asked the Minister of Health whether adequate steps are being taken to deal with Home Guard and civilian casualties in districts temporarily cut off from communication with control centres in the event of the failure of telephone and road communication resulting from invasion?

The plans made in the regions take account of the possibility of districts being isolated in the manner suggested in the Question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many villages, even in areas presumed to be most likely to bear the brunt of invasion, contain neither medical supplies nor first-aid personnel; and whether action will be taken without delay to alter this position?

Considerable progress has already been made in providing first-aid facilities in villages to meet the risks of invasion, and the Regional Commissioners concerned are taking steps to see that the arrangements are as complete as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has dealt with the recent appeal from the decision of a local medical war committee declining to approve of a commission for the only doctor willing to accept one in an area for which the group commander urgently required a medical officer; what has been the result of the appeal, seeing that both the local medical war committee and his own Department refused to hear personal representations from the Home Guard authorities; and whether he will now report on this case?

If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the case to which he refers I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Pensions the position under the War Injuries Act of an old age pensioner under the contributory or other scheme; and whether, if such person employed in industry for the national war effort is killed by enemy action, his wife or other dependant is to be given a pension or gratuity?

If an old age pensioner employed in industry and substantially dependent on his earnings is killed by enemy action, compensation in accordance with the conditions of the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme may be paid to his widow, children and certain other dependants as in the case of any other gainfully occupied person.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the measures of price regulation of agricultural products to meet the extra farming costs which have ensued upon the fixation of agricultural workers' wages and other increases in expenditure on production?

The revised schedule of agricultural prices was announced on 20th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now prepared to extend the proposed subsidy for hill cattle in Scotland to the hill cattle in England and Wales?

The Scottish scheme for encouraging the grazing of cattle on hill pastures has been discussed during the past tell days by officers of my Department at conferences with representatives of county war agricultural executive committees in the North of England and in Wales. As soon as I have received the reports of these meetings I propose to give further consideration to this problem and will notify my hon. and gallant Friend when a decision has been reached on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether details of licences granted to exhibitors and trainers of performing animals are still being collated as required by the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act, 1925; and, if not, how long ago is it since the practice was discontinued?

The collation of these details is not required by the Act, but certain particulars from the copies of certificates of registration, which are transmitted to me by local authorities, are summarised up to date in the Home Office.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make inquiries as to the methods adopted in the training of the performing animals known as Royals' Famous Cats and Dogs?

I will have inquiries made, but it would be helpful if my hon. Friend would send me the information which has prompted him to make this request.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of overtime paid in his Department during the last month for which the figures are available; is he satisfied that each person drawing overtime has worked fully in all ordinary time; and in what manner this is checked?

The sum of £9,362 15s. 4d. was paid for overtime in the month of January to the officers in those grades in which overtime is payable. Overtime as well as ordinary time worked is recorded in attendance books and is supervised and checked in all cases by senior officers, and I have no reason to doubt that those drawing overtime have performed their ordinary full time duties.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of overtime paid in his Department during the last month for which the figures are available; is he satisfied that each person drawing overtime has worked fully in all his ordinary time; and in what manner this is checked?

The amount paid during the month of January was £420, and since the recipients are members of the staff working under regular supervision the answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the functions, qualifications and remuneration of public relations officers; and the names of persons now holding these posts?

The functions of public relations officers may be broadly described as the promotion of a proper understanding between their Departments and the general public. The selection of

asked the Minister of Labour the amount paid as unemployment pay to men and women in the administrative county of Durham and the county boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields during the years 1938 to 1941?

In the whole of the County Durham, including the county boroughs, the total amount paid in 1938, direct through the Employment Exchanges, in unemployment insurance benefit and unemployment allowances was approximately £5,067,700, inclusive of £4,414 paid by way of allowances in supplementation of insurance benefit. Corre- sponding figures have not been compiled for any of the years 1938–41 in respect of the administrative county of Durham or of the county boroughs of Sunderland or South Shields; nor are such figures available for Durham County as a whole for the years 1939 to 1941.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the withdrawal of Regulation 6 of the Unemployment Insurance (Emergency Powers) Regulation, 1939, which suspends refunds of overpaid contribution, seeing that hardship often results from this?

I have given consideration to this matter. It is impracticable under war-time conditions to maintain the Departmental records in a form enabling the payment of the contributions of which a refund is claimed to be verified without a wholly disproportionate use of clerical labour. It was for this reason that the Emergency Regulation was made and I regret that I do not see my way to cancel it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the serious effect on the public convenience caused by the withdrawal for National Service of skilled men from the distribution of food; and whether he will approach the Minister of Home Security to secure that men in the National Fire Service, and other Defence Services, who are skilled in the manner indicated, shall be allowed to volunteer their services for the distribution of food, so far as this would not affect their efficiency in the National Service?

I am not aware that any serious inconvenience to the public has been caused by the withdrawal from food distribution of men for National Service. Indeed, by collaboration with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, care is taken that the withdrawal of both men and women from the food trades shall not seriously interfere with food distribution. The question whether members of Civil Defence Services and of the Armed Forces can be brought in to give further assistance in food distribution is being considered. Arrangements already exist with the Army authorities for the use of troops for unloading foodstuffs into warehouses and for similar work.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is his intention to call up single women under the age of 30 who are employed in the General Post Office on walking or cycling rounds?

By arrangement with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, I have decided to withdraw from the Post Office mobile women aged 20–25 inclusive on the date of their registration who are employed as post-women otherwise than on motor-driving duties.

asked the Minister of Labour why the Employment of Women (Control of Engagement) Order, 1942, makes no provision for consulting the Central Medical War Committee, the Central Pharmaceutical War Committee, the Central Dental War Committee, and the Central Optical War Committee; and what steps he proposes to take to enable these committees to continue to supply women personnel as they have done hitherto?

As regards the Central Medical War Committee and the Central Dental War Committee, I would refer to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Blackburn (Captain Elliston) on 19th February. As regards the Central Pharmaceutical War Committee and the Central Optical War Committee, I am approving these committees as agencies under the Order.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider bringing dairymaids within the jurisdiction of the Essential Work Orders in order to avoid these experienced key workers leaving for other occupations?

Under the Registration for Employment Order and the National Service Acts, dairymaids are regarded as being in an industry from which women engaged in whole-time work will not be withdrawn. I have consulted my right hon. Friends, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Secretary of State for Scotland, who are of the opinion that the application of the Essential Work Orders to this class of employment is not desirable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, instead of closing down training centres, he will consider offering them to the War Office for the purpose of training soldiers?

I consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War before reaching a decision.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that lads in the Air Training Cadets, Southwark Squadron, on reaching call-up age, are being directed to the Army instead of to the Royal Air Force; that this is not in accord with the promise made to the cadets provided that they made themselves efficient; that the time and effort spent in their specialised training are thereby wasted; that this procedure is acting as a deterrent to recruiting for the Air Training Cadets; and will he take steps to ensure that the cadets already transferred to the Army, as well as those to be called up later, are given the opportunity of service in the Royal Air Force, or placed on deferred service when there are no immediate vacancies?

Instructions were issued in connection with the registration of youths of the 1923 age class on 13th December last to ensure that Air Training cadets were given the opportunity of being considered for the Royal Air Force. I am riot aware of any case where a cadet of the Southwark squadron has been enlisted in the Army without having had this opportunity, but I am prepared to consider any individual case of the kind that may be brought to my notice, and if necessary to approach my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the difficulties involved by the de-reservation of saddlers at 35 years of age; and whether, in view of the increased activity of agriculture with the consequential great demand for skilled work in connection with harness, he will take steps to ensure that key men are not withdrawn unless it is possible to replace them?

Provision is already made for the deferment of the calling up of any saddlers below the age of reservation whose services are regarded by the War Agricultural Executive Committee as necessary for agriculture.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of Treasury deposit receipts which have been issued since their inception up to 31st January, 1942, and the amount outstanding on that date, together with the amounts which have been converted into 2½ and 3 per cent. Government securities?

Up to the 31st January, 1942, Treasury deposit receipts had been issued to the total amount of £1,904,000,000. On that date the amount outstanding was £764,500,000, £225,000,000 had been converted into Government securities carrying 2½ per cent. interest and £46,000,000 into Government securities carrying 3 per cent. interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in connection with the calls which are made on the banks for the provision of Treasury deposit receipts, he can state the proportions that are called for from the London clearing and Scottish banks and the Empire banks, respectively; and whether there is any regulation providing for an agreed percentage?

The division of the total amount called from the various parties is arranged from time to time through the Bank of England with the institutions concerned. There is no regulation providing for an agreed percentage.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the regulations governing the sending of parcels to Service men now on duty out East; can articles of food be sent; and are there limitations of weight or size?

The postage rates on parcels for members of His Majesty's Forces serving overseas (including those on duty out East) are 9d. for a parcel up to 3 lb. in weight; 1s. 6d. for 7 lb.; 2s. 0d. for 11 lb.; and 3s. 6d. for 22 lb. The maximum weight is 22 lbs., and the maximum dimensions are length 3 feet 6 inches; length and girth combined 6 feet. Foodstuffs may not be sent.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings, what complaints he has received from local authorities, or persons, in regard to the carelessness with which scheduled railings have been removed; and what steps are being taken to ensure that more care is exercised?

Having regard to the extent of the work in hand, comparatively few complaints have been received about the way in which railings have been removed. All men engaged on this work have received very strict instructions to use the greatest care, in order that no unnecessary damage to the property may be caused. The need for close supervision is fully realised and is being exercised as far as is practicable.