asked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken to employ in the war effort Russians resident in this country who hold Nansen passports?

The requirements for compulsory registration for employment have not so far been applied to Russians resident in this country, whether they hold Nansen or other passports. There are, however, many persons of Russian nationality now in employment here and any others who desire to offer their services should apply at a local office of my Department.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a considerable number of these Russian who do not appear to be making any effort whatever to help either the country of their adoption or their native country? Cannot he do something more to make effective use of their services?

Certainly, I will go into that matter.

There cannot be as many as 100 of them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the grievance of temporary civil servants who, having been temporarily released from posts bearing salaries above the limit for unemployment insurance, are nevertheless obliged to pay unemployment insurance contributions even where their salaries are made up by their permanent employers, although they can derive no benefit from the insurance; and whether he will consider releasing them from this obligation?

No representations on this point have been made to me by temporary civil servants. The liability to unemployment insurance depends on the employment which the person concerned is actually following, and I do not think it would be proper to allow exemptions on the ground suggested in the Question.

asked the Minister of Labour why, at a time when the Government is taking powers to raise age limits and increase the number of men and women in the National Service, the staff of 250 girls, employed in Government work at a factory, of which he has been informed, were put on the Employment Exchange; and will he say what action he proposes to take?

The question of the issue of contracts to a particular firm is a matter for the Supply Department concerned. In present circumstances, any labour surplus to essential requirements should be transferred to vital war employment to meet the large and urgent demands that now exist.

In view of the fact that this firm has been established 100 years and is a trade unit, and that in the last 11 months it has turned out 250,000 garments for the Forces, is it not deplorable that it should be disbanded?

If it is a matter of issuing contracts, I think the question should be addressed to the Minister of Supply.

Does not the Minister in his capacity as Chairman of the Production Council make sure that the Supply Departments are not guilty of mistakes of this sort?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in conscripting women, it will be the policy to interfere as little as possible with the careers of students, especially at the universities?

Yes, Sir.

In view of the anxiety among parents and students concerning the position, will my right hon. Friend consider making a fuller statement so that they may know whether all students will be reserved until they have finished their courses or whether it depends on the nature of their subjects and the stage they have reached in their studies?

They will be dealt with in exactly the same way as other students under the previous Act.

Did not Mr. Ince explain this very fully over the wireless the other night?

I was so busy that I did not listen to him.

Is there any reason why students should have preferential treatment over the rest of the workers?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is in a position to make a detailed statement as to the method of working which will be adopted by the new Appointments Board?

It is my intention as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made, to merge the present Central and Supplementary Registers in a new Appointments Department of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. This new Department will deal with persons possessing specified administrative, managerial, professional or technical qualifications and with others who, though not possessing specific qualifications, have a normal salary in excess of £420 per annum. It will operate through its staff at headquarters or through staff under the control of the Regional Controllers according to the nature of the vacancies or the candidates. It will maintain a separate register of persons within its scope who are known to be seeking an engagement and will endeavour to find suitable employment for such persons in some form of national service. The provincial organisation of the Department will be closely associated with the new District Man-Power Boards. Details of the scheme are being worked out, and when these are completed I will make a further announcement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether women Civil servants between 20 and 30 years of age who desire to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service can obtain permission to do so?

Arrangements are at present being made to release for the Women's Forces and for vital war industry a proportion of the women Civil servants between the ages of 20 and 30 who are engaged on clerical work. The methods by which different Departments will select the women to be released will vary at the discretion of Departments, according to the needs of the work, but, as far as possible, women in the grades concerned will be allowed to volunteer. The question which Services women who volunteer will be allowed to join is one for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the adoption by medical boards of X-ray examination for tuberculosis of every recruit, in the light of American experience, and in the interest of those found to be affected and of Exchequer liabilities?

Yes, Sir. This suggestion was fully considered last year by the Medical Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Horder, and the Committee decided that its adoption was impracticable. I am advised that this is still the case.

Can my right hon. Friend explain why it was found practicable in America but not here?

I understand that at the time it was a question of preparing a complete supply of equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to wide discrepancies and remuneration between senior police officers and officers appointed under the National Fire Service; and whether he will take steps to remove dissatisfaction arising out of these discrepancies?

I have received and considered some representations on this subject. It is impossible to arrive at any exact comparison between two Services with such widely differing functions, but I can find no justification for the view that the scales of pay of police officers compare unfavourably with those which have been fixed for the National Fire Service.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there is discontent about the matters mentioned in the Question and that these matters ought to be looked into?

I do not think there is extensive discontent. My primary business is to determine in my own mind whether there is any reason for discontent, and I have very carefully considered the matter and cannot find any reasonable ground for criticism.

asked the Home Secretary upon what grounds permission was granted for Mr. Israel Sieff to travel to the United States of America, in view of the propaganda against, and attacks upon, the policy of His Majesty's Government in relation to Palestine in which this man has indulged?

An exit permit was granted to Mr. Sieff on 16th September, 1941, to enable him to travel to the United States of America for the purpose of promoting export sales to the United States of America.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Mr. Sieff is stirring up anti-British feeling among his coreligionists in America, and that he is antagonising the Arabs by urging that they should be sent to other Arab countries in order to make room for more Jews in Palestine? Does not my right hon. Friend think that this sort of propaganda ought to stop?

I have no evidence that Mr. Sieff desires or seeks to stir up anti-British feeling. While there are various views on the question of Palestine, I think everybody is entitled to have his opinions.

Has my right hon. Friend seen the report of a speech which Mr. Sieff made in New York, to which I drew his attention, urging that the Arabs should be displaced in order to make room for Jews, and ought not British subjects who are given trade permits to go to America be told to keep their mouths shut?

It is, of course, the responsibility of everybody who has an exit permit, particularly trade permits, to be discreet in what he says, but I have not seen the report to which my hon. Friend refers, and I do not think he sent it to me —

I sent it to the Department.

If we have received the report, I will take an opportunity of looking at it. I do not want to go so far as to seek to prevent a British subject travelling abroad from expressing reasonable views on matters on which there is not universal agreement.

Is not Mr. Sieff a very much honoured and liked representative and envoy, and did he not offer to fight for England at the beginning of the war?

And have there not been very good reasons in the past for criticising the British Government's attitude towards Palestine?

Why be anti-Semitic? That is what Hitler wants.

asked the Home Secretary whether, under the Business Premises Order, an owner living above his business premises, situate in a precribed area, is entitled to payment for performance of fire-watching duties upon such premises?

In certain circumstances persons of the class referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend may be entitled to subsistence allowances under the Fire Prevention (Business Premises), (No. 2) Order. I propose, however, to amend the Order so as to exclude them from the scope of the subsistence provisions.

Am I to understand that a citizen guarding his own property and sleeping in his own bed receives payment from national funds for that service?

I am not sure whether such people actually receive payment. My hon. and gallant Friend will realise that one of the difficulties under the present scheme is getting people to do the fire watching.

Will my right hon. Friend take the opportunity afforded by such reconsideration to make representations to the other Departments for the purpose of securing uniformity in the payments made to the Home Guard and others engaged in similar duty?

I will keep that point in mind.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Houghton-le-Spring Urban District Council is advertising for a fireguard assistant staff officer and is insisting that applicants must be members of a trade union; and whether, as this stipulation is a breach of Section 6, Sub-section (1) of the Trade Disputes Act, 1927, he will take steps to have it withdrawn?

Immediately my attention was drawn to this advertisement, I gave directions that the urban district council should be informed that the governing consideration relevant to the filling of this post is whether the candidate selected is, by education, character and training, the person best qualified to discharge the duties in question.

Is this not a breach of the Trade Disputes Act?

It is not for me to answer legal questions, but I think there is prima facie evidence to that effect.

Is it not the case that a member of a council is entitled to ask an applicant whether he is a member of a trade union or not?

Yes, Sir, but my hon. and gallant Friend's point is whether this stipulation is a breach of the Trade Disputes Act, while I think it runs contrary to the terms of that Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a member of the regular fire brigade, when appointed to the rank of leading fireman in the National Fire Service is paid £5 5s. per week, while a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service receiving a similar appointment is paid £4 per week, for the same duties and responsibilities; and what steps he is taking to remove this anomaly?

The differentiation in the rates of pay of leading firemen is a consequence of the undertaking that the rates of pay of regular firemen transferred to the National Fire Service should not be reduced by reason of the change, and I do not think it possible to avoid some differentiation.

Is it not objectionable, when there are two men doing precisely the same work, that they should be paid rates with such great margins of difference?

There is a very good reason, and that is that it is thoroughly objectionable for a policy to be urged which would mean that Fire Service Civil Defence people would be in a materially better position than other ranks of the Civil Defence. I am not willing to differentiate between one element of Civil Defence and another.

Is there any policy worse from a trade union point of view than two men doing the same work and their rates of pay differing by 25s.?

That point does not effectively arise. Regular firemen were taken over into the National Service, and it was right that I should protect their existing standards. But because I protected their existing standards, that is no justification for my elevating firemen, admirable and splendid as their work has been, above the equally brave and courageous people in other ranks of Civil Defence.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has made inquiries into the statement placed before him that men who are not resident in the United Kingdom have access to the secret plans and blueprints of some of the works to be carried out in Northern Ireland; and whether he will bring this state of affairs to a speedy end?

My hon. Friend was good enough to send me the newspaper article on which his Question is based, but my information does not bear out the allegation that there is failure to take precautions against the leakage of secret information.

If the Minister found on inquiry that the Press report which was sent to him several weeks ago was inaccurate, why did he not issue a contradiction, as such statements cause a great deal of uneasiness in Northern Ireland?

The question is the nature of the information which was available and what precautions were taken. In my view, there are no reasonable grounds for apprehension in either case.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the strong opposition which has been aroused by the promulgation of the Order in Council which authorises the opening of wet canteens for war workers and members of the Auxiliary Services, where they are carrying out their duties, he will withdraw the Order, as such a controversy at the moment is calculated to interfere with our war effort, and, in addition, these canteens will lessen rather than increase production?

The grounds for the Regulation are given in my reply to a deputation from Members, which is published in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 4th December, and for the reasons there given it would not be possible to accept my hon. Friend's suggestion. Regulation 60AA is limited to civilian war workers and does not cover members of the Auxiliary Services, whose requirements would be met by Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes or other Service canteens.

Does not the opposition come mainly from people who are not directly concerned?

I think that there is some truth in that. On the other hand, a number of public-spirited bodies have a very strong feeling on the matter, which they are entitled to express. I think that there has been some misunderstanding, and, if they study the report that I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I believe that many of these misunderstandings will be cleared up.

While what my right hon. Friend says may be correct, it is not correct to say that these expressions are coming only from public-spirited bodies, because parents are interested in the matter as well.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has taken or proposes to take any action regarding a publication entitled "East Asia News Service" under Regulation 18D or other Defence Regulation?

I am informed that the office from which this paper was published has now been closed.

asked the Home Secretary how many people are employed at the headquarters of the London Regional Commissioners in connection with air-raid precautions; and how many of these are of military age and medically fit?

The numbers of persons employed at the headquarters of the London Regional Commissioners are 345 men, including 26 members of the Armed Forces, and 324 women. Of the men not members of the Armed Forces 81 had reached the age of 18 on 27th November, 1941, but had not then attained the age of 41: most of these men have not been recently medically examined.

Will the Minister say why these people have not had a medical examination?

These persons are reserved on the grounds of their administrative ability, and we cannot undertake to guarantee that all persons in important public services shall not be of military age.

Is it impossible to get men over military age?

I can assure my hon. Friend that there is a considerable shortage of administrative ability.

asked the Minister of Health what alterations he now proposes to make in the completion of national registration identity cards either by way of insisting on more particulars, or as to present or changed occupation of the holder or otherwise?

No extension is at present contemplated of the particulars required to be entered upon the ordinary standard identity card. These particulars do not include any statement of the holder's occupation.

In view of the opportunities for evasion and abuse, will the right hon. Gentleman make such alteration as will provide a check and assist the National Service effort?

My predecessor and I have looked at that closely and I made a very long statement last July.

As this still permits evasion to take place will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider an overhaul of the whole system in the light of present needs?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that continued low penalties are inflicted by magistrates in Wales in cases of proved adding of water to milk; and will he take steps to ensure that penalties imposed by magistrates in these offences must be adequate to the crime perpetrated upon the public?

While discretion must rest with the court to decide what is the appropriate penalty in each case, having regard to the particular facts and circumstances, I am in full accord with my hon. Friend that it is the first duty of the magistrate to enforce the law and to impose penalties which are adequate for this purpose. I hope therefore that this Question and reply may serve to remind any magistrates who may be inclined to undue lenience in cases of the kind mentioned that these evasions of the law are offences against the public who are entitled to look to the magistrates for protection.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statistics of the results of immunisation against diphtheria in New York, Chicago and Toronto as compared with London?

My information is that in New York City, since large-scale immunisation of children began in 1929, diphtheria has steadily decreased from an average of about 10,000 cases a year between 1920 and 1929 to just over 400 cases in 1940, in relation to a population of over 7,000,000. Information about Chicago is not readily available but I will arrange to let my hon. Friend have such particulars as may be obtainable. In Toronto I understand that in the five years 1933 to 1937 there were no more than 209 cases of diphtheria in all. In two of these years, 1934 and 1937, there was not a single death, whilst in 1940 there was no case either of notification or death. In the County of London, with a population of about 4,000,000, notifications of diphtheria in recent years have averaged close on 8,000 cases a year.

Will my right hon. Friend do anything to bring home to the public generally that they are responsible for these diphtheria deaths, which are unnecessary and preventible; and can he arrange with the B.B.C. to broadcast on the subject?

My hon. Friend has not perhaps noticed that there has been a very active attempt to do this, and it is continuing.

Does my right hon. Friend consider this improvement due to immunisation or to improved social conditions?

They have a good deal to do with it, but my advice is that immunisation is the major cause of the change for the better.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of measles this autumn as compared with the last three years?

The number of cases of measles notified in England and Wales during the 13 weeks ended 29th November, 1941, was 9,689. For the corresponding period in 1940 the number was 134,750. As measles was not a notifiable disease before October, 1939, comparative figures for the years 1938 and 1939 are not available.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that every precaution is taken for dealing with cases when they do occur?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put down a Question about the latest period. He will find the figures very good.

May I ask the doctor whether he ever had measles when he was a baby?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to announce the names of the committee on the salaries of nurses: and whether the terms of reference to the committee will cover nurses in sanatoria, mid-wives and health visitors?

Yes, Sir. I will circulate a list of the members in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The Committee held its first meeting on 27th November. It is my intention that in regard to sanatoria and tuberculosis hospitals the Committee's scope should extend to nurses possessing or in training for the certificate of the Tuberculosis Association, and that it should also extend to health visitors. Before the scope is so extended it may be necessary to make some adjustments in the Committee. I am consulting the appropriate Associations in regard to this matter.

I have decided to set up a separate Committee to draw up agreed scales of salaries for midwives on a national basis, and I am consulting the appropriate associations of employers and employees. I am glad to be able to say that Lord Rushcliffe has expressed his readiness to act as Chairman of the Committee for Midwives as well as of that for nurses. Some nurses' and midwives' posts involve the practice both of nursing and of midwifery, and I shall request the Committees to consult together before making recommendations in regard to overlapping matters of this kind.

Will this committee also consider the questions of emoluments, residence, uniform and superannuation?

I would like to see that Question in form before I give a precise answer.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the number of visits made by the Commissioners of the Board of Control to mental defectives under statutory guardianship in the administrative area of the county of London during each of the 12 months ended Michaelmas in the years 1939 and 1940, respectively;

(2) the number of visits made by the inspectors of the Board of Control to mental defectives under statutory guardianship in the administrative area of the county of London during each of the 12 months ended Michaelmas in the years 1939 and 1940, respectively?

The numbers of visits by Commissioners were 98 and 0 in the years ended Michaelmas, 1939 and 1940, respectively, and the numbers of visits by inspectors in the same periods were 35 and 4 respectively. Article 83 of the Mental Deficiency Regulations, 1935, permits but does not require visits by Commissioners or inspectors and arrangements have been made to visit all cases placed under guardianship in the years 1940 and 1941 and establishments where there are a number of mental defectives under care. I am informed by the London County Council that their officers have duly made the visits prescribed by Article 86 of the Regulations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the figures he has given reveal a serious evasion of duty by the Board of Control? How can the Commissioners carry out their duties to these unfortunate people if they do not see them and understand their condition? Is he aware that there is evidence that some have not been visited for a number of years? Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the figures in 1939 should have been in the neighbourhood of 550 and in the next year 500, and does he not see that this is a very serious evasion of the duties imposed upon the Commissioners by Parliament?

The hon. Gentleman will realise that the Commissioners were working under great difficulty and, as he knows, the inspectorate has other duties to perform in addition.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not see that the first duty was during a pre-war period when there were no difficulties?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is satisfied with the method of calculating the number of children to be moved from one part of the country to another on account of war conditions and the adequacy of the arrangements for collaboration between his department and other Government Departments.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him yesterday. Arrangements have been made with the other Government Departments concerned whereby my Department is furnished at the earliest possible stage with information bearing on the number of children for whom educational provision is likely to be needed as the result of movements of war workers, and this information is transmitted to the authority.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the figures for Wiltshire given by his Department in no way correspond with the figures of the Ministry of Works and Buildings? Does not this suggest lack of adequate co-operation between the Departments?

I am investigating this question at present.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the whole of the expense incurred in the erection of temporary schools due to war conditions is being borne from Government grant, or is a proportion to be borne by the local authorities?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the erection of temporary school accommodation necessitated by the movements of married workers. The cost of the provision of such accommodation is borne by the local education authority and the Board in such proportions as are prescribed in the appropriate grant regulations.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that it is right that local authorities should bear a proportion of this expense, which is due entirely to the war and to the compulsory movement of people? Is it not right that this should be borne by the National Exchequer?

The arrangement is in accordance with the present Education Act.

Is my right hon. Friend in communication with the Chancellor on the point? It is arousing the greatest interest and disquiet in the country.

I am in touch with my right hon. Friend. I will certainly look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any recorded comparison exists of the gain in height, weight and health of evacuated children as compared with unevacuated children; and whether any record could be obtained of children evacuated for a considerable period who have had no contact with their parents?

Yes, Sir. Investigations are being held into the gains in height and weight of evacuated children attending the camps conducted by the National Camps Corporation as compared with those of children who have remained in evacuation and neutral areas. To justify any reliable conclusions such investigations must cover a substantial period and the results will not therefore be available for some time to come.

When are these reports likely to be available, and is there any information regarding evacuated children other than those who have gone to camps? Will the right hon. Gentleman also reply to the second part of the Question?

That is all the information that I can give at present. It takes a little time for the children to grow.

Has the right hon. Gentleman observed the last part of the Question?

That is a question of personal contacts. I hope to be able to give the information before very long.

asked the Home Secretary the number of new clubs which have, since the commencement of the war, been registered throughout the country, and the number which have ceased to exist or been struck off the register?

I regret that these particulars are not available, and to obtain particulars for the whole of Great Britain would involve much labour which I am anxious to avoid in present circumstances. I am, however, collecting some information as to the position in some of the large cities.

Is my right hon. Friend keeping a careful watch on the development of these mushroom clubs which are springing up all over the country?

Yes, Sir.

Do I take it that the Minister is not opposed to any of these clubs so long as they behave themselves?

That is so, but there has been a tendency during the war for objectionable clubs to come into existence.

What does the Minister mean by "objectionable"?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the urgency of increased production, it is intended to continue greyhound race meetings in midweek?

In the absence of evidence that afternoon greyhound race meetings have an adverse effect on production, there would appear to be no justification for the imposition of further restrictions on this form of entertainment.

How does the Minister expect people to believe that we are up against it, with our backs to the wall, when mid-week greyhound racing meetings are still being held? Hundreds of workers take the afternoon off in order to attend these meetings, and they justify their action by saying that because the Home Secretary allows it there is no harm in it.

If my hon. Friend will give me evidence of hundreds of workers absenting themselves from work I shall be glad to look into it. I can only say that I have made inquiries from the Departments concerned, and we cannot find the evidence. There are other forms of amusement to which people go, and I do not think that hon. Members ought to confuse their objection to a particular form of entertainment with their views on absenteeism.

Does the Minister not appreciate that this Question is directed against the holding of meetings during the week? Will he ask the police to visit these places, so that they can tell him how many workers have taken the afternoon off to attend these meetings? Many men take Wednesday or Thursday off to attend these meetings and give the excuse that because the Minister has licensed this form of sport he must therefore expect people to go.

I wish my hon. Friend would produce precise evidence. I have not got it. There have been very severe restrictions on greyhound meetings, but the issue for me is not whether I like or dislike greyhound racing. I honestly think that many hon. Members are influenced on this question. If men take an afternoon off to go to the pictures, it is just as objectionable. If my hon. Friend has evidence, I shall be delighted to follow the matter up, but I cannot find evidence from the Ministry of Labour or the Supply Departments.

Does the Minister not realise that when people go to the pictures or similar forms of entertainment it does not involve a waste of transport, at any rate not to the same extent, whereas people attending these greyhound race meetings do require transport?

With great respect, I think that my hon. Friend is subconsciously influenced by his dislike for this form of entertainment.

On the contrary, I think that I have attended these meetings more often than my right hon. Friend.

I have never been. If one goes round West London during an afternoon, one finds considerable queues waiting for cinema shows, and these people have to get there. It does not follow that all these people are slacking or absenting themselves from work, and one must be a little careful how far one's puritanism takes one.

Are not theatrical entertainments taking place in Moscow?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce legislation to amend the National Health Insurance Act to allow of sickness benefits being paid to discharged disabled Service men who recover damages under Common Law in respect of the accidents whilst on duty which caused the disablement, and in whose cases the full weekly income value of damages so recovered is deducted from the disability pension normally payable?

It is an underlying principle of the National Health Insurance Scheme that sickness benefit should not be payable in addition to compensation or damages, and it is not proposed to introduce legislation as suggested by my hon. Friend.

Will the right hon. Friend give sympathetic consideration to the matter? There is a genuine sense of injustice.

The hon. Member will realise that this has been debated many times, and that Section 51 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1936, specifically provides that these benefits shall not be payable in respect of such incapacity.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advantage to troops and public of providing more bands for the three Services?

While my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has every sympathy with my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion, the advantages to be gained from increasing the number of bands have to be considered in relation to the man-power situation and the shortage of instruments. Apart from the very numerous private bands which units are encouraged to form, there are at present over 100 authorised Service bands, and the fullest possible use is made of them.

Would not man-power be much more enthusiastic at work if supported by bands?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that trumpet blowing in this war has had an unfortunate sequel so far?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give an assurance that the necessary accommodation is available to meet the additional demand occasioned by the expansion of the Auxiliary Services?

Steps are being taken to ensure that the necessary accommodation will be available in order to meet the additional demand.

In view of the fact that a pledge has been given, can we have an assurance that the standard of accommodation is to be improved?

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he will make it clear that in any supply of food to the peoples of the Continent after the war full consideration will be given to the extent to which peoples in occupied territory have been starved for the benefit of the German army and people; that the first claims to be made will be those of peoples liberated from German occupation; and that, in any case, only minimum rations will be given to the German people, in view of the policy of deliberate removal of food now being carried out?

In providing food for those peoples in urgent need of it immediately after the war, due weight will be given to the considerations to which my hon. Friend refers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it abundantly clear that the Germans cannot starve the peoples of Europe during the war and immediately afterwards expect to live in luxury?

We all accept that. That is what I mean by due consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Assistance Board has reduced supplementary allowances to old age pensioners, following the lowering of their rents by the Barking Council, after damage to their houses from enemy action; and whether he will get this policy changed?

Under the Regulations the Assistance Board in granting supplementary pensions must have regard to the actual rent paid. They inform me, however, that their attention was drawn to these cases by the Barking Town Council, and that they have decided to make no reduction in the supplementary pension for a period of two or three months during which it may be assumed that the pensioner is put to extra expense on account of the damaged state of the premises.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it undesirable that when a council takes a line of that kind the Assistance Board should take away the advantage given to old age pensioners?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give any information about the extent of the current distribution of his Department's leaflets?

The current rate of distribution is over 170,000 leaflets a week, 27,000 to individual applicants and over 143,000 in bulk consignments. Leaflets in bulk are sent to a large number of organisations throughout the country for distribution by them to individuals and I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement indicating their distribution during the past six weeks.

Can my right hon. Friend give the House any information as to the extent to which the advice and information contained in these leaflets have been taken advantage of?

I hope that the very large increase compared with last year in the circulation of these leaflets is an indication that people are anxious to take advantage of the most recent advice available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether instructions have been issued to local authorities to allocate allotments to women applicants as well as to men?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any statement to make in regard to the postwar outlook of British agriculture?

I am unable to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère) on 11th September.

Will my right hon. Friend besides bearing in mind improved marketing methods and the like, examine the proposition that an abundance of purchasing power in the pockets of the people in order that they can buy a plentitude of meat, vegetables, eggs, milk and butter at the lowest possible price would do more to relieve post-war British agriculture than all the confused and dismal economics of which my right hon. Friend has unburdened himself recently?

Has my right hon. Friend seen the statement on future policy made by his colleague the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, and does he repudiate it?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is his intention to consult practical opinion before formulating his plans, or will plans be adopted and then submitted to the representative organisations as being final and unalterable?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the useful work that is being done on the land by female workers in addition to the Land Army, and of the assistance they have rendered the farmers; and if he is in a position to assure the House that there is no intention of taking any women off the land for other forms of national service; and is he aware that a flow of recruits for land work is most necessary at the present time, as it is now convenient to train them ready for next season?

Yes, Sir, and I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service that there is no intention to withdraw women from full-time paid employment on the land whether they are in the Women's Land Army or not. Other cases will receive individual consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate acreage of unharvested root crops and the estimate of food thus entirely lost?

I have no precise statistics, but I have no reason to think that any appreciable loss of food is occurring through root crops remaining unharvested.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that there are instances in the country where root crops have been unharvested, and is he making any report as to the acreage which has not been harvested?

There is still time to harvest roots. The harvest is often regarded as only the corn harvest, but it extends to roots, and they can be lifted up to the end of the year.

Are not many acres of crops rotting in the ground?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has expressed any recent views as to the permitted rents of tied agricultural cottages which have hitherto been rented on a purely non-economic basis; and whether the £3 a week to labourers is now regarded as an economic wage?

My Department has not recently expressed any views as to the rents of tied cottages. It is a matter for agricultural wages committees. As regards the latter part of the Question, there was general agreement that £3 a week was a fair wage. Whether it can be strictly called an economic wage when prices have to be raised to meet it is a question involving economic theory on which I hesitate to express an opinion.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a statement was published saying that his Department had expressed an opinion and that one county war agricultural committee at once acted upon it?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable discontent in rural districts because some landlords are putting up the rents of tied cottages, and will he discourage that form of war profiteering?

I take exception to the suggestion of the hon. Member that this is war profiteering. After a meeting with farmers', farm workers' and land owners' organisations held by me last year it was agreed that, in view of the then rise in wages, it was only reasonable that in many cases rents should be raised to cover increased costs of maintenance and to encourage landowners to make improvements in cottages. I deprecate strongly the suggestion made by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions the amount of the King's Fund at his disposal for meeting the needs of the dependants of service men who have lost their lives in this war, and who find themselves unable to meet their obligations on their pension allowances; how many grants have been made from this fund during this war; what is the total amount granted; how many such grants are now in being and what is the weekly cost?

The amount at my disposal in the King's Fund is £16,237, and I should be very glad to see this sum increased. The Fund is available for temporary help in cases of need and distress, not only to the dependants of those who have lost their lives in war service, but also to war-disabled officers and members of the defence services and Mercantile Marine. The number of grants authorised during this war is just over 1,000, and the total amount so far expended is about £6,000. Continuing weekly grants are only payable in cases of sickness requiring special nourishment. Approximately 80 such grants are in payment at a weekly cost of £20.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the amount at his disposal and the grants that are made are totally indequate to meet the cases of these widows with dependants who are the victims of the war, and that there is great perturbation in. the House and the public mind about the fact that what amount to charitable funds have to be used in order to meet what are looked upon as Government obligations?

My hon. Friend has a wrong conception of this matter altogether. This is not a charitable institution in the accepted sense of the term. No Act of Parliament or Royal Warrant can cover every possible case. This fund is available for the exceptional cases.

In view of the inadequacy of the Royal Warrant allowances, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to have them improved?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has considered a petition, signed by more than 1,700 people from Manchester and district, demanding that civilian women should be paid equal compensation with men for war injuries; and what steps he proposes to take to accede to this request, which reflects the general will of the country?

I have read the petition in question, which does not contain any fresh argument against the difference in rates of compensation for men and women under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, and I have nothing to add to the full statements I have already made in the House on this matter.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that no less a person than Lord Randolph Churchill said that all great men make mistakes, and whether he will show himself a great man by owning up in this case that he also has made a mistake?

I am aware that some unknown person has said that even women can make mistakes. I do not agree that I have made a mistake. I stand by the statement which I made previously.

In view of the fact that this is only one out of many representations which the Minister has received on this matter, is he not going to consider changing his mind?

From the great city of Manchester and from the wide population of that area, a certain organisation, after strenuous efforts, obtained just over 1,000 signatures.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that I have had more than 1,000 communications?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to freeze the credits in this country of those Britons living abroad?

By an Amendment to the Defence (Finance) Regulations, dated nth November, 1941, the Treasury were empowered to block the accounts of British nationals who were resident in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the war and are now outside the sterling area.

Have these British subjects who are living abroad been compelled by my right hon. Friend to contribute through their pockets if they have refused to contribute otherwise?

Has any action been taken under the Regulations?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that Question down.

Does my right hon. Friend think that our citizens abroad should be treated more unfairly than Marshal Petain?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as a further incentive to the savings campaign, he will consider arranging for increasing the maximum limitations for the holding of War Savings Certificates, and/or annual deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider extending to £1,000 the limit for individual holdings of War Savings Certificates, in view of their popularity with the small investor?

The terms of National Savings Certificates and the Post Office and trustee savings banks are more favourable to the investor than those offered by any other Government security currently on issue. The limits on individual holdings are kept constantly under review, but I would not feel justified in increasing them unless I had clear evidence that the existing limits were hampering saving by the small investor for whom these channels are designed.

In view of the fact that interest from Post Office accounts are liable to Income Tax, will not my right hon. Friend reconsider his position?

While I cannot wholly agree with the first statement of my hon. and gallant Friend, I would add that I have this matter constantly under review.

Will my right hon. Friend consider raising the limit above £500, even though no interest is paid above that amount, as many people would no doubt welcome such a step?