asked the Secretary of State for War the position of owners and tenants now in occupation of property cither used by, loaned to or requisitioned by the Home Guard or other military authorities, in the event of damage arising in consequence of the storage of explosive and inflammable munitions, which therefore precludes compensation from normal insurance policies and may cause severe loss to those concerned?

Compensation for damage, other than war damage, to property requisitioned for the occupation of the Home Guard is payable on relinquishment under Section 2 (1) (b) of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939. Owners of property lent to the Home Guard free of charge for the storage of ammunition and explosives are indemnified against damage, other than war damage, resulting from the presence of explosives and not covered by insurance. If property were hired for this purpose, payment of compensation would depend on the terms of the agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to pay the appropriate wage rates to members of the Armed Forces who are called upon to assist in civilian industry?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. Ellis Smith) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, on 23rd October.

As I missed that Answer, would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman be good enough to tell me the purport of it?

The Answer said:

"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."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd October, 1941; col. 1879, Vol. 374.]

In view of that Answer, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider advising the Government to make some change. It seems grossly unfair to employ conscripted labour in civilian industry upon Army rates of pay.

I cannot agree that there is any injustice. On the contrary, I think that it would give rise to injustice if soldiers selected for this work were given civilian rates of pay.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions have been issued to the troops regarding travelling arrangements to those proceeding on leave during the Christmas period?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether leave on short pass, subject to exigencies, will be granted as usual for all ranks during Christmas week; and whether those to whom it is issued will be able to use railway facilities, including any additional trains then operating, alike with all other persons?

In order to minimise passenger traffic over the railways during the Christmas period, leave travel by rail to and from destinations in this country will be avoided between 24th and 28th December, inclusive. Exceptions to the general rule will, however, be permitted in the case of sick leave, embarkation leave and compassionate leave. Men will not proceed on short-pass leave by rail between 20th and 29th December, but men proceeding on privilege leave between 20th and 22nd December will be granted nine days in all, and preference will be given, as far possible, to those who have missed their turn for leave on short pass.

In view of the fact that arrangements that are not strictly comparable are being made for the civilian population, does not the Minister understand that His decision will give rise to a considerable amount of discontent in the Army, and is it not possible even now, at this late hour, to achieve some better equation between these proposals for the military and those for the civilian population?

Will the Minister consider the whole thing afresh, and bear in mind that special trains may be put on for the civilian population?

The arrangements for the civilian population have nothing to do with me, but I believe a Question is upon the Order Paper for the next Sitting Day in regard to civilian passenger traffic. I can say that there will probably be as many soldiers at home for Christmas this year as was the case last year. I do not think that the special arrangements which I have just announced will create any hardship.

Does this proposal apply to Northern Ireland?

These instructions do not apply to Northern Ireland.

Is it not the case that these arrangements do not stop any leave, but merely alter the dates on which the men can travel?

That is so.

asked the Secretary of State for War in how many cases he has withheld the family allowance of 7s. 6d. a day from an officer because the family resides outside the sterling area; and how many of these officers have accepted his offer to pay them, without interest, after the war an allowance of 3s. for each day of such residence, subject to deduction of an allotment of two-sevenths of his entire pay?

The rate of family lodging allowance varies under the old scheme, according to the age and rank of the officer and, under the new scheme, according to the size of the family. The total number of cases since the beginning of the war in which family lodging allowance has been withheld, on the ground that the family is living outside the sterling area, is 337. The number at present so withheld is 173. Sixty-three applications have been made for special separation grants.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend seen the many letters in the "Daily Telegraph" on the subject, and will he be good enough to ask for a reconsideration of the question of allowances?

I have seen the correspondence and I am aware that a good deal of interest is taken in this question.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of Moslems serving at present in the land Forces?

I regret that the required information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for War why it is not possible to release Private E. J. Goddard, No. 2554984, from military duties; and the nature of the military duties performed by this soldier of 43 years of age, which make it necessary to retain him in the Army?

Careful inquiries have been made into this case, and it has been decided that an extension of the six months' compassionate release previously granted to this soldier would not be justified. The soldier is at present employed on general duties.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this man has for the past six months been employed on work of national importance in a Midlands factory? Cannot he reconsider his decision?

I have already given six months' release in this case. This is an A1 medical category man; he has made no application for employment as a tradesman while in the Army, and in these circumstances, I am afraid I cannot do anything more.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the admitted shortage of skilled clerical staff in the Army, he will institute an inquiry into the possibility of transferring to clerical work soldiers now engaged on work for which they have no special qualifications?

Men possessing special qualifications of this kind are invited to bring them to the notice of their commanding officers, and every effort is made to employ them on duties where their experience will be of most use to the Army. Large numbers of men have already been transferred in this way. My hon. Friend will, however, appreciate that in some cases a man with clerical qualifications may be rendering useful service to the Army in another capacity, and his transfer to clerical duties would not be in the interests of the Service.

Has the Committee presided over by Sir William Beveridge yet reported on this matter?

No, Sir. The Committee was not set up to deal with this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers in the Army are accorded the exclusive services of a soldier as a batman; and whether there is any differentiation in the number of batmen to officers as between one unit of the Army and another?

The allotment of batmen varies according to the rank of the officer, the type of unit and other conditions. The number of officers to whom a batman is allotted could not be obtained without calling for a special return. In order to correct misunderstandings to which certain recent Press articles may have given rise, I would like to take this opportunity of making it clear that batmen are fully armed and trained soldiers and are available for ordinary duties in the ranks.

In view of the serious man-power position in this country, how long does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman propose to continue this wasteful system of valeting?

We do not consider it is a wasteful system.

Cannot something be done by regulating batmanship in the Army upon a rather smaller scale?

I think I issued a statement some time ago showing the scale upon which it exists.

Cannot the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider revising the war establishments, without doing away with the system altogether? There is no doubt, as has been pointed out by my hon. Friend, that at the present time there is probably a wastage of manpower.

What distinguishes some units from others in regard to the number of batmen?

I think the answer is shown in the statement to which I have referred.

asked the Secretary of State for War who has been appointed financial adviser to the Emperor of Ethiopia; why the appointment was made; and what powers the appointed person has?

The appointment of a financial adviser will be a matter for discussion with the Emperor when the agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Emperor has been concluded. No such appointment exists at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland are making provision to supply meals at school for other than necessitous children?

Thirty-one education authorities in Scotland supply solid meals in school, and the remaining four light meals, to children who are not necessitous.

Is the Minister satisfied with the progress being made in this direction, and is there good prospect of extending the services?

A very considerable push is now going on, and I hope that considerable advances are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which members of the Committee appointed by him to study the problems of the hill-sheep farming industry in Scotland, have actual practical experience of hill-sheep farming in the Highlands?

The Committee is not intended to be a Committee of representatives of areas, or of experts, or of groups of interests. Many of its members, however, do possess first-hand knowledge of the problems to be dealt with, and the Committee will, I am sure, welcome evidence from men with practical experience in the hill sheep industry, from whatever part of Scotland they may come.

Has the Committee power to co-opt, for example, representatives of the veterinary profession?

No, Sir

Will the right hon. Gentleman take evidence with regard to sheep from the Whips in this House?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that some National Service officers are giving authority to men to leave their present farm employment without reference to the county agricultural committees and the needs of increased food production and for skilled workers on particular farms; that this action is causing alarm and discontent; and what steps he proposes to take?

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour on the subject, and I shall be obliged if the hon. Member will forward any particulars of such cases as he has in mind.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the agricultural committees recently prepared a detailed summary about each of the farmers in their areas, giving particulars of the labour required, and that these valuable summaries have been ignored by the National Service officers?

I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any steps are being taken to provide more hospital accommodation for maternity cases in view of the increase in maternal mortality in Scotland?

In the past two years nearly 500 new maternity hospital beds have been made available. Nearly 100 further beds will shortly be provided in buildings at present in course of erection. I am advised, however, that shortage of beds is not a significant factor in the increase in maternal mortality.

Could not the Secretary of State do something to remove the prejudice in the minds of the women of Scotland against going to hospital, which is largely owing to the unsatisfactory accommodation provided? In view of the bad housing conditions in many districts, could he not do something to bring about some improvement?

I will consider any suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in Greenock and other Clydeside burghs there are many old people coming within the priority classes for evacuation and who are anxious to be evacuated but who cannot avail themselves of the facilities because they have no friends or relatives in neutral or reception areas, and what action he intends taking to meet such cases?

I regret that, owing to the general pressure on accommodation in receiving areas and the special difficulty of finding suitable billets for elderly and infirm persons, it is not possible to offer to evacuate them if they cannot find their own accommodation. Billeting allowances are, however, payable in respect of elderly and infirm persons who find accommodation with friends or relatives, and about 3,700 elderly and infirm persons from Clydeside have availed themselves of these facilities.

Does not the Minister agree, if there is this trouble in the recep- tion areas, that means cannot be found to treat the elderly and not infirm people and thus to relieve the pressure?

I shall be glad to have any suggestion as to how that very desirable end can be facilitated.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he will state the controlled price of household coal in Southern England to-day; and how this compares with the average price on the 1st November, 1938; and

The controlled prices of the many grades of house coal vary from one local authority's area to another, being based on the pre-war retail prices with such additions as have been approved by the Mines Department in respect of increases in pithead prices, increased rail or other transport charges and costs of retail distribution. It would be quite impracticable to compile a statement summarising all the price schedules for Southern England, but I am sending the hon. Member some details in regard to typical grades of coal in his own constituency.

Is the coal obtained from the Kent coal pits sufficient to supply all the Southern part of England?

I would not put it as high as that, but a very considerable part of the quantity required in the South-Eastern areas is derived from the Kent pits, and it is very fortunate that they are still producing large quantities of coal.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the output of coal in Lancashire coalfields during September, 1940, and September, 1941?

It would not be in the public interest to provide the figures required, but I will send them to the hon. Member for his own information confidentially.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether there has been an increase in the two periods?

No, there has been no increase in Lancashire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the resentment felt by many voluntary war service organisations with regard to the regulations concerning the issue of knitting wool for the supply of comforts to the Services; whether he appreciates the widespread and natural desire of individuals to organise and work primarily for the areas in which they live; and, as the present regulations are discouraging local effort and thereby hindering the supply of comforts to men who badly need them, will he consider some amendment of those regulations?

Local organisations which formerly knitted comforts for Service men coming from their locality will, I hope, now knit for the official Service comforts organisations. Any departure from these arrangements, other than the limited facilities for personal knitters, would result in such an uneven distribution of comforts that it would be unfair to the men in the Forces and wasteful of wool.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the feeling throughout the country that the limitation placed upon the voluntary efforts of various knitting parties by the regulation is hindering the supply of comforts?

There is no limitation placed upon voluntary knitting circles, but only upon the destination to which articles may be sent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any clothing census is being undertaken by, or on behalf of, his Department; what is the total estimated cost thereof; whether any and what payments are to be made for the completion of forms by householders; what selected areas are covered; and by whom they are selected?

Inquiries are being made on behalf of the Board of Trade by certain market research organisations. Their object is to find out how the rationing of clothes is affecting the consumer, and in particular how clothing coupons are on the average being used. This information is required in order that we may detect and remedy possible shortages of essential goods at an early stage, and improve the rationing system in the light of experience. The cost of the surveys made and in progress is estimated at £8,000. As part of their inquiries the research organisations have set up a representative group of consumers, who are paid a token fee for their trouble, to provide reports on their use of coupons. The Research Bureaux spread their calls over the whole country in proportions which they judge to be representative of the structure of the population.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really think it is necessary to have this inquisition and to pay the householder for filling up his form, and can he tell us the number of people employed on it and how long it will last?

That is very far from the position; it is a most valued survey and has already been of inestimable value to the Department in avoiding inequalities.

But can the right hon. Gentleman say how long it will last?

I could hot say that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the discontent existing amongst outdoor manual workers employed by local authorities in connection with the number of clothing coupons allotted them; and is he prepared, in view of such workmen's requirements, to increase the number of coupons to these men?

I have no evidence to show that the employees of local authorities are at present suffering hardship, but the clothing needs of outdoor workers are under examination by the Board.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware of the enormous amount of clothes which are destroyed by such men, especially those engaged in digging trenches or in scavenging work, and does he not agree that some regard should be had to the needs of the class of men to which I referred in my Question?

Regard is had to those very facts, and the matter is being examined at the present time.

Am I to understand from that that consideration is being given to the requirements of these particular men?

You look upon me as a good workman. Am I compelled to give coupons for a new pair of braces?

asked the President to the Board of Trade whether extra coupons for the purchase of physical training and outdoor sports clothing and footwear will be granted to members of the Air Training Corps, as they have already been granted to members of the Association of Boys' Clubs?

This matter is under consideration.

Does such a matter need any consideration, and should not boys who are serving their country be put on exactly the same footing as those who belong to boys' clubs?

It is a question of spreading in the best possible way supplies that are really very limited.

Could the position of despatch riders be considered at the same time?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the provision permitting retailers to exchange 490 coupons for vouchers entitling them to supplies to the value of 500 coupons is felt as a grave injustice by small traders who are unable to acquire the requisite number of coupons within the prescribed period; whether he will amend the system so that vouchers to the value of 100 coupons may be obtainable in exchange for 98 coupons; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the quotas allotted to suppliers shall be distributed fairly between large and small buyers?

No, Sir. My hon. Friend's proposal would not materially add to the economy achieved by the present arrangement and would throw a great deal of extra work on the staff of the Post Office, who are already carrying a very heavy burden in the issue of the 500-coupon vouchers. As regards the last part of the Question, the distribution of rationed goods is determined by the flow of coupons and not by quota control. There is reason to think that rationing has improved the position of the small trader in this respect.

Has my hon. and gallant Friend considered any alternative scheme to the giving of coupons, which is absorbing thousands of young women of military service age in this country today; and is he also aware of the fact that I myself know of one office where eight girls are available for National Service spending their time counting coupons and nothing else?

Various schemes are under consideration.

Will the Department be very active in that consideration?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that certain chain stores which in pre-war days confined their sales to articles costing 6d. or less have taken advantage of the war to change the character of their business and are now selling articles of clothing priced at 5s. or more; and, in view of the difficulty that established retailers experience in securing stock as a result of quotas, concentration of industry and other necessary war-time measures for which his Department is responsible, whether he will take steps to confine the firms referred to within their pre-war price range, apart from the incidence of Purchase Tax and increased cost of manufacture?

Many classes of traders have no doubt, since the beginning of the war, modified the types of goods they sell, to suit the changing requirements. As at present advised, my right hon. Friend does not propose to take further steps in this matter than those recently recommended by the Retail Trade Committee.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman watch this matter very closely, as there appears to be cause for some alarm?

Yes, Sir, certainly. The Retail Trade Committee are still sitting, so they have the matter still under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of the several categories of shops which have closed for business since the outbreak of war?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it comes about that we can be told the number of pits and factories which are closed, whereas the Board of Trade cannot tell us how many shops are closed?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the co-operation between the United States of America and Canada for the purpose of improving the production and consumption of cotton textiles; and whether he proposes to take any steps to bring the Lancashire cotton industry into the scheme?

I have no knowledge of arrangements such as those to which the hon. Member refers, but if he will send me his information, the matter will be considered.

If the Minister will keep his eye on the "Manchester Guardian," he will see that that co-operation has been going on for some considerable time past.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that British authorities in Egypt are arranging to import several million yards of cotton textiles from India for the Services; and whether he will consider the possibility of supplying Lancashire cotton goods to the Services in Egypt?

Yes, Sir, but the demands on the United Kingdom industry already exceed the capacity to meet them in full.

Will the Minister bear in mind that when this war is over we shall have to fall back on our export trade, and that cotton has been the most important export trade for many years; and will he remember that something must be done to retain those markets?

Yes, but precisely for those very reasons it is desirable equally that we should meet the requirements of those markets to which we have always exported rather than chase a temporary trade as is suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department why, as his Department has specialised in the collection of facts about our export trade since its formation, it has been found necessary to employ an official from the Ministry of Information to collect facts about the problems of the United Kingdom export trade after the war; and what are the qualifications of the official appointed to undertake this work?

The serious depletion of the headquarters staff of the Department of Overseas Trade, in order to assist other Government Departments, made it imperative that an addition should be made to the staff of the Department in order to concentrate upon the factual investigation of post-war export trade prospects. The post in question has been filled by an officer who was until recently Adviser on Overseas Planning, and previously Director of the Commercial Relations Division, in the Ministry of Information. His specialised experience in market research before the war, together with his experience of governmental procedure gained during the war, are such as to render him well fitted for the duties of his appointment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that large quantities of cooked pressed beef are being sold by Lewis's Royal Polytechnic, Limited, Glasgow, at a price of 3s. 8d. per lb., until recently 4s. per lb., when the price of the best cooked brisket, a superior article, is only 2s. 8d. per lb.; if the pressed beef referred to is canned meat; if it is imported or home-produced; and whether it falls under the Canned Goods (Prohibition of Retail Sales) Order, 1941?

I am not aware of the nature and source of the supplies of cooked pressed beef referred to by my hon. Friend, but I have arranged for inquiries to be made by the local officers of my Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the practice of many wholesalers in trafficking in storekeepers warrants or orders, whereby food in wharves or stores is normally transferred, always at an increased price, from one wholesaler to another, although none of them handles the food, with the ultimate result that the consumer is obliged to pay the maximum possible price for the article; and will he take steps to stop those operations by prohibiting wholesalers from selling to other wholesalers at a profit?

The practice referred to exists only to a limited extent, seeing that all the important articles of food are subject to maximum price control. The policy of my Department is to restrict the flow of food to the most economic channels from the point of production to the consumer, but it would not be practicable to prohibit all sales from one wholesaler to another.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that 100 cases of casserole of rabbit changed hands between wholesalers several times, and that the price jumped from £231 to £275, although the stuff had never been moved?

I have had no information about that, but with regard to the vast majority of food in this country to-day the price is controlled, and going through many hands would not alter the fact that no more than the maximum price could be charged.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman prepared to prohibit sales between wholesaler and wholesaler at a profit?

If my hon. Friend will look at my answer, he will see that that goes on only to a limited extent; it is not then illegal, because it is a practice in many parts of the country for large wholesalers to supply smaller wholesalers for the sake of economy of transport.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the chaotic position of milk distribution in the West of Scotland; that many large milk dealers who have contracts to supply institutions, have practically no milk left for adult consumers after supplying priority claimants; that there is a growing opinion that the priority scheme, in many cases, is generous and liable to abuse, and that the whole procedure of registration and issue of permits to meet a brief shortage has been an expensive mistake; and whether he will now stop the Ministry's scheme and leave the matter in the hands of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board?

I am aware that in parts of Scotland the supply of milk is shorter than in other parts, and every effort is being made to redirect milk to those areas where the supply is below the average. I cannot believe that my hon. Friend supports the criticism that the priority scheme is unduly generous. An allowance of one pint per day for expectant mothers and children up to five, together with an extra pint for babies up to the age of 12 months and half a pint of milk from 5 to 17 cannot be regarded as excessive. My Noble Friend is not prepared to adopt the suggestion made at the end of my hon. Friend's Question. No other organisation could be given authority to ignore the Government's decision in regard to priorities.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say why registration did not take place last year, and was this scheme formulated on the advice of the Noble Lord's advisers?

This is the first effort that has been made to try and get equal distribution. As I mentioned last week, the drop in production in Scotland has been greater than in other parts of the country, and we have to" try and make up the difference.

Is the right hon. and gal-land Gentleman aware that while priorities are not too generous, they are badly balanced, and will he try to secure a better balance?

That was the criticism when the scheme came into operation. The whole purpose of the scheme is to equalise whatever cuts there may be.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that a child between the ages of 5 and 14 attending school is guaranteed under one scheme two-thirds of a pint and is guaranteed a half-pint at home? Therefore all those school children get one and one-sixth pints per day. Is that equality?

Does the hon. Gentleman say that we should reduce it? Does he consider it too generous?

In view of the fact that expectant mothers, nursing mothers and children under five receive a pint a day, I suggest that there is inequality and that the matter should be re-examined.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I have a letter here from the Clydebank and Dumbarton Co-operative Society and also a telegram from the County Clerk of Dumbartonshire complaining about the whole position with regard to milk?

I have already indicated to my hon. Friend that the position in Scotland is considerably worse than in the South, because the drop in supplies has been greater. I can only repeat what I have said, that we are directing supplies to Scotland, and I hope the position will be better.

In view of the fact that the co-operatives are getting such a bad deal in connection with milk, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman ask his Noble Friend to consult the First Lord of the Admiralty to see if he can do something with his big guns?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply what would be the cost to take down the 30,000 posts of Belisha beacons in Britain, to be used for munitions?

There are some 64,000 Belisha beacon posts in the country. I regret that I am not yet in a position to give a precise estimate of the cost of removing them.

Will the cost of taking them down compensate for their use as munitions?

That is one of the questions we are examining. I hope to be able to make a statement very shortly.

Is it proposed to deprive the right hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) of his last hope of immortality?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give any information in connection with a heavy motor-lorry, loaded with 10 tons of sugar and half a ton of margarine, stolen from the yard of Macks Hauliers, Limited, Bradfield Road, Silvertown, on Thursday night; and whether anyone has been arrested?

My right hon. Friend has received a report about these thefts. The facts are as stated in the Question. No arrest has yet been made, but inquiries are continuing.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether Assistance Board allowances to bombed-out persons have increased in rate since the commencement of bombing in this country in order to cope with increases in the prices of goods to be purchased out of those allowances, and whether he is aware that, owing to scarcity and a sudden demand for goods, these prices frequently increase greatly at the times when the people are under the necessity of spending these allowances;

I have been asked to reply. Payments by the Assistance Board under Part II of the War Damage Act are made within the terms of Treasury Regulations (S.R. & O. 1941 No. 787). The help given depends on the degree of loss, but the Regulations provide that, where it is necessary that goods damaged should be replaced immediately, the value of the actual loss suffered may be disregarded to such extent as appears necessary in order that the goods may be immediately replaced. The general principle which the Assistance Board observes is that the amounts granted shall be not less than will suffice to meet basic requirements. The grants, therefore, necessarily take into account any rise in prices. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the apparent inequities to which he refers, I will make inquiries.

I shall be very glad to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the help given by the Assistance Board to persons who have to replace essential clothing and furniture lost by enemy action is inadequate, in view of the fact that the Purchase Tax has to be paid on every article; and whether he will consider instructing the Revenue authorities, in such cases, to repay the tax on receipts and a certificate from the Assistance Board being tendered to them?

No, Sir. I am assured that in making grants for the purpose stated, the Assistance Board take into account current retail prices, which would allow for any Purchase Tax included therein. Apart from this consideration, there is no legal provision under which repayment of Purchase Tax could be made in such circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour how many concerts have been given by Entertainments National Service Association artistes since the services of Entertainments National Service Association were first utilised for factories; and what is the amount of public funds expended for this purpose?

Up to the end of October, 1941, approximately 45,000 entertainments for war workers in factories and on building and civil engineering sites had been given by the Entertainments National Service Association, at a cost to public funds of approximately £250,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total subsidy paid out of public funds to Entertainments National Service Association?

This Association has no funds of its own and makes no payments. Hitherto, the Corporation of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes has borne the whole cost of the entertainment provided for the Forces through E.N.S.A., but the Treasury have recently agreed to reimburse to N.A.A.F.I. the cost in excess of £600,000 per annum, up to a total limit of £1,000,000 per annum. They will also defray capital charges up to £100,000 per annum. As regards entertainments provided by N.A.A.F.I. for factory workers, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is giving to-day to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger).

Will Members have access to a detailed statement of how the money is spent and an opportunity to examine the figures at some future date?

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the Association has no funds and makes no payments.

Is the Chancellor satisfied that he gets value for the money, because in many camps there are complaints about the quality of these entertainments?

In my position, I am never able to be sure that I get value for money in a particular case.

Is not this particular money contributed direct to N.A.A.F.I., and not to E.N.S.A. at all?

I will look into that point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the sale of 765 acres of the Holt estate, near Worcester, for the sum of £29,995; how much of this land was agricultural and, therefore, derated; and what was the total net rent paid prior to the sale on the four or five farms concerned?

I regret that this information is not available.

Can the Chancellor say when he proposes to take steps to control the price of land and speculation?

That is the subject of the hon. Member's next Question.

As the Government are conscripting life, when do they propose to take over the land of this country?

Not at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to control the price of agricultural land for the war period by fixing the maximum price at 12 times the pre-war rent?

The Government, as explained by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, have already taken steps to prevent such speculation in land as might prejudice the maximum production of food.

Is the Chancellor aware that by failing to collect economic rents and to control the price of land, he is encouraging that vicious spiral which we all seek to avoid?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the following financial arrangements of an ordinary trading company are treated as cash, and which as investments, for the purposes of estimating Excess Profits Tax, namely, money on deposit at call, money on deposit at short notice, and Treasury bills?

As I explained in my reply of 20th November to my hon. Friend's previous Question on this subject, the capital to be taken into account for the purposes of Excess Profits Tax is that capital which is employed in the business. In the case of the ordinary trading concern investments in Government securities, including holdings of Treasury bills, cannot be regarded as capital so employed. The extent to which cash, including moneys held at bank on call or at short notice, falls to be regarded as capital employed in a business depends upon the circumstances of the individual case, and if the cash held exceeded what was required for the purposes of the business the excess could not be treated as capital employed. My hon. Friend will appreciate that capital employed in a business ranks for allowance at eight or ten per cent. in the computation of a concern's liability to Excess Profits Tax and it is important that it should be clearly understood that this high return cannot be allowed on idle funds which are really not in use in the business but are available for investment in the Government securities now on issue.

Have I correctly understood the Chancellor to differentiate between Treasury bills and the other use of money mentioned in the Question?

There is a certain differentiation if the hon. Member will study my reply between investments in Government securities and holdings of Treasury bills and moneys held at bank on call or at short notice.

Is the Chancellor aware that that differentiation is quite out of keeping with all ordinary banking and commercial practice?

Has the Chancellor visualised the position there might conceivably be of a business man with a comparatively small balance at the bank who desires to aid the war effort and invest his money in War Loan and then desires to use that later to secure an overdraft in taking up—

That is too complicated a question.

May I ask the Chancellor whether he is aware that such a business man, in his desire to aid the war effort, is losing 8 per cent., because the amount he has invested is disregarded as capital, and—

This is too complicated for a Supplementary Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether persons who have erected buildings in defiance of an interim development order refusal will be paid compensation from the War Damage Commission, in view of the fact that local authorities have been urged to take note of such defiances under the provisions of the Land Charges Act, 1925; and whether, by an order or other means, he will protect the public against such claims on public funds?

The War Damage Act does not provide that the right to compensation shall be lost because the damaged building has been erected although an interim development order is in force and permission has been refused. Section 7 of the Act, however, provides in certain circumstances for the imposition in the public interest of conditions on payments made by the Commission. In the absence of details as to the particular building concerned, it is not possible to say what action the Commission could or would take.

Is the Chancellor aware that the buildings referred to in the Question exist in almost every town-planning and country-planning area in the country, and is it not desirable to do something more about it?

If the hon. and gallant Member has a particular case, he had better let me have it, and I will look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the distress caused by war damage to many individuals, he will take the necessary action to bring about a rapid increase in the payment of claims under the War Damage Act?

Now that the registration of claims has been brought up to date, the War Damage Commission is able to concentrate the efforts of its staff on the acceleration of payments, and I can assure my hon. Friend that all possible steps to that end are being taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the permission granted to Marshal Pétain to draw money from the United Kingdam has been granted to any other French citizens now resident in France, or in the Vichy Occupied French colonies?

No such permission has been granted to any other French citizens resident in Metropolitan France or to the French Colonies to which the Trading with the Enemy Act has been applied.

Does my right hon. Friend think that the political record of Marshal P6tain justifies this very strange privilege?

The reasons for the decision have been stated.

Was this the decision of the Government or of the Foreign Office?

It was a decision of the Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are presently in receipt of non-contributory old age pensions; how many of that number also receive supplementation of their pensions; which Department is responsible for the initial investigation of means; whether a further investigation takes place when supplementation is applied for and by whom?

The number of non-contributory old age pensioners, other than blind pensioners, on 30th September, 1941, was approximately 480,000. Of this number, at the same date, some 330,000 were in receipt of supplementary pensions. Claims to non-contributory old age pensions are investigated by pension officers under the direction of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. If the old age pension is insufficient for the pensioner's needs, and he applies to the Assistance Board for a supplementary pension, inquiry into his needs is made by a visiting officer of that Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many officers and men, who have retired from the Fighting Services, are solely dependent upon their pensions; that these pensions have now been seriously depleted by the rise in taxation and increased cost of living, resulting, in many cases, in hardship to the pensioners and their dependants; and whether he will consider the restoration of the 9½ per cent. cut made in these pensions when they were stabilised owing to the fall in the cost of living?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 30th September to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn).

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that many of these pensioners have no other means of livelihood than their depleted pensions; and will he reconsider their cases, as they are suffering very great hardship?

I appreciate that; but my hon. and gallant Friend, in his turn, will appreciate that I have done a great deal to help those people by the policy of stabilisation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the disproportionate increase of wages paid to juveniles; whether he will review the whole matter and take any steps to obviate the adverse effects which such wages may have upon the character, conduct and future prospects of youths employed in industry?

I am aware of the publicity given to certain cases of high earnings on the part of youths, but many of the examples quoted are exceptional, and there are other war-time influences besides the rate of wages which may affect the incidence of juvenile delinquency. In fact, I understand the ages affected are largely those before entry into industry. In the building industry, which has been mentioned in this connection, an agreement has recently been concluded whereby the wages of youths under 18 will be brought within stricter limits by the institution of a wage-for-age scale.

Is my hon. Friend prepared to institute an inquiry into the whole question?

Inquiries are constantly being made. I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the Debate which is starting to-day, during which I think something will be said in relation to this question.

Will my hon. Friend also have an inquiry into the effect of poverty in the home upon the ''character, conduct, and future prospects of youths"?

In any future inquiry all such considerations will be taken into account.

In addition, will my hon. Friend get into touch with the President of the Board of Education with a view to stimulating the provision of outlets for young people?

Will the hon. Member compare the deterioration caused by the incomes of the capitalist class in this country?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is in a position to make any further statement about the survey of hospitals in London and the surrounding area proposed in connection with the Government's post-war hospital policy?

Yes, Sir. The following terms of reference have been laid down for the guidance of those undertaking the inquiry:

"To survey the hospitals (other than Mental Hospitals and Mental Deficiency Institutions) in London and the surrounding area, and having regard to the information thus obtained and to the general principles of postwar hospital policy laid down by the Minister of Health in the House of Commons on the 9th October to advise the Minister what area would appropriately be served by a hospital system centred on London, and what modifications or extensions of the existing hospital facilities would be necessary or desirable to give effect to that policy."

Would not it be just as well to have a woman also consulted, seeing the complete mess the men have made of the Ministry of Health for the last 10 years?