asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the results of his effort to release from military service skilled artisans whose services are urgently needed in the production of munitions; and whether he is aware that large numbers of skilled and semi-skilled workmen are now in the Army, many of whom have been trained at public expense, discharging work which could be done by the ordinary unskilled recruit?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to a Question on this subject addressed to the Lord Privy Seal by the hon. Member for Stoke (Mr. E. Smith) on 26th February.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the machinery for securing the registration and the medical examination of men who have failed to comply with notices issued under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, is adequate and securing the desired results?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a well-known brewery instructed all employés to enrol their occupation as skilled brewery worker, and not otherwise; that this has caused resentment among those to whom it was addressed; and what steps he is taking to prevent the retention of the services of men who might be more usefully employed elsewhere?

It is important that correct occupational particulars should be supplied on registration and penalties are provided for misstatements. I am making inquiry into the case which the Noble Lady brought to my notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that instructions have been given that surface shelters built with lime mortar may be deeply scraped and grouted with cement mortar; whether experiments have proved this method to be satisfactory; and how long the lime mortar takes to set hard?

My hon. Friend has not quoted quite accurately the instructions to which he refers. This measure was not prescribed for general adoption but was limited to cases where defects existed only to a mild degree. As explained in the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to a Question by the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) on 20th March, the object was to prevent the entry of water and frost into the joints of the brickwork and we are satisfied that the treatment is effective for this purpose. As regards the last part of the Question, the time which the mortar takes to set depends upon the lime, the mixture, the workmanship and the weather and I am advised that it is not possible to indicate any average time.

asked the Home Secretary what applications he has received from manufacturers for approval of designs of proprietary types of indoor shelter or for allocations of controlled materials for such manufacture; and whether he can make any statement on the matter?

Yes, Sir; a great many such applications have reached my Department and in the interests of the public I have decided that it is desirable to make arrangements for examination, testing and approval of private designs of shelter which may serve to supplement the Government constructional programme already announced. A suitable announcement is being sent to the technical firms; and a leaflet giving all the details of the scheme is available on application to the Research and Experiments Department of the Ministry of Home Security. I think I should add that the Government programme has itself virtually exhausted the supplies of steel available for the construction of all steel indoor shelters.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there are still many complaints of failure effectively to black-out in Government Departments and particularly in military establishments; whether his attention has been drawn to neglect in this respect at certain places, of which he has been informed; and what steps he intends to take to remedy this?

As regards the enforcement of the black-out in Government Departments, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply giver: him on 20th March; and as regards military establishments I would refer him to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Berwick and Haddington (Captain McEwen) on 25th March, and to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 3rd April. I am inquiring into the specific cases to which the hon. Member has called attention.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider arrangements whereby members of the London police force are temporarily exchanged with members of police forces in parts of the country which have not been subject to heavy hostile air raids; and what such offers from police forces outside London have been received?

My right hon. Friend has recently drawn the attention of all chief officers of police to the question of making arrangements on these lines in suitable cases. One or two tentative offers have been made to exchange personnel with the Metropolitan Police, but the Commissioner of Police has informed my right hon. Friend that while he much appreciates these offers he has reluctantly come to the conclusion that it would not be possible to take advantage of them at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, unless sufficient blood donors come forward, many towns will be in a precarious position in the event of a big raid; and whether he is making a special appeal?

Local appeals for blood donors have been organised where necessary by the blood transfusion officers serving in the Emergency Medical Service in each region, and I am advised that the number coming forward as a result is adequate except in a few isolated instances. In these cases help is obtainable from a neighbouring town. I think that the matter can safely be left in the hands of the regional blood transfusion officers and that no special appeal by me is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the complaint that the Haverfordwest infirmary is inadequately staffed to deal with the war casualties it has to receive; and if he will take the necessary steps to deal with the position?

This matter has not been brought to my knowledge. I will have inquiries made and communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the release of all men and women from our prisons and settlements whose conduct is satisfactory and whose help will aid the war effort in the ranks and in the workshops?

The proposal made by my hon. Friend was considered earlier in the war. While my right hon. Friend did not feel justified in authorising any general release of prisoners to assist the war effort, remission of sentence has been recommended in exceptional cases to enable prisoners to join the Services or engage in work of national importance where such a course can be taken without prejudice to the administration of justice.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the letter from the hon. Member for West Fife about a particular publication; and what steps he intends taking in the matter?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has considered the publication to which the hon. Member refers but has been unable to find any ground for any action on his part.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, in spite of the fact that Circular No. 689289 was issued from his Department on 9th November last year advising an improvement in salaries of justices clerks' assistants, nothing has been done in the matter; and whether he proposes to take any further steps?

My hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that the Home Office circular to which he refers has had no effect. My right hon. Friend is informed that the matter has been considered in a good many petty sessional divisions and in some cases the salary of the clerk to the justices has been raised so as to meet additional expenditure including the remuneration of assistants. The responsibility rests in boroughs with the justices of the borough, and in counties with the standing joint committee of the county, and beyond the advice given in the circular which drew special attention to the position of full-time assistants, my right hon. Friend regrets that in present circumstances there is no action that he can take.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the protest of the Wiltshire Education Committee against the practice of postal officials in tempting parents to break their agreement to keep secondary scholars at their schools until the end of the school year following their sixteenth birthday; and whether he will uphold the committee's refusal to allow these scholars to be so withdrawn?

I am inquiring into the particular case to which my hon. Friend refers. The enforcement of school life agreements in secondary schools is a matter for the discretion of the local education authority or governors, and the Board are not in a position to intervene in a matter which may be the subject of legal proceedings between the authority and the parent. In general I deprecate the recruitment of secondary school pupils into employment before the expiry of such undertakings,, and I have no reason to believe that any encouragement is given by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General to such a practice.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that certain Birkenhead teachers volunteered for national service on the written understanding that if the remuneration for 48 hours' work in a week were less than their normal salary as a teacher their remuneration would be made up to their normal salary; that the understanding arose as a result of a memorandum issued by his Department; that the subsequent withdrawal of an important paragraph of his Department's memorandum precluded the local authority from keeping faith with its servants; and whether he proposes to take any action to remove the sense of injustice which has arisen?

I have no information as to the particular case to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. In a memorandum to local education authorities of nth June last the Board suggested that teachers employed on war-time production should be paid at straight rates subject to their receiving for 48 hours in the week not less than their normal full-time salaries, the payment of the difference between the two salaries being authorised by Section 1 of the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act. There is nothing to prevent this suggestion being acted upon by authorities. The further suggestion was made in the memorandum that for any hours worked over 48 teachers should receive overtime payment at industrial rates. After the issue of the memorandum the Board were advised by the Ministry of Health that overtime pay must be regarded as part of war service pay for the purpose of determining whether such pay fell below the amount of the teacher's salary, and consequently whether payment of the balance could be made by an authority under the Act referred to. The Board had no option but to accept this advice on the legal issue and notified the authorities accordingly on 15th July last. While we regret the necessity for withdrawing the latter suggestion, my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that only payments for overtime are involved and that only those teachers are affected who work overtime and whose remuneration at particular rates exclusive of overtime is less than their salaries.

asked the Prime Minister why a Chancery judge has been chosen to examine the militia camp expenditure, rather than a judge of the King's Bench Division used to criminal cases?

The choice was made after consultation with the Lord Chancellor, and I am confident that the selection is well justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the publication by the Rothamsted Experimental Station of a brochure entitled "Fertilizer Policy in Wartime," in which emphasis is laid on the deficiency of nitrogen in the soil of this country; whether he has any information as to how much more nitrogenous fertilisers are used by continental farmers than are applied in Great Britain; and whether the dressings of sulphate of ammonia are receiving encouragement at the instance of war agricultural committees?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative; as to the second part, I understand that the rate of application of nitrogenous fertilisers in some Continental countries is appreciably greater than in Great Britain as a whole; but such comparisons are apt to be misleading owing to wide differences in the livestock population per acre, in the proportion of clover leys and in the soil conditions. As to the third part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 6th March to a similar question by the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can increase the supplies of phosphates and potash in Devonshire, as, without these fertilisers, the farmers cannot comply with the orders of the county war agricultural committee to grow potatoes?

The available supplies of phosphate and potash have been distributed throughout the country this season as evenly as possible, taking into account the demand for these fertilisers in respect of particular crops and soils. As regards potash the supply is very limited and it is not possible to make any special allocation to Devonshire, though that county will continue to receive its share of the potassic fertilisers that may become available. As regards phosphatic fertilisers additional supplies have been made available in Devonshire.

asked the Minister of Health how far information reaching his Department indicates that the evacuation of the younger generation will lead to their permanent attachment to the land?

I believe that their experience of country life will attract many evacuated children and, while it is too early to form a definite estimate, there is evidence that some of them are obtaining agricultural work on leaving school.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will reconsider the reduction in the allocation of sugar-beet pulp to growers who are stock-keepers, since otherwise the latter will have to grow alternatives, thus resulting in a reduction of the sugar-beet acreage?

The allocation of sugar-beet pulp to growers in the 1941 contract remains at the same rate of 1½ cwts. of each ton of beet delivered as was in force last season. I have no evidence that contracting for the growing of sugar-beet, which on the whole is satisfactory, has been affected as suggested in the latter part of the Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government, in assisting farmers in England and Wales to clear bracken from the land, have evolved in advance any exact estimate of the acreage to be dealt with; and whether it is hoped that such acreage, when cleared, will be brought under the plough next winter?

No accurate estimate can be made of the area of land suitable to be dealt with under the scheme of financial assistance for the eradication of bracken. As regards the last part of the Question, the scheme does not necessarily provide for the clearance of bracken with a view to immediate cultivation of the land as arable; the treatment may have to be spread over several years but immediate benefit is anticipated from the improvement of the land for grazing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses in the various categories for which ration allowances have been applied for and granted?

It would not be in the public interest to publish the numbers of horses in the various categories.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many footpaths have been ploughed and diversion orders made by the county war agriculture committees, under the authority delegated to them by Circular W.A.C. 1124, between the date of the Order and 1st March, 1941; and whether the necessary undertakings and conditions have been obtained and imposed in every case?

The number of authorities issued by county war agricultural executive committees in England and Wales for the stopping up or diversion of footpaths under Defence Regulation 62 (5A) is 100. In every instance the necessary undertakings and conditions have been obtained and imposed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the immediate closing of all casual wards for the period of the war?

No, Sir. The policy adopted by my Department in this matter was outlined in the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Evesham (Mr. De la B½re) and Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) on 18th February.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has prepared any estimate of the probable public expenditure on the immunisation of children against diphtheria; and what will be the cost to the State of supplying diphtheria prophylactic to local councils as recently arranged by the Ministry?

The cost of immunisation of children against diphtheria falls under the two main heads of payment for medical services and cost of prophylactic substances. As the work may in part be carried out by local authorities' own salaried medical staff and in part by general practitioners under varying financial arrangements with local authorities it is not possible to estimate expenditure under this head. The cost of supplying prophylactic is estimated at about £7,000 per million children, or rather more than 1èd. per child.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether he will consider bringing home to all motor users, by Press and radio, the necessity for reserving the use of their petrol allowance only for essential purposes, and for conserving its use in every way, having regard to the fact that it is brought to this country at the risk of our seamen's lives?

It has been the consistent policy of my Department, since petrol rationing was instituted, to advocate, through the Press and by radio, the necessity for the utmost economy in petrol consumption; but I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving me another opportunity of calling attention to the fact that the use of petrol for other than authorised purposes is a disservice to the country and to the seamen who risk their lives in bringing it here.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) whether, in view of the high value as nerve and energy food placed upon glucose by the medical profession, he is yet prepared to proceed with plans for producing glucose from potatoes, as suggested to the Ministry over a year ago, as this production is more profitable than the manufacture of cattle food; and whether, in view of the plentiful supplies of potatoes, he will make arrangements for a considerable quantity to be obtained by the glucose manufacturers for conversion into that nourishing foodstuff;(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, after the maximum amount of potatoes are used in domestic consumption, there is a considerable surplus, and that the next most valuable form of use of potatoes is in conversion into barley sugar and similar forms of confectionery, the dextrose contents being recognised as highly nutritive by the medical profession and dietetic experts; and what steps he is taking?

The most profitable use for surplus potatoes must depend in wartime on the supply situation from time to time of the various commodities which it is desired to replace and their relative importance under war conditions. My Noble Friend is watching the position with regard to farina and glucose, and should the situation warrant it, arrangements will be made for their production.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) what quantities of imported and home grown grain are allowed for consumption by horses normally used for racing and hunting purposes; and what percentages these quantities represent as compared with the last pre-war year;(2) what quantities of imported and home-grown grain are allowed for consumption by racing pigeons; and what percentages these represent of pre-war consumption?

I am obtaining the information asked for and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the resentment felt by owners of cage birds such as canaries and budgerigars regarding the refusal of supplies of seed; whether he is aware of the estimate of 600 tons annually as the quantity required to feed all such birds in this country, and will he reconsider his decision?

I am aware that the decision to suspend the import of bird seeds has been the subject of a certain amount of criticism. I cannot accept my hon Friend's estimate of 600 tons as the quantity required annually to feed all canaries and budgerigars in the country. Before the war over 9,000 tons of canary seed, nearly 9,000 tons of millet and 5,000 tons of dari were imported each year, and I regret that in view of the shipping situation the decision cannot be reconsidered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, when fixing maximum prices, he will have due regard to the perishability of the goods concerned and fix a definite maximum price for perishable goods, to compensate growers for the delays in transit owing to enemy action or for any other reason attributable to war conditions

In fixing maximum prices regard is paid to the risks of loss in transit as to other factors affecting the costs incurred by producers or distributors. It is not possible, however, to cover exceptional risks by varying the maximum prices permitted in the Ministry's Orders.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food when the Home-grown Wheat (Control) Order, 1941, is to be amended in order to avoid the present delay in obtaining seed for the growing of wheat?

An amending Order with effect from 7th April revoking the provisions of Article 4 of the Home-Grown Wheat (Control) Order, 1941, respecting the undertaking to be furnished by a grower who desired to purchase seed wheat. The revocation of this requirement should avoid delay in the delivery of seed wheat to growers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food his reasons for assuming that a local addition to maximum prices for eggs in scheduled industrial areas would not be as successful and practicable, for the purpose of attracting consignments from areas of relative plenty, as this method has already proved in the case of rabbits?

The method of price fixing for rabbits is in the nature of an experiment and is being carefully watched, but, as at present advised, my Noble Friend is not prepared to extend the experiment to eggs.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the maximum pension payable to the widowed mother of a soldier killed in action, upon whom she was dependent, is 15s. per week; and whether, as this sum is inadequate to enable her to live, he will consider the possibility of an increase?

A pension to the widowed dependent parent of a soldier is, generally speaking, in the nature of an annuity; and the rates are fixed with regard to the reasonable probability of what the deceased son might have been expected to be able to contribute indefinitely had he survived, not withstand- ing possible changes in later life in his own circumstances. The rates were fully considered by the Government before the issue of the present Royal Warrant and I can hold out no hope of their being increased at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the names of the local authorities to whom, to meet wartime difficulties, the State has accorded direct temporary aid giving the amount and the nature of the contribution in each case?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) on 8th April, and I will send him for his private information a statement showing the names of the authorities and the total amount so far advanced in each case. As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thome) on 26th March last, except in special circumstances 75 per cent. of each advance is treated as grant, and the remaining 25 per cent. as an interest-free advance in respect of which the Government retains the right to call for repayment after the war in the light of the financial circumstances then obtaining.

asked the Minister of Health whether there are any local authorities which are agreeing not to rate houses which the tenants have left at the direct appeal of the authority, military and Government to evacuate; and, if so, whether he can give the names?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the Defence (Evacuation Areas) Regulations provide for a moratorium in respect of certain liabilities, including rates, in areas to which they have been applied. Local authorities are not required to inform me as to any action they may take under the general powers available to them in regard to remission of rates in cases where rateable occupation can be held to continue, and I am not in a position to supply the information desired.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of the infants born in 1938 and 1939 were vaccinated before reaching the age of 12 months, were exempted from vaccination, died un-vaccinated, and were neither vaccinated nor exempted, respectively?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health what consideration has been given to the fact that doctors in danger zones have suffered serious financial losses and are experiencing great difficulty in making a livelihood and yet doctors in safe zones, by reason of evacuation, are profiting at the expense of those doctors who are trying to carry on in the danger zones; and whether some reasonable adjustment can be made, so as to compensate the less fortunate doctors?

Measures to meet the situation described, which is not peculiar to the medical profession, are primarily a matter for the profession itself rather than for the Government. The Central Medical War Committee has acted as far as possible as a clearing house for the transference of doctors from evacuation to reception areas. The official arrangements for war-time medical services have also taken account of the special position of doctors in evacuation areas. For example, a number of those in coastal towns have been appointed to salaried posts in the Emergency Medical Service in their own towns or elsewhere, and the number selected for commissions in the medical branches of the Forces is proportionately larger in the evacuation areas than elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will investigate the procedure adopted by the Salford Local Medical War Committee and the Central Medical War Committee in the case of Dr. D. Russell, who is medical officer to the Lancashire Mental Deficiency Acts Committee, and whose case has been referred by the central committee to the local committee to deal with?

I am in communication with the Central Medical War Committee and Dr. Russell.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give consideration to the use of phosphorescent and luminous paint in marking the roads for motor-driving throughout the country, to making the fullest possible use of luminous paint on Government vehicles, and to making provision for the sale of this to the ordinary public as a means of minimising and preventing fatalities at night?

I have considered this matter, and am advised that none of the phosphorescent or luminous paints so far available can be relied upon to remain usefully visible throughout the hours of darkness; in view of this and of the high cost of luminous paint, they are not to be recommended for the marking of carriageways. I am not aware that the public have difficulty in securing supplies.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take the necessary steps to get the Great Western Railway Company to establish a halt at the village of Pontywaun, Glamorgan, the absence of which obliges a considerable number of miners to walk two miles over the: mountains to their work and causes great hardship to a community which has to do its shopping at towns some five or six miles distant?

I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as they are complete.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the tenants of houses rendered uninhabitable by enemy action are responsible for the safe custody of the contents of their gas and electricity meters; whether, in the event of the contents of such meters being stolen the company should claim repayment of such money and the cost of the repair of the meter; and whether the tenants are entitled to claim compensation for this loss on form V.O.W.I in addition to the preliminary payments of compensation in respect of furniture, clothing, etc.?

The question of responsibility for the safe custody of the contents of a meter and for the repair of the meter depends normally on the contract between the public utility undertaker and the consumer. How far the terms of the contract would apply in the circumstances mentioned is a question which needs careful consideration and, as I indicated on 9th April in reply to the hon. Member for Attercliffe (Mr. Wilson), my right hon. Friend is consulting the other Ministers concerned. Loss due to looting is not covered under the War Damage Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of home manufactured or imported valves suited for use in domestic radio sets are now being released for sale; and whether, in view of the grave shortage in the stocks available for sale for domestic use, it is now possible to meet the demand for this essential service more adequately?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given him by my right hon. Friend on 3rd April, in which he stated that steps have been taken to secure as far as possible the supply of valves for domestic wireless reception. If my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with full details of shortages in any particular district, I shall be glad to have them fully investigated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is possible to insure livestock under the private chattels scheme of the War Damage Act, and under what conditions?

Under the provisions of the War Damage (Business Scheme) Order, 1941, livestock owned in the course of that business by a person carrying on a farming or other business may be insured under the private chattels scheme only if the value of all goods insurable by him under the business scheme does not exceed£100. If the livestock are not held for the purpose of a business, they are insurable under the private chattels scheme, subject to the limits in that scheme. Under the private chattels scheme, the liability of the Board in respect of any article will not exceed£50 or 5 per cent. of the sum insured, whichever is the greater.

asked the Minister of Supply what percentage of contracts are on the cost plus basis?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to contracts placed on the basis that the contractor will be paid the actual ascertained cost plus a profit represented by a percentage of the cost. This type of contract is only resorted to in a few cases of contracts for repair work where it is not possible to estimate the extent or cost of the work in advance.

asked the Minister of Supply what form of control is exercised on the supply, cost and economical use of labour in contracts placed by the Department?

A large part of the energies of my right hon. Friend's Department is devoted to dealing with this wide question in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour, both at the centre and through the area organisation.

asked the Minister of Supply whether the useful practice of the last war in collecting reliable data of the cost of articles is being followed now?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he has considered applications from gardeners and other workers employed in the Royal Parks for an increase of wages on the maximum pay of£2 17s. 9èd.; and why no reply or acknowledgment to memorials have been forwarded to the petitioners?

Increases in the rates of the industrial staffs in the Royal Parks, ranging from 6s. to 9s. a week, have just been granted with effect from 1st January, 1941. These were agreed on the miscellaneous trades joint council for Government industrial establishments and form part of a larger negotiation affecting Government industrial rates in the London area. No memorials on the subject have been received from the employés in the Royal Parks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why temporary civil servants, who are moved from their home town, are not granted the same subsistence allowance as permanent civil servants, to cover the extra expense of maintaining two homes?

A temporary civil servant transferred in the public interest by his Department to a new station or headquarters is entitled to the same subsistence or billeting allowances as other civil servants and on the same conditions.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will give a list of persons employed by his Department in Wales; the salary paid in each case; and the occupation followed by such persons before their present appointment?

I am sending the hon. Member a statement giving the information requested.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will furnish a table showing the total number of persons employed by his Department, distinguishing men and women separately; what proportion are established civil servants; what different divisions of work they are employed in; and indicating separately the figures of each region throughout the country?

I am sending my hon. Friend"a statement giving the required information.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the civilian employés at Ordnance Department and mobilisation stores are prohibited from working more than 48 hours per week unless authority has been obtained from the Whitley Council?

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the French and Italian Governments are seizing and disposing of properties belonging to British subjects, many of whom have left their entire fortunes in one or other of these countries; and whether His Majesty's Government will give an assurance to ease the minds of these people that funds held in this country on behalf of these Governments and other nationals will be used to compensate such losers of properties seized by either of the Governments in question?

Information as to the measures taken by the French and Italian Governments in regard to properties belonging to British subjects is incomplete,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will indicate the emoluments payable to all Members of both Houses of Parliament, including salaries and expenses who are assisting the Government in a civil capacity otherwise than as members of commissions or committees?

As regards salaried civil posts remunerated from United Kingdom funds I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary to the hon. and learned Member for Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson) on 4th March. As regards the cases covered by my hon. Friend's Question which were not included in that answer, the information is as follows: —

asked the Attorney-General whether he expects that the promised measure to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act will be introduced before Whitsuntide?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the cases of the four serving officers detained under Regulation 18B, he proposes to try them by court martial, in view of the Home Secretary's decision to continue their detention?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of his Department to take up 20 acres of the most productive land in an area specified to him for the purpose of a hutted camp?

The land to which my hon. Friend refers was selected by the military authorities as the only site that would meet their requirements, and the agreement of the local land commissioner of the Ministry of Agriculture was obtained to its acquisition. It has since been decided, however, not to proceed with the construction of the camp for which this site was intended and the notice of requisitioning will therefore be withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that voluntary allowances made by some employers to employés joining the Army is treated as income and taken into account in the assessment of allowances from Army funds, with the result that the State gets the benefit of such voluntary allowances at the expense of the employer and the soldier is no better off; and whether he will take the necessary steps to arrange that such voluntary allowances shall not be taken into account?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to dependants' allowance, which is issuable in respect of a dependant other than a wife or child. The essential condition for the issue of this allowance is that the soldier must before his enlistment have been contributing towards the maintenance of such a dependant an amount greater than he can contribute from his resources whilst in the Army and that in consequence of his inability to continue the contribution the dependant is left in circumstances of hardship. Where an employer makes up a soldier's Army emoluments to their previous civilian level or to such a level as to avoid hardship to the dependant, this basic condition is clearly not fulfilled and dependants' allowance is therefore not issuable. No such condition is, of course, attached to the issue of family allowance payable in respect of a wife or children, which is not affected by the amount of the soldier's income from other sources.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will define the responsibility of members of the Home Guard as to fire-watching at their places of employment and also in the localities in which they live?

Under the provisions of the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order and the Civil Defence Duties (Compulsory Enrolment) Order, 1941, members of the Home Guard are exempt from liability to undertake fire prevention duties either at business premises or at their places of residence. This does not, however, preclude them from assisting in fire prevention duties when their other duties permit, and many are voluntarily giving such assistance, particularly in the case of members of factory and similar units who would naturally help in extinguishing fire bombs which fell on the buildings where they were on guard. Home Guard units may, of course, be ordered by the proper military authority as part of their military duties to render temporary assistance to the Civil Defence services in dealing with fire bombs.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why, in Table A, page 10, Cmd. 6261, the earnings of shop assistants are included under the heading of wages; how these earnings have been arrived at; and what are the reasons for this distinction between one section of wage earners and the rest?

This distinction, which has always been made by statisticians in calculating the National Income, requires a lengthy and complicated explanation. As stated in the notes (p. 14), item 3 "Salaries" in Table A is based upon estimated assessments under Schedule E, excluding the earnings of manual weekly wage-earners assessed half-yearly, which are returned under a separate section of that Schedule. The earnings of the latter are included in the independent calculation of "Wages" given in item 4. There is, however, a certain diversity of treatment of the earnings of shop assistants for Income Tax purposes, some employers returning them as clerks, others as manual workers. In the former case, their earnings are included in the portion of the assessments under Schedule E covered by Item 3 in the table; in the latter case they are not. For this reason it is necessary to make a separate calculation of the earnings of this latter class for the purpose of building up the total estimate of wages given in Item 4. For 1938 Professor Bowley's published estimate of £54 million has been adopted; as regards 1940 it has been assumed that the war-time increase in earnings by this class offsets any fall in the number of persons in these categories owing to entry into the Armed Forces and other employment. In consequence no change has been made in this item in calculating the total wages figure for that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland who convened the meeting of representatives of Scottish local medical committees addressed by him on the 21st March, 1941; what was the form of notice asking the committees to send representatives; is he aware that few of the committees held meetings to appoint representatives; and what were the steps which he stated had to be taken, having regard to the civilian medical needs, by the committee to secure an adequate supply of medical officers for the services?

The meeting was convened by the Scottish Central Medical War Committee. The arrangements for calling the meeting were made by that committee who I understand sent letters to all Scottish local medical war committees inviting them to send two representatives. I have no information regarding the way in which the representatives were appointed by the local committees. The steps to be taken to secure an adequate supply of medical officers for the Services are set out in a circular issued by the Department of Health for Scotland, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Scottish Board of Health receives particulars of diphtheria cases and deaths which occur in Scotland?

The Department of Health for Scotland receives from medical officers of health weekly returns of notifications of infectious diseases (including diphtheria) occurring in Scotland. Notifications of deaths are shown in periodical returns prepared and published by the Registrar-General for Scotland, which give the number of deaths from the principal infectious diseases and other causes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with the exchange and repatriation of incapacitated British and German prisoners of war?

An agreement was concluded some time ago with the German Government through the good offices of the United States Government by which the forms of disablement or sickness requiring direct repatriation were denned and mixed medical commissions were constituted for the examination of the sick and wounded. After several suggestions for carrying out the repatration had been considered and in anticipation of the reports of the commissions, His Majesty's Government proposed as the most expeditious way of effecting repatriation the employment of a Red Cross vessel which should sail between an English and a French port in the Channel. This proposal having been rejected by the German Government, His Majesty's Government proposed as an alternative that the vessel should sail between a port in the United Kingdom other than a Channel port and either Marseilles or Lisbon. No reply has yet been received. In the meantime, while no lists have yet been communicated, I understand that a considerable number of British prisoners as well as enemy prisoners have been recommended for repatriation by the medical commissions. In view, however, of the present stage of naval and air operations, a safe conduct granted by the enemy for the vessel in question is an essential prerequisite of putting any such plan into effect. His Majesty's Government for their part are most anxious to effect the return of this category of prisoners to their own country at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further statement to make on the economic relations between the United Kingdom and Spain?

Yes, Sir. An agreement was signed in Madrid on 7th April by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs and His. Majesty's Ambassador at Madrid providing for the advance to the Spanish Government of £2,500,000 by His Majesty's Government to be expended in such manner as the two Governments may agree. This agreement is supplementary to the Loan Agreement concluded on 18th March, 1940, and the terms in regard to the payment of interest on and the repayment of the capital of the loan are the same as in the earlier agreement. It is expected that the greater part of the loan will be used for the purchase of foodstuffs and raw materials of which Spain is in urgent need.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with reference to the position in Iraq?

I have nothing to add at present to the reply given on 9th April to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks).