asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what proportion of this year's grain crop has been allocated to brewers and distillers?

It will shortly be permissible for a quantity of this year's crop of cereals to be acquired for malting, sufficient to meet 60 per cent. of 12 months' requirements of the brewing industry. It is not, of course, possible to express this allocation in terms of a proportion of the produce of this year's harvest. A further allocation of cereals will be made towards the close of the year. No decision has yet been reached with regard to an allocation of this year's grain crop for the manufacture of spirit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give an approximate estimate of the number of persons now benefiting under the National Milk Scheme, and of the annual cost of the scheme to the Exchequer?

The approximate number of persons now benefiting under the National Milk Scheme is 3,050,000. The annual cost of the scheme to the Exchequer is £13,500,000 including approximately £600.000 for administrative expenses.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can clarify the position with regard to the proposed Order under which any person keeping more than 12 hens will have to sell the eggs to a packing station; whether each member of a family can keep 12 hens on the same holding or on different holdings; whether it is possible for people, other than members of the same family, to combine together to keep more than 12 hens on the same holding free of restriction; and at what stage a pullet will be considered as a hen for this purpose?

Under the Eggs (Control and Prices) Order, 1941, no producer owning or having in his custody more than 50 head of poultry may sell or by way of trade dispose of his eggs except to a licensed buyer or a licensed packer. It is intended that all birds on one holding should be regarded as if they were in one possession. They cannot be split between a number of individuals, whether members of the family of the producer or not. Producers owning 50 head of poultry or less may sell their eggs direct to consumers but may not sell to persons buying for re-sale or to caterers. Poultry in the Order is defined as "domestic fowls and domestic ducks of not less than two months of age."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has any estimate of the percentage of fresh eggs absorbed weekly by hospitals, military and other, officers' messes, Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes canteens, military and munition, and hotels and boarding-houses, respectively?

No, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is intended to ration eggs or merely to control distribution?

At present the Ministry is engaged in establishing machinery designed to secure control of home produced supplies with a view to bringing about equitable distribution of both imported and home produced eggs. The introduction of a formal rationing scheme will be further considered in the light of the experience gained in the working of the new system of distribution.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the present shortage of jam at retailers, he will authorise jam centres, where available, to make early rhubarb jam for current retailers' requirements for present consumption on the ration basis?

A number of cooperative fruit preserving centres have been making rhubarb jam for some weeks past. All jam so made is offered to the retail trade.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the departure from the system of differential prices for different grades of fruit and vegetables has aroused much disquiet; and whether he will modify price lists to prevent the mixture of indifferent produce with good to the possible spoiling of the latter?

Nothing has been done by my Department to prevent fruit and vegetable growers from grading their produce for the market. It would not be practicable, however, to introduce differential prices for different grades of fruit and vegetables into Maximum Prices Orders.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will prohibit the canning of carrots, in view of the plentiful supply and to save labour and material?

The programme of vegetable canning for 1941 to 1942 is at present under review in my Department, and if my hon. Friend will repeat his question at a later date, I hope that I shall be in a position to give a more definite reply than would be possible at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that his farm survey contains a large proportion of questions which have no connection with food production during the war, he can state the object for which it is being made; and, as it will entail a large amount of work for agricultural committees, will he consider postponing the survey until after the war?

The Farm Survey has a two-fold object—to assist in the prosecution of the war and at the same time to collect information for use in the preparation of our post-war agricultural policy. I do not agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that the proportion of questions which have no connection with food production during war time is large but certain questions are intended to relate to long-term considerations. The survey made in a great hurry last year has proved of inestimable value to our food production campaign. It would in any case have been necessary to revise it and bring it up to date this year. I felt that the opportunity it provided for collecting additional information of a more general character should not be missed. I cannot agree to the postponement of the survey until after the war. What I am most anxious to avoid is that we should reach the post-war period of reconstruction without that body of factual information which to-day is non-existent and which in my view, is essential to the formulation of an equitable and stable post-war agricultural policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of officials who will be employed in making his farm survey, and in making extracts and summaries of it?

I regret that I have no precise information about the number of officials who will be engaged on the field work of the survey. This work will be carried out by officers and agents of county war agricultural executive committees, and in many cases will be fitted in with other work. The number of staff engaged in compiling and summarising the information will be about 50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether cloches are included in the official returns of land under glass?

No, Sir. The returns of land under glass obtained by my Department relate only to crops in glasshouses and in frames.

Centre.			Address.	Telephone No.		Manager's Name.
Aintree	…	…	Stopgate Lane, Liverpool 9.	Aintree 1635/6	…	Oakes, H. E.
Birmingham	…	…	Garrison Lane, Birmingham.	Birmingham, Victoria 0030.		Thornton, E. S. (M.B.E.).
Bristol (Radnor Road).			Radnor Road, Horfield, Bristol.	Bristol 44061/2	…	Smeddle, H.
Bristol (Southmead)			Southmead Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol.	Westbury-on-Trym 67023.		Sumner, J. W. (Deputy Manager).
Chester	…	…	43, Foregate Street, Chester.	Chester 3677	…	Forsyth, R.
Croydon	…	…	Commerce Way, Croydon, Surrey.	Croydon 3614	…	Hawkins, H. C.
Edmonton	…	…	Eleys Estate, Angel Road, Edmonton, N.18.	Tottenham 1501	…	Cammack, E. E.
Glasgow (Springburn)			Cowlairs Road, Springburn, Glasgow.	Springburn 5061/2	…	Douglas, R. C.
Glasgow (Thornliebank).			Thornliebank Road, Thornliebank, Glasgow.	Giffnock 0506	…	Murray, T.
Gloucester	…	…	Crypt House, 17; London Road, Gloucester.	Gloucester 4417	…	Cole, C. W.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will transfer to the defence forces those miners who indicate by an unduly high record of absenteeism their incapability for prolonged work at the coal face, and relieve from the defence forces an equal number of former miners who have volunteered to assist the war effort by working normal periods at the coal face?

I regret that I have nothing to add to the statement on this subject recently made by the Minister of Labour and National Service.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is open to Members of Parliament to visit the Government training centres to see the work which is being done in them, and whether he will facilitate such visits?

I should welcome visits of hon. Members at any of the Centres and in particular I hope that every hon. Member in whose constituency there is a training centre will make a point of going to see it. Some account of the work of the training centres is given in the first issue of the "Engineering Bulletin" recently published by my Department, a copy of which I will have placed in the Library. I append a list of the training centres for the convenience of hon. Members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, now that he has appointed a representative of the Export Council to go to the United States of America, he will appoint the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as the Council's representative in South

No, Sir. The work of the Secretary of the Overseas Trade Department is political. The Department already has its representatives in the countries concerned, and the Secretary's business is to guide their activities from headquarters, where alone he can be in touch with the matters which govern our export trade.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that able-bodied miners are being kept out of the mining industry by the operation of a black list, compiled by the Employees Mutual Indemnity Society, which consists of men who may at one time have been in receipt of workmen's compensation; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this situation?

I am aware that difficulties have arisen in regard to the employment of men who are considered a bad risk from the insurance point of view. The question has already received consideration, and I hope that the difficulties will shortly be overcome.

asked the Home Secretary the number of times that the Midland Regional Advisory Council has met during this year?

:Regional councils were formed before the war to assist the Regional Commissioner in his contacts with the principal local authorities in his region. A number of meetings with this object were held before war broke out. Since then Regional Commissioners have held frequent meetings with members and officers of local authorities to discuss regional problems and those meetings have taken the place of the Regional Councils, which are, for the most part, in abeyance. The Midland Regional Council has met once this year for a special purpose and the Regional Commissioner is arranging for members of the council who so desire to meet him periodically.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will supply the figures of interned aliens of enemy origin who have been authorised for release, specifying the categories and also the number of refusals of release?

The following are the figures as on the 21st June:—

AUTHORISATIONS OF RELEASE FROM INTERNMENT.
Category No. 1	283
Category No. 2	508
Category No. 3	4,999
Category No. 4	44
Category No. 5	41
Category No. 6	524
Category No. 7	608
Category No. 8	354
Category No. 9	89
Category No. 10	48
Category No. 11	52
Category No. 12	2,163
Category No. 13	93
Category No. 14	41
Category No. 15	125
Category No. 16	253
Category No. 17	1,878
Category No. 18	904
Category No. 19	241
Category No. 20	106
Category No. 21	141
Category No. 22	813
Category No. 23	343
Other cases	2,243
Total	16,694

Number of individual aliens refused release 7,505.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inquire into the activities of the Constitutional Publishing Company, of 42, Maiden Lane, Strand, who are sending through the post, without request, 20 books of stamps for the Empire Stamp Fund, and requesting payment of £1, 50 per cent. of which is stated to be allocated to the Ministry of Aircraft Production for warplanes, and 50 per cent. to cover the cost of propaganda; and whether he approves of the method adopted and is satisfied of the company's bona fides?

I am having further inquiries made into this matter and would ask my hon. Friend to allow me to defer for the present any fuller reply to this Question.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the hardship caused to large numbers of people/he will consider the possibility of an amendment being made to the Royal Warrant governing the grant of pensions to parents of men killed in action, so as to obviate the necessity of an inquiry into their means?

The Select Committee of 1921 took the view that to justify the grant of a parent's pension the test of need, broadly interpreted, should be satisfied. This principle was incorporated in the 1940 Warrant, the provisions of which were fully considered by my Statutory Advisory Committee. I regret that I am not prepared to waive this requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Messrs. McCallum, Or me and Company, of Glasgow and West Highland Steamers, have charged 3s. for freight on a 5-gallon drum of sheep dip from Glasgow to Lochmaddy, on which the buyer had already been charged 3s. 6d. war risk and marine insurance by the senders as against a pre-war total charge of about 1s. 9d.; and what steps he proposes to take to reduce excessive charges on all such agricultural and fishermen's necessaries carried to the Western Isles?

I have made inquiries into the transaction referred to, and I am informed by the company that there has been a misunderstanding about the freight charge and that they are prepared to make a refund. The freight charge for a half-hundredweight drum of sheep dip was 1s. 10d. before the war, and is now 2s. As for the question of the charge of 3s. 6d. for war risk and marine insurance, I will ask my Noble Friend the Minister of War Transport, in whose province the matter lies, to communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has concerning anti-British propaganda carried on by Japanese agents in Thailand; and what steps have been taken to counteract it?

I am aware that certain Japanese in Thailand have been cir- culating stories calculated to create ill-feeling against this country, but I am satisfied that no credence is attached to them by either the Government or the people of Thailand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much public money has been spent on Press advertising by the Ministry of Home Security, the Ministry of Labour and National Service and the Ministry of Works and Buildings during the past 12 months?

The expenditure during the 12 months ended 31st May, 1941, on Press advertising incurred by or on behalf of the Ministry of Home Security, the Ministry of Labour and National Service and the Ministry of Works and Buildings is as follows: —

	£
Ministry of Home Security	58,800
Ministry of Labour and National Service	56,700
Ministry of Works and Buildings	4,600
Total	120,100

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Purchase Tax of 33⅓per cent. is charged upon substitutes for glass in connection with first-aid repairs in view of the need to encourage the use of such substitutes and thus eliminate the damage from glass; and will he reconsider this, as the additional tax of 33⅓ per cent. on these substitutes makes these materials, in many cases, more expensive than glass?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) on 12th November last.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has now considered the representations made to the Under-Secretary by the Temperance Council of the Christian Churches in favour of the establishment of a national liquor control board; and what decision has been reached?

I have given careful consideration to the representations which were made to me, but I cannot find any sufficient ground for establishing a central control board such as was established during the last war to meet conditions which were very different from those now obtaining.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider some modification of the definition of "gainfully occupied person" so as to include persons who, were it not for permanent incapacity, would have been gainfully occupied within the meaning of the present scheme?

:As I informed the hon. Member on 12th June last, I should not feel justified in recommending any modification of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, 1941, for the further benefit of such persons, or the dependants of such persons, as are not in fact "gainfully occupied" according to the definition laid down under the Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when utilising the experience of all Regular Army Reserve officers, he takes into consideration business qualifications in addition to military training, since the former may be of great value in planning, organising and administering?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan).

asked the Secretary of State for War why warrants issued to men for medical examination for an Army Medical Board, and also those who are actually in the Army when going on leave, are issued to the nearest railhead, and as in the case of rural areas in Wales it has entailed a 10-mile journey each way to the railhead by motor omnibus, whether he will take steps to issue warrants to and from the homes of the soldiers concerned?

Men who are required to report to an Army Medical Board may reclaim the cost of a terminal journey by bus where necessary in addition to receiving free warrants for the railway journey. Soldiers travelling on leave at the public expense may claim a refund of the cost of a journey by bus when the distance from the unit to the entraining station or from the destination station to their home is more than five miles.

asked the Secretary of State for War how Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes canteen prices for suppers compare with those charged by the Young Men's Christian Association?

:It has long been accepted that prices in Young Men's Christian Association and other philanthropic institutes on War Department land should not be less than those charged by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes in the same garrison or camp.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes daily cigarette ration to serving soldiers and whether this varies according to the supplies delivered to different stations?

The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes make an allocation for distribution to unit institutes on the basis of approximately 30 cigarettes a man a week.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when a small tobacconist carries on business near a minor military unit without its own canteen, he will arrange for the quartermaster to indent on the said tobacconist for the supplies he needs rather than bring in the machinery of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to make the distribution?

No, Sir. No difficulty has been experienced in adapting the machinery of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes to meet the needs of small units.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the rates of pay for juveniles employed in depots and establishments under his control; what is the greatest sum that a boy of 16, with overtime, can earn per week for unskilled work; and how frequently is this maximum attained?

The rates of wages of boys employed under the War Department vary according to the locality. They are generally based on percentages of the approved adult rate for the locality, which is agreed with the trades unions concerned. The range of wages of boys employed in War Department establishments which are not of an engineering character is as follows:

Age.	Adult minimum wage of 50s. a week.	Adult minimum wage of 68s.a week.
16	20s.0d	27s. 6d.
16½	22s. 6d.	30s. 6d.
17	25s. 0d.	34s. 0d.
17½	27s. 6d.	37s. 6d.
18	30s. 0d.	41S. 0d.
18½	34s. 0d.	46s. 0d.
19	37s. 6d.	51s. 0d.
19½	41S. 6d.	56s. 0d.
20	45s. 0d. to 50s. 0d.	61s. 0d. to 68s. 0d.

In War Department establishments of an engineering character the range varies from 14s. 6d. a week (14 years of age outside the London area) to 49s. 6d. (20 years of age in the London area). With regard to the last two parts of the Question, information regarding overtime work in outstation establishments is not readily available and could only be obtained by detailed inquiry of the many establishments concerned. If my hon. Friend has any particular establishment in mind, I shall be glad to have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Supply the average value of salvage work in cities of about 270,000 of population; and the value of salvage work in the cities of Stoke-on-Trent, Salford and Sheffield, respectively?

The average value realised in the month of May from sales of salvage materials (excluding material from bombed buildings) in cities with a population of about 270,000 was £2,111. The corresponding monthly figures for the cities mentioned (taken on the average of the last three months) were:

	£
Stoke-on-Trent	1,854
Salford	363
Sheffield	5,156

asked the Minister of Supply the average result in value of salvage work in boroughs of a population of between 40,000 to 50,000 and the result in value, respectively, in the boroughs of Eccles, Stretford, Leigh, Swinton and Pendlebury, and Urmston District Council area?

The average amount realised in the month of May by sales of salvage materials (excluding materials from bombed buildings) in boroughs with a population of between 40,000 and 50,000 was £234. The corresponding monthly figures (on the average of the past three months) for the areas mentioned were:

	£
Eccles	189
Stretford	201
Leigh	170
Swinton and Pendlebury	84
Urmston	188

asked the Minister of Supply whether, to meet the shortage of imported timber, he will arrange for privately-owned standing oak in fields and hedgerows in Sussex to be felled and conditioned to supplement the supply necessary for essential purposes?

:Arrangements have been in force for some time past to ensure, when felling licences are granted, that less accessible timber such as timber in fields and hedgerows is cut as well as timber in more convenient positions.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he can furnish information as to the amount of kitchen waste collected by local authorities during the month of May, 1941, in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Surrey?

The tonnages of kitchen waste food sold during the month of May by those local authorities in the Counties of Lancashire, Surrey and Yorkshire, who are making collections, were:—

	Tons.
Lancashire	1,140
Surrey	502½
Yorkshire	1,322

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has protested to the Japanese Government against the bombing of civilians in the district of Chungking set apart for non-combatants?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the area of Chungking on the south bank of the Yangtse against which the Japanese Government stated last year they would not carry out attacks. During the air attack on Chungking on 15th June at least four bombs fell in this "safety zone" but no information has been received of any casualties. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the indiscriminate bombing of civilian populations in this area and elsewhere is already sufficiently well known to the Japanese Government.