asked the Prime Minister whether he will make provision giving British subjects the right of appeal against decisions of the Home Secretary for the time being, made Regulation 18B of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, such appeal to be conducted in private, and the onus of proof of his innocence to rest on the appellant?

The existing Regulation already provides safeguards in the provisions giving a right to detainees to make objections to an advisory committee, but the final decision in these cases must rest with the Secretary of State, who is responsible to Parliament for the administration of the Regulation.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of repeated warnings given by Ministers of the Crown as to the danger of invasion, he is satisfied that all persons whose activities are likely to be of assistance to the invader are now safely interned?

Persons whose activities are such as to bring them within the provisions of paragraphs (1) or (1A) of Defence Regulation 18B have been detained whenever they have come under notice and in addition, I have power, under paragraph (1B) of the Regulation, in any area to which the paragraph may be applied having regard to any actual or immediately apprehended enemy action, to direct the detention of persons whose recent conduct indicates that they are likely to assist the enemy. I shall not hesitate to use these powers if the necessity arises.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons have been interned or imprisoned since the outbreak of war for reasons of national security; and approximately how many border-line cases there are that he has under observation, but which do not come within the strict letter of the law?

I presume my hon. Friend is referring to Defence Regulation 18B. 1,766 persons have been detained under that Regulation since the outbreak of war, and 671 are still detained. It would not be desirable for me to make any statement as to the number of persons who are at present under observation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will exercise his powers, under the appropriate Defence Regulation, to issue an order compelling all clubs and bottle-parties to close activities not later than 12 midnight?

There are already powers in Defence Regulations enabling the police, where authorised by me, to close wholly or during certain hours certain classes of unlicensed premises other than registered clubs, which are of the kind which I think he Has in mind, and where drunkenness or disorderly or indecent conduct takes place, and there are similar powers to close registered clubs frequented by war workers where the efficiency of these workers is being impaired by drunkenness on the premises. A number of premises have been closed under the Regulations and the police are giving careful attention to the conduct of places of the kind referred to.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Police-Constable R. Garton, of Hull, lost his life, in circumstances of which he is aware, through enemy action; that the sole survivor is a daughter aged 12; and will he consider allowing the pension contributions of the late officer to be used for the education of the orphan in addition to any small pension he may allow to be paid until the child is 16 years of age?

This case was brought to my notice by the police authority for the City of Hull, but, as the police authority has been informed, I am advised that there is no power to pay to the child of a deceased police officer the rateable deductions made from the father's pay, either in addition to or as an alternative to any allowance to which the child may be entitled under the Police Pensions Act, 1921.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to prevent existing organisations being used wittingly, or unwittingly, by persons who are working against the interests of national security?

I do not know to what activities or organisations my hon. Friend is referring, but I should of course be prepared to make use of my powers under Defence Regulations against any persons engaged in activities directed against the public safety or the defence of the realm.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will amplify the statement in his Mansion House speech, that the Government will never enter into negotiations with the Nazi régime by a further declaration that Article 8 of the Atlantic Charter must be a fundamental condition in any peace agreement with representatives of the German people?

I think that my statement at the Mansion House on 10th November and the terms of the Atlantic Charter, of which Article 8 is an integral part, are quite clear and do not require amplification at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will indicate the nature or give the text of the reply that he sent in response to a letter addressed to him by the National Council of the Peace Pledge Union on the 20th July, 1941?

The reply consisted of an acknowledgment of this letter.

asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the fact that the declared policy of the organisation known as Federal Union, is to surrender sovereign powers to a Federal government, he will take the necessary steps to stop the activities of Federal Union as being inimical to our war effort?

I am advised that the activities of this body have not so far called for such action as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the interest of public security, he will take whatever action is necessary to prevent Ministers, Civil servants and Staff officers of the three Services from living in hotels which have alien or ex-alien subjects in their employ, and where telephone conversations pass through the hotel switch-board?

I do not think that this particular suggestion is practicable. The utmost discretion in the discussion on the telephone or in public places of official or other confidential matters, should always be exercised and special care is necessary for telephone conversations which may be liable to be overhead by operators in places such as hotels who are not in Government service.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum the terms and effect of the Order now proposed to control the hitherto unrestricted use of petrol by means of the drive-yourself hire of private motor-cars; what conditions will have to be fulfilled before such hiring, with petrol, can properly be made; and upon what date the Order operates?

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the Order which has already been made and which comes into operation on the 24th of this month.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether, in view of the further restrictions in the use of petrol, he is taking the necessary steps to ensure that what petrol is available is only being used for essential services?

The purpose of the recent further restrictions is to promote the object which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether, in view of existing circumstances, and in order to save all possible shipping space, he will now consider so amending the Petroleum Order, 1941, that no waste petroleum shall be burned that can be refined for its original purpose?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 12th November to a similar Question which he addressed to me.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is now prepared to reconsider the question of the release of some, if not all, the political prisoners in India as a first step towards bringing about a more satisfactory state of affairs throughout India?

The number of persons in prison or detained for offences committed in connection with the Civil Disobedience campaign is rapidly diminishing and the possibility of accelerating releases is under consideration.

asked the Minister of information how many persons registered as conscientious objectors are employed by the British Broadcasting Corporation; and will he give their names?

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Information whether he has any statement to make upon the decision not to supply further speakers to any political organisation?

I do not know of any recent decision on this subject. Both under my right hon. Friend and his predecessor the Ministry's established practice has been not to assist in providing speakers for any meeting unless it is entirely non-political in character. I think there are sound and obvious reasons for this rule.

asked the Minister of Information whether everything possible is being done in the way of propaganda in enemy and occupied countries, especially in the frequent dropping of leaflets?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining working clothes in the case of men employed on the surface of collieries in South Wales and Monmouthshire; whether he is aware that these requirements are as necessary and as great as for men employed underground; and will he provide them with the same facilities to obtain clothes as are afforded to other workmen?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the arrangements for enabling assistants in shops where food is sold and where absolute cleanliness is essential to purchase overalls without coupons?

I would ask the hon. Members to await a statement which will be made on the next Sitting Day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the advisability of granting a similar concession to civilians who have had a limb or limbs amputated as has been given to ex-service men who were handicapped by having to provide so many coupons to secure the necessary clothing in duplicate, owing to the wear and tear occasioned by the use of artificial limbs.

Any concessions granted to persons suffering from physical disabilities which give rise to exceptional wear and tear on their clothes are available to civilians as well as to ex-service men.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of contributions still outstanding under the War Risk Insurance Act; and whether any proceedings have been taken for the recovery of these sums?

I have been asked to reply. No information is available which would enable me to give a direct answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, but, from the amounts received in premium under Part II of the War Risks Insurance Act, 1939, I am satisfied that traders in general are carrying out their obligations under the Act. Proceedings have, in certain cases, been instituted under the Act where persons who were required to insure have failed to do so.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many claims for War Service Grants have been made since the White Paper [Cmd. 6318] was issued; and in how many of such cases have awards been made and paid respectively?

I regret that this information is not available to-day, but I hope to have the necessary figures in time to answer a similar Question of which notice has been given for an early sitting.

asked the Minister of Pensions what are the proposed scales of fees to be paid to medical practitioners who serve on medical boards set up, or to be set up, by his Department; and why, as this affects general practitioners in particular, no reference has been made on the subject to the Medical Practitioners' Union, which is representative of general practitioners?

The future scale of fees for members of medical boards is at present under consideration with the British Medical Association, with whom it has been customary for such matters to be discussed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has further considered the possibility of having Form 21 of the War Service Grants Committee made available at the local post offices in the country so that dependants of the members of the Armed Forces may obtain such forms there when they desire to make application for a grant; and is he in a position to make a statement on the subject?

Yes, Sir; I am glad to say that the Postmaster-General has agreed to make the form available at all post offices. Copies can now be obtained there. I am also arranging for specimen copies of this form to be available at the Vote Office for the information of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, following upon a reply given by the then Financial Secretary to the War Office on the subject of horse-drawn transport on the 4th May, 1939, the right hon. Gentleman can state what special steps have been taken in this regard?

I have been asked to reply. It has not been found necessary to take any special steps in regard to the organisation of horse transport.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether any civil experiment enforcing the slogan of "Keep left" for pedestrians has furnished sufficient guidance for its general adoption?

The results of a vigorous campaign carried out some years ago in London and a large number of other towns, clearly indicated the lack of response that may be expected from the public.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of accidents, in which War Department vehicles were involved, for the last two months for which figures are available; and whether he is satisfied that the position in this respect is improving?

The number of accidents involving War Department vehicles in which soldiers or civilians were injured in August and September was 2,468 and 2,536 respectively. These figures represent a marked improvement upon previous months, having regard to the greatly increased number of Army vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for War what procedure is adopted in regard to the award of military decorations to officers and other ranks, now prisoners of war, who have been recommended for such awards?

The names of officers and other ranks who are prisoners of war and were recommended for awards before their capture are brought forward for consideration at the end of hostilities, unless they make their escape in the meantime. In exceptional cases an award may be made to an officer or soldier while he is still a prisoner of war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet come to a decision with regard to the subsistence allowances of the Home Guard, as much discontent and many resignations are being caused by the subsistence allowance of the Home Guard being exactly half that allowed to fire watchers?

Various matters in connection with the subsistence allowances of the Home Guard are at present under review and it is not possible to make an announcement at the moment. Fresh instructions will be issued as soon as the review is complete. The rate authorised for fire-watchers will certainly be taken into account in this connection.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will raise the age of enlistment for Home Guard medical officers, since over-age doctors who are still in practice must necessarily be employed but cannot benefit from classes of instruction, etc., unless they are actually enrolled in the Home Guard?

Cases of this kind are considered on their merits. In general the upper age limit is not strictly enforced in the case of medical practitioners wishing to enrol as medical officers in the Home Guard, provided that they are fit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether medical officers of the Home Guard who desire to be mobilised for whole time service in the event of invasion, and providing they have no other commitments, will be permitted to do so?

In the event of invasion medical officers in the Home Guard will render such services as circumstances demand and permit. Those with no other commitments will be able to perform full-time duty.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will authorise further courses of instruction for Home Guard medical officers: and whether he will arrange that such shall not firstly be advertised in the lay Press, but that information and applications take place through the usual military channels?

A course for Home Guard medical officers has been arranged for next month, and further courses will be held as found necessary. Instructions and information regarding such courses are issued through the normal military channels.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the considered policy of his Department that zone medical advisers of the Home Guard should be appointed from among the whole-time servants of local authorities; and, if so, whether he will give an assurance that such officers have sufficient time for the duties which will be imposed upon them?

In order to avoid undue interference with the medical organisation of the locality, it has been decided that no medical practitioner may be enrolled in the Home Guard unless previous permission has been given by the local medical war committee, which is aware of the professional commitments of practitioners in its areas. This should ensure that Home Guard appointments are not inconsistent with the fulfilment of a practitioner's existing obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of authorising the wearing of the narrow cerise flash by Home Guard medical officers, such as those which distinguish other members of the Army medical services?

It is not the practice for members of the Home Guard to wear the badges of different arms. Medical officers in the Home Guard wear the Red Cross brassard, and I do not consider that any advantage would be gained by adding a cerise flash.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total grant to the Army Cadet Service and how this compares with 1938?

For 1941 grants to the Army Cadet Service may be earned up to £20,000 with additional grants for cadets who qualify for certificate A. For 1938, the amount which could be earned was £15,750 with additional grants for cadets obtaining certificate A. The actual amount of the grants earned and paid in 1938 was £5,245. The claim for 1941 has not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the offer of a Jewish division for service wherever required, approved by the Government in September, 1940, has never been put into effect; and, since it is desirable to accept all help that Jews are prepared to give in Palestine and elsewhere, whether he will take steps in the early future to grant to existing Jewish units the right to wear badges and describe themselves as Jews?

The formation of a Jewish division would present very serious practical difficulties. The companies which have been recruited from Jews in Palestine are attached to a British regiment and the question of a separate badge does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has given con- sideration to the suggestions relating to the Army made in the Debate on service pay and dependants' allowances on 16th October, and with what result?

I have carefully considered what was said in the Debate but I think we must await the results of the scheme announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions before considering any further changes in the rates of pay and allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the London area allowance to Service men's wives is stopped on their leaving the London area, and as there is to-day no real difference in the cos1 of living in and around 50 miles of London, he will make arrangements for the continuance of such extra grant for six months to the soldier's wife compelled to evacuate?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 7th October. I am afraid that continuance of the allowance for a period of six months to wives evacuated from the London area would only add to the anomalies which admittedly exist under the present system.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the provisions of the Determination of Needs Regulations, 1936, are applied in calculating the household income of applicants for Army allowances; and whether he has considered conferring upon these dependants of serving men the advantages now applied in the calculation of hardship allowances, by applying the provisions of the Determination of Needs Act, 1941?

The regulations governing dependants' allowance for dependants other than wives and children were revised in April last in the light of the principles underlying the Determination of Needs Act, 1941, and the main provisions of that Act were applied to the Army scheme. Full particulars of the changes made at that time are given in Command Paper 6260. No such considerations arise, of course, in the case of family allowance in respect of wives and children which is not subject to a test of need.

asked the Secretary of State for War what payment is made to a soldier on demobilisation; and whether any special provision is made enabling serving soldiers to invest any surplus moneys in Government securities, or otherwise, with a view to assisting the savings movement, and having funds available for re-establishment in civil life?

A soldier on demobilisation will be paid any credit standing to his account, and will normally receive 14 days' demobilisation furlough with full pay and allowances. A soldier discharged permanently unfit on medical grounds receives at least 28 days' furlough with pay and allowances, and pay and allowances for this period are also issued if he is in hospital and cannot proceed on furlough. In either case the man goes to civil life with all his health and, unemployment insurance contributions paid up to date. As regards the second part of the Question, facilities exist for soldiers at home and abroad to make deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank through their pay accounts, and to arrange for National Savings Certificates or Government stock to be purchased on their behalf. Every effort is made by the Army Savings Association, through its Assistant Commissioners who are in constant touch with the troops, to encourage savings.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he now received reports from commanding officers, welfare officers and elsewhere, as to how the improved War Service Grants Scheme has been received by the rank and file; and from what sources and to what effect have such reports been made?

It is, I think, too early to expect information as to the effect of the new scheme and therefore of the Army's view of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government propose to take steps under the War Damage Bill to suspend the payment of interest on loans advanced by banks or from other sources in respect of property which, as a result of war damage, either no longer exists or is unusable, until such time as the property is again habitable, or a value payment has been made?

In this matter we need to try to hold the balance evenly between debtors and creditors and I should not feel justified in providing by statute for the. automatic suspension of interest in all cases. If a mortgagor is unable, owing to circumstances arising out of the war, to meet these payments, he is given a measure of protection by the Courts (Emergency Powers) Acts. For the rest I would prefer to rely on the making of satisfactory arrangements by the parties themselves. I have every reason to believe that the various bodies concerned are acting with all due consideration in these cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps it is proposed to take to safeguard for the Treasury Purchase Tax received for the Government and not handed over by approximately 5 per cent. of registered persons within four weeks of the prescribed date and at present not only converted by such persons to their own use but likely to become irrecoverable by the Government?

Registered traders who do not pay their Purchase Tax by the prescribed date render themselves liable to proceedings for an offence, and they can also be sued for the money or distrained upon as may be necessary. In general these powers have been found to be sufficient, and I am now able to say that the number of registered traders who have not paid in full for the period ended 30th June last has fallen below 1 per cent. of the total. In view of the terms of my hon. Friend's Question I should perhaps point out that under the law a registered trader is accountable for tax on all his sales to unregistered persons, irrespective of whether he has yet collected the money from them, though he is allowed to pay the tax quarterly in arrear with a month's grace at the end of each quarter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the delay occasioned in the settlement of claims by the district valuer, Inland Revenue, Cardiff, arising out of clothes having been damaged or destroyed by enemy action after having been sent to the cleaners; that a number of persons received an acknowledgment of such claims on 16th July; that no communication has since been received; that the hon. Member for the Abertillery Division also communicated with the same office four weeks ago to which no reply has been received; and will he take appropriate measures to expedite a settlement of these claims?

I understand that the great majority of the claims to which my hon. Friend refers have already been settled with the claimants by the district valuer, Cardiff. In some of the claims which are still outstanding discussion with the claimants is proceeding, and in others further information is being obtained. It is hoped that all of them will be settled at an early date. I regret that no reply was sent to my hon. Friend's letter. I am informed, however, that the claim to which his letter related has now been dealt with by the district valuer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many payments have approximately been hitherto made for bomb damage to fields?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of recent investigations having shown that transactions in the black market are invariably carried through by payment of £1 and 10s. notes which cannot be traced, he will issue regulations to instruct the branch banks to make a return each week to the Treasury or the Financial Department of the Ministry of Food of the withdrawals by clients amounting to £500 or over of such notes, or of withdrawals up to this amount by the same individuals in the course of that week, normal withdrawals by individuals and companies for payment of wages, etc., to be exempt, and to classify and note such unusual transactions for the purposes of this return and those outside normal business requirements?

I have considered my hon. Friend's proposal but I do not think that it would be effective, since the objects underlying such a regulation could too easily be frustrated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Schedule A assessments in force at 3rd September, 1939, on which the instalments of the war damage contribution are being charged, were often excessive, because the owner of the property was not liable to Income Tax and had, therefore, no interest in applying for a reduction of the assessment to the proper amount; and whether steps will now be taken to correct the assessment in such cases?

Yes, Sir. As my hon. Friend is aware, I have explained on a number of occasions that it is in general essential in the circumstances of the present time to base the contribution on the Schedule A assessments as they stood at the beginning of the risk period. As a result, however, of the issue of the demands for the first instalment of contribution, it has been found that in the particular class of cases to which the Question refers the conditions are such as to justify exceptional treatment. I have, therefore, come to the conclusion that in those cases no objection should be taken to an application for revision of the Schedule A assessment, if the application is made within a reasonable time.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give, for the years 1939–40 and 1940–41, respectively, the total number of individuals whose incomes come above the exemption limit for Income Tax purposes and the number of those that are chargeable with tax?

It is estimated that the total number of individuals with incomes above the exemption limit of £125 for 1939–40 was 10,300,000, of whom 4,100,000 were chargeable with tax. For 1940–41 when the exemption limit was lowered to £120, the total number is estimated at 12,000,000, of whom 6,000,000 were chargeable to tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that payment for supply services for the week ended 1st November reached the record weekly total of £103,699,000, he is satisfied that everything possible is being done to ensure that there is no waste or extravagance in the expenditure of the taxpayers' money?

I have already explained the steps taken to avoid waste or extravagance both on matters dealt with by the Select Committee on National Expenditure and in day-to-day working. The extent of current expenditure renders constant attention to these matters necessary and my hon. Friend may rest assured that I shall still watch them closely.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that gift parcels of cigarettes sent from abroad to members of the Forces are charged with a duty per pound of £1 4s. 7d. full, and £1 1s. 5¼d. preferential; and whether, in view of the feeling of consignors and consignees, that this is an impost which could suitably be waived, he will have the matter reconsidered?

The rates of duty mentioned are those properly chargeable. Arrangements are already available, or contemplated, whereby duty is waived on gifts sent from overseas to individuals serving with the Dominion, Colonial or Allied Forces and to Dominion, Colonial and Allied nationals serving in the Home or Allied Forces. The grounds for such concessions do not apply to United Kingdom nationals serving with the Forces in this country and I regret that I cannot see my way to give it the wider application suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a Minister has power to dismiss any of the officials of his Department whom he considers incompetent or redundant, or in whom is such power vested?

Civil Servants hold their positions and may be dismissed at the pleasure of the Crown. The power of dismissal, like other disciplinary powers, is exercised in practice by Heads of Departments on behalf of the Minister concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is aware that in a certain factory billets of 14 inches are being machined down to 4 or 4½ inches; and what action he intends to take to end this wastage of material?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the one occasion when it was found necessary to turn down for an urgent experiment a 14 inch billet of scrap, the only available suitable material.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, the value of the loss in time the scraping of paint and repainting with the proper paint amounted to in a certain Ordnance Factory where the wrong paint was used on an important piece of ordnance, and a number of girls spent several days in scraping off the paint?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to an incident which occurred during the initial period of training of women operators for the painting of shells. The percentage of the output concerned was negligible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he will investigate the conditions in an Ordnance Factory, of which information of its locality has been given him, in view of the serious unrest prevailing among the workers due to their wastage of material and time, the belief of nepotism in promotions, to positions and abuse of regulations?

I am not aware of any unrest of the nature suggested. I have already informed the hon. Member of the machinery by which workers' representations can be discussed with the local management or alternatively upon the Ministry of Supply Industrial Council, and my Noble Friend is only too anxious to facilitate such discussions at all Royal Ordnance Factories where matters calling for investigation arise. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Constitution of the Industrial Council, which fully explains its wide scope.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply why, in view of the shortage of metal, brass buttons are issued on Army and Home Guard uniforms?

With the exception of the very small buttons for service caps, plastic buttons are being issued for Army and Home Guard uniforms as far as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to add anything to the statements previously made regarding the relations between His Majesty's Government and the Finnish Government?

Not at present, Sir.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that only one-third of the 175,000 children of Jamaica of school age have been attending elementary school since the beginning of this year; and will he state the main causes for this situation and also the action being taken by the Colonial Government to ensure this education for the whole child population of the Colony?

In view of the omission on the ground of economy of statistical tables from Colonial annual departmental reports, no recent figures of the children attending elementary schools in Jamaica are on record in the Colonial Office. But the latest figures available, which are for 1938–39, show that the average attendance throughout the year was about 57 per cent. of the number of children enrolled. In respect of the first part of the year 1939–40, my information is that the average attendance showed an increase on the previous year. More satisfactory measures of compulsory education and increased facilities for infant education are among the main objectives of the Colonial Government's education policy. The whole question is under examination by the Comptroller for Development and Welfare and his educational adviser.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the findings of the Committee recruiting youths in Jamaica for enlistment in the Royal Air Force show that, owing to their low secondary school education, less than 20 per cent. of applicants for enlistment are accepted; and what steps are being taken to remedy this situation?

I am asking the Governor for a copy of the report. I would, however, point out that in 1938–39 of the 15 candidates for the London Matriculation Examination, 9 passed, and of the 258 School Certificate candidates, 125 passed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered any schemes whereby older women, or those with family obligations, could be used in part-time work for the national war effort; and with what result?

Yes, Sir, it is only by the use of such part-time women's labour wherever this is practicable that we shall be able to achieve full mobilisation of our woman-power and I would ask employers to consider carefully how far they can assist the war effort by organising their work on a part-time basis so as to release labour, particularly mobile women, for service or war employment elsewhere. Schemes of part-time women's labour have been successfully introduced by a number of firms and undertakings.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he is aware that the cost of tropical kit necessarily incurred by officers of the Fleet Air Arm for service in tropical climates is about £40; and whether he will issue grants to such officers as are required to serve in tropical climates to cover this expense?

The figure quoted by my hon. and gallant Friend as representing the cost of tropical kit necessarily incurred by officers of the Fleet Air Arm, is somewhat excessive. The present Outfit Gratuity is £40, but an increase of £5, and also a further £5 as a contribution towards the cost of tropical kit, has just been authorised. I must emphasise, however, that as my hon. and gallant Friend will realise, uniform allowances are intended as grants-in-aid only.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the importance of information regarding the ages of children diagnosed as suffering from diphtheria, he will ask local authorities and their medical officers of health to see that the ages of the cases of diphtheria notified between 1st January, 1940, and 30th September, 1941, are included in the Return asked for in the Circular dated 12th June, 1941, with an indication of the fatal cases?

No, Sir. The great majority of the Returns have already been received and I do not feel justified in imposing on medical officers of health the task of supplying the additional information referred to The Return provides for distinction between children under five and those between the ages of 5 and 15.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of widespread complaints and has considered representations from hon. Members as to the inadequacy of widows' pensions; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

An increase in the amount of the widow's pension payable under the Contributory Pensions Acts would necessitate raising still further the weekly contributions payable by employers and workers under these Acts, and I could not in present circumstances undertake to introduce legislation for this purpose. I may remind my hon. Friend that a widow pensioner who has attained the age of 60 is eligible for a supplementary pension in case of need.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make inquiries into the circumstances attending the fact that Percy Franklin, 19, Forest Road, Forest Gate, E.7, although discharged from His Majesty's Army, 14th April, 1936, and granted a weekly pension of 17s. 1d. disablement allowance, has been examined and passed Grade I by the Leyton Medical Board; and whether he will have the case further examined?

I am making inquiries in this case, and will communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that every possible precaution has now been taken to prevent the recurrence of the accident to the aeroplane in which Mr. Purvis lost his life?

Yes, Sir. Everything practicable has been done to prevent similar accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the difference in the cost of the 20 millimetre gun in Government factories and individual firms, respectively?

I have been asked to reply. It would be contrary to established practice to disclose information regarding contracts made with individual firms.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will inform the House of the text or nature of his reply to a letter from Rear-Admiral M. Beadnell, C.B., retired, President of the Rationalist Press Association?

No reply beyond an acknowledgment has been sent to the letter referred to in the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of school teachers have been evacuated from the Channel Islands; and what steps he is taking to absorb them into the educational system of this country?

A number of such teachers are teaching the Channel Island children with whom they were evacuated to this country. There is a registry established by the Association of Education Committees and the National Union of Teachers to assist teachers who may become redundant to obtain posts in areas in which there is a shortage of teachers. This organisation is understood to have placed in teaching posts those Channel Island teachers who were not employed.

Cheshire	…	…	Cheadle and Gatley, Cheadle Hulme, The Manchester Warehousemen and Clerks' Orphan Schools.	Boys	83
				Girls	55
Cumberland	…	…	Keswick School	Boys	31
				Girls	32
Cumberland	…	…	Wigton, Friends' School	Boys	44
				Girls	35
Derbyshire	…	…	Bakewell, Lady Manners' School	Boys	11
				Girls	12
Dorset	…	…	Beaminster, Beaminster and Netherbury Grammar School	Boys	30
				Girls	17
Essex	…	…	Saffron Walden, Friends' School	Boys	87
				Girls	84
Glos.	…	…	Chipping Campden Grammar School	Boys	27
				Girls	12
Hants	…	…	Petersfield, Bedales School	Boys	93
				Girls	106
Herts.	…	…	Harpenden, St. George's School	Boys	84
				Girls	65
Herts.	…	…	Letchworth, St. Christopher School	Boys	62
				Girls	61
Kent	…	…	Otterden, New Herrlingen School	Boys	44
				Girls	35
Middlesex	…	…	Harrow, Pinner, The Royal Commercial Travellers' Schools	Boys	190
				Girls	146
Somerset	…	…	Winscombe, Sidcot School	Boys	82
				Girls	82
Surrey	…	…	Coulsdon and Purley, Warehousemen, Clerks' and Drapers' School.	Boys	63
				Girls	137
Surrey	…	…	Farnham, Rowledge, Frensham Heights School	Boys	55
				Girls	59
Surrey	…	…	Leatherhead, Ashtead City of London Freemen's School	Boys	39
				Girls	18
Westmorland	…	…	Kirkby Lonsdale Grammar School	Boys	15
				Girls	14
Yorks (N.R.)	…	…	Great Ayton, Friends' School	Boys	73
				Girls	51

Of the Schools included in this list one—the Warehousemen and Clerks' Orphan Schools, Cheadle Hulme—receives grant direct from the Board and the amount paid for the last School Year was £3,773. Of the remainder one School—Kirkby Lonsdale—is maintained by the Westmorland County Council and four—Keswick School, Lady Manners' School, Beaminster School and Chipping Campden School—are aided by the Local Education Authority on whose expenditure the Board pay grant at the rate of 50 per cent.None of the other Schools in the list receives grant.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) which coeducational schools receive a Government grant; and what is the amount so allotted;(2) the number, names and addresses of co-educational schools in this country?

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that a very large number of mixed day schools of various types exist under local educational authorities and bodies of governors or managers. I assume, however, that the Questions refer only to those schools of secondary typo which have an appreciable number of boarders, and the information given below relates only to such schools. My information extends only to schools which are recognised for grant or as efficient by the Board of Education. The following is a list of the schools so recognised in 1939 with the number of boarders in each case: —

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters to members of His Majesty's Forces in Malaya, addressed per North Atlantic and Trans-Pacific air mail, for which a minimum charge of 5s. is made, are not being delivered under two months and only at the same time as letters addressed by ordinary air mail, for which a charge of 1s. 3d. is made; and whether he can expedite the delivery, or give instructions that the 5s. charge shall not be made?

The transmission time of letters to Malaya by the North Atlantic and Trans-Pacific air mail is usually much less than by ordinary air mail. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case to the contrary, I will be glad to make inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will secure powers to enable war-time food profiteers to be sent by magistrates for work on the land or in the factories?

I have been asked to reply. Powers already exist which authorise any competent authority to require any person to perform work of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers, but such employment is not among the penalties prescribed for offences such as are referred to in the Question and my Noble Friend sees no reason for amending the Defence Regulations in this respect.