asked the Home Secretary whether attention is being given, by any scientific or research group under his direction, to the possibility of extinguishing conflagrations by chemical bombs or other scientific means in substitution, wholly or partly, for water, with a view to eliminating dependence on water, reducing the quantity of cumbersome material now necessary for fire-fighting purposes, and more quickly and effectively dealing with the dangers and destructiveness of large fires?

Yes, Sir. This problem has been the subject of constant investigation and research. I have under consideration at the present time measures for further strengthening the organisation for fire-fighting research and my hon. Friend may he sure that this problem is one of those which will have special attention.

asked the Home Secretary whether the local authority is responsible for fire-watching arrangements; and on what grounds the Regional Commissioner has decided that a member of the Goole police force has been seconded for duty in connection with fire-watching arrangements?

Local authorities are responsible for organising the fire-prevention arrangements at all premises, whether residential or business, within their areas except at those business premises for which some other appropriate authority is responsible under the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) (No. 2) Order, 1941. As regards the second part of the Question, I understand that no decision has yet been reached.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a raid took place on Newcastle some weeks ago and the only information conveyed to the hon. Member for the Central Division was through a German source; and will he give instructions that in future Members shall, in accordance with arrangements made at the outbreak of war, be informed immediately with a view to their presence and help in alleviating the suffering?

My hon. Friend is mistaken. No such arrangements have been made. Arrangements were, however, made last year whereby hon. Members may obtain general information about bombing in their constituencies from the appropriate local authorities. These arrangements were outlined in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Birmingham (Mr. Higgs) on 7th November last, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many alien refugees are anxious to take full part in Civil Defence, including air-raid precautions, fire-watching and other defence services, but are impeded by their own ignorance and that of the British public as to which services are open to aliens and on what conditions and by the local variations which exist as to the extent to which the services of aliens are actually accepted by those concerned in the administration; and will he issue a statement dealing fully with this matter and give it wide publicity?

I am aware that there is a large number of aliens who wish to be allowed to avail themselves of these opportunities of rendering war service and I am anxious that, subject to the proper requirements of national security and with due regard to local circumstances, full advantage should be taken of their services. I have recently issued instructions as to the conditions on which aliens may be accepted as volunteers on fire prevention duties and I have in preparation a circular to local authorities as to their employment on other Civil Defence work.

asked the Home Secretary the number of aliens now interned in classes A, B and C, respectively?

According to the latest available statistics the numbers are 3,091 Germans and Austrians in Category "A," 1,505 in Category "B," 2,332 in Category "C" and 2,487 Italians. These figures include persons sent from this country to Canada and Australia.

asked the Minister of Health whether instructions in the event of gas attack have been issued to the supervisors of rest centres, in view of the likelihood that some people admitted would be found to have been contaminated and yet could not well be sent out again to a cleansing station some distance away without any immediate treatment?

Yes, Sir. Supervisors of rest centres have been instructed what to do if, for some exceptional reason, a person contaminated with gas has had to be admitted to a centre.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent members of local medical war committees, whenever eligible, have appointed themselves to all available medical appointments in their area, including medical officers to air-raid shelters, first-aid posts and recruiting boards; and will he cause the position to be fully investigated, as it has occasioned much discontent amongst the other doctors carrying on civilian medical practice?

I have no evidence of discrimination by local medical war committees in favour of their own members as suggested in the first part of the Question of of discontent amongst other doctors as suggested in the second part, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I shall be prepared to look into it.

asked the Minister of Health whether a registered medical practitioner, who has been elected as a member of a local authority, is thereby debarred from serving as a medical officer of a medical aid post in a public air-raid shelter; and whether, if he does so serve and accepts remuneration there for, he will be secured from penalties and/or forfeiture of his seat on the council?

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale (Dr. Morgan) on 21st January last, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary the number of full- and part-time coroners in England and Wales; and their total cost to the country in 1940?

There are 297 coroners in England and Wales of whom, according to my present information, 13 are employed on a full-time basis. Several coroners occupy more than one coronership, the total number of coroner-ships being 333. The salaries of all coroners for the year 1939, which is the last year for which records are available, amounted to £99,307, and the expenses incurred by them in the execution of their duty to £145,666, representing a total cost of £244,973.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the proposal to apply for an Order authorising the opening of cinemas on Sundays, at Newport, Monmouthshire, was carried by only one vote of a majority of the town council; and will he bear this in mind when dealing with the council's request?

I am aware of the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers. If the Newport Borough Council make a draft Order under the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, after complying with the statutory requirements, it will be my duty to lay it before Parliament, and it will then be for the House to decide whether or not they will approve the Order.

asked the Home Secretary whether the requirement in the Standing Orders for Prisons, that books sent to prisoners by their friends must be suitably bound, precludes prisoners from receiving paper-backed books?

In view of the difficulties created in prisons by the circulation of unbound publications, it was formerly the practice to exclude books of this kind from prisons, but having regard to the excellence of many of these publications and of their advantage from the point of view of economy, I have instructed prison governors that for the present they may receive such books for prisoners.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for theft and looting, separately, during the six months to 30th June last; and how many of these convicted persons were under 18 years of age?

I regret that particulars for which my hon. Friend asks are not yet available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, what are the names of the Transport Advisory Committee in Wales; has the committee made any recommendations; to whom does the committee report; and what is the frequency of its meetings?

The members of the Regional Transport Advisory Committee for Wales are:  Mr. A. Andrews, Mr. P. J. Lewis, Mr. O. G. Wyan, representing the road haulage industry. Mr. G. Bown, representing the road passenger transport industry. Mr. C. E. Boxall Great Western Railway Company. Mr. H. Batey  Transport and General Workers' Union.The Committee was appointed before the war for the purpose of affording the regional transport commissioner any assistance which he required in connection with the Ministry's war organisation for road transport. It was not intended that it should make formal reports or recommendations. The Committee met three times before the war, but it has not been found necessary to call it together since. Since the war the regional transport commissioner has mainly relied on the advice of local consultative committees. These have been set up to assist the commissioner with the special problems which have arisen in regard to passenger transport in certain localities including the Rhondda Valley. These committees are called together as occasion requires.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many 12-ton wagons for coal traffic are owned by The London Midland and Scottish Railway Company; and whether he will prevent any new railway wagons being made under 12-tons loading capacity?

The L.M.S. Railway Company own 48,254 12-ton coal wagons. Since 1923 the standard specification of the British railways has not permitted the building of wagons of less capacity than 12 tons for use on the British railways.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will insist that cyclists carry a rear lamp and show a considerable white patch behind in such a position that neither the lamp nor the white patch can be obscured by the rider's overcoat?

All pedal cyclists are required to carry both a white patch with an image of not less than 12 square inches and a red rear lamp and these must be kept unobscured.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the Franchise Committee, appointed in Trinidad, has reported; and, if so, what are its recommendations, and how soon will they be implemented?

The Trinidad Franchise Committee has not yet reported.

asked the Home Secretary what was the last occasion on which a letter mail was received from the Channel Islands; and whether he has any information as to the conditions, obtaining on the islands?

I am informed by the Foreign Relations Department of the Red Cross that replies to postal messages continue to reach this country from the Channel Islands at frequent intervals; and that messages originating in the Channel Islands have been received during the past two months, the last occasion being 6th October, 1941. It is hoped that friends and relatives will continue to receive additional information concerning our fellow-countrymen in the islands in this way. These messages are, of course, private, but so far as they have come to my notice they are reassuring.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will furnish a statement of the profit and loss on Government sales of West African cocoa for the two years beginning October 1939 and 1940?

The Ministry of Food purchased directly the whole of the 1939–40 West African cocoa crop, and besides supplying the United Kingdom was responsible for the sales of this commodity throughout the world. The trading account for the period November, 1939, when the scheme was commenced, until 30th September, 1940, showed a total loss on the West African Trading Account of about £263,000. In respect of the 1940–41 crop the Ministry of Food purchased its own requirements only from the West African Cocoa Control Board and is distributing the cocoa to manufacturers in the United Kingdom. From 1st October, 1940, to 30th June, 1941, provisional figures show a profit to the Ministry of Food on its distribution of West African cocoa of approximately £382,000. This profit results almost entirely from the policy introduced on 1st March, 1941, by which the Ministry charges an additional £10 per ton to the manufacturer. Figures for the period July, 1941, to September, 1941, are not yet available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with the charge made against Mrs. Doris Rogers, a grocer of Queen Street, Pembroke, on 30th September, for adding a nought on her ration permit which enabled her to get 20 lbs. of cheese a week instead of two lbs.?

I learn that this woman, who pleaded guilty to the charge of fraudulently altering a food permit, was fined £2 and ordered to pay £1 10s. costs at Pembroke Dock Sessions on 27th September.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any decision has been reached about maintaining the price of flour at its present level?

An Order came into force on 6th October advancing the delivered price of flour from 25s. 6d. to 33s. 3d. per sack of 280 lbs. on the same day the Flour (Maximum Retail Prices) Order came into force, and prescribes maximum prices for flour when sold by retail.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that under a recent order of his Ministry the price of flour for sale by retail may be increased by as much as 40 per cent.; that any increase will cause hardship, particularly in the North of England where housewives bake their own bread; and whether the matter may be re considered?

I presume the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the Flour (Maximum Retail Prices) Order, 1941. This Order prescribes maximum prices for flour whereas previously retail prices were uncontrolled. I am aware that some increase of the retail price of flour is inevitable, but in implementing the decision to withdraw the subsidy from flour used for purposes other than bread sold by traders, it was not possible to differentiate in the retail price of flour required for other purposes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now prepared to establish immediately, without waiting for the meeting of the Central Wages Board in November, a national statutory minimum of £3 a week for all farm workers?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of ex-mineworkers, under the registration scheme, accepted by the coalowners; the number actually at work; how many are working at the coal face; and the separate figures for West and South Yorkshire, respectively?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour and National Service, that up to the 6th October 23,000 ex-miners had been accepted by the coalowners under the Registration Scheme. The latest figures showing men actually at work are for 27th September when they are shown at 10,000 face workers and 9,100 others, of which 800 face workers and 900 others were employed in South Yorkshire and 400 face workers and 400 others in West Yorkshire.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that Mr. Collin Brooks, who has been allowed to broadcast recently, is the editor of a newspaper which has been publishing material calculated to inspire distrust between this country and the United States of America; and whether, in the interest of British-American relations, he will take steps to prevent the British Broadcasting Corporation from inviting Mr. Collin Brooks to broadcast in future?

; Mr. Brooks has been used as a broadcaster by the B.B.C. for some years past, long before he assumed the editorship of the paper referred to. My right hon. Friend has had the records of Mr. Brooks' broadcasts examined and no material has been found in them calculated to inspire distrust between this country and the United States of America. My right hon. Friend cannot agree to impose an indirect censorship of the Press by refusing opportunities to a competent broadcaster because of his journalistic activities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether consideration has now been given to the report recently submitted to him by the Royal Institute of British Architects Reconstruction Committee; and what action it is proposed to take?

I am afraid I am unable to give the hon. Gentleman any further information than was contained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) on 10th September.

asked the Minister of Pensions what were the circumstances under which Mrs. Malone, the mother of Allan Malone of the Royal Air Force, killed on duly, was refused a pension although the young man was making an allowance of 21s. per week to his mother at the time of his death?

I am unable to award a parent's pension in any case where the condition of pecuniary need is not fulfilled. Although at present ineligible for a pension for this reason, Mrs. Malone has established her title, and has been informed that she may apply again if her financial circumstances change for the worse.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any further consideration has been given to the different awards given to commissioned and non-commis- sioned officers for acts of similar merit, with a view to abolishing the class distinction?

Yes, Sir, the present system of awards involves no class distinction but I considered carefully the case for changing it. I found, however, that there was no demand for such a change from the officers and airmen of the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Air on how many nights the Royal Air Force bombed targets in Germany during the month of September, 1941; how many of the targets were situated in or near inland towns; and how many in or near coastal ports and harbours?

The Royal Air Force attacked targets in Germany on 16 nights during September. Of the numerous targets attacked, about one half were inland and the rest in coastal areas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been directed to the growing volume of purchase of, and inquiries for, agricultural land by speculative investors; and whether he will watch this situation closely with a view to considering the imposition of special taxation upon wartime transactions in agricultural land by persons or corporations not previously directly concerned with agriculture?

I have no information as to the first part of the Question. I have taken note of the suggestion in the second part.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken on the Report of Mr. J. W. Morris, K.C., on the requisitioning of land and buildings and compensation?

Legislation is necessary to give effect to certain of the recommendations and this is in course of prepara- tion. Administrative action has been taken to give effect to the remaining recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of forming an Irish Brigade out of Irishmen now serving in the Army?

I am looking into this question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that orders have been issued by his Department for 40 tuberculosis military cases in the Addington Hospital, Natal, and 120 similar cases at Oribi, to be returned to this country; and whether he will state the arrangements made for the reception, distribution and maintenance of these cases when they arrive in this country?

No special instructions have been issued by the War Office regarding the cases in question, and I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to general instructions regarding the return to this country from South Africa of soldiers suffering from tuberculosis. On arrival in this country soldiers suffering from tuberculosis are sent to a military hospital where they receive treatment as necessary until they are handed over to the care of the local health authority.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the great shortage of skilled men in war production work, he will consider the release from military obligations of all such men of low category of the volunteer and reservist classes as are approved after application has been made for them?

As has been stated on previous occasions, my right hon. and gallant Friend is always willing to consider the temporary release of individual men from the Army where a sufficiently strong case is made out and it is supported by the Government Department directly concerned and by the Ministry of Labour and National Service. I am afraid that it would not be practicable to give special facilities to men of low medical category who are either volunteers or reservists, as many of these men are employed in the Army on duties of the highest importance. I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that large numbers of skilled men were discharged from the Territorial Army at the beginning of the war and a number of reservists were not called up on account of their value to industry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for the utilisation of prisoners of war in British East Africa on work of improvement in the two main roads with bridges, leading from Kenya to Southern Rhodesia, via Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, respectively, before the rainy season commences, and without any further period of experimentation?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend on 2nd October, a few hundred prisoners of war have already been at work on roads in East Africa for some months and arrangements are almost complete for the employment of a larger number in the near future. The fullest possible use will be made of prisoners of war for this work, but my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that there are certain practical difficulties in a scheme which involves the dispersion of prisoners over such a wide area.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that uniforms re-ordered three months ago, together with other equipment, required by the Palace of Westminster Company of the Home Guard, have not yet been supplied; and whether he will take steps to expedite delivery?

I am aware that there has been some delay in the supply of uniforms, but arrangements have now been made for supplies to be delivered in the near future. If my hon. and gallant Friend will let me know what other items of equipment he has in mind, I shall be glad to make further inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that it is part of the duties of the Home Guard Medical Service to organise posts at which Home Guard casualties are to be collected for removal by the ambulances of the air-raid precautions services; and, as representations have already been made to the effect that the medical equipment for these posts is bound to prove insufficient if the arrival of embulances should be delayed by enemy action or the interruption of communications, whether he will consider the provision of more efficient arrangements?

It is one of the duties of Home Guard medical officers to advise battalion and company commanders with regard to the points at which casualties may be collected for removal by ambulance or by other suitable means to the nearest first-aid post or hospital, military or civil. As regards the second part of the Question, the scale of medical equipment has recently been increased in cases where units are expected to operate at some distance from civil or military medical aid.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information in connection with the German long-range guns at Cap Gris Nez; whether the Germans are using a new type of shell; and whether the new shell bursts in midair and scatters shrapnel over a wide area?

I do not consider that it would be in the national interest to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he will arrange for the free issue in Royal Ordnance factories of milk to those who are engaged in processes where the consumption of milk would assist in the prevention of industrial diseases?

I fear that I am not in a position to authorise a free distribution of milk to workers in Royal Ordnance factories, as suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether, as a matter of urgency, he will cause the Cotton Control Board to expedite the deliveries of cotton to spinners in Northern Ireland, as they are placed at a disadvantage in meeting the demands of their customers by the slowness of deliveries?

I presume my hon. Friend refers to deliveries of yarn to weavers in Northern Ireland, since there are no cotton spinners there.' Following the reduction in the supplies of cotton and the release of labour under the concentration scheme for the spinning industry, production of yarn by spinners has fallen substantially. All users have been affected, and I am not aware that weavers in Northern Irlenad have been placed at any disadvantage compared with others.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, whether, owing to the cost of flax production in Northern Ireland having been considerably higher than last year, he will take this into consideration in fixing the price of flax for the current season's crop, and so, under these circumstances, increase the price to a figure remunerative to the grower?

Yes, Sir; my Noble Friend has decided to increase the average price to £188 a ton.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he will work out a scheme whereby a much larger number of women may be employed on munition works in Northern Ireland?

This, as my hon. Friend knows, is a large and intractable problem. It has occupied the continuous attention of the Ministry of Supply and the Government of Northern Ireland, working in the closest collaboration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether since there are now, even in London, only three deliveries of letters and similarly reduced collections, post-women can be more extensively used?

Postmen liable for military service are not being reserved by the Post Office, and, as they are called up, are being replaced by women. Women are therefore already employed in large numbers on the delivery and collection of letters, and more women will be employed as the war continues. Four deliveries are made daily in London head districts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the blackout and the abridgement of activity after the failure of light, he will consider instructing post offices not to close for an hour at mid-day?

Since the end of October, 1939, it has been the general practice to allow sub-post offices to close for a short period at mid-day, in order to alleviate the staffing difficulties that have arisen as a result of the war. So far as I am aware the arrangement has not given rise to any appreciable public inconvenience, and as the abolition of midday closing would cause severe hardship to sub-postmasters and their assistants, I should be most reluctant to withdraw the concession. The mid-day closure does not, of course, apply to head offices, branch offices and other Crown post offices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Lease-Lend Act has tended to hamper or restrict exports from this country to the United States of America or whether it is still the policy of His Majesty's Government and the United States of America Government to encourage such exports, especially of luxury articles and garments?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the White Paper about the use of materials received under the Lend-Lease Act (Cmd. 6311). The agreed arrangements will affect exports of certain classes of articles that incorporate materials of types which are subject to restriction in the United States on grounds of short supply and which we obtain from the United States. The Lease-Lend Act has assisted us to divert to direct war purposes productive capacity and scarce materials which would otherwise have to be devoted to exports. Nevertheless it remains important for us to continue to earn dollars by means of such exports as are acceptable to the United States.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the resentment caused to local authorities and the Civil Defence volunteers by the Home Security Circular No. 206/1941, re withdrawal of clothes rationing coupons from recipients of uniforms not only for future issues, but for those already supplied; and, seeing that up to the present, members of the Home Guard, the Armed Forces, British Red Cross and St. John Ambulance organisations have not been asked to surrender coupons on receipt of their uniforms, why this differentiation has been made between the Civil Defence, organisations and other national defence bodies?

The circular issued by the Ministry of Home Security is part of general arrangements which are being introduced under which all full-time wearers of uniform will surrender a certain number of coupons for their uniform. The circular in question stated that no surrender of coupons is yet required from part-time Civil Defence Volunteers. Any arrangements which may be made on this subject will apply equally to other organisations such as those referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst unpaid air-raid wardens in connection with the requirement of forfeiture of clothing coupons for garments received from local authorities for wear in carrying out their Civil Defence duties; is the application of the order retrospective; and will he allow new recruits to the Civil Defence services one coupon-free outfit on enrolment?

Unpaid Civil Defence workers are not yet required to surrender coupons for their uniforms. Any arrangement that may be made will be retrospective as from 1st September, 1941. The object of collecting coupons in such cases would be to take account of the saving in wear and tear of ordinary clothes effected by wearers of uniform as compared with fire-watchers and other non-uniformed workers who wear civilian clothes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make any statement regarding the replacement of lost clothing coupons?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 7th October to the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. C. Morrison).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether licences have been issued to any manufacturers or their agents to export dried milk, milk products, and egg and milk products, during 1941 to Bermuda and other Colonies; and whether such foodstuffs are still being exported?

Small quantities of these products are being exported to territories whose essential requirements we are under obligation to provide. Licences are not required to export these goods from the United Kingdom to the Colonies, but imports are controlled in each Colony. Exports to other destinations require export licences, which are only issued after consultation with the Ministry of Food.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state, in proof gallons, the quantity of whisky exported from this country to Australia for the last six months for which the figures are available; and the proof gallons of wine imported into this country from Australia for the corresponding period?

The latest information available from the published trade returns relates to the year 1939. Exports of Scotch or Irish whisky consigned to Australia in 1939 were 609 thousand proof gallons. Imports of all kinds of wine consigned from Australia were 3,587 thousand gallons. As already stated in reply to previous Questions, publication of particulars of our trade in individual commodities or with individual countries has been suspended since the outbreak of war.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the indignation of the residents in the area of Southend-on-Sea at the increase in the local water rate, from 11 per cent. to 14 per cent. of the rental ' values, and that the Southend Waterworks Company attribute the necessity for this increase to war-time circumstances, depletion of the numbers of consumers and the provision of a greater volume of water for the fire-fighting services; and whether he will cause investigation to be made and consider a Government grant to meet the difference?

I have received several letters from individual consumers concerning the charges of the Southend Waterworks Company and my hon. Friend the Member for Southend has brought their affairs to my notice. I am in correspondence with the company and will communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the increasing number of people in the area of Southend-on-Sea, summoned for non-payment of rates; and whether, as their inability to do so results from war conditions, such as evacuation and the depletion in the number of visitors to the prescribed area what financial assistance is granted by the Government to deal with these conditions?

I have no information as regards the first part of the Question. As regards the last part I would remind my hon. Friend that a rating authority has power to reduce or remit the payment of rates on account of the poverty of any person liable to payment of rates.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that institutions such as the Star and Garter, which assist men wounded in the last war, are urgently in need of funds; that a flag day was recently organised to help the dependants of men wounded in the present war; that a large section of the community feel that the welfare of such sufferers should not be dependent, even partially, upon charitable appeals; and will he give an assurance that adequate provision will be made for all such persons at the cost of the Exchequer?

I have been asked to reply. While the schemes of compensation for war disablement administered by my Department make full provision for such liabilities as the State can reasonably accept, I gladly acknowledge voluntary agencies have done much good work in individual cases in meeting special circumstances such as could not be covered by a general authority applicable to all cases. It would in my view be regrettable if this method of providing additional benefits in exceptional cases were discouraged.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Rayleigh District authorities still fail to provide meals for schoolchildren, although the Essex County Education Authority has authorised the provision of meals at a nominal charge; and whether he will make representations to the Rayleigh authorities for the inauguration of a scheme?

I am not aware of the circumstances mentioned in the first part of the Question. I am however communicating with the Essex local education authority and will inform the hon. Member of the result of my inquiry.