asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he realises the loss suffered by novices in poultry keeping caused by dealers who, chiefly in markets, are selling day-old chicks, a good percentage of which are almost in a dying condition through neglect; and will he take steps to stop this very unsatisfactory state of affairs?

Yes, Sir. This was one of the main reasons for setting up the Domestic Poultry Keepers' Council last September. They have advised poultry keepers to get their stock from actual breeders: this advice is being widely circulated through the area organisation of the council. I shall be glad to be notified of any specific cases of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend, so that I may use the powers I possess to deal with them under the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1935

asked the Minister of Agriculture (I) how many acres of agricultural land have been taken over by Defence Departments since June, 1940, up to date; and how many of these acres were ploughed up or under crops when taken over;(2)how many acres of agricultural land have been taken over by the Ministry of Supply since June, 1940, up to date; and how many of these acres were ploughed up or under crops when taken over?

The information asked for, so far as it is readily available, is being collected and tabulated, and I will communicate in due course with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement as to the utility of the Doon Star variety of seed in potato culture; and whether his Department recommends its use?

Until this year the variety Doon Star gave high yields of good ware potatoes. During the present season the seed has shown high susceptibility to dry rot and there have been many crop failures.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings how many hutted camps for agricultural workers it is proposed to erect; what will be the average cost per head; and whether the contract has been put out to competitive tender?

The Minister of Agriculture has asked my Department to build in England and Wales some 280 hostels for about 12,000 agricultural workers. The average cost is expected to be £ 130 per head exclusive of cost of sites which at present are held upon requisition only. Furnishing is estimated to cost an additional £ 15 per head. Competitive tenders are being obtained in all cases.

asked the Home Secretary what is the qualifying service period that a Police War Reserve must serve to entitle him to annual leave; and whether sickness during any period of the qualifying time acts as a disqualification for any or the whole of the leave?

A member of the Police War Reserve is entitled, subject to the exigencies of duty, to annual leave at the rate of one day for each complete month of continuous service, up to a maximum of twelve days in each complete calendar year. Periods of sick leave arc included in the continuous service for this purpose.

asked the Home Secretary whether the masks now being offered for sale and described as fire-masks have passed any official test which would entitle them to be regarded as safe for the general public?

No, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inquire into the circumstances attending the issue of a warrant for the arrest of Leonard F. Wise, 3, Hampton Road, Forest Gate, E.7, for failing to join His Majesty's forces; whether he will instruct the police to express regrets to the parents of this man for the inconvenience and sorrow caused by the visit for the execution of the warrant inasmuch as the man has been detained, under Defence Regulation 18b, I(a), in the Isle of Man since 30th July, 1940; and whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that repetition of this procedure will not occur?

On the information given, no record of this incident can be traced. If my hon. Friend can furnish further particulars including the date of the visit, further inquiries will be made.

asked the Minister of Health the maximum period for which a billeting allowance is paid when people have had their home destroyed by enemy action and are unable to obtain alternative housing accommodation?

There is no maximum period for which a billeting allowance may be paid when people have had their home destroyed by enemy action. The payment of billeting allowances in respect of homeless people is intended normally to be a temporary measure, operating only until they are able to return home, or to obtain accommodation on their own, or to make their own financial arrangements with their hosts. They are now normally issued for an initial period of two weeks but this period is extended where, having regard to the difficulty in obtaining accommodation in the neighbourhood or for any other reason, the effect of the withdrawal of the billeting notice would be that the person billeted would be evicted or charged more than he could afford.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to make any statement in regard to equal compensation for war injury to men and women?

I have nothing to add to the very full statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions in the Debate which took place on 1st May last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the addition of 25 per cent, to the wages paid by the Regional Port Director under the Merseyside Docks Scheme has the effect of artificially increasing prices of imported goods and is in conflict with the principle laid down in the Budget; and whether he is now prepared to meet any cost involved in this scheme by way of a subsidy to avoid inflation?

The addition to which my hon. Friend refers is not an increase of wages, but a charge payable by employers in respect of the cost of administration of the dock labour scheme, which was introduced before the Budget with a view to increasing efficiency. I could not accept the suggestion that the scheme has led to an increase in the cost of imported goods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of private individuals who have sc far received cost of works payments under the War Damage Act; and the aggregate amount paid to them up to the latest date for which the figures are available?

The total number of individual temporary works and cost of works claims paid up to the 4th July, 1941, was 6,374, the aggregate amount involved being £102,661. These figures show that in the few weeks which have elapsed since the regional offices were opened, the Commission have made a definite start in paying claims under the Act. I fear that for reasons of public security I may not be able to give this kind of information in the future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, under Section 5 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1936, old age pensioners who have removed for safety to the Isle of Man are unable to draw their pensions in the Isle of Man; and will he bring in amending legislation forthwith?

I am aware that Section 5 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1936, provides that a sum shall not be paid on account of an old age pension to any person unless that person is in Great Britain: I am afraid that I am unable to hold out any hope of immediate amending legislation.

asked the Minister of Health what decisions have been arrived at by the local advisory committee on the question of high and low rents in connection with the Supplementary Pensions Regulations for the county of Monmouth?

I am asking the Assistance Board for the desired information and will send it to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that outfitters are refusing to supply members of the Home Guard with uniform except on surrendering the full number of coupons; and, as this is increasing the difficulty of obtaining officers for the Home Guard, will he give instructions that battle-dress, at any rate, is to be supplied free of coupons?

An issue of uniforms, including battle-dress, is made to officers and members of the Home Guard by the military authorities. There is, therefore, no occasion for the grant of the special facilities suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. The question of any special needs forms part of the general discussions now taking place with the War Office on the whole subject of clothing rationing as applied to the Army.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the present rationing of materials is hindering the work of occupational therapy in mental hospitals; and if he can take steps to secure a relaxation of the rationing regulations in these special cases?

I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in this matter.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will take steps to inform the public of this and other countries, by the immediate publication in the Press and otherwise, of a graphic recital portraying the achievements during recent weeks of the Royal Air Force?

The second phase of the air battles in western Europe is still developing and my right hon. Friend does not consider the present moment opportune for the publication of any narrative on the lines of the "Battle of Britain." Such a narrative might be valuable at some later date. Meanwhile the public at home and abroad are given, in news bulletins and feature articles, full information regarding the exploits of the R.A.F.

Adams asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the arrest and internment of Mr. W. A. Domingo, of the West Indies' National Council of New York, upon his arrival in Jamaica, per steamship "Veragua," on 23rd June, without the formality of any charge or opportunity to confer with his lawyers; and whether, pending a full investigation, he will instruct the Governor to release, or to charge, the accused?

I would invite my hon. Friend's attention to the reply which I gave on 9th July to the Questions on this subject by the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) and the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen).

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the re-establishment now taking place in London of amusement saloons, where automatic machines, and other mechanical devices, are displayed for extracting money from frequenters; and whether he proposes to place a check upon the extension of this kind of wasteful expenditure in war-time?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that since the outbreak of war many of these establishments have been closed though recently there has been a tendency for them to re-open. Action is taken by the police in respect of breaches of the law when the element of betting or gaming is more than trivial.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons appointed from the Central Register to positions in Government Departments during this year to date?

The number of persons on the Central Register notified between 1st January and 30th June, 1941, as having been appointed to posts in Government Departments is 4,065.

asked the Minister of Labour on what dates Mr. William E. Rootes and Mr. Oliver Lucas were enrolled on the Central Register?

Mr. W. E. Rootes is not enrolled on the Central Register. Mr. O. Lucas enrolled in July, 1940.

asked the Minister of Pensions why a pension of 7s. 6d. per week, granted to Mrs. Walker, of 134, High Street East, Saltney, Flintshire, from 20th February, 1941, to 28th May, 1941, has not been paid; and what were the circumstances which actuated the Ministry in stopping such pension?

The award originally made to Mrs. Walker on account of her stepson's death had to be cancelled because of an immediate report of a material change in her circumstances. As it was found that this did not take effect until 29th May, pension was payable up to the 28th, and the amount thus due was paid on 24th June.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is an urgent demand to complete the Church village hospital; that priority was agreed by his Department more than six months ago; that the progress of supply is most unsatisfactory; and will he take immediate action, as many thousands of pounds are being wasted and the need is pressing?

I am well aware of the importance of the completion of this hospital. I have secured all necessary priorities for the scheme, but it is held up by shortage of special labour in particular trades. I am assured that every- thing possible is being done by the Ministry of Labour and National" Service to alleviate this and to enable the work to go ahead more speedily.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that mechanics and artisans working on shift duties are able to obtain workmen's tickets after the normal time for the issue of such tickets but that hospital workers are unable to obtain this privilege; and can he take steps to secure this advantage for men and women employed at hospitals?

To require workmen's tickets to be issued outside the normal hours to persons other than artisans, mechanics and labourers would make these tickets available to large numbers of persons for whom they were never intended and it would then be difficult, to justify the continuance of the low fares which now apply.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the financial support to be given by his Department to the cadet force?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, the position of the cadet force has been carefully reviewed in the light of war conditions and it has been decided to make certain changes in the present organisation of the force and the arrangements for financial assistance. As these changes involve a certain amount of detail. I append a full statement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give a list of the towns in which national restaurants, in one form or another, have been established; and the total number of such restaurants now open?

I will, with permission, place in the Library of the House copies of a statement giving this information, for the convenience of Members.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the value attached by his Department to the continuance of horse-racing for the next six months, having regard to the fact that the export of bloodstock rarely exceeds £300,000 in an exceptionally good year?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my speech in the Debate on the Adjournment on 2nd July, in the course of which I gave the estimated value of bloodstock exports. The value of bloodstock depends on the test of actual racing, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that it is not feasible to make a precise estimate of the loss that would be involved if no more races were run during the current season.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total number of proposals for new senior non-provided schools or enlargements of such schools sanctioned by the Board under the provisions of the Education Act, 1936, for building grants, specifying how many were in respect of Church of England, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Methodist and other schools during each of the last three years?

The following is the information desired: —Proposals under the Education Act, 1936, for new senior non-provided schools, enlargements or adaptations, for which final plans have been approved.

	1938.	1939.	1940&1941.
Church of England	7	35	—
Roman Catholic	4	24	—
Jewish	—	—	—
Methodist	—	1	—
Undenominational (Quaker)	1	—	—
	12	60	—

Of these 72 proposals only 37 have materialised, as the war made the completion of the remainder within the time limits prescribed by the Act, or the raising of the necessary funds by the promoters, impossible.