asked the President of the Board of Trade the considerations which influenced him to include in the retail margins of profit on utility apparel the Purchase Tax addition to the cost of these articles?

For reasons of practical convenience the margins were expressed in the manner adopted in the Order, on the advice of the Central Price Regulation Committee, with which I agree.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will grant additional coupons for the purchase of working clothes to surface workers in coal mines?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2nd October to the hon. Member for Ince (Mr. G. Macdonald).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered an appeal from the Leyton unit of the Women's Junior Air Corps respecting facilities for securing girls' uniforms; and whether he will consider conceding a means of utilising coupons by any youth organisation for the purpose of providing costumes or uniforms?

I have considered the appeal to which the hon. Member refers but cannot agree to provide facilities to enable the Women's Junior Air Corps or other similar youth organisations to obtain coupon-free uniforms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many people in Swansea have lost their old ration books and cannot get the new clothing coupons; that they are without official information as to how they can obtain them; and will he remedy this by issuing definite instructions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to-day to the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. C. Morrison), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the "Board of Trade Journal" for August, in the list of the new import restrictions affecting Trinidad, certain specific soaps are mentioned by name, though no one article is so advertised; and whether this differential treatment was approved after consulting the Colonial Office?

I understand that the detailed list in question was not referred to the Colonial Office before it was published in Trinidad. It has since been superseded by a list which does not specify any soaps by their trade names. The revised list will shortly be published in the "Board of Trade Journal."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (1) whether he can give any information in connection with the explosion at a Royal Ordnance Factory in Wales on Friday, 19th September; how many men were killed and injured; and what was the cause of the explosion;(2) whether he can give any information in connection with the explosion at a Royal Ordnance Factory in the West of England on 12th September when three men were killed and a number injured; whether any of the missing men have been found; and what was the cause of the accident?

I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the deep sympathy of my Noble Friend and his colleagues on the Supply Council with the relatives of the employees of the Royal Ordnance Factories concerned who lost their lives in these accidents. The accident on 19th September occurred in a shell-filling shop and, as a result, two men were killed and two men and one woman were seriously injured. Owing to the precautions observed, only one shell exploded. The accident on 12th September occurred during the milling of high explosive for shell filling. Three men were killed; four men were injured sufficiently seriously to be detained in hospital and eleven others were slightly injured. The explosion was confined to the building in which it occurred. The bodies of the three missing men have been recovered. In both cases inquiries have been held by His Majesty's Inspectors of Explosives, but the causes of the accidents have so far not been established. All possible steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents. I should add that in both incidents the workers and staff behaved admirably, and it is proposed suitably to acknowledge acts of bravery on the part of certain employees.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he has yet received the report of the re-examination of a basic pharmaceutical ingredient consisting of a dehydrated calcium hypochlorite admixed with a dehydrated sodium per- borate; and whether the results of the examination disclosed that such product is an effective decontaminant of the eye from mustard gas?

Several reports on the mixture referred to have been received, and they show that it is not an effective decontaminant for the eye, after contamination with mustard gas.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make any statement with regard to the counting of service rendered by officers in the ranks of Imperial contingents of a Dominion Force?

Yes, Sir. It has now been decided that service rendered by officers in the ranks of an Imperial contingent of a Dominion Force during an emergency shall be allowed to reckon for promotion and increase of pay equally with service in the British Army under the conditions laid down in the Pay Warrant.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken to ensure that any technical men of the Pioneer Corps are utilised to the best national advantage; and what review is made of the civil experience of such men?

Every effort is made to place men possessing technical qualifications in those arms of the Service where their special knowledge will be of most service to the Army, and suitably qualified personnel are invited to submit particulars for this purpose. So far as the Pioneer Corps is concerned, a large number of men have already been transferred to technical corps under the scheme to which I referred in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for North Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss) on 1st July. Further transfers are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what facilities are now in operation to enable men recruited from Wales to serve in Welsh units;

Every effort is made to post Welshmen to Welsh units and transfers are effected wherever possible. My hon. Friend will appreciate, however, that military requirements may not always permit the full application of the principle.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason why the Duke of Aosta has been granted leave to visit Italy on parole?

There is no foundation for the report that the Duke of Aosta has been granted leave to visit Italy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any bounty is payable to time-expired serving soldiers who are retained with the colours for the duration of the war?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a similar Question by him on the 13th May, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the official pronouncement that a serving officer, prior to 1st January, 1942, who marries thereafter, will receive family lodging allowance at the old rates unless he himself has elected to the contrary before that date, he will so notify the Army Pay Department and all military formations for the purposes of circulation and action, as this information did not appear in the original statement?

Advance instructions have gone out to this effect to all Commands at home and abroad. In case there is any doubt I will see that the formal instructions remove it.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the anomalous and inequitable operation of the rent allowance to wives in the London postal area, and that it leads to considerable resentment, he will now reconsider the matter, with a view to making the allowance operative over a wider area?

The additional allowance granted in respect of the London Postal Area is of long standing and applied also in the last war. It is recognised that, in present circumstances, it is somewhat anomalous, but any extension of the area would equally present anomalies. The General arrangement is that, in the case of hardship arising from high rents which cannot be met from the normal family allowance, application for an additional allowance can be made to the War Service Grants Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information in connection with a shell fired from a fort on the Isle of Wight on Friday, 19th September; how many houses were damaged in Shanklin; and how many people were injured?

This case is at present the subject of a court of inquiry, and I am not therefore in a position to make a statement at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any provision exists requiring that a separate banking account shall be kept or otherwise for ensuring that money received as Purchase Tax shall in fact reach the Treasury and not be carried as part of an individual's or company's general account; what preference the Government have in a winding-up or bankruptcy to ensure that money held for their account is not lost; and how many cases now exist where money received in payment of Purchase Tax is more than four weeks overdue?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I am advised that Purchase Tax does not rank as a preferential debt in such circumstances. In answer to the third part of the Question, I am glad to be able to say that in the case of the period which ended on 30th June last, over 95 per cent. of registered persons had paid their Purchase Tax in full within four weeks of the prescribed date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now able to state the amount of revenue received from the operation of the Purchase Tax for the first three months of the financial year.

The first accounting period for Purchase Tax in this financial year was for the four months ended 30th June and the yield for this period was about £37,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the town or village which now holds the record in respect of subscription, per head of population, to any war savings effort recently made?

The War Savings effort in both town and country is a continuous one and I do not think that the results of any particular period of special activity can give a satisfactory comparative picture of the total savings achieved by different parts of the country. Moreover, special efforts made by many small country districts have been included in the figures for larger areas. Subject to those observations, I give, below the six best results of recent War Weapons Weeks:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that prisoners of war in such camps as Stalag VIII B, who work in mines, are fully protected and benefit by the insurance schemes in force in the country where they are detained as well as drawing a somewhat higher rate of pay?

Any disability incurred by a prisoner of war as a result of his employment at work for the enemy would be regarded as attributable to military service and if he was rendered unfit for further military service by disablement he would qualify on discharge from the Army for pension in the normal way.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the office of His Majesty's Inspector of Taxes, Dalston district, 19, Leonard Street, E.C.2, has not yet been rehoused in new offices, in view of the fact that his Department agreed the removal was essential six months ago, and that on two occasions since then the staff have been given instructions to prepare for the removal to take place as new accommodation had been chosen?

I understand from inquiry of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works, and Buildings that steps are being taken to rehouse the offices in question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty who is the Director of Economy at the Admiralty; what is the size of his staff and what are his functions; whether members of the Forces and the public can bring instances of alleged waste to his notice personally; and whether he will make a statement on this official's activities since his appointment?

The functions of a Controller-General of Economy are exercised in the Admiralty by. the Fourth Sea Lord, in his capacity of Superintending Lord of the Naval Store and Victualling Departments of the Navy. For the past 18 months he has had on his personal staff a waste prevention officer, who has established direct contact with the Fleet and naval establishments ashore, for the purpose of co-ordinating methods of ensuring economy and the prevention of waste, and who deals with correspondence on these subjects. A number of waste prevention officers have been appointed also for duty at the ports and other bases. The present Fourth Sea Lord has introduced certain additional safeguards against waste, but it is only fair to point out that it has long been the direct responsibility of the Naval Store and Victualling Departments of the Admiralty, and, in the Fleet, flag officers and captains assisted by their accountant officers, to ensure the exercise of economy and the prevention of waste. All concerned frequently have their attention drawn to new directions in which economy may be effected.

asked the Secretary of State for War who is the Director of Economy at the War Office; what is the size of his staff and what are his functions; whether members of the Forces and the public can bring instances of alleged waste directly to his notice; and whether he will make a statement on this official's activities since his appointment?

The Controller-General of Economy is Major-General J. Buckley, D.S.O., M.C. He is assisted by seven staff officers. His special duty is to see that the utmost possible economy consistent with efficiency is secured and that the importance of economy is fully appreciated throughout the Army down to the individual soldier. Members of the Forces and of the public are encouraged to bring instances of alleged waste to his notice. Since his appointment the Controller General, who has had a very wide experience of business organisation and administration in civil life, has visited a large number of units and formations inspecting, lecturing and demonstrating how economies can be effected in connection with food, clothing, equipment, transport and stores of every kind. Among the measures which may be attributed to his initiative are the weekly rest day devoted to the maintenance of War Department vehicles; drastic action for the prevention of the misuse of transport; a general tightening-up of the arrangements for the maintenance of equipment; and a number of schemes connected with the preservation of clothing.

asked the Secretary of State for Air who is the Director of Economy at the Air Ministry; what is the size of his staff and what are his functions; whether members of the: forces and the public can bring instances of alleged waste directly to his notice; and whether he will make a statement on this official's activities since his appointment?

Air Vice-Marshal (late Air Chief Marshal) Sir John Steel is the Controller-General of Economy at the Air Ministry. His functions were stated in the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on 8th May last. Assisting him at headquarters, the Controller-General has two serving officers and a small clerical staff. Members of the public are at all times free to bring suggestions to his notice and serving personnel are encouraged to assist, in the same way, the anti-waste committees which have been set up at all Royal Air Force units and establishments. The Controller-General has been engaged since his appointment on a general survey and I am satisfied that useful results have been achieved.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to bring under the present regulations for calling-tip for military service those aliens, now of military age, who came to this country as refugees from Nazi persecution, in the years immediately preceding the war; how many have voluntarily joined the Pioneer Corps or other units; and whether, having regard to the man-power position to-day, he will consider taking special steps to render them liable to National Service in spite of their technical foreign nationality?

The great majority of the aliens referred to in the Question are of enemy origin, and it is not proposed to extend to them liability for compulsory military service under the National Service Acts. As regards the second part of the Question, it would not be in the public interest to give figures for the number of men who have voluntarily enlisted. So far as the employment of these foreigners in National Service of a civilian character is concerned, a very large number are already employed in agriculture and in industries connected with the prosecution of the war, and are performing praiseworthy service. I already have power to issue directions to such foreigners to undertake civilian employment. All such persons are required under the International Labour Force (Registration of Austrians, Germans and Italians) Order, 1941, to register their industrial particulars, and every effort is being made by my officers to enable those so registered, who have not yet obtained suitable employment, to play their part in the war effort so far as general considerations of security permit.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that 50,000 workers in Essex have to walk home because there are no omnibuses after 7.40 p.m.; that High Street, Grays, Essex, is a boundary, to the west of which the London Passenger Transport Board operates, and to the east the Eastern National Omnibus Company operates; and when he intends to put into operation his powers to prevent this hardship upon these workers?

This matter has been carefully investigated by the Regional Transport Commissioner in consultation with the firms concerned. Most of the firms indicated that no difficulty was being experienced, but two of them suggested that later services would be convenient for a total of 15 workpeople. These workers now travel by bicycle or train and to carry them by bus would necessitate operating additional vehicles over six separate routes. In these circumstances the additional services could not be justified.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies what the price for the new crop of cocoa in West Africa will be; what will be the price in the French Cameroons; how in each case the price was determined; and whether he is satisfied that the price to the grower is reasonable, in view of the profit made on cocoa in this country, the wide disparity between producers and consumers prices, and the use of cocoa profits in this country to subsidise other foodstuffs?

I append a statement of the prices to be paid in the several territories concerned. These prices were decided upon in consultation between the West African Cocoa Control Board and the Colonial Governments concerned, having regard to the anticipated outcome of the Board's operations in the year 1940–41, past levels of prices, and the needs of West African cocoa producers: my Noble Friend is satisfied that they are reasonable in all the existing circumstances.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he will furnish a statement showing the profit and loss on the purchases of cocoa by the West Africa Cocoa Control Board for the two cocoa crop seasons 1939–40 and 1940–41?

The West African Cocoa Control Board did not commence operations until the season 1940–41, and any inquiry as to the financial outcome of the purchase by His Majesty's Government in 1939–40 should be addressed to the Ministry of Food, who were responsible for the purchase in that year. As regards 1940–41, it will not be possible to prepare a definite financial statement for some time, as the year only closed on the 30th September, but a full statement will be presented to the House in due course.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. W. A. Domingo has been discharged from detention; and what steps have been taken to this end?

No, Sir. Mr. Domingo was detained as evidence showed that he had been engaged in defeatist and anti-war propaganda including propaganda designed to stimulate opposition on racial grounds to the establishment of United States bases in the British West Indies. He exercised his right to make an objection to his detention before the local advisory committee. This Committee has now reported that the grounds on which the detention Order was made support the Order, and the Governor does not, therefore, propose to release Mr. Domingo.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies on what grounds of public policy the Government of Nigeria has enacted legislation prohibiting strikes; in what other Colonies has similar legislation been enacted; and whether it is intended, and for what purpose, to extend such a prohibition throughout the Colonial Empire?

Legislation has been passed in Northern Rhodesia, Hong Kong, Nigeria and the Gold Coast, and will shortly be passed in Palestine prescribing that employers shall not declare or take part in lockouts and that workmen shall not take part in strikes in connection with any trade dispute, unless the dispute has been reported to the Governor or other competent Government authority and it has not been referred by him for settlement to the arbitration tribunal or board constituted for the purpose within 21 days of the date of the report. The object of this legislation is, as in the case of the United Kingdom Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Order, 1940, to ensure that the war effort is not prejudiced by a stoppage of work in any industry essential to the prosecution of the war. With regard to the concluding part of the Question, my Noble Friend is prepared to concur in legislation of this kind being enacted by any Colonial Government where, for the above reason, the Governor advises that it would be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why a Royal Air Force concert party was engaged to entertain the St. Martin's Ward women's branch of the Worcester Conservative Association; whether this engagement was made with the consent of the commanding officer; and whether other political parties have the same right to use parties of service men to publicise their activities?

It is not the case that a Royal Air Force concert party was engaged for the purpose mentioned. I understand that two airmen were engaged in their private capacity as entertainers without the knowledge of their commanding officer. They went not, however, able to fulfil the engagement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what is the position and what are the functions of Sir Herbert Emerson; what staff he is to have; where his office is to be accommodated; what funds are at the disposal of his organisation; and what is its estimated annual cost?

For some years past Sir Herbert Emerson has been League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Director of the Inter-governmental Committee on Refugees. In these positions he is not responsible to His Majesty's Government but to the League of Nations and to the Inter-governmental Committee respectively, to both of which His Majesty's Government subscribe. Recently, however, Sir Herbert Emerson has accepted the appointment of Chairman of the Council on Aliens and it is presumably to this that the Question refers. The Council on Aliens was established last year under the authority of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to advise the Government in regard to refugee questions. Sir Herbert Emerson's services are honorary. The secretarial duties of the Council are undertaken by the Foreign Office, and no cost falls on public funds beyond small amounts which are chargeable to the Foreign Office and Diplomatic vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give particulars of the decision of the Emperor Haile Selassie to abolish the legal status of slavery in Ethiopia and the Gabar system?

I have no information concerning the decision to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am having inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware of the public dissatisfaction that the major cinema circuits of the country pick and choose among the Ministry's propaganda films and that in many cases the best films, such as "Target for To-night," cannot be properly shown because they are sold on an exclusive basis to the circuits in question; and why, if factories are controlled in war-time, steps are not taken to enforce the proper and most widespread display of these films, on which the State money is expended, without reference to the wishes of monopoly concerns?

No instances of public dissatisfaction have come to my notice. The short films produced by the Ministry of Information have been shown with the same regularity in circuit cinemas as in independent cinemas. These films are offered to all cinemas, without reference to the wishes of any monopoly concerned, either free or through the usual distribution channels of the film trade.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether attention has been called to the alleged cornering of the tea market; whether he can make a statement on the whole subject; and whether it is proposed to remedy the shortage of supplies of tea in many shops?

I am not aware of any "cornering" of the tea market, nor of any consumers being unable to purchase their ration. A new basis of distribution to retailers, shortly to be introduced, is designed to enable all consumers to purchase tea where they desire.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any increases are to be made in the rations for miners and other classes of heavy manual workers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my speech in the Debate on Food Distribution on 2nd October.