asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is now able to make a statement upon the new scheme for securing more equitable distribution of eggs?

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th June, 1941; Col. 26 Vol. 372] supplied the following statement:

The Ministry of Food proposes shortly to take control of home-produced eggs and to undertake their distribution to together with imported eggs, through the normal channels of trade. In order that supplies may be equitably distributed, consumers have been asked to register for eggs with retailers. Each retailer will be required to nominate a supplier who may be a wholesaler or a licensed packer, but not a producer or No. 1 distributor, and to provide him with the total number of registered customers. Retailers may not nominate more than one supplier for each retail shop, but may, of course, nominate one supplier for several shops. Before any nomination is made the retailer should ascertain that the wholesaler can accept it. Local food offices will be supplied with lists of wholesalers and licensed packers on the Ministry's register. In the interests of economy of transport, it is not intended that retailers should be permitted to nominate suppliers whose premises are outside the port area in which the retailer is situated, save in cases where these premises are the nearest to the retailer. The Ministry also reserves the right to cancel any nomination which appears to involve an unnecessary transport of eggs and to transfer it to another wholesaler. Wholesalers who receive nominations totalling less than 6,000 registered consumers will draw supplies from wholesalers with more than 6,000 registered consumers, who in turn will draw supplies from the Ministry of Food. Wholesalers should nominate a supplier within their port area for his purpose and provide him with the total number of their registered consumers. Licensed packers, who were in business in the egg trade with warehouse accommodation and adequate collection and delivery facilities for not less than the 12 months ended 31st August, 1939, may accept retail nominations as wholesalers, but packers not possessing the above qualifications will only be permitted to accept such nominations from retailers within 10 miles of their station. Exceptions may be made in certain areas of Scotland.

A licensed packer will only be permitted to sell eggs in shell by retail from premises from which he sold eggs by retail before September 3rd, 1939, but this permission will not extend to sales of eggs in shell by retail from the licensed packing station or from any part of the premises of which the licensed packing station forms a part. The requirements of establishments (i.e. residential establishments, catering establishments and institutions) will be expressed in terms of consumer registrations. If an establishment purchases by retail, it will register with a retailer in the same way as a consumer; if it purchases by wholesale it will proceed in the same way as a retailer. No establishment, the requirements of which amount to less than 50 consumer registrations, will be allowed to purchase wholesale. Retailers and establishments buying by wholesale should have nominated their supplies and informed both the supplier and the local Food Office of the total number of registered consumers not later than 21st June. On that date, or immediately after, nominated suppliers should inform the Ministry of Food, Eggs Branch, Colwyn Bay, of the number of nominations received, distinguishing between retailers, multiples and secondary wholesalers and giving the gross total of consumer registrations represented by these nominations. Supplies will be allocated on the basis of these consumer registrations. The methods where by a nominated supplier will receive his supplies will be announced later.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he takes immediate steps, and, if so, of what nature, to ensure that there is effective salvage of foodstuffs belonging to a building damaged by enemy action?

Yes, Sir. A food salvage organisation has been set up in each food division responsible for the administration of all food salvage operations. The salvage of Ministry of Food stocks and of privately owned stocks which have been requisitioned is carried out under the directions of this organisation, which also renders such assistance as may be necessary to enable private owners of foodstuffs to salvage their property effectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that it is necessary for mothers wishing to get extra milk for sick children to pay 1s. for a doctor's certificate; and whether he will remove this charge?

The payment of a fee for a medical certificate to obtain extra milk is not required under any regulations or instructions issued by the Ministry of Food. I shall be grateful if my hon. Friend will send me particulars of any case which has come to his notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, owing to the controlled prices of foodstuffs applying all over the country irrespective of distance, traders near the source of supply are able to sell at those prices at a profit, while traders at a distance cannot do so, and, consequently, often do not stock the goods; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this situation and enable the public in the districts affected to obtain the same supplies as other people?

I am aware of the difficulties to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. Price control schemes provide in the case of several commodities that varying costs of transport do not adversely 'affect equitable distribution. This arrangement is being extended wherever practicable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, when a consignment of oranges arrives in this country, he will give consideration to disposing of most, if not the whole, through the child welfare centres throughout the country?

I am not yet in a position to add to the statement I made on this subject on 29th May in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will take steps to conserve any potatoes which are beginning to sprout, and see that they are used for the production of feeding stuffs such as yeast?

Potatoes showing signs of deterioration are already being sold for processing or for feeding to stock.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the progressive rise in the price of beetroot in London; whether he is aware that in West London the price was 3d. on 3rd May, 5d. on 19th May, 6d. on 22nd May, and 8d. on 24th May; and what are the prices to the growers?

Yes, Sir. The price of beetroot is at present exceptionally high. This is mainly due to the very small supply of new crop beetroot available owing to the lateness of the season, coupled with the increased demand at this time of the year for salads. The average retail prices in the month of May did not show an increase such as that to which the hon. Member refers and I should be glad if he would furnish me with the evidence upon which his Question is based, more particularly whether the lowest and highest prices to which he refers were charged by the same retailer. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, market prices in London rose during the three weeks in question from about 12s. to 20s. a half-cwt. but the net return to the grower varied according to the amount of transport and market charges deducted from these prices.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the continuing absence of imported apples, he will take steps in advance to arrange with the appropriate trade for the bottling this season of increased supplies of home-grown pure apple juice, to be available for all at popular prices; and whether, having regard to its recognised health value, he will arrange to inform the public as to its acceptance as a substitute for the imported apple?

No, Sir. It would be an uneconomic process to manufacture juice from sound marketable apples of the dessert and cooking varieties, many of which can be stored in their natural state for several months. There are various ways (including the manufacture of unfermented juice) in which windfalls and culls unfit for the fresh fruit market, can be put into consumption, and I have no doubt that there will be a keen demand for such fruit from the processors.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will consider going abroad himself, as the official representative of the Export Council to develop British exports with the dollar or hard currency countries and other countries outside the sterling area?

The suggestion made by the hon. Member is not practicable, but I am sure he will be glad to have read in the Press this morning the announcement that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has appointed Sir Kenneth Lee as Representative of the Council in the United States.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the destruction by enemy action of traders' and merchants' stocks, he will consider reviewing the operation of the Limitation of Supplies Order; especially as the recent extension of rationing to many manufactured articles emphasises the need for such a review?

The operation of the Limitation of Supplies Orders so far as concerns goods covered by the Consumer Rationing Order will be kept under constant review with the object of assisting the consumer rationing scheme. Even so, however, large stocks will still be liable to destruction unless wholesalers take action on the lines repeatedly recommended by the Board of Trade, that is, disperse their stocks by placing them in storage at retailer's premises or storing them in less vulnerable areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether clothing coupons, like food coupons, can be used on a family basis, that is to say, if a husband does not wish to use all his coupons can they be used by his wife for her own requirements, and vice versa?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that clothes for children under four years of age are unrationed, and many mothers knit clothes for their babies, he will consider a modification of his rationing scheme whereby mothers and expectant mothers will be able to buy a limited quantity of wool without presenting coupons, on the authority of a child welfare clinic?

The question of the facilities needed to enable expectant mothers to obtain a special ration of knitting wool or other material is being urgently considered. Subject to this the coupons issued for infants are fully adequate for their requirements of knitting wool, piece goods and footwear.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will sanction the purchase, under approved conditions, without the use of coupons, of uniforms and kit for the use of boy scouts, scout cubs, girl guides and brownies?

To allow for exceptional wear and tear on children's clothing and for growing out of clothes, such clothing is rated at fewer coupons than adults' clothing. I regret that pressure on supplies does not permit the further benefits suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider a relaxation of the coupon system in regard to the purchase of miners' safety boots and other protective clothing used in the mining industry?

This question is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is permissible for relatives of a family to pool their coupons with those of the family so as to give a bride a trousseau?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to an inconsistency as between the public advertisement and the statement on page 2 of the notice to traders about the rationing of clothing, etc., in that the latter statement limits to one-sixth of his quota the amount of goods a supplier may sell without coupons to his retailers, whereas the public advertisement leads retailers to believe that there is no limit during the initial period; and whether, to remove misunderstandings as between suppliers and retailers, he will take immediate steps to clarify the position by a broadcast or Press statement?

The one-sixth quota limitation referred to by the hon. Member was set out fully in the trade Press announcement. Space prevented a similarly full statement being made in the general Press announcement. A Press notice is being issued to-day, however, which should clear up any misunderstanding which may have arisen. It is also stated in the notice that the proportion of the quota which may be supplied by wholesalers without coupons has been increased from one-sixth to one quarter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that, at present, there is sufficient decentralisation of the storage of essential commodities to reduce the risk of destruction by enemy action to the lowest possible extent?

The storage of food and of the great majority of raw materials is of course a matter for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Food and the Minister of Supply. I am assured by them that every effort is made to disperse stocks as widely as possible. The Storage and Factory Premises Control has been recently established by the Board of Trade to facilitate the fullest use of all available accommodation. As regards goods in private ownership which are controlled by the Limitation of Supplies Orders, my right hon. Friend has repeatedly emphasised the urgent need for dispersal. He has made it clear that, provided ownership of the goods does not pass to the retailer, controlled goods may be sent for dispersal to retailers' premises before the date when the Orders permit their release.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the fastest aeroplane now in service with the Royal Navy; and its speed, armament and range, in so far as that information is not secret?

I regret it would not be in the public interest to give the information requested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he anticipates being in a position to make a statement to the Chinese Government, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, similar to that made by Mr. Cordell Hull on 29th May?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer on this subject given yesterday by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether Mr. Arthur Donaldson, a Scottish Nationalist, now confined in Barlinnie prison, Glasgow, under Defence Regulations, is detained under conditions similar to those applied to alien enemies; and whether he will have an early opportunity of appealing to the advisory committee?

This man was detained in pursuance of an Order made by the Regional Commissioner for Scotland under Defence Regulation 18BB. Such detention is provisional in character, pending consideration by the Secretary of State whether an Order shall be made for his detention under Regulation 18B. I have fully considered all the available information relating to this case and while I am satisfied that the information then available was sufficient to justify the making of an Order for provisional detention I have reached the conclusion after reviewing all the circumstances that this man's indefinite detention is not necessary in the interests of national security and I have accordingly authorised his release.

asked the Home Secretary why there was a delay of more than six months in coming to a decision with regard to the case of Mr. Thomas P. Hosey, who was detained under Regulation i8b, and who appeared before the advisory committee in November, 1940, only to be released unconditionally some six months later?

The investigation of this case by the Advisory Committee showed that further inquiries were desirable. When these inquiries were completed I reviewed the case with care and came to the conclusion that his release might properly be authorised subject to certain restrictions. Mr. Hosey was not released unconditionally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the papers, pamphlets, books and moneys, seized by the police in a raid on 3rd May on the homes and premises of Scottish Nationalists will be returned to their rightful owners?

Ail the articles seized by the police in the course of the searches referred to, with the exception of those bearing upon the detention of Arthur Donaldson, have been returned to their owners. The disposal of the articles bearing upon Mr. Donaldson's case will now be considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to pay dependants' allowances to men compulsorily enrolled for Civil Defence on the same scale as that paid to members of the Armed Forces?

Married men, and single men with similar responsibilities, who, on being called up for Civil Defence, are posted to serve away from home may receive a lodging allowance not exceeding 24s. 6d. weekly, if they continue to maintain their home and dependants in the home area.

asked the Home Secretary whether voluntary part-time members of the Civil Defence forces, who are now to be compulsorily enrolled for full-time service, will have the same right to pensions, etc., as members of the Armed Forces; and whether they will be able to apply for postponement of service on grounds of hardship and for grants in aid, as members of the Armed Forces arc able to do?

Members of the Civil Defence services, whether enrolled voluntarily or compulsorily, are eligible for compensation under the definition of Civil Defence volunteers in accordance with the provisions of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme. All persons liable under the National Service Acts to be called up for Civil Defence have the right to apply, on the ground of exceptional hardship, for postponement of their liability to be called up. Men called up for Civil Defence will be eligible to apply for war service grants, in the same way as men enlisted into the Armed Forces.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that certain employers, who supplement the pay of employés called up into the Armed Forces, have indicated that they do not propose to follow this practice in the case of men who are compulsorily enrolled for Civil Defence; and what steps is he taking to indicate that Civil Defence is equally essential to the country and its personnel should receive equal treatment?

My attention has not been drawn to any intention on the part of employers generally to differentiate in the treatment of their employés called up for service with the Armed Forces and for Civil Defence, respectively. Although this is a matter which must be left to the discretion of the individual employer I should deprecate very strongly any differentiation against the Civil Defence worker.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in connection with the expansion of effort in fire-brigade working, he is satisfied that sufficient additional equipment will be immediately available?

The main part of the required equipment is already available. There are, however, certain special purposes for which I anticipate that additional equipment will be required, and all possible steps will be taken to secure the necessary supplies, consistently with other urgent calls on the available manufacturing resources.

asked the Home Secretary when Mr. Walter Knopf, now interned in House 17, Camp N, Isle of Man, who applied some months ago to join the Pioneer Corps but was rejected on medical grounds, will be released?

I have just received a report on Walter Knopf's case from the Tribunal appointed for the purposes of Category 23 of the White Paper and, after reviewing the case and taking all the circumstances into consideration, I have decided to authorise his release.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the quantity of steel air-raid shelters lying in the open at the junction of the Watford By-Pass and North Circular Road deteriorating from rust; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure their proper distribution and that they shall not in future be stocked in such manner as to make them less useful?

Distribution of the steel air-raid shelters lying in the depot on the North Circular Road is proceeding and the supply will be cleared at an early date. Local authorities to whom ungal-vanized shelters were sent were instructed to arrange for storage under cover pending delivery to householders but in the borough in question there is an acute shortage of covered space and there was no alternative to storage in the open.

asked the Minister of Health how many prosecutions have been instituted against rent profiteers since September, 1939, and in how many cases was a conviction obtained; and whether he intends to take any fresh steps to control the rents of furnished and/or unfurnished houses?

According to my information, which is not complete, local authorities have taken legal proceedings for offences under the Rent Restriction Acts in 54 cases since 30th September, 1940. Convictions were secured in all but six cases. With regard to the second part of the Question, I do not, as at present advised, consider that the existing system of control requires supplementing or extending. In order, however, that I may review the progress made by local authorities in checking profiteering in the last nine months, I am about to issue a circular asking them for a special report.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether or not members of the staff of his Department, recruited from outside the ranks of the regular Civil Service, are permitted to hold directorships of companies?

The practice followed in the Ministry of Economic Warfare is that which is prescribed for the Civil Service generally in time of war. When a person appointed to a temporary post in the Ministry does not wish to sever all connection with his commercial interests, no objection is raised, provided that he takes no direct or active part in the control of his business. The criterion is that he should be free to devote his full services to the work of the Ministry, and should not be placed in a position where his official duties conflict, or appear to conflict, with his private interests, or where information acquired in his official capacity might be used for the benefit of such interests.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether members of the Civil Service who have registered as conscientious objectors and have undertaken non-combatant military duties, in accordance with the decision of a tribunal, are debarred, in consequence, from promotion in their Departments?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that mileage allowances, granted to employés of various Government Departments who use their private motor-car upon official duties, are those which prevailed prior to the war, and that with the increased cost of petrol, repairs and renewals, hardship and financial loss is resulting to many such civil servants; and whether he will take the necessary steps to increase mileage allowances?

The question of modifying the mileage allowance regulations is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Information whether or not members of the staff of his Department, recruited from outside the ranks of the regular Civil Service, are permitted to hold directorships of companies?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him to-day by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the names and salaries of publicity officers attached to each department and Ministry?

Complete particulars of these staffs are not immediately available. The names and salaries of the chief Pub-

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied with the arrangements made by his Department for transferring technically skilled men from the Army to the other Services or to industries producing munitions of war in cases where the Army has no need of the men's technical knowledge?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether it is now accepted by the Army Council that land

Certain squadrons of the Royal Air Force have for some time past been under the complete operational control of the Army. These squadrons are specially equipped and trained for Army needs. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House in his statement on 10th June, it is the intention to place a considerably larger number of aeroplanes under Army control for the purposes of everything that is a tactical operation. My hon. Friend will not expect me to divulge precise details of the machinery for handling these squadrons, but, I can assure him that the lessons of the war have been the subject of the closest study by both the General Staff and the Air Staff.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 13048069 Private James Alfred Parsons, 11 Company, Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, was sent to St. John's Hospital, Chelmsford, on 28th August, 1940, transferred to Papworth Colony on 6th November, 1940, discharged from the Army while still in hospital, and is at present at Berks and Bucks Joint Sanatorium; whether it is customary to discharge a man while seriously ill, and stop his wife's allowance; what is being done on behalf of this ex-service man and his wife; and whether, as he is too ill to make application himself, his case will be transferred to the Ministry of Pensions for consideration as to his entitlement to pension?

I am looking into this case and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will further consider the case of Mr. H. Crook, of Alfred Road, Brighton, who was discharged from the Royal Artillery without pension as medically unfit in 1900 after more than 16 years' service, including South Africa, China and Malta, but, after being injured on duty during the Great War, was discharged without pension in 1919 and, at the age of 65, received from the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, a pension of 2s. a week, which was stopped when, after two-and-a-half years' illness, he had to receive 15s. per week from public assistance; and can some more generous provision be made for this old soldier?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War is looking into this case and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases have been brought to his notice where landlords are alleged to have said they would rather see their houses stand empty than not get their full rents; and whether he is satisfied that local authorities have sufficient power in all such cases to requisition?

No cases of this kind have come to my notice, but I am satisfied that the requisitioning powers of local authorities are adequate if accommodation which is needed in the public interest is being withheld.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that during black-out hours men returning to their ships have fallen into docks, with fatal results; that if the docks are privately-owned workmen's compensation is payable because employers' liability commences from the time a man enters the dock area; that no such compensation is payable in the case of publicly-owned docks for any accident occurring before a man arrives at the foot of the ship's gangway; and whether he will take steps to remove this anomaly, so that widows and dependants of deceased seamen may not be left destitute?

In order to entitle a workman to compensation the accident must arise out of and in the course of his employment. Whether this condition is fulfilled in any case will depend on the particular circumstances, but certain general tests have been recognised in judicial decisions. Thus in the case of a seaman meeting with an accident in a dock on his way back to his ship from leave, the broad test appears to be whether at the time of the accident he is in a place open to the public and the risk is one shared by the public, or whether he is on private premises to which he has access only by virtue of his employment and is thereby exposed to a special risk. Proposals to alter the present position would be bound to raise important and difficult questions in regard to the general scope of the Act, and I am afraid that it would not be practicable to deal with them except on a general revision of the law.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information as to the nature of the mission or missions on which Mr. Israel Moses Sieff has visited the United States of America since the outbreak of war?

An exit permit was granted to Mr. Sieff on 12th August, 1940, to enable him to travel to the United States of America and Canada for the purpose of developing export trade from the United Kingdom to the United States of America and Canada.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider, when conditions permit, issuing, for the 'information of those engaged in the distributive trades, a leaflet stating, in simple language, the main provisions of all the Shops Acts?

There are already on sale explanatory memoranda issued by the Home Office on the Shops Act, 1934 (as amended by Part II of the Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1938) and on the Sunday Closing of Shops. It would not be practical at the present time to issue a leaflet on all the Shops Acts, but I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion when opportunity offers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will authorise a proportionate increase in the amount payable under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, in respect of requisitioning land and goods, so as to recoup the owner for the additional burden represented by the contributions under the War Damage Act, because the basis of payment laid down under the Compensation (Defence) Act implies that the burden of Insurance is to fall on the occupier or, in other words, the Government?

No, Sir. Under Section (2) of the Compensation (Defence) Act war damage is expressly excluded from the liabilities to be undertaken by the Crown in respect of requisitioned premises. Moreover, contributions under the War Damage Act are required by that Act to be treated as outgoings of a capital nature and therefore differ from annual outgoings such as ordinary fire insurance. The Crown has no proprietary interest, and is in a position similar to that of a short tenant who also pays no share of the contribution. As I explained to my hon. Friend in answer to a Question on 29th May, requisitioned goods are exempted from compulsory insurance under the business scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make a statement with regard to the serious hardships imposed on the community by the requisitioning of premises by various uncoordinated authorities, and apparently without adequate inquiry as to alternative accommodation available; and whether the requisitioning of premises will now be put in the hands of one Department who would act on definite principles after a survey of all accommodation available and having regard to the rent payable and other liabilities of the tenant of the premises requisitioned?

In reply to my hon. Friend's suggestion that requisitioning powers should be concentrated in the hands of one Department, I would refer him to the answer given to him by the Lord Privy Seal on 21st May. It is, I fear, inevitable that requisitioning should cause disturbance and inconvenience but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is issuing a note to the Ministers con-concerned inviting their attention to the need so to exercise requisitioning powers as to reduce hardship and economic loss as far as possible and to show all possible consideration to those whose property is required. I append a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to supply an estimate of the approximate cost of a scheme of family allowances at the rate of 5s. weekly for every child under 15 years of age in the United Kingdom, on the assumption that the gross cost would be reduced to the extent of the provision already made out of State or local government funds for such children, through rebates on Income Tax, or through allowances directly paid on behalf of children of men in the Armed Forces, of war pensioners, of civilian widows, of persons coming under unemployment insurance or under the Assistance Board or the public assistance authorities, or for evacuated children, or any other relevant provision; and if the figures under any of these headings are unobtainable, will he indicate the factors omitted?

I have already informed my hon. Friend that the cost of paying an allowance of 5s. a week for every child under 15 years of age in Great Britain would be about £130,000,000 a year at the present time. It is difficult to estimate the extent by which this gross cost would be reduced by allowing for provisions already made for such children out of State or local government funds but, making the best adjustment I can for cases where children benefit from more than one such provision, I estimate that the reduction arising out of unemployment insurance and assistance, public assistance, children's allowances and orphans' pensions under the Contributory Pensions Acts, and for war casualties and a number of other analogous schemes would be about £15,000,000 a year at the present time. I must not be taken as agreeing that if the allowances suggested in my hon. Friend's Question were instituted, it would be possible in all cases to offset the whole or part of the existing allowances against the new allowances and it would be necessary to examine each kind of allowance in the light of its special features, e.g., the extent to which it is contributory and its relativity to other allowances. I have made no allowance for savings on account of the allowances paid in respect of the children of men in the Armed Forces as for a variety of reasons it would appear to be impracticable to realise any saving under this head. The actual amount of the present allowances to children of such men is, of course, very much swollen by war circumstances. A further reduction in the gross cost arises on Income Tax allowances. This would amount at the present time to about £55,000,000 a year, but the magnitude of this figure reflects of course the high poundage of tax now ruling, the high level of war earnings and the recent war-time reductions in personal and earned income allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the rules of the Throg-morton Street Stock Exchange, London; and whether he is aware that transfer deeds of public securities, certified by secretaries of some of the stock exchanges recognised under the provisions of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act, 1939 have been ruled as bad delivery by that institution; under which Statute the Throgmorton Street Stock Exchange is empowered to make such a ruling in regard to the shares and other securities of public companies passing by common transfer deed to and from members of stock exchanges; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The Stock Exchange is an autonomous institution and its rules are not regulated by Statute. Accordingly I cannot take any action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether men, called up and medically examined, but who have had their posting to the armed forces deferred for a period, will be given a further medical examination before being called up for service?

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave to a similar Question from my hon. Friend on 29th May.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the extent to which refuse collection contributes to the salvage campaign, he will provide that the retention by local authorities of a sufficient minimum number of employés for this purpose shall be protected?

Dust and refuse collectors are reserved under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and Protected Work at the age of 35. The importance of the salvage campaign was borne in mind when this age was fixed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now satisfied that labour on the air-frame side of the aircraft industry, is fully employed; and what was the result of the joint inspection of such labour carried out by his Department and the Ministry of Aircraft Production?

A number of joint inspections of air-frame factories have been carried out by the Ministry of Aircraft Production and my Department. The reports of the Inspectors are under consideration and measures have been and are being taken to transfer any surplus labour to other work of national importance, including other air-frame factories which are in need of such labour. Further joint inspections are in progress.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether he is satisfied with current aircraft output in this country; and whether any of the factories engaged on the work are working the full 24 hours a day?

No, Sir. I can never be satisfied on this matter. Although the current output of aircraft in this country is good, it is my constant endeavour, as it is of the aircraft industry, still further to increase the rate of production. As to the second part of the Question, while it is not yet practicable for aircraft factories to work the full 24 hours a day, long hours on two shifts are the general rule throughout the industry.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production to what extent the A.T.A. flying and ground organisation comes under the control of the Ministry; on what financial terms this organisation performs services for the Royal Air Force; and why the duties performed by the A.T.A., especially flying duties, cannot be performed, as they were formerly, by pilot-officers or sergeant-pilots taken into the Royal Air Force?

The Air Transport Auxiliary is administered by my Department which makes use of the British Overseas Airways Corporation as its agent for certain of its activities. The cost of the organisation falls on the Vote of my Ministry. The reason for using civilian personnel, including women, is that Service personnel are thereby released for operational duties and I am enabled to make full use of available man-power in the country by employing on this important work people who for medical or other reasons are unable to join the R.A.F., although they are extremely efficient pilots.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to consult all the interests affected to elicit their views on the operation of the War Damage Act before he drafts the revising Measure promised in the autumn?

I am not yet in a position to say when legislation to deal with the risk period after 31st August will be introduced or how far it will be desirable then to amend the War Damage Act. In the meantime consideration will be given to the working of the Act and any representations in regard thereto.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping for what purpose an arrangement has been made in the Far East for the loan of British shipping to the Thai Government?

I am not aware that any such arrangement has been made.

asked the Minister of Information why the British Information Office at Istanbul has been left without a director since the death of Sir Denison Ross in September, 1940; and when he proposes to fill the vacancy?

It has proved very difficult to find a successor to Sir Denison Ross possessing all the qualifications required for the post. The matter however has not been lost sight of and the Ministry are in communication with His Majesty's Ambassador at Ankara with a view to finding a suitable candidate.

asked the Minister of Information whether, for foreign use, he will consider the compilation of a film giving pictures before and after of famous places of purely antiquarian and archaeological interest which have been destroyed in enemy air attacks?

I appreciate the hon. Member's suggestion but I am advised that it would not be possible to get a sufficiently wide distribution for such a film in foreign countries to make it worth while. As the hon. Member is doubtless aware steps have been taken to compile a pictorial record of damaged buildings and books and other publications on the subject will be issued from time to time.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is now in a position to make any statement on the work of the Ministry of Supply mission to India?

I am glad to take this opportunity of paying tribute to the successful way in which the mission, under the chairmanship of Sir Alexander Roger, has discharged the complicated and arduous task assigned to it. Apart from representing the position in the United Kingdom in the discussions at the Viceroy's Conference last autumn on the organisation of supply East of Suez, the mission has carried out an exhaustive survey of the whole field of production in India for the purpose of the war and has made valuable recommendations for the expansion of production of the more important types of finished munitions. These proposals include extensions to existing factories and new production projects, and the Government of India is now proceeding actively to implement the approved recommendations. This programme of development will provide substantial assistance, not only to the United Kingdom, but to all the countries in the Eastern Group. In addition to their work in India, members of the mission have visited Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and other countries in the group, and have discussed munitions production in those countries with the Governments concerned. The mission has throughout received the fullest measure of assistance from the various Governments, who, I am sure, share with His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom the view that the work of the mission will prove to be of the utmost value in the co-ordination of the war effort in the area East of Suez. Not the least valuable part of the mission's work has been the assistance it has provided in translating into practice the spirit of co-operation which exists between the various members of the group and their determination to apply all their resources to the successful prosecution of the war. The mission has returned to the United Kingdom with the exception of the chairman, who is returning via Australia, where he has been discussing questions of munitions production with the Commonwealth Government.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to establish that trustees of chattels have power to insure them under the Board of Trade schemes against war damage?

I understand that: in certain quarters doubt has been expressed as to whether trustees have power to insure against war damage chattels included in the trust, and it is evident that trustees ought to have the same power thus to protect chattels under their trust as everyone else has. Accordingly, the Government have introduced in another place a Bill to establish that trustees have this power,, and the provision will be retrospective so as to cover the action which some trustees have already taken. It is hoped that the Bill will be carried through both Houses next week.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will induce, or take steps to compel, the local responsible bodies to make greater efforts to clear bracken, gorse, and heather from commons, manorial and forest all areas in Sussex and Surrey, and then to arrange for suitable sheep-grazing on new herbage?

I would refer by hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which was given to the Question put by my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton) on the 5th March last.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether any aircraft of German type and manufacture, in flying order, are possessed by the Royal Air Force; and whether they are sometimes flown, with or without markings, over this country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Certain of these machines have been lent to this Ministry for experimental purposes and, with British markings, have been flown over this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the pronouncement of an unnamed Royal Air Force spokesman in Cairo, on 2nd June, to the effect that there is no chance for further German operations like those in Crete; and whether such assertion, in view of current happenings, can be prohibited in future?

Yes, Sir. Such spokesmen will in future refrain from prophecy.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the keen desire for an air training corps for girls; and whether, in areas where sufficient girls between the ages of 15 to 19 express a desire to undergo air training, he will provide facilities?

Girls can now enter the Women's Auxiliary Air Force on attaining the age of 17J and I do not think it would be justifiable, in present circumstances, to set up the considerable organisation that would be necessary to provide preparatory training for still younger girls.