asked the Attorney-General whether he is now able to announce any change in the procedure available to a person, who claims to have suffered damage from a tortious act of a servant of the Crown, when the Crown declines to admit that the act was committed in the course of the servant's employment?

It has already been pointed out that though a member of the public injured by the negligent driving of a Service vehicle has no right of action against the Crown, yet if the driver of the Service vehicle was on duty at the time of the accident, it is, and has been for many years, the invariable practice of all Government Departments to provide the funds required to satisfy any judgment obtained against the driver. Every effort has been made to secure that this practice is applied with due regard to the meeting of honest claims, and the vast majority of the cases in which civilians seek compensation in consequence of the negligent driving of a Government vehicle are dealt with expeditiously, fairly, and satisfactorily. It is only fair to say that the Treasury Solicitor's Department, which, in most cases, deals with such claims, is constantly receiving letters which recognise that claims have been properly and indeed generously dealt with, and I am quite sure that it is not the general policy of that Department to put obstacles in the way of payments, but, on the other hand, that efforts are made—as they should be made—to assist in the satisfactory and prompt settlement of an honest claim.

There are, however, two points on which improvement is called for, and my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has been at pains, with the help of the other Departments concerned, to see whether on these two points a remedy can be devised. The first is this. In the case of a claim against the private employer for damages for injury due to the negligence of his chauffeur, the question may occasionally arise whether, at the time, the chauffeur was acting as the servant of his employer, or whether, on the contrary, he was driving for his own pleasure without any authority, express or implied, having taken his employer's car on a frolic of his own. In such a case, of course, the employer is not liable in damages, though the driver is. A principal can only be responsible in damages for the negligence of his agent acting within the scope of his employment. When the question of the employer's responsibility arises in an ordinary accident case, that question is decided at the trial by the Judge. But when the vehicle is a Government vehicle, this question cannot be decided by the Judge since the action is against the actual driver, and it has hitherto been the practice for Government Departments to decide whether they will accept responsibility, as they usually do, or whether, on the facts of a particular case, they will refuse responsibility on the ground that the accident occurred when the driver was not acting as a Government driver, but was improperly using a Government car, outside the scope of his employment, for his private pleasure. This may give ground for a feeling that the Government Department is, as it were, judge in its own cause, and we have sought to find a means by which this feeling may be removed. It is necessary, according to a well-worn phrase, not only that justice should be done, but that justice should seem to be done.

If, therefore, there is any feeling that it is undesirable that this question should be decided by the Departments concerned, there would be no objection to the institution of a practice under which, if the claimant so desires, the matter should be referred to an independent person of adequate legal attainments appointed by the Lord Chancellor. In Scotland the appointment would be in the hands of the appropriate Scottish authority. The facts would be made available to the independent person and the claimant would be entitled to submit to him any statement in writing upon the point in issue. The independent person will also have the right to call for any further information which he thought necessary to enable him to perform his function. Upon completing his investigation, the independent person would give a certificate as to whether or not, if the driver at the time of the accident had been privately employed, the private employer would have been liable in law for such negligence, if any, on the part of the driver as might be proved at the trial. If the certificate stated that the private employer would be so liable, the Crown will accept that position and will undertake the representation of the defendant, and, in accordance with the usual practice, would pay damages and costs found to be due to the claimant. If, on the other hand, the certificate stated that a private employer would not be liable, the plaintiff would be bound by it and would know before proceeding further with his action that his only remedy was against the driver. The reference to the independent person ought to take place at the earliest possible stage—at any rate as soon as the writ has been issued—because the claimant will want to know as soon as possible whether or not the resources of the Crown are behind the defendant.

I must make plain that the investigation and decision of the independent person would not be an arbitration, with solicitors and counsel appearing on either side. That would be much too elaborate and expensive a process and would at once raise technical difficulties which lawyers familiar with this sort of topic will at once understand. Our object is to get rid of any suspicion that the Department is judge in its own cause and to secure that the independent person has all the material before him so that the decision may be impartially arrived at as to whether, if the Department was a private employer, the Department would have lo accept responsibility for any negligence on the part of the driver.

The other point is that of facilities for service of process in respect of traffic accidents arising from the driving of Government vehicles. I believe that the cases in which there is real ground for complaint on this subject are few and I know that the Departments' object in the past has been to do what they reasonably could to assist a claimant. It is impossible that the authorities should undertake to serve legal documents, though where the Department is prepared to accept responsibility for any negligence proved against the driver, service is accepted on behalf of the individual sued. It must be remembered that in time of war it is not always possible on grounds of security to give information as to the whereabouts of a particular officer or soldier, because that information inevitably discloses where a particular unit is stationed or whether a particular unit has gone overseas. But the Departments will, in cases of traffic accidents, sympathetically consider in each case what information and assistance can properly be given, having regard to security considerations and to all the circumstances of the case. As I have said, the assistance that they have been able to give in very many cases has been recognised and appreciated. There ought to be no unnecessary obstacles put in the way of private citizens who claim that they have suffered from a Service driver's negligence, and I state this now on behalf of the Departments as an assurance that this will be their attitude in these matters.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many of the staff of the Coal Commission at Hobart House and at the Regional Valuation Boards' offices are of military age; and whether, in view of the prior needs of the Services now over the valuation of royalties and similar duties, he will consider releasing a large proportion of these persons for more active participation in the war effort?

Apart from 70 serving in the Forces, there are 66 men of military age on the staff of the Coal Commission and 17 on that of the Regional Valuation Boards. Of these 83, 38 will be released as soon as called up, five have been placed in low medical categories, 18 (all of whom are over 30 years of age) are reserved under the Civil Service scheme, 12 (11 of whom are mining surveyors on the staff of the Regional Valuation Boards) are reserved by reason of technical qualifications, leaving ten who have been granted deferments by the Kennett Committee.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can now make a full statement on the steps that are to be taken to encourage the utilisation of producer-gas?

No, Sir. I am not yet able to add to the reply I made to the hon. Member on 24th March. I shall be glad to give the hon. Member a more detailed reply in a few weeks' time.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that a large number of households in Glasgow have been without any coal for weeks and others with insufficient supplies; whether it has been reported to him that a number of deputations of housewives have interviewed the coal controller for Glasgow and have had no satisfaction so far as better supplies are concerned; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs?

I am aware that some households in Glasgow have recently been very short of or without supplies of coal; and that three deputations have been received by the local fuel overseer; but I cannot accept the suggestion that they have received no satisfaction. The difficulties were not in the total amount of coal allocated to Glasgow, but in its local distribution during a period of exceptional demand. I have taken steps to deal with the situation and by the end of this week the position should be satisfactory.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, seeing that there may be releases from His Majesty's Forces to go into the pits, any arrangements will be made by his Department to bring into production collieries now standing idle in the Durham coalfields?

The limited number of additional underground workers who may be released from the Army will not enable my Department to arrange for the reopening of any pits now standing idle in the Durham coalfield.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many working days have been lost as a result of coal strikes during the last- six months; how many tons of coal were thus lost to the public; and whether he will exercise his powers, under the Defence Regulations, to stop such strikes in view of the present shortage of coal?

During the 26 weeks ended 28th March, 1942, 188,700 man-days were lost owing to disputes. It is estimated that the tonnage lost was 179,200 tons. It is not possible to make any general statement in regard to the exercise of powers under the Defence Regulations. This question must necessarily be considered in the light of the circumstances of each case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that when any house is destroyed by enemy action, or other cause for which the householder is not at fault, and the coupons of the family are destroyed or lost they can be replaced only on payment of 1s. for each book; that as much as 8s. and 10s. have had to be paid by the parents before new books have been issued; and whether he will issue instructions that where the householder is blameless the books of coupons will be issued free of charge?

My hon. Friend has been misinformed. It was publicly announced by my Department on 15th January that the fee of one shilling would be waived in cases where coupons were lost as the result of enemy action. My officials have authority to waive or refund the fee in cases where the charge would be inequitable or would cause real hardship.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider authorising a first issue of warm uniform, coupon free, to the personnel of the Auxiliary Ambulance Service or extra coupons for the necessary accessories which they now have to purchase out of their own coupons?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson) on 4th December last, a copy of which I am sending to her.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in the wholesale and retail distributive sections of the newspaper industry which is the only trade selling commodities at pre-war prices; that despite increased profits made by the publishers there has been no improvement in the basic trade terms of newspapers; that owing to the withdrawal of certain customary concessions newsagents are receiving less than pre-war profit; and will he review the trade terms, taking into consideration that the task of distribution is more onerous during black-out periods?

I have received certain representations on this subject and I am considering, in consultation with the Central Price Regulation Committee, whether any action on my part is desirable.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has given further consideration to the question of giving equal compensation to men and women who, as civilians, suffer war injury; and whether he now intends to adopt this policy?

The position remains as stated by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 8th January last, that His Majesty's Government do not propose to amend the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme in respect of the difference in the rates of compensation for men and women.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the increase of allowances to widows of this war, and to others to meet the higher of living, he will consider an appropriate increase for the widows of the last war, and also those of the Services who were pensioned before this war and whose pensions have not increased?

The pension granted to a widow whose husband's death was attributable to service in the last war is based on the cost of living in 191g which was higher than it is to-day, and the pensions paid to such widows are higher than the increased rates recently sanctioned for widows of the present war. There is, therefore, no justification for increasing these higher rates. In the case of certain widows granted modified pensions under the Great War Instruments additional grants may be made under the same conditions as would appertain if they were eligible for supplementary pension under Section 9 of the Old Age and Widows' Pension Act, 1940. Any question regarding the rate of pension due for peace time service should be addressed to the Service Department concerned.

asked the Minister of Pension whether Mr. John Brown, of 61, Edwin Avenue, Forest Hall, has been examined by a medical, board; and whether, as a result, it has been decided to award him a pension?

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Diplomatic Corps, friendly or otherwise, have any special arrangements or facilities for food rationing, or whether they draw supplies through food ration books, tickets or points, in the same way and in the same proportion as is granted to British citizens?

Members of foreign Diplomatic Missions draw rations by means of food books, coupons and points in the same way as His Majesty's subjects and others in this country; and the bulk of them receive the same rations as members of the community. In the case of Heads of Missions and members of their staffs in certain senior categories, it is recognised that there are unavoidable obligations in the matter of official hospitality; and additional food coupons are made available to them for that purpose, in accordance with the practice followed in the last war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the present position of the Ministry's plan to fortify white flour; and whether it is proposed to proceed with the provision of two new factories for the manufacture of synthetic vitamin Br and to continue the importation of fortified white flour from Canada?

The Government's decision to prohibit the manufacture of white flour, except under licence, from 23rd March necessarily suspends the fortification of flour with aneurin in this "country. My Noble Friend has the other matters mentioned in my hon. Friend's Question under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, before making his final decision as to the constitution of the national loaf, which is to be solely provided next month, he will consider the desirability of securing the utilisation of the whole grain in the war bread in order to save the maximum amount of shipping space and to prevent the sacrifice of constituents of the grain which are lost in wheatmeal of 85 per cent. extraction and are of the highest importance to health?

In prescribing 85 per cent. as the milling ratio for national wheatmeal made in this country from 23rd of last month, the Government had regard to the advice of the Scientific Food Committee and the scientific advisers of the Ministry of Food that wheatmeal of 85 per cent. extraction would be very satisfactory from the nutritional point of view. Wheatmeal of a higher extraction than 85 per cent. would contain appreciable amounts of bran and indigestible fibre, the proportion of which would increase as the rate of extraction was raised. My Noble Friend does not consider that the shipping position requires him to prescribe the production of that type of flour.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in framing the new Order to be adopted in preparing the forthcoming war bread of 85 per cent. extraction, he will make it clear that the 15 per cent. of the wheat grain sacrificed in providing wheat-meal flour shall not include any portion of the wheat germ or the finer bran; and whether he will make provision for the detection and punishment of vendors of wheatmeal of a composition constituting a breach of the Minister's instructions?

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to S.R. and O. 1942, No. 451, amending the Flour (Control and Prices) Order, 1941, dated nth March, Article I (A). In regard to the second part, these provisions already exist.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it is his intention to add calcium to the flour for national bread; and if so, from what date, what salt is to be used and in what quantity?

Yes, Sir. The decision was originally announced in July, 1940, but the supply position of such foods as milk and cheese has been better, and the national intake of calcium has accordingly been greater than was then anticipated. In view, however, of the changed outlook owing to the reduction of imports, my Noble Friend, after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, has decided to arrange for the addition of 7 ozs. of calcium carbonate (Creta Preparata) to each 280 lbs. sack of flour. This addition will proceed district by district throughout the country until all flour on sale will be so treated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether the stocks of white flour held at present by the Government are of 70 per cent. extraction or higher and are fortified with any additions, whether it is intended that the national wheatmeal loaf to be shortly exclusively supplied is to consist as to 25 per cent. of this lower extraction flour; whether he can give any approximate date when the loaf of 85 per cent., unmixed with white flour, may be expected to be on sale; and whether it will be distinguishable from the composite loaf immediately provided?

Stocks of white flour consist in part of home-milled flour of 75 per cent. extraction, and in part of imported flour of similar quality. In both cases the flour is fortified with Vitamin B.1. In arranging for the use of these white flour stocks the main consideration has been to avoid loss by deterioration. Bakers have, therefore, been permitted to use up to 25 per cent. white flour with national wheatmeal in making the National loaf. The date when the loaf will be made entirely from 85 per cent. wheatmeal will vary in different areas, depending on the quantity of white flour in those areas and the necessity for its early use. It is not intended to instruct bakers to distinguish in any way the national loaf carrying the authorised admixture of white flour from that made entirely from 85 per cent. wheatmeal, but the latter will, of course, be slightly darker in colour.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, how many and what classes of children are excluded from the Milk in Schools Scheme; and whether, in the national interest, the Board's regulations will be amended to include all schoolchildren?

The milk in schools scheme established under the Milk Act in 1934 extended to pupils in schools recognised for grant by the Board of Education, elementary schools recognised by the Board as efficient, juvenile instruction centres, elementary schools controlled by the War Office, residential poor law schools, occupation centres for mentally defective children and the Duke of York School, Dover. No alteration has been made since the Milk Act expired in 1940. The number of children in schools outside these categories is not known, but the total number of children attending non-grant aided schools was estimated by the Departmental Committee on Private Schools to be about 300,000 in 1932. Schools included in the scheme and those not so included can obtain the same quantities of milk.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps have been undertaken to ascertain whether the number of British Restaurants and seating capacity are adequate; to what extent the duty of ascertaining and making adequate provision has been delegated to local authorities; and, in that case, what means he adopts to discover whether local authorities have made adequate provision?

My Noble Friend has asked local authorities to establish British Restaurants wherever there is a need which cannot be satisfied by the existing catering facilities. The need is brought to the notice of local authorities in a variety of ways, for example, through the machinery of local government, by organisations representatives of consumers, and by divisional food officers, who are aware of local conditions and requirements and are kept informed by the area officers of the Ministeries of Health and Labour and National Service of movements of population arising out of war conditions. I have no reason to doubt the efficacy of these methods of bringing to the notice of local authorities any deficiencies existing in the number and seating capacity of British Restaurants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is intended that Italian doctors shall be recalled from Ethiopian hospitals and replaced by refugee doctors from England?

My right hon. Friend has at present no information regarding the intentions of the Emperor of Ethiopia respecting Italian doctors and their replacement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as Italians resident in Ethiopia are a charge upon British funds and living in idleness, it is intended that they shall be transferred to productive work in the service of the Allied cause elsewhere?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the Member for East, Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 17th December last. The Italian ships have now sailed for the purpose of repatriating the Italians in Ethiopia.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Assistance Board takes into account, in considering supple- mentary pensions, the increased cost of living; and, if so, what is the normal amount of the supplementation granted on this score?

Supplementary pensions are assessed in accordance with the scales laid down in the Regulations, and, as explained in the correspondence appended to the White Paper issued with the Regulations, the scales took account of the level and trend of prices so that no question should arise of revising the Regulations (which were to become effective in August, 1940) on the grounds of increased cost of living in the near future. As regards the period subsequent to August, 1940, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke (Mr. E. Smith) on 26th March, 1942.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that the old age pension and full supplementary pension of 19s. 6d. is sufficient to keep old age pensioners without other means in reasonable comfort; and whether he will again consider raising the supplementary pension and so avoid these old people having recourse to public assistance?

The scale rate of 19s. 6d. is, of course, adjusted where necessary to meet the special circumstances of the individual case. The question whether this rate is adequate under present conditions is as my hon. Friend will be aware primarily a matter for consideration by the Assistance Board, who inform me that, while they have the matter under close review, they do not feel justified in making any proposal to increase the rate at the present time. With regard to the last part of the Question, I would remind my hon. Friend that a public assistance authority is debarred by Statute from granting outdoor relief to old age pensioners.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the importance of maintaining high standards of national health in war-time, he will ask the British Broadcasting Corporation to arrange more frequently for popular talks on health subjects?

I am glad to say that the B.B.C. has arranged to broadcast a new series of weekly health talks every Monday evening beginning to-day. This series will be in addition to the Health Magazine which is broadcast every Friday morning, and on which the B.B.C. keeps in constant touch with my Department.

asked the Minister of Health how many rural district councils have decided to increase rents of council houses, in view of the minimum £3 a week wage which agricultural workers are now receiving?

I have seen one case reported in the Press. Local authorities have by law complete discretion in fixing the rents of council houses and I have myself- no jurisdiction in the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among officers and non-commissioned officers in the Army over the amount of correspondence and the number of forms which descend on combatant units and sub-units, thereby swelling clerical staffs and interfering with battle training; and what is being done to reduce this burden, particularly in such directions as simplifying procedure in the case of courts-martial and courts of inquiry?

The measures which are being taken to reduce the amount of paper work in the Army have been explained to the House in a number of recent statements, of which I am sending my hon. Friend copies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in connection with the distribution of cudgels to Home Guard units in the London district, instructions were sent to units that the cudgels were to be collected in vehicles with an armed guard; and whether in future he will arrange for stores of this kind to be distributed by a headquarters' vehicle, instead of requiring every unit to send a separate vehicle to headquarters?

The general practice in London is for the Territorial Associations to deliver stores to units; but on occasions it is necessary to ask units to fetch them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the requests received from zone medical advisers in the Home Guard requesting that a conference of such advisers maybe held for the discussion of their duties and difficulties; and whether he will accede to their request?

Only one such request has been received from a zone medical adviser. It is not thought that a general conference of zone medical advisers would be helpful because conditions differ so much in different parts of the country; but the calling of Command conferences is being considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a Home Guard medical officer who is not in practice and has no civil commitments may be mustered for duty with the Home Guard otherwise than for attendance at a regimental aid-post?

Home Guard medical officers will not be mustered except for duty at regimental aid posts, but if they are without civil obligations there will be nothing to prevent their giving full time attendance to their Home Guard units.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why, and when, the official embargo was imposed upon doctors, who have agreed to undertake work connected with air-raid precautions or Civil Defence services, becoming medical officers in the Home Guard; and whether he will remove it and so allay the discontent of the medical profession?

I cannot trace the existence of any such official embargo.

asked the Under-Secretary of State of War whether, with a view to using the metal for other war purposes, he will now withdraw the 15 metal buttons on each Army overcoat and substitute plastic buttons?

The supply of plastic buttons does not permit the replacement of buttons already on Army overcoats but future supplies of overcoats will all have them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many soldiers originally placed in a low medical category and given departmental work have since had their category altered to A1 as a result of an Army Council Instruction and are being transferred to regimental duties and that some of these soldiers are being made to suffer a reduction in rank through such transfer; and whether he will, in these cases, make it possible for them to retain their rank, whether substantive or nonsubstantive?

I cannot trace any Instruction such as that described by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the announcement that the War Office is proposing to release Class C men where they are surplus to requirements, he will arrange that war agricultural committees and farmers or garden owners be informed whether, and to whom, they may make application for the release of C men previously in their employment?

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War that the scheme referred to by my hon. Friend is not primarily concerned with the return of men to civil life on the grounds of their civilian employment, but in the main with the discharge of men who, owing to disability, cannot be suitably employed in the Army and are therefore surplus to requirements. No change is contemplated in the procedure whereby a soldier's former employer may apply to the county war agricultural executive committee concerned for his release on food production grounds.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum the number of employees and staff of aircraft production factories to whom his Department allots petrol units for the purpose of getting to and from their work; and the total amount of units granted during the last three months?

I regret that the information is not separately tabulated, and could not be extracted without waste of manpower.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether a check is made to see that persons supplied with petrol units to enable them to get to and from their homes to aircraft production factories actually reside in the specified districts; and is satisfied that these privileges are not abused?

My Department keeps such check as is reasonably practicable on the accuracy of the statements made in support of claims for supplementary allowances, whether these come from aircraft workers or from others. It is impossible to guarantee that no false statement shall pass undetected: but there have been many successful prosecutions for such offences.

asked the President of the Board of Education what public boarding schools are in receipt of direct grants from the Board of Education?

For the purposes of the following list of boarding schools which are in receipt of direct grant from the Board, schools in which there were on 1st October, 1938, more than 200 boarders or in which not less than half the pupils were boarders have been deemed to be boarding schools:

Bedfordshire—Bedford School (Boys).

Cornwall—Truro School (Boys).

Devon—Bideford, Edgehill Girls' College; Shebbear, Methodist College (Boys); Tiverton, Blundell's School (Boys); West Buckland School (Boys).

Durham—Barnard Castle School (Boys).

Essex—Brentwood, Sir Anthony Browne's School (Boys).

Gloucestershire—Bristol, Queen Elizabeth's Hospital (Boys); Bristol, The Colston Boys' School.

Hertfordshire—Bishop's Stortford College for Boys.

Kent—Sutton Valence School (Boys).

Rutland—Oakham School (Boys).

Somerset—Taunton School (Boys); Wellington School (Boys).

Suffolk (East)—Framlingham, Albert Memorial College (Boys).

Suffolk (West)—Bury St. Edmunds, Culfrod School (Boys).

Surrey—Caterham School (Boys).

Wiltshire—West Lavington, Dauntsey's School (Boys).

Yorks, E.R.—Pocklington School (Boys).

Yorks, W.R.—Aireborough, Apperley Bridge, Woodhouse Grove School (Boys): Harrogate, Ashville College (Boys); Halifax, The Crossley and Porter School for Boys.

Merionethshire—Dolgelley, Dr. Williams' School (Girls).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether, in cases where damage has been done to the structure of public and private buildings through the negligence of contractors in the removal of railings and gates, claims for compensation in such cases should be made in the first instance against the contractor responsible, or whether such claims should be addressed direct to his Department?

Contractors employed on the removal of railings are required to make good, at their own expense, damage due to negligence. Complaints that this work has not been undertaken should be sent to my Department.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of radio licences issued for each year from and including 1937 onwards?

The number of licences issued in each year are as follow:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will issue instructions to cease manufacture of the artistic engraved brass finger-bowls now in process of manufacture for use in officers messes in the Royal Navy?

None of these bowls are at present being manufactured for the Admiralty. The last contract terminated more than a year ago and no further contracts will be made during the war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware of the concern in the Gorton area at the consumption of petrol by empty vehicles; what steps are to be taken to deal with the matter; and has he considered the evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Gorton?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the Ministry of War Transport has taken many measures in recent months to organise lorry traffic. One of the principal objects of these measures has been to prevent vehicles running without loads, wherever it is possible to do so. Operators sending lorries into the Manchester and Liverpool districts are expected to obtain loads for their return journeys, wherever they can. They are usually able to obtain such loads through the local branches of the Hauliers' National Traffic Pool, which forms part of the Ministry's Road Haulage Scheme. My hon. Friend will, however, appreciate that fluctuations of traffic and other factors may on occasions make it impossible to balance outward and return loads. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the particular cases, the details of which he has been good enough to send me.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (1) whether he is aware of the recent accidents on Birdlip Hill, Gloucestershire, to Army and Royal Air Force transport; whether he is satisfied that the present arrangements are adequate to divert this traffic; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to prevent further loss of life and wastage of valuable war material;

(2) whether he is aware that the diversion sign near the top of Birdlip Hill, Gloucestershire, is ineffective; and whether he will enlarge the. sign and arrange for it to be illuminated at night?

I presume the hon. and gallant Member refers to the signs at the top of Birdlip Hill where route A.417 takes a right-angled turn. I am aware that there are accidents at this point and I am happy to inform my hon. Friend that arrangements have been made for the erection of a large reflector arrow sign indicating the direction traffic should follow, and for the layout of the junction to be altered in order that the alignment may induce traffic to keep to route A.417 instead of using Birdlip Hill.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange that in Answers to Written, as distinct from Oral Questions, wherein reference is made to an answer previously given, a slip shall be enclosed giving the terms of such previous answer?

I regret that I am unable to adopt my hon. and learned Friend's suggestion. I will, however, bring his Question to the notice of Departments in order that particulars of the relevant references in the OFFICIAL REPORT—copies of which are supplied to all hon. Members—may be given. I understand that in most cases this practice is already followed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now prepared to abolish the use of insurance stamps with a view to saving valuable material and labour; and whether he will arrange for the same amount of money, that has hitherto been paid for insurance stamps, to be deposited by employers?

Under the National Insurance schemes the title of the insured person to benefit depends upon the number of contributions paid in respect of him in a particular period. Payment must, therefore, be identified with the insured persons and with the weeks of employment to which they relate. For this purpose I am advised that there is no more economical alternative to the affixing of stamps to insurance cards. Employers who employ a substantial number of insured contributors, and are prepared to make the necessary deposit, can avoid weekly stamping by the use of high value stamps at quarterly or half-yearly intervals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements were made by the Treasury, with the Bank of England or the big banks, to provide in advance for a substantial portion of the money raised in the London Warships Week recently; what part of the total represented actual savings, small savings, and large sums which are mere transfers; the annual cost of interest on the total sum saved and the figure that would have been incurred had this sum been drawn directly from the banks at the official rate of 1 ⅛ per cent?

No arrangements of the kind mentioned in the first part of the Question were made by or on behalf of the Treasury. In reply to the second and third parts of the Question, it is not possible to estimate how much of the subscriptions represented savings, large or small, out of income and how much arose from other sources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the resolution sent to him on 20th March, 1942, by the. West of Scotland Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers, regarding the effect of the present system of income tax on low-paid workers and overtime; and has he any statement to make?

I must ask my hon. Friend to await my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the success of the administration of the War Damage Act, he will take powers to extend its operations and insure property owned by municipal and similar public bodies by giving them powers to levy a rate of ½d. to be paid into a common pool as an insurance standby to areas suffering from enemy action?

The property of local authorities and other public bodies generally either is directly covered by the existing provisions of the War Damage Act, or will be dealt with in the proposed legislation to deal with public utility undertakings. If my hon. Friend has any special kind of property in mind, perhaps he will communicate with me.