asked the Minister of Labour the average percentage of absenteeism in the chief industries now directly concerned in the war effort; and whether the issue of regulations under the Essential Work Order has had a perceptible effect on improving the position?

The statistical information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. I expect that the Essential Work Order will have a substantial effect particularly in enabling the circumstances of each case of alleged absenteeism to be thoroughly investigated and the appropriate remedy applied, but the Order has not yet been in operation long enough for sufficient experience to be gained.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any provision has been made for women who have reached the age of 20 since the registration of the 20 age group on 19th April, 1941, to register with subsequent age groups, as is the case with men; and, if not, what is the reason for this anomaly?

Women are being registered under the Registration for Employment Order according to the year of birth. Thus those born in the years 1918, 1919 and 1920 have now been registered, and further age groups will be registered as required. The date for registering girls born in the year 1921 has not yet been decided.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether he will give details of the steps he has taken to improve the organisation for handling the arrival, assembly and modification of American aircraft in order to remove undue delays before these machines are available for operational purposes?

I do not think my hon. Friend would expect me to disclose exactly what is being done in this matter but I can assure him that there is full realisation of the importance and magnitude of this problem. My right hon. Friend has appointed to his Council Mr. Devereux whose task will be to deal with the American aircraft position in this country.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the undesirability of sending any part of the mail from Great Britain to Northern Ireland through the neutral State of Eire, where there are representatives of enemy countries, he will arrange to have the mail henceforward sent direct from Great Britain to Northern Ireland?

Mails between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are exchanged direct and do not pass through Eire in transit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British Institute at Malta continues to function successfully, notwithstanding repeated enemy raids and injury to its buildings; and if the college and schools attached to the Institute are conducting their work from day to day?

Notwithstanding the repeated enemy attacks upon Malta, the British Institute there is still functioning satisfactorily and membership is well maintained. The Institute has no colleges attached to it, but St. Edwards College and Flores College, which are supported by the British Council, are also carrying on their work as usual.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks now serving in His Majesty's Forces in Iceland have had a leave of absence during their service in Iceland; will he bear in mind that large numbers of men serving in Iceland have been there now for over a year; that they have already spent one winter in Iceland without leave; and will he, consistent with war exigencies, arrange that no man serving in Iceland should serve for a second winter without an interval of leave?

I am afraid that it would not be in the public interest to give any figures which might enable the enemy to draw conclusions about the strength of our Forces in Iceland, but it is hoped that, provided the general situation permits, all officers and men who spent last winter in Iceland will be able to obtain a period of leave in this country before next winter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a soldier having purchased his discharge before the war and having been called up under the National Service Act is entitled to claim a refund of the money paid by him in purchasing his discharge?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Sir J. Mellor) on 1st May, 1940, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any decision has been reached in regard to welfare officers wearing uniform and receiving mileage allowance at ordinary rates when carrying out their unpaid duties; whether armlets, indicating the nature of their duties, for welfare officers will be issued to be worn by all performing duties in that branch; whether he is satisfied that no officers who volunteer to do this work are suffering personal financial loss; and whether, in consultation with the Territorial Associations, steps can be taken to see that all legitimate expenses and allowances are met in view of the importance of the duties these officers perform?

It has now been decided that welfare officers who so desire may wear uniform for the performance of their duties, and a distinctive official armlet has been approved. Welfare officers are entitled to subsistence allowance and travelling expenses, including motor mileage allowance at the ordinary rates, and a grant has been made to Territorial Army Associations on the basis of £25 a year for each welfare officer to meet expenses such as postage, telephone and stationery. In addition, Territorial Army Associations provide county welfare officers with accommodation and clerical assistance, and a grant of £300 is made towards the personal expenses of welfare officers at each command headquarters. I have no reason to think that these arrangements are inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a soldier kept in close detention for six weeks awaiting court-martial at which he was found not guilty and honourably acquitted is entitled to any compensation or extra leave?

I am afraid that a soldier is not entitled to any compensation or extra leave in such circumstances, hut every effort is being made to avoid further cases of this kind by reducing to a minimum the period between arrest and court-martial.

asked the Secretary of Stale for War whether his attention has been called to a shooting fatality at a camp in Kent where a young soldier was killed while standing near a rifle range and the statement of the coroner at the inquest, a copy of which has been furnished to him, that it was another of those mysteries which are becoming quite common with the Army; and how many of these incidents in the county have been recorded in the last few months?

I have called for a report on.the case to which my hon. Friend refers and I am also inquiring whether any similar cases have occurred in the county. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as the information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a battery of artillerymen, whose identity has been communicated to him, were recently ordered to blanco their equipment and polish the brass fittings thereof; that the order was cancelled three days later, after the men had incurred expenditure averaging 1s. 6d. per head in fulfilling it; and whether he will cause the money thus wasted to be refunded and the persons responsible for the order to be transferred to other duties?

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

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is yet in a position to state whether and, if so, to what extent the annual yield of the Purchase Tax on medicines, including proprietary medicines, exceeds £2,500,000 per annum?

Precise figures of the yield of the Purchase Tax on prepared drugs and medicines are not available, but I think it possible that the yield for a full financial year will be of the order of £3,000,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the appointment of an inspector of banking accounts has been considered as the best means to prevent the loss of revenue to the Treasury due to tax evasion which is being practised and which is likely to increase with the higher taxation imposed?

I do not consider that there is any evasion of tax of the kind suggested by the hon. Member which would warrant official inspection of banking accounts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether a decision has now been reached to permit mobile canteens issuing rationed foods to firewatchers; and whether he will extend the facilities to fire watchers who are on duty, under an organised scheme, under the recent Business (Premises) Act, in places where mobile canteens are not available?

It would not be practicable to feed fire watchers in all parts of the country from mobile canteens; but arrangements have now been made to permit parties of more than 20 fire watchers in business premises to feed at registered canteens and to obtain supplies of rationed food for the purpose. Where the number of fire watchers does not amount to 20, they could in many cases take meals with fire watchers in adjoining premises.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the scheme for controlling prices and supplies of chocolate and sweets, being proposed by the National Union of Retail Confectioners, is being done in conjunction with his Department?

I am not aware of any scheme which is being prepared by the National Union of Retail Confectioners for controlling prices and supplies of chocolate and sweets. Proposals for regulating prices and distribution of chocolate and sugar confectionery are, however, being formulated by the Cocoa and Chocolate (War Time)Association and the Sugar Confectionery (War Time) Association, in conjunction with, and subject to the approval of, the Ministry. These are specially created Associations of manufacturers, on the governing bodies of which there are Ministry representatives. The National Union of Retail Confectioners, as well as representative organisations of wholesale confectioners, have been consulted so far as the price proposals concern them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether jam made with the grant of sugar from the Government, by members of political associations, will be pooled for general consumption and purchase, or whether its sale will be restricted to members of the said associations?

If my hon. Friend is referring to the disposal of jam made at co-operative fruit preservation centres, I would refer him to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Mathers) on 6th May.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food in the case of a producer with more than 12 hens who desires to retain for household consumption some of his own eggs and must apply to the local food office for permission to do so, what average number of eggs a producer of this type is allowed to retain for the purpose of household consumption; and whether such a man is rationed with so many eggs per member of the family?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement of yesterday on the egg scheme. Commercial producers will be required to sell eggs only to packing stations. There is nothing in the scheme which will prevent any producer retaining eggs for his own household consumption.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what reports he has received of food profiteering; and what type of article is mostly affected?

Cases of alleged profiteering in foodstuffs are frequently reported to the Ministry and in recent months have in the main related to canned goods of all descriptions and fresh fish. Maximum Price Orders for many varieties of' canned goods have been issued and others are in contemplation. Price control of fresh fish will shortly be introduced.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will consider the advisability of making regulations to prohibit the use of coal for the heating of hothouses for the production of flowers?

To the extent that the hon. Member refers to privately owned glasshouses, they would be covered by any restriction it was decided to impose on the domestic consumption of fuel. As regards commercial glasshouses, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, has already taken the necessary steps to ensure that they are used in the best interests of the country, and it would be impracticable for me to exercise independent control of their use by discriminating between them in the supply of fuel.

asked the Secretary for Mines what steps are being taken in the more populous districts of Hampshire to arrange for the storage against the coming winter of emergency supplies of coal?

My Department is cooperating in the accumulation of reserve stocks, as supplies become available, by public utility undertakings, industrial establishments and merchants. In addition, 22 sites have been acquired in Hampshire for stocking domestic coal, including anthracite, on Government account, and some coal has been delivered to 18 of them: one large site is available for a Government reserve of gas coal which is also partly filled.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the anxiety in the Medway towns lest there be another coal shortage this winter, he will state the nature of the suggestions which have been made by the Chatham Town Council for sites for storage; what action has been taken on each suggestion by him; and what is the maximum storage space in the case of each of the three towns which, it is hoped, can be filled with emergency supplies.

The Chatham Borough Council informed my Department in August, 1940, that there appeared to be no suitable sites in the borough for Government coal stocks. In December the Council suggested two sites, but both were found to be unsuitable. The first was only 150 square yards, and the costs of preparation and fencing were not justified for such a small area. The second site was a coal merchant's wharf, and was not pursued in view of my Department's policy of not taking sites which could be used by the coal trade for their own stocks. Sites have, however, been obtained in Rochester, Gillingham and Rainham, Kent; and there are also four other sites, within 10 miles of Chatham. The total capacity of these seven sites is some 15,000 tons and they are partially filled; further coal will be consigned as soon as supplies become available. In addition, a number of new sites in Kent are under investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade under what conditions permission can be obtained for knitting groups not officially recognised by one of the three services, but which have been working regularly making comforts for men on service and sending them direct, to obtain their wool without coupons?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Captain Cunningham-Reid) yesterday, this matter is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether clothing coupons for the current year will, if not used, be valid, in the interests of economy, for the subsequent period?

It may be desirable to prolong the validity of clothing coupons beyond 31st May, 1942, and the matter will be kept under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that confusion has been caused for retailers and customers by the Clothes Rationing Order as affecting schoolchildren; and whether, as height, measurement of girth and size of feet do not denote the age of a boy or girl, he will amend the Order to ensure a more definite distinction between adults and children?

The size limits selected are those which have been in operation for several months in connection with the Purchase Tax. I fear that it would not be possible to base the distinction between adults and children on the age of the presumed wearer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether coupons for clothes can be used in the same way as food coupons, namely, for the whole of the household, or will each individual be called upon to use his own, separately?

members of a household.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a man who insured, on 16th June, against war damage to chattels gets six weeks longer cover for the same payment as a man who insured on 14th June; and whether he proposes to take any steps to remedy this matter?

The period of grace for insurance under the private chattels scheme was extended from 31st May until 15th June in response to a wide demand that further protection should be given to those who wished to insure but were unable to do so by 31st May. The man who has not insured until 16th June has carried his own risk since 1st May, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to take any steps in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the War Damage Act, the tenant can include in his claim for compensation the cost of removing the debris of his house, particularly in view of the fact that the local authorities who carry out this work can charge him with the cost?

Where debris is cleared from a damaged property at the expense of the owner or tenant, and he is entitled to a cost of works payment from the War Damage Commission, he may include the cost of clearance as an item in the claim. In cases where a value payment is appropriate, the amount ultimately payable to the owners of the proprietary interests in the property is calculated so as to cover the cost of clearance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer approximately how many claims for compensation under Part I of the War Damage Act have been already paid; and what is the maximum amount thus paid?

The total amount paid by the War Damage Commission up to the 13th June in respect of the repair of war damage was slightly over £4,000,000. This includes payments to local authorities on account of so-called "first-aid" repairs. The number of individual claims settled up to that date was 1,433 the total amount involved being £20,971. The largest sum paid to an individual claimant was £149.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet decided to extend the curfew for aliens in the provinces by another hour?

I have decided to extend the curfew hour outside London to 11.30 p.m. during the period of extended summer time, and the necessary modification of the Aliens (Movement Restriction) Order will be made immediately.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has asked local authorities to make a complete return of all the equipment purchased by them on behalf of the Government since the beginning of the war for use in Emergency Medical Service hospitals, emergency maternity homes, rest centres, welfare centres, etc.?

Local authorities have since 1939 been required to furnish periodical returns of equipment, purchased by them at the expense of the Exchequer, for the Emergency Medical Service hospitals, and since November, 1940, for first aid posts. In a recent circular, I have asked them to furnish returns of normally non-consumable articles similarly purchased for the other services to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Health how many medical committees, advisory or executive, are referred to by him in relation to the national emergency, including the Central Medical War Committee and Advisory Emergency Medical Committee; how, when and by whom were they appointed, and what is their constitution?

The following is the information desired by my hon. Friend: —Central Medical War Committee and Advisory Emergency Hospital Medical Service Committee, the appointment and constitution of which are set out in replies to my hon. Friends the Members for Ash-ford, Stratford and Rochdale on 26th October, 1939, 12th December, 1939, and 20th February, 1941, respectively;Medical Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation, consisting of a number of specialists on this subject invited by the Minister in November, 1940, to advise the Director General, Emergency Medical Services, from time to time on the rehabilitation of patients under the Emergency Hospital Scheme;Standing Advisory Committee on Physiotherapy, consisting of medical practitioners with special experience of this form of treatment, selected in July, 1940, by the Minister's Consultant Advisers in collaboration with official representatives of the specialists concerned, to advise the Director General, Emergency Medical Services, on the facilities required for this form of treatment in hospitals under the Emergency Hospital Scheme.Lord Horder's Committee on conditions in air-raid shelters (with particular reference to health) appointed on 14th September, 1940, jointly by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Home Security., and consisting of Lord Horder as Chairman, a Senior Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, the Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Home Security, and two lay representatives of voluntary organisations concerned in welfare work.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons still housed in public health and public assistance institutions and voluntary hospitals and homes for incurables in the London County Council area; and what steps he proposes to take to evacuate them?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 17th June to a similar Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether motormen employed on the London underground railways are expected to undertake fire-watching duties during those weeks when they sign on for their railway duties at hours between 4.30 and 7.30 a.m., and are men who complete late duty during an air-raid expected to undertake fire-watching at the completion of such duty; and whether he will grant locomotive engineers and firemen, and electric train motormen, as well as guards, exemption from any schemes of compulsory fire-watching?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his policy to encourage sick bay service; and in how many counties such services exist?

The provision of sick bays, particularly for evacuated children is encouraged as much as possible. Sick bays have been established in 53 out of the 62 counties in England and Wales.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can simplify the procedure under which a young officer in the Army can be supplied with a duly licensed revolver by a relative or friend who no longer needs one, thus reducing the demand on ordnance for such weapons?

While in the interest' of public safety, the transfer of firearms must be made subject to official authorisation, it is fully recognised that no obstacles should be placed in the way of serving officers acquiring revolvers from relatives or friends. The procedure for this purpose is simpler, and I am sure that in all such cases the police will be ready to give the necessary authorisation promptly.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the discouraging effect on efficient soldiers of the regulation under which an allowance paid to the man's dependants, on hardship grounds, is reduced in proportion to his increased pay if he obtains promotion as a non-commissioned officer or a commission, even in cases where his original grant was insufficient to cover the liabilities in respect of which the hardship grant was given; and will he reconsider the regulation?

I do not consider that the procedure of my Department has any discouraging effect. In view of the nature of war service grants it is proper that increased pay of the kind referred to should be reflected in the grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the staffs engaged upon the work of the British Council in Greece and Yugoslavia have been evacuated safely; whether there have been casualties; and whether employment is being found elsewhere for persons engaged until recently on British Council activities in countries now in enemy occupation?

All but one of the officials of the British Council employed in Greece and Yugoslavia have been safely evacuated. A certain number are now working for the British Council in the Middle East, some have joined, and others will be joining, the Armed Forces in the Middle East; and a few may return to England.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any report on the condition of the staff of the British Council in Bagdad following upon the recent disturbance; and whether the educational and social activities of the Council in Iraq are being maintained?

The reports received from His Majesty's Ambassador at Bagdad have given no cause for apprehension about the safety of the officials of the British Council in Iraq. The Council intend to continue their work in Iraq, which has of late been greatly extended, but which naturally had to be suspended during the recent disturbances.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many prisoners of war have escaped in this country, and whether they have all been recaptured?

Since the beginning of the war, twelve prisoners of war have escaped from camps in this country. All have been recaptured.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the widespread advertising of patent medicines, often with an appeal to fear, leads large numbers of people to treat their own ailments instead of using the medical services available under the National Health Insurance Acts; and whether, as the repeal of the Medicine Duties will stimulate such advertising, he will reconsider the proposal for repeal?

I have no specific evidence that any large number of insured persons treat their own ailments instead of consulting their Insurance doctors and my hon. Friend can be assured that this was among the matters considered before my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the decision to repeal the Medicine Stamp Duties.

asked the Minister of Health whether the promised inquiry has been held into rural discrimination relating to supplementary pensions; and, it so, with what result?

I am informed by the Assistance Board that the question of rural differentiation has been under consideration by a number of Advisory Committees in connection with the new Regulations. Several committees have recommended modification of the local rules previously in force, and these recommendations have been accepted by the Board. If my hon. Friend will communicate with me I will gladly arrange for him to be furnished with the details respecting any area or areas in which he may be specially interested.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for a thorough trial to be made of the quality of British-made dental cement, and, if the results prove satisfactory, will he see that this cement is used by dentists under his control thus saving our currency?

The import of dental cement has, for some time past, been limited to small quantities of a special cement which is required for fixing appliances in cases of jaw injury and for which there is at present no completely satisfactory British substitute. Tests have already been made of a number of suggested substitutes for this special cement, and I should be glad to have a thorough test made of any others which may be submitted for trial.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether, in connection with the recent trouble at the Manchester docks, the dockers had a legitimate grievance; whether any steps were taken to remedy such grievances; and whether he approves of the declaration of intended political victimisation made by the deputy dock controller?

I am not aware that the men at Manchester had any grievance which justified them in refusing to work the overtime required. We have no intention to victimise anyone but we do not intend to allow any dissident elements to hold up work at our ports.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the inquest on Philomena King, aged six months, of Rollins Villas, Dun Laoghaire, who was immunised against diphtheria on 10th May, became ill on nth May, was sent to St. Michael's Hospital on 17th May, and died on 20th May; whether he is aware that the coroner recorded a verdict of tubercular meningitis, and said he was not quite satisfied that the child's death was not accelerated by immunisation; that Dr. Michael O'Connor, of St. Michael's Hospital, giving evidence at the inquest on this child, stated that they had had a number of cases of patients following immunisation; that a number of cases have occurred in England where tubercular trouble has followed immunisation against diphtheria; and whether, in view of these serious possibilities, he will stop the campaign in favour of immunisation until more definite information is received on the subject?

I have no information about the inquest referred to concerning the death of a child in Eire. There is no evidence that cases have occurred in England in which tubercular trouble has resulted from immunisation against diphtheria, or even that this has at any time been alleged. The answer to the last part of the Question is No.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he will take into consideration the general view that there is a strong case for a complete revision of local government boundaries after the war; and whether he will appoint an investigating committee?

I am aware that some reorganisation of local government areas and functions may be called for in connection with reconstruction plans. I have given some preliminary consideration to this question and I hope in due course to be able to make a further statement.

asked the Minister of Information what is the total number of people employed in the Ministry; how many voluntary terminations of appointments have been made since the inception of the Ministry; and what number have left the Ministry on other grounds?

The staff of the Ministry of Information (excluding the Postal and Telegraph Censorship and officers employed abroad) numbered 1,801 on the 31st May, 1941. Since the formation of the Ministry, 1,078 members of the staff have left its service. This number may be sub-divided as follows:

asked the Minister of Information whether he will take steps to avoid in British broadcasts reiterated versions of military successes, since these suggest a paucity of material?

There is inevitably some reiteration of the news contained in the bulletins broadcast on any one day, since those who are only able to hear a single bulletin expect to gather from it all recent important news. Subjects included in the news bulletins are only reintroduced on subsequent days when fresh material becomes available, as, for example, accounts of events by eye-witnesses. Apart from this I am not aware of the tendency in our broadcasts to which the hon. Member refers. If he will give me specific instances of what he has in mind, I shall be glad to consider them.