asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of the re-examination of all cases of men who have been lying in hospitals and mental institutions for a considerable period, in order to discover whether there are any who are not likely to make efficient soldiers and who ought, therefore, to be discharged from the Forces?

Existing instructions already provide that, as soon as it becomes doubtful in the opinion of the medical officer in charge of the case whether a soldier in hospital is likely to become fit again for further military service, he is brought before a medical board in order that a decision may be given without delay. Moreover, all soldiers must be brought before a medical board before the end of a period of five months' continuous absence from duty or three months in the case of patients in mental hospitals. If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular case in which there appears to have been undue delay in discharging a man from the Army, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether commissions are given to men from the ranks without their having made any application for promotion; and whether he is satisfied that the system of promotion to commissioned rank is based entirely on merit and free from any suggestion of favouritism or the use of influence?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all soldiers on remand awaiting trial by courts-martial can have the benefit of the ministrations of the chaplain; and what facilities are afforded to soldiers, who are not members of the Church of England or the Church of Scotland, to receive similar help?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." If a commissioned chaplain of the soldier's own denomination is not available, a recognised officiating chaplain may be called in, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that commissioned chaplains are not confined to the two denominations mentioned in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private J. Fletcher, No. 10545394, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, joined the Army on 10th April and immediately made an allowance to his mother, but no payment has yet been received by her; and will he give the reasons for this and expedite regular payments of the allowance made?

No application was made by this soldier for the payment of an allotment to his mother until 14th July, when he applied for an allotment to be paid with effect from 21st May. The initial payment was made the day after the application was received by the regimental paymaster.

asked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the considerable amount of sign-writing upon Army vehicles, divisional signs, plates, etc., requiring the work of highly-skilled tradesmen, he will arrange that trained men employed in this work be given recognition as tradesmen and qualify for trade pay?

:The painting of signs, numbers, etc., on Army vehicles is normally carried out by means of stencils, and a high degree of professional skill is therefore not required.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the decision in the Probate Court with regard to wills of military men killed in air raids; whether he is aware that this decision may invalidate many military wills; and whether he will consider if any change in the law is thereby rendered necessary?

The reference in the Question of my hon. and gallant Friend appears to be to the case of "In the goods of Gibson," where it was decided that an officer of the Army Dental Corps who was killed in an air raid in his own house near the military camp in England where his duties had to be performed was not in actual military service within the meaning of the Wills Act, 1837. In this connection I would call my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the case of Spark, deceased, reported in the "Times" of 16th July, where it was decided that the nuncupative will of a soldier who died as a result of wounds received in an air raid on the camp in which he was stationed could be admitted to probate as having been made while he was a soldier in actual military service. My Noble Friend will give careful consideration to the question whether the law on this matter needs any clarification or amendment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a recent law case in which a decision was given invalidating a soldier's will made in an Army pocket-book; and whether he has any statement to make concerning the conditions under which such wills may be made?

I have been unable to trace a case in which any question arose as to the validity of a disposition made in an Army pocket book. On the general issue raised in the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the present international situation, he is in a position to make any statement regarding the policy of His Majesty's Government towards self-government for India?

No, Sir. But I shall be making a statement to-day about certain administrative changes which are being introduced in India.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether his Department is interesting itself in the problem of re-afforestation; and whether he is in contact with the Forestry Commissioners on the subject?

Yes, Sir; my Department is in close touch with the Forestry Commissioners and I hope to receive their advice on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statement to make in respect of the case, to which his attention has been drawn, where an application was made for an old age pension in March, and a postcard acknowledgment sent in April, to a reminder sent on 28th May, when the applicant had reached the age of 65, a further postcard acknowledgment was sent; in response to a letter written on 1st July, no postcard acknowledgment was sent until 7th July; and whether steps can be taken to make the insurance department of the Ministry of Health carry out its duties with more expedition?

refers was received in the Department on 29th March.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he has considered using for post-war building purposes the large numbers of mature oak trees standing in the fields and hedges of the Southern counties; and will he use this oak, easily available, to meet the post-war timber shortage by collaborating with the Forestry Commission to fell and condition this type of timber?

I have been asked to reply. The full energies of the Home Grown Timber Production Department of the Ministry of Supply and of other timber producers are now devoted to the production of timber required for essential war needs, and all available supplies of labour and machinery for timber felling are at present required for this purpose. Six million cubic feet of hedgerow timber is already licensed for felling in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health on whose authority local councils are empowered to requisition the sites of bombed premises; and whether any requirements in respect of sanitation, trading facilities and amenities must be satisfied before they do so?

:I have been asked to reply. If local authorities are unable to obtain other accommodation for the sorting and storage of materials recovered from bombed sites they are authorised to take possession of land or premises under Defence Regulation 51. In doing so they are expected to have regard to the considerations referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the average takings per day and per head of the customers of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes?

I regret that the required information is not available.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum, what is the total annual cost of dealing with the issue of supplementary petrol rations in the Welsh division; and what quantity of petrol is issued by this administration in the Welsh division for supplementary petrol ration purposes?

The work of issuing supplementary rations is only a part of the

asked the Secretary for Petroleum, whether voluntary organisations, like the Women's Voluntary Service, are allowed unlimited supplies of Petrol; and what is the basis on which such supplementary supplies are permitted?

Members of voluntary organisations, such as the Women's Voluntary Service, when engaged on civil defence duties under the direction of a local authority draw their supplies of petrol from that authority with reference to the duties to be performed, otherwise they are rationed, like all other persons, for supplementary supplies on the scrutiny of their applications by the divisional petroleum officers.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum, what staff is employed in the Welsh division; what individual salaries are paid; and what were the qualifications of the divisional controller for his appointment?

:There are two divisional petroleum officers in Wales at (a) Cardiff and (b) Caernarvon, the staff of each being as follows: —

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons on outdoor and indoor relief, respectively, at September, 1939, and September, 1940; and the cost for September, 1939 to 1940, and October, 1940, to the latest available date?

At 15th September, 1939, the number of persons, including dependants, in receipt of outdoor relief in Scotland was 205,605, and indoor 8,614. The corresponding figures for 15th September, 1940, were 119,280 and 9,086, respectively. Figures are not available of the cost of poor relief for the period September, 1939, to September, 1940, or for any later period. The cost for the year ended 15th May, 1940 (the latest available date) was approximately £ 5,340,000 (£ 4,427,000 outdoor relief, and £ 913,000 indoor relief).

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons on outdoor and indoor relief, respectively, at September, 1940, and the latest subsequent available date; and the cost for September, 1939–40, and October, 1940, to the latest available date?

The numbers of persons on outdoor and indoor relief in England and Wales on the last Saturday in September, 1940, were 450,322 and 134,206, respectively. The corresponding figures on the last Saturday in April, 1941, which is the latest date for which figures are available, were 420,201 and 134,175. The cost of outdoor relief during the period 1st October, 1939, to 30th September, 1940, was £17,349,542, and from 1st October, 1940, to 30th April, 1941, £6,650,422. Figures as to cost of indoor relief are not available for those periods.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will issue instructions that women engaged in the food distributive trade shall be considered as already engaged in work of 100 per cent. National importance, and that they should therefore be permitted to remain in their present positions?

The need for women in vital war industries and in the women's services is so great that I am forced to take every step to transfer the young women in the age groups now being registered from work that is not of urgent national importance. The retail distributive trades must make their contribution and in many cases they can employ older and married women. At the same time I recognise the special position of the food distributive trade and I have, therefore, arranged with my Noble Friend the Minister of Food for close consultation between local food offices and my local offices where food shops are concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he is aware that many hundreds of workmen engaged upon a certain factory construction site did not report for work upon a recent Saturday morning; and whether it is his intention to call for a full report from the contractors concerned?

Yes, Sir, and I have called for a report on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether the medical posts of the Home Guard will be available for use by the general public in case of invasion?

In areas which became the scene of active operations, all local medical and first-aid facilities would be made equally available for both military and civilian casualties.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to care for members of the public injured during invasion in parts of the country cut off from communication with hospitals?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar Question asked by him on the 8th July.

asked the Minister without Portfolio the names and professions, or special qualifications, of the 21 chief local investigators employed in different areas of the country, on the social reconstruc-

I am informed by the Director that the Nuffield College Social Reconstruction Survey has appointed the following chief local investigators:

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, having regard to the right of dentists, pharmacists and certain other professional persons, to appeal to the courts against disciplinary decisions, appropriate steps will be taken to amend the law and give doctors a similar right?

No, Sir, I am not satisfied that there is any general desire in the medical profession for such legislation at the present time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, to ensure freshness of eggs, the packing stations collecting eggs will be authorised to mark the place and date of collection?

It is a condition of a packer's licence that every container of eggs should bear a label showing by means of a coded date when the eggs were graded. There is nothing in the Order to prevent packing stations marking eggs with the place and date of collection provided that the mark is not such as to give rise to any confusion with the Ministry's approved mark. My Noble Friend is not, however, prepared, at the present time, to make such supplementary marking compulsory.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether a retailer can sell eggs by weight; and, if not, what objection there is to his doing so?

No provision is made for the retail sale of eggs by net weight. Under the Eggs (Prices and Control) Order provision is made for retail sales by count. There are two prices based on the size of the eggs which are graded by weight before reaching the retailer. To sell eggs by weight would involve loss from breakages and delay owing to the necessity for providing an exact weight of eggs and of avoiding fractional weights of an ounce

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the approximate percentage of fresh and imported eggs, respectively, which are being distributed each week as part of the egg-rationing scheme; the average weekly allowance of any eggs which a family of five can reasonably expect to receive; and whether consumers who fail to receive any eggs at all can transfer their registration?

Complete returns are not yet available, but the figures so far received indicate that for the week beginning 30th June the percentage of home produced and imported eggs allocated by the Ministry was 23 per cent. and 77 respectively, and for the week beginning 7th July 58 per cent. and 42 per cent. respectively. It is impossible to state the weekly allowance of eggs per head, since it must depend on the number of eggs coming forward. During the first three weeks of July sufficient eggs should have reached the retail shops to provide a minimum of three for all registered consumers, and up to five in certain parts of the country. The transference by consumers of their registrations from one retailer to another is a matter which falls within the discretion of the Food Control Committees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the arrangements between the Treasury and the Postmaster-General regarding interest-free loans; and, to the latest possible date, what amount of such loans, respectively, comes from Post Office Savings Bank accounts, War Loan and National Savings Certificates?

Interest waived by depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank and by holders of securities on the Post Office Register is paid by the Post Office into the Exchequer. Interest surrendered on National Savings Certificates is deducted from the amount to which the holder is entitled at the date of encashment and the amount then claimed by the Post Office from the Exchequer is correspondingly reduced. I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks in the last part of his Question is not readily available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to encouraging production, he will consider favourably the suggestion that the Finance Act be so amended as to enable industry to take the year ended 5th April, 1941, as the datum year for the fixation of profits for the present Act, so that any profits from increased production arising since this date shall be subject to Excess Profits Tax of only 50 per cent. per annum?

. No, Sir. I do not think this suggestion would be advisable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the difficulties experienced by returned and repatriated British seamen and the delay in settling their affairs and claims, he will consider setting up an organisation to deal promptly with the claims of such merchant seamen, and to be responsible for their welfare on arrival in this country?

I am not aware of the difficulties and delays to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will furnish particulars of the case or cases he has in mind I shall be glad to have them inquired into.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether where a coal and coke merchant has adequate supplies of fuel, he may distribute a nine months' or 12 months' ration to his customers at once so as to promote economy of distribution during the long daylight hours?

As the hon. and gallant Member will have appreciated from recent replies in this House, there is no suggestion of a coal ration of 12 tons a year for everyone; in fact the average annual consumption per household is probably about three tons. The recent restrictions are intended to prevent non-industrial consumers from increasing stocks over two tons (or three tons as the case may be) except by licence from the local fuel overseer. In considering whether a licence should be given he will have regard to the desirability of effecting economy in transport and distribution.

asked the Postmaster-General what privilege the sender of a telegram gets by making a payment of 6d. extra and having the word '' Priority '' marked on the wire?

As stated in the Post Office Guide, for an additional charge of 6d., a telegram may be marked "Priority" and is specially expedited, both in transmission and delivery. Such telegrams take precedence over all ordinary telegrams on hand.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will inquire into the circumstances attending the refusal of pension to Mrs. D. E. Ling, case C.4/ WN/13. now at Colchester, previously at Stratford, whose husband was killed by enemy air action?

The Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme does not provide pensions for the dependants of persons not gainfully occupied who are killed by enemy action, because in such cases the normal income of the household is not, as a rule, affected by the death. At the time of Mr. Ling's death he and his wife were each in receipt of an old age pension of 10s. a week with a joint supplement of 12s. 6d. a week. Although his personal old age pension ceased Mrs. Ling remained entitled to supplementation of her own pension in accordance with her circumstances, and I understand that she is receiving from the Assistance Board the appropriate amount for an individual pensioner resident in a household.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if the American aircraft supplied to the Royal Air Force, known as the Liberator, is now adequately equipped to operate against Nazi machines with transatlantic range and load capacity?

It would not be in the public interest to publish this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what allowance of petrol he has agreed with the Ministry of Petroleum for flying personnel on operational command for normal journeys from Royal Air Force stations to the nearest towns where such towns are a considerable distance from aerodromes situated in a remote part of the country; and whether he is satisfied that this allowance is sufficient for reasonable rest and relaxation from operational and flying duties?

Operational air crews do not receive an addition to the basic petrol ration for normal journeys between their station and the nearest town. Cheap transport facilities for recreational purposes are, however, provided where necessary and these facilities, in conjunction with the special petrol allowances granted to operational air crews for the purposes of leave, afford reasonable rest and relaxation from operational and flying duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is now intended that the Women's Auxiliary Air Force shall conform to service discipline and regulations with regard to absenteeism and other matters?

Yes, Sir. Under the powers conferred by the Defence (Women's Forces) Regulations, 1941, the sections of the Air Force Act relating to discipline and absence from duty have, with modifications, been applied to the W.A.A.F., as have also the rules and procedure for the apprehension of deserters.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give a specimen day's menu in a Women's Auxiliary Air Force camp?

I am forwarding to the hon. Baronet the information he requires.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will institute a system of inspection and grading of all landed estates on similar lines to that in force for occupiers of farms?

The grading of farms was carried out for certain immediate and practical purposes in connection with the food production campaign. The same considerations do not apply as regards estates. I am satisfied that under present conditions it is unnecessary and impracticable to add to the very detailed survey now being carried out by the County War Agricultural Executive Committees.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, for public guidance, he will state the amount of fertilisers of all sorts and the cost, employed on the show allotments in Hyde Park, near Grosvenor Gate; and what is the aggregate acreage of allotments?

Owing to unsuitable conditions of site and soil, special treatment has been necessary to render the land in Hyde Park fit for the purpose of demonstration allotments. Such conditions and treatment would not be likely to apply to land provided for allotments in the ordinary way. The demonstration allotments have otherwise been cultivated and cropped in accordance with the advice given in the Department's "Dig for Victory" Leaflet No. 1, of which 5¼million copies were distributed in England and Wales earlier this year. The leaflet recommended an annual dressing for 10 rods of 30 lb. superphosphate and 20 lb. sulphate of potash applied to land free of crops, and 15 lb. sulphate of ammonia applied to the growing crops. The cost of these fertilisers is about 12s. to 13s. Sulphate of potash is not now generally available to the small grower, who, in case of difficulty, was advised by the leaflet to use increased quantities of compost material or farmyard manure or wood ashes, which contain potash. The aggregate acreage of allotments (excluding railway allotments) in England and Wales is estimated at 160,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give an assurance that he will give immediate and full effect to any increase in agricultural wages in the fixed minimum prices of all agricultural produce?

I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that, as I stated in the House on 26th November, the Government has undertaken that agricultural prices will be subject to adjustment to the extent of any substantial changes in costs of production, including wages. This undertaking applies to the period covered by the duration of the war and at least one year thereafter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the fact that unless the farmers are allowed to have a better supply of labour, they will of necessity restrict milk producing, which is a seven days' job all the year round, and resort to husbandry, which needs only a six-day week; and what steps he is taking to assist the farmer in this respect?

I have been asked to reply. I do not believe that the labour shortage has so far been an important factor in restricting milk production. The arrangements preventing the calling-up for military service of key workers apply to all the main branches of agriculture including dairying. Women are, however, eminently suitable for employment on milk production and the Women's Land Army has already placed some thousands of women on dairy farms. Any dairy farmer who expects to be in difficulties about labour is advised to get in touch in advance with the County Office of the Women's Land Army.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will have inquiries made regarding the feeding-stuff difficulties which are experienced by Mr. E. Carter, of Pitchers Hill Farm, Wickham-ford, Evesham, having regard to the fact that he has a large high-yielding dairy herd which may have to be disposed of if further assistance is not given?

Inquiries I have made show that Mr. Carter has been able to benefit under arrangements made for meeting difficulties of dairy farmers, and I understand that he is satisfied with the allowance of feeding-stuffs made to him under the rationing scheme.