asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the proposed abolition of the basic ration of petrol, he will consider providing service transport at the Elementary Flying Training Schools for all flying instructors living on the aerodromes to enable them to reach the nearest town at least once a week?

I regret that I am unable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware of the inefficient and wasteful cooking of food prevalent in an Air Force camp, the name of which has been communicated to him; that the main object of the cooking staff seems to be the increase in the quantity of swill for pig-feeding, causing the vegetables and "puddings to be unfit for human consumption; and will he insist that orderly officers properly carry out their duties of food and cookery inspection?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary for Mines what is now the policy of the Government as regards releasing ex-miners from the services for work in the pits?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 13th April to Questions by my hon. Friends, the Members for Ince (Mr. G. Macdonald) and Normanton (Mr. T. Smith).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider making available a national wholemeal biscuit, of substantial proportions, as a useful article of diet and provision against emergencies?

After 20th April all biscuits will be made from national flour. As regards the latter part of the Question my Department has already acquired a large reserve of biscuits made from this flour and is holding them in widely dispersed depots against emergency?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the evidence advanced by the Institute of Research for the Prevention of Disease to the effect that the proposal to add calcium to flour is harmful to the public health because of the differences in the quantities of bread eaten by classes of consumers; and whether he has any statement to make?

No, Sir, the appraisal of medical evidence on matters such as is referred to by my hon. Friend is a function of the committees of the Medical Research Council which advise the Ministry of Food on medical and nutritional problems. My Noble Friend's decision to add calcium to flour is based on recommendations submitted by these expert committees, and has been reached in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether it will be possible, and under what conditions, for persons "who prefer to eat bread prepared from the whole grain, without any admixtures, to obtain such bread; and whether vendors providing this bread will be penalised if they do not, at the same time, stock national bread?

There is no restriction on the manufacture of bread made from wholemeal for those persons who prefer it. Where such bread is sold at prices not exceeding the maxima in the Bread (Control and Maximum Prices) Order, vendors are not required to stock national bread. If higher prices than 2d. per lb. or 2½d. per 1 lb. loaf are asked, the seller must have available national bread at the time of such sale.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps he has taken to settle the dispute about the grading of meat in the Romford, Dagenham, Hornchurch and Barking area; and whether he is aware that its continuance is causing the public great inconvenience?

Following acceptance of the Ministry's regrading procedure by the butchers' buying groups concerned, issues of home-killed meat to them have been resumed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that Application Form N.M.V.I., under the National Milk Scheme for expectant mothers and children under five years of age, measures 17½ inches by 11¼ inches; and whether, in order to save paper and encourage applications, he will produce a smaller and simpler form, or dispense with it altogether?

The form to which my hon. Friend refers had to be produced at speed and the most rapid machinery available at the time necessitated the use of paper of the size quoted, if the information required for the national milk and vitamins scheme was to be obtained and the necessary directions given. A form of smaller size will be provided for use on the next occasion and the possibility of simplification will be considered. I am afraid it cannot be dispensed with altogether.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can yet make a statement on the rationalisation of retail distribution of milk?

My Noble Friend hopes to make a statement on the subject at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare whether he can give lists of the food rations allowed by the occupying Powers in Belgium, Greece and Poland, respectively; and whether he has any information as to whether those rations are forthcoming?

The weekly rations for a normal consumer in Belgium are, bread, 55 oz.; meat, 8½ oz.; fats, 3½ oz.; potatoes, 123 oz.; sugar, 8 oz. In Greece the weekly bread ration is 37 oz. There is no fixed ration for other foodstuffs, which are exceedingly scare. In Poland there is no uniform rationing scheme, since rations vary from place to place, and there is marked discrimination between Germans, Poles and Jews. But the latest figures available for Poles in Warsaw are bread, 39 oz.; meat, 1½ oz.; fats, 1 oz.; and for Poles in Cracow, bread, 52 oz.; meat, 3½ oz.; fats, 1 oz.; sugar, 4½ oz.; groats, 5½ oz. In none of these three countries are the published rations always fully available.

asked the Minister of Health how many registered medical practitioners are at present working for the Emergency Medical Service and in first-aid posts; how many of these are of military age and could be employed as medical officers to the Armed Services; and whether, as the estimate made at the outbreak of war of the probable requirements of the Emergency Medical Service has so far proved too large, a transfer of medical personnel will now be made from the Emergency Medical Service and first-aid services to the Armed Services?

The number of doctors enrolled in the Emergency Medical Service on 31st March, including those on a whole-time or part-time salary but excluding those who attend on a sessional basis when required, was 1,775, and the number of doctors in charge of first aid posts on 31st December, 1941, the last date for which returns are available, was 2,587. I could not say without special inquiry how many are of military age, but all those liable for military service come under review by the Central Medical War Committee and its local committees, and the decision whether a doctor is to be recruited depends on the needs of the hospital or other service in which he is engaged. As to the third part of the Question, a percentage reduction in whole-time medical staffs of hospitals is being carried out on the recommendation of the Medical Personnel (Priority) Committee presided over by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, and I am advised that the reduced establishments will be no more than are required to treat casualties from enemy action on the scale actually experienced and to provide for the various other types of patients now included in the Emergency Hospital Scheme. The doctors in the first aid services are almost invariably engaged also in general practice or other medical work and their availability for the Forces is judged on the needs of that other work rather than on their first aid commitments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many made-up kilts for Scottish regiments are now held in store?

28,494, of which 1,599 are part worn

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether civil servants are still allowed an unrestricted supply of toilet soap; how much toilet soap per month is now being issued, free of coupons, to civil servants; and why civil servants, not being employed in a dirty or dangerous trade, should have this special privilege?

No, Sir. The issue has been reduced to one tablet of toilet soap for each officer at intervals of 10 weeks. The practice is not restricted to the Government service and I see no reason to discontinue it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his decision to increase pensions and allowances to the Forces and their dependants, based on the cost of living, he will extend the same principle to the pensioned officers of the Post Office, who, like those of the Forces, have given most of their lives to the service of the State?

No, Sir. Pensions and allowances to members of the Forces and their dependants in respect of service in the present war are awarded as compensation for disablement or death due to such service. The amounts of these awards have throughout been subject to review in the light of changes in the cost of living. Civil Service pensions are of fixed amounts, the amount in each case being dependent on the length of service and the retiring salary, and they do not vary with the cost of living. As I stated in my reply on the 6th August, 1940, to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bère), it would not be possible to deal with the Post Office pensioners apart from other Civil Service pensioners.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings on what principle the requisitioning of iron railings is now going on; whether owners have to be consulted; and by whom decisions are made?

The principle governing the requisitioning of railings continues to be based on the direction under Defence Regulation 54B which was issued by the Minister of Supply in England and Wales on nth September and in Scotland on 25th November last. The railings are requisitioned under the Defence Regulations and no question of consulting the owners in consequence arises. The responsibility for all decisions in connection with the requisitioning has now been transferred to the Minister of Works and Buildings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to a rider added to their verdict by a jury at an inquest at Uckfield, Sussex, on 17th February, on a land girl who lost her life through being caught in agricultural machinery, to the effect that they considered it should be compulsory for this type of machinery to be adequately protected; and whether he will consider taking steps to secure this?

My attention has been drawn to this very regrettable case. I understand that such accidents are rare, and it seems doubtful, therefore, whether the special legislation which would be necessary is at present warranted; but I will keep the position under review.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware of the concern in Gorton at the large number of vehicles running empty after having delivered their load; and what steps are to be taken to obviate this lack of organisation?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on this subject on Monday last.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will give a list of all public transport boards in the Greater London area on which members of the boards have salaried executive posts; and the names and salaries paid to such board members in respect of their executive appointments and of their appointments as members of the board?

The only organisation of the kind described by my hon. Friend is the London Passenger Transport Board. I append a list of its present members and their remuneration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, with a view to preventing in the future a further wastage of rail-borne broccoli and other green vegetables, he will institute an inquiry regarding the Easter week-end wastage that has just occurred, obtaining information from the Great Western Railway Company, Covent Garden, Spitalfields, the Borough and Stratford markets?

I have already made inquiries. All firms in the London markets were open on Good Friday and Saturday and considerable quantities of green vegetables were sent to the markets on those days. On Bank Holiday the London markets were open, but most merchants were not prepared to receive traffic. The refusal at Spitalfields market on 4th April of two van loads of green vegetables which had arrived in bad condition owing to delay in transit appears to be the basis of highly exaggerated and mainly inaccurate accounts of alleged wastage of green vegetables on a large scale during the holidays.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (1) the number of meetings held by the National Maritime Board during 1941, together with the average attendance;

(2) on what date an election of the National Maritime Board was last held; and what facilities were given for officers and men of the Merchant Navy serving afloat to record their votes?

It is the practice of the National Maritime Board in war time to conduct their business at meetings of the different panels, but there were two full Board meetings as well as 16 panel meetings and 6 committee meetings during 1941. The attendance of these meetings was never less than 90 per cent. of those entitled to be present. The election of representatives to the National Maritime Board is a matter for each of the different organisations. The officers' and men's societies give full voting facilities to their members afloat at the time of the periodic elections of the governing bodies of the societies, and the selection of representatives to the National Maritime Board is made annually by these governing bodies.

asked the Home Secretary whether some concession can be made for invalids producing a medical certificate to go to certain sea-coast towns in spite of the prohibition order against visitors, as it is impossible to convalesce except in seaside resorts as they alone have the necessary accommodation?

I regret that I do not see my way to recommend to the Regional Commissioners concerned the concession proposed by my hon. Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that many directors of British registered companies formerly operating in Malaya have voluntarily relinquished their fees in view of the difficult circumstances now facing these companies, and whether, in such cases, arrangements can be made to adjust the Income Tax position and cancel the arrangements under which Income Tax is charged on the basis of fees for the previous year rather than the current year?

Section 11 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1939, which was applied for 1941–42 by Section 8 of the Finance Act, 1941, and which my right hon. Friend proposes shall be continued for 1942–43, provided for relief in cases where, owing to the war, an individual's actual earned income is substantially less than the assessment on that income, and the cases which my hon. Friend has in mind would appear to qualify for relief under these provisions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that British registered companies, formerly operating in Malaya, can, in certain cases, dispose of their Excess Profits Tax liability by availing themselves of the provision under which deficiencies can be set off against tax already paid; and whether such companies, which are liable only for Income Tax and not for Excess Profits Tax, can equally claim some concession in respect of Income Tax which otherwise will have to be paid on the basis of the previous year despite the fact that, owing to enemy action, business cannot be carried on during the current year?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 26th March which explained the treatment of such companies for the purposes of both Excess Profits Tax and Income Tax.