asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing practice of hiding the identity of company shareholders under the title of bank nominees; and whether, in the public interest, he will take immediate action in the case of nominee shareholders in newspaper or public utility companies to secure the names of the real shareholders being made available to the public in the ordinary way?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to amend Section 101 of the Companies Act, 1929, so as to require bare trustees, who are registered shareholders, to disclose, and companies to register, the names and addresses of the persons entitled to call for a transfer of the shares, but expressly providing that companies shall not thereby be affected with notice of any trust?

There is full power under Regulation 80A of the Defence Regulations to compel disclosure to the Department concerned of the beneficial ownership of shares held by nominees, where it is considered necessary or expedient to obtain the information in the interests of the public safety, the defence of the realm or the efficient prosecution of the war. I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary whether any further action is necessary.

If the identity of the beneficial owner is easily concealed, is there much value in the public right of inspection of the register as provided in the Companies Acts?

The Companies Acts, as my hon. Friend knows, are a very complicated affair, and to begin to modify them would be a complicated legislative business. We have under the Defence Regulations power to obtain the information which my hon. Friend has in mind. It can be obtained by Ministers and by Departments, and it is within their discretion whether it should be disclosed to the public.

Will my right hon. Friend make it public, or is it a secret of the Department?

It is a matter for their discretion.

Does my hon. Friend know of any Government Department which has exercised the powers which he has just outlined to find out who is behind some of these company holdings?

I think that the powers have been used but the information has not been made public. I repeat that I am consulting with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to see whether any improvement in the present arrangements under the law and the Defence Regulations is possible or desirable.

What steps should a member of the public take to obtain this information?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will, in consideration of the extremely dirty nature of the work and the excessive wear and tear of clothing of men engaged in maintenance work in steel works, review the position in regard to clothing coupons, with the idea of granting them an increased allocation in proportion to the unusual nature of their work?

Supplementary coupons will be issued as from 4th May to many types of maintenance workers in the iron and steel industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that gas and electricity meters are read continuously, and that accordingly only one-ninetieth of the individual quarterly accounts relate to the same date; and in these circumstances will the rationing of fuel be on a quarterly or an annual basis?

Sir William Beveridge's Report, which is now available in the Vote Office, was prepared after full consultation with representatives of the industries supplying gas and electricity. It takes account of the facts stated in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, and proposes that the rationing period for each individual consumer should be on an annual basis and should be related to the dates at which his meters are read.

Do I understand that you cannot penalise anybody until 12 months have gone by?

My hon. Friend cannot get away from it as easily as that. If he will read the Report, which is now available in the Vote Office, I think that he will find the answer to his question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman or most of his colleagues or most of the public read their meters, never mind the Report?

I was practising on mine last week-end.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish an estimate of the cost of making and fitting to gas and electricity meters in domestic premises with automatic cut-outs which will interrupt the supply when the amount of the ration has been consumed?

No, Sir. The manufacture and fitting of automatic cut-outs on the scale that would be required is quite beyond the capacity of the industries concerned, but the scheme outlined in Sir William Beveridge's Report does not involve any such provision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish an estimate of the number of persons who will be employed in determining the fuel ration of the 12,000,000 householders in the country; and how long will it take them to complete the task?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of officials estimated to be required by the proposed Fuel Rationing Scheme; and the estimated cost in salaries?

Sir William Beveridge estimates in his Report that, in addition to a small headquarters staff, 10,000 to 15,000 temporary clerks would be required for the first six weeks or possibly two months. Thereafter the staff would be much reduced. They would be distributed between 1,500 Fuel Offices already in exist- ence throughout the country. The weekly cost for the first two months would probably be between £30,000 and £40,000 and correspondingly less thereafter. The temporary staff would partly be recruited by transfer or loan from other Departments, and part-time and voluntary workers would also be used in the initial stages.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that, instead of setting up this huge so-called temporary staff, it would be better to release another 15,000 miners from the Army?

As has already been announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Privy Seal, the House will have an opportunity of debating all these matters, at an early date, and perhaps you, Sir, would not expect me to go into these questions of detail now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will, as an experimental measure, before introducing a complicated system of fuel rationing, authorise merchants and undertakings to withhold supplies to persons making improper use of gas, electricity and coal?

I am afraid that my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal is impracticable. Suppliers of fuel are not in a position to judge whether or not fuel is being properly used by their customers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, although this matter has been under the notice of his Department for so long a period, no such system as that suggested in my Question or any other system has been brought forward as complicated as the proposed system?

Has not the time come to declare war upon waste, however inconvenient?

That is what the Government hope to achieve.

Does the fuel rationing scheme apply to Northern Ireland?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, before introducing a domestic rationing scheme, he will give an assurance that the unnecessary consumption of electricity in illuminated signs, shop windows, interior of stores, etc., will be stopped?

Sir William Beveridge in his Report recommends, as an accompaniment of a domestic rationing scheme, the imposition of restrictions on the consumption of electricity for such purposes as are named in this Question. I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that an Order to effect such restrictions is desirable, and I have such an Order in preparation, but the consequent saving would, I am afraid, be a very small contribution to what is required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether before reaching any final decision about introducing a fuel rationing plan he will institute a test period of three or six months to ascertain what economy can be effected through a publicity campaign instructing the public how it is possible to economise in the use of electricity, gas and coal?

The Mines Department has since last summer been conducting an intensive economy campaign. I regret to say that, in spite of these efforts, purchases of solid fuel for domestic consumption increased by approximately one million tons as compared with a year before. I think that my hon. and gallant Friend will agree that this experience is not encouraging.

Was not the increase largely due to the exceptionally severe winter?

We cannot be sure that we shall not have another severe winter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons who were held on the establishment of the Ministry of Economic Warfare on the 21st February, 1942, have been transferred to, and were held on, the establishment of the Board of Trade on 23rd April, 1942; and what number of these are established Civil Servants?

The number is 29, of whom 5, including Sir Frederick Leith-Ross, are established Civil Servants.

Were all these persons employed in the Post-War Relief Department?

The great majority are in the Post-War Commodity Policy and Relief Department, which was transferred to me when I was moved to the Board of Trade from the Ministry of Economic Warfare. Some of them have not yet been able to move physically to the Board of Trade building owing to the difficulty of accommodation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings, on what date Mr. Hugh Beaver was appointed Director-General of Works and Buildings; and on what date he resigned his partnership in Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners?

Mr. Hugh Beaver was appointed Director-General of Works and Buildings on 21st April, 1941. He resigned his partnership in the firm of Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners on 1st March, 1942.

What salary is Mr. Beaver now getting?

I have not the figure in my mind.

Are we to understand that this gentleman was still a partner of the firm up to March of this year, when the firm was in contractual relations with the Ministry?

He took no part in the affairs of the firm, but he was a member of it until 1st March.

He was not an active partner, but what we want to know is, Was he drawing an income out of the firm?

Presumably he was. He never told me what he got.

Is it not a condition of appointments to Cabinet or Government rank that people appointed should resign their partnerships in private or public firms which are in contractual relations with the Government? Would my hon. Friend not consider it rather irregular for this public official to hold these two appointments?

The rules governing such appointments were laid down in a Treasury Circular of 24th February, 1940, which has been considered and approved by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons. Until his resignation from the firm Mr. Beaver's case fell within this category. It was perfectly in order.

Would it be true to say that this gentleman was drawing a salary and his firm drawing fees, concurrently?

Until he resigned his partnership in the firm of Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners, Mr. Beaver was drawing no salary at all from the company.

Is it not a fact that this gentleman was convicted, along with a firm of contractors, of misuse of petrol?

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made in the replacement of male chauffeurs by women in Government Departments and the placing of the men thus replaced on more suitable national work?

Instructions have been issued to the local offices of the Department providing for the interviewing of chauffeurs who are registered under the Registration for Employment Order, including men employed in Government Departments, and, in appropriate cases, the men will be transferred to more important work. Statistical information as to the results of the interviews is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the case in which war damage, sustained to household chattels before the date of operation of the War Damage Act, 1941, and belonging to a married man and his wife, was assessed at £208 19s. 6d., and the fact that a deduction is to be made from this amount for a premium of £2 1s. 10d.; whether this would have been the premium charged had the scheme been in force at the time the damage was sustained as laid down in the Act and as set out in Section 15 of Explanatory Memorandum P.C.S.5?

My attention has been drawn to this case. For reasons of practical administration and for the advantage of many of the claimants, the very large number of claims outstanding, when the War Damage Act became law, have been assessed for compensation as if they were the subject of an insurance policy. No premium is levied where the loss is less than £100 or payment is made on hardship grounds. In other cases the premium is calculated on the actual loss only.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that this is hardly carrying into effect the Chancellor's desire that one principle should obtain for both those people who suffered before the War Damage Act and those who suffered after, and that those people who suffered damage before are placed at a grave disadvantage in comparison with those whose damage occurred after the passing of the Act?

I do not think that is really so. In this particular case the claim that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to was paid to the extent of £209, with a deduction of £2 for premium which would have been chargeable had the case fallen at a later stage when the War Damage Act was in operation.

Would my right hon. Friend agree that had a similar amount of damage been assessed to a person whose furniture was damaged after the passing of the Act, there would have been no premium charged because a married man and his wife would have been exempt up to £300; and that this is an imposition on people who suffered before the passing of the Act and is not in accordance with the purpose of the Act as placed before the House?

I do not think that is so. My hon. and gallant Friend will find, I think, that it is quite equitable as between the two sets of persons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider amending the Weights and Measures Regulations whereby coal merchants are compelled to carry around on their carts and lorries scales and weights, weighing approximately 4 cwt, since these scales and weights are not used and a safeguard is provided by the county council inspectors who furnish their own weights, in view of the saving in transport by the additional space which would enable extra coal to be carried on each vehicle, and the utilisation of the old iron of the scales and weights which would be made available as metal for war weapons?

I am already considering representations which I have received to this effect and have asked for the views of the interests concerned.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind what he told us a few moments ago, that the Government wish to check waste in any form, and this is real waste, and what is done is nothing more or less than window dressing?

Yes, Sir, and I have already been in consultation with the local authorities and coal distributors on the matter.

It sounds quite favourable, Mr. Speaker.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make a statement on the facts of the accident in Cheshire that brought about the death of David Thomas Hicks and injury to seven members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service; and will he see that adequate transport facilities are provided where required for reasonable recreation?

A soldier and a noncommissioned officer are awaiting trial by Field General Court-Martial in connection with this accident. I can therefore make no statement at present, but will communicate with my hon. Friend later. Existing instructions authorise the use of transport for recreation on such a scale as present circumstances allow.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether facilities were provided for the men and women serving in the Army within a reasonable radius of Main Road, Manchester, to be present at the Western Command and Northern Command football match, held in the evening of 8th April in aid of the Forces Welfare Fund; is he aware that most of the men who were present arrived without a meal; that there was great interest in the match in both commands, yet few could be present; and will he see that, in future, non-commissioned ranks are provided with at least the same opportunities for relaxation as commissioned ranks?

Men and women within a reasonable radius would need no special transport facilities. I do not know whether those who came arrived with or without meals; the match took place at 6.45 p.m. As for the third part of the Question, it is not unusual, even in peacetime, for those of us who have work to do to be prevented from attending football matches in which we take a great interest. And as to the fourth part, noncommissioned ranks already get at least the same opportunities for relaxation as commissioned ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Army officers have appealed to the Army Council since the outbreak of war; how many of these appeals have been successful; and what is the average length of time that appeals take from the date when an officer decides to appeal to the time when he gets the decision from the Army Council?

One thousand and forty appeals by officers have been dealt with by the Army Council since the outbreak of war. Two hundred and fifty-six of these have been wholly or partly successful. Figures from which the last part of the Question could be answered are not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great dissatisfaction because of a feeling that this appeal to the Army Council has become really a formality, and that at least there is interminable delay in getting grievances heard and justice done to officers?

No, Sir, I am not aware of of any such feeling, and from my own knowledge it is not by any means a matter of formality, because each appeal has to be seen by three members of the Army Council individually. That is the procedure which has been laid down and which is followed, and I do not think that after that procedure there is any chance of very much injustice.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a Durham gentleman and his wife have been compelled to live in an hotel in Durham City since June, 1941, and to pay in addition to their hotel expenses 17s. 6d. per week for the storage of their furniture, in order that the Army may occupy their house in Hurworth Village, near Darlington; and will he say how much longer this will continue?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will issue an order preventing officers from requisitioning any private house, so forcing the owner of the house to live in an hotel and pay for the storage of his furniture?

It is not the policy of the War Office to requisition occupied houses, except in cases of absolute necessity. The house at Hurworth referred to in the Question was unoccupied and unfurnished. The owner of the house was at the time living in another house which he possessed in Durham. He subsequently sold his house at Durham, notwithstanding the fact that his house at Hurworth had at that time already been requisitioned. I cannot say when it will be possible to derequisition the, house at Hurworth.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that they requisitioned it and left it in four months? Is he further aware that it was then cleaned and refurnished? Is he further aware that his Department then broke into it, after the Dunkirk affair, and that there were two large houses owned by captains in the village and that owners of large houses have not taken in any officers at all? Is he further aware that this lady offered, if they would allow her to do so, to go to the house to minister to their needs?

That is a long string of questions upon which to express agreement or disagreement, and in the case of at least one of them my information is contrary to that given by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in connection with the erection of bomb shelters for the Home Guard on private property, where it is necessary to requisition land, many forms have to be filled in in duplicate and triplicate; and whether, in view of the fact that in many cases sums of no more than 5s. per year for rent are involved, he will instruct the various land branches to find a method of dealing with these matters which does not involve such a waste of time, money and paper?

This work is done under Defence Regulations and creates a claim against the Department under the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939. The Act lays down that no claim shall be entertained unless made in a prescribed form and manner and it would be wasteful, even if it were practicable, to prescribe different forms and manners according to the size of the claim.

asked the Secretary of State for War the revised rates of subsistence allowances for members of the Home Guard; and from what date they have operated?

The revised rates have operated from 1st March. They are, for a continuous period of duty of 5 to 8 hours, 1s. 6d.; for 8 to 15 hours, 3s.; for 15 to 24 hours, 4s. 6d.

Have these rates actually been published in the Press? There seems to be some doubt about the matter.

I cannot say whether that is so, but I will look into the matter.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of making a further adjustment so as to bring Home Guard rates of subsistence allowance equal to the subsistence allowance given to fire watchers?

The review was undertaken so as to bring the rates into reasonable relation. I think they are now in reasonable relation, though they are not exactly the same.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the principle in operation when granting commissions in the Royal Engineers; and must the applicant be a serving soldier before application is made for a commission?

Commissions in the Royal Engineers are in general granted to serving soldiers, but since the need for officers with high technical qualifications cannot be wholly met from this source some few direct commissions have been granted to civilians who possess these qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in the reorganisation process of the Army he will discontinue all ceremonial parades of troops during the time of war and so avoid unnecessary time and trouble that it takes to prepare for them?

No, Sir. Occasional ceremonial parades have their value, and I see no reason to restrict the discretion of General Officers Commanding-in-Chief.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when these are reported in the Press people ask why there is any need for this kind of thing in time of war? I am sure they ought to be dispensed with; there is no need for them at all.

The testimony of Commanders-in-Chief who have seen active operations is exactly to the contrary.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the opinion of those Commanders-in-Chief is open to criticism?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make about the action in which a battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment fought against an overwhelming Japanese force in Burma?

A fairly full account of this gallant action has appeared in the Press, and I shall be pleased to send my hon. Friend a copy of the communiqué , to which, however, there is nothing that I can add.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any congratulations have been sent to the regiment? Would he be prepared to send a letter of congratulation signed by his own hand?

If I sent a message signed by my own hand it would take some time to get there, but I will certainly consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the organisation of the British Red Cross Society for searching for soldiers reported missing has now been completed?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones) on 19th December last, of which I am sending him a copy.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say without notice and of his own knowledge whether in fact anything whatsoever has been done in the matter of this organisation in the Middle East?

Yes, Sir, but there is, of course, a great shortage of voluntary searchers in the Middle East. The burden of searching falls upon units and the military authorities out there, who have also many other important duties to attend to.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say without notice whether, in fact, any searchers have been appointed at all?

If the hon. Member wishes to press me on details he had better put down a Question, and I will answer it.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many persons have been accepted for the Army Officers Emergency Reserve; how many have been called up as officers; and what he proposes to do regarding those who have not yet been called up?

Between August, 1938, and 18th April, 1942, the number accepted for the Army Officers Emergency Reserve was 41,603. Up to 18th April, 1942, 26,863 were called up, including about 800 posted to Officer Cadet Training Units. The Reserve now numbers 4,331, who form a pool from which officers can be drawn if occasion arises, but half of them are over 50, and I cannot hold out much hope that it will be possible to make use of their services.

Would it not be very much more satisfactory if those who are not likely to be wanted were told so, so that they would be able to take up some other form of national service?

Officers are always released from the Reserve if they wish to be, but I will certainly consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. A short time ago there was a review, and a good many officers were told. Whether another review is called for, I will consider.

Is it necessary that these figures should be made public? If they are common knowledge, why ask a question; and, if not, is it not dangerous to publish them?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the dependants of many men now serving are in France where they support themselves on loans from friends; and whether he will arrange for the normal allowances to be credited to each such soldier monthly in a suspense account to enable him to repay the loans at the end of the war?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to an answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon) on 25th February, 1941, of which I am sending him a copy. The whole question of the treatment of married officers and men whose families are in countries to which remittances cannot be made is at present under review.

Will my right hon. Friend take into consideration the fact that the British Legion make special representations on behalf of these men, who now receive only half the normal allowance?

As I said, the whole question is under review. When the review is completed, I shall be pleased to answer another Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has seen complaints regarding the inadequacy of Army postal services, resulting in a mass of undelivered letters being returned to the families of men killed in Malaya and else where; and whether he is satisfied with the present organisation of the Army Post Office?

I have seen a paragraph in a newspaper, to which I think my right hon. Friend refers, which seems to me to base an untrue, general accusation on a single instance which I am investigating. I am satisfied that the Army Post Office organisation generally is working efficiently, in face of great difficuties.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in commandeering agricultural land for military purposes, the Army has any responsibility for keeping its area free from noxious Weeds?

Departments have no legal responsibility for removing Weeds from requisitioned land. I am, however, well aware how they may injure food production, and command land agents take preventive measures in concert with county war agricultural committees.

Is it not a very bad example to farmers when they see land which was commandeered from them overgrown with docks and thistles?

That may be so, but the answer to my hon. Friend is that command land agents take preventive measures, in concert with county war agricultural committees.

If I give examples, will my right hon. Friend look into them?

Certainly, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action it is proposed to take about the ancient monuments on the Sussex Downs, scheduled by a military officer and a Hove antiquary as specially worthy of preservation, when the area is used for Army manoeuvres?

As my hon. Friend was informed on 13th April, every effort will be made to avoid damage to these ancient monuments.

As representing a part of this area, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend would instruct his Department to get into touch with the Ministry of Works and Buildings, which has a special responsibility for ancient monuments, in view of the fact that some of these tumuli, which are pre-Roman or Roman, are of unique interest and value?

I will certainly consider that suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is in a position to make a statement regarding the representations by the County Clerk of Lanarkshire on behalf of certain Scottish local authorities on the subject of supplementary allowances to old age pensioners and the Determination of Needs Act?

I have sent a full reply to the County Clerk of Lanarkshire on the subject of supplementary pensions referred to, and I have informed him that the question of applying the Determination of Needs Act to public assistance is under consideration by the Government. As I understand that the subject is of interest to a number of hon. Members, I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of the letter sent to the County Clerk.

Following is the copy :

"Scottish Office,

Whitehall,

London, S.W.I.

21st April, 1942.

W. H. Rodger, Esq.,

Lanarkshire House,

191, Ingram Street,

Glasgow, C.I.

Dear Sir,

I am directed by the Secretary of State to refer to your letters of the 20th March and 8th April transmitting three Resolutions, adopted by a Conference of representatives of certain public assistance authorities in Scotland.

As regards supplementary pensions, the Secretary of State is glad to note the Conference's agreement that the Assistance Board observed the spirit of section 13 of the Old Age and Widows' Pensions Act, 1940, in those cases to which it applied. The object of the section was, of course, that no individual pensioner should suffer a reduction in his allowance by reason only of the coming into operation of the 1940 Act, and that this was in fact secured is a matter which cannot be too widely recognised.

In April, 1940, only some 40,000 pensioners in Scotland were receiving supplementation from public assistance authorities; by September, 1940, the number receiving supplementation from the Board had risen to over 100,000. In more than 50 per cent. of the cases taken over by the Board the amount the pensioner had been receiving from the authority was less than the amount payable under the Board's scale; in a further 10 per cent. it was the same; and in the remaining cases where it was greater, section 13 operated to obviate any reduction on transfer. Thus eighty thousand pensioners in Scotland benefited from the operation of the Act; not one suffered a reduction in his or her allowance .

Exact comparison between the scales of local authorities and the Board's scale is difficult because of the necessity for taking into account the other provisions under which need is assessed as, for example, the treatment of rent. There is also the question of the extent to which the special circumstances of an individual case are taken into consideration, and the extent to which the amount of the supplementary pension is adjusted in order to meet these circumstances. Mr. Johnston has, however, had enquiries made. The results of those enquiries shows that of 21 authorities—out of the 55 in Scotland—whose scales on paper appear to be more favourable to the single pensioner living alone than the Board's scale, the difference in 13 areas is 6d. or less. Similarly, in the case where a pensioner is one of a married couple, out of 13 areas where the Board's scale on paper appears to be less favourable, the difference is 6d. or less in 7 areas.

In actual practice small differences in the scales on paper may be and indeed frequently are eliminated by the Board's rent rule. For example, in Clydebank—in which (on paper) the excess of the local authority's scale over the Board's scale appeared to be most marked—it has been found that in not a single case on the Board's current Clydebank register did any person becoming entitled to pension after August, 1940, and having previously been in receipt of relief from the local authority suffer any reduction in his income through transfer to the Board.

The investigation, carried out last week and therefore taking account of any recent increases in Local Authorities Public Assistance scales, indeed covered a wider area, including not only Clydebank but also Rutherglen, Bridgeton and West Stirlingshire, with the following results: —

In the 4 cases where the Board's payment is less than the local authority's would have been, the reduction in 3 cases was 6d. and in the other case 1s. 6d.

Mr. Johnston is unaware of any individual complaints of hardship, but if you know of any such complaints made locally, he will, as always, be prepared to transmit them at once to the Board for investigation if you will let him know the facts .

As regards clothing, which is specially referred to in your Resolution, Mr. Johnston is informed by the Assistance Board that 1,500 grants were made in December, 1941, and over 5,000 in the last three months of the year in the 2 Glasgow districts alone. His attention has, here again, not been called to any specific cases of hardship but if any such cases are brought to his notice he will have immediate investigation made.

There would not therefore appear to be any justification for the Conference's general assertion that old age pensioners in Scotland are worse off under the Assistance Board than if they had still been under the necessity of applying to the public assistance authorities for supplementation.

One of the main objects of Part II of the Act of 1940 was, by placing old age pensioners outside the scope of the poor law and enabling their needs to be met on the basis of a national scale approved by Parliament, to remedy the inequalities which then prevailed between one area and another. Now, as Mr. Johnston understands it, the Conference's proposal would mean that the amount of supplementation which a pensioner would receive, would once again be made to depend on the standard adopted by the local authority of the area in which he happens to reside. But the remedy for any insufficiency in the rate of supplementary pensions at present being paid by the Assistance Board would not, in the Secretary of State's view, be to leave the amount of the supplementary pension to be determined by the varying public assistance scales of local authorities. The old age pension was fixed on a national basis. The Board did not reduce but levelled upwards the supplementations in force prior to the 1940 Act, and the fact that some local authorities have now further raised their public assistance scales would not appear to be a reason why in these areas and in. these areas alone the old age pension supplements should be increased.

The Secretary of State has noted the terms of the Conference Resolution which deals with the adequacy of the pension granted under the Contributory Pensions Acts to widows under 60 years of age. As you are no doubt aware, the Government have appointed a committee under the chairmanship of Sir William Beveridge to consider and report on all the schemes of social insurance which are at present operative in this country, and Mr. Johnston understands that an opportunity will be afforded to Local Authority Associations to place before that committee any proposals for reform which they consider to be necessary.

With regard to the remaining Resolution of the Conference, the suggestion that the principles of the Determination of Needs Act should apply to public assistance has reached the Government from various quarters and is at present being examined. Mr. Johnston discussed the proposal with the Associations of Local Authorities in Edinburgh yesterday. It is probable that a further meeting with the Associations will be held on this point within the next few weeks, and you will no doubt be informed of this through the Associations.

Yours faithfully,

(Sgd.) T. D. HADDOW,

Private Secretary."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the numbers of boys under 14 years of age who have been charged before the juvenile courts of Glasgow with various offences during 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1942, respectively?.

The figures for the last four years are 2,071, 2,125, 2,939, and 2,785 respectively. Comparative figures for 1942 are not yet available.

Can the Minister give any explanation for this increase in juvenile crime?

As a matter of fact, the figures show a slight decrease for 1941, but the question is large and complex.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will cause to be placed in the Library of the House a copy of the circular recently issued by him through the Scottish Education Department on training in citizenship?

Yes, Sir.

Will copies of the circular be made available through the Vote Office to hon. Members?

I cannot say without notice about the Vote Office, but I shall be glad to send a copy to any hon. Member who desires it.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many ex-miners have been released from the serving Forces up-to-date; how many it is intended to release for the purpose of returning to the mines; and whether the men themselves can make application to be considered?

I am not at present in a position to add to the answers I have already given. A certain number of men serving in the Army in the British Isles are now being released from a limited number of military establishments, and some will shortly be released from the Royal Air Force. It is hoped to secure a further increase in man-power by the return to coalmining of a number of ex-miners employed in other industries. Before an application for release is entertained by the War Office, it must be established that the man is an underground worker and that there is a job immediately available for him in the mines. After names have been submitted by the collieries to my Department they are examined by the War Office, and men in categories not expressly excluded are released. Ex-miners now serving in the Army at home may approach the colliery to which they wish to return. The procedure for release from the Air Force is somewhat different. Colliery companies will, in the next few days, be asked to place in work a limited number of men whom the Air Ministry is prepared to release.

Is the Minister aware that there is a lot of discontent, both among men serving in the Army and among people outside, about not knowing the method of procedure? Have not some men been sent back who did not wish to leave the Army but had no voice in the matter? Should there not be some method by which men could be heard and the whole matter be reconsidered on its merits? Is not the whole thing mixed up now?

This arrangement has been made with the coalowners and the Miners' Federation. The men must know that they are invited to return to the mines. No man is compelled to come back, and he need not come back if he does not want to, but I would point out that more than 20,000 names have been sent forward of men for whom there is an offer of employment in each case.

Can the men themselves or the trade union make application?

A man cannot offer himself a job. The only person who can offer employment is an employer. The trade union is well aware of the organisation for bringing men back.

Is there not considerable delay in releasing men who fulfil all these conditions and who are in this country? Can the Minister explain the reason for this delay?

I do not think there is considerable delay in releasing men who are eligible for release. As I have said, a very large number of applications have been made by employers for men to work in the mines, but the number released is small in proportion.

When a miner in the Army applies to his colliery company to be taken back, and his application is not acceded to, is he told the reason why he has not been brought back to the mines?

I do not think an answer is given in each case, but there are certain categories of soldiers who are not now eligible for return to the mines, and, in general, the men know in which category they are.

Is the Minister aware that a number of ex-miners have been returned without requests from employers?

Numbers of ex-miners have been returned, but there is work available for them.

But Without the request of an employer at all?

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early date.

( for Mr. Ness Edwards) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that men given six months' leave of absence from the Armed Forces for work in the coal mines are now arriving in the coalfields without adequate means of maintenance and without the means to obtain working clothes and tools; and whether he has any statement to make thereon?

Men returning from the Forces for work in the coal mines are transferred to Class W Army Reserve. Their pay and wives' allowances cease on discharge to Class W Army Reserve. It is recognised that these men must be helped to take up work quickly in the pits, and they are being guaranteed pay for any gap there may be between discharge from the Army and their actual employment in the mines. In addition, a grant of £2 10s. is being made to each man for the provision of working clothes, and the owners are supplying tools in order to relieve the men from any expense in that connection. I ought to add that the men, on leaving the Army, retain necessaries in their possession (which include shirts, underclothing, etc.) and one pair of Army boots. They receive in addition civilian suit, cap, collar and tie, or the cost to the War Office of providing them. Owners are also arranging to make advances to the men in cases where they are in difficulty regarding maintenance pending receipt of wages for work in the pits.

Does my hon. Friend not agree that most colliery companies do not provide working clothes; and is not special provision made in connection with the Order to which he referred?

A circular has been sent to each owner, and I hope that the contents of that circular will be put into effect.

Did my hon. Friend say that every discharged miner is provided with a civilian suit?

Yes, Sir.

Is he aware that there is very great dissatisfaction among the men? There are provided with £2 with which to get a civilian suit. Can my hon. Friend get a civilian suit for £2?

I am not supposed to provide the civilian suit. That question must be put to the representative of the War Office, not of my Department.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received a report from the Fuel Efficiency Committee appointed in September of last year; and whether he is satisfied that the measures that are being taken to prevent the waste of coal in industry are effective?

Yes, Sir. I have received two useful interim reports from the Fuel Efficiency Committee, outlining their proposals for preventing waste in the use of coal in industry. These have been given careful consideration by my Department, and most of their recommendations have been adopted. I am sending my hon. Friend some particulars.

Will the hon. Gentleman keep in mind that people working in industry are themselves going short of coal, and that it does not help them when they see coal being wasted at the place where they are working?

I have just told my hon. Friend that the Committee have made reports, of which I will give him a copy, and I am sure he will be convinced that a very considerable effort has been made to save coal.

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?

I have been asked to reply. I am not yet in a position to make a statement, but I hope to be able to do so in the very early future.

In view of the urgency of this matter, can the hon. Gentleman assure the House that he is doing all he can to expedite it?

I hope my hon. Friend will have early evidence that that is so.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that many persons on Clydeside have suffered hard ship this winter from the shortage of coal and the bad quality of that supplied, accentuated by the fact that many persons are unable to take more than two hundredweights of coal at a time; and whether he will take steps to increase stocks of coal in the district and improve the quality by seeing that coal is not taken from inferior seams while better seams are left unworked and that the price of the coal is related to its quality?

I am aware that owing to the prolonged spell of severe weather this winter it was not always possible for merchants to meet the full demands of domestic consumers, but every possible step was taken, in Clydeside and elsewhere, to see that those without stocks had first call on the available supplies, and I am not aware that there was serious hardship in the district as a whole. With regard to the second part of the Question, I have no evidence to show that inferior seams of coal are being worked and superior seams reserved, and in fixing the retail prices of coal, which are controlled by my Department, regard is necessarily had to a number of considerations, including, of course, the quality of the coal.

Arising from that reply, in which the hon. Gentleman says that he has no evidence that an inferior quality of coal is being supplied, if he will come with me, I will show him tons and tons of inferior coal of a kind which we have never had supplied before.

The hon. Member does not say that he knows where inferior coal has been brought to the surface. What he says is that inferior seams have been worked and superior seams reserved. I do not know of such cases.

It is correct. I know of a case, and that being so, will the Department make inquiries and give us some satisfaction, because it is causing a tremendous amount of discontent?

I do not think it would serve to allay discontent if a statement were allowed to pass to the effect that inferior coal is being worked and superior coal reserved. I have no proof of that.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether there will be any increase in price arising out of the rationing undertaken by his Department, or whether it will be possible to justify an increase of 4s. 4d. a ton as a result of the smaller quantities supplied to consumers?

I think my hon. Friend had better give me notice of that question, and then I will give him an answer.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in certain areas no coal is available for either commercial, industrial or domestic purposes, and why is that so?

I know that coal is in short supply in certain areas.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been directed to the case of John Pickard, Cefneithin, who, after working 26 years in coalmines, was eventually rendered totally disabled by silicosis but failed to recover compensation because he had not worked in the mines for a period prior to complete disability, and who is now dependent upon public assistance; and whether he will consider legislation to provide adequate protection for such sufferers from silicosis?

I have no information with regard to the particular case of John Pickard. General questions of workmen's compensation legislation are for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, with whom I shall keep in close touch in regard to future legislation affecting the coalmining industry which I hope will arise from the forthcoming report of the Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee.

Is my hon. Friend aware that under existing legislation, in cases of this kind where a certain period of time elapses after a man has ceased to work in the coal pits, he fails to recover compensation on the ground of silicosis although he has obviously got it, and will that point be kept in mind in future legislation?

I hope it will be possible to give compensation to all men who have been proved to have contracted silicosis in the course of their employment.

; Can the hon. Gentleman say when we are likely to have the report of the Committee, which has been under consideration for a long time?

I answered a Question on that subject the other day.

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether any decision has yet been arrived at as to how long the allowance of petrol for motor cycles will be continued?

I propose to abolish the basic ration for motor cycles from 1st November.

Will the hon. Gentleman say how members of the Home Guard are to get to their work if they do not get a petrol allowance?

That is a general matter affecting both motor cars and motor cycles, and is being dealt with by the War Office.

Why wait until November?

The House will appreciate that the abolition of the basic ration for motor cars involves a very great increase in the work of the divisional petroleum officers in dealing with applications from people who have genuine need of an allowance instead of their basic ration. My policy is to get through the abolition of the basic ration for both motor cars and motor cycles without any increase in my staff, and as motor cycles use only a small amount of petrol and are used principally by munition workers going to work, I am prepared to wait.

asked the Prime Minister, in respect of Cmd. 6351, whether the Minister of Defence has power to issue operational orders direct to principal or subordinate commanders in the various theatres of war?

Operational orders to Commanders in the various theatres of war are issued either by the Service Department or Chief of Staff concerned, or, in matters which affect the general conduct of operations, by the Chiefs of Staff in their corporate capacity.

asked the Prime Minister whether the organisation for joint planning, as set out in Cmd. 6351, was in full operation before the opening of the Far Eastern campaign?

Yes, Sir; with the exception that the Joint War Production Staff was not in existence before the opening of the Far Eastern Campaign.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it has yet been determined at what stage in this complicated hierarchy things went wrong in the planning of our defences in Malaya?

I think the hon. and gallant Member had better put that Question down.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many weekly wage-earners he estimates are assessable for Income Tax; how many have made returns of income; and how many have been assessed?

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to weekly wage-earners who are assessed on the half-yearly basis. As stated in my Budget Statement, the number of liable weekly wage-earners for the year 1941–42 is estimated at 5,500,000. The number who made returns is considerably in excess of 5,500,000, because it includes those whose incomes exceed £110 a year (or £55 for the half-year) but whose allowances exceed their total income. There is no information available of the comparatively small number who failed to make their returns for the year 1941–42.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the scheme which is about to be introduced in the United States of America for collecting Income Tax from workers' current earnings; and whether he will examine the practicability of this scheme before coming to a final decision to take any further action in this matter in this country?

My attention has been drawn to the proposals for the deduction of Income Tax from wages in the United States of America. As I understand them, however, they are only to be brought into force at a time to be authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury. I would suggest, therefore, that it is premature to draw any comparisons until that time arrives.

Can my right hon. Friend make an examination of the machinery of this scheme in view of the fact, to which he drew attention in his Budget speech, that some such plan would be a benefit to the community?

I will certainly do that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether commission is paid to banks in the case of conversion of any of their own funds into Government stocks, subscriptions to which are eligible for stockbrokers' commission?

I understand the expression "stockbrokers' commission" to refer to commission at the rate of ⅛ per cent. or less, payable in certain circumstances to bankers or stockbrokers. If so, the answer is in the affirmative.