asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is satisfied that the levy of 6d. per stone on all fresh fish landed from British trawlers will not prejudice the activities of the fishing industry; and, as a result, react on the already inadequate supply of fish to the consumer?

As the Order imposing the levy to which my hon. Friend refers is to be discussed at the next Sitting I would ask him to await the explanation I will then make as to the reason for and effect of the levy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he will make a statement as to the reasons for the protest of the Joint Council of the Fishing Industry on the proposed levy of 6d. per stone on all fresh fish landed from British trawlers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Debate on the Order imposing the levy which is to take place at the next Sitting of the House.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what are the functions proposed for the milk movements branch about to be established at Thames Ditton; what number will comprise the personnel; and the expenditure involved?

The function of this organisation is to redirect supplies in England and Wales as may be necessary to secure economies in transport and to bring the quantities of milk available in each area into line with changes in demand resulting from war-time population movements and the Ministry's control of retail distribution. The senior personnel consists of the Director of Milk Movements, an Assistant Director and two other officers recruited from the staff of the Milk Marketing Board; five officers from the milk distributive trade; and one officer transferred from another branch of the Milk Division of the Ministry. The number of other appointments is likely to be small, but it is not yet possible to determine exactly how many junior staff will be required. No estimate of, the expenditure involved will be available for some time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will allow the small pig keeper to kill two pigs during the cold months instead of one every six months, in view of the difficulty of keeping or curing pig-meat during warm or hot weather?

The arrangements under which self-suppliers of meat are permitted to slaughter pigs for their own consumption have recently been modified to provide that where producers wish to slaughter only one pig at a time there need not be an interval of six months between the issue of licences provided the maximum of two pigs in twelve months is not exceeded. This change has been notified to the Small Pig Keepers' Council and the necessary instructions were issued to Food Executive Officers on 27th September, 1941.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the serious position in many parts of the country, where stocks of bees were unable to gather any honey even for their own winter stores, and where the bees have already consumed the bulk of the 10 lbs. of sugar which should keep them through the winter; and is any provision being made for a supplementary grant?

Instructions have been issued for a supplementary grant during the current month not exceeding 5 lbs. of sugar per colony where evidence is produced by a bee keeper that the original grant for winter feeding is inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the circumstances under which Mr. Arthur Abbott, attached to His Majesty's Embassy at Rio de Janeiro, has been relieved of his duties; whether he has taken into account the 25-years' experience of this officer of the social and economical conditions in South America before he was superseded by a junior officer; and whether he will consider retaining during the period of the war public servants whose qualifications and long experience would be of use in promoting the interests of this country?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware of the long experience of Brazil which the officer in question has enjoyed in the Consular Service, but in view of the specialised activities of a Press Department my predecessor decided that a change was necessary. The considerations mentioned in the last part of the Question are habitually borne in mind in such cases.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether in Nigeria minimum wage legislation or machinery for the regulation and adjustment of wages is under consideration or in effective operation; and whether any Government action is contemplated to bring wages above subsistence levels or in any case to adjust wages to increased cost of living requirements?

Provision is made in the Nigeria Labour Code empowering the Governor by Order-in-Council to fix minimum wages in cases where he considers that in any part of the territory the wages paid to any labourers or class of labourer engaged in any particular occupation are unreasonably low. My Noble Friend has communicated with the Governor in regard to the matters raised in the second part of the Question, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend on the subject when the Governor's reply has been received.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether a searching investigation will be made into the administration of the Defence Regulations in Jamaica since the war; what steps are being taken to rectify and amend the injustices committed; what guarantees are being insisted on for the impartial and just administration of the regulations in the future; and what steps are being taken in respect to those responsible for the administration which created so grave a condition in the Colony?

No, Sir. As regards the second part of the Question, ray Noble Friend is quite unable to accept the suggestion that injustices have been committed in the administration of Defence. Regulations in Jamaica. The third and fourth parts of the Question do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the emergency regulations in Jamaica will be amended to the form adopted in Britain after Parliamentary discussion; whether Regulation 23 will be amended so as to bring it into line with 39B in this country; and whether all persons detained before or after 16th May will be given the opportunity of appeal?

My Noble Friend is unable to agree with the proposition that all Defence Regulations in Jamaica or in any other colony should be amended to the form adopted in the United Kingdom; but, as my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the Jamaican Defence Regulation corresponding to United Kingdom Regulation I8B has now been amended so as to conform exactly with the provisions of the United Kingdom Regulation. As regards the second part of the Question, my Noble Friend considers that the question whether this regulation should be amended so as to bring it into line with Regulation 393 of the United Kingdom Regulations is a matter which should be left to the discretion of the Governor, who has not recommended any change. As regards the third part of the Question, the amended regulations will allow any person detained between 16th March, 1941, and the date on which the new regulation came into force to have his case reconsidered in accordance with the new procedure and under the provisions of the new regulations.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether Dr. Starum has yet been discharged from detention in Jamaica?

My noble Friend has no information regarding the detention of any person named Starum in Jamaica. If, however, the reference is to Dr. Stamm, the Governor reported last August that it had been decided to release him.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the Governor of Jamaica has produced for Mr. S. C. Marquis the precise grounds and exact evidence for his detention; whether this man has the opportunity of being heard under the amended regulations; and why the Governor failed to prosecute?

My Noble Friend understands that Mr. Marquis has been informed of the grounds on which the order for his detention was made. As regards the second part of the Question, Mr. Marquis will be able to make an objection to the new Advisory Committee which has been appointed by the Governor in accordance with the Regulation. The relevant Jamaica Defence Regulation has been amended so as to conform exactly with Regulation I8B of the United Kingdom Regulations, which provide inter alia that it shall be the duty of the chairman of the advisory committee to inform the objector of the grounds on which the order has been made against him and to furnish him with such particulars as are, in the opinion of the chairman, sufficient to enable him to present: his case. As regards the third part of the Question, Mr. Marquis was detained because the Governor considered that his detention under the Defence Regulations was more conducive to the public interest than his prosecution.

asked the Home Secretary what facilities are at present available to the personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Mercantile Marine to exercise their right to vote at Parliamentary elections; and whether he can give an approximate indication of the percentage of soldiers, sailors and airmen who have voted at by-elections since the war started?

All male members of the Forces and the Mercantile Marine who are on the register are entitled to vote as absent voters either by being classified as such when the register is compiled or by subsequent application. They may vote by post or, if they state that they expect to be out of the country they may nominate a proxy. In the case of voting by post, officers must notify registration officers of the addresses to which their ballot papers are to be sent. The addresses of other members of the Forces, enrolled when the register was compiled, are supplied through the respective record offices. Those who have joined subsequently are required to give their ad dresses on claiming to vote as absent voters. Members of the Mercantile Marine must also supply their addresses. Women members of the Forces may vote as absent voters if serving abroad or afloat. I regret that the information asked for in the second half of the Question is not obtainable.

asked the Home Secretary the number of A, B and C class aliens whose cases are respectively awaiting consideration by tribunals either for the first time or subsequent occasions?

According to the latest available statistics the number of cases referred to but not yet reported on by committees or tribunals is approximately 250 Germans and Austrians and 300 Italians. I regret that the statistics are not kept in a form which would enable me to give the further details desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for permits to be issued to enable members of the voluntary staffs of rest centres under the public assistance committee, who are enrolled as Civil Defence volunteers, to purchase protective clothing, overalls, without coupons on presentation of their official pass issued by the local authority?

Voluntary workers at rest centres are not, as such, officially enrolled Civil Defence personnel. If they are so enrolled in some other capacity, they will receive uniforms from the Civil Defence authorities. Where they are not enrolled, their aggregate needs do not appear to exceed those of any other social worker, and would not justify an issue of coupon-free overalls.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will require all Service Departments to publish in united orders full particulars of war service grants, so that all concerned will be made aware of the Government assistance which is available in all cases of proved hardship?

Full particulars of the scheme have already appeared in orders of the Service Departments but my right hon. Friend is now considering, in consultation with those Departments, measures for further wide publicity in connection with war service grants.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any steps have been taken to introduce the gratuity on the marriage of war widows similar to that which existed during the last war?

The Royal Warrant of 29th June, 1940, provides that the widow of a soldier below the rank of Warrant Officer Class I may on remarriage be granted a gratuity equal to one year's pension. Corresponding provision is made in the War Pensions instruments for the Naval and Air Forces.

asked the Minister of Health whether the committee recently set up by him to report on the availability and distribution of medical man-power, has yet reported its findings?

The committee has submitted an interim report, as to which I would refer to the reply given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for St. Albans (Sir F. Fremantle) on 2nd October.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that at the recent corruption trial at Edinburgh where three members of Glasgow Corporation Town Council were tried and sentenced, Mr. Lymnes, contractor, confessed to paying £600 for bribing and buying support; that Councillor Anderson confessed to receiving £500 of this for bribing certain members of the gas committee, of which he kept £325 in his personal possession; that ex-Councillor Campbell confessed to having solicited this money, and to having received and distributed £100; whether the Crown asked these men to turn King's evidence; and whether he proposes to put these three men on their trial?

I am aware of the evidence given by the three men referred to. It was in my judgment necessary to call these men as witnesses for the Crown. After a person has been called as a witness for the Crown, it is incompetent under Scots law to prosecute him in respect of the matters about which he has given evidence. Accordingly, these three men will not be prosecuted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of conscientious objectors now in Scottish prisons who have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment by courts-martial and those sentenced by the courts for failing to present themselves for medical examination; and the periods of sentence and respective prisons where they are detained?

Conscientious objection is not a criminal offence and no one can be imprisoned on account of it. One man is undergoing a sentence of three months' imprisonment, and another a sentence of six months imposed by court-martial for offences alleged to have been committed on conscientious grounds. Sixty-three persons are serving sentences imposed by civil courts for failing to present themselves for medical examination under the National Service Acts. The warrants for imprisonment in those cases do not state whether the offences were alleged to have been committed on grounds of conscience, although in the majority of cases the men concerned had appeared before a conscientious objectors' tribunal and had been refused registration in the register of conscientious objectors. Of these 65 prisoners, 58 are in Barlinne Prison, Glasgow, 2 in Greenock, Edinburgh and Perth Prisons respectively, and I in Aberdeen. The sentences are as follow:12 months' imprisonment, 54 persons; 6 months' imprisonment, 4 persons; 3 months' imprisonment, 3 persons; 3 months—20 days' imprisonment in default of paying fines ranging from £25 to £3, 4 persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the complaints of Scottish dairy-holders regarding the animal feeding-stuffs rationing scheme, as outlined in the Department's leaflet R1 (4), which provides for a ration of four hundredweight of cattle-food per no gallons of milk produced; whether he is aware that this ration is inadequate for the maintenance of dairy cows; that the scheme makes no provision for holdings outside those on which farmers can produce feeding-stuffs from their own resources; and whether, in view of this, steps can row be taken to increase the allotted ration to meet the needs of dairy-holders who have no such resources?

The ration to which my hon. Friend refers is intended to provide the extra feeding necessary to ensure the production of milk. I understand that this allowance is generally regarded by farmers as ample, and only one representation against it has been received since the issue of the leaflet. Dairykeepers have been repeatedly told that they are expected to provide for the basic maintenance of their herds by growing or purchasing the bulky fodder required; and it is not possible within the limits of our feeding-stuffs resources to provide for the issue of rations additional to those already announced.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many types of uniforms there are in the British Army; and to what extent commanding officers have the right of modifying them?

Apart from undress uniform, which is optional, the only types of uniform in use in the Army at home are battle dress and service dress. In addition, khaki drill uniform is in general use at tropical stations. Commanding officers are strictly forbidden to make modifications to approved patterns.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether lie can state the number of conscientious objectors awaiting trial by courts-martial and held in military custody; the period between the alleged offence and trial; and the number of previous offences in each case?

I am afraid that this information is not available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate amount of time and labour, including reference to every unit in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the present unsatisfactory state of Army prisons; and whether he has any statement to make upon this matter?

I am not clear in what respect my hon. Friend considers that the conditions in military prisons are unsatisfactory, but, if he will let me have further particulars, I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider recommending that service in the Home Guard be allowed to reckon for awards of the Territorial Decoration and Medal?

The Efficiency Decoration and Medal are intended to serve as rewards for long and meritorious service in an auxiliary force with a liability for training in peace and it would not, I think, be appropriate for service in the Home Guard to be reckoned for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, as many commanding officers fail to submit quarterly returns of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes receipts and expenditure to their units, he will take steps to rectify the matter?

The attention of commanding officers has been drawn to this matter in a recent instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for War what functions in connection with prisoners of war have been entrusted to the war organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John?

As the Prime Minister stated in the House last November, His Majesty's Government have entrusted to the War Organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John the duties connected with the despatch of food and clothing parcels to British prisoners of war. In addition, by reason of its independence of Government control and its relationship with the International Red Cross Committee at Geneva, the War Organisation is able to discharge many voluntary and unofficial functions connected with the interests of prisoners of war and their relatives.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the heavy additional work thrown on valuers of enemy damage by the elaborate procedure of the War Damage Commission, he will consider the possibility and desirability of reducing it?

The War Damage Commission aims at the utmost simplicity in its procedure compatible with carrying out the provisions of the War Damage Act, and I am not aware of any ground for the hon. Member's suggestion. If he has any specific complaints as to additional work thrown on valuers, I will look into them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) how many claims from Kent for war damage under the War Damage Act have been presented and are still under consideration but not hitherto met;(2) how many claims from Kent for war damage payments under the War Damage Act have been actually met at the present time; and what is the aggregate sum paid out?

No separate statistics are available for claims from Kent. In any case I should not regard it as in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many claims for property damage prior to the passing of the War Damage Act have already been paid; and how many are still under consideration?

The War Damage Commission statistics do not classify payments according to the date of the damage to which they relate. In any case, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer intimated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams) on 10th July, it is not considered to be in the public interest to give information of this kind.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give such information as is available regarding the number of pensioners who have benefited from the Determination of Needs Act, and the extent to which they have benefited?

The provisions of the Determination of Needs Act (except those relating to War Savings) were concerned with applicants who were members of households, and the rules laid down in the Act affect only those pensioners living in households which include persons who are not dependent on the pensioner. During the period 1st May, 1941, when the review of existing cases under the new Regulations began, and 2nd August, 1941, when the review was completed, some 951,750 cases of supplementary pensions were reviewed with the approximate results indicated below:

Number of household cases	495,000
Number of households containing non-dependants	312,000
Number of applicants who derived benefit from the provisions of the Act	216,000

of which last figure some 7,000 were affected also by changes of circumstances.The extent of the benefit was as follows:In 57.6 per cent. of the cases the benefit amounted to 2s. 6d. or less.In 32.7 per cent. of the cases the benefit was between 2s. 7d. and 5s.In 8.7 per cent. of the cases the benefit was between 5s. 1d. and 10s.In 1.0 per cent. of the cases the benefit exceeded 10s.New applications received during the month of May were assessed under both the old and the new Regulations. Some 80,000 applications were so dealt with and it was found that about 50,000 applicants received a supplementary pension under the new Regulations who would not have been given one under the old Regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of children on the registers of public elementary schools in England and Wales who are in attendance at school for five hours or more per day; and the number in attendance for less than five hours per day?

The returns received from local education authorities were not in a form which would enable the Board to give the information required, but I understand that normal school hours are now generally in operation.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether, in view of the despatch to Greece of 50,000 tons of foodstuffs and medical supplies under assurances by the German and Italian Governments that safe passage will be accorded and guarantees given that these supplies will not be diverted to other purposes, similar arrangements will be made for the relief of other of our Allies in occupied countries threatened with starvation during the coming winter?

As there has been considerable misapprehension about this matter, I welcome this opportunity of making it clear that recent arrangements regarding Greece do not involve any departure from the general policy of His Majesty's Government. We do not allow foodstuffs to be shipped through the blockade, but subject to suitable conditions we have no objection to the purchase by our Allies of foodstuffs inside the blockade area for the relief of their peoples. These principles are, of course, impartially applied and certain other occupied territories have already benefited by their application. His Majesty's Government maintain their view that it is the responsibility of the enemy to feed the peoples he has enslaved, and they remain convinced that it would not be possible to allow foodstuffs to reach those territories through the blockade without defeating the objects of economic warfare.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for quicker air services between South Africa and East Africa, with a view to speeding up the air-mail service between this country and East Africa?

Air mails from this country for East Africa are forwarded by sea to South Africa and thence by air. Practically the whole of the time taken is accounted for by the long sea journey, the time occupied in transmission by air from South Africa to East Africa being very short. I am examining with the other Departments concerned the possibilities of providing a faster service but the difficulties are considerable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the success of the airgraph system of letters to the troops in the Middle East, arrangements will now be made for the garrisons at Malta, Gibraltar and Singapore to have the benefits of this service; and how soon can these facilities be provided?

I have already taken steps, in collaboration with the other Departments concerned, which will, I hope, result in a considerable extension of the Airgraph service.. I cannot yet give details or say when it will be possible to complete the necessary technical and other arrangements, but no time will be lost. Technical considerations preclude the extension of the service to Malta and Gibraltar.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish the conditions necessary for the application to any industrial undertaking of the Essential Work Order, and the main consequences of such application?

A leaflet dealing with this matter was published when the Essential Work (General Provisions) Order, 1941, was made. The Order has since been amended and a further amendment is at present under discussion with the Joint Consultative Committee of the British Employers' Confederation and the Trades Union Congress General Council. As soon as a decision has been taken on the outstanding question, I will bring up to date and re-issue the explanatory leaflet.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that doctors are being required by certain Employment Exchanges to undertake urine tests over a period; whether such examination is part of the ordinary services of the doctor; and whether a special fee is to be paid?

I understand that such action was taken in one district at the request of the medical board. The action was unauthorised, and steps have been taken to prevent its recurrence.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can make any statement as to the calling up of those young men who have volunteered for the Navy but have since been reserved or protected?

I have been asked to reply. By men who have volunteered for the Navy I presume my hon. and gallant Friend means those who on registering under the National Service Acts expressed a preference for Naval Service. If any such men were reserved at the time of registration or subsequently became reserved or deferred their position is the same as that of any other registered men so reserved or deferred, namely, that they will not in general be called up whilst they remain reserved or deferred. In individual cases, where a man who volunteers for the Navy is reserved but possesses special qualifications, the operation of the Schedule may be waived after consultation between the Departments concerned. A man who volunteers for service as a pilot or observer in the Fleet Air Arm may be accepted notwithstanding the fact that he is reserved by the Schedule.

asked the: Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he is aware that the additional space for the increase of staff in the new tax office building at Ellesmere Road, Eccles, is being obtained by requisitioning part of a private house next door and by knocking a hole in a party wall; that the occupier has protested; and whether, as the Manchester 17th district is already satisfactory housed and that instructions have been issued that premises should be requisitioned only where it is obsolutely essential, he will give instructions for a search for more suitable office accommodation than this to be found?

As I informed the hon. Member in reply to a Question on 30th September, it has been decided that this tax district must be rehoused. I am awaiting a further report on the possibility of finding other premises than those in Ellesmere Road, but if, as seems probable, nothing suitable can be found, the present proposals must he carried out.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement as to his proposals for increasing the supply in this country in 1942 of animals fit for human food?

The heavy reduction in imports of animal feeding-stuffs and the reduction in the grazing area consequent upon the ploughing-up campaign has made it impossible to maintain in this country the pre-war numbers of livestock, using that term in its wide sense, as including cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Government policy is designed to increase the production of crops such as wheat, potatoes and sugar beet for direct human consumption, and also for reasons both of fertility and milk and meat supply to ensure that the available supplies of fodder of all kinds and from all sources are so used as to maintain the maximum production from the maximum numbers of stock. I doubt whether it will be possible, however, with the supplies available, appreciably to increase the existing numbers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the latest estimate of poultry held in the country and the numbers respectively held by owners of no more than 12, between 12 and 50, and more than 50 poultry; and whether he can give an approximate estimate of the number of eggs annually laid by each group?

I have been asked to reply. Statistical information regarding agricultural livestock and output in wartime, like that of other stocks and output, is, in the national interest, being withheld from publication and I regret that I am accordingly unable to furnish the desired information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is proposed to allot extra feeding-stuffs next spring for young chickens?

Consideration is now being given to the question of readjusting poultry rations between the winter and summer periods in order to provide larger quantities during the main chick rearing season.

asked the Minister of Agriculture for what reason, under the new rationing scheme, a supply has been made available for horses belonging to hunts, but none for ordinary riding horses; and whether he will take remedial action?

Hunting on a limited scale, with the object of destroying foxes, is at present permitted, and rations are allowed for horses in hunt establishments sufficient to maintain one-tenth of pre-war numbers. No rations are provided for ordinary riding horses, in conformity with the general principles of the rationing scheme, which are that owners of horses and other livestock should themselves grow the food necessary for their maintenance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the anomalous position caused by his recent renewal of grants for heavy-horse breeding when at the same time he has made no proper arrangements for the supply of rations to heavy-horse stock which is too young for agricultural work and which is apparently excluded from the rationing scheme; and whether he will take steps to remedy the position?

The basic principle of the existing rationing scheme is that owners of livestock, including horses, should provide food for their stock from the produce of their farms. Working horses on farms may receive an allowance of feeding-stuffs if the farmer is unable to provide the necessary rations, but I am not prepared to include unbroken horses within the scope of this special arrangement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is taking steps to increase the capture of eels during the migration period; what are the financial arrangements connected with any such scheme; and how will the catch be marketed?

A comprehensive scheme for increasing the capture of eels during the migration period is under consideration, but in view of the numerous associated questions involved it will not be practicable to put it into operation in time for the current season.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Sup-ply whether he will consider granting the request of a certain firm to put down a drop forge, as the need in the country is so urgent for such an industry and all the available facilities exist at the works concerned?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 8th May to his previous Question on the establishment of drop forging capacity in South Wales. Nothing has arisen since that date to justify any alteration in the decision.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, why the recommendation made by the South Wales Area Board and the responsible officers of the area to re-open a certain works has been turned down; and will he reconsider the matter with a view of re-starting one industry when all other industries are closed down in that area?

So far as the Ministry of Supply is concerned, no recommendation for the re-opening of the works referred to has been put forward by the South Wales Regional Board. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.