asked the Minister of Health, having regard to the dissatisfaction concerning the recruitment of medical men for the Forces and the needs of the civilian medical services, what is the machinery for securing that the best use is made of the medical man-power available since the beginning of the war?

The procedure adopted for this purpose by the Central Medical War Committee when considering the cases of individual doctors was described in my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 25th March. More general questions concerning the allocation of medical man-power have been considered by the Committee presided over by Sir Arthur Robinson, as to which I would refer to the replies given to a number of recent Questions on this subject, including that asked by my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 6th February.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now publish the recommendations of the Committee appointed to advise on the distribution of medical man-power between the several civil and fighting services and general medical practice?

The following were the recommendations of the Committee:

(i) All medical estalishments, service or civil, should be reviewed forthwith with a view to the fullest possible utilisation of medical personnel and the reduction of future demands.

(ii) The services of civilian practitioners in proximity to troops might be further extended.

(iii) Where the three Services in this country are represented in the same or adjacent areas, further economy should be effected by the adoption of the principle of area service.

(iv) The possibility of temporarily releasing practitioners from the Services for civilian work through the winter months when the demands of the civilian poulation are greatest should be carefully examined.

(v) The employment of alien practitioners admitted to the Register in civil hospitals and the Services should be further extended.

(vi) The employment of Final-year students as house surgeons or house physicians in civil hospitals should be set on foot.

(vii) The question of the employment of more practitioners from the Dominion of Canada and other Dominions should be further explored.

(viii) The possibility of recruitment of practitioners from the United States of America is a new factor and action in regard to it should be taken as quickly as possible.

(ix) An effective organisation for the settlement of questions of priority should be established.

asked the Minister of Labour how many engineers registered on the recent registration date; how many were not employed in the engineering trade; and what steps are being taken to get these skilled men into munition works?

It would not be in the public interest to publish this information.

asked the Minister of Labour, in how many industries engaged on war work, women are working 10-hour shifts and over?

This information is not available in the form asked for by my hon. Friend. If desired, however, I shall be glad to instruct my Factory Department to discuss with her what particulars it may be possible to give.

asked the Minister of Labour, what methods are adopted by officers of employment exchanges to carry out the exception provisions under 1941, No. 368, Registration for Employment, especially in relation to mental defectives?

The notices calling upon people to register under the Registration for Employment Order set out clearly the categories of persons who are excepted by the Order from liability to register, and the Employment Exchanges would not accept the registration of a person known to be excepted. If a mentally deficient person covered by the statutory exception were to register without disclosure of the facts, the registration would be cancelled on the facts being brought to light by those responsible for his supervision or otherwise.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the publication in the Press of details of the new Schedule of Reserved Occupations before this was available to the industrial community, has caused many cases of uneasiness and dissatisfaction; and whether, in future, he will see to it that decisions on major principles affecting industry are communicated first to the employer and the employé?

The revised Schedule of Reserved Occupations and Protected Work was on sale to the public the day after Press publicity was given to it. I consider that this arrangement was the most satisfactory in the circumstances and I am not aware that it has caused any criticism.

asked the Minister of Health why the Press was not invited to the meeting in London of representatives of local medical war committees which he addressed; and why was the "British Medical Journal" alone given information on the subject, enabling it to publish an account of the meeting?

The matters to be discussed at the meeting were of a kind which it would not have been in the public interest to publish in the Press, and my hon. Friend will see from the notice which appeared in the "British Medical Journal" after the meeting that no account of them was in fact published.

asked the Minister of Health what is the due provision made in the civil defence regions for co-ordinating the control of the different medical services?

In general, co-ordination is secured through the regional hospital officers and medical officers, but if my hon. Friend will let me know what aspect of the matter he has especially in mind I will send him further particulars.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of a certain local authority to print for distribution 10,000 copies of doggerel verses critical of those leaving their city before or during an air-raid; and whether he will give any guidance to local authorities respecting the deprecation or otherwise of any temporary dispersal nightly or during weekends of some sections of the population from congested to less dangerous areas?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I understand that the action was directed against persons who left their premises unprotected against fire risks. As at present advised I do not propose to issue any instructions to local authorities.

asked the Home Secretary with reference to the new reconstituted committee under Regulation 18B, which members, if any, of the present reconstituted committee were not members of the original committee?

All the members of the reconstituted committee were members of the Advisory Committee before its reconstitution.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will now state the names of those members appointed on the original Advisory Committee to investigate cases of detention under Regulation 18B who have at any time tendered their resignation, stating the date when such resignation was tendered, and in each case whether such offer of resignation was accepted, or, after further communication, withdrawn?

Sir Harry Pritchard retired from the work of the Advisory Committee in August, 1940. Mr. J. P. Crump, Mrs. Evelyn Lowe, Mr. A. T. Miller, K.C., Mr. C. C. Walkinshaw and Mr. H. O. Wallington, K.C., who were also members of the original Advisory Committee, retired in September, 1940. The reason in each case was the inability of the member to continue the work owing to other calls on his time—for example, some members found themselves unable to attend the Committee when it was transferred from London to Ascot in September, 1940. Accordingly the member's retirement was accepted in each case and no communication suggesting its withdrawal was made.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any figures to show the number of mothers and children who have been sent more than once to the country at the national expense; and what is his policy with respect to evacuees of this type?

I am aware that a number of mothers and children have been evacuated more than once but I regret that statistics are not available. I am very anxious that all practicable steps should be taken to discourage this abuse of the facilities for evacuation, but without prejudicing the evacuation of children from danger areas.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the discontent amongst prison officers because of his failure to bring into operation the Whitley machinery agreed upon between the Department and the Prison Officers' Association last year; and whether he will take immediate steps to remedy the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 10th April by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to a Question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster (Mr. Evelyn Walkden).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the dissatisfaction felt by thousands of housewives who have hitherto made their own jam from their own fruit, with the proposal that they should in future send it to a communal centre, and the probable consequent loss in quality owing to much fruit being sent which is not in the state of ripeness for preservation, he will review the whole position, and allow housewives, under proper safeguards, a quantity of sugar for this season's preservation of fruit?

I regret that, having regard to the need for economy in the use of sugar and to the desirability of distributing the limited supplies as equitably as possible among the whole population, it is impossible to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion at the present time. The matter will be further considered later in the season if the supply position permits.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to what extent it is his intention to use women's organisations to manufacture jam from fruit next season; whether he will state which women's organisations he proposes to use for this purpose; and how the jam-making equipment and labour is to be provided?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd April, 3:941], supplied the following information:List of certain voluntary organisations who are being asked to co-operate in the domestic fruit preservation arrangements in England and Wales, 1941:—Allotments Societies.Associations of Teachers of Domestic Subjects.British Legion (Women's Section).British Women's Temperance Association.Electrical Association for Women.Infant Welfare Associations and Clinics.Local Educational Authorities Women's Institutes.Local Educational Authorities Youth Committees.National Council of Social Service (Mutual Service Clubs).National Council of Women.Toc "H" (League of Women Helpers).Townswomen's Guilds.Women's Citizens Association.Women's Co-operative Guilds.Women's Gas Council.Women's groups connected with churches (including Mothers' Union, Sisterhoods, Catholic Women's League).Women's groups of political parties.Women's Voluntary Services.Young Women's Christian Association.It should be added that this list is not exhaustive and does not imply that all the associations would be able to help in any given district.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether travelling showmen, can be permitted to have unit coupons for the corn rations for their animals, similar to petrol coupons, so that they can purchase the supplies as required instead of the present system under which they must buy in bulk and cart about, with the risk of damage and theft, the full ration for the month?

Favourable consideration will be given to any application for special coupons to enable feeding-stuffs to be purchased at different places as required if the applicant can show that the present system of deposit of coupons is inappropriate to his particular case. Up to the present, no such application has been received from a travelling showman.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that early strawberries are already being sold at very high prices; and whether he will consider making arrangements for better use to be made of greenhouse space?

I have already made arrangements under which strawberry growing in glasshouses is limited to "catch cropping" and is not allowed to interfere with the production of food crops. This is no doubt the reason for the high prices.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why farmers and their sons, working on their farms, are not receiving the eight-ounce ration of cheese per week as well as ordinary farm-workers; and is he not aware that the majority of farms in Great Britain are worked by father and sons with little or no extra help?

The extra ration of cheese is being granted to underground miners and agricultural workers who generally take their mid-day meal with them to work. Farmers and their sons usually have their mid-day meal at home.

asked the Minister of Health whether any supervision is maintained over the component parts of such commodities as fish cakes, meat and potato pies, luncheon and breakfast sausage, meat rolls, meat pies, egg dishes and other articles in which there is little content of the article advertised?

The Food and Drugs Act, 1938, gives wide powers for the sampling and examination of food, both for the protection of the purchaser and in the interests of public health. These powers extend to the ingredients of any article of food whether on sale or in possession for the purpose of preparation for sale. The administration of the Act rests with local authorities, and I have no reason to suppose that they are not maintaining adequate supervision.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the importance of pig keeping by individual householders, especially since such pigs mainly live on household waste, he will suggest to local authorities the war-time relaxation, where-ever possible, of restrictions against such pig-keeping?

By Order in Council under the Defence (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939, it has been made lawful, so long as nuisance is not caused, to keep pigs in any place, notwithstanding any legal provision to the contrary or any provision in a lease or tenancy agreement. This Order in Council I think meets my hon. and gallant Friend's desire.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings how many hotels have been requisitioned by his Department in each of the last six months, and which are the Ministries on whose behalf such action was taken?

The number of hotels requisitioned in each of the past six months to date is as follows:

October	20
November	3
December	—
January, 1941	4
February	1
March	5
	33

The figure for April, to date, is three.I do not think it advisable to disclose the various purposes for which these premises were taken, but if my hon. Friend will get into touch with me, I will willingly tell him in confidence.

asked the Lord President of the Council the reason for the proposed reduction in the expenditure of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for the forthcoming financial year?

No reduction in the expenditure of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is proposed. On the contrary, Class VI, Vote 15, of the Civil Estimates for the year ending 31st March, 1942, shows increases of £41,583 and £7,506 in the estimated gross and net expenditure respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines the numbers of persons at present engaged in the coalmining industry in the age groups 20, 21 and 22, respectively?

Since the war it was deemed not to be in the national interest to make such information public.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what steps should be taken by men serving in the Armed Forces to secure compensation for furniture destroyed or damaged by enemy action while stored with storage firms, or with relatives, or left with the firms where purchased and wholly or partly paid for?

Claims in respect of the chattels of men serving with the Armed Forces may be made either by the men themselves or by any person competent to act on their behalf, and reasonable extensions of time limits will be allowed to meet their special circumstances. Compensation will be payable wherever in the United Kingdom the chattels may be. The procedure is set out in an explanatory memorandum which will shortly be generally available; I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any further statement to make on the political situation in India; and whether he proposes to take any action respecting the proposals of Sir Tej Sapru and his associates?

I have nothing to add to the full statement which I made on Tuesday.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that some rural schools are either not receiving milk for schoolchildren or only a partial supply; whether he is also aware that small country dairymen contend that they cannot supply this milk on a financially satisfactory basis; and whether he will take any further action to guarantee an adequate supply to all children in rural schools?

I am aware that difficulties have arisen in regard to the supply of milk in both rural and urban schools during the past few months and that country dairymen as well as others have been dissatisfied with the financial arrangements. The dairymen's participation in the scheme is voluntary, but I feel confident that in view of the increase in the margin allowed for distribution announced in the Board's Circular 1548, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, the dairymen will do their utmost to ensure that schools in rural areas obtain the milk they require.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals, in what directions and to what extent, His Majesty's Government have made to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for increasing the trade between the said Union and British territory; and, if so, what parts of that territory?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer which was given to-day.

asked the Minister of Pensions, with reference to the case of Mr. G. W. Collins, invalided out of the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, and, in view of the evidence that he was fit when enlisted, and completely incapacitated when discharged, whether he will secure for Mr. Collins a period of medical treatment with a view to the cure of his present disability?

The mental condition from which Mr. Collins is unfortunately suffering is, I am advised by competent expert authority, of a constitutional nature and is not attributable to or materially worsened by his service. In these circumstances I regret that I have no power to provide Mr. Collins with treatment for his condition.

asked the Minister of Shipping the number of Chinese seamen employed on British ships who actually receive the £5 war risks bonus, and how many do not; and what is the reason for such differentiation?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply given on 6th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower).

asked the Minister of Information whether it is his intention to invite the leaders of all parties to broadcast in the weekly series of "From the Front Bench "?

The leaders of all political parties that are supporting the national war effort have been and will continue to be invited to broadcast.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a soldier's widow is entitled to any funeral expenses incurred by her in respect of the burial of her deceased husband, whose death occurred while serving with the Colours?

Where the funeral of a serving soldier is carried out by his relatives, a grant towards the cost may be made from Army funds up to a maximum of £7 10s. If, however, a soldier is buried by the military authorities at a military station, the whole cost is borne by Army funds, and, if relatives wish to attend the funeral and cannot afford the cost of the journey, two return railway warrants are given. If relatives wish the body to be sent home from a military station, the cost of conveyance may be met from Army funds in addition to the grant referred to above.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a revised Army Form O. 1700–1, is being issued consequent on the amended conditions applicable to dependants' allowances?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Circular No. 2315, 63/1941, authorises the employment of doctors of enemy alien nationality at hospitals and similar institutions where members of His Majesty's Forces receive treatment, and whether, in future, he will arrange that such doctors do not practise in protected areas or other places where members of the Forces receive treatment?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department concurred in the terms of the circular referred to, and, together with the competent military authority where necessary, is consulted on each individual case under the circular. In view of this safeguard and the stringent conditions laid down in the circular itself, both my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who has adopted the same policy and procedure in this matter, and I are satisfied that no general restriction of the kind proposed by the hon. Member is required, particularly in view of the heavy demands now being made on British practitioners for both Service and civilian needs.

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths from cancer during the year 1939?

The number of deaths from cancer in England and Wales registered during 1939 is provisionally returned as 69,001.