asked the Secretary of State for Air why the Air Council is anxious to see civilian instructors in uniform; whether strong pressure is being brought to bear on them to agree; and how much each such instructor will cost the State for uniform compared to the cost for the same instructor in civilian clothes?

As explained in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on 16th October, civilian instructors were invited to enlist in the Royal Air Force because Service status would enhance their value to the training organisation. No pressure is placed on instructors to enlist and it has been made clear that those who do not desire to do so may continue to serve as civilians. Many of those enlisting are entitled to have their Service pay, if it is less than their civil pay, made up to the amount of the latter. For others, Service pay will be higher than civil pay. It follows that the instructors cost more on a Service basis than on a civilian basis—the average increase is estimated at about 26s. a week per head—but this increase is more than offset by economies which the grant of Service status makes possible in other directions.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Government Minor and Manipulative Grades Association, which is the recognised association embracing civilian instructors, has been consulted in respect of the organised official campaign on the part of the Air Council to persuade such instructors to join the Royal Air Force even though they are either reserved or over military age; and whether he can make a statement on the subject?

The Government Minor and Manipulative Grades Association were informed in February last that a scheme for inviting civilian instructors to enlist was under consideration. Later, two months before invitations were issued, they were notified that the scheme had been adopted. As for the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I have given to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for South Tottenham (Mr. Messer).

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider arranging for increases in the size of each of his fitter-training establishments, possibly on a two-shift basis; and whether, with a view to an increase of out-turn, he will introduce a system of grading of entrants at the commencement of each training course so as to ensure that those already possessing some knowledge or practical experience are not retarded in more advanced instruction by those trainees who are without any previous experience?

The existing capacity for fitter training is adequate to the requirements of the Royal Air Force and it is unnecessary to introduce two-shift working. The training syllabus itself is divided into stages and pupils are not retained in an earlier stage of training if they are suitable to pass to more advanced instruction.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of licences granted by local food authorities since the outbreak of war to chain and department stores to retail articles of food which they did not sell prior to that date?

Information regarding the issue of licences to chain and department stores is not available and could not be obtained without great labour and expense which, in view of the pressure on food offices at the present time, would be difficult to justify.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why, in view of the announcement that one of the criteria he is adopting in dealing with licences to trade is that the applicant has normally been engaged in the past in handling the commodity, he is proposing to distribute through the wholesale grocers instead of the milk wholesalers American evaporated milk which is to be sold at the householder's door rather than over the grocer's counter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to my hon. Friends the Members for Moss Side (Mr. Rostron Duckworth) and Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the resentment of the wholesale milk industry that he is now revoking an undertaking to pass American evaporated milk through them to the retailers; and whether, as the bulk of this commodity will be sold by retail dairymen, he will investigate the grounds for the trade claim that it shall be distributed through milk wholesalers?

I should refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply yesterday to Questions on this matter by my hon. Friends the Members for Moss Side (Mr. Rostron Duckworth) and Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to dissatisfaction in county and industrial districts at the number of men in reserved occupations who could do a certain amount of training with the Forces, and take no part in military or civil defence life?

If my hon. and gallant Friend is advocating the introduction of a measure of compulsion for the Home Guard and part-time civil defence services, I would refer him to the answer given by the Lord Privy Seal to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 8th October.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will secure the resumption of publication of the Registrar General's Reports, cessation of which constitutes a serious handicap on medical research, and was successfully avoided in the last war?

The preparation of these reports has not been discontinued, though it is regretted that wartime conditions have delayed the completion of the report for 1939. It has been decided, however, to print in the first instance a very limited edition of this volume which will be held by the Registrar General and made available for consultation and study by Government Departments and other bodies or persons having an acknowledged interest in its contents. I can assure my hon. Friend that the interests of medical research will receive sympathetic treatment under this arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that on many farms the housing conditions provided for farm workers are so bad that in normal times workers would not tolerate them, but that under the stand-still order such workers will be condemned to live on in insanitary, damp and dark cottages; and, in view of the unhappy relations thus likely to be caused between farmers and Workers, with resultant loss in food production, he will take whatever steps are necessary to enforce improvements of such cottages?

The need for improving the housing conditions of agricultural workers is universally admitted. Local authorities have been specifically authorised since September, 1939, to continue operations under the Housing Acts affecting agricultural workers wherever labour and materials are available. But it is not the case that the stand-still order adversely affects the position. Permission to move may be granted to an agricultural worker on application to the National Service officer, and any serious recent deterioration in the conditions of the accommodation or evidence that the quality of the housing is causing ill-health to the worker or his family would be good ground for such an application. Further, any agricultural worker has the additional option of becoming an employee of the local agricultural executive committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that seaweed is a source of potash as well as of other salts and humus valuable on certain kinds of land, his Department is encouraging its use as a manure?

Yes, Sir, seaweed is commonly used as an organic fertiliser in various localities round our coast and its value as a source of potash is stressed in my Department's Growmore Leaflet No. 3—"Making the Most of Potash Supplies."

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will take steps, through local committees and otherwise, to promote the growing of food produce in spaces devoted to private gardens?

The production of vegetables in private gardens is one of the most important objectives of the "Dig for Victory" campaign; much publicity and propaganda have been directed to this particular aspect of food production since the outbreak of war and I am proposing to intensify activity in this direction during the coming season. Local authorities in urban areas and, recently, in rural districts also, have been urged to take all possible action to encourage owners and occupiers of private gardens to grow vegetables for their own use. Horticulture committees have been set up by many urban authorities and these are specifically charged with the task of promoting the growing of vegetables in private gardens as well as on allotments, and of providing technical advice and assistance to cultivators in collaboration with officers of my Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is aware that his Ministry is refusing to implement contracts made with members of his staff for the payment of overtime under certain conditions; that the Civil Service Whitley Council, staff side, has approached the Treasury on the matter and that the Treasury has agreed that the Ministry of Supply is contravening a national agreement; and what action he proposes to take?

I presume that the hon. Member has in mind the question whether the maximum payment in respect of overtime operative from 1st June, 1941, for certain staff graded as temporary assistant should be subject to the differentiation as between London and the provinces which is applicable to many types of Civil Service remuneration. Such a differentiation was originally applied by the Ministry of Supply, but it has now been decided not to enforce it and retrospective adjustments are being issued.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is now in a position to make his promised statement on the alleged sabotage of a certain firm, under Government contract, in the manufacture of linings for steel helmets?

Further inquiry into this case has not revealed anything which could be dignified by the name of sabotage, as distinct from possible carelessness.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is aware that, owing to the shortage of paper and withdrawal of labour from the publishing, printing and binding trades, a grave position has arisen with regard to the supply of educational, technical and scientific books, menacing the future of education and research; and whether he will take measures to remedy this situation?

While the consumption of paper as a whole has had to be reduced to little more than a quarter, the proportion allowed to book publishers is between 40 and 50 per cent. of that used before the war. I can hold out no hope of being able to release larger quantities of paper to them and I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service that an increase in the labour available also cannot be looked for. I can only urge that everything should be done by the trades concerned to ensure that the labour and materials available are used to the best advantage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is aware of the scarcity of metal needed for the replacement of ball-valves and taps to maintain domestic water supplies; and whether he will arrange with the Non-ferrous Metal Control Board for the release of the appropriate metals?

Suitable material is released readily for ball-valves and taps, although it is not possible, owing to Service needs, to make the highest quality of material available for these purposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether there are any provisions which enable compensation to be paid in cases of accident or injury to technical personnel, such as chemists who are earning salaries in the vicinity of £500 per annum, and who are employed in considerable numbers in Government munition works; and whether, in view of the risk of this employment and the fact that several of these men have been the victims of accidents since the outbreak of war, he can take steps to ensure that they are adequately provided for?

Provision is made by the injury warrants framed by the Treasury under the Superannuation Acts for the grant of compensation to persons in the category described who are incapacitated by injury on duty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, whether, having regard to the increasing number of prosecutions in London for overrunning traffic signals, through inability to distinguish them clearly, and the heavy toll of life and limb on the roads, he will reconsider the proposal to show a half disc of light similar to that shown in districts immediately outside the Metropolitan area?

For the reasons I gave in answer to a similar Question by my hon. Friend on 1st July last, I am afraid that, in London, it is not practicable to adopt the system to which he refers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many regional fire prevention transport officers he has yet appointed to operate the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Scheme; what: are their qualifications, judicial and technical; what are the salaries to be paid; what were the previous occupations of those appointed; whether, at the moment, they draw any salary or pension from such occupations; and, if so, what amount?

The answer to the first part of the Question is 17. They have been appointed largely because of their railway experience. One in London is paid £600 a year, the rest are paid £500 a year. All were at one time, or are, officers of the railways. The pension payable to the retired officers is a matter between them and the superannuation funds concerned, and I have not thought it necessary to inquire into the amounts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether employees of public utility companies bringing to the Lost Property Office money and valuables which are actually found in public vehicles receive any remuneration for so doing.

The Regulations governing the disposal of property lost on public service vehicles outside London provide that where the value exceeds 2s., a sum equal to one-twelfth of the value of the property (but not exceeding £2) shall be awarded to the conductor who handed in the article; unclaimed property is delivered to the conductor. On trams and trolley-buses outside London the position varies according to the local Acts authorising the services. There are no statutory provisions or regulations of general application, and I could not give my hon. and gallant Friend detailed information without considerable research which I hope he will not press me to undertake. The Regulations governing the disposal of property lost on vehicles belonging to the London Passenger Transport Board provide that:

asked the Home Secretary what has been the result of his consultations regarding the censoring of letters passing between Northern Ireland and Eire, with a view to preventing the leakage of information to the German representatives in Dublin; and whether he will make inquiries in Northern Ireland where the people are cognisant of what is happening and then take immediate steps to have such a censorship established?

As my right hon. Friend stated in a reply given on 31st July last, it is a mistake to assume that no steps have been taken to effect the object which my hon. Friend has in view. The suggestion in his Question that there has been no consultation with those who are cognisant of the position is unfounded. Close attention has been given to this matter, with the result that the decision has been taken advisedly to adopt other methods than that recommended by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can make a statement about Charles Dickens, of Great Brickhill, North Buckinghamshire, who, at Bletchley, unearthed more than £600 in gold and £40 in silver coins; and what portion has Seen awarded to him?

The gold coins were claimed by the Treasury under the Defence (Finance) Regulations. Their net value, £607 17s. 1d., was remitted to Mr. Dickens. The watch and chain and silver coins were offered to the British Museum in case they should be of historical or antiquarian interest. The Museum did not require them, and they were returned to Mr. Dickens. These arrangements are in accordance with the usual practice in dealing with treasure trove.

asked the Attorney-General how many Divorce Court cases came before the courts for the year ended 15th October, 1940; how many were defended; and with what result?

Information with regard to Divorce Court cases is supplied annually and in every case for the year ended 31st December. The figures for the year ended 31st December, 1940, are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether skilled electrical welders now serving in the Army are to any extent surplus to military requirement in their own trade; and whether any such can be given temporary release for work in their own trade on armament production?

I am always willing to consider The temporary release of individual men from the Army where a sufficiently strong case is made out and provided it is supported by the Government Department directly concerned as well as by the Ministry of Labour and National Service. So far as welders are concerned, however, there is at present a shortage of this type of tradesman in the Army, and until existing deficiencies have been made up, I am afraid that there is little prospect of making any of these men available for industry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider increasing the size of each military fitter-training establishment, possibly on a two-shift basis; and whether, with a view to an increase in out-turn, he will introduce a system of grading of entrants at the commencement of each training course, so as to ensure that those already possessing some knowledge and practical experience are not retarded in more advanced instruction by those trainees of another classification who are without any previous experience?

Since there is no longer any acute shortage of semi-skilled fitters in the Army it has not been thought necessary to increase the size of the training establishments, where in fact double shifts are worked when necessary. All entrants are tested at the commencement of the course, the length of which is adjusted to the ascertained needs of the individual trainees.

asked the Prime Minister whether, from the data in possession of its various Departments the Government will ascertain and publish what is necessary in food, housing accommodation, clothing and other essentials to maintain a person, whether pensioner or dependant, in a good state of health and comfort?

I am afraid that what constitutes a good state of health and comfort is so much a matter of opinion that no good purpose would be served by such a publication as the hon. Member proposes.