asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the names of officers in his Department in receipt of salaries exceeding £9 per week, that have been appointed since 1st April, 1940; and state their occupation prior to appointment?

Since 1st April, 1940, 448 persons have been appointed at salaries exceeding £9 per week. Although the further details desired could be obtained, the work in extracting the information would involve considerable time and labour, and having regard to the many urgent wartime tasks which are being undertaken by the staff in my Department, I should be grateful if the hon. Member would reconsider his request.

Is it not a fact that the Minister of Information has been asked for similar particulars and has supplied them? If one Minister can do this, why cannot another?

I do not refuse to supply them, but the staff of the Department is full up with work, and unless there is an extraordinary reason why a list of these people and their previous occupations should be compiled, I suggest that the Department should be allowed to get on with its ordinary work.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is within the knowledge of those engaged in industry and those in close touch with the national effort that a great many of these men have been of great value at a critical time in the nation's history?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that married women temporarily employed in the Civil Service have to resign when pregnant, without guarantee of re-employment; and whether he will consider this provision and allow such women special leave with pay for such a period as they would be entitled to for ordinary sick-leave purposes?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has considered representations concerning the absence of satisfactory pro vision for married women in temporary Government employment in the case of childbirth; and whether, in view of the appeals that have been made to married women to undertake such service in the national interest, appropriate regulations will be made to deal with such cases, including at least leave of absence without pay for a suitable period before and after the birth of a child?

:I have received no recent representations on the leave arrangements for married women in temporary Government employment in the case of childbirth. I am, however, quite willing that the matter should be looked into, and I think that it might be appropriately discussed through the normal Whitley procedure.

asked the Minister of Labour what opportunity for appeal against calling up will be afforded to a man previously called up and medically examined but subsequently found to be in a reserved category in respect of which the age has been raised, thus removing his reservation?

A man who loses his reservation owing to a change in the Schedule of Reserved Occupations may then be permitted to apply for postponement on the ground of exceptional hardship although the normal time for applying, that is not later than two days after medical examination, has expired.

I am much obliged to the Minister for the Answer, but would it not be better to regularise the position and safeguard the Army authorities from taking in a man who might be medically unfit by providing for a new medical examination? In this particular case it is a number of months since this man has been medically examined?

I should want notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of a danger that the dental health of the civil population may suffer through the age of reservation for skilled dental mechanics being raised from 23 to 30 in the new Schedule of Reserved Occupations; and what arrangements is he making to prevent this?

I am aware of the change in the age of reservation of dental mechanics and that this will entail some reorganisation of the arrangements in dental practices to meet the new conditions. I do not, however, consider that these changes will endanger the dental health of the population.

:Has my right hon. Friend consulted the dental laboratories about this problem through their own organisation, and if not, will he do so?

We are in touch with them and I think there is machinery which will enable employers to make applications to retain their mechanical assistants if they will make application to the Ministry of Health.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Ministry of Health, in its recent circular A.S. 330, informs all health insurance approved societies that, as from 1st October, 1941, there will be no reservation in the case of men of military age employed by them; that the work of the staffs of these societies is exceedingly technical; and will he reconsider the position and place these men, especially those employed by approved societies operating as separate sections of trade unions, on the same basis of reservation as those employed by trade unions?

The decision that inspectors, supervisors and clerks employed by life assurance companies, friendly societies and approved societies, should cease to be reserved from military service this autumn was reached, in consultation with the Government Departments concerned, having regard to the general man-power position. The men thus becoming de-reserved will not, as a rule, be required to join their Units before 1st October, 1941, by which date it should be possible to train women and older men to replace them. Key men whose replacement has not been possible will, if necessary in the public interest, be considered for deferment of calling-up.

Does not my right hon. Friend see the anomaly of a trade union approved society which cannot keep its technicians on its staff because they have been completely de-reserved, whereas men of similar ages are reserved in the trade union branch of the same organisation?

They were not reserved on the ground of their age. Trade unions made representations to the Department, and after consultation with the Department it was deemed desirable to reserve trade union officials at the age of 30. These trade union officials are responsible for much more than clerical work, They are very largely connected with the war effort in maintaining conciliation arrangements and all the rest of it in the country.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the further hour of summer time, he will consider the possibility of extending the curfew for friendly aliens to 11.30 p.m.?

Individual aliens against whom there is no security objection can already obtain from their local police exemption from the curfew if they can make out a case for such exemption: but I will consider whether any modification of the present curfew hour of 10.30 p.m. outside London can be made during the summer months.

Will my right hon. Friend remember that in London it has always been 12 p.m., and that during the summer months in the Provinces they now have to be in by 10.30, while it is daylight?

I am aware of that, but there were special reasons for distinction, and maybe some distinction will have to be maintained. However, I will look into the matter, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I shall not be unsympathetic to the point of view he has put.

asked the Home Secretary in view of the fact that houses in London were recently gutted by fire because the owners had gone away and had had the water cut off, and therefore when the available sand had been used up there was nothing on the premises with which to put out the fire, whether he will make it compulsory for owners of empty houses to leave water in baths and other receptacles in order to enable fires to be fought in their earlier stages?

Recommendations to this effect have already been issued, and I am examining what further action is possible.

Is there not an obligation on the owners of empty houses to give their keys to the air-raid warden?

There is no obligation, and there are difficulties about making it a statutory obligation. But it is encouraged, and we have made recommendations. I am not happy about the situation, and I am considering what further action can be taken.

While considering the matter, will the right hon. Gentleman examine at the same time the alternative of giving compulsory powers to local authorities in order that they may enter such houses to take the necessary precautions?

I am considering that also.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to fire-watchers in the long evenings by the operation of the Business Premises Fire watching Order, which enacts that watchers must be provided at all times outside business hours; and whether, in view of the fact that during the hours of daylight the risk of enemy action is almost negligible, and that there are people in the streets who would observe the outbreak of any fire, he will consider amending the Order to read between the hours of black-out instead of at all times, in order that large numbers of fire-watchers may be released, and thus enabled in many cases to work in their gardens and allotments?

I think that without amending the Order effect can be given to an appreciable extent to the suggestion made by the hon. Member, which had already been under consideration by my Department in consultation with the Fire Prevention Executive. Appropriate instructions on the matter are being issued by the Department responsible for the administration of the Order.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the alterations are likely to be?

No, Sir, not without notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is laid down by regulation whether, in the case of fire watching, the home or business premises should come first with any employé who may be called on for service?

A person who has obligations under the Business Premises Order is exempt from fire prevention duties in the area of his local authority under Article 4 (7) of the Compulsory Enrolment Order.

Would there be any objection to an employé splitting up the 48 hours a month as to half at his place of business and half at his home?

If that were mutually convenient, there would be no objection as far as we are concerned.

asked the Home Secretary what proposals he has in mind for reorganising fire-watching arrangements?

I am not at present contemplating any major changes in the general arrangements envisaged by the Fire Prevention Regulations and Orders. Improvements in details are continually under examination.

In making these improvements in detail, will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the very curious state of affairs, to which it is as well not to refer in public, which has arisen in regard to fire watching at the Palace of Westminster?

Yes. I am not Ministerially responsible for that, but I have been taking an active interest and have been bringing my influence to bear for many weeks past.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement in a week, or two weeks?

No, there is no statement to make.

In the event of a house being empty and the key not being available, would not either the firemen or the wardens be justified in bursting the house open?

:Yes, and that is done, but it takes time. It is one of the most difficult pieces of administration that it is possible to imagine, but I can assure the House that there is no self-satisfaction about it. We are constantly considering it, but the point to which the hon. Member has referred is one of the difficulties.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the shortage of torch bateries in the case of wardens of an area of which he has been informed, and that the wardens complain of the danger involved in patrol without a. torch; and will he take steps to see that such articles shall be supplied to these men?

:I understand that the county authority responsible placed an order for batteries on 20th February and did not follow up the matter until 9th May. The suppliers have not been able to trace receipt of either letter. The matter has, I am informed, now been put right, and the batteries are being despatched at once.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Gloucester County Civil Defence authorities have reduced the supper allowance for first-aid and rescue parties and ambulance drivers, all unpaid and voluntary, from 1s. per night to 6d.; that this action is resented and compares unfavourably with the subsistence allowance of 3s. 6d. per night paid to members of the Home Guard; and will he take steps to enable the Gloucester County Civil Defence authority to restore these allowances?

:If any such reduction were to be made by the local authority, it would be the consequence of a temporary reduction during the months of maximum daylight of the hours of duty of the personnel to a point below that for which, under arrangements approved by my Department, local authorities may provide meals on a grant-aided basis. I am, however, looking further into the matter.

:Is the Minister aware that at present unpaid voluntary helpers have to serve 12 hours before they get 1s.? Will he reduce the time to nine hours?

I think there will be some relatively good news for my hon. Friend in an Answer which I am giving to a later Question.

asked the Home Secretary for what reason it has been found necessary to prohibit marriages between aliens in internment; and whether he will reconsider his decision in cases where both parties are at present interned, in view of the newly established mixed camp?

:A decision to allow marriages between parties of whom both are interned could not properly be taken without considering whether marriages are also to be allowed in cases where one of the parties is interned and one is free. Any general policy of allowing persons who are detained to marry would give rise to difficulties, and while I recognise that hard cases may sometimes occur I think the general rule must be that deprivation of liberty includes deprivation of liberty to marry.

Will my right hon. Friend be prepared to reconsider this matter in a few months' time?

I am always willing to reconsider a matter, but, frankly, I would not like to hold out any optimistic prospects.

:Will my right hon. Friend realise that there is nothing against these people to show that they have done wrong?

Yes, Sir, but we are at war, and the country has a right to detain foreign people, and certain consequences follow. The consequences may be unpleasant and inconvenient. We make them as little as we can, but it must not be assumed that because there is no specific charge against an enemy alien, therefore we have particular obligations to do things that are very awkward to do.

asked the Home Secretary whether the signing by refugees interned in Canada of a form that they did not desire to return to this country, as they hoped to go to the United States of America, will be held to prejudice their right to come back to this country should they find it impossible to enter the United States of America?

The mere fact of the signing of such a document would not prevent the return to this country of an internee whose release I was prepared to authorise.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the decontamination arrangements made by air-raid precautions authorities will, in the event of the use of poison gas by the enemy, be adequate for the decontamination of large numbers of people, as well as of streets, buildings, food, stores, etc.; and whether he is also satisfied with the progress which is being made with regard to the gas-proofing of public air-raid shelters in view of the grave risk which would be run by those in underground shelters in the event of a gas attack?

:The arrangements which have been made to meet gas attacks are constantly under review, and where deficiencies are found action is taken to remedy them. I am satisfied that the organisation which has been built up throughout the country to deal with any possible gas attack is being developed on the right lines, and no effort will be spared to expand and develop it further. As regards the second part of the Question, I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a circular which was addressed to local authorities concerning the ventilation and gas proofing of shelters.

asked the Home Secretary on what date the instructions with regard to detentions under Regulation 18B [Cmd. 6162, 1940] were communicated to the governor of Brixton Prison?

On 26th February, 1940, two days before the detainees were transferred to his custody from Wands-worth Prison.

asked the Home Secretary who was responsible for specifying the use of lime mortar for use in the construction of brick surface-shelters; and why lime cement mortar was not specified?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 20th March to the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher).

asked the Home Secretary whether he exercises any control over the offering to the public of air-raid shelters of private manufacture or construction, which purport to give as good protection as the official types of shelter; and whether there is any means by which a person possessing or contemplating the purchase of such a shelter can obtain an authoritative opinion on its resisting qualities?

:As the Joint Parliamentary Secretary explained on 10th April in reply to the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards), I have instituted a scheme whereby manufacturers of proprietary types of shelters designed for erection indoors may submit their products for test. Some designs are already on the point of receiving approval. Intending purchasers of these or any other types of shelter would be well advised to obtain the services of a competent consultant. With the co-operation of the professional (institutions concerned, lists of consultants willing to give advice for a fee of half a guinea were drawn up last year, and furnished to local authorities. It was not possible to provide for every local authority's area but if, on application to his local authority, a person is unable to get the name of such a consultant, he should communicate with the Central Board of Advisory Panels of Professional Consultants at 1–7, Great George Street, S.W.1.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that four people were killed in my constituency on a recent night entirely through putting their trust in a shelter which was not adequate for its purpose, and will he ask the Minister of Information to give the utmost publicity to the rights of individuals, as described in his answer, so that lives may not be unnecessarily lost in 'future through over-confidence?

I will do anything I can in that direction.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the walls of a burned-out building in the city, which collapsed, trapping two demolition workers, of whom one was killed and the other seriously injured; and what precautions were taken to prevent the fall of big blocks of masonry?

:On the information given by my hon. Friend, I have had some difficulty in identifying the incident. I presume however he is referring to an incident where I regret a worker was killed and another injured by the collapse of a wall some distance from the site on which they were working. The wall collapsed suddenly, presumably as a result of cooling, fell on to a neighbouring building which itself collapsed and so caused the accident. All possible precautions are taken to avoid accidents of this kind but my hon. Friend will appreciate that in this type of work it is impossible to eliminate all risks.

Do I understand that it was impossible to timber the building up?

:I understand that the building in which the men were was not in trouble. The Building that fell was one that had fallen as a consequence of the raid. It may satisfy my hon. Friend if I tell him that there was a subsequent inquest, when it was established that there was no question of negligence on the part of those in charge of the operations.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a position to make a statement about the supply of uniforms of a more substantial type; the institution of pay for rank; and other improvements in the conditions of service of Civil Defence personnel?

I am glad to be able to announce various improvements in the conditions of service of Civil Defence personnel. It has been decided to enable local authorities to obtain on a grant-aided basis serge uniforms, overcoats, berets and boots for whole time members of the Civil Defence services and for part-time members who undertake to perform, if called upon, not less than 48 hours' duty per month, where the existing bluette uniforms are not thought to be adequate for the duties they undertake. Appropriate new uniforms will be designed for women members of the services who have not already been provided with a suitable type. The date of issue of overcoats, uniforms, etc., will, of course, depend on supply considerations. The uniforms of the Police War Reserve and A.F.S. are not affected by this announcement.

A scheme of pay for certain intermediate ranks in the A.R.P. services will also be introduced at an early date. The arrangements for the provision of meals for part-time volunteers, including members of the local authorities' fire prevention organisation, who undertake relatively long spells of duty away from their homes are also under revision. I propose to suggest to local authorities that where they cannot adopt the preferable course of supplying meals as at present authorised, they should, as an experiment, make payments in lieu of meals to unpaid volunteers who cannot take their meals at home on the basis of 2s. for spells of duty lasting eight hours and 3s. for 12-hour spells. The expenditure incurred would rank for grant-aid. The sick-leave concession to paid personnel has also been reconsidered and, subject to medical certificates, they will in future be entitled to receive the equivalent of their full pay during absence through sickness up to a maximum period of 13 weeks, whether, as at present, the sickness is due to war service injuries or it arises out of other conditions of their service. I also hope to be able to introduce a system whereby in areas selected by the Regional Commissioners on account of heavy and frequent raiding, whole-time Civil Defence personnel will be eligible to receive one free return railway voucher in a year, so that their annual holiday may be spent in more peaceful surroundings. All these improvements will be explained in greater detail to local authorities in the near future.

I should like to mention the valuable help which I have received from my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary the Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Mabane) in the review which has led up to this announcement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his reply will give very great satisfaction, not only to the Civil Defence service, but to those who are responsible for organising it?

I am very much obliged to my hon. Friend.

From what date will these improvements begin to operate?

I have indicated that as to uniform, it is, of course, a matter of supply, and no doubt some time will elapse, but there is no reason why the allowances should not start as soon as it is administratively practicable. Graded pay should come into force from the beginning of next month, subject to examination by the Regional Commissioners of the proposals of local authorities. The increases of pay, if they cannot be made by that time, would be retrospective to the beginning of the pay week following the first pay week in June.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider issuing an order designating certain areas, of which he has been informed, and which are areas likely to be subjected in a special degree to enemy air-attacks, as areas in which it shall be a legal offence to retain a child under 14 years of age?

All the towns mentioned in the communication which I have received from my hon. and gallant Friend are evacuation areas, and schemes for the evacuation of children are being operated in all such areas. The Government are satisfied, however, that it would not be right in present circumstances to enforce upon unwilling parents the compulsory evacuation of their children.

As it is already illegal for children to witness certain types of horrific films, is it not possible to make it illegal for children to be kept in places where, even if they are not injured, they are bound to witness some unpleasant scenes?

That is a matter of opinion. The fundamental issue raised goes far wider than that particular opinion and involves fundamental issues of the; direst character.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it would be in the best interests of the children's future that they should not remain in these areas?

We have done and are doing, and shall continue to do, all we can to pave the way for the evacuation of children from these areas and to bring our influence to bear on all concerned—local authorities and the children themselves.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the adjournment.

asked the Minister of Health how many hutted camps have been built for the reception of evacuated children; how many children do they accommodate; and how many further camps it is proposed to build for this purpose?

Thirty camps have been provided for this purpose, and they at present accommodate 6,600 children. As I indicated when I replied to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend on 8th May, the provision of further camps must depend primarily on the availability of labour and materials.

As this seems to be the ideal method of caring for children from the dangerous areas owing to the easy provision of education, playing fields, and so on, will my right hon. Friend use his influence with the Ministries responsible to ease the position as regards labour and material?

I would not like to say that this is the ideal way. It may be the ideal way of housing for a fortnight or so in summer-time, but there are particular reasons against camps accommodating a large number of children. I visited one of the best camps in the Midland this week-end and had conversations with the teachers concerned, and there are serious medical issues which do not arise when you are merely dealing with a temporary flow of boys and girls.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to prevent the recurrence of cases similar to the one of which he has been informed whereby workers in a verminous condition were compulsorily billeted on a family with children; and is he satisfied that proper steps are being taken to ensure that when compulsory billeting takes place families are not exposed to vermin and disease?

:I have discussed this matter with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, and arrangements are being made for the accommodation in hostels of persons who arc unsuitable for billeting.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that no compensation is payable to householders, as is the case with evacuees, where damage is done and sheets and blankets have to be burned, and will he take steps to remedy that?

I will look into the position.

asked the Minister of Health what is the responsibility of senior regional officers in rehousing persons from bombed areas?

:The responsibility for the rehousing of homeless persons rests with the local authorities, to whom full powers of billeting and of the requisitioning of houses have been delegated. The duty of my senior regional officer is to advise them in the making of plans and to assist them in operating them when an emergency occurs. If necessary he arranges for the distribution of the homeless over a number of areas.

In view of the fact that this machinery is not at present achieving this object, I give notice that I shall raise this question on the Adjournment at the earliest possible date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, with a view to getting a million acres drained and into cultivation forthwith, he will confer with the Secretary of State for War and the Minister of Labour, for the purpose of the provision of 10,000 Pioneer or other troops being made available for this work within the next month?

I have already consulted both my colleagues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War is unable to place any additional Pioneers or other troops at my disposal beyond those already working, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service has agreed to make available within the next few months at least 10,000 civilians for work of this kind.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the point is the un-awareness of the War Office and the Ministry of Labour as to the urgency of making provision for the national larder, and is he aware that the matter cannot be lightly dismissed, indeed, that it cannot be dismissed at all?

I would suggest to my hon. Friend that he should address his Question to my two colleagues.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made representations to the Secretary of State for War for the release of skilled agricultural workers from home forces for work during important farming seasons, such as harvests?

We are continually making applications to the Army authorities for the release of individual men, and, as far as I am aware, the bulk of them are granted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a non-agriculturist, who has entered on, or purchased, a farm since the outbreak of war, is to be excused military service, while efficient men actually doing the essential work of the farm are liable to be called for service?

No, Sir, men who are not genuine agriculturists will not be permitted to evade military service by entering on, or purchasing, a farm. County war agricultural executive committees have been instructed to investigate and report on any cases of this sort which come to their notice. Where the facts warrant it the case will be referred to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, so that he may take the necessary action.

Has any criterion ever been offered to the county war agricultural committees to guide them as to the test they should impose as to whether a man is a genuine agriculturist or not, and particularly whether his experience has been limited to the period since the outbreak of the war?

I think that can reasonably be left to the common sense of the war agricultural committees, which are composed of practical agriculturists.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider his decision not to allow the slogan "Lend to the Limit" to be used as a postal-date stamp?