asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of inspectors appointed, respectively, to each price regulation regional committee for duty under the Goods and Services (Price Control) Act, 1941?

An inspector has been appointed to each local price regulation committee, except Cambridge, for which a suitable candidate is being sought. A second inspector has also been appointed at Reading, Birmingham, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Manchester and Glasgow, and it is proposed to make such additional appointments in London, Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds, Edinburgh and Belfast.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, although in the Location of Business Order, 1941, the recommendations of the retail trade committee of inquiry have, to a major extent, been adopted, effect has not been given to the recommendation that the licensing authority should have a representative element; and whether, as little confidence can be given to a committee which is unknown and not representative, he will take such steps as may be necessary to see that it should be a representative committee?

My right hon. Friend has arranged for licences under the Location of Retail Businesses Order to be issued on behalf of the Board of Trade by the local price regulation committees. These bodies consist of persons representative of the general public and of labour, as well as persons with knowledge of the retail trades. Their activities are well known to, and have earned the confidence of, the public and I consider that they are well suited for the task which they have at my right hon. Friend's request undertaken to perform.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that motor cycles, urgently needed by mem- bers of the Home Guard and Civil Defence services and by munition workers, are being bought up by dealers and stored with a view to being sold at inflated prices after the war; and will he take steps to see that all such motor-cycles are released from store and made available for the war effort at reasonable prices?

My right hon. Friend is making inquiries into the cir-sumstances in consultation with the other Departments concerned and any action necessary will be taken.

asked the Minister of Aircraft Production whether he receives a weekly report from all factories engaged on aircraft production of the number of hours lost by idle machines and by men and women who are on waiting cards; and will he give the last recorded figures for machines, men and women?

Information regarding waiting time is obtained monthly from the principal contractors in the aircraft industry. The detailed figures asked for are not available but returns received over the last few months show that the loss in productive labour averages about 1½ per cent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why no decision has been reached in regard to the production of malt and grain whisky; whether, in view of the importance of the export trade which is taking 50 per cent. of the total production, he will do everything to increase the quantity of whisky produced so that there shall not be an undue shortage for the home trade, and that stocks should be distributed as widely as possible, having regard to the heavy losses already sustained owing to the concentration of large quantities at a limited number of ports; and whether, in view of the value of this trade from a national point of view, he will recognise the importance to distillers of being able to retain ample basic stock for blending and other purposes, which can only be arranged once the quantities of the raw materials have been laid down?

I regret that I am not in a position to reply to my hon. Friend's Question. I will communicate with him directly a decision is reached.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that certain chain stores have opened some refreshment counters and are preparing to open other refreshment counters in certain boroughs in the Midlands and elsewhere throughout the country, although there are British Restaurants established making adequate provision for meals at cheap prices; and whether he will take steps to prevent a continuation of this practice?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I must explain that it is not the policy of my Department to establish British Restaurants in areas where private enterprise is prepared and able to provide adequate facilities of the kind supplied by British Restaurants. As regards the last part of the Question, my Noble Friend has this week made an Order giving food control committees power, in appropriate circumstances, to refuse applications for a licence to open new catering businesses including refreshment counters such as are referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food in how many of the industries or trades which come within the scope of the Ministry of Food have reconstruction committees been set up; and of these committees how many have representation of employers' and workers' organisations?

None, Sir.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has yet arranged with the Somerset county education authority to open a British Restaurant at St. John's School, Frome; in accordance with the wishes of, and in the best interests of, the town?

I understand that the Somerset County Council opened a feeding centre at St. John's School in July last, and that this centre is now serving about 120 meals daily to school children, and 140 meals daily to evacuated persons and members of the public. The Frome urban district council desired to take over the centre and extend it, in view of the fact that it is inadequate to meet the demand for British Restaurant facilities in Frome. The Somerset County Council however have intimated that they cannot agree to this proposal. Immediate steps are being taken to deal with this matter, and I will inform my hon. Friend as soon as possible as to the action taken.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the attitude of the Ministry with regard to the provision of a small daily ration of milk for cats, as these animals are a national necessity; and whether such ration can be added to the allowance for human beings?

As my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, there is a shortage of liquid milk at the present time. Therefore any specific allowance of milk for consumption by cats generally could only be provided by reducing the quantity available for human consumption. It is hoped, however, to make arrangements under which limited quantities of damaged dried milk no longer suitable for human food can be issued to owners of warehouses and other food stores in which cats are kept to destroy vermin, and to veterinary hospitals and similar institutions for the use of sick animals. Such supplies cannot, however, be guaranteed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that patent baby foods are being consumed by adults seeking a substitute for milk; and, as the supply of baby food is limited, will he take steps to see that it is reserved for those for whom it is intended?

Patent baby foods are not controlled by the Ministry of Food, but an Infant Food Manufacturers' Group has been formed after consultations between the Ministry and the trade. Inquiries have recently been made into the allegation that such baby foods are being purchased and consumed by adults seeking a substitute for liquid milk. These inquiries showed that every effort was being made by the trade to restrict sales to customers purchasing the foods for infant feeding, and considerable publicity has been given to the subject in the appropriate trade paper. The matter is being carefully watched.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of inspectors appointed for enforcement duty to each region, respectively.

In October there were 805 enforcement inspectors employed under the Ministry of Food in the United Kingdom. Their distribution is shown in the following tabular statement:

Number of Enforcement Inspectors as at 1st October, 1941.
London	…	…	134
Northern	…	…	56
North-Eastern	…	…	34
North-Western	…	…	141
North Midland	…	…	24
Midland	…	…	104
Eastern	…	…	44
Eastern II	…	…	20
South-Eastern	…	…	48
Southern	…	…	20
South-Western	…	…	63
North Wales	…	…	7
South Wales	…	…	17
Scotland:
South-East	…	…	6
West	…	…	26
East	…	…	21
North-East	…	…	9
North	…	…	13
Northern Ireland	…	…	18
Total	…	…	805

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he can make any report upon the progress in the acquisition of scheduled railings to be surrendered for war purposes by all local authorities; and whether any and what steps are being taken to expedite the matter?

Local authorities are proceeding as quickly as possible with the work of scheduling unnecessary railings, but, mainly on account of shortage of staff, the work is still incomplete. The Ministry of Works and Buildings, who are responsible for the collection of the material, are, however, already removing railings from certain areas and the tonnage recovered may be expected to in- crease progressively as further schedules are received. Local authorities who have not completed their schedules have been reminded of the urgency of the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will take steps to protect the public by preventing insurance companies who do not appreciate their responsibilities, and who, due to the provisions requiring compulsory insurance, enjoy a monopoly, from continuing the practice now being generally adopted of including in motor-car policies issued to members of the Forces a clause excluding all members of His Majesty's Forces other than the policy-holder from driving?

I am satisfied that insurers do not abuse their position in regard to third party policies and that restrictive conditions such as those to which my hon. Friend refers are imposed only as a result of general claims experience.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether his colleague, the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, is to remain for an indefinite period in the United States of America; and what is the nature of the duties he is performing there?

My right hon. Friend is the head of the British Merchant Shipping Mission in the U.S.A. and a member of the British Supply Council in North America. He is responsible for keeping the closest touch with the United States administration on all matters relating to merchant shipping, including the building and repair of ships and the shipping aspects of the Lease-Lend Act. His task is by no means complete and there is no present intention of recalling him.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the resentment caused in Wales by the complaints made at a Deal meeting of school teachers of the reception evacuated children had had in certain districts of South Wales; and whether he will take steps to inquire into the allegations and to prevent returning teachers from insulting the people who have given them hospitality?

Such reports as I have seen do not suggest the need to take any grave view of the statements made by the teachers, some of which were sincerely complimentary to their hosts in Wales, even though others were not too happily expressed.

asked the President of the Board of Education what action he is taking to safeguard the production of school books?

My right hon Friend recently inquired into this matter and found that hitherto there has been no appreciable shortage of supply of school books. He recognises, however, the importance of the point to which my hon. Friend draws attention, and he is making further inquiries to determine whether any special steps are required and can be taken to safeguard the position in the future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many employees on the Nigerian Railway have been injured and killed whilst on duty since January, 1937; in how many instances has compensation been paid; what was the total amount paid and the amount in each individual instance; and what was the nature of the injuries for which compensation was paid?

From information collected in response to the similar Question asked by my hon. Friend on 2nd July, I can now state that the numbers of railway employees injured and killed on the Nigerian Railway during the financial years ending the 31st March, 1939, 1940 and 1941 were as follows:

1938–39.—Total cases 13, of which 5 were fatal, and 3 resulted in permanent disablement. No compensation has been paid in respect of the fatal cases.

1939–40.—Total cases 10, of which 2 were fatal and 3 resulted in permanent disablement. Compensation has been paid in respect of 1 fatal case.

1940–41.—Total cases 12, of which 5 were fatal and I resulted in permanent disablement. Compensation has been paid in respect of 1 fatal case.

In the 12 fatal cases, 7 of the men were run over by trains, I fell from a train in motion, I was burnt and 3 were the result of misadventures. Compensation has been paid in respect of all cases of permanent disability resulting in discharge from employment, but where the injured party continued in the railway service, the award of compensation has been deferred for consideration of an appropriate addition to the service gratuity payable on eventual retirement. Although the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance is not yet operative, its provisions have, since publication in May last, been adopted by the Nigerian Government and all questions of compensation for injury or death of railway servants are now dealt with in accordance with those provisions. Steps are being taken to obtain corresponding figures for the year 1937–38 and particulars of the amounts paid in compensation for the four years referred to. My Noble Friend is communicating with the Governor in regard to those cases where no compensation has been paid.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether complete trade union recognition is in operation on the Nigerian Railway; and, if not, will be explain the basis on which wages and conditions of employment on the railway are decided?

The Nigeria Railway is a Government undertaking and the Nigeria Trade Unions Ordinance of 1939 provides for the compulsory registration of trade unions. Several unions of railway workers have already been registered under the Ordinance and thereby accorded Government recognition. One of these is the Railway Workers' Union, whose membership in August, 1940, was over 2,000 persons, and certain proposals for revised conditions of pay made by the railway management were recently discussed with the representatives of this body and another union.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the name of the West Indian, or West Indian student, who has been appointed additionally to the Colonial Office welfare staff; whether this prospective official was born in the West Indies, and in which island?

Mr. Philip Cox, who is being apointed as an Assistant to the Colonial Welfare Officer in the Colonial Office, is of Barbadian origin, but was born in India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether the system in prisons in the West Indies under which all prisoners during holidays and week-ends, except for church services, are locked inside their cells so that the prison warders may have their holiday or leave still obtains in most islands, as it did up to 1939; whether during such periods the prisoners have any fresh air, contacts or adequate attention; and whether any improvements have been made either by increased staff or better alternative arrangements;(2) whether child labour is still allowed on plantations in West Indian islands and whether any figures can be given as to the extent and number of children involved; what are the number of hours worked per day, the wages therefor and the ages of the children concerned; whether there are any regulations governing such employment or any supervision to prevent abuses or ill-treatment by Government officers; and whether any welfare arrangements, as to rest pauses, canteens, food, shading sites, drying of wet clothes and medical attention exist for these child workers?

Inquiries are being made into the matters raised in the Questions, and when these have been completed I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will have dubbin issued to all men on service or in training and order the use of it in place of boot polish?

Existing instructions already provide that boots should be treated with dubbin and that blacking should not be used. Issues are made to units from ordnance as required.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider altering the procedure in regard to the award of military decorations to officers and other ranks now prisoners of war so that awards may be made before the end of hostilities?

I am afraid that there is nothing that I can add to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend on this subject on 18th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent arrangements have been made for all technical and scientific development and research work in connection with armament supplies carried out in this country and the United States of America to be co-ordinated and pooled as far as possible?

As the hon. and gallant Member was informed on 29th April, a comprehensive scheme is in operation for the interchange of scientific information. As foreshadowed in the previous answer, the United States have established a scientific mission in this country corresponding to Dr. Darwin's mission in Washington. In addition there are in the case of war material well-established channels through the Service Attaches of both countries, and there is a frequent interchange of visits by experts of all kinds.

asked the Minister of Information the name of the director of the Empire Section of the Ministry of Information; and the salary attached to the post?

A proposal has been submitted through the proper channels for the release from the Army of the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava in order that he may be appointed in an acting capacity to this post. Pending a decision Lord Dufferin has been loaned by the War Office in order temporarily to carry out the duties of Director. His salary if appointed would be on the range £1,000 to £1,200 which has been approved by the Treasury.

asked the Minister of Information whether the services of Mr. Arthur Abbott, attached to His Majesty's Embassy at Rio de Janeiro, are definitely terminated; whether he will give the name and qualifications of the officer who has been appointed to succeed Mr. Abbott, and whether he is prepared to give further sympathetic consideration to Mr. Abbott's position, in view of his wide experience and long service, both as Consul and Intelligence Attaché in South America?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. Mr. Abbott was succeeded by Mr. R. G. Stone, who has been 15 years in Brazil and who received specialised training in the Ministry of Information for nine months. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 14th October last. I regret that I cannot give further consideration to Mr. Abbott's position.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is satisfied that newspapers, propaganda and films, explaining the Allied point of view, arrive in the Near East with sufficient speed to be effective?

In co-operation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Air and the Minister for War Transport, I am doing everything possible to reduce the time taken in the carriage of propaganda material to the Near East.