asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the granting of free travel warrants to men who have been transferred to work at long distances from their homes?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Reply given on nth September to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Rear-Admiral Beamish). I may add that I am keeping the matter under review.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to secure that the several hundred able-bodied males in the population evacuated to this country from Gibraltar, now principally located in the London area, shall be employed in the national effort?

Special steps were taken with a view to placing these persons in employment, but I am not entirely satisfied with the results and am taking the matter up in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet taken, or proposes to take, any power of compulsion for the recruitment of women for any form of national service?

My powers under the Defence Regulations with regard to directing persons to employment apply equally to women as to men.

Is it not a fact that no such power has ever yet been taken in relation to the recruitment of women for any form of national service at all, and that the right hon. Gentleman has been content to rely upon advertisements, speeches and platform oratory for recruits?

That is not correct. Women have been directed to work when they have registered, and I have not relied exclusively upon appeals. But as this is a free country, I am going to preserve the freedom of the country to the best of my ability.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that we want to have this information for the purpose of seeing how far women can be taken into the national service, as was stated in another place yesterday?

Women are being transferred to industry in order to release manpower, and they are responding extremely well. I am not prepared to submit to the pressure put upon me to adopt ruthless methods if I can get results by the voluntary acquiescence of the women concerned.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that while some Members of Parliament want him to use compulsion, a number of the women object to being compelled?

asked the Minister of Labour how many women have registered to date for national service; and how many have been utilised?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for East Islington (Miss Cazalet) on 16th October, 1941.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now make an announcement on his proposal for the training and resettlement of disabled persons?

Yes, Sir. A leaflet describing an interim scheme for the training and resettlement of disabled persons has been issued by my Department. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend; copies will also be available at the end of Questions in the Vote Office. I would emphasise that this is an interim scheme only, and that it does not pretend to deal comprehensively with the problems of rehabilitation and resettlement.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him if he will take steps to see that as much publicity as possible is given to this scheme to bring it to the notice of the individual workman, who has great difficulty in finding out what happens?

Yes, I am doing that.

Does the scheme apply to people disabled in industry as well as those disabled in the Services?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any understanding has been reached with the trade unions as to the conditions with respect to pay under which men in the Forces may be employed on skilled work which would, except for the exigencies of the present situation, be done by civilians?

No, Sir. In those cases of emergency in which military units have to be employed the conditions in regard to pay are those laid down in the Royal Warrant.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to a recent Auxiliary Territorial Service recruiting poster, number 51/1065; and whether he will take steps to have this unsuitable poster withdrawn?

I understand that this poster has evoked commendation and criticism in about equal proportions. Reserve stocks of the poster are now exhausted, and I do not propose to reprint it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether, in the interest of the war effort, he will consider making arrangements for the women in Northern Ireland, who are ready to do their utmost, to be provided with war work at home rather than pressing them, in many cases against their will, to engage in such work in Britain, and, failing that, to be deprived of their unemployment benefit?

As I explained to my hon. Friend in reply to his Question on 9th October, the difficult problem of providing more war work for women in Northern Ireland is continuously engaging the attention of the Ministry of Supply and the Government of Northern Ireland. Any question of unemployment benefit there is a matter for the Government of Northern Ireland.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the strong feeling among women in Northern Ireland against this practice of asking them to go to Britain to do work which they could well do at home if facilities were provided?

I would ask my hon. Friend to remember that the figures of unemployment in Northern Ireland show an enormous improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the exemption of members of the Armed Forces from compulsory fire-watching orders applies to officers engaged in administrative duties in the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry; how many such officers at present take any part in fire-watching either over the buildings in which they are employed or elsewhere; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure their taking a more adequate share of responsibility in this matter?

Under the Civil Defence Duties (Compulsory Enrolment) Order all serving members of His Majesty's Forces, including those to whom my hon. Friend refers, are exempt from registration with the local authority in whose area they reside, and accordingly any fire prevention duties they may there perform would be voluntary. Fire prevention arrangements in Government premises are made under Treasury instructions analogous to the provisions of the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order. Under these instructions Heads of Departments are empowered to apply compulsion to civilian staffs but not to members of His Majesty's Forces, though their voluntary assistance is welcomed. As regards the last two parts of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Service Ministers concerned.

Is it not a fact that quite a number of the Service officers in these Departments are really nothing more than civilians in uniform, and is it fair to the other Civil Servants that they should not be required to take their share in fire watching?

I think there is point in what my hon. Friend says, but, of course, these individuals may be administrative officers this week, and soldiers proper, so to speak, next week. This is a matter which should be dealt with by the Service Ministers concerned, who, I have no doubt, will see these Questions and Answers.

Are civilians who are employed in Service offices registered for fire watching?

Civilian employees in Service Departments in Whitehall are in the same position as anybody else.

asked the Home Secretary how many cases of prosecution for failure to do fire watching have taken place to date; how many of these resulted in discharge, fine or imprisonment, respectively; and whether he will take action to enact that, for a first offence, the option of a fine instead of imprisonment will be granted, particularly with a view to avoiding unnecessary hardship and humiliation to elderly respectable citizens who have never before been involved in criminal proceedings?

Statistics are not available regarding the number of cases in which proceedings have been instituted in fire prevention cases, and in view of the large number of authorities entitled to institute such proceedings I do not consider that the value of such figures would justify the labour involved in their collection. As regards the second part of the Question, arrangements have now been made to co-ordinate the policy to be adopted in this matter by the authorities concerned. My hon. Friend may rest assured that trifling irregularities will be dealt with by other measures and that prosecutions will only be instituted in serious cases.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that there are instances of elderly people who have not quite appreciated the Regulations, or for temperamental reasons have not complied with them and, for a first offence, have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment? Is that desirable?

It all depends on the merits of the case. There has been plenty of publicity, and I hope that hon. Members will help me to get fire watchers as well as give reasons why people should not do fire watching. My difficulty is to find enough. I have given instructions that every consideration shall be given in such cases as my hon. Friend refers to, and that frivolous prosecutions shall not take place.

My Question has nothing to do with getting fire watchers, which we are all willing to try to do, but deals with a specific grievance.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is on his instructions that letters sent by persons detained under the Regulations to Members of this House have ports of their content deleted by the censor?

No, Sir. It is a standing instruction that letters addressed by persons detained under Defence Regulation I8B to Members of Parliament are not subject to deletion or excision by the censor. I understand from the hon. Member that in one such letter recently received by him certain passages were deleted, and if he will be good enough to send me the letter and the envelope, it will facilitate the inquiries already in hand.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that alien husbands and wives, detained for security purposes under the Regulations are living together, similar arrangements can be made for British subjects?

The arrangement for bringing married people together in a camp in the Isle of Man does not apply in every case where an alien and his wife are both interned; it applies only to carefully selected couples; and as has been previously pointed out there is a distinction between persons interned because of their enemy nationality and persons detained because there are grounds for believing that they have been individually involved in such activities that their detention has been thought necessary for purposes of public safety. I cannot, therefore, accept the argument that because this arrangement has been made for some selected aliens a similar arrangement ought therefore to be made for persons detained under Regulation I8B. I am anxious to do all I properly can to ameliorate the conditions of preventive detention, but the difficulties of this proposal are substantial, and I have not hitherto been able to find a way of surmounting them.

Are we to understand that married couples who happen to be in detention at the present time are to be kept separated for the duration of the war?

That depends on the length of the duration, but it may be so. If, on the other hand, I can see a solution to the problem, I will consider it, but there have been incidents in the Isle of Man, including certain escapes, and I must consider the security aspect of the matter; otherwise, in trying to please my hon. Friend, I may get into terrible trouble with the great British public.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if he puts such married couples in the married camp it will be very much resented by the aliens who are genuine refugees?

I was not proposing to add to the excitement by mixing the married couples.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, although the closing hours of shops are being made considerably earlier as a result of the black-out, there is now an increasing tendency in towns for shops to close between 1 p.m. and 2.30 p.m.; and whether, as this arrangement makes it impossible for those who are doing an ordinary day's work to buy food for their households, he will take action in the matter?

This tendency has not previously been brought specifically to my notice. It is essentially a difficulty for local solution, and I shall be glad to investigate it in consultation with the Minister of Labour and National Service and Minister of Food if my hon. Friend will let me know the place or places where the difficulty is arising.

In considering this question of closing shops at midday, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that even shop assistants require lunch?

Yes, I will, but I think the shop assistants themselves will be with me when I say that the convenience of the public and the feeding of munition workers must be considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Labour has denuded the shops of staffs?

Does the hon. Gentleman remember that the House of Commons requires meals, but it still goes on?

asked the Minister of Health what provision has been made for treatment needed by children injured by enemy action; and what steps have been taken, where children have lost limbs as a result of enemy action, for such children to be provided with special training for their future potential employment and with artificial limbs where these are necessary?

Children injured by enemy action and needing treatment in hospital are admitted to hospitals in the Emergency Hospital Scheme, and provided with all requisite medical attention and care without charge, including, where necessary, the facilities afforded by the specialised treatment centres and the fracture organisation. After discharge from hospital, any necessary out-patient and domiciliary treatment is given. Amputation cases are referred to the Ministry of Pensions limb-fitting organisation, where suitable artificial limbs are provided and the child is trained in their use. On discharging child casualties, hospitals notify the Board of Education, and in appropriate cases the local education officers can thus be informed of the arrival of the child in their area so that any special arrangements for their teaching can be made.

Am I to take it that the Ministry of Pensions and the Ministry of Health take no responsibility for the provision of such children's education until they reach the age of 15?

I thought I had made the position clear. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, perhaps he will let me have particulars.

This is a matter of a principle, not of a particular case, although I have a particular case. Is it the fact that no provision is made for the proper education of a child in these circumstances until it reaches the age of 15?

I said in my answer that amputation cases are referred to the Ministry of Pensions limb-fitting organisation, and that on discharge hospitals notify the Board of Education, who get in touch in suitable cases with the local officers.

asked the Home Secretary what right of appeal against disciplinary penalties men and women air-raid precautions workers possess; what is the correct procedure in such appeals; and whether penalties imposed or threatened must correspond to some central standard or code or whether these penalties are left to the judgment of local officers?

For the National Fire Service, there is a discipline code prescribed in the Second Schedule to the National Fire Service (General) Regulations, 1941. This code lays down standard penalties for specific offences and provides machinery for appeal. As regards the Local Authority Civil Defence General Services, orders made under Defence Regulation 29.B inter alia provide penalties for a person employed with remuneration who (a) disobeys any lawful order given to him in the course of that employment, or (b) without reasonable excuse is absent from any place at a time when it is his duty to be there in the course of that employment. The procedure follows the ordinary processes of law.

Could the Minister not propose that there should be some method of appeal corresponding to that for the A.F.S., or in some other way, to meet the legitimate grievances of A.R.P. workers?

I cannot believe that my hon. Friend has read the Order. I think he is altogether behind the times. He is talking about conditions before the new arrangements were made. If he will consult the Order, he will find that there are proper avenues for appeals and consideration.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have had a communication from A.R.P. workers in two areas complaining that they cannot get redress in that way?

I am talking particularly of the fire services, but the Trades Union Consultative Committee is empowered to raise these matters, and I shall be glad to consider any representations they may make.

asked the Home Secretary how many Civil Defence Cadet units are now in existence?

Three, Sir.

In view of the success of the Liverpool Cadet Unit and the shortage of Civil Defence workers to which the right hon. Gentleman has just referred, would he consult with the President of the Board of Education and the Regional Commissioner in London to try and get something done, because this matter is simply falling between two or three different Departments? There is great enthusiasm among London boys to enrol in this kind of unit.

That aspect of the matter is under consideration, but conditions vary in different parts of the country, and it is not in every district that this particular system is considered to be appropriate. There are various voluntary youth organisations not under this name which are helping in Civil Defence, and the Board of Education have actively encouraged the formation of Youth Service Corps in a considerable number of places, 50 at least. I will, however, further consider the point which the hon. Gentleman has made.

While being grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his answer, may I ask him where in any large urban unit there is a successful unit? If I can assure him there is not, will he look into the matter further, particularly in London, where there are thousands of boys anxious to join?

I will. As I have stated, I do not discourage them at all. I encourage them where it is appropriate and will look further into the matter with a view to possible further development.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in a secondary school, of which he has been informed, there are no air-raid shelters for scholars or inhabitants, whilst at the school there is a shelter, built for the Office of Works at a cost of £4,000, which has been permitted, for the lack of a pump, to become unusable; and will he have inquiries made, with a view to restoring its use or alternative accommodation being provided?

I am informed that the local education authority concerned has provided protected accommodation for the scholars inside the school. As regards residents, there is communal shelter adjoining the school which is adequate for all those eligible for free shelter in the immediate locality. The trench shelter was built by the Ministry of Works and Buildings as an emergency measure on the outbreak of war, and i am in communication with my Noble Friend the Minister of Works and Buildings in regard to its future use.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the resolution passed by the Cowdenbeath Co-operative Society and sent to him by the Member for West Fife; and what answer he has made to the society?

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the resolution to which the hon. Member refers, and in this connection I would refer him to the public statements which have been made in this, House by my right hon. Friend and particularly that of 30th September last.

Is the Minister aware that the resolution deals with two questions, the one with the opening of a second front, and the other with lifting the ban on the "Daily Worker"; and, in view of the interest with which the right hon. Gentleman himself read the "Daily Worker" when it was in existence, will he persuade the Prime Minister to withdraw the ban?

asked the President of the Board of Education the figures for the latest convenient date, of children of school age in England and Wales who are not receiving school education, and of those who are receiving only part-time education?

The latest figures obtained from local education authorities were in respect of the week ended 12th July, 1941. They showed that 28,306 children of public elementary school age were not receiving instruction and 72,505 were receiving part-time instruction. These figures represent 0.6 per cent, and 1.6 per cent, respectively of the total number of children of school age.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, when by order of his Department, schools have been reopened in areas particularly vulnerable to enemy attack it is proposed to take any, and, if so, what, action against parents who decline to permit their children to attend such schools?

The enforcement of the law of school attendance is a matter for the local education authority, with whom the power lies to take action appropriate to the local circumstances.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether representations made by the parents, to the local education authority on the opening of these schools are considered by his Department?

The representations would be made to the local education authority and would not of necessity come to us.

Would it not have been wiser to grant greater facilities for these parents to visit their children rather than that the children should be brought back to places like Dover?

As the hon. Lady knows, that is a matter for the Minister of Health.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many copies of the secret and confidential document on educational reform have been printed; and how many have been circulated?

The distribution of the 1,050 copies originally printed is complete, except for a small number needed for official use.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether there is, as I saw in the Press this morning, any suggestion that this document, or a précis, is now going to be made available to the wider public?

There is a Question for non-oral answer to-day, No. 10 on the Order Paper, in the name of the hon. Member for Neath (Sir W. Jenkins), in reply to which it is stated that a summary of the suggestions in the document is being circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the hon. Gentleman convey to the President of the Board of Education that the termination of this unhappy procedure will be widely welcomed, and will he use his own influence to see that the prestige of the Board of Education in the matter is kept up?

I should regret any suggestion that the prestige of the Board is less now than it was when I assumed office, I will convey the hon. Gentleman's suggestion to ray right hon. Friend.

Can my hon. Friend explain why it was that, when the Board sent out more than 1,000 copies of these alleged "secret and confidential" circulars, they refused to send one to the Labour party, although the Labour party insisted that they should also be included?

As a result of representations made to me, the Labour party received a copy of the report.

Could a copy of this report be placed in the Library of the House?

I will ask my right hon. Friend to deal with that question.

Could not all the Members have one?

asked (1) the President of the Board of Education, who is responsible for reimbursing a reception authority for additional expenditure incurred in the medical inspection of evacuated schoolchildren;

With the hon. Member's permission, I will answer both these Questions. As regards the medical inspection on arrival in the reception area of parties of evacuated children, additional expenditure necessarily incurred by the local authority may be included in their claim for reimbursement on the evacuation account. Additional expenditure incurred in the medical inspection of evacuated schoolchildren in the normal course of the School Medical Service is a matter for adjustment between the evacuation and reception authorities. The circumstances in which adjustment should be made and the basis of the adjustment have been under consideration by a committee representative of local education authorities, and I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the committee's reports.

Will these reports make it perfectly clear that the routine examination of these evacuated schoolchildren shall not be held up because reception areas and evacuating authorities cannot agree as to the allocation of financial liability?

The reports deal not with administration but with the financial arrangements for the settlement of accounts. But may I say, as one concerned in the original negotiations, that I believe that, in the great majority of cases, the administration proceeds and the financial arrangements are dealt with subsequently. There has been trouble in some cases, but the revision of what is known as the Davidson Report has very largely removed such grounds for that as formerly existed.

asked the Minister of Health the terms of the instructions sent to Assistance Board officers for applications for supplementary pensions for householder and non-householder, respectively?

The Regulations indicate quite specifically how a supplementary pension is to be assessed according as the applicant is a householder or a non-householder, and the Board's instructions provide accordingly. If my hon. Friend has in mind any case where he feels that effect has not been given to the Regulations, and cares to let me have the details, I will have inquiries made.

Is it within the province of an Assistance Board officer to decide whether, when a request is made by a Member of Parliament about a particular case, the Member shall be shown the instructions issued to the officers or not? If not, how are we to know whether the Regulation is being properly carried out?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will confer with me, and I will try to help him. His question is in very wide terms.

Is the Minister aware that Assistance Board officers will not allow Members of Parliament to see the instructions at all? They almost order us out of the office.

May I press for an answer as to whether, on request, a Member of Parliament should be granted by the Assistance Board officer the right of seeing the instructions?

I should like to see that question in more precise terms.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these officers are usually very helpful to Members of Parliament?

Is the Minister not running away from the question?

I never run away from anything.

asked the Minister of Health how many county councils have appropriated hospitals under the Public Health Acts?

Twenty-two county councils in England and Wales have appropriated the whole or part of Public Assistance institutions for public health hospital purposes.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the serious shortage of hospital ambulance drivers due to call up for military service; and what steps he proposes to take to avoid a breakdown of this branch of the hospital service?

No, Sir. I am not aware of any general shortage, but I shall be glad to consider any particular instances that my hon. Friend may bring to my notice. In regard to the second part of the Question, I would remind my hon. Friend that large emergency ambulance services are available for hospital purposes.

Is it possible for the county councils, which are being depleted of their staffs, to use the staffs of the emergency service?

The normal ambulance service of a hospital is reinforced if necessary by the service of these Civil Defence ambulances, the inter-hospital ambulances provided under the Emergency Hospital Scheme, and the America Ambulance in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Health how far the principle of public representation proportionate to the amount of public financial assistance already operates respecting voluntary hospitals; and whether any recommendation in regard to this principle has ever been communicated to local authorities?

I have not sufficient information to show how far local authorities are represented on the governing bodies of voluntary hospitals to which they make grants. No recommendation has been made in the sense of the second part of the Question.

Does the Minister agree that it is highly desirable that a recommendation along these lines should be made? Does he agree with the principle underlying the Question?

I answered a Question of that kind last week on the lines that questions such as representation and the amount of grant are proper matters for discussion at a later stage during the preparation of a hospital scheme.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will draw to the attention of scheme-making authorities the provisions of the law allowing for the disregard of National Health Insurance benefit for the first three months in any year in the assessment of means of blind persons?

In a circular issued to local authorities in March, 1938, attention was drawn to the requirement that in computing the resources of a blind person applying for financial assistance the first 7s. 6d. a week of any National Health Insurance benefit is to be disregarded. I am proposing to issue a further circular drawing attention to the fact that in January next this amount will be increased to 10s. 6d. under the recent Insurance Act.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confer with the Secretary of State for Scotland to see whether similar action is taken in Scotland?

I will certainly draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the point.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many men are turned down for the various Forces by the medical boards on account of physical disability, and placed in Classes III or IV; and whether he will consult with the War Office, in the interests of the future health of the nation, so that each man should be informed of his particular physical disability, so that if it is anything requiring attention he can consult his own medical doctor or officer?

I will communicate with my hon. Friend on the matter.

When the right hon. Gentleman is inquiring about men of 40 will he also inquire of the Ministry of National Service, as many men of 40 are being turned down?

That is a Question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, who is responsible for the medical board organisation.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider removing the means test now applied to the widowed mothers of serving men, by which they are deprived of pensions and allowances if they respond to the call to enter employment, whilst such means test does not apply to wives?

The Select Committee of 1921 took the view that to justify the grant of a parent's pension the test of need, broadly interpreted, should be satisfied. This principle was incorporated in the 1940 Warrant, the provisions of which were fully considered by my Statutory Advisory Committee. I regret that I am not prepared to waive this requirement.

Is the Minister aware that this means test prevents a good number of women from undertaking war work because if they do they are liable to be deprived of widows' pensions, whereas in the case of the ordinary married woman allowances can be retained? Would he consider reviewing the position?

I am not aware of the circumstances outlined by the hon. Member. I do not think that a woman who wishes to take her part in the national effort will let that consideration weigh with her. I am quite prepared to consider any point of view the hon. Member may put forward.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether pensions allowances to dependants of men who have lost their lives in the present war will be reviewed in the light of the new arrangements for family allowances: and whether applica- tions may be repeated by dependent parents and others who have had previous applications declined?

The new scheme of allowances during a man's temporary absence on service has no bearing on the permanent provision to be made in the event of his death. Applications by dependants which have been rejected on account of their present circumstances may always he renewed if those circumstances change for the worse.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that provision for the widow and the family of a soldier who loses his life is under the new, improved regulations made comparatively very much worse? Is he not prepared to consider revising these inadequate allowances for the dependants of those who have lost their lives in this war?

I think the hon. Member has got a little mixed up in this matter. The best thing I can do is to have a talk with him.

I asked the right hon. Gentleman to face the position. He is refusing to do so.

I never refuse to face anything.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of his recent undertaking to consult the Minister of Health as to the supply of doctors for pensions appeals tribunals, he can now state what is the present position?

I have stated that I shall keep the matter of pensions appeal tribunals constantly in mind, in the light of the findings from time to time of the Committee now sitting, under the chairmanship of the Under-Secretary of State for the Dominions, to consider the distribution of medical personnel. I am asking that Committee to give me their views on the question of the availability of suitable doctors for appeal work.

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman himself has stated that only a comparatively small number of doctors will be required to start these appeal tribunals, will he consult the Secretary of State for War, who has a vast reserve of doctors at present not earning their daily bread?

The Committee I have referred to is making inquiries, and will report to me. I cannot take the matter out of its hands.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will publish a statement, either as a White Paper or in the OFFICIAL REPORT, showing precisely in what form, and to whom applications should be made for payments to dependants of men in the Forces, under each head of the recently published White Paper; and what evidence, if any, will have to be submitted with each of the different forms of application?

The White Paper (6318) announced only one new kind of grant, namely the Emergency grants referred to in paragraph 7. Applications are to be made to the Chief Regional Officer of the Ministry of Pensions whose address can be ascertained by inquiry at any Post Office. The evidence required will be evidence that the conditions of grant as set out in paragraph 7 are fulfilled. The other changes announced in the White Paper are merely changes in the basis of assessment. Full information as to the method of application and as to the evidence required is given in White Papers 6043, 6138, and 6186.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, early in July, J. R. Edwards, of Great Cambridge Road, N.17, applied personally to the Assistance Board, Manor House, N.4, for extra allowance, as he was due to join the Army on 17th July; that he has since written twice to Manor House Office, once to Lytham St. Anne's and twice applied through his pay office; that his wife has visited the Assistance Board on three occasions, filling up the same forms as her husband, and each time being informed that she would hear within a few days; and, as 14 weeks have now elapsed without any result, what further steps Mrs. Edwards can take to obtain the allowance to which she is entitled and in urgent need?

In the time available it has not been possible to obtain the case papers from our office in the North. I am inquiring into the case and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the fact that I have only taken the unusual course of putting down a personal case like this on the Order Paper because it is typical of the existing state of affairs,- and many Members of Parliament are inundated with this kind of case?

I do not think that it is typical of the state of affairs. It has been an absolute surprise to me, and if I find when I get the papers that any member of my staff has been remiss in replying, I shall certainly take the matter up very strongly.

Is the Minister aware that I gave a case that dates from January?

That is possible; the question is what inquiries have to be made.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the strong exception taken to the inquisitorial methods involved in the administration of the new arrangements for making provision for families of members of His Majesty's Forces during the present war, he will consider the adoption of a flat-rate increase, which will guarantee a reasonable subsistence without a needs test?

The reasons which led His Majesty's Government to make improved provision for the families of members of the Forces by means of a revised scheme of War Service Grants in preference to a flat-rate increase were fully explained in last week's Debate. This does not involve the use of inquisitorial methods, but it is not possible to judge whether a supplementary grant is necessary to secure the benefits of the scheme, including the minimum standard of maintenance, unless the resources already available are known. I would add that as regards cases where a grant is already in payment a simple form is sent to the recipient and no personal visit is normally necessary. In the case of new applications personal inquiry enables a less complicated form to be used and frequently assists the claimant in establishing a right to a grant.

Has my right hon. Friend overlooked the fact that all the Members who took part in the Debate in all parts of the House object to the inquisitorial methods that this scheme will necessitate; and in the light of that expressed opinion, will he give due weight and consideration to the expressions of the Members of this House?

I certainly listened to all the speeches in the Debate, and I am certain that all those hon. Members were under a misapprehension. The suggestion of the hon. Member of a flat-rate increase would not meet two per cent. of the cases of hardship.

Is the Minister aware, or would he be interested to learn, that the Labour party fully support the view that the present scheme is unsatisfactory, and will the Government take some notice of what the Labour party say?

I should not be at all surprised if the Labour party took exception to any scheme. They can object to any scheme if they so desire. Certainly, I would take active notice of any of their views.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the last Debate the House almost without exception expressed dissatisfaction with the scheme and that since then dissatisfaction has increased, and will he take note of these facts and reconsider the whole matter?

I take note of all the facts brought to my notice.

And do nothing.

I am prepared to meet this House and discuss this question at any time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the desirability of abolishing the horse-power tax on motor-vehicles and replacing it by increasing the petrol tax so that the amount of tax borne would be in direct proportion to the use of the motor-car?

My right hon. Friend does not think it would be desirable to alter the basis of taxation of motor vehicles as my hon. Friend suggests.

Would not this alteration be very logical and bring in more money, as many people lay up their cars now?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to protecting the tenant farmer, he will confer with the appropriate authorities with a view to introducing legislation to apply the Rent Restrictions Act to all farms held on tenancies, and so provide a standard rent based on pre-war rental values and imposing, in the case of sales, an increment tax on all re-sales carried out within a period of three years, unless it can be proved that the transaction is due to a forced or genuine sale by executors or trustees?

So far as my right hon. Friend understands my hon. Friend's proposals, he doubts whether they are practicable. In any case they involve a new principle of taxation, and it is not clear why this particular class of land should be selected for it.

Does not my right hon. and gallant Friend appreciate that something must be done to protect the tenant farmer against the land speculator; and is he aware that this problem will not solve itself and that some solution must be found? Will my right hon. Friend really give this matter some thought, and is he also aware that I do not think that my Question is unintelligible?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in connection with the improved arrangements for making provision for families of members of His Majesty's Forces, Income Tax will be payable in respect of these allowances?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the improved War Service Grants announced in the White Paper Cmd. 6318 recently presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions. These grants are not regarded as assessable income for Income Tax purposes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that in any legal proceedings that may be taken in case T. 1193/6/38, Inland Revenue, he will arrange to call ministers of religion, who have a wide knowledge of the facts, and who are willing to give to the court evidence on oath concerning those facts, and that he will raise no bar to the case being heard in public, in view of the fact that large sums of public money are involved?

I have been asked to reply. An originating summons has been issued in the Chancery Division in the case to which the hon. Member refers, the purpose of which is to obtain a decision as to the objects to which, upon a proper construction of the trust deeds, the trust funds may be lawfully applied. The evidence must, of course, be limited to the issues raised and might not include the evidence which my hon. Friend has in mind. I am myself a party as Attorney-General to these proceedings and have the matter under consideration at the present time, including the point raised by my hon. Friend. In accordance with the usual practice the summons will be heard in open court.

If the right hon. and learned Gentleman will not have it submitted to court, will he himself hear the evidence of these reputable clergymen who are willing to give evidence and have expressed their willingness over and over again; and is he aware that this matter was laid before the present Chancellor of the Exchequer and the previous Chancellor of the Exchequer, that frauds have been going on persistently for a number of years, and that an attempt is being made to whitewash the person involved, who is paying between £40,000 and £50,000 himself in Super-tax?

I cannot of course accept the hon. Gentleman's allegations on a matter which is sub judice. I can assure him that I will certainly consider all the information in the possession of the Crown in this case and see that all proper evidence is brought before the Court.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take steps himself to see that this case is heard in public, if it is possible to do so? Why is it being hushed up?

I resent the suggestion that anything has been hushed up.

It has been going on for three and a half years.

I resent the suggestion that anything has been hushed up. If people have been defrauded by anyone, the courts are open to them. They need not obtain the sanction or the leave of the Crown. They can take steps to have their grievances redressed, and I resent any suggestion that the matter has been hushed up. If the hon. Member had listened to my answer, he would have heard my statement at the end of it that, in accordance with the usual practice the summons will be heard in open court.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what steps are being taken to study the problems arising out of the terms of the Atlantic Charter, with a view to putting its proposals into effect with the minimum of delay at the termination of the war?

The problems arising out of the terms of the Atlantic Charter are covered by the studies and inquiries for which I am responsible. As stated in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore) on 8th October, I hope at a suitable opportunity to explain the methods and machinery we are using.

Will that be early in the new Session and in the House?

Yes, Sir, it will be in the House, and I hope it will be early in the new Session.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he is taking steps to study the position of the liquor trade, with the view of arriving at conclusions about it for the post-war reconstruction period; whether he is testing scientifically the claims of the trade regarding its products; and will he make any such information public?

No, Sir; but I am always willing to consider representations on matters coming within the sphere of my responsibility for the study of reconstruction problems.

Has my right hon. Friend forgotten his own interest in the setting-up of the Liquor Control Board, and does he not think, in respect of the second part of the Question, that it is time we had such slogans as, "Beer is Best" and "Guinness is good for you" disposed of and proved to be untrue?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the fact that such a record could be easily kept, he will instruct his Department to keep a record of all purchases of agricultural land of over, say, 200 acres, that are made not for occupation but for prompt re-sale; and whether he will thereafter publish periodical lists of the agents and principals concerned in such transactions?

My hon. and gallant Friend is, I think, mistaken in thinking that a useful record of the kind which he suggests could be easily compiled or kept. His suggestion would require legislation, and is not, in my view, a practicable or desirable way of dealing with the problem of speculation.

Cannot the Inland Revenue valuation department easily provide the record? Does my right hon. Friend realise the strong feeling in this matter in all parts of the House, and that something must be done about it? If I put a Question down later, will he say what progress the Government have made in the prevention of land speculation?

As I said in the Debate the other day, I am perfectly aware of the feeling in the House and, indeed, I share that feeling, but there is a great deal of difference between feeling strongly and finding out how to solve a difficulty. But my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are applying our minds to the problem, and we hope to make an announcement as soon as we can.

Will my right hon. Friend give an indication as to when I can put down a Question that will produce an answer?

I cannot foretell how quickly our minds will work.

Is it not a fact that land speculation is one of the greatest scandals of the war?

asked the Minister of Agriculture why, in view of his having been empowered by Regulation 66 of the Defence (General) Regulations to prescribe by Order the procedure of war agricultural executive committees, he has done so partly by the Cultivation of Lands Order and partly by Departmental circulars; and whether, to bring all prescribed procedure within the purview of Parliament, he will prescribe such procedure by Order and not by confidential circulars?

Defence Regulation 66 provides that any Order delegating my powers to any body of persons may contain such provisions as I think proper with respect to the procedure of any body to whom functions are so delegated. The obvious intention is that the general procedure should be so laid down and this has been done in the Cultivations of Lands Order, 1939. But my hon. Friend will realise that in connection with the carrying out by agricultural executive committees of their powers and duties as the Minister's agents, it is necessary for me to issue instructions from time to time on matters which do not fall within the definition of procedure of the committee for the purpose of Defence Regulation 66, and such instructions are more properly and conveniently given by circular or memorandum rather than by a Statutory Rule and Order.

But I am asking my right hon. Friend about instructions with regard to procedure. Why should not hon. Members have full access to information with regard to that?

If my hon. Friend will study my answer, he will see that I have replied to his point about procedure.

But my right hon. Friend says he cannot give this information, because part of it is related to matters which must necessarily be confidential and were other than matters of procedure. Why will he not disclose the information with regard to procedure?

I have disclosed a great deal of information about procedure.

Why not all of it?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any action is being taken by the Government to carry out an agricultural long-range policy, as recommended in the Sixth Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure; and whether he will take steps now to consult the Agricultural Council of England and Wales and other bodies interested in agriculture on this matter?

The broad principles of a permanent post-war policy for agriculture are under active consideration. I am not yet in a position to enter into consultations with the various bodies interested in this subject, but it is my intention to do so in due course.

Is the Minister aware that plans have to be made years ahead and that land will not go on producing corn unless there is a long-term policy? If farmers are to have confidence in my right hon. Friend and in the Government surely the time has come when more details of a permanent agricultural policy should be outlined?

I am perfectly aware of the need for a long-term policy, and that is why I have told county war agricultural committees that they can now consider the harvest for 1945.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the advertisements published by his Department calling attention to the value of fresh salted cod, he is aware that numbers of shopkeepers will not sell this on the ground that it does not yield sufficient profit; and whether he can state the profit to fishmongers?

The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The maximum price to a retailer for wet salted cod is 8s. 6d. per stone of 14lbs. The maximum retail price is 9d. per 1b. or 10s. 6d. per stone, but as the advertisements in the trade Press point out, the de-salting process applied by the retailer increases the weight by from 20 to 35 per cent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will give an assurance that, in the event of carcase meat being curtailed, butchers will be permitted to take part in the handling of tinned meat to take its place?

I am unable to give my hon. Friend the assurance he desires, but, in the event of carcase meat not being available at any time to fill the meat ration, it is my Noble Friend's intention to distribute canned corned beef, mutton and pork to butchers, as at present, to take its place.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is considerable anxiety among small traders and butchers, and will he give an assurance that their interests will be watched and safeguarded by his Department?

If the hon. Gentleman will have another look at my answer, he will see that the point he has raised has been met.

Will canned pork and canned meat be sold by grocers or butchers?

Again, I must refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer, which states that it is the intention of my Noble Friend to distribute canned corn beef, mutton and pork to butchers as at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the food office in the borough of Willesden is now situated in the High Road, Kilburn, about 10 yards off the boundary of Hampstead, and, that residents of Neasden and Stone-bridge, having to visit the office, can do so only by a circuitous route by train or omnibus involving a fare of 6d. or 8d. each way; and will he take the appropriate steps to open an office in a more central position?

Part of the Willesden food office is temporarily evacuated to its present premises as the result of damage which occurred recently in the permanent premises when a boiler burst in the basement causing considerable damage. The office for inquiries from members of the public has not been affected and is still located in the library at Willesden.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, at this critical time, in order to promote sobriety, he will severely ration strong drink for the duration of the war?

Drastic reductions in the quantities of alcoholic liquor have already been made. The Government are permitting beer to be produced up to the level of the output in the year ended 30th September, 1939; distilling is severely restricted, and no imports of wines and spirits excepting altar wines and rum for special purposes have been permitted for some months. My Noble Friend sees no adequate reason for adopting the proposal suggested by my hon. Friend.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in order to promote sobriety and conserve foodstuffs and sugar, a more liberal supply of pure water might with advantage be added to the brew?

Would the hon. Member for Down (Dr. Little) give us the address where some strong drink could be obtained?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to steady the prices and control the distribution of store cattle to be imported from Ireland and so prevent excessive competition for supplies by Scottish farmers and excessive profits going to Irish breeders?

It is difficult to see how competition for a limited supply can be avoided. On the other hand, it is obvious that even the limited supply of imports which will be available will have the effect of reducing prices.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that inordinately high prices have been paid this autumn for store cattle? Farmers are buying regardless of price, and in view of the limited supply, is it not the Government's job to buy all the Irish store cattle necessary and distribute it? In that way the Government and not the Irish would get the profit.