asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any statement to make on the coal situation?

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of miners who have returned to coalmining from other occupations since July; and how many of these have been released from the Army?

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of miners who have been accepted for coalmining work since the issue of the registration order and the number who have commenced work; and also the number in each instance of coal getters?

Registration of men who had left the coal-mining industry for other industrial employment took place on the I7th-18th July. One hundred and five thousand three hundred and seventy-six men registered, of whom 25,468 were willing to return to mining. A very substantial proportion of the men registering was found to be men who had left the industry by reason of physical incapacity and many others were engaged in occupations from which their withdrawal would have caused disproportionate detriment to the war effort. Up to yesterday 16,000 men have been placed at work, of which rather over two-thirds are face workers: in addition a substantial number of men have received directions to return to duty at the mines. Mining managements are being required to accept all men considered suitable by the Ministry of Labour and National Service. The Government trust that the arrangements now being made will make it unnecessary to recall men from the Fighting Forces at this critical period of the War.

Do the 16,000 include those men who have been returned to the pits and then find there is no work for them? Also, can my hon. Friend say what is the present position with regard to the production of coal in the mines?

I am answering a Question on the latter point later. The 16,000 are men actually placed at the pits.

But docs the figure include those men who returned to the pits and found there was no work for them when they got there?

The proportion of men for whom there is no work after they have got back to the pits is very small. Occasionally there is failure to connect men and employment, but the proportion of cases is very small—insignificant. I can assure my hon. Friend that those cases are a very minor exception to the general rule that the men are going back to work.

Is there a medical examination before the men are taken on to work at the coal face, and is that examination compulsory?

If a man asks for a medical examination on the plea that he is unfit to return to heavy work in the mines, he is given a medical examination before he goes back.

In the interests of the protection of the men working underground previously docs not my hon. Friend think that before these men arc sent to the coal face there ought to be a compulsory examination, and if the colliery companies ask for it will my hon. Friend see that action is taken?

No, but if the man himself believes he is unfit he can ask for an examination and it is always given.

But he may not know.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the Ministry of Labour are directing some men to go back to the mines who are already engaged on work of national importance and who will suffer a reduction of £2 a week in their wages by going back to the mines, and that they resent it?

I think that is implied in this scheme.

Surely the national effort could be better served than by this method of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether there is coordination in the matter of finding accommodation for all these men who are going back to the pits?

Yes, there is co-ordination between all the departments concerned. The Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, the Mines Department and the Local Production Committees are all concerned in this important matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some men who are sent back cannot get accommodation?

There are exceptions, but on the whole the men are finding suitable accommodation and finding work.

Is not the action taken quite inadequate?

Does the hon. Gentleman hold the view that the steps taken are satisfactory and will provide enough labour power in the mines?

No, but our proceedings are not ended with the return of 16,000 men to the mines. Altogether over 30,000 men have been found, and as far as lodging accommodation and working accommodation become available the men will go back.

I did not ask that. I wanted to know whether my hon. Friend is satisfied that by these means he has found the man-power which is necessary to raise the output of coal to what we need?

As I have said, 16,000 men are not enough and we expect a larger number. So many men are in sight by this method that it is assumed not to be necessary to ask for the return of more men from the Army.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many men from the mines have been called up for the Army since the beginning of the war?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any further measures are being taken to prevent silicosis and anthracosis among coal-miners; what these measures are; and whether they are being made obligatory upon colliery managements?

As regards stone drifts and headings, the measures recommended by the Royal Commission, which have been enumerated in previous replies and with which my hon. Friend is fully familiar, are being applied wherever the conditions so require; but the provision of the apparatus is not enough, and there is still need not only for the managements but for the workmen and subordinate officials to see that it is used more regularly and effectively and kept in good order, and I appeal again for their co-operation.

As the hon. Member knows, very pro-longed and thorough investigation has been directed to the conditions associated with the incidence of the disease and we are hoping for enlightenment and guidance from the report soon to be forthcoming from the Committee of the Medical Research Council. In the meantime, the chief undertaking in the anthracite area of South Wales, in consultation with the Divisional Inspector of Mines, has issued to all its officials a far-reaching code of instructions as to precautionary measures, and this has been made known also to the representatives of the workmen, on whose co-operation we must largely depend in seeking to bring about a change in the long-standing methods and customs of their work. I am hopeful that this scheme of co-operative effort will prove successful, although a standard set of statutory Regulation may well be necessary later when the position is clearer.

Does my hon. Friend propose to publish the report of the investigators when it is completed?

Yes, Sir. I think my hon. Friend was informed by the Lord President of the Council that the report has been completed. I hope that publication will be possible without undue delay.

Do I understand that an investigation is taking place into the causes?

Yes, Sir.

Have not such investigations been taking place for the last 20 years?

Yes, but the Committee has been carrying its investigations into individual cases. It takes into consideration environmental causes and the industrial history of each man examined. I am sure that the information obtained will be more useful than any that we have obtained in the past.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make any statement on the coal situation, especially in regard to the stocking of this commodity for the coming winter, both by private individuals and by public utilities?

Since the House last met, coal output has been much affected by holidays, and progress in adding to stocks has been slow in consequence. With the added man-power now available I look forward to a rapid improvement in the immediate future.

Is not the only way to deal with this matter for the War Cabinet to insist upon the release of suitable men from the Army?

Is the Minister not aware that coal stocks in many parts of the country are crumbling into dust because they have been there in some cases for over a year; that old stocks are not being used in preference to new stocks, which are continually being used; and that there is a loss of thousands of tons of coal, in consequence of foolishness on the part of the Minister's Department or of some other Department?

The hon. Member is quite right in calling attention to the age of the coal stocks, some of which are 12 months old, and others many years old. The question of drawing upon old stocks first is very important, and we are taking steps to see that some of the older stocks are used as they are replaced with new.

Is the Minister aware that permission has been sought for this to be done, but that it has been refused?

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of explosions that have. occurred at coalmines in the past 12 months, and the number of persons killed and injured by these occurrences; the ascertained causes of these explosions; and what steps are being taken to prevent their recurrence?

During the 12 months ended 31st August, 1941, 68 persons were killed and 39 injured in 11 fatal explosions or ignitions of firedamp. The more recent of these explosions are still under investigation and have been or will be the subject of public inquiry or special public reports. As to the others, the proximate causes, so far as they could be ascertained, had to do with matches or smoking, the use of electricity, or mishaps with safety lamps; but what might be regarded as a basic cause was usually some deficiency or temporary derangement in ventilation. As to prevention, the first consideration is good ventilation, and I take this opportunity to stress the need for high standards and for ceaseless vigilance on the part of all concerned to maintain those high standards.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a general feeling that the standard of ventilation has declined, and will he look into the matter again and give definite instructions that the standard of ventilation must not be allowed to decline?

I have said so in public to-day. I have had several conferences with my officials during the last 12 months, and I can assure my hon. Friend that inspectors are advised that they must insist on the maintenance of the highest standard of ventilation.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has examined the accident figures in the mining industry; whether he is aware of the concern there is at the growing increase through falls of roof at the coal face; and what steps his Department are taking to deal with this position?

Yes, Sir. The figures which are being circulated to-day in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith), are not abnormal, except in one single respect, namely, falls of ground at the working face, but those figures are most disturbing and, sharing the concern that the House and the industry must feel, I have again discussed the matter very fully with the Chief Inspector and the divisional inspectors. I can offer no simple explanation nor seek to put the blame in any particular quarter. Since the war started, the rules for roof support at the working face have not been weakened, the supply of timber has been good and its quality satisfactory, the supply of steel props and bars has been substantially increased, and the methods of working and of support and its supervision have not substantially changed.

We seemed to be faced with a position in which the systems of roof support as laid down under the Statute are being less efficiently applied, due partly to a variety of managerial and labour difficulties and partly to a distraction of attention and effort to so many other matters, personal and otherwise, mostly attributable directly or indirectly to the war. If that is so, we need to bring about a re-dedication of attention and effort to the matter by owners, managers, workmen, workmen's inspectors and the Government inspectors alike, and I have it in mind to attempt this by setting aside an experienced inspector in each area to give his whole time to this purpose and associating with him in some active but not too formal way local representatives of the different interests I have just mentioned. A plan of action on these lines is now being worked out, and I hope to be in a position to make a further statement in the House shortly.

Will the Minister cause attention to be given to the use of machinery at the coal face? It is the belief of many of us that the incessant noise of the machinery prevents miners from detecting the danger of a fall of roof.

Yes, Sir. I have expressed the view which I hold that the presence of machines in the mines is not itself a source of danger but that special precautions must be taken in association with the use of machinery.

Have any representations been made to the Minister recently by the deputies' association, in which they allege that they have not sufficient time to supervise mines adequately? Is the Minister in a position to make a statement on the matter?

That point has been a matter of concern for some years to deputies. The law requires that they give all their time to their statutory duties, but if they have to do duty which is not among their statutory duties, these ordinary duties must suffer in consequence. I am inviting representatives of deputies, workmen, workmen's inspectors and managements to join me in trying to remedy this position.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons killed and seriously injured in the mining industry this year up 1o the latest date available; and the various causes of the accidents?

During the past 35 weeks of this year, that is, up to 30th August, 638 persons were killed and 1,931 seriously injured in accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act, as compared with 633 killed- and 2,175 seriously injured during the corresponding period in 1940. The chief classes of fatal accident this year are 349 from falls of ground, 122 on haulages, 63 from explosion and 58 on the surface. I am circulating the rest of the particulars in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that six weeks have elapsed since the Miners' Welfare Commission agreed to the Baths Fund being used to provide pithead can teens, but district miners' welfare committees and collieries are still without any further information on the subject; that, in consequence, the provision of pithead canteens is being seriously delayed; and, in view of the urgency of the matter, what action he proposes to take to make the necessary finance available so that the work can proceed?

Arrangements for assisting the provision of colliery canteens out of the Miners' Welfare Baths Fund have involved considerable preparatory measures. The Miners' Welfare Com mission has, however, now issued particulars of these arrangements to all District Miners' Welfare Committees and Colliery Companies. Work is proceeding with the minimum of delay, and so far out of 1,100 pits employing more than 50 workers each, 666, or 60 per cent., have either already started a canteen service or should have one in operation very shortly. Provision will then have been made for 78 per cent, of the total number of men employed.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the canteens mentioned in this Question were canteens where men could have sit-down meals and not just meat pies; is he aware that six valuable weeks have been lost because no instructions have been sent out, and would it not have been a good thing to have told them to get on with the work without delay?

They have been told to get on with the work, and the work is going on. It is wrong to assume that because this House has not formally approved the expenditure the work has not been done.

On a point of Order. This Question was put down at the request of the District Miners' Voluntary Association, who handed to me correspondence showing that less than 10 days ago the Miners' Welfare Commission informed them that no sanction could be given to the spending of this money until a special Regulation had been passed, under the Defence of the Realm Act. I am not in the habit of putting down Questions unless I have substantial evidence, and this is not the first time that my hon. Friend has made statements which in my opinion are not in accordance with the facts.

No point of Order arises on that question.

Can we not hear how many canteens there are at the Scottish pits? I think we have a right to ask about Scottish pits.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether he will make immediate arrangements to increase the allowance of paraffin to those houses and districts which have not got supplies of gas and electricity?

The arrangements for the supply of paraffin provide for special consideration being given in areas where householders are necessarily dependent on paraffin for domestic purposes. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will communicate with me, I shall be happy to look into it.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman arrange, if it is necessary in view of the limited supply to reduce the amount allowed where alternative means of cooking are available, that the amount allowed should be increased where there are no such alternative means?

Would the hon. Gentleman consider the case of Plymouth, for instance, where in some districts we still have no gas or electricity?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, under appropriate safeguards, he will now allow recognised comforts organisations providing articles of clothing for evacuees, hospitals or other charitable institutions to purchase wool without coupons?

No, Sir. Evacuees and inmates of institutions have the normal ration of clothing coupons. Charitable organisations wishing to collect coupons for knitted garments supplied to such persons should apply to the Board of Trade for the necessary authority, which will entitle them to use the loose coupons for making further purchases of wool.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a statement about coupon-free working clothes to mineworkers?

As previously announced, coalminers returning to the industry may' obtain a certificate from the Mine Manager, countersigned by a Mines Inspector, which will serve them in place of coupons when purchasing their first new outfit of pit clothing and boots. It has now been decided to issue 60 coupons a year to all underground workers in the industry to meet their special needs in excess of those covered by the ordinary civilian ration of 66 coupons. Arrangements for the distribution of these supplementary coupons are being discussed with the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any arrangement has yet been made whereby women workers in factories can obtain the over alls necessary in their work free of coupons?

The claims submitted on behalf of industrial workers are now being considered. In the meantime, where one of His Majesty's Factory Inspectors is prepared to certify any clothing as essential for purposes of health and safety, employers may provide such clothing for their workers without surrendering coupons.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider, in the woollen and weaving industries where these things could be very quickly made, making an arrangement whereby a manufacturer could supply these garments coupon-free to the workers, if necessary under supervision?

Would my right hon. Friend take special precautions to see that the women who really need these extra coupons most—those who are work- ing in oily conditions, for instance— receive them before there is a general allotment throughout the industry?

That point will be looked into.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the Government's policy with regard to trading with Japan; and to what extent in the last three months shipments of materials which can be used for munitions of war have been made to Japan?

All Japanese assets in the United Kingdom were frozen by' an Order dated 26th July, and export of all goods from the United Kingdom to the Japanese Empire was made subject to licence from 15th August. No licences have been granted for exports to Japan since the date of the Freezing Order, and I see no prospect that any such licences will be granted in the near future. No materials which, so far as is known, can be used as munitions of war have been exported from the United Kingdom to Japan during the last three months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the appointment of Cameron and Company to receive all particulars of United States of America steel required for the Colonies by their merchant competitors was occasioned by any failure of the National Export Merchants Group, formed at the specific request of the Board of Trade, to co-ordinate the merchants' export activities?

No, Sir. As orders for steel from the United States must be placed through official channels, it has been arranged that Colonial orders should be placed through the British Iron and Steel Corporation, a non-profit earning company which purchases steel for the Ministry of Supply. Messrs. David Cameron, with the approval of the Colonial Office and the Board of Trade, were appointed by the Corporation to carry out the work of collating approved Colonial orders.

Was the National Export Merchants' Group consulted over this arrangement?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what Statutory Order or other official publication the arrangements for American steel, required for the Colonies, were announced by his Department.

The arrangements referred to were not announced in any Statutory Order or other official publication in this country. Firms have been informed of the procedure when their orders have been approved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that toys salvaged from a New York shipment which was bombed after its arrival in this country were recently auctioned at Clerkenwell; and will he state the value of toy imported this year and prohibit the import of such unessential goods?

My attention has been drawn to the auction to which my hon. Friend presumably refers, and I am having inquiries made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Question was put down a fortnight ago?

These inquiries have been proceeding since, and as they involve legal considerations they are not yet concluded.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman can inform the House whether the import of these non-essential goods has already been prohibited?

That is part of the legal question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Customs and Excise Office refuse to deliver goods to private individuals if the gross weight of the parcel is more than five pounds; and can he see his way clear to relax this regulation?

I am aware of this regulation, which was imposed for the reasons stated in the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolver hampton (Mr. Mander) on 22nd May. Existing circumstances do not permit of a relaxation.

Can my right hon. Friend say what steps have been taken to inform post offices throughout the world of these regulations, and is he aware that parcels considerably in excess of 5 lbs. in weight are arriving in this country and taking up shipping space, but are not being delivered to the right people?

All parcels that arrive are being delivered, if not to the person to whom they were addressed, to persons who are in need of them and are glad to have them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any licences for the export of biscuits to the Dominion of Canada or other countries have been issued to biscuit manufacturers during 1941; and the total tonnage of biscuits exported during the six months ended 31st July, 1941?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, publication of details relating to our overseas trade has been suspended since the outbreak of war in the national interest.

Does my right hon. Friend say that we are actually exporting biscuits to Canada in these days, when the housewives of this country are being rationed to the extent of aŬlb. per family per week, and in the industrial towns are having to queue up for them?

All export licences are issued in consultation with the Ministry of Food, and I shall be glad to consult with the Ministry of Food on the continuance of these export licences.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he has any further statement to make on supplies to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

Yes, Sir, I am glad to say that considerable progress has been made in providing our Russian Allies with economic assistance. As I informed the House on 5th August, the Soviet Government furnished us with a list of their requirements. Most of the commodities on that list can be obtained from Allied sources, and substantial shipments have already taken place, including supplies of rubber, tin, wool, lead, jute and shellac. The House will appreciate that there are difficulties of transport but we are doing our best to meet the Russian requests in full. The remaining commodities which we are unable fully to supply from Empire or Allied sources are now the subject of discussion in Washington, and this discussion will continue at the forthcoming Moscow Conference. As hon. Members will have seen in the Press, a Payments Agreement was signed in Moscow on 16th August. This provides for the exchange of goods on credit, and for a Clearing Ac count between the two Governments.

Will my right hon. Friend say to what extent these supplies are being delivered?

To a very considerable extent.

May we take it that the forthcoming Moscow Conference will not be too long delayed?

That is not within my departmental competence. The Answer relates only to non-military supplies.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he will give the names of companies which have sup plied oil to North Africa during the last two months; and the amount supplied by each?

Only one cargo of oil pro ducts reached North Africa during the months of July and August. This was the cargo shipped on the s.s. "Scheherezade", with the approval of the United States Government. The total amount of the cargo was 17,101 tons, almost all of which consisted of gasoline and kerosene. The consignors of 5,281 tons of the shipment were the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. The consignors of the remainder were the Socony Oil Company.

Do we understand that all supplies from the United States to North Africa have now been suspended?

That is a different question. I was asked about cargoes of oil for the last two months.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, in connection with the representations which have been made to him as to the use of straw for paper-making, whether he is aware that a process has been evolved for extracting food from straw before it is made into paper; and what arrangements he is making to supply paper manufacturers with an adequate supply of straw during the next few months?

I am aware of a suggested process to extract animal feeding-stuff from straw and leave a residue suitable for paper-making. The process is still in the experimental stage. As regards the last part of the Question, the Ministry of Supply are collaborating with the Agricultural Departments and the Ministry of War Transport and with the Paper Makers' Straw Trading Company in arrangements to move substantial quantities of wheat and other straw to paper mills as soon as supplies from this year's; harvest become available.

Does this answer cover the case of esparto mills m Scotland which are experiencing great difficulty in obtaining raw material?

The difficulty is partly raw materials and partly the technical character of making paper.

Is it not a fact that these mills have very efficiently equipped themselves for the use of straw instead of esparto, and that it is straw they want?

That is why we are proposing to move as much straw as possible to paper mills at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to secure the most effective counsels for the consideration of Empire war policy and strategy in every theatre of war, and the closest collaboration between Dominion and Home Governments, particularly with regard to activities in the Far East and the Pacific, he will now consider inviting Mr. Menzies and other Dominion statesmen to visit London for consultation, and to consider the formation of an Empire War Cabinet?

I am not prepared to deal with matters of this consequence and scope by answers at Question time. His Majesty's Government are in continual contact with all the Dominions upon these subjects, and announcements will be made of any decisions which are reached from time to time.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the Joint Declaration made by himself and by the President of the United States of America, he is now in a position to make a clear statement extending the principles of Clause 3 of the Declaration to India?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would be good enough to await the general statement which I propose to make later to-day.

In that statement does the right hon. Gentleman intend to make reference to India?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to await the general statement that I propose to make.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will fix an early date for consideration of the Motion, standing on the Order Paper, for the appointment of a Select Committee to in quire into certain matters relating to war camouflage?

This is not considered necessary at the present time.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he is now in a position to state what decisions have been taken in regard to the recommendations of the Uthwatt Committee; and whether it is his intention to introduce legislation in this connection at an early date?

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether, following the presentation of the report of the Uthwatt Committee, he will now make a statement on the policy of His Majesty's Government following upon the conclusion of the war?