asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now make any statement about the intention of the Government regarding further measures for the rehabilitation, training and employment of all categories of disabled persons?

The interim war-time scheme which I announced on 23rd October, 1941, is progressing satisfactorily, and the Government have now decided in principle on two further developments. First, as an immediate war-time measure, they propose to provide for the rehabilitation and training for employment of disabled persons who are not provided for by the interim scheme. Second, they have decided to prepare as soon as possible comprehensive measures for the rehabilitation, training and resettlement of disabled persons generally, for intro- duction as soon as possible after the end of the war. Both these schemes will make provisions for disabled persons of all categories, irrespective of the cause of their disability. The Minister without Portfolio and I are now engaged in consultation with the other Ministers concerned, in an active investigation into the best means of carrying these decisions into effect.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take all possible steps to ensure that employees of Lithgow's shipyards are paid on a Friday evening instead of on a Saturday, thus bringing their employees into line with those of all other shipyards on the Clyde, removing a cause of discontent, and securing a more equitable distribution of food in the Greenock and Port Glasgow areas?

This question is one for joint consideration in accordance with the recognised procedure for dealing with questions affecting conditions in the shipbuilding industry. I understand that the trade union representatives of the employees concerned have the matter in hand.

Is the Minister not aware that these negotiations, under the recognised procedure, have been proceeding for three months, and does he not think some further steps necessary?

I am sure that the trade union executives and the firms are, in fact, meeting on this matter. Whether it was taken up with the executives in the first instance, I cannot say.

asked the Minister of Labour whether since a woman, whose name has been privately supplied to him, who was wrongfully dismissed and subsequently reinstated under the Essential Work Order has now had to institute a civil action to recover lost wages, he will now seek to amend the Order so that in such circumstances arrears of wages will be automatically repaid?

Yes, Sir. After discussion with the Joint Consultative Committee of the British Employers' Confederation and the Trades Union Congress General Council, I have decided to amend the Order to provide that in such cases the worker will be entitled, subject to the usual conditions, to the guaranteed wage for the period between dismissal and re-instatement.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, to allay general criticism and to provide for impartial decisions, he will now consider appointing independent chairmen, instead of Ministry of Labour officials, to the district man-power boards, especially in Scotland?

No, Sir. I am not aware that there is any general criticism as suggested by my hon. Friend, and I have no reason to suppose that, because they are under the chairmanship of persons who are on the staff of my Department, the decisions of the district man-power boards will be anything but impartial.

Does not the Minister agree that his Ministry and the other Service Departments are already represented on these committees, and that he might usefully employ non-Civil Service people with administrative experience in this capacity?

The other Service Departments are not represented on the Boards. They only come and state their case, as the Production Ministers do. It is the recruitment department of my Ministry that is involved.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the discontent among women volunteers because they are sent to places distant from their homes, despite promises of being placed as near home as possible; and whether, in the case of those posted to far-off camps, he will favourably consider applications for a transfer to places nearer their homes?

I am not aware of any general discontent on this ground among women volunteers. Any question of the transfer of a member of the Forces rests with the Service Minister concerned, and not with me.

Is the Minister aware that I have received letters from all over the country concerning girls who have been sent far from their homes, and who feel that to be a very real grievance?

Is the Minister not aware that there is great discontent about Scottish girls being sent to England?

Is the Minister aware that there is considerable complaint about girls being sent from some parts of England or Wales?

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that there is a difference between volunteers in the Auxiliary Services, to whom his answer refers, and to volunteers for munitions work? I have had many complaints about volunteers for munitions work being sent so far away. Why does the reply deal only with volunteers in the Auxiliary Services?

Because that is the subject about which I was asked. All the other supplementary questions deal with another subject. If particulars are sent to me about undue hardship, I will look into them; but I must make this perfectly clear—I must get mobile women to send away to meet the requirements of the war industries.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain firms have notified women employed on their staffs that if they volunteer for the Auxiliary Forces and leave their employment before they are called up they will lose their rights of reinstatement after the war, and will be further penalised inasmuch as their Service pay will not be made up to their civilian pay; and whether he will make a statement on the matter?

If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any case he has in mind, I shall be glad to have an investigation made into the facts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the serious position in a certain area from large industrial plants being in danger of having to close down from a lack of moulding sand, an essential material in the production of munitions, because the quarries that supply it are unable to secure the necessary labour, one of them being reduced to a single labourer; and will he take immediate steps to remedy this state of affairs?

No, Sir. I will have inquiries made, if my hon. Friend will be good enough to give me fuller particulars.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the case of part-time voluntary workers in the recognised youth organisations who are reserved at the age of 25, or over, by reason of their occupation, he will take steps to secure their retention in civil life conditionally on remaining in their occupation and continuing their part-time service?

The importance of this form of part-time work is recognised, but the circumstances of different cases vary so much that I cannot lay down any general rule. I can undertake, however, that part-time service for a substantial part of each week by voluntary workers in recognised youth organisations will be taken into account if the facts are made known to the district man-power boards when applications for deferment of the calling-up of such persons are under consideration.

While I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, would he consider the possibility of applying to the heads of recognised youth organisations the right to make representations in the same way as the industrial employer of the man already has under the National Service Act?

I will give consideration to that matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give to employers whose domestic servants or other employees have been directed to transfer to civilian war work under the registration scheme the same right of appeal to a board for deferment of the Order as is already provided for employers whose employees are called up under the National Service Acts?

The procedure under the Registration for Employment Order was put into operation after consultation with the British Employers' Confederation and the T.U.C., and is now well established. It is not possible for the procedure under the National Service Acts, which is primarily a matter of calling-up for the Women's Auxiliary Services, to be exactly the same as that under the Registration for Employment Order, which is a matter of industrial transfer, but I am considering the possibility in due course of assimilating more closely the procedure for dealing with representations by employers under the latter Order with the deferment procedure under the National Service Acts.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the real grievance felt by these employers is that they have no appeal from the individual Ministry or Employment Exchange official, that the practice of the Employment Exchange staffs varies a great deal in different parts of the country and that what they really want is some impartial tribunal by whom their case can be considered?

I want to make this point quite definite. I cannot be a party to introducing tribunals. You cannot run a war on tribunals. Decision has to be taken as to the transference of people to meet the requirements of industry from time to time, which are constantly varying, and if I introduced a whole host of tribunals, it would mean that I would clog the whole war-time effort.

May I withdraw the word "tribunal" and explain that what I meant was the establishment of a board or body composed of volunteers and officials to give impartial consideration to this matter?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is, aware of the public concern at the loss of coal production caused by strikes in the East Kent coalfield; and whether, in the national interest, he has made, or proposes to make, the powers conferred upon him by the Essential Work Order applicable to the coal-mining industry?

Undertakings in the coal-mining industry are, with few exceptions, scheduled under the Essential Work Order applicable to that industry. I ought to point out, however, that the provisions with regard to the illegality of strikes and lock-outs are contained in the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Order, which is of general application, and not in the Essential Work Orders.

Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that in the case of these unfortunate strikes it is his policy to take action himself and not to throw that responsibility on the employers?

I have not thrown anything on the employers, and I would suggest that employers should not try to anticipate my action.

Can the Minister say whether these men are members of the Miners' Federation and whether the executive of that Federation has made any effort to get a settlement?

I cannot enter into the merits or demerits of a dispute which is now sub judice.

Should not the Minister put some employers in gaol as an example?

asked the Minister of Labour what steps are taken to see that young people, on first entering employment, take posts of usefulness to the country at the present time and offering prospects of permanent employment to them?

Advice to young people leaving school as to choice of employment continues to be given by local education authorities and juvenile advisory committees, and I am glad to have the opportunity of acknowledging the care with which this important service is being maintained under war-time conditions. The general policy followed is that subject to the overriding consideration of the suitability of the work for the young person concerned priority in the filling of vacancies is given to work of immediate national importance. The prospects offered by the available openings are naturally given full consideration in all this advisory work.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many juvenile advisory committees are now in existence or have been re-set up, and will he ask them to keep an eye upon the hours of work of young people?

I will go into that matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that some clients are finding it difficult to receive attention from solicitors owing to their staffs having been denuded for the forces; and whether he can take any action in the matter?

I am not aware of any serious difficulty of this kind. I would point out that in dealing with applications for deferment of solicitors and solicitors' clerks my Department is advised by the Law Society and the Lord Chancellor's Department for England and Wales and by the General Council of Solicitors and the Lord Advocate's Department for Scotland.

Will the Minister look into a case if I submit it to him later?

I cannot undertake to do that. If a body of this character has machinery within its own profession for dealing with the matter, I do not think that I ought to go outside that machinery in individual cases.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present rate of recruitment of Scottish women workers for employment in England and Wales; and will he give special consideration to the continuance of women in essential employment in Scotland instead of moving them far from home?

In the second half of the year 1941 about 2,400 women were transferred by Employment Exchanges from Scotland to England. Such transfers are not made without full regard to current labour demands in Scotland, and I lose no opportunity of urging the Supply Departments to place new contracts and new industrial capacity, wherever possible, in those areas where the shortage of labour is least acute and, in particular, in Scotland.

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware of the perturbation that exists concerning 400 women, as he shows in his Answer, being drafted from Scotland every month, and may I ask him to continue this good work and try to do better than his Answer actually implies?

Does the Minister realise that this is happening every week even to girls who can get a job locally of national importance, that they are told by the Ministry that they must go to some place in England?

Yes, Sir, it is happening in Wales, it is happening everywhere, it is happening in England. There is no exceptional treatment for Scotland. The war production demands that I shall fill certain factories. I announced to this House quite clearly that I proposed to fill those factories with mobile women, and to use immobile women, who ought not to be moved, in the localities near their homes, and the House approved that policy. I have not made any exceptional treatment for Scotland or any other part of the country.

Is the Minister moving London girls to Glasgow and Glasgow girls to Wales, or what is the game?

No, Sir.

Is not the objection of Scots to coming down South very unusual?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the desire of women employed on timber production to have their status as workers in the national interest more clearly defined and demonstrated by the provision of a uniform, such as that of the Women's Land Army; and will he consult representative women in this service with a view of meeting their wishes in such matters?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 20th January by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply to the hon. Member for Islington, East (Miss Cazalet), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the national importance of the coalmining industry, both during and after the war, and in view of the rapid fall in the numbers employed in the industry, especially boys, before and during the war, he has considered better means of maintaining an adequate labour force in the industry?

Yes, Sir. I have given this question considerable thought and in asso- ciation with my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines I have brought the problem to the notice of the two sides of the industry and made certain suggestions for their consideration. Both sides of the industry have agreed to co-operate with the Government in an urgent examination of the problems involved and I am now awaiting their report.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolution of the Radio Engineers, No. 3 Branch, of the Electrical Trades Union, sent to him by the hon. Member for West Fife, regarding his ban on popular speakers addressing the meetings in factories under his control; and whether, in view of the value of such meetings, he is prepared to withdraw the order?

It is the definite policy of the Government that no political meetings of any kind shall be held in factories or other establishments directly under Government control. The House will, I think, appreciate the necessity for having such a rule and for applying it strictly in all cases.

What is it of which the Minister or the Government are afraid? Are they afraid that the workers are becoming too intelligent?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many experienced industrialists believe that there is a great need for a regional controller of production with industrial experience, and having full authority over production in each region; whether the Government have given consideration to this matter; and with what result?

I am not aware that this suggestion has any widespread or authoritative support. It would not be practicable to give the suggested full authority over production to regional controllers in view of the responsibility of Ministers for the production programme as a whole.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable industrial backing for this proposal and that the general opinion held is that the War Production Committee cannot deal with bottlenecks and hold-ups generally? If you had a man of industrial experience with authority in the region, he would be able to deal with them direct and be in touch with the Advisory Committee in the region. May I ask, therefore, whether this is the Government's last word on this subject, because I can assure him that it has considerable backing?

I have not been long a member of the Government, but I have discovered that they never have a last word. I will call attention to the point made by my hon. Friend. The present arrangement of production is such that every Department has its regional representative directly under the Minister in the region, and the policy has been not to hand over those powers to a person acting for the whole Department.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is divided authority in the regions, that there are Area Supply Boards and Boards under the direct control of the Ministry of Supply? Is it wise to have that divided authority?

I would like notice of that Question.

Do not my right hon. Friend's answers really make out a case for a Minister of Production?

asked the Minister of Labour whether the hardship tribunals, in considering appeals for postponement of service, are empowered to take into consideration the number of members of the applicant's family already serving in the Forces; and whether he will consider issuing instructions to them in the matter in order that the burden of sacrifice shall be equalised, as far as is possible between families?

The circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers would be factors that could be taken into account by military service (hardship) committees and the umpire, in considering applications for postponement certificates. It would be improper for me to issue instructions to these independent statutory authorities, whose duty is to consider applications in the light of the National Service (Postponement Certificates) Regulations, 1939–1941.

Will it, then, be in order for this to be urged as a ground of hardship, and for the local tribunals to deem that it is a hardship?

I am not trying to define hardship. It is perfectly proper for anyone to urge any form of hardship before the tribunals.

asked the Minister of Labour the defects in the administrative machinery as instanced by the case of Mr. Simon Sarch, whereby this man of military age who, in May, 1941, failed to comply to a summons to attend for medical examination, was able in December, 1941, to be living-in a country district, drawing evacuee billeting allowance upon a London County Council certificate for his family, having licensed a motor-car and obtained petrol coupons for it and having a ration card; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy these defects?

The summons to this man to attend medical examination was returned marked "Gone away," and I regret that there was a failure for a considerable time to carry out the instructions applicable to such cases. The proper machinery was put in motion early in December, and resulted in the man being traced.

Is not this really the case of a deserter, and does it not show an extraordinary situation, when three Government Departments were dealing with him? What steps are being taken to rectify such defective machinery?

I have expressed regret for the failure, so far as my Department was concerned, in tracing the man. Even the most perfect machine will not always work right. I am causing inquiries to be made into what took place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of the 14 men convicted at Thames Police Court, on 8th November, unidentified in the registration, has the identity of status now been established and with what result; and whether he is satisfied that the autho- rities have, and are using, adequate powers to sift thoroughly the alien and sub-alien population?

I have now obtained particulars about each of the 45 men who were reported to be of military age. Nine of them were aliens and therefore not liable for registration under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, and the liability of another on grounds of nationality is still being investigated. The 35 British subjects include one who was found on further investigation to be above military age; 14 who were in low medical categories; seven who were in reserved occupations; two who were deferred on account of their individual occupations, and one postponed on grounds of hardship.

What exactly is meant by "sub-alien"?

I am not quite sure. I have an idea, but I had better not risk it.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps he has taken to alleviate excessive overcrowding in secondary schools, due to the reception of children from evacuated areas?

My hon. Friend will realise that a certain amount of overcrowding is inevitable when an evacuated secondary school shares accommodation with a school in a reception area, but steps have been taken, wherever necessary, to provide relief by hiring halls or supplying huts. After making full inquiries, I am not aware of any case in which the overcrowding is such as to endanger either the efficient education or the health of the children concerned. If, however, my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and will bring it to my notice, I will investigate the circumstances.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that before Christmas I drew his attention to a case at Cheltenham in which there is excessive overcrowding and danger to public health, and that within a mile of this school there are two public schools which, between them, have vacancies for 400 pupils?

Yes, Sir, I investigated that matter, and while there is a certain amount of overcrowding at Cheltenham Grammar School because of the addition of 30 pupils from Bristol, to relieve this pressure two junior forms removed to a house near by.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these 30 pupils are a great addition to the previous pupils and that the school now has 500 boys with sanitary accommodation for only some 300?

I am aware that these 30 pupils are extra. That is why I mentioned it. If my hon. Friend has any further suggestions to make to relieve the pressure on the accommodation, I will certainly consider them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to print in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of secondary schools overcrowded, so that Members can find out where they are?

If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I will look into it.

I have not.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the new national recognition of agriculture as a vital industry, he will take steps to enable teachers and scholars in primary and secondary schools in rural areas to acquire a rural mentality; to become better acquainted with the methods of local representative government by refresher courses and by visits to rural district council and parish council meetings and by other means; and to become better acquainted also with the processes of agriculture by visits to agricultural institutes and farms?

I am glad to say that it is the policy of my Department to encourage among teachers and pupils an understanding of agriculture and all it means to the nation. Evacuation alone has brought a realisation of the country way of life to thousands of children. Facilities such as the hon. Member advocates are, to a greater or lesser degree, available, according to local circumstances and war conditions, and I have constantly in mind the needs for broadening and improving these.

Is it sufficient for the Ministry to say that they are available? Can my right hon. Friend take steps to see that they are made use of by teachers and pupils in rural primary and secondary schools?

Would my right hon. Friend consider setting up hostels to try and retain some of the children, evacuated from the towns, in the countryside?

In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Sir P. Hurd), these facilities are available, and we do what we can to encourage them. I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to see whether we can improve this type of appreciation of things agricultural, and we shall certainly bear in mind what has been said. With regard to the Supplementary Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Lindsay) on the subject of hostels, I have that matter also in mind.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the point as to whether any steps are being taken to instruct youths in local government. Now that the country is divided into regions, this is particularly important.

I should hesitate myself to intervene in the question of whether children should attend actual meetings of rural district councils, but I think it is very important that children should understand how the countryside is governed. Therefore, if I see any opportunity of encouraging local initiative on this matter, I shall certainly do so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that what we want to try and do is to remove some of the old rural mentality, and will he also keep in mind that agricultural workers say that they are a little dissatisfied because they are not kept more in touch with these matters?

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the salaries of hospital and district nurses have been raised, respectively, in Government, municipal and unofficial employment, as recommended by the Athlone Committee?

I have, in accordance with the recommendation of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Nursing Services, set up a committee representing employers and nurses to draw up agreed scales of salaries and emoluments for nurses employed in hospitals and the public health services. I understand that many employers of nurses have increased the salaries of their nursing staffs in recent years and others are doing so, pending the report of the Nurses' Salaries' Committee, but full and detailed information is not available.

When are we likely to get that report? Will action be taken at once to bring it to the notice of the different parties concerned?

My hon. Friend knows that Lord Rushcliffe is presiding over the committee which is sitting now. I cannot anticipate its report. Lord Rushcliffe knows all the interests concerned because they are represented on the committee.

Would my right hon. Friend ask the committee to provide an interim report before the final report, so that action may be taken on that?

I hope there will be no need for an interim report. I hope for clear-cut agreement and decisions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to state what steps have been initiated to prevent workers coming from Ireland in a verminous state, with scabies, venereal disease, tuberculosis, or other contagious infection which may be injurious to the health of the people of this country?

As my hon. Friend is aware, there is no regular system of medical examination in Eire or Northern Ireland of workers engaged by employers for work in this country, and it is not practicable, therefore, wholly to prevent transference of particular individuals whose state of health makes it undesirable. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service and I are fully alive to the need of safeguarding the public health in this country, and arrangements have been made for medical examination of the workers concerned as soon as they arrive at the site which my hon. Friend doubtless has in mind.

While I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, does he realise that there is very real anxiety throughout the country about the present state of affairs, and can he take action to see that there is a medical examination before they get to the site?

My hon. Friend will understand that there is a difficulty because the machinery and powers of the port health authorities are primarily concerned with infectious diseases liable to cause epidemics, but we are sympathetic about the matter and think that action on the site is the best method.

Will my right hon. Friend send an inspector to see the serious conditions brought about by this method?

I think we have done that.

asked the Minister of Health whether there are any arrangements under the Emergency Hospital Scheme whereby seriously injured persons, after leaving hospital, can obtain further specialist treatment or supervision which they require?

Apart from the general provision for enabling air-raid casualties and Civil Defence workers injured on duty to obtain all necessary further medical treatment either at an out-patients' department or from a general practitioner, special arrangements have recently been made for following up certain types of injury amongst these patients as well as ex-Service patients where the process of recovery is usually prolonged and needs to be supervised. I am advised that the cases where this procedure is particularly desirable are those treated in special centres which involve peripheral nerve injury, head injury or chest injury, as well as plastic and jaw cases and certain types of orthopaedic cases. The follow-up will be carried out by asking the patients to come up from time to time for re-examination, and, if necessary, further treatment, either at the original centre or at one more convenient for his place of residence, and by keeping careful records of his progress in a standard form as advised by the appropriate consultant adviser. I am issuing a circular to hospital authorities on this matter and will send my hon. Friend a copy. The special organisation already set up for dealing with fracture and orthopaedic cases was described in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich (Mr. H. Strauss) on 8th January.

asked the Secretary of State for India why the special railway siding at Quetta was constructed recently; whether he is satisfied that this was necessary in view of present conditions; and whether any action is being taken to curtail expenditure on social and Government functions in India with a view to an example being given respecting private expenditure?

I am informed that no special railway siding has been constructed at Quetta recently. Instructions have been issued by the Government of India enjoining strict economy in all non-defence expenditure. These instructions apply to social and ceremonial expenditure.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that there is an impression in certain quarters that expenditure on social and Government functions in India goes on much the same now as before the war, and will he consider the evidence concerning the railway siding at Quetta?

There are wrong impressions in many quarters. I should be prepared to receive any information with regard to the siding at Quetta.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any steps have yet been taken to develop the manufacture of motor-cars in India; and, if not, whether something will be done in the matter, in view of the importance of India in the war potential of the Allies?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon) on 18th December last.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any representations have been made from interests in the United States against the construction of motorcar factories in India?

No, Sir. I am not aware of it.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any further statement to make respecting the political situation in India?

I have nothing to add to what I said in reply to the hon. Member, to the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner) and to the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. Graham White) on 8th January.

In view of the ever-present urgency of the position, will my right hon. Friend say when he is likely to be able to make a considered statement on the policy of the Government regarding India?

The question of arranging a date is not in my hands.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of accidents, fatal and otherwise, notified to his Department in connection with the Ministry's Schoolboy Farming Scheme?

Six accidents involving schoolboys were notified to my Department during 1940 and 1941. Two of them were fatal, but in both cases the accident occurred when the boys were playing and did not arise directly out of their employment on farm work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether he is aware that a 14-year old Warwick boarder pupil, working under the Ministry's scheme, was injured through no fault of his own, resulting in a lost eye, and that he has not received compensation; and will he remedy this with a view to encouraging parents and boys to co-operate with the scheme in the future;

(2) whether he is aware that the courts have recently held there was no necessity for schools to make arrangements for supervision of any description when sending out parties of boys under the Schoolboy Farming Scheme; that the parents' permission regarding the scheme is not necessary; and, as such conditions are not conducive to the future success of the scheme, will he take steps to get these conditions altered?

I am aware of, and much regret, the unfortunate case to which my hon. Friend refers. In addition to such provision as is made for compensation under the common law or by statute, my Department has arranged with the Accident Offices Association for a special insurance policy which can be taken out on behalf of the boys by schools and which provides further cover against accidents. On the question of supervision, I cannot, of course, comment on the court's interpretation of the law as applied to this particular case. My Department has always emphasised and will continue to emphasise the need for proper supervision on the part of both schools and farmers. It will also continue to advise schools to arrange that all boys should be insured under the special policy. The whole question of the insurance and supervision of boys engaged in agricultural work will no doubt be considered further by the committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Robert Ryde which I have recently appointed to advise me on matters affecting public and secondary schoolboys helping in agriculture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what measures are being taken to bring into food production the private gardens in many areas which are now left derelict or semi-derelict and with which the local executives have no power to deal except under the Injurious Weeds Order?

I would invite the attention of my hon. Friend to the answer given on 19th June last to the Question which was put to me on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ayr Burghs (Sir T. Moore).

Is the Minister satisfied that what is necessary is being done?

We are making progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken following upon the mission to the United States of America of Mr. L. F. Easter-brook, of the British Ministry of Agriculture; and whether British Empire and American agricultural producers will now meet to assess the productive capacities of each country and to dovetail surpluses and deficiencies with a view to feeding the hungry peoples of the world immediately after the war and ensuring a reasonably profitable basis for agriculture in future years?

The objects of Mr. Easter-brook's recent tour were to explain to farmers in the United States the part which farmers here are playing in the war effort and to promote between agriculturists in the two countries a mutual understanding of their respective problems. In furtherance of these objects, arrangements have now been made to establish an Anglo-American Agricultural News Service. The second part of the Question raises wide issues with which it is not possible to deal within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary Question.

When shall we have an opportunity to deal with them?

Has the Minister seen the very important speech made on this matter by Mr. Henry Morgenthau and other members of President Roosevelt's Administration, and will the Government give very sympathetic consideration to Sir John Orr's proposal that an adequate diet for maximum health should be taken as the basis of economic reconstruction?

That is one of the factors which, no doubt, will be taken into account, but I can speak only as Minister of Agriculture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is by his direction or with his approval that county war agricultural executive committees serve orders on farmers requiring them to apply certain quantities of artificial fertilisers without the alternative of using equivalent quantities of organic manures?

I have given no specific instructions to county war agricultural executive committees on the matter to which the hon. Member refers. Those committees have full discretion in regard to the issue of directions to farmers on all matters relating to the proper cultivation of their land, but committees are always prepared to consider representations by any farmer that the directions served on him should be modified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will empower county war agricultural executive committees to order the disposal of useless horses?

If my hon. Friend will let me know what useless horses he has in mind, I will consider whether any fresh powers are needed to deal with them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the difficulties and delays in the threshing of corn, which may result in some farmers being unable to get their wheat threshed till the spring, he will take steps to secure that there be no reduction in price of wheat at the end of the winter as at present contemplated?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a Question on the same subject put by the hon. and gallant Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) on 20th January.

Does the Minister realise the difficulty in selling wheat to-day, and will he look into the whole position and see what is millable and what is not millable and why millers will not offer millable wheat and pay a proper price for it? The whole position is very wrong and unsatisfactory.

Perhaps the hon. Member will provide me with a particular case.

I will give my right hon. Friend many hundreds.

Is the Minister aware that in many districts there is insufficient threshing tackle to deal with the wheat which ought to be threshed well before the spring?

There may be an odd case here or there, but, generally speaking, I think there is sufficient threshing tackle. Growers of wheat are being given priority in the use of threshing tackle.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state his policy in connection with the planting of more fruit trees with a view to allowing ships to be used to carry other things?

Newly planted fruit trees take several years to develop crops of any size, Because of this and the need for using land to produce essential food within the next few years, the Ministry made an Order (The Horticultural (Cropping) Amendment and Consolidation Order, 1940, dated 20th November, 1940) which prohibited the future planting of fruit trees except with the written consent of the war agricultural executive committee.

asked the Home Secretary approximately how many Japanese have been naturalised in this country in the last four or five years; and what steps are being taken to make sure of their loyalty?

Forty five certificates were granted in the five years ending 31st December, 1941. All persons of hostile origin and association are carefully watched.

Do Japanese subjects on accepting British nationality definitely renounce for ever their original allegiance?

The usual conditions apply.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the police have full powers to deal with infringements of the black-out in any building whether partially or fully occupied by any of the Services?

Lights displayed by a member of His Majesty's Forces in the course of his duty as such are excluded from the provisions of the Lighting (Restrictions) Order, 1940, and are therefore not an offence under that Order. Lights displayed not in the course of duty come within the scope of the general law and the police have full powers, but in premises such as barracks or other buildings wholly in service occupation, infringements are dealt with as breaches of Naval, Military or Air Force law. In such cases the police report to the officer commanding.

asked the Home Secretary why auxiliary firemen injured by enemy action are not entitled to draw full pay throughout their period in hospital until they return to full duty or until discharged as unfit for further duty?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider extending the period for the payment of sickness benefit to ill or injured members of the Auxiliary Fire Service from 13 to 26 weeks, in view of the cases of hardship resulting from the present limitation, and the fact that an extension would allow time for a decision to be made as to the likelihood of recovery and the continuance of employment in the service?

Former members of the Auxiliary Fire Service who are now whole-time paid members of the National Fire Service, in common with whole-time members of the local authority Civil Defence General Services, receive in addition to injury allowances payable under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme, payments which in the case of War Service, Injury, give the member the equivalent of full pay up to a period of 13 weeks. During absence due to incapacity for other reasons, full pay may be continued up to a maximum of 13 weeks in any period of 52 weeks. There must be some limit to the period during which a person absent from duty may be retained on full pay. Certain aspects of the arrangement are, however, now under examination.

While I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, does he think it fair that a man injured by enemy action, even after a period of time, should not be entitled to carry on drawing full pay in the same way as soldiers, sailors and airmen who have their full pay when they are injured by enemy action?

I appreciate the point, but the conditions of administration and organisation are very dissimilar as between the Army and Civil Defence. As I have indicated, certain aspects are under consideration, and I will keep my hon. Friend's argument in mind.

asked the Home Secretary why certain air-raid precautions workers belonging to the City of Westminster air-raid precautions service, who showed their efficiency as incident officers under severe conditions during heavy raids last year, are now to be replaced in these positions by men of far less experience; and whether this down-grading is the result of failure to pass a theoretical examination?

Further training has been given in Westminster with a view to wardens qualifying for the incident officer's badge approved by the Regional Commissioners and certain wardens have been given their badges. The badges have been awarded only to those wardens who showed the necessary qualities of leadership, initiative and knowledge of the incident officer's duties. No one who displayed these qualities either during the training or during last year's air raids has been refused a badge. I understand no theoretical examination was held.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is grave dissatisfaction among Westminster wardens on the point and that his answer will not satisfy them? There is a number of wardens who showed great initiative and courage in the blitz last year who failed to pass this examination. Will the right hon. Gentleman see that "old school tie" methods are abandoned in the A.R.P. Service?

I shall be much obliged if the hon. Member will supply me with concrete evidence of his allegations, and I shall be glad to look into them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that none of these workers was refused a badge?

I cannot be expected to know the basis of the award of badges to the whole Civil Defence personnel by local authorities, but I will look into any concrete evidence.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the case of serious illness or death in the families of persons from Northern Ireland residing and working in their respective callings in Great Britain, he will give instructions to passport officials, on presentation of a recall telegram, to have travel permits granted at once?