asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information about the case of Sergeant J. Mackenzie, Scots Guards, the Tower of London, being punished for allowing two guardsmen to escape from their cells in the Tower of London; and how many soldier prisoners are now in the Tower?

Sergeant J. Mackenzie was found guilty of allowing two soldiers to escape from the unit detention room in the Tower of London, and was sentenced to be reprimanded. On the day of the incident there were at the Tower four soldiers awaiting trial and four in detention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that considerable doubt exists as to the adequacy of the establishment strength of the units of the Royal Air Force Regiment now taking over aerodrome defences; and will he review these establishments before the Army personnel are withdrawn?

No, Sir. The defence requirements of all aerodromes throughout the country have only very recently been reviewed by the War Office and the Air Ministry, and it was on the basis of this review that the establishment strength of the units of the Royal Air Force Regiment were settled.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what persons constitute the Claims Commission; by whom are they appointed; by whom can their appointment be terminated; and from whom do they receive instructions as to the conduct of their duties?

The members of the Claims Commission are: —

• Major-General H. C. Cole, C.B.E., President.
• Representatives of
• (a) General Staff, War Office.
• (b) Adjutant - General, War Office.
• (c) Quartermaster-General, War Office.
• (d) Finance Branches, War Office.
• Chairman of Accident Offices Association.
• Chairman of Lloyd's.
• Two Assistant Directors of Claims.

They are appointed by the Army Council, by whom their appointment can be terminated, and from whom they receive instructions as to the conduct of their duties.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, when civilian evidence is known to be available with regard to the conduct of a driver of an Army vehicle involved in a collision, such evidence is obtained and considered with a view to possible disciplinary action against the driver concerned.

The driver of an Army vehicle who has caused a collision is placed on a charge and brought before his commanding officer, who obtains all the evidence from civilian witnesses, including the police, that he considers necessary to enable him to dispose of the case from the disciplinary aspect.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War what is the present staff in the department of the Chief Inspector of Mechanical Transport?

The present establishment of the department of the Chief Inspector of Mechanical Transport is 54 officers and 163 civilians.

asked the Postmaster-General whether anything further can be done to speed up the delivery of letters to the Forces in the Mediterranean area?

So far as surface mails are concerned, I am afraid I can hold out no prospect of early improvement in the time of transmission of letters for the Forces in the Mediterranean area. As regards air mails, a considerable improvement has already been effected by the introduction of 3d. air postcards and air-graphs, both of which are conveyed all the way by air to the Middle East, and the possibility of effecting further improvement in air communication with the Forces is being closely examined in collaboration with the Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Supply how often and on what principle he has exercised his discretion under the Defence Regulations for the making or publishing of any newspaper, magazine, or periodical that was not printed, made and published in the United Kingdom before the 16th August, 1940?

This discretion has been exercised in respect of 61 publications, most of them periodicals for Allied nationals in this country. The criterion has been whether the new publication meets some special need arising from war conditions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in view of the recent Order whereby people may be prosecuted for wasting paper, what action will be taken in the case of Government Departments where it is proved that wastage of paper is taking place; and whether steps are being taken to ensure that Government Departments are treated on exactly the same footing as the civilian population?

The Order in question relates to used paper and is designed to ensure that it should be made available for repulping. Arrangements are already in force throughout the Government service for the collection and repulping of paper which cannot be further used.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what are the duties and salary of the social manager employed by the Ministry of Food at Colwyn Bay; what staff he has at his disposal, and at what cost; and how he justifies the functions of this post?

This officer takes official responsibility for the social, recreational, and canteen arrangements for the staff in Colwyn Bay, numbering nearly 5,000, of whom over 1,300 are in official billets. In this he is assisted by a small clerical staff. His salary is £725, and, in addition, he is granted free accommodation at the social centre. The appointment carries out the policy of making adequate provision for the recreational and catering needs of evacuated officers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that an intimation has been given by the War Damage Commission that no second or third claim may be lodged in respect of temporary works payments until any first claim has been agreed and settled in full; and whether he will immediately take steps to mitigate the hardship involved in this regulation, whereby large claims may be held up for many months pending the settlement of a former comparatively small claim?

No, Sir. I am informed by the War Damage Commission that no such regulation as that mentioned by my hon. Friend has been made by them. If, however, he has any particular case in mind in which such a suggestion appears to have been made and will give me the details, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to the stabilisation of wages and salaries and the elimination of unnecessary spending, he will consider the introduction of a system of part payment by deferred credits as a wartime provision?

There is already provision for deferred credits of substantial amounts in respect of Income Tax deducted from wages. I do not think it necessary or advisable to impose the part payment of wages by means of deferred credits, with the many complications of detail entailed by the variety of individual circumstances.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the steep rise in the retail selling price of green vegetables, fresh spring produce for salads and rhubarb, all of which are uncontrolled; and whether, in view of the regular demand for each of these foodstuffs, he will include them in the new list of maximum control prices orders?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that cabbages and sprouts, sold before the war at 1d. and 2d. per pound, are now 9d. and 10d. per pound; and will he take steps to reduce these prices?

I am aware that the retail prices of certain green vegetables have increased. These increases are mainly accounted for by the prolonged period of frost, which caused serious damage to crops. The season for most winter green vegetables is nearly over, and it is not intended, therefore, to introduce price control for these vegetables at this stage. Supplies of salad crops are still very limited, but prices of tomatoes, cucumbers and green onions are already controlled. As supplies have become more plentiful, the price of rhubarb has declined, and I see no reason to introduce price control for this crop at the present time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that bread is delivered several times a week from Sheffield into Heanor and other towns in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, a distance of between 30 and 40 miles; and whether, in view of the need for economy in petrol and the capacity of the local bakers to supply local requirements, he will take steps to inquire into this matter with a view to terminating this practice?

I have already taken steps to obtain information as to whether it would be in the national interest to curtail the long-distance transportation of bread to which my hon. Friend has referred.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will take steps to increase fines for offences such as that of manufacturing or selling a poultry food 100 per cent. sawdust by at least an amount sufficient to take all profits away?

The recent case, on which my hon. and gallant Friend probably bases his Question, was not prosecuted under any of the Food Regulations but at the instance of a local authority under the Merchandise Marks Act. The maximum penalties for offences against the food and other wartime regulations have, as my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, been recently increased in the manner suggested. The question of increase of penalties under the Merchandise Marks Act is not for my Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that sheep graded in the South of Scotland are being sent alive to the North of England although there are at least four slaughter-houses fully equipped and capable of handling these sheep in close proximity to the grading centre; and what steps he proposes to take to stop the waste of meat, money and transport involved?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that sheep graded in the South of Scotland are sent alive to the North of England and also that the slaughtering facilities available in Scotland would be capable of slaughtering these sheep. My hon. Friend, is, however, mistaken in assuming that the present methods result in the waste of meat, money and transport. The reverse is true. The shrinkage of live animals in transit is small as compared with the loss which occurs when carcases and offals have to be transported often to places off the main line in the North of England. My Noble Friend sees no reason for amending the present procedure.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the intention of the Minister that retail establishments having a proportionately large trade in canned fruits should enlarge the scope of their business in other points-rationed goods by virtue of the points collected against the sale of their canned fruit allocations; and, if not, will he take steps to deal with the problems involved?

Yes, Sir. Traders may use the points collected from their customers to purchase any point rationed foods which they are licensed to sell.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage industrial workers to take as many meals as they can in works canteens; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to make that policy abundantly clear to the people concerned?

It is the desire of my Noble Friend and I understand of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that workers should take full advantage in the interests of health and efficiency of the facilities offered by works canteens. This policy which has been the subject of consultation with employers' and workers' representatives, is, I consider, well understood by all concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether lie will take legislative steps to amend the Acquisition of Food (Excessive Quantities) Order, 1939, so as to provide that no person shall be penalised for saving a portion of his own rations as a reserve for leaner times?

I hope to he in a position to make a statement on this Question to-morrow.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that under schemes organised by the regional transport commissioner in South Wales retail deliveries of bread have been restricted to three days per week, while wholesalers are still permitted to deliver bread on each day of the week, thus giving the wholesalers an unfair advantage; and if he will take steps to remove this injustice?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Sir R. Clarry) on 3rd March, 1942.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the wholemeal bread, now made compulsory upon all purchasers and consumers, contains the 95 per cent. wholemeal of the loaf made in the last war?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in assuming that bread was at any time during the last war made exclusively from flour of 95 per cent. extraction. When the change recently announced becomes fully effective the national loaf will be of 85 per cent. extraction, which is somewhat less than the maximum rate of extraction reached in the great war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps it is proposed to take to obtain other feeding stuffs for cattle, pigs and poultry as a result of the decision to introduce the national wholemeal loaf for human consumption?

During the remainder of the winter rationing period which ends on 3oth April, the supplies of cereal feeding stuffs available will be sufficient to maintain the existing rates of ration. During the summer period, much smaller quantities of purchased cereal feeding stuffs are needed and the summer rates of ration will be maintained by releasing a limited quantity of maize now held in reserve. The position with regard to next winter will be reviewed when more information is available about prospective supplies from home crops and other sources.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to a report made on 12th March, by the North Midland Reginal Price Regulation Committee, urging immediate regulation and price control for accommodation, meals and spirits, which matters are reserved to his Department by the Board of Trade; and whether he proposes to take action in this connection to end public exploitation, or whether he will transfer to the Board of Trade the consideration of these matters so that they may fall within the ambit of the several price regulation committees?

No, Sir. I have not seen the report referred to and I am not aware that, as my hon. Friend suggests, the question of price control for accommodation is reserved to my Department. The recommendations of the Committee with regard to prices charged for meals and spirits will receive consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will arrange some method whereby customers at British Restaurants may make suggestions for improvements?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his suggestion. Two or three alternative methods will be instituted at once in a few typical British Restaurants as an experiment with a view to the general adoption of the one found most suitable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the number of eggs which a producer owning more than 50 head of poultry may use in his own household, or any residential establishment used by him?

An owner may use, if he wishes, all the eggs produced by his 50 hens in the manner mentioned by my hon. Friend. No maximum number of eggs has been prescribed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the reduction of superfluous dairy rounds is being delayed because local food offices make it impossible for these rounds to be transferred or amalgamated on a business-like basis; and whether, in view of the urgency of this problem, he will make arrangements to reduce the right of customers in such circumstances to re-register with whom they like and to permit their transfer automatically from the dairyman closing down to the dairyman taking over his business or merging with him?

This matter is ceiving my Noble Friend's close attention and has recently been discussed with representatives of distributors in connection with proposals for the rationalisation of retail distribution. He hopes to be able to make a statement on it at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the resentment felt by the population of the Vaynor and Penderyn rural district against the abolition of the food control committee for the area, and its inclusion in the Merthyr Tydfil food control area; and if he will have this position re-examined?

I am not aware of the resentment referred to by my hon. Friend. It is proposed to establish a joint food office to cover the combined areas of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil and of the rural district of Vaynor and Penderyn, but the separate food control committees for Merthyr Tydfil and for Vaynor and Penderyn will continue to function and will be able to safeguard the individual interests of their resopective areas. The food office for the rural district of Vaynor and Penderyn has always been situated in Merthyr Tydfil. The general policy of my Department is to set up joint offices, wherever practicable, in towns in which two or more food offices exist, as it is found that economy in administration and a saving in manpower results, without any detriment to the efficiency of food. control, or any inconvenience to residents in the two areas.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the chief French possession in India, Pondicherry, has been brought under the complete control of the Indian Government, including all external communications; and have the port facilities of the province been given over to any supplementary needs of Indian defence?

No, Sir. Pondicherry, with the rest of French India, has declared for Free France and is therefore Allied territory. The closest collaboration exists between the Governments of British and French India in all matters of common concern.

asked the Minister of Labour whether Territorials called up at the outbreak of war have the same guarantee to be taken back into their former civil occupation, as those since called up under the Military Service Acts?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that some National Health Insurance members, medically certified as totally incapacitated, and thereby entitled to draw sickness benefit, are being declared by the Appeals Tribunal, under the Fire Watching Order, as liable to undertake fire-watching duties; and will he take action and declare that such decisions, as applied to medically certified totally incapacitated cases, are ultra vires?

This kind of case will no longer be able to occur under our new arrangements for dealing with applications for exemption from fire prevention duties on medical grounds. The only case that has been brought to our notice was at Rhondda and there the local authority did not enrol the persons in question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in any of the insular colonies of the West Indies, there are any midwives employed and paid directly by the local governments or by local municipal and rural authorities; and what is the number of those so employed in proportion to the number of births per colony?

The Governments of the following West Indian island colonies employ midwives or nurses known to be qualified as midwives. Jamaica, Trinidad, Leeward Islands, Grenada, Dominica and St. Vincent. I have no information as to the number of midwives employed by the other Colonial governments concerned or by the local municipal and rural authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any plans for a composite complete colonial nursing course for the training in Great Britain of Europeans bent on a colonial nursing course or of colonial-born nursing students of any race or colour has yet been considered by the Colonial Office in planning for future colonial nursing services; whether hospital associations or local authorities in Great Britain have ever been approached on a considered scheme; and whether he can make any statement on a future colonial nursing policy?

I can assure my hon. Friend that active steps are being taken regarding the planning of appropriate training of European women for work in colonial medical and health services as well as that of colonial-born students of any race or colour as nurses, midwives and health visitors. As these schemes are not complete, the second part of the Question does not yet arise, but I am obliged to my hon. Friend for his suggestion. A full statement on future colonial nursing policy must await completion of this preliminary work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there are any recognised courses of training, with proper systematised tuition and practical experience, of midwives in the West Indian Colonies; what supervision the local government exercise over the examination standards; whether any diplomas or examination certificates are given; and whether such diplomas are recognised in all the West Indian islands or only in the colony of training?

There are examinations for midwives conducted by Government medical officers in all the West Indian Colonies and diplomas or certificates of competency are issued by the Colonial Governments. I regret that the information requested in the first and last parts of the Question is not available. But I am making inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that fully-qualified West African nurses are unable to secure posts as sisters or matrons in West African hospitals; whether he proposes to take any steps to remove this colour disqualification; and whether he is considering proposals to revise hospital administration so as to encourage and permit suitably trained and qualified West Africans to secure any medical or administrative post in their own country?

It is the declared policy of Government that there should be no discrimination on the ground of colour in filling appointments in the Government Service in West Africa. It is true that no African nurses have so far been appointed as sisters or matrons in West African Government hospitals, but there is no rule which debars them from obtain- ing these higher appointments as suitable candidates become available. As regards the last part of the Question, continuous efforts are being made to ensure to West Africans careers commensurate with their talents, training and qualifications.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can explain the method for the compulsory recruitment of native labourers to work on European farms in Northern Rhodesia; will the regulations provide for age categories; will any distinction be drawn between the liability of married and single men; and will the Government Department concerned have power to fix the rates of wages and hours of labour for this conscripted labour?

My Noble Friend is not in possession of this information. The scheme is for a period of two months only; and during that time not more than 600 additional labourers are required. As it is expected that some of these will offer themselves voluntarily the number to be obtained by compulsory methods is therefore very small. The Governor has, however, been asked for a report on these matters.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now give the figures for the incidence of gingivitis in the civilian population and in the Services during the past year?

I regret that there are no figures available as to the incidence of gingivitis in the civilian population as the disease is not notifiable. Any question as to incidence in the fighting Services should be addressed to the responsible Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in order to conserve petrol and rubber, he will direct that, on one day a week, all units, other than operational, will not use mechanical transport except under the most urgent necessity and then only on the personal authorisation of the commanding officer?

I am satisfied that an instruction on the lines suggested would be impracticable. The work of all Royal Air Force formations, including those devoted to training, is closely connected with the operational effort, which is, of course, continuous, and establishments of mechanical transport vehicles are framed on the minimum scales necessary to meet day-to-day requirements. Strict economy in the use of tyres, petrol and oil is enforced and the possibility of introducing further economies is under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the present rate of billeting allowances where other ranks of the Royal Air Force are billeted with subsistence; and what provision is made in these allowances for meals, light and heat, &c; and whether he intends to review the rate to meet the rise in the cost of living since the rate was first fixed?

Following are the particulars of the rates payable to billetors for lodging and attendance, meals and certain extra services. The rates are kept under constant review. They are in line with those payable in respect of personnel of the Army and Navy and on the information before me I do not think that any further increase is justified at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what facilities have been given to the British Council to develop cultural and educational relationships with the United States of America in regard both to the period of the war and to the post-war period?

The British Council is engaged in supplying material on various aspects of British life and thought. No arrangements have yet been made as regards the post-war period.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory position in the industrial areas of the country regarding the picking up of passengers by the different omnibus undertakings; and what action is being taken to remove all pre-war restrictions to improve road transport facilities throughout the country, and thus help in the war effort?

Regional transport commissioners have instructions to waive pre-war restrictions on the picking up of passengers where this would result in better facilities for war-workers; they have secured many modifications of such restrictions where this would serve the national interest. If my hon. Friend has in mind any specific cases in which further action is required, perhaps he will be good enough to give me particulars. He is, I am sure, aware that these restrictions are often necessary and useful, for example, in preventing long-distance passengers being crowded out by short-distance passengers for whom other services may he available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether the plans for the requisitioning of the means of transport and their co-ordination into one national transport system, prepared by the hon. and gallant Member for Wallasey (Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon) whilst he was Minister of Transport, have been examined by the present Minister; and, if so, with what result?

On assuming office, my noble Friend reviewed the control of the railways and introduced a revised arrangement. A road haulage scheme has been developed and has now been brought into operation. Broadly, all our means of public passenger and goods transport have been or are being co-ordinated, under Government direction, in the interests of the war effort.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider increasing the speed limit above 20 miles per hour for heavy commercial vehicles during daylight hours, in order to allow journeys to be completed in a shorter time, with a resultant decrease in the hours of blackout driving and in the numbers of commercial vehicles on the roads during black-out hours?

I regret that I cannot adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. Since the war, the maximum weight of vehicles permitted to exceed a speed of 20 miles an hour has been raised from 2½ to 3 tons weight unladen, and, on grounds of public safety on the roads, and of wear and tear of the highways, and of economy of tyres and fuel, no further concession would be justified.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport approximately, what proportion of first-class sleeper berths has been allotted to officers in the Forces travelling on trains to the North of England and Scotland since the instruction withholding such accommodation from officers below a certain rank?

Of the total number of first-class berths allocated by the Ministry of War Transport on trains to Newcastle and Scotland about 20 per cent. have been allocated to members of the Forces. I regret that information about berths booked by members of the Forces direct from the railway companies is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that numbers of working people are inconvenienced and lose time by not being able to travel at workmen's fares in London Transport omnibuses; and whether he will take action to remove the existing distinction respecting workmen's fares between petrol and trolley-buses?

The extension of workmen's tickets to London Transport omnibuses would tend to divert to those omnibuses, traffic now carried by other forms of transport. The Board are not in a position to meet the demand for additional omnibuses and staff which would in these circumstances arise. There are, moreover, serious objections to any step which would result in increasing the consumption of motor fuel and tyres. For these reasons, I regret that I do not feel able to take the action which my hon. Friend suggests.