asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any statement to make regarding the closing down of Gateside Colliery, Lanarkshire?

I am informed that Gateside No. 2 Colliery was closed down because the readily available coal had either been extracted or otherwise disposed of and it will take 15 to 18 months to reach and subsequently develop new productive faces. The workmen previously employed at No. 2 have obtained work at other mines where the output per man-shift is higher than at Gateside. Gateside No. 1 is still in production.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered a communication from the Lanarkshire Mine Workers' Union protesting that, despite his assurance that no mine would be closed without first reporting all the circumstances to the Production Committee, Coltness Coal Company have intimated that Viewpark Colliery, Uddingston, will definitely close on 14th February, 1942; and what action he proposes to take?

The owners of this mine, Messrs. Robert Addie & Sons, gave notice to the District Production Committee on the 6th February to the effect that View-park Colliery would be closed on 14th February, 1942. I am informed that the mine is being closed because the readily available and workable coal is almost exhausted; the output per person employed is extremely low and by the absorption of the men in other mines where work is available, the output per man-shift will be considerably higher.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of non-fatal accidents at all mines involving loss of work for more than three days during 1938, 1939 and 1940, respectively?

The figures are 131,776, 134,072 and 146,388 for the years 1938, 1939 and 1940, respectively.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the difficulties arising with regard to the fire protection of empty premises; and how he proposes to ensure that they shall be properly protected at the expense of those who should properly carry the burden?

I have now made an Order under which Regional Commissioners in England and Wales are empowered to issue directions in respect of vacant residential buildings. These directions will provide that, where there are outer gates, one at least of the gates is to be kept unlocked, that immediately inside or outside the main door of such premises not less than 4 gallons of water is to be provided, that in the case of top storeys of such buildings, part of the black-out is to be removed from at least one of the windows, and that occupiers are to hand over the keys of such buildings, if called upon to do so. I am examining the corresponding problem as regards vacant business premises.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will state the names of the present Governors of the British Broadcasting Corporation; the date of the appointment of each; the salaries received by each; and the salaries received by the two new Directors-General of Broadcasting?

The following are the names of the Governors of the B.B.C. and the dates of their respective appointments:Sir Allan Powell, C.B.E. (Chairman), appointed in 1939;C. H. G. Millis, D.S.O., M.C., appointed in 1937;Lady Violet Bonham-Carter;Captain Sir Ian Fraser, C.B.E., M.P.;J. S. Mallon, C.H., Ll.D., J.P.;A. H. Mann, C.H., Ll.D., andThe Hon. H. G. Nicolson, C.M.G., M.P., appointed in 1941.The Chairman receives a salary of £3,000 per annum and the other Governors a salary of £1,000 each. The salaries received by the two new Directors-General of the B.B.C. are a matter of its internal administration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will tabulate the personnel and set out the functions of the various advisory committees to his Ministry?

I am having a' statement prepared giving the information for which my hon. Friend asks. It will necessarily be a long statement and will take some time to prepare. In view of the space which the statement would occupy in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I Will, with permission, place copies in the Library of the House.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that large quantities of grade III salmon have been delivered to retailers in the North of England and that this class of salmon is more popular in the South; and, in order to stimulate demand, will he reduce the number of points required to purchase this kind of salmon?

Grade III canned salmon forms a very large proportion of the supplies now available and I am not aware that any discrimination in distribution has been made or is desirable between the North of England and the South. As regards the second part of the Question, there is no need to stimulate demand as my hon. Friend suggests and it is, therefore, not at present proposed to make any change in the point value of this grade of canned salmon.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the practice by which millers buy up bakeries when they come upon the market and rent them to bakers who undertake to buy all their flour from that miller, militates against the adoption of the national wheatmeal loaf which local bakers are progressively unwilling or unable to supply on demand; and whether he will inquire into this matter?

I have no information to support the view that the control of some bakeries by some millers has checked the production and sale of national wheatmeal bread, but if my hon. Friend will be good enough to furnish me with any instances of which he may be aware where local bakers are unwilling to supply national wheatmeal bread on demand I will cause investigations to be made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food at What date, and where, the last advertisement recommending wheatmeal bread appeared; and what has been the expenditure on advertising this bread in the past three months?

The latest Ministry of Food advertisement to recommend wheatmeal bread appeared during December, 1941, and January, 1942, in a wide range of weekly and monthly periodicals. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, I would refer him to my reply to this Question on 11th December, 1941, to which I am not in a position to make any addition at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the character and date of the latest test by the Ministry of samples of the wheatmeal loaf drawn from different parts of the country; how many samples were taken and with what result as to conformity with the Ministry's specification; and what punitive measures have been taken against the purveyors who were shown to have supplied bread in breach of the Ministry's instructions?

Under the terms of the Bread (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, 1941, it is an offence to describe as national wheatmeal bread, bread in the making of which ingredients other than national wheatmeal, oil or fat, water, salt, yeast, or improvers in the nature of yeast food, have been used. The policing of this Order is carried out by the Enforcement Officers of the Ministry of Food, but no prosecutions have been necessary since the Order came into force in October last. No other instructions to bakers about the manufacture of national wheatmeal loaves have been given. There are some 27,000 licensed bread bakers in the United Kingdom, and to attempt to standardise their baking methods would be neither desirable nor practicable. One test of some hundreds of samples, directed primarily to ascertaining the quality of the national wheatmeal flour then in distribution, was cameo out in the summer of 1941, but it has not been thought necessary to repeat this survey as more effective checks upon the quality of flour being manufactured have since been devised.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of soldiers who have availed themselves of the opportunity of claiming war service grants since the new scheme came into being; and whether he is satisfied that this number shows that the scheme has received the publicity necessary to make it a success?

I have been asked to reply. The total number of claims received from members of the three Fighting Services since the new scheme was announced is about 127,000; and fresh claims are coming in at the rate of 8,000 a week. The many forms of publicity which have been employed to make the scheme known are being continued and extended.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will have inquiries made as to how many skilled, or semi-skilled, tradesmen of low medical category are at present serving in static units or depots of the Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Army Ordnance Corps and, not being whole-time engaged at their trades, are carrying out unskilled or fatigue duties which could equally well be done by others; and whether such men will be promptly transferred to munition work in civil life if not required at their trades?

The question of the disposal of any semi-skilled or skilled low medical category tradesmen now in the Army and not fully employed as tradesmen is under active consideration by the War Office as a result of the Beveridge Committee Report. I cannot give precise figures as the numbers fluctuate very considerably. A soldier's medical category is of course taken into account when any application is made for his release to industry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the recent increase in salary of recruiting officers extends to chief recruiting officers?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the rules governing local leave for men in His Majesty's Forces, Gibraltar; and what facilities and amenities exist for enjoying such leave if, and when, available?

There is an excellent rest camp at Gibraltar to which men are sent for periods of about three days and this is constantly being extended and improved. In the summer an additional camp is opened in one of the bays. I am satisfied that everything possible within so limited an area is done by way of leave and change for the troops.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the punishments meted out to each of the five members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service who have been court-martialled?

The punishments awarded to the five members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service who have been court-martialled were as follow:

(1) Fourteen days confinement to barracks and forfeiture of all ordinary pay for 28 days.

(2) Fourteen days confinement to barracks.

(3) Reduced from rank of sergeant to corporal.

(4) Acquitted.

(5) Reduced from rank of corporal to the ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers have to blanco their web equipment at cost to themselves; that the manufacturers consider this treatment reduces the life of the fabric; and whether he is prepared to put an end to this practice?

The soldier has a special cleaning allowance to pay for cleaning material and provided it is used economically he should not be out of pocket. The respirator haversack has to be cleaned with a special material in order to maintain its waterproof qualities and the chemical content of other equipment cleaners is controlled so as to ensure that no substance deleterious to the equipment is included in their manufacture.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what conditions of pay and hours of work Italian prisoners of war do agricultural and other work in this country; and whether escorts guarding these prisoners are responsible for seeing that they do a fair day's work?

As regards rates of pay I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) on 27th January, 1942. The hours of work of Italian prisoners of war in the United Kingdom conform as far as possible to the hours performed by civilian workers employed on similar work, although it is necessary to reduce them during the winter months so that the prisoners are back in camp before the black-out. Escorts guarding prisoners are responsible for seeing that they do a fair day's work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what rates of pay are being recommended by his Department for Italian prisoners of war employed upon the land; and how these compare with the remuneration of British soldiers loaned for agricultural duties at harvest time?

Italian prisoners of war working in agriculture are remunerated by the War Office in accordance with the Geneva Convention at the rate of ¾d. an hour for unskilled and 1½d. an hour for skilled work, subject to daily maxima of 6d. and 1s. respectively. They receive no remuneration from the farmer or any other source. Soldiers ordered to help in agriculture at harvest time receive their ordinary Army pay, and liquid refreshment to the value of 1s. a day has to be provided by the farmer.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the failure to institute an expert investigation into the invention of floating aeroplane bases by a British consulting engineer whose name has been furnished to him; and whether he will forthwith appoint an independent scientific committee to study and pronounce upon it?

The invention of floating aircraft bases to which my hon. Friend refers has been most carefully examined by the authorities who are best able to judge the possible strategical and tactical uses of such structures, of the technical questions involved in their construction and of their vulnerability to those forms of attack to which they would be subjected. I do not, therefore, consider that the appointment of an independent scientific committee to inquire further into this matter would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Minister of Economic Warfare what co-operation exists between his Department and the United States of America on the blacklisting of persons in neutral countries who are found to be acting for the Axis?

I am glad to say that the fullest co-operation has now been established. Arrangements have been made for the exchange of information, regarding persons or firms in neutral countries who are aiding the enemy, not only between His Majesty's Government and the United States Government, but also between British and United States Diplomatic Missions, both in Latin America and in Europe. The same principles have been adopted in compiling the British Statutory List and the United States Proclaimed List, so that these two are rapidly becoming identical.Moreover, two representatives of the United States Government now sit as full members on the Black List Committee at the Ministry of Economic Warfare, and one of my officers sits in a similar capacity on the Proclaimed List Committee in Washington. I hope to be able to make a fuller statement next week on measures of co-ordination between my Ministry and the United States Board of Economic Warfare.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information in connection with a barrage balloon that exploded in a North London district on 4th February; and state what damage was done.

The accident occurred after orders had been given for the balloon to be close-hauled and when it was about to be bedded down. The balloon suddenly yawed, the bow striking the winch canopy and the stern a building close by. The balloon was torn and exploded, causing a fire in which it was destroyed. I regret that three persons were injured, two civilians being cut by glass and one airman being badly burned. I also regret that several people were rendered homeless as a result of damage to houses in the vicinity. A court of inquiry has been set up to determine the cause of the accident.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is satisfied that means exist, at the present time, for the blowing up of petrol dumps at all aerodromes should necessity arise?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can expedite decisions as regards a settlement of the standard profits of those companies who have lodged applications and whose executives and shareholders are suffering inconvenience from not knowing where they stand?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 3rd February to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hastings (Mr. Hely-Hutchinson).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the hardship caused to many people, who have to travel long distances to and from their work, by the fact that their necessary travelling expenses are not deducted from their income as assessed for taxation; and whether he has any proposal to make by which this hardship may be removed?

Special provision was made in Section 23 of the Finance Act, 1941, for an allowance to manual wage-earners in respect of additional travelling expenses incurred through war circumstances, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the Debate on 1st July last when I explained the limitations it was necessary to put upon the new allowance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the valuable results achieved by Press publicity in connection with the war savings movement, he will consider the desirability of running a campaign of similar volume in connection with the necessity of maintaining a maximum return from Income Tax during the war period and the need for all sections of the population to realise to the full their responsibilities in this matter?

I am in full agreement with my hon. and gallant Friend as to the importance of promoting the willingness to pay of the taxpayer, and every opportunity is being taken both by speech and by broadcast to emphasise the importance of the economic front and the responsibility that rests upon the direct taxpayer to maintain that front by paying his tax promptly. The revenue returns show that the direct taxpayer is playing his part.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that in certain exceptional cases where the Schedule A assessments in force at 3rd September were excessive these assessments will be reduced, the War Damage contributions in such cases are to be based on the reduced assessment, or whether the reduction is only in respect of rates?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the exceptional cases covered by the reply which I gave on 18th November to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benson). Where the Income Tax Schedule A assessment in force at 3rd September, 1939, is reduced in such cases, the charge of War Damage contribution will he based on the reduced assessment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is in accordance with the regulations for local inspectors of taxation to impose charges, under the War Damage Act, in excess of local assessment upon one-time small business premises but which had, prior to the outbreak of war, been converted into ordinary dwelling-houses, and therefore, to a much reduced annual rateable value?

If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the cases which he has in mind I will gladly have inquiries made. I would remind him, however, that the charge of contribution under Part I of the War Damage Act, 1941, is normally based on he Income Tax Schedule A assessment in force at 3rd September, 1939, and not on the rateable value.

asked the Minister of Supply whether further consideration is being given by his Department to the use of straw in the manufacture of paper needed for munitions; and whether he is aware that a considerable increase in production would be obtained if more machinery were made available to the manufacturers?

Yes, Sir. Steps are being taken further to extend the use of straw in the manufacture of paper and board.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, 1926, of Trinidad, do not apply to agricultural workers, shop assistants, clerical and domestic workers, and that the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, 1941, of St. Lucia, excludes domestic and clerical workers and shop assistants; and whether he will take steps to amend these Ordinances, so as to bring within their provisions the above-named classes of workers?

Yes, Sir. With regard to agricultural workers, I would point out that the Trinidad Ordinance does, in fact, cover workers engaged in the more dangerous occupations, i.e., those whose employment is connected with any engine or machine worked by mechanical power, and the same observation applies to the legislation enacted by other West Indian Colonies. The desirability of bringing agricultural workers generally within the scope of the Workmen's Compensation Ordinances has been represented on several occasions to the West Indian Governments during the last few years, and has been under consideration recently by several of them. Agricultural workers generally are now protected by amending legislation passed in the Leeward Islands, St. Vincent and St. Lucia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, arising out of the interpretation of the White Paper on the Lease-Lend Agreement in connection with the supply of stationery and educational goods to the Colonies in the West Indies, mainly Jamaica, he will confer with the licensing control so as to modify the interpretation to permit of the exporting from this country of such goods as pen-nibs and date-stampers, in view of the old-established trade that has been carried on in the supply of these and other articles for the past 50 years?

Yes, Sir. I am looking into this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour the number who are now insured under the unemployment scheme; what is the individual contribution each week for the workman, employer and State, respectively; and what is the yearly income for 1939, 1940 and 1941?

Figures regarding the estimated numbers insured against unemployment are not available for publication.The following table sets out the amount of the unemployment insurance contributions now payable weekly by each of the three parties, viz., the employer, the employed person and the Exchequer:—

	General Scheme.	Agricultural Scheme.
	d.	d.
Men—aged 21 years and over*	10	3½
Women—aged 21 years and over*	9	3
Young Men—aged 18 to 20 years inclusive	9	3
Young Women—aged 18 to 20 years inclusive	8	2½
Boys—aged 16 and 17 years	5	2
Girls—aged 16 and 17 years	4½	1½
Boys—aged 14 and 15 years	2	1½
Girls—aged 14 and 15 years	2	1
* In the case of men aged 65 years and over and women aged 60 and over, a contribution is not payable by the employed person and the Exchequer contribution is half the rates shown above.

The net contribution income of the Unemployment Fund for the three calendar years 1939, 1940 and 1941 was:—

Year.	General Account.	Agricultural Account.
	£	£
1939	65,946,472	1,574,407
1940	67,052,943	1,224,070
1941	75,603,515	1,441,591

The rates of contribution were raised as from 5th August 1940, by the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1940, which also brought into insurance non-manual workers whose rate of remuneration exceeds £250 a year and does not exceed £420 a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now give any further indication as to the progress of the committee appointed to consider wages policy?

I have been asked to reply. No committee has been set up for this purpose. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Bournemouth (Sir L. Lyle) on 18th December, the policy of the Government on this subject remains as set out in the White Paper on Price Stabilisation and Industrial Policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the regulations affecting the shipment from Canada and the United States of America of unsolicited gifts to British friends; whether he is aware that these parcels are frequently shipped and then seized on arrival in this country; and whether, in order to save shipping space, irritation and loss, arrangements can be made in the countries of origin for the refusal of acceptance of these parcels for shipment?

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a summary of the regulations to which my hon. Friend refers. Only an extremely small proportion of gift importations contravene these regulations and are detained. I am afraid that it would not be practicable to adopt the suggestion in the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, but I am satisfied that adequate publicity is now being given to these regulations in the countries from which gifts are sent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps have been taken to protect tenants from the loss of moneys stolen from gas and electric meters of bombed houses, as a result of the discussions with other interested Ministers, referred to in his reply of 9th April, 1941?

Consumers are responsible only where they have contracted with the undertaking for the safe custody of the coins. The Electricity Commissioners tell me that no representations have been received from consumers and I have had no reports that gas undertakings have acted unsympathetically. In all the circumstances I think each case must be dealt with on its merits, and I shall be glad to consider any cases in which it is felt that an undertaking has acted unreasonably.