asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are contemplated to secure adequate supplies of rice for the poor classes in the Inter national. Settlement, at prices within their reach; and whether he will represent to the Japanese Government that their policy of buying-up and exporting to Japan all visible supplies of rice, is depriving the working classes in Shanghai of their only means of subsistence?

While this is primarily a matter for the Shanghai Municipal Council to take up with the Japanese authorities direct, I have asked for a report on the present position.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the price has gone up in this district by 700 per cent., and that rice is a necessary commodity to the Chinese?,

Yes, I know that the position is a serious one.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to secure an adequate supply of coal for the power station in Shanghai, upon which the industries of the International Settlement depend, in view of the danger to British interests should coal supplies be insufficient?

There has been some shortage of shipping in Far Eastern waters, which has led to difficulties being experienced by the Shanghai Power Company in maintaining stocks of coal. I understand, however, that the Company has succeeded in chartering a number of neutral vessels and that negotiations are now proceeding in respect of others.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recent recognition of the puppet regime at Nanking by Germany and her Axis associates, he has any statement to make on the relations between His Majesty's Government and the National Government of China at Chungking?

:The development referred to by my hon. Friend will make no difference to the Far Eastern policy of His Majesty's Government, which is based on the recognition of the Government at Chungking as the legitimate National Government of China. On 7th July the Chinese entered on the fifth year of their indomitable resistance, and I am happy to take this opportunity of repeating the assurance I recently gave in this House that His Majesty's Government will continue in the future as in the past to do what they can to help China to maintain her independence.

May I hope that the Foreign Secretary will transmit that message to the Chinese Government with the assurance that it has the warmest support of all parties in the House?

indicated assent.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the venereal diseases clinic at Kings ton, Jamaica, there are different departments for adults of different sexes and also for children; and whether children proved diseased, are sent away for treatment in approved institutions or treated periodically at the clinic with family attendants?

:There are different departments for males and females, but the Governor states that, owing to lack of space and staff, there are not separate departments for children. There are no special facilities in the hospitals for treating children suffering from these diseases, and the great majority of infected children are treated at the clinic as out-patients. The Governor reports that it is not the general rule for a child attending the clinic to be accompanied by an adult member of the family, except on first visit. My Noble Friend does not regard this position as satisfactory, and he is taking up the whole matter with the Governor of Jamaica.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that adequate arrangements are made for the treatment of children suffering from these diseases in the West Indian Islands?

This is one of the matters being taken up at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, how many clinics for the diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases exist in Jamaica; how many full-time medical officers are engaged; what proportion of the population are recorded as seeking available treatment from such clinics in comparison with the estimated number of persons infected in the Colony; whether statistics are avail able for the information of Members as to the number of cases voluntarily submit ting themselves for clinic treatment; and whether any extension of treatment facilities is at present contemplated?

As the answer is a lengthy one and contains figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further information respecting the internment of Wilfrid Domingo, who was taken from a ship on voyage from New York to Kingston; whether any charge has been brought against him; and whether he is considered to have been engaged in subversive activity?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information regarding the arrest and internment, in Jamaica, of Mr. W. A. Domingo, the President of the West Indies National Council; and can he state the grounds on which the arrest and internment have been made?

The Governor of Jamaica has reported that he ordered the detention of Mr. Domingo on 17th June, and that he was taken into custody on his arrival in Jamaica from America. Mr. Domingo has been detained under the Defence Regulations, because the Governor is satisfied that his detention is necessary with a view to preventing him from acting in a manner prejudicial to public safety and defence. Dr. Domingo has, of course, the right to make an objection to his detention to the Advisory Committee appointed by the Governor under the Regulations.

:Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that this man was not engaged in any subversive activity, that the matter has caused considerable resentment in America and elsewhere, and that until the man is released there will continue to be, in the West Indies and elsewhere, this feeling against the authorities?

Is it not better to trust the man on the spot, the Governor?

Will my hon. Friend give the closest attention to this detention, in view of the integrity of this person and of the excellent work he has done in the United States and of the fact that there is no ground whatever for any suggestion of disloyalty?

Before this person is indefinitely interned, should he not be brought to trial?

:In reply to the three supplementary questions, the information received at the Colonial Office is that this man was engaged in anti-British activities. He has the right to make an objection against his detention, and that, I think, is the proper course for him to take.

Arising out of that—

rose—

:But this is a very important matter.

:Most questions are considered important, but it is a mistaken idea that supplementary questions may be unlimited.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Director of Education in Jamaica is taking an active part in encouraging hostility to the new constitution; whether steps will be taken to prevent any civil servant displaying such partiality; whether he has received any amending proposals from the People's National Party; and whether progress is being made in the public consideration of the proposed constitutional changes?

I have no information on the first part of the Question and shall be glad if my hon. Friend will let me know on what he bases his allegation. My Noble Friend is asking the Governor of Jamaica for a report on the last two parts of the Question, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend on receipt of his reply.

Would it be in order for a Director of Education, or some other civil servant in a similar position, to take an active part, one way or the other, in connection with the proposals of the new constitution?

I should say, no. I am awaiting with interest any information which my hon. Friend can send me to bear out the allegations which are made.

Is it not a fact that under the present system in the West Indies officials must take part in politics and make statements? Would it not be wise to change the form of Government there?

asked the Minister of Information why the post of Director at the British Information Office at Istanbul has been left vacant since November; and will he take steps to fill this post without further delay?

This matter is still engaging the attention of the Ministry, but a suitable candidate for the post has not yet been found.

Is the Minister aware that that answer is most unconvincing and quite unsatisfactory? Does not he attach any importance to propaganda in Turkey, and, if so, is it not inexcusable to keep a position like this vacant since last November?

The headquarters of propaganda are at Ankara, the capital. Sir Denison Ross performed extremely useful work in Istanbul, but the House will appreciate that it is very difficult to find a man possessing the very exceptional qualities of Sir Denison Ross.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give his personal attention to the matter and see that an appointment is made?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I think it is better not to make an appointment until later on rather than to make a wrong one,

asked the Minister of Information, whether he will publish and have circularised in this country, the United States of America and America, and, as far as possible, through the occupied countries, and in Germany and Italy a document giving instances of, and quotations from, German and Italian ecclesiastics, writers, artists and scientists, politicians, trade unionists, statesmen and others who are known to be hostile to Nazi and Fascist policy and practice, indicating therein those who are exiles in this or other lands, those who have died or been killed during the Nazi and Fascist regimes and those who are probably in internment camps, or imprisoned, or are still at liberty?

:All possible steps are continually taken to give the widest publicity to statements of the kind referred to in the Question.

Does not the Minister believe that a document such as I have described in my Question, if issued, would not only serve the democratic cause adequately, but would also be of some assistance to anti-Hitler Germany and to the anti-Mussolini cause?

Yes, Sir, but the document described in the Question would be very bulky, and probably it is better to send out small pamphlets containing some information rather than one compendium of the whole.

Could not some selection be made?

asked the Minister of Information, whether he is aware that at the censorship headquarters in Belfast there is no provision made for supplying meals to the staff, many of whom have to travel long distances, and there is no place in the immediate vicinity where food can be obtained; and whether he will make arrangements, at the earliest possible moment, to have a canteen opened for providing suitable meals for those engaged in the work of censorship?

:A report strongly recommending the establishment of a canteen was received from the Officer in Charge at Belfast a few days ago, and the matter is receiving immediate consideration.

asked the Minister of Information by whose authority there is omitted from the National Anthems of allied and associated Powers, the playing of which precedes the nine o'clock news each Sunday, the National Anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

Only the National Anthems of those nations which are actually allied to Great Britain are played at present.

Would the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the heroic assistance Russia is now affording to the common cause, explain to the House what further the Russian people may be expected to do before they become entitled to the same courtesies as, shall we say, Czechoslovakia?

I explained in the answer to the Question that it is the rule which hitherto has been observed that only those National Anthems should be played of the countries which are actually allied by treaty.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman consider the abolition of so absurd a rule?

Would the Minister define the term "Allies"?

Is it possible for the Government to make a free issue of vodka to all teetotallers and see that they drink it?

:Could not the Minister arrange to have the National Anthem of the Soviet Union sung or played in this House?

:In view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in every mining district over the conditions applying to the payment of the attendance bonus of is. per day; that the good will and co-operation necessary in the industry are being retarded through this; and will he consider getting the Essential Work Order rules applied to the payment of the is. a day as this would help to remove the difficulty now obtaining?

I am aware that a number of questions have arisen, and in my opinion the best method of dealing with them is by discussion between the two sides in the industry. In regard to my hon. Friend's suggestion, I would point out that both the guaranteed weekly wage under the Essential Work Order and the shilling a shift additional pay were intended by the Government to encourage attendance at work and were made conditional upon the avoidance of unnecessary absenteeism.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the feeling prevailing with regard to the attendance bonus of is. per day, that if a man loses on? day the bonus for the whole of the preceding days is lost; and that, if he wants to develop the work in the mines, he should try to remove that feeling, when the problem would probably be settled?

We are suggesting that the good will of both sides should be secured by meetings of both sides, and yesterday meetings took place, though I do not know what definite results were obtained. I am hoping that the two sides will hammer out an agreement.

Will the Minister try to get them together?

Yes, Sir, I have asked them to get together. We want them to meet everywhere and solve these problems.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure which suggests that the increased price of 10d. per ton on coal should be met by the Government, as the present method of applying it will lead to higher production costs in basic industries; and what he intends to do in this matter?

My right hon. Friend has considered this matter, but he does not feel that a subsidy is necessary in this particular case. In this connection I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend on 19th June and to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Sir R. Blair) two days previously.

Will consideration be given to any further increases in the price of coal and to the question of subsidies, to stop these fluctuations, which only lead to upsetting the whole thing?

I could not answer a hypothetical question like that.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a stock of canned beef, which had been damaged, and which was lying at a place of which he has been informed, was sent to Messrs. Poulton and Noel under an order from the London Wholesale Meat Supply Association and marked Priority; how this Association operates outside its own district; and on whose order the canned beef in question was sent to the firm mentioned?

:I am aware that a parcel of canned beef was sent to Messrs. Poulton and Noel for immediate use for manufacturing purposes. This course was taken by the Ministry itself and not by the London Wholesale Meat Supply Association.

Is such salvage meat supplemental to the basic allowance that this manufacturing firm gets, or is it taken into consideration in the allocation of meat made available to them for manufacture?

I would like to make sure before answering that question, but in this particular instance it was a question of dealing with this meat immediately, otherwise we would have lost it altogether. As a matter of fact this firm rendered a service in taking it when they did.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the control price of certain fish, plaice and flat fish, will be 6d. per pound more in some districts than before the control; and what steps he is taking to remedy this grievance?

The prices prescribed for fish are maximum and not fixed prices. Their effect is to reduce substantially the cost of fish to consumers generally, and there is no reason why fish should not be sold anywhere at lower prices if local conditions are such as to make this possible.

Why was it considered necessary to fix the price of certain fish at the maximum price prevailing prior to the control?

That is not gene-rally so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give an assurance that the distribution of tomatoes is now working satisfactorily?

No, Sir. The Tomato (Maximum Prices) Order was carefully designed by means of a system of differential prices to secure even distribution, but supplies are at present insufficient to meet the demand which has increased greatly since price control came into force. The position is improving daily, and further measures are now under consideration. There are, however, bound to be difficulties until supplies more nearly balance demand.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the unequal distribution throughout the country, that in some towns there are only moderate supplies while in other towns and districts there are none at all? Has his Department any plan whatever to deal with this matter?

Yes, Sir. If the hon. Gentleman will look at my answer, he will see that I made it clear that we are not satisfied with distribution. I am sure he will forgive me for saying so, but it is not always as easy as some people think. The fact is that the whole of our outside supplies have been cut off, and I believe this country is producing more tomatoes this year than ever before in its history. We are doing our best to distribute them throughout the country. It is hardly the fault of the Ministry if the season is some weeks late, but we are aware of the unequal distribution in some parts of the country, and steps are being taken to try and avoid it.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary come to Covent Garden Market with me and see that tomatoes are properly distributed?

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that a great many shops sell tomatoes only on the promise that the buyer will take other things as well?

That, of course, is a punishable offence if brought to our notice, but unfortunately we do not get these things brought to our notice. If people would be good enough to take action themselves, it would be of great assistance to the Ministry from the point of view of a prosecution.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that insufficient allowance appears to have been made for the migration of population and that there are abundant supplies in migration areas and a shortage in the reception areas?

That is not really so. A cross-section survey taken the other day showed that over 65 per cent. of retailers had tomatoes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food with what object the Ministry asked tomato growers in Worthing and other places not to consign tomatoes direct to Leeds but via the London market; whether he is aware that the consequent destruction of an old-establshed direct trade has unnecessarily aggravated the shortage in Leeds; that obtaining tomatoes via the London market converts a primary into a secondary wholesaler and prevents him from continuing to offer supplies to secondary wholesalers in neighbouring districts; and whether he will cease from destroying legitimate and useful processes of trade, thereby causing supplies which would otherwise have been accessible to the Leeds area to be artificially reduced?

:No such request, as is implied in the first part of the Question, has been made to growers by my Department. The latter part of the Question therefore does not arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food by what method were area controllers of National Vegetable Marketing, Limited, appointed; and whether in each case the controller was nominated by the organised trade?

:The area controllers so far appointed by the National Vegetable Marketing Company were appointed by the Board of Directors as being, in their view, the individuals best qualified for the particular posts. The answer to the last part of the Question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his Department has now worked out a system of registration for all billeted personnel; and whether he can make a statement on the subject?

:I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the billeting of Navy, Army and Air Force personnel. This matter has been under discussion with representatives of the Services Departments, who have agreed a scheme for the registration of billeted personnel. Arrangements are being made to bring the scheme into operation as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are being taken to prevent the avoidance of price control over poultry for food by selling the poultry alive?

:The prescribed maximum prices for poultry for food apply equally to live poultry sold for this purpose and to dead poultry. The sale or purchase of poultry for the purpose of breeding, laying or retaining is not subject to the provisions of the Poultry (Maximum Prices) Order, 1941, provided that the purchaser makes a written declaration to the seller that the purchase is for one or other of these purposes. In some instances false declarations are given and in the event of adequate evidence being available prosecution would be initiated. Other means of preventing evasion of this provision of the Order are under active examination.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that each Maximum Price Control Order in the fruit and vegetable trade creates a new black market; that the operators of the black market, by direct purchasing from the growers, rely upon cash transactions avoiding all proper records or book entries; and what steps he is taking to exterminate this form of trading?

:I am aware that evasions of the types mentioned occur when new Maximum Price Orders are made. The enforcement staff of the Ministry which has been and will be further strengthened is taking all possible steps to deal with such offences, but it is obviously undesirable to indicate what are the particular steps which are being taken.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that last week a small retailer who has only one stall and two costers' barrows by-passed the market and was able to buy 30 tons of new potatoes, whereas the Co-operative Wholesale Society in Spitalfields Market was able to obtain only 13½tons of new potatoes for over 1,000,000 of their customers for one week? What action is he proposing to take?

If the hon. Gentleman would be good enough to let me have those particulars, it would be helpful towards taking some action.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any persons operating the fruit and vegetable black market have been prosecuted; and how many convictions have been obtained?

:Since the outbreak of war up to the end of May, 1941, there have been 1,893 prosecutions for offences against the various Orders relating to fruit and vegetables, and 1,844 cases have resulted in conviction. It is not possible to say how many of these cases fell within the decription "black market."

Have they not been associated with the wholesale market or with growers, as indicated on the Control of Prices Order, and is the policy in selecting inspectors that of the three wise monkeys, who see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that half a slice of bread a day saved by every man, woman and child, would provide in the course of a year shipping space for sufficient steel to make 10,000 25-ton tanks; and whether he will therefore take more active steps to encourage the use of the national loaf, which is more nourishing and more satisfying than white bread?

Steps have already been taken to advertise national wheatmeal bread in the daily Press, and, with the co-operation of the baking trade, a special National Wheatmeal Week will be held in London during the week beginning 21st July. Further steps to draw the attention of the public to the importance of increasing the consumption of national wheatmeal bread are under consideration.

While I thank my hon. and gallant Friend for that information, would he be so good as to check the returns he receives in his own bread department as to the availability of this loaf?

I will certainly do that, although, of course, we do get information constantly on the situation with regard to this loaf. The practice is that where people want the loaf and cannot get it, if they apply to us, we do our best to see that they do get it.

Would my hon. and gallant Friend ask the medical profession throughout the country to help in this matter, because they would be glad to do so?

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is a good deal of misunderstanding as to what actually is the national loaf? People know about brown bread and white bread but do not know about this national bread.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the average wastage per pig between the killing centre and the bacon factory; and what percentage of wastage is the Is. 6d. designed to cover?

:Bacon pigs are killed at the bacon factory. The first part of my hon. Friend's Question, therefore, does not arise. The amount of Is. 6d. referred to in the second part of my hon. Friend's Question is taken, presumably, from the scale of allowances ranging from 6d. to 4s. per pig according to the distance from collecting centre to place of slaughter, made in respect of shrinkage attributable to the varying distances involved. These allowances adopted by the Ministry are on a similar basis to, but at somewhat higher rates than those in the scales determined by the Bacon Development Board before the war.

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that experts are of the opinion that the amount of wastage between the collecting centre and the killing centre should be about 2 per cent., whereas it is in fact between 5 per cent. and 6 per cent.? Who reaps the benefit; and will he make sure that it is not the bacon curer?

:There is little difference between the present procedure and that laid down before the war. The bacon pig is killed at the bacon factory, and obviously if it has to travel large distances, it suffers a loss of weight according to the weight and type of pig, the duration of the journey, and so on.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend make further inquiries?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether approval can now be given to the proposals put up by the Borough of Cheltenham for the erection of a dining hall for a British restaurant on the Whaddon housing estate, as further delay will add to the cost of building and equipment, and there is great need for a British restaurant in the district?