asked the Minister of Labour, whether he is aware that a girl living at Wightwick, Wolverhampton, has been sent to work at Barnack, while a Peterborough girl is doing exactly the same work at Wolverhampton; and will he arrange for these ladies to change jobs, thus letting each live close to her home?

Inquiries have been made, but it has not been possible to trace the cases to which my hon. Friend refers. If my hon. Friend will provide me with additional information which will enable me to identify the persons concerned, I will institute further inquiries.

It will give me great pleasure to do so. Do the Government realise how much dissatisfaction there is about this whole matter?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Thomas Rodger, 22, Burnbrae, Twechar, was directed from Corby to resume work as a miner at Eastshore Colliery; that he had to vacate his company-owned house at Corby; that he was promised a house from the colliery company with whom he is now employed, but was refused it after his furnishings were on the way; that his wife and five children are now accommodated in the poor house; and whether he will take steps to overcome this and similar difficulties?

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

asked the Minister of Labour, in how many factories production inquiry committees have already been set up?

I regret I have no statistics available as to the number of production inquiry committees which have been set up. As I have previously informed the House, the establishment of committees for the purpose of joint consultation between management and workers is a matter of voluntary arrangement between the parties, and I am glad to know—although I do not receive actual figures—that the number of such voluntary arrangements is steadily increasing.

Will my right hon. Friend obtain reports from time to time about how these committees are functioning and to what extent production is affected by them?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an assurance that women, trained by local authorities to take the place of men called up for service in the Forces, will not similarly be called up while in local government service?

No, Sir. In agreement with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, I have decided that the question of the withdrawal of women in the service of local authorities shall be determined by the nature of the work upon which they are employed. In considering, however, the rate at which such withdrawals shall be effected, regard will be had to the extent to which replacements of men by women have taken place.

In view of the large amount of essential war work that has been delegated to local authorities, will my right hon. Friend agree that the local authorities in the matter of staff should receive as favourable treatment as the Civil Service?

I cannot settle it on any precise basis. The method which has been employed is, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who is in constant touch with the local authorities, to deal with each case on its merits. Local authorities differ considerably according to population and area, on the amount of work that has to be performed.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the representative associations of local authorities are very anxious about this matter?

I understand that everybody is anxious about the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour how many doctors have been appointed into industry under the Factories (Medical and Welfare) Order, 1940; what method of appointment is there to ensure the appointment of the most suitable candidates; and whether there is any co-ordination of this type of industrial medical work?

Since the making of this Order the numbers of whole-time and part-time works doctors have increased by about 100 and 400 respectively and it has not so far been necessary to exercise the powers given by the Order to give directions for such appointments to be made. It is for the employer to select the doctor but the arrangements have to be such as to satisfy the inspector, of factories and while in a very few cases the appointment has proved unsatisfactory and the doctor has been relieved of his post, I am advised that generally speaking the doctors appointed are carrying out the work well and that no complaint from workmen's organisations regarding any of the appointments has reached the Senior Medical Inspector of Factories. There is substantial co-ordination of the work with outside health services, and the importance of this is stressed in Departmental advice and otherwise.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether there is still a demand for technical instructors in industrial training centres in India; and whether he will investigate the possible availability and suitability of some of the instructors to be set free by the concentration of Government training centres in this country, for this service in India?

I am awaiting information from the Government of India, of whom I have inquired as to the present position of the matter covered by the fist part of the Question; in the meantime I can give an assurance that my right honourable Friend the Minister of Labour and I are in the closest touch to secure that India's needs in skilled personnel are supplied to the fullest extent compatible with the urgent demands upon such personnel in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the close and profitable collaboration in scientific research and technical development now existing between the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Dominions, in the common war effort; and whether steps have been taken to establish similar relations with the distinguished scientists, and the great scientific and technical resources of India?

Measures have been taken in India through the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research, which includes several distinguished Indian scientists, to co-ordinate research in India with reference to war-time requirements: and a system already exists for the interchange of the resulting information with the appropriate technical authorities in this country and, through the Eastern Group Supply Council, with those of the Dominions in the Eastern Group. Certain further suggestions for developing this system of liaison are receiving consideration.

Does my right hon. Friend realise how essential are personal contacts in collaboration of this kind, and will he approach the Government of India with a view to establishing such contacts here and in India?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in a by-election for a seat made vacant by the appointment of Mr. Madhao Shrihari Aney to the Executive Council, the Congress candidate, Mr. Veer Wamanrao Jashi, won the seat by a substantial majority over both rival candidates; and whether, in view of this index of Indian criticism of the Government's policy respecting India, he will institute the necessary reforms forthwith?

I understand that in the by-election referred to the Congress candidate was elected. The other two candidates represented the Hindu Mahasabha and the Forward Bloc. I do not consider that His Majesty's Government's policy in respect of India is affected by this local expression of opinion.

Seeing that a non-Congress seat was captured by a Congress candidate, does not this indicate that Congress is receiving considerable and increasing support from the peoples of India?

No, Sir.

Is it not a fact that recently contested by-elections in this country show great support for the policy of this Government?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the certificate of naturalisa- tion of Hugo Friedberger, whose appeal against a conviction for a currency offence was dismissed by the London Sessions' Appeal Committee on 4th December, has now been revoked; and, if not, how soon this will be done?

The procedure for the revocation of certificates of naturalisation is governed by the provisions of Section 7 of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, as amended by the Act of 1919, and I have decided that this case shall be referred for inquiry to the Committee appointed under the provisions of that Section.

When will my right hon. Friend know what steps are being taken?

The only step I can take is to refer the matter to the Committee. If my hon. and gallant Friend looks up the provisions of the law, he will realise that I cannot say when the Committee will finish their inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary why Alfred Evans, of Luton, who is practically blind, was prosecuted for refusing to register for Civil Defence?

My information is that this man is not blind, but his eyesight is defective. His proper course was to register in accordance with the requirement of the law, and it would then have been open to him to apply to a hardship tribunal for exemption from fire prevention duties on the ground of defective eyesight. He admitted that he was fully aware of his legal obligations and said he had a conscientious objection to complying with the law—which, as my hon. Friend knows, is designed to secure an equitable distribution of fire prevention duties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this man was, with 30 others, sent to France in 1916 and sentenced to death, at the same time that the right hon. Gentleman himself was a conscientious objector? Are other men, who are obviously incapable of doing fire-watching, being prosecuted?

With regard to my hon. Friend's kindly personal allusion, I com- plied with the law, and if I had not complied with the law, I should have expected to face the consequences. This matter was carefully considered when the Order was made, and while the Government thought it proper to provide in the law for conscientious objection to military service, we could not see our way to provide for conscientious objection to fire-prevention duties, which are eminently civilian in character.

asked the Home Secretary why criminal proceedings were not instituted against Mr. Benjamin Greene, late justice of the peace, on account of three charges laid against him amounting, in effect, to treason, which formed the basis of the reason on which Mr. Greene was detained?

Consideration was given to the question whether the case should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to criminal proceedings, but there were reasons which rendered this course impracticable.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that on 22nd January last year the Parliamentary Secretary stated that whenever there was evidence to support a criminal charge proceedings were taken in the courts? Was there any reason why that course was not followed in this case?

There were reasons why it was not followed in this case, but it would not be in the public interest to state them.

Was all the evidence against Greene made available to the Advisory Committee?

Yes, Sir.

In view of the fact, which the right hon. Gentleman has just stated, that it was impracticable to bring these charges, how can he explain that statement when the charges have definitely been withdrawn?

The question of whether a prosecution can properly be taken is considered in all these cases, and on balance it was decided that proceedings should not be taken. I cannot say any more about the matter because it would not be in the public interest to go into details.

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements are in force for the maintenance and support of the families of British subjects detained under Regulation 18B?

Dependants of persons detained who are in need are eligible to receive assistance from the Assistance Board under the regulations for the prevention and relief of war-time distress.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that great hardship is suffered by decent women and children who do not want to go through the unhappy procedure of applying for relief and have no responsibility whatever for the ill-doings of their husbands or relatives who are interned?

That is one of the unfortunate incidents associated with all forms of detention or imprisonment, and I do not think His Majesty's Government could take the responsibility of providing compensation for the families of detained persons. As I have said, they have the same rights as all other citizens to take advantage of the arrangements for the relief of distress.

asked the Home Secretary what steps he proposes to take to ensure that no persons are detained under Regulation 18B on false evidence, as in the case of Mr. Benjamin Greene?

As I previously informed my hon. Friend, Mr. Greene was not detained on the evidence of a single person, and I cannot accept the implication suggested in his Question. When information reaches the Home Secretary which he believes to be reliable, he would be failing in his duty if he did not take appropriate action in the interest of national security and order detention if he is satisfied that it is necessary so to do. Any person so detained has a right to make objections to the Advisory Committee. It after their investigation the Advisory Committee find, as occurred in Mr. Greene's case, that any particular allegation is not substantiated, it does not follow either that such allegation was a malicious invention or that the original order of detention was unjustified. All cases of persons detained under this Regulation are kept under review, and I need not assure the House that I have constantly in mind the need of taking the greatest care in the exercise of the onerous responsibility placed on the Home Secretary by this Regulation.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is not the fact that the evidence of the single witness against this man was admitted to be false by the man himself; and would not unfortunate detentions of this kind be avoided in the future if persons detained were told the names of the persons who give evidence when they are not members of the security police?

I dare say that it would be convenient to a lot of people to be told everything about everybody, but it would not be expedient for the security of the country. I beg the House to realise that the administration of this Regulation is a matter of difficulty and delicacy, and we try to learn as we go along from any difficulties which arise. I cannot be put in the position of having to answer the same question a whole series of times when I have already assured the House that Mr. Greene might have been detained independently of these allegations.

Arising out of the somewhat detailed statement which the right hon. Gentleman has just made, can he inform the House what means exist by which a person who has been wrongfully detained can show that to be the case?

I cannot admit that Mr. Greene was wrongfully detained, and I would remind the House that he has not been unconditionally released.

I beg to give notice that, in view of the completely unsatisfactory situation and the public indignation which has been aroused, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is taking steps to make with the Canadian Government an arrangement similar to that already made with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, whereby anti-Nazi and anti-Fascist civilian internees can be released and allowed to remain within the Dominion for the duration of the war, provided that the Dominion Government considers the release desirable for useful employment or study, or on humanitarian grounds, and he sees no reason for advising against it on grounds of security?

My hon. Friend's reference to an "arrangement" with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia is, I think, liable to cause misapprehension. The Dominion Governments accepted responsibility for the custody of these internees on condition that they should not, if released, remain at liberty in the Dominion. Any relaxation of that condition is a matter entirely within the discretion of the Dominion Government. In the exercise of that discretion the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia has decided on measures which I announced last week. As regards Canada, I have already authorised the release of some 200 internees whom the Canadian Government were prepared to allow to be at large in Canada, and I should, of course, be willing to authorise the release of others against whom, as individuals, there is no security objection, if the Canadian Government were willing to allow them to be at large within the Dominion.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his Reply, may I ask whether, in view of the large number of internees whom it has been found impracticable for shipping reasons to bring back to this country, he will use his good offices with the Canadian Government to get them to consider instituting arrangements as liberal as those which the Australian Government have made?

My hon. Friend pressed me to take that course in the case of Australia. It must be remembered that both Canada and Australia are self-governing Dominions and I think that my line with Australia was more successful than would have been the line suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary how many voluntary Civil Defence workers have, as a result of the compulsion applied to them, resigned in the County of Middlesex; and whether he can state the procedure to be adopted should they be compulsorily enrolled?

I am informed that, out of a total of about 34,000 part-time volunteers in the County of Middlesex, 750 persons have intimated their intention to resign. The procedure to be adopted as regards compulsory enrolment generally under Defence Regulation 29BA is under discussion with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, but has not yet been finally determined.

Does my right hon. Friend consider that the position which these figures disclose is satisfactory, and does he anticipate that any compulsory enrolment will be necessary?

I could not say, because it depends upon a number of factors in addition to the one to which my hon. Friend has called attention, but I am inclined to think that the resignation of 750 out of 34,000 shows a satisfactory position.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the opposition to the Defence Regulation under which elderly part-time Civil Defence volunteers will, after 5th February, be required to remain in the service for which they have enrolled, he will consider a modification of this order, so that it shall not apply to persons over the age of 60?

I do not propose at the present time to modify the Orders to ex-dude from their operation persons over the age of 60 years who decide not to avail themselves of the opportunity to notify their resignation but to continue to give service service in Civil Defence. As was stated in my Reply on 22nd January to my hon. Friend the Member for Duddeston (Mr. Simmonds) the responsible Ministers will keep a watch over the arrangements for release. I have no doubt local authorities will consider sympathetically applications for release on grounds connected with age. A person whose request for release is refused by the local authority may appeal to the Regional Commissioner.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that in this case he is applying conscription to persons who have already given a good deal of voluntary service and applying no such compulsion to the others?

I am not applying compulsion in the way suggested by the hon. Member. Thousands of persons took up part-time Civil Defence service. They are a very fine body of people, and I hope the hon. Member will not discourage the civic spirit which has animated them. If in any particular case it is claimed that a person is too old, it will be considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether there is any limitation on the period of leave which may be granted to a married woman serving in the National Fire Service, so that she may be on leave at the same time as her husband is on leave from His Majesty's forces; and whether leave so granted is with full pay?

The standard allowance of annual leave with pay in the National Fire Service is 14 days a year. Married women in the Na ional Fire Service whose husbands are serving in His Majesty's Forces or in the Merchant Navy will be expected, so far as possible, to arrange to take their annual leave so as to coincide with that of their husbands. I recognise, however, that annual leave may not suffice in all cases and I am considering how best such cases, with due regard to National Fire Service requirements, can be met sympathetically. Instructions are now being prepared, and I shall be happy to communicate their effect to my hon. Friend in due course. The same considerations apply to local authority Civil Defence General Services.

Is the Minister aware that in some areas this leave is limited to three days and that no pay is allowed for that period, and in view of the more generous treatment given to women members of His Majesty's Forces will the right hon. Gentleman consider giving similar facilities to women in the National Fire Service?

If the hon. Gentleman will examine my reply, he will see that I have indicated a sympathetic attitude.

asked the Home Secretary why Pietro Mariano Salerni, an Italian sub- ject and Fascist, is allowed to be at large and to visit factories which are making secret munitions of war?

Careful consideration was given to all the facts and circumstances of this case, and the description of the man as a "Fascist" does not accord with my information. The information available to me shows that it is in the national interest to allow him to be at large and to carry on the employment on which he is engaged.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this man's financial past has attracted very unfavourable notice in the Press, and does he not think him a very queer enemy to select for freedom?

I expect that we know all about this man, but I shall be glad to consider any information that my hon. Friend can send me.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the recent Order restricting the milk allowance to children in schools to one-third of a pint daily, except in the case of those receiving free milk, is being so interpreted as to prevent children ordered to have two-thirds of a pint by the doctor from receiving this quantity in school because their parents are paying for it; and whether he will give instructions to prevent children from being thus penalised because of their parents' willingness to pay?

I regret that the winter shortage of milk has made it necessary to confine the maximum allowance of two-thirds of a pint a day under the Milk-in-Schools Scheme to necessitous children who receive milk free of charge. The justification for this exception to the general allowance of one-third of a pint rests not on medical grounds but on the assumption that these children may not be receiving in full their priority supply of a half-pint a day at home. Additional allowances of milk on medical grounds are governed by the provisions of the Milk (Scheme of Supply) Order, 1941.

Do we understand from that reply that if a child is allowed to have only one-third of a pint, it is assumed that the parent will be able to obtain the other one-third of a pint at home?

Children are entitled to the domestic milk ration, in addition to any milk they receive at school.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number and percentage of children who have returned to London from reception and neutral areas; and when the report is likely to be published respecting the gains in height and weight of certain evacuated children compared with those not evacuated and with comparable pre-war age groups?

It is not possible to supply the information in the precise form asked by the hon. Member. On 6th December, 1940, when the school population of London reached its lowest point since evacuation began, the number of school children in London was approximately 84,800. On the 24th January, 1942, the corresponding number was about 166,900 representing an increase of 82,100. On that date, the estimated number of London school children still in reception or neutral areas was a little over 200,000. As regards the last part of the Question, the result of the investigation will not be available until towards tae end of the year.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that these will be extremely valuable figures and that they should be available at the earliest possible date?

I certainly think this will be one of the most interesting commentaries on the evacuation experiment. I am sorry there is a little time to elapse before the full results of the investigation can be made known.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps have been taken by the East Sussex education authority regarding the education of the daughter of a corporal of the Royal Air Force whose name has been sent him?

Under the arrangements provisionally adopted by the local education authority for applying their income scale in the case of serving soldiers, the child to whom my hon. Friend refers would be liable for full fees. I understand, however, that the authority are giving further consideration to the matter in the light of correspondence with my Department. I have already impressed upon the authority the urgency of the matter and I hope that a decision will be reached within the very near future.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the information, may I ask if he can say whether this educational authority has acted in the same way as other education authorities in the matter?

I cannot comment upon the action taken, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the difficulties of the case have been urged upon the local education authority.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the number of idle doctors in uniform and the shortage of medical men in civil life; and whether he will see that the Fighting Forces provide, where possible, some measure of interworking between their respective medical men so as to simplify and accelerate medical attention and liberate numbers of such medical men after a brief period of attachment to their units to enable them to familiarise themselves with their prospective duties, on the understanding that should any sudden emergency arise they will at once be recalled to their posts?

All practicable steps to secure the economical use of doctors in His Majesty's Forces and in civilian services, including the measures referred to in the Question, are being examined by the Medical Personnel (Priority) Com- mittee under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Dominions. The scope of this Committee and a summary of an interim report are set out in the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Albans (Sir F. Fremantle) on 19th June and 2nd October last. I understand that further co-operation between the medical branches of the three Services has already been secured in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee and of the earlier Committee presided over by Sir Arthur Robinson, thus reducing, without any loss of efficiency in the Services, the number of doctors that would otherwise have been required. A system of releasing doctors from the Services to civilian practice, where there are special reasons for this course, is already in operation.

Is there not a great danger to the civil population, and therefore to the war effort, if the present methods are persisted in, and will not the right hon. Gentleman make a representation to the War Office on the matter?

If my hon. Friend will look at the facts, he will see that this work is under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend, and a most powerful committee.

In spite of the Minister's reassurance, is he aware that a number of doctors are doing clerical work who might be released for clinical work?

If the hon. Lady knows of cases, perhaps she will let me have the facts.

Whom have we to approach when we are aware of cases in which doctors have been refused by the Army authorities?

In the case of England and Wales perhaps the hon. Member had better let me know. In the case of Scotland, the Secretary of State.

Is it not necessary to separate the true from the false and the real from the unreal?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to ensure that, in the calling-up of doctors, the medical staffs employed at factories shall not be depleted to a level impairing efficiency?

The selection of doctors for recruitment to His Majesty's Forces is made by the Central Medical War Committee and its local committees, with due regard to civilian medical needs, and before proposing a factory medical officer for recruitment these Committees satisfy themselves that suitable arrangements can be made for carrying on his work.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that some factories are depleted entirely of their medical staffs and that in one case a factory employing 6,000 people has no medical officer?

I will consult with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, if the hon. Member will give me the details.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the deplorable conditions under which probationer nurses work at present in some of the London voluntary hospitals; and whether he will conduct an inquiry into the position?

No, Sir, I have not received any representations to this effect. I will inquire into any specific cases that my hon. Friend may bring to my notice.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that probationer nurses in voluntary hospitals in London complain of the inordinately long hours they have to work, of the quality and quantity of the food they are given and of other restrictions which place severe handicaps upon them?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me some hint where I can obtain these representations, which I have not received. I may tell him that the shortage of nurses in the area to which he refers is in the very institutions where pay and conditions are best.

Is it not the case that a probationer nurse at a hospital is undergoing training, and cannot leave merely because there is a better job somewhere else?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of manual workers liable to pay Income Tax; the proportion now actually paying it; and when it is expected that the full 100 per cent. of such taxation will become effective?

The number of manual workers liable to pay Income Tax by deduction from their wages this year is some 5,500,000. The deduction of the tax due to commence at the beginning of January has started in over 90 per cent. of these cases, and it is anticipated that the deductions will start in the remaining cases within the next week or two.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that he will be able to catch the Irish labourers who are working, in many cases on aerodromes and making very big money?

I am looking into this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to compel adequate financial support to the war effort from wealthy British subjects now in the United States of America, in particular, at such places as New York, Long Island and the New England Coast, Santa Barbara, Del Monte and Carmel?

As my hon. Friend is aware, there are powers to deal with certain classes of British subjects now in the United States, who were resident in this country at the beginning of the war, to whom I referred in my answer of 22nd January, as well as those who passed through this country on their way to the United States from other countries. I have also under consideration the possibility of taking further powers to prevent abuses.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects to issue these new regulations?

I hope very shortly; they are now under consideration.

Is Hollywood deliberately or accidentally omitted?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in any new proposals regarding Excess Profits Tax, he will remove the anomaly which requires businesses working under almost identical conditions as to turnover, capital employed, and profits, to pay disproportionate amounts, which anomaly has the effect of guaranteeing standard profits to some companies and no profits to others and discouraging manufacturers whom he is urging to greater production?

I cannot agree with my hon. Friend that the position to which he refers is anomalous or that the effect of the Excess Profits Tax is such as he suggests. The Excess Profits Tax is essentially a tax, not on a trader's profits as such, but on the excess of his profits over his standard profits, which are normally determined by reference to his profits of a pre-war standard period. Two concerns making similar profits under similar conditions now may well have very different standard profits and very different excess profits, but in any case the trader is left with his standard profits to which the tax does not apply.

Is the Minister aware that he has not answered the Question, which is causing a considerable amount of trouble in the country, and is he not aware that an exact case has been submitted to him of two people with the same amount of capital earning almost identical profits—each making £12,000—of whom one paid £10,000 in Excess Profits Tax and the other only £2,000, and that as the years go on this is bound to cause considerable friction in the country?

My hon. Friend has been to me several times about the Excess Profits Tax at 100 per cent., but the position remains as I have stated it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings when the Final Report of Mr. Justice Uthwatt's Committee on Post-War Reconstruction was received; and why it has not been published?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he will state the reasons for the delay in the publication of the Final Report of the Uthwatt Committee, having regard to the fact that the interim Report was completed early in 1941, though only published in July, 1941?

My Noble Friend has not received any further Report from the Committee since the Interim Report which was presented to Parliament last July.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he would consider making contact with some other representative of the Government and arranging that the learned counsel who is mainly engaged on the production of this Report is relieved from other work, so that he can devote his time to it, and get the Report out at an early date?

My hon. Friend asked why the Report had not been published, and I thought a very proper answer was that it had not yet been received.

But will the hon. Gentleman consider the suggestion that the reason it has not been received is that not sufficient time has been given to it?

When will it be possible to introduce the legislation which is foreshadowed, and when will it be considered by the Government?

That is another question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether, in view of the low salaries paid to the management in Government factories as compared with those paid in industry generally, he will consider the advisability of permitting remuneration to be at the standard rate?

I have been asked to reply. The rates of pay of managerial grades in the Royal Ordnance Factories are constantly under review and there has been a recent increase.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the remuneration of managers of Royal Ordnance Factories is very small indeed compared with what managers in private factories are paid, and is it not essential to bring their remuneration up to the proper standard?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give notice of that Question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there is any provision for the supply of greatcoats to members of the Women's Land Army; and, if so, whether all members have now been supplied?

The issue of greatcoats to members of the Women's Land Army is in progress. Owing to difficulties connected with the supply of cloth, it has as yet only been possible to equip about two-thirds of the Land Army's employed volunteers. Further deliveries are now being received from manufacturers and the coats are being distributed as rapidly as possible.

Could the Minister say whether they will be delivered before the winter is finished?

I hope so, but I cannot promise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the increase in wages granted to agricultural workers, he will take steps to safeguard them against any increase in rent; and whether he can make a statement in this connection for the guidance of farm-workers who are tenants?

Where a farm worker holds a cottage from his employer, whether by virtue of a contract of service or of a separate contract of tenancy, the amount at which the employer can reckon the value of the cottage in part payment of the minimum wage is regulated by Orders made by the Agricultural Wages Committees. Workers who rent cottages from persons other than their employers have the same protection under the Rent Restrictions Act as any other tenants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position, in conjunction with the Ministry of Food to make some pronouncement on the adjustments in prices for farm produce necessitated by the increase granted to farm-workers?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to readjust the prices of agricultural produce in view of the recent increased expenditure which farmers have incurred?

As I indicated in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Sudbury (Colonel Burton) on 29th January, this matter is still under active consideration, and I hope that a statement will be made shortly.

Is it not a fact that the Government promised to adjust these prices, and is it not also a fact that it is not the fault of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, but of the Ministry of Food, who seem to take some trouble to keep this matter going on, with the result that no adjustment is possible because of their delaying tactics?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a big time-lag between the imposition of these new expenses upon farmers and the possible increase which is coming to them?

Is the Minister aware that prices of green vegetables in shops have already gone up by 400 per cent. as compared with 1938 retail selling prices? Will he consider that fact in relation to the other matters referred to in the Question?

That is a matter for the Ministry of Food. Prices of vegetables are not controlled by my Department.