asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will inquire into the abnormal delays that take place in the settlement of accounts with the railway companies, in view of the fact that there was a Treasury order that payment should be made within 21 days of the date of presentation of the account; what are the average delays in payment by the Admiralty, War Office, Ministry of Aircraft Production and Ministry of Supply; and what is the total amount due to the railway companies from these Departments on accounts which were presented over a month ago?

I am making inquiries into this question and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any commission is paid in connection with funds collected during War Weapons Weeks; and, if so, what is the amount and to whom it is paid?

Commission is paid to banks and stockbrokers in respect of subscriptions to Government issues bearing their stamp, at rates and subject to conditions set out in the prospectuses of the various issues. There are no special commissions which attach only during War Weapons Weeks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the growing public desire to confine the Purchase Tax to luxuries, he will state the present proportion of revenue obtained by this tax from articles properly described as luxuries, as compared with other articles on which the tax is paid; and what would be the financial effect of limiting the tax to luxuries?

Apart from the fact that what constitutes a luxury is a matter of opinion, I regret that separate figures of the revenue from various classes of articles are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the extent to which voluntary transfers of civil servants are permitted and actually take place?

Voluntary transfers are permitted where they can be made without prejudice to departmental interests. I am unable to say without elaborate inquiry to what extent they are taking place at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the work of the Customs does not appreciably impede the clearance of goods from the port of arrival?

Customs procedure in connection with the clearance of imported goods, which includes non-revenue work on behalf of other Departments, has been simplified and made flexible as far as possible subject to the requirements of those Departments. I have no evidence of delays in clearance attributable to this procedure, but if my hon. Friend has any concrete case in mind and will send me details, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider the desirability of instructing officials to cause their names to be typed under signatures on letters issued from public Departments, as in many instances signatures are undecipherable?

I have considered this suggestion but have come to the conclusion that it is impracticable and undesirable since it would, I think, encourage members of the public to reply to the signatory, instead of addressing

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what difficulties are hoped to be solved by the efforts of the men recently announced as taking over departments within the Food Ministry; and is he aware that there is much criticism and discontent abroad in the country on account of the association of business people with this Ministry? their letters, as they are requested to do, to the senior permanent official of the Department concerned.

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

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st May, col. 581, Vol. 371] supplied the following particulars: —

:The purpose of the changes in the organisation of the Supply Department of the Ministry recently announced is to make the fullest use of the man-power available in the Ministry of Food. The reply to the second part of the Question is in the negative. It would be impossible to carry on the work of the Ministry efficiently without the assistance of men experienced in the purchase, manufacture and distribution of food supplies. All the officers referred to in the recent announcement were already on the staff of the Ministry and nearly all of them have served in the Ministry since the outbreak of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War what preparations are being made for the care of any prisoners of war at present in German hands who may return to this country broken in health after the war is over?

Details are now being worked out of a scheme by which all returned prisoners of war will be medically examined and proper medical treatment made available to those in need of it. Arrangements for the rehabilitation under medical supervision of disabled prisoners of war or any other ex-service men are being made by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Pensions and the Minister of Health.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the rise in the cost of food, he will revise the special rates of pay applicable to pensioners re-enlisted before mobilisation, since those rates were based on the cost of food at the time of re-enlistment?

I regret that it would not be possible at this stage to revise the special inclusive rate of pay to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a pensioner, re-enlisted before mobilisation under War Office Letter No. 3o/Misc.2879/A.G.1(c), dated 22nd May, 1939, and living out of barracks, when in fact provided with rations against a deduction of is. 8d. per day from his pay, is entitled to a standard ration as denned in Allowance Regulations, 1938, paragraph 29; and whether, when provided with meat, bread, tea and sugar only, he is entitled to be credited with commuted and messing cash allowances, subject always to the said deduction of is. 8d. per day?

The standard ration laid down in Allowance Regulations, 1938, paragraph 29, is not now issued to troops in this country. A re-enlisted pensioner drawing the special inclusive rate of pay referred to in my answer of 1st May and living out of barracks is not entitled to draw either the personal ration or the cash allowance which forms part of it. My attention has been drawn to the fact that rations are in fact being drawn in some cases and steps are being taken to put an end to this irregularity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that the home of No. T/3764481,Driver B. Barrett, Royal Army Service Corps, has been destroyed by enemy action; why compassionate leave was denied this man in the circumstances verified by the police; and why an interview on the matter was denied by his commanding officer?

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

asked the Minister of Information what was the cost of the film made by the War Office film section dealing with the training of parachute troops; the time it would take to show; what use has been made of it by exhibitors; and was it shown in its original form?

I am informed by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for War that the film in question was made by the Army Film Unit in the ordinary course of its duties, that the cost of the negative and processing was £142 5s., and that apart from the normal editorial cuts, certain further cuts were, necessary on security grounds. The remainder of the film, which represented an unusually high proportion of original negative, takes about 30 minutes to show. It was made available to the five newsreel companies, of whom three devoted their newsreels wholly to the film and two to the extent of about two-thirds of their length.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether men serving in bomb disposal units of the Royal Engineers are entitled to extra pay, either as tradesmen or by virtue of any other qualification?

Members of bomb disposal units are not entitled to extra pay as such, but men mustered as tradesmen to fill vacancies in the establishment are, of course, paid at tradesmen's rates as in other units. As I stated in my answer to my hon. Friend on nth March, members of bomb disposal units receive two extra free travel warrants a year for leave journeys.

asked the Home Secretary whether he intends to release any of the internees now in Australia for return to this country and, if not, does he intend that wives will be allowed to travel to join their husbands, either at their own or at the expense of the State.

As regards both parts of the Question, I would refer to the replies given to Questions by the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss) on 21st January, and by the Junior Member for the Combined English Universities (Mr. Harvey) on 6th February. My representative, Major Layton, who arrived in Australia some weeks ago, is endeavouring to take advantage of any-shipping facilities available for the return to this country of internees who are unfit for further internment, or have wives in this country, or in whose case release has been authorised.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider some better system of salving and disposing of damaged or semi-damaged goods that exists at the present time, with the object of enabling traders who have suffered, to resume business at the earliest possible moment?

The primary responsibility for salving and disposing of damaged or semi-damaged goods rests with the owner, whether the goods in question are insured under the War Risks (Commodities) Insurance Scheme or not. Assistance in recovery, however, is given in the case of food by the Ministry of Food, in the case of raw materials by the Ministry of Supply and in the case of other insured commodities by the Board of Trade. Traders should inform the salvage officer of the local authority at the earliest possible moment after the damage has occurred if they require assistance to recover goods in damaged premises.

asked the Lord Advocate why police, acting under his warrant, visited the home of Mr. R. E. Muirhead, a respected citizen in the West of Scotland, well known for his advocacy of Scottish Nationalism, searched through his private papers, broke into a lock-fast place, in his absence, after refusing to wait the short period necessary to ensure his presence, searched his place of business and his office at Glasgow, going through papers there, took him to the central police station and cross-examined him for an extended period, finally liberating him; and will he see that Scottish citizens are protected from this type of interference in future?

The search warrants executed in this case were granted by the Sheriff under the Defence Regulation 88a on the application of the Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow and the Renfrewshire police on information on oath that there was reasonable ground to suspect that evidence would be found of the commission of acts prejudicial to the public safety and the defence of the realm. The search was conducted in accordance with normal practice. Mr. Muirhead was invited to accompany the police to the central police office, which he agreed to do, for the purpose of examining the documents seized and giving any explanations. Mr. Muirhead was not detained. It is essential in the public interest that the powers of search conferred by the ordinary law and by the Defence Regulations should be exercised when necessity arises.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can furnish an estimate of the increase in the price of coal to the public as a result of the application of the Essential Work Order to the industry?

While the Government have approved an advance of 10d. a ton on pit-head coal prices or the introduction of the "attendance bonus" next month, no such automatic increase is contemplated on the imposition of the Coal Mines Guaranteed Wage Levy for which Parliamentary authority is now being sought. The levy will form part of the costs of production and any adjustments in the price of coal that may be necessary from time to time, either nationally or by districts, will be made on a review of all the factors entering into the monthly "ascertainments." It is quite impossible to evaluate these in advance.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether Messrs. Ed. Lee, of Burnley, a firm engaged on 70 per cent. war work, about which correspondence and interviews began in February, are now receiving sufficient coal to maintain full employment; and whether, following their willingness to adopt suggestions of the Mines Department technical adviser regarding new boilers, they can be guaranteed supplies of the type of fuel suggested?

Supplies of the type of coal for which this company has contracted are at present sufficient to maintain full employment. If these supplies should fail at any time, adequate supplies of alternative types of fuel are also available.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the limitation which prevents a totally-disabled ex-service man from receiving a full disability pension as well as any long-service pension to which he may have become entitled prior to the occurrence of the disability?

Under the peacetime Disability Codes a disabled member of His Majesty's Forces who has completed the necessary period of service is eligible for a disability pension, which may comprise disability, service and rank elements. In calculating the amount of such pension adjustments are made in the two former elements if both enter into the calculations. This is the pension promised to the man on enlistment. If, however, it is more to his advantage to be treated as a disabled man under the War Code, this course is adopted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what principle or basis of distribution is laid down for the various Departments of the Food Ministry, and for wholesalers, in the allocation of supplies of various rationed and controlled commodities to traders throughout the country?

In the case of rationed foods other than tea, distribution is based upon the number of registered customers served by retailers and supplies to wholesalers are adjusted accordingly. In the case of tea, distribution is on the basis of the supplies received by retailers in the period immediately prior to rationing and adjustments are made to meet subsequent changes of population. Unrationed foodstuffs are in general being distributed on the basis of the bulk of pre-war trade but allowance is made where possible for changes in population.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are in contemplation by the Ministry to prevent producers of eggs, and other products, charging the prices fixed for retailing to consumers; and whether it is permissible for producers, that hitherto have acted only as suppliers to wholesalers, now to charge consumers retail prices for supplies sold to whomsoever calls for them?

I hope to be able to make a statement shortly regarding the scheme for a more equitable distribution of eggs; as regards the second part of the Question, restrictions have been placed by the provisions of the Order dated 19th March, 1941. amending the Home Produced Eggs (Maximum Prices) Order, 1941, on the quantitative sale of eggs at retail prices.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministery of Food whether he is aware of the grave financial loss, including the destruction of horses, in- flicted upon the proprietors of riding schools throughout the country by the refusal of his Department to authorise the issue of rationed feeding-stuffs to them; and whether, as such establishments provide the means of obtaining healthy exercise by war workers and others, he will arrange for the transfer to such riding schools of a portion of the feeding-stuff now allocated to racing stables?

I regret the consequences of stopping the issue of rationed feeding-stuffs for riding horses, but it is not possible, in view of the present supply position, to modify this decision. The quantity of feeding-stuffs allocated to race horses whilst in training is relatively very small and it would not be practicable even were it expedient, to divide this small quantity amongst all the owners of riding stables.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the present position regarding the fortified loaf proposed by the Minister as long ago as July last, but not yet supplied; what salt of calcium, and in what amount, is to be added to the fortified loaf; and whether he has taken the advice of, clinical physicians as well as of laboratory experts as to the desirability of the addition of calcium?

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Sir R. Clarry) on 20th May, and, as regards the second and third parts, to the reply I gave my hon. Friend himself on 19th February.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what success has attended his efforts to induce the public, by advertisement or otherwise, to consume the national whole-wheat loaf of 85 per cent. extraction; whether he is aware that there is difficulty in obtaining this loaf; and whether, in view of the urgency of the need to save shipping space, and to provide bread of a higher nutritive value than the straight run white flour, he will follow the example of the Union of South Africa, which, faced with the same difficulties has recently prohibited the provision of straight run flour?

The output of national wheatmeal has risen steadily during recent weeks, and bakers in many parts of the country report encouraging increases in sales. Members of the public still find difficulty in obtaining supplies in certain districts but the number of complaints reaching the Ministry is decreasing. As regards the last part of the Question, the position in South Africa is not the same as in the United Kingdom and, as at present advised, my Noble Friend is not prepared to increase the rate of extraction beyond 75 per cent. to which he raised it on the 21st April last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his Department will be able to authorise the shipping of Australian canned jams to this country based on the quota of the 1939 importations?

Imports of Australian canned jams, shipped since the beginning of the present calendar year or now awaiting shipment, are already in excess of the total figures for 1939, and further imports are being arranged subject to shipping space being available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why farmers are not permitted to know the actual weights at which their beasts, sent to the collecting centres, kill out?

It would not be practicable to furnish farmers with details of the actual weights at which their beasts sent to collecting centres kill out. There is no satisfactory method in every case of positively identifying individual animals and their carcases at the slaughterhouse. Individual lots of sheep are not separately marked at the collecting centres and the labels used for marking cattle frequently become detached, especially in wet weather, during the journey to the slaughterhouse. In order to supply farmers with the killing-out weights of their animals, it would be necessary to make elaborate arrangements for the definite identification of the individual animals and the carcases at all slaughterhouses; such arrangements would add considerably to the complexity and administrative costs of the livestock con- trol scheme. In this connection it should be remembered that it is frequently necessary to send animals received at one collecting centre to different slaughterhouses.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, approximately, 25 per cent. of the wheat produced in, or imported to, this country is still allowed to be extracted by the millers and sold for animal feed and other purposes?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Education, what steps have been taken for the accommodation of students of physical training colleges who have had to vacate their colleges owing to enemy action; whether the same treatment is given to physical training teachers as is given to two-year training college students; and is he aware of the urgent need of physical training instructors and instructresses?

I am afraid I am not clear as to the particular training colleges to which the hon. Member refers in the first part of his Question, or as to the exact intention of the second part of the Question. If he will communicate with me on the matter I shall be glad to give him any information available. As regards the third part of the Question I am very conscious of the need to maintain a sufficient body of physical training instructors, both men and women, and I have taken steps to see that the physical training staffs of local education authorities are not unduly depleted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that in the notice issued by the London and North Eastern Railway to enginemen and guards, dated 26th April, out of eight pages contained in this notice three are blank, the fourth is nearly all occupied by an exhortation to save paper; and will he take action to avoid wasting paper in this manner in future?

Inquiries are being made and I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider authorising the issue of badges to men of military age who have been pronounced medically unfit, in view of the distress caused to patriotic men who are anxious, but unable, to serve in the combatant forces?

The question raised by my hon. Friend has been carefully considered and it is deemed undesirable to authorise the issue of a badge in the circumstances described.

asked the Minister of Labour whether children born of parents having enemy alien birth and nationality, of long residence in this country, not being naturalised, are called up for service with the colours under the National Service Act?

Only British subjects are liable to be called up under the National Service Acts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in circumstances where priority calls are imposed on telephone offices for military and Government calls only, he will give instructions that doctors, in cases of serious illness, can also be fitted in after 7 p.m.; and whether he will consider reducing the quarterly subscription for those subscribers whose telephones are not available to them for trunk calls over a period of a week or more?

A doctor can obtain an urgent call at any time of the day in case of serious illness if he explains the circumstances to the exchange supervisor. As regards the second part of the Question, I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the quarterly subscrip- tion covers local as well as trunk service; where a subscriber uses his telephone mainly for trunk service and owing to damage to the lines is unable to make any trunk calls for a considerable period, a suitable rebate will certainly be given.

asked the Attorney-General the sums received by individual Members of Parliament who were barristers on account of Government briefs during the past 12 months, giving the number of briefs distributed and the total sums received in each case?

The information asked for is set out below: —

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies why, contrary to local opinion and in the middle of the war, he is pressing on the Government of Kenya the passing of trade union legislation, instead of waiting until hostilities have ceased?

The Kenya Trade Union Ordinance was passed in the year 1937 and unions have already been formed and registered under the Ordinance. The Ordinance was based upon the earlier United Kingdom Trade Union legislation of 1871 and 1876; and in June, 1939, Mr. Malcolm MacDonald drew the attention of the Governor to the question of including provision prohibiting actions of tort against trade unions on the lines of Section 4 of the United Kingdom Trade Disputes Act, 1906. The amending Bill which contains this provision is now under consideration by the Kenya Legislature.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the financial assistance granted as compensation or assistance to the banana industry in the British Cameroons is adequate to the need of maintaining employment in the industry and meeting the needs of labourers affected by present circumstances; to what extent the labour displaced, or likely to be displaced, has had to take employment in foreign colonies where working conditions are much inferior; and whether he proposes that action should be taken to avoid this and to safeguard the interests and well-being of the workers affected?

My Noble Friend understands from the Governor of Nigeria that the financial assistance which has been given to the banana industry in the Cameroons under British Mandate is adequate to meet the existing circumstances, but the matter is kept under review. As regards the second part of the Question, no information has been received to indicate that the natives of the Cameroons under British Mandate have been forced to seek employment outside the territory; and this seems improbable, since the plantations in this Mandated Territory have never been staffed entirely from within the Territory. In the latest year for which statistics are available about one-third of the labour force came from the Cameroons under French Mandate.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why No. 960563, A.C. 2, Benjamin George Harper, lately of No. 5 Balloon Centre, Royal Air Force, who was discharged from the Royal Air Force for reasons of ill-health, was only given the sum of 10s. on his discharge instead of the usual 28 days' pay; why repayment of the family allowance was later demanded which had been paid in good faith by the P.O.O., having received no instructions to the contrary; why payment of an allotment towards this family allowance was subsequently to be repaid; and why no answer can be obtained from the medical authority who signed the certificate of discharge on the grounds of epilepsy, who has been asked for evidence of this statement, as later examination by the man's own doctor gave no indication at all that he was suffering from such a disease as so serious a diagnosis is likely to prejudice his future and his chances later of obtaining work?

The answer to the first part of the Question is that A.C.2 Harper was not invalided but was discharged on 23rd August, 1940, under paragraph 652 (19) of King's Regulations and Air Council Instructions which applies to airmen with less than six months' service who, in the opinion of the competent medical authority, are unlikely to become fit for service. A.C.2 Harper was not therefore eligible for 28 days' leave with pay. The ten shillings which he received on his discharge was an advance pending final settlement of his pay account. As regards the second and third parts of the Question, Mrs. Harper continued to draw family allowance, plus the usual allot- ment from her husband's pay, up to and including 25th September, 1940, thus receiving an overpayment totalling £5 is., made up of £3 8s. family allowance plus £1 13s. allotment from pay, despite the instructions in the Order Book to the effect that it should be returned to the issuing authority in the event of the "death, discharge, invaliding or desertion of the airman." In settling the airman's pay account the balance of £1 is. 10d. left after deducting the advance of 10s. made to him on discharge was retained in partial refund of the £1 13s. allotment from pay overdrawn by his wife. No demand has been or will be made for the outstanding balance of £3 19s. 2d. As regards the last part of the Question, R.A.F. medical officers are not permitted to furnish details of medical histories to the men under their care and are instructed to forward any applications for such information to the Air Ministry. There is no trace of an application in respect of A.C.2 Harper having been received in the Air Ministry either direct or through the R.A.F. medical officer. If such an application is received it will of course be considered.