asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make it clear that men who have to move their homes to return to work in coalmines under his orders will have the expenses of removing to the coalfield and afterwards returning to the district from which they are taken fully met by his Ministry?

Men who, on return to the coalfields, wish to bring their families to live with them, may receive, subject to the conditions of the Household Removal Scheme, an allowance to cover the cost of moving their families and furniture. The question whether a similar allowance would be granted in case of return to the workers' former employment would depend on the circumstances in which this takes place. I may say generally that if the men should be transferred again to work of national importance, they will again be entitled to similar allowances.

Does the Minister realise that I am trying to look to the pre-war period and to the re-establishment of these men, if it is possible, in the places of work from which they have been withdrawn by Government orders? Is that included?

This decision applies to the war period. In answer to an hon. Member last week I said that I am considering the whole question of readjustment and reinstatement on the broadest possible scale and I cannot deal with it on a question concerning only one group.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that exminers who left the pits many years ago on medical advice, now settled in other occupations, in some cases on work of national importance, are directed to return to work underground by his Department, sometimes in water, against the advice of their own family doctors; that the medical officers of his Ministry often pass such men as fit for pit-work only to find, when they reach the pit-head, that the doctor employed by the colliery company declares them medically unfit; that some of them by this time have lost their original jobs; and whether he will take steps to prevent all this?

In cases of doubt it is the practice to call for independent medical evidence. I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that men are often wrongly certified fit for coalmining work, but I shall be glad to have any cases of alleged hardship brought forward by hon. Members investigated without delay.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is harassing for these men to be submitted to three medical men and then in some cases to lose their original jobs?

War is a harassing thing.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many ex-miners required to return to the pits are complaining against the medical examination of them by the medical officer of his Department at Bolton; and whether he will take appropriate steps in this matter.

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at a case I am sending to him of a doctor passing a man to the pit and the colliery doctor afterwards refusing to pass him?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now able to state the progress that has been made in the setting up of joint consultative machinery in industry; the number of committees in being; and whether resistance to his policy continues?

As I stated last Thursday, I have no statistics available as to the number of joint councils in industry. In any case it would be misleading to assess the extension of arrangements for joint consultation in industry only by the number of works committees set up. The opposition to which I referred is due to the fact that other arrangements exist by agreement, and it would not be correct to assume that there is opposition to the principle of joint consultation in the workshops.

In view of the fact that my right hon. Friend said some time ago when I asked him this Question that he was making further inquiries to see what the numbers were, may I ask whether he has been able to ascertain an approximate idea of what progress has been made?

I have not made specific inquiries. I would remind hon. Members that constantly getting returns and forms from industry meets with a great deal of resentment.

While appreciating that, may I ask whether, in view of the great importance of this matter, my right hon. Friend can give a general idea as to whether steady progress is being made in this respect?

I have repeated to my hon. Friend time and time again that progress is going on every day, only it is not taking any particular form.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women have registered with their age groups; how many have already received personal interviews; how many of those interviewed were already in employment; and how many have been directed to a change in their employment?

The number of women who have registered with their age groups, including a provisional figure for the last registration on 27th September, 1941, is 2,151,280. The number of interviews according to the latest returns is 575,463. I regret that it would not be in the national interest to publish the other information asked for.

Is any form of compulsion contemplated?

I must have notice of that Question.

Have the majority of those who have been directed to other employment by now taken up that employment?

Yes, Sir, the great majority.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Dorothy Riding, Bessie Leigh and Beatrice Fearnley, all of Westhoughton, all unmarried, in business separately on their own account as hairdressers, after registering with their groups have been requested to undertake work in munition factories; that Form E.D. 346 does not indicate any compulsion but Form E.D.L. 74 states that they are required to take up such work; and will he make it clear as to whether compulsion is being resorted to in these cases and what are the penalties for refusal?

I am having inquiries made into the cases of the three persons mentioned by my hon. Friend and will let him know the result. Meanwhile I am sending him copies of the forms to which he refers.

I have copies of the forms. What I want to know is this: Now that the right hon. Gentleman is compelling women to leave their present occupations for work of national importance, what are the penalties if they refuse?

Happily, I have not had to compel very many. As I explained in reply to an earlier Question, I do use all the influence I can to get the women to transfer to national work. If a woman refused, I should have to issue a direction. There is no penalty until I issue a direction. If a direction is disobeyed, then she comes under Defence of the Realm Regulation 58A.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has already reached the stage of compulsion? One of these forms states in print that these women are required to undertake work of national importance.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to ensure that the provisions made by law for the reinstatement in their pre-war employment, or compensation in lieu thereof, where reinstatement is not possible, at present applicable only to men called up for military service, are extended to include women?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Holland with Boston (Lieutenant Butcher) on 9th October, 1941.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his predecessor in office was urged from all sides of the House to provide this legal protection for men, and can he say what reason there is for not providing the protection, for what it is worth, to women?

For the very reason given in my hon. Friend's last phrase—"for what it is worth." The scheme of transfer and removal of people has gone so far and over such a wide area, and some employers have had to engage four, five and six people for a place one after the other, that they cannot reinstate the whole six. Therefore, to reduce it to a piece of legislation of the character suggested would, in my view, be misleading and would cause difficulties at the end of the war. The Government are, therefore, considering means by a different device of accepting a token obligation from these people.

Are the difficulties in regard to the reinstatement of women in principle greater than those with regard to the reinstatement of men?

I cannot say.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any form of reservation is granted solely because a person's name is on the Central Register; whether this fact in itself operates as a deferment; and whether he will consider ordering an examination of all persons of an age liable to National Service who appear on the Register and who are not individually reserved?

The answer to the first and second parts of the Question is, "No, Sir." The third part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

As the right hon. Gentleman informed the House some time ago that there had been no review of this Register for a year, does he not think that in present circumstances some examination should take place to deal with persons on the Register who are not employed in national work?

That does not arise out of the Question.

asked the Minister of Labour from what date the system of bulk reservation will cease and the system of individual reservation commence; whether review will at once be made of all cases hitherto subject to collective reservation and of all cases where persons of military age, not, previously of a reserved employment, have been placed in central or decentralised Government employment of a nature falling within bulk reservation, and have been exempted up to now accordingly?

No, Sir; but I have the whole matter under active consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give an answer a week hence?

No, Sir.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise the urgency of it?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether in view of the necessity for providing a reasonable supply of beer for those who are working in the production of munitions of war, he will consider the advisability of allowing the brewers to retain their productive foremen and other skilled labour as these men are essential and irreplaceable?

Brewers, head brewers, assistant brewers, and operative foremen are reserved by the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and Protected Work at and over the age of 30, and other workers in productive processes at and over the age of 35. Where it is considered essential to retain the services of key men below the age of reservation, application for deferment of calling up may be submitted.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it will be difficult to obtain the necessary output from the men in the heavy industries unless they can get their beer?

In view of the concern of the Conservatives that the workmen should obtain beer, would it not be desirable to encourage them to brew their own beer and do away with the brewers?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that no man in industry essential to war production will be allowed to volunteer for service with the Royal Air Force unless he obtains the permission of the Labour Department?

Men reserved under the Schedule of Reserved Occupations and Protected Work, and men whose calling up has been deferred because they are engaged on work of urgent public importance, are not accepted as volunteers for His Majesty's Forces without the consent of my Department and the other Government Departments concerned. The only exception is that any man possessing the special qualifications required may join the R.A.F. or the Fleet Air Arm as air pilot or observer.

Is the Minister not aware that the withdrawal of key men from industry without the pre-knowledge of their employers may place certain industrial establishments engaged on important war production in a most unfortunate position? Will my right hon. Friend not reconsider the position?

I have already explained that: a person can be taken away only where his special qualifications fit him to join the R.A.F. or the Fleet Air Arm as air pilot or observer, and unless we permit that, there may be no work from which to withdraw them.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there may be conflicting views about the usefulness of a man, and ought there not to be an arbitrator?

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of places for trainees in Government training centres; and the number of these places at present vacant?

It would not be in the national interest to publish the information asked for in this Question.

Does not the Minister think it is essential for Members of the House of Commons to know the number of training places?

I gave an indication in the man-power Debate last week. As far as I am personally concerned—I cannot speak for the Government as a whole— if there were a Secret Session, there would be no difficulty in giving the information, which I cannot give in public.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if Members were to visit these places they would find out for themselves how valuable they are?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish a consolidated summary of the Unemployment Insurance Acts and Regulations for the guidance of the large number of persons concerned in the operation of this legislation?

Such a summary already exists in the form of leaflets which are available at any Employment Exchange. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour on what conditions are winter allowances granted to applicants for unemployment assistance; and for what period are such allowances applicable?

Winter allowances are being granted for a period of 22 weeks from the beginning of November. Every case in which the applicant is providing his own fuel is considered on its merits, and officers have been instructed to pay special regard to all such cases where the applicant has no resources or only small resources beyond their allowances, or, in the case of pensioners, their basic and supplementary pensions.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform us what grants are being given in these cases and make available a copy of the instructions that have been sent to the area officers?

I should like to have notice of that Question.

asked the Minister of Health on what conditions are the winter allowances being granted to applicants for supplementary pensions; and what are the dates between which the winter allowances will operate?

Winter allowances are being granted for a period of 22 weeks from the beginning of November. Every case in which the applicant is providing his own fuel is considered on its merits and the; Assistance Board's officers have been instructed to pay special regard to all such cases where the applicants have no resources or only small resources beyond their basic and supplementary pensions.

Will the Minister make available in the Library a copy of the instructions sent to the area officers who are dealing with that matter?

I should like to have notice of that Question.

When the Minister says that each case will be considered on its merits, does that not mean that it will be considered on the basis of a means test?

I think it is clear that each case must be considered in the light of its own circumstances, but the returns so far available show that winter allowances have been given in 56 per cent. of supplementary pension cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the commandant of the Fascist internment camp in the Isle of Man has been changed; whether the free unlimited entry of food and drink has been restored; whether the police replace the military or are supplementary; and what is the weekly cost per head to the British taxpayer for housing, feeding and guarding these interned British subjects?

The internal administration of the camp at Peel has now been taken over by the Metropolitan Police, with the consequence that the former military Commander has been released for other duties, but a military guard outside the Peel Camp is being retained. As regards the entry of food, this is subject to the restrictions explained in my answer to the hon. Member for the Rusholme Division (Mr. Radford) on 2nd instant. Drink cannot be sent in to any detainee, but beer can be purchased from the canteen in the camp. The average daily consumption per head does not exceed a quarter of a pint, and there is no ground for any suggestion of excessive drinking. I regret that it is not possible to give precise figures of weekly cost such as my right hon. Friend desires.

Now that the Home Office have taken over this particular camp, is there any prospect of their taking over the other camps in which friendly aliens are interned?

I think the right hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. All these camps are under the jurisdiction of the Home Office, but we use the military for the purpose of giving general assistance outside the camps, and I do not think it is necessary to take further action.

Are the Commandants of other camps military officers or your officials?

Speaking from recollection, I believe they are my officials.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the 700 odd persons, detained in the Isle of Man camp at which a disturbance recently occurred, were members of the British Union of Fascists; and how many of the persons transferred, prior to 8th October, as a result to prison in this country, were members of that organisation?

The number of detainees in this camp was 520, of whom 180 were former members of the British Union. Of the 18 persons removed to prison after the disturbance, 14 belonged to that organisation.

Is the Minister able to say whether the disturbance was largely the responsibility of one section of those in the camp, or was it of a general nature?

I do not think everybody took part in the disturbances, but a substantial number did, and owing to the fact that it was dark, we could not see the political colours of all of them. The facts which I have given are reliable, and my hon. Friend can draw his own deductions from them.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the three men who escaped from the Isle of Man internment camp were members of the Irish Republican Army?

Two of the men who are at present awaiting trial have stated in court that they were members of the Irish Republican Army.

Will the Minister consider the possibility of returning them to their own country, where large numbers of. men of that Army are already under detention?

There are arguments both ways on that point, and I should not like to commit myself.

Is it not the case that while they may be members of the Irish Republican Army, they may also be Fascists?

It might be so.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any further statement to make respecting proposals for improvement of pay, hours of duty and conditions of service put forward by the Fire Brigades Union on behalf of members of the Auxiliary Fire Service; and whether there is any immediate possibility of the adoption of any of the proposals?

I have made it clear to the Fire Brigades Union that the conditions of service of members of the National Fire Service who were formerly members of the Auxiliary Fire Service will continue to be based upon those of the Civil Defence Services generally and, in particular, that there can be no question of granting rates of pay related to those of regular firemen. As my hon. Friend is aware, there is standing machinery, in the form of a Joint Committee, for consultation between Government Departments concerned and representatives of accredited trade unions with regard to the pay and conditions of service of members of the Civil Defence Services. This is the machinery I am using, and propose to use, for consultation on proposals as to the pay and the conditions of service of members of the National Fire Service.

Are the various proposals and criticisms of fire brigade units receiving the constant attention of the right hon. Gentleman, and is any progress being made towards meeting the difficulties which have arisen?

Yes, Sir, discussions take place with the consultative committee, and it is very desirable that negotiations with all public servants should take place between their accredited associations and the Government Departments and that they themselves should recognise that machinery and not use other machinery. May I add that I do not propose to surrender the principle that the basic conditions of service of all ranks in Civil Defence must be considered together. I am not willing to segregate the fire service from the other services.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the existing curfew imposing difficulties, in particular, affecting their employment and their desire to do fire-watching, he will con- sider relaxing or raising the existing restrictions imposed on Austrian and German refugees from Nazi oppression and thus grant similar conditions to these as to Czech and other recognised friendly aliens?

The curfew provisions apply to all aliens alike, irrespective of their nationality, and any alien can apply to the police for exemption from those provisions. As regards fire-watching, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for the English Universities (Mr. E. Harvey) on Thursday last. As regards employment, chief constables have been advised by the Home Office that permits should be granted freely to those whose occupation requires them to be away from home after the curfew hour. I have no reason to think that chief constables are not administering these provisions in accordance with the advice which has been given to them. Instructions have been sent to chief constables as to the grant of exemptions for this purpose.

In view of the fact that these friendly aliens are assumed to be reliable enough for work in our factories, would not the lifting of the curfew altogether be desirable?

I do riot think that it would be desirable, and I think that the advice I have given to the chief constables enables the matter to be dealt with reasonably.

asked the Home Secretary having regard to his decision that the British Communist Party are not loyal to this country, how many members of this party are now detained under Regulation 18B?

No persons are detained under Defence Regulation I8B merely on the ground of membership of the British Communist Party.

Since my right hon. Friend has decided—in my view, rightly—not to intern these people, whose loyalty he publicly impugned, will he now, in the fair and just exercise of his quasi-judicial powers, release such internees against whom there is no evidence of actual, and very slender presumption of potential, treachery?

No, Sir. I presume that the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers to Members of the former British Union of Fascists.

No, Sir.

To Communists.

There are no Communists interned. No British subjects who are Communists are interned as such.

Is it not the case that the Minister has not "decided," but has merely expressed a foolish opinion?

Whether it is foolish or not is a matter of opinion.

Are any members of the British Union interned merely because they were members of the British Union?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of certain changes in the relations between this country and Russia, he will now permit the release from internment of the three Communist ex-members of the German Reichstag?

I have decided to authorise the release of one of the men referred to. Another case has been referred to the Category 19 Tribunal, whose report I am awaiting. The third man is in Canada, and I have given authority for his return to this country, if he is willing, with a view to the reference of his case to the Tribunal.

Will their passports be marked "friendly alien"?

Is there not more worry about one internee than about 99 just Englishmen?

asked the Home Secretary in view of the public concern caused by the Fourteenth Report from the Select Committee on National Expenditure and the importance of securing to the country the highest possible degree of effectiveness in war camouflage, how many meetings of the Advisory Committee on Camouflage have been held since the commencement of the present year and the respective dates of such meetings?

Following upon the 14th Report from the Select Committee on National Expenditure, the whole subject of the protection of vital targets and areas by concealment and deception has been reviewed by a committee under the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Mabane). The Advisory Committee on Camouflage has not met during the present year, but its technical committee, including those responsible for camouflage in the various Services and Departments, met regularly throughout the year at intervals of about a fortnight, until it was superseded by a newly constituted Camouflage Committee under the chairmanship of the Director of Camouflage.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the reports as to the effectiveness of camouflage in a certain theatre of war where carried out under the supervision of a distinguished biological specialist, a copy of which has been sent to him; and whether he will consider the possibility of making the services of the specialist in question available in the home country for supervisory and educative functions in respect of war camouflage in general?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes." As regards the second part, I would refer to the reply given to a Question by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War on 29th July.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that misapprehension still exists in Australia as to the quality of the aliens sent there for internment, the Australian public apparently believing them to be dangerous characters, he will make a statement calculated to remove this misapprehension and to explain the real facts?

Some 2,500 internees were sent to Australia, of whom about 400 were persons detained on security-grounds, while the remaining 2,100 were Germans and Austrians who had been classified in categories "B" and "C" and were interned as a precautionary measure, in pursuance of the general policy of internment which was adopted in the summer of 1940. I have frequently explained in this House that the fact that a person was interned in pursuance of this general policy and not on security grounds personal to himself was not intended to make, and does not in fact make, any reflection on his reliability or reputation. The circumstances in which His Majesty's Government sent to Australia internees who could not be regarded as dangerous from the security point of view were explained to the Government in that Dominion more than a year ago, but if amongst members of the general public in Australia there is still misapprehension as to the character of the internees, I hope that this answer may help to remove it.

Have not the Australian Government expressed willingness for these internees to join the Australian Army?

I was not aware of that, but it may be so.

If that is so, why is permission still being refused?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the small proportion of aliens interned in Australia on behalf of His Majesty's Government, who have been authorised for release, as compared with the much greater proportion of men of similar quality who have been released from internment within the United Kingdom and are now usefully employed, he will take steps to speed up the release of reliable Australian internees and their return to this country, unless the Australian Government is willing to find a use for them out there?

I fully sympathise with the object which my hon. Friend has in view, and I realise that many of the aliens who were included in the party sent to Australia are at a disadvantage as compared with aliens who were interned in this country and have subsequently been released. It is not possible—owing to practical difficulties—to arrange releases from Australia so freely as releases from the Isle of Man, and the proportion of applications for release is naturally smaller owing to the prospect of the long sea voyage. There is, however, no delay on the part of my Department in dealing with applications from Australia, and every- thing which I can properly do to mitigate the difficulties will be done.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that a large number of these men are of high quality in every way, and that it is a waste that they should be kept in internment? Possibly the Australian Government might go a little further, if they could be used there.

That would be a proper question for the Parliament of Australia. I would not like to give an answer to it.

Is it not possible that if the Australian Government were approached by the right hon. Gentleman, they would be willing to accept these people for liberation in Australia, where they could be used?

Naturally, there was a clear understanding that the immigration policy of the Australian Government was their business, and I do not feel it is possible for me to intervene in the way suggested.

Had the internees who were released certain facilities in Australia before they departed for this country?

May we take it that no objection is raised from this side?

I do not think that I ought to add to the answer which I have given.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has had tests made, and can give any information, as to the iron-bolted arch air-raid shelter made by the Stanton Iron Works Company, Nottingham; what is the cost of making it; and how many people it will shelter?

I understand that the company manufactures more than one type of bolted arch shelter and it has not been possible definitely to identify that to which reference is made. The testing of shelters for the purpose of official approval of design is limited to anti-debris indoor shelters. No shelter of this type has been submitted by the company for test.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that dormitory air-raid shelters in all parts of the country are now adequately provided with canteens and medical posts; and what is he doing to remedy the conditions in an underground shelter in a Northern city, which even when occupied by thousands of women and children, in conditions of damp and discomfort, is provided with only one or two nurses and with no canteen arrangements or medical post?

Substantial improvements have been made in dormitory air-raid shelters throughout the country. Progress is continuing but shortage of materials and labour has unfortunately prevented complete provision to the standards I have laid down. Canteens are available in over 2,000 shelters in the London Region. Schemes have been agreed with 90 local authorities in provincial vulnerable areas, and in many cases the canteens have already been provided. In the London Region 257 medical aid posts have been set up, and over 100 in the provinces. Plans have been made for setting-up further posts should the dormitory shelter population increase.

The shelter to which my hon. Friend refers in the second part of the Question is a popular but not very satisfactory one, notwithstanding that much money, time and labour have been devoted to improving it. Its construction and dimensions make a fixed medical aid post or a fixed canteen impracticable, but the local authority have made arrangements whereby nurses visit the shelter nightly, doctors are on call near each of its seven entrances, and a mobile canteen is ready for service at short notice. I believe that the local authority are doing the best they can having regard to the exceptional circumstances, but if my hon. Friend has any practical suggestions for improvement, I shall be glad to consider them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look further into this particular case, because it is clearly one in which remedies could be applied?

As my hon. Friend knows, I myself have visited the shelter, and I can say that it is causing as much worry and correspondence to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security as anything else in the country. It presents a very difficult problem from the point of view which he and I have in common.

Is the right hon. Gentleman abandoning the case because it is difficult?

Not at all. I have already told my hon. Friend that I would be very glad to receive any suggestions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is able to make any statement in regard to possible modification of the air-raid warning system?

The Government have decided to discontinue the "Yellow" preliminary caution message. This is a warning sent to headquarters of Air-Raid Precautions services and to certain other establishments. Experience of raiding conditions has shown that the preliminary caution message can safely be dispensed with. It is no longer required by the Civil Defence services and the needs of essential industry have been otherwise provided for. Its discontinuance will relieve the Post Office telephone system of a very large amount of work. The public warning system is not affected by the change.

Does the decision to give warnings still rest with the Fighter Command?

Yes, Sir. Although in certain respects there is active participation by my Department, fundamentally the decision rests with the Fighter Command.

Will the new situation affect certain steps that are normally taken on the receipt of the warning, for example, by certain public vehicles?

It may affect them in part, but, on the whole, that will be of advantage, because disturbance will be minimised. In the light of experience we feel that it is a perfectly safe step to take.

asked the Minister of Health whether a letter, addressed by the clerk of the Great Sankey Parish Council to the public assistance officer,. Preston, and by him to the senior regional officer of the Ministry of Health, has yet been replied to and, if so, why the delay and the terms of the reply, and whether anything definite has been done to give the vulnerable areas of Great Sankey and Penketh a suitable and safe emergency rest centre, seeing that the surrounding towns are also industrial and vulnerable areas?

Yes, Sir. The original letter from the Clerk of the Great Sankey Parish Council was, unfortunately, not received, but a copy has been obtained and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of my reply. A large number of buildings in the Warrington rural district, of which the parishes of Great Sankey and Penketh form part, have been earmarked for use as rest centres and I have no reason to believe that the accommodation so provided is either inadequate or unsuitable.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give the number of evacuees billeted in the Windlesham and Sunningdale, Surrey, area; whether he is aware that there is much complaint that, while village houses are overcrowded, a number of large houses, occupied by one or two people, some of whom have never taken in an evacuee, and have houses in other parts of the country, have not been used; and will he instruct his officials to make inquiries regarding this matter in that part of the county?

Separate figures are not available for Windlesham and Sunningdale;. These two parishes are included in the rural districts of Bagshot and Windsor respectively, and the number of evacuated persons billeted there at present are estimated at approximately: Bagshot rural district, 1,000; Windsor rural district, 1,200. If my hon. Friend will supply me with particulars of the large houses to which he refers, I will cause immediate inquiries to be made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a clergyman of advancing age was prosecuted at Camberley for not taking in evacuees while people with large houses in that town had none, and will he see that the same consideration is shown to working people who plead they need an empty room for visiting members of their families, without servants, as is shown to rich people with such excuses in those areas?

I am most anxious to remedy complaints of that kind, but, as my hon. Friend will realise, large empty houses may sometimes be reserved for Service purposes. If, however, he has any particular case in mind, I should be glad to look into it. I have inquired into this matter in every region in the Kingdom, and in certain regions I am taking action by appointing a special inspector from London, with power to billet where necessary.

Do not the published statements by responsible people in the Press show that the complaints made are amply justified?

I shall make inquiries through my officials, and also through the local authorities and the Women's Voluntary Services, which, as my hon. Friend knows, have done most of the work of liaison.

Is not this the first time this allegation has been made in regard to this district? Arc not the arrangements generally extremely satisfactory for the evacuees, and have not these great houses been taken advantage of to the fullest extent?

Sometimes houses are vacant for urgent reasons of national interest, but in any case, no matter how good the arrangements have been—and I agree with my hon. Friend that these areas have done a great deal for the comfort of evacuees—if there are large houses which can be used, they ought to be used.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to raise the payment to householders who cannot afford to maintain evacuees on the allowance provided by the Government; and whether, equally, he will consider payment to those householders who have to act as foster-mothers and nursemaids to evacuee children placed with them?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth (Sir L. Lyle) on 15th October.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many persons in Nottingham and the surrounding district have written to him demanding equal compensation for men and women civilians injured owing to enemy action?

Correspondence reaching the Ministry is not classified according to the place of origin and the only communication which I am able to trace is a copy of a resolution passed by the Nottingham branch of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland.

In view of the fact that I have heard from a responsible woman that the Minister has had 1,200 letters and postcards, I find it difficult to understand his answer. As he has had representations from all over the country, does he not think it would be more in accord with our democratic principles for him to reconsider this matter?

I have nothing to add to the full statement I made in the Debate on this matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether the fullest investigation will be made into the causes of an explosion in a Yorkshire factory resulting in the death of four women?

Yes, Sir. I understand that the inquest on the victims of this sad accident has been adjourned to 28th October. The fullest investigation of this matter is also being made by His Majesty's Inspector of Explosives.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make any statement as to the rules for the hours of closing of places of public entertainment during the coming winter?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government attach importance to giving the public reasonable opportunity for recreation after the day's work is done and their aim is to keep interference with public recreation to such a minimum as is consistent with the war effort. The hour of closing of places of public entertainment was fixed by Order under the Defence Regulations at 11 p.m., except in the West End of London, where the closing hour is 6 p.m. There the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis can, and in practice does, allow entertainments to continue to a later hour. Chief officers of police outside London are also empowered to fix an earlier closing hour than 11 p.m. where they think this is necessary to minimise risk from enemy action.

The Government have reviewed the position, and with a view to securing some measure of uniformity in administration I am taking steps to advise chief officers of police that unless heavy raiding calls for special measures in any area, the closing hour should not be fixed earlier than 10 p.m. and that wherever possible they should not fix a closing hour, thereby securing the 11 p.m. closing under the Order. Chief officers of police will also be advised to have regard to existing arrangements for staggering closing hours for the purpose, so far as possible, of flattening the transport peak.

Will my right hon. Friend consult with the Minister of War Transport and advise him of the sentiments contained in his reply, especially having regard to those towns which have decided to take off buses and other forms of public transport at 9.30 p.m. even though public-houses are open until 10 o'clock and other places of amusement even until midnight?

I cannot express an opinion on the merits of the points my hon. Friend has put, but he will no doubt be glad to know that this reply has been given as a result of consultation between my Department and the Ministry of War Transport.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there is now a routine medical examination of all evacuated school children; and what arrangements are made for the medical treatment of any who may be found to be in need of attention?

Routine medical inspection is being carried out in virtually all reception areas. All evacuated children who fall within the prescribed age groups are examined. In one or two areas a modified scheme of inspection has been adopted on the lines suggested in paragraph 4 of the Board's Circular 1523, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The Board have laid it down that the facilities provided for medical treatment of local school children in these areas should be equally available for evacuated children.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the procedure to be adopted when the child is found to be suffering from a complaint requiring institutional treatment and the local authority desire the child to be transferred but have no authority to do so?

I am sorry I cannot answer that off-hand.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he proposes to make it compulsory for local authorities to provide nursery schools for the children of women anxious to help the war effort?

Provision for the purpose will, I think, best be made by means of war-time nurseries. In Circular 1553, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, I have asked local education authorities to co-operate to the full with maternity and child welfare authorities in the establishment of these nurseries. The arrangements proposed do not involve compulsion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that owing to limited accommodation for the children of women war-workers our war effort is being impeded?

I fully appreciate the importance of the problem, and we are trying to push forward a scheme for war nurseries as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the percentage increase in pulmonary tuberculosis during the war; in what age-groups the increase is most marked; and whether it is proposed to take any special steps to deal with this problem?

On the basis of provisional mortality figures for the years 1939 and 1940, the rate in England and Wales for the population as a whole was 9.7 per cent. higher than in 3939, the highest rate being 15 per cent. among women between the ages of 15 and 25. In the first quarter of 1941 there was, however, a reduction of 7 per cent. for the population as a whole, and of 4 per cent. for women between the ages of 15 and 25. With the co-operation of the Medical Research Council, I have arranged for an expert investigation into the possible causes of increase. Everything possible is being done to maintain the tuberculosis service.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, in the new schedule of rations for horses, supplies of fodder are to be made available for the breeding of thoroughbreds but not of other light horses; and whether he will make arrangements to ensure the maintenance in this country of the breeding of ponies and good heavyweight light horses which are essential to the country?

Breeders of thoroughbred horses are allowed rations for feeding-stuffs, if they need them, because the Government are anxious to maintain the industry, which is of great national value in relation to the quantity of feeding-stuffs required. The breeding of other light horses can be carried on on agricultural holdings which grow sufficient fodder, and I have received no information of any serious decline in the breeding of such horses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will place in the Library copies of any instructions issued by him to war agricultural executive committees?

No, Sir. The war agricultural executive committees have been appointed to act as my agents, and any instructions which I issue to them are, in the nature of things, confidential.

Does any question of security arise in this matter? If not, why should there be any secrecy about these instructions when the committees' decisions affect the personal rights of His Majesty's subjects?

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that power always corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely?

I can only repeat what I told the hon. Member, that the instructions issued are confidential.

I do not like it.

Cannot the Minister follow the practice of the Services of issuing orders which are marked "Confidential; not for promulgation," while general orders on non-confidential matters are freely circulated?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will institute a national drive for the destruction of rats on the lines already pursued by those counties which are doing most for their destruction?

A national campaign for the destruction of rats has been in operation for some time. The general lines of the campaign have been settled in the light of experience, including that of counties who have been more successful than others in the matter of rat destruction.

On the whole, are we not very dilatory in dealing with rats?

We have improved in that respect since June.

asked the Minister of Health whether the elected representatives of the people will serve on the management committees of voluntary hospitals now that public money is being used to subsidise these institutions?

As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Albans (Sir F. Fremantle) and to supplementary questions on 9th October, the point raised by the hon. Lady is one for discussion with representatives of municipal hospital authorities and of the voluntary hospital movement at the appropriate stage.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish a consolidated summary of the Acts and Regulations relating to old age and widows' pensions, respectively, for the assistance of the many persons concerned?

I am satisfied that in present circumstances the publication of such a summary would not be justified. Leaflets explaining the conditions for the award of old age and widows' pensions are available at all post offices.

asked the Minister of Health how many additional applications from old age pensioners he estimated would be made following the annulment of the household means test on 1st July, 1941; for how many the Assistance Board made staff preparations; and whether since the number of supplementary pensions has risen by only 100,000 by the end of July, he has any explanation to offer for the difference?

The Assistance Board inform me that they made their arrangements on the basis that the number of new supplementary pensions resulting from the new legislation might reach 250,000. There were, however, no data on which a close estimate could be based. The Board are making inquiries into the extent to which pensioners who applied unsuccessfully for supplementary pensions under the previous Regulations may have failed to realise that a fresh application is necessary if they wish their cases to be reconsidered. As I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths) on Tuesday last, the number of persons already receiving supplementary pensions who benefited from the provisions of the new legislation up to August last was about 216,000.

Is the Minister aware that it is my experience, and the experience of many Members of this House, that these pensioners are not aware of their new rights and will he take steps to publicise their rights before the onset of winter?

I will do my best, and I am obliged to the hon. Member for raising the matter. I am sure it will do good. I would like to inform the House that the Board have decided to examine all "nil" cases with a view to making a further approach to pensioners who appear to be entitled to a supplementary pension.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether there is any compulsion on pedestrians to obey the traffic lights; and, if not, whether he is, in the interests of public safety, prepared to make and enforce a regulation to this effect?

The answer to both parts of the Question is, "No, Sir," although, in the interests of their own safety and good road behaviour, pedestrians should not cross against the lights.

Why is there this discrimination between motorists and pedestrians in regard to compulsion, since the safety of both is involved?

It is very difficult to apply compulsion to pedestrians. In many cases they cannot see which way the light is shining when they cross the road.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make a statement as to the appointment of a committee on the salaries of nurses?

I have appointed Lord Rushcliffe as Chairman of the Committee which I have set up for the purpose of drawing up, as soon as possible, agreed scales of salaries and emoluments for State registered nurses employed in England and Wales in Hospitals and in the Public Health Services, including the service of district nursing, and for student nurses in hospitals approved as training schools by the General Nursing Council for England and Wales. The Committee will consist of two panels, one representing employers and the other representing employees, of equal numbers. At my request the following organisations have agreed to nominate representatives to serve on these panels: