asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that in towns in the West Country scrap, got together by the villagers, has not been collected by the authorities; and whether any scrap is being purchased from America, in view of the large available supplies still in the country?

Clearance of the village dumps is proceeding as rapidly as possible and, in spite of difficulties of labour and transport, the total number un cleared has progressively declined during the past few months. Some imports of scrap are still being maintained in order to avoid an undue drain on our reserves of home scrap.

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention and that of the Paper Controller has been drawn to the increasing number of appeals and essays on various subjects recently addressed to hon. Members and, particularly, one issued by the British Israel World Federation, entitled "A Declaration," the form of which necessitates the issue for signature of a great many copies; and whether, in future, control will be exercised to prevent unnecessary use of paper or printing in a way which wastes paper?

I, would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 8th May to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mrs. Rathbone).

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is in a position to make a statement to the House of the progress of the Air Training Corps?

Since the formation of the Air Training Corps on 1st February last, 1,300 units have been formed, having a total strength of about 170,000 cadets. Some 4,400 candidates for commissions have been accepted by the selection boards for service with the Corps. Over 700 units have been affiliated to R.A.F. stations and training is proceeding at all units. The House will agree that the greatest credit is due to all those who, by generous and enthusiastic service, have contributed so largely to this result.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will require the British Broadcasting Corporation to arrange for the broadcasting, on both the Forces and Home programmes, of the record made upon the ruins of the Chamber of the House by Mr. Howard Marshall, with the help of persons on the staff of the Houses of Parliament, to assist our propaganda to the Untied States of America, and broadcast to America at 12.30 a.m. on the night of I4th-15th May?

An eye-witness account of the raid on Westminster was included in the nine o'clock news in the Home and Forces programme on the following day. My right hon. Friend does not feel that Mr. Howard Marshall's broadcast, which was specially designed for a North Amercan audience, can usefully be repeated now in the Home and Forces programmes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings who is responsible for seeing that constructional plant is available for largo and small contractors engaged on Government work; whether any plant census has been made; and whether he is aware that large contractors have undertaken work far in excess of their capacity, with the result that Departments are paying large sums to contractors for plant lying idle on the site?

The responsibility for the provision of the necessary constructional plant for building works rests with the contractor, but the building supply department concerned has power to requisition plant if necessary from any owner or hirer. Except on rare occasions this action has not been necessary and I am aware of no complaints of shortage of plant. A general plant census was made by the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors at the beginning of the war and further censuses have been made from time to time. I do not know of any circumstances such as described in the last part of the Question, but I should be glad to investigate any facts that the hon. Member may bring to my notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that wholesale selling prices for English spring produce at Spitalfields Market for the first week in May, 1941, as compared with 1940, have risen in the case of spring onions, per 12 bunches, to 60s. from 8s. 6d., parsnips, per 56-lbs. box, to 12s. 6d. from 4s., and beetroot, per bushel box, to 17s. from 3s. 6d.; and will he safeguard, both growers and consumers, by fixing a maximum wholesale selling price for this and other similar produce?

My hon. Friend must, I suggest, be aware that comparisons of prices of spring produce, one year with another, such as he makes in his Question, are entirely misleading and liable to cause unnecessary discontent among consumers. At this time of the year the quantity of spring crops available, and therefore the price, depends almost entirely on weather conditions, and the conditions this year are not comparable with those of last year. I have no reason to think that when the supply becomes equal, prices will be different. Beetroots and parsnips, to which reference is also made in the Question, are nearing the end of their season. The answer to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, before deciding that milk rationing should take effect on customers taking one pint of milk or less a day, he discussed the matter with the trade; and, if so, what views on this issue were expressed by the trade?

Yes, Sir. Every aspect of the scheme for reducing the consumption of liquid milk was discussed with representatives of the trade and the scheme was put into operation with their general support.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the difficulties and anxiety of those keeping light utility horses for driving, riding and miscellaneous agricultural and transport worl in country and town; that the authoritie, responsible for administering the rationing scheme locally are not aware of how the various horses are to be categorised; and whether he will issue a full statement of the intentions and modus operandi of the horse-rating scheme?

I am not aware of the difficulties referred to. Instructions have been issued to the County War Agricultural Executive Committees, which are responsible for issuing coupons for horses on agricultural holdings, and to local food offices which are responsible for other horses. I am sending further particulars to my hon. Friend. If any horse owner is in difficulties with regard to the supply of rationed feeding stuffs for his horses, he should apply to the appropriate authority.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a public statement that American medical practitioners assisting in war work in this country shall be exempted from the restrictions now placed upon sending money from England to the United States of America, in view of the anxiety of doctors thus situated regarding the maintenance of their families in America?

Facilities are already provided for persons resident in the United States of America who come to this country to do war work to remit reasonable amounts to America for the maintenance of their dependants. The individuals concerned can ascertain full particulars by applying to their bankers in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for War why married officers' allowances vary with rank, and not with size of family, when officers are over 30 years of age, and, within limits, with size of family, and not with rank, when officers are under 30 years of age; whether he will abolish, for the period of the war, discrimination against married officers under 30 years of age; and whether, in view of the increase in the cost of living, he will revise these allowances generally?

The whole question of rates of officers' family lodging allowance is at present under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give examples of measures taken during the past six months to reduce paper work in the Army, in view of the fact that no reduction is yet noticeable in company offices?

Measures to reduce paper work in the Army are the constant concern of the Standing Committee on Army Administration, and, as I have stated on previous occasions, the process of overhaul is a continuous and continuing one. As cases for reform have come to light, they have been promptly examined and dealt with; and I am satisfied that the cumulative effect of the steps already taken has brought relief to unit offices. But I do not think it would be profitable to attempt to give representative examples of the considerable number of measures adopted and in contemplation. Incidentally my hon. Friend will remember that, as I told the House in my Estimates Speech, there is going on in the Northern Command an experiment in decentralisation, which if it proves suitable for general adoption will materially affect the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the urgent need of medical supplies to counteract epidemics, and to treat the wounded in China, he will arrange to assist the Chinese Government to secure the greatest possible quantities of such supplies; and whether His Majesty's Government will try to secure a fair distribution of such supplies between the unoccupied areas of Free China and the Chinese guerilla forces operating behind Chinese lines who are often severely handicapped by lack of such supplies?

British assistance to relief work in China is at present afforded by the British Fund for the Relief of Distress in China, which has done valuable work both in Free China and in those parts occupied by the Japanese. The question of increasing medical assistance to China is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the agreement arrived at between the Vichy Government and the Nazis, whereby French industrial resources are to be utilised to make war on their former Ally?

It is not known whether the terms of the agreement specifically cover the utilisation of French industrial resources for war purposes against Great Britain, but there is no doubt that a number of industrial concerns in unoccupied France are working largely for German account and are producing goods of military importance for Germany. Agreements have been concluded in individual industries.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of sightseers on occasions of tragedies due to war action involving sacrifice of human life; and whether he will introduce legislation or take police action to stop these practices, which are repudiated by all decent people and which are often a nuisance to all air-raid precautions workers?

Yes, Sir; members of the public should certainly not visit places where air-raid damage has occurred, unless they have good reasons for doing so. Appeals made from time to time have usually had some effect, but my right hon. Friend is considering what further steps are necessary.