the professional fire-fighting services at present controlled by local authorities, with a view to greater uniformity of equipment, terms of service. and status, in any area in which they may be called upon to assist for the promotion of greater efficiency in dealing with enemy action?

I am afraid I am not quite clear from the terms of my hon. Friend's Question what he has in mind. I should, however, be happy to discuss the matter with him.

asked the Home Secretary whether officers and cadets in the Air Training Corps are exempted from fire-watching duties?

Officers and cadets in the Air Training Corps are not exempted from fire prevention duties under the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order if between the ages at present prescribed. My right hon. Friend is advised that commissioned officers of the corps are members of the Armed Forces of the Crown and as such would be exempted from compulsory enrolment under the Civil Defence Duties (Compulsory Enrolment) Order.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among voluntary fire watchers at being asked to signify on the official form issued by local authorities their willingness to attend for duty in any part of the area; and, in view of the possibility of many withdrawals, from the voluntary services owing to this condition being imposed, whether he will take steps to have it removed from the official form of application?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 2nd April to my hon. Friend the Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne)

asked the Home Secretary how many county borough councils have air-raid precautions controllers; and what salaries they receive?

All county borough councils have appointed controllers. The office of controller is not recognised as a salaried post.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of making Brigade Circular No. 144/1940 and Home Security Circular No. 281/1940 retrospective, in order that firemen injured since the outbreak of hostilities may enjoy equal treatment?

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. C. Morrison) on this subject on the 1st April.

asked the Home Secretary whether, when a works air-raid shelter has been damaged or destroyed by enemy action, it is the duty of the employer to provide adequate shelter at once; has the cost of same to be met by the employer or does the State meet any of the cost; and can a statement be made in order to make this matter clear?

If a works air-raid shelter is damaged or destroyed by enemy action but more than 50 people continue to be employed at the works, the provisions"of the Civil Defence Act, which make it the duty of the occupier to provide shelter, continue to apply, and he should repair or replace the shelter as soon as possible. Section 22 of the Act, which provided for the payment of grants from public funds in respect of the provision of private shelters, is limited to the initial provision of shelter, but the occupier will have the benefit of the provisions of the War Damage Act.

asked the Home Secretary what is being done to raise the standard of air-raid shelters throughout the country to that of London; and what action has been taken on the report for dealing with the drainage of Anderson shelters?

Wide check inspections through the various regions are being carried through at the present time on the general conditions of shelter construction. Further powers have been given to local authorities to improve their shelters and increase safety. Special attention is being paid to those areas likely to be subject to intensive bombing. As regards the second part of the Question, revised instructions have now been settled on the basis of the expert's report, and will be issued as soon as they can be printed.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the pronouncement of the Recorder at the Liverpool City Quarter Sessions on Saturday last about the Prison Commissioners and the Borstal sentences; and what action he intends taking about the matter?

My right hon. Friend has seen newspaper reports of the remarks to which my hon. Friend refers. He is making inquiries as to the circumstances in which these remarks were made and will communicate further with my hon. Friend. In the meantime, however, I can assure him that it is not the case that persons committed to Borstal institutions are ordinarily released within a few months.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the large number of soldiers now billeted or accommodated in various parts of the country and of the continued complaints from farmers, he will issue some order to all concerned which will ensure that all troops have proper regard for the importance of preserving the amenities and food productivity of the country?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bolton (Sir E. Cadogan) on nth February last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason the report on the construction of the camps at Cove which cost approximately £400 per militiaman compared with £160 per head of persons housed in permanent buildings by the London County Council at the White City, is not being made available to Members of this House?

The figures of cost of the camp at Cove were in front of the Select Committee before they published their report on the militia camps, and a further analysis of those figures is ready for them if they require it. In these circumstances my right hon. and gallant Friend does not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing the analysed figures, but, as he has already stated, he is fully prepared to answer any questions on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport"whether, in view of the need for labour in the agricultural war effort, he will consider the temporary cessation of work in re-whitening road lines in all but curves and specially dangerous places and the immediate transfer of such man-power to agricultural work?

I am not prepared to suspend the work on maintenance of traffic lines, which I regard as essential in the interest of road safety, especially in view of traffic conditions in the black-out.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the War Transport Council, which he has recently set up in connection with the transport of this country, is intended to supersede existing committees, such as the Railway Executive Committee and the Transport Advisory Council; or whether he will state the relationship of this new committee to those other committees, and also its function so far as executive authority is concerned?

As I explained in announcing the appointment of the War Transport Council, its function will be to advise me on questions of transport policy arising out of the needs and conditions of the war. It is not intended that it should supersede the Railway Executive Committee or the Transport Advisory Council, the first of which is, as its name implies, executive in function, while the second is a statutory body suited rather to the problems of peace than to those of war. I intend to associate the members of the War Transport Council with myself in reaching decisions of major transport policy: it has no executive authority.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made in his discussions with the railway companies regarding demurrage rates; and when he expects to reach agreement?

I am glad to say that, as a result of discussions which have taken place, the differences between the coal distributive trade and the railway companies, which mainly centred on the adjustments to be made to meet hard cases have now been resolved. I am assured that I can now confidently expect full observance by the trade of the demurrage regulations and their wholehearted co-operation in securing the quickest possible turn round of wagons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there are cases in Sheffield where looters have taken money from gas and electric meters and that the tenants, on return to their dwellings after first-aid repairs, are being called upon by the gas company to pay for the gas consumed; and whether he will take steps to protect tenants from such loss?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The tenants concerned are legally liable for the money in their meters, and, in view of the possibility of fraud, the interests of the company must be considered as well as those of the tenants. My right hon. Friend is discussing this difficult problem with the other Ministers who are interested.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the staffs of prisons are adequate in number to discharge their responsibilities; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

A careful watch is kept on the staffing of prisons, and I know of no justification for the suggestion that the size of the staffs is inadequate. In addition to a regular annual review of the staff requirements of each establishment, there is constant consultation between the governors and Prison Commissioners with a view to any necessary adjustments to meet special circumstances at particular establishments.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the feeling existing amongst prison officers at the failure of the Prison Commissioners to deal promptly and reasonably with representations made by the staff; and whether he will give instructions that such representations should be dealt with promptly and sympathetically?

I know of no grounds for the suggestion that there has been any failure to deal properly with representations from the staff. Representations from the staff have covered a wide field, ranging from requests for the special treatment of individual officers to questions affecting the pay, allowances and hours of duty of the whole subordinate staff. On many of these matters agreement has been reached, and if on some items it has not been practicable to reach an agreement, this does not mean that there has been failure on the part of the Prison Commissioners to give them due consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the number of escapes from, and of assaults in, prison establishments of recent months, he will inquire into conditions in prisons and take account of the views of prison officers on the present position?

There is no ground for the suggestion that there has been an increase in the number of assaults in prisons. As regards escapes and attempted escapes such increase as has occurred is due partly to the difficulties of supervision under blackout conditions and partly to the use in place of one of the London prisons of an establishment which is not so constructed as to afford a high degree of security. Inquiries are always made into the circumstances of escapes and the Commissioners are always ready to consider views expressed by the prison staffs.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will investigate the case of Ivor James Sweet, aged 22 years, of 125, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, who pleaded guilty on 31st March, before the Coventry magistrates, to striking a furnace, engaged on Government work, with a seldge-hammer on 14th March with intent to impair its efficiency; whether he will state the circumstances in which Sweet was excused military service; and whether he will be conscripted forthwith?

I am informed that Sweet, who was employed in a reserved occupation was convicted and fined for this offence, and that he has since been reinstated in his employment and is working satisfactorily. The question of calling him up for military service does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. Ernest Heberden, an organiser of the Peace Pledge Union, who was liable for military service under the Armed Forces Act, failed to take the necessary steps to appear before the appropriate tribunal; that the case was determined in his absence and he was removed from the register of conscientious objectors; that the case was reheard and, as a result of the rehearing, a decision given that the appellant should perform agricultural work; that this decision was subsequently modified by the appeals tribunal; and whether he will inquire into the circumstances in which there was a rehearing of this case by the first tribunal?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed men and women, respectively, at each of the exchanges; Ferndale, Porth, Tonypandy and Treorchy, upon the latest available date.

I am having the desired figures extracted and will send them to my hon. Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to what extent the Dominion of Newfoundland has become self-supporting; and, if it has, will he consider restoring self-government to it?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 8th April to the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones).

asked the Minister of Supply what steps are being taken to avoid delays in placing contracts and to ensure efficient forward planning so that contractors can plan their work economically well ahead?

Every endeavour is made to avoid delays in placing Ministry of Supply contracts and to prevent any break in production. If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular case of delay on the part of the Ministry and will let me have particulars, I shall be pleased to look into it.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is now able to make a further statement on the measures to prevent waste of paper due to advertising; and what steps he proposes to take, in conjunction with other Departments, to eliminate this waste, and the consequent crippling of the national effort?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I have given to-day to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker).

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare has he received information as to whether Russia has stopped the export of oil to Germany since 1st March?

My information shows that very little, if any, oil has reached Germany from the U.S.S.R. since 1st March. It would, however, be premature to draw the conclusion that this traffic has been stopped.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is calling the special attention of war agricultural committees to the possible havoc wrought by the wire worm in first and second years' cropping of newly broken pasture; and whether the recent experiments which have been conducted to provide remedies against this evil are being given wide publicity?

The answer to both parts pf the Question is in the affirmative; I can assure my hon. Friend that the widest possible publicity is being given to the results of recent experimental work.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether Post Office pensioners can receive an increase owing to the rise in the cost of living?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave on 6th August last to the hon. Member for the Evesham Division (Mr. De la Bère).

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he is aware of labour disputes in British ports affecting Chinese, many of them being British subjects, both in respect of war risk bonus, apart from wages, and also the treatment of their effects; whether he is aware that many of them are unable financially to afford replacement of destroyed effects; and whether he has had, or will have, inquiry made into their grievances and the methods employed to deport them?

As regards war risk bonus I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. David Adams) on this subject. Compensation is payable by the Government if the loss of effects is due to enemy action—where the loss is due to other causes it is, I understand, the normal practice for shipowners to give compensation. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs.

asked the Prime Minister what is the number of casualties from the beginning of the war up to the latest date of citizens, men, women and children, in this country, and also of men in the Armed Forces, in both cases fatal and non-fatal?

The approximate number of casualties from the beginning of the war to the present date is as follows:—Civilians, 29,856 killed, 40,897 wounded.Armed Forces, 37,607 killed and missing, 25,895 wounded.Appended are particulars of civilian casualties:

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of his decision not to suspend horse-racing on account of the important part it plays in bloodstock breeding, he will state the value of bloodstock exported from this country during each of the five years 1934, 1935. 1936, 1937 and 1938?

I understand that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will issue an up-to-date list of Members of Parliament at present serving on the active list of the Royal Air Force?

The particulars are as follow: