asked the Minister of Labour why youths of Eton school were permitted to register within the school, while other youths ordinarily registered at the local employment exchange; and why, if he thought a registration point within Eton school necessary, other youths from the area surrounding the school were not also registered within the school?

This arrangement was made by the Buckinghamshire Education Authority, which undertook the responsibility for registration in its area. The general instructions issued by my Department provided that, where such a course was found to be convenient, registration could be carried out at employers' premises or at schools or other institutions, such as remand homes, instead of at the exchange or juvenile employment bureau. A similar arrangement was made by the authority for boys employed at a war factory in their area.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will amend the Employment of Women (Control of Engagements) Order, 1942, made under the Defence Regulation 58A, to secure for doctors and dentists the same exemption as is allowed to nurses, teachers, &c., and thus avoid unnecessary disturbance of the established customs of the medical profession in regard to the filling of appointments and the arrangements now in operation by the Central Medical War Committee?

Yes, Sir; after further consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health I am amending the Order as suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for India, (1) whether he is aware that meetings organised by local Soviet aid committees are banned in India; and upon whose authority this is being done;(2) upon whose authority anti-Fascist meetings are being banned in India?

I regret that I have no information, but I am making inquiries and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered a resolution from the Leigh Town Council calling his attention to the excessive expenditure and high salaries being paid under the National Fire Service and will he make a statement upon it?

I have received a copy of the resolution passed by the borough council and am making inquiries into the specific allegations of waste and improper use of Fire Service vehicles which have been made by the council. I do not accept the suggestion that unnecessarily high salaries are paid in the National Fire Service. The salaries take full account of the scales in comparable services, both national and local.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether satisfactory progress is shown in the expansion of local produce committees and allotment associations since, with the object of securing maximum domestic food production of every kind and economising tonnage, it is no longer necessary to obtain permission from the local authority or landlord for the erection of houses or equipment for stock; and whether it is intended to authorise such associations to take steps for the utilisation of uncultivated and derelict large gardens of housing estates and similar unused land?

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, local authorities, with my consent, can take possession of uncultivated gardens in suitable cases for cultivation by individuals or associations as allotments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of arable land have been requisitioned since the start of the war and how many since 1st July, 1941?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to land requisitioned by Government Departments for non-agricultural purposes. The information asked for, so far as it is readily available, is being collected and tabulated, and I will communicate in due course with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farmers are held up by the want of a policy respecting the issue of rubber tyres for tractors and trailers; is he aware that in Herefordshire 21 farmers are waiting for spare tyres; and, as the season for planting oats and barley will shortly terminate, can he give an assurance that this will not be allowed to affect next year's supplies of milk?

Present circumstances make it necessary to restrict the issue of pneumatic tyres for all types of vehicles, including tractors and trailers for essential requirements. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any instances in which food production is being interfered with by delay in the provision of tyres I will see what can be done to secure delivery in such special cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what, at any suitable date before 1st September, 1939, was the acreage under cultivation in Islay and the remainder of Argyllshire, respectively; and what now is the acreage under cultivation in these two areas?

The acreages under tillage in Islay and in the remainder of Argyllshire as at 4th June, 1939, were 4,246 acres and 16,535 acres respectively. The corresponding figures as at 4th June, 1941, were 4,976 and 21,577 acres.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in Northern Ireland with Welsh coal being supplied owing to its slow kindling and heating properties; and whether he will arrange that at least 50 per cent. of the coal supplied to Northern Ireland should be English and Scotch coal?

As I have explained to the hon. Member, who has approached me personally in the matter, a very substantial proportion of the coal now being supplied to Northern Ireland is English or Scottish. I recognise that changes in sources of supply, such as have been necessary to meet the rising tide of consumption both here and in Northern Ireland, cause temporary inconvenience and difficulty; similar inconveniences and difficulties are being experienced in many parts of England. I have explained fully to the representatives of the Northern Ireland Government and trade that I cannot give any undertakings regarding the sources from which their demands will be met; this must depend upon changing circumstances. But I feel sure that the people of Northern Ireland, recognising the necessity of these changes in the national interest, will readily co-operate with us in supporting the minor inconveniences which they entail.

asked the Attorney-General what action has been taken to release owners of property destroyed by enemy action from liability for ground rents?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act, 1941, which received the Royal assent on 7th August, 1941, which amended the Act of 1939 and extended the provisions of the earlier Act as so amended to ground leases.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the hardship caused in certain cases as the law stands at present, he will consider amending Section 13 of the Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) Act so as to make it retrospective?

The question of making Section 13 of the Landlord and Tenant (War Damage) (Amendment) Act, 1941, retrospective was carefully considered at the time when the Bill was before Parliament. To have done so would have had the effect of opening a number of transactions which had been closed. The position prior to the passing of this Section was in accordance with the ordinary law applicable when leases are surrendered, and although it was thought right to alter that law, there seemed to be no ground for doing so retrospectively.

asked the Attorney-General why Mrs. Irma Gertrude Sophie Stapleton was prosecuted under the Defence Regulations instead of under the Treachery Act, which carries the death penalty?

I understand an appeal has been entered in this case which is, therefore, sub judice. I am however having the papers submitted to me.

asked the Attorney-General whether he proposes to submit for the consideration of the court in the proceedings instituted by the trustees for an interpretation of the charity trust deed involved in Case T 1193/6/38, all the evidence which is in the possession of, and has been offered to, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue; and does he propose to call witnesses who have offered to give evidence in court?

As stated in my answer to my hon. Friend on 23rd October, 1941, the evidence must be limited to the issues raised in these proceedings. The evidence in the possession of the Crown to which I think my hon. Friend refers is not relevant to those issues but is being considered with regard to the other issues raised by this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will expedite the appointment of lady welfare officers for the county of Buckinghamshire; whether, on appointment, they will become members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and, if so, in what rank?

One lady welfare officer has already been appointed in the County of Buckinghamshire, but her application for an honorary commission in the Auxiliary Territorial Service has only just reached the War Office. All lady welfare officers are eligible to be considered for honorary commissions in the Auxiliary Territorial Service if they so desire, in the rank (unpaid) of Junior Commander.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, to enable promising cadets from the ranks to sustain the financial responsibilities of officers, he will consider advising commanding officers to abandon the chit system in messes in regard to the payment of drink and tobacco?

I do not consider that the chit system in messes leads to an undue expenditure by officers. In fact without it commanding officers would have great difficulty in exercising any sort of supervision over the expenditure of officers in mess. Moreover the substitution of a system of immediate cash payment would cause considerable inconvenience in a number of ways, such as the necessity for holding substantial sums in cash and a less simple accounting system.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is intended that miners, because of the peculiar nature of their work, are to be granted additional supplies of soap under the rationing scheme?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith) on 18th February, 1942.

asked the Minister of Information whether, in view of the growing tendency of the British Broadcasting Corporation to interpose their own version of such news as that of the recent incident in the Channel between the news summary and the official communique, and the consequent irritation of the public thereby, he will take steps to put an end to this practice?

My right hon. Friend will look into this question and discuss it with the B.B.C.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements are being made for the inspection of Camp Offlag VI B, where the conditions are very bad, with a view to some improvement being affected; and whether, in view of the danger of the outbreak of an epidemic, of typhus or some similar disease, as a result of the bad conditions, he will consider sending supplies of anti-typhus serum to the camp?

This camp has been visited four times since October by either the International Red Cross Committee or the protecting Power. The most recent visit was by the protecting Power or; the 20th January, but a report on this visit has not yet been received. A certain amount of improvement in the conditions at Oflag VI B has, however, certainly taken place during this period; in particular brick huts are being built for the accommodation of prisoners and overcrowding has been reduced by moving a number of officers to other camps. Medical supplies for the prevention and treatment of typhus have already been sent to Oflag VI B by the British Red Cross and some typhus vaccine has been sent to the International Red Cross Committee for the inoculation of British medical personnel in those camps where the International Red Cross Committee consider it necessary. In addition the protecting Power has reported that a formal assurance has been given by the responsible official of the German General Staff that all measures for preventing the spread of the typhus epidemic have been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a case, details of which have been sent to him, in which German officer prisoners of war have been buying lamb's wool socks and have been allowed other privileges; and will he take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence?

I understand that the case to which my hon. Friend refers concerned a German medical officer, who would fall within the category of protected personnel. German protected personnel are entitled to receive the full pay of their equivalent rank in the British Forces and to take exercise under escort outside the confines of their camp. They are, however, not permitted to enter any house or shop or to make purchases except at the camp canteen. I have not yet received a full report on the particular case, but as soon as I do I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether unused coupons on present clothing cards will be valid if tendered after 31st May, 1942?

Yes, Sir. The coupons on the proper clothing cards will continue valid after 31st May, but the coupons marked "margarine" will not be valid after that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered approaching the Saudi Arabian Government regarding the withdrawal of the Italian Legation at Jedda?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government requested the Saudi Arabian Government some time ago to ask the Italian Government to withdraw their legation from Jedda. In view of the cordial relations which exist between Saudi Arabia and this country, the Saudi Arabian Government agreed to this request. The Italian Minister and his staff, accompanied by five civilian residents of Jedda, left on 8th February on their way back to Italy.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a court of inquiry, presided over by a High Court judge, into the retreats of the British Army from Dunkirk, Norway, Greece, Crete, Malaya and Benghazi?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a number of businesses are seeking, often upon advice, to borrow from their banks for the purpose of taking up Tax Reserve Certificates; and whether this course has the approval of the Government?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this matter. It is entirely contrary to the wishes of the Government that subscriptions to Tax Reserve Certificates should be financed by borrowed money. I have already announced that the main purpose of the certificates is to help taxpayers who have material sums to meet by direct payment to set aside those sums as their profits or incomes accrue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that Income Tax will not be assessed on any part of the price received for requisitioned securities on the ground that accrued interest is included?

Income Tax is not chargeable on any part of the price received for requisitioned securities on the ground that the price includes accrued interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what "knock for knock" agreements have been entered into with insurance companies; and in what terms?

Under a "knock for knock" agreement proper, each party undertakes to make no claim against the other in connection with any collision in which both parties are interested, provided that the material damage on either side does not exceed a prescribed financial limit which usually varies from £100 to £200, but to bear in full the amount of the damage in which it is interested. Under a "halving agreement" the amount of the damage in which the parties are interested is aggregated and shared equally, provided that the damage on either side does not exceed a prescribed financial limit of the same order. Under a third party agreement the cost arising out of a third party claim is shared equally by the two parties, subject to a prescribed financial limit not being exceeded which in this type of agreement is most commonly between £1,000 and £2,000. Agreements on these lines have been entered into with many insurance companies and other bodies (such as transport undertakings) on behalf of all the vehicle-using Departments. These agreements are beneficial to both parties; the work arising from collisions and legal and other costs are greatly reduced.

asked the Minister of Health what was the amount taken from the contributions to National Health Insurance and transferred to the Contributory Old Age Pension Fund for the years 1940 and 1941; and what sum has been added to it by the Treasury?

The amounts taken from the combined Health and Pensions contributions and paid into the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pension Accounts (England, Wales and Scotland) for the financial years ended 31st March, 1940, and 31st March, 1941, were £32,716,000 and £43,731,000, respectively. The Exchequer contribution is paid into the Treasury Pensions Account under Section 14 (3) of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1936, and was £18,000,000 in the year ended 31st March, 1940, and £19,000,000 in the year ended 31st March, 1941. Any deficiency in the Pensions Accounts is met by transfer from the Treasury Pensions Account and sums of £16,350,000 and £13,045,000 were so transferred in the respective years.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the dissatisfaction felt both by hotel and boarding-house keepers and by civil service billetees, he proposes to consider some improved revision of the amounts now sanctioned?

Proposals to increase the allowance payable to the billetors of civil servants have recently been given careful consideration, but I do not agree that any revision is called for. The £1 1s 0d. paid to billetors covers the provision of accommodation and two meals a day, and this sum is in scale with the rates payable to the billetors of members of the Armed Forces who are required to provide accommodation and all meals.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to deal with any cases of typhus fever which may come into this country and to prevent the spreading of the disease; and whether he has any intention of using or advocating the use of the vaccine made from typhus-infected intestines of lice?

The precautions which have been taken against typhus include a close watch by medical officers at ports and airports; the organisation and training of special mobile diagnostic and sanitary teams; arrangements for confirmatory diagnosis by experts; plans by local authorities for prompt isolation, hospital treatment and supervision of contacts; and a general intensification of delousing and cleansing of verminous conditions, for which local authorities have recently been given additional powers. The reply to the second part of the Question is "No."

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department receives information from medical officers of health regarding cases of diphtheria and deaths from that disease occurring in immunised children; and, if not, what other information the officials of his Department receive as to the occurrence of such cases and deaths?

Returns which local authorities are asked to furnish periodically regarding immunisation of children against diphtheria show the number of cases of diphtheria notified during the period concerned and the number of these cases in which the child had received a full course of inoculation. Deaths attributed to diphtheria are recorded in the usual course by the Registrar-General; the notification of death does not provide for information as to immunisation.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria, and deaths from that disease, have been recorded in Leicester in each of the years 1932 to 1941?

I am making inquiries and will communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will discontinue the present practice of reducing a pensioner's supplementation because the pensioner has had a subsequent award from the War Service Grants Committee?

Arrangements have already been made between my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and the Assistance Board whereby in future the award of a war service grant to a supplementary pensioner will not necessitate any adjustment of the supplementary pension.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire into the case of Mrs. Gwladys Fenn, who left the employment of the Joint Counties Mental Hospital, Carmarthen, in 1940, after 26 years' service, to get married; and why she was refused by the committee any refund of her superannuation contributions?

The matter is one within the discretion of the visiting committee of the mental hospital, but I am making inquiries and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information regarding the effect on the cereals position in Egypt of purchases for the British Forces in that country?

Yes, Sir; and I am happy to take this opportunity of refuting the allegations, freely spread by Axis broadcasts, that purchases for our Forces are a primary cause of the present shortage of cereals in Egypt. The following are the official figures of total purchases of Egyptian-grown wheat and maize made by the British forces from 1st January to 31st December, 1941:—

• Wheat and wheat flour, 24,235 tons.
• Maize and maize flour, 7,805 tons.

Normally the wheat crop of Egypt amounts to well over 1,250,000 tons and the maize crop to well over 1,500,000 tons. Owing to adverse conditions estimates for crops of 1941 are nearer to 1,000,000 tons and 1,250,000 tons respectively. But in any case, the above totals of purchases by British Forces are obviously negligible in comparison with the total crops and cannot in any way be regarded as a cause of the shortage. So far from this being the case, we were able by the end of 1941 to deliver to Egypt on account of the Egyptian Government from overseas 24,061 tons of wheat and wheat flour and 12,501 tons of maize, that is to say a greater quantity of these cereals, considered together, than was purchased by our Forces from Egyptian supplies during the year; and since then we have delivered, and continue to deliver, to them further considerable tonnages. Moreover, the greater part of the purchases in question during the year 1941 were made from the produce of the previous year when crops were far from being below normal. Indeed, before the danger of local shortage was appreciated, British Forces were being strongly pressed by responsible Egyptians and by public opinion to buy more Egyptian cereals and not less. Thus figures for the last five months of 1941 show that only 3,755 tons of wheat and wheat flour and 500 tons of maize and maize flour were bought by our Forces from local supplies. Finally, since 1st September, 1941, British Forces have made no purchases of Egyptian cereals whatever except in agreement with the competent authorities of the Egyptian Government after discussion in the Joint Anglo-Egyptian Committee for Co-ordination of Purchases. This procedure continues in operation.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for a badge to be issued to personnel who have served in the Forces and been discharged, and who, in cases where they are ineligible for a pension are not at present entitled to any badge indicative of their services and accordingly suffer invidious and unwarranted criticism?

The issue of the authorised badge is restricted to those invalided from the Naval, Military and Air Forces, and the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet, through wounds or war disablement attributable to service since 3rd September, 1939, and I do not consider that any alteration should be made in the qualifications.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food at what date the decision was taken by the Ministry to add synthetic vitamin B1 to the Government's fortified white loaf; is he aware that early in 1939 an agreement was made by which the British milling industry gave Roche Products, Limited, exclusive rights to supply synthetic vitamin B1 for addition to white flour; and, as this agreement restricts the sources of supply, what steps have been taken to prevent delay in fulfilling the Ministry's programme?

The decision referred to in the first part of the Question was taken by the Government on 4th July, 1940. As regards the remainder of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to his Questions of 21st January, 1941, and 8th January, 1942.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information in connection with the hoarding of food by the members of the Wealdstone Club and the 60 summonses heard at the Wealdstone Police Court, on 10th February; what were the various kinds of food found in a large refrigerator; and what action was taken about this matter?

No evidence was secured, in the case referred to, of hoarding by members of the Wealdstone Club. The following persons and firms were, however, prosecuted at the instance of the Ministry of Food and were convicted and sentenced as detailed below:

(1) Clarke, the manager of the club, for buying margarine, preserves, sugar, bacon, butter and meat in excess of the prescribed amounts and for obtaining cheese, cooking fats and lard without permit and for buying jam and sardines in excess of the maximum price, and for allowing 42 lbs. of flour to deteriorate and be wasted—six sentences of one month's imprisonment to run consecutively.

(2) Messrs. William Brothers, Direct Supply Stores, Limited, for supplying the foods mentioned above, other than meat, and for selling jam and sardines in excess of the maximum price—fined £70 on each of 13 summonses and ordered to pay £52 costs.

(3). The manager of the above firm convicted of the same offences—fined £13.

(4). Messrs. Rance and Goldhawk, butchers, for supplying meat in excess of the prescribed amounts—fined go with 4 guineas costs.

(5). The manager of Messrs. Rance and Goldhawk for the same offence—fined £5 with 2 guineas costs.

(6). Cashier of the above firm for aiding and abetting—fined £3.

Margarine, bacon, cooking fat and cheese were found in the refrigerator and all quantities of these foods which were in excess of one week's supply, have been requisitioned and properly disposed of.

asked the Home Secretary whether the two boys aged 9 and 10 years whose' mother and father were sent to prison for six months for wilfully neglecting the children are being put in some home; and whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Mr. Perry, on Monday, 9th February, at the Halifax police court?

I have ascertained that the justices decided to commit the two boys, aged eight and four respectively, to the care of the West Riding Education Authority with a view to a suitable foster-home being found for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how much it would cost to restore the cuts imposed in 1935 on retired officers' pensions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the general terms of the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 18th February to a similar question regarding Army officers. So far as Royal Air Force officers are concerned, the estimated additional cost, corresponding to that given for Army officers, would be approximately £17,000 a year for those at present in receipt of retired pay, and between £40,000 and £50,000 a year for those who may be expected to be in receipt of retired pay at the end of the war.