asked the Minister of Information why free Italian, German, Danish, Austrian and Spanish movements are discouraged by the Department of Political Warfare; and whether our policy in this matter coincides with Russian policy?

I do not think that it is in the public interest to discuss reasons for action taken by the Political Warfare Executive.

asked the Minister of Information how many Germans and other enemy aliens are employed by the Ministry of Information and the British Broadcasting Corporation in any capacity, including that of advisers; will he state the amount paid in salaries to these individuals; and whether they have access to confidential information or papers?

The only enemy alien on the staff of the Ministry of Information is a Finn who is employed on Censorship duties at a salary of £515 a year. He is one of the 6 aliens employed to whom I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend on 19th November. The only regular advisers of alien nationality are Professor Mittwoch and Professor Schacht. A small number of aliens are paid fees for occasional translations but are not members of the staff nor have they access to any confidential papers.

asked the Minister of Information what salary is paid to Professor Mittwoch and Professor Schacht; and what is the designation of the offices they hold?

Professor Mittwoch and Professor Schacht are employed on a fee basis, which has recently been stabilised at £50 a month in each case; their offices have no official designation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he is aware that hospitals are still sending out circulars involving the expenditure of time, money and paper which could be used to better advantage in other ways; and what steps he is proposing to take to stop this misuse of effort during the war?

The gratuitous distribution of advertising circulars by hospitals, as by other institutions, is limited by the Control of Paper (No. 36) Order to three-twentieths of the weight of advertising circulars so distributed by them in the corresponding three months of the pre-war year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he has forwarded any reply, in addition to formal acknowledgment, to the statement forwarded to him on the 11th November, 1941, by the Cotton Trade Merchants' Association; and what steps he intends to take in the matter.

No, Sir. Following on a discussion the Association had with the Cotton Controller and the Chairman of the Cotton Board, a copy of a statement was received from them. It was stated to be sent for the Minister's information. As indicated in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on nth November my Noble Friend cannot see his way to provide by order for compensation for the cancellation of the contracts in question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the salary of the Governor of Barbados, and what amount has been voted by the Government of Barbados, British West Indies, this year for maternity and child welfare work; what was the amount in 1939, and how many clinics now exist?

The salary of the Governor of Barbados is £2,500 a year with a duty allowance of £500 a year. Detailed and comprehensive figures of the expenditure on maternity and child welfare work are not available, since in some cases it is impossible to distinguish between expenditure on this work and on the medical services as a whole. Total Government expenditure on the Medical Departments in Barbados in 1941–42 is estimated at £69,592. The expenditure for 1938–39 was £56,380. Of this sum it is estimated that £35,370 will be expended on the General Hospital during 1941–42. Expenditure on the Hospital in 1938–39 was £29,691. I have not information to show what proportion of the Hospital's work is concerned with maternity and child welfare. Included in the expenditure on the Medical Departments in 1941–42 is a sum of £220 provided for the Barbados General Nursing Council for the training of midwives and nurses. £20 was expended on the Council in 1938–39.In addition to the expenditure on the Medical Departments, subsidies amounting to £375 were voted for 1941–42 to three Children's Welfare Leagues. The subsidy for this purpose in 1938–39 was £200. Up-to-date figures are not available for the number of Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics at present in existence, but in 1939 there were two Infant Welfare Clinics which were assisted by Government.It will be appreciated that, under the system in force in Barbados, provision in matters of health and sanitation is made separately by each parish authority, the money required being raised by the Vestries, and not provided by the Colonial Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in the island of Grenada, British West Indies, the main laundry facility existing in the chief town is washing in the open river in full view of passers-by; that the women laundry workers who are employed there have to stand in the river, practically nude and exposed, in the broiling sun to do their work; what is the rate of wages per hour for such working conditions; and whether different arrangements can be made such as the establishment of a. local authority laundry in a modern establishment under decent supervision?

The information desired is not available in the Colonial Office. The Governor has, however, been asked for a report on the matter and I will communicate with my hon. Friend when it is received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any leprosy survey has been done by medical officers in the West Indies in the last decade; whether any figures are available showing the incidence of leprosy in the different groups of islands; and what steps are being taken by raising the standard of living to eliminate, together with appropriate treatment and preventive measures, this disease from these islands?

Yes, Sir. A report by Dr. Cochrane, then Medical Secretary of the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association, on leprosy in the West Indies, was completed in 1935, and Dr. Muir, the present Medical Secretary of the Association, who is now in Trinidad holding a temporary appointment as Medical Superintendent of the Leper Colony, proposes to undertake a further leprosy survey in the West Indian area during his stay there. The matter is also receiving the attention of the Comptroller for Development and Welfare in the West Indies. With regard to the second part of the Question, a table is appended showing figures for the last year for which details are available. Measures are being taken in all the Colonies concerned to deal with this disease, but it would not be practicable, within the scope of this reply, to give

asked the President of the Board of Education, on what basis calculations are made and from what sources information is obtained in respect of the likely numbers of children for whom temporary schools have to be erected due to their removal from one area to another on account of war conditions?

The duty of ensuring that elementary school accommodation is available for children moved from one area to another falls on the local education authority of the area to which they are moved. Such information as is at the Board's disposal as to prospective movements of married workers is given to the authority by His Majesty's Inspector.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British volunteers reached Finland in the autumn of 1939 and spring of 1940; how many have remained; whether there remain in Finland any other British subjects; and to whose care have British mining and other interests been entrusted?

Two hundred and twenty-seven British volunteers reached Finland during this period. AH have now left. A number of other British subjects remained

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the declaration of war made upon Finland, Hungary, and Roumania, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to declare war on Bulgaria also?

As will have been plain from the reply which I have already given, the reason why His Majesty's Government felt constrained to declare the existence of a state of war with Finland, Rumania and Hungary, was that those countries were actively participating in hostilities against the U.S.S.R., the ally of the United Kingdom, and failed to give His Majesty's Government satisfactory assurances that they intended to withdraw from such participation. In the case of Bulgaria the same consideration did not arise, nor is she taking part in hostilities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether new omnibuses are yet available for delivery to local authorities and omnibus companies in the provinces, where the shortage of transport is most pronounced; and what proportion of these vehicles will be issued to the London Passenger Transport Board as compared with the towns and cities in the Midlands and the industrial North?

A limited number of new omnibuses are in the course of production and delivery. They are allocated to operators, municipal and other, according to the needs of transport. The provisional allocations for the Metropolitan Region and for the five Midland and Northern Regions of England, taken together, are approximately in the ratio of one to three. The allocations may be varied in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the general extension of the age limit for liability for service, he will consider a less rigid operation of the age limit for retirement of officers of low medical category, many of whom are fully capable of performing valuable work in sedentary jobs?

There is no separate age limit for the retirement of officers of low medical category. Wherever possible, officers who are not physically fit for active service in the field are transferred to more suitable appointments in which they continue to render useful service.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider a qualifying period, similar to that applying to warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, for officers holding temporary rank satisfactorily, so that they could then be made war substantive in their rank, instead of, as at present, having to wait for appointment to a higher rank, an opportunity for which may never occur?

The conditions governing promotion, other than substantive, of officers during the war are to a large extent common to the three Fighting Services, and I could not accept my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal without regard to its effect on the other Services and on the general system of promotion in wartime.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that some small traders in Liverpool who normally retail rabbits and poultry from Eire are unable to obtain supplies through the medium of the Association of Wholesale Distributors of Imported Poultry and Rabbits, Limited; and will he consider the desirability of importing these articles of food under licence in a manner that will ensure that all smaller traders receive a fair share of these commodities for retail selling?

As regards the first part of the Question, I am aware of the position. The retailers in question are being requested to furnish information to the Association with a view to providing them with a fair share of the available supplies. As regards the last part of the Question, the answer is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the prospect of an increased supply of carrots this winter, he will offer prizes for new recipes for cooking this vegetable?

My Department has arranged to broadcast an invitation to housewives to submit new receipes for cooking carrots. Those judged best will be broadcast. In view of the experience gained from a similar scheme for vegetable marrow recipes, it is considered unnecessay to offer prizes in order to secure a wide response.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will state the personnel of the committee responsible for the allocation of oranges for the East End of London; the quantity available for distribution in and to Stratford and West Ham, generally; whether such proportions have been complied with; and whether he is satisfied that areas badly treated by the enemy have received their adequate share of oranges?

Supplies of oranges are distributed in all districts throughout the United Kingdom in accordance with the provisions of the children's reservation scheme for oranges. The allocations are, therefore, based on the child population for each district, and I am satisfied that Stratford and West Ham are receiving their fair share. Retailers in the Metropolitan Area may draw supplies from a wholesaler in any of the London Central Markets. There is, therefore, no committee responsible, as my hon. Friend suggests, for the allocation of oranges for the East End of London. I am, however, sending to him the names of the five Allocation Committees in the Metropolitan Area and of the Central Committee which co-ordinates their activities.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are taken to ensure that the American canned foods supplied on the points system are of a suitable size for the average consumer; and how many points are required for tins of Spam, Mor and Treet, respectively?

As regards the first part of the Question, the competent authorities have been advised where necessary of the sizes of the packs and the proportions of the various sizes in the total which are most suitable for distribution in this country. As regards the last part of the Question, the meats referred to require the surrender of 16 points per lb. or 1 point per ounce.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the details of the proposed scheme for the issue of licences to traders who sell second-hand school clothing without having to demand coupons, even though the price may be above that at which normally coupons would be due?

A trader buying garments from scholars who have outgrown them may not give them coupons for the garments but would normally be required to collect coupons on reselling the garments, if the sale price were in excess of certain amounts.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether, in connection with the export tax on tin-ore from British Malaya, there are other similar instances within the British Empire of discrimination against raw material buyers of non-British nationality; and whether, in view of the principles of the Atlantic Charter, he will consider the cancellation of the Malayan tax in question?

The export duty on tin-ore in various Malay States is an essential element in the revenue of those States. I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the additional export duty on tin-ore exported to foreign destinations. This additional duty was imposed many years ago in order to protect the British and Malayan smelting industries against a threat of subsidised competition from abroad. The differential duty applies only to tin-ore, not to smelted tin, which is the raw material required by industry in general. There are no other similar additional export duties in the British Colonial Empire; but there are a number of export duties, not differential in character, imposed for revenue purposes in various Colonial territories.As the export of tin-ore from Malaya would involve uneconomic use of shipping space and packing materials, it would impede our war effort, and my Noble Friend is not prepared to invite the Governments of the States concerned to make any change at the present time. The principles of the Atlantic Charter are fully met by the fact that there is no discrimination between British and foreign pur- chasers of Malayan smelted tin, except of course that necessitated by the state of war now existing.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take to remedy the present disparity in the issue to Jamaica of special preference certificates; and whether he is aware that under existing arrangements Jamaica receives for her export sugar approximately 10s. per ton less than other Colonies by reason of this disparity?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to replies to Questions on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Durham, Consett (Mr. David Adams) on 8th May, 1940, and the hon. and gallant Member for Paddington, South (Vice-Admiral Taylor) on 5th June, 1940. It is not possible at present to add anything to those replies.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the omission of British Honduras from the West Indies Appeal Court Act, 1919, arrangements for appeal will be made in British Honduras by an assize system, allowing the visit of a high court judge from Jamaica at regular periods each year and of a registrar to deal with interlocutory proceedings?

My Noble Friend is aware of the desirability of a cheaper and quicker method of appeal in British Honduras. So far, however, no practicable solution has been found. The Governors of Jamaica and British Honduras are being consulted on my hon. Friend's suggestion, and I will communicate with him further when their replies are received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increased cost of living and the importance of utilising all available labour, he will modify any provisions which penalise old age pensioners who re-enter industry, by stopping or reducing their pensions?

I would refer to the answer I gave on 11th November to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Sir W. Wayland).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give sympathetic consideration to the appeal made by the Post Office pensioners for a bonus or allowance to meet the increased cost of living; and if special attention can be given to the depressed position of many old and infirm retired Post Office pensioners now existing on the border-line of destitution?

It was stated by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his reply of 6th August, 1940, to my hon. Friend the Member for the Evesham Division (Mr. De la Bère) that it would not be possible to deal with Post Office pensioners apart from other Civil Service pensioners, and that the Government could not undertake to introduce legislation for the purpose of increasing the pensions of retired civil servants. The hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) and the hon. Member for the Shipley Division (Mr. Creech Jones) were referred to this reply on the 9th April last and the 5th August last respectively. My right hon. Friend has since given further consideration to this question as the result of representations made by the staff side of the National Whitley Council, and has informed them that His Majesty's Government were unable to depart from their previous decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that farmers in the South Wales valleys are complaining of the inability to get lime for newly ploughed land; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation?

There has been a considerable increase in lime deliveries to farmers in South Wales during the five-monthly period July to November this year, as compared with the corresponding period last year. I am, however, aware that in many cases difficulty is being experienced by farmers in this area in obtaining certain grades of lime to which they had been accustomed. The erection of new plants for the production of ground limestone for agriculture is being actively promoted by my Department, with assistance, where necessary, from State funds. Arrangements have been made, or are under discussion, for the installation of seven such plants in South Wales, and it is hoped that most of these plants will be in operation in the New Year. Three new plants for the production of quicklime have also been installed, or are being installed, in this district. In addition, the attention of farmers has been drawn to other suitable forms of lime, such as limestone dust, local supplies of which are immediately available for delivery. County War Agricultural Executive Committees in the area have been informed of the sources of such supplies, and farmers would be well advised to take these alternative forms when the better-known kinds are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any representative of his Ministry or of the sugar-beet industry has inspected the crops of sugar-beet in which the Leake spacing drill has been used since the matter was first brought to the notice of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Sugar Commission?

Arrangements were made for an inspection by an officer of the Ministry of crops of sugar beet grown in 1940 for which the Leake spacing drill had been used: it is also understood that an inspection of such crops in 1941 was made by an officer of the Cambridge School of Agriculture and by representatives of the British Sugar Corporation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the following results have been shown in tests carried out in reference to this year's crops of sugar-beet: Smyth drill, early sown, 13.79 tons per acre, Leake drill, composite, three coulters spaced, one continuous, 15.14 tons per acre, Smyth drill, late sown, 13.72 tons per acre; and whether he will expedite the manufacture of the remaining Leake drills so that these may be demonstrated and brought into use as soon as possible?

Dr. Leake communicated these results to me on 28th November. Work on reconditioning five Leake drills is in hand under Dr. Leake's supervision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any intention of limiting the number of horses running under National Hunt Rules?

The number of horses running under National Hunt rules has been very greatly reduced during the war, and having regard to the reduced programme of races for the present season the stewards of the National Hunt Committee have, at my request, agreed to reduce still further the number of horses kept in training and so requiring rations from my Department?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether there are among the Consultative Panel in his department for post-war reconstruction any constructional and heating engineers, experts in geology, agriculture, horticulture and transport?

While the Panel is by no means devoid of expert advice on engineering, agriculture and transport, it does not, and within reasonable dimensions cannot, include full advice on all subjects which will arise in the preparatory work for physical reconstruction. The present membership was chosen expressly for the initial task of considering the planning machinery. It is one of the instruments available to my Noble Friend, who in addition has the assistance of other Departments and of numerous professional and technical associations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he has considered the Report entitled War-Time Building, which has been sent to him, published by the Association of Architects, Surveyors and Technical Assistants; and what action does he propose to take?

Yes, Sir, and in response to their request the Association have been informed that representatives of the Ministry will be glad to discuss some points arising on the report with members of their Committee.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings (1) what proportion of equipment for hostel camps in Scotland has been allocated to Scottish furniture manufacturers;(2) how many Glasgow furniture manufacturers have been invited to tender for the provision of hostel camp equipment during the past six months?

I regret that it is not possible without undue expenditure of labour to obtain the figures which would be necessary to give the hon. Gentleman a full answer. I can say, however, that orders for considerable quantities of furniture for hostel camps in Scotland have been placed with Scottish manufacturers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether the standardisation of bricks is being considered by his Department?

Yes, Sir. After consultation with Government Departments, architects, building contractors, civil engineers, operatives and brickmakers, a recommendation was issued in June last to all Government Departments and other brick users to limit the types of bricks for construction purposes in England and Wales to those of a depth of 2⅝ inches and 2⅞ inches, being types 2 and 3 of British Standard Specification. I have at present under consideration, in consultation with the interests concerned, the question of the steps that should be taken as regards the standardisation of bricks for construction purposes in Scotland.

asked the Home Secretary how many males and females respectively, holding Nansen passports, are resident in this country?

These documents are issued, in pursuance of international Conventions, to Stateless persons of Russian and Armenian origin to enable them to travel from the country where the documents are issued to some other country. Information as to the number of persons now resident in this country who have been given Nansen passports in some other country is not required for purposes of internal administration and is therefore not recorded.

asked the Home Secretary whether any arrangement has been, or will be, made by the Government whereby full use may be made of the man-power available in Northern Ireland for increasing war production which is so essential in the interests of the nation?

I can assure my hon. Friend that it has always been the desire of His Majesty's Government that full use should be made of the man-power of Northern Ireland. Arrangements for achieving this end have been made in collaboration with the Government of Northern Ireland and are constantly reviewed.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from the medical profession as to the extent to which they are asked to issue certificates of all kinds in connection with war activities; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?

I have been asked by the British Medical Association to consider, in consultation with other Government Departments whether steps can be taken to reduce the demands made on the medical profession for certificates in connection with war activities. A conference took place between representatives of the Departments and of the Association at which the whole matter was explored and the matter is now being considered by the Departments individually with the object of reducing to a minimum the number of purposes for which medical certificates are to be required.

asked the Home Secretary where the five children whose parents were sentenced to six months' imprisonment at the Mansfield Session, on 4th December, for neglecting their children at Selston, are being cared for; and whether he is aware that one of the children, aged nine months, died in the hospital through the neglect of the parents?

Three of the surviving children of these parents are at present in Children's Homes of the Nottinghamshire County Council. The fourth child who is in hospital will shortly go to a convalescent home. I am aware that the youngest child has unhappily died and I understand that the inquest has not yet been concluded?