asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with a view to the abolition of native slum location throughout the Colonial Empire, he has drawn the attention of all Colonial Governments in Africa to the details of the progressive steps taken by the Port Elizabeth municipality in re-housing their African population; and, if not, whether he will consider arranging with the High Commissioner for South Africa for the sending of an observer there, to make a full report for subsequent circulation to the African Colonial Governments?

I am glad to be able to say that active measures for the improvement of housing conditions are being taken in a number of the African dependencies and are under consideration in others. In this connection my Noble Friend will certainly consider the desirability of informing Colonial Governments in Africa of the importance of the housing experiments now in progress at Port Elizabeth and elsewhere in the Union of South Africa.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether all Colonial Governments in Africa have received instructions to apply to the Colonial Government Fund for loans to assist in the proper housing, with reasonable amenities, of their native employees, and thereby setting an example to private firms and authorities?

Colonial Governments in Africa have received no specific instructions to apply for assistance from the Colonial Development and Welfare Vote for improving the housing of their native employees, but the general instructions given to Colonial Governments clearly cover the submission of such schemes. I need hardly say that any such applications in respect of schemes that could be carried out in present circumstances would be sympathetically considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total sum of loans and grants made under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1940, up to the 31st December 1941; when he proposes to publish details of the loans and grants so made, and the purposes for which they have been intended?

Grants and loans amounting to a total of £827,357, were approved under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1940, up to 31st December, 1941. In addition a further scheme was approved for which provision will be made annually as required, but in respect of which it is not yet possible to estimate the total amount involved. Particulars of the grants and loans made and the purposes for which they have been approved will be given in a statement which will be laid before Parliament after the close of the financial year in accordance with Section 1 (4) of the Act.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Hailey Report on Native Policy in the Rhodesias will be published?

The question of the publication of Lord Halley's Report is still under consideration, and my Noble Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that no adequate provision is made to meet the increased cost of living to members of the Civil Services in Trinidad; and whether he will recommend that war bonuses should now be granted to these applicants?

A war bonus has been given to the lower paid members of the Trinidad Civil Service since January, 1941. The rates of this bonus have recently been increased.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any scheme of public works is in contemplation or preparation for St. Lucia, in order to provide employment locally when the work at present in progress on the American bases comes to an end; and, if not, whether such a public work plan will be prepared without delay?

No such scheme is in contemplation; but plans for development and welfare, including re-housing and land settlement, are occupying the attention of the Comptroller and will no doubt form the subject of applications in due course for assistance under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in the recruiting campaign organised by the Jewish Agency in Palestine some weeks ago, Jewish newspapers were not allowed to print any account of the various recruiting meetings and demonstrations; why in leaflets appealing for recruits any appeal to Jewish national feeling had to be omitted; why newly enlisted Jewish recruits not yet in uniform but assisting in the campaign were forbidden to wear the blue-white armlets; and whether he will institute a different policy as such acts are not calculated to inspire respect for British administration by people gravely menaced by the war?

It is not the case that a censorship ban was imposed on the publication by Jewish papers of descriptions of parades, meetings and rallies held last autumn to stimulate Jewish recruitment, and in fact all these papers devoted much space to such accounts. The leaflets prepared by the Jewish Agency for the campaign were approved by the military authorities and issued without material alteration. As regards the third part of the Question, the armlets proposed by the Jewish Agency for attested recruits were white with blue lettering. The Agency agreed to a request that a narrow red strip should be added to make it clear through the combination of colours that the recruits were joining the British Army, and such armlets were in fact worn. In view of these facts, the fourth part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food how many divisional food officers and assistant divisional food officers there are; and how many of these are women?

There are 19 divisional food officers who are all men and 249 assistant divisional food officers of whom 18 are women.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food how many British Restaurants are in existence at the present time?

There are in existence 1,252 British Restaurants.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether promotion to the rank of lieutenant-commander, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, in the Fleet Air Arm, is by seniority, as in the case of Royal Navy officers?

Temporary and permanent officers of the Air Branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and Executive Branch officers who specialise in Air Branch duties may, regardless of seniority, be granted the acting rank of lieutenant-commander if they are chosen for appointments which require the higher rank. While holding the acting higher rank they receive the pay of that rank. In addition, those officers who are on the permanent list of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve may obtain promotion to lieutenant-commander by seniority.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether lieutenants, Royal Navy, who have sufficient flying experience are eligible for command of squadrons or the Fleet Air Arm?

Lieutenants R.N. with sufficient flying experience and possessing other qualities essential for command are eligible for command of Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. Several squadrons have been, and are still being, commanded by lieutenants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that when the farm labourers' wages were 36s. a week in parts of Yorkshire, 3s. a week which was a non-economic rent was deducted for the house in which they lived, on the ground that they could not afford more; and whether, now that 60s. a week is being paid, farmers are entitled to demand an increase of such rent to at least 6s. a week, especially in the case where there are three bedrooms with a bathroom?

The determination of the values at which cottages held by farm workers from their employers may be reckoned in part-payment of minimum rates of wages is a matter for the agricultural wages committees. The majority of these committees have now made provision under which an employer may apply for the value of a particular cottage to be increased on the ground that it affords superior accommodation and amenities. Of the committees which lave made such provision, eight have specified 6s. as the maximum value, two have fixed the maximum at 7s. and 7s. 6d. respectively, and the remainder have not specified any maximum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much money has been paid over to farmers who have carried out tile drainage scheme under the Government arrangement, whereby they were to be paid 50 per cent. of the cost of doing so; and whether he is aware of the complaints of farmers that, although the work done has been approved, no money has been forthcoming?

Payments of tile drainage grant totalling about £50,000 have been authorised by my Department. I am not aware of any widespread complaints about delay in payment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he is aware that, as the widespread knowledge of the existence of many thousands of tons of metal scrap on the surface of collieries and other establishments throughout the country, with no apparent step being taken to collect it, militates against his efforts to collect household scrap, he will take the necessary steps?

Yes, Sir. As has been recently announced, a national survey of all scrap metal is being put in hand immediately. This survey will be carried out systematically throughout the country. Whilst early steps will be taken to remove the surplus material revealed by this survey, it cannot all be collected at once. My hon. Friend may rest assured that urgent steps are being taken to complete the survey and collection as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings what use has been made of 43, Parliament Street; for how long this office was used by the Ministry of Agriculture; and why it is not being used in relief of some requisitioned private property?

43, Parliament Street was occupied for many years by the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and certain records of the Ministry are still stored there. The building is not good from a structural point of view and, as it was not considered practicable to provide a proper air-raid shelter, the staff were removed shortly after the outbreak of war.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether medical advice was sought before all Government Departments were instructed to ensure that in the interests of fuel economy the temperature in all offices during the winter months was not to exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit; whether he is aware of the hardship caused by this order, particularly in offices where thermostatic control enables it to be rigidly enforced; and whether he is satisfied that the loss of efficiency of sedentary clerical workers does not offset the economy in fuel?

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. The circular to which the hon. Member refers was issued last autumn as part of a national campaign to ensure economy in the use of fuel, which was, and still is, urgently necessary. I am not aware that any particular loss of efficiency has resulted. A temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit has been a commonly recognised standard of heating for many years in this country, and, although I am aware that standards tend to rise, I see no reason why the instruction should be varied during the present emergency.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether his Department will set up a committee to make a comprehensive survey on the lines of a memorandum, a copy of which has been sent to him, of all road traffic problems and the resulting road accidents?

There is already a Committee on Road Accidents sitting under my chairmanship, and I am making arrangements for consideration by that committee of the memorandum referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he is aware that groups of miners for some months past have been losing shifts on account of inefficient and inadequate transport; that these conditions continue to obtain; that the men who suffer loss of wages in this manner fail to obtain compensation either from their employers or the Ministry; and what steps does he propose taking to remedy this state of affairs;(2) what representations have been made to him in respect to inadequate and inefficient transport facilities for the conveyance of miners to and from their work at certain collieries, and what steps are being taken to provide a remedy?

I am aware that in certain mining districts difficulty has been experienced in maintaining full transport services from mines. The difficulties other than those which arise from payment of fares which are insufficient to meet the cost of the services have been largely overcome by the Regional Transport Commissioners. The financial question is under active consideration in consultation with the industry and with Government Departments interested including the Ministries of National Service and War Transport.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether in view of the unprecedented staffing difficulties now being faced by schools everywhere, he will initiate action leading to the repeal of Section 6 (1) of the Teachers' Superannuation Act, under which any teacher resuming, from patriotic motives, school duties after retirement must forego the amount of his superannuation allowance during his resumption of work?

Pensions under the Teachers' Superannuation Acts are for the maintenance of teachers whose salaries have ceased owing to the cessation of their pensionable service. I regret that it would be inconsistent with the principles of the Acts to repeal or amend the provision in question so as to permit the payment of pension during a period, in which the teacher was in receipt of salary for such service.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has discussed, or will discuss, with the Government of the United States of America, the possibility of making a loan to the Chinese Government to avoid the growing danger of internal inflation which is weighing hard upon the common people?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for War which of the services is charged with the definite responsibility of the guarding and general security of airfields under construction or nearing completion?

The Army is responsible for all land defence at home and abroad, including the security of aerodromes. From the defence point of view there is no essential difference between an aerodrome under construction and one which has been completed and taken into operational use by the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for War what non-European Colonial troops have been raised and employed outside their own territories; whether he has received reports as to the pay, allowances, pension, welfare and other provision for African troops; whether he is satisfied with the health arrangements and rate of sickness of the African troops; how the mortality rates compare with European; and what provision is being made for men discharged from the services as disabled, unfit, etc.?

Colonial units from Cyprus, Palestine, Mauritius, Seychelles and Ceylon have been employed outside their own territories, as well as East and West African troops, many of whom took part in the Abyssinian campaign. Reports concerning the conditions of service of African troops are received regularly from General Officers Commanding. The Director General of Welfare and Education has recently visited both West Africa and the Middle East where he considered measures for providing for the greater comfort of Colonial units. No reports have been received indicating that the state of health of African troops or hospital facilities for them are other than satisfactory. No figures are readily available to compare the mortality rates of African and European troops. Disability pension and gratuity schemes are already in operation for the various colonial forces. Revised schemes for African troops have recently been drawn up by the East and West African Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the report from the Minister of State in the Middle East saying that he was horrified at the way British prisoners have been treated by the Italians at Bardia; what was the nature of the ill-treatment referred to; and what action has been taken in the matter?

The Commander-in-Chief, Middle East has been asked for a full report on this matter. Until this report has been received I cannot make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists among sailors, soldiers and airmen at Park Prewitt Hospital, Basingstoke, due to their unequal treatment in respect of leave between operations of a plastic nature; and what steps he has taken, and proposes to take, in order to reach an agreed and uniform policy with the other two Service Departments concerned;(2) what arrangements exist for the granting of leave, other than privilege or compassionate leave, to airmen between operations of a plastic nature at Park Prewitt Hospital, near Basingstoke; and whether such arrangements are proving satisfactory?

Airmen at Park Prewitt Hospital are between operations granted whatever periods of sick leave are recommended by the surgeon-in-charge. I am not aware of any dissatisfaction and I do not consider that any change in this arrangement is called for.