asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact an officer's uniform and personal equipment is a question of military necessity and that the sum of £30 was fixed by the War Office as being adequate to cover the cash outlay required before the Purchase Tax was instituted, he will withdraw the outfit allowance made on first appointment and substitute an authority in favour of approved military tailors to issue and supply all the kit and equipment necessary against subsequent payment by the War Office or the Treasury?

I am afraid that I cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal, which would give rise to various difficulties in practice.

In view of the fact that this amount of £30 was arrived at by the War Office after consultation with the various tailoring interests in the country, and before the imposition of the Purchase Tax, is my right hon. and gallant Friend now entirely satisfied that this amount adequately covers the cost of the uniform and equipment an officer requires when granted a commission, particularly in the case of an officer who is entirely without private means?

Of course, I am fully aware that the imposition of the Purchase Tax does throw a burden on officers, but it has been explained in this House, not only by the Financial Secretary to the War Office, but also by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, that officers, like all other people, should bear their share of the burden.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the line his Department is taking over this matter is making it very difficult for men without private means to take commissions, and is it his policy to encourage suitable men without private means to take commissions or to discourage them?

Certainly I do not want to discourage anyone who is fitted for a commission.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment on the third Sitting Day.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the lion. Member for South Croydon may expect a reply to his letter containing the original complaints of the soldier whose further letter containing precise details was intercepted by the censorship and which was subsequently destroyed by his commanding officer?

If, as I assume, my hon. Friend is referring to a letter addressed to the Joint Under-Secretary of State on 7th February, a reply was sent to him the following day, asking for further details. For reasons of which my hon. Friend is aware, these details were not forwarded, but the soldier discussed his complaints with his commanding officer on the spot and expressed himself as satisfied that they were without foundation. I had thought that this had closed the matter, but, if my hon. Friend still wishes to have a detailed answer to the soldier's complaints, I will certainly send him a further letter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will accede to the desire of those members of the Home Guard who desire to devote the time available for holidays, or leave, to more intensive training; and whether he is prepared to organise summer training camps for the purpose?

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 units should be taken away for training to camps in other parts of the country. Arrangements already exist, however, by which individuals may attend five-day courses of intensive training at Home Guard schools in addition to courses of various lengths arranged locally by Commands. I am considering whether it would be possible to extend these facilities for specific forms of instruction during the summer months.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason for the delay in settling reasonable claims submitted by members of the Home Guard in respect of financial expenditure incurred in the interests of Home Guard welfare and efficiency?

I am not aware of any delay in the settlement of reasonable claims by members of the Home Guard, but if my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular case in mind and will let me have details, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action was taken by the brigadier after the telephone message from the hon. Member for South Croydon, in respect of the bombed site, from which two dead bodies were recovered within 24 hours of the telephone message referred to?

On receipt of the telephone message to which my hon. Friend refers, the brigadier concerned immediately instructed the officer responsible for liaison with the civil authorities to investigate the matter. The latter communicated with the representatives of the City Engineer's Department, who were responsible for all work on the site, and was informed by them that the military working parties were dismissed at about 4 p.m. as it was considered that their assistance was no longer required. They also expressed themselves as completely satisfied with the work carried out by these men.

:Do I understand that these men were dismissed just one hour after the next corpse was taken out?

I must make it perfectly clear that these soldiers were not working under military direction, but under the orders of the city engineer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on the Army Appropriation Account, of the sums granted by Parliament for Army services for the year ended 31st March, commenting adversely on excesses of expenditure in building Militia camps and other works services, he will state who was responsible for this waste of public money; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of this extravagance?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General on War Office Expenditure; will he take immediate and drastic steps to prevent a recurrence of such a state of affairs, and to take disciplinary action against those responsible?

:The Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report will shortly be considered by the Public Accounts Committee. But I welcome the opportunity of calling attention to some misconceptions both in regard to the cost of the Militia camps and to what the Comptroller and Auditor-General has said about them. The Comptroller and Auditor-General points out that against a gross estimate approved by Parliament of £20,000,000 for Militia Works Services, the actual expenditure was of the order of £.22,750,000. Statements have been freely made in the Press and elsewhere that the expenditure was some £80,000,000. This is not the case and the interests of the State have not been served by extravagant and inaccurate statements of that kind. It is not the case that the Comptroller and Auditor-General comments adversely on the expenditure. He reports the facts to the Public Accounts Committee which will be able, in due course, to cross-examine the Accounting Officer and form their own conclusions. The House must realise that the waste in connection with the Militia camp programme, which, as I have stated, has been greatly exaggerated, was due not to the fault of any individual but to conditions obtaining at the time, and, in particular, to the fact that the Works organisation of the War Office was not then designed to deal with a sudden expansion scheme of this magnitude. The House can be assured, however, that steps have been, and are being, taken to remedy, so far as war-time conditions permit, such defects in organisation as obtained in 1939, and to ensure that, in the future, the Department will be able reasonably to cope with any sudden demand upon it however big.

Do I understand the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to say that the statement of £80,000,000 contained in the report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure is in-accurate and exaggerated?

If my hon. Friend will look at the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report—I think it is in paragraph 26—he will see the figures which I have used in my answer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in connection with the accounts rendered to the paymaster by the commanders and the Army accounts; and what action he intends taking in the matter?

The report to which my hon. Friend refers deals with the financial year ended 31st March, 1940, and therefore covers the period of expansion that followed mobilisation, when many commanding officers and newly recruited pay office staffs were unfamiliar with the system of Army accounts. In these circumstances, errors and omissions were, I am afraid, inevitable. The position has, however, been much improved in the last 12 months, as all concerned have become more familiar with their duties. Instructors in pay duties have been visiting units for many months past, and Command Schools of Instruction will start next week for regimental officers and' other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of occasions on which military bands have escorted troops through the streets of London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, respectively, during the month of March, 1941?

I regret that this information is not readily available.

In view of the fact that the Prime Minister stated recently that the horizon was now dark, is not that a good reason for trying to make the day-time a little brighter? Will my right hon. and gallant Friend, to use his own phrase, not come clean on this question and tell us what the mystery of these bands is and where they are?

There is no mystery at all. Only last week I heard a band in Whitehall. I jumped to my feet and left my work—I could no longer concentrate on it—and I at once thought of my hon. and gallant Friend. I hoped he was in London and saw how his wishes were being carried out by having bands marching through the streets.

asked the Secretary of State for War when General Lord Gort's despatch covering the operations of May and June, 1940, will be published; and whether, in justice to the troops and their commander, publication will be accelerated?

It is hoped to publish the despatches about the middle of June.

asked the Secretary of State for War, how many highly-skilled joiners. are employed as assistant cooks in the Army; and what steps he is taking to have them replaced by individuals who are not trained craftsmen and returned to essential carpentry work of national importance?

Every effort is made to ensure that skilled men in the Army are used to the best advantage. In the case of men registered under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939, skilled men below the age of reservation in certain trades, which include carpentry, are called up only for employment in the Service trades corresponding to their civil occupations. If my hon. and learned Friend has in mind any par-

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen particulars of the special case that I have sent to his Department?

It has not come to my immediate attention.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there are considerable numbers of skilled men in the Army and Air Services who are not being made full use of? What is the procedure if a soldier goes to his commanding officer and can get no remedy?

It is my object to see that all square pegs are put into square holes. I do not want to see highly skilled men doing jobs on which those not skilled are working. I' am anxious to have any cases brought to my notice.

Is it not a great advantage to these men to have learnt cooking when they go back home?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that certain householders who have persons billeted upon them under the Gov- ernnent evacuation scheme endeavour to get rid of these persons by removing all furniture from the allotted space except the bare amount required by law; and whether he proposes to take any action?

The vast majority of householders have shown themselves willing to do all they can to ensure the comfort of persons who have been billeted with them. In order, however, to provide for any exceptional cases in which difficulties of the kind referred to by the hon. Member are experienced local authorities have been informed in a circular issued on 15th April that householders may be required to allocate to the exclusive use of the persons billeted particular rooms specified on the billeting notice, and that such rooms may be furnished by the authority with any necessaries which are lacking. I am sending a copy of the circular to the hon. Member for his information.

Will the right hon. Gentleman send me a copy of the circular?

indicated assent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements exist for clearing rest centres provided for the temporary accommodation of evacuees; whether he is aware of complaints that certain evacuees refuse to leave such centres; and, whether he proposes to take any action.

In two of the areas to which homeless persons were transferred from Clydeside there have been difficulties in clearing the rest centres. In these areas officers of the Department of Health have been in constant touch with the local authorities to help them in finding suitable accommodation for each family and in persuading the families to accept the accommodation offered. But in several instances large families have insisted upon being billeted as units. This has involved delay.

Can it be brought home to those who are in this position how unfair it is to overcrowd themselves in other people's houses, in order that there may be reason and good will prevailing in respect of these evacuations?

The question refers to rest centres and not to overcrowding in private billets. Nothing has caused more concern than the use for a longer period than we believe to be necessary of these

Will not the right hon. Gentleman see that no steps are taken to make people in these deplorable conditions shift? Is he aware that the reason for staying there is that it is the best alternative that they can get?

It is not always that. There are cases when the excuse for not leaving is that the billets offered them are not good, but there are other reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made with muir-burning in deer forests in Scotland; and whether system atic plans in this regard have been formulated?

I would refer the hon.Member to the Reply given to his similar Question on 1st April. Discretion in such matters must be left in the hands of the local agricultural executive committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Greenock are still in course of construction, and when it is intended that they will be completed?

There are 495 houses at present under construction in Greenock, and it is estimated that they will be completed in six months' time provided that supplies of labour and materials are maintained at existing rates.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will offer the same opposition to the Grampians power scheme that was promised to the Caledonian power scheme pending the conclusion of the war?

I have been asked to reply. The Commission, consisting of Members of both Houses, who inquired into the draft Order, found the Preamble proved, and passed the Order subject to certain Amendments. Pending the introduction of the Confirmation Bill it would be premature of me to make any statement on the attitude of the Government to the Order.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when the Grampians Power (Confirmation) Bill reaches this House it will be very strongly opposed? Does he think it right that the time of the House should be occupied by discussing a scheme which cannot be proceeded with during the war?

I repeat that, pending the introduction of the Bill, it is impossible to make any statement as to the attitude of the Government towards the Bill.

Is it fair to ask the Members of the House of Commons to make up their minds on a matter on which the evidence was heard in camera and cannot be placed before hon. Members in order that they may form a considered judgment?

There is very considerable force in that argument, but I can merely repeat that it is impossible, pending the introduction of the Bill, which might or might not take place, for a statement to be made concerning the attitude of the Government to the Bill.

Why cannot the proceedings of the Committee be made public in the Scottish Press? Why, contrary to practice, should the Committee meet in secret? Whose decision was it?

I take it that the decision was that of the Chairman. I think the reason for holding the proceedings in camera was that the Bill related to matters which are of strategical war importance.

When is the Bill likely to be available to the House?

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, during this Sitting and the next, matters of far more importance will be discussed than was the case during the whole fortnight's hearing of the Bill in Committee?

I do not dissent from that view.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether newspapers, periodicals and magazines are included in the commodities and industries to be dealt with by the proposals for the telescoping and/or concentration of industry and labour?

No, Sir.

:Will the same representations on which this decision has been reached be open to the many small traders who, by virtue of my right hon. Friend's scheme, will be put out of business altogether?

This case is a special one. The Government do not wish to limit the free expression of opinion.

While I am delighted to hear that, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend appreciates that my Question deals particularly with magazines and periodicals, many of which are really unnecessary?

Now that 90 per cent. of the news published is alike, would it not be possible to have only one newspaper?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that valuable shipping space is still being used for importing goods not essential for the war effort; and whether he can give an undertaking that from an early date no licence or permit will be issued for anything not essential for war needs?

Imports are subject to most rigorous control by licensing. If the hon. Member has any instances in mind where he considers that permitted imports should not have been allowed, I shall be pleased to investigate them if he will let me have the details.

Do I understand that it is the policy of the Government not to allow unessential goods to be imported?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to prohibit the use of labour and materials for the manufacture of luxuries or semi-luxuries?

The release of raw material for the manufacture of luxuries and semi-luxuries for home civil consumption is not allowed in a great number of cases and is severely restricted in many others. I am circulating in the Official Report a statement giving examples of the arrangements made for some industries by the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Supply. In addition, the sale of a wide range of consumers' goods is, as the hon. Member will be aware, restricted under the Limitation of Supplies Orders. The possibility of further restrictions is constantly under review. As regards labour, the policy adopted in agreement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is to direct labour to other work as and when it is released by these measures, rather than to prohibit its employment, a course which would in some cases lead to unnecessary periods of unemployment.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that one of the results of the large increase in spending power is a rapid increase in the manufacture and sale of hot-water bottles, and is he prepared to say that they are a luxury?

My hon. Friend never had cold feet in the last war, and I do not anticipate-that he will in this war.

In view of the loss of life that is taking place in bringing

I have said that import licensing is very rigorous.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can see his way to remove the restrictions on the sale of surgical corsets, contained in the order governing corsets, as persons in urgent need of them are now often unable to get them?

Licences have already been issued permitting the more important kinds of surgical corsets and belts to be supplied without restriction under the Limitation of Supplies Orders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the great public interest involved and the manifest need for action, he can now give the date upon which he proposes to introduce a Bill to strengthen the Prices of Goods Act?

I cannot yet say when the Bill will be introduced, but I expect that it will be very soon.

Will my right hon. Friend give consideration to the manifest need for strengthening the law against the profiteering and racketeering that have been taking place all over the country?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the limitation of the production of foot- wear, he will take steps to see that priority is given to utilitarian rather than fashion able types, and particularly to children's footwear?

:Yes, Sir. My Department is in close touch with the Ministry of Supply, who are responsible for allocating leather to the footwear industry, and the question of making the best possible use of the available raw material to produce serviceable footwear is receiving urgent attention. Under the scheme for the concentration of production of boots and shoes now under discussion with the trade, the special need for children's footwear has been borne in mind.

Has any allocation been decided upon?

:It has been agreed with the trade that the production of boys' and girls' boots and shoes shall remain as in 1940.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that education authorities are very concerned about the prospect of supplies of children's boots and shoes?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether his attention has been called to the injustice inflicted upon seamen, under the Compensation to Seamen (War Damage to Effects) Scheme, when they have been victims of enemy action, as the compensation is based on the price of goods prior to the Purchase Tax coming into force; and is he prepared to take some action to remove this anomaly, as the compensation they receive cannot, by any means, buy that amount of replacements?

:I have been asked to reply. The amounts payable under the Compensation to Seamen (War Damage to Effects) Scheme have already been increased by 331/3 per cent., with effect as from 1st April, 1941, to cover Purchase Tax and general price increases since the outbreak of war.

If I submit evidence that in certain cases that has not been given effect to, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman inquire into the matter?

I certainly will.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether he has any statement to make on the holding up of British shipping in American ports?

The despatch of ships in United States ports is on the whole very satisfactory. Some delay to individual ships is inevitable from time to time, but my right hon. Friend's representative in New York does everything possible to reduce this to the minimum.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether he has received reports from the trade union deputation recently sent to Canada and the United States of America to inquire into seamen's welfare conditions; and whether he proposes to take any action?

Representatives of the National Union of Seamen and the Shipping Federation recently visited the U.S.A. In co-operation with others concerned they were successful in improving arrangements for seamen's welfare where they already existed and in setting up satisfactory arrangements where they did not already exist. The cost is being met by the generosity of United States citizens to whom we are most grateful. The Canadian ports were also visited and certain recommendations were made on which we are in communication with His Majesty's Government in Canada.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend taking care to arrange for the welfare conditions in the ships that are being built, so that they may be built with better reference to those conditions than has hitherto been the case?

That is a different question. This Question is in reference to facilities ashore.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping (1) whether he will give the number of Greek vessels employed by the British Government; whether any of the vessels are idle; and what terms have been accorded to the Greek owners for the use of their ships;

I regret that it is not in the public interest to give specific answers to the individual points raised. The terms upon which Allied ships are operated in our service are governed by comprehensive Agreements made with each of the Allied Governments.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the policy in regard to utilising land suitable for food production, and which now has been found uneconomic for forestry; and whether he can state the areas of such lands, the districts concerned, and the authorities, if any, who are co-operating?

The Commissioners have in one locality, namely, the South Downs, two to three hundred acres which might be classified in the way suggested by the hon. Member. In accordance with their general policy the Forestry Commissioners are co-operating with the East Sussex War Agricultural Executive Committee with a view to increasing food production.

Is it not the fact that war agricultural executive committees have complete powers to annex this land, in the same way as they have to take the land of private individuals, if they desire to exercise their powers?

Certainly. As to this land, friendly negotiations are now going on as to its replanting after the war.

:Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the land which he referred to is the only Forestry Commission land which has been taken for the production of food?

:A great deal of land has been handed over by the Forestry Commission to war agricultural committees in different parts of the country, but this is the only land which we had actually planted which is to be ploughed up.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether further consideration has been given to the organisation of the preservation and distribution of home-grown fruit; and whether he has any further statement to make?

:Yes, Sir; further consideration has been given to the Co-operative Fruit Preserving Scheme in the light of the recent introduction of a form of rationing for preserves. My Noble Friend has now decided that all jam and canned fruit produced in these centres shall, in general, be sold to retailers, schools, hospitals, and institutions against permits issued to local food offices in proportion to their entitlement to supplies under the Preserves Minimum Share Scheme.

:Has the Minister taken into consideration the objection which house-wives have to being compelled to come into a co-operative scheme like this? They want to make their own jam. If last year's scheme broke down cannot the lessons learned then be taken to heart and the position improved upon?

If it had not been for the introduction of the co-operative scheme last year any degree of breakdown there may have been would have been much worse. One of the reasons for the decision, which I have explained to the House before and which I am certain housewives will understand, is the present supply position as regards sugar. Last year we were in a better position to issue the thousands of tons of sugar required to meet the applications received, which were very much more than enough to produce all the jam which was made. The supply position at the present time unfortunately does not warrant such an issue being made this year. I am perfectly certain that when housewives realise that this is a scheme to enable us to preserve fruit and to prevent it from rotting we shall have a good response.

Will not this decision result only in a great waste of fruit—because housewives are not going to take on this scheme?

:I am very sorry to hear that, and I do not see evidence of it. If housewives realise that the supply position is such that we cannot let them have the sugar individually, and we appeal to them to save the fruit of this country for the nation as a whole, I am certain they will respond.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in the more remote parts of the country it is almost impossible to get soft fruit to the factories, and cannot some allowance of sugar be made, under supervision, to those who can deal with only small quantities of fruit?

:Where it is difficult to get to a centre, arrangements can be made for a group of people to co-operate to preserve the fruit co-operatively in their district with some responsible person in charge.

Will the women's institutes and others concerned take all the fruit offered by private growers?

If one centre cannot do it there may well be other centres in a position to take it, and there are also the manufacturers themselves. We hope that arrangements will be made to see that all the fruit is collected.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he proposes to take to stop the present widespread evasion of the scheme of voluntary milk rationing resulting from consumers securing supplies from more than one milkman, and, in some cases, from as many as four retailers of milk; and will he, in this connection, consider a scheme of registration to ensure that no one person shall secure supplies from more than one retailer?

The Sale of Milk (Restriction) Order requires all dairymen to restrict their non-priority sales of milk to six-sevenths of the quantity sold during the first week of March and to apply the same reduction so far as is practicable to each customer. If, therefore, a consumer is receiving milk from more than one dairyman each dairyman should make a reduction of one-seventh in the amount which he supplies. The total quantity received by a consumer should thus be curtailed by one-seventh, whether obtained from one or several dairymen. No reduction is enforced in cases where the total supply to the household is one pint or less per day.

:Does the Minister realise that now that the regulation does not apply to those who take only one pint of milk a day such a person can get three separate pints from three different retailers and consequently suffers no reduction whatever in his supply of milk, and does not that defeat the spirit of the Order?

That may well be so, but I have not had any such cases brought to my notice. That aspect of the matter is however being looked into now. The aggregate amount of milk consumed cannot exceed six-sevenths.

Is the Minister not aware that in some places milk is supplied on six days a week and no milk is supplied on the seventh, and that on that day people are squinting around every part of the area in order to get milk from farmers or other dairymen? Can he not introduce a better method of working this scheme?

The Ministry has made a strong request that milkless days should be avoided.

But is the Minister aware that milkless days do exist?

I am aware that there has been a great improvement in its working since the scheme was initiated, and every step will be taken to improve it further.

Is the Minister aware that in parts of Glasgow the system of one milkless day a week is operated by certain private traders and that it causes terrible hardships, and has the person aggrieved any redress? Frequently children are the worst sufferers.

:We are watching every aspect of the matter very carefully. When the scheme was first started there were cases in which milkmen introduced a milkless day contrary to the wishes of the Ministry. We have expressed the wish that the milkless days should be stopped, and after what the hon. Member has told me I will look further into the matter and we will take every step to avoid milkless days.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the widespread illicit transfers of foodstuffs through what is known as the "black market"; and what steps he proposes for the public protection in the matter?

I am aware of the fact that transactions contrary to the Ministry's regulations are taking place in what are known as "black markets." Every effort is being made by the Ministry's Enforcement Officers to secure evidence to enable action to be taken and I should be glad of any assistance to this end. Whenever evidence is available and witnesses are willing to come forward action is taken.

In view of what now amounts really to public exasperation at the omissions of the Ministry, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman take steps to introduce a system of licensing, by which method only can you stop this trafficking in foodstuffs?

The question of licensing unrationed foodstuffs was dealt with by me in the Debate last week, and the matter is under consideration.

Will some action be taken beyond considering the matter?

:It is very easy for the hon. and learned Gentleman to say that, but I would point out that a report which received some publicity lately stated that it was a very difficult thing to obtain evidence. The hon. and learned Member will know that from the nature of these transactions it is difficult to get evidence and to bring forward witnesses.

Is-the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that more than 12 months ago shopkeepers were complaining of the state of affairs and recommending licensing and that nothing has been done by the Ministry during that time except to sit back?

I cannot accept that statementx2014;the hon. and learned Member has said that before—because long before the report to which I have referred was. issued many articles had been controlled in order to avoid the kind of thing to which he is referring.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any decision has now been taken with regard to the proposed working of the Monikie starch factory?

It has been decided that the Monikie factory shall not be put into production for the present. The question will be reconsidered in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, probably towards the end of this year. In the meantime it is proposed to use the premises for much needed food storage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the name of the firm of chartered accountants referred to in paragraph 68 of the Vote of Credit Appropriation Account, 1939, whose reports and certificates are outstanding in connection with the examination of millers' accounts relating to the purchase, storage and sale of wheat; and what action is being taken to obtain these reports?

The firm of accountants concerned is Messrs. Thomson McLintock and Company. Fourteen interim progress certificates had been furnished by them before the issue of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on 14th April, 1941. Various reasons have prevented the firm from bringing their work to a conclusion by the submission of final certificates. These reasons include delay in obtaining from abroad essential documents, and shortages and changes of staff in the cases both of the millers and of the accountants.

May I ask my hon. and gallant Friend whether it is possible for the accountants to complete this matter at an early date?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether there is any reason why the public should not consume sugar, as imported, to save the labour entailed in refining it?

A proportion of imported sugar is already put into direct consumption. It is recognised that the amount going into direct consumption could be increased if the need arises and this possibility is kept under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the War Savings Campaign figures do not indicate genuine savings which should be represented by a corresponding reduction in spending; and whether he will ask the organisers to exclude subscriptions by bankers, insurance companies, building societies and other institutions?

The War Savings Campaign is directed to promoting investment in all Government loans on offer, and the published figures show the total subscriptions to those loans, including increased deposits in the savings banks. I am not prepared to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion that subscriptions by certain institutions should be excluded, nor can I accept his implication that these subscriptions do not include genuine savings.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman completely misunderstood my Question? Is it not the case that many

I do not for a moment agree with the statement made by the hon. Gentleman. Lord Kindersley has performed very great service.

I am not denying that that is so, but I am saying that the figures do not give the genuine savings of the working people and that they are completely misleading and are fooling people.

I do not agree. The matter was fully explained by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary in the House of Commons a short time ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that whereas single persons earning only £no per annum are free of Income Tax, the same persons, if they earn an additional £ by means of working overtime, have to pay £7 10s., or three-quarters of their overtime earnings for the year, in Income Tax; and whether, in view of the great hardship this constitutes to a large number of poorly paid people, he will reconsider the Income Tax scales in the lower range of incomes?

I am aware of the case to which the hon. Member refers. Where an exemption limit is provided, relief designed to mitigate the full burden of the tax is given in those cases where the income is slightly in excess of the margin. In weighing, however, the burden of the tax in such cases, regard must be had not to the excess of the income over the margin, but to the individual's total income.

:In view of the havoc played with overtime money earned by the workers, will the Minister not follow the line taken by the Assistance Board in connection with the means test and exempt overtime money from inclusion in the income? [Hon. Members: "No."] Why not? It is robbery.

asked the Chancellor. of the Exchequer his reasons for continuing the concession to members of the Lon don Stock Exchange under the provisions of Section 42 of the Finance Act, 1920?

:The relief in question is given in respect of transfers of stocks and shares purchased by dealers on a stock exchange for purposes of their business. Such purchases are made not for purposes of investment but to obtain the stock in trade which is needed for the dealer's business, and it would obviously be inequitable to charge the full transfer duty in such cases. The relief was first given in 1920, and I see no good grounds for proposing its withdrawal.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter with a view to ascertaining how much this is costing? Is he aware that there is some dissatisfaction among Stock Exchange people in regard to the continuance of the concession?

:No, Sir. I think it is fully understood that, if the stock in question is not sold within a period of two months, the whole duty is payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a great number of Schedule A assessments were in excess of the true annual value of the properties concerned at the commencement of the risk period referred to in Section 19 of the War Damage Act, 1941, because the owners concerned, not being liable to Income Tax, did not trouble to claim the proper adjustment; and whether he is prepared to issue instructions which will ensure that, upon the facts being proved, war damage contribution shall not be charged on a contributory value greater than the true Schedule A annual value at the commencement of such risk period?

The Section to which my hon. Friend refers provides that the contribution is to be charged on the basis of the Schedule A assessments as they stood, and there is no power to make such a variation as he suggests. I would remind my hon. Friend that, although it was recognised that there may be anomalies in individual cases between the Schedule A values of similar properties, it was considered essential in the circumstances of the present time to base the contribution on figures which are already available. I may point out that, in the case of owner-occupiers, regard is had to the annual value of the premises as assessed for rating purposes in determining the annual value for purposes of Schedule A, and in this way a fall in annual value would be reflected in the Schedule A assessment even though the owner-occupier is exempt from Income Tax.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, under one of the Finance Acts, it is possible to obtain something like a reassessment of the value according to the actual income received? Is it proposed to charge a premium on the Schedule A assessment at the last quin-quennial valuation, or on the revised value which the inspector of taxes puts on it, according to the income received and the statement sent to him by the taxpayer at the end of the financial year?

I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will put his Question on the Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has examined the representations made to him with regard to anomalies arising out of the application of the Purchase Tax to the stationery trade; and what action he proposes to take to remove these anomalies?

My right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary is shortly receiving a deputation on this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider converting the 5 per cent. Conversion Loan 1944/64, amounting to £322,839,022, the 4 per cent. Consols 1957, amounting to £400,734,544, and the 4 per cent. Funding Loan 1960/90, amounting to £350,193,411, into a new stock not bearing a higher interest charge than 3 per cent., thereby saving approximately £13,966,039 in annual interest payments?

The earliest dates at which the three loans referred to can be repaid are 1944, 1957 and 1960, respectively, and in no case, therefore, are the circumstances appropriate to a conversion offer.

Will the Chancellor take the earliest possible opportunity of redeeming these loans at a lower rate?

I think we had far better wait until 1944.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the total decrease in the number of licences of private motor-cars in the last quarter of the financial year 1939–40 compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year; and how this compares with the number of licences for similar vehicles for the last quarter of the financial year 1940–41?

I have been asked to reply. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend the figures for which he asks. They are not now published.

:Would my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that it is rather unfortunate, when a net decrease of nearly 500,000 cars was evidenced between the last quarter of the financial year, this year, as compared with two years ago, he should, when he made his speech on 8th April, express surprise that there had been an increase in the number of cars?

I have an answer to another Question on the same point.