asked the Secretary of State for War, by what Act or Order pensions or grants are payable to dependants of persons killed as the result of accident with War Department transport; whether any differentiation is made between accidents taking place while transport is driven on duty and while driven off duty; and if so, whether he will do away with such differentiation?

Provision for pensions or grants to dependants of persons killed as the result of accidents with War Department transport is not made by Act or Order but it is the practice of my Department to pay compensation for injuries inflicted on civilians by the negligent driving of Army vehicles in circumstances in which, if the Department had been a private employer, it would have been legally liable for the torts of its drivers. When the use of the vehicle is unauthorised, compensation from public funds is not therefore paid as a general rule, but special consideration is given to particular cases according to the circumstances in which the use of the vehicle was obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether adequate reserve stocks of ammunition and rifles for the Home Guard are held locally?

I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree that it would not be in the national interest to make public any information regarding the disposal of reserves.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether an undischarged bankrupt is eligible for a commission in His Majesty's Army or for retention in the service if already commissioned; and whether, in view of the responsibility of officers for public money, due inquiry is made as to the financial integrity of candidates for commissions?

No candidate is accepted for a commission if he is known to be an undischarged bankrupt but it has not always been possible to ensure that all the Facts are known before a commission is granted. If it subsequently comes to light that an officer is an un discharged bankrupt, the question of his retention in the Service is decided on its merits after careful investigation of all the circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that building societies are demanding payment of interest in respect of demolished houses from persons unable to pay because of the rent of their alternative living accommodation; and what steps are being taken to prevent them losing the benefits of all their payments?

As regards the first part of the Question, I have received assurances on behalf of building societies that they will extend the most sympathetic treatment possible to borrowers whose property has suffered war damage and that they will not ask the borrowers to pay more on account of their debts than is in the circumstances clearly within their resources. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind perhaps he will communicate with me. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer him to the provisions of the Courts (Emergency Powers) Acts, under which the remedies under a mortgage cannot be exercised by the mortgagee without leave of the court. These Acts have been further extended by Part II of the Liabilities (War-Time Adjustment) Act. Further protection may be available to the borrowers under Part I of the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether Table 28 in the Registrar-General's Report for the year 1938, refers only to cases of infectious diseases, notified, or whether the figures have been corrected to allow for wrong diagnosis, in view of the fact that from 20 to 45 per cent. of cases notified as diphtheria are subsequently re-diagnosed?

The record of notifications appearing in the Registrar-General's publication is based on returns received weekly from each local Medical Officer of Health. The form on which the weekly return is made includes a space for the amendment of provisional or erroneous notifications in previous returns. The published record relates to notifications as amended under this arrangement. In practice the number of corrections brought to notice in this way is relatively small and is in no way indicative of the scale of re-diagnosis suggested in the question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now any further statement to make on the principles applied and the practice adopted by his Department in dealing with claims for Exchequer assistance by local authorities whose income has suffered through war conditions; and whether, for better guidance, he will, without disclosing their geographical position, indicate the circumstances in which a selected number of typical claimants are receiving assistance?

In accordance with their undertaking, the Government are affording financial assistance to any local authority whose loss of income owing to the war is so great that there is a serious risk of a breakdown of essential local services. Normally 75 per cent. of any assistance given is by way of grant, the remaining 25 percent. being an interest-free advance, the ultimate liability for repayment being left to be settled after the war in the light of the circumstances then prevailing. Before assistance is given to any local authority the Government require to be satisfied that they have made all reasonable efforts to help themselves, including the utilisation of available balances not required for specific liabilities, the arranging of an overdraft at their bankers of a reasonable amount and, in' cases where this is justifiable, an increase in rate poundage.It is not possible to lay down a precise formula because the circumstances of local authorities differ so widely and it is necessary in each case to discuss the questions fully with representatives of the local authority concerned. The poundage of the rate to be levied is usually the main subject of discussion and the factors taken into consideration are:

the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of deaths from tuberculosis in Scotland during the third and fourth quarters of 1940, and for the whole period of 1940, in comparison with the corresponding periods in 1937, 1938 and 1939, giving figures for the two sexes separately?

The information required is given in the following table: —

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons appointed during the last 12 months in his Department who were not established civil servants, at salaries in excess of £500 per annum?

During the last twelve months, 334 persons have been appointed at salaries in excess of £500 per annum.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take such steps as are necessary to enable persons over the age of 65 years, who are otherwise physically fit, voluntarily to register at the exchanges for work within their capacity?

I am anxious that persons over the age of 65 years who are available and fit for work should register at employment exchanges and there is no obstacle to their doing so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make a statement as to the fruit prospects for the current and coming season?

I cannot give any light beyond what has already appeared in the Press.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to consider, with a view to the adoption, or abstention from adoption, of compulsory methods, the result of the working of the voluntary system under which farmers and dairymen are asked to reduce their herds by 5 per cent., and to kill beef beasts up to an aggregate total of some 300,000?

Under the instructions issued to county war agricultural executive committees their district representatives will, in the course of the visits to farms that are being undertaken during the next two months in connection with next season's ploughing-up campaign, discuss with the farmer the culling of his cattle. Where a farmer is unwilling to cull unsuitable animals, a report will be made to the executive committee with a view to the exercise, if necessary, of compulsory powers after inspection of the farmer's stock by members of expert panels which are being appointed in each county for this purpose. The object of this plan is to weed out from our herds inferior and unthrifty animals that are not worth their keep rather than to achieve the slaughter of any particular number of stock.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the necessity of making as much hay and silage as possible, his Department is taking any action to ensure the cutting of grass of all margins and unoccupied ground?

Suitable steps have been taken in consultation with the appropriate authorities to secure the fullest possible use of road margins and railway embankments as a potential source of animal food.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether, as part of the replanning of London, the Government will insist upon those responsible creating in several districts of Inner London residential areas with residential amenities and green spaces so that those employed in the City and Central London will not have to travel long distances daily to and from their work?

Both the Minister of Health and my Noble Friend are aware of the importance of securing the best possible relation between the areas in which people live and those in which they work. It is a recognised part of this problem that some people require homes in close proximity to their work. We have no reason to suppose that the Corporation of the City of London and the County Council, who are primarily responsible for preparing the plans, attach any less importance to these questions than we do.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the rate of pay of a man at present drawing Army rates of pay as an architectural draughtsman, A1, while undergoing training as an air observer?

:An Army architectural draughtsman would not normally be allowed to volunteer for training as an air observer as tradesmen of the three highest trade groups in the Army cannot be spared for transfer to the R.A.F. The regulations providing for the transfer of soldiers to the R.A.F. for training as air observers provide that they shall be given rank in the R.A.F. corresponding to their Army substantive or war substantive rank and receive, during initial ground training, pay appropriate to that rank in the RA.F., Group V.The relative ranks and daily rates of pay are as follow:

asked the Home Secretary what experiments or investigations have been made by his Departmental medical advisers at the chemical defence research department, in connection with any basic pharmaceutical ingredients for eye lotions for use during poison gas attacks; by whom they were made; what conclusions were finally arrived at; and what recommendations were made?

I have been asked to reply. The treatment of eye casualties due to gas has been under continuous investigation by teams of experts working both in Government establishments and elsewhere for a number of years and a large number of materials and methods have been studied. When a method is found which proves satisfactory on extended trial, it is incorporated in the instructions given to the various medical services concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether experiments are still being undertaken by his Department with a view to alleviating the suffering to pigs in connection with the marking of an ear; and what is now the position?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison), on 14th March, 1940, to which I have nothing to add. I propose to send my hon. Friend a copy of a memorandum which has been prepared on the subject, and which, I hope, will convince him that the ear-marking of pigs is not a cruel practice.