asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to complaints by local price regulation committees that delays are taking place before prosecutions can be instituted in Scotland under the Goods and Services (Price Control) Act; whether amending legislation can be introduced to simplify the present procedure, by which the local committee has to recommend a prosecution, the Central Price Regulation Committee to approve, the Board of Trade tore-approve the recommendation, the latter Department to communicate with the Lord Advocate who, if the prosecution is approved, instructs the procurator fiscal concerned in the committee's district, who then makes inquiries, if necessary, to supplement the local committee's investigation, and to permit the local committee to communicate direct with the procurator fiscal, who could then report to the Lord Advocate's Department, with whom the final decision would rest?

Yes, Sir. It is necessary, in order to secure uniformity of administration, that all cases in which local price regulation committees recommend prosecution shall continue to be referred to the Central Price Regulation Committee. I intend, however, that, in future, Scottish cases in which the Central Committee agree that a prosecution should be instituted should be referred back directly to the chairman of the local price regulation committee in question and I propose to authorise him to request the Lord Advocate on behalf of the Board of Trade to institute proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals in Scotland can be guaranteed as fit for classification in regard to organised fracture treatment, as recommended by the Delevingne Committee, in Grade I; whether there has been any improvement in Scotland since the issue of the report; and how much disability amongst injured persons is still being unnecessarily caused by lack of organised fracture treatment?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his previous Question of 8th July on this subject. Since the Committee reported a few general hospitals have developed their fracture treatment on the lines recommended by the Committee and the six new orthopaedic units to which I referred in my previous reply provide complete facilities for the treatment of fractures for all patients admitted under the emergency hospital scheme. I regret that no precise figures are available in regard to other patients.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that great anxiety exists among women regarding the proposal to refuse the sale of khaki wool for knitting for soldiers' comforts without coupons; that it is not only organised groups of knitters who are deeply concerned but also individuals who have hitherto purchased wool to knit comforts for husbands and sons serving in the Army; that in the small Perthshire burgh of Blairgowrie 177 persons signed in one day a protest; and will he permit the sale of service wools coupon free to existing organisations devoted to knitting for service men and taking a general interest in their welfare?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to-day in reply to similar Questions on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a statement with reference to the results obtained in the concentration of industry and how far compulsion has been or will be applied; and whether firms in industries which are not as yet specified are invited to bring forward voluntary proposals of their own?

The invitation to conclude agreements for concentration contained in the White Paper of March last has evoked a very satisfactory response Altogether nearly 110,000 workers have been released or are being made available for release under arrangements now in hand in the industries concerned. About 16,500,000 square feet of factory space has been placed at the disposal of the Controller-General of Factory and Storage Premises, a considerable proportion of which will be immediately available for war production or storage dispersal purposes. The period allowed for the submission of voluntary schemes on the basis prescribed in the White Paper has now come to an end. In a number of the lesser industries the results aimed at have been substantially achieved, and gratifying progress has been made in large sections of the more important industries affected by the Limitation of Supplies Orders or by the rationing of raw materials. The Board of Trade are, in conjunction with other interested Departments, now hastening the completion of these measures by themselves nominating nucleus firms. Regard is being had to the part which the firms are desired to play in supplying goods for Government orders, export and home civilian trade, and also to the demands in particular localities for factory space and labour. With regard to the second part of the Question, the application of this policy of concentration to other industries than those that were originally specified must depend to an important extent on whether the industry is one in which there is substantial surplus capacity, and in which concentration would release a substantial amount of labour or factory space useful for war purposes.

asked the Secretary of State of War what is the present position with regard to British prisoners of war in occupied and unoccupied France, in other French territory and in Italy; and whether the conditions are satisfactory and the Red Cross machinery for the distribution of parcels, etc., is functioning effectively?

According to my latest information, there are now no British prisoners of war in occupied France. All British military personnel in unoccupied France are now detained at a single camp, and a recent report by the Protecting Power indicates that the conditions there are satisfactory. Parcels are being despatched to this camp by the British Red Cross Society. The number of British military personnel detained in Algeria, Tunisia and French West Africa is believed to be small. Parcels of invalid comforts have been despatched by the British Red Cross Society for British personnel in hospital in Tunisia, and arrangements have been made to set up a Red Cross Committee in Gambia for men detained in French West Africa. The reports received from the Protecting Power and the International Red Cross Committee indicate that the treatment accorded to British prisoners of war in Italy is satisfactory. Arrangements have been made by the British Red Cross Society for a regular supply of parcels.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the difficulty that many soldiers find in paying the minimum charges demanded at certain cinemas, he will approach the cinematograph trade with a view to securing an alteration in the terms of the contract under which films leased to the War Department may not be shown within three miles of any cinema?

The contracts under which the War Office hire films from the trade provide that they should not be shown within two miles of a public cinema and not three miles as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests. I have no reason to think that the minimum charges demanded by cinemas are in general beyond the means of soldiers, and I am not satisfied that I should be justified in approaching, the trade to alter the existing agreement. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind any particular case of difficulty, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men who have been released from service on compassionate grounds since the outbreak of war?

I regret that the figures are not immediately available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of labour

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for further information to be given to officers, non-commissioned officers and men concerning the welfare organisations and, in particular, the service available for advice and guidance in domestic difficulties and family troubles?

A pamphlet giving full details of the welfare organisation and advice regarding all aspects of the soldier's well-being is about to be issued to every officer. Non-commissioned officers and men are encouraged to approach their officers in all cases of difficulty, and in cases where the officer is unable to help personally he is able to call upon the assistance of the local welfare officer who in turn has expert advice at his disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will publish a White Paper giving information of the work being carried on by the welfare organisation of the Army?

While I should always be prepared to meet the wishes of the House in making available information regarding the work of the Army welfare organisation, I am not aware of any general demand for the publication of a White Paper on this subject. If there is any particular aspect of that work on which my hon. Friend desires further information, I shall be glad to let him have it.

asked the Secretary of State for War what remedy is open to a man who, after 12 months' service in the Home Guard, is discharged without reason given, and whose written request to his battalion commander for an explanation is ignored?

Any member of the Home Guard who thinks himself wronged has a right under the Army Act to complain to his company and battalion commander, and, if necessary, to the military area commander. If my hon. Friend knows of any case in which a member of the Home Guard appears to have been denied the means of making his complaint and will let me have particulars, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a private or non-commissioned officer in the Home Guard is entitled to write to his Member of Parliament without the risk of being reprimanded by his commanding officer, who obtains knowledge of his communication through War Office inquiry on representations by his Member of Parliament; whether he has considered a striking example of such action in the Western Command; and what action does he propose to take?

Sir." As regards the last two parts of the Question, I am informed that the Home Guard liaison officer in the Western Command has interviewed the member of the Home Guard concerned, and the latter agrees that there was no question of reprimanding him for writing to his Member of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take immediate steps to form all young men in Northern Ireland who are well affected to the State into a corps of yeomanry under skilled leadership to assist the military in case of invasion, as, owing to their knowledge of the country such a corps would be of inestimable value in retarding and overcoming the enemy.

No, Sir. I am satisfied that sufficient opportunities already exist for young men in Northern Ireland, who wish to serve their country in a military capacity. Apart from full-time service in the various branches of His Majesty's Forces, those in reserved occupations may join the Ulster Home Guard, where their knowledge of the country will be at the disposal of the Army Command in the event of invasion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the interests of British owners of American securities surrendered to the Government against losses; and whether he is aware that losses have already been sustained as a result of selling on a rising market?

Under the Defence (Finance) Regulations American securities are acquired outright from their owners, who are paid the sterling equivalent of the market price on the date of acquisition. Any profits or loss on subsequent resale is for account of the Treasury and the original owner is not affected thereby.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider, in assessments for Income Tax on farms, permitting valuations of livestock which do not take into consideration the fluctuations of the market, thereby securing that profits thus assessed will be real and not paper profits?

It is permissible for farmers in valuing their livestock for the purpose of computing their farming profits for assessment under Case I of Schedule D to adopt the normal commercial practice of valuing trading stock at cost or market value whichever is the lower. This practice ensures that tax is not assessed on any unrealised profit which might be shown by a comparison of the market value of the stock on hand with the cost of its production.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of revenue collected from the operations of the Purchase Tax during the first three months of the present financial year?

Arrangements have been made for Purchase Tax to be payable to the Crown quarterly in arrear, with a month's grace to allow for the preparation of the return of tax payable. The payment covering the three months ended 30th June will have been made by the 31st of this month, and if my hon. Friend will repeat the question after that date I will let him know the figures.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies why it is that only £400,000, out of a total of £5,000,000, allocated for this purpose under the Colonial Development Act has, in fact, been voted for schemes to be carried out during the year 1941–42?

At the time when this estimate was framed, it was expected that, owing to war conditions, it would not be possible to spend more than the amount mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend on new schemes under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act during the current financial year. But it was always the intention that if we found ourselves able, as indeed I now hope will be the case, to make ' grants involving expenditure during the year in excess of that amount, Parliament would be asked to make the necessary financial provision on a Supplementary Estimate.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs, whether the gratitude of the British Government has been expressed to the people of Newfoundland for their generous gifts to the British war effort; and whether consideration can be given to the suggestion that the Dominion should now conserve her financial surpluses and develop her financial and economic resources with a view to meeting any possible future depression and the cost of a sound programme of social and economic development?

The Newfoundland Government in their recent Budget have made provision for a gift of 500,000 dollars for the purchase of aircraft and propose to devote the sum of 2,300,000 dollars from the Budget surpluses of the last and the present financial year towards interest-free loans to His Majesty's Government. The Secretary of State has informed the Newfoundland Government, in a message which the Governor has been asked to publish locally, that His Majesty's Government congratulate Newfoundland on the striking achievement reflected in the Budget figures and deeply appreciate their generous financial help. They regard these valuable and highly welcome contributions to our financial resources as a further proof of the loyal determination of the people of Newfoundland to assist to the utmost in the struggle for freedom against tyranny in which the whole Empire is engaged. As regards the second part of the Question, the loans which the Newfoundland Government are making to His Majesty's Government will be repayable at short notice and will therefore constitute a reserve available when required for the purposes mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what appointments have been made in Wales in connection with post-war reconstruction surveys; who has been appointed; what are their salaries; and upon whose recommendation these persons were selected?

I understand that the following appointments have been made in Wales by the Nuffield College Social Reconstruction Survey: —Chief Local Investigator: Principal, J. F. Rees, University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, Cardiff. Assistant Investigators: Mr, L. N. Hopper, Assistant Secretary of the National Industrial Development Council of South Wales and Monmouthshire, and Mr. Peter Scott. In addition to the above Professors T. H. Robinson and Olive Wheeler of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire have been asked to prepare reports on particular topics. No person working for the Nuffield Survey in this area receives any remuneration for his services. All are employed on the recommendation of Principal J. F. Rees.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether steps are being taken to establish egg-packing stations in the counties of Orkney and Shetland; and whether he is prepared to exempt these counties from control until such time as packing stations shall have been established?

The Ministry of Food's area egg officer for Scotland is investigating the situation in Orkney and Shetland on the spot. The whole of the counties of Orkney and Shetland will be exempted for the present from the Egg Control Scheme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has yet taken suitable steps to stimulate greater use of West African cocoa as a beverage and in lieu of foreign-grown coffee, and in order to help the West African growers; and, to that end, will he, if necessary, mix Dominion-produced dried milk powder with the cocoa powder for consumption as a prepared-compound food?

I can assure my hon. Friend that cocoa from West Africa is being brought to this country to the full limit of the shipping position. The Ministry is endeavouring to draw the attention of the public to the value of cocoa as a beverage. As regards my hon. Friend's suggestion in the last part of his Question, the supplies of dried milk which are being received from the Dominions are intended primarily to meet the anticipated shortage of milk in this country during the coming winter. They are not available for such manufacturing purposes as my hon. Friend has in view.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will reconsider the price of new potatoes, in view of the short crop due to dry weather, or whether he will postpone the present Order for a further three weeks?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will reconsider the present prices offered for new potatoes, having regard to the smallness of the crop?

This matter has already been very carefully considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in cases where people have not received their May/June jam rations owing to the inability of the retailer yet to supply them he will allow all jam rations due up to the end of June to be sold without the additional amount per pound just imposed?

No, Sir. To judge by the number of complaints received, cases in which retailers have not yet been able to supply all their customers with their jam rations for May and June must be very few indeed, and the increase in price to the consumer under the new Order is too insignificant to justify the administrative cost and labour that would be necessary to give effect to my hon. Friend's proposal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the unsatisfactory distribution of unrationed foods, chocolates, cigarettes and other tobacco, he will place all such articles, as may be suitable, on the rationed list, making them obtainable only at the source selected by the coupon holder?

My Noble Friend has already announced that he will introduce appropriate schemes for rationing such further foodstuffs as may be suitable and that he is prepared to depart, if necessary, from the established rationing procedure for this purpose. It is not in the public interest that I should specify the articles which will be amongst those to which rationing may be extended. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is not prepared to consider the rationing of cigarettes and tobacco at the present time.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations he has re- ceived as to the age of reservation under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and Protected Work for funeral directors, coffin makers and drivers of hearses; and whether he is now able to make a statement on this matter?

My right hon. Friend has considered the position in the light of the present man-power situation and can make no concession in the case of hearse drivers, but in the case of funeral directors it has been decided to postpone the withdrawal of their reservation to stage C, the age of reservation being raised to 35 at stage B. As regards coffin makers, who are not due to be de-reserved until stage C, investigations are not yet complete. The deferment procedure will be available to enable men in exceptional circumstances to be retained, but my right hon. Friend asks undertakers to consider the pooling of their resources in order to assist in the release of men for the Forces. I would add that he looks to undertakers and to the public to help the country at this difficult time by accepting a simplification in the customary conduct of funerals.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Lancashire County Council last Monday, by a majority vote, decided to cease the practice of allowing relieving officers to deliver weekly relief at homes, and now require recipients to go to the relieving offices for payment in Accrington, Haslingden, Rawtenstall, Bacup and other towns, thus compelling recipients to queue up outside the relieving offices and publicly expose their poverty; and whether his Department will discountenance this policy?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the decision referred to, which extends to the towns mentioned the system payment which is already in operation in other parts of the county. He is informed that the object is to ease the pressure on the relief staff, and that recipients will be instructed to attend at specified times so as to avoid queues. My right hon. Friend would, therefore, not feel justified in view of the pressing demands on the relief staff in connection with war-time services in interfering with the decision of the council.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the War Service Grants Committee are empowered to assist the dependants of soldiers who are likely to have further financial burdens arising from the operation of the War Damage Act, or whether a special allowance will be granted for this purpose?

The liability of a serving member of the Forces under the War Damage Act is one of those which the Committee can take into account.

asked the Minister of Pensions why a soldier who has received a promotion for efficiency is penalised by the fact that the whole of his extra pay is deducted from the allowance received by his wife from the War Service Grants Committee and what steps he is taking to remedy this injustice?

:In considering whether a man serving in the Forces is suffering serious financial hardship because of his service the W.S.G.A.C. must take into account not only the obligations which he has to meet but also the resources which are available to meet them. The fact that a man's personal expenses may be increased by his promotion is, however, borne in mind, and the grant is in many cases reduced by less than the amount of the increase in pay.

asked the Minister of Pensions when he intends to grant the compensation agreed upon to Mrs. Violet Argumont, of 89, Tanfield Grove, Hull, and referred to in the letter of nth June, 1941?

As it has not yet been determined whether Mr. Argumont's ship was lost through enemy action or through marine perils, it is not possible to say whether the case is one for pension from my Department or for Workmen's Compensation. In the meantime regular payments have been made by the Assistance Board. The letter of nth June was written on the understanding that provisional payments would be made by the underwriters, but I have since agreed that they should be made by my Department on the basis that would be applicable if it were established that the missing seaman had lost his life through enemy action. Mrs. Argumont was notified of this on the nth July.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will authorise officers in the Army, who qualified and served as observers in the last Great War, to wear their observers' badges in the same manner as qualified pilots are permitted to wear their appropriate flying badges on Army uniforms, and thus remove the distinction that at present exists between the treatment accorded to officers in the Army and to those in the Royal Air Force in this respect?

Originally the right to wear "wings" was granted only to Army officers who were also qualified pilots, during secondment to the R.A.F. or during the. period when they had a mobilisation liability to the R.A.F. This created a precedent which was later extended to permit all suitably qualified Army personnel to wear "wings" on Army uniform. Nevertheless R.A.F. flying badges are not personal insignia; they are a part of Royal Air Force uniform and the right to wear them with other types of uniform cannot be admitted. As no soldier has ever had a R.A.F. mobilisation liability as an observer, I regret that there would be no grounds for the concession suggested by my hon. Friend.

l asked the Secretary of State for Air if, as Royal Air Force personnel engaged on operational flying have difficulty in obtaining cigarettes, and the ration allowed them is limited to 30 cigarettes per week, he will take steps substantially to increase the allocation to the men?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his similar Question on 9th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the appointment of a medical officer to supervise food supplied to the Royal Air Force, in order to ensure that the greatest nutritional value is obtained; and whether he will appoint a committee of medical men to discover the existence and extent of any deficiency in vitamins, minerals, salts, proteins, etc., and decide what may be necessary to provide a balanced ration?

The adequacy, from the point of view of nutrition, of the rations supplied to the R.A.F. has been investigated by experts of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Food and of my Department, together with eminent authorities on feeding and nutrition, and I am advised that the present rations are sufficient to provide an ample and well-balanced diet. A specialist medical officer and a highly skilled biochemist have recently been appointed to the R.A.F. to study first-hand and advise on the nutritional problems so as to ensure that the greatest nutritional value is obtained from the dietary at all times. These officers are working in close liaison with the nutritional experts of the Medical Research Council and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and with the officers responsible for catering at R.A.F. units, as well as with those instructing at R.A.F. Schools of Cookery. The hon. Member may be assured that no improvement in the feeding of the R.A.F. which experiment or research in the field of nutrition shows to be possible is likely to be overlooked. In these circumstances, while appreciating the hon. Member's suggestion, I do not think that the appointment of a committee would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what explanation has been given by the Japanese Government concerning the bombing on more than one occasion and destruction of the British Embassy in Chungking; what reparation has been promised; and what guarantees have been given against similar outrages in future?

His Majesty's Embassy at Chungking was bombed on 2nd, 7th and 29th June. During the last of these attacks a number of British and Chinese members of the Embassy staff suffered injuries. In response to representations made by His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo, an expression of regret was tendered on 1st July by the Japanese Minister of Marine through his senior adjutant and assurances were given that the attack was unintentional. However, another serious attack took place on 8th July when the destruction of the Embassy buildings was completed, although the staff escaped further injury. In view of the repeated nature of the attacks, His Majesty's Government instructed His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo to make a formal protest and to point out that, even if the first attacks were accidental, no care could have been taken to prevent a recurrence. Sir R. Craigie accordingly presented a vigorous note of protest to the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on 10th July and supported it by further oral representations. The Vice-Minister expressed his great regret at learning of this latest attack and promised a further examination of the circumstances of the fresh attack.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether he is aware that drive-yourself motor-cars have been and can be utilised with the maximum allocated petrol for unnecessary and wasteful purposes; and whether, in view of the unessential use of petrol that must ensue, even if the journeys of the customer be recorded, he will take steps to prevent such use for non-essential purposes?

I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that the use of the hired car is susceptible of abuse. My Department is in consultation with representatives of private hire firms to see whether further measures can be taken to check this without at the same time interfering with the very useful public service performed by the hired car in cases of emergency or on other appropriate occasions when suitable alternative means of conveyance may not be available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he will collaborate with the Corporation of the City of London and the county council and arrange to publish well in advance agreed descriptive plans for creating in Inner London residential areas, with green spaces, designed for homes of those needing to live near their work?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to him on the 22nd June. The legislative and administrative procedure in regard to redevelopment is receiving close consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour the approximate number of women now employed in industry, including the transport industry, who are in receipt of the appropriate man's rate of pay, including bonuses, for the work which they are performing, or who will be placed on the male rate at the completion of their period of training?

There are no data available on which to base the estimate asked for.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to place any restriction on the sale of seeds of the new crop of potatoes and other vegetable seeds?

:I assume that my hon. Friend refers to price control. I understand that my Noble Friend the Minister of Food intends to make an Order controlling the price of seed potatoes of the 1941 crop on similar lines to that relating to the 1940 crop. I have no intention at present of fixing by Order the maximum prices at which other vegetable seeds may be sold but I have made arrangements to keep under close supervision the prices actually charged, and will not hesitate to take appropriate action if such prices are, in my opinion, disproportionately high.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give details of the scheme which his Department has drawn up whereby owners of rabbits can form a club and obtain a ration of seven pounds of bran a quarter for each breeding doe?

A scheme for the encouragement of tame rabbit keeping on a domestic scale has been devised in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of "State for Scotland and the Minister of Food, and with the Domestic Poultry Keepers' Council, with the object of utilising waste materials for the production of meat. Domestic rabbit keepers are defined as persons keeping not more than four breeding does for the production of flesh or flesh and fur, and the scheme will be operated through the medium of organised rabbit clubs. Rabbit keepers will be required to utilise the maximum quantities of waste greenstuffs from the garden and the allotment, the field and the hedgerow, and of household scraps. A supplementary allowance of bran will be provided for breeding does only at the rate of 7 lbs. per doe per quarter. No rationed feeding-stuffs will be available for bucks or young fattening rabbits. Pet rabbits will, of course, be excluded from the scheme. In consideration of the supply of rationed feeding-stuffs for the breeding does, members of clubs participating in the scheme will be required to dispose of a prescribed proportion of the rabbit meat they produce to the common pool through the medium of a buyer selected by the club and approved by the appropriate Agricultural Department. Having regard to the importance of waste green-stuffs for feeding the rabbits, the chief scope for domestic rabbit clubs will be in rural and semi-rural areas. Urban clubs will not be accepted unless there is satisfactory evidence that members have access to sufficient quantitites of greenstuffs to provide, with the allowance of bran for the breeding does, for their animals' full needs. The supervision and development of the scheme is being undertaken in England and Wales by the Domestic Poultry Keepers' Council, and in Scotland by the Scottish Gardens and Allotments Committee.

asked the Home Secretary whether plans for fire-watching for crops during harvesting have been completed?

Comprehensive instructions on this subject have been issued to Regional Commissioners; and a leaflet, prepared in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, and containing full guid- ance regarding the action which should be taken to deal with this risk is being issued very shortly to all farmers in the corn-growing areas.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross at Geneva to make arrangements which will permit the dispatch of food parcels to the civil population of the Channel Islands?

If, as I assume, my hon. Friend has in mind an arrangement to enable food parcels to be sent from this country to persons resident in the Channel Isles, I am afraid there would be great difficulties about such a scheme and my right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot hold out any hope for the present at any rate that such an arrangement may become practicable.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the relationship between the Engineering Advisory Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee; and what are the main lines of action on which the Engineering Committee has been asked to proceed up to date?

Each of these Committees meets under the chairmanship of my Noble Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and reports to me as Lord President of the Council for the information of the Cabinet, and I myself see all the papers and minutes of both Committees. In reply to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the terms of reference which have been published and upon which the Committee are at present engaged.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that dentists accused of infamous conduct in a professional respect have the charges heard by the Dental Board, but also by the General Medical Council, before whom there is another hearing, and that there is a final appeal to the courts; and why the right of appeal is not permited to doctors except on a point of law?

I am aware that the provisions of the Dentists' Act, 1921, differ from those governing the medical profession but that is as Parliament has thought fit to enact.