asked the Home Secretary whether he has now been able to provide accommodation for citizens detained under Regulation 18B, affording privacy and other amenities reasonably approximating to those enjoyed by them in ordinary life; and whether he will recognise the principle that every effort should be made to minimise the inevitable punitive nature of such detention?

The principle that detention under Regulation 18B is custodial and not punitive in character is fully recognised, and the instructions with regard to those persons who are detained under this Regulation in prisons lay it down that the conditions of their confinement will be as little as possible oppressive, due regard being had to the necessity for ensuring safe custody and maintaining order and good behaviour. As my hon. Friend will be aware it is proposed to transfer to a camp in the Isle of Man persons at present detained under this Regulation at Huyton Camp. Various amenities, including recreational facilities, will be available in the Isle of Man, and it is the intention that the conditions of confinement there shall be no more restrictive than is required by considerations of security and the maintenance of good order in the camp.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider forming a mobile central force, either civil or military, for demolition and clearance purposes for the assistance of local authorities where air-raid damage has been too great for local resources?

Schemes of mutual assistance have been made by local authorities and public utility undertakings, and in special cases of urgency the Regional Commissioner can call for military assistance. These arrangements make it possible to bring reinforcements into an area when they are needed for the restoration of services, and I think they meet the objects which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health whether civilians who lose a limb or limbs as a result of enemy action, and Who are ineligible for an award of pension on grounds that they were not gainfully employed, will have entitlement to free issue, repair and renewals of artificial limbs?

All civilians who lose a limb or limbs as the result of enemy action are entitled to the necessary artificial limbs and their repair and renewals free of charge, whether or not they are gainfully occupied. Persons over 15 years of age who are not gainfully occupied are eligible under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, 1941, for compensation in respect of war injuries but at rates lower than those applicable to gainfully occupied persons.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings, in what circumstances, and subject to what limitations, business premises are allowed facilities for immediate reconstruction after damage by enemy action; what is the position of private houses or other domestic premises so damaged; and whether, and why, any priority is given in relation to larger business premises as against the need of those whose homes have been affected?

I am very glad to take this opportunity of making clear the conditions that now govern air-raid damage repairs. The Government has given an absolute priority over all other work to first-aid repair work for essential public services, war factories and houses. In the case of households where the owner is unable(or unwilling) to carry out the work himself, the responsibility rests on the local authorities. Where the owner himself puts the repair work in hand he will require a licence if the work is of the nature of reconstruction and costs £100 or more. The owners of shops, offices, banks, warehouses and other industrial and commercial buildings, including factories not engaged to an important degree on war production, must apply for a licence if the work of reconstruction is to cost more than £100. Applications are referred to the Board of Trade who recommend that licence be granted only if they consider that the work is urgently necessary in the public interest. Factories engaged on war production are dealt with by licence or otherwise in consultation with the appropriate Government Department. Until recently there had been no attempt to license reconstruction of air-raid damage repair in cases in which the cost was below £500. But a new Order has just been issued and I would emphasise that all such reconstruction costing £100 or over requires a licence or an authorisation, and it is intended to enforce this. My hon. and learned Friend will see, therefore, that no priority is given to larger business premises as against the needs of damaged homes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will take steps now, in co-operation with the Minister of Agriculture, to ensure that adequate provision is available to utilise to the full all crops from the forthcoming fruit season, so as to ensure elimination of waste and to secure the use of all fruits and fruit juices for consumption, preservation and manufacture; whether proposals are in readiness for the control and distribution of all such crops, without time-lags; and whether consideration has been given to the question of an instructional campaign before it is too late?

The answer is in the affirmative to each part of my hon. and learned Friend's Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to increase the capturing of eels for food; and whether the owners of riparian rights are co-operating?

With the object of stimulating interest in the capture of eels—of which there are undoubtedly large quantities available in this country—demonstrations were carried out by officers of my Department in 1940 at various places with a certain type of net known as a Dutch fyke. These demonstrations, which are being continued this year, have been attended by considerable success and, it is believed, have achieved a useful purpose. The difficulty has been to satisfy the demand for the particular type of net in question, these nets being a product of the Netherlands and made of silk. An effective substitute for silk has, however, lately been discovered, and if adequate supplies are forthcoming from the U.S.A. it is probable that the production of the nets by manufacturers in Great Britain to satisfy the demand will follow. Riparian owners generally have been co-operating in the project and have shown much interest. Owners of mills provided with eel racks to catch the migrating eels in the autumn have been advised, whenever the opportunity arose, to recondition the racks, if out of repair, in order to make them capable of operating effectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the penalty on enterprise, he will reconsider the Regulation making it an offence for a farmer to feed even his own wheat to poultry if it is up to milling standard?

No, Sir. My Noble Friend believes that it is in the national interest that, apart from seed requirements, all wheat suitable for flour milling should be used for human food, and is confident that the farming community realise the necessity for this restriction.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that there is a section of the community who, on medical grounds, are prohibited from eating meat or bacon, he will permit these people to utilise their coupons for meat and bacon for obtaining an extra cheese ration?

This has been considered but as my Noble Friend is advised that there is no need for granting extra rations of cheese to any invalid on medical grounds, he would not feel justified in making such an arrangement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is satisfied that a fair proportion of the eggs offered for sale in the United Kingdom reaches retail shops in the larger towns; and why he declines to extend to eggs the experiment previously instituted for attracting consignments of rabbits to scheduled industrial areas by means of a local addition to maximum prices to cover transport costs?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the experiment of a higher maximum price for rabbits in scheduled industrial areas, the rabbit season is never at an end and opportunity has been taken to discuss the operation of the experiment with a conference representative of all branches of the trade. The view was generally held that the experiment had not been very effective. The question of improving the present system of distribution of eggs by other means is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War by what method those who do bomb disposal work are selected; from what corps they are drawn; whether they are all volunteers; and whether those who decline such work can be penalised by curtailment or cancellation of week-end leave?

Members of bomb disposal units are formed partly of volunteers and partly of men posted from other Royal Engineer units or transferred from the Pioneer Corps to the Royal Engineers for duty with these units. Men who have been posted to bomb disposal units are, of course, liable to be punished in the same way as any other soldier if they refuse to carry out the orders of a superior officer.

asked the Secretary of State for War why members of the Pioneer Corps and infantry soldiers are being moved from their present quarters in a place and in circumstances of which he has been informed; and whether he is aware that substantial public expenditure on water, electric light and other things, has taken place in making the present quarters habitable for the men?

The soldiers to whom my hon. Friend refers have been temporarily removed to other accommodation in order to facilitate racing during the summer. The whole of the accommodation will be re-occupied before next winter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can explain the high proportion of titled gentlemen appointed as officers in the Home Guard; and whether he is aware that in the last list of 319 appointments all but 19 were peers, baronets, knights or brigadier-generals?

It is an instruction to the Selection Boards which recommend appointments to commissions in the Home Guard that officers will be chosen primarily for their powers of leadership and the confidence they are likely to inspire in all ranks, and that business, social or political prominence will not be regarded as a qualification in this respect. I have no reason to think that these instructions have not been carried out. As regards the figures quoted by my hon. Friend, I have been unable to trace any list of 319 appointments but those lists which I have examined show that less than 10 per cent, are peers, baronets, knights or brigadier-generals.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether consideration has been given or will be given to providing camp or other facilities, for a week or fortnight intensive training, to members of the Home Guard who may be able to take advantage of such facilities?

Members of the Home Guard are an essential part of our defences in the immediate vicinity of their own homes, and it is therefore not desirable that they should be taken away for training to camps in other parts of the country. Five-day courses of intensive training are held at Home Guard schools in addition to courses arranged locally by commands, and a mobile school tours remote areas to ensure that training in the Home Guard is maintained at a consistently high standard.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the prosecution of a farmer in Dorset for unlawfully possessing regimental property which included a large quantity of food, what action the Army has taken to assess responsibility for the disappearance of the Army stores in question?

I have called for a report on this case and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the delays which occur between arrest and trial by courts-martial of officers and other ranks, and between findings of guilty and promulgation of sentences; whether he is aware that one training unit has been required to provide officers for escort throughout 86 days in 1940 for one officer awaiting trial, and from 25th February, 1941, until the present time for another officer awaiting promulgation; and whether he is satisfied that the legal staffs and the staff of the Judge Advocate General handle such cases with all possible dispatch?

I am aware that there have been on occasion excessive delays between arrest and trial by court-martial and between trial and promulgation of sentence, and I am examining how far present procedure can be simplified in order to avoid further cases of this kind. I will communicate with my hon. Friend with regard to the two particular cases 10 which he has drawn my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the confusion that has arisen concerning the pay and allowances of re-enlisted pensioners, he will clarify their position; whether he will state the conditions upon which they are entitled to rations or a cash allowance in lieu; and why some re-enlisted pensioners are denied free replacement of clothing, free repairs and free washing?

Pensioners re-enlisted after mobilisation receive the pay and other emoluments, both in cash and in kind, applicable to other soldiers of their rank and qualifications. In addition, they continue to draw their pensions, but service on their present engagement does not reckon for the purpose of any further non-effective award. A number of pensioners, however, were re-enlisted before mobilisation to assist with the training of the Militia and the Territorial Army. These men were liable for service in the United Kingdom only, and were given special terms. In addition to their pension they draw special inclusive rates of pay plus family allowance If rations are issued in kind, a deduction of is. 8d. a day is made from their pay. They are also ineligible for free replacement of clothing, free repairs or washing, or for any other emoluments except travelling expenses when travelling on duty. All pensioners re-enlisted on this basis were given an opportunity in December, 1939, to be placed on the same footing as those re-enlisted after mobilisation, provided that they were willing to undertake a liability for general service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the delay which occurs in repairing the boots of soldiers in this country, that many who can ill-afford it are compelled to purchase boots because, of the two free issue pairs, one is often at the repairers, while the soles of the other allow both water and small stones to penetrate; and whether he will investigate the reasons why repairs cannot be more promptly effected?

I am not aware of any undue delay in the repairing of soldiers' boots but I will certainly have inquiries made and I should be glad if my hon. Friend would let me have any particulars which would be of assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the outfit allowance granted to officers when first commissioned, being insufficient to cover the increased cost due to the Purchase Tax, of those articles of uniform and kit which they are required to possess, he will release them from the obligation to be in possession of service dress, having regard to existing instructions that battledress may be worn on all occasions for which uniform is prescribed?

So far as the effect of the Purchase Tax on the cost of an officer's outfit is concerned, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 23rd April. The question whether officers should be released from the obligation to purchase service dress is being further examined, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that, if service dress is not required, the inclusion of an element in outfit allowance in respect of service dress will no longer be justified.

asked the Minister of Labour(1) the number of the administrative staff at present engaged at the Watford training centre;(2) the number of trainees that have been trained at the Watford centre during the past 12 months, the number of instructors employed, and the number of machines available for instructional purposes?

It would not be in the national interest to publish the information asked for in these Questions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the names of the different Press officers employed by Government Departments at the present time?

I will circulate particulars in due course in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that it would save a great deal of paper, telephoning and time, if Government Departments, when acknowledging letters from Members, would attach to their reply the name and address of the person on whose behalf the original letter was written; and whether he will take steps to enforce a practice which is very rarely observed at the present time?

I will arrange for the practice to which the hon. Member refers to be brought to the attention of Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the appointment of additional district valuers, as the present officials are working under great pressure?

The position in district valuation offices, together with the suggestion made by my hon. and gallant Friend, is continuously kept in view by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether his attention has been called to the Eighth Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure recommending that in many cases teams of professional men who had previously worked together as firms would be likely to be more effective than a technical section of a Government Department built up primarily to perform certain functions; and to what extent this advice has been followed by his own Department in connection with building and survey work?

I am aware of the recommendation of the Select Committee on National Expenditure to which the hon. Member refers. It has been the policy of the Ministry from the outbreak of war to use the services of architects, civil engineers and surveyors in private practice where this has been considered desirable and in fact about 400 firms of these professions have been so employed. It is the intention of the Minister to continue this policy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether provision for Sunday food exists in those Employment Exchanges where the staff have to attend for fire-watching on that day; and whether he will investigate all cases where such provision does not exist with a view to remedial action?

asked the Minister, of Labour whether he is aware that in regard to Employment Exchanges there is a complete absence throughout the Civil Service of any provision as to Sundays in respect of food, although on that day members of the staff attend all day for fire-watching duties; and if he will take steps to remedy this?

The payment of subsistence allowance in respect of Sunday day-time attendance is a general Civil Service question that is, I understand, under discussion on the National Whitley Council. It is not possible for the Department to provide food for fire-watching staff, but facilities for the heating of food brought from home and for making hot drinks exist in most Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the seriousness of the rat' plague in parts of England; and whether he will recommend to all local authorities the desirability of offering a small reward for such vermin killed?

I am fully aware of the serious damage caused by rats wherever they may be found and a national rat destruction campaign has been in operation for some time. There is no specific satutory authority for the payment of rewards by local authorities for rats killed, but I have already informed War Agricultural Executive Committees that I am prepared to approve the initiation by them of such a system in the present emergency circumstances, and as one factor in a comprehensive campaign of rat destruction.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the low standard of income now subjected to tax, he will consider the withdrawal of the De-rating Act of 1929?

The Act which provided for de-rating and the accompanying Exchequer grants was a measure of permanent reform in the system of local taxation, and the Government do not contemplate the introduction of legislation to repeal it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make any statement as to the progress of negotiations for the exchange of Jewish women and children and old men in Germany and similar German subjects in Palestine?

A proposal was made last January to the German Government for the exchange of these persons. His Majesty's Government still await a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking with regard to the attempts by German propaganda and by certain publications in this country to show that Great Britain intends to intervene in Spain and Portugal with the object of involving these countries in the war?

Yes, Sir. I need scarcely say that these rumours of intended British intervention in Spain and Portugal are devoid of foundation. They are put out by the German propaganda agencies with the object of stirring up feeling against Great Britain amongst the Spanish and Portuguese peoples and of furthering German plans for penetration in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the earnest hope of His Majesty's Government that these German plans will be frustrated and that the Spaniards and Portuguese will be spared the miseries of war. Any suggestions to the contrary which may have appeared in any publication in the United Kingdom can only have been made by irresponsible persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of convictions for drunkenness in Scotland for each of the last three years; what are the corresponding figures for Greenock, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen; and what are the corresponding figures for each of the months of January, February and March, 1941, and for the corresponding months of 1938, 1939 and 1940, respectively?

—					1938.	1939.	1940.
Scotland	…	…	…	…	13,351	13,400	12,330
Glasgow	…	…	…	…	6,003	5,553	4,584
Edinburgh	…	…	…	…	1,945	2,278	1,860
Dundee	…	…	…	…	988	1,004	861
Aberdeen	…	…	…	…	360	486	471
Greenock	…	…	…	…	538	604	569

2. Number of convictions for drunkenness during the months of January, February and March in the years 1938–1941

—						1938.	1939.	1940.	1941.
Glasgow		…	…	January	…	493	471	346	353
				February	…	437	433	311	344
				March	…	499	483	381	333
Edinburgh		…	…	January	…	179	156	146	141
				February	…	133	122	139	115
				March	…	146	161	199	139
Dundee	…	…	…	January	…	69	75	79	56
				February	…	68	57	65	42
				March	…	74	62	65	70
Aberdeen		…	…	January	…	23	29	45	63
				February	…	15	24	54	56
				March	…	36	37	41	48
Greenock		…	…	January	…	43	41	55	52
				February	…	37	30	38	56
				March	…	58	40	46	49

Corresponding monthly figures for the whole of Scotland are not available. The figures include convictions for being under the influence of drink when driving, or attempting to drive, or when in charge of, a motor vehicle, and exclude convictions for breach of the peace, which do not necessarily involve drunkenness.

asked the Minister of Health how many children are attending the 37 special day nurseries set up for women employed on war work; and what is the average cost per child per week falling on public funds?

The following tables set out the information desired.1. Number of convictions for drunkenness in Scotland in the years 1938 to 1940 and the corresponding numbers for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Greenock.inclusive for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Greenock.

I have now approved the provision of 40 day nurseries for the children of war workers with 1,561 places. It is estimated that the cost to public funds will on the average be approximately 2s. a day for each child, but exact figures will not be available until the nurseries have been in operation for some time.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding schemes of vocational training and employment for Service and civilian war casualties who are industrially handicapped by their disabilities?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 3rd April to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Martin), to the effect that the facilities for vocational training provided by the Ministry's existing training schemes are open to all persons who are fit to undergo the training. It is expected also that substantial numbers of disabled persons who are not fit to undergo the ordinary course will be able to undergo a more graduated course, spread over a longer period, in one or other of the occupations for which training provision is already made. Further, training courses for disabled persons will also be provided as required in other trades suffering from a shortage of labour in which any additional source of manpower would directly assist the war effort.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the paper shortage, he will broadcast an appeal to owners of unwanted books and periodicals to hand them over for salvage?

The question of a national broadcast appeal specifically for unwanted books and periodicals has been kept under review, but it is deemed preferable to aim at a more even flow of material by local appeals in one district after another. Accordingly, arrangements are being made for salvage drives or Paper Weeks on different dates in various districts, when special appeals will be made for unwanted books and magazines, as well as for other classes of waste paper.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a general clerk, permanently employed by a trade union in the department of that union paying union sickness benefit to members, is to be reserved at age 35 under the new Schedule of Reserved Occupations; and whether a general clerk, permanently employed by a trade union approved society paying State sickness benefits to members of that approved society, will equally be so reserved?

Both classes of clerks are at present reserved at the age of 30, and in both cases the age of reservation will be raised to 35 at Stage B, that is to say, in or about July. At Stage C, that is, in or about October, clerks of military age employed by approved societies will cease to be reserved.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is prepared to extend, beyond 30th April, the period in which application may be made for admission to the register of protected establishments in Group 2, in view of the restricted staffs and detailed analysis of turnover called for?

Yes, Sir. Application will be accepted for consideration if received, not later than 17th May.