asked the Home Secretary whether he is taking steps to see that local authorities carry out the exemption provisions in the Schedule of 1941 Order No. 70 Emergency Powers (Defence) Civil Defence, especially in relation to mental defectives?

I have no reason to suppose that the provisions of the Order relating to exemptions from registration are not being observed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider granting the same compensation for injuries to women as to men civil defence volunteers?

This matter was given full consideration by the Government when the scales of compensation under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, 1941, were settled, and the rates laid down in the Scheme are in accordance with the Government's decision.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the position in regard to surveyors' fees chargeable in respect of the erection of air-raid shelters in the county of London?

I am informed that the London County Council has agreed to remit the fees normally chargeable in respect of the inspection by district surveyors or any air-raid shelter provided in connection with dwellinghouses or dwellings which is substantially of a type-recommended by His Majesty's Government. I understand that this concession will operate in relation to any such shelter the construction of which has commenced on or after 1st February, 1941.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the recent decision to differentiate in the payment of war bonuses to the Civil Service as between men and women, how much money will be saved by the payment of a lower scale to women?

I presume that what my hon. Friend desires to know is what would be the additional cost of granting to women civil servants war bonus at the same rates as to men, and subject to the same conditions. This cannot be precisely calculated, but it is estimated that, on the basis of the number of women at present employed, the figure would be of the order of £1,000,000 a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the net receipts for the financial years 1939–40 and 1940–41, from the taxes derived from spirits, beer, wine, British wine and hops, and also from the licence duties paid by manufacturers, dealers, retailers, club duty and monopoly value?

My hon. Friend will find the information required at pages 14–16 in the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom for 1939–40 and at pages 24–25 in the Budget Financial Statement for 1041–42, except that the latter does not show separately liquor licence duties, club duty and monopoly value. The separate figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the number of bulk and standard barrels of beer, respectively, retained for consumption in Great Britain, apart from Northern Ireland, during each of the calendar years 1940 and 1941;(2) what was the number of proof gallons of spirits, distinguishing imported and home produced, and the number of gallons of imported and British wines retained for consumption in Great Britain, excluding Northern Ireland, during each of the calendar years 1940 and 1941?

I assume that these Questions are intended to refer to the financial years ended 31st March, 1940 and 1941. The figures for the latter year are not yet available, but if my hon. Friend will re- peat the Questions in a month's time I hope to be able to answer them in full.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the present billeting allowance is to be considered as a permanent figure, or whether the rise in the cost of living will be reflected in a rise in the billeting allowance?

The existing rates of billeting allowance are kept periodically under review, but, as I have said previously, I do not consider that any revision is called for at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in many houses damaged by air raids cracks in the structure only appear months after the main damage has been caused and the valuation sent in; and whether he will arrange that when these cracks appear supplementary valuations may be sent in?

The War Damage Act takes account of the possibility of latent damage. If, after a claim has been made in respect of a property which has suffered war damage, further war damage within the meaning of Section 80 of the Act is found to have resulted from the original cause, it should be reported to the War Damage Commission who will take it into account in considering the claim.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why ex-Service men who joined the Royal Air Force for ground defence service at 3s. per day, receive only 6d. per day increase when re-classified Aircraftman 1, as compared with is. 6d. per day paid to non ex-Service men?

The initial rate of pay for aircraftmen 2nd class, employed on ground defence duties, is normally 2s. 6d. per day, but ex-Service men recruited for such duties are paid at the rates appropriate to personnel with one or two years' service, which are 3s. 3d. or 3s. 6d. per day according to the length of their previous service. On reclassification to air- craftman 1st class, all personnel employed on ground defence duties are paid at the rate of 4s. per day. I see no reason to alter these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the formal printed intimation of allowance of claim C.P. 128 (Rev.)/Scotland, is so ambiguously worded as to lead pensioners to believe that, on receipt of it, the contributory pension is immediately payable; that in reliance of this printed intimation debts have been incurred; whether the Government will meet the debts so incurred; and whether he will immediately re-frame the said intimation so as not to mislead recipients of contributory pensions?

Form C.P. 128 is not and does not purport to be the formal notice of award of pension which, as stated on that form, is sent to the claimant at a later date. The form has been in use for some years, and so far as I am aware only one case has arisen in which misunderstanding has been alleged. The explanatory leaflet issued with all claim forms indicates the dates from which claimants are entitled to pensions, and the Government cannot assume responsibility for debts incurred by pension claimants in anticipation of the issue of pensions. My right hon. Friend is, however, considering whether it is desirable to draw special attention again on Form C.P. 128 to the provisions already issued to every applicant on the leaflet to which I have referred.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of those persons responsible for deciding which mills should be closed down, and which should remain open, under the Concentration of Production Scheme?

On the cotton industry, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day to my hon. Friend the. Member for Royton (Mr. Sutcliffe). The other industries that are concentrating production are up to the present being dealt with on a voluntary basis under the procedure laid down in the recent White Paper (Cmd. 6258).

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the slow progress that is being made with subsidised land drainage, he will arrange for the appointment of a drainage engineer and surveyor to each region who will be responsible for the lay-out and the placing of contracts for the work with suitable firms who have the labour, plant and pipes available, seeing that farmers are too busy and too short of labour to do or arrange the work themselves?

The existing drainage authorities already have drainage engineers or officers acquainted with the areas for which they are responsible. The most urgent need is for farm ditching and the clearing of minor streams and watercourses. Contractors are employed as much as possible, the civil engineering firms for constructional work and agricultural contractors for farm drainage. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the change of organisation suggested by my hon. Friend would be either practicable or desirable.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent agreements have been made whereby women storekeepers in engineering establishments should, after 32 weeks, be paid the same rate of wages as men; and to what extent such agreements have been implemented?

I am not aware of any specific agreement relating to women storekeepers in engineering establishments, but in so far as they are employed on work generally performed by adult male labour their position is no doubt governed by the general war agreement covering the extended employment of women in the industry. I have no reason to suppose that this agreement is not being generally observed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a soldier, on posting from one unit to another, reverts to the bottom of the leave roster irrespective of the period of service since he last received leave?

Instructions have been issued that when a soldier is transferred from one unit to another, he should be placed on the leave roster of his new unit as near as possible to the position he held in his old unit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers holding war emergency commissions are entitled to any gratuity on demobilisation; and, if so, what are the rates and whether other ranks are entitled to similar benefits?

The conditions under which war-time entrants to the Services are serving do not entitle them to gratuities on demobilisation. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War what opportunities exist for architectural draughtsmen to be paid tradesmen's rates of pay; and what is the procedure to be followed for mustering as such?

The Royal Engineers employ a considerable number of architectural draughtsmen who are mustered and paid as Group A tradesmen. All vacancies in the Corps, however, are at present filled, and it is not anticipated that it will be possible to muster and pay as tradesmen any further draughtsmen for a considerable time. Men qualified as draughtsmen but not required for employment as such can, of course, be mustered in any alternative trade in which they can become qualified and for which vacancies exist.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the advisability of devising a scheme under which, by means of special contri- butions paid on behalf of men uninsured under State insurance schemes at time of enlistment, immediate benefits would be available in the event of death or disablement occurring during service, and before the normal qualifying number of contributions would have been paid, to ensure some provision in cases where death or disablement cannot be proved directly due to war service, and no award of war pension can be issued?

Legislation already provides that a man who is not insured under the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts before commencing war service in the ranks of the Army, shall be compulsorily insured under those Acts during the continuance of such service. If a soldier's death or disablement occurs through causes not accepted as due to war service, and before sufficient contributions have been paid to secure to the man or his dependants benefits under the above Acts, the position of the man or his dependants would appear to be no worse than it would have been had he not entered the Army. It is not therefore considered that special provision for such cases should be made from Army Funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can arrange to bring to the notice of the large number of troops now billeted or accommodated in the countryside the importance of doing as little damage as possible to agricultural land and, in particular, of closing gates and not making an unnecessary number of tracks across fields with mechanical transport?

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 whether any provision is made for the free supply, repair, and renewals of artificial limbs in the cases of soldiers who lose a limb or limbs whilst serving in the Forces, and in whose cases there is no entitlement to pension on grounds that disability is not directly attributable to military service?

Yes, Sir. In such cases an initial artificial limb is supplied by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, through the Ministry of Pensions, and repairs and renewal may be allowed at the discretion of the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers in the Auxiliary Territorial Service hold local rank?

Ten officers in the Auxiliary Territorial Service hold local rank.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will hasten the repairs to a hotel, of whose name he has been informed, so that other premises in the town, which are now occupied by the evacuees from this hotel, may be restored to their normal business, the catering for visitors, on which the prosperity of the town depends?

Yes, Sir. I have given instructions that all possible steps shall be taken to expedite the progress of this work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the c.i.f. cost of orange and grapefruit pulp purchased by the Ministry from Jamaica, including the Ministry's administration expenses; and at what price such produce has been or will be sold to manufacturers in this country?

I do not consider that it would be in the public interest to disclose such particulars of the trading transactions of the Ministry of Food. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to supply my hon. Friend with this information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the popularity of the dish known as the Lord Woolton pie; and whether he will state its ingredients, and how it can be prepared?

The ingredients of the vegetable pie known as Lord Woolton pie can be varied according to the vegetables in season. The following recipe' utilises vegetables available at present:Take one pound each diced of potatoes, cauliflower, swedes, and carrots, three or four spring onions, if possible, one tea-spoonful of vegetable extract and one tablespoonful of oatmeal. Cook all together for 10 minutes with just enough water to cover. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking. Allow to cool, put into a piedish, sprinkle with chopped parsley and cover with a crust of potato or wheatmeal pastry. Bake in a moderate oven until the pastry is nicely browned and serve hot with a brown gravy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what representatives of producers have been consulted with regard to the control of egg prices?

The present price structure in the Home Produced Eggs (Maximum Prices) Orders was discussed with the Home Produced Egg Trade Advisory Committee before the first Order of this kind was made on 29th August, 1940. I am sending to my hon. Friend a list of members of the committee and the organisations they represent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the report of the food officer for the Rural Council of Salisbury, Wiltshire, that in four weeks over 11,000 pounds of beef, 5,000 pounds of pork, 827 pounds of mutton and a quantity of veal had had to be condemned and whether he can make any statement both on the causes of such waste and the steps taken to prevent its recurrence?

My attention has been called to report referred to which dealt with a period in November-December, 1940, and I have had it investigated. About 90 per cent, of the meat in question was condemned for disease. The amount of condemnation for this reason at Salisbury slaughterhouse, I am informed, is proportionally the same as before the war. The balance was due primarily to heavy and abnormal slaughtering resulting from outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the Salisbury area. As a result transport facilities during the period were necessarily of an improvised type and in addition some of the meat was not packed as carefully as it would have been under normal conditions. I can assure my hon. Friend that every effort is being made by my Department to prevent the loss of meat fit for human consumption.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what arrangements are made at the present time to ensure the fullest possible scientific liaison between Great Britain and the Dominions; and to what extent representatives with scientific qualifications cooperate with the various Dominion High Commissioners in this country and the British High Commissioners in the Dominions?

A close and constant interchange of scientific information is maintained between the United Kingdom Government and the Dominion Governments through the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Directors of Scientific Research of the Supply Departments in this country and similar Departments in the Dominions. Generally, liaison is effected through the offices of the High Commissioners for the Dominions in London. In the case of Canada, special arrangements have also been made whereby liaison in scientific matters is provided through Sir Lawrence Bragg, who. is attached to the office at Ottawa of the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom.

asked the right hon. Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether his attention has been called to the burning of surplus wood in the forests under the control of the Commission; and whether in view of local coal shortage, he will see that there is no waste?

The Forestry Commission and the Home Grown Timber Production Department of the Ministry of Supply in connection with felling operations on Commission areas burn lop and top where such material is unsaleable or of no use for fuel. This action is necessary to clear the land for replanting and, in the case of pine areas, to prevent breeding of pine beetles and pine weevils both of which are serious pests.

asked the Minister of Health how many members of the staff of the Central Medical War Committee are whole-time employés of the committee?

Staff are provided for the work of the Committee by the British Medical Association and are not employés of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Health the largest and smallest sums, respectively, paid to members of the Central Medical War Committee for travelling expenses, or otherwise, and the names of the two members concerned?

I could not supply the information desired by my hon. Friend without a special analysis of the accounts, which I do not consider justifiable in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health how the sum of £7,000, for the expenses of the Central Medical War Committee, was determined by an officer of his Department; who is the officer who determined the figure, and on what evidence; and is the amount and its distribution subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor-General?

The amount was determined by my right hon. Friend who was then Minister of Health after investigation by an officer of the Department of great financial experience. This officer investigated the statements and other relevant facts submitted in support of a claim for a payment towards- the expenditure incurred in connection with the Central Medical War Committee. As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 3rd April, the payment is subject to examination by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, with whom it rests to decide what matters shall be included in his examination.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how much has been paid to the British Medical Association for the use of the office accommodation and office facilities given to the Central Medical War Committee;(2) how much of the sum of £9,754 13s. 2d. paid to date in respect of the salaries and expenses of the Central Medical War Committee has been paid for salary, emoluments and expenses of the secretary and deputy secretary, respectively, or has been paid to the British Medical Association for the loan of these officers?

No specific payments have been made for these items, but they were taken into account in determining the sum of £7,000 mentioned in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 3rd April.

asked the Minister of Health why the sum of £2,112 7s. 9,d. for the maintenance and use of the emergency registrar up to the outbreak of war is included in the salaries and expenses of the Central Medical War Committee, having regard to the fact that such committee was not formed until after the outbreak of war?

The sum referred to was paid to the British Medical Association, which provided clerical staff and other services both for the Central Medical War Committee and for its predecessor the Central Emergency Committee. Although the cost of preparing the register was incurred before the present committee came into existence, it is used by this committee, and I included the amount for the sake of completeness in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 3rd April.

asked the Minister of Health under what Regulation made under the National Health Insurance Acts or any other Statute it is provided that insurance committees and panel committees are authorised or empowered to enter into an agreement for making arrangements for a rota of doctors to be set up for the purpose of providing medical attention for insured persons?

Under Article 3 of the National Health Insurance (Medical Benefit) Regulations, 1936, the terms of service (as set out in paragraph 11 of Part I of the First Schedule to those Regulations) permit an insurance practitioner to provide treatment by deputy where he is prevented by urgency of other professional duties, temporary absence from home or other reasonable cause from giving treatment personally. The setting up of a rota of available practitioners may be a convenient administrative arrangement for facilitating the working of this provision.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he receives regular copies of the balance sheet of the British Red Cross, and at what intervals; and whether they are available to the public?

I understand that the accounts of the War Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John for the first year of the war have been published and are available on application at the headquarters of the War Organisation. Further accounts will be published annually.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will detail the new proposals promised for improving the conditions of nurses serving in the Armed Forces of the Crown?

I am glad to be able to announce the following improvements in the scale of pay of the nursing services, which will take effect from 1st April, 1941: —The minimum rate of pay of a sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, is being increased from £80 to £95 a year, and sisters whose rates are below £95 will be brought up to that figure. Annual increments of £5 a year for future approved service will be admissible as heretofore, and the sister's maximum will remain £125 a year. In the case of members of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, the Territorial Army Nursing Service and the Territorial Army Nursing Service Reserve, the minimum rate of pay will in future be £105 a year, in recognition of the fact that they normally have special commitments to meet in the form of superannuation contributions. Members of these services who have civilian nursing experience will also be allowed special increments under certain conditions and within certain limits. Thus three years' approved civilian nursing experience obtained after reaching the age of 25 will qualify the member, in future, for a minimum rate of £110, six years, £115, and nine years or more, £120 a year. Sisters at present serving who had such civilian nursing experience and whose rates are below the minima mentioned will be brought up to the appropriate minimum. Increments of £5 a year on the scale for each year's approved military service rendered hereafter will also be admissible subject to the over-all maximum of £125 a year.Similar increases have been made in the scale of pay of members of the Royal Air Force nursing services.