asked the Home Secretary whether he can now make any statement concerning the new arrangements for fire-watching?

Consultations with representatives of employers and the Trades Union Congress are in progress and a further meeting will be held very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of increasing difficulties respecting the supply of adequate nursing staff in certain hospitals; whether steps are being taken to utilise the services, temporarily or otherwise, of medical and nursing staff not urgently required in military hospitals; and whether any report is anticipated in the near future from the committee presided over by Sir Arthur Robinson?

I am aware that some hospitals are finding difficulty in obtaining sufficient nursing staff. Amongst the various measures that are being taken to relieve the situation, the borrowing of staff from military hospitals has been considered, but I am afraid that the demands on Army nursing personnel are so heavy at the present time that this is not likely to be practicable. The allocation of doctors as between His Majesty's Forces and civilian services is being considered by the Medical Personnel (Priority) Committee presided over by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Undersecretary for the Dominions. Sir Arthur Robinson's Committee on medical personnel reported in January last, and its recommendations were announced in a reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones) on 24th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Council of Ministers on Planning expect to be able to give the House clear guidance as to whether the proposals of the Grampian Electricity Supply Order are in accordance with a plan for the most desirable development of the Highlands water power, or otherwise in accord with the national interests?

The question of the promotion of Hydro-Electric schemes by private legislation does not fall within the remit of the Council of Ministers referred to. My hon. Friend will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me at this stage to anticipate the terms of the statement which will be made in the forthcoming Debate upon the Grampians Order.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that 2,720 officers have been released from the Army since the start of the war, he can state the number of such officers who were specially trained for an Army career; and what cost such training represented to the State?

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind Regular officers who had made the Army their career. No serving Regular officers have been released. Of the 2,720, 1,070 were members of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers recalled to service. A proportion of these will have had the normal training at Woolwich or Sandhurst before they were commissioned, but many were voluntary members of the Reserve who held temporary commissions during the last war and cannot be said to have been specially trained for an Army career. It is impossible without exhaustive research into each individual case, to say how many of the officers passed through Woolwich or Sandhurst or what further training they subsequently received, or what such training cost the State, but in any case the State will have had many years of peace-time service from these officers in return for their training. Of the 1,070, 632 were released for a definite period and have now returned to military duty. The number now on release is therefore 438.

asked the Secretary of State for War in how many areas there is difficulty in maintaining the required establishment of the Home Guard; and if any pressure can be exerted on men in reserved occupations who could, but will not, join to do so?

There has been no serious falling-off in the numbers of the Home Guard in any area. While it is not intended to introduce compulsory enlistment for the reasons given in my answer to my hon. and gallant Friends the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) and the Member for South Cardiff (Colonel A. Evans) on 21st January last, I hope that men in reserved occupations who can afford the time will not fail to come forward where they are needed.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is satisfied that the numerous dialects in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are amply covered by the British Broadcasting Corporation's Russian broadcasts?

No Russian broadcasts are given by the B.B.C.

asked the Minister of Information whether he can make any statement on the decision of the Worcester Local Information Committee to disband itself; and whether the principle of local autonomy is involved?

The Worcester Information Committee decided at a meeting held on 9th June to cease its activities because its members were unwilling to accept a definition of the powers of local committees circulated in April last. In particular they objected to the proviso reserving to the Minister the right to disband a committee or to suspend a committee member. Without a provision of this character no Minister could accept responsibility for the actions of local committees, and they would accordingly become independent of Parliamentary control. It was therefore impossible to yield on the principle at issue and, as the Worcester Committee was unwilling to alter its attitude, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster felt compelled to accept the resignation of its members.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is satisfied that a full service of official news photographs is supplied to the Press; and whether his staff includes experts with practical experience of the special requirements of the art editors of the national and provincial newspapers?

Yes, Sir; not only does my staff include experts with long practical experience of this matter, but they have also the advantage pf frequent consultation with a committee representing art editors of the national and provincial newspapers. But, on the other hand, I am not satisfied with the quality or speed of supply of official news photographs which are sent to the Ministry of Information by the Service Departments for distribution to the Press, and I am endeavouring, with the co-operation of the Departments concerned, to effect improvements in this respect.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the "names of the members of the committee that advices him on the appointment of, justices of the peace?

I have been asked to reply. There is no single committee that advises the Chancellor of the Duchy on the appointment of justices of the peace. For the past twenty years or more there have been separate committees for the county bench and for each of the thirty cities and boroughs within the County Palatine having its own Commission of the Peace. If the hon. Member will specify the particular committee or committees the personnel of which he desires to know, the information shall be furnished to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in connection with the Treasury order freezing all Japanese assets throughout the Empire without a licence, it is proposed to exempt any articles, or any forms of business transactions, or whether the order is all-inclusive?

The order is all-inclusive inasmuch as it prohibits all transactions except those for which a licence is given. Such licences are not being given except in special cases. As regards the general effect of the measures which have been taken, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 5th August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken by him to implement the promise given that the injustice of the War Office paying to a tenant whose house or premises have been requisitioned less rent than he himself was paying on a lease should be reconsidered?

As my hon. Friend will be aware, I have asked Mr. John Morris, K.C., to consider generally cases of complaint arising out of requisitioning and I am awaiting his report which I expect to receive shortly.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the use of gas-producer and coal-gas driven machines has now developed upon a satisfactory commercial scale; and whether, in view of the shortage of imported fuel, all encouragement possible is being given to these alternatives?

A number of firms have converted commercial vehicles to run on producer gas, and have found them satisfactory in operation and the recently imposed restrictions on the use of petrol are giving additional impetus to the movement. It should be remembered, how- ever, that the saving of imported petrol has to be balanced against the additional demand for steel and other materials which such conversion involves. Another limiting factor in any large scale commercial development is the supplies of suitable fuel; and considerable progress is being made, both by road tests and by laboratory and other research, in extending the range of such fuels.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum if he will give an assurance that motorists who accept the current reduced supplementary allowances for petrol without making appeal for increases, will not be subjected to criticism by his Department for having accepted higher supplementary allowances during the period ended 31st July.

The fact that a motorist accepts without appeal a reduced supplementary ration for August and September will not of itself be treated as evidence that he wrongfully accepted a larger ration for the previous period.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, after recent allocations by his Department of household coal to meet demands for steam coal for use in industrial plants, there remained an available supply of household coal adequate to meet monthly domestic requirements up to one ton per household; whether any industrial coal is being allocated for domestic use; and whether coal is still being exported?

One ton a month per household is much more than the estimated domestic coal requirements and is not intended to represent them; it is the maximum quantity which may, if supplies permit, be acquired save under special licence, and then only if the stock held is below the specified limit. There is no precise distinction between industrial and household coal, the needs of industry varying over a wide range according to the type of plant and the purpose for which the coal is required. With regard to the third part of the Question I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement made in the Debate in the House on 5th August.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any further information to give regarding the explosion at Crigglestone Colliery, Yorkshire, where 22 men recently lost their lives; and will he state the nature of the inquiry he intends to institute as to the cause of this disaster?

Inquiries by the inspectors are still proceeding and I regret that I can at present add little to the information already given to the House. The explosion was one of firedamp. Careful and detailed investigations are now being made to discover the source and cause of ignition but they will necessarily take a little time. I would prefer to await the Inspector's report on these investigations before deciding what further inquiry may be desirable.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether a statement can be made on the subject of proposed constitutional and political changes in British Guiana?

Yes, Sir. A representative Franchise Commisison has been set: up in the colony in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission to review the position and make recommendations. The Commission will also advise on qualifications for election to membership of the Legislative Council and as to any alterations which may be desirable in boundaries of existing electoral districts. Proposals have also been placed before the Legislative Council for the modification of the composition of that council on the lines recommended by the Royal Commission. The proposals are:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements have been made to ensure an adequate supply of torch batteries for the use of the public during the winter months; and whether the purchase price of such articles will be controlled?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for South East Southwark (Mr. Naylor) on 30th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a public appeal by advertisements in the daily papers was recently made for £3,000,000 for the benefit of the dependants of men who lose their lives in the Royal Air Force; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such appeals being made on the ground that the Government will adequately provide for all dependants of men who lose their lives in the country's service?

I am aware that appeals on behalf of the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund have recently appeared in the Press. The work of this Fund has been and is of the utmost value in supplementing in deserving cases the scope of provision made for dependants from public funds. The Benevolent Fund also relieves many other cases of individual misfortune or need among serving or ex-serving personnel and their families which fall outside the bounds of Government assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Air over what period of time disabled airmen who are discharged from the Service receive payment and allowances after their discharge; and whether special arrangements are made to assist these men, especially those who have suffered amputation, until such time as they are able to resume normal life and have been fitted, where required, with artificial limbs or equipment?

R.A.F. pay and allowances cease to be issued to an airman as from the date of ids discharge. A disabled airman is discharged as soon as it is decided that he is permanently unfit for further service, but when an airman has lost a limb, discharge action is not taken until he is ready for the fitting of an artificial limb. Discharge action is also deferred in exceptional cases, chiefly those requiring surgical operation, where it is considered that further hospital treatment is necessary. After discharge, an airman may be retained in hospital as a free patient for a further period to enable him to get used to his artificial limb. The after-care of airmen invalided with disabilities attributable to war service is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many air attacks have been made on the Krupps Armament Works at Essen?

The Krupps Armament Works at Essen have been attacked on 20 occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is intended shortly to issue a White Paper on the position in Syria; whether His Majesty's Government have approved the declaration by General Catroux, that until every part of Syria is in full occupation by Free French Forces it will be impossible to conclude with the Syrian Government a treaty providing for the country's independence; how far General Catroux and his colleagues are able to find the necessary officials for carrying on the everyday administration of the country without continuing in office the French officials employed, up to date, by the French mandatory authority in Syria; and whether he will consider administering the country jointly with the Free French rather than continuing in any way any part of the previous regime so much distrusted and disliked by the local Arab population?

During operations in Syria, official communiqués were issued regularly from Allied headquarters and the text of the Armistice was made known at once. In addition, on 8th June, General Catroux made a public statement on behalf of General de Gaulle and Free France undertaking to grant Syria independence; His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo en the same day associated himself with this important pronouncement of general policy. While His Majesty's Government welcome every opportunity to keep the House fully informed of all developments, they are not prepared at present to issue a White Paper.His Majesty's Government have no knowledge of any declaration by General Catroux that until every part of Syria is in full occupation by Free French Forces, it will be impossible to conclude with he Syrian Government; a treaty providing for the country's independence; but it is evident that the first step must be for the whole country to be occupied by Allied Forces, and it is hoped that this process will be completed at a very early date.As regards the future administration of the country, His Majesty's Government have no doubt that the Free French authorities are fully aware of the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing under the previous regime, and have every confidence in their ability to reach a satisfactory agreement with the Syrian and Lebanese Governments. General Catroux's pledge of independence is indeed proof of Free France's intention to meet the legitimate aspirations of the local population promptly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if it is proposed to provide men serving in the Merchant Navy with a distinctive uniform?

We are informed by the National Union of Seamen that there is at present no general desire among their members for a distinctive uniform.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now name the bodies who were parties to the agreement arrived at, after long consultation, before the Pharmacy and Medicines Bill reached the House; and whether he is aware that the agreement was accepted by all the parties concerned only with regard to the original Clause 7, and that the other Clauses were negotiated separately by different interests?

According to my information the following bodies signified their agreement with the proposals which form the basis of Clause 9 of the Bill (Clause 7 in the Bill as introduced).Proprietary Association of Great Britain.Pharmaceutical Society.National Pharmaceutical Union.Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation.Company Chemists' Association.Wholesale Drug Trade Association.National Federation of Grocers' and Provision Dealers' Associations.Parliamentary Committee of the Co-operative Congress.Association of Wholesale Druggists and Manufacturers of Medicinal Preparations.The remaining Clauses of the Bill were not the subject of a general agreement of this kind, but in certain instances the parties most closely concerned have been consulted.

asked the Minister of Health whether the regional medical officers were appointed and employed by his Department; and whether the statistical information prepared by them of the examination of insured persons is treated as private and not for publication?

The Insurance Regional Medical Officers are employed by my Department. Statistics about the number of insured persons examined by these officers and the results of the examinations were regularly published in the Annual Reports of my Department up to the outbreak of war.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the great inconvenience caused to persons applying for old age pensions, by reason of the fact that they have to have forms of application signed by persons having certain qualifications, who can personally identify the applicant; and that in many cases the applicant is not known to persons having such qualifications, and will he, having regard to the fact that all applications for old age pensions are most carefully investigated, dispense with such formality?

The classes of persons qualified to certify claims for old age pension offer the claimant a very wide range of choice, and I am not aware that any general inconvenience is caused by this desirable safeguard, the object of which is to secure the independent evidence of a responsible person that the statements in the claim are true to the best of the certifier's knowledge and belief.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production what percentage of Air Transport Auxiliary Service staff are represented by flying personnel, ground engineering personnel, and ground non-engineering personnel, respectively?

The percentages of the staff of the Air Transport Auxiliary represented by flying personnel, ground engineering personnel and ground non-engineering personnel are as follow:Flying personnel, 39 per cent.Ground engineering personnel, 37 per cent.Ground non-engineering personnel, 24 per cent.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production what are the rates of pay for shorthand typists in the Air Transport Auxiliary Service and for similar employees in the Ministry of Aircraft Production; and whether they or any other non-engineering ground staff wear uniform?

Differences of grading and differences of service preclude any close comparison of rates of pay. The following statement shows, however, the rates of pay of shorthand typists employed in the provinces by the Ministry of Aircraft Production and those of secretarial, clerical and shorthand typing staff of the Air Transport Auxiliary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that parcels of personal clothing despatched to a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps, held as prisoner of war at Stalag, XXA, on the following dates, have not yet been received: nth November, 1940, 22nd January, 1941, and 9th March, 1941; that monthly parcels of tobacco, sent by a well-known West End firm from January, 1941, and two parcels of books, one posted in December, 1940, and the other in March, 1941, to the same medical officer have also never been received; and whether he will take steps to accelerate the delivery of these parcels?

If my hon. Friend will let me have further details, including the name of the officer in question, I shall be glad to make inquiries into this case.