asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are being taken to provide supplementary rations to workers in agriculture during harvest time?

Arrangements have been made, in consultation with the National Farmers' Union, for special permits to be issued by food executive officers for the supply of tea, sugar and margarine to farmers to assist them to furnish drinks and food to workers in the fields at harvest, threshing, haymaking or sheep-shearing time

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are being taken to import the oranges needed for next season's supply of marmalade?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the relative failure of the fruit crop, the sugar allowance can be used for the purpose of making any form of jam?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Howdenshire (Colonel Carver) on 3rd July.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is proposed to ration canned fruits and vegetables; and whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by many residents in urban areas in obtaining vegetables and fruit at reasonable prices?

The problem of securing a more equitable distribution of canned fruit and vegetables is at present under examination in my Department. I am aware that there have been complaints of difficulties such as my hon. Friend mentions in the second part of his Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the varities of potatoes and quantities of each variety which composed the 277,000 tons used for pig food in the first six months of 1941?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a Question which he put to me on this subject on 9th July. It would not be possible, without a detailed inquiry, involving disproportionate cost and labour, to add to the information therein furnished.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the loss sustained by amateur tomato growers in Northumberland who cannot obtain more than 8d. per pound for their surplus product; and whether he will consider fixing a new maximum price which will bear some relation to the cost of production and encourage owners of small greenhouses to grow more tomatoes next season?

The Maximum Prices prescribed in the schedule to the Tomatoes (Maximum Prices) Order were fixed after consultation with representatives of the growers and the Agricultural Departments, and are designed to afford the efficient commercial grower a fair return on his crops over the whole season. It is not the practice of my Department to fix prices in relation to the costs of production of the amateur producer who does not grow primarily for the market.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with a man, who was working for his Department, and who was charged at the Tower Bridge Police Court on Friday last with stealing 27 eggs?

A man who had been engaged by the head of a gang and employed as an egg tester for the Ministry of Food was convicted on 25th July of stealing 27 eggs and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment at the Tower Bridge Police Court.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of difficulties arising from ambiguous interpretation of the Maximum Prices Order; and whether he will avoid reference to the Courts by ensuring more precise definition in respect of border-line cases?

While the Ministry is prepared to assist the public whenever possible in explaining the intention of its Orders, the actual interpretation of any Order is a matter for a court of law. Every effort is made to ensure that the definitions included in the Ministry's Orders are as precise as possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the charge heard at the Thames Police Court on Friday, against the Pavilion Club, Whitechapel Road, for using the club as a gaming club?

The premises in question were entered by the police on 24th July, 1941. Observations over a number of days had shown that the premises were used for unlawful gaming at chemin de fer and faro. Two principals and frequenters were arrested and a quantity of gaming material was seized. At Thames Police Court on 25th July the principals were each fined £100 and ordered to pay three guineas costs, and the frequenters were all bound over for three years not to frequent gaming houses.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with a man who was charged at the Bow Street Police Court on Friday, with stealing 28,000 cigarettes from the firm that he was working for?

Two men were concerned in the case referred to. A young man aged 19 was on 25th July placed on probation for two years. Another man aged 54, who was charged with him, was sentenced a week earlier to a total of eight months' imprisonment. As I understand the latter has given notice of appeal, my hon. Friend will appreciate that I am unable to make any further comment on the case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply what is the present position in respect of the further tests of an Army boot preservative referred to in the Eleventh Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure?

The Select Committee on National Expenditure in their Eleventh Report agreed with the Department's proposal that it was desirable to test this treatment in summer weather and arrangements have been made accordingly. The Army have now been supplied with the necessary boots to carry out the tests.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of fully- trained Army officers who have, since the start of the war, been allowed to return to civil life; and the main reasons for such concessions?

Apart from officers who are medically unfit, 1,846 officers have been released indefinitely from the Army, and 874 have been granted temporary release since the outbreak of war. Releases are normally granted either at the request of a Government Department for work of national importance, or on compassionate grounds.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether leave will be granted to crofters and smallholders, serving in the Royal Navy, whose assistance is needed at home for harvest work?

:Where the needs of the Service allow, the Admiralty will consider favourably the grant of unpaid leave for harvest work to crofters and smallholders, provided that they are not serving in seagoing ships, and that the application for their leave is supported by the local agricultural authority, and by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries or the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that an expectant mother has recently been forced to surrender 32 clothing coupons to obtain towelling for making three dozen napkins; that she has had to give most of her other coupons for further clothing for the expected child; and whether he can make arrangements immediately to deal with this grievance?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 29th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich (Mr. H. Strauss).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will have inquiries made to ascertain the amount of money, in respect of holiday pay or bonus due to men who have lost their lives at sea; what attempt has been made to notify the next-of-kin as to the amounts due to them; and whether he proposes to take any action to secure for such next-of-kin what is due to them?

In the case of men who have lost their lives at sea, the wages due for leave not taken will be included in the "balance of wages" accounts, and superintendents of Mercantile Marine offices will see that these sums are paid to the next-of-kin.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that the Blue Star Line, Limited, of Liverpool and other ports, are retaining in their account at the bank moneys and documents that were the property of seamen lost at sea; and what action he proposes to take to get these moneys and documents released for the relatives of the deceased seamen?

No, Sir. All shipping companies are required to pay balances of wages of all men lost at sea to the superintendent of a Mercantile Marine office when the articles are closed, and this Ministry is responsible for seeing that these balances are paid to the next-of-kin. Similarly, discharge books, insurance cards, etc., of seamen lost at sea are also handed to Mercantile Marine superintendents. The company deny the suggestion made in the Question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the terrible hardships recently reported, he will take immediate steps to ensure that all ships' boats shall be fitted with effective signalling apparatus, so that crews set adrift as the result of enemy attack will be able to attract the attention of passing vessels or aircraft?

All ships' lifeboats were provided with distress flares in peace-time. Additional means of attracting attention have been provided during the war, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a note.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will arrange for the principles contained in the White Paper on price stabilisation to be disseminated in more popular and arresting language both by the Press and by the British Broadcasting Corporation?

The White Paper has been discussed by the Press, and there are frequent B.B.C. talks on economic problems, but I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the paper was very carefully drafted, and it would be unwise for me to sponsor alternative versions in more popular and arresting language.

asked the Minister of Information when he proposes to resume the full programme of broadcasts to Switzerland?

I have nothing to add to the answer given on 14th May by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of London (Sir G. Broadbridge).

asked the Minister of Information whether any steps have been taken to avail himself of the offer from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to supply photographs of the war on the Western Front?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Granville).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will, in future, in appointing persons to serve on any panels or courts dealing with industrial problems, choose such persons from the ranks of trade unionists covering the industries concerned?

I regret that I cannot agree to this proposal. It is often the case that, in the constitution of impartial tribunals, it is desirable to appoint representatives from other industries than those directly concerned. This is a course which has the general agreement of employers' organisations and trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the recent speech in Washington of the United States acting Secretary of State suggesting that the governments of peace-loving nations should even now be discussing how best to prepare for better times to come; and whether he is contemplating entering into such discussions?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I can assure my hon. Friend that we have the considerations he mentions very much in mind. Indeed I hope that we may shortly be able to hold another meeting of the Governments of the Allied Powers at which we can begin the examination of post-war problems.

asked the Prime Minister whether the additional Under Secretary of State for Air will be directly responsible for civil aviation as recommended by the Cadman Committee?

My right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Isle of Thanet (Captain Balfour) will, as hitherto, have a special responsibility to me for civil aviation matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of fully-trained pilots, observers or gunners who have, since the start of the war, been allowed to return to civil life; and the main reason for such concessions?

:Since the outbreak of war approximately 30 fully trained pilots have been permitted, on the recommendations of the Government Departments concerned with their civilian employment, to return temporarily to civil life in order to undertake work of national importance. No fully trained observers or air gunners have been released.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the hardship and inconvenience caused to a number of Royal Air Force officers' wives in this country whose husbands are serving in Canada under the Air Training Scheme and who are not now offered facilities to join their husbands in Canada, although many months ago asked by the Air Ministry to hold themselves in readiness to travel; and whether, in view of the fact that ships are entering Canada with many empty berths, he will take steps to see that this concession promised may be fulfilled?

The broad intention is to ensure that the limited number of passages available for wives of R.A.F. personnel who wish to join their husbands in Canada shall be allotted on an equitable basis proportionately as between officers and airmen and in order of priority governed by length of service in the Dominion. Up to the present officers' wives have secured more passages than airmen's wives and in order to redress the balance it is necessary for the time being to reserve for airmen's families the berths now becoming available. All families who apply for passages are invited to adjust their arrangements so that they may be ready to proceed at short notice; no promise is given that passages will be available but this precaution is taken in order that families may be able to avail themselves of any opportunity for obtaining passages which may arise at short notice. As regards the last part of the Question I am assured by my Noble Friend the Minister of War Transport that no vessels are sailing from this country to Canada with empty berths suitable for women passengers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for the latest telephone directories to be supplied to Members of Parliament who reside in the same telephone areas as their constituents?

:Yes, Sir. If the hon. or right hon. Members concerned will kindly communicate with their telephone manager, he will arrange for them to be supplied with new issues of the local telephone directory as they are published.