asked the Secretary of State for War whether, especially in view of recent events in Libya, he can give an assurance that there is the maximum of co-operation between the different Government Departments, especially in regard to reconnaissance work, secret service, and air-army co-ordinated effort?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the total number of staff employed by his Department; and how many of these have salaries over £1,000 per annum?

The total staff employed by the Ministry of Food is approximately 31,300; of these 120 are in receipt of salaries of £1,000 a year or over.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that at the outbreak of war there were 70 patients waiting to be admitted to Essex County Sanatoria, and that since the war the figure has increased, and patients kept waiting two or three months; how many patients, both male and female, are at present waiting; what steps are taken to prevent the disease being spread by these patients; how many patients discharged themselves from Essex County Sanatoria in 1940 before treatment was completed; and what steps are being taken to ensure an adequate number of beds in the county in future?

I am aware that a period of waiting may be necessary before individual patients can be admitted to a sanatorium, and that the number of patients waiting varies considerably from time to time. I am informed that at present 114 persons in all are on the waiting list. In many cases immediate admission is not required, but for those in which it is desirable every effort is made to secure sanatorium treatment as soon as possible. The spread of the disease is controlled by the normal measures of supervision in the patient's home and by giving priority in admission to those whose segregation is desirable. I am aware that a certain number of patients discharge themselves from county sanatoria against medical advice before completion of the necessary sanatorium treatment, but I have no information as to the numbers concerned in 1940. With regard to the provision of accommodation, an additional institution of 300 beds has been brought into use since the outbreak of war.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will give a list of the names of persons employed in the Ministry of Information and the British Broadcasting Corporation who have changed their names during the last five years; and will he give their original names and nationality?

No, Sir, it would be contrary to the public interest to publish such details in war-time but I can assure the hon. Member that nobody is now employed in the Ministry or the B.B.C. whose antecedents give the slightest ground for doubt as to his or her loyalty to our cause.

asked the Minister of Information whether it was with his authority that the Director-General of the Ministry, in his official capacity, recently toured the South-Eastern Region to inform himself on conditions obtaining there, without either notice to hon. Members representing constituencies in that region, or opportunity to such Members to consult with, or advise, the Director-General on conditions in their own constituencies; and whether he will afford opportunities to hon. Members to consult, and advise, in such matters in future?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As the object of the Director-General's visit was to inspect the local staff of the Ministry and to discuss administrative and departmental affairs I saw no reason why Members of Parliament should be informed of it.

asked the Home Secretary whether arrangements can now be made for citizens of friendly countries, detained under a deportation order, to have the opportunity of defending themselves against a specific charge or charges, before a properly constituted legal tribunal?

Aliens detained under this procedure are detained not because they are charged with any specific offence, but because their deportation is impracticable or prejudicial to the efficient prosecution of the war and because in my view their detention is necessary or expedient for securing the public safety, the defence of the realm, or the maintenance of public order. I have appointed a committee to consider the cases of persons so detained and it is the practice of this committee to afford an opportunity to the persons detained of appearing in person before the committee, of answering any allegations made against them and of explaining their activities unless, after a review of all the circumstances, the committee decide they can recommend release without seeing the individual.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make a statement in respect of the case communicated to him by the hon. Member for South Croydon of a contractor to the engineering department of His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, whose account, dated 17th February, 1941, and whose reminders subsequently are still without payment or acknowledgment?

My hon. Friend's communication was not received until notice had been given of his Question. The account to which he refers has now been paid.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Board will recognise that the present system of promotion to the flag list which, even as recently amended, allows no officer below the age of 46 years to become a rear-admiral, is detrimental to the interests of the Service, and that it should be open to the Board, when war services have shown outstanding abilities for high command, to promote younger officers to the flag list?

Whilst the recent decision has very substantially reduced the age at which officers will be eligible for promotion to flag rank, this age will be automatically still further reduced in the next two or three promotion periods. In any case the Admiralty have obtained the power, by Order in Council dated 4th April, 1941, to promote any captain, regardless of seniority, to the active list of flag officers. The Board will exercise this power should a captain below the normal seniority for promotion prove to possess outstanding capability for high command.