asked the Minister of Health the number of children evacuated to Kent and East Sussex, respectively?

Considerable areas in both counties are no longer used for the reception of evacuated children. The numbers of unaccompanied children billeted in the remaining parts of Kent and East Sussex are 6,531 and 5.606 respectively. In addition there are 5,620 children with their mothers billeted under private arrangements in Kent and 4,302 in East Sussex.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered a communication from the Pontypridd Evacuation Committee, dealing with the strongly expressed desire of many evacuated women whose husbands remain in employment in the evacuated areas, to return home at spaced intervals so as to attend their household affairs, and, in this connection, emphasising the need of travelling vouchers being issued at reduced rates for three journeys per annum in approved cases; and does he propose to do something in this matter?

I have already empowered my regional officers to authorise local authorities to advance the fares of evacuated women who wish to return home for exceptionally urgent reasons, the cost being recovered from the applicant in appropriate cases. I do not feel that any further facilities at the cost of public funds would be justified at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has received to show that, in order to avoid any liability for taking evacuees, private residents in numbers are obtaining medical certificates suggesting their inability to do so; and whether such certificates are carefully examined?

It is quite usual for persons who consider that the state of their health makes it impossible for them to receive evacuated persons to produce medical certificates to support their contention. Any such certificates would be carefully considered by the billeting officer or the local authority to whom they were produced, or, on appeal, by the tribunal appointed to hear complaints in respect of billeting notices.

asked the Home Secretary whether firms who employ fire-watchers are compelled to provide food and refreshment for them when these men or women are on long hours of duty in that capacity?

If my hon. Friend is referring to fire-watchers employed under the Fire-watchers Order the answer is "No"—the terms of engagement in such cases being a matter for private arrangement between the parties concerned, but if he is referring to those required to perform fire prevention duties under the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order, appropriate authorities have been requested to modify arrangements which do not make reasonable provision for refreshments or an allowance in their place.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, who are the present advisers on catering to his Department; from what firms they have been drawn; who has been appointed under his recent scheme to take command in an emergency of all restaurants and catering establishments in Greater London; and to what extent the catering trade as a whole have been consulted in the matter of these appointments?

Major Montague Gluckstein has been the honorary part time adviser on catering to the Ministry of Food since October, 1939, and Mr. J. H. Polfrey has recently been appointed full-time assistant adviser. Major Gluckstein is a managing director of J. Lyons and Co., Ltd. Mr. Polfrey was previous to his appointment to the Ministry, in the employment of a Government luncheon club. The appointment in Greater London to which my hon. Friend refers has been made by the London County Council to whom the responsibility for making preparations for emergency feeding in the London area has been entrusted. In reply to the last part of the Question, no consultation with the catering trade took place prior to the Ministry's appointments being made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether his attention has been drawn to the findings of Sir Douglas McCraith, chairman of the North Midland Food Price Investigation Committee, on gambling in tinned foodstuffs; and whether, in view of the public resentment at such practices, he will take immediate steps to eliminate such profiteering by middlemen?

In view of the publicity which has been given to the Press announcement recently issued on the authority of the chairman of the North Midland Food Price Investigation Committee I am glad of an opportunity of making a statement on the subject and of removing the misleading impression widely created by the announcement to which I have referred. The cases mentioned in the Press announcement were already under investigation by the Ministry of Food. Since the beginning of this year certain orders have been made with the object of making speculation in foodstuffs of this kind illegal. I must point out, however, that these cases were not discovered by the chairman of the Investigation Committee but by the Ministry itself and it was from an officer of the Ministry that the chairman obtained the particulars which he published without authority. Disclosure and public discussion of cases which are under consideration with a view to legal proceeding are obviously most undesirable and my Noble Friend considers that the action of the chairman in this matter most improper.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has obtained medical evidence with regard to the average amounts of sugar required to maintain in health children and adults, respectively; and whether he will provide that a child's ration of jam shall be not less than one half of one ounce daily, the present adult jam ration being reduced if necessary?

My Noble Friend has obtained medical evidence with regard to the average quantity of sugar required and he is assured that the Food Rationing (Special Diets) Advisory Committee of the Medical Research Council by whom he is advised in all such matters, is satisfied that the present ration of sugar is sufficient medically for children. The answer to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information concerning the merchant vessels now being built in Dutch and Danish shipyards for the Nazi Government; and whether he has reason to believe that the construction of these vessels is unimpeded?

:Yes, Sir. The shipyards in question appear to be at work, but there is reason to suppose that work is handicapped by shortage of materials and difficulties of supply. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he will explain the large increase in the licences issued for private motorcars in the last 12 months?

The increase in licences during the last quarter of 'the last financial year was probably in great part attributable to the "Help Your Neighbour" scheme, which was of great assistance to many in getting to and from their work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he can now make any statement as to the cause of the fatal fire on the London-Newcastle train in which six school boys lost their lives?

The official inquiry into this accident started yesterday. Until it is concluded, I am not in a position to make any statement. I am, however, sure that I am expressing the feelings of the House in conveying our sympathy to the relatives of the boys who so regret-ably lost their lives on this occasion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the difficulty which Members of Parliament are experiencing in obtaining adequate numbers of the different memoranda issued by the War Damage Commission and the Board of Trade in connection with the War Damage Act, he will consider either making arrangements for their sale to the public generally or for sufficient supplies to be placed in the Vote Office at the House of Commons?

:As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Sir I. Albery) on 1st May, copies of the explanatory pamphlet issued by the War Damage Commission on Part I of the Act and of the leaflets issued by the Board of Trade with regard' to claims under Part II of the Act are now available in the Vote Office. The pamphlet issued by the War Damage Commission known as Form C.I.A. on claims under Part I of the War Damage Act is available, free of charge, to claimants at the Commission's regional ' offices and at town halls and district valuers' offices. Arrangements have also been made for this pamphlet (Form C.I.A.) to be on sale through H.M. Stationery Office at a cost of 3s. per 50 copies. The charge for a single copy will be id. I understand. that the Board of Trade leaflets are obtainable without charge from all the principal fire insurance companies, who have branches widely scattered over the country, as well as from Lloyd's.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in every case before an agricultural tenant has his tenancy terminated by an Agricultural Executive Committee for inefficient cultivation, he will ensure that the tenant has an opportunity of an appeal to the Secretary of State or to the Land Court?

:In every case in which an Agricultural Executive Committee desires to terminate a tenancy my prior consent to the action is necessary. Before that consent is given both the owner and tenant are invited to submit any representations they may wish to make and any representations which may be made are given due consideration before a decision is reached. I have recently arranged that, in addition to making written representations, the tenant may, if he so wishes, make representations in person at a hearing before a representative of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, with a view to any reduction likely to take place in the number of cows in dairy herds, he will say what quantity of feeding stuffs may be expected by dairy farmers next winter?

No precise undertaking can be given in existing circumstances, but the Government's policy is and will be directed to the maintenance of an adequate milk supply and dairy herds will continue to receive a preference in regard to such imported feeding stuffs as become available. Farmers, however, have been repeatedly warned that they should endeavour to make themselves independent of purchased supplies in their own interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any use is being made in Scotland of the members of the Pioneer Corps allocated by the War Office for the assistance of agriculture?

A number of men of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps have been made available for agricultural work for a short time until other forms of labour can be found. Under these arrangements plans have been made for the employment of 200 men on arterial drainage and other work connected with agriculture in Scotland. Other proposals are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of recruits obtained for the Land Army in Scotland; and whether he can give any particulars regarding their effective use?

Recruitment for the Women's Land Army commenced in 1939. Effective enrolments in the Scottish force as at the end of April, 1941, were 1,300. Of these 751 are trained or experienced volunteers in employment on farms in Scotland; 70 were in process of being placed in jobs; 163 others were training at agricultural college farms, or on private farms where subsequent employment was in prospect; and the remaining 316, most of whom represent recent recruits, will be trained and placed at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many, and what, football grounds in Scotland play is stopped upon instructions from his Department during an alert?

Play at a football match may, as a general rule, continue after an alert until an alarm is given by a roof-spotter; but chief constables have discretion to require play to be suspended on the alert where it is considered that undue risk would be involved in continuance thereafter. I have no information as to the number of grounds at which such a requirement has been imposed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the selection of men in the Home Guard for commissions is being done strictly on merit; and how these selections are made?

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.

asked the Secretary of State for War what safeguards are employed to prevent feeble-minded persons enrolling as members of the Home Guard?

Volunteers for the Home Guard are registered at the local police station in the first instance, and, if they are considered suitable for enrolment, they are interviewed by the unit commander.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of conscripts discharged from the Army since the outbreak of the present war; whether statistics are available showing the reasons for such discharge; and how do these figures compare with those of the great war of 1914–1918?

:I am afraid that it would not be in the national interest to give this information, since it might be of value to the enemy.

asked the Secretary of State for War the extent to which members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, enlisted for local service, are eligible for promotion?

Members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service enrolled for local service are eligible for promotion, provided that there is a vacancy which they can fill, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that in many cases the duties of a higher rank can be carried out only by general service personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for War who makes the appointments of Army welfare officers for the county of Glamorgan; by whom are recommendations made; what are the necessary qualifications for such posts; what salaries or expenses are paid; and will he give the names of the officers appointed for Glamorgan, and where situated?

:Appointments of welfare officers are made by the War Office on the recommendation of the Territorial Army Association of the county concerned. No particular qualifications are insisted upon, but as far as possible those with military knowledge or experience in social work are selected. No salaries are paid to county and local welfare officers, but a grant is made to each Territorial

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make inquiries as to the practice in depots and establishments to burn waste paper in incinerators in view of the fact that the Ministry of Supply are urging the salvage of this material; whether such material as steel strips, wire, wood and other packing material are sorted and salved; and whether he will see that establishments under his control should set an example and recover all material that can possibly be used again?

Instructions have been issued that, wherever possible, paper should be collected and brought to the nearest salvage transit centre, where it is sorted into categories and returned to the paper mills. Special machines are used for the destruction and conversion into pulp₍of secret papers, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that the purchase of such a machine would not be justified at establishments where the amount of paper used is small, and in such cases secret papers may have to be burnt. As regards the last two parts of the Question, I propose to send my hon. Friend full particulars of the materials salved by Army establishments during the 12 months ended 28th February, 1941. The money value of these materials was approximately £444,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of alien men with medical qualifications at present serving in the ranks of Pioneer units?

At 2nd May last the number was 65, 39 doctors and 26 dental surgeons. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is aware of these men and is considering how best to employ them in the interests of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for War why operators (fire control) of heavy anti-aircraft batteries, Royal Artillery, were recently deprived, without any notice, of tradesmen's rates of pay, which they had been drawing for 15 months; whether, when the announcement was made, they were informed that the change was to take effect from a date several weeks earlier, with the result that they were all thrown into debt to the public; and whether he will take steps to remedy this obvious injustice?

:It was decided that the duties performed by soldiers acting as operators (fire control) did not warrant a continuation of the trade grading previously assigned to them, and this trade was accordingly removed from the list of Army trades with effect from 31st January, 1941. Men who at this date were mustered in the trade in question are entitled, under the normal rule applying in such cases, to retain their tradesmen's rates of pay for a period of six months from that date. It has recently come to notice that this point was not appreciated by all concerned, and steps are accordingly being taken to make it clear. No question of a soldier being put into debt therefore arises.

asked the Secretary of State for War how the figure of £30, which is allowed by the War Office to a newly-commissioned officer for the purchase of his outfit, was arrived at; and if he will furnish full details as to the sug- gested expenditure of this amount, bearing in mind the purchase tax which is deducted by the outfitters.

:The outfit allowance of £30 which is made to newly commissioned officers is based on the prices at which member firms of the National Federation of Merchant Tailors, the Association of London Master Tailors and the Scottish Federation of Merchant Tailors, or in the case of some articles, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, will supply the following items, exclusive of Purchase Tax: —

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state, for the protection of British prisoners of war in Germany, what are the charges made by the Germans against the conditions in camps in Canada where German prisoners are interned; and what steps he is taking to diffuse correct information on the whole subject?

Various allegations have been made by the German Government with regard to the conditions in a camp for German officer prisoners of war in Canada. These allegations are entirely without foundation. It is understood that the German Government have now received reports both from the International Red Cross Committee and the Swiss Consul-General in Canada which confirm that conditions in this camp satisfy both the letter and the spirit of the Prisoners of War Convention. A full description of the amenities available at the camp has also been sent to the German Government through the Protecting Power.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any record of letters from home having been received at Stalag XXA by British prisoners of war?

Letters are known to have reached British other rank prisoners of war at Stalag XXA in considerable quantities, although there have been cases where individuals were reported to be without news from their families. As regards the British officers who were transferred to Stalag XXA, it appears from a report by an International Red Cross Committee visitor that mail had begun to arrive by 1st April.

asked the Secretary for War, what are the necessary qualifications for the office of county deputy lieutenant; and why in recent appointments in Glamorgan the honour is confined to one political party?

Under the Deputy Lieutenants Act, 1918, a person appointed to be a deputy lieutenant must have the following qualifications:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the quantities of malt, flaked rice and maize, sugar, glucose, hops, &, used in the brewing of beer during, the brewing year ended 30th September, 1940; and the corresponding figures of materials used in distilling?

The particulars requested are as follow: —

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the conditions, laid down by the Treasury, for making advances under the Public Works Loans Act to enable repayment of any unconverted stock by local authorities, who are exercising options to repay coupled with offers to convert, preclude such local authorities from offering a conversion stock at a higher price than par, or a lower rate of interest than 3½ per cent., or a life other than 19 to 29 years?

Yes, Sir; it was necessary to arrange for the conversion offers to be made on uniform terms in order to facilitate the large operation of converting the stocks of the 19 local authorities at present involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether local authorities may provide and pay for first-aid repairs under the War Damage Act to farm buildings in order to protect farm produce and stock in the same way as they may provide first-aid repairs for residential property?

Local authorities are empowered to make first-aid repairs to residential buildings (which include farm houses but not other farm buildings) by the Housing (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939. No corresponding powers in respect of farm buildings are conferred on local authorities by the War Damage Act. That Act however gives power to the War Damage Commission to pay in appropriate cases the cost of work carried out by the owner, tenant, or other person interested in the property.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the Ninth Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure recommending the appointment of a consultative panel of representative members of the civil engineering industry to advise Government Departments on the placing of work and contract conditions; and whether he proposes to take steps to see that the Departments concerned adopt this practice?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part I understand that my noble friend the Minister of Works and Buildings has in hand negotiations with the civil engineering and building industries which would involve the establishment of an advisory body representative of both the industries to advise him on any important issues contractual and otherwise connected with constructional works in the Government programme.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the Eighth Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure which recommended 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 hisown Department, in connection with air-raid precautions work?

It is the practice to employ firms of consultants for specialised work on behalf of the Department from time to time, but most work of this kind falls to be done for local authorities. There has been since 1939 an organisation set up by the professional institutions in co-operation with the Department to enable local authorities to supplement their staffs by the employment of outside consultants, and they have done this fairly widely.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to introduce the promised legislation in connection with the annulment of the Medicine Stamp Duties?

This legislation will be introduced as soon as practicable, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement as to the precise date of introduction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider representations from non-included districts, to be included in the new list of reception areas, in which shopkeepers are to receive larger proportions of available supplies?

The areas to which the Board of Trade have asked wholesalers to send larger proportions of available supplies are those broad marketing areas whose population has increased by a certain minimum proportion of the pre-war figure. My right hon. Friend could only consider the representations suggested by my hon. Friend if they referred to substantial areas in which the population had materially increased. He will, of course, take account of population changes that may occur in future.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the annual report of the Birmingham Law Society, from which it appears that the work of the Poor Persons Committee has practically come to a standstill owing to the lack of counsel and applicants have had to be informed that nearly two years must elapse before their cases can be sent out to a solicitor; whether in other areas such as the area of the Bournemouth and District Law Society, great difficulty is experienced in dealing with poor persons cases owing to the lack of solicitors and counsel; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made and take action to provide for the administration of justice speedily by securing the reservation of lawyers over a certain age or otherwise?

I am aware of and greatly regret the difficulties which the hon. Member describes. Arrangements are already in force with respect to postponement of the calling up of solicitors where their services are required for the administration of justice. I realise the importance of this matter and have been in touch with the Bar Council with a view to their considering this matter so far as barristers are concerned and putting their information and suggestions before my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state in respect of each individual police area where women police are employed the numbers serving at the present time?

The numbers serving on 29th September last, the latest date for which complete figures are available, are given in the annexed table. These figures are, in general, substantially below the present authorised establishments, and further recruitment has taken place since that date.

asked the Attorney-General when it is proposed to introduce the promised legislation amending the Landlord and Tenant Act?

The proposed legislation to which the hon. Member refers is in an advanced stage of preparation, and it is hoped to introduce it shortly.

asked the Attorney-General the number of justices placed on the supplemental list during the last three years up to the latest convenient date with, under appropriate headings, the reasons there for?

:This information is I am afraid, not available and to obtain it would necessitate asking clerks to some 1,000 benches. They would not have records of the reasons which led the justice in question to transfer to the supplemental list.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether the post of Assistant Director of Emergency Repairs (Wales) was advertised; who received the applications; whether a selected short list was made for interview; who made the appointment; what remuneration is paid; what is the likely staff required and approximate cost; how many sub-offices are to be established and where situated; whether such posts will be available to any competent applicants; and will the salaries paid be comparable to what local authorities are now paying?

The post in question was not advertised, but was filled in consultation with the Regional Commissioner, Colonel Gerald Bruce and Mr. Percy Thomas, past President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, after several other possible choices had been considered. The salary of the post is £1,000 a year. There will be one sub-office at Swansea. The size of the staff will depend on the degree of damage that may be suffered and on the extent of the work in consequence of that damage. At present the appointment of one, or two, Emergency Works Officers is contemplated at salaries of from £600 to £800 a year and of several Assistants at from £400 to £500. These posts will be filled by qualified people recruited, if possible, locally. Consideration will be given to the claims of any suitable applicant.

asked the right hon. Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether any register is being kept of woods and plantings in private possession which are being cut down, with a view to replanting after the war; and whether he is aware that such clusters of trees are often the only national amenity in industrial districts?

A record is being kept of all woodlands in private ownership which are being felled. The information will be available for use in the framing of forest policy for after the war. Due consideration is being given to questions of amenity throughout the country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what percentage reduction after midsummer is contemplated in dairy herds?

The percentage reduction contemplated in dairy herds will vary according to the character of the herd. In some cases no reduction will be needed, but where cows are kept intensively mainly on purchased feeding stuffs or the herd includes a number of animals of an inferior type or suffering from disease, with low milk yields, a certain reduction in numbers might be desirable.