asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the circular letter from Glasgow shop stewards on the question of wages, sent to him by the Member for West Fife; and what steps does he intend to take to increase the wages of the workers referred to?

I have received from the hon. Member a Circular letter addressed on behalf of 186 shipbuilding shop stewards to Scottish members of Parliament regarding wages in the shipyards. An application for an increase of wages was made by the trade unions representing workers in the shipbuilding industry and is now before the National Arbitration Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Albert Lowe, aged 54, of 18, Liverpool Road, Hindley, Wigan, was recently directed to return to the coal-mining industry; that he served in the last war for four years and was badly wounded; served nine months in the present war and was discharged on medical grounds after hospital treatment; that he was already employed on work of national importance when he received the direction; that he worked two days at the colliery and then fell ill and declared on National Health Insurance funds as incapable of following any employment; and whether he will withdraw the direction in this case and arrange for his return to his original job?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered releasing for agricultural work roadmen employed by the Essex County Council, and similar bodies, who are engaged in such non-essential work as trimming the roadsides, sweeping up leaves and so forth, as some of these men are already skilled in agricultural work?

Standing arrangements exist for the transfer of roadmen to agricultural work by agreement between the War Agricultural Executive Committee and the appropriate highway authority.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women who should have registered and have failed to do so have, at the last convenient date, been prosecuted?

No cases have yet come to notice in which there appeared to be sufficient ground for prosecution.

asked the Minister of Labour under what authority a Proclamation was issued on 3rd December making youths of 18 years of age liable for call-up for the Forces before Parliament had decided the issue?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the Royal Proclamation of 27th November. This Proclamation was not a new departure: a similar Proclamation relating to men who had then reached the age of 18 was made on 29th January, 1941. Both Proclamations were made under the authority of the National Service Acts. When my hon. Friend says that Parliament had not decided the issue he is perhaps thinking of the arrangements for requiring men to serve in the Army abroad, which is quite a separate matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the order issued on 16th September, 1916, by the Army Council to the effect that natives of India of unmixed Asiatic descent were not to be called up for service under the provisions of the Military Service Acts of 1916 has, in present circumstances, again been or will be issued?

No Sir. In the present war Indians in this country are liable to compulsory military service in the same circumstances as Dominion nationals. Ex-emption is granted in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 of the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, to which I would invite the hon. Member's attention.

asked the Minister of Labour why the reserved age for teachers in secondary schools is 35 years while in approved Home Office schools the reserved age is 25 years; and whether he will take immediate steps to remove this inequality?

The reason for this difference lies in the special nature of the duties which have to be performed by teachers at Home Office approved schools. Under the new arrangements for gradual cancellation of block reservation the cases of teachers whether at Approved Schools or at Secondary Schools will come under consideration for individual deferment.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to intervene on behalf of the Medical Officer of Health for Dudley who has been suspended for the duration of the war because he has registered as a conscientious objector, as permitted by the Military Service Act.

The appointment, dismissal or suspension of the Medical Officer of Health of a county borough does not require my approval, and I have no authority to intervene between the Council and their officer in this matter.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare whether he will state the British policy with regard to the importation of food into each of the countries occupied by the Germans?

The policy of His Majesty's Government is to maintain strictly the blockade of all enemy and enemy-occupied countries. The legal and moral responsibility for feeding the territories they have overrun rests, upon the Germans themselves, and it is clear that foodstuffs imported through our blockade would directly or indirectly relieve the enemy of such responsibility. But, as my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 14th October, subject to suitable conditions we have no objection to the purchase by our Allies of foodstuffs from neutral countries inside the blockade area for the relief of their peoples. For example, the House will have seen that cargoes of foodstuffs from Turkey have recently been arriving in Greece. I must, however, make it clear that these purchases must be made from the surplus products of the supplying country, and must therefore consist of goods of a type which that country does not import through our controls.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether coupons are required from purchasers of garments and other articles of clothing made by church workers, and others, for sales on behalf of churches and charitable purposes; if so, whether any regulations or instructions have been issued, and what becomes of the coupons required from purchasers at such sales?

Coupons must be collected from the purchasers of rationed clothing and footwear at sales of work on behalf of churches and charitable purposes. The coupons so collected must be surrendered to the Board of Trade within a fortnight of the termination of the sale. This has been made clear in Press notices and other publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are in remand homes, awaiting vacancies in approved schools; and how many children are awaiting vacancies in approved schools but are not in remand homes?

At the end of last month the total number of children and young persons awaiting admission to Approved Schools was approximately 1,340. No figures are available for those not in Remand Homes, but I am advised that they form only a small proportion of the total.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police have been instructed not to check the speed of vehicles of the armed forces; if not, whether he can account for the view generally held by constables that such vehicles are not to be checked by them; and will he state the number of prosecutions against drivers of service vehicles in the last convenient 12-monthly period?

No such instructions have been issued to the Metropolitan Police and I can find no foundation for the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend that there is some general misapprehension among police officers on this subject. The number of prosecutions would provide no measure of police activities in this matter, because it has been the general practice of the police to report instances of excessive speed by Service vehicles to the Service authorities with a view to appropriate action by them.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered a letter from the Member for West Fife, enclosing a pro-Fascist publication, and asking for the reconsideration of the ban on the "Daily Worker"; and what steps does he propose to take?

I have considered the hon. Member's letter but I have found no sufficient grounds either for action in re- gard to the publication to which he refers, or for reconsidering my decision in regard to the "Daily Worker."

asked the Home Secretary whether the women in the Civil Defence Services will be supplied with proper uniforms suitable to winter weather; and, as they can only wear the uniforms on duty, will he arrange for uniforms to be had without coupons.

The uniforms, the provision of which I announced in the House on 22nd May, are now becoming available in large numbers and are being offered to local authorities in a suitable priority order. Women engaged on outdoor duties in the Civil Defence General Services may be provided with serge uniforms, greatcoats and shoes. As announced in the House on the 16th October by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, part-time members of Civil Defence Services will not be required to surrender coupons in respect of uniforms. Whole-time members, in common with other wearers of essential civilian uniforms, will surrender an annual number of coupons calculated on the basis of the saving of wear to their own clothing.

asked the Home Secretary when suitable winter clothing will be provided for the personnel of the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service?

The men's greatcoats ordered by the London County Council have now practically all been despatched to them from contractors' works, together with about three-quarters of the women's greatcoats and serge uniforms. Contractors have stated that the balance will be available before the end of next week. Men's battledress was ordered at a later date, and was despatched by contractors yesterday.

asked the Home Secretary the extent to which a local authority, which has stored free furniture salvaged from property damaged by enemy action, will be obliged to pay compensation when such goods have been stolen or deteriorated, respectively?

A local authority must take reasonable care of salved furniture which it has taken into store. Failing such care it would be liable to the owner. In cases of dispute, a decision as to liability would rest with the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for Air in what manner bombs are disposed of that have been made safe by Royal Air Force bomb disposal squads; and whether the explosive made available is used again by the services or transferred for civilian use?

The bomb cases are disposed of as scrap for the production of munitions provided they are not required for research or instructional purposes. The explosive is normally destroyed, since it would be uneconomical to refine it again for Service use, even where it is of a type suitable for that purpose. The quantities that could suitably be made available for civilian use are small, but such use has proved possible in a few instances.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will publish the rates of pay in detail of the Royal Dockyard workers and the war bonus?

I do not feel that the compilation of a comprehensive return on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend would be justified at the present moment in view of the large amount of labour and time involved. But if my hon. Friend will inform me of any particular class of dockyard worker in which he is specially interested, I will furnish the required information.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, when investigations are made in connection with applications for War Service Grants, any income from supplementary pensions is included; and whether such supplementary pensions are taken into account when the assessment for a War Service Grant is made?

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether any additional quota is being given for the release of spare parts for public service vehicles, in view of the present inconvenience to the public?

As I informed the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) on 1st October, greatly increased allocations of raw materials for the production of spare parts to meet the requirements of essential civil transport have been made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply in how many instances it has been found necessary to change the management of factories engaged on war production, in order to secure more efficient production?

The mangement of one Royal Ordnance Factory has been placed in the hands of an agent company. The managements of two companies have been changed for production reasons after the acquisition of shares under the powers given to the Minister of Supply by the Defence Regulations. Managements have been strengthened in numerous other cases as a result either of the appointment of an authorised Controller, under the Defence Regulations, or of representations made by the Ministry of Supply without the exercise of compulsory powers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply what steps are taken to ensure that intensification of effort in the factories does not prejudice either aggregate output or the health of the workers; and whether he can make any statement on the subject especially in view of recent medical warnings?

My Noble Friend is well aware of the possible ill-effects on health and consequently on production of over-intensified effort in Ministry of Supply factories. To guard against this, the medical and welfare services of the Ministry are being continually strengthened.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can now state the number of newspapers published in India refused an export licence to Great Britain; and whether he will consider with the Government of India the removal of this ban on some or all these newspapers as a step to improve the situation throughout India?

The answer to the first part of the Question is, none. The second part therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will state the circumstances of the release of Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Azad and other political prisoners; whether any conditions were attached to their release; how many altogether have been released; whether these releases denote any alteration of policy respecting constitutional changes in India; and whether, particularly in view of the present international situation, any discussions are likely to take place between the Governor-General and Indian political leaders?

The Government of India have decided that those civil disobedience prisoners whose offences have been formal or symbolic, as well as Dr. Azad and Mr. Nehru, can now be released. I have no figures as to releases up to date, but it is hoped that practically all such persons will have been set free by the end of the year. No conditions are attached to the releases and no change is involved in the declared policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to future constitutional advance. As regards the last part of the Question, I have no doubt that the Governor-General will take any such steps as may be necessary to intensify the Indian war effort in the face of the grave developments in the Far East.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that no veterinary expert on animal diseases has been included in the Hill Sheep Farming Committee; and whether, as one of the principal matters with which the committee has to deal is that of health and disease in the sheep concerned, he can arrange to have this matter put right?

As I explained on the 2nd December in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Argyll (Major McCallum) this Committee is intended to be not a body of experts but a body which will take evidence from all interested parties, including no doubt the veterinary profession. One of its members is, however, a member of the Agricultural Research Council and Chairman of that Council's Sheep Diseases Committee.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Leslie Rowles, I, Birch Grove, Levenshulme, Manchester, number on discharge D/K X 122080, was discharged from the Navy in April suffering from shock from an enemy bomb, is now drawing Health Insurance sickness benefit and is treated as an epileptic, but is refused a pension; and whether he will reconsider the claim for a pension in this case in view of the details which have been sent to him?

I am making inquiries into this case and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary to what extent there has been an increase in juvenile delinquency since the war?

The number of persons under 17 years of age annually found guilty of offences in England and Wales has increased since the war by about 30 per cent.

asked the Home Secretary the number of aliens who entered the United Kingdom from the Continent of Europe, and who have not. since left, in each of the years between 1932 and 1940, inclusive; and how many of them were classified as refugees from Nazi oppression?

In the pre-war years the number of aliens coming into and going out of the United Kingdom on visits lasting a few days or a few weeks was very large and it is impracticable to sort out from these figures statistical information as to the numbers who having arrived in any particular year are still here. Each year, however, figures are compiled of the aliens registered with the police, and by a comparison of these annual figures information is obtainable as to increases and decreases in the alien population. Some aliens coming from small European states such as Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, Monaco, etc., are included for statistical purposes in a miscellaneous group which also contains aliens from non-European countries. Excluding this small number, the figures of registered aliens who are nationals of European states are as follow:—

1932	…	…	186,891
1933	…	…	146,022
1934	…	…	147,571
1935	…	…	145,700
1936	…	…	161,941
1937	…	…	168,655
1938	…	…	171,195
1939	…	…	211,053
1940	…	…	202,559
1941	…	…	231,001

In 1933 British-born women married to aliens were exempted from registration, and this change accounts for the substantial decrease in the figure for 1933. Since the outbreak of war these British-born women have been required to register, but not all of those married to aliens of non-enemy nationality had registered at the time when the figure for 1941 was compiled, and in comparing the figure for 1941 with the figure for 1932 allowance must be made for this factor.The number of Germans and Austrians who were at the beginning of the war classified by tribunals as refugees from Nazi oppression, was approximately 55,000. In addition there are Czech refugees, and war refugees including Belgians, Poles and Norwegians who have arrived here since May, 1940. There has also been an increase since the war in the number of foreign seamen who are registered in our ports.The fact that despite these recent additions the figure for 1941 exceeds the figure for 1932 by 44,110 only, is due mainly to the decreases (caused by deaths as well as departures from the country) in the number of aliens who were here in the earlier years.In addition to the aliens registered with the police there are the many aliens serving in the Armed Forces of our Allies and of this country who are not required to register.

asked the Prime Minister how many separate departments of the three Services are responsible for the policing and security of the Services?

In each of the Services one department is responsible for policing and one for security.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will name the firm which is the sole native source of supply of synthetic vitamin B 1 for the promised fortified white loaf; whether this firm is of foreign derivation and has at the present time any foreign connection?

The name of the firm which is at present the only manufacturer of synthetic vitamin B 1 on a commercial scale in the United Kingdom is Roche Products, Limited. In regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's Question I would refer him to the first part of my reply to his Question of 20th November, 1940, which was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 21st January, 1941, and to which I have nothing to add, except that, I understand, Roche Products, Limited, also have certain contacts with the American company, Hoffman La Roche, Inc.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will circulate to subsidised British Restaurants and school canteens the directions, formulated by the Medical Research Council and communicated to the Ministry, for the preservation of vitamins in cooking; and whether he will prohibit the addition of soda and the practice of prolonged cooking of green vegetables, inasmuch as both these procedures largely destroy their nutritive and protective value?

Instructions for cooking vegetables are contained in a booklet entitled "Canteen Catering" issued by the Ministry of Food and widely distributed to British Restaurants and canteens of all kinds. A further leaflet on the subject is being prepared; this will be distributed to all British Restaurants and cooking depots. In preparing this document full consideration is being given to the recommendations of the Medical Research Council and the points mentioned by my hon. Friend. I will consult my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education as to the circulation of a similar document to school canteens.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food to what proportion of the population the white loaf, fortified in accordance with the undertaking given in July, 1940, by the then Parliamentary Secretary, is now supplied; what proportion the consumption of the national wheat-meal loaf now bears to the total consumption of bread in this country; what has been the expenditure to date by the Ministry in advertising the national wheat-meal loaf; and whether the Ministry has now abandoned or diminished such advertising?

With regard to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, figures relating to the proportion of the population to whom the fortified white loaf is now supplied are not available, but approximately 25 per cent. of the white bread and flour consumed in the United Kingdom is now being fortified with Vitamin B1. In so far as the second part of the Question is concerned, it is estimated that 7 per cent. of the bread consumed is in the form of the national wheatmeal loaf. The expenditure to date on advertising national wheatmeal is £29,000. The advertising has included many thousands of posters and similar material which are at present displayed in all parts of the country. The use of national wheatmeal bread and flour forms an important subject in the Ministry's Food Advice Service to housewives. The answer to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question is in the negative. There is, however, a wide range of subjects to be covered in the space available for the Ministry's advertisements consequently there are periods during which there is space for no more than occasional mention of wheatmeal in advertisements primarily devoted to other subjects.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in order to enable Service personnel to visit their homes more frequently, he has considered the issue of railway tickets at a maximum fare of 10s., available for 48 hours' leave period?

I regret that I cannot agree to this proposal, especially at a time when it is necessary to reduce the volume of passenger travel.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, whether he is aware that at least one railway company has refused to allow relatives, using the cheap fare facilities to visit their evacuated children, to travel by the best available train; and whether this is in accord with the policy of his Ministry?

The cheap fares are available for travel on all trains except the Cornish Riviera Express. Pressure on that service to and from the West of England is very heavy, and I do not consider this restriction unreasonable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether, as persons with fixed investment incomes in trustee securities, such as pensioners, annuitants and beneficiaries, cannot adjust their incomes to any depreciation in the currency or any increase in Income Tax, whereas earned incomes, especially wages and smaller salaries, are still increasing, he will consider discontinuing, on equitable grounds, the higher rate on investment than on earned income:

My hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement, but I would remark that the distinction between unearned and earned income reflects, broadly speaking, the difference between the case of the taxpayer who has an income on which he can rely after he has ceased to be able to work and the taxpayer who, deriving his income from his labours, has to set aside part of that income to provide for his old age. I do not think that this distinction is invalidated by war conditions, but I would point out that the measure of earned income relief has been substantially reduced since the outbreak of war.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the recent borrowing of £50,000,000 from the banks; and what is the rate of interest to be paid?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the £50,000,000 borrowed from the banks on Treasury Deposit Receipts during the week ended 6th December, 1941. This amount, like many previous weekly amounts, was borrowed under the scheme which I announced in the House in my reply to the hon. Baronet the Senior Member for the City of London (Sir G. Broadbridge) on 4th July, 1940. Interest is at present payable on these borrowings at the rate of i£ per cent. per annum.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the condition of widows and orphans who are in receipt of contributory pensions, and whether he is prepared to consider in- cluding them in those categories which are entitled to supplementary pensions; and whether he has any statement to make thereon?

The Old Age and Widows Pensions Act, 1940, provides that in order to be eligible for a supplementary pension a widow pensioner must have attained the age of 60, this being also the minimum age at which a woman car receive an old age pension. The range within which supplementary pensions should be payable was. carefully considered when this legislation was before Parliament and it is not proposed to introduce further legislation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any recent information as to whether the German Government have announced the number of day nurseries there are in Germany for women working in industry?

A careful scrutiny of all the available German medical papers has not disclosed any information. I am, however, making inquiries from other sources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the composition of the new official chick-feed ration?

Special chick-feed coupons issued to poultry keepers in the first half of 1942 will be valid for any feeding stuff for which the ordinary cereal coupon is valid. Supplies of cut maize and maize grits are being reserved for issue against chick-feed coupons but not more than one-half of the amount may be taken in that form. Poultry breeders will receive coupons valid for high protein food as part of their special ration. Commercial egg producers will receive only chick-food coupons, but the proportion of protein and cereal in the basic ration for poultry keepers is being increased from one-tenth to one-eighth.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the approximate total number of officers and men engaged in recruiting offices throughout the country; and whether, in view of the change-over to compulsory service, there is any further need for their continuance?

The staff employed by the War Office in recruiting centres amounts to less than 700, of whom 163 are recruiting officers. As regards the second part of the Question, voluntary enlistment for certain corps and certain classes of tradesmen and specialists has been permitted since the introduction of compulsory service in 1939, and the provisions of the Bill at present being discussed by the House do not affect these arrangements. The duties of recruiting officers also include the interviewing of men called up under the National Service Acts. The numbers employed will be kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for War, after the months that have passed since the inquiry was held into the damage done to premises and property of Mrs. Bennett, of Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, what disciplinary action is to be taken; and whether the officers responsible for this damage will be required to pay therefor, or whether the damages agreed by the War Department valuer will have to be met out of taxation?

As my hon. Friend is aware, a court of inquiry was held in this complicated case, and the question of disciplinary. action has been very carefully examined in the light of its findings. I am advised that the legal situation is such as to preclude the possibility of compulsory stoppages from the pay of the officers concerned under Section 137 (4) of the Army Act.