asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a considerable number of privately-owned motor cars used by members of the Forces, both officers and other ranks, have no current licence; and whether he is aware that in the area of one county council nearly one-third of the unlicensed cars which were observed belonged to the above-mentioned category; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I am informed that in the licensing area to which my hon. Friend refers, about one-quarter of the cases reported this year concerned members of the Forces. Proceedings were ordered in all but two of these cases, in which a mitigated penalty was imposed. Action is taken by the licensing authorities in all appropriate cases reported.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend draw the attention of the Air Ministry, the War Office and the Admiralty to this matter?

No, Sir, I could not do that; this was done by private people.

Does not the Minister think that in the national interest there are far too many private motor cars on the road?

That does not arise on this Question.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the War Transport Council is not intended to supersede the Railway Executive Committee or the Transport Advisory Council, which is a statutory body and to which transport problems can be referred, why the Transport Advisory Council were not approached to nominate a representative or representatives to the War Transport Council; and whether he will indicate what important problem the newly appointed body will consider upon which the Transport Advisory Council are unable to tender advice?

The War Transport Council is a small body, the members of which were chosen, not as representatives of particular interests, but as individuals able to help me in the continuous effort of strengthening the war plans of my Department. It is in no sense in substitution for, or replacement of, the Transport Advisory Council, which is a large body of 30 members representing various interests, and which by reason of its size and constitution is not a convenient instrument for the purpose for which the War Transport Council has been set up. The Chairman of the Transport Advisory Council, who is an independent member not representing any particular interest, has been appointed as a member of the War Transport Council.

In view of the difficulties confronting transport at the moment, has the Minister considered the advisability of the Government taking control of the whole of the country's transport, and, if so, at what decision has he arrived?

That is a very big question, of which I should want long notice.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any statement to make with regard to a revision of the railway agreement; and whether he is giving consideration to the proposal made by Mr. Theodore In stone, a copy of which has been sent him?

I am unable to make a statement in this matter at present. I have noted the proposal to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to diminish the prevailing traffic congestion which prevents the proper transport of war workers at certain hours, he has considered the desirability of an adjustment in the time of opening and closing of shops and business premises, the transit of whose employés during the hours indicated is a material cause of the existing traffic situation?

I have been asked to reply. I have no information showing that transport difficulties would at the present time be substantially relieved by any change in the opening and closing hours of shops and business premises, but if my hon. Friend will send me information about any particular case he has in mind, I shall be glad to inquire into it.

:Surely it is not a question of sending particulars of a single case. It is general knowledge that the vast number of employés from these premises—

asked the Minister if Information the principles governing the playing of Allied National Anthems by the British Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday evenings; and the reasons for the discrimination between one Ally and another?

The B.B.C. play the National Anthems of those countries who have been our Allies in the war and whose citizens are fighting at our side. If the Question is prompted by the fact that the Abyssinian National Anthem has not yet been played, I would inform the hon. Member this is because at the outbreak of war no properly constituted Government of Abyssinia existed. As soon as the Emperor has reached his capital, which we hope will be in the near future, the Abyssinian National Anthem will be played with the others.

Can the Minister say on what principle the Luxemburg National Anthem was played on three occasions?

The Luxemburg people are fighting to the best of their ability on our side. They had a Government which was compelled to flee before the Germans, and I hope that one day it will be finally restored to its rightful place.

But why ration them to three?

Why could we not have the Wolverhampton National Anthem?

In reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander), there are a great many National Anthems, and it is under consideration whether it would not be a good plan to play a few in turn.

What about saving time and playing the "Internationale"?

asked the Minister of Information whether men employed on journalistic work at his Department are regarded under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and protected work as editorial workers or Civil servants; how many are between the ages of 30 to 35 years; and for how many members of the Ministry staff exemption or deferment has been granted?

The male staff of the Ministry of Information are regarded as included in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations as Civil servants, whether they are employed on journalistc or on other work. Excluding clerical and minor grades there are at present 91 male officers of the Ministry between the ages of 30 and 35; 10 officers have been granted deferment of military service.

asked the Minister of Information how many film studios in the British Isles are being used for the making of propaganda films?

Films commissioned by the Ministry of Information are now being produced at 14 studios in this country.

In view of the fact that a large proportion of studios in this country have been requisitioned for other purposes, and considering the importance of the propaganda value of good British films, will the Minister make representations that the film industry should not be stifled in this way?

I do not think that the production of Ministry of Information films is stifling the industry; rather is it encouraging the industry.

Is not the Ministry of Information concerned with British films generally?

We produce films of a propaganda nature.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he will give the names of the members of the Scottish Planning Committee under Lord Balfour of Burleigh; on whose recommendation they were appointed; and what qualifications the members possess to carry out the duties of the Committee?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether full consultation with all Scottish Departments and interests concerned took place prior to the appointment of the Scottish Consultative Committee on Planning?

I am sending my hon. Friends copies of the initial list of members of my Noble Friend's Consultative Panel, to which I referred during the Debate on 19th March. So far as the Scottish members of the Panel are concerned, the appointments were made after consultation with my right, hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I would add that, if my hon. Friend the Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean) is referring to the Reconstruction Parliamentary Group, this is an unofficial body, and appointments to it were made without reference to any Government Department.

In view of the laughter which has been caused throughout Scotland by the names on the list, will my hon. Friend take the necessary steps to see that the local authorities are consulted?

It is. not a representative body, as the hon. Member knows.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that municipalities throughout Scotland have thousands of partially completed houses which could be made available to re-house bombed-out families at little cost; and will he give this matter his consideration as an alternative to the wasteful method of using condemned property?

So far as the shortage of labour and materials permit, local authorities in Scotland are free to complete partially built houses. It is obvious, however, that such houses when completed cannot be held empty against the possibility of their being required for bombed-out families. In some cases new houses have in fact been used to accommodate families rendered homeless, but in order to supplement such accommodation my right hon. Friend has authorised the licensing of condemned property for temporary use under proper safeguards.

Will the Secretary of State for Scotland see to it, where houses have been damaged and partially repaired, that landlords do not receive the same rent? Will he also see that the same thing applies to houses which have been condemned?

That is another question, but I will convey the point to my right hon. Friend.

The Question refers to "partially completed houses." Is it not a fact that we have thousands of such houses which could be made wind-and-weather proof and be used as hostels for those who have been bombed out?

So far as the shortage of material and labour will allow, we have enabled local authorities to complete any houses which are partially constructed.

What is happening is that men and material are issued readily to deal with houses which have been battered, but men and material will not be permitted to complete partially completed houses.

We have placed no limitation on the powers of local authorities in Scotland. Under the priority scheme they can get both material and labour to complete these houses.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he is aware that in a building belonging to a commercial undertaking, part of which is occupied by a Government Department, the former refuse to permit the staff of the Department sleeping in the building to use the air-raid shelter in the basement during air-raids; whether, in consequence, casualties including loss of life were sustained by the staff in a recent raid; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into all the circumstances and take urgent and appropriate action?

The basement shelter in the building in question can only accommodate a part of the total number of persons who work in the building. It is allocated to persons occupying the upper floors and those occupying the lower floors have the use of the corridors on these floors, which are up to the standard required by the Civil Defence Act. Up to the present the Government staffs have, in the main, been accommodated on the lower floors. During the raid in question, members of the staff who sought access to the basement shelter were admitted. The explosion of a heavy bomb immediately outside the building caused extensive damage to the windows and internal partitions, and unfortunately one man lost his life. Arrangements have been made to place basement shelter space at the disposal of the staff who remain in the building during the night.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the varying conditions under which schoolchildren are being encouraged to act as fire-watchers in schools, and the fact that some under 14 years of age have been so employed; that, in some cases, the cost of providing food for pupils engaged in fire-watching has fallen upon the teachers; and whether he has issued, or will issue, advice on these matters to the local education authorities?

In Circular 1542, of which I am sending the hon: Member a copy, it was suggested that school fire prevention parties might be recruited from, amongst other sources, older students and trainees. It was not contemplated that schoolchildren under 16 years of age, which is the minimum age specified in the Defence Regulations for compulsory enrolment, should be employed on fire prevention duties, and I should strongly deprecate any such practice. I have seen reports in the Press about the employment as fire watchers of children under 14 in one area, and I am taking the matter up with the local education authority concerned. I have no evidence that the cost of providing food for members of school fire parties has fallen upon teachers, and the need should not arise since local education authorities were authorised in the Circular to meet reasonable claims for expenditure on extra meals and travelling expenses actually incurred by members of fire parties in schools within the public system of education.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to see that local authorities which are making no provision for children and teachers volunteering for this work shall do so?

I think the publicity which has been given by the Question and Answer will assist in that way.

Has the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the case of Blackpool?

That is the case to which I referred. I have made strong representations in that area.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether promotions of younger Naval Captains to the Flag list, under the Order in Council, dated 4th April, 1941, will be made half- yearly or at any time; and whether it is the intention of the Board of Admiralty of make wide use of the power conferred on it?

Promotion will normally be made half-yearly; as regards the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave him on 23rd April.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend urge upon the First Lord of the Admiralty that the success of this scheme will depend upon its being applied widely and boldly, and not in the way of an occasional promotion as a sort of sop to public opinion?

Yes, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Board to lower substantially the ages of the promotion zones for officers, to the rank of Commander and Captain respectively, in order to ensure a constant normal supply of young captains and Flag officers?

No, Sir. The period for which officers must serve in the rank of either lieutenant-commander or commander before receiving further promotion cannot be reduced, but when the present regulations have taken full effect it will be possible for outstanding officers to reach Flag rank in the very early forties.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty policy regarding the holding of courts-martial on the survivors of His Majesty's ships which are lost, as outlined by the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary on 25th May, 1917, to hold courts-martial except in cases where there are no survivors or in those instances in which it would obviously be a waste of time to do so, still holds good and on how many occasions such courts-martial have taken place during the present war?

When one of His Majesty's ships is lost it is the practice to hold a Board of Inquiry, which can be readily assembled, to investigate thoroughly the. cause of the loss and any matters connected with it. To hold a general court-martial on the survivors in such cases would be a waste of time since it could do little, if anything, more than duplicate the work of the Board" of Inquiry. It has, therefore, been decided not to hold such courts-martial in this war, and none have in fact been held. This, of course, in no way precludes the trial, on a specific charge, of anyone to whom blame is considered to be attributable in connection with the loss of the ship, and a number of such specific courts-martial have been held.

While realising that some change has been necessary in the ancient practice of holding such courts-martial, does the First Lord of the Admiralty investigate the question of what safeguard there is now to prevent the Board of Admiralty being judges in their own case should their own actions have been the principal factor in the loss of one of His Majesty's ships?

I will see that my right hon. Friend the First Lord reads that Supplementary Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are normally required by infantry battalions; and how many of these would be utilised to look after the sergeants' mess?

Members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are not allocated to infantry battalions, but to infantry training centres. The number of posts at an infantry training centre which may be filled by Auxiliary Territorial Service personnel is 90, and of these 8 are for the sergeants' mess.

In view of the natural inclination for cooking which women possess rather than men, would it not be a good idea if women could be utilised in the cookhouses of the mobile battalions as well?

I do not think it would be practicable to have women in fighting battalions which might have to fight in any theatre of war and in any conceivable circumstances.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in my previous Question I referred to the fact that the women should be used in battalions at home?

I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that units have to go abroad at very short notice sometimes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention to replace men in the Royal Army Pay Corps by women so far as it is practicable to do so?

It is the policy of my Department to replace fit men in the Royal Army Pay Corps by men of a lower medical category or members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service wherever possible. But it is essential to retain a sufficient though very small nucleus of fully-trained staff in order to maintain the pay services of the Army.

If women are engaged, how are they graded for payment?

At the Auxiliary Territorial Service rates.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any military training is provided for men serving in the Royal Army Pay Corps?

Recruits in the Royal Army Pay Corps are not sent to training units but receive instruction in the bare essentials of military training at Army Pay Offices, to which they are posted direct.

Is my hon. Friend sure that that always takes place, as my information is that some of these men get no military training at all?

They get the very bare minimum of military training in order to inculcate a sense of discipline.

In view of modern conditions which make troops on lines of communication and at bases liable to surprise attacks from parachute troops, and in view of the embarrassment caused to the Commander-in-Chief during retreat of a large number of men who have received no training whatever to protect themselves or others, will my hon. Friend see to it that troops despatched abroad in departmental organisations receive an adequate amount of training before they go?

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether welfare officers are posted to the staff of the general officers commanding in chief of all formations of British troops serving overseas; and whether he will furnish full particulars of their rank, date of appointment and state whether they are paid or unpaid;

(2) the number of officers comprising the Directorate-General of Welfare and Education at the War Office, giving their rank and appointment; whether paid or unpaid; and furnish similar information covering commands in the United Kingdom?

I propose, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, to circulate a full statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the Minister say whether welfare officers are appointed before the troops go abroad?

That is left to the discretion of the General Officer Commanding.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is satisfied with the output of heavy tanks, and with the provision of spare parts for those in use?

I am glad to say that the output of heavy tanks has shown and is showing continuous and gratifying expansion. A definite proportion of spares is an essential part of the programme, but the extent of that proportion must always be adjusted in accordance with operational experience.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will increase the ration of corn for poultry?

Rations for poultry are governed by the quantity of feeding-stuffs available and could only be increased by reducing the quantities available for other classes of livestock or for direct human consumption. My right hon. Friend regrets that it is not possible to increase them.

Why is it so important that a racehorse gets a ration of 15 lbs. of corn per day, and so unimportant that thousands of poor people are having to kill off their poultry because they cannot get sufficient food for laying purposes?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman must be under a delusion. Instead of killing off their poultry, small poultry keepers have been increasing enormously.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken to provide sheep farmers with a supply of vaccines and serums against sheep illnesses at reduced prices; and with what result?

My hon. Friend may be aware of the arrangements under which vaccines and sera are supplied at reduced prices in Scotland to members of the Animal Diseases Research Association and in North-East England to subscribers to the Alan Duke of Northumberland Memorial Fund. On the recommendation of the Sheep Diseases Committee of the Agricultural Research Council, endorsed by the Council, discussions at which trade representatives were present were initiated by the Ministry towards the end of last year with the object of securing the introduction, on a wider basis, of a scheme for the supply of vaccines and sera at reduced prices. So far, however, it has proved impracticable to devise arrangements acceptable to all interested parties, but the question is still under active consideration.

Who are the interested parties who are holding this up?

The meetings referred to were attended by representatives of the trade, of the Agricultural Research Council and of both agricultural Departments.

Is it not a fact that the drug houses, which are making very substantial profits on vaccines, are the sole cause of the holding-up of this important work, and will the hon. Gentleman take steps to see that their resistance is broken down immediately and vaccines brought within the reach of fanners who cannot afford to buy them?

That is another question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider the surface workers at coal mines for an addition of cheese to the same amount as the underground worker?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply yesterday to a similar Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction of Scottish potato merchants since authority was taken from the area officer in Edinburgh, and transferred to Oxford, resulting in delay and indecision; and whether he will improve the position by reverting to the practice in force prior to February.

No, Sir. Apart from my hon. Friend's recent letter to my Noble Friend, no representations have been received from merchants. A reply will be sent to my hon. Friend as soon as the necessary inquiries have been made.

Will an endeavour be made to see that the satisfaction which prevailed when this office was at Edinburgh will not be discontinued because it has been moved to Oxford?

If there were any cause for dissatisfaction, and we were satisfied that there was dissatisfaction, we would consider it, but at the moment we have no reason to think that there is.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether he is aware that the failure to control prices of fresh fish results in fancy prices being paid by merchants with wealthy customers while shops serving working-class areas cannot obtain supplies at prices their customers can afford to pay; and whether he will remedy this position?

My hon. Friend will, no doubt, be aware of the statement made by my Noble Friend on 22nd April, in another place, to the effect that he is co-operating with those who trade in fish with a view to securing reasonable distribution at a reasonable price and that if the fish trade is unable to secure this he will not hesitate to take such steps as may be necessary to attain this end.

Is it not the practice for the Ministry to accept the decision of the local committee with regard to the setting-up of shops of this kind, and why was this not done in the case to which I have drawn attention?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider the advisability of granting an extra half ration of butter and an extra half ration of sugar to all pregnant women for the last six months of the pregnancy, and for six months after delivery if the mother is nursing her baby?

Consideration has been given to my hon. Friend's suggestions, but the Food Rationing (Special Diets) Advisory Committee of the Medical Research Council have advised that no extra allowances of any rationed food are necessary for expectant mothers. With regard to nursing mothers, a child's ration book is issued by the local food office as soon as a birth is notified, the rations obtainable with this book being intended for the use of the mother.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the majority of babies are born perfectly healthy and well nourished during the war, but owing to rationing it is often a big strain on the mother and does not give a fair chance afterwards, either to her or to the child?

I should not be aware of that, but I would remind my hon. Friend that we are guided in all these things by the best possible advice that we can get.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether extra seamen's rations can be allowed to the crews of tugs when on duty for not less than 24 hours?

The adoption of the suggestion in my hon. Friend's Question presents considerable practicable difficulties but the possibility of making some provision for such men is under active examination. The scales of rations allowed to seamen employed in the home and coastwise trade would not be refused to the crews of tugs engaged in regular service at sea.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider the question of food for cage birds and give the lovers of these birds a better ration for the birds?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson) on 18th March. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Press notice referred to in that reply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the supply of barley sugar, toffee and other nourishing sweets, the consumers of which are usually young people and children, has been so reduced that in many cases supplies- are practically unobtainable, and are estimated for April and May at 40 per cent, of pre-war, out of which military and industrial canteens have first of all to be supplied; and whether he will undertake to increase supplies in a way that will ensure a fairer distribution?

My Noble Friend is fully alive to the necessity, particularly in the interest of young people and children, for maintaining the supply of sweets at the highest possible level; this, however, is chiefly dependent on the amount of sugar that can be allocated for the manufacture of such goods. Whilst it is impossible at present to increase the amount of sugar allocated, my Noble Friend is nevertheless taking steps to see that the amount of sugar confectionery available is fairly distributed throughout the country. Consultation with the industry with regard to this problem of distribution is now proceeding. The proportion of sugar confectionery as distinct from chocolate goods, which is supplied to military and industrial canteens, is quite small.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that at Newcastle, for instance, children are wandering around with pennies in their hands unable to buy sweets of any description?

I am sure that that is not confined to Newcastle. I would point out once again that the real trouble is that supplies are very short; and when we have examined complaints we have found that the trouble is not confined to one place, but that the particular place, considering the shortage, has a fair allocation.

Is not the effect of reducing the amount of sweets consumption extremely good for the children's health?

Would it be possible to take steps to see that special supplies of sweets go to towns which are particularly liable to be blitzed?

That is one of the difficulties. When we ask manufacturers to divert supplies, we have always to bear in mind that they cannot do it in exact proportion, because you must leave some for areas which are liable to be bombed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, between 1st and 21st February, 1941, Messrs. Lewis Stores, Glasgow, sold, approximately, three tons of boiled beef ham manufactured from rump steak, and supplied by J. P. Louden, 34, Spoutmouth, Glasgow; that the steak was issued on instructions from Colwyn Bay; and will he take steps to ascertain who issued such instructions, the name of the wholesale firm who supplied J. P. Louden, the name of the meat agent who released the steak, and place Group I manufacturers under the control of food committees?

I am aware of the quantity of beef ham sold by Lewis's Stores at their Glasgow store during the period in question, but this commodity was not manufactured from rump steak supplied by Messrs. J. P. Louden, 34, Spoutmouth, Glasgow. As I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 9th April, no rump steak has been allocated to Messrs. Louden and accordingly the second, third and fourth parts of the Question do not arise. As regards the last part of the Question, I am not prepared to adopt the proposal

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will reorganise the rationing system so as to secure greater equality of sacrifice and economy of food supplies, in view of the fact that the well-to-do are now able to take a daily meat meal in restaurants besides consuming their full ration at home, and supplementing their meat ration with fish and poultry, tea with coffee and jam with honey, while working-class mothers, with children, can neither afford to purchase these luxuries nor to frequent even the cheapest restaurants?

I shall be happy to consider any specific proposals which my hon. Friend can suggest, but I do not agree with the implications in the last part of the Question, and I am proposing to deal with this matter in the Debate later to-day.

Does my hon. and gallant Friend think that it conduces to the winning of the Battle of the Atlantic if everybody is allowed to eat and drink in restaurants as much as they please to the full extent of their capacity?

rose—

On a point of Order. As I have asked only one Supplementary Question may I not be allowed to finish it?

It is not a question of the quantity of supplementaries, but a question of the quality.

May I ask if you would be good enough to inform me why the effect of this on national security is not a proper Supplementary Question to ask?