asked the Minister of Labour, whether, with a view to releasing for other war purposes any redundant labour, he will cause regional surveys to be made on the employment of manpower throughout the country?

The labour position is continually under review nationally, regionally, and locally.

asked the Minister of Labour, whether he has made himself fully acquainted with the proceedings and decisions arrived at as a result of the dispute at certain works in the Birmingham area, on and about 25th October, 1941; whether he can say that the decision of the National Service officer was not to recommend the shop steward's return to No. 2 factory, or whether it was decided by the tribunal that the appeal of one of the shop stewards concerned be upheld, but that his return to the works be not recommended; and, if so, why, when an appellant's appeal has been upheld, he is still penalised by the loss of his job in this particular factory?

Yes, Sir. I am fully aware of the circumstances. There were two cases of appeal against dismissal on the ground of serious misconduct. In one case the Appeal Board dismissed the appeal, in the other they stated that they gave the appellant the benefit of the doubt and allowed the appeal but recommended that the worker concerned should be employed elsewhere. The power to order re-instatement is discretionary, and to have employed it in the second of the two cases would have been contrary to the recommendation of the Board.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the proceedings were plain and fair in each case?

Yes, Sir. I think they were quite all right.

Then will my right hon. Friend tell me why the appellants themselves did not know exactly where they stood after the proceedings?

I think they knew perfectly well where they stood, but I do not think they were quite satisfied with the decision.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will refrain from directing the wives of Service men into factories when it would necessitate the closing down of a small shop or family business which she is maintaining for her husband whilst he is on active service?

I should be very reluctant to direct a woman in the circumstances described. If in an exceptional case I felt bound to do so, the woman would be able to appeal against the direction to a local Appeal Board.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many shops closed on Good Friday contrary to the Government's injunction that they should remain open, thus causing serious inconvenience to many war workers in important factories; and whether he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of similar behaviour on future occasions?

The Government did not issue any general injunction on the subject to shopkeepers this year. It is rather n matter for consideration by particular shopkeepers or groups of shopkeepers, having regard among other things to the probable number of customers needing to buy their goods on the day in question.

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that these days which turn out to be half working days and half holidays are thoroughly unsatisfactory and inconvenient to everybody, and will he press that point of view upon all the people concerned?

It is only possible on two days in the year—Good Friday and Christmas Day. On ordinary Bank holidays the direction applies all round.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think there would be far more production if people had normal holidays instead of being driven?

asked the Minister of Labour, whether production committees are in existence in all factories controlled by the Government and working on war production work and, if not, what has prevented this; whether the necessary steps have been taken to see that opportunity for the election of these committees has been provided at factories where Government orders for war work have been placed, and which are run under private control; and will he state the composition of these committees in regard to the proportion of workmen and management and the function and powers of such committees?

So far as Royal Ordnance factories are concerned, my hon. Friend will recall that an agreement was recently concluded with the trade unions concerned for the establishment of joint production committees. As regards private industry, a similar agreement has been reached between the Engineering Employers' Federation and the trade unions concerned in the engineering industry.

The contracting Departments are communicating to their contractors their desire that immediate action shall be taken to set up such committees. It will be appreciated that the setting up of these committees is a matter for joint voluntary arrangement between management and workers' representatives. The constitution, functions and method of election of the committees is laid down in the agreements but the composition will necessarily be determined by mutual agreement in the light of the circumstances of each estalishment.

Will my right hon. Friend impress upon both parties to this agreement that the committees should be practical working organisations and not board-room committees?

I think that is laid down in the agreement, and as my hon. Friend is, I think, a member of his federation, he will probably assist me in carrying on the educational work.

Can my right hon. Friend inform us whether these committees have power to go outside the management of their own particular works to, say, the Minister of Labour?

No. Sir, These production committees are for the purpose of dealing with matters in their works. If matters arise which affect other works or groups of works, they must be dealt with through the proper machinery which exists between the two sides.

asked the Minister of Labour, what procedure has been arranged in connection with the Essential Work (General Provisions) Order, No. 583, concerning absenteeism, so that when the National Service officer receives the report of the works committee prompt action will be taken?

There will be no avoidable delay on the part of the National Service officer in carrying out any action required from him after the works committee has made its report. I should point out, however, that one of the reasons for the reference to the works committee is to make it unnecessary in most cases for further official action to be taken.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a works committee can, in order to reduce the number of hours its members would otherwise lose from productive work, appoint a subcommittee of an approved minimum number of persons to deal with absenteeism and persistent lateness under the Essential Work (General Provisions) Order, No. 583?

The precise arrangement of the work of a works committee must be the responsibility of the committee itself, but I have no doubt that those who set up such committees will make full use of the sub-committee method wherever that is considered appropriate. So far as the requirements of the Essential Work Order are concerned, there is no objection to this course.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of occasions, since 15th May, 1941, on which the Essential Work (Coalmining Industry) Order, 1941, has been infringed by men taking part in illegal strikes; and on how many occasions the disciplinary provisions regarding attendance at works have been applied,

I do not understand the first part of the Question, since an illegal strike is not an infringement of the Order referred to. As regards the second part, from 15th May, 1941, until 28th February, 1942, 6,475 workers were reported to National Service officers under the disciplinary provisions of the various Essential Work (Coalmining Industry) Order, 1941. In 2,134 of these cases the issue of directions specifying when, where and how the men concerned should work was found to be necessary. In a number of cases prosecution has taken place for failure to comply with these directions. It is not possible without a good deal of inquiry to give the precise number but an appreciable proportion of the 287 prosecutions of this kind which have taken place in respect of the Essential Work Orders are known to relate to coalminers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the powers he possesses in regard to this matter, or is it that the National Service officers, in consultation with trade unions and employers, ought to show a little more initiative?

Is it not a fact that a lot of these miners have been sent to a temperance hotel during the last three months? They are not getting any coal while they are there.

Could my right hon. Friend say how many mines are losing output through the action of their managements? What action does my right hon. Friend take in these cases?

I am quite satisfied that I have all the powers necessary to deal with this problem. Actually the mining industry was the first to adapt itself so as to give greater powers to the pit production committees, and experience has shown that the method we are adopting of dealing with the men personally in the first instance is producing far greater results than rushing into prosecution. I have no figures to answer the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. R. J. Taylor).

Is it not a fact that the pit production committees have made strong representations that National Service officers were not backing up these committees?

That is not correct.

As an old trade union man, I take it that my right hon. Friend knows that men do not come out on strike for the fun of the thing?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that girl labour is being recruited in Scotland and sent to Birmingham and other industrial centres in spite of the fact that there is a shortage of labour in Scotland; that, in many cases, promises of high wages do not materialise: that this particularly applies to girl turners and grinders; and whether steps can be taken to protect the interests of the workers concerned?

Under the general plan for meeting the most urgent labour demands, mobile women are first recruited for the most difficult labour supply areas in Scotland and then for the most urgent demands in the Midlands in England. I cannot agree that, taking Scotland as a whole, there is a shortage of female labour. Indeed, I am making every effort to secure for Scotland as much additional work and new capacity as possible with a view to utilising the reserve of woman-power in Scotland not at present employed in the war effort. I have no information confirming the suggestion in the second and third parts of his Question, but I should be glad to investigate any cases of which he would send me particulars.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now announce his decision as to the continuance of his Order of 23rd December, 1941, as to working hours in the potteries?

This Order, as my hon. Friend is aware, was made in connection with my appeal at the end of last year for the release of further workers from the potteries for other urgent work, and I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the co-operation and help which I have received from the industry in meeting that appeal. The Order was made to enable men, women and young persons remaining in the industry to work longer hours than those normally permissible under the Factory Acts in order to maintain the necessary output with the reduced labour force; and as I naturally do not wish to authorise such relaxations of the ordinary law to a greater extent than necessary I have had the position under close review. It now appears that the industry has been able to adjust itself to the new situation without a general resort to overtime and, in view of altered conditions in the industry itself, I have come to the conclusion that a general Order of that kind is no longer necessary or appropriate. I am therefore revoking it as from 3rd May; but I should make it clear that some relaxations of the Factory Acts may still prove necessary in special cases, in order to secure the output required.

While I am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for having seen fit to do this, is there any chance of doing the same thing in the cotton industry?

Not until I have made the necessary adjustments.

Was the; purpose of this Order to obtain foreign exchange under pressure from the Treasury?

No, Sir; we did not go into that.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the views of the Industrial Health Research Board, on the extension of hours of employment of young persons, were ascertained before the Orders dealing with hours in the pottery and textile trades were made?

No, Sir. The function of the Board is to advise upon or carry out suggested schemes of scientific research on the basis of actual conditions and of a kind which may be expected to occupy a long period of time. In the cases referred to by my hon. Friend I had to decide quickly whether war requirements necessitated a temporary change of conditions. As stated in reply to another Question to-day, I am terminating the Order relating to the pottery industry. In the case of the cotton industry I am arranging for some inquiries in Lancashire, through the factory inspectors, as to whether any general signs of fatigue are manifesting themselves among the juveniles as a result of the longer hours in cotton spinning mills.

Through what agency is the right hon. Gentleman making those inquiries?

Through the factory inspectors.

Will this include expert medical advice?

We do not rely too much upon experts. We have to apply some common sense.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the employment of limbless and other seriously disabled ex-Service men is to continue on a wholly voluntary basis, or whether it is the intention of his Department to reserve certain appropriate occupations for them and to extend the scheme of special workshops for the employment of those whose disabilities render them unfit for work under ordinary industrial conditions; and what specific steps are being taken to ensure that employment exchanges do not direct seriously disabled men to jobs for which they are unsuited?

In reply to the first part of the Question, this matter is under consideration. In reply to the last part of the Question, I can assure my hon. Friend that in cases where there is doubt as to the capability of a disabled person for a particular employment, he will be dealt with sympathetically and an opportunity will be provided for medical examination and advice, apart from his right of appeal against any compulsory directions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the artistes employed by Entertainments National Service Association who have been granted deferment of calling-up for military service are full-time employees of that Association?

Deferment of calling-up of artistes employed by the Entertainments National Service Association has, with a very few exceptions, been granted only to whole-time employees. I would refer my hon. Friend to the Reply given on 17th March to the hon. and gallant Member for East Leicester (Major Lyons).

Can the Minister say when he expects to have the report of the inquiry, which he told me last time was being made into the whole matter?

I cannot give the date, but I will hurry it up.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the claims of trained skilled men as dispensers in pharmacy and medicine are receiving full consideration in the making of Service appointments, and that this work is not now being done by unqualified dispensers?

Only suitably qualified men are posted to the Forces by my Department for service as dispensers, and the demands from the Services for such men have been substantially met. I am informed that it is not the practice of the Services to employ unqualified men in the Service trade of dispenser.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the Royal Air Force women are being trained to fill these positions?

I assume that if they are trained and pass a certain standard, they become qualified.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will give the amount of money paid from the Unemployment Insurance Fund and by the Assistance Board to persons in Wales and Monmouthshire, for each year since the establishment of both funds; and will he give the figures for Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire separately;

(2) the cost of unemployment benefit, transitional benefit and unemployment allowance for each year since the inception of the Unemployment Insurance Fund;

(3) the number of days lost for each year due to unemployment since the inception of the Unemployment Insurance Fund; and the number of days lost for each year because of strikes and lock-outs during the same period?

I am obtaining the available information and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any information in connection with the rescue squad of firemen and others who worked for five hours, on 10th April, to save the life of a man who was working in an 18 feet trench at Talgarth Road, West Kensington; and whether the trench was properly timbered to prevent the earth from failing upon the man?

I have obtained a report on this incident, from which it appears that owing to the unexpected thinness of a layer of clay the man in question, who was in charge of the timbering and who had long experience of such work, was trapped by a collapse of soil. His release, about which exaggerated accounts appeared in the Press, took about four hours, owing to the need for precautions against a further collapse of soil, but he was found to be uninjured, though detained in hospital for two days with a view to avoiding any ill-effects from shock. I am advised that the timbering was quite well done and that the man does not appear to have been to blame.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether as a preliminary to post-war educational reforms he will consider making a start now by taking the necessary steps to make it compulsory for all children up to the age of II years to attend the same schools?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to initiate the legislation that would be needed for this purpose.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the suggestion outlined in my Question would be a practical instalment of post-war educational reforms and would be welcomed by the whole country?

I fear that it might be a first instalment on the road to a Fascist State.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of complaints by parents of secondary school scholars that present maintenance grants are now inadequate owing to the rise in the cost of living; whether higher education committees are, or will be, empowered to increase maintenance grants proportionately; and whether recommendations to make this in crease in order to avoid hardship have been circulated to appropriate authorities?

Yes, Sir. I am aware that in many areas the scales of pre-war maintenance allowances have proved inadequate under present conditions, and in a large proportion of areas the Board have approved revisions in the income scale or in the value of the awards. No formal recommendations have been made by the Board, but local education authorities are fully aware that reasonable proposals will be favourably considered.

As some parents are still complaining of the inadequacy of the maintenance grants owing to the increase in the cost of living, and as in many cases they appear not to have had this information, will the Minister see that it is circulated among all the education committees?

I have no doubt that this Question and Answer will inform any people who do not know of the willingness of the Board to consider this matter.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from the Pharmaceutical Society in respect of the dangerous practice of the sale of pre-packed drugs by persons without any knowledge of drugs?

I cannot trace the receipt of any such representations.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Woolworth's and other chain stores have stacked counters of these pre-packed drugs, and that they are sold by assistants who have no knowledge of these things, thus defeating the purpose of the Act which was passed last summer?

If my hon. Friend wants ah answer to that Question, perhaps he will put it on the Order Paper.

asked the Minister of Health what is the cause of the increase of scabies among the civil population; and what steps are being taken as preventive?

The causes of the increase in scabies are not fully understood. Special war-time conditions undoubtedly conduce to the spread of the disease, but a steady increase in incidence was noted for some years before 1939. Research for which I arranged over a year ago is now being continued by the Medical Research Council, and curative and preventive measures based on this research will, I hope, help to reduce the incidence. Local authorities, under an Order which I made in October last, received additional powers the object of which was to secure the early ascertainment and treatment of cases of scabies which would otherwise have gone undetected and would have acted as reservoirs for the parasite causing the disease.

Can the Minister give any indication as to the increased percentage of scabies among the population?

I should like to have notice of that question, but I would point out that there was a steady increase some years before 1939.

In view of the most serious possibilities which may follow from this, would it not be as well for my right hon. Friend to make an authoritative statement and publish a leaflet on the subject?

I have here a list of curative and preventive methods, and I should be glad to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT for the information of the House, if there is a wish for it.

Is not the best curative and preventive method the exercise of cleanliness by the people themselves, who should not rely too much on people outside?

asked the Minister of Health why a principal assistant secretary to the Board of Control is being provided for at a time when the Board has ceased to carry out the obligations laid upon them by the Mental Deficiency Acts?

The appointment referred to does not involve any addition to the staff of the Board of Control. It is part of an arrangement under which a Principal Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Health is seconded to the Board in exchange for the Secretary to the Board who is seconded to the Ministry. I cannot admit the implication contained in the last part of the Question.

As the visits have been cut down by several thousands throughout the country, is there not much less work for the Department?

My hon. Friend will remember that the table of figures referred to a date some time past.

asked the Minister of Health what were the crude birth and death rates for England and Wales for 1941; and what would the death rate be if the present expectation of life at birth and present health conditions were to continue?

The crude live-birth and death rates in question are 14.2 and 12.9 per 1,000 population respectively. The answer to the latter portion of the Question would require the special construction of a life table; and in view of the unsettled wartime conditions upon which it would need to be based, I do not think that its value would justify the labour involved.

Is not the present expectation of life perfectly well known, and cannot the Minister give the figures to the House?

They would not reveal the whole of the information required for full deductions to be made.

I do not ask for that. I am asking for the facts.

I have nothing to add to the answer I have given.

asked the Minister of Health what is the net reproduction rate of women, aged 15 to 50 years, in this and in some other chief countries, as compared with that required to maintain present numbers?

I am not at present in a position to supply the desired information, but I am having the point investigated by the Registrar-General's Department, and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Are not the facts commonly known? Is not the rate of reproduction three-quarters of that required?

asked the Minister of Health what would be the estimated population of England and Wales in 40 years' and in 100 years' time if birth and death rates were to continue at present levels?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a memorandum prepared by the Registrar-General's Department with respect to the estimation of the future population of this country. My hon. Friend will, I think, appreciate from its perusal that the subject is not one which could be adequately treated within the limits of a Parliamentary Answer or, indeed, by means of a simple computa- tion on the basis of the bare data specified in the Question.

Will the Minister do his utmost to get these facts known to the general public, as they are of most serious importance to the nation and Empire?

For those who wish to have the advantage of this memorandum, I will do my best to see which is the best way to circulate it.

Will my right hon. Friend see that the memorandum is made generally available?

As I have said, I will consider the best way to do it.

Can the Minister give an indication of the scope of the memorandum to be circulated, in view of the great importance of the subject?

When the report was printed some time ago the memorandum was not printed with it. I will consider the best way of making it generally available, as the subject is of very great importance.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total accommodation provided in the 30 camps erected under the Camps Act, 1939; to what extent that accommodation is utilised; and by what classes are the camps occupied?

These camps contain accommodation for a maximum of 7,296 children and their teachers. At the latest date for which complete figures are available 5,569 children were in occupation. With the exception of one camp let to an orphanage the camps are occupied by senior and secondary schools, with the necessary teachers and staff, under the control of, or grant-aided by local education authorities.

Is the Minister satisfied with a position in which so large a proportion of the accommodation in these camps is not utilised at a time when there is a pressing demand for housing facilities in the immediate neighbourhood of many of them?

I should like to see the camps fully occupied.

Is it really true that we have 1,500 empty places in this greatest secondary education experiment which has taken place in this country for years? Let these schools be handed over to the Board of Education, and let the President answer for them in the future.

asked the Minister of Health the position with regard to the acceptance by elected members of local authorities of war-time positions in their own areas; and to what extent this is permissible and has occurred?

The provision in the Local Government Act, 1933, which disqualifies for membership of a local authority a person holding a paid office under that authority, was modified by Section 10 of the Local Government Staffs (War Service) Act, 1939, so as to enable councillors to accept posts under the Civil Defence Acts, 1937–9. I have no information showing how far advantage of this has been taken. There is no statutory bar to a councillor's accepting a post at the disposal of an authority other than his own council.

asked the Minister of Pensions under what circumstances the widow of a Service man can obtain a pension if the man dies while he is still in receipt of a disability pension; whether there is any appeal against the decision if a pension is refused; and, if so, what steps must be taken to get a hearing at the appeal board?

The conditions for the grant of a pension to the widow of a Service man of the present war are set out in Article 39 of the Royal Warrant of 29th June, 1940, which, on account of its length, I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT. In any case in which pension is refused because it cannot be certified that death resulted from service as indicated in that Article, I am always prepared to consider carefully an appeal on the production of fresh evidence or a reasoned statement of the grounds of appeal, and in a case of serious doubt or difficulty I have the benefit of the advice of independent medical experts.

Will the Minister consider setting up some appeal tribunal for this limited type of case, even if he will not agree to it for all applications?

I announced the Government's policy in regard to tribunals on 19th March. In the meantime I am asking my war pension committees throughout the United Kingdom who hear any cases of complaint to investigate them and report them to me.

39. Pensions to widows .—Subject to Articles 2 (6) and 41, the widow of a soldier may be granted a pension at the appropriate rate laid down in Article 40 if it is certified that her husband's death:—

provided that death was not in any substantial measure due to or hastened by his own serious negligence or misconduct; and provided further that the soldier's death took place within seven' years of the receipt of the wound or injury, or of the first removal from duty on account of the disease which caused or hastened his death, or, if there was no such removal from duty, of the date of termination of his war service, except that this latter proviso shall not apply to any claim which fulfils the requirements of any regulations which may be made by the Minister with the approval of the Lords Commissioners of Our Treasury.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will ascertain the number of prisoners in India charged with offences arising from political agitation and the number of these who are alleged to have committed acts of violence; and whether there has been any consideration of the desirability of an amnesty for certain types of the re- maining political prisoners who have not been guilty of premeditated violence?

I will communicate with the Government of India, but must warn the hon. Member that, as the information he desires would entail examination of each individual charge sheet in eleven different Provinces, an early reply is not to be expected.

In regard to those who have had no charge made against them of political violence, will the Secretary of State consider an amnesty for that type of prisoner?

I will communicate my hon. Friend's suggestion to the Viceroy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether women candidates for entry to the Metropolitan police force who are moderate drinkers are preferred to those who are total abstainers?

No, Sir; no preference is given one way or the other.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to require that the names of shareholders of newspapers and other journals shall be made available to the public?

The names of registered shareholders of companies which publish newspapers or other journals may be ascertained by inspection of the company's file at the office of the Registrar of Companies, or by inspection of the register of members at the registered office of the company itself.

Would the Home Secretary be willing to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the owners of the "Daily Mirror"?

Yes, Sir.

Is it possible to ascertain also who are the alleged shareholders of this newspaper acting as agents for others behind the scenes?

I am afraid I could not answer that without notice.

Following is the information:

I, of course, am under no responsibility to provide particulars as to shareholding in public companies, but the following information relating to the 1940 return is available in the Home Office. I understand that there have been no substantial changes in shareholdings since the information was tabulated:—

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction prevailing among women ambulance drivers by reason of the fact that, whereas they previously received £2 7s. for a 48-hour week, they are now receiving £2 12s. for an 84-hour week, which represents a considerable reduction in their rate of pay; and whether he will take steps to remedy this grievance by increasing their pay in proportion to the increase in the number of hours they have to work or by reducing the number of hours worked?

Steps have been taken to correct the misapprehension that the working week for women ambulance drivers has been increased from 48 to 84; the increase is to 72 where the 24-hour shift system is worked, otherwise it is 60. There is no hourly rate of pay in the Civil Defence Services and I cannot accept the argument of the hon. Member that the recent increase of hours of standby duty in the women's services, justifies a proportionate increase of pay. The increase in duty hours was independent of the weekly pay and would have been instituted in any event because of the pressing man-power problem. As to the operation of the increased minimum duty hours for women I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 26th March to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander).

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that air-raid precautions uniforms have been issued to wardens and others who did not apply for them or desire them; and will he state the cost of each uniform and equipment?

I have no information to suggest that the provision of uniform is not. generally acceptable to the personnel of the Civil Defence Services. The cost of serge battledress, greatcoat, beret, boots and anklets is £6 10s. including Purchase Tax. The cost of the corresponding outfit for women is slightly less.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered my Question whether he is aware that in certain cases these uniforms have not been desired.

I think that I have answered the Question. I said that I have no information which would lead me to think that that is the general view. You can always find minorities which have minority views among the Civil Defence Services, as in this House. We are treating the Civil Defence Services much the same as the Home Guard in this respect, and I do not see why they should not be so treated.

Have the wardens who do not desire uniforms nevertheless been supplied with them?

I daresay they have, but it is a matter for the local authority. I think that the Civil Defence personnel should appear alike and not be a ragged and varied lot.

Surely my right hon. Friend's jurisdiction goes further than merely a question of whether people desire these things or not. Is not the question rather whether they are necessary? From cases that I know personally there are a large number of people who are doing very little work but are receiving uniforms that are quite unnecessary.

It is not obligatory on the local authorities to supply uniforms, but I think that the spirit of this Service is helped by a proper uniform, and I do not see why the Civil Defence should be regarded as on a lower level than the Home Guard.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those persons who refused uniforms did it out of patriotism?

asked the Home Secretary whether members of air-raid precautions services are now to receive Home Guard uniforms; and what will then be done with the air-raid precautions uniforms for which they were measured and which have recently been supplied?

Part-time members of the Civil Defence General Services who enrol in the Home Guard list II under the arrangements which I announced on 12th February will receive Home Guard uniform. Their Civil Defence uniform will be withdrawn and cleaned, for reissue to other personnel when required. When acting as Civil Defence personnel they will wear a Civil Defence armlet on their Home Guard uniform.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons of British origin are still detained under Regulation 18b; how many of these are members of the British Union; and whether he will consider releasing all persons against whom there is no evidence that they have broken the law?

The number of persons of British origin detained under the Regulation is 229, of whom 135 are detained on the ground of membership of or activity in furtherance of the objects of the British Union. The persons in question are detained not because they have broken the law, but because their detention for preventive purposes is necessary in the interests of national security; and the last part of the Question does not accordingly arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that if these unfortunate people were released they would be a danger to the State?

The reason they are detained under preventive detention is that in our judgment they might be a danger to the State. They are subject to constant review and, as the House knows, I have already released a large number where I am satisfied that they would not be a danger.

May I ask my right hon. Friend, who, I believe, is well disposed in this matter, whether he can give an indication when these elementary principles of British justice will be restored?

asked the Home Secretary why the arrangements made in case of invasion, which have now been communicated to Members of this House by regional commissioners, were not so communicated at the earliest moment; and what reason there was for withholding this information?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to certain measures for facilitating collaboration between the civil and military authorities in the South-Eastern Region. Apart from special arrangements made in selected areas some time ago, these proposals were communicated to local authorities generally on 12th March, and the Members concerned were informed of this circular on 28th March. I do not think there has been any avoidable delay.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider setting up an inquiry, with an independent chair man, at which witnesses will give evidence on oath, into all the circumstances connected with the dismissal of Sir Warren Fisher and Colonel Blatherwick?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to his Supplementary Question on Monday last.

May I ask the Home Secretary how much longer he thinks the public will stand these Gestapo methods?

Following my right hon. Friend's new and much graver charge which he made on Monday against Colonel Blatherwick, has he had any further request from Colonel Blatherwick for an independent inquiry?

All I have seen is an interview in the Press, which does not seem to add to the facts of the situation.

Has my right hon. Friend filled the vacancy caused by the departure of Sir Warren Fisher?

No, Sir.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply and the principles involved, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Home Secretary how many invasion committees have been set up and are in operation; and whether he is satisfied that these will be adequate for the direction of the civil population in the event of invasion?

asked the Home Secretary how many invasion committees are to be set up throughout the country; how they are being chosen; and what specific powers they will have in directing persons in their areas to do special work in the event of invasion or the imminent threat of invasion?

Some thousands of committees have been or are about to be set up, but I am unable to give exact figures. As my right hon. Friend the Lord President explained on 24th March, committees are set up wherever they are considered necessary. Their work is mainly of a preparatory and co-ordinating character and they are designed to bring together for this purpose local representatives of the various civil and military authorities concerned. The usual procedure is for the constitution of the committees to be determined by the Regional Commissioner after such consultation with civil and military authorities as may be necessary and desirable. In most matters committees will not themselves issue directions: such directions as are needed will normally be given by the representatives of the services on the committee. Excellent work has already been done by many committees and I am satisfied that they will fulfil a very useful function.

Is this matter being treated as a question of urgency? We have been told that invasion is imminent, and will my right hon. Friend give an indication when he will be able to answer a question about the number of invasion committees?

The House has not been told that invasion is imminent. The House has been told that invasion is always possible and that we must be prepared for it. I can assure my hon. Friend that this is regarded as a matter of importance. We have not just begun it, for we started months ago, and I have asked the Regional Commissioners, in conjunction with the military authorities, to send me progress reports, so that we can keep the matter constantly under observation.

Will the members of these committees be appointed by virtue of their social positions or by virtue of ability and merit?

Where practicable regard is had to the representative character of the persons in relation to their local authority or other functions, but I can assure the House that social position will not enter into the appointments.

When the right hon. Gentleman says that the Regional Commissioners, in consultation with the military and civil authorities, will arrange for these committees, do we take it that that will apply generally, because in Scotland the local authorities were not consulted?

I do not think the hon. Gentleman is right. In his own county the county council has been consulted.

asked the Home Secretary what action he proposes to take where private individuals of moderate means have relieved local authorities of expense by building air-raid shelters for themselves and others at their own cost?

I presume my hon. Friend has in mind reimbursement of expenses incurred by private individuals who although now eligible for free air-raid shelter have provided themselves with such shelter at their own expense. I have no power to authorise payments from public funds in such cases.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider incorporating all the Civil Defence services into the Home Guard so that all able-bodied men may become weapon-minded and weapon-trained while still capable and ready to carry out their own specialised services as required?

The terms under which members of the Civil Defence Forces may join the Home Guard' were announced in this House by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security on 12th February, 1942. A further statement bearing on this subject was made by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council on 24th March, 1942. As resources in equipment and training capacity expand, it will be possible to give all able-bodied men in the Civil Defence Services who can be spared the desired opportunities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this is a matter of urgency and that unless something in the nature of my suggestion is adopted, there will be 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 uniformed and disciplined men who will be unable to defend either themselves or their country should invasion come?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Egyptians living in this country are not exempted from restrictions in the same way as other friendly aliens and that much inconvenience is caused in this respect; and whether he can take steps to rectify the matter?

As I stated in the House on 12th February, it has been decided, as a matter of policy, that general exemption from the special war-time restrictions should be conferred only on the nationals of those States which are at war with the Axis Powers, but individual applications from Egyptians for exemption will, as heretofore, receive careful and sympathetic consideration.

asked the Home Secretary what are the powers of Regional Commissioners for Civil Defence under conditions other than those of emergency; and whether they are empowered to issue orders to scheme making and other local authorities and on what subjects?

It is impossible within the compass of a Question and answer to enumerate all the powers of Regional Commissioners. They derive from the Defence Regulations and from specific delegations by Ministers and include such matters as the establishments and operations of Civil Defence Services, the provision of shelter, fire-prevention schemes, debris clearance and salvage after air raids and movements of population. These powers necessarily involve in certain circumstances the issue of orders to local authorities.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Regional Commissioners have the power to issue orders to local authorities for the movement from their own district of whole-time personnel?

I could not say without notice, but I think it is possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether Regional Commissioners are empowered to approve expenditure on matters connected with Civil Defence by scheme-making authorities, on what matters, and up to what amount; and whether regional representatives of Ministries other than the Ministry of Home Security are under their orders, or otherwise subject to their authority?

In the interests of simplicity and expedition in administration, Regional Commissioners and their staffs have been given authority to sanction expenditure on a wide variety of matters arising out of Civil Defence. The amounts which may be so sanctioned vary according to the nature of the service. Any major project would be referred to headquarters. In regard to the second part of the Question, the regional representatives not only of the Ministry of Home Security but of all Ministries would come under the direction of the Regional Commissioner if communications with their headquarters broke down; and under existing conditions there are some subjects connected with Civil Defence on which departments, notably the Ministry of Health, have delegated power to Regional Commissioners which give them a measure of control of certain activities of the department's regional representatives.

asked the Prime Minister whether Air-Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham was Commander-in-Chief in the Far East of the naval forces as well as of the Army and Air Force units?

Sir Robert Brooke-Popham was responsible for the operational control and general direction of training of all British land and air forces in Malaya, Burma and Hong Kong, and for the coordination of plans for the defence of these territories. It was laid down that, where appropriate, he should consult and co-operate with the Naval Commanders-in-Chief in the Far East, but he was not responsible for naval operations.

Would it be correct to say that His Majesty's ships at Singapore were under an independent command and were subject to no direction other than from the Admiralty?

That is so; they were under Admiralty and naval control.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will cause evidence to be collected and collated with a view to apportioning correctly responsibility for the strategic dispositions made prior to the opening of the Far-Eastern campaign?

I have nothing to add to the statements which have already been made on this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that public opinion has not accepted with fortitude this greatest of all military disasters, which would appear, as far as the public can see, to be largely due to the worst strategy since Ethelred the Unready, unless we have some guarantee that either the system or the men responsible is changed?

Who was responsible for withdrawing our submarines from Far Eastern waters?

Those Questions should be put down on the Paper.

How can you gauge public opinion?

We do our best. Some people seem to think they know all about it.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the questions that are being asked inside and outside the House show the desirability of setting up a committee to inquire into the disaster at Singapore?

That point has already been put to the Prime Minister, and he has replied to it. I have nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister when the Minister of State in the Middle East is likely to take up his duties there?

The Minister of State in the Middle East is at present in London on his way to take up his appointment. He will resume his journey at an early date after completing his consultations with Ministers and others concerned with Middle East questions.

Was it not possible to find an occupant for this post in the whole of the British Isles, to say nothing of this House, and so avoid upsetting so many Australians?

That does not seem to arise out of the Question at all.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will assure the House that only British-born subjects act as staff officers or advisers to the Commander Combined Operations?

I see no occasion for any special ruling in this case.

We are fighting for our existence. Why take any risks at all in these operations, the essence of which is secrecy?

I am glad to say that we are not the only people who are fighting for our existence.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the experience gained during the present war, he will now restore to the Board of Admiralty the collective responsibility for the conduct of naval operations which it enjoyed before the Order-in-Council of 1904?

So far as it concerns the subject of my hon. and gallant Friend's inquiry, I cannot recognise that the Admiralty Order-in-Council of 1904 effects any change in the theory and practice of administration by the Board of Admiralty.

Is it not a fact that prior to the Order-in-Council the First Sea Lord was only first among equals, whereas under present conditions the other Sea Lords have nothing whatever to say in regard to the conduct of operations?

I have studied the Order-in-Council, which does not seem to bear out the hon. and gallant Gentleman's suggestion.

Whether it comes under that particular Order or not, is it not the case that since the war the Patent of Admiralty has been in abeyance, and, as a result, the chief responsibility to His Majesty the King for the defence of this Realm is no longer in the hands of the Lords of the Admiralty?

I should like to see that Question on the Paper.

Is it not the fact that the Board of Admiralty is still responsible for the organisation and the fighting capacity of the Navy?

Certainly, and the First Lord is responsible to the House.