asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether, in view of the suggestion of the Ministry of Agriculture to the farming interests that petrol is best kept in two-gallon tins, he will ensure that coupons are issued in two units instead of, as is now the case, in three?

I presume the hon. Member refers to coupons of the "F" series issued for agricultural purposes. The form of application for such coupons invites the farmer to say whether he desires coupons of two, three or more units, and a farmer who asks for 2-unit coupons will receive them.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give the results of working of the Army Agricultural Scheme, indicating the financial benefits to the soldiers and to the Treasury and what acreage has been brought under cultivation; and what have been the value and nature of the crops and vegetables grown?

The accounts are not yet in a final form. Expenditure is estimated at £80,000 including staff: sales of produce are estimated to realise some £110,000. The scheme was financed initially from public funds and after expenditure including reimbursements to public funds has been paid the net profits are to be distributed in the proportion of 50 per cent. to unit funds and 50 per cent. to the State. £15,000 on account is now being distributed to unit funds. The acreage cultivated by the troops under the scheme in 1941 was 5,857 acres. The crops grown comprised oats, potatoes and the usual garden produce.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in respect of his recommendations to farmers that they should rub castor oil into the outside face of all cotton and leather driving belts, he has consulted the glycerine interests as to the use of this particular commodity, since castor oil contains glycerine and is of great value to other forms of national activity?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend has not thought it necessary to consult the glycerine interests because the amount of castor oil used in the dressing of cotton and leather driving belts on farms is very small. He considers that such use of castor oil is fully justified because it is certainly an economy that belts should be preserved for as long use as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in our retreat from Benghazi and Derna we have adopted the scorched earth policy by destroying the towns, aerodromes, harbours, roads and water supplies?

In so far as circumstances permitted, all stores, buildings, works and installations, which might have been of value to the enemy, were destroyed or removed before our recent withdrawal from Benghazi and Derna.

asked the Minister of Health whether all maternity and child welfare clinics requiring air-raid shelters are now provided with these; and, if not, will he state the numbers yet required?

The provision of shelter in the cases to which my hon. Friend refers would not require my approval unless consent to a loan were required. I have, therefore, no complete information as to the number which have been provided, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that Russia is now one of our Allies, he will consider the advisability of urging Russians loyal to this country, who have been living here many years, to join the air-raid precautions or other defence services?

I presume my hon. Friend is referring to White Russians. These are not Soviet citizens and indeed are Stateless. On the general question of the acceptance of offers of service in Civil Defence by alien residents in this country, my right hon. Friend is anxious that, subject to the proper requirements of national security and with due regard to local circumstances, full advantage should be taken of their services. Instructions to this effect have recently been issued to local authorities.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the Government's declaration that Russia is now one of our Allies, he will consider the advisability of revising the regulations covering the instructions to the police as to the treatment of Russians who have been living in this country for many years who have shown their loyalty to this country, and who now resent being treated as enemy aliens?

I presume my hon. Friend is referring to persons of Russian origin who are not Soviet citizens and have no other nationality. He is under a misapprehension in thinking that they are treated as enemy aliens. The Regulations to which they are subject are those which apply to all persons who are not British subjects and do not include the special restrictions which apply to aliens of enemy nationality.

asked the Secretary of State for Burma particulars of the commodity war risks insurance scheme in operation in Burma?

The Burma commodity war risks insurance scheme limits insurance to goods held by sellers for sale, or by Banks pending transfer of title to importers. The scheme does not apply to certain commodities, the principal of which are mineral oils and their products, timber, mineral ores and precious metals. Insurable goods are divided into two classes; Part I goods, being imported goods and the following goods produced in Burma, namely: salt, sugar, matches, yarn and products of breweries and distilleries; and Part II goods comprising all other insurable goods.The scheme derives its income from fees and premiums. Fees alone give no cover and are compulsorily collected at 2 per cent. of value, the basis in the case of Part I goods being value at import plus customs or excise duties, or the value at issue from factory; and, in the case of all exported Part II goods, the value at export. Insurance is monthly, and cover is obtained by payment of monthly premiums at ⅜ per cent. for Part II goods wherever held, and at 1 per cent. and ⅛ per cent. for Part I goods held in the Rangoon area and elsewhere respectively; the object of the difference in the case of Part I goods being to promote dispersal of imports from Rangoon. Apart from fees, the scheme is voluntary except for sellers holding Part I goods valued at over Rs.15,000 in the Rangoon area; but those who wished to enter had to register before 31st January, 1942, insuring fully all Part I or Part II goods held by them, and thereafter must remain in the scheme until it is wound up.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that a unit of a certain gun factory, properly equipped with modern machine tools, has been idle for the major portion of the last seven weeks; and whether he has any explanation for that waste?

No, Sir. A changeover in the factory's programme was necessitated by new requirements. It was carried out efficiently and expeditiously and production was only slightly affected for a short time

asked the Minister of Supply who is responsible for the appointment of medical staffs employed at Royal Ordnance Factories; whether the vacancies are advertised, or whether the personnel is selected; and, if so, who makes the selection?

Responsibility for the appointment of medical staffs employed at Royal Ordnance Factories rests with the Ministry of Supply. Vacancies are advertised and candidates are also nominated by the local war emergency committee of the British Medical Association. In making selections the Ministry of Supply is advised where necessary by Ministry of Labour inspectors of factories and by independent medical practitioners.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that it a large ordnance factory nine members of the medical staff have resigned within12 months; and whether he will take steps to ensure that factory medical departments shall be adequately staffed?

No, Sir. I think my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. He must, I think, be referring to transfers from a factory at which medical officers receive a course of training before being posted to other Royal Ordnance factories. The necessity for adequate medical staffs is fully realised.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will inquire into the case of one Royal Ordnance Factory requesting tenders to be returned by noon on the 1st February, 1942, asking traders to tender for three white coats, involving the use of four foolscap pages, one blank, a large envelope and a reply envelope enclosed and, as no information was given of the size of coats required, further correspondence would be required; how many of these tender forms have been issued from all factories; and whether he will consider adopting a more economical method of obtaining these small requirements?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing my attention to this case which, so far as I am aware, is an isolated one. I am, however, looking into the general procedure in this class of case with a view to simplification.

asked the Minister of Supply whether any decision has yet been reached in regard to allocating a higher percentage of paper to the book publishers, in order to avoid the danger of a famine in the supply of books?

The allocation of paper to book publishers is a substantially higher percentage of pre-war consumption than the allocation to other publishers. I regret that I can hold out no hope of increasing it in present conditions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the release from prison last month in the Colony of Barbados of Ulric Grant, a trade union organiser, convicted in 1937 for sedition, was the result of a free pardon granted by the King, or a remission of sentence; and whether it is now proposed to consider the grant of compensation to this man for his unnecessary imprisonment?

Grant was released as the result of a remission of sentence. No question of compensation arises.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that only about one-third of the bananas purchased by the Government from banana growers has been shipped, whilst quantities continue to be burned or dumped at sea; and whether, as there is considerable malnutrition among Jamaican school children, surplus bananas can be distributed at the schools or otherwise supplied to necessitous children?

I am fully aware that wartime conditions have prevented the export of a large proportion of the Jamaica banana crop; the scheme of Government purchase was devised for the specific purpose of meeting that situation. Bananas which cannot be exported from Jamaica are so far as possible sold or distributed free to the genuine poor and in some schools. At the present time, practically the whole surplus is being so disposed of, and a special committee is extending the system of low-price sales and free distribution. Even so, some dumping is inevitable at the periods of highest production, since transport cannot always be made available at such periods to move the fruit from the producing to the consuming areas, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that every effort is being made to consume the surplus with the minimum recourse to dumping at any time. My hon. Friend will realise that even in normal times the local consumption of bananas is considerable, and is not capable of indefinite extension.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, under the Postal Censorship (General) Order, 1941, all local postal correspondence in Jamaica must bear upon the envelopes the names and addresses of senders, and all letters not so marked are confiscated by the authorities; and, as this is an infringement of the Jamaican people's right, causing business dislocation, damage to personal relationships and other disabilities, and, in view of the limited education of the majority of the population, making the enforcement of the regulations virtually impossible, whether he will take steps to rescind these regulations?

Inquiries are being made of the Governor of Jamaica and I will communicate with my hon. Friend when a reply has been received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the petition of members of the Civil Service Association of Trinidad for the establishment of Whitley Councils upon lines now in operation in Jamaica, endorsed by Mr. W. A. Norman, labour adviser, is refused by the local government upon the grounds that the petitioning body is not fully representative of the services; and, as the establishment of such bodies was recommended by the West India Royal Commission, whether he will now recommend to the local government the initiation of these councils in Trinidad?

My Noble Friend is in communication with the Governor of Trinidad on the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further information respecting the disposal of West African cocoa and other products, and the direction of war-time economy?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the entire cocoa crop produced in the Gold Coast and Nigeria is purchased by His Majesty's Government through the West African Cocoa Control Board, and the possibility is being considered of extending this system to other products.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the increasing number of British officers in India, he will consult with the Government of India with a view to the extension of the "Say it by Numbers" scheme for cheap telegrams to and from the Forces, to be extended to India?

There is already a cheap service of telegrams with the Forces in India at 5d. a word with a minimum charge of 2s. 6d. and free address. The adoption of the standard text arrangement at a faxed charge of 2s. 6d. has already been Proposed to the Government of India, which, after careful consideration of the special local problems involved, felt unable to adopt it.

asked the Minister of Supply, as representing the Minister of Production, how many meetings of the Production Committee of the Northern Region at Newcastle were held during 1941: and how often the chairman attended?

The Production Executive Regional Board for the Northern Region met 14 times during 1941. The chairman attended each meeting.

asked the Minister of Supply, as representing the Minister of Production, whether, in view of the statement of Mr. N. Shvernik, of the Russian Workers' Delegation, indicating whereby Britain's war effort could be improved, he is taking appropriate action in the matter?

The statement referred to has been brought to the notice of my Noble Friend, who will certainly give his attention to the suggestions put forward.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the decision not to permit the temperature in Government offices to be maintained above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, he has consulted medical experts as to whether sedentary clerical work can be efficiently carried out for long periods at such a temperature?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given him by my hon. Friend the. Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings on 28th January last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in framing any coming legislation, he will take into consideration the view that more money than is desirable is still being spent on the consumption of the limited supply of commodities; and that curtailment of individual outlay is needed?

The Government have continually in mind the need for a still greater reduction in personal expenditure and measures to that end are taken as circumstances require.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings how many firms tendered for the construction of a Royal Ordnance Factory near a town the name of which has been given to him?

The two contracts for this scheme were let by the Ministry of Supply in October, 1940, some time before responsibility for the scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Works. I understand that for reasons of urgency the contracts were let without competition.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will ask the Government of the Union of South Africa for copies of the Interim and Final Report of the Commission, established by him to inquire into African urban housing, with a view to placing it in the Library of the House?

I am making inquiries as to these reports and will communicate further with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the abolition of the rank of sergeant-pilot and the promotion of all sergeant-pilots now on the establishment to the rank of pilot-officer?

No, Sir. As I explained in reply to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. Ellis Smith) on 21st January, the identity of duties of officer pilots and sergeant-pilots applies only to actual flying. The former have other duties and responsibilities which sergeant-pilots are not required to undertake. Opportunities of promotion are, of course, open to sergeant-pilots who have shown themselves suitable and are recommended for commissioned rank.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will indicate the extent of the encouragement which his Department is giving to the Women's Junior Air Corps and their work; and whether he will give favourable consideration to official recognition of the corps?

The position remains as stated in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for North Tottenham (Mr. R. C. Morrison) on 2nd July, 1941, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why Squadron-Leader E. S. Bullen, M.B.E., who had been sentenced to be reprimanded by a general court-martial held on 10th September, 1941, such sentence being duly carried out on or about 21st September, was subsequently placed on the retired list by a letter, No. A.279784/41/S. of C. (i), dated 28th October, 1941; and whether, as this compulsory retirement constitutes a second and more severe punishment for the same offence, contrary to the provisions of Section 54, sub-paragraph 2, of the Air Force Act, it is intended to replace this officer on the active list?

The answer to the first part of the Question is that this officer was considered by the Air Council to be unsuitable for retention on the active list of the Royal Air Force. As to the second part, the answer is, "No, Sir." The Air Council have power at all times to place an officer on the retired list. There has been no breach of the provisions of Section 54 of the Air Force Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the personnel and terms of reference of the committee recently appointed to examine conditions of the herring industry; and whether this committee were appointed jointly by himself and the Minister of Agriculture, so as to include both English and Scottish conditions within the scope of its survey?

Yes, Sir. I am glad to say that my right hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Midlothian (Colonel Colville) has agreed to be Chairman of this Committee. The other members are:

• Mr. F. A. Bell, M.C.
• Mr. Geoffrey Bracey.
• Provost W. W. Carstairs, J.P.
• Mr. H. A. Edwards, C.A.
• Mr. D. Hillman.
• Mr. James Watt.

The Committee has been appointed, on the recommendation of the Scottish Council of Ex-Secretaries, by myself in conjunction with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Home Secretary. Its terms of reference are:—

		Without Inquiry				After Inquiry
		Dismissed	Allowed	Punishment varied	Remitted to Chief Constable who reinstated Appellant	Dismissed	Allowed	Punishment varied
Burgh Forces	…	*10	—	1	2	2	3	—
County Forces	…	11	—	4	—	1	—	—
Total	…	21	—	5	2	3	3	—
* One appeal from a member of a Burgh force, which has since been dismissed without inquiry, was outstanding on the 31st December, 1941.
In all cases in which an inquiry was held the appellant was legally represented.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that some of the smaller firms, manufacturing clothing and other wearing apparel, periodically are short of raw materials, while larger firms have adequate supplies; and whether he will do something to assist the smaller firms?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals had been received up to 31st December, 1941, under the Police (Appeals) Act, 1927, from men who had been dismissed or ordered to resign in lieu of dismissal from the county and burgh police, respectively; in how many cases were inquiries held; in how many cases was legal aid allowed and in how many refused; in how many cases were the appeals dismissed without an inquiry being held; in how many cases were the appeals dismissed after inquiry; in how many cases were the punishments appealed from varied; in how many cases were the appeals allowed; and how many appeals were outstanding on 31st December, 1941?

Thirty-four competent appeals under the Police (Appeals) Act, 1927, had been received from the Scottish police up to the 31st December, 1941. The particulars are as follow:—

The shortages to which my hon. Friend refers are not confined to the smaller firms. The quantity of cloth now being produced for civilian clothing is only about one half of pre-war supplies, which is insufficient to keep all making-up firms fully occupied. I am, however, discussing with the raw materials controls arrangements to secure adequate supplies of cloth to all "designated" makers-up, large and small, for whom special labour arrangements have been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to lift the restrictions on hairdressers' tools, in view of the fact that all other trade tools are excluded from restrictions?

Hair clippers are not controlled under the Limitation of Supplies Orders, but I am afraid that it is not possible to regard solely as hairdressers' implements for the purposes of similar exemption scissors and razors, which are, of course, articles of general use. Hair waving and hair drying machines are normally produced by firms heavily engaged on munitions work and cannot be supplied in larger quantities than at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to ensuring equitable and proportionate supplies to wholesale houses supplying independent hairdressing establishments, he will consider the registration of these wholesalers; and whether, as under the existing regulations manufacturers tend to allocate almost exclusively to the larger sources and bigger establishments, he will make some provision whereby a supply is secured for each individual hairdressing establishment that was in existence at the outbreak of war?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to registration under the Limitation of Supplies Orders. The Home Trade Register established under the Miscellaneous Order already includes wholesalers but the Cloth and Apparel Register is confined to manufacturers, merchant converters and exporters. The Toilet Preparations Register is confined to manufacturers and exporters. I am not prepared to extend either of these latter Registers to cover wholesalers. Manufacturers have been told that so far as possible they should allocate supplies in proportion to the pre-war uses of their customers subject to adjustment for areas where there has been a substantial change of population owing to evacuation. If my hon. Friend has any particular case of inequitable distribution in mind and will give me the name of the retailer or manufacturer concerned I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the fact that horses racing under National Hunt Rules may not now be sent by train and of appeal in the papers to transport-users to provide 100,000 extra wagons and lorries, how many motor horse-boxes are used for conveying horses to meetings; and will he forbid the use of these horseboxes for this purpose?

I cannot say without detailed inquiry how many motor horseboxes are being used to convey racehorses to race meetings. The programme of meetings under National Hunt Rules has been arranged on the understanding that there would be enough horses in training in the neighbourhood of the selected courses to provide the necessary competition. After 7th March the basic fuel ration for goods vehicles will be abolished and fuel will not be made available for taking horses to these meetings except over relatively short distances.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he is aware of a system of calendar reform whereby the 12-month year is retained, every quarter of 13 weeks beginning on Sunday and ending with Saturday, the 365th day being an extra Saturday yearend holiday between 30th December and 1st January and the dates of each month each year falling upon the same week days, thus providing a simple perpetual calendar; that the League of Nations Council has recommended attention to this calendar and that some 14 nations and many public bodies have approved it; and whether he will take steps to investigate the proposal as a post-war measure in combination with other countries?

Yes, Sir. I am quite prepared to investigate this proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will issue a revised list of the monthly losses of British, German and Italian aeroplanes, respectively, from September, 1939, to December, 1941?

An analysis of British official communiques shows the total monthly losses of R.A.F., German and Italian aircraft, excluding losses in Russia, for the period September, 1939, to December, 1941, to have been as follow:

Monthly losses of R.A.F. and Enemy Aircraft September, 1939 to December, 1941.
	GERMAN	ITALIAN*	R.A.F.
1939.
September	4	—	10
October	17	—	5
November	17	—	3
December	25	—	14
Total for 1939	63	—	32
1940.
January	8	—	5
February	8	—	4
March	15	—	5
April	58	—	62
May	736	—	272
June	256	62	153
July	246	67	135
August	1,111	56	376
September	1,136	40	389
October	254	19	155
November	216	56	117
December	55	142	64
Total for 1940	4,099	442	1,737
1941.
January	108	197	36
February	65	300	82
March	120	148	70
April	260	122	185
May	348	136	153
June	282	173	227
July	295	121	286
August	166	26	293
September	140	48	213
October	109	10	184
November	141	115	235
December	244	281	228
Total for 1941	2,278	1,677	2,192
Grand total of R.A.F. losses			3,961
Grand total of Enemy losses			8,559
German losses Sept., 1939, to Dec., 1941			6,440
Italian losses Sept., 1939, to Dec., 1941			2,119*
*Enemy aircraft not definitely identified as German have been included in the Italian figures.
The enemy losses include aircraft destroyed by the Free French Air Force, but not those accounted for by naval aircraft and by the guns of His Majesty's Ships and of merchant vessels. Free French losses are not included in the figures for the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of Information to what extent the views contained in the British Broadcasting Corporation's Weekly Letter, which is read each Sunday evening, are submitted to his Department for approval?

This Weekly Letter has not been submitted to the Ministry for approval, and I see no reason to ask that this should be done.